Natalie had been missing a week and John was not in good shape. He was haggard. Ha hadn't shaved in days and he didn't even remember what sleep was. All he could think about was Natalie. The smell of her hair, the taste of her lips. He had just about driven everyone around him crazy. Bo, Rex and Vicki were just as frantic. They all loved Natalie more then anyone else in this town.

Asa had been in daily to find out if progress had been made in finding his granddaughter. Bo had , had a hard time convincing him not to go up to Lions heart and tear the place apart with his bare hands. His people had already combed the entire grounds and hadn't found a clue, not one piece of evidence that Natalie was there. Cris was no where to be found either. Neither Carlotta or Antonio had any clue where he was.

Rex had found evidence that Cris himself was leading the Santi organization. He had also found a copy of a DVD that showed Cris murdering Tico Santi. That alone would be enough to put him away for a long , longtime. But no one could find him. It was as if he had just dropped right off the planet along with Natalie.

John sat in his office, he had finally taken the job that Bo had offered him, he was supposed to be working on a robbery case but all he could think about was Natalie. After the FBI refused to help with the search for Natalie he had quit. He didn't regret it for one second. He just hoped that after they found her Natalie would want to stay in town.

Natalie was getting less and less sure she would ever get away from Cris. He rarely left her alone. Sometimes he came around and just stood in the door way just staring at her. She had no idea what he did most of the time but it was clear that he was in charge of the Santi organization. Two days ago he had came in to brag that he had killed Tico Santi and how he had put a hit on a dirty FBI agent. Natalie was sick to her stomach when he had told her that it had been Kathryn Fitzgerald. She knew from what John said that it had been Caitlyn's sister.

Cris had yet to release her from her bonds and Natalie's wrist was rubbed raw from the cuffs. She refused to give in to him though. several times he had tried to kiss her and she had resisted him. Cris had gotten very angry and slapped her on the face but Natalie still refused to beg. She refused to be submissive to his will like she had been while they were married. So far Cris hadn't hit her much but Natalie didn't know how much longer he would take her treatment of him. At first he had seemed impressed at her will but now he was being more and more bothered with it.

It wasn't enough that she did what he told her to now he wanted her to be happy about it. In fact he seemed insulted that she as angry with him. That she wasn't going to just fall into his arms because he told her to. He wanted her to beg him to let her free. He wanted her totally broken and Natalie wouldn't give him the satisfaction. She clung to her memories of John. She dreamed of him and thought of him constantly. She knew he would find her. She just knew he would. She had to believe that because it was all she had right now.

"Natalie!" Cris said, "come on Natalie I know you are awake. If you would only say you won't leave me I would un cuff you." Cris was getting tired of her stubborn attitude. If she didn't straighten up soon he would have to teach her a lesson. Cris grinned at the thought. She would be so stubborn after he beat her.

Natalie looked at him from the bed. It had to be around 2 am, he had never come by this late before. Natalie shuddered as a thought crosses her mind. What if her were hear to rape her? He had mad several references to taking what he wanted from her. Maybe he had gotten tired of waiting. "What do you want, Cris?" She spat at him, trying to keep the mind numbing fear from her voice.

Cris grinned and said in a husky voice, " What do you think I want? I want you! You are my wife after all."

Natalie shuddered again as her worst fears were realized. Sitting up on the bed she frantically looked around for the pipe she had stashed. Hoping she could get to it before he made his move she jumped off the bed and ran for the bathroom. Natalie screamed as Cris caught her and threw her back on the bed.

"Where do you think your going, Wife?" Cris said in a oddly calm voice. Pressing her down on the bed he went to kiss her. Natalie struck out at him with all her might and connected with his face. Cris grunted in pain, drawing his hand back he punched her in the jaw. Natalie screamed again, this time in pain and rage and continued to hit and punch him.

Cris caught her wrists in one hand while he hit her again and then again with his other. As Natalie lay there dazed Cris reached down and tore her shirt down the front exposing her heaving chest. "NO, Stop! Please don't do this Cris!" Natalie screamed at him. Cris bent down and started to kiss and fondle her breasts.

Natalie was beyond terror at this point. All that she could think was that Cris was going to rape her and there was nothing she could do about it. Closing her eyes she prayed for John to save her. She pictured John in her mind. It felt so real that for a second she thought that she felt his presence in the room with her.

John woke up from a troubled sleep with a cry. Natalie was in trouble! He knew without a doubt that she needed him. Right at this moment she needed him! He could feel her pain, her terror. He had to find her!

John jumped out of bed and started to dress. Throwing on his clothes he was reaching for his phone when it rang. He grabbed it up quickly.

"Natalie?" He answered praying that it was her.

"No its Jessica. Natalie is in trouble, John. I felt her! She is so scared!" Jessica said terrified for her sister. She hadn't felt anything this bad from Natalie since Mitch had tried to rape her. "We need to find her John! You have to believe me. I felt her. She is in trouble!"

John was silent for a second then said softly, "I know Jessica. I felt her too. I'm on my way to the station. Maybe there is somewhere we didn't look yet. I will find her!"

When John got to the station Jessica was already there. She ran up to him and hugged him, "thank you for believing me!" She said.

"Of course I believe you Jessica. I felt her too. Have you felt anything since?" John asked. He would have felt like a fool telling anyone else that he felt Natalie but Jessica and Natalie were twins and had a bond that no one could explain. so if anyone would understand what he was feeling it was her.

"You were close to Tico before he was murdered Jess, is there any place on the grounds of Lion heart that we haven't looked yet? That we might have missed?" John asked her urgently. Taking out a map of Lion's Heart John put it in front of her.

Natalie struggled against Cris frantically. "NO stop!" She said over and over again. Cris ignored her and continued to touch and kiss her. He was about to pull her pants down when one of the guards burst into the room. "There is a problem boss!"

Cris looked up angrily from where he was mauling Natalie, "Not now! Cant you see that I'm busy!" He demanded.

The frightened guard paled and stammered out, "It's about that last shipment. Manachelli is saying that he was ripped off. He is upstairs with his crew demanding to see you!"

Cris swore in disgust giving Natalie a violent shove he said, "Very well." Looking at Natalie he said, "We will have to pick this up later, my dear." With a parting look of lust he got off the bed and walked out the door.

While studying the map Jessica suddenly stiffened then sighed in relief. John looked at her funny, "What is it? Did you feel her again?"

Jessica nodded and said, "She is fine now. But I don't know for how long. We've got to find her John."