Title: Its all in the Timing….
Author: Melissa Fitch
Rating NC-17 (eventually)
Universe: AU
Feedback: Yes please!
Summary: John and Natalie meet in AC, serial killers and romance abound. For more info read the dang story. LOL
Comments: I know I have 2 other stories unfinished but this one just stuck with me for some reason. Don't know how long it will be but it will be more than one chapter.
Chapter 1Terror is like a run away train, unstoppable and forever gaining momentum. The force of that terror was like a living, breathing entity when a person lay under six feet of loose soil and rocks, buried inside a coffin meant for the already dead. Life, with all its happiness and disappointments shrinks down to a tiny space where each and every breath has to be forced into a petrified body.
The air would be thin and the head would spin from the lack of oxygen. Knowing that you are going to die, there in the darkness, alone and terrified, knowing that there is nothing that you can do about it. The mere idea of waiting and hoping someone will rescue you sends shards of sharp icy fear into a soul that refuses to give up.
Natalie didn't know what that was like, but couldn't help remembering the feeling she had when she read those words. She loved to read but that paragraph sent some unknown fear slithering down her spine. She struggled to put it out of her mind, to be more concerned with not making an ass out of herself as she showed up late to her first seminar of the forensics conference that she was rushing to make.
"Dammit!" she muttered as she opened the door to the large auditorium where the seminar was being held. A crime scene picture was already on display in the front by a projector and the instructor, John McBain according to her information, was already explaining some procedure that she had missed by being late.
John paused mid explanation when he heard the door swing shut, turning from the scene he had been describing he faced the late comer who had tried to sneak in with out being noticed. The first thing he noticed about her was the flame red hair. Not too many women could pull that color off and not look like they had taken cool-aide to their head. But she did it perfectly. He couldn't tell if the color was natural or not but if he had to guess he would say that it was. The temper typical in a redhead was showing slightly on her beautiful face. Her eyes showed annoyance and embarrassment. He figured both were because, with her late entrance, everyone was staring at her as she made her way to the front of the room and as it happened the only empty seat in the room. John looked at the list of students taking the class and since he saw there had been only one student unaccounted for up until now said, "Glad you could make it Ms. Buchanan…"
Natalie flushed a little in embarrassment. She muttered a sorry before sinking into the chair. She felt like a lab rat as the entire room watched and waited for her to get out her laptop so she could take notes. Thankfully once she had it out and set up Mr. McBain resumed his lecture. The next 2 hours went by in a flash, her fingers typing as fast as they could to keep up with the flood of information and new forensic techniques that Mr. McBain described.
As the time went by John couldn't help but to keep glancing at Natalie Buchanan. She was one of the most beautiful women he had seen in a long time. It didn't help that the knee length skirt she was wearing kept flashing him a tantalizing view of her upper thigh every time she shifted in her seat. The green sweater she wore with it only emphasized her generous breasts and tiny waist making concentrating on the lecture he was giving all the more difficult. He normally didn't do these conferences but, since he was on medical leave from the gunshot wound he was still getting over, his boss thought this would be a good opportunity for him to work on his 'people skills'. He had gotten the reputation in the bureau as being a loner and since the bureau's new idea of pushing 'team work' he had had to work with a partner instead of doing it alone like he was more comfortable with.
When the seminar was over Natalie packed up her laptop into her bag and debated approaching Mr. McBain with an apology for being late. She knew that it was rude to show up late and really regretted that she had done so today. Of course the idea also was a way to talk to the gorgeous man that was the teacher. At 6 foot 2 at least with shaggy dark hair, a ruggedly handsome face and a body that had seen more than its fair share in a gym John McBain was one good looking but slightly intimidating package. One that she wouldn't mind looking at for a few more minutes. And she really did want to apologize to him. So she did what anyone red-blooded woman would do, she waited until everyone had left and then approached him.
"I'm really sorry I was late Mr. McBain," The apology was sincere and it showed.
John looked up from where he was putting the equipment away and saw that Ms Buchanan had approached him while he had been putting away the projector, and thinking about those long legs of hers!
He looked at her and smiled a little bit. "Call me John, please. Mr. McBain makes me think of my father. And its ok. No harm done." He said with a small chuckle then added good naturedly, "just make sure you aren't late tomorrow Ms. Buchanan. "
Natalie smiled at him widely, "Natalie, please. And I won't be." She paused then said, "I really learned a lot today. You were a good teacher."
John shook his head and groaned. He pretended to glance furtively around and said in a mock whisper, "SHHH, someone might hear you and make me do this every year!"
She laughed at that and said, "You don't normally do the conferences?"
He shook his head and said, "Nope, I don't really like to stand up in front of a group of strangers and talk for hours. In fact I don't really like to talk all that much at all. I'm not much for words." As they talked he had been putting away his supplies for the next day. When he was finished he glanced at her and said, "you getting ready for the next seminar?"
"Yeah, Its not for another hour though. I thought I might go down to broad street and stop at Frank's hotdog stand…" Natalie trailed off as Johns head whipped around and he stared a her in mild shock.
"You know Franks?" he was shocked, not many who weren't native to Atlantic city knew about Franks.
Natalie laughed, "Of course, they have the best…" she paused with dramatic intent before the both said in unison, "Cheese steaks!"
"How do you know about Franks?" John asked as they started walking to the door.
"Are you kidding? I practically lived on them when I worked down the block from there. I grew up like 6 blocks from there." She smiled with the memories she had of that place. With Roxy always out at the casino's Natalie had gotten a job at the local gas station in order to buy food and clothes. If it hadn't been for the state that paid their rent she and Roxy would have been homeless. But despite that she still had some good memories about that time in her life.
"Really? Wow, I grew up in AC too." He was surprised that Natalie had lived in AC she had no accent that he could hear. She must have lived away from Jersey for a while now.
Natalie nodded, "I can tell. Do you still live here?" She realized that as they had been talking they had made it to the front door. She debated on whether to invite him to join her or to listen to her brain which was screaming that she was hear to learn not flirt with gorgeous instructors. When he smiled at her and held the door open her decision was made for her. Like anyone could resist that smile, she thought to her self. Taking a deep breath she blurted out, "Want to join me for lunch?"
John was happy that she invited him. He had been trying to figure out how to invite himself along with her without looking like a perv, or skievy professor hitting on his students. Not that he thought he was much older than Natalie but still.. "Sure, " he said with a smile, "I'm game for some great cheese steak. Wanna meet there?" Again he didn't want her to think he was some predator trying to take advantage of his… students, for lack of a better term.
"We might as well take one car since we both have to come back here in an hour anyway. You mind if we take my car? I would feel more comfortable if we did." She couldn't believe she was dong this, going to lunch with a man she had known all of 2 hours. But there was something about John that made her feel he was safe, that he was trustworthy. And she always followed her gut.
"I don't mind at all." He followed her to her car; happy with the way the day was turning out. He had survived his first lecture and he was going to lunch with a beautiful woman. What more could a man ask for…?
To be continued….