She was laying on their bed in her bathrobe, crunching some numbers when he came in.
"Hey" he said, kissing her exposed shoulder as he went towards the closet to change.
"Hey" she said, "how was work"
"Great, arrested a streaker"
"Good day" she noted.
"Yeah" he said, then joining her on the bed, "So what are you working on"
"I'm just trying to figure next year out" she said.
He looked over her shoulder at her bank statements.
"Natalie, that's enough for a car"
"It's one semester's tuition" she said, "which means I need to double it between now and August"
"Or get a car"
"Did you listen to a word I just said?"
"Yeah" he said, "but you have all summer and you can work a lot then"
"I guess that's true" she said, "Just a little afraid, I guess"
"It'll work out" he said, "and if you change your mind, you could get a decent car"
"I'm not getting a car"
"I know" he said, "but I worry, you know? You're on the bus before the sun's out some days"
"Yeah, well. No one said it would be easy" she said, "Besides, I don't know the first thing about buying a car"
"I'd go with you"
She smiled, "I'll keep that in mind" she said, pushing her papers away, "so, tell me about this streaker"
She hadn't walked in the door before it all hit her again. This was real. She was so lucky. She looked at the clock, and couldn't remember when John said he'd be home that day. She picked up the phone, calling the station.
"ACPD Precinct 3"
"Hey Jackie, it's Natalie"
"Oh, hey Natalie, you want me to put you through to John?"
"Um no" she said, "Could you tell me when he gets off? I got some really good news, I want to surprise him"
"Sure thing" she said, "He's scheduled to get off at 5"
"Alright, thank you, and don't tell him I called"
"You got it, have fun"
She had an hour. She looked in the fridge, she could probably make chicken parm if she started now, but then she wouldn't have time to change. That cheesy chicken dish didn't take so long, so she decided to start on that and once it was in the oven, she went to change. Not into a dress or anything, just matching lace underwear, red, one of his favorites. God, she hoped he'd be happy. Of course he would, he was always happy for her. She was going to throw her clothes back on, but then she heard his key in the door, and she just threw her bathrobe on.
"John?" she ran out of their room to see him just coming in the door.
"Hey" he said, "What's up?"
She smiled, "I have news"
"Yeah?"
"You still want to take me car shopping?"
"What?"
"I got a full ride to NJU" she practically exploded.
"Natalie" he exclaimed, and she ran into his arms.
He took her in his arms, picking her up off the ground as she squealed in excitement. He smiled into her neck, he was practically busting he was so proud. He could feel her still reeling into his neck, and he kissed the side of her face.
"I knew they'd want you" he said, "I am so proud of you, Natalie"
She kissed him, and he deepened it.
"I can't believe it" she said, "I was so afraid-"
"Not so hard to believe, you're smarter than anyone"
She kissed him again, "It means a lot you know, to have you always believing in me"
He kissed her, "We have to call Mom, she's going to be over the moon"
"She knows" she said, "The message for me to come over, she got the package, that's why she called. We went to the admissions building today, signed the papers, it all happened so fast-" she paused, "she wanted us to come over to celebrate, but I told her you were working late, I wanted to celebrate with just us tonight, we have to go over there tomorrow"
"That sounds good to me" he said, and kissed her again, "I'm just so happy for you"
"Thanks, that means a lot"
"You're going to wipe the floor with the forensics team at the station"
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, I still need to finish high school" she said, "I made dinner"
"You expect me to eat with you dressed like that?"
She rolled her eyes at him, and he let her go, her feet touching the floor again. She began to get dinner ready. Once she joined him at the table, he held her hand.
"I'm proud of you"
"I know. Thanks"
"I'm dating a college girl"
"Yeah, you are"
"So, you really want to get a car?"
"Yeah, I think so"
"What kind?"
"Red"
"This is why girls don't go car shopping alone" he said, "I meant like, model wise"
"I don't know. A car"
"God, Natalie-"
"I meant, like a car car. not a truck or a jeep, just a car"
"Now we're getting somewhere" he said, "You want to go this weekend?"
"That soon?"
"Hey, why not?"
"I can't believe I have all this"
"Yeah, well, believe it. I do"
He picked up her file again.
He wanted to think more about his dad's case, he really did, but all he could do was come up with more questions. Questions he didn't know how to answer, or even get the answers. He knew now that it was Truman, he was sure, he just didn't have any proof to back it up.
His dad's file was much more comprehensive, and when added to the stuff he had, it painted the full picture. The abuse, how smart she was, her high school transcripts, college grades, what he knew now was the forged birth certificate and documents from the hospital to show she'd been left there. He had so many questions for the old man, what was he trying to figure out, why had he started the file so long before she'd gone missing? The back of the file held all the police reports from when she'd gone missing, everywhere that had been searched, where her car'd been found. Despite all the information, there was still no indication of where she'd gone.
They'd searched for six months, only to find next to nothing. The only real shred of evidence they'd ever found was the footage on the security camera, going into her professor's office, coming out and leaving the building. He'd personally interrogated the guy, and he was just as surprised that she was gone. There was no footage of the parking lot, and her car had no signs of forced entry, if she'd reached it at all.
He'd gone over that parking lot more times than he could have counted, but he never found anything, not a hair, not a fiber, nothing. As if she'd just vanished into thin air, too good for the world she was stuck in.
Behind all that, was something he hadn't noticed before, something his dad must have gotten but he hadn't. there was a print on her car that wasn't hers and wasn't his, it was unmatched, no hits in the system. He wondered if he ran them again if that would be different, making a note to do so when this was all over. It was the least he owed her.
"Congratulations" he said, embracing her once she found them all.
"Thanks" she said, and leaned up to kiss him.
"Natalie, I'm so proud of you" Eve said, "And now college, for free-"
"Eve, c'mon. this isn't that big a deal. Save the waterworks for this one" she said, pointing to Mike.
"Nah, I'm going to graduate a lot if I get through medical school" he said, "by then she'll be over it"
"Never" Eve said.
"How's it feel to be done with high school?" Thomas asked.
"Good. I'm ready for what's next"
"Taking NJU by storm" John said.
"Yeah, and then I'm coming for the two of you" she said.
"Yeah, well, forensics could use some brains" Thomas said.
"And some beauty" John added, winking at her.
"You two have plans, or do you want to join us for dinner?" Eve asked.
"We'd love to" Natalie said.
Later that night, she laid in John's arms after they'd made love and he'd made her feel so loved and special, she couldn't help but smile and place a chaste kiss on his chest.
"That was wonderful" she said, looking up at him and smiling.
He pet her hair back, "I'm glad" he said, "that was something, watching you graduate, knowing I'll be doing that again in a few years"
"You know how much I love knowing you're behind me on everything?"
"I wouldn't want it any other way" he said, kissing her hand, "Speaking of-" he said, and let go of her, sitting up and reaching under the bed.
She sat curious as to what he was doing. He placed a large gift bag between them.
"Congratulations" he said.
"John" she chided, "You shouldn't have-"
"Hey" he said, "You only graduate high school once"
"Still, you-"
"Hey, what good is it to have a girlfriend if I can't spoil her once in awhile?" he smirked, "Open it"
She pulled a leather bag out of the gift bag with two handle and one long strap. It was big enough to carry her books and was so nice. She smiled at him.
"John-"
"Open it"
She looked at him, but opened the zipper to the bag, finding inside a few single subject notebooks in different colors, a pack of highlighters, an NJU sweatshirt and an ACPD travel mug. She was overwhelmed at how thoughtfully he'd put it together, and when he started rubbing her back, she felt her smile widened.
"Thank you" she said and leaned over to kiss him.
"I'd hoped you like it"
"Of course I like it, you're so-"
"Charming?" he finished for her, kissing the side of her face.
"Perfect" she finished, "I'm so lucky to have you"
"Yeah, well, you're pretty perfect too"
"I just, you know, sometimes it hits me, what could have been different if I'd turned down their offer or ran away instead of running to you"
"You were this smart before any of that"
"Yeah, but I didn't have this kind of support"
"You still would have had me"
"You think?"
"You'll always have me"
"Always" he muttered.
He was waiting for Bo and Hugh to get in to run the idea by them. It was going to take some convincing, but it was the best thing he had to go on. As he waited he picked through the file again, wishing something would jump out at him. It never did. Slowly, his attention started to wander, and he picked up Natalie's file again, staring at the print.
There'd been no signs of forced entry, though, so what was the print doing there? And why hadn't he seen it before?
He was interrupted by a knock on the door, and he was hopeful it was someone that he needed. When Evangeline he came in, he mentally groaned.
"Hey" she said, coming towards his desk.
He immediately put Natalie's file in a drawer where she couldn't see it. The guilt he felt right now over this was tremendous, it always was, but now he knew what she was looking for, and he knew it was never in the cards for him, at least not again.
"Hi" he said, looking back up at her.
"That confidential?" she asked.
"Yeah" he answered. It wasn't entirely the truth, but he'd say anything to not discuss Natalie with her.
"I've missed you. it's been awhile"
"I guess" he said, "I had a big break in a case, or at least I thought I did" Vague was his friend when it came to her. He'd say anything to ensure that she didn't pry too much into those cases.
"Did it fall through?"
"Sort of"
"That sucks" she said.
"I'll figure it out"
"You always do" she said, "I just wanted to see you"
"I'm busy, as soon as Bo gets in I have to run some stuff by him"
"You're always busy" she said.
He didn't say anything, knowing she'd continue if he waited her out long enough.
"I miss you" she said, and came around to his side of the desk, beginning to touch his chest, and he wanted to shrug her off, "I was hoping we could spend some time together-" she cut herself off and took her hands off of him, "Who's that?"
He followed her gaze to the picture on his desk. The prom picture. He'd gotten used to it being there, actually kind of liked it, being reminded of how happy they'd been then.
"John, who is that?"
He didn't know how to answer, so he didn't.
"John, I demand an answer, who is she?" He couldn't stand the tone she was using, as if Natalie was somehow beneath her. Had she been this condescending all along? How had he not realized that?
"I'm not talking about her with you" he made that quite clear.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that it's none of your business"
"I think if there's a picture of another woman on your desk, it's my business"
"Drop it" he said, firm.
She stormed out of the office without another word. Well, maybe that had taken care of itself. He picked up the prom picture, smiling at her again.
"Yeah, you'll always have me" he whispered.