Hope you are still enjoying this. Things are going to get a little rocky but have no fears! It will all work out!
Chapter 13
There was a stunned silence across the entire balcony. The shock and surprise was palatable.
"No! She couldn't have!" Rushing to the balcony's edge Clint looked over and down to the terrace below. Jared was right! There was no sign of Allison, none at all! She had gotten away!
Allison had obviously survived the fall and not only survived but gotten away.
"Clint." Shaking him from his thoughts and bringing him back to the present, Clint quickly glanced at Jess who was being comforted by Jared then to Bo who had spoken to him, only then realizing that Natalie seemed to have been injured.
"Natalie? What happened?" Crossing quickly to her and Bo, who had one arm around her waist supporting her and keeping her steady on her feet.
"I think she was hit by fragments off the pillar when the bullet struck it." Motioning to the column where an obvious scar showed just inches from where Natalie had been standing. That was too damn close. Bo thought, unconsciously tightening his hold on his niece.
"I'm fine don't worry about me, is Jess ok? What about Jared? And Allison ... My Gawd! She just went over so quickly. Is she... alive?" Natalie would have continued with her questions but Bo put a stop to them.
He had overheard the exchange between Jared and Clint regarding Allison, and although he definitely wanted to track her down and make sure she never hurt any member of his family ever again, but there was Natalie to see to. She had already suffered so much in her young life and Allison Perkins had played a major roll in some of the worst.
"Right now the most important thing is to inform the police, and I guess that means Ramsey now, about Allison, and getting Natalie checked out at the hospital. Why don't you, Jess and Jared deal with Ramsey and I'll take care of Nat?" The question came out more as a statement than anything else.
"I don't need to go to the hospital, I'm fine. It's just a little cut, nothing big." She was once again cut off by her uncle.
"No arguments, Natti. That cut is still bleeding pretty good and we're not about to take any chances with it or you. Ramsey can take our statement there. Clint, you'll see to everything here? You'll let Vicki and Lindsay know what's happened?"
"Yes, yes you both go ahead. We'll meet you there when we're done. Natalie, go with Bo get looked over." He looked back at Jess, who was now openly crying openly into Jared's chest as he held her, patting her back in comfort.
"Good, let's go." Bo led Natalie to the door leading back into the building, but once there she glanced back at the three left behind. Jess now had the full attention of both Clint and Jared. Same as always, Natalie thought then chastised herself for it. After everything Jess has been through the last few weeks, she needs all the support she can get. And leaning on Bo, Natalie left.
As soon as Bo and Natalie arrived at the hospital she was quickly ushered into an exam room with the promise that a doctor would be in shortly.
Bo took this opportunity to return a call he had been thinking of on the drive over.
"McBain."
"John, it's Bo. Where are you now?"
"In my car. Look, did you find Natalie? When you didn't call back I ... well I figured I'd head over to the Palace and see if I could track her down myself."
"I found her. You're going to want to head for the hospital though not the Gala, that's where we are now."
"The hospital?! What ... is Natalie alright? What happened and why are you there? Dammit, I knew something was wrong! I should have just gone straight there when I first got that feeling!"
"John, calm down. Natalie's ok, she's got a cut on her forehead and we're waiting for a doctor to check her out. When you get here I'll explain everything."
"I'm on my way now!" Ending the call John barely slowed the car as he made a U-turn with the tires squealing and headed back towards the hospital and then hit the accelerator hard. Focusing on the traffic didn't stop his thoughts though. Bo said she was ok. She's not hurt badly. But the image of her hurt and scared tore at him. The cold sweat he had broke out in when Bo said they were at the hospital, increased. Hang on Natalie, just be safe and sound. I'm on my way.
The nurse was still in with Natalie as they waited for the doctor on duty, with Bo pacing the hall when Dr. Michael McBain got to the nurses station.
"You paged me?"
"Yes doctor, we have a young woman with a head wound. Commissioner Buchanan brought her in." Nodding in Bo's direction.
"Bo, I hear you brought me some work."
Shaking Michael's hand Bo nodded. "Yes, it's Natalie."
"Natalie? What happened?" As the two men walked towards her room.
"There was a shooting at the Gala. The bullet struck a concrete pillar on the balcony and I think one of the shattered pieces must have struck Natalie."
"Let me take care of her and I'll have the nurse come and get you when I'm done." Michael opened the door to the exam room and disappeared inside.
At that moment John came storming around the corner and spotting Bo went directly to him as he quickly glanced around. "Bo, where's Natalie?"
"Michael's in with her now. Look there are a few things you need to know starting with as of tonight I'm no longer the commissioner. The mayor decided a change was necessary and has put Ramsey in charge. I no longer in charge of the PD." John shook his head feeling like he had just landed in a place that looked like home but made no damn sense at all. What the fuck was that good for nothing piece of shit mayor thinking? Putting Ramsey, that son of a bitch, in charge of law and order?! Hell that was like putting Jeffrey fucking Dahmer in charge of a vegetarian buffet brunch!
"Ok we'll deal with that in a minute. First tell me how the hell Natalie ended up here? What exactly went down tonight?" John was furious about Ramsey taking Bo's job but the priority was Natalie. Her condition, and was whomever responsible for her injuries no longer a threat?
Bo sighed hard and shoved his hands into his pants pockets. "Remember what I told you about Allison Perkins? Well she showed up tonight at the Gala. Somehow she and Jess ended up out on the balcony, that's where Jared and Natalie ran into them. Allison had a gun on Jess, and from what Natalie told me on the ride over, wanted the girls to decide which one would jump off the balcony and which would be shot."
"My Gawd!" John could withhold his outburst. The thought of Natalie being held and threatened by this psychotic woman and having to face that kind of decision sent John back to the gut clenching, icy cold sweat he felt each time she held by some deranged sociopath. And there had been too damn many of those for his peace of mind.
"From what Natalie said that after Allison chose Nat to take the bullet Jared jumped her and they struggled for the gun. That's when Clint and I showed up. Allison lost her balance and went over the railing but not before firing off a shot. The bullet struck one of the pillars that Nati was standing near and some shards from it hit her in the forehead."
Bo watched and waited for John's reaction and when it came he knew he had made the right decision. They might not be together anymore but there was no question that John still cared deeply for Nat, or that he'd do whatever it took to keep her safe. And with Allison still running around loose Bo needed someone who know Nati to keep an eye on her, someone who knew how to read her and how to react.
Trying to gather his thoughts John looked up and met Bo's gaze. "But she's ok otherwise, right?" He was dealing or trying to deal with the emotions running through his entire body and get a handle on them as well. Fear that she had been hurt at all, gratitude that it wasn't worse, protectiveness that someone had tried to harm her, helplessness that he hadn't been there to stop it and rage. The rage was like a tight fist in his gut, that Jared Buchanan had been within ten miles of her! That he had been present when Natalie was hurt.
"I think she'll be fine, we'll know more when Michael comes back. But John, there's more." That got John's undivided attention. "Allison escaped. When she fell she landed on the balcony below and got away. As far as I know she's still out there. And after what happened tonight, she can't be considered anything but a threat to my nieces and the entire family."
John took a deep breath and stepped away from Bo, going over everything he had just learned. She was out there somewhere, this brain scrambled bitch that had dared to threaten his redhead! No way in hell would she get a second chance! He wouldn't allow it! If he had to stick by her side twenty four seven, if he had to kidnap her, take her somewhere safe and tie her down he would not let her out of his sight! Running his hands through his hair, he relaxed slightly now that he had a plan. Spinning back to Bo he realized they had another problem. "Ramsey. How's he going to react to all this? I don't think we can really count on his help in any way. He'' most likely end up being a pain in our asses instead!"
"Probably."
Michael entered the exam room to find Natalie dressed in a red knock out gown, looking hot enough in it she should be classed as illegal, as a nurse held a gauze pad to her forehead.
"Natalie, Bo filled me in on what happened. Now lets take a look at that cut." Michael stepped closer as the nurse moved to the side. "It's still bleeding pretty good, doctor."
As he probed and prodded causing Natalie to wince as she silently questioned his medical degree and the oath he had taken to do no harm. Sure as hell feels like he's doing harm! As she winced again.
"Well, looks like you need a few stitches to close this up, Natti. Hmmm, how many times is it now that I've had to patch you up? And this is the second time you've been dressed to kill and almost ended up that way and me having to fix the damage done."
"Yeah yeah Michael. Could we skip the walk down disaster lane? Just slap a bandage on it so I can get out of here."
"Sorry Natti, but a bandage just won't do it. Yep, you're definitely going to need stitches." Turning to the silent nurse, "Could you get me a suture tray, please?" Nodding the nurse turned to one of the many drawers and began gathering the necessary items.
Waiting wasn't something that John liked or did well and when it came to Natalie, well, John waiting was not a pretty sight. Pacing back and forth while keeping an eye glued to her room door as Bo sat silently thinking of everything that had happened tonight and trying to come up with a plan to protect the family. Both men dealing with their emotions in their own ways. John though was finding his thoughts swung from wrapping Natalie up in bubble wrap to keep her safe to beating the supreme shit out of Jared for just breathing the same air as her.
The sound of many hurried footsteps coming down the hall caused both men to glance up. Vicki grasping Charlie's hand as Clint, Nora, Lindsay and Jess rounded the corner.
"Bo! Where's Natalie? Is she alright?" Vicki was visibly shaken as she approached Bo and John.
"Michael is in with her right now but I think she'll be fine. She had a cut on her forehead but no other injuries that I know about."
Just as he finished one more joined their group.
"Any word on Natalie?"
John couldn't have stopped himself even if he had wanted to, and right now putting his fist through this asshole's face was exactly what he did want to do! Before anyone even realized what was going on he had Jared slammed up against the wall, holding him by the front of his suit jacket, he slammed him a second time. "Why the hell are you here? Didn't I warn you to stay the fuck away from Natalie? You think she wants you here? Now? You son of a ..." the rest was left unsaid as Bo and Clint grabbed John trying to pull him away. But the deep rage he felt towards Jared combined with the fear that Natalie could have been seriously hurt or even worse, lost forever made John unstoppable.
As Clint and Bo tried to pull him back John let go, then hit Jared with a hard right to the face.
Jared's head bounced back and slammed against the wall with a cracking sound. Whether it was that or the hit itself or maybe both but the result was Jared slid down the wall out cold.
"John! Dammit! This isn't helping anything or anyone! Get a hold of yourself!" Bo pushed John up against the opposing wall, standing in front to block John if he decided to take another crack at the man who was currently sitting on the floor trying to figure out the make and model of the truck that just hit him.
Taking a deep breath and trying to relax, John nodded, afraid if he opened his mouth he'd just end up yelling more obscenities at the jackass!
Jess, Charlie and Clint were gathered around Jared, the two men helped him to his feet as he staggered and swayed.
"Let's get you to a chair." With both men again on each side guiding his butt to one, with Jess buzzing around them like a dizzy bee.
Bo watched this over his shoulder all the while keeping his place in front of John. Turning and giving him a searching look Bo put John on notice. "Right now isn't the time or place but later you and I are going to discuss what just happened here." The two men shared a glance, both knowing it would be an interesting conversation to say the least.
Jess squatted down in front of Jared, "Are you ok? I don't know what John's problem is but Jared you saved my life, you're a hero. You risked your life going after Allison like you did! And I will never forget it! Never!"
Vicki quickly glanced at her daughter with surprise. She had heard what had taken place on the balcony and she was grateful but that Jess seemed to be so friendly and opened towards Jared now was well startling to say the least.
"Yes, we are all very grateful that Jared was there and able to help." Casting a worried look towards the room her other daughter was in she murmured softly, "I just wish both girls had come out of it unscathed."
Finally they all took seats to wait for word. But the silence wasn't a comfortable one. The tension was mounting among them all and was starting to show in how they reacted to one another. Especially between those who already had issues.
Lindsay leaned over and said to Vicki in a soft and quiet voice, "I'm sure Natalie will be fine. She walked in on her own. She's young and strong and she's got a great doctor taking care of her in that room. I am very sure she's going to be fine."
"Thank you Lindsay, I am sure you are right. But I can't help but worry about her. She's been through so much and been hurt so often. And I just hate that once again she is."
"Of course you do. You're her mother. That's what being a mother is all about. You want to protect them, keep them safe. And when they are hurt you want to make their pain disappear."
"And you are just Mother of the Year material! Should we all gather around while you give us parenting tips? Let's see, you could tell us how to create common interests with your daughter. Like men. Sleeping with your daughter's former husband. Now there's a heartwarming and tender moment!"
"Nora." Clint half heartedly tried to stop her.
"No we could all learn just so freaking damn much from her? I mean just ask Will. I'm sure he'd have some tails to tell! And look at how good her relationship was with Jen!" As she went on the color leached out of Lindsay's face.
"Nora! Enough! What the hell are you doing? Save your war for another time! Vicki, hell none of us, needs to hear your list of grievances against Lindsay, not tonight!" Bo was quickly tiring of Nora's snotty attitude towards Lindsay, each day it just seemed to get more and more obvious.
Nora sat back with a huff. Every time Bo defended that blond bimbo made Nora see red. How could he pick Lindsay over me?! What the hell kind of spell had she cast over him?! Cause that was the only way a man as smart and intelligent as Bo could ever pick that cheap lower classed tramp over me, Nora thought to herself.
Clint patted her hand in comfort, while trying to just stay out of the line of fire. If he could find an easy way around things Clint would sure take it.
Lindsay kept her face down, not meeting anyone's eyes. Still pale and shaken from Nora's verbal attack. She couldn't say she was surprised by it but was slightly startled that she would continue their on going feud here and now. And she also couldn't say that Nora had lied, she had done all that and more, but she was trying to change. Right now all of them should be concentrating on Natalie, they should be supporting Vicki and Clint. Not taking cheap pot shots at each other, not adding to the anxiety that everyone already felt.