Her Brother! That made John feel much better. He started to wonder why it mattered so much then decided that he didn't want to analyze his feelings that much. "Hello," John said, "It's nice to meet you."

Rex looked at Natalie and then at John. "Actually we have meet before," Rex said. John looked puzzled so Rex explained, "At the police station in Llanview. I was Helping Bo Buchanan out with a case."

At the mention of Bo Natalie asked, "Uncle Bo? How is he doing since Gabrielle?" not thinking.

John whipped his head around to Natalie as the pieces fell together. She was Natalie Buchanan! He had seen her picture on Bo's desk. That's why she had seemed so familiar to him!

Rex looked uncomfortable for a minute. He didn't know why Natalie had left Llanview, not the real reason anyway, and he knew Natalie was using a fake name. This all added up to her hiding so maybe the middle of a bar was not the right place to be talking.

He looked at Natalie again and said, "Maybe we should go someplace else for this."

Natalie looked around suddenly remembering where they were. She nodded in agreement. Looking at John she said softly, "Can we do this another time. I really need to speak to my brother alone."

John nodded, disappointed that he wasn't going to be included in the conversation. He wondered why a Buchanan would be running from anyone. And why Natalie grew up in AC when she had family in Pennsylvania. Also He remembered Rex now and his last name was Balsom. How was he Natalie's brother? But all these questions would have to wait until Natalie was ready to tell him.

As Natalie and Rex left John also gathered his things and left. No one noticing the man in the back of the bar watching the trio. The man took out his phone and made a call. "I found her, Boss. You were right Rex Balsom led me right to her. What do you want me to do?"

"Bring her to me!" Came the answer.

Natalie took Rex back to her place and they caught up on everything that had been going on in their lives. When Rex brought up Cris. Natalie tensed up dreading the conversation that was coming.

"Why did you leave Cris?" Rex asked though from what he had got out of Jessica he could guess.

"We just needed time apart. We aren't the same people as we were when we got married." Natalie said evasively. She didn't want to tell him that Cris hit her. She was ashamed that she had let it get that far. That She had failed Cris that much.

"Natty.. Don't give me that crap. I know you! I know that unless something was seriously wrong you would be trying to work it out and not hiding out. What happened?" Needing to hear her say it.

"I... I... He... ummm..." Natalie tried. Then sighed. She knew she would have to just tell him.

"Come on Natty, spill" Rex said in a way that only he could.

Natalie smiled faintly at that tone. Only her Rex could make her smile at a time like this.

Natalie looked at the floor ashamed to face Rex. "I did something that Cris didn't like and he hit me." Natalie said. "He didn't mean to. I push his buttons. It was my fault. If I had been more careful it wouldn't have happened."

Rex was enraged. He had thought that it was something like that but hearing Natalie say it made it real. "I'm gonna kill that bastard!" Rex said furiously.

"No! It wasn't his fault Rex! He didn't mean to. Besides he said he was sorry. He always does." Natalie said. "But I realized that we were just too different to stay married. I filed for divorce but he is fighting it. Once the divorce goes through I'll come back to Llanview and everything will be fine." Natalie said, desperately wanting to believe what she was saying, but deep down she knew nothing would ever be ok again.

"Your defending that bastard? My god Natalie he really did a number on you didn't he?" Rex said incredulously. Then he realized what she said. She had said 'he always does.' "He always says he is sorry? Natalie just how many times has he hit you?"

"Just once," Natalie lied.

"Natalie!" Rex said warningly, knowing she was lying.

Natalie looked up abruptly, tears streaming down her face. "Fine! You really want to know? I'll tell you. He hit me almost every day since he came back. Ok? You happy now? I couldn't make my husband happy and he hit me. Does that make you feel better? The last time he put me in the hospital! So instead of staying and helping my husband with his problems I ran away! I quit because I failed him." Natalie cried out, consumed with shame. Shame that she failed the man she had promised her life to.

"Oh, Natty." Rex said pulling Natalie in his arms and just simply held her as she cried. "I'm so sorry." Rubbing her back Rex held her. It shook him up to see what that bastard had done to his sister. She was the strongest person he knew. But that scum had beaten the confidence out of her as he had battered her body. He had taken Natalie's love and devotion and flushed it down the toilet.

Natalie held on to Rex tightly. His presence made the pain of failure easier to bare. Natalie cried for a few more minutes. As her sobs subsided Rex pulled back and looked at her.

"You're gonna be ok Natty. Your divorcing the son of a bitch but you need to have him arrested! I'll call Bo right now." Rex said taking out his phone.

Natalie grabbed the phone out of his hand and said, "NO!"

"You can't seriously be considering letting him get away with this are you?"