Chapter Three- Another bump... REVISED (I added a twist to the story)
**Ok... I am feeling an epic story here... this story may be longer than I thought at first because I am going to attempt to get super creative down the road--- serendipity
"Hello... oh Jess, hey. No I just woke up. What time is it?" Natalie felt like she hadn't slept in days the sound of the phone had pulled her out of a restless sleep. Funny, she hadn't slept in days... not since that night over two weeks ago when she had woke up next to John.
"Oh... what? Sorry I just... I am not quite awake yet. Yeah, I knew the arraignment was today... What? No... are you sure? John would not do that... what... no... I'll me you at LPD!" Natalie didn't wait to hear her sister say goodbye. She slammed down the phone and jumped out of bed.
Whoa! Her head spun out of control. Ok, Nat slowdown, you won't do John any good passed out on the floor from being an idiot. Slowly she reached for a pair of jeans and a shirt. Not exactly ironed, but who cared about wrinkles and fashion at a time like this.
Stephen Haver was dead. Someone had shot him on the way to the courthouse. Someone they were saying was John... how crazy was that!?!? John wouldn't take matters into his own hands... would he?
Reporters were everywhere outside of the courthouse. Cameras flashed pictures as she ran up the stairs...
Ms.. Buchanan? Do you have a comment... come on over here... these shouts came randomly from the reporters behind the barricades.
Pushing through the doors Natalie went straight for her uncle's office.
"Uncle Bo! What is going on? Where is John?" Natalie felt as if her heart was going to burst through her chest. "Calm down Natalie. He's in the holding cell. Nothing is clear yet, but John was seen holding a gun when Haver was shot."
"You know he didn't do it Bo... you know he didn't. I have to see him." Natalie took a deep breath and tried to gather her wits around her. Being a basket case wouldn't help anyone.
"Alright. But, only for a minute. I need to find out if he is going to get an attorney... you know the drill... see what he wants to do, who he wants to call, there's not much to do right now. Come on." Bo led his niece down the hallway to the holding unit.
John was sitting in his cell. Could life get any worse? On the plus side Haver was dead, and that took a load of weight off of his shoulders. How he wished he had been the one to pull the trigger. But, it hadn't been him... Haver had said he would win. Was this what he had meant?
"John..."
He turned to see Natalie standing in front of the bars. "Natalie? What are you doing here?" "This is what friends are for right? To help each other out... you know emotional support and all that.' Natalie tried to smile, but it really hurt her to see John behind bars. Funny how once she had hated him with everything in her being, and suddenly it seemed so long ago.
"You shouldn't be here. It's only a matter of time before they test my gun and know I didn't fire it. I'll be out of here soon."
"Well, maybe you just needed a little company. I know you didn't do it... No one actually believes you did it."
"I had the best motive, Nat. Everyone knows I hated him... damn! I wish I would've been the one to pull the trigger, but no, I didn't do it... This is all just a formality."
"Look Uncle Bo wants to know if you have an attorney. Can I call someone for you?"
"That won't be necessary," Bo came up and started to unlock the door, "The lab rushed the bullistics and your bullet wasn't the one that killed Haver. But, you know the routine John, I need you to stay in town be around for questioning, and you may want to think about getting an attorney."
John stepped out of the cell and Natalie rushed and gave him a hug.
Bo shot a glance between the two people in front of him. Had he missed something? He knew they were friends, but you would have to be blind to not see the chemistry between them.
"You hungry? I mean, I know you probably would love to stick around here, but I haven't eaten yet..." Natalie smiled up at John," Plus, we need to form a stratedgy."
"How can I resist? Bo? Can I go?" John knew the answer, but he didn't want to take anything for granted at this point.
"Sure." Bo smiled and rubbed his chin as they walked away. I wonder if they realize that they are falling in love yet.
As they walked into the lobby of the LPD, they were stopped by Jess who was pushing little Jamie in the stroller. "Hey, guys, I was waiting for Antonio to get through and we're going to the diner to get a bite to eat. You guys should come."
Natalie looked over at John and shrugged, "That sounds good. What do you think?" John would have loved to tell her I want to go home and have you for dinner, but he pushed that thought to the very back part of his mind and agreed," Yeah, that sounds good. I am going to run to the hotel and grab a shower, how about I meet you there?"
Before she knew it Natalie was sitting in a booth across from Antonio and Jessica watching Jamie play in her high chair.
"SO what is going on with you and John? You two seem to be kind of chummy lately." Jess waggled her eyebrows in a theatrical way and playfully gave Natalie a wink.
A silly grin spread across Natalie's face before she could hide it," We are just friends... nothing more, nothing less." Antonio and Jess shared a knowing smile and a for the first time in days a carefree atmosphere invaded the table. "When's he getting here anyway? How long can a shower take?"
Just then the door the diner and in walked the object of their discussion. But, he wasn't alone, a tall stylish blonde walked in with him laughing playfully and smiling up into his face. Natalie was sure she didn't know her, but as her heart sank she was sure that the woman looked familiar somehow.
"Hey! Sorry it took so long! I got a surprise when I got back to the hotel. Everyone this is Kathryn... she is Kaitlyn's sister. She came down... and well she's going to be visiting Llanview for a awhile." John looked a little uncomfortable introducing her to the table, but maybe it was just Natalie's over active imagination. Visions of Kaitlyn's picture came back, and Natalie knew why she recognized her. She was a little taller and her hair was straight, but she bore a striking resemblance to John's late fiancee'. A wave of nausea shot through Natalie and she almost knocked her tea over in her haste to jump up.
"Kathryn... uh, nice to meet you. I was, I mean I forgot I was supposed to meet mom at Llanfair in about fifteen minutes, so I hate to run like this..."
Jess shot her sister a worried look as she noticed the pale-greenish tint to Natalie's face.
"Are you sure? Do you want me to go with you?" She hated the disappointed look that had crossed Nat's face when she had seen John walk in with the blonde.
"No! I am fine! I mean, you guys enjoy yourselves. I'll call you later." And before anyone could say another word she was gone.
John didn't even have a chance to argue. To plead, or even get a word in edgewise. He had wanted to hang out with Natalie. She had finally dropped her defenses and was starting to act normal again. If you could call whatever their relationship had become normal.
"John? I didn't cause a problem did I?" Kathryn looked up at John through her long lashes and tried to sound as if she really cared that the red-head had bolted. She could've really cared less. The time had come for her to claim the man that belonged to her, and no one was going to get in her way this time.
"No, it's ok Kathe, Let's eat." He would find Natalie later and ask her about her reaction.
**Ok... I am feeling an epic story here... this story may be longer than I thought at first because I am going to attempt to get super creative down the road--- serendipity
"Hello... oh Jess, hey. No I just woke up. What time is it?" Natalie felt like she hadn't slept in days the sound of the phone had pulled her out of a restless sleep. Funny, she hadn't slept in days... not since that night over two weeks ago when she had woke up next to John.
"Oh... what? Sorry I just... I am not quite awake yet. Yeah, I knew the arraignment was today... What? No... are you sure? John would not do that... what... no... I'll me you at LPD!" Natalie didn't wait to hear her sister say goodbye. She slammed down the phone and jumped out of bed.
Whoa! Her head spun out of control. Ok, Nat slowdown, you won't do John any good passed out on the floor from being an idiot. Slowly she reached for a pair of jeans and a shirt. Not exactly ironed, but who cared about wrinkles and fashion at a time like this.
Stephen Haver was dead. Someone had shot him on the way to the courthouse. Someone they were saying was John... how crazy was that!?!? John wouldn't take matters into his own hands... would he?
Reporters were everywhere outside of the courthouse. Cameras flashed pictures as she ran up the stairs...
Ms.. Buchanan? Do you have a comment... come on over here... these shouts came randomly from the reporters behind the barricades.
Pushing through the doors Natalie went straight for her uncle's office.
"Uncle Bo! What is going on? Where is John?" Natalie felt as if her heart was going to burst through her chest. "Calm down Natalie. He's in the holding cell. Nothing is clear yet, but John was seen holding a gun when Haver was shot."
"You know he didn't do it Bo... you know he didn't. I have to see him." Natalie took a deep breath and tried to gather her wits around her. Being a basket case wouldn't help anyone.
"Alright. But, only for a minute. I need to find out if he is going to get an attorney... you know the drill... see what he wants to do, who he wants to call, there's not much to do right now. Come on." Bo led his niece down the hallway to the holding unit.
John was sitting in his cell. Could life get any worse? On the plus side Haver was dead, and that took a load of weight off of his shoulders. How he wished he had been the one to pull the trigger. But, it hadn't been him... Haver had said he would win. Was this what he had meant?
"John..."
He turned to see Natalie standing in front of the bars. "Natalie? What are you doing here?" "This is what friends are for right? To help each other out... you know emotional support and all that.' Natalie tried to smile, but it really hurt her to see John behind bars. Funny how once she had hated him with everything in her being, and suddenly it seemed so long ago.
"You shouldn't be here. It's only a matter of time before they test my gun and know I didn't fire it. I'll be out of here soon."
"Well, maybe you just needed a little company. I know you didn't do it... No one actually believes you did it."
"I had the best motive, Nat. Everyone knows I hated him... damn! I wish I would've been the one to pull the trigger, but no, I didn't do it... This is all just a formality."
"Look Uncle Bo wants to know if you have an attorney. Can I call someone for you?"
"That won't be necessary," Bo came up and started to unlock the door, "The lab rushed the bullistics and your bullet wasn't the one that killed Haver. But, you know the routine John, I need you to stay in town be around for questioning, and you may want to think about getting an attorney."
John stepped out of the cell and Natalie rushed and gave him a hug.
Bo shot a glance between the two people in front of him. Had he missed something? He knew they were friends, but you would have to be blind to not see the chemistry between them.
"You hungry? I mean, I know you probably would love to stick around here, but I haven't eaten yet..." Natalie smiled up at John," Plus, we need to form a stratedgy."
"How can I resist? Bo? Can I go?" John knew the answer, but he didn't want to take anything for granted at this point.
"Sure." Bo smiled and rubbed his chin as they walked away. I wonder if they realize that they are falling in love yet.
As they walked into the lobby of the LPD, they were stopped by Jess who was pushing little Jamie in the stroller. "Hey, guys, I was waiting for Antonio to get through and we're going to the diner to get a bite to eat. You guys should come."
Natalie looked over at John and shrugged, "That sounds good. What do you think?" John would have loved to tell her I want to go home and have you for dinner, but he pushed that thought to the very back part of his mind and agreed," Yeah, that sounds good. I am going to run to the hotel and grab a shower, how about I meet you there?"
Before she knew it Natalie was sitting in a booth across from Antonio and Jessica watching Jamie play in her high chair.
"SO what is going on with you and John? You two seem to be kind of chummy lately." Jess waggled her eyebrows in a theatrical way and playfully gave Natalie a wink.
A silly grin spread across Natalie's face before she could hide it," We are just friends... nothing more, nothing less." Antonio and Jess shared a knowing smile and a for the first time in days a carefree atmosphere invaded the table. "When's he getting here anyway? How long can a shower take?"
Just then the door the diner and in walked the object of their discussion. But, he wasn't alone, a tall stylish blonde walked in with him laughing playfully and smiling up into his face. Natalie was sure she didn't know her, but as her heart sank she was sure that the woman looked familiar somehow.
"Hey! Sorry it took so long! I got a surprise when I got back to the hotel. Everyone this is Kathryn... she is Kaitlyn's sister. She came down... and well she's going to be visiting Llanview for a awhile." John looked a little uncomfortable introducing her to the table, but maybe it was just Natalie's over active imagination. Visions of Kaitlyn's picture came back, and Natalie knew why she recognized her. She was a little taller and her hair was straight, but she bore a striking resemblance to John's late fiancee'. A wave of nausea shot through Natalie and she almost knocked her tea over in her haste to jump up.
"Kathryn... uh, nice to meet you. I was, I mean I forgot I was supposed to meet mom at Llanfair in about fifteen minutes, so I hate to run like this..."
Jess shot her sister a worried look as she noticed the pale-greenish tint to Natalie's face.
"Are you sure? Do you want me to go with you?" She hated the disappointed look that had crossed Nat's face when she had seen John walk in with the blonde.
"No! I am fine! I mean, you guys enjoy yourselves. I'll call you later." And before anyone could say another word she was gone.
John didn't even have a chance to argue. To plead, or even get a word in edgewise. He had wanted to hang out with Natalie. She had finally dropped her defenses and was starting to act normal again. If you could call whatever their relationship had become normal.
"John? I didn't cause a problem did I?" Kathryn looked up at John through her long lashes and tried to sound as if she really cared that the red-head had bolted. She could've really cared less. The time had come for her to claim the man that belonged to her, and no one was going to get in her way this time.
"No, it's ok Kathe, Let's eat." He would find Natalie later and ask her about her reaction.