"Doc, it's me that you want to be with, right?" John repeated as she moved towards the balcony.
"Oh John," she began turning to face him.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you two," Caroline began walking out onto the balcony, "but Roman is awake and he is calling for Marlena."
"I'll be right back." Marlena said looking at the anguish on John's face.
"I'll be here." he whispered taking her hand and giving it a quick squeeze before she went inside.
"John?" Caroline asked after Marlena walked back into the hospital. "Roman told me about last night. How is Marlena holding up?"
"She was pretty shaken." John explained to Caroline. "She was reluctant to tell me about everything that went on, but the bruise on her face speaks for itself."
"I noticed that." Caroline said looking out into the winter wonderland. "I don't know why Roman would've done that to her. It's not like him to go off of the deep end like that."
"I know that Caroline." John said hugging her and trying to ease her pain. "This situation is breaking each one of us down."
"My poor boy was given a second chance at life." Caroline explained turning to John. "He thinks that he has a future with Marlena."
"I know that Caroline and I'm so sorry that Kristen had to do this to all of us." John added.
"John, even though she did some horrid things, she brought my boy back and I must thank her for that." Caroline explained turning to him. "If she hadn't been with him this morning, he may have died alone in the cold morning. There has been too much pain and suffering around all of us lately."
"That's true." John agreed sadly. "I just wish that there was some way to end it soon."
"Me too." Caroline agreed. "That's part of the reason that I came out here to talk to you."
"What do you mean Caroline?" John asked concerned.
"John, I guess that what I'm trying to say is that I love you like you were my own son and I want you to be happy. I realize that no matter what happens in this situation between you, Marlena, and Roman someone is going to get hurt." she said taking in a deep breath. "I know that you don't want to inflict any more pain then necessary, and I guess what I'm trying to say is that I need you to do me a big favor that will change everyone's lives forever."
Marlena walked into Roman's hospital room and saw him laying fragile in his bed. All of the color was drained from his face as he looked at the ceiling. His gaze shifted to her as he heard her walk into the room.
"Doc, I was afraid that you wouldn't be here." Roman said reaching for her hand.
"I'm here Roman." she said sitting next to his bed not taking his hand.
"Doc," he began pulling his hand back when he realized that she wasn't going to take it, "I know that I messed up last night and I'm sorry. I want to make it up to you."
"Roman..." Marlena began as her eyes filled with tears.
"Doc, I'm so sorry." he said looking at the bruise on her face. "I was wrong for what I did to you and I deserved to die for it."
"Don't say that." she said realizing that he did in fact feel bad for his actions.
"Doc I want to find some way to make it up to you." He continued explaining to her. "Today when I almost lost my chance to be with you again, I realized that I was pushing you to jump back into what we had. That was wrong of me and I know that now. I just want to give us another chance though."
"Roman," she said taking in a deep breath, "there's something that I need to tell you."
"John, what I'm about to ask you may make you think less of me as a person." Caroline explained with tears in her eyes. "I love both you and Roman so much and it pains me to ask you something like this."
"Caroline, what is it?" John asked not wanting to hear what she had to say.
"John, this is driving Roman crazy believing that he is going to end up with Marlena. In fact, he is becoming obsessed with the two of them getting back together and I guess that what I'm saying is that it has to end before someone gets hurt more than they already are."
"I agree with you Caroline." John agreed thinking about where the conversation was headed.
"I know you do and that is why I have to ask you to use your power of persuasion on Marlena." Caroline explained to him.
"Marlena is a grown woman Caroline." John explained fearing the worst.
"I know that John, but I need you to ask her to end this." Caroline said watching his face. "I need you to tell her to..."
"Caroline, I can't make Doc..." John began interrupting.
"John, I need you and Marlena to tell Roman the truth before it destroys him." she said with tears in his eyes. "He needs to know that you and Marlena are in love before he gets out of control."