John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 116 - Fears, Scares And Nightmares

John dropped the cup in his hand as he heard Marlena's cry of pain and the porcelain mug smashed noisily against the tiled floor, shattering into what looked like a thousand pieces. By the time he made it to the doorway, he was just in time to see Marlena collapse into Eugene's arms, her hands pressed defenselessly against her rounded belly.

"Marlena!" Q staggered as he caught her full weight, desperately afraid that something was seriously wrong with her.

"Get her to the couch," Mike was immediately beside him, snapping instructions. Hooking one hand under her buckled knees, Gene lifted her up in his arms and carried her to the sofa.

"It's gonna be all right, baby," he murmured as he lay her down on the cushions, "you're going to be okay." He pushed the ruffled golden hair from her ashen face and stroked her cheek. "C'mon Marlena, open your eyes. Talk to me."

Doc! A panicked John sprinted across the room, falling to his knees at the head of the sofa. Oh God, please let her be all right. Please let them both be all right. Please, I'm begging you... But even as he sent up the silent prayer another thought entered his mind. Silently, he watched Eugene gently brush the hair from her face, almost unaware of the fact that he was only inches away, and a chill coursed through him. And please let me have the restraint not to kill him. Please let me ignore him. For Marlena's sake...

"Gene, just let me -" Mike pushed Q aside, dragging his medical bag with him. It was possibly the quickest exam he had ever done in his life as he took her pulse and blood pressure and checked her heartbeat and her pupils. Once he had determined that the fetal heartbeat was still strong, he relaxed a little. However, her hands were cold and clammy to the touch, and he spent a moment debating whether he should call an ambulance to take her to the hospital.

"M-Mike?" John reached out a trembling hand to touch her pallid skin as his heart pounded raggedly in his chest. He couldn't stand it; he couldn't bear it if anything happened to her. After everything that they had fought through....

"The baby is okay John," Mike said in a voice as strong as he could manage. "And despite her blood pressure being elevated, I think that Marlena is fine too. I think that the stress probably just got a little too much for her. I would like to take her down to the hospital and run some tests though."

Suddenly, feeling as though he was being watched, Q tore his eyes away from Marlena's face and looked up at the landing. He wasn't surprised to find that Lucie was watching the scene and he oddly found himself even less surprised when she winked at him, her expression changing so languidly that he found himself reminded of a cat stretching.

"Ohhh," Marlena stirred, and his attention immediately switched back to the woman on the sofa beside him. The woman for whom he would sell his immortality and his very soul.

"Marlena-"

"Doc-"

Their voices mingled as Marlena slowly blinked, the room resolving in front of her.

"Oh, what happened?" she croaked as she raised a hand to her head, which was still swimming.

"You passed out Marlena," Mike said gently.

"I wha...?" She searched back in her mind for the remembrance that would help her understand what had happened. It was only a moment before she recalled the searing pain and her hand wrapped instinctively around her belly. She had fainted and Gene had been there to catch her. She remembered that much.

Without any hesitation, she reflexively sought out Eugene's concerned face.

Oh, please God, please let the baby be all right.... Gene will know if there's a problem. He will know, he can tell me. He can make it right...