John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 104 - Scrapes and Tape

With a spring in his step, John exited into the basement and headed towards his jeep.  He could feel the warmth seeping in from outside, the late spring morning washing everything in a torrent of balmy sunshine.  It poured forth, echoing the happiness in John's heart and he took a deep breath, feeling really alive for the first time in... he didn't even know how long.

The healing wound in his shoulder twinged a little as he opened the door of the jeep and he grinned.  Mike would probably diagnose over-excitement.  In fact, Mike would probably have had a cardiac arrest if he knew John had been carrying Marlena around last night.   John thought, however, that the overexertion was most *definitely* worth it, and he couldn't wait to do it again.  He didn't care to be poked and prodded by doctors any longer as they tried to figure out how he healed so miraculously.  He could have told them.  Or rather showed them.  One look at the beautiful blonde psychiatrist at his bedside would explain more than a thousand words ever could.

Inserting his key into the ignition, he glanced over at the clock.  A double take told him he was not imagining it and it was enough to deflate his good humour in a matter of seconds.

9:23 AM

Kristen would surely be awake by now.  And with his arrival, he would probably face an inquisition of proportions that would make even the Spanish sweat.

"Great," he muttered as he twisted the key in the ignition.  His heart sank further as the engine sputtered briefly and then died.  Turning the key again, he encountered the same reaction.

"Sh*t!"  The expletive flew out of his mouth as he dropped his head in his hands and it was followed by a groan.  "This can't be happening to me."  It wasn't even as if he could leave the car here and take a cab home.  Kristen would be sure to notice it was gone knowing his luck and would want to know where it was.  The woman was like a heat-seeking missile when it came to tracking down things like that and if she found it in Marlena's basement, how the hell was he going to explain that away?  Yeah, I had a business meeting all night.... in Marlena's bedroom.

An almost hysterical laugh bubbled from his lips as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Start damn you!" he wrenched the key around, and the engine turned over, choking for several moments before it died again.  "Okay," he muttered, "no need to panic."  He took a deep breath and sent up a not-so-silent supplication.  "*Please*, please let it start."

He turned the key again and held his breath as the motor coughed and finally caught.  Depressing the gas, he waited for a moment, until he was sure that it wasn't going to die on him and then he exhaled.

"Thank you," he added gratefully as he slipped the jeep into drive.

******

"Mommy!"  Belle flew across the living room squealing as she looked over her shoulder, "don't let him get me!"

"What have you done sweetie-girl?" Marlena laughed as she swung her daughter up into her arms.

"We was naughty," Belle bit her lip and looked guiltily at her mother from under her lashes.

"You *were* naughty," Marlena corrected automatically as she looked curiously at the kitchen entranceway.  "Where's Brady?"

"Here," Lucie emerged from the kitchen holding Brady's hand, her laughter only barely suppressed.

"Gee's 'rumpy," Belle told Marlena solemnly as she lifted her finger to her mouth.  "I fink we made him 'rumpy."

"Oh," Marlena laughed, "Oh dear, what did you do to poor Gene?"  She couldn't keep the humor from her voice as she looked from the children to the doorway.  "Gene?"