John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 123 - Edge of Light

"Oh, G*d!" Marlena pulled away from John abruptly, blinking as her hands covered her belly protectively, the sudden lust all but forgotten.

"What is it, baby?" John was immediately on his knees, helping Marlena sit up.

"OH," she hunched over her stomach in distress.

"Doc?" he brushed the hair from her eyes worriedly, one arm bracing her shoulders. "Baby, tell me what's going on, please." It was hell as he waited for her answer and the seconds felt like a small eternity as the thoughts bounced around in his brain.

Oh G*d I knew it was a bad idea to take her away from Salem. What the hell was I thinking? What a bloody idiot. Oh G*d, please let her be all right, let the baby be all right.

"Oh," the groan emanated from Marlena's throat as her head fell backward, her eyes closed.

"C'mon baby, talk to me, please tell me you're okay." John brushed his fingers across her suddenly pale cheeks. "Please Marlena, you have to be okay, I don't think I could bear it if anything was to happen to you now." He had tears in his eyes as he pleaded with her, willing her to open her eyes and tell him that everything was fine.

Because if something was wrong, all the way out here in the middle of nowhere, they could well be in very big trouble.

It seemed like eons to John before Marlena finally lifted her head and opened her eyes.

"Doc?" he asked carefully. The pain in her eyes faded as she looked at him.

"I'm sorry," she said thickly, "he just kicked me, and it seemed to set off a kind of a cramping sensation. I'm okay now."

"A cramp?" John looked worried. "That doesn't sound okay."

"It *is* okay," Marlena nodded with assurance. "These things happen occasionally. It wasn't a contraction kind of cramping. It's passed now."

"But Doc," John's face portrayed his deep concern for her, "can you be sure that it won't happen again? I mean we're out here in the middle of...." He shook his head angrily. "What the *hell* was I thinking bringing you out here? If something were to happen-"

"*Nothing* is going to happen," Marlena smoothed the deep furrows in his brow with gentle fingers. "Trust me, John, I'm fine and the baby is fine, and I am so incredibly glad you brought me out here. It's wonderful."

He looked unsure as he watched her, weighing up in his mind the chances they were taking by staying in the mountains against the obvious good it seemed to be doing her.

"I don't think staying here is a good idea Doc," he said gently. "If you were to have another turn like you did the other night, if you were to go into premature labor, we'd never get to a hospital in time."

"It won't happen, honey," she told him reassuringly. "I promise you. Please, please let's just stay, okay?"

He said nothing for long moments as he watched her. The color was already returning to her cheeks and her eyes were glittering as she looked out over the moonlit valley.

"It's so beautiful here," she whispered, "how could anything go wrong?"

"It could be the most beautiful place on earth Doc, but that's not going to make any difference to that kid in there if he decides he's coming out early." John pointed to her stomach. "I can't take any risks with you, I can't let anything happen to you, you know that."

"Nothing will happen, don't you think I'd know if there was something wrong?" she asked, trying to put his mind at ease. "It's not like this is my first pregnancy, I do have some idea what is going on with my body."