Just a Matter of Time

Chapter One

John awoke just as the sun was beginning to cast small beams through the curtains. He hadn't slept well and had tried not to wake Marlena, but she was too attuned to him not to know he'd had a fitful night.

"Did you ever fall asleep?" she asked as she turned towards him.

He instinctively raised an arm so she could rest her head on his shoulder, then wrapped both around her as he kissed her forehead. "Eventually, but it was late. I'm sorry I kept you awake."

"It's ok," Marlena said drowsily. It was still early, and she wasn't keen on waking up just yet. "I'm sorry you didn't sleep again. Maybe you should ask Kayla to check you out. There could be something up that you don't realize,"

"I'll think about it," he said reluctantly. John was never one to admit there could be something physically wrong with him.

"Make sure you do," she replied, almost asleep again. John smiled as he heard her drifting back to sleep. He was very content to just hold her there and let her snooze.

An hour or so passed and Marlena awoke again to the alarm. Still wrapped in John's arms, she tried to reach over him to turn it off, but he did it for her. "Thank you, sweetheart," she said as she looked up at him.

"You're most welcome," he replied, planting a small kiss on the end of her nose. She tilted her chin towards him a little, and he responded by giving her a deeper kiss, pulling her closer as she arched herself towards him. She began moving against him, causing his heartbeat to quicken. Almost immediately he pulled away and rubbed his hand along the back of his neck.

"Damn," he said softly, trying to ease the pain away.

Marlena sat up on her elbow and was instantly on alert. "John, what's wrong?" He would never pull away from her like that unless it was something serious.

"It's nothing," he said. "Just a muscle spasm or something."

She knew he wasn't being honest and said, "Tell me the truth. What's happening?"

He looked at her for a moment, still rubbing the back of his neck. Knowing she wouldn't let it go, he replied, "I don't know, Doc. It's just a weird sensation in the back of my neck. It caught me by surprise, that's all. Now, where were we?"

He tried to kiss her again, but she wasn't falling for it. "John, it was more than that and you know it. Between not being able to sleep and now this, there must be more going on here. I want you to schedule some time to see Kayla. Today, if possible. Ok?"

"Doc it really isn't that serious..." He tried to argue, but she wouldn't back down.

"I'm not asking," she said.

He knew he was beaten and sighed. "Yes ma'am," he said. "I'll call her today, I promise. Now, can we get back to what we were doing?"

He reached out and tried to pull her on top of him, but she sat up and shook her head. "I wish we could my love, but I forgot I have an early patient this morning and a consultation on another one right after. I need to get a move on. I love you," she said, giving him a quick peck and throwing off the covers as she got up. "I'll check on you later. Make sure you call Kayla, ok?" She turned and went to the shower.

Crestfallen, John fell back onto the bed and looked up at the ceiling. The pain in his neck had subsided, but this was at least the fourth time he'd felt it. "Maybe she's right," he said to himself. "God knows with my head, it could be anything."

A few hours later Marlena was at work and John waiting in an exam room. Kayla became concerned for him as well when he'd called her, especially since Marlena had spoken to her when she arrived at the hospital earlier. She'd told him to come straight in to get examined.