Disclaimer: All characters are property of ABC/Disney. I'm not trying to make a buck off them--just using them to help fill the world with better Jolie stories than we currently see on tv.

A/N: Welcome to my latest disaster--I mean creation. Hope you like--hope you are still around, and maybe I hope that it'll even spark your muse to work with you. :) Until next time--ya'll are the best--PCGirl.

-------------------

"It's not really that bad," said Natalie as she rolled her eyes before flinching at the peroxide being applied to her cut lower lip.

"When did we switch roles and you become the doctor?" asked Michael as he finished dabbing the area. "Rex—keep the ice on your knuckles, please," asked Michael again—and again getting a grunting noise from the seat next to the examining table.

"You two still won't tell me who or what did this to you?" he asked as he pulled back and looked at Natalie—she'd gotten the worst of it from whoever the jerk was, a busted lip, bruising along her jaw line, her shirt was missing buttons and though she wouldn't pull up her sleeves all the way he could see some strong bruising appearing on her arms also.

"I told you—I fell in Angel Square, Rex caught me, but I took him down with me," lied Natalie—hoping she could practice on Michael the story they'd made up on the ride back from AC.

She had expected problems with George—but never of this magnitude—she shivered at thinking how he'd ripped the top buttons of her shirt and touched the soft part of her chest. She started to go back into the shock of what did happen before Rex came in, but she heard Michael's voice, which kept her in a limbo between the two.

"Hey—hey—Kid—focus on me. Focus. What the hell happened Balsom?" he yelled a bit too loud.

"Natalie," said Rex and he moved Michael over and tilted her head to look at him. "Natty—come back to me," he smiled as her eyes focused on his and she threw her arms around him before beginning to sob quietly. "Hey—hey—it's ok, we're back in Llanview, and he's not going to touch you."

Suddenly the door on the other side of the pulled curtain opened, "Mikey—you in here?"

"Uh yeah," said Michael as he looked at Rex who lipped get him out of here—now. Michael walked to the other side of the curtain, "What's up?"

"I—is everything ok?" he asked as he heard what sounded like a female crying.

"Yeah—I was just—having to do deal with an upset patient."

"Oh, well I'll let you go," he said as he began to turn and saw the purse on the floor—he recognized it immediately and before Michael could say anything he pulled the curtain back, "Natalie?"

Him speaking her name made her pull away from Rex and wipe her eyes, "John."

"What's going on?" he asked as he looked at all three guilty faces. "Someone talk."

"It's nothing John—I fell—," she stuttered.

"Like hell you did," he said, taking in her appearance and realizing only half of what happened, "Did you go back to AC?"

"No—I fell," she repeated, trying to put more confidence in her words when she wanted to just fall into his arms and cry.

"Damn it. You went to AC and got attacked, didn't you? Why Natalie? Why couldn't you just listen to me and stay the hell out of my business. For once listen to me when I tell you to stay away," he said, exasperated at what his demons were doing to her.

"Fine—I heard you loud and clear, Lieutenant," she said, getting off the table and wobbly leaning over to grab her purse before storming out of the room.

Rex began to follow her before handing John the information that they'd been able to get out of George once they had him tied up and a gun to his head, "She nearly got herself raped in order to help your ass."

And with those words Rex was gone, and Natalie was gone from his life.

-----------------------

Five Years Later

John pulled his rented black Silverado up to the two story house in the Atlanta suburb—he was halfway up the walkway when a male in his thirties ducked under the police crime scene tape and met him.

"Agent John McBain," spoke John with an extended hand.

"Damn Porter. Thanks for coming all the way down here—they told me you've been through multiple serial killers, so this might be a walk in the park for you."

"Yeah, well it still doesn't get any easier."

"Tell me about it—seeing what man is really capable of—and they call us civilized."

John gave a shrug as Damon held up the crime scene tape for him and they began walking down the hallway, "What's the crime scene like?"

"Grizzle—like all the rest have been," he said as they walked carefully into the kitchen. "Luckily we have the best Forensics expert in the area—and she's a total babe too," he said while giving a wicked grin.

"Dame, Jenn would kill you if she heard you calling me that," said the person who was photographing the concrete steps that led into the garage. She put her camera down to introduce herself and froze for a moment at seeing him standing there. Not to give anything away to Damon that she knew him she pretended he was a stranger—wishing he really were one, "Hi—I'm Natalie Buchannan."