A/N I do not own the characters they are owned by ABC and though they re abused there I will try not to abuse them any more than necessary. Anyone with any complaints can e-mail


Chapter 3

"So, you going to tell me where exactly we are going?" Natalie asked John teasingly as they approached the third straight hour of driving after they had stopped off at her apartment to get her things. She had called Martina to run the store for her while she was gone, which of course had lead to a discussion of 'why' she needed someone to take charge and why she was leaving town for a while.

John glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and saw her expression. She was trying to be light, even teasing but she wasn't quite pulling it off. Her mouth was tight and slightly pinched and her eyes also spoke of her fear and apprehension. "We're going to visit my brother for a while. My cover, in case someone might ask, is that I am on vacation and just visiting Michael."

Natalie smiled genuinely at that, "How is Mike these days? Did he finish Med school and become the great doctor he always wanted to be?" She thought about John's younger brother. He had been in the same grade as her but had attended private school on a full scholarship. When he had come home, which hadn't been often, he had seemed quiet and reserved, not at all like John who was bold and liked to take charge of a situation. She also remembered that Mike had once had quite a crush on her. He had asked her out on several occasions but she hadn't wanted to get involved with someone who wasn't going to be around for only a day or two before going back to school.

John grinned at the thought of his brother. "Mikey has done well for him self. He finished school and is working in Llanview Pennsylvania as a doctor, working with some pretty important people. He's actually getting married soon," he told her, his pride for Michael clear in his voice.

Natalie was happy for Mike she thought he had been a good guy and deserved some happiness, especially after his and John's father had been gunned down in cold blood when they were children. They had caught the killers, Spencer Truman and his alcoholic wife Paige, but it had really traumatized both of them not to mention sending their mother into a depression that she still hadn't come out of.

"That's good, I'm glad he's doing so well," she paused then said, "so we're headed for Pennsylvania huh?" She had actually never heard of Llanview Pennsylvania. It seemed a long way away from Atlantic City, and she loved Atlantic City.

"Yeah, it's a quiet little town. I figure any strangers asking around or looking for you will stand out like a sore thumb," he explained to her a little reluctantly. He wasn't used to explaining his actions but this was Natalie so he made the effort to be more informative than he would usually be.

Natalie remained quiet at the unintentional reminder as to why he was there with her. For a moment she had almost forgotten why John was back in her life after so long. She had just taken comfort in the fact that he was there and that it was much the same as it had been when they had been in school.

Sensing Natalie's change in mood John wanted to smack himself. She had been almost calm and he had to go remind her of what happened. He muttered out a "sorry about that" and then was quiet himself for a long while.

After a half an hour of silence John yawned and then said, "Want to stop to get some sleep soon?"

Natalie was exhausted her self so she said with a yawn, "Yeah. I'm so tired." She was slumped against the door with her head lying against the window. The car seat was uncomfortable and with the many bumps in the road she hadn't been able to get any sleep during the drive.

John nodded and threw a smile at her as he pulled off the highway and into the nearest town. He drove until he found a motel that looked both safe and clean. He pulled into the parking lot and shut off the car. "Duck down and stay there till I get back," he told her, "we don't want anyone to get a look at you."

Natalie did as he asked because she was too tired to argue with him about it. She stayed with her head down for what seemed like a long time until he finally came back and hopped into the car.

"Keep your head down till I tell you," he said gently as he drove to the back side of the motel. When he parked the car he got out and looked around the motel, incase someone was following them. Satisfied that it was clear he went back to the car and said, "Ok you can sit up now."

When she did he opened the door and helped her out shielding any view of her with his body. He walked that way till she was in their room then said, "Stay there. I'll go get our bags."

Natalie sat down on one of the beds and shook her head. John was really taking this body guard/witness protection thin seriously. She was equally amused and exasperated by it but refrained from voicing any thoughts of either emotion. She knew John was good at his job, he would require nothing less than the best from himself. He had been that way from the moment he decided to be a cop and it was obvious that he had changed little in that respect.

She flopped back onto the bed and closed her eyes and thought about the last time they had spoken

"I have to do this Natalie," John said patiently as Natalie paced in front of him.

"But why do you have to go so far away? Can't you be a cop in Atlantic City?" John was her best friend, she didn't know what she would do with out him. "Why do you have to go to Quantico?"

"Natalie..." He said, reaching up he took a lock of her hair and tucked it behind her ear, "It won't be forever. I'll be back when the training is done." He felt bad about leaving her alone with only Rex and Roxy but he needed to do this. It had been his dream since before his father died. In fact after his dad died he had become even more determined to be an FBI agent. He wanted to do something good and worth wile; he wanted to get justice for the victims of men like Spencer Truman.

"What if they don't have you work in AC? What if I never see you again? Who's going to tell me if I'm being a bitch? Who am I gonna play pool with. You know that you are the only one around here that gives me a decent game..." She knew she was being whiney and unreasonable but she was scared of losing her best friend. If life had taught her anything it was that life was unpredictable and nothing was certain.

"I promise that we will see each other again." John knew she would miss him, he would certainly miss her but it was time. He had to do this.

Natalie looked at him with serious eyes and said, "Promise?"

"Yeah, I promise." He smiled his flirty smile at her and said, "I have to come back other wise who would whip your but at 8 ball!"

Natalie glared at him for a moment then burst out laughing. She had a sudden thought and abruptly stopped laughing. In all her worries she had forgotten that there was someone else that his moving affected as much if not more than her, "What about Caitlin? Is she ok with this? I know you guys were getting pretty serious."

John smiled at the mention of Caitlin, "Actually..." he dragged out the word.

"What? Don't tell me she dumped you! I really thought you guys were perfect together." Natalie was suddenly worried. She liked Caitlin, what little she knew about her anyway, and had thought that she had loved John enough to wait for him.

"No, she didn't dump me. I actually asked her to marry me and she said YES!" John explained with a big smile. "We're planning the wedding for after I am done with my training."

Natalie could see his excitement and was excited for him...them. She hugged him and said, "I'm so happy for you. She punched his arm lightly, "You better invite me to the wedding!" She gave him a mock stern look and put her hands on her hips.

"I promise, you'll be the first to get one!"

Natalie was shook out of the memory as John came back in and shut the door. She felt saddened when she remembered that the invitation had never showed up despite his promise.