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Chapter 23

"Hey, you're all set" Michael asked as he and John walked back into her room, John went along side her in a chair and didn't say a word, he just took her hand and held it as she nodded to Michael that she was ready for the ultrasound. John stared into her eyes and he saw how nervous she was, how upsetting this was, she needed for the baby to be all right, for their baby to be all right. He knew this was bringing up bad memories, the memories of the first time she was pregnant, a young girl alone at fifteen and pregnant by some jerk who didn't love her. But not this time.

John leaned into her ear just as Michael was about to start moving the wand on her belly. John spoke softly and he hoped to ease the fears she was having.

"There's nothing to be afraid of this time, it's going to be fine, it was all wrong last time but this time its right and our baby will be fine" he told her as he stole a quick kiss as he saw her become teary. Michael cleared his throat to get their attention. He moved the wand around, and around, pointing out things, showing them things that were next to impossible to see clear,

"Remember you are only three months things aren't visible yet, don't get upset by it" he told them and then he took a few minutes, he hooked up the sound on the machine and in a matter of seconds John and Natalie both smiled wide as they heard the sweet sound of their baby's heartbeat.

"Oh, My, Gosh. It sounds strong Michael, it does? Doesn't it?" she asked excited at first but then a bit hesitant to get excited about it being okay.

"It's strong Nat, it sounds good, but we still need to observe you and the baby at least over night, we still need to make sure" Michael told her and she smiled weakly, she still had John's hand and she squeezed it.

"See I told you everything's going to be alright this time, its right, you and I, we're right" John told her as he leaned down to her an gave her a small kiss, he brought his forehead to hers and they stayed like that for a few minutes. Michael quietly excused himself and told them he'd be back in a few minutes.

After a few minutes of silence and closed eye's even, they parted their heads, john moved himself back for a minute, and he saw the tears starting to fall down her cheeks, he took his hand and wiped them away.

"Are you in any pain? Do you want me to get Michael?" he asked her

"No, I'm not in any pain, they gave me something that wouldn't hurt the baby, I'm...I'm just sorry" she told him and he was confused.

"Why are you sorry? You have no reason to be sorry" he asked her as a few more tears fell.

"Cause this is my fault, I couldn't bring myself to tell you and because of that, this happened, I could've lost our baby, I still might" she told him and he was still a bit confused till he thought about it.

"It's not your fault, never say this is your fault," he told her

"I just wanted it to be special for you. You've done so much for me, got me to open up, I feel free with you, and you love me. I just wanted it to be special for you when I finally told you" she told him and he got off the chair a bit, he leaned closer to her on the bed.

"The words alone will be what makes it special, tell me now" he told her and she wiped a few of her own tears off her face.

"I set up the roof ... I wanted to tell you... for you to know... I love you John..." she said and she smiled, " I really Love you and I'm able to tell you" she told him and he smiled back, he reached in and they kissed for a few minutes. After a few minutes he pulled back his lips.

"I love you so much too," he told her and they stood like that for a few minutes.

"Are you happy I'm having your baby?" she asked a bit insecure although she never really doubted he would not like the idea, she just was feeling more insecure tonight with all that had happened.

"Are you kidding, of course I'm happy, Honestly I'm a bit in shock still but... I Love you so much how could I not be happy that your giving me a child, that we even made a child" he told her, her smile was getting bigger

"That night it wasn't a mistake john, it wasn't, it was a gift, we got a gift from it, I just hope we don't... we don't lose our gift" she told him in more tears, he grabbed her gently not to hurt her more with his touch and held her.

"Natalie, even if, which I know isn't going to happen, but even if we were to lose the baby, that wasn't the only gift that night, we were a gift to each other, and we didn't even know it" he told her also getting emotional now, he was also crying.

"That's one of the reasons I think I love you so much, you just have a way of making me feel better' she told him as they held each other for a few minutes. After a few minutes they pulled apart when they heard someone clear their throat, they looked to see Bo standing there.

"You need my statement" Natalie told him and he smiled

"Yeah, but that can wait if your not up to it, I just really wanted to check on my girl, see how you are" he told her as John moved away from Nat and the bed, he walked to the back of the room as Bo took his place next to her.

"I'm good, lets get my statement over with alright, then I'll have to concentrate on relaxing so it doesn't affect my baby" she told him and he smiled

"I thought I heard something about that floating around the family a few minutes ago, you know they are anxious to see you?"

"I know they are, in a few minute now for my statement... I think... John. Maybe you should leave the room" she turned toward John standing in the back when she told him. He shook his head no, she didn't insist, she started with the story.

"I was waiting for John on the roof of the angel square hotel, Chris approached me after hearing me say a few words out loud and he got mad"

"What did he hear you say Natalie, what would make him get so mad to beat you up?" John asked from the back of the room, he came closer to her, to Bo even, she didn't want to say, she didn't want him to know, she didn't want him to go and do anything or be upset by it. She didn't speak for a few minutes.

"Natalie, it'll be all right, I promise, trust me" John told her and she took a deep breath.

"I was talking to my stomach... I said I was going to tell you, John, tonight how much I loved you...he flipped out. We got into a fight, he called me a few names again, he was mad cause I loved you, and I could tell you after only knowing you a short time. He figured out I was carrying your baby, I said some hurtful words too, and then he started pushing me around," she said and she looked at his face, John's. He was red, he started pacing the room frantically, he was so trying to hold it together in front of her, and she knew that.

Natalie watched him pace the room, she continued telling her story of how and what Chris did. The yelling, the throwing her to the ground the, the punching her and then she got to one part, a part in the story that she didn't even want to recall. She didn't want to tell them cause she knew it would put John over the edge, she tried to dance around it, but she couldn't.

"Natalie... is that all? We need everything if we want him to go away for this, I already have him locked up, we need to make sure he stays that way" Bo told her and she looked at John, he would find out one way or another wouldn't he? he probably already suspected.

"He tried to land a punch in my stomach, purposely, I was on the ground already and I turned so it didn't land completely, he was trying to hurt my baby. I saw it in his eye's." she told them and she looked at John. He walked over to her quickly, he had to see them, the bruises to her stomach, to his child even, the one's that bastard used to try and kill their child. He moved her sheet that was covering her away, he pushed the hospital gown she was wearing to the side a bit and he saw them, large round purple bruises, he put her gown back in it's place, he placed the sheet back over her, he kissed her quickly with his fists hard and tight

,"I'll be back, don't worry" he told her and he quickly and angrily walked out of the door

"John... John..." she called out to him but she knew he wouldn't answer her or come back, she turned to her uncle.

"Please, just make sure he doesn't go to far" she told him and he nodded his head, he kissed her cheek and told her he'd send the family in as he left to make sure John didn't do anything stupid, or at least to make sure he didn't go to far.

John was enraged, beyond mad, beyond angry, that son of a bitch Christian Vega, not only did he hurt her on purpose but he purposely tried to hurt their baby, he saw red as he walked into the police station, saw nothing in front of him but his anger, he walked quickly to the holding cells.

"Leave us alone" he told the guard as the guard looked between Chris Vega in the cell and his superior officer, the guard know what was going on, he wasn't stupid, this was a small town.

"Is she alright?" the guard asked John.

"Yeah, leave now" he told the guard; John took his hand and placed it out to the guard. The guard knew what he wanted he reached into his pocket and pulled out the keys to the cells, he placed them on John's open hand and walked out of the area, closing the door to the holding tank when he left.

John walked over to Chris's cell calmly reeling inside. He started opening the lock.

"What the hell are you doing?" Chris asked and John didn't answer, he continued to open the lock, john entered the cell and grabbed him by the collar.

"You like to use your fists on pregnant women? On Natalie, lets see those fists now"