John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 53 - Conversations and Rejoinders

Caroline didn't ask for explanations. She had no idea what to say herself in light of this...... she couldn't even find a word to describe this. Eugene had looked almost as dishevelled as Marlena and it had quickly become obvious to Caroline that it hadn't been John in Marlena's bed last night.

She could barely look at Marlena. She was ashamed of the way she was feeling, but she couldn't help it. She just couldn't understand why Marlena would do this, when there was so much at stake. She felt sick for the pair of them. Marlena had been so happy when she had left this apartment less than a day ago. What on earth could have happened that would have caused her to turn to Eugene? Caroline couldn't even imagine. She didn't want to imagine. She just couldn't believe this was happening, all this time and all those sacrifices, all the battles John and Marlena had fought and won to be together....all for *this*?

The embarrassment that both women felt precluded any intimate questions or answers. Instead, they stood and looked at each other awkwardly for several moments. Eventually, Caroline couldn't stand it anymore and she muttered the excuse that Shawn and the children would be wondering where she was. She attempted a strained smile, her face almost as pale as Marlena's own before she turned and left the apartment, pulling the door hurriedly closed behind her before Marlena could protest.

Marlena turned away with an exasperated sigh and pulled her hands through her tangled hair in frustration. This had been the last thing she had needed. How could Eugene have been so incredibly *thoughtless*?

Pursing her lips, she looked at the kitchen door. There was no movement. Angrily, she marched across the living room and into the kitchen, the door banging against the wall as she pushed it open.

"Oh Marlena," Gene turned around as though oblivious to her mood, "Pancakes or waffles?"

"*What?*" Marlena returned rapidly, her train of though making her oblivious to anything else.

"Breakfast," Gene replied uneasily, "I wanted to know if-"

"Oh *forget* the breakfast," Marlena snapped. "I want to know what the hell you thought you were doing out there."

******

Sami let out a sigh as she stared at the young man who stood in front of her chained door.

"So what do you want?" she demanded once again, her hand balling into a fist that rested against her hip.

"I want you to give me another chance Sami," Grant begged, his expression almost pitiful. "I know I blew it before."

"You bet you did," Sami replied defensively.

"Look I'm sorry Sami," Grant's brown eyes reminded Sami something of a puppy, "I just don't know why I was behaving like that. I just really like you and," he looked down at his feet, "I guess I got a little possessive."

"A *little*?" Sami exclaimed with disbelief. "I'm sorry, but I don't think threatening to deck that guy at the movies for *looking* at me is a *little* possessive. I think that's *weird*."

"You're right, I know." Grant nodded his head. "I'm sorry, I really am."

"I just don't get the whole thing." Sami shook her head, her eyes wide. "I mean you hardly *know* me, how on earth can you feel possessive of me?" Will's laugh from the area of the TV caused her to turn her head for a moment, and when she turned back, Grant had taken another step towards the door. Sami backed away slightly, feeling nervous. "I just don't know where all this came from, I mean I was never even yours to begin with, so why on earth get so uptight about it?"

Sami's bravado covered her fear well, but inside she was becoming increasingly worried, not only for her, but for her son. It had seemed that during the short amount of time that she was dating him, although he liked Will, he resented the amount of time she had chosen to give to her child. And having already seen what a quick temper this guy had, and knowing he had been involved with Austin's ring of boxing friends only made it worse.