John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 6: A Couple of Q's Answered

Kristen stared at Marlena, the shock registering clearly on her face. Shooting a hurt look at John she left the room. Marlena ignored John and folding her arms over the back of the chair she buried her face in them. He closed his eyes briefly and tried to work out what to do. He knew he had been unfair to her before but that didn't excuse her behaviour toward Kristen. He knew Kristen was only trying to help but Marlena evidently couldn't or wouldn't see how concerned she was. He stood, with a drawn frown, but before he could go after Kristen a nurse entered the room and informed them that they could see Belle. Marlena rose and followed the nurse, mute and still ignoring John.

Belle looked tiny in the hospital bed. She lay pale, her blonde hair fanned over the pillow. On the left side of her face and as far as they could see down her body the burns were covered by white gauze. She had been heavily sedated and hardly knew they were there. Marlena sat on the edge of the bed and took Belle's good hand in hers.

"Belle, sweet girl," she cooed, "Mommy and Daddy are here."

Belle opened her eyes with effort. "Mommy," she mumbled, still groggy from the painkillers.

"Shhh, it's all right sweetheart." Marlena did her best to sound reassuring.

"Hey Belle baby, you're gonna be just fine." John wasn't sure that it was true, but he had to put on a brave face for both Belle and Marlena. She stirred and her lashes fluttered for a moment before she fell back into her drug-induced slumber. They sat for a moment, just watching her until their reverie was interrupted by Mike.

"She's not in any pain at the moment," he reassured them. "We just have to prep a couple of things, so if you'd like to wait in the lounge for a few minutes, then you can accompany her over to the Unit."

Marlena nodded. She still wasn't inclined to talk to John and made her way out of the room quickly.

He caught up with her however and putting his hand on her shoulder he pulled her around to face him.

"Marlena, I know you're upset, but there really wasn't any call to talk to Kristen like that."

She gave an ironic laugh. "So *I've* upset Kristen."

"Look, I know I was hard on you in the lounge. I was worried. I'm sorry if I hurt you."

"Hurt doesn't even begin to cover it, John. Do you honestly think I'd knowingly put Belle in danger? She's everything to me. She's all I have right now and..." The tears filled her eyes again. Damn it, she was *so* tired of crying.

"I know Doc, I'm sorry. I had no right to say those things to you, but you shouldn't have talked to Kristen like that either." He tried to convince her. "After all she's been through..."

"To tell you the truth John," Marlena pulled her hair back from her face and squared off at him, "I couldn't care less about Kristen at the moment. If you care so much, go and find her and leave me alone." With that, she whirled around and marched down the hall. John closed his eyes in frustration.

Well, that went *really* well.

******

Q stood at the window. The outlook was a lush, green, late summer vista. He didn't really care. All he wanted to do was get out of this madhouse. It had taken him a while to accept that Marlena had a part in this intrigue, but now he had, he could see the rationalization behind it.

Twentieth-century humans were oblivious to the fact that they shared the universe with other beings. How could he expect a mere human to understand the extent of the infinite power of the Q.? Especially when he was unable to demonstrate. It would be only too easy for them to think he was crazy, rather than accept the impossibility that he was telling the truth. Q smiled to himself. There were certain humans, albeit a few centuries removed who *knew* he was immortal, but still thought he was crazy. But all this was beside the point. He had to get out of here and he had to do it fast. "Things are afoot," he murmured to himself. Things that he wasn't entirely sure were part of the 'grand scheme of things', as humans so sickeningly put it.