It's Never Too Late

Chapter 5 - Whisper

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Done with fightin' all these feelings that are buildin' in my heart

I don't know if I will last without you here

You're my lighthouse in the darkness when the storm is comin' in

I don't know where I would be without you here

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Marlena stood in the hallway outside her room, with John standing just behind her. Her hand shook with awkwardness as she tried to maneuver the key in the lock, missing several times before she managed to insert it. "I'm sorry they didn't have a room available for you, John. I hadn't realized that so many people would be here for the holidays."

"It's fine, Doc," he said softly. He was nervous. After finding out there were no rooms available, Marlena had offered him the room adjoining hers, since she'd reserved them both. She'd intended it to be for the children and the nanny if they came, but they were still in Salem. Sharing a suite with Marlena took away the prying eyes that had held him in check the night before.

The moon was already high in the night sky when they entered the room. Marlena's slim figure was outlined in silvery moonlight as she silently crossed the room, and turned on the lamp casting the room in a soft yellow glow. John closed the door behind him, and heard the latch click loudly. His eyes caught hers and held, until she cleared her throat, saying, "There's two bedrooms, and a sitting room with a pullout sofa. We also have a shared bathroom."

John swallowed thickly, unsure of what to do. The telephone rang shrilly, and Marlena jumped at the unexpectedness of it in the tense room. Lifting the receiver, she said, "Hello?"

On the other end of the line, Mike Horton said, "Oh! Thank goodness, Marlena! I've been trying to reach you. There was an accident with Stefano. He fell trying to get out of bed, and–"

" – why would he do that?" she gasped. He wasn't anywhere near that point in his recovery that he could walk independently.

"I'm not sure," Mike said. "But Celeste is getting him ready to travel back to Salem to spend the holiday with Peter and Jennifer, and he's asking to see you before he goes."

Marlena glanced at John and saw that he was watching her intently. The tension between them was so thick she could cut through it with a knife. Maybe some space would give her time to think. "I can come over now. I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Thank you, Marlena. I'm sorry to bother you on Christmas Eve," Mike said. She heard the click when he disconnected, and she slowly placed the telephone on the receiver. Turning to face John, she realized he hadn't moved from his position in front of the door. "That was Mike," she said quietly. "There was an accident with Stefano. He's asking to see me before he leaves."

"Where's the lousy bastard going?" John asked.

Marlena felt her mouth twitch at the edges, but she refused to smile. John was adorable, even in his fury, but Stefano had no control over things he may have done in his past. "He's going to Salem to spend Christmas with Peter. Celeste is getting him ready to travel as we speak. I'm going to go, and check on him. Why don't you get showered, and settled in, and I can grab your luggage from Blake House while I'm there?"

John watched her for a moment, and then resigned himself to her going. He was going to speak with her about the situation with Stefano, but he felt like he had to find the right time. Marlena's guilt over her actions when she was possessed was still very painful for her. He watched her go towards the armoire, and pull out a bathrobe, as well as a towel and washcloth. She sat them on the bed, and turned to face him.