John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 121 - Cruisin'

True to his word, John had been back at the penthouse in time to pick Marlena up. Along with her suitcases, which he made a great show of carrying to the elevator as though they were weighed down with bricks.

They made it to the appointment with David Robbins slightly late, but were grateful to find that, just as Eugene had promised, nothing was wrong with the baby. After a scan and a thorough examination, Dr. Robbins agreed with Mike's assessment, that the scare was simply Marlena's body telling her to slow down. And he was more than happy to agree with the suggestion that they go away somewhere quiet and relaxing for a few days. It would be beneficial both to the baby, and to Marlena's peace of mind he told John, and it was just what he would have suggested had they not brought it up first.

After the appointment, John and Marlena walked out to the car, both of them highly aware that they mustn't look anything more than good friends. They were careful to keep their distance until they made it to the Jeep when John softly brushed Marlena's hand with a secretive smile.

"What are you up to?" Marlena asked curiously as John opened the door of the jeep and helped her climb up into the comfortable passenger's seat.

"Oh," he winked at her, his mouth sweeping into a wide smile. "You'll find out."

"John!" she wailed in exasperation. She was getting incredibly annoyed with his smug enjoyment of the situation, but the more she showed her irritation, the more he would revel in it. The best thing to do was just to stay calm and try and trick him into giving it up. It wasn't like she wasn't capable of it. John wasn't exactly strong when it came to matters of the flesh, after all.

"Never mind Doc," he climbed into the seat next to her. "It'll all be revealed soon enough."

"How soon is soon enough?" she curled her fingers around his lower thigh and began to work them upwards over the thick denim. "I don't know how long I can wait to find out." Her voice was warm and seductive and John was amazed by how fast she could reduce him to quivering disarray.

"Soon *enough*," he repeated firmly after clearing his throat and he deliberately lifted her hand from his leg and placed it back on her side of the car.

"You're no fun," she pouted softly as he started up the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.

"You wanna tell me that again in about six hours?" John grinned.

"You're incorrigible," she couldn't help smiling, his mood was so infectious.

"I'll bet you say that to all the boys,' John teased her as he swung around over the off ramp that headed for the interstate.

"John?" Marlena looked at the signs that they were hurtling past. "John, please tell me where we're going?"

"On our trip." He replied blandly but he couldn't keep the laughter from his voice as she slapped his arm frustratedly.

"You are *so* not fair," she crossed her arms across the top of her extended belly. "I'm not supposed to be under any stress remember?"

"Nice try Doc," he leaned over and switched on the radio, the soft music swelling through the car. "Why don't you just sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery? Surely that can't be too stressful."

She looked over at him for a moment, her eyes flashing olive green as she regarded him.

"Impossible," she murmured eventually. "Absolutely impossible."

It wasn't that much later that John turned around to find Marlena dozing, her golden hair half-falling over her face. It was what he had been counting on. Her pregnancy, combined with the emotional stress and being up for half the night, was more than likely to take its toll and he had been hoping she would sleep during the drive. He brushed the hair away from her face with a tender smile and then drew his fingers over her rounded belly.