The weeks during Johnathan's trial, Cameron and Natalie were constantly swarmed by reporters and paparazzi every time they stepped outside. After being in the spotlight for over twenty years, Cameron was used to dealing with cameras and microphones being shoved in his face; Natalie wasn't. She didn't know how to handle being the center of attention and froze whenever the media vultures came at her, either covering her face with her arms or hiding behind Cameron. Gunter had to start coming with them to the courthouse to fight them off because Natalie was determined to support her brother.

At home, Cameron had Jordan make sure she couldn't see anything about the trial on social media and essentially all news stations were banned. Not that they needed to watch the news to follow the case, anyway, when they were right in the middle of it.

He begged them not to, because he knew how nervous she got when people were staring at her, but Johnathan's lawyers put Natalie on the stand as a character witness. She was shaking practically the entire time, but she smiled and looked at the jury occasionally as the talked about what a great older brother Johnathan was, ending with how even though he ditched her that night for some girl he'd just met, he made sure she got home first. It all seemed to go well until cross-examination.

Natalie turned pale when they showed her the pictures of the dead woman Johnathan had supposedly killed, and any confidence she'd managed to build up while addressing the courtroom was shattered. They ruthlessly questioned her while she was thrown off. The prosecution suggested that Natalie was only corroborating Johnathan's story about a woman with two different colored eyes because that's what he'd told her, reminding the jury that Natalie had admitted to only seeing the woman up close for a couple of minutes. They cited her interview with the police and CPS where she'd said that, yes, Johnathan was "always a little angry" because their father had hidden him from the world his whole life. At that point it seemed like everyone was talking at once.

"So, doesn't it make sense that someone who, as his own sister says, 'is always a little angry' snapped finally-"

"No," Natalie blurted out. "That's not what I meant-! That's not even- That got taken out of context!"

"Objection! Your Honor, that interview took place with the witness, who is a minor, who had no legal guardian or other adult representative, which is a clear violation-"

The judge slammed his gavel down on his podium. "Order!"

Natalie was allowed to leave the stand and she looked at Johnathan with tears in her eyes as she walked back to her seat. "Johnny, I'm so sorry," she whispered.

He shook his head. "It's okay, Nat, don't worry. It'll be fine." But it only went downhill from there.


A year later, Cameron was in a visitation room at the prison where Johnny was serving out his sentence, asking for his help on an illusion for a case with the FBI. Because he was working with the FBI, now.

Johnathan scribbled a few things down. "This'll help you with your swap. Show this to Gunter."

Cameron looked at what Johnathan had written on the sticky note and nodded. "So. . Are you gonna ask about her?"

Johnathan became very interested in the map Cameron had laid out on the table. "Who?"

"Oh, I don't know, Johnny. Maybe the little sister who worships you? Ya know, the one you told me not to bring to see you?"

". . . Is something wrong?" Johnathan asked softly.

"You mean besides the fact that she still barely leaves home? or that she spends most of her time in her room on her computer?" Cameron's tone was pointed as was the look he gave his twin.

"She sounds fine when I call her," he argued.

"Yeah, well, Nat's a great actress when she wants to be."

Johnathan shifted uncomfortably. "Have you tried having her talk to someone?"

Cameron scoffed and rolled his eyes. "No, John, I never thought of taking our depressed, recluse of a little sister to see a therapist," he replied sarcastically. "I tried, man, she won't talk to anyone." That wasn't entirely true. Natalie would talk to them, she just wouldn't talk about Johnathan, or the night he was arrested, or the fact that she partly blamed herself for Johnathan's conviction. "She needs you. . . Johnny. You can't keep avoiding seeing her."

"You think I want to?" Johnathan snapped. "You think I like any of this, Cam?"

"I know you don't want her to see you like this, in here, but Johnny, I'm telling you- She needs to see you."

Johnathan shook his head. "No. The occasional phone call is one thing, but having her come here and see me-"

"She thinks it's her fault," Cameron said bluntly. "She thinks you blame her, for what she said last year, and that's why you don't want to see her."

"What? That's ridiculous."

"Oh, I know that, but you try explaining that to a seventeen year old with abandonment issues. You gotta talk to her. Not over the phone. Face to face. You need to look her in the eye and talk to her. You're the only one she'll listen to."


No one had expected Natalie to come down for the 'wrap party' after they closed the case. That would involve putting on "real clothes" and talking to a bunch of strangers, neither of which were things she'd been willing to do in a long time. So when Natalie came appeared at the bottom of the stairs wearing a sweater and jeans, and even shoes, Cameron was stunned to say the least. He walked over to his sister and watched from the edge of the group with her as Dina, Jordan and Gunter explained how they'd fooled Felix Ruiz. Though he was watching his sister more closely than his team.

Natalie laughed quietly when Agent Alvarez complained about them "ruining magic".

"This is. . nice," she spoke softly.

Cameron smiled brightly down at her. "Yeah. Yeah, it is. Glad you decided to join."

She blushed and glanced up at him before returning her attention to the little party. "I heard people, music. . I just wanted to see what was going on."

Before he could say anything else, Agent Alvarez found his way over to them. "Cameron. Who's this young lady?"

"This is my baby sister, Natalie," Cameron introduced. He wrapped his arm around his sister and pulled her into his side. "Only slightly more well known than Johnathan. She likes to keep to herself, generally, but has decided to grace us all with her presence tonight," he said teasingly.

"Cameron," she muttered, and he knew he'd embarrassed her.

The FBI agent didn't seem to notice (or pretended not to) and stuck his hand out. "Mike Alvarez. It's nice to meet you, Natalie."

Natalie shook his hand a couple of times before pulling her hand back and crossing her arms. "You too, Mike." Cameron was stunned when his little sister took it upon herself to continue the conversation. "So. You're really into magic, huh?"

Mike grinned. "It's amazing! Your brother's act especially- Well, you know, you've seen him!" he said enthusiastically.

Natalie shrugged. "It's not quite as impressive when you know how all the tricks work," she replied. "Growing up in a family of magicians and illusionists, you don't really get to enjoy it as much."

Mike groaned and pointed an accusing finger at Cameron. "You ruined magic for your own sister? That's cold, man."

Cameron laughed and held up his hands in surrender. "Hey, it wasn't just me. Dad and Johnny did plenty to ruin the magic of it for her." Mike shook his head and Cameron took a step back. "I'm gonna head outside before I offend you any more. You good, Nat?" He was surprised once again when his sister nodded. He looked over his shoulder as he walked away and saw Natalie walking around the room with Mike, pointing out certain posters or other decor. He supposed if anyone was going to break her out of her shell, it was the excitable magician enthusiast. It would still be a while before Natalie got back to her old self. . but this was a good start. And it was nice seeing her talk to someone besides him and the team.


The depression thing sort of surprised even me while I was writing this chapter, but it also felt right. Natalie loves and adores both of her brothers, but I feel like Johnathan would be the favorite, because they were both shunted to the side in favor of Cameron. She would've spent more time with him. And as anyone with siblings knows, sometimes you just bond with one sibling better than another. Taking all of this into account, it made sense (to me) that she would take it extremely hard when Johnathan is incarcerated, and harder still when he wouldn't want to see her.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! More to come soon.