I've Loved You Before

Chapter 7 - Superman (It's Not Easy)

*TRIGGER WARNING** Discussion of attempted rape, and prior sexual assault.

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I can't stand to fly, I'm not that naive

I'm just out to find the better part of me

I'm more than a bird, I'm more than a plane

More than some pretty face beside a train

And it's not easy to be me

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The elevator doors opened on the 6th floor of Salem University Hospital, and Marlena rushed out, running headlong into Carly Manning. Her purse strap was gripped tightly in her fist, as if she clung to it for her sanity. She was so scared, and overwhelmed, all she managed to say when her eyes met Carly's was, "Roman?"

Carly smiled at her, taking her arm. Roman had been asking about Marlena for the last few hours. She led her down the hallway, saying, "He's going to make a full recovery. The surgery to remove the bullet was straightforward–"

"--I don't understand what happened," Marlena cried softly, finally allowing herself to feel the emotions she'd been pushing back since she got the message that he'd been shot. "He was shot? By who? Was he working, was it something else?"

Carly hesitated, unsure if she should say anything. She was engaged to Bo, but this was a family matter.

Marlena saw the hesitation in her friend's eyes, and she said, "I'm going to find out anyway, so I think it's best you tell me now, before I go in that room without all of the facts."

"It was Kim," Carly said softly. "Kim shot Roman."

"Kim? No, that's not possible–"

"--it is if she wasn't herself." Carly pulled Marlena into a nearby corner. "Kim's been dealing with more than she's told any of us, Marlena. Even Phillip knew and he was keeping it to himself. Kim is Lacey James."

Marlena thought about Kim's recent behavior, so out of character for who she was. The pieces started to fall together, as Marlena gasped, "No!"

Carly sighed, "Bo is beside himself. The whole family is, and Roman... well, Roman is refusing to press charges, but it's out of his hands. The DA has taken over the case–"

"--where is Kim now?" Marlena asked.

"She's down at the Salem Police Department." Carly saw the worry etched on Marlena's face.

"I'll have to go see her, but first I need to see Roman." She turned, unsure of which room Roman was in.

"Room 601. I just left after checking his vitals," Carly told her.

Marlena stopped walking, and took a deep breath. Her whole body was trembling. Her muscles were quivering, and twitching. She could barely draw in a shaky breath as she attempted to calm her overactive nervous system. Her flight from New York had felt like a lifetime. The cab was stuck in traffic on the ride from the airport. She took another deep breath to calm herself. "Is he awake?"

Carly smiled, "Go see him. He's awake."

Roman looked up when the door to his room opened slowly, and he saw Marlena standing there watching him. As if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, he said, "Hey, Doc."

She rushed towards him, reaching for his hand, "Oh, Roman! Darling! I'm so glad you're okay!"

Guilt overwhelmed him as he thought about their argument almost a week earlier. He knew that the catalyst behind his anger had been himself, and his recent behavior. "Hey," he said softly. "I'm fine. I'm okay."