Chapter 9

A few hours pass and Roman and Marlena finally reach the door where Kate is waiting for John. The turning of the doorknob causes Kate to quickly retreat to a secluded area to keep out of site. She didn't want Tony's men to find her especially if John hadn't reached Marlena or Roman yet. She couldn't risk John's efforts to find them. In the meantime Marlena is helped outside the door followed quickly by Roman who places her against the wall. Kate saw Roman and rushed to his arms.

"Oh Roman your alive! I didn't want to believe it but you are."

"You don't think that I would leave you intentionally on our wedding night if I didn't have a good reason to come home to you. I knew eventually that someone would find us here and we would be able to go on with our honeymoon."

The two pull away from the loving embrace and turn their attentions to Marlena. She was sitting on the ground leaning against the wall.

"Marlena I'm so happy to see you. You wouldn't believe what John did to find you. Once that man has an idea in his head he will stop at nothing to finish it."

The friends exchange hugs and Kate helps her to her feet. Only then does Kate see what the imprisonment has done to her friend. Marlena looked pale and weak she could barely stand on her feet without Kate's help."

"It's good to see you too Kate. As for John being his wife for 18 years nothing he does surprises me."

Kate looks around almost in a panic. She couldn't find John anywhere. Roman and Marlena exchange glances.

"Roman where is John he should be back by now. Has something happened to him? Did Tony capture John?"

An eerie silence permeated the tunnel. Marlena and Roman once again exchange glances. Marlena herself barely capable of keeping the tears from flowing.

"Oh no after all this time Tony has taken John now?"

"We don't know that Kate he demanded that I take Marlena to you and to a doctor. You don't argue with John Black it's the last one you'll ever win. Now I need you to take Marlena out of these tunnels and to a doctor as soon as you can. I don't have time to explain why just go."

Roman turns back to the door and reaches for the knob. Kate intercepts and places herself in front of the door.

"Wait Roman where are you going?"

"I'm not leaving John there to fight Tony alone. It's time we put an end to Tony's games. Please take Marlena out of here and to a doctor."

"But Roman John can take care of himself I need you to be here for me."

"She's right Roman John has been in worse predicaments he can do this alone."

"He may be able to do this alone but I'm not going to let him. Especially now with you he needs to be here for you. I was there before and now it's his turn. He has so much to be thankful for and I won't let Tony prevent him from spending this time with you."

Kate wasn't sure what Roman meant when he said "He has so much to be thankful for" but she didn't put a thought to it. All she knew is that Marlena needed medical attention right away. If she doesn't she might not be there long enough for John to reunite with her and their family.

"I learned a long time ago not to argue with you Roman. Just promise me one thing…come back safely to me. We have so much to celebrate together I don't want to risk you being captive again."

They exchange tender hugs and loving kisses and before she knew it Roman had once again disappeared behind the door. Kate had a terrible feeling that it would be a long time before she would see either of them again. Though her heart told her they both would be fine her mind told her that she was right. She couldn't let Marlena know about her doubts especially in her current condition. So as always she placed a smile on her face and supported Marlena as the both headed outside of the castle.

"Come let's get you to a doctor. You need medical attention. Don't let the guys bother you they both can do it and maybe we won't hear from any DiMera once Tony is behind bars."

"There will always be some type of DiMera trying to ruin our lives. Jail won't keep Tony at bay he'll be out before we know it tormenting our lives the way the DiMera's do."

Kate knew what Marlena said was true but she needed to stay positive for her friend and for her family.

Meanwhile John and Tony are still fighting with each other. The room that held Marlena and Roman captive was beginning to show the damage the two men had done. Still after all that time both were still very strong and didn't show much exhaustion from the ordeal.

"John do you give up yet?"

"I will never give up on you Tony. I'm stronger then you think I am. This little fist fight hasn't weakened my energy as much as it has yours. In the end I will always end up with the upper hand. See that's what Stefano intended to do with me I was trained to be the ultimate warrior and just because I don't remember much about my past hasn't caused me to loose the skills he trained me to do."

John and Tony continue to throw punches at each other each falling with the others action. Though their faces were showing signs of the struggle they remained on their feet.

Once Marlena and Kate reached the perimeter of the castle and Europe Marlena suddenly became heavy in Kate's arms. Though she manages to prevent Marlena from falling to the ground it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep Marlena on her feet. With continued support Kate brought Marlena to a tree and leaned her against it.

"Marlena you're becoming worse I need to call for help. Will you be alright by yourself while I try and get a signal with my cell phone?"

"I'll be fine Kate just please hurry something is wrong."

Kate reacted with alarm to Marlena's words. She didn't know what Marlena meant by "something is wrong" but she knew that Marlena was drifting further and further away from reality. She wasn't sure if it had to do with the journey through the tunnels or it was the ordeal she had gone through while being held prisoner. With hesitation Kate left Marlena alone by the tree as she went in search for a signal on her cell phone.

"Oh, God please keep the men safe."

Marlena prayed as she continued to cry. She couldn't loose John now that they were pregnant again. She knew he wanted to have another child with her and though after so long he never gave up the hope of experiencing the entire pregnancy with her. He had missed so much already she just couldn't bear it if he missed this pregnancy too. It probably would be her last one. The memories of her time with John since the day they married kept her from drifting into unconsciousness. Though she was beginning to loose the strength she had to remain calm for both her and the baby. A short while later Kate returned to her side.

"Marlena there is a terrible accident on the freeway all their ambulances are there. It's going to be hours before they reach us do you think you can walk with me? The hospital isn't far from here its only 5 blocks away."

"I don't know Kate I'm so weak."

Kate sat next to her friend as she leaned against the tree.

"We can rest for a while. I'm sure Tony's men are still looking for him. They don't know this way to the castle. John only knew because he remembered taking this way to the Favershem residence while he was still under Stefano's control. It will be hours before they find us. Can you wait that long?"

"I don't know Kate something is wrong I can feel it."

"You keep saying something is wrong? What is it? Is something wrong with you and why can't you tell me?"

"Just forget I said anything okay. I'll be just fine I'm just terrified something is wrong with John. It's been hours since he and Tony confronted each other. Being that it's been so long I only fear that John couldn't get away from Tony and now he's Tony's prisoner."

Marlena lied to Kate. She didn't want her to know that she was pregnant she didn't want anyone to know she was pregnant. Especially now since they were so close to Tony's castle it would only be a matter of time before they caught them and both would go back into the castle and become Tony's prisoners again.

A few hours later Roman reached John and Tony. John had Tony in a choke hold ready to kill him. Roman pulled the shackles from the wall and locked them around Tony's ankles. He then pulled John away from Tony.

"Roman why did you stop me I could have finished off this DiMera once and for all and now he has the chance to go after the ones I love again?"

"I know how much you hate Tony as much as we all do but you can't do this by yourself. Let the law take care of Tony you need to get back to your wife she needs you now more then ever."

"How can I protect my family with this animal still free?"

Tony chuckled demonically at John's words.

"He's right Roman, these shackles may have kept you and Marlena chained to each other what makes you think that they will keep me in place too."

"You shut up DiMera"

John shouted pointing a finger at Tony.

"I know you're right Roman it's just every time I see this man it drives me mad. Each day that he's free gives him another chance to take our loved ones away. Well I have had enough of this Tony needs to be behind bars and I won't rest until I see him either rot in jail or die in the gas chamber. Just as he let them do to me. Now its payback time you are going to rot in jail DiMera and spend the rest of your life up in Statesville."

"Have your forgotten John, my last name is DiMera I won't be in jail for long you of all people know that much."

"Well this is the end of the line for you Tony. You will never see outside of a jail cell for the rest of your life and I'm going to gloat when the judge gives you your sentencing. Then and only then can we finally put the DiMera's away forever. Let's get out of here Roman."

TBC…Chapter 10