I Thought It Was You – 14?
Athena13

John caressed Natalie's hair as she slept. He loved the sight of it spread across his pillows. He liked the sight of her in his bed. Instead of the anxiety and guilt he'd always thought he'd feel he felt only peace. This was right. He could hardly believe he fought it so hard for so long, especially since he had wanted her from the moment he had seen her. The attraction had begun when he had seen her photo in the FBI file. Seeing her in person, though, had brought it to another level. He pressed his lips to her cheeks before sliding out of bed.

He picked kicked his discarded clothes in the general direction of the hamper and grabbed a tank top and sweats from his dresser. He had a passing thought about a bigger apartment as he walked to the couch and worried about waking Natalie up while he worked. But soon his mind was fully consumed with the reports that had been slipped under his door while he had been otherwise occupied. One was a preliminary forensics report from the CIS team's search at Llanfair. Another was a toxicology report from Natalie's blood sample. The third was an analysis of The Killing Club book and possible locations for future killings. The final was a profile of the killer by an old profiler friend from FBI. He grabbed the Llanfair report first.

John pressed his lips together and tossed the report down on the coffee table. He got up and paced back and forth a few times trying to wrap his brain around what they had found. Whoever had tried to kill her had put the poison on Natalie's toothbrush. If John hadn't called her to come in to the station she might have died in her bed that night and not been found until morning.

John's pacing led him to her bedside. He kneeled down and looked at her face. He touched her hand so he could feel its warmth and assure himself she was all right.

This method of murder wasn't in the book, but maybe after missing tonight at the Diner the killer was determined to finish the job by whatever means necessary?

John got up and went to read the profile.

An hour later he put the document down and rubbed his eyes. He looked at his watch. It was three in the morning. It was a long shot, but it was possible that Grant would be awake. The profile was damn good, but there was something missing. It had been written before the attempts on Natalie's life. Maybe the new circumstances would open up something more identifiable about the killer than a general age and socioeconomic range. Maybe something that would identify him more with Marcie, the book's writer. Or Natalie.

Or maybe the poisoning was completely unrelated. But John didn't believe that for a minute. It was too coincidental.

>>>>>

Natalie smiled after John pulled back from the deep kiss he gave her as soon as she showed signs of waking up.

"You didn't sleep last night, did you?" Natalie put her hand on John's face. He was leaning over looking at her when she woke up. He shrugged in response to her question.

"What time is it?" she asked.

"Nine."

"I'm late!" Natalie exclaimed and sat up.

"Your boss said you should sleep in today."

"I don't want special treatment because I'm the boss' niece."

"You're not getting special treatment because you're Bo's niece or my girlfriend. You just had two attempts on your life and you just got out of the hospital."

"You're girlfriend, huh?" Natalie grinned and grabbed his hand.

"You would focus on that." His voice was raspy with exhaustion.

"I've waited a really, really long time." Natalie nodded and ruffled his hair with her free hand.

"Now, you're gloating."

"Pretty much. Why don't you take a cat nap while I go shower?"

"I have a much better idea." John slid his hand through her hair and cupped the back of her head. In a sensuous motion he pulled her head forward and met her lips with his. Natalie melted into him and they greeted the day passionately.

"Now, I'm really late." Natalie stroked her fingers over John's thigh under the blanket. She enjoyed feeling him quiver at her touch.

"You might as forget it and stay in bed with me." He rolled over on top of her.

"Not going to happen. You're mind is still half on the case. Why don't we go shower together and you tell me what's gnawing at you."

"Besides my lust for you?" John teased.

"Besides that." Natalie nipped at his bottom lip before melting into him.

>>>>>>>>>>

Natalie pulled into herself. She was sitting in the corner of the couch, her arms wrapped around her legs like a cocoon.

"I shouldn't have told you." John played with the strands of hair that had gotten loose from her pony tail.

"Of course you should tell me. It happened to me. I just want to know how and why. And who."

"So do I."

"And you think it has to do with the Killing Club murderer?"

"My instincts tell me so. Grant, my profiler buddy agrees."

"Then he should talk to Marcy about the original killing club. She probably didn't put everything in the book."

John looked impressed.

"What? I did study criminal justice in college. I work in a police station."

"Maybe you should finish that degree. I already set up a meeting between Grant and Marcie. He's coming to town later today."

"John, why don't we go to the police station? You can work better in your office and I'm going to go crazy sitting around here wondering what next. I need to be busy."

"All right." John looked around at the mess of take out cartons and files strewn around them.

>>>>>>>>>

"John, what's wrong?" Natalie put the file she was bringing to him down onto the desk and moved to stand next to his chair. He was looking out the window and had a yellowed folder in his hand.

John stroked the folder and continued to look out the window.

"John?" Natalie tentatively put her hand on his shoulder. When he didn't pull away she leaned down. "You're scaring me."

"They never found the man who shot my father."

John spoke so softly Natalie had to lean in closer. Sympathy darkened her eyes and she put a hand on his cheek and turned him to face her. She knew just how much it must gnaw at him to have never solved a crime so personal. He had admitted that it was why he himself had joined the Bureau. Partly to make sure that it never happened to another family – the wondering; but also to solve this case.

"What made you think of it today?"

John shook her hand away, looked away and took a deep breath.

Natalie made to move away, but John put his hand on her arm to stop her. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Natalie said, despite her hurt. "Do you want something for dinner?"

"Natalie. Don't go. Please." John turned and put the file into the open drawer and pulled her back towards him. He put his arms around her waist and pressed his forehead into her stomach. She stroked his hair and waited.

After a few moments, John looked up and pulled her into his lap.

"What's going on?" Natalie bit her lip. Her heart was pounding as she waited.

"Something about all of this just reminded me. Maybe it's Marcie losing all those people close to her? Maybe…I'm not sure."

"John, maybe your instincts are picking up a connection? Marcie is from back home, too."

"I think you're right. I just can't fit the pieces together. First the killer is following the book and then he poisons you. Maybe it's not the same person?" John's frustration made his voice rough.

"John. Maybe I should go stay somewhere else so you don't have to worry about me too?"

"No! I'm not letting you out of my sight."

"Does that mean I should get a cot for your office?" Natalie teased.

John sighed and pulled her tightly into his embrace. "I don't know what the hell to do right now and it scares me."

Before Natalie could answer there was a knock on the door. Natalie just managed to jump up before an older African American woman came storming in.

"Mrs. Williamson?" John stood up.

"My Cookie is missing and you had better find her!"

"Cookie?" Natalie echoed in the background.

End…for now.