Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I haven't watched OLTL in quite some time so in my Llanview, Bo is police commissioner, John is lead detective and Bo and Natalie are very close – all the way things were when I last watched the show.

Natalie came downstairs in search of coffee. The past few days of family gatherings and late nights had taken it out of her. She was used to late nights since she joined the BAU and the Bureau in general but Lord/Buchanan Christmas' were something even the most seasoned FBI agent wasn't prepared for. She smiled as she walked into the library and found a tray waiting on the coffee table, along with today's copy of "The Banner". She unfolded the paper after pouring her first cup of coffee. The front page headline read, "Police stumped as fourth body discovered". Natalie quickly read the article before pulling out her cell phone and calling her favorite uncle.

"Buchanan," Bo barked into the phone. If this is another reporter, he thought, I will go through this receiver.

"Buchanan back at you, Uncle Bo."

Bo smiled despite the stress of the latest serial killer to strike Llanview. "Hi sweetheart, how is my favorite agent niece?"

She laughed. "I'm your only agent niece and I'm fine. I just read the front page of 'The Banner'."

"Ah," he signed. "That explains the early morning call. Are you missing work so badly that you had to find out about our latest crime spree?"

"No, I care enough about my hometown to want to help." Natalie cringed as she hoped Bo wouldn't take her offer as an insult to what he and the department were capable of handling. "If you want me to, of course. I don't want to overstep."

Bo chuckled softly. "Natalie, you couldn't overstep as far as I'm concerned. I know where your heart is little lady."

She grinned as she would hear the voice of her late grandfather, Asa, coming through his son's words. "Would it be ok if I came to see you later this morning? I know things must be crazy around there right now."

"That sounds like a plan to me. Around 11:00 work for you?"

"I'll be there! And Uncle Bo?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"Not telling me to mind my own business."

Bo laughed. "I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth sweetheart. A member of the BAU wants to take a look at a case that we have nothing on so far; I'm not going to argue with a chance at help to catch this one. I don't much care for people dying on my watch."

At 10:45 Natalie walked into the Llanview police station. Little had changed since she had worked here a few short years ago. A young woman she didn't recognize sat at the desk that had once been hers. The blond-haired woman looked overwhelmed as the files threatened to slide from her desk onto the floor and her phone rang. Carefully she put her hand on the most precarious stack of files as she picked up the phone.

It had been more than three years since she had heard the voice that came bellowing through the phone. The only way she had ever begun to explain that voice was that it sounded like whiskey – a little harsh but would warm you through like nothing else. Natalie felt her body shudder, not with dread but with familiarity.

She saw the terrified look on the woman's face and couldn't help but smile. She had been the only office manager John had never been able to intimidate. Some things obviously never change.

She knew her family was concerned about the possibility of her running into John while she was in town. But she wasn't worried. She knew she was a much different woman than she was when she left Llanview. John McBain couldn't get to her anymore.

She knocked lightly on Bo's office door, hearing his muffled "come in" through the glass. She opened it and saw her uncle just getting to his feet. "Hello sweetheart."

She smiled broadly as she crossed the room to meet him for a warm hug. "Hi Uncle Bo."

He held her by the arms as he looked at her. "You certainly have changed since you last visited, Natalie."

Her smile faded slightly. "Really? How so?"

"You're finally aware of what you're capable of doing. A lot of us knew it way back then. I'm glad you figured it out too."

Natalie couldn't help but laugh. "You don't make me sound too quick on the uptake!"

Bo shook his head and laughed. "Oh that's not it and you know it. You always sold yourself a little short before. Leaving did you good."

She nodded as they moved to sit at the table across from Bo's desk where he had files from the murders spread out. "So what's the latest?" she asked.

Before Bo could answer, his door opened quickly and John stormed in. He stopped short as he saw Natalie. Amazed he realized that she was more beautiful than the last time he had seen her. He hadn't that was possible until now.

Natalie turned at the sound of the door opening. She felt her heart skip a beat as her eyes met his. "Hi John."

He swallowed, trying to find his voice. "Hi Natalie." His voice sounded foreign to him, strained. He realized he wasn't breathing. Clearing his throat he focused on Bo instead of the stunning redhead so that he could force words out of his mouth. "I'm headed back out to the body dump site. Just checking to see if you wanted to tag along."

Bo shook his head. "I have to meet with the mayo in an hour."

Natalie stood up. "I'd like to go with you."

John looked at her, then at Bo, then back at Natalie. "Why?" He cringed as he realized how abrupt he sounded.

Ignoring what she knew to be another example of John's impeccable social skills, Natalie said, "Because I thought maybe I could offer some insight."

"I didn't realize you were here to work."

"It wasn't my intention but I thought while I'm here, I could try to help."

"Not my call. Bo?" John looked at Bo and hoped his boss would cut him some slack and keep Natalie out of the case.

Bo knew what John was hoping for. But the case had to take precedence over the personal feelings of his lead detective. "I've already told Natalie that I welcome her help."

Natalie smiled at her uncle as she gathered her coat and purse and prepared to follow John.

Saying nothing, he nodded and turned toward the door and opened it. He waited until Natalie walked through it before he looked up from the floor and followed her. They walked in silence to the parking lot. John stopped and looked at Natalie as they reached his car. "Do you want to ride with me?"

She took measure of him: his stance was rigid, defensive and the look in his eyes was unfamiliar to her. "Your call, McBain. I know you don't want my input. I'm certainly not going to force myself on you more. I can follow you if you would prefer."

Her tone came across as professional but he could feel the ice in her words. He always managed to make a mess of things with her. "There's no reason to take two cars." With that he walked to the driver's side and unlocked both doors, waiting for her to join him.

Rolling her eyes she walked to her side of the car and opened the door. "Let's get going. This guy is escalating."

John nodded and drove swiftly toward the dump site. Crime scene tape still outlined the perimeter. They parked several yards away and got out of the car. Natalie looked around, jotting notes in a small notebook she had pulled from her purse.

John watched her curiously. They were still 20 feet or more from where the body had been found. He had previously had colleagues who had sworn by the information they received from the BAU but he had never seen the group in action and generally regarded what they did as educated guesswork, not solid police work.

Natalie could feel the weight of John's stare on her as she jotted down her observations. She forced her ex out of her thoughts and focused solely on her surroundings. The area was remote, wooded with only one road leading in if her memory was accurate. She would verify that with John once she was done surveying the scene.

John couldn't help but admit to himself how impressed he was by the confidence Natalie exuded as she worked. She was no longer the self-conscious young woman who needed his approval. She as sure of herself, of her training and it showed on her face and in her body language. As much as it hurt him to admit, he would have held her back if they had stayed together. She had become the woman she was meant to be when she left him and their relationship behind.

Natalie turned to face John and saw a flicker of sadness in his eyes before the mask returned, blocking out any feelings he might have revealed to her otherwise. He smiled slightly as she looked at him. "Want to see where we found the body?"

She nodded and followed him another 20 feet or so. The outline of the body remained and Natalie could see the images Bo had shown her earlier flash through her mind. The victim had been re-dressed and left here within the last 24 to 36 hours based on the coroner's estimate. The positioning of the body suggested the killer wanted to illicit a reaction from whoever discovered her. Her clothing was on her body; however, her bra had been removed and her shirt left open to expose her breasts. Her skirt had been pushed up to her waist and her underwear pulled down to her left ankle, her legs spread apart. Natalie had seen cases similar to this, though none quite as thorough in shock value.

She finished her notes and watched as John looked around with Jefferson from the crime scene unit. John started to walk towards her but stopped as something to his right caught his attention. He took a pair of tweezers and picked up and piece of paper that was partially covered by leaves. Sealing it inside an evidence bag, John handed it to Jefferson then walked to where Natalie was standing.

"What did you find?" she asked curiously.

John smiled, hands on his hips. "Honestly? Maybe nothing but since it's inside the perimeter I figured we better check it out."

Natalie smiled back at him. "Sounds smart to be. But I asked what you found, not why you picked it up." Her tone quickly cooled.

He winced at the sharpness in her words. "Sorry. Old habits die hard I guess. It's a torn piece of paper with some letters and numbers on it. Once the lab guys are done with it we can look at it more closely."

The warmth in her smile returned when he said "we". She moved a step closer to him and asked, "Is it hard for you to take me seriously as an agent?"

He shook his head, taking a small step back. Being that close to her was still distracting, even after years away from her. "Absolutely not. It's hard for me to put aside my instinct to want to protect you." He saw the fire fill her eyes. "Now just calm down, I know you don't need protecting. You never did. But that doesn't stop me from wanting to anyway."

He wasn't sure how she would react to him saying that, especially using the present tense. Surprisingly, she smiled. "It's ok; I know you always wanted to spare me from the ugliness of your job. As long as you know that I can handle it."

"I know. You used to think you needed me. You always had it backwards." With that he walked to the car and got inside, praying she wouldn't question him on the slip he had just made.