Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. ABC does.

Chapter 4

Natalie started to leave the Palace, but her head suddenly felt like it was spinning. She blinked several times and tried to focus on her brother's voice.

"Let me drive you home, Sis," Kevin said.

"Natalie, are you okay?" Kelly asked.

Natalie gripped the edge of a a chair so hard that her knuckles were white. She was dizzy. Seconds later, she felt herself falling as everything went black.

John was talking to Evangeline, but at the same time, he was keeping an eye on Natalie. He couldn't help himself. She didn't look so good. He saw her sway on her feet. Moving quickly, he was came up behind Natalie and caught her just as she was rushing to meet the floor.

"I've got you," he said, holding her in his arms.

Bo, Paige and Nora made their way to his side.

"Is she okay?" Bo asked. "What happened?"

Paige checked her breathing and her pulse. "She'll be okay. She fainted."

Kevin looked so worried. "She's not...she looks so pale." She looked like someone who had just died. He put his arm around Jessica who was shaking.

"When was the last time she ate?" Paige asked.

"I think it's been a couple of days," John said. "I tried to get her to eat tonight."

"Maybe you should get her to a hospital. If she's not eating; she's going to have to be fed through an intravenous. Otherwise, she could be doing a lot more than fainting."

John patted Natalie's pale cheek. "Wake up, Natalie."

Paige sent someone to get some smelling salts. She waved them under Natalie's nose. Slowly the young woman started to stir.

"What happened?" She asked groggily. Her blue eyes sought out John's. She relaxed when she saw that he was only a foot away from her.

"You fainted, Sweetheart," Bo said. "That's probably from lack of food." He motioned for John to sit her in a chair, and then he had a waiter bring a cup of orange juice for his neice.

Reluctantly, Natalie drank every drop of the orange juice.

"Hey, John. Thanks for trying to help Natalie. You're a good friend," Bo said.

"No problem," John responded feigning nonchalance. "Where is Evangeline?"

Nora frowned. "You didn't hear her? She said that she'd see you later because you obviously had other obligations. John, why don't you go after her?"

"I'll talk to her later. Right now, I have to make sure that Natalie's okay." Even as he talked to Bo and Nora, John's eyes never left Natalie.

"Her family's here. She'll be fine," Bo insisted.

"I'll see Evangeline after I take Natalie home and try one more time to get some food into her. I won't be able to focus on Evangeline if I'm worried about Natalie."

"Okay, ok."

John helped Natalie up and supported her as they left The Palace.

"Do you see it, Bo?" Nora asked her former husband.

Bo looked where John and Natalie had just left. "Yeah. John's hopelessly in love."

"Poor Evangeline," Nora said softly.

"I think that deep inside, Evangeline already knows."

"Why are you doing this, John? Go to Evangeline. She already hates me. You're just giving her more reasons to," Natalie said.

"She doesn't hate you. Right now, you're a priority so don't worry about her," John said. He and Natalie were at Llanfair in the kitchen. John had just made a box of macaroni and cheese. He set a bowl full of the cheesy noodles in front of Natalie who gave him a sour look.

Natalie lifted a spoonful to her mouth, but she could bring herself to shovel the food in.

John got up and pulled Natalie up from her chair. "Okay then. We're going to the hospital so that they can put you on an intravenous. You won't eat so you'll get fed through a tube."

Natalie tugged her arm out of John's grasp. She plopped back in her seat and shoved a spoonful of macaroni and cheese in her mouth. She finished the food under John's watchful eyes.

John smiled. "Now was that so hard?"

"Yes it was." Natalie tried to look upset, but she found herself smiling and shaking her head instead. "Stop looking so smug."

She's so beautiful, John thought. Why anyone would want to cause her pain was beyond him. He thought about it for a minute. He had hurt her before. She had wanted him to let go of Caitlin and he hadn't been able to. "I have to go," John said.

Natalie tried to hide her disappointed. She really didn't want him to leave. She didn't care if Evangeline hated every fiber of her being.

"Be ready tomorrow," John said.

"For what?" Natalie immediately perked up.

"We're going to Rodi's for a bite to eat and a game of pool," John said.

"You don't have to do this."

"I know, but I want to. You can't close yourself off from everyone. I know you want to. I know it hurts." He touched her cheek. He instantly regretted it. Touching her made him feel things that he shouldn't be feeling. Natalie was just his friend.

"Thank you, John." Natalie kissed him on the cheek, letting her lips linger a little longer than she should have. She wanted so much more from their relationship. She wanted more than friendship. Reluctantly she went upstairs to her bedroom before she did or said something that she might regret later.

John watched her retreating figure, resisting the temptation to follow her.

"She's something else, isn't she?" Viki said, coming out of the living room.

John nodded. "That she is." Something special.

Next Day

Antonio missed Jessica more than he could imagine. He still couldn't believe that she thought he was the one who had killed Tico. He knew that she had been out of it--drugged. Yet, it still hurt. He took a bite of his hamburger.

Minutes later, John and Natalie came into Rodi's. Antonio followed them with his eyes. Even though this was Natalie's favorite place in Llanview, she looked so lost and out of place. Well, Antonio definitely knew what she was going through. He had loved his brother. He put aside his personal problems and went over to her.

"Hey stranger. I haven't seen you much lately," Antonio said.

Natalie hugged him. "It's so hard, Antonio. Sometimes I don't even want to get out of bed in the morning. I just want to stay there and disappear."

"But that's not going to happen," John said, giving her shoulders a squeeze.

Antonio shot him a grateful look. "We're going to get through this, natalie. If you ever need anyone to talk to, find Mami or me. We both love you very much."

Natalie nodded and hugged him once more before going to sit while John ordered their food.

"Thanks for looking out for her," Antonio said to John.

"Why does everyone keep thanking me? It's not a chore. I care about her."

"I know," Antonio said. "She's like a sister to me, but you're going way out of limb to help her. I mean...I'm sure the Buchanans are going to be in your debt, but you're risking a lot here. What about your relationship?"

"Relationship?" John looked oblivious.

"With Evangeline."

John hadn't thought about his "girlfriend" since he'd seen her last night. That usually happened when Natalie was around. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Fine, John. Whatever. Just don't play games. Natalie's more fragile than ever right now. Take care of her," Antonio said. He went to sit back down and finish his meal alone, knowing that John had understood the message behind his words. He better not hurt Natalie again.