Post by Tammy on Aug 20, 2006 1:07:03 GMT -5
Touched: Chapter 10
The next evening John and Marlena stand poised at the top of the stair dressed in their party attire. Marlena glances over at John, “So, are you ready for this?” John looks at her and laughs, “Does it really matter if I am or not… everyone is already here.” Marlena laughs and slaps him lightly on the shoulder, “If you are not up for this we can go right back up stairs.” John smiles at her slyly and pulls her close to him, “Well that all depends… what is waiting for me upstairs?” Marlena blushes and turns away, which causes John to laugh. He gently takes hold of her chin and turns her face toward him and looks her in the eyes. “In all seriousness… I am fine, I can handle this… I swear!” She nods in agreement and he kisses her lightly on the lips, “By the way… you looks beautiful tonight.” He squeezes her hand and then they make their way down the stairs. They stop and glance around the room at all of John’s family and friends. She smiles at him and nudges him to walk into the room first. She stand there admiring John and watching as all of his family and friends crowd around him giving him hugs and well wishes. She continues to stare at him from her place on the stairs as Shawn clinks his champagne glass and starts to make a toast. “I ugh… I’d like to make a toast here. You know… most of us never thought this day would come. I know we kept… we kept dreaming that it would, and somehow here we are.” Marlena and John’s eyes haven’t left each others as she makes her way down the stairs and into the crowd of people as Shawn continues his speech. “Now for two years you’ve been taken from us, God knows what you went through. And it’s taken great strength and courage and a lot of heart for you to fight your way back to us, John. I don’t know whether this is a miracle or what…but you know, I really don’t care. You’ve come home.” Marlena stares worriedly at John as he fidgets at his fathers words to him. Shawn raises his glass, “Welcome Home Son!” The room breaks out into cheers of ’Welcome Home’ and the sound of glasses clinking together. John nods at everyone distractedly and then glances over to Marlena who is poised at the bottom of the stairs. His gaze intensifies again at the image he sees. It’s Brady… sitting on the foot of the stairs right next to Marlena. He stare’s harder as his image of an angelic Brady waves at him. Marlena see’s John’s intense stare and knows that something is wrong. Marlena stares intently at John… his mouth is quivering as he softly whispers ”I’m sorry”. John stumbles toward Marlena as a shooting pain sears through his head. He holds his head in his hands as he begins to sways back and forth. Marlena begins to push her way through the crowd to get to him. She reaches him in time to catch him as he collapses to the ground.
Everyone is gathered at the hospital awaiting word on John’s condition. Marlena sits in the waiting room with Shawn and Caroline… all of them drowning in the silence and uncertainty, meanwhile John is in the operating room being prepared for brain surgery. As he lays there his life with Brady plays through his mind like a movie reel that is on contestant playback.
A while later the doctor comes out to talk to them and they all rise to attention. The doctor takes a deep breath, “I uh… I spoke to the doctors. There has been a, massive hemorrhage in the brain. Apparently he's been…bleeding from some time. And it’s possible that ugh… that the bleeding has been causing these visions and… effecting his sense of touch. But he has… slipped back into a coma.” Shawn groans and falls back into his seat, while Marlena and Caroline stand there dumbstruck. The doctor glances around at all of them, “I’m… I’m so sorry.” After a few moments of unbearable silence Shawn looks at the doctor, “What do we do?” The doctor sighs, “We ugh… we wait.” Marlena sits there in silence starring straight ahead with tears brimming in her eyes.
Hours later Caroline sits in the recover room with John. She bends over to talk to him, speaking softly, but loud enough to be heard over the contestant beeping of his machines. “Johnny it’s me… it’s mom.” She strokes his hair lightly, “You know… you were born in this hospital. You were only six pounds…. so small. And such eyes… those piercing blue eyes. They lit up every time I looked at you.” Caroline began to weep as her son lied there motionless.
Marlena stood on the roof of the hospital starring out over the city while smoking a cigarette. Lexie walked up to her tentatively, but making enough noise so as not to startle her. She nudged Marlena on the shoulder, “Gimme some.” Marlena handed her the cigarette never taking her eyes off the view in front of her. Lexie took a long drag off Marlena’s cigarette and handed it back to her. She took a deep ragged breath. “ I ugh… I just spoke to Dr. Reynolds. And um… they don’t think he’s going to last the night.” Marlena took a deep breath and nodded wordlessly with tears streaming down her face. Lexie patted her on the shoulder, “I’m sorry.” Marlena just sighed and didn’t say a word.
Back in John’s room Shawn just sat vigil by his sons bedside, while his wife paced back and forth. Little did they know that, even tough their son was in a coma his mind was moving a thousand miles a minute. In his mind he stood with Brady. Brady looked up at him, “It’s time to go daddy.” John squatted down to look into his sons eyes, and brushed the chestnut brown hair off of his face, “I know slugger… I know.” Brady stood and walked away and John followed him.
Marlena stood on the roof with Lexi. Marlena took a puff of her cigarette, “I can’t… feel anything.”
In John’s mind he can see the accident so clearly. He begins to pull out of the driveway and glances over at the passenger seat to check on his son. And out of the corner of his eye he spots the headlights of the on coming car.
Marlena looks over at Lexie as a strange feeling comes over her.
Shawn sits at his sons bedside shaken out of his silent prayer by the sound of a flat line on John’s machine. Caroline screams, “NO!!!!” as she read John’s heart monitor and the heart rate drops to zero. Caroline continues to scream, and Shawn collapses by the door as the doctors come into the room and work on John. The doctor checks John pulse and then shines the light into his eyes waiting for a response. When he doesn’t get one he looks over to Shawn and Caroline and solemnly shakes his head no. Caroline throws herself into Shawn’s arms and begins to sob uncontrollably. The doctors begin to remove the machinery from John as Marlena walks though the door. She stands off to the side while the doctors finish with their work. Once they are done she walks over and climbs onto the bed laying at John’s side. She raises her self up so she can see his face and she just stares at him. She gently brushes the hair back off his face, and leans down to lay her lips upon his. She cradles his cheeks in her hand as she buries her face in his neck and begins to sob. After a moment she lifts her head and leans in close to him and whispers, “Thank you… for everything.”
John reaches his hand out toward Brady, and takes his tiny hand in the palm of his. Brady smiled at him, “You have to let me go daddy.” John looks at him uncertainly. Brady puts his tiny hand on John’s cheek, “That’s why I brought you back daddy… that’s why I woke you up.” John sits back and blinks with uncertainty.
Marlena caresses his face one more time then takes his hands in hers. She bends her lips to his ear, “I love you so, much. That’s why… I’m letting you go now okay…”
John stares intently at Brady, but his form starts to disappear, and his tiny palm slips from John’s grasp.
Suddenly and violently John gasps for air and grabs Marlena’s hand in a fierce grip. Marlena jumps and shrieks with the suddenness of the movement. After getting her baring she looks down to see John blinking his eyes rapidly, and gasping for breath. Shawn and Caroline rush to his side. Marlena looks at John in amazement and caresses his face to make sure what she is seeing is real. She stares at him not able to say a word and John realizes she is there and locks eyes with her. She lets out a shocked laugh and hold his face tightly in her palms. As she caresses his face John stares into her eyes, his own glistening with tears. He smiles at her, “I could… feel him.” Marlena smiles at him and laughs happily. John takes her hand in his, “I can… feel you!” John laughs softly at the shocked and bewildered look on Marlena’s face. She covers her mouth so as to muffle her happy cries. He looks over to his father and grasps his hand as they all begin to laugh in amazement. With tears in his eyes he looks up to Marlena, takes both her hands in his. “Life is a anomalous thing…ever changing…from minute to minute and even second to second. No one knows what life has in store…what joys will be granted to us…or what gifts will be taken away. We let days pass us by without ever taking in and enjoying the simple things that life has to offer. The smell of the breeze after it has been renewed by the rain, the sight of a simple rose as it grows among a field of weeds, the sound of the waves crashing on the shore…or the simple feeling you get when someone holds your hand. If you take the time to open yourself up to the simple things in life…one way or another…you will be touched! Marlena… you did that for me. And… I love you so!”
~The End
The next evening John and Marlena stand poised at the top of the stair dressed in their party attire. Marlena glances over at John, “So, are you ready for this?” John looks at her and laughs, “Does it really matter if I am or not… everyone is already here.” Marlena laughs and slaps him lightly on the shoulder, “If you are not up for this we can go right back up stairs.” John smiles at her slyly and pulls her close to him, “Well that all depends… what is waiting for me upstairs?” Marlena blushes and turns away, which causes John to laugh. He gently takes hold of her chin and turns her face toward him and looks her in the eyes. “In all seriousness… I am fine, I can handle this… I swear!” She nods in agreement and he kisses her lightly on the lips, “By the way… you looks beautiful tonight.” He squeezes her hand and then they make their way down the stairs. They stop and glance around the room at all of John’s family and friends. She smiles at him and nudges him to walk into the room first. She stand there admiring John and watching as all of his family and friends crowd around him giving him hugs and well wishes. She continues to stare at him from her place on the stairs as Shawn clinks his champagne glass and starts to make a toast. “I ugh… I’d like to make a toast here. You know… most of us never thought this day would come. I know we kept… we kept dreaming that it would, and somehow here we are.” Marlena and John’s eyes haven’t left each others as she makes her way down the stairs and into the crowd of people as Shawn continues his speech. “Now for two years you’ve been taken from us, God knows what you went through. And it’s taken great strength and courage and a lot of heart for you to fight your way back to us, John. I don’t know whether this is a miracle or what…but you know, I really don’t care. You’ve come home.” Marlena stares worriedly at John as he fidgets at his fathers words to him. Shawn raises his glass, “Welcome Home Son!” The room breaks out into cheers of ’Welcome Home’ and the sound of glasses clinking together. John nods at everyone distractedly and then glances over to Marlena who is poised at the bottom of the stairs. His gaze intensifies again at the image he sees. It’s Brady… sitting on the foot of the stairs right next to Marlena. He stare’s harder as his image of an angelic Brady waves at him. Marlena see’s John’s intense stare and knows that something is wrong. Marlena stares intently at John… his mouth is quivering as he softly whispers ”I’m sorry”. John stumbles toward Marlena as a shooting pain sears through his head. He holds his head in his hands as he begins to sways back and forth. Marlena begins to push her way through the crowd to get to him. She reaches him in time to catch him as he collapses to the ground.
Everyone is gathered at the hospital awaiting word on John’s condition. Marlena sits in the waiting room with Shawn and Caroline… all of them drowning in the silence and uncertainty, meanwhile John is in the operating room being prepared for brain surgery. As he lays there his life with Brady plays through his mind like a movie reel that is on contestant playback.
A while later the doctor comes out to talk to them and they all rise to attention. The doctor takes a deep breath, “I uh… I spoke to the doctors. There has been a, massive hemorrhage in the brain. Apparently he's been…bleeding from some time. And it’s possible that ugh… that the bleeding has been causing these visions and… effecting his sense of touch. But he has… slipped back into a coma.” Shawn groans and falls back into his seat, while Marlena and Caroline stand there dumbstruck. The doctor glances around at all of them, “I’m… I’m so sorry.” After a few moments of unbearable silence Shawn looks at the doctor, “What do we do?” The doctor sighs, “We ugh… we wait.” Marlena sits there in silence starring straight ahead with tears brimming in her eyes.
Hours later Caroline sits in the recover room with John. She bends over to talk to him, speaking softly, but loud enough to be heard over the contestant beeping of his machines. “Johnny it’s me… it’s mom.” She strokes his hair lightly, “You know… you were born in this hospital. You were only six pounds…. so small. And such eyes… those piercing blue eyes. They lit up every time I looked at you.” Caroline began to weep as her son lied there motionless.
Marlena stood on the roof of the hospital starring out over the city while smoking a cigarette. Lexie walked up to her tentatively, but making enough noise so as not to startle her. She nudged Marlena on the shoulder, “Gimme some.” Marlena handed her the cigarette never taking her eyes off the view in front of her. Lexie took a long drag off Marlena’s cigarette and handed it back to her. She took a deep ragged breath. “ I ugh… I just spoke to Dr. Reynolds. And um… they don’t think he’s going to last the night.” Marlena took a deep breath and nodded wordlessly with tears streaming down her face. Lexie patted her on the shoulder, “I’m sorry.” Marlena just sighed and didn’t say a word.
Back in John’s room Shawn just sat vigil by his sons bedside, while his wife paced back and forth. Little did they know that, even tough their son was in a coma his mind was moving a thousand miles a minute. In his mind he stood with Brady. Brady looked up at him, “It’s time to go daddy.” John squatted down to look into his sons eyes, and brushed the chestnut brown hair off of his face, “I know slugger… I know.” Brady stood and walked away and John followed him.
Marlena stood on the roof with Lexi. Marlena took a puff of her cigarette, “I can’t… feel anything.”
In John’s mind he can see the accident so clearly. He begins to pull out of the driveway and glances over at the passenger seat to check on his son. And out of the corner of his eye he spots the headlights of the on coming car.
Marlena looks over at Lexie as a strange feeling comes over her.
Shawn sits at his sons bedside shaken out of his silent prayer by the sound of a flat line on John’s machine. Caroline screams, “NO!!!!” as she read John’s heart monitor and the heart rate drops to zero. Caroline continues to scream, and Shawn collapses by the door as the doctors come into the room and work on John. The doctor checks John pulse and then shines the light into his eyes waiting for a response. When he doesn’t get one he looks over to Shawn and Caroline and solemnly shakes his head no. Caroline throws herself into Shawn’s arms and begins to sob uncontrollably. The doctors begin to remove the machinery from John as Marlena walks though the door. She stands off to the side while the doctors finish with their work. Once they are done she walks over and climbs onto the bed laying at John’s side. She raises her self up so she can see his face and she just stares at him. She gently brushes the hair back off his face, and leans down to lay her lips upon his. She cradles his cheeks in her hand as she buries her face in his neck and begins to sob. After a moment she lifts her head and leans in close to him and whispers, “Thank you… for everything.”
John reaches his hand out toward Brady, and takes his tiny hand in the palm of his. Brady smiled at him, “You have to let me go daddy.” John looks at him uncertainly. Brady puts his tiny hand on John’s cheek, “That’s why I brought you back daddy… that’s why I woke you up.” John sits back and blinks with uncertainty.
Marlena caresses his face one more time then takes his hands in hers. She bends her lips to his ear, “I love you so, much. That’s why… I’m letting you go now okay…”
John stares intently at Brady, but his form starts to disappear, and his tiny palm slips from John’s grasp.
Suddenly and violently John gasps for air and grabs Marlena’s hand in a fierce grip. Marlena jumps and shrieks with the suddenness of the movement. After getting her baring she looks down to see John blinking his eyes rapidly, and gasping for breath. Shawn and Caroline rush to his side. Marlena looks at John in amazement and caresses his face to make sure what she is seeing is real. She stares at him not able to say a word and John realizes she is there and locks eyes with her. She lets out a shocked laugh and hold his face tightly in her palms. As she caresses his face John stares into her eyes, his own glistening with tears. He smiles at her, “I could… feel him.” Marlena smiles at him and laughs happily. John takes her hand in his, “I can… feel you!” John laughs softly at the shocked and bewildered look on Marlena’s face. She covers her mouth so as to muffle her happy cries. He looks over to his father and grasps his hand as they all begin to laugh in amazement. With tears in his eyes he looks up to Marlena, takes both her hands in his. “Life is a anomalous thing…ever changing…from minute to minute and even second to second. No one knows what life has in store…what joys will be granted to us…or what gifts will be taken away. We let days pass us by without ever taking in and enjoying the simple things that life has to offer. The smell of the breeze after it has been renewed by the rain, the sight of a simple rose as it grows among a field of weeds, the sound of the waves crashing on the shore…or the simple feeling you get when someone holds your hand. If you take the time to open yourself up to the simple things in life…one way or another…you will be touched! Marlena… you did that for me. And… I love you so!”
~The End
It's soooooo awesome--you did a great job with it! I was really on the edge of my seat for awhile in this chapter, when the doctor shakes his head no...I was almost in tears. And then Marlena says she's letting him go... 
I was very worried for a minute, but then the ending was wonderful! Thanks for a terrific story. 
I am soo glad that all of you liked it. Thank you for the compliments.