Post by Tammy on Aug 19, 2006 23:10:10 GMT -5
After seeing Brady at Marlena’s house John had become withdrawn again and Marlena had decided it was best to take him home. After getting settled in she went to check on John. She came into his bedroom to find him watching the video’s of Brady. She sat down beside him on the bed and stroked his face. “I called Dr. Reynolds. I can set up the tests whenever your ready.” He nodded at her while keeping his eyes fixed on the television. The tears began to stream down his face , “I didn’t see it coming.” Marlena gently wiped away his tears, “I know” He shook his head, “Why didn’t I see it coming?” She stroked his face lovingly for a minute and then rose from the bed, “Come with me.” John just looked at her, “Where?” Marlena just grabbed his hand and lead him from the room.
Hand in hand Marlena lead him down the hall into a storage room. John glanced around at all of the boxes that were scattered along the walls and the floor, that seemed to reach to the ceiling. John sighed deeply trying to clear the tears that lodged in his throat, and then squeezed Marlena’s hand. Marlena took that as a sign. She kissed him on the cheek and left the room, giving John the time and space that he needed.
John sat in the room almost afraid to see what the multitude of boxes held. He took a deep ragged breath and removed the lid of the box directly in front of him. He ran his hand across the leather bound book and picked it up. As he opened it he felt the tears sting his eyes as the angelic face of his beloved son starred up at him from the pictures. He skimmed the pictures of memories past, birthday parties, Halloweens, fun days at the beach. He set the book down and perused the other boxes. He openly cried as he touched everything that his eyes came in contact with, Brady’s clothes, his toys, his red backpack. John let out a gasp and fell to his knees crying.
Marlena paced in the kitchen rummaging through the cupboards. Shawn walked in and saw her, “ They hid the good stuff.” Marlena jumped from the suddenness of Shawn’s voice, “Oh, God… you scared me.” Shawn stifled a smile, “Sorry… I know where the secret hiding place is. Treats on me…” Shawn bent over and pushed aside some cans and boxes, “Here lets see…there’s chocolate..” Marlena’s smiled, “Ohhh..” Shawn continued to pull out more containers, “Wait here is oatmeal…and chocolate chip.” Both start to giggle and tear into the cookies. Marlena hops up onto the counter to sit and Shawn sits on the stool by the counter. “So Caroline wants to ugh…invite some friends over tomorrow for John…” Marlena looks up bewildered as Shawn continues. “It’s just um…” Marlena raises her hand to stop him. “If you don’t mind me saying, I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” Shawn sighs, “Well she wants him to start experiencing real life, you know. What ever the hell that is.” They both chuckle. Shawn sighs and looks up at Marlena, “You have done a remarkable job here Marlena.” Marlena smiles shyly, “He did all the work… not me.” Shawn shakes his head, “No, no… He’d still be strapped to that bed if it wasn’t for you, you know that.” He smiles the most heartwarming smile at her, and then glances down at his hands that are fidgeting in his lap, “I ugh… I wanted to shut off the machines… did you know that?” Marlena looks up at him with tears in her eyes and simply shakes her head no. Shawn nods slowly, “Yeah… the doctors said he was gone. I thought he was gone. I remember starring at him in that bed, thinking he looked so… disconnected.” Marlena nods her understanding, “So… what happened?” Shawn sighed, “Well… his mother wouldn’t agree to it. She just wouldn’t accept it. She’s… she’s the only reason he’s here today.” Marlena just smiled at him, realizing for the first time what a miracle it was that John was in her life at all.
Hand in hand Marlena lead him down the hall into a storage room. John glanced around at all of the boxes that were scattered along the walls and the floor, that seemed to reach to the ceiling. John sighed deeply trying to clear the tears that lodged in his throat, and then squeezed Marlena’s hand. Marlena took that as a sign. She kissed him on the cheek and left the room, giving John the time and space that he needed.
John sat in the room almost afraid to see what the multitude of boxes held. He took a deep ragged breath and removed the lid of the box directly in front of him. He ran his hand across the leather bound book and picked it up. As he opened it he felt the tears sting his eyes as the angelic face of his beloved son starred up at him from the pictures. He skimmed the pictures of memories past, birthday parties, Halloweens, fun days at the beach. He set the book down and perused the other boxes. He openly cried as he touched everything that his eyes came in contact with, Brady’s clothes, his toys, his red backpack. John let out a gasp and fell to his knees crying.
Marlena paced in the kitchen rummaging through the cupboards. Shawn walked in and saw her, “ They hid the good stuff.” Marlena jumped from the suddenness of Shawn’s voice, “Oh, God… you scared me.” Shawn stifled a smile, “Sorry… I know where the secret hiding place is. Treats on me…” Shawn bent over and pushed aside some cans and boxes, “Here lets see…there’s chocolate..” Marlena’s smiled, “Ohhh..” Shawn continued to pull out more containers, “Wait here is oatmeal…and chocolate chip.” Both start to giggle and tear into the cookies. Marlena hops up onto the counter to sit and Shawn sits on the stool by the counter. “So Caroline wants to ugh…invite some friends over tomorrow for John…” Marlena looks up bewildered as Shawn continues. “It’s just um…” Marlena raises her hand to stop him. “If you don’t mind me saying, I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” Shawn sighs, “Well she wants him to start experiencing real life, you know. What ever the hell that is.” They both chuckle. Shawn sighs and looks up at Marlena, “You have done a remarkable job here Marlena.” Marlena smiles shyly, “He did all the work… not me.” Shawn shakes his head, “No, no… He’d still be strapped to that bed if it wasn’t for you, you know that.” He smiles the most heartwarming smile at her, and then glances down at his hands that are fidgeting in his lap, “I ugh… I wanted to shut off the machines… did you know that?” Marlena looks up at him with tears in her eyes and simply shakes her head no. Shawn nods slowly, “Yeah… the doctors said he was gone. I thought he was gone. I remember starring at him in that bed, thinking he looked so… disconnected.” Marlena nods her understanding, “So… what happened?” Shawn sighed, “Well… his mother wouldn’t agree to it. She just wouldn’t accept it. She’s… she’s the only reason he’s here today.” Marlena just smiled at him, realizing for the first time what a miracle it was that John was in her life at all.
