He opened the door when he heard her reply, walking into her office, smiling when he saw her.

“Hi Doc, I hope I’m not intruding” apologizing for the interruption he looked at both of them. She seemed relaxed and it eased his heart some.

“No, of course not. We were just setting up the patients files for today” she stood up and lightly hugged him when he got closer to her. Kit had to turn his eyes away from them, it was making him sick, although, this was the least of things he got to see them do.

“Dr. Harington. How you’ve been?” John felt weird referring to him as ‘Kit’, this man was still a stranger to him. Kit stood up, smiling, reaching for John’s hand, shaking it, “Hi John, I’m all good thanks for asking. How was your trip?” He had to play along, although all he ever wanted was to punch him in the face and shove his head into the wall behind them.

“Oh, Washington was amazing, nice people, good food, but I’m glad to be back” looking at Marlena as he spoke the last words, she caressed his back lovingly.

A knock on the already opened door, caused all three to turn their heads, “Dr. Evans, code blue, we need you downstairs, stat” the nurse spoke between intakes of air.

Marlena’s eyes caught John’s, an apologizing expression on her face.

“Go, baby, go. I’ll talk to you later” he loved watching her in action. She passed him, quickly squeezing his arm as she did, running towards the staff’s elevators with the nurse.

Watching her as she disappeared behind the elevator’s doors, John turned to face him, his mouth slightly curled up on one side “ So, Dr. Harington, I’m actually kinda happy that we got this time alone right now, because I’ve been meaning to ask you something regarding Marlena” his arms crossed against his hard chest.

Kit swallowed hard. Does he know? no, there’s no possible way... looking at John, the man looked confident like he knew what he was doing.

Kit couldn’t stand looking at his smug face, turning from him, he took Marlena’s water glass in his palm.

“Oh, what about her?” He faked a surprised tone, heading towards the vanity, looking at his back, John spoke.

“Well, ever since I came back last night. She seems very quiet, reserved, stressed. I know you spent a great deal of time with her lately and I was wondering” he walked behind Kit, staring at his back “ if you might have seen something or heard something”

Pouring the water to her office’s plant, he turned to face him, furious that most of the drug has gone to waste and it was all because of this fuc-

“ well” he stated, “ I haven’t seen anything. All I know is, she was a little tired but nothing more. She’s not confiding with me, you know Mr. Black “ still holding the glass object.

John chuckled, “ I understand. Thank you” putting his hands into his pockets he headed towards the door, nodding his head as a sight of appreciation. Kit didn’t move, When he couldn’t hear his steps anymore, his fist tightened against the hard material, causing the glass to break into million tiny pieces, looking at his palm, it was bleeding but he felt no pain.

 

It took her two hours but she was finally back at her office. She let Kit go for the day, her mind was too preoccupied to deal with mentoring. She sat at her desk trying to concentrate on her patience files to no avail, she just couldn't think straight.

A blessed knock on the door revealed Laura’s smiling face.

“Hey sweetie, are you busy?”

Marlena stood up and crossed to the front of her desk, smiling, “Never too busy for you my friend, how can I help you?” They two women shared a quick hug.

“Well, actually I wanted to come by and offer my help. You seem to be out of it lately as if you have a lot on your mind. I thought that talking about it may help” Laura replied

Marlena eyebrows frowned “Did John put you up to this?”

“No, I’m your friend, I don’t need John to tell me when something's bothering you, I can just tell” Laura held both Marlena’s hands in hers, bending her knees some to catch her eyes “ Marlena, we have been friends for a very long time and in all those years I have never seen you so out of sorts. You always have it together no matter what’s going on in your life. Hell, when you were going through the divorce with Roman you weren’t this shake! Honey, I’m worried about you.” Laura squeezed her palms in hers, offering her a comforting smile, she looked at her friend, Marlena let out a long breath as tears start to form in the corners of her eyes. Releasing her hands, she brushed the tears with the back of her hand. “You’re right Laura, I am in a bad place, my emotions seem to be all over the place right now.”

“Is it because of Stefano?” She almost didn’t want to bring this vile man again, but this was too important to ignore.

“That’s just it, I’m not really sure. I’m having nightmares while I'm still awake, of some sort of evil presence all around me. It feels like it could be Stefano and that would make sense but I’m just not sure.”

She sat on the couch, wiping the tears with the tips of her fingers.

“Well, what else could it be?  That man raped you and tried to break you down” getting closer, she came to sit by her friend, it was breaking her heart to see her in that state as she continued “ He is the definition of evil. Of course, you can’t just get over that and act as if everything is normal. I hate to tell you my friend, but you are human not superwoman”. Laura placed the tissue paper box between the two of them.  “No, I know you're right Laura, it’s just that this evil that I’m daydreaming of, feels like something else, or someone else. I don't know, sometimes I feel as if I'm losing my mind…” she stood up again taking a small tissue paper with her, crossing her arms on her belly “The other day John took me into his arms and started to make love to me. I wanted him so badly, I needed him. Then all of the sudden, I was screaming at him and pushing him away. I know it hurt him although his concern was only for me and that made me feel even worse. I have no idea what happened or why I reacted him that way”, inhaling deeply she turned to face Laura, feeling somewhat better for talking about this, but still upset. She couldn’t shake it off.

“Did he question you about it?” Laura asked.

“Yes and I just couldn’t talk about it. He assumed it was about Stefano and I let him think that. Honestly, I just don’t know what to say to him. I couldn’t put into words what I was feeling. Ha.. “ she chuckled “feelings...that’s my department, right? So why can’t I sort this out?” She was so frustrated and lost, the small tissue paper was clinched in her palm to a tight ball.

“Oh sweetie, please give yourself a break. Step back and give it some more time. Let John comfort you even if you can’t talk to him about this right now. John will give you what you need and he will never push you, you know that.” Laura just smiled, she realized Marlena knew all of this, but sometimes, it’s good to be reminded.

“Your right again Laura, what would I do without you?”

Laura stood up, holding her arms forward, Marlena fell into her embrace, “Well, that my friend, is the million dollar question. Good thing for both of us you’ll never have to find out. I will always be right here for you.”

Marlena tightened the hug and she smiled a watery smile. “I love you my dear sweet friend” breaking off the hug, she tried to smile, this time a happy one.

“Now get out of here and take care of your real patients,” Marlena said with a giggle, her eyes light up again. Talking to Laura always used to help her put things in perspective.

Laura smiled back “remember what I said ok? You will get through this. You know, what we really need is a girls night out, we need to cut loose and get wild” Laura winked at Marlena and left the office, closing the door behind her.

Drying her eyes, Marlena straightened up her jacket and got back to work feeling somewhat better.

 

It was late. John sat alone in the penthouse, a wide heavy glass of scotch in his hand, he didn't like it much when Marlena has such late night sessions but he understood the importance of it all, she never revealed too much regarding these meetings, all he knew that it was highly classified and for his sake, he shouldn’t ask more questions. However, he worried about her but he knew that she was strong and capable of taking care of herself. Besides, she hates it when he fusses over her. His mind wandered back to her nightmare the other night and the way she reacted to his touch. Oh, he knew that she was not rejecting him, he just wished he could drive away the demons that haunt her and make the thing as they were before.

She was struggling with nightmares and the memories of what Stefano did to her and he felt as if he can’t reach her and wasn’t unable to help her.

 

John has always been able to help his Doc and now he was feeling inadequate. He thought that Marlena was making some headway at putting this awful episode behind her, then suddenly the nightmares started up again. He would never give up on her, he was going to find a way to help her and they will have a happy and fulfilled life together.

But for now, all he could to do is go to the hospital and escort his pretty lady safely home.

 

“Doctor Evans, the things that I did… I’m not proud of them, hell, I wish I could turn back time and make better decisions. I can’t sleep, I can’t eat, I’ve already lost 20 pounds since it all began.. “ the man on her couch playing with his tie, rolling and unrolling it as he talked. This wasn’t their first session and he was looking very pale and thin.  Her heart came out to this man as a doctor, although, as a human being, she couldn’t grasp it. How could one make so many bad decisions and find themselves in so many bad circles?

As a psychiatrist she never judged her patients, she merely listened, held up a mirror to reflect their emotions.

“Are the people you’re talking about, keep contacting you?” She squeezed her eyes, trying to focus on his words, her head was slightly aching from lack of sleep or was it something else.

“They are Doc, I’m beginning to understand that they might never let me go” he sat up on the couch, looking at the beautiful lady in front of him. He was so happy when she accepted his request to treat him, she was the best in her field.

“What if, you would stop it, right there, right now. Talk to your superior officer, make him understand under what kind of pressure you were. You will face jail time, but your conscience would be clean” she leaned forward to look at the tired man, big black circles under his eyes.

The timer rang.

“I would see you next week, all right?” Both of them stood up. The man put his black blazer back on, nodding, rubbing his eyes as he looked at her “ of course. Thank you, Doctor Evans, I would consider your advice” he shook her soft hand as he left the office from the back entrance.

 

John stepped off the elevator on Marlena’s floor, it was just before 11 pm. He knew she would be done with her session soon and was anxious to see her.

Marlena exits her office and spotted John, waiting for her in the outer office, a broad smile on his handsome face.

God, how she loves this man. She may have been a little upset with him for hovering, but with the way she’s been feeling of late, she was happy to have an escort to her car.

“Well, hello there Sailor. Are you here to take me home?” Marlena winked.

“Yes pretty lady, I am and there’s much more I’d like to do as well”  John closed the distance between him and Marlena and took her in his arms for a fevered kiss.

“Wow, if that’s what you have in mind I’m game. I can’t wait to be in your arms”

Slipping his arm around her waist he guided her out the door to the elevators.

John and Marlena were completely oblivious that Kit was lurking around the corner, watching as they stepped into the elevator. Damn, the last thing he wanted to think about tonight, was John having Marlena in their bed.

 

The walk back to his car was uncomfortable. Kit's discomfort in his loins was still present, growing in fact, and although he used to have such feelings from time to time, something about tonight was unmistakably arousal. Plus, he was furious. He was too angry with John, for ruining his plans that morning.

By the time Kit reached his car and opened the door, the feeling was impossible to ignore. He had a full-blown erection by this time, and it was almost painfully hard. His breathing labored, Kit got into the car and closed the door firmly. He rested his forehead on the steering wheel, squeezing his eyes shut. He had to find a release. Clenching his jaw tightly, he jammed his key in the ignition and sped away from the Hospital’s parking lot.

All he could think of was his beautiful Marlena and all that he wanted, no, needed, to do to her. He envisioned throwing her across the bed and taking her from behind. Slapping her beautiful round ass as he shoved himself in and out of her over and over again. Hearing her scream.

He wanted to scratch and bite all along her back while she screamed out in pain and pleasure pulling and pinching her nipples until they were raw and swollen.. He would possess her, own her, oh he will...

Kit needed a release and his hand would not do it for him tonight. The overwhelming need to hurt someone hit him like a train. He needed to fuck and fuck hard while inflicting as much pain as possible at the same time.

Normally he would go to the bar and pick up some bimbo, but tonight his urge was too strong. He didn't have the time for small talk over drinks. No, tonight he would order a woman, not just any woman but the one that would fit his need. The rage inside him continued to build as he drove through the streets of Salem. Some poor unsuspecting soul would pay tonight.

Pay for the fact that she was not Marlena. Pay for the fact that the object of his twisted desire was in John's bed and not his own.

Kit entered his room at the Salem Inn, tossed his keys on the desk and picked up the phone.