Chapter 24

Don's in one of the guestrooms at the Black mansion unpacking. As he empties his suitcases he can hear the children running in the hallway. He stops and goes to the door but something stops him. There's a knock at the door. "Don, may I come in?" "Sure Marlena." Marlena enters the room smiling. "How's your room?" "It's fine. This house is something else." "It is isn't it?" Marlena 's like a child on Christmas morning. "Are you ready to see your granddaughter?" Don hesitates. "What's wrong?" "I'm afraid." "What are you afraid of?" "Do you remember how things were with Donna when I first met her?" "Things were rocky at first but then you two developed a wonderful father-daughter relationship." "Jesse and I didn't exactly hit it off either when I met her." "That's because you put up a wall between the two of you before you even met. Don, just be yourself and everything will be fine." "Are you sure?" "I'm positive. Maddie's a wonderful little girl. She'll love you." "Do you think she will?" "I know she will." Marlena leads Don to the door. "Come on grandpa. Let's meet your new granddaughter.

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Jesse and Sam are walking in a beautiful garden. "Sam, can I ask you a question?" "I won't stop you."
"Why?" "Why did I do what I did? It's very hard to explain." "Could you try?" "At that time Marlena had everything a successful fiancée…a wonderful job…lots of money…wonderful friends. I on the other hand was a struggling actress who couldn't get a part if her life depended on it. So I decided to take a role I was born to play." "Meaning that you became Marlena." "Exactly. It was perfect. I mean we're identical twins and if I was a good enough actress then I would have everything I wanted." "You didn't care that you were hurting Marlena?" "I cared deep down but my drug problem won out over Marlena." "What about Don, did you have any feelings towards him?" "Yes I did but I knew that if there was anyone that would know the difference between Marlena and myself it would be him. I knew that if I were to pull this off I would have to keep my distance from Don. That was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I did care for him." "If you had to keep your distance with him then how did I come to exist?" "There was a hospital fundraiser one night that both Don and I attended. Don was upset that I was brushing him off and he drank a little too much so I took advantage of the situation." Jesse turns away from Sam. "I know this is difficult for you to hear. Believe me it's hard for me to believe that I could do this. I regret what I did but there is one thing that I don't regret and that's having you. Not a day goes by that I don't think about you." Jesse turns back to Sam with tears in her eyes. They hug.

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Mike's making his rounds when he decides to visit Jesse. He enters the room. Mike gently places a kiss on Jesse's bandaged forehead before he sits down beside her. He takes her hand in his. "Jesse I hope you can hear me. I know that you wanted me to talk to Carrie. I know you want me to tell her that I love her but you see I can't do that. You see I have a confession to make to you. I'm starting to fall in love with you. I just want you to know that I will wait for as long as I have to for you. I just want you to come back and give us another chance." Mike's beeper goes off. "This thing is even interrupting us now." Mike takes the beeper off and looks at the number. "I have to go but I'll be back later." Mike kisses Jesse as he heads out the door.

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Maddie's on her bed playing with her stuffed animals. Marlena and Don enter the room. Both of them sit on the bed with Maddie. Maddie moves close to Marlena. Marlena sits Maddie on her lap. "Maddie there's someone I would like for you to meet." Maddie shakes her head as to say that it's okay. "Maddie this man's name is Don. He's your mommy's daddy." "He is?" "Yes, he's your grandpa." Maddie takes a closer look at Don. Don can't help but smile at her. Maddie gets up from Marlena's lap. She goes over to Don and gives him a hug. Don's amazed at how much love he feels for a little girl he hardly knows. Marlena watches with tears in her eyes. Maddie takes Don's hand and leads him over to her pile of stuffed animals. "Would you like to meet some of my friends?" "I would love to." Don gets down on the floor with Maddie. He turns to Marlena. "You will help me up won't you?" Marlena laughs. There's a knock on the door. Chelsea enters. "Excuse me but it's time for the children's supper." "Thank you Chelsea." Maddie hugs Don. "Goodbye grandpa." "Goodbye." Don smiles as Maddie runs out of the room. He tries to get up from the floor but he can't. Marlena offers her hand. "She's an amazing little girl." "Yes she is. Why don't we go over to the hospital and check on Jesse?" "Yes I would like to see her again today." Marlena and Don leave the room hand-in-hand.

As Don and Marlena walk down the stairs they see John waiting at the bottom. "Dinner's ready." "Honey, Don and I were going to go visit Jesse." "Doc, you really should eat something." "I know that but I'm not very hungry right now." Don interrupts. "John's right you should have something." "I want the two of you to stop this right now. This isn't the first time I've been pregnant. I know what I'm doing and I'm not hungry at this time. Now would the two of you stop it? We'll pick something up to eat after we've seen Jesse and talked to her doctors." "All right Doc. Whatever you want." Marlena goes to the closet to get their jackets. Don whispers in John's ear. "I'll make sure she gets something to eat." "Thanks Don." "What are you two whispering about?" "NOTHING." Marlena hands Don his coat. John helps Marlena on with hers. Marlena kisses John. "I'll see you later. I should be home in time to tuck the kids in bed." Don opens the door and Marlena walks out. Don and John say their good-byes. John stands in the doorway and watches the both of them leave. Marlena waves to him before she gets into the car. John closes the door. He can't help but think about how Don and Marlena were comforting each other in the chapel and how they were holding hands as they came down the stairs. He can see that this crisis is pushing them closer together. "Come on John. It was over for Don and Marlena years ago. They're just friends. Roman thought the same thing about Doc and myself years ago and look how that ended up. Stop it! You have to trust Doc!"

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Marlena and Don enter Jesse's room. There's a nurse checking her vital signs. Marlena speaks first. "How is she Sarah?" "There's been no change Dr. Evans. I would like for you to know that we all hope that Jesse will completely recover and that if you or you family needs anything that we will help you in any way we can." "Thank you Sarah." Don and Marlena sit on opposite sides of Jesse's bed. Don takes Jesse's hand. "Is there a chance that she might not wake up from this? I mean the longer she stays in this coma the less likely it is that she will wake up. Right?" Marlena begins to cry. "You are right but you can't think like that. She will wake up and when she does I'll be there for her. I've been there and I know what she's going to have to face when she finally regains consciousness and I will be there every step of the way to help her." Don's stare goes from Jesse to Marlena. "You really love her don't you?" Marlena wipes the tears from her eyes. "Yes I do and I'm not going lose another person I love. I'm going to do everything I can to bring her back to us." "I know you will Baby." Don looks at Jesse. "Do you think she can hear us?" "I think she can. Do you want me to leave?" "No, please stay." Marlena nods her head. "Jesse, it's Do…your father. I met Maddie today. She's a wonderful little girl. You should be very proud of her. I'm going to spend as much time with her as I can while I'm in town." Marlena interrupts. "How long are you going to be staying in town?" "What are you looking to get rid of me already?" "No, it's just that…" "It's just that what?" Marlena's trying to find the right way to say what she wants to. "I'm sorry Baby. I'm just kidding. I'll be staying about three days and then I have to get back to New Jersey. I just took a new case and I have to be there for it." "Don't worry I'll keep you informed of Jesse's condition." "I have no doubt you will." "I'll take good care of her." The nurse pops her head in the door. "I'm sorry but visiting hours are almost over." Marlena wipes her eyes again. "Thank you. We'll say our good-byes." Marlena gets up and kisses Jesse. "I'll see you tomorrow." Don kisses his daughter. "I love you." Marlena begins to cry again. Don puts his arm around her. "Okay Weepy, where do you want to go to eat?" Don opens the door. Marlena comments as they walk out the door. "It's nice to see you still have that wonderful sense of humor."

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