John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 8: Visitors

Q was lying on the bed in the dark when Q2 returned. "You took your time." His tone was accusing.

"Afraid I wasn't coming back Q?" Q2 teased.

"Not at all." Q was lying and he knew that Q was fully aware of this, but he wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of admitting it. "Well?"

Q2 grinned and disappeared. He reappeared at the end of Q's bed in a cross-legged position. Q pulled himself into a sitting position and leaned on the shoddily made headboard. Q2 sniggered. Q sighed and crossed his arms in front of him. There was a crack, and the headboard gave way, falling back to the wall. Q fell with it. Q2 laughed heartily.

"You always were the court jester Q." He offered his hand, but Q declined it with a sneer and pulled himself upright.

"What did they say?" he enunciated slowly. "Am I back in the Continuum or not?"

******

There was an astonished silence as the door slammed closed. John took a step to follow her but was halted by Kristen's hand on his arm. Sami shot him a look of barely concealed disgust and giving Will to Caroline, she left the room in search of her mother. She found Marlena in the small waiting room, still sitting against the wall, the heels of her palms trying to stem the flow of tears.

Sami crouched down beside her and insinuated her arm around Marlena's shoulders. Marlena turned in toward Sami and she held her, feeling more love and pain for her mother than she would have thought possible. Motherhood had softened her in more than one way. Finally, Marlena lifted her head. Sami smiled a tentative smile and wiped the tears from Marlena's cheek.

"C'mon Mom. Let's go home," she urged quietly. She patiently sat till Marlena gave a perceptible nod and then helped her to her feet.

They headed back to Belle's room where Shawn and Caroline were waiting worriedly. Upon entering the room Sami, with her arm still around Marlena's waist, gave them a warning glance to keep quiet. As Marlena kissed Belle's head and whispered goodnight, Sami pulled her grandparents off to one side. Taking Will from Caroline's arms she asked quietly if they would take the three of them home.

"Of course we will Sami." Caroline agreed immediately.

"I'm going to stay the night," Sami told them. "I'm worried about her. After everything she'd been through this year, this is the last thing she needs." The older couple nodded, both more than a little surprised at this turnaround in Sami's manner.

"Would you like us to go by your apartment so you can pick up some things for the night?" Shawn asked thoughtfully.

"Thanks, Grandpa, that would be great." She swung back as she heard Marlena approaching. She marveled again how quickly Marlena could compose herself and felt a touch of envy at how beautiful she was, even after all those tears. She shook off the emotion before it took hold and reached for Marlena's hand, carefully balancing Will on her hip. "Grandma and Grandpa are taking us home," she explained as she led Marlena to the door. "Will and I are staying for the night and there'll be no arguments."

******

The face of the second Q became serious. "Not exactly."

"What do you mean, not exactly?" Q was becoming irritable. He'd been in this room for *far* too long and having to stay here any longer was certainly not at the top of his list of preferred options.

"Q" Q2 steepled his fingers. "The Continuum is not willing to reinstate you outright. They feel that you should have to *prove* yourself first."

"Prove myself!?" Q's face twisted into a sneer. "Prove myself?"