John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 113 - ...and Battered Dreams

"So, what's up with you anyway?" Having finished filling her in about the search for Carrie's abductor, Roman decided that it was time to switch the conversation back to its previous track.

"Me?" Marlena blinked, her mind searching for the appropriate words as she switched the phone to her other ear. "Nothing's wrong that a good sleep won't fix."

"C'mon Doc, this is me you're talking to," his voice was gentle and smooth and part of her felt the remembered urge to curl up in his arms and forget the world existed. "I know you, and I know when there's something wrong." There was an empty pause as he waited for her response. When there was none forthcoming, he jogged her along. "Doc....."

"Oh, I don't know," she rolled her head exhaustedly to the side and stared out the window again, watching the twilight fade into the sooty darkness of evening. "It's just..... well, nothing is *right*."

"How do you mean?" Roman was starting to worry about Marlena. Her voice sounded so flat and lifeless. And she sounded lonelier than he had heard her sound in a long, long time. And it wasn't even as though he could reach out and take her into his arms to smooth the pain away anymore. He was simply her friend now and he couldn't do anything more for her than a friend would do. However much he might be tempted.

"Nothing's right," she repeated sadly. "Gene's angry at me, John seems to have a problem with Eugene but he refuses to talk to me about it....." She shook her head, her blonde hair leaving wet blotches on the pillows as she sank back against them. "I'm afraid I've made a real mess of things Roman, and I don't know how to fix it."

"Maybe it's something you can't fix," he suggested. "Maybe it'll work itself out with time."

"I don't know," she sighed, "I wanted to think that.... but..."

"But what?"

"But.... you don't want to hear about my problems," she made the effort to lighten her tone. "How are things with you and Trudie?"

"Don't change the subject, Marlena," his tone took on a stern edge and she knew she wasn't going to divert him that easily.

"Roman, I don't know that talking about it is going to help," she closed her eyes and felt the beginning of a headache building behind them.

"What so you're going to sit there miserably alone and stew?" he asked her a little harshly. "You are alone I take it."

" Yes I am," she replied defensively. "Roman please, I don't need you judging me on top of everything else."

"Oh, I'm sorry Doc," he sighed. "I'm frustrated by the lack of progress around here. I didn't mean to take it out on you."

"I know I've made mistakes Roman," she looked over at Sami and Eric's smiling faces in the picture, "and some days I wish to God I could go back and change them. But just right at the moment, I'm too tired to know how to fix this particular mess."

"I know, Doc," he felt like a jerk. "Would you like me to come over and we can talk?"

"No," she shook her head, ignoring the glowering ache that was settling beneath her brow. "I think I'd rather be alone right now if you don't mind. Maybe I can get some sleep."

"You sound like you need it," he felt awful. She was looking to him for some support and sympathy and it seemed that he had only made things worse for her.

"Doc, if I can give you a little bit of advice, for what it's worth...." he paused but she didn't refute him. "Talk to John. Ask him if he has a problem with Eugene. Honestly Doc, the guy is probably as jealous as all hell of Gene. After all, he's still living with you and John's not." He shrugged, knowing that she probably didn't want to hear it, but also knowing that it was the truth, and someone needed to tell it to her. It may as well be him. He had experience in that area after all.