Four Leaf Clover – 11

Obviously, I'm using ABCD's characters without permission and for no profit. No need to write a memo on it.

Summary Reminder – Based on Trinity's challenge of J/N engaging in an affair. Natalie ends it after admitting to herself she wants more from John. After Natalie is almost killed in the AS Diner, John breaks it off with Emasculation and tells Natalie he loves her. Just when they've agreed to keep their new relationship under wraps until John can tell E, she is lurking in the hallway of the A/S hotel and gets an eyeful. Upset, E goes to UV at 6 in the morning and gets drunk. Rex
mistakenly thinks she knows about the affair and spills it to E and in a drunken Rage E falls off the bar spraining her wrist. RJ has the last laugh.

A/N: At this point, I'm pretty much departing from the show. I'm even changing history. There never was a Cris imposter, because Natalie was right she would know if the man she was sleeping with was not her husband; therefore Cristian did not kill Tico Santi. I'm also taking
care of some, um, oversights.

>>>>>

"You wanted to talk to me, Bo?" John walked into Bo's office after a brief knock.

"Yeah, have a seat."

"Is this about the Cramer case?"

"No. It's about a personnel matter. Specifically about two of my personnel engaging in a relationship." Bo paused to smile at John's obvious discomfort. "We're crossing a whole bunch of lines here, John. I just want to make sure they're clear."

"I understand. Natalie is your assistant and I'm a superior. There are legal implications, but I'm not her direct supervisor."

"I'm not worried about either of you claiming sexual harassment. I do want to make sure that none of the other admin staff feel she's being favored between being my niece and your girlfriend."

"We'll keep the relationship out of the office. She and I have talked about it."

"I've talked to her as well, but there's more I want to say to you." Bo leaned forward. "It was one thing when you were with Evangeline Williamson, cross that line with Natalie and I'll have IA all over your ass."

John looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"I know Evangeline wanted to make sure everyone knew what you two were up to for her own reasons, mainly to stick it to my niece. I never said anything because it didn't interfere with our jobs. And You and Natalie are an explosive combination and Natalie, well she can do things without thinking. Especially when she thinks she has a good reason for it. I'm relying on you here."

"You want me to try and control Natalie?" John asked, sounding amused.

"No one controls Natalie. I'm just saying you're the Chief of
Detectives. Act like it."

"I got it. That all?" John stood up and rushed for the door.

"John. One more thing." Bo waited until John was facing him. "If you don't treat her right it's not IA you'll have to worry about."

"It's nice that she has you looking out for her."

"You too." Bo leaned back in his chair, his face relaxed now that that business was over.

>>>>>

Evangeline was supposed to make an appearance at this last class to give them some last minutes tidbits on her portion of the class in preparation for the final. It had been a week since Evangeline had found out about her and John being together and since then no one had heard a word from her. Rex had rushed over to the LPD and snagged her for lunch and told her what had happened at UV so Natalie knew embarrassment was probably one of the reasons for her silence, but Natalie had a feeling it was a lot more ominous than that.

Professor Jaiyne came walking in alone and Natalie let out the breath she had been holding. She picked up her pen and opened her binder. As she was looking down she heard a familiar click of heels. She looked up and her stomach sank. Sure enough, sounding like she was marching
in an army parade with her $300 shoes was Evangeline Williamson with her right arm in a sling.

"How melodramatic," Natalie murmured to herself.

"Hmmm?" Grady, they guy who sat next to her at the two person table asked.

"Nothing."

"Think she strained herself pulling the stick out of her ass?"

Natalie let out a bark of laughter before she could restrain herself. Evangeline zeroed in on her and glared.

"Man, she hates you."

Natalie resigned herself to a long hour and a half.

>>>>

"What's up, Michael?" John said into his cell phone as he waited for the background report he was promised to finish downloading.

"I'll be right there!" John jumped up and ran out of his office, calling for officers to follow him.

On his screen appeared a photo of Ivan Potter split screen with Hayes Barber.

>>>>>

Natalie walked into the LPD and immediately noticed something was wrong. For one thing, it was fairly empty and those officers that were there was preternaturally quiet. She walked over to Bo's office to discover he was out. John's office told her the same thing, as she headed to the side door a flashing on John's computer screen caught her eye. It was an IM from an investigator asking him if he had received the image. Under the message were the photos of Hayes Barber
and someone named Ivan Potter.

"One of the Killing Club," Natalie remembered out loud. Worried, she picked up John's phone and called his cell.

"McBain."

"John, what's going on?"

"I can't talk now." Was his terse response.

"You received some photos, Taylor wants to know if you got them. They're Hayes Barber and that Ivan Potter guy."

"Oh my god." She heard him sigh and call over another officer.

"Natalie, print those out, make 50 copies and bring them to me at the Love House."

"My cottage? John, what's going on?" Natalie asked as she hit print.

"Hang on." Natalie could tell from the sounds getting distant that he was moving away from the crowd. "Marcie and her family were killed this morning. Someone tampered with the gas line."

"Oh my, God." Natalie paled and sat down heavily in John's seat. "Marcie, Ron?"

"Yeah."

"Where's Michael?"

"He's the one who found them. He's at the hospital. Get me those photos."

"You think it was Hayes? Copying the book?"

"Yeah. I should have found him sooner. Michael." John broke off.

"It's not your fault, John. You did the best you could!" Natalie said firmly. "Hayes is the murderer!"

She could hear John expel a breath as some of what she said got through.

"I'll be right there with the photos."

"Thanks."