Hiya! Kat here! Ok, so about Hal and Natalia, I've been writing but I haven't exactly finished a chapter. Instead, I got this story idea. Ok, so I know there's a story out there about Natara returning to the FBI. Let me just say, if there is anything in common in this story, I did not steal from their story. I haven't even read it, (But I really want to.) The idea of Natara returning to the FBI has been in my mind for awhile now.
Also, the title name, kind of relates to Dear John, but I've never seen the movie...I don't even know if it's a movie...That shows how clueless I am. :D
And more to add; I remember coming on this board and seeing only 12 stories. Now there's 83. I may not be good at math, but I know that 83 minus 12 is 71. Ho. Ly. Crap. 71 stories. And guess what? I started looking on these boards around October/November. That is a lot of stories. I've almost read them all to, but then school came around.
As you can see, there is a Chapter One. You know what that means! Yes, I want to make this into a short story that will not be my main priority. And I can promise, the ending won't be as cheesy as my Because of You story. (Though I do want to thank everyone who reviewed! Especially to poemfromtheheart. ((I had a little, 'OMG IT'S POEMFROMTHEHEART! I GOT A COMMENT FROM POEMFROMTHEHEART!')) I have read your stories and fan-girl screamed all the time. I love them. Getting a review from you, as well as all of the other writers on this board, is an honor! I seriously enjoy every review I get. One makes my day so much nicer. And usually, I find my inbox filled with review alerts and I get over-excited!)
And I know this is totally off subject, but I want to get to know a little more about you guys! To start off, I was wondering if you watched Crime Shows? If you do, which ones do you watch?
(I watch Medium, Psych, Monk, ((a little bit of Bones)), and I just watched The Inside late last night. That one is actually really creepy. I only watched it because of Jennette McCurdy, but now I want to watch more of The Inside.)
Read and Review possibly? And sorry for my lengthy intros. :D
Chapter One
Mal's P.O.V
It was always a treat; that weekly letter. I waited every Saturday afternoon for it. It made my usually crappy weeks into something better. Her beautiful handwriting etched across the page; to know that she was still alive.
I remember the first letter I had received from her.
'Dear Mal. I know this letter isn't as long as you would like it to be, but it's just a little too hard to write at the moment. I miss all of you at the SFPD very much. I keep expecting the HQ Techs to run around and cause problems like Kai, but no. Everyone is serious here.
'Mal, I miss your jokes. My new partner, Agent Hunt, has no sense of humor whatsoever. I can't crack a joke without him glaring at me and disciplining me for not being serious enough. It's so hard here. I never thought I'd miss something this much. I may be with the FBI now, but that doesn't mean I'm as tough as nails again.
'I have to go. I'll try to write weekly. Tell everyone I miss them. And before I forget, here's my mailing address. I would love to hear more from you, Mal. Don't be a stranger.
'Natara W.'
That was one of the hardest letters to read. Yes, I admit, I really started to miss Natara. There was nothing I could do about it, though. She was all the way in Quantico and here I was in San Francisco. I might not be a geographer, but I know that that distance is way too big.
She's been gone for two months now, and I just couldn't tell myself to accept it.
Today, Natara's letter came. I was relieved on a number of levels. I opened it carefully and read aloud to myself in my apartment.
'Dear Mal. How are you doing? It's great to hear about Ken's promotion. He'll do great as the SFPD Captain. Make sure you tell him that and by all means, do not switch the words around.
'As for my partner, he still hasn't recovered from the stake-out. A lot of damage from one bullet. I've been assigned a new partner...and let me say, he's your average "Kai". He's been trying to flirt with me and offer to take me out to dinner. I don't think I'm ready to take that step, Mal...
'I know you're probably anxious to know about my status on the FBI Food Chain. Well, I'm still a profiler, but I'm the top of that chain. It's lonely...
'You were wondering what I did in my spare time. I write to you. I also just review cases. Although, I guess you can't really say that reviewing is spare time. But what's a girl to do when all of her friends are in California. And what can she do if she knows that she belongs in Quantico, but really wants to go to San Francisco, where her heart is? I don't have an answer.
'That's been happening too much lately. I never have an answer. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, but it's true. I've been upside-down ever since I came here. I keep telling myself to let go, but I know I can't. I can't just abandoned my best friend and the memories we made. You're truly one in a million. No one has been as nice to me as you were. No one has made me smile truthfully. I know I'm being dramatic, but I guess it's time to face the facts. I can not, and will not, let go.
'Tell everyone I still miss them with every day and I'm planning a little trip to San Francisco over the Christmas Holiday. I know it's a long ways away, but it's better than never visiting at all.
'Natara W.'
Christmas was still five months away. I couldn't wait that long...I just couldn't. I sat back, disappointed at everything that had happened. When Natara got called back to Quantico, I thought it would be temporary. She still was a huge part of the SFPD. However, that point never got through.
I re-read the letter several times, making sure I didn't miss any of it. It was all real. She was gone.
I picked up my pen and set aside my entire night's schedule. Writing to Natara always consisted of rough drafts.
'Dear Natara,
'I miss you more than anything right now! What I would give to have you by my side again!'
No, it simply wouldn't do. If I told her that I missed her, she would only get upset.
'Dear Natara,
'I'm sorry about Agent Hunt, but congratulations on the new partner. I think you should do what you think is best. Maybe this could be good for you...getting out...'
Another dud, of course. I stared at the next blank sheet, trying to make a sentence in my mind that wouldn't sound stupid.
'Things here haven't been the same without you, Nat...'
'I wish this never happened.'
'I love you.'
They all went into the trash-can.
'Natara, it's great to hear from you. Just seeing a letter from you makes my day even more special! I hope Agent Hunt gets well soon, and if you need any help with this guy, don't be afraid to call. After all, I am and will always be here for you. That's the funny thing about friendship; no matter what the distance, you're still friends.
'Anyway, I know you have strict rules about emailing and calling, but I would love to just hear your voice. Not in the stalker-ish way, of course, but just to know you're alive and safe. I know I sound like I'm over-reacting, but you do mean a lot to me, Nat, I won't lie.
'I'll be counting down the days until we meet again. Again, not trying to act like a stalker, I'm just anxious to talk to you again.
'Things have changed since Ken became captain. Cases are more severe. We need you here, Nat, but they also need you there. As for deciding where to be...I want to say California, but we both know that it is your choice. I still can't believe a lot of this is happening.
'This morning I walked into the Break-Room and started talking about Neha to no-one. I could have sworn you were by my side. Yes, I know it's been two months and I should forget, but like you said, it's impossible. Every room at the SFPD reminds me of you. It reminds me of you laughing at my stupid jokes or comebacks, our hugs, and our personal talks. No-one can top our friendship.
'My weekly word of advice; Keep Your Head Up and Home is Where the Heart is.
'You're the greatest friend someone like me could have.
'Mal F.'
I didn't like it, but I automatically sealed the envelope and pressed the stamp onto the corner. I would drop it off at the mailbox tomorrow morning like I always did.
After that painful process, I collapsed onto my couch and looked up at the ceiling, cursing the day that she left.
Three Months Ago
J sat in my office, writing down notes on a case that had been causing the SFPD some trouble. I had stayed late last night with Natara, trying to focus on this blasted case. She somehow found a way to make me laugh through the whole thing.
When we called it a night, Natara looked a little upset. I didn't know what was wrong. She had been happy all day, and now, she looked on the verge of tears.
"Natara, are you alright?" I asked calmly, placing a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at me, partially alarmed.
"Wh-what? Oh, of course I am!" she said, though her voice quivered slightly.
"Nat..."
"Can you take me home? I need some sleep before work tomorrow. That, and I don't have a car."
I looked her over. I just wasn't as good at profiling. "Natara, I know something's up. Come on, you can trust me."
She shook her head. "What would you say if you only had one more month to spend with me."
My eyes widened in fear. "No. No, no! You're not dying, are you?"
"No, Mal," Natara sighed, "I'm not..."
"Then what are you suggesting?"
She looked at the ground for a moment and then pulled something out of her pocket; a folded up piece of paper. She gave it to me, a look of absolute sadness on her face.
"Read it," she said.
I took the note gently and opened it up. The first thing that caught my eye was the large FBI seal.
"Natara Williams. You have played your part well in San Francisco, but we are asking for you to come back to the FBI immediately. The reason is to be left untouched until you arrive. We have the flight arranged for you on May 2nd of this current year at 0800 hours. We expect to see you very soon.
"Signed and printed by,
"Head Chief, Angelo D. Washington."
I couldn't take my eyes off of that simple scrap piece of paper. It was so...bland...so uninformative. I looked at Natara and she covered her eyes.
"I didn't want to tell you," she said.
"You were just going to leave without notice?" I asked, trying not to sound too harsh. Believe me, I have seen those kinds of movies when the guy freaks out on the love of his life and she runs away. I wasn't willing to lose Natara forever like the idiots in the movie.
"When you say it like that...it sounds stupid!"
"Because it is, Natara. I mean, if you have to leave, I would have liked to know before-hand."
"Mal..."
I saw the look of utter humiliation, embarrassment and depression on her face and did what I usually did; gave her a hug.
"It's not that bad, Natara. I mean, think of it, when you're back in your hometown, you can go visit those restaurants you've been telling me about. You might even find that special someone to spend the rest of your life with."
"But what if all of that is here?"
I paused. I didn't have a good answer. "It's your choice. But if you were asking me...I would say it would be great if you just went back for a while."
"No offense, Mal, but it sounds like you want to get rid of me." I saw her slight smile.
"That's crazy, Nat! Who else would laugh at my jokes?"
"Ken...Amy...Kai...Maria..."
"Ok, everyone but Maria would work. I've got an idea. Why don't we grab some Chinese food and sit on the roof again. You know, so we can talk things out."
She broke away from the hug and looked at me. There was a spark in her eyes. "Yeah, I would like that."
Chapter Two