A/N I do not own these characters. If I did I would be fabulously wealthy and wouldn't need to post my fan fiction here. I would be writing for the show and dining regularly with Michael Easton (Snicker perks of the job. LOL) and I wouldn't let that hack Higley near them.

Chapter 11

Natalie turned to Rex in shock and said, "Rex! You're awake!"

"Yeah, who could sleep with all this noise?" Rex said with a weak grin. Looking at Natalie he knew she was worried about him. But more then that she was confused and hurt that he would keep something from her. He knew that she was wondering why he had done it. And more importantly he could tell she was wondering "Why Now?"

Natalie ran over to Rex's side and bent to hug him, momentarily forgetting about the wires and machines and the bruises. Hugging him fiercely she drew back quickly at his low gasp of pain. "Oh I'm sorry! I forgot." She exclaimed hastily letting him go and taking a step back.

John was also happy to see the younger man awake. Now that they knew Rex was gonna be ok he had to get Natalie back into hiding before someone found them again. As soon as they left the hospital he was going to broach the subject with Natalie. If she didn't agree to go he would simply not give her a choice. DNA test or not, he needed to keep her safe. But first they needed to hear Rex's explanation, because he knew Natalie wouldn't leave the hospital with out it. John nodded at Rex and said, "Balsom."

Rex finally noticed John as he spoke to him. Mentally cursing he spat out, "McBain." He was not happy the cop had found Natalie. He had been praying that she had given the authorities the slip. He wondered now why Natalie was here if the FBI had found her. Surely they would lock her up and throw away the key; after all that's what the cops did best, arrest innocent people. Frowning he looked past John and saw Bo. "Hey Bo, didn't think I would see you again."

Bo nodded at Rex though inwardly he smiled. He liked Rex; the kid had guts that's for sure. Rex actually reminded him of his own son Drew, who had been killed in the line of action. After their last meeting Bo had also thought he would never see Rex again. He had expressed strong disbelief of Rex's story and had practically thrown him out of the office. It was only after a lot of thought and research that he had come to believe Rex's story might be possible. And even now he was leaning more towards this being a hoax then actual fact. "Likewise," was all Bo said in return.

Michael came in suddenly, "What's going on in here?"

Natalie was so happy Rex was awake she couldn't contain her joy. "He's awake. Rex is awake!" Practically bouncing up and down she ran over and hugged Michael and said, "Thank you, thank you for saving him."

John saw her hug his brother and couldn't stop the rush of jealousy that hit him. Just seeing another man hugging Natalie made him want to punch someone. Forcing back the impulse to do physical harm to his own brother he was shocked at his reaction. He had never felt like this before, not even with Caitlin and he had loved her more then life itself. The strength of his feelings was undeniable and he was forced to admit that he loved Natalie. He was in love with Natalie Balsom!

The knowledge left him somewhat dazed and confused. They had known each other a matter of weeks and half of that time he had thought her a murderess. He had suspected that he might be falling for her before but admitting that he was actually in love with her was so much more astounding to him. He wanted to push the feelings back, deny them but he knew it was too late for that. All he could do was go on and hope that everything worked out. By the time he had recovered from that revelation Natalie had released Michael and had gone back to Rex's side.

Bo had seen the thunderstruck look on John McBain's face and realized that the other man had just realized that he was in love and with the woman who might or might not be his daughter. He wasn't sure how he felt about that but as far as he could tell Natalie Balsom was a fine young woman who had grown up in some deplorable circumstances. John McBain seemed to be a fine man but only time would tell if he was what he seemed. In the mean time he needed to get that DNA test as soon as possible.

The fact that once while Vicki had been Nikki Bo had gotten drunk and had slept with her was unknown to anyone in the Buchanan besides Vicki and Bo himself. He had not wanted anyone to know but there was a very real possibility that if Natalie was a Buchanan that she was his daughter which made getting the blood test doubly important to him.

After Michael had looked over Rex and had declared him in good condition but still needed to be in the hospital Natalie stood up and asked, "Can Rex and I have some time alone?"

John still reeling from his revelation nodded and said, "I'll be right out side the door." Motioning to Bo and Michael the three men left the Balsom's to talk in private.

Natalie waited for the door to the room to close before she turned to Rex and opened her mouth to speak.

"Don't hit the injured man," Rex joked from the bed. He knew Natalie was mad at him and wanted answers but he just couldn't help himself. If he could go another minute with out her yelling at him he would. Smiling his most innocent smile he asked, "How are you sis?"

"This isn't funny Rex so don't make jokes! How could you hide this from me? Why didn't you tell me about this letter five years ago?" Natalie asked, very hurt.

Rex got serious and struggled to sit up. Moving over on the bed he patted the spot next to him. When Natalie sat down next to him he looked at her and said softly, "I was afraid."

"Afraid? Of what?" Natalie asked. She loved her brother but she didn't understand why he would lie to her like he had, well it wasn't really a lie but it was an omission and one that affected her life. He should have told her.

Rex thought about his answer, he wasn't sure just how to respond. He needed to get her to understand why he had not told her. It was hard to explain the fear that he had felt when he had opened that letter. A letter that said that Natalie, the one person in his life that loved him, that took care of him, wasn't really his sister. He had felt alone and knew that if what the letter said were true Natalie would have left him. He would have been alone then and the thought had prompted him to just hide the letter.

"I was afraid you would leave me, that you would forget about me." He said honestly, "You're the only person in my life that loves me, not the suave guy or the bad boy but me, Rex Balsom. I was afraid that if the letter was true and you were a Buchanan that you wouldn't care about me anymore."

Natalie's eyes teared up and she wiped away the tears that spilled out, "I would never leave you Rex, I could never forget you! Balsom or Buchanan it doesn't matter you will always be my brother. But I have one question," Natalie said as she hugged him and assured him of her love. She couldn't believe he thought she would stop caring just because he they might not share DNA. He was her brother and no DNA test could ever take that away.

"Why now?" Rex asked her question for her.

"Yes," Natalie nodded.

"Because I thought that if you really were a Buchanan that they could help you in what ever trouble you're in. I heard they think you killed someone. That you murdered a man. I thought that if The Buchanan's knew about you they would help you." Rex explained.

Natalie was about to tell him that even if she were a Buchanan by blood she would never accept help from them when the phone rang. Since Rex didn't tell anyone the number, being unconscious how could he? Natalie figured it was John calling to see if they were finished yet. Reaching for the phone before Rex could she picked it up and said, "Hello?"

"Hi Red," the voice on the other end said in a soft, gravelly voice. "I'm coming for you."

"Who is this," Natalie demanded harshly, getting freaked by the call.

"Just remember, I'm coming Red," said the voice before breaking into the most chilling laughter Natalie had ever heard. Slamming the phone down, cutting off the maniacal laugh, she sat there stunned and shaking with fear.

"Who was that Natty?" Rex demanded, seeing Natalie go white and start shaking he reached for his call bell and pushed the button frantically. John, Bo and Michael burst into the room and stopped short at the sight of Natalie.

"What happened?" John demanded of Rex as he ran over to Natalie and took her in his arms trying to comfort her.

To be continued...