John kept staring down the hallway at the police station after Natalie had left—she'd left thinking he was with someone and that was—well, for the most part that wasn't the truth. He turned back to Ashton to see Damon coming up with some papers in his hands, "Can we get together later?"

"Sure—call me when you get free," she smiled as she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek before turning and leaving.

"Oh man—please tell me Natalie didn't see her," cracked Damon as he got to where John was.

"Too late," mumbled John as he turned and they made their way to Damon, and for the time being, John's office. "I've got a name—Charles Rose—he's the new owner of the magazine. I was thinking—."

"Background check," finished Damon.

"I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship," laughed John as they went into the office and started seeing what they could find.

----------------------

Natalie looked in the rearview and watched Georgie sleep. The park wore you out—didn't it? she thought to herself as she made a turn on the way home.

After picking Georgie up from the neighbor's they'd gotten food and gone to the park and enjoyed themselves. She'd called Damon and let him know she was taking half a personal day, reminded him she wasn't on call this weekend, but don't hesitate to call her if needed.

She was almost home when the phone rang, "Hello?"

"Natalie—hi—it's Alicia. Did I interrupt you?"

"No—I was just headed home. I decided I spend way too much time at that police station so I'm taking a half day," she laughed. "Is everything ok?"

"Cris—he's at the gallery right now. I wouldn't call if I didn't think something was off—but he's acting—well, not himself. There's no one else in town that knows him. Do you think you could just randomly stop and check in on him? You're a good friend to him—he'll tell you if something is wrong."

Natalie glanced in the rearview again, "Yeah—give me a few minutes at home and I'll be on my way."

----------------------------

"I can't believe there's nothing on this guy. You'd think we could at least find a picture of him. It's just like he came in out of nowhere."

"Nobody just shows up—he's got a past—we just have to dig deeper," said John as the phone rang and he nodded for Damon to pick up.

"Hello? Yes—this is Damon Porter—James, hello. Myself and Agent McBain with the FBI were hoping to get to talk with you today. Is there a time we can meet with you? Ok—well then tomorrow—how about 10 am? Yes sir, I understand this is the weekend—ok, we will see you then," he said, hanging up the phone.

"He didn't ask what this was about—that's one point against him," said John with a roll of his eyes as he went back to the computer.

"You think he'll show tomorrow?"

"Oh trust me—he'll show. If he doesn't we'll just have to pay him a visit to his house."

-----------------

Natalie walked up the stairs that led into the gallery, glancing at the sign that read Owned and Maintained by Lars Sheers Co. She walked through the first gallery noticing the eerie quietness of the building, "Cristian?" she called out—hearing silence Natalie continued through to the back room.

She still didn't hear a response and continued down a small hallway, seeing him sitting at a desk over a sketch book. She placed her hand on his shoulder and spoke softly, "Cris."

He jerked around immediately and grabbed her wrist—she was almost sure he was going to break it in two and she knew he saw the fear that flashed in her eyes.

"Natalie—I'm so sorry."

"I'm ok," she said as she rubbed her arm where he'd grabbed it.

"What are you doing here?"

"Alicia sent me—wanted me to check in on you. She's worried about you—says you aren't acting like yourself—and I'm scared to say this, but I agree."

"I'm fine—it's just stress, that's all."

"Are you sure that's all?"

"Yes," he said louder.

"Everything ok with you and Alicia?"

"Yeah—like I said the other night—we're fine."

"She's worried about you."

"Well, she doesn't have to be. I'm fine—my paintings are selling again—my life couldn't be more perfect."

Natalie attempted to smile at hearing him, but she knew he was lying, "Ok. I'll tell Alicia it's just stress. But Cris—something is going on. Even if it is just stress you need to find a way to release it—and I don't think painting is getting out all of it."

"I could go back to boxing," he grinned.

She rolled her eyes at his tease, "Uhm—no. That's not the stress reliever I was thinking of. If you need anything call me." As Natalie walked back through the gallery she felt that she was being watched. She turned around to see if Cris had followed her out, but he wasn't there.

Natalie quickened her step out of the gallery—she wanted to hurry up and get home where she knew she'd feel safer.

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John rang the doorbell for a third time and still got no answer. He finally tried the door knob and found it unlocked. As he walked into Natalie's kitchen he set down the takeout he'd gone ahead and bought he could hear her voice telling someone to get inside.

"Natalie?" he called out as he began to walk towards the sound of her face.

Suddenly he saw a blur and was knocked to the floor. He could feel a sharp pain in his arm as Natalie began to pull something off of him. When he realized he hadn't been shot he looked up to see Natalie standing at his feet.

She was wearing nothing but a blue bikini, soaked from head to toe, and holding back a snarling Golden Retriever. "What the hell are you doing here, John?"

-----------------

"I'm really sorry about Georgie."

"She was protecting you—can't apologize for that," said John as he sat on the couch in the living room checking out the holes in his shirt—lucky she hadn't broken the skin.

"Why'd you come by anyways?"

"I brought dinner—thought we needed to talk about some stuff."

"Oh—I thought you'd be out with Ashton."

John chuckled, "No—she's not my type. She's a rookie agent—my last case she was under me. And well you know how well I am with expressing my feelings."

Natalie laughed at watching him blush and blushed herself slightly, "Ahhh—well you are pretty easy on the eyes too."

"Thanks—I think," he said with a raised eyebrow as he looked at Georgie who was now resting at Natalie's feet—keeping one eye still on him. "Where'd you get her anyways?"

Natalie smiled as she patted Georgie's head, "I bought the house and the day after I moved there was a small puppy sitting outside the screened porch in the back. Turns out she was from a litter that the neighbor's dog had just had and had found her way through the fence. I returned her to them and fixed the fence—but she kept on coming back day after day—finding new ways to get to me. After about a week we finally decided she was meant to be mine.

"She showed me what unconditional love is. No matter what I do—or the decisions I make throughout the day—when I get home she's there waiting for me. I've realized I never have gotten to feel that from a person before. It's amazing to actually feel it and see it first hand for once in my life."

There was a heavy silence between the two of them as John finally decided it needed to be broken. "You deserve that type of love Natalie—especially from a human," he spoke quietly as looked down and back at her. "There's something I've been keeping from you since I came to town."