A/N: Sorry if this chapter is choppy--I can't figure out a way to un-choppy it. hehehe. Cru, I've updated so now it's your turn. ;) Until next time--PCGirl.
John choked down the last bite of the awful burger he was eating and finished his coffee—it had been five days since he'd set foot in either Rodi's or the Diner, but he couldn't stand the food in the dive he'd found on the edge of town. Tomorrow, he decided, he was going to find a new place that served better food.
He took a look at his watch, just enough time to meet Mac at the back of Rodi's to pick up Antonio's order and then nobody would know he wasn't eating there beforehand. He turned to leave and stopped at seeing Antonio standing there, "Hey," he said with a smile and laugh. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question," he said as he took a look around and pulled out a chair to sit in it. "Talk to me John—what are you doing in a dive like this?"
"Thought of a change of venue."
"And my Mami's isn't good enough for you either?" he said with a laugh.
"It's nothing personal—let's just call it a good intention."
"Natalie--," he sighed.
"Yeah, she's trying to get back to what she had with Cris, and me being around—it isn't working, that much is obvious. So I decided to start trying out a few different places," he said as the waitress came to repour his coffee and he waved her away. John leaned in and whispered, "Between you and me—the coffee at the station is better."
Antonio laughed and got up out of his seat, "Then let's get out of here and go pick up my lunch."
"You know?" he said as he threw some money on the table and waved to the waitress.
"I followed you here yesterday—Natalie asked Jessica if we'd been busy at the station and then it got back to me you were never coming to Rodi's for lunch. Yesterday I watched you come here and then pick up my lunch but didn't call you on it—today you aren't quiet as lucky."
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Natalie looked at her watch one more time—another hour and a half and she was off the clock and then it was back to the cottage to clean up before starting dinner. Somehow she'd been talked into or agreed with the idea of having a nice dinner with her, Rex, Jessica, and Marcie—of course Marcie and Rex were bringing Michael and Shannon. It was a time for her to get to spend some time with Rex and maybe somehow she could prove to Cristian that the McBain's weren't all that bad.
She looked at the entry and saw Evangeline and gave her a smile as she came to the bar, "What can I get you?"
"I'll just have a chicken sandwich and a diet coke. How is everything with you lately?" she said, extremely nervous about talking to Natalie.
"Good. Cris and I are good. How are you and John?" asked Natalie as she handed Evangeline her drink.
"We're—not together anymore. I figured he would have told you that already."
"No," said Natalie as she shook her head. "I haven't seen him in days—figured that my Uncle Bo was just keeping him super busy now that he had his vacation, I know Mac's doing that with me," she laughed.
"They aren't that busy at all, really."
"Oh, well—let me get your order put in," she shrugged as she turned towards the kitchen.
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"What do you need help with?" asked Jessica as she walked into the cottage kitchen and saw Natalie standing there with her hair pulled into a loose bun and her sleeves rolled up.
"Garlic bread—it needs to be prepared and put in the oven," said Natalie as she put the bread into Jess' hands and turned back to the stove where the water for the spaghetti was boiling.
"Calm down, Nat. This is just a good friendly dinner. Nobody is grading you on this, you do know that?" laughed Jessica as she found a knife to cut the bread.
"I know, but it's the first dinner I've been able to really prepare for Cristian since he got back. Thank goodness Mac let me change my schedule so I was on mid-shift today."
"It'll be fine—Rex is bringing drinks and Marcie had time to make a dessert—they should be here any minute. Antonio talked to John not eating at Rodi's lately today."
"Oh," she said as he mind went to something else that needed to be done.
"He said he'll starting eating there again tomorrow," she said as she watched her sister's face light up a little. "But you know what--let's get off the topic of the only McBain that's not going to be here tonight—what are you getting Mom for Christmas?"
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"So who is it that's coming for dinner again?" asked Cristian as he and Antonio sat in the living room waiting for the rest to show up.
"Rex and his girlfriend Shannon and Marcie and--," he said as there was a knock on the door and he got up to answer it. "Hey—welcome. I'll go take this to the kitchen," he said as he took the cake from her hands and turned to see Cristian now standing with a look in his eye. "Is there a problem?"
"Who invited him?" he said looking at Michael.
"I'm dating Marcie—you have a problem with that?"
"Maybe I do."
"Then you have a problem with me," said Shannon as she brazenly walked straight up to Cristian.
"And you are--?"
"Shannon McBain—his cousin and I believe I'm dating your brother-in-law," she said with a cocky grin on her face.
Antonio gave a deep sigh, "I'll be right back."
Cris looked to see Antonio was gone before speaking, "I think it's a really good idea if the two of you leave."
"Excuse me?" said Shannon and Rex at the same time.
"Rex. Marcie. You two are more than welcome to stay, but Natalie and I have had enough of the McBain name to last us more than a lifetime," he said as he turned to walk towards the kitchen.
"Hey. You know what? Let's take this party to Ultra Violet—drinks are on me tonight," huffed Rex as he set down the alcohol he'd brought on the table and left.
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"I'll call some of my old connections and see what I can find out, Sonia."
"Thanks—and John, remember what I said earlier—I could really use your help with this."
"I will," he said as he hung up the phone and leaned back on the bed. Sonia was on her new case and had picked his brain for the past hour on names and motives—somewhere through the information he was giving her she'd asked if he enjoyed the fast pace of the FBI still and he said yeah. The next thing he knew, she was trying to get him to join her for this case—she said it was only one case and it would be short, nothing like the Santi investigation. He said he'd think about—and he was already thinking about it. Leaving Llanview wouldn't be that bad and he wouldn't be gone long—it couldn't hurt anything, except for maybe Natalie would get closer to Cristian again. But that's what he wanted to happen—or that was at least what he'd continue telling himself and all around him.
John shrugged off the thoughts of reentering the FBI and Natalie and decided a nice walk would hopefully clear his head.
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"Natalie—I think you need to come out into the living room," sighed Antonio as he reached the doorway and could make out Cristian saying something now.
"Why? What is it?" she said as she looked at him.
"Cris doesn't like Shannon and Michael being here."
"Why not?" asked Jessica as she realized the problem. "Oh good grief—this is ridiculous," she said as she put down the butter knife and began to walk past Antonio and nearly ran into Cristian.
"I was just coming in here to say it'll be just the four of us eating tonight after all."
"Cris," sighed Natalie as she put down the spoon and walked past him. "Where are they Cristian? What did you say to them?" she yelled as she saw the cake and alcohol they had brought but they were gone.
"I told Marcie and Rex they could stay if they wanted to."
"Why would you make them leave though, Cris? They are both good people—you have to look past the last name and see who the real person is.
"Well if they share DNA with that idiot McBain then I don't want to get to know them. Why did he leave the agency anyways?" he asked as the other three began looking at each other. "He didn't leave the agency willingly—did he? I can't believe you three—this guy was fired from the FBI, and I don't want to know why—he made me lose a year of my life with friends and family and you are still friends with that guy," he said and then stared at them in silence before walking out of the kitchen and then up the stairs.
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John was passing through the office when he heard his name being called and turned to see both Michael and Shannon standing there, "Hi—is there a problem?"
"Yes," said Shannon loudly and then realized all eyes were on her now.
"O-kay," said John as he shook his head in uncertainty about what was wrong with them. "Let's go to my office. So what is the problem, boys and girls?" he said with a grin when they got to the door and he shut it behind himself.
"Cristian Vega. He's so—ugh—how can Natalie stand him?" groaned Shannon while Michael just stood there in silence at watching his cousin make a fool out of herself.
John opened his mouth and closed it before turning to his brother—who he knew would give him the abbreviated version, "Why don't you give me the story?"
"Natalie and Jessica invited us over for dinner last night—Marcie, Rex, Shannon, and I showed up at the same time. Antonio opens the door and invites us in. Cristian saw me--."
"Still doesn't like the McBain name?" grinned John slightly.
"He asks who invited me and Antonio explained I was dating Marcie, and then Rex begins to introduce Shannon--."
"And all hell broke loose?"
"Not quiet, but Cristian wouldn't even talk to anyone but Antonio."
"Where was Natalie?"
"Getting dinner ready, I suppose," he shrugged. "So Antonio went to get her and then Cristian says maybe it'd be the best thing for all of us if me and Shannon left—saying that Marcie and Rex were welcomed to stay. So all four of us left at that point."
"Well, I'm sorry to hear he's being such a jerk, but what exactly do you two want me to do about it?"
"Tell Natalie to get away from the loser. He's controlling and manipulative--," said Shannon, cutting off Michael from answering.
"And he's her husband. Natalie knows what she's doing, and I know she probably wasn't too pleased with his behavior. Anything else I can help you with?"
"That's all you're going to say?" said Shannon in shock.
"Yeah."
"Come on, Shannon," said Michael as he took her by the shoulders and gave his brother a disapproving look before closing the door behind him.
John had gone back to work when a few minutes later Michael came back in and stood there while his brother ignored him, "Michael—I'm busy—can this wait?"
"No—don't worry, it won't take long. I know you and Evangeline split before you went on vacation."
"Yeah—is that a problem?"
"No—I never really could picture you with her down the road to be honest. Now Natalie—remember the dinner Marcie threw for Mom and us? That night I think was the first time I saw you and Natalie as a couple that night."
"Well, that's in the past now Mike."
"You still love her?"
"Excuse me?"
"Do you still love Natalie? I'm not going to sit here and wait for an answer—you never admit your true feelings about anything or anyone. I'm just saying John—if you love her then fight for her, don't let Cristian win this stupid war," he said as he got up, gave a nod to his brother and left quietly.
John stared at the door for a few moments before returning to the papers on his desk, there were two times when he hated his brother—when he was being an ass and when he was right. This time it was because he was right.