The Affair

What a Difference a Week Makes

With the children safely out of harm’s way, both Roman and Marlena settled into a comfortable routine. Roman, obsessed with the investigation, was often up and out of the house before Marlena stepped into the shower. Marlena’s days were the same each day…stopping in to see John throughout the day, working a few hours and finally heading home to rest. Before they both realized it, the week was already ending and except for the occasional greeting and the fact they slept in the same bed, they hardly saw each other.

Marlena was alone in her car on the way to the hospital. Another week was beginning and there was still no change in his condition. She drove without really seeing anything or anyone. It was automatic…everything she seemed to do lately was automatic…sleeping, eating, working, etc. The only time she felt really alive was when she was with John. She told him everything that was going on with her, the children and their baby. As she pulled into the hospital parking lot she sat in her car with her head resting on the steering wheel and closed her eyes.

Please John, she prayed, please open your eyes today. I need you so much. Please come back to me today.

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He heard every word she spoke to him during her visits. The problem was he couldn’t break through the invisible barrier that was keeping him from her. But each day he was a little stronger and today he believed he would finally be able to reach her. Today was the day…he could feel it. Come to me Doc, I’m waiting for you.

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Marlena sat up with a start. For some inexplicable reason she suddenly felt better…no more like hopeful…that was it…she felt hopeful for the first time. She rushed to the building, hopped on the elevator and pushed the button for his floor. There was actually a spring in her step as she opened the door and walked into his room. He looked so peaceful…just like he did when he was asleep. She couldn’t remember all the times she woke up in the middle of the night and watched him as he slept. Watching the way his chest moved up and down always brought her comfort. She sat next to him and held his hand. “I’m here John,” she said, “I’m waiting for you to come back to me.”

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He was exhausted but he knew better than to return to his motel room just yet. The boss’s instructions had been clear. It had taken him a few days to get everything in place so as not to cause suspicion. He couldn’t fail…not again. This was his second and last chance. Whoever shot John Borne was definitely keeping a low profile. No one was talking…absolutely no one. Even the lowest of the lows couldn’t be bought. That could only mean one thing…there was another player in Salem. And the boss wasn’t happy about it. The boss…he’d never met him in person and that was fine by him. He’d never been afraid of anyone or anything in his life…that is until now. The boss scared him; no he was terrified of the man.

Fear was a great motivator. It was his fear that made him complete this assignment so quickly. If he couldn’t find out who shot John then he damn well would do everything else to perfection. He didn’t understand this latest assignment but that wasn’t why he was paid. He was paid to do a job and now all he had to do was wait.

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Kate was running the company…at least as best as she could under the current circumstances. It was imperative Basic Borne continue to function just as if John was running the company himself. The day she was notified…she called an emergency meeting with the senior staff. She called every board member and spoke to them personally. John took a chance on her and she would not let him down. That was a vow she made to herself.

Everyone on the staff pitched in to do what ever was necessary without being asked. John Borne was one of the good guys and they all recognized that. He cared about his employees and not the bottom line. They came first.

So far things had been going along smoothly. A few bumps in the road but nothing major…that is until today. She was having a problem with the New York office…one person in particular…Kristin Blake. Kristin was relatively new to the company and Kate hadn’t had the opportunity to talk to her…until now. She’d spent her entire morning on the phone with Kristin. There was definitely a difference of opinion on how to handle the problem. Usually John kept Kate apprised on every aspect of Basic Borne, including mergers and negotiations, but he hadn’t had the chance to brief her on this latest development and because of that, she didn’t know how John wanted to handle things. She wasn’t completely sure the measures Kristin wanted to take were prudent…especially now.

Kate picked up the phone and told her secretary to hold all calls until further notice. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. Just for a few minutes she needed peace and quiet…a chance to catch her breath. She never realized until now, just how much energy it took to run a company as large as Basic Borne. It hadn’t been five minutes and her phone was ringing once more. The only way her secretary would have put a call through to her was if it was an emergency. Now what…she thought as she answered her phone.

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“Did you do as I asked?”

“Yes but I don’t understand.”

“You will…soon. It’s all part of the plan.”

“And when will you finally let me know what exactly the plan is.” She was getting tired of being kept in the dark.

“As I said earlier…soon.”

He wasn’t going to tell her anything else so she might as well change the subject. “Has there been any change?”

“According to my sources…no change. But don’t worry, he’ll pull through.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I know him.”

“And when he wakes up…what then?”

“Listen to me…you have to be able to change and adapt at a moment’s notice. Things don’t always go as planned. The shooting was unfortunate and quite unexpected but I’ve adapted and made changes. In fact, in the long run this might work out better than we expected.”

“Do we know who shot them?”

“Not yet…but I have someone working on it. Eventually someone will say something, or make a mistake and then we’ll know who’s behind it. All we can do is wait.” He paused for a moment before continuing, “You have to be patient…and you have to be ready at a moment’s notice.” He hung up the phone without saying goodbye.

She listened to the dial tone coming through the phone. Sometimes he treated her like a child. She knew he meant well but still…she was a grown woman holding down an important job.

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Roman’s desk was completely covered. There wasn’t an inch of free space left. He’d been consumed by the shooting ever since it happened. No one, not even Abe or Bo, could get him to work on anything else. He promised them he wouldn’t do anything rash…but the truth was…if an opportunity presented itself, he would take full advantage of it…regardless of his promise to them. And right now it seemed opportunity had knocked on his door. He’d been hitting the streets daily…listening for any kind of chatter…even if it didn’t seem to connect to his case. Today it seemed his luck was changing. He’d overheard a conversation…to anyone else it might have seemed trivial but something told him this was different. He rushed back to the office and went over everything he had concerning the case. The pieces seem to fit…or was this just another setup? Somehow, he didn’t think so, it felt different. If Bo and Abe were here he’d talk it over with them, but they out…working on another case. Time was of the essence. He’d probably be back before they knew he was gone. Roman scribbled a quick note explaining his absence, grabbed his jacket and headed out. This could be the break they were all looking for. With any luck at all one lead would turn into another and eventually they would crack the case. Then maybe his life could get back to some kind of normalcy. His children were gone and he and Marlena hardly saw one another. He wanted his life back…he wanted his wife back. Maybe today would be the beginning of the end of this case.

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“John, I love you so much. Can you feel my hand holding yours?”

I can Doc…I can feel you.

“I miss you so much. I talked to Victor yesterday and he said he’d been by to see you. Boaty’s been asking for you. He misses you so much…we all miss you.”

I’m coming Doc, I promise. I miss you and Boaty.

“I told Victor I’d stop by and see Boaty on my way home this afternoon.” She squeezed his hand.

I felt that! He was shouting…at least it seemed to him he was shouting. However, Marlena heard nothing.

“I talk to the children every night and they always ask me about you. They love you so much John. You were their father for so long…all the years both Roman and I were missing. I don’t think I’ve said thank you for taking care of my children when I couldn’t be there.”

He was feeling stronger and stronger…her voice was louder and clearer than it had ever been. Please baby, squeeze my hand again.

It was as if she heard him. She squeezed his hand. His fingers moved slightly against her hand. She jumped in surprise. Did he really move or was it her imagination? She wanted to know the answer but she was afraid to try again. Afraid she imagined it.

Do it again Doc. Squeeze my hand.

She took a deep breath and said, “Ok, here we go. Try to squeeze my hand again John. Please squeeze my hand.” She tightened her grip and once more his fingers moved. Marlena jumped up. “Oh my God! Oh my God! You squeezed my hand.” She pressed the button for the nurse; never once taking her eyes off of him; afraid he might open his eyes and she would miss it. She wanted to be there when he opened his eyes for the first time.

As soon as the nurse opened the door Marlena screamed, “Get Dr. Singer…now! He squeezed my hand. Come on John, open your eyes…I know you can do it.”

Such a simple request, but right now Marlena could have asked him to move a mountain and the result would have been the same. He was trying so hard, but so far nothing.

“John, I know you’re tired…I remember how hard it was for me to open my eyes after I fell off the ledge…but it was your voice that brought me back. Now it’s my turn to help you. Just listen to me…I know you can do it.”

Baby, I’m trying so hard.

She placed his hand on her stomach and whispered in his ear, “That’s our baby.”

Doc I love you so much…his eyes began to flutter.

“That’s it…try and open your eyes.” She pressed his hand once more to her stomach. “I hope he has your beautiful blue eyes.”

They were only open for a second…but it was long enough for Marlena to see them. “Come on John…you can do this.”

The door to his room opened and in walked Dr. Singer. “I understand he moved his hand.”

“Twice and just now he opened his eyes for just a second.”

“Excuse me Dr. Evers, let me examine him.”

Marlena moved to the other side of the bed.

“Mr. Borne, can you hear me?” He held his hand. “If you can hear me, squeeze my hand.”

Nothing happened.

“Mr. Borne, squeeze my hand if you can hear me.”

Again, nothing.

He looked up at Marlena and said, “Dr. Evers, I hate to say this but it might have been a muscle spasm.”

“I know it was him…let me try.”

Dr. Singer stepped back.

Marlena held his hand, “John, listen to me, squeeze my hand.”

His fingers moved.

“Did you see it? He moved his fingers. Watch. Do it again John.”

Again his fingers moved.

Dr. Singer spoke, “He recognizes your voice. See if you can get him to open his eyes.”

“John, please open your eyes. Do it for me.” She didn’t care how it sounded or what Dr. Singer thought…the only thing on her mind was John opening his eyes.

I’m coming Doc. Hold on. His eyes began to flutter again. He followed the sound of her voice.

“That’s it, open your eyes.”

The flutters began to subside as he began to regain consciousness. The problem was the light…it was blinding. Darkness for so long and now light…it was too much. He closed his eyes quickly. Using the switch next to his bed Marlena turned off the light. That was so much better. He slowly opened his eyes; at first everything was a bit fuzzy but slowly his vision began to clear…until finally he could see her beautiful, smiling face.