As I write this chapter I keep thinking of the Latin phrase "Alea iacta est…"it means "The die is cast. " I just keep thinking about fate and destiny so this chapter is gonna be a reflection of that. I keep looking up Latin phrases and some just stick with me, make me think so probably a lot of the chapters will be influenced by them. LOL sorry. Or maybe not. LOL Sorry for the long wait though. I have been incredibly busy with work and other things. One minute I have lots of time and then the next thing I know I can't even find time to get to the grocery store!

Chapter 2

Lunch at Franks consisted of cheese steak and animated conversation. They sat at a bench outside the large building that was actually Franks Hotdog Stand. Frank had definitely upgraded from the little shack that Natalie remembered him having so many years ago... Natalie was currently telling John of the time that Roxy had come home one morning and wondered why strangers were in her apartment. As it turned out she had gone to the wrong apartment.

"So she was looking at this big biker dude, screaming at him to get out of her house when I came down the hall to see what the heck was going on." Natalie recounted with on an amused smile.

"She really didn't know she was in the wrong place?" John asked, chuckling at the visual he was getting. From her description her mother, Roxy, seemed like quite the character. Though Roxy was by no means a shining example of motherhood Natalie had not only survived but she had thrived and in doing so forgiven her adopted mother for her terrible neglect.

"Nope, and once she saw me she realized it but she still wasn't even embarrassed." Natalie laughed at that. "She just shrugged at those guys and said sorry before turning around and going to our apartment. " It never ceased to amaze her at how little Roxy cared about the opinions of others.

John grinned in amusement. He took a moment to just look at Natalie. The woman really was stunning. He felt like he was jolted by her beauty every time his eyes met hers. The clear blue of them, framed by her luscious red hair made him wonder what they would look like as he made love to her. Would they sparkle like they did when she laughed, would they gleam with lust and passion? Would she scream his name as she came? Or would she gasp and whimper? He felt slightly ashamed to be thinking of her like that but hey, he was a guy. Guys thought about sex, especially with beautiful women around.

John started to comment but stopped mid sentence as he spotted a grubby looking man striding towards them, his greasy hair falling across his face. The dirty over sized parka he wore hid his body but John could tell he was concealing something beneath he fabric. He motioned to Natalie to watch the man but then noticed that Natalie had already noticed him as well. They both sized him up with out making it too obvious. When he marched into the Franks both John and Natalie got up and followed him in. Their keen instincts telling them that this was not just an ordinary man looking for something to eat.

They went in and pretended to read the menu on the wall as they waited to the suspicious looking man to do something. All he did was pace back and forth for a while but just as John was thinking that maybe he had over reacted the man pulled out a knife, jumped over the counter and grabbed the cashier by the neck. He started shouting at everyone to get down and for the cashier to open the register.

John reacted first by pushing Natalie behind him instinctively. He covered his badge with his shirt thinking that seeing it might make the obviously disturbed man hurt the terrified cashier. Then he carefully slid his hand to his gun only to curse silently, he had left his weapon in the car not wanting to take it into Franks. He looked at Natalie and saw that she didn't have her gun either. He motioned to her that they should follow the man's commands for the moment.

Everyone in the restaurant got on the floor while the cashier fumbled with the register. Once she got it open the man threw her to the floor and began stuffing the money in his pockets. Once he had all the money in the register he hopped back over the counter and ran for the door.

John saw his opportunity as the thief tore by him. He reached a hand out and grabbed the man's leg, causing him to crash to the ground. John was up and kicking the knife from the guys hand in record time. Natalie ran to the cashier checking to see if she was injured. Seeing that the woman was ok she rushed back to John just in time to see the criminal kick his feet out and trip John onto the floor. The man was on him swearing like a mad man trying to break John's face.

John blocked blow after blow before managing to roll the man off him and get in a few good hits of his own. They rolled across the floor trading punches, terrified costumers scrambling to get out of the way. Finally John had had enough and threw a powerful punch right at the mans temple he went limp and stayed that way. John rolled him over and cuffed him, uncaring that he was unconscious.

Natalie had her cell phone out and was calling the AC police. After explaining the situation to the operator Natalie hung up and sighed. "so much for a peaceful lunch. The AC police will be here in a few minutes. "

After the AC police left and Natalie stood next to John watching the cruiser pull away she looked at his bruised face and said, "You did good McBain."

John laughed, then groaned in pain. "Don't make me laugh. It hurts. We need to get back. We're both late for class. " Natalie nodded solemnly and they headed for the car.

The whole episode made Natalie wonder what would have happened if they hadn't decided to go to lunch. "Alea iacta est… " she mumbled as she headed for her car with John. She felt like this even had set the tone of their future. Like they were destined for turbulent times ahead but that they would somehow face them together. .

John heard her mumble something but didn't catch what it was. "What?"

Natalie shook her self out of her sudden introspectiveness. "Alea iacta est…" she repeated. Shaking her head ruefully, " I was just thinking about that phrase. Julius Caesar said it about crossing the Rubicon. It means, 'the die is cast'. Suddenly it just felt like this was the start of something. I don't know. It's a weird feeling."

John thought about it and had to agree. It did feel like the beginning of something. Good or bad he felt like something more was to come for them. "Yeah, I know what you mean. "

They were quiet as they headed back to the conference. Both occupied with their thoughts on the events on what happened. John couldn't help but admire how Natalie hadn't panicked when he had been fighting the guy in the diner. Most other people would have been panicked and would have tried to help. He liked that she trusted him to handle the situation.

For the next 3 days Natalie continued to spend time with John. They had gone to dinner the first night, then the next they had gone to the casino and had played a few games. Natalie lost but it was all in good fun. On the third they had gone to a little bar and grill that served really good burgers. The bar and grill had a pool table and of course Natalie just had to challenge John to a game. He was laughing as he lost though.

On the last day Natalie had to leave, head back to Llanview. John had walked her to her car and she hugged him goodbye.

"I really am gonna miss you John." Natalie told him as she let go. She had had so much fun just hanging out with him. They hadn't really done anything romantic but she still had had such a great time. Not that she hadn't wanted to do anything romantic but he hadn't really gave any indication he wanted to see her after the conference was over and she wasn't into being 'fucked and forgotten' so she had tried to keep a little distance from him physically.

John felt her body against him and pulled her a bit tighter. This had been the best conference he had ever been to. Even though he had to teach part of it. Spending time with Natalie had been great. She was beautiful, funny, intelligent, charming, and oh did he mention beautiful? He understood her hesitation at being more physical together. He knew she was attracted to him, like he was to her but he also knew that after next week he would be back on active duty and not able to have any kind of relationship with her, as much as he might want to. But he did want to know what it was like to kiss her, even if it was just once…

"Me too." He told her. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear before cupping her face with his palm. Looking her in the eye he slid his other hand onto her face and pulled her forward gently until they were nose to nose.

Natalie's breath caught as she stared into his heated eyes. The desire in them made her breathless. She moistened her lips just before John leaned forward and closed the gap between their mouths. His lips slid over hers gently, his mouth moved against hers in a kiss of exploration. When his tongue probed her lips she didn't even think to deny him. Once he entered her mouth with his tongue she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. Her tongue gently dueling with his as her hands cupped the back of his head.

When they pulled away from each other they were both panting and more than a little out of breath. "Goodbye Natalie, " John told her softly.

Natalie touched her lips as she looked at him. She grinned and said, "take care John. You have my number if you ever want to take a break and talk to me." With that she slid into her car and drove away.

To be continued...