I Thought it Was You

by Athena13

Thanks to PCGirl and Jibaker for the early reviews! No clue what the point of this story is yet. I'm back to being pissed at weak, coward John. Go JoReaper. Uh Oh.

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Chapter 2

Natalie walked into the police station, Office Roy Delacroix following behind her. She turned and started to thank him for picking her up. He smiled and shook his head, brushing her thanks aside.

"John is waiting in his office." Roy reached over and pushed a wet strand of hair off of Natalie's cheek.

Natalie had taken a quick shower and put on a jeans and a purple t-shirt. Over it she wore a black zippered sweat shirt with white stripes on the arm. It had been her high school boyfriend's when he was junior high. She wore it for comfort when she was feeling particularly fragile. It made her feel tough, like James had when they were in love and he thought Natalie could do no wrong. Her hands were bunched in the pockets, but she didn't feel comforted. Rather, she felt slightly dizzy and nauseous.

She smiled weakly at Roy and passed her desk. As she looked over at Bo's office he came walking out. As she looked at him she felt tears prick her eyes and she began to tremble, again.

"Natalie?" Bo walked quickly over and put his hand on her shoulders. He looked into her eyes and then up at Roy. With a decisive nod at Roy, he put his arm around Natalie's shoulders and pushed her towards his office. He closed the door behind him and pushed Natalie to a sitting position on his couch.

He kneeled down in front of her and took her cold, trembling hands in his.

"Sweetheart, why are you here?"

"John called." Her voice trembled and tears wet her lashes. "I don't feel well." A tear slid down her cheek. Then more followed.

Bo grimaced and waved at someone through his window.

"Get me a blanket," he told the officer who stuck her head in the door.

"Lay down." Bo gently helped Natalie lay down. He took the proffered blanket and put it over his niece.

"Clara, watch her, please."

Bo walked out of his office and took his cell phone out of his pocket. "Paige. You too. Listen, can you come down here. I'm worried about my niece. Yes. Thank you."

Then with measured strides he walked to John's office and entered after a brief knock. John stood up.

"McBain, why did you call Natalie down here in the middle of the night?"

John looked at his boss in surprise. "I wanted to question her." He dropped the file he was reading onto his desk.

"Didn't you do that already? She's in no condition for this."

"What's wrong?" John moved around his desk towards the door of his office.

"She's in shock. She's exhausted."

"She didn't say..."

"She wouldn't, would she? I'm worried about my niece, McBain. The Mayor has pulled protection off Marcie's former roommate and now my niece is a target. I just don't know how much more she can take."

John ran a hand down the back of his hair, his face was stiff with worry.

"I'm going to ask my brother to hire protection for her."

John looked at Bo in surprise.

"Did you think I was going to ask you to protect her? Do you think your girlfriend would like that?"

"It's my job, Bo."

"Taking care of my niece is my job, too. And I think she needs as much protection from you as she does this killer."

"What are you talking about?" John carefully kept his face blank.

"If you need to ask, John, then you aren't much of a detective. Natalie is in my office lying down. I'm going to have Paige check her out. If she gives the okay, you can question her. But only if she gives the okay."

"Uncle Bo." Natalie, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders came up behind Bo who was still standing in the open doorway. "I'll talk to John."

"Natalie, you..."

"Paige can check me out when we're done. I need to answer John's questions. I owe it to Candace."

Bo looked at his niece, studying her damp cheeks and reddened eyes.

"Really. I can do this." Natalie pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I do need you," she whispered in his ear before she pulled away.

Bo put a hand on her arm and looked her in the eye. "I'm not going to let you down."

Natalie bit her lip and nodded, fighting tears.

Bo pressed a kiss to Natalie's forehead before walking out. He closed the door behind him.

Natalie stood in front of the door, her stomach churning as she looked at John. His face was as blank as ever, but his eyes. God, his eyes were a darker blue than she had ever seen. She could feel waves of some emotion pumping out of him at her. More than even in the kitchen that evening.

She involuntarily took a step back.

John closed his eyes at her movement and his hands fisted.

"Please sit down." His voice was harsh with emotion.

Natalie moved forward, but he didn't move out of the way to let her pass.

He opened his eyes and looked her straight in the eye. Natalie's chin lifted in challenge.

John's hands reached up and he slid his fingers through her wet hair. He moved even closer and his hands closed into fists. His eyes bored into her.

Suddenly, without warning, John's face was suddenly open and everything he was feeling was laid bare for her to read. Her breath quickened as she tried to decipher the emotions rolling through him. Anger. Fear. Passion. Terror. Love. Determination. Frustration. Guilt. Lust.

Lust.

Love.

Lust.

Then his lips were crashing down on hers.

Shocked, Natalie dropped the blanket from her shoulders. John pressed himself against her. Her arms wrapped around him and she pressed closer. His arousal heated her. Tempted her. Sucked her in. Just when she was ready to walk away, he sucked her back in.

The tangy taste of his fear and frustration filled her mouth along with his tongue. He was practically swallowing her whole. His body was engulfing hers and his heat spread through her. Warming her. Melting her.

His lips slid down her neck and she tilted her head back and tried to drink in deep gulps of oxygen. She felt even more lightheaded than before. She would have slid bonelessly to the floor if John wasn't holding her up.

"I thought it was you. I thought it was you."

John's frantic whisper reached her ears, freezing her.

She moved her hands to head. She wanted to pull him back. She wanted to press him closer.

John is the one who found the presence of mind to pull back. He didn't let her go. His hands slid from her hair down her back to her hips. His face was centimeters from hers.

"Do you know what it did to me to think that was you?" his voice broke.

She shook her head, unable to form words. Her mind was screaming "tell me, dammit."