A/N: For anyone reading who's become accustomed to my posting schedule, there won't be an update on Monday. A new chapter will drop next Thursday. Happy long weekend!


~ Chapter 9 ~

John ran his hand through his hair as he pocketed his keys and closed the door behind him. Slumping down into the nearest chair, he heaved a heavy sigh. The meeting with Gary, his ISA contact, had been an exercise in futility. He couldn't figure out if his friend was being honest and really had no information to give him, or whether there was some kind of binding gag order relating to Alex North that even Gary was unwilling to breach. In any case, he'd returned home no further ahead, and he was exasperated. How was he going to get Marlena to stop trusting her psychiatrist if he couldn't lay his hands on concrete proof that North was up to no good? More importantly, what could he do to get the doctor out of the penthouse, and out of Marlena's life?

One thought buoyed his spirits. Since he had left without deactivating the alarm on Alex or Marlena's doors, there was no way the resident quack could have disturbed his wife this morning. Once again, John congratulated himself on having the foresight to install the security system. Alex had more than enough influence on Marlena during the day. The least John could do was ensure that she remained undisturbed at night.

A beep from his watch alerted him to the fact that his wife was about to wake, and he decided to surprise her with breakfast in bed. Surely, such an effort wouldn't go unrewarded, and she'd agree to eat with him. Whistling cheerfully, he headed to the kitchen to put together a tray of some of her favourites.


Alex chuckled delightedly. The remote control that one of his colleagues had provided was working like a charm. He had managed to disable the alarm in order to visit Marlena earlier, and had subsequently re-armed it so that John would be none the wiser. Technology was improving by leaps and bounds, and it was certainly proving beneficial in his bid to help Marlena remember her past – the one she'd shared with him.

He'd spent so many years apart from her – lonely, desolate years, during which he'd constantly questioned whether he had made the right decision. While his long-ago choices had been the cause of their separation, even in retrospect, he didn't think he'd really had any alternative.

At least she was happy.

He was grateful for that, even as he wrestled with the jealousy he still felt, knowing that she'd contentedly shared her life with other men. For his part, the solitary lifestyle he'd led had suited him perfectly. She was the only one for him, and he would never have accepted some pale imitation. Besides, he'd had the whole picture at his disposal, while she'd been kept in the dark. Maybe if he had trusted her more… He gave his head a shake in an attempt to banish his gloomy thoughts. This was no time for recriminations. What was done was done, and he had to move forward. He'd allowed them to erase her memory – and now, it was his job to help her get it back.


Still basking in the afterglow of spending time with Alex, Marlena was convinced that she'd come up with a surefire way to be alone with him later that afternoon – the prospect of which made her positively giddy. Here was someone she barely knew, who'd been in her life so briefly, and already he'd become almost as vital to her as breathing. There was something so familiar about him, so reassuring, and he made her feel incredibly cherished…

For the second time that morning, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a knock. Anticipating Alex's reappearance, she rushed to open the door. She was crestfallen to discover John in the hallway instead, a huge grin on his face, and a tray of food in his hands.

"It's a bit later than usual, Doc, so I figured you'd be starving by now. I brought all the things you like, so let's dig in," he suggested enthusiastically.

Flashing back to the breakfast she'd eaten with Alex, Marlena groaned inwardly. She wasn't the least bit hungry, but if she brushed him off, John would want to know why, and it wouldn't do to arouse his suspicions. Reluctantly, she invited him in. Once they were both seated, she picked up a piece of fruit and, while nibbling at it, she opted to distract John with small talk, hoping he wouldn't notice that she was barely touching the food.

"How has your morning been so far?"

Knowing how angry she would be if he revealed that he'd been out investigating Alex, John buried his frustrations behind a smile and a bland response.

"It's been good. I got up early, did some work…" He stopped abruptly, crossing his fingers that she wouldn't ask him what, precisely, he'd been working on.

"Oh, that's nice," she responded automatically, her attention elsewhere.

She could hear Alex in the adjoining room, and she was instantly distracted. About to put her plan in motion, she took a breath to speak, but before she could utter a word, John piped up.

"It's a beautiful day, Doc. Could I persuade you to take a walk with me down by the river?"

Recalling the closeness that she and Alex had experienced at the water's edge the night before, she had no desire to revisit the area with John. Still, his invitation had given her the opening she'd been waiting for.

"Actually, John, I was really hoping to be by myself today. I'm feeling much stronger, and I believe it would be good for me to have a chance to sit and think, and to sort some things out."

John was about to protest when a realization struck him. If she wanted to be alone, that wish would apply to Alex as well. Agreeing to her request would ensure that she'd be out of the not-so-good doctor's clutches – which was worth the sacrifice.

"Are you sure you're up to it?"

"Absolutely. The air is crisp, the leaves are beautiful, and I just know that a bit of solitude will do wonders for me. You don't have to worry, John. I'll be fine. Really."

"Don't you need to check with Dr. North first?"

His tone bordered on the sarcastic, and she fought the urge to call him on it. Antagonizing him when she was so close to achieving her goal could ruin everything.

"Alex only wants what's best for me," she reminded her husband. "He won't object to my enjoying some peace and quiet. It's only when he thinks I'll be overwhelmed that he steps in."

John gritted his teeth at her automatic defense of Alex, but let it go. She'd be away from North's influence for several hours, and that was to be encouraged.

"Okay, then. Don't hesitate to call if you need me."

"I won't. I repeat, I'll be fine. I'll see you later."

Picking up her jacket and purse, Marlena left the room. Watching her go, John heaved a sigh of relief as she exited the penthouse. He failed to notice that Alex's door was open just enough for the latter to overhear him as he voiced his thoughts aloud.

"She's free of you for the day, North," he muttered, his tone smug. "And I'm going to see to it that she's soon free of you for good."

Withdrawing silently into his room, Alex shook his head.

"You're so very mistaken, Mr. Black. My day with Marlena is just beginning."