Chapter 10

Kate assists Marlena to her feet and both head off to the hospital. Marlena was growing weaker every moment that passed. Kate knew something was terribly wrong with her when she became silent. Marlena continued to fight the pain she was feeling preventing Kate from knowing her discomfort all she wanted was to get to the hospital. When Marlena once again became heavy in Kate's arms Kate struggled to keep Marlena from loosing her balance. There were only a few blocks away from the hospital.

"Marlena wait, here put your arms around my neck. I can't carry you but I can support you until we get to the hospital."

"No Kate I can't do that to you just leave me here John will eventually come back to me I don't want to slow you down."

"Marlena you are my best friend if our positions were reversed you would do the same for me. Now do what I say I can't carry you but I can support you its only a few blocks to the hospital."

Marlena gasps sharply at a shooting pain in her stomach. Kate could feel her knees buckle beneath her as Marlena fell to the ground gasping.

"Oh my God…Marlena are you alright!"

"I'm fine Kate, it's just the shackles that Tony used to chain Roman and I together weakened my ankle. I'll be fine in a minute."

Again Marlena lied to Kate but she couldn't risk telling Kate about the baby. She wanted John to know first it was bad enough that Roman figured it out already. With a few sharp breaths Marlena recovered enough to get to her feet with Kate's help.

"Are you sure you can go on Marlena. Just a minute ago you could barely move. Was your ankle bothering you that much?"

"Yeah…my ankle"

Marlena said rolling her eyes. Her ankle didn't hurt nearly as much as the pain she was feeling in her stomach. She worried naturally about the baby and was afraid that Tony prevented it from having a chance at life but she kept pressing on. Marlena and Kate continued to the hospital. After the second time Marlena fell to the ground gasping in pain Kate became worried that she was keeping something from her. It wasn't her ankle Kate knew that already they had to stop and rest. The hospital was only 3 blocks away and they were far enough away from the castle for Marlena to finally get some rest.

"Marlena you need to rest that ankle. It's almost dawn Roman and John should be here soon. They both left us hours ago I expect them here at any moment. I just want you to try and get some sleep and not to worry about Tony's men. There is no way they know where we are."

"I think you're right Kate I don't think I can go on until I get some rest. Maybe you should take this time and try and get some sleep yourself. You haven't slept in 3 days you have to be exhausted."

"I am a little tired but I'm worried about the pain you are having."

"Kate it's nothing I told you the chains weakened my ankle. That's all really don't worry about me I'll be just fine."

Kate took a seat next to Marlena and smiled at her.

"Marlena I've known you for a really long time. I know there is something you aren't telling me. Why don't you just tell me so we both can relax?"

"Kate it's nothing really."

"You're lying to me Marlena. Now I know something is wrong with you and I know it's not your ankle."

"Kate…I"

John and Roman came rushing up to their wives saving Marlena from answering Kate's question. Both had never been happier to see their husbands safe and sound. Without any hello's both also noticed Tony closely followed behind them chains wrapped around his torso. Leaving just enough room for him to walk but not run. Both Marlena and Kate get to their feet.

"What's he doing here John?"

Marlena asked her words filled with anger.

"Tony has a date with the European Police Force. This time he's not getting away with anything."

John glared at Tony then smiled at his wife. Roman took the chains from John allowing him to take her into his arms the way he should have if Tony hadn't interfered.

"Oh Doc I was so worried about you. But I knew that you weren't dead I would have been able to sense it if you were dead. From that day on I refused to believe that God had taken you away from me and I refused to give up on us. I'm so happy Tony didn't hurt you."

The two share a kiss and a hug. Marlena wasn't bothered by the pain she was feeling looking at John always made all her pain disappear. Though the reunion was short lived all were determined to get back home to their families and have a real reunion. A reunion that has been built solely on their separation.

"Come on lets get you to a hospital and you DiMera to the Police Station."

John said taking the chains from Roman. It wasn't long before Marlena once again was crippled by another pain. Though she struggled to keep mum about it John knew something was wrong with Marlena. He halted quickly dragging Tony with him to Marlena's side. Just as John approached Marlena she fell to the ground gasping in pain. She cried out from the pain John handed Tony over to Roman who tightened his grip around the chains immobilizing Tony at his feet.

"Marlena what's wrong?"

"It's nothing John really it's my ankle."

Marlena unconsciously moved her hand to her stomach as the pain began to deepen. John noticed the movement and rushed to her aide.

"Kate how long has she been like this?"

"Since before we got out of the castle. She kept saying it was her ankle but I know it wasn't that it was something else. I just couldn't get her to tell me what."

John helped Marlena down against a rock and searched for other wounds hidden beneath her clothing. Besides a few scratches and bruises she seemed perfectly fine. Her ankle was swollen and red but John knew that couldn't be what was causing her so much pain. Roman knew what was wrong with Marlena but he couldn't tell John he had promised Marlena he wouldn't. But the pain she was feeling couldn't be good for the baby or for her. In that brief moment Roman began to panic worried that Marlena was having a miscarriage before his eyes and John didn't even know about the baby.

"John we have to get her to the hospital right away."

"I agree, you take Tony don't ease your grip on that chain. Take him to the police station it isn't far from the hospital. I'm going to carry Marlena, Kate I want you to go with Roman don't let Tony try anything."

"I promise John just get Marlena the help she needs."

John nods and takes Marlena in his arms. She rested her head on his shoulder as the pain continued to move through her body. Before long she was unconscious from the pain and John raced her to the hospital. A few minutes later Marlena was brought into the ER and taken to a cubicle. John was forced out of the room as the doctors frantically tried to revive Marlena. All John could do was watch as his wife began to slip further and further away from him.

"Don't give up Doc don't give up."

John pleaded as the monitors Marlena was hooked up to beeped in unsteady rhythms. After what seemed like years the doctor's came out John could tell by the expression on his face it wasn't good news.

"Doctor my wife is she…?"

"She's in critical condition."

The sound of the doctor's voice sent chills down John's back. He broke down as the doctor continued to deliver the news.

"She's severely malnourished and because of her condition we are doing our very best to save her life. She has a hairline fracture on her left ankle, we are casting it now. She refuses any pain medication but the pain she's feeling is terrible. She also wants to see you but I must insist you not spend too much time with her."

"Her condition?"

"I'm sorry Mr. Black but it doesn't look good. Whatever she has gone through it's a miracle that she's still alive after all this time."

"Can I please see her?"

"Sure come in."

John followed the doctor inside the room. The machines Marlena was hooked up to cried out "danger" Marlena was barely conscious as the nurses continued to cast her ankle, while the doctors continued to pump her IV with nutrition to fight the malnourishment plaguing her. He could see the pain she was in and went to her side.

"Doc why don't you want any pain medication it will make you feel better."

Marlena struggled to keep her eyes open as she turned to John. With all the strength she has left she took John's hand and places it on her stomach. John did notice the movement as the monitors continued to scream at him.

"No John please"…Marlena said weakly…"the baby."

As she slowly drifted into unconsciousness John was left to trying to figure out exactly what Marlena was telling him. After the shock wore off he understood and prevented the nurse from giving Marlena the medication.

"No stop! She doesn't want to hurt the baby"

The nurse pulled away harshly as John finished the sentence.

"I know that Mr. Black but our duty is to save your wife."

"Listen to me doctor…my wife doesn't want any medication for a reason."

"I must insist she take this medication it could save her life."

"I told you doctor, she doesn't want anything. She would rather die then hurt this baby."

"Very well but you may have just signed your wife's death certificate"

TBC…Chapter 11