Never Forgotten

Part 28

Part 28

Rebecca's hand was shaking with rage, as she pointed the gun at Marlena. The doctor who was supposed to be helping people with their troubles and trauma was now the course of hers and her irrational actions. In Rebecca's mind Marlena was the one who had driven her to the point of insanity.

"Did you really think that I would let you brainwash my husband into believing that he loves you..huh? He doesn't love you Doc!! He loves me...only me!" Rebecca said with such a calm voice that it sent chills down Marlena's spine.
In her many years in treating psychiatric patients she knew all too well what a delusional and impulsive person could be capable of. A person who wasn't able to tell reality from fantasy was potentially a very dangerous person.
She had seen it before, or more accurately, she had been the target of such a person's actions before...Orpheus. He had taken her away from her family because he was certain that Roman was responsible for the death of his wife. An eye for an eye, he had said.
The best chance of getting out of this situation was to stay calm and try not to panic. With some people, one could try and reason with them, try to get them back to reality but Marlena knew that, that wouldn't be the case in this particular situation. The hate and despise present in Rebecca's eyes told her that she was capable of pulling the trigger in the blink of an eye.

"Rebecca, lower the gun" John said calmly and reached out his hand towards the deadly weapon. Taking a careful step forward and leaning a little to the side, he was able to stand almost in front of Marlena, to protect her and prevent a direct aim from the gun which was threatening to take away the love of his life.
His heart was beating faster as he remembered what Rebecca was capable of, her being behind Marlena's accident.

"Move away from her, John!" Rebecca threatened, realizing that she was now aiming directly at John.

John didn't obey, as he kept standing in front of Marlena, using himself as a shield. "Please lower the gun and lets talk about this" He desperately tried to reason with her. "You don't want to hurt anybody".

"Oh trust me.. I do want to hurt her." Rebecca said with a hunting smile while she tried to point the gun at her enemy. "Can't you see she has been manipulating you, telling you lies, making you believe that you love her. You know me John, I will do anything to protect my family....anything".

"John, do what she asks." Marlena whispered, hoping that would be the only way to get out of the situation without anyone getting hurt.

Rebecca faintly heard Marlena say something to John, but she couldn't hear what. Just as John was about to turn his head slightly to look at Marlena, did Rebecca stop him. "Don't listen to her.." She screamed, making John quickly turn his attention back to Rebecca. "She is poisoning your mind with lies...John, I'm going to rescue you from that devil whore."

John was at a loss for words. What had happened to the woman standing in front of him. How was it possible to turn crazy so quickly when she never showed signs of such behavior in the past? Or had she, but he had been oblivious to it, being too wrapped up in his own world of pain and unhappiness.
Shaking his head he banished those thoughts and focused on getting Marlena out of this mess alive.
He thought back to when they were married and how she had told him how to deal with patients who became irrational and dangerous. He had often used that knowledge to his advantage when he used to be a cop, always getting out of dangerous situations without anyone getting hurt, including the attacker.

"Okay listen to me.. you are going to let Dr. Evans go and then you and I are going to get out of here okay?" John said, trying his best to sound sincere and trustworthy. He really didn't have a plan other than he would do everything to keep Marlena safe.

Taking small steps towards Rebecca, he saw her dark eyes contemplating whether to believe him or not. "It's okay!" He said as he slowly began to reach for the gun.

Marlena stood completely still behind him, his body still protecting her. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she watched proudly as John handled the situation perfectly.

"It's okay" John said again in a calm and reassuring tone as he placed his hand over Rebecca's, slowly lowering the gun.
With the gun now pointing down he turned Rebecca and himself around so that her back was towards Marlena. "Go!!" He mouthed without a word as he kept his hand on the gun.
Marlena picked up on his silent plea and began to walk backwards towards the entrance to the building behind her, never taking her eyes off John.

Once inside, she quickly ran up the stairs and into the loft, frantically searching through her purse for her phone.
With her heart pounding fast and shaking hands, she dialed the number she knew by heart.

                                —————

Across town a young woman sat in a cafe and waited with anticipation. Today was going to change her life, she was sure. Just days ago she felt like she was all alone in the world, no parents, no siblings, no family and now she was moments away from meeting who she was sure were her biological parents and her half brother. Although nothing had been scientifically confirmed yet she felt deep down that these people were her family.
Taking a sip of the ice tea she stared out the window and wondered if she would be able to tell who they were when they walked through the door. Did she resemble them in any way?

The door opened and a young man walked in. With his back to her, he scanned the room looking for someone. When he turned around two sets of identical baby blue eyes met and immediately a connection was established. Big nervous smiles formed on their lips as the young man started walking towards her.

"Alice?" Jack asked, even though he knew it was her. She was the spitting image of both his dad and Marlena.

Alice nodded and stood up. "Jack...Hi.."

An awkward silence surrounded them as they stood face to face studying each other for a moment.
Alice was the first to speak. "Please, have a seat...I'm so nervous" she admitted as she chuckled.
A smile spread across Jack's face.

"What?" Alice asked, a bit confused by his expression.

"Your laugh, it's like hearing Marlena" Jack told her.

"Really?" Alice shyly looked down at her hands which were fiddling nervously.

"Yeah...and you look just like the both of them."

Alice looked up at her half brother, tears threatening to break from her eyes. "I do?"

"Yeah, you just wait and see" he laughed as he sat down at the table. "They should be here any minute now."

                                         ———-

"Pick up..pick up.." Marlena chanted, listening to the dialing tone and pacing around the kitchen area. It felt like time was moving so slowly when in fact it had only been 3 minutes since she had left John standing on the street with Rebecca.

"Detective Brady" Roman answered with authority.

"Roman..it's Marlena.. you need to send someone, it's an emergency" Marlena spoke quickly, her heart rate starting to pick up again.

"Wow, calm down. What's happening, are you okay?" Roman asked, suddenly concerned about her.

"I'm fine...it's John. Please send someone to his loft..it's Rebecca..his.." She hesitated. It wasn't until now she realized how awkward it was for her to be calling him to help her lover. "Rebecca is here with a loaded gun..Roman, please send someone. I'm afraid of what she is capable of.."

Roman couldn't believe her audacity. Why should he help the man who had stolen his wife..not only once but twice? The man whose shadow he had been living under for the last 27 years. He hated John with everything in him. Not even Stefano, who took him away from his family and held him captive for 7 years, did he hate and despise as much as he did John.
Marlena was very much aware of how Roman felt about John and knew that the deafening silence on the other end of the phone was a result of Roman contemplating his options.

"Roman please..I'm not asking you as my ..hus..husband.. but as the great cop you are". She pleaded. "I did call your office phone..you can't let our personal problems affect how you handle your work." She was starting to get frustrated with his hesitation.

She could hear him grunting and walking around in his office. Marlena had had enough and was just about to hang up and call the police station instead when the sound of a gunshot came from the street.
Her phone fell to the floor as she screamed...."JOHN..."