John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 115 - Truth Time

"Doc," Roman pulled out a chair for Marlena and took her coat from her as she sank into it, "how are you feeling?"

"I've been better," she sighed as she watched John pace the room. "Where's Abe?"

"He just had to pop down to the lab, he'll be right back." Roman perched himself on the edge of the desk. "Did you think any more about what I said last night?"

"I couldn't help *but* think about it," she lowered her voice as John studied the notice board intently. "I was going to talk to him just before, but then Abe called."

"Sorry 'bout that," Roman squeezed her shoulder gently but pulled his hand away almost guiltily as John came towards them.

"I thought I might go and get a coffee; you want one. Doc?" the muscle twitched in John's jaw as he tried to maintain the façade of control he had created.

"Um, no but a glass of water...." Her voice faded as her eyes met his. She could read the misery that lurked behind the intense brilliance of the blue irises, and it stole her breath momentarily. Is he jealous of Roman *too*?

Had this gone so far that the pain that he was feeling was spilling over into different facets of their life?

"Sure," he nodded, his expression hard as he turned from them and left the office.

Roman said nothing for a moment, digesting the exchange between John and his ex-wife. Things seemed to be going seriously downhill and surely this stress couldn't be good for her. Maybe it was time to have a word to John and beat some sense into the moron's head.

"I think I'll get a drink too," he slid off the corner of the desk, but Marlena caught his hand, troubled amber eyes staring up at him.

"Please don't say anything," she begged. "I think at this point it will only make things worse. He needs to come to this his own way and in his own time."

"But Doc, he's hurting you in the process," Roman argued gently.

"Roman, I'm a big girl and I can deal with it. This problem is between John and me and it's up to us to sort it out," she smiled peakily.

"If you're sure..." Roman looked like he wasn't entirely ready to leave her to her own devices. He knew how good she was at running away from problems, at pretending that they didn't exist. He didn't want to see her let another relationship fall into disrepair because she was avoiding the issue of communication once again. He just wanted so much to see her happy and he wanted to help her if he could.

"I'm sure," she squeezed his fingers and then dropped her hand back to her knees, hunching over as the baby kicked her heavily. "Yikes baby," she rubbed the tender spot, "go easy, will you?"

"Doc! Are you okay?" John almost dropped the drinks he was carrying in his haste to get to her side as he caught the look of pain that danced across her face. Crouching down beside her, he passed the drinks to Roman and took her hand in his. "Are you in pain?"

"I'm okay," she gasped for a breath, "I just think this baby is getting a kick-start on how to swing a baseball bat, that's all."

"Hey well, that's my boy... or girl," he added with a proud and relieved grin.

Suddenly realizing what he had said, he looked around at the open door and his expression fell as he saw Abe standing there.

"Oh sh*t," his face paled as Abe looked at him in astonishment.

"Did you say that this is *your* baby John?" Abe asked slowly.

"Shhh...shhh...shhh," John was on his feet in a split second, and he moved behind Abe to close the door.