Post by Tammy on Aug 17, 2006 11:15:14 GMT -5
The next morning Marlena went into John’s room to check and see how he was and if he needed anything. She walked in and saw John wide awake relaxing on his bed, “Hey you!” John looked up and smiled, “Hey…did you sleep okay?” Marlena shrugged her shoulders, “No…not really.” John smiled at her in wonderment, “Why not?” Marlena smiled and shrugged again, “Not really my thing…sleep.” John kept smiling, “Well…why not?” Marlena shook her head, “It’s just too…quiet.” She walked over to him and sat next to him on the bed, “So… yesterday when we were shaving…” “Mm hmm?” Marlena took a deep breath, “Well…you couldn’t feel it…could you?” John kept starring at her intently, ‘Mm-mm.” Marlena nodded with a sad smile, “Can you feel…anything?” John never broke his gaze on her, “I don’t think so. It’s kinda like uh…like going to the dentist. You know their diggin around in there but…you cant feel anything.” Marlena starred at him, “Yeah…you know your body suffered a tremendous trauma. So sometimes things can get jumbled up in there.” John looked away from her, “Maybe…this is my punishment.” She starred at him lovingly…after a moment he raised his tear filled eyes to meet hers, “I was driving the car.” She wasn’t about to see John tear himself apart because it wasn’t his fault. “And…also…a man had a heart attack…and drove into your driveway. Those are the things that happened. “ John just looked at her, “He was with me.” Marlena smiled at him gently, “But you cant change that.” John just continued to gaze at her with tears dripping out of the corner of his eyes.
A while later John decided to show Marlena around his house. He took her to his game room where there were video games and a pool table. Marlena was excited because she loved to play. So John told her to go ahead and play a game and he would sit there and watch…he told her he wanted to see what she was made of. She played for a while and after a few shots she began to miss more and more which made John laugh…which was her intent all along. After finishing the game she walked over to John and handed him the pool cue, “Your turn.” He just smiled at her shook his head and said, “Nah.” He felt awkward knowing that he was confined to a wheelchair and probably wouldn’t be able to play very well. Marlena could read his face and she wasn’t about to give up. They sat there for hours while Marlena played…she knew that sooner or later John wouldn’t be able to resist the urge to try. And she was right…she handed him the pool cue…he wheeled himself up to the table and made several shots. But then it came time to make a shot that John knew he couldn’t make from his confined position in the chair. He handed Marlena the cue…and locked the wheels on his chair. He grabbed the edge of the pool table and with all his strength he began to pull himself up to stand. Marlena noticed what he was doing…she bent over and wrapped her arm around his waist to help him. When he finally got to his feet he sat himself on the edge of the table…he gently laid on his side across the table and positioned himself to take the shot. After a little struggled he took the shot and made it. He sat himself back up and looked at Marlena…a confident smile plastered on his face…which Marlena returned.
Since John was out of the chair he wanted to do some walking. John and Marlena walked out of the patio doors into the backyard…her arm around his waist and his arm around her shoulder. John looked at her and smiled, “I want to show you something.” John flipped a light switch and the whole yard around the pool was glowing with lights. Marlena looked around at this spectacular sight…it was breathtaking, “Wow.” was all she could say. John smiled, “Yeah…I have had a lot of parties back here. Or…at least I used to.” Marlena walked him over to a chair. He just smiled at her, “You swim?” She looked at him and chuckled, “I float. You?” John looked away, “I used to.” A huge smile spread across her face, “Okay…close your eyes.” John smiled at her wickedly, “Oh come on…you’ve seen all of me…fair is fair!” Marlena looked at him in mock shock, “Not so much…close ‘em.” John scuffs and then with a smile he brings his hand up to his face and covers his eyes. He turned away and sighed…as he turned back he lifted his hand up uncovering one eye, “There closed.” Marlena laughed, “Oh cheater…come on.” John laughed “There closed.” Marlena stared at him in defiance. He sighed once again and covered his eyes completely. Marlena quickly removed her shirt and pants…which left her in a tank top and underwear. She looked at John to make sure he wasn’t peeking and then she jumped into the water. When she came back up she gasped with delight. After hearing the splash John turned around just as she resurfaced and he began to chuckle, “Pretty good huh?” Marlena nodded, “Yeah…you gotta come in.” John just looked at her and after a moment he smiled. “Fine! But you close your eyes.” Marlena began to laugh, “Hey nothing’ I haven’t seen before. And I mean literally!” John just starred at her with a mixture of happiness and defiance in his eyes. He slowly stood from his chair and began to undress. Marlena just watched him…even after spending two years in a coma he still had an incredibly fit body. With out even thinking she spoke, “You gonna do that your self?” When she realized what she said she blushed…she didn’t necessarily mean it the way it came out…she just wanted to know if he needed help…since he was still fairly weak. John had to laugh, he saw how embarrassed she was. He was tempted to tease her but he just replied, ‘Yep…gonna do it all by myself.” After a few moments John sat down at the pools edge and eased himself in…with Marlena right there to help him. She grabbed his hands and helped him down into the water. When John was in the water they just stood there with no more than a few inches separating them…they just starred into each others eyes. Marlena was the first to break the silence. “This is good. This is great therapy actually…we could use this.” John’s eyes just roamed over her features, “It feels strange.” Marlena looked at him hopefully, “You can feel it?” John smiled and shook his head, “No…that’s why it feels strange.” Marlena smiled, “Give me your hands.” John smiled at her and did as she asked. Marlena took his hands and walked through the pool bringing John along with her. When she stopped she pulled John up close to her. They starred into each others eyes for a long moment until Marlena broke the silence, “Now float.” John tentatively laid back. Marlena’s hands laid underneath his back to brace him. John just laid their getting used to it and he began to smile…he stretched his arms out to his sides and brought his legs all the way up. Marlena just watched his face…and she gazed at him as the outside lights danced in his shining eyes.
The next morning Marlena sat on the sun porch drinking her morning coffee. She was thinking of her and John last night…and what that meant…or wondering if it meant anything at all. Then Marlena was brought out of her thoughts by John’s mother Caroline. Caroline touched Marlena’s shoulder, “Good morning.” Marlena smiled at her, “Morning.” Caroline sat across the table from Marlena, “So…the maid told me that you…took John swimming last night.” Marlena answered hesitantly, “Yeah, his strength is returning so um…its really good for him.” After that they sat there awkwardly until Caroline broke the silence. “ He likes you.” Marlena looked up at her in shock, “W…what?” She looked at Caroline and began to laugh, as though she was dismissing what Caroline said. But Caroline shook her head, “No…no it’s good. It’s good. It keeps him thinking about the future. That’s…that’s so important.” Marlena looked at her and smiled lovingly. “Would you…would you like to help me with him?” Caroline shook her head slightly, “You seem to be doing just fine with him.” Marlena smiled, “He has a long way to go still…Mrs. Brady.” Caroline sighed, “Umm…you’ll get him there. I know it. I know it! Then…you can go back to your old life…as we all can.” With that Caroline walked away and Marlena looked away and though to herself that this woman was in some serious denial if she though that things were ever going to be the same as they used to be. Marlena rose from the table and went back into the house. As she ascended the stairs he heard a thud come from a room over by the entrance to the garage. She walked toward the room…the door was a jar so she stuck her head in. She saw Shawn going through a box…just one of many that cluttered this room. She walked around some boxes and into Shawn’s line of sight. He looked at her and smiled, “Oh…hi. I though we should umm…we should get rid of some of this old stuff. I really don’t know where…I don’t know where to begin. I haven’t been down here in years…two years.” Marlena looked around. The room was filled with boxes, and pictures and…toys. Marlena pulls out a frame and stares at it. Shawn walks over to see what she has and smiles. Marlena stares at the frame, “He was a big shot mogul?” Shawn chuckles. Marlena smiles, “That’s not what I imagined.” Shawn laughed slightly, “Well…I don’t think that it’s what he imagined either. I think it was my idea.” Marlena holds the frame to her chest and thinks for a moment. Just then the phone rings and Shawn excuses himself. Marlena just stands there looking at the boxes that hold John’s life…and his sons. Marlena pulls a photo album out of a box and begins to flip through the pages. She smiles at pictures of Brady’s angelic face. Then Shawn comes back in, “Marlena…it’s for you.” Marlena looks up at him worriedly…there is only one person who knows to reach her here!
A while later John decided to show Marlena around his house. He took her to his game room where there were video games and a pool table. Marlena was excited because she loved to play. So John told her to go ahead and play a game and he would sit there and watch…he told her he wanted to see what she was made of. She played for a while and after a few shots she began to miss more and more which made John laugh…which was her intent all along. After finishing the game she walked over to John and handed him the pool cue, “Your turn.” He just smiled at her shook his head and said, “Nah.” He felt awkward knowing that he was confined to a wheelchair and probably wouldn’t be able to play very well. Marlena could read his face and she wasn’t about to give up. They sat there for hours while Marlena played…she knew that sooner or later John wouldn’t be able to resist the urge to try. And she was right…she handed him the pool cue…he wheeled himself up to the table and made several shots. But then it came time to make a shot that John knew he couldn’t make from his confined position in the chair. He handed Marlena the cue…and locked the wheels on his chair. He grabbed the edge of the pool table and with all his strength he began to pull himself up to stand. Marlena noticed what he was doing…she bent over and wrapped her arm around his waist to help him. When he finally got to his feet he sat himself on the edge of the table…he gently laid on his side across the table and positioned himself to take the shot. After a little struggled he took the shot and made it. He sat himself back up and looked at Marlena…a confident smile plastered on his face…which Marlena returned.
Since John was out of the chair he wanted to do some walking. John and Marlena walked out of the patio doors into the backyard…her arm around his waist and his arm around her shoulder. John looked at her and smiled, “I want to show you something.” John flipped a light switch and the whole yard around the pool was glowing with lights. Marlena looked around at this spectacular sight…it was breathtaking, “Wow.” was all she could say. John smiled, “Yeah…I have had a lot of parties back here. Or…at least I used to.” Marlena walked him over to a chair. He just smiled at her, “You swim?” She looked at him and chuckled, “I float. You?” John looked away, “I used to.” A huge smile spread across her face, “Okay…close your eyes.” John smiled at her wickedly, “Oh come on…you’ve seen all of me…fair is fair!” Marlena looked at him in mock shock, “Not so much…close ‘em.” John scuffs and then with a smile he brings his hand up to his face and covers his eyes. He turned away and sighed…as he turned back he lifted his hand up uncovering one eye, “There closed.” Marlena laughed, “Oh cheater…come on.” John laughed “There closed.” Marlena stared at him in defiance. He sighed once again and covered his eyes completely. Marlena quickly removed her shirt and pants…which left her in a tank top and underwear. She looked at John to make sure he wasn’t peeking and then she jumped into the water. When she came back up she gasped with delight. After hearing the splash John turned around just as she resurfaced and he began to chuckle, “Pretty good huh?” Marlena nodded, “Yeah…you gotta come in.” John just looked at her and after a moment he smiled. “Fine! But you close your eyes.” Marlena began to laugh, “Hey nothing’ I haven’t seen before. And I mean literally!” John just starred at her with a mixture of happiness and defiance in his eyes. He slowly stood from his chair and began to undress. Marlena just watched him…even after spending two years in a coma he still had an incredibly fit body. With out even thinking she spoke, “You gonna do that your self?” When she realized what she said she blushed…she didn’t necessarily mean it the way it came out…she just wanted to know if he needed help…since he was still fairly weak. John had to laugh, he saw how embarrassed she was. He was tempted to tease her but he just replied, ‘Yep…gonna do it all by myself.” After a few moments John sat down at the pools edge and eased himself in…with Marlena right there to help him. She grabbed his hands and helped him down into the water. When John was in the water they just stood there with no more than a few inches separating them…they just starred into each others eyes. Marlena was the first to break the silence. “This is good. This is great therapy actually…we could use this.” John’s eyes just roamed over her features, “It feels strange.” Marlena looked at him hopefully, “You can feel it?” John smiled and shook his head, “No…that’s why it feels strange.” Marlena smiled, “Give me your hands.” John smiled at her and did as she asked. Marlena took his hands and walked through the pool bringing John along with her. When she stopped she pulled John up close to her. They starred into each others eyes for a long moment until Marlena broke the silence, “Now float.” John tentatively laid back. Marlena’s hands laid underneath his back to brace him. John just laid their getting used to it and he began to smile…he stretched his arms out to his sides and brought his legs all the way up. Marlena just watched his face…and she gazed at him as the outside lights danced in his shining eyes.
The next morning Marlena sat on the sun porch drinking her morning coffee. She was thinking of her and John last night…and what that meant…or wondering if it meant anything at all. Then Marlena was brought out of her thoughts by John’s mother Caroline. Caroline touched Marlena’s shoulder, “Good morning.” Marlena smiled at her, “Morning.” Caroline sat across the table from Marlena, “So…the maid told me that you…took John swimming last night.” Marlena answered hesitantly, “Yeah, his strength is returning so um…its really good for him.” After that they sat there awkwardly until Caroline broke the silence. “ He likes you.” Marlena looked up at her in shock, “W…what?” She looked at Caroline and began to laugh, as though she was dismissing what Caroline said. But Caroline shook her head, “No…no it’s good. It’s good. It keeps him thinking about the future. That’s…that’s so important.” Marlena looked at her and smiled lovingly. “Would you…would you like to help me with him?” Caroline shook her head slightly, “You seem to be doing just fine with him.” Marlena smiled, “He has a long way to go still…Mrs. Brady.” Caroline sighed, “Umm…you’ll get him there. I know it. I know it! Then…you can go back to your old life…as we all can.” With that Caroline walked away and Marlena looked away and though to herself that this woman was in some serious denial if she though that things were ever going to be the same as they used to be. Marlena rose from the table and went back into the house. As she ascended the stairs he heard a thud come from a room over by the entrance to the garage. She walked toward the room…the door was a jar so she stuck her head in. She saw Shawn going through a box…just one of many that cluttered this room. She walked around some boxes and into Shawn’s line of sight. He looked at her and smiled, “Oh…hi. I though we should umm…we should get rid of some of this old stuff. I really don’t know where…I don’t know where to begin. I haven’t been down here in years…two years.” Marlena looked around. The room was filled with boxes, and pictures and…toys. Marlena pulls out a frame and stares at it. Shawn walks over to see what she has and smiles. Marlena stares at the frame, “He was a big shot mogul?” Shawn chuckles. Marlena smiles, “That’s not what I imagined.” Shawn laughed slightly, “Well…I don’t think that it’s what he imagined either. I think it was my idea.” Marlena holds the frame to her chest and thinks for a moment. Just then the phone rings and Shawn excuses himself. Marlena just stands there looking at the boxes that hold John’s life…and his sons. Marlena pulls a photo album out of a box and begins to flip through the pages. She smiles at pictures of Brady’s angelic face. Then Shawn comes back in, “Marlena…it’s for you.” Marlena looks up at him worriedly…there is only one person who knows to reach her here!
