Chapter 3

Natalie avoided John the next few days, whenever possible. What he had said had really affected her and she wasn't ready to admit it out loud. She missed him too. He said he wasn't giving up on her, that he was going to fight for her. Sitting at her desk she thought about all that they had been through.

All through their relationship, she did the chasing...she said how she felt and when he claimed he couldn't. She had always forgiven him for everything. Starting with the lie about who he was, Flynn and Vegas, the lie about Christian, the way he treated her after his accident, believing Marty when she claimed she was the one to push her down the stairs, the weeks of fucking Kelly, kissing that woman in Port Charles...could she forgive him again? She was tired of having to. Not that she was an angel either, she'd hurt him too. Tampering with evidence in his father's case and losing his trust, pushing him too hard after his accident, lying about Brody and Liam...should they even try again?

"Natalie!" Natalie jumped, standing in front of her was one of the other techs in the office, "are you ok? You were like a million miles away, I've been trying to get your attention forever."

"I'm sorry, I just have...a lot on my mind," she answered.

Her friend and co worker smiled knowingly at her, "I can imagine, do you want to talk about it?" she asked genuinely.

"Oh...no, it's just more of the same. What's up?" she asked, pasting a fake smile on her face.

"Commissioner's waiting on this," the woman shoved it toward Natalie.

"Well, bring it to him," she chuckled, shoving it back.

"Yeah, maybe you should," her friend said cryptically. Holding it out again, trying to insist she take the file.

"Why?" Natalie asked suspiciously, narrowing her eyes at the woman.

"Just wasn't sure if you met his new part time assistant yet. Might be a good day for it," the woman said dropping the folder on Natalie's desk and walking away. Natalie watched the woman walk away, completely confused.

She picked up the folder and made her way down stairs. As she got closer to John's office, she could see Susan's desk but, there was no one sitting there. Not thinking anything of it she made her way to John's closed door. She reached for the knob and clearly heard a woman giggle. She waited a moment, trying to discern what she heard when she clearly heard the giggle again.

Natalie forgoing the customary knock, barged into her husband's office. John was sitting behind his desk looking up at the woman sitting ON his desk facing him. Her long legs were crossed, her long blond hair was pulled together over one shoulder and she was leaning forward giving him a clear view of her breasts if he wanted it. Natalie was too busy taking this strange woman appearance in that she missed the uncomfortable look on her husband's face which switched to panic when he realized it was his wife that walked through the door.

"Oh," the woman said hoping down off his desk, "I'm sorry, do you have an appointment? Mr. McBain doesn't see anyone without an appointment." The woman looked back over her shoulder at John and smiled.

Narrowing her eyes at Amy she asked, "since when?"

"I'm sorry you're going to have to step out-" The assistant started, point to the door.

Natalie's eyes rolled to John who had also stood up. Natalie looked back at the woman with her tight short skirt and her tiny top and interrupted her, "I don't need an appointment...EVER. So if you'll excuse us," Natalie glared at the woman as she took a step around her and looked to John clearly dismissing Amy but, the assistant wasn't going to let her.

"I'm sorry, I don't think you understand. Mr. McBain is...unavailable at the moment-"

"No, I don't think you understand," Natalie spun back around and took a few steps closer to the woman, as John came around the desk to step between the two women. He almost wasn't quick enough, "you get out of here now...or I'm going to kick your a-"

"Natalie!" John said stepping between them and blocking Amy from her view, "that will be all, Amy. Thank you," John said loudly, interrupting Natalie.

Amy looked back and forth between them. She had heard that the commissioner's wife worked here too but, hadn't seen her. Evidently, this was her. She turned her large smile to John, "sure, if you need anything else-"

"I'll let you know, thanks," John said quickly, clearly dismissing her.

"Sure," Amy turned to leave. Natalie turned around herself, never taking her glare of the blonde slut until she closed the door. John watched Natalie watch Amy and waited. She was going to blow up as soon as that door was closed.

"What the fuck was that?" Natalie hissed, spinning back around.

"Well, the truth is...that wasn't what it looked like but, I can hear how that sounds," John said with a shake of his head. It truly was innocent on his part.

"So that was something then?" Natalie asked, not believing he actually said that.

"No, Natalie it wasn't," John said, he sighed, "look, I had Susan talk to her about the way she dresses. I thought it would be better coming from, not only another woman but, an equal. Apparently she didn't understand or get it or care so, I thought I would try. She hopped up on my desk before I even had a chance to say anything."

"U huh, and how did the talk go?" Natalie asked sarcastically, slapping the folder to his chest and passing him by, walking to the window to look out.

"Uhm...I don't think well," John said. He had never been that uncomfortable with a woman…ever. Not that he fancied himself a lady's man but, he was pretty comfortable in his own skin and had never been that flustered around a woman. Except for maybe Natalie but 'flustered' in a completely different way.

"Well, she was probably too busy trying to shove her tits in your mouth." Natalie said, keeping her back to him.

Trying not to laugh out loud, John laid the folder on his desk, and walked up behind his wife. Close but not touching, he leaned down to speak quietly in her ear, "well, I remember another commissioner's assistant that used to hop up on my desk like that when she wanted some attention...I wonder if she was trying to do the same thing." He leaned his hand on the window sill beside her head. They were so close, he could smell her. Her perfume, her shampoo, her lotion….it smelled like home.

Natalie spun around slowly, and looked up at him, "I didn't think you ever noticed," she said just as quietly, definitely interested in the answer.

She was so close, all he had to do was lean down and kiss her. He could see the fire in her eyes too.

"Oh sweetheart, trust me...I noticed plenty. They are probably..." John said taking a deep breath, openly admiring his wife's body. He was longing to touch her so he gently placed a hand on her hip, "your best feature."

Natalie raised one eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest. "Besides, you kind heart, your fantastic brain and what a wonderful mother you are," John finished quickly, keeping his hand planted on her hip, he rubbed his thumb back and forth. He gave her a look asking if that was the right answer.

"Uh-huh. Right," Natalie said trying to still sound angry but, having a hard time keeping the smile off her face. His touch was starting to drive her crazy.

"I really was just...trying to find a way to talk to her about the dress code. Honestly," John said sincerely.

Natalie nodded. She looked awkwardly way and stepped around him to leave the room. John rubbed a hand over his face, wondering what else he could tell her to convince her of the truth. Trust was always their biggest problem.

Natalie paused at the door before opening it running over what she was about to do in her mind. Jealously pumping through her veins. Last time it was a disaster, 'what on earth would make this time any better?' She thought.

"Oh to hell with it," she muttered turning around, "come over at six, you can help me get the kids to bed first...before you take me to dinner."

John looked up in surprise and in a loss for words, he just nodded. Natalie opened the door wide, intentionally leaving it open she stepped out and stopped in front of Amy who sat at her desk.

"Little friendly advice. You dress like a slut, so if you want to keep this job and be taken seriously, I suggest you stop by human resources on your way out tonight and pick up a copy of the dress code for city employees," Natalie smiled a sarcastic smile at the woman. She then turned her eyes to her husband with a raised eyebrow and a 'is that good enough' gesture.

John just shook his head at her. That was his Natalie, cut to the chase and doesn't beat around the bush. 'God, I love you,' he thought as he watched her walk away.