Chapter 23

The next morning John was up before Marlena. She had a terrible night and was sick with a fever for most of the night it finally broke as the sun was coming up. She tossed and turned for hours keeping John up for hours. But he didn't mind they just sat up and talked about the twins and what it was going to be like to have babies in the family again. John tried to be as quiet as possible but as he tripped over a rug in the center of the room Marlena heard the commotion. She quickly sat up in bed a habit she learned as the days of Stefano haunted her. When a wave of dizziness prevented her from staying up she quickly put her head back on the pillow.

"Oh I'm sorry Doc I didn't mean to wake you I was being as quiet as I could possibly be. I tripped over that stupid rug I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's okay John I needed to get up anyway. I just didn't expect to be awakened with the noise. I guess old habits die hard. Stefano came into our home so much I suppose my mind just has a "red alert" when I hear something. Besides I need to get to work."

"Oh no you don't, you had a fever for most of the night. I can't let you go to work besides Dr. Bader wants you to stay in bed. An infection could be fatal to the twins right now. I called her she'll be stopping by after she sees a few patients."

"John you shouldn't have called her it was just a fever. I'm probably coming down with a cold or something I don't need to see Karen. I also have patients that need to see me its bad enough I had to give most of them to someone else."

"Honey, you spiked a fever of 102 last night and had it most of the night Dr. Bader told us if anything is out of the ordinary to contact her right away. So I did now no arguments she'll be here before I get home from work. Tell her everything don't keep anything back. I want you to tell her how sick you've been. It can't be normal even on medication. I don't want anything to happen to you or the twins."

Marlena lets out a frustrated groan. Again she tries to lift her head from the pillow but as expected her head spun while her stomach churned. She pulled the covers off her body and ran to the bathroom slamming the door behind her. John went to the door and listened the water was running but he hadn't heard anything. He was hopeful that it was just a false alarm. Inside the bathroom Marlena let out a few relieved sighs as the wave of nausea passed. She turned off the water and left the bathroom. She looked pale to John but he was grateful that she wasn't getting sick with that run. Marlena climbed back into bed and looked at John. John smiled and kissed her on the cheek.

"Do you think you can keep some ginger ale down or do you want some herbal tea and crackers?"

"Oh John please don't mention food I may not have been sick that time but that doesn't stop the nausea. Why don't you just get some peppermint tea for me before you leave? I'm sure that I'll be okay and I promise I will let Karen know how I'm feeling."

"I'll get the tea I'll be up in a few minutes don't go anywhere."

"John where would I go?"

"It was a joke Doc come on you need to relax. It isn't good for you or the baby if you get all upset over something as trivial as this."

"I'm not really in a joking mood but I am sorry I snapped at you. Do you forgive me?"

"Forgive you? You're the mother of my children of course I will."

With a quick kiss John leaves their room Marlena closes her eyes again and prayed that the nausea she was feeling would pass quickly. John was right she needed to keep up her strength not only for her but for the twins. She just didn't remember her other pregnancies were so difficult. She also knew that she was a lot younger back then and it had been 21 years since her last pregnancy. She was sure that her body was just getting adjusted to a new pregnancy at her age. John came up a few minutes later Marlena wasn't in her bed but John knew where she was. He heard the water running in their shower. Though he wasn't sure if she was having a bout of morning sickness or if she truly was just in the shower. He places the tea down on the stand near the bed and walked into the bathroom. Marlena wasn't sick she was in the shower he was relieved from that. A few minutes later Marlena was out of the shower she reached for the towel on the wall only to meet it in John's hands. She smiled as she took the towel from his hands and wrapped it around her.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine I thought maybe a quick shower would make me feel better."

"Did it?"

"A little better so when do you have to leave?"

"In a few minutes. I just wanted to see you before I left. I brought the tea up and I did add a few crackers for you just in case."

"You know what John; I think I feel well enough to eat a few crackers. Let me just get dressed. I'll be out soon."

John nodded and exited the bathroom. Marlena quickly pulled on a robe and left the bathroom. She climbed into bed as John placed the tray table over her lap. She took a few bites of crackers and had some tea before John had to leave. He was just happy that she was eating. He was worried about her for a while. Though he knew there could be several weeks left for her to experience morning sickness but for once things were looking better for them. She was eating a few days ago she wouldn't eat or drink anything. He knew she would be okay while he went to work.

TBC…Chapter 24