Chapter 11 - The Search for Belle

Eric opens the door to the broom closet. Inside is Susan tied up and gagged. She has a huge lump on her forehead. Jesse removes the gag from Susan's mouth. "Elvis! Where's my Elvis?" Jesse and Eric help Susan up. "He's fine Susan. He's upstairs in his crib." "I want my Elvis right now." "Of course you do I'll run up and get him." Jesse goes upstairs. Eric helps Susan to the couch. Jesse comes down with Elvis in her arms. She hands the baby to Susan. "Susan who did this to you?" "It was that MEAN, MEAN, MEAN Kristen Blake Black! She came over here yesterday after supper. She said she wanted to see Elvis. Kristen bounced him up and down a few times then she handed him right back to me. I knew she was up to somethin'. Anyway Elvis started fussin so I took him upstairs. When I came down Kristen was still here and she started to talk crazy. She was saying stuff like Marlena isn't going to get away with this and that if anyone was going to have John's baby it would be her. I was getting ascared so I asked her to leave but instead she hit me on the head with a vase. Next thing I knew I woke up in the closet." Jesse looks at Eric. "That means Kristen has Belle." "I'm calling Abe right now." "Eric you had better call Mike too. I think Susan needs a doctor."

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Marlena wakes up. She turns on her side so she can watch her daughter sleep. How could I forget giving birth to you? Marlena reaches over and brushes a few stray hairs away from Megan's face. Megan wakes up. "Hi. What are you doing?" Marlena cups Megan's face. "It's my turn to memorize your face. I wish I could remember giving birth to you." "You do? I've heard it's really painful. I don't think I'd want to remember that." Marlena laughs. There's a knock at the suite door. Marlena and Megan look at each other. "I wonder who that could be?" John knocks on the bedroom door. "Okay ladies room service just brought breakfast so get out here before it gets cold."

Megan and Marlena emerge from the bedroom. There are three carts filled with food. Marlena walks over to John and wraps her arms around his waist. "What did you do?" John turns to Megan. "I didn't know what you liked so I ordered one of everything on the menu." "That must have cost a fortune." "Don't worry about that. Is there anything here that you like?" Megan inspects the carts. "Oooh strawberries! I love strawberries!" John and Marlena smile at each other. "Doc, I think that's all the proof we need. She is definitely our daughter." "What's going on? Why is the fact that I like strawberries proof that I'm your daughter?" "Honey, we'll tell you when you're older." John chimes in. "Lot older!" "I am going to go get changed." Marlena grabs a pancake and she goes into the other room.

Megan picks up a plate and fills it with food. John also fills his plate and the both of the sit down to eat. John stares at his daughter. "Is there something wrong?" John breaks his stare. "Wrong, no nothing's wrong. I just can't believe how much you look like your mother." "I may look like my mother but I do believe I have my father's blue eyes." John takes a closer look at his daughter. "Well look at that you do. Well at least I can take credit for that." Marlena comes out of the bedroom. "Are you two still eating? Come on guys it's getting late and we have to go to the clinic." "Ok Doc, I'm done eating. I'll run and get a shower. Why don't you call home and check on the kids?" "That's a very good idea. I'll do that." John goes over to Marlena and gives her a kiss before he leaves the room. Marlena picks up the phone and dials the mansion. "Hello, DiMera residence." "Hello, Aliana is my niece Jesse there?" "No Doctor Evans she took the children over to the penthouse." "Do you know why?" "She and Ms. Blake had some words yesterday." "Oh I see. Could you get the message to her that we should be home later today." "Of course Dr. Evans." "Goodbye Aliana."

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"Susan why don't I take Elvis back upstairs?" "Okay." There's a knock at the door and Jesse answers it. "Mike, how did you know I was here?" "I called your apartment and no one answered so then I tried the mansion and Aliana told me you were here. I wanted to see my girlfriend." "That's so sweet. Could you look at Susan? Kristen hit her on the head with a vase." "I'll have to go down to my car to get my medical bag." Jesse closes the door and takes Elvis to his crib. Jesse goes back to the living room. "Abe's on his way over here." "Eric, I'm scared. Do you think Kristen is going to harm Belle?" "I hope not." "Eric this is all my fault." Eric takes Jesse into his arms. "No it isn't." "Yes it is. I made it even easier for her to take Belle. If we had stayed at the mansion I would have kept a closer eye on the kids."

Mike enters the penthouse with Abe. Jesse and Eric break their embrace. Mike begins to examine Susan. Abe goes over to Eric and Jesse. "Jesse what happened?" "Well yesterday Kristen started to act crazy so I decided to bring the kids here so they would be safe. We got here around 9 o'clock last night. I tucked the children into bed and I stayed up and watched television for a while. I went to bed around mid-night. But before I went to bed I checked on the kids. All of them were sound asleep in their beds. The next morning while I was making the kids breakfast Maddie and Brady told me that they couldn't find Belle. I looked all over the penthouse but there was no sign of her. Then Eric came over and we heard a crash from the broom closet. It was Susan. Apparently Kristen came over here yesterday and she knocked Susan out. Sometime during the night Kristen took Belle." "Did she leave anything behind?" "No. I didn't see anything." "I'll get an APB out on Kristen." "I just hope it's not too late!"

Mike goes over to Jesse. "How's Susan?" "She definitely has a concussion. She's going to have to go down to the hospital for some tests. One of Abe's men is going to take her there. How are you?" "Mike, how am I going to tell Marlena about this? This is all my fault." "Don't say that. How could you know that Kristen would go that far?" "There had to have been something I could have done." "No. There was nothing you could have done. I think Marlena would tell you the same thing." Abe comes over to talk to Jesse. "Why don't we all go over to the mansion? That way we can be there when John and Marlena get back."

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John comes out of the bedroom. Megan jumps up from her chair. "Well I guess it's my turn to get changed. I'll only be a few minutes." "Sure honey take your time." "Doc what's wrong?" "Nothing's wrong. At least I don't think anything's wrong. I just called the mansion and Aliana said that Jesse took the kids over to the penthouse because she and Kristen had an argument. I'm just a little worried about what they were arguing about." "Why don't we call the penthouse and find out?" "Yes… I think I will." Marlena dials the number. "There's no answer." "We'll try later on. I'm sure everything's fine. They would have called us if it wasn't." John takes Marlena into his arms. "I guess you're right." "I know I'm right." John and Marlena begin to kiss. Megan comes out of the bedroom and she sees her parents kissing. "Sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt the two of you." John and Marlena stop. Marlena wipes some lipstick from John's mouth. "You weren't interrupting. Well are we ready to go?" "I'm ready." "Okay ladies lets go and get that cure."

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Abe, Eric, Jesse, and Mike arrive at the DiMera mansion. Jesse goes to talk to Aliana. "Aliana did Dr. Evans or Mr. Black call?" "Yes they did." "Did they leave a number?" "No. Dr. Evans just said that they would be back later today." "Thanks Aliana." Jesse goes into the living room to tell the others. "They already called. They should be back later today." Abe speaks. "I guess all we can do is wait for them. I'm not looking forward to telling them this." "Jesse if you want I could tell them." "No Abe it was my fault and I should be the one to tell them. Excuse me please." Jesse goes out into the garden. Eric goes after her but Mike stops him. "No Eric. Let me."

"Penny for your thoughts." "Only a penny huh. Oh Mike how am I going to tell Marlena and John that their daughter is in the hands of a psychopath. And that it was me who let her take her." "Jesse you did not let Kristen take Belle. This was not your fault! Kristen is crazy. She would have to be to go through such lengths to kidnap Belle." "Mike I want you here when I tell Marlena." "Of course I'll be here for you." "I'm not asking for me. I am asking for me but not just for me. Marlena's pregnant and she may need you after I tell her." "Marlena's pregnant?" "We did a home pregnancy test before she left. So just incase I want you here." "I'm not going anywhere." "You are one heck of a guy Mike Horton. I don't know why Carrie didn't fall in love with you. Her loss is my gain I guess." Mike flashes her a smile. "I guess so. Let's go back inside and see if Abe has any leads." Mike puts his arm around Jesse and they walk back into the living room. "Is there any news?" "No nothing!" "I think I'm going to go upstairs and rest for a while. Please let me know when John and Marlena get back."

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John, Marlena, and Megan are at the ISA clinic. Dr. Banning comes over to them with a box filled with medication. "Dr. Evans it is so good to finally meet you." They shake hands. "It's nice to meet you too Dr. Banning." "I only wish it could have been under happier circumstance." "Me too. Dr. Banning this is my fiancée John Black and this is our daughter Megan." John and Dr. Banning shake hands. "Dr. Banning we were wondering if we could have DNA test run on Megan to see if she is our daughter." "Of course we could run a test, but why?" "Well that's a really long story and we really don't have the time to get into it." "That's no problem. Why don't the three of you follow me and I we will find someone to run the test? It will take a while until we have the results." "We just want to know for sure that she is our daughter."

Dr. Banning is giving Marlena instructions on how to administer the medication. "He will take 4 of these pills every 4 hours and every 6 hours he will need an injection of this antibiotic we made." "Doctor how long until we see some improvement?" "I really couldn't tell you. It will depend on his current condition. He should be checked into a hospital so they can run tests every few hours to see if the infection is subsiding." "Thank you doctor for everything." "I just hope that this cures Roman." John and Megan come into the room. John speaks first. "Are we ready to go?" "I guess so. John grab the box." "We'll call you when we have the results from your test. I'll try to put a rush on them." "Thank you once again!" The three of them head to the airport.

"Okay Megan this is going to be a long flight so get comfortable." "This is a really cool plane. Well as long as we have some time I was wondering how many brothers and sisters I had. I know Marlena…I mean mom called home to check on the kids and I was just wondering how many I have." Marlena starts. "I have a daughter and a son with Roman. Their names are Samantha and Eric." "I had a son with my wife Isabella. His name is Brady. Marlena and I have a daughter and her name is Isabella but we call her Belle." "I have a whole sister." "Yes you do and in a few months you will have another brother or sister." "Really, you mean you're having a baby." "Yes I am." "That's really cool. I can't wait to meet all of my brothers and sisters, especially Belle."

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Abe, Eric and Mike are waiting in the living room of the DiMera mansion for John and Marlena to return. Jesse comes into the living room. Mike speaks first. "Did you get any rest?" "No. All I did was stare at the ceiling. I'm not looking forward to this." Abe speaks up. "Jesse I'll tell them if you want me to." "No Abe. I have to tell them. Abe could you have some of your men keep out of sight. If John and Marlena see them they are going to know something's wrong." "You're right. I'll keep my men out of sight."

Suddenly they hear the front door slam. They can hear Marlena's voice. "Hello, is anyone here?"
Marlena and Megan enter the living room. "Hi everyone." Jesse speaks up. "Marlena, who's this with you?" "This is my daughter Megan." "Your daughter? But how…" "It's a long story and we'll tell everyone about it later." John comes in carrying the box with the medication. "Here it is the cure." "I'm going to go up and give Roman his first dose." Jesse speaks up. "Marlena why don't you let Mike give him the medication. I have to tell you and John something." "Is it really that important?" "Yes...yes it is." Marlena tells Mike how to administer the drugs. Aliana enters the room. "Aliana could you show Megan to one of the empty guestrooms." "Certainly Dr. Evans." "Sweetie, you go upstairs and get settled in and I will be up in a few minutes to check on you." Megan nods her head and she leaves with Aliana.

Jesse walks over to Marlena. "Marlena why don't you sit down?" "Jesse what is it! You're shaking. What happened? Is it Belle?" Jesse and Marlena both begin to cry. "Yes, it is about Belle. Marlena please sit down." "I don't want to sit down. I want to know what's happened to my daughter." "Yesterday Eric and I were upstairs checking on the kids when we heard a crash in the living room. It was Kristen; she was throwing things around the room. She said she was angry because the two of you went off to get the cure alone. I didn't buy that so I took the kids to the penthouse. I thought they would be safe there." "How did she get Belle?" "Yesterday Kristen visited Susan and before she left she knocked Susan out and tied her up. When we got to the penthouse Kristen was there dressed as Susan. She waited until I was asleep to take Belle."

John and Marlena embrace. John tries to calm Marlena down. "Doc, I will find our daughter. Nothing is going to happen to her." Abe speaks up. "John why don't I brief you on what we've got so far." "Doc are you going to be alright?" "I'll be fine John. You go and do whatever you have to to find our daughter." "You know I will Doc." John kisses Marlena before he leaves the room. Marlena sits down on the couch and Jesse sit down next to her. "Marlena, I am so sorry. This is all my fault." "Don't…Don't do this to yourself. You did what you thought was right." "Marlena, Kristen knows you're pregnant. Eric saw me give you that little pat on your stomach yesterday. He wanted to know what it was all about. I told him it was nothing but he knows me so well. He got it out of me. Kristen must have been listening at the door." "So that's why she did this." "I'm sorry. This is all my fault." "No this is all Kristen's fault. She is the one who has Belle. You did the best you could to protect Belle. You couldn't have known that she would go this far to get her. So I want you to stop blaming yourself."

Aliana comes into the living room with an envelope. "Dr. Evans this just came for you." "Thank you Aliana." Marlena opens the letter. "Who's it from?" "Jesse close the door." Jesse does as Marlena wishes. "It's from Kristen. She wants me to meet her at a warehouse outside of town." "I'm going with you." "No you can't! You have to stay here and keep the guards busy so I can get out of here." "Marlena she's crazy, you can't go there alone." "I'll be fine now you go out there and distract the guard while I slip out the back way." "Marlena be careful!" Marlena flashes Jesse a smile and she leaves. The guard just barely misses Marlena leaving. "Where's Dr. Evans?" "She went upstairs to rest." "I didn't see her go upstairs." "She took the elevator." "Well I think I'll go upstairs and check on her." "No…don't she really needs her rest right now." "I guess your right. I'll go up and stand outside her door." "Sure why don't you go do that." I just hope he doesn't look inside the room.

Mike comes into the living room. "Did you give Roman his medication?" "Yes. I am just anxious to see how long it takes for the drugs to start working. I called the hospital they're sending an ambulance over right away." John, Eric, and Abe walk into the room. "Have you heard anything?" "No nothing. All my men are coming up empty." "Are you sure there isn't any place you missed? Maybe some place that isn't quite as obvious." John has a bad feeling about what Jesse just said. "Jesse do you know something?" "I don't know if I should tell you this. Marlena got a note from Kristen a few minutes ago. She wanted Marlena to meet her at a warehouse just outside of town." "How long ago did she leave? About 5 maybe ten minutes ago." "Come on Abe let's go." "John I am coming with you." "No you can't." "Let's not argue I am going and that's final! " "Fine you, Mike, and Eric can follow us in another car."

To be continued…

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