ABC Owns Them


Chapter 14

John waited around for Natalie to get out of the bathroom and he drove them to the station. They didn't talk much in the car, Natalie just looked out the window as he drove and John watched her without her knowing out of the corner of his eye. They arrived at the station and they both got out quickly and went inside to see Bo.

Natalie walked a bit quicker than John and she walked over by her desk, she stopped for a minute and looked for a mirror in her desk draw, she was feeling a bit self conscious about the evident bruises still on her face and when she saw a few officers outside look at her, there looks of pity, as she saw it, she felt worse. John saw her pick the mirror out of her draw and look at the big bruise on her face, he knew it was bothering her to have anyone see her like this. He walked closer to her.

"You're still the most beautiful thing in this station, hell, in Llanview, Okay in the..." John whispered into her ear as he saw her continuing to look in the mirror. She slapped him gently across the chest as a motion to tell him that was enough.

"Like I need you to tell me that" Natalie told him back sarcastically and he laughed as he saw her smile slightly.

John heard someone clear there throat and both he and Natalie looked to See Agents Smith and Hower standing behind them, observing the situation.

"John, we need to talk" Agent Hower told John and John nodded his head yes and went over towards them, they went into a near by empty office and began to discuss the case. Natalie stood at her desk for a few moments and then was curious, well she knew they were talking about her but she wanted to hear what exactly they were looking for form her, and what importance Izzy Foley was to them. She went closer to the room and started to listen in thru the thin walls as she heard them begin to speak.

"John, we understand you want to protect her and from where we stand it's understandable but, we need to find out what she knows and if she's seen Matinio in the bar. "

"I understand we need the information and I know she will help to the best of her ability but she's been thru so much last night and this morning. I know the way you get when you're trying to get info from people, you're harsh, I'll do it"

"Not possible John and you know why, as a matter of fact once the chief hears that your personally involved in this you'll be off the case."

"And who might he hear that from? I'm positive he won't be hearing it from anyone in this room now will he?"

"John, you know I have to tell him"

"That's funny, that day back on the Sneider case when you thought you'd cut out early and go have some fun with the blonde, I don't remember anyone telling or even threatening to tell the chief, you know that wasn't that long ago"

"That case is over and it didn't jeopardize the case, the chief won't care."

"You're right, he probably wouldn't' but your wife, Sharon, she might be interested in hearing about it."

"Fine, no one tells the chief anything, nothing."

"Natalie's told me what she remembers from last night, I'll explain it to the two of you and then we can show her some pictures."

John told the other Agents all about what Nat said happened, it was very difficult for him at some points but he just explained those points and didn't show an ounce of emotion. Although it wanted to make him puke, the beating Izzy had given her and the thought that he might have raped her, Thank God that wasn't what happened, he thought as he continued to explain Nat's story to his colleague's. But Why? He again thought 'why didn't he finish it?' It wasn't adding up, things weren't adding up, she wasn't able to fight back and he leaves, goes somewhere or did someone else see something, why?

Natalie was outside of the office listening to John explain to the other agents about what happened to her last night, she was getting a little upset listening to John account for it when she turned briefly away from the room almost ready to be sick when she saw Harry approaching her.

"Hey" Harry said softly in an ashamed voice, he looked at her bruises on the face and he was getting more and more guilt ridden.

"How are you?"

"I'm okay, I've been better, but than again I've been worse" Natalie said with a small smirk.

"Nat, I'm really sorry, really, really sorry. I fucked up; I was supposed to be your partner and I.. I.., I have no excuse"

"Harry, stop beating yourself up about it, it went wrong and well... it.. well.. It could have been worse."

"Natalie, if you need anything, I mean anything, just ask"

"I don't need anything but time, a little time to process everything"

"Does that mean you're not coming back to work right away?"

"Even if she wants to, she's not," Bo said as he walked up behind the two as they were talking

"How are you feeling Honey?" Bo asked and he kissed her cheek

"I'm fine, I really wish everyone would stop asking me how I am. I'm not a doll, I won't break"

"Alright, alright we are just concerned are the two of you ready to give your statements?"

Bo asked, Nat and Harry nodded yes and walked inside to his office.

While in Bo's office John had come out from talking to the other agents, he looked around the room for Natalie and at first he didn't see her, then he noticed she and Harry in speaking with Bo. He knew she was obviously giving Bo her statement. He watched thru the window facing in to Bo's office. He noticed she started twirling her hair around her finger and he had observed that as a trait of her being Nervous. He knew she must have been telling them about the beating Izzy had given her and he wanted nothing more than to go in there and grab her, hold her and make all the pain go away, but he knew it wasn't as easy as that, although she wasn't raped, this would leave scars, maybe not physical ones but scars.

John watched for a few more minutes as Agent Hower, Tony his friend and colleague approached him. Tony saw John caught up in watching the Red Head intently thru the window.

"How long have you known her?" Tony asked John, as he never looked away from Natalie thru the window.

"Not long" John answered

"Really? Not like you to fall in Love so fast, actually now that I think about it not like you to fall at all." Tony told him, as John didn't say a word. Tony noted his silence and knew he was right, about the being in Love part, John was most definitely in Love with this woman, he had never seen the great FBI agent John Mcbain under anyone's spell, never seen him willing to bent the rules, even break the rules for anyone, but here John stood, mesmerized, in her, in helping her.

"John, you do know this isn't good right? you feeling like this about someone like that"

"What is that suppose to mean?" John asked as he finally turned to look at him

"Well... she's a cop John, and you are you... I mean I've never seen you act the way you've been acting and I heard the officers around the station talking, it seems you've been busy roughing people up because of her."

"Those are just rumors Tony, still don't understand what it has to do with her not being good for me"

"She's not good for your career John, nor for your emotional state."

"Don't be ridiculous Tony."

"John, were close so I feel I can say this, how are you going to be able to work this case, I mean we need to find Foley so he can lead us to Matinar. When we find him, you and I, how easy would it be for you to...well.. To maybe rough him up a bit, maybe more than a bit because of her, because of how you feel about her, for her. Think about it John, maybe you should let us handle things without you, take yourself off the case."

"No way, Izzy Foley, is mine, when I find him... I'm ..."

"John that's what I mean. When you find him you won't be able to separate what he's done to her and what we need to get from him. You will be too clouded to do your job successfully " Tony told him

"You just worry about yourself and let me worry about me, I know what I have to do" John told him as they both saw Nat and Harry walk out of Bo's office. John walked over to her.

"You alright?"

"Will everyone please stop asking me that, I'm fine!"

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to yell, I'm just getting tired of everyone asking

"I got that impression," John said with a small smile and they both laughed a little.

"Since your fine the FBI has some questions and some photos we need to show you."

"You mean you do, don't you, you're still working the case aren't you?" Natalie asked and he nodded yes. John escorted her into the other office, Tony followed behind them noting how tender John was with her, again this was something he had never seen from John, he still wondered how John was going to be able to do his job when it came down to Izzy Foley.

Natalie answered John's questions as the other two agents listened but knew better than to open up their mouths, John wanted to handle this and he did. Natalie answered all the questions prevented to her from John noting that he must have informed them of what she had previously told him cause that never came up, last nights occurrences never came up. John pushed a few pictures in front of her face and she looked at them.

"Do you recognize any of these men from the bar?" John asked as she looked at the photos. There were at least six different men; one by one Natalie moved the pictures away from the others.

She held up the first photo and faced it towards John and the Agents that were sitting across from her.

"This guy was in the bar three times last week, Tuesday night from ten to about midnight, Thursday from eleven to twelve and on Saturday from twelve to closing, we closed at three that day. He was talking with this guy," Natalie said as she held up the next photo and went on to explain for how long they were talking and what they were doing in the Bar.

Natalie went thru all six photo's as the three men sat in amazement taking notes and never asking questions, she was so through that see answered their questions even before they had a chance to ask them, even before they had a chance to think of them. Natalie totally ran the whole show as the three of them just stared at her, it was amazing, the memory on her, right down to the last detail, to what the men at the bar were wearing, they shook there heads realizing their was a reason she was a cop.

John watched her as she continued to take hold of the investigation with her remembrance of everything, every little word she heard them speak, whether important to the case or not she told them it. He caught himself smiling a few times as she was talking, she was one of a kind, how could she remember all those things in that beautiful head of hers, some may facts and details, if he wasn't already falling for her this would definitely have caused him to be, he shook his and shook his smile off of it when he saw Tony give him a look of disapproval.

About an hour later Natalie finished telling them everything she knew which happened to be a lot. Without realizing it she knew more than she suspected. Natalie told them that was everything and she asked if she was done, John told her yes and she excused herself and left. Natalie got out in the hall; she was walking towards her desk when John ran up behind her calling her name.

"What John?" Natalie said as she turned to see him

"Have you always had that kind of memory? I mean, I've never heard or seen someone remember so much, I can't even remember what I had for breakfast today" John told her and Natalie smiled a small smile

"That's because you had nothing for breakfast this morning, remember we were at the hospital, you took me to the hospital, to be checked out" Natalie said as her smile turned a little as she didn't realize it and she mentioned the hospital, she quickly tired to cover her falling smile but John had already noticed it. He walked a little closer to put his arm around her shoulder when all of a sudden they heard someone Irate behind them.

John turned to look to see who it was and was knocked to the floor with a punch across his face.