Hi everyone! Here is yet another AU John/Nat story. It is the third that I have written, and I hope that you like it. This time around the story is ripe with family complications. All the usual suspects pop up, but in slightly new ways - mostly. I don't like to get bored, lol! Enjoy. :)

Misconceptions

Natalie Buchanan glanced around her large office, and found herself wondering how she got here in the first place? She was a long, long way from the streets of Atlantic City. She sank back into her plush leather chair with ease, enjoying the comfort of it, and refocussed on the voices that were blaring over the speakerphone. Sighing, she lifted her legs and rested them atop the surface of the giant, mahogany desk that decorated the space. "Richards..." she began, trying to end the bickering that was quickly growing tedious. "Richards, just do it!" she said firmly.

"It's a mistake, Natalie. That seller has been with this company for over ten years."

She yawned, ignoring the urge to hang up the phone and do something more interesting with her day. "I don't care. It's time to cut ties, so do it."

"Your grandfather might have something to say about this?"

She sat up straight. "Don't threaten me with my own grandfather, or I might just have to cut ties with you. Now do it or pack up your own damn office!" Then she did hang up, eager to block out the irritation that was creeping in. The intercom buzzed on her desk so she reluctantly answered it.

"Miss. Buchanan, there's a detective here to see you."

A detective? she wondered, confused. "Give me five, and send him in Sally." She sat there for a moment, staring at her closed door, before finally sitting back and putting her feet up onto the desk again. Her knee-high burgundy skirt dropped down her thighs, revealing a tempting portion of skin. Then she waited.

"We'll be going in now," the detective said, moving toward the door.

"Wait!" the secretary interjected, blocking his path. "She said you can see her in five minutes. Kindly wait."

An officer in uniform chuckled. "Yeah, come on McBain. Why don't we wait?"

The detective grinned and shook his head, before continuing toward the office. He let himself inside, stopping short when he saw a nice pair of exposed legs greeting him from across the room. "Natalie Buchanan?" he asked, moving closer. He watched the redhead peer at him from over a blue folder in her lap, looking wide-eyed and confused. He didn't buy her act for a minute. "I have a warrant for your arrest." Her mask of calm cracked a little from his words. She looked surprised, and stood from the chair.

"For what exactly?" she asked, clearly angry.

Detective McBain nodded toward his officer, who moved behind the desk and handcuffed the redhead. "For embezzlement. Come with me please?" he asked, though it was obvious that it wasn't really a request.

Natalie felt the cold metal of the cuffs on her wrists, and moved in the direction that she was being led. "What's your name detective?" she asked, making note of the man who she was going to personally see lose his crappy job.

He looked her right in the eye and answered. "Detective Michael McBain." They stared, sizing one another up before she was led from the room and the building. He trailed behind, watching her closely. She was definitely one to watch.

Michael sat at his desk, reading over the file on Natalie Buchanan. She had one hell of a rap-sheet for someone so young, and apparently her criminal activities weren't over yet. Embezzlement. That was pretty lofty for a kid from the streets, but then again, her entire life was out of the ordinary - hustler turned princess. A twist of fate had her biological parents two of the richest people in the entire country. Daughter to Vicki Davidson and Clint Buchanan, sister to Governor Kevin Buchanan, and granddaughter to Asa Buchanan. She definitely had money and power on her side.

"McBain?" a voice said from the open doorway.

He looked up and smiled. "Hey, babe? What are you doing here?" He stood and walked over to his fiance, giving her a short, but smouldering kiss hello. She looked amazing in a simple white skirt and matching blouse. "Are you heading out?"

She nodded. "Yeah, my book signings start this afternoon." She paused, conflicted by her warring emotions. On the one hand, she was very anxious to kick start her new career as a novelist, but on the other hand, she didn't want to leave Michael for two weeks. Not so soon after their engagement.

"Marcie, two weeks is a breeze, right?" He smiled when he saw her look at him in surprise.

"How do you do that? It's like you can read my mind."

He laughed. "Maybe I can? It could be a hidden talent that you don't know about?"

She stepped closer and hugged him tightly. "I'm going to miss you, you know?"

He held her and kissed the top of her short red hair. "Ditto. Call me tonight when you get settled." After another long moment, they finally let go of each other and he gave her another kiss. It was soft and slow and tinged with the sadness that they both felt. He was going to miss her. She smiled at him, and he watched her walk out of the building. He went back to his desk and flipped through the pages that were all about a different redhead that just came into his life - one downstairs, safely tucked away in lock up.

"McBain?" another voice called from the doorway.

He glanced up and saw his friend staring at him, looking somewhat perplexed. "What?"

Detective Jason Cameron stepped into the office and took the seat across from his partner. "I'm just wondering what the hell we're waiting for? We have exactly 72 hours to keep that redhead on ice, and then Asa Buchanan is going to step in and hand us our collective asses! Why aren't we working her over?"

"Well it's simple really. We're waiting for someone." Michael frowned, hating the fact that their very limited window of time was wasting away.

Jason crossed his arms over his chest and frowned too. "Who the hell are we waiting on?"

"That would be me."

Both men looked up to see who had joined in on their conversation. Then Michael stood. His legs felt a little wobbly. "Wow! I wasn't expecting it to be you."

"That makes two of us." The man walked in and offered his hand. He grinned when Mike took it. "It's been a long time, brother."

"Yeah...yeah it has John."

Neither spoke for a moment, they just stared at one another, drinking it all in. John reluctantly released his hold. "So? Where's this hardened criminal I've heard about?"

"Come on, I'll show you."

They left the room, and Cameron sat where he was. With the wayward McBain in town, things were going to get very interesting indeed. He stood and went to his desk to catch up on some paperwork. He wanted to be free and clear for the inevitable drama that would be unfolding in this little burg.

"That's her?" John asked, staring at his brother in disbelief. "That's the big, bad embezzler?" He ignored his brother's laughter and stared through the two-way glass. She was not what he had expected? He pictured a posh, confident business woman, maybe even someone on the demure side, but not a curvacious redhead full of fire. Her blue eyes were sparking with attitude, which was barely contained by her tiny body. He continued to analyze her without her knowledge, trying to convince himself that she was actually guilty of a federal offense. A uniform stepped into the room and placed a styrofoam cup of cold water in front of her. She promptly smiled and tossed it in his face without blinking an eye. She was definitely full of fire. He turned to Michael. "You talk to her yet?"

"That would be against the law, John. She's your jurisdiction, not mine. I was waiting for a Fed, I just didn't know I was getting my brother. Have you talked to the Commissioner yet?"

John frowned. "I have more important things to do right now, like talk to that young lady right there. We're wasting time." He stood straight and poured another styrofoam cup of cold water. He left the tiny room and made his way into the interogation room, coming face to face with a very angry woman. She was standing with her hands on her hips, and it took everything in him not to smirk. He nodded to the uniform, who silently stepped outside. "Natalie Buchanan?" He walked closer. "Federal Agent John McBain."

Natalie watched a dark haired cop enter the room and send the other officer out. She watched him stare at her with a disturbing pair of blue eyes. She had been pacing the sterile room, growing more and more upset with each passing minute, but now she took a seat and decided to play it calm. She could tell that this cop wasn't going to put up with any outbursts, and she had no intention of going back to lock up anytime soon. She smiled at him, meeting his gaze with a sharp one of her own. "I don't talk to cops."

"I'm not a cop, I'm a Fed."

She continued to stare. "Different spots, same animal." He grinned and there was a brief flutter in her stomach. You're just hungry, Natalie!

He took a step closer. "If I give you this are you going to throw it in my face?" He saw her shrug, and he slowly placed the cup of water in front of her. She took her time, wrapping her slender fingers around the cup before lifting it from the grey fibreglass table. Then she brought it to her lips and drank the liquid and he grinned again. John pulled a chair over and sat, laying a thick manilla-coloured folder on its surface. He watched her blue eyes drop to it for a second, before her mask was back up and she was staring him down.

"Is this the part where I tremble in fear?" She couldn't deny the intensity of this man, and hated that she felt slightly more warm since his arrival.

"I was hoping that this was the part where we have polite conversation. You're in a lot of trouble Natalie."

Her name resonated through her, but she knew that it had everything to do with the deep timbre of his voice. Who the hell was this guy? "Look, I didn't embezzle anything, alright? You've got the wrong girl," she smiled again, "and when my grandfather finds out, you'll realize how wrong you really are."

John stared, trying to read her. She was hostile, but it was masking her fear. He could tell that she was nervous, and he could tell that she was frustrated. His eyes involutarily dropped to her full lips for a moment, before he quickly refocussed. "You don't strike me as the type to hide behind grandpa. Are you sure there's nothing we have to discuss?"

She felt blindsided by his comment, and when she looked into his prying gaze, she felt hopeful. He believed she was innocent. Or at least, she thought he did? "I told you I don't talk to cops, but if it's conversation you want let's talk about that file you have on me. What does it say?"

"You already know, don't you? I mean, it's your life in a nice little summation." He paused. "Quite the read."

"Glad you like it." She was beginning to get annoyed again, so she decided to take control of this situation. She pulled her chair closer and crossed her legs, making sure that Agent McBain had a nice view of skin as her skirt fell. "You have to be wondering how accurate that file really is, right?" She stared at him, and ignored the heat that was building in her body.

John was no idiot. She was trying to seduce him to control things. He didn't care. He would enjoy the show, and get information out of her too. "I think it's pretty accurate." He pulled her chair closer, enjoying the brief look of shock on her beautiful face. A face that was uncomfortably close now. She had more of an effect on him than he cared to admit.

"Are you sure?"

"Natalie? Why don't we cut to the chase?" He leaned closer. "Did you embezzle 30 million dollars from Buchanan Enterprises?"

She leaned in, meeting his gaze, and melting under his hot breath. "No, John, I didn't." She licked her lips, and her stomach clenched when his eyes dropped to her mouth. "I think you believe me."

"I haven't made up my mind yet." Then he stood from his chair and walked from the room. He found his brother waiting for him with a large frown on his face. "What?" he asked.

"You haven't decided yet? Everything points to her, John. Tell me that you were playing her."

John frowned too. "I'm not convinced that she's the one, Mike."

"You've got to be kidding! What was it, was it the skirt?"

John stepped closer, mad now. "Watch it!"

"Did you read the rap sheet, I mean her whole life has been one money scam after another. It's her!" Mike glanced through the glass, watching her begin to pace the room again. He was furious at his brother.

"Maybe, but I don't think so?" John flipped open the folder and read through current vitals on their suspect. "It's too neat, Mike. Too convenient."

Mike blew out a frustrated breath. "Not every case has to be complicated, John. She's the granddaughter of Asa Buchanan. A few years ago she came to town for the Buchanan money. Eventually she hustled her way into the long, lost family. She's a corporate raider, who's protected by the family name. Now, she has an opportunity to get her hands on the money that she came for in the first place. Only, it's easier this time. She worms her way into the old man's heart and gets a cushy career for her troubles. Then she embezzles from the company, knowing that he will swoop in and rescue her and she gets away with 30 million."

John glanced through the glass. Everything his brother was saying made perfect sense, except that it didn't feel right. When he stared at her, seeing her pace around, it wasn't a hardened criminal he saw. It was a woman who was used to trouble, but who was desperate to find a way out of her mess. She didn't look guilty to him, at least of this particular crime. He met his brother's hard stare. "You have your 72 hour window to legally hold her, so don't waste it. If you don't have anything concrete when the time comes, I'm cutting her loose." Then he turned to leave.

"Where are you going?"

"To see the Commissioner." He paused, taking a nervous breath. "How is he anyway?"

Michael's eyes softened slightly. "You know dad?"

"Yeah." He knew him. He walked out and headed for the Commissioner's office.