I Thought It Was You – 11?
Athena13

Recap: After John finds Natalie in the kitchen at the diner – alive – she goes back to Llanfair. He calls her in the middle of the night to come to the station for questioning; but really because he needs to confirm for himself that she's all right. They get into an argument, he tells her he wants her and she passes out (we all would if he actually admitted it!). At the hospital, E eavesdrops on John and Michael and doesn't like what she hears (but we all do!) and E gets her coup de grace. Then John tells Natalie that he loves her.

>>>>>

"It was poison." Bo's face was grim as he handed John the toxicology report.

"Trichloreothane? What the hell is that?" John mumbled as he read through the report.

"It's a degreaser, used commonly in airplane engines. They almost didn't find it, it's hard to detect. Thank god Paige had her stomach pumped as a precaution." Bo paced back and forth in front of John's desk.

"It says here that this poison can act in five minutes if inhaled and twenty if ingested. Do they know how it was administered?" John looked up at Bo questioningly. His legs felt shaky so he sat down.

"Since the stomach pumping worked they are assuming it was ingested. They're doing a more thorough exam to confirm that. We need to question Natalie to try and figure out when she was poisoned and how."

"And by who," John said.

Bo nodded grimly in agreement.

>>>>

Vicki watched from the couch helplessly as the police searched Llanfair looking for anything that Natalie may have ingested after getting home from the diner.

"Mrs. Davidson, I promise you that I'll find whoever did this to Natalie." John said as Bo put a comforting arm around her shoulders. John was standing in front of them, too restless to sit down, but trying to stay out of the way of the forensic and investigative teams.

"I know you will, John. I just hate that we can't feel safe in our own home. I'm worried about bringing Natalie back here from the hospital."

"It'll be plenty safe when we're done, Vicki. Just beef up security on the grounds and I'll make sure patrols go past here more frequently." Bo said, although John had been worrying about the same thing.

"Whoever was stalking Jessica still managed to get in," Vicki said worriedly.

John looked at Bo for approval before speaking. "She could stay at the hotel. With me. It's right near the police station and she'd never be alone. I'd make sure of it."

"Do you think she'd go for that?" Bo asked.

"I think so," John said.

"John, if I may ask, what is going on between you and my daughter?" Vicki asked.

John looked around, conscious of the uniformed officers walking in and out of the living room. To be on the safe side he sat down in the chair closest to Vicki and Bo.

"I'm not sure I should say, but Natalie and I have come to an understanding. I love your daughter, Mrs. Davidson."

Vicki's worried face broke out into a smile. "I'm glad to hear that, John. I'm going to go to the hospital now and check if Natalie is ready to be released. I'll pack a suitcase for her." Vicki stood up and walked over to John. She leaned down and whispered in his ear before walking out of the room.

Bo looked at John quizzically.

John just smiled at Bo.

>>>>

"He did?" Natalie looked at her mother in amazement.

"He did. As bold as you please." Vicki smiled at Natalie who was sitting, fully dressed, on her hospital bed waiting to be released.

Natalie threw back her head and laughed.

"Oh, Honey. It's so good to see you laugh." Vicki sat down on the bed and pulled her into a hug.

"It feels good, Mom." Natalie put her arms around Vicki. "I don't think you should stay at Llanfair. And Jessica should stay with Antonio or with Kevin."

"We'll be fine. I think you would be fine there too, but I understand if you and John want to spend some time together."

"I do. But maybe it's not a good idea just yet. I mean we haven't even gone on a date."

"John will keep you safe. There have been two attempts on your life in less than twelve hours." Vicki ran her hand over Natalie's flame-colored hair.

"Will it keep you from worrying?" Natalie asked. "You need to take it easy. Maybe you should go visit Joey in London."

"I'll be fine. I need to be here for my girls."

"I really wish you would go. John and Antonio will look out for us. Please, it would make me feel better. Otherwise I'm going to worry about you."

Vicki thought for a moment. "All right. I'll go."

"Thank you." Natalie was greatly relieved.

>>>>>

"Roxy could give me another room," Natalie said. She was standing in front of the door to John's room. He was holding her suitcase, while she held her smaller bag with both hands and rocked it nervously against the front of her legs.

"I'd hate to have to stay in another room since all my stuff is here." John turned around and faced Natalie, one of his rare, dazzling smiles on his face.

"Is that your way of saying you're not going to leave me alone?"

John nodded and put his hand on the small of her back to lead her into his apartment.

"It's been a while since I've stayed here."

"After I was poisoned. You could say I'm just returning the favor if it makes you feel better."

"Are you just returning the favor?" Natalie grimaced. The question just slipped out.

John took her bag out of her hands and put it on the couch. He put his hands on her cheeks and leaned down. "You're here because I don't want anything to happen to you. I may not be able to be with you every minute, as much as I'd love to be right now, but there is nothing I won't do to make sure you're safe."

Tears blurred her vision as she looked into John's beautiful blue eyes. Eyes that had been impenetrable for too long. Inside them she could see the John McBain who had held her while she mourned her husband, who had kissed her passionately in the middle of the casino in AC and the one who lent her his coat in the park when they had said goodbye. That had been the last time he had let her in. Until this moment she hadn't realized how lonely it had been being shut out. Love flooded her senses.

"Are you all right?"

She heard his caring rasp and she nodded even as tears began to flood.

"Come lie down." John hustled her over to the bed.

"Not alone." She put her hand on his cheek to still his worry. How could she have been worrying that it was too soon to be here?

"You just got out of the hospital."

She felt John tremble underneath her hands as he struggled to be noble. She loved that about him. She laughed through her tears and put her arms around his neck.

"Wanna play doctor?" she whispered into his ear.

"Natalie." Her name was a groan. He put his hands on her back.

She didn't know if he intended to pull her away or pull her closer, but she wasn't going to wait to find out. Natalie hopped up and put her legs around his waist.

"Take me to bed, Detective."

"Dinner." John's words came out on a pant as Natalie slid her lips over his neck.

"We can order in. Later."

With a groan John tumbled them onto the bed.

"Aren't you glad to be alive?"

End…of Chapter 11