A/N I do not own these characters. If I did Jolie fanfic would be unnecessary because they would have good s/l's on the show. However since the Hack is head writer and can't write to save her life fanfic is necessary; hence this story.

Chapter 24

The first thing John was aware of as he woke up was someone holding his hand. He opened his eyes and looked over to the right and was shocked to see Natalie at his bedside gripping his hand tightly, her head resting on the bed, seemingly asleep. He looked over at the clock and saw that it was 3am. Wondering how she had gotten here and why she was out of jail, not that he wasn't happy about it.

He reached a hand out to stroke her hair, groaning a bit as the action sent a ripple of pain through his side. He ran his fingers through her silky hair and thought about how grateful he was to be alive. He didn't remember much of his accident and when he tried his head hurt worse, but he knew that he could have died. Thinking that he could have died with out ever telling Natalie what she meant to him, regardless of whether she felt, or ever could feel the same made him determined to tell her how he felt about her.

John was unaccustomed to talking about his feeling but he knew that he needed her to know that he loved her, had loved her almost from the beginning of their relationship. He continued to gently stroke her hair, pleased when she turned her face into his hand and let out a little contented sound and gripped his hand a little tighter. With that image in his head he soon fell asleep.

Natalie heard a noise and began to stir. Sitting up in the chair she glanced at the clock and realized she had slept all night. Glancing at John she saw that he was awake and looking at her. "Hey," she said softly.

"Hey," John echoed, "you're beautiful when you're sleeping."

Natalie blushed, "Thanks." They stared at each other awkwardly for a minute then Natalie took a deep breath, not being able to wait any longer to tell him how she felt. "There is something I need to tell you."

John had just been about to speak but he saw that she needed to get something off her chest so he waited, nodding for her to continue. His mouth fell open in shock as he heard her next words.

"I love you John. I know you probably don't feel the same but I needed you to know." She said rapidly. Not giving John a chance to speak she rushed on, "You could have died and I felt like I would die. I didn't think I could ever love anyone like this. Hell I didn't even believe in love but this, you getting hit by a car, showed me that love is real and I can love. And I love you. I don't know how or when but I do. I really love you."

John began to smile widely as she rambled. Those were the sweetest words he had ever heard. "I love you too," he breathed.

Natalie stopped her rambling thinking she had heard him wrong. "What?" she said.

John looked at her and gave her a dazzling smile, "I love you too," he repeated slightly louder and with feeling. "I've loved you for a while now."

Natalie looked at him in shock, "You have?"

John nodded and said, "Yeah I have."

Hearing him say that Natalie grinned and said, "Now what?"

John frowned, not understanding what she meant. "What do you mean?"

Natalie's smile faltered a little and she said, "When we got married it was for me, to help me and then we decided to make it a real marriage but neither of us said anything about love. Now that we know we love each other do we start over or just...just..." she stopped, unsure of what to say.

John understood more then what she was saying. She wanted their vows to mean something when they said them. He wanted that too so he said, "Natalie, Will you marry me?"

"But we're already married John."

"Marry me again." He told her, "I want to look into your eyes and see the love you feel for me in them as we say our vows. I want you and I to start over with love and trust. Most of all I want to see you walk down the isle to me a free woman coming to me because you love me."

Natalie had tears in her eyes and nodded vehemently, "Yes, I'll marry you again!" She sat on the side of the bed leaned over and kissed him gently. She was surprised when he wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss, pulling back she said, "John, you're still hurt!"

"Kiss me and make it better," he said with a leer before claiming her lips again in a passionate kiss that spoke of his love and desire for her.

They were still kissing when Michael came in with John's release papers, "Ohh! Sorry!" He said, laughing when they pulled apart like guilty teenagers.

"What do you want Michael?" John growled at him, annoyed at the interruption. He glanced at Natalie and a grin tugged at his mouth, she was blushing a deep red at being caught making out in a hospital room by Michael.

"Well I brought your release papers but it looked like you were looking for another kind of release just a minute ago." He said laughing loudly then even more so when he saw his brother's death glare. When he saw Natalie blush an even deeper shade of red he immediately felt bad for embarrassing her further. "Ohh Natalie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you. I just love to pick on my brother."

Still mortified at being caught making out with John she simply nodded and said, "Its ok. I really shouldn't be on his bed anyway." She jumped off the bed and stood next to it uncomfortably.

Seeing her discomfort John said, "I can get out of here now?" trying to hasten his brother out of the room.

"Yup, I got your papers to sign right here." Michael said waving papers in Johns face. Setting them down on the stand he said, "I'll leave you two alone now." He left the room whistling.

John and Natalie looked at each other as Michael shut the door and burst out laughing. John got dressed slowly, his body sore from the accident. As he finished he looked at Natalie and asked, "So, are you ever going to tell me how come you're not in jail? Not that I'm not happy you're here but I'm confused."

Natalie told him about how Vicki had gone to Gloria's and convinced her to come forward and how her lawyer had forced the FBI to rule the shooting accidental and in self-defense. She told him how her lawyer had told her that the case was closed and that she was free.

John filled out the paperwork and set it aside for Michael as Natalie told him what had happened after the car had struck him. He was surprised when Natalie told him that Bo had gone in the ambulance with him. "I guess I won't have to worry about him coming after me with a shotgun for marrying you," John said as he drove to the nearest hotel. He wanted to get away from the hospital and there was a nice hotel just down the street from the police station that would be safe. Even though he had quit his job he still thought like he was a cop. He snorted to himself at that thought.

"What was that for?" Natalie asked as he pulled into the parking lot.

"Just wondering what I am going to do now that I don't have a job anymore." John told her.

"I heard about that. I'm sorry I cost you your job, John" Natalie said softly.

"None of that," John said pulling into a parking spot. Taking her chin in his hand gently, he turned her head to look at him, "I love you. It was my choice to quit. You didn't cost me anything."

"But..." she said.

"No buts. I made the choice to quit. Dune would have suspended me and when you were cleared he would have lifted the suspension," he told her firmly. He leaned in and kissed her deeply to forestall any other questions or self-recriminations. As they kissed the heat spread through him and suddenly he pulled away, breathing heavily.

"What's the matter John?" Natalie asked also breathing heavily, confused when he opened the door abruptly.

"Any more of that and I'll be making love to you in this car." He told her raggedly still trying to catch his breath. "Lets continue this in our room."

At that Natalie understood and hopped out of the car, suddenly as anxious to get into the hotel as he was. As they rounded the front of the car and headed to the door he took her hand in his. Natalie felt happier then she ever had in her life as they walked into the hotel hand in hand.

To be continued...