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Chapter 17

Natalie sat on the sofa holding Connor as he sat next to her... She could see the wide smile on Travis face as he watched the two of them from the other side of the room.

Connor kept trying to talk to Natalie, to tell her something, but Natalie knew now wasn't the time. She continued to Study Travis and knew that if he overheard something... anything that he didn't like or didn't go along with the pot of lies she was feeding him, she knew he could snap at any minute. She just kept Connor feeling safe, as secure as possible under the circumstances. She knew she had to play this right. Do this right. And she now had to come up with some type of plan. She needed and she wanted her son out of here. Away from this man and this situation. The last thing she wanted was him getting caught in the crossfire if things got ugly.

"Mom...I don't understand... I...I..." Connor told Natalie as she just sat with the boy gently rubbing his back trying to make him feel secure.

"Shhhhhhhhhh... Connor, I'll explain everything when there's time" She told him quietly as a whisper so not to alarm Travis who was continuing to sit at the kitchen table watching them. Natalie continued to smile back at Travis.

Everyone was quiet for a few minutes when Natalie saw Travis get up from the chair and walk into the other room. Natalie quickly turned to see her son's face.

"Connor... He's only gone for a few minutes I need you to just listen to me, don't ask any questions, and do as I tell you. Okay? " Natalie told him and Connor nodded his head.

"Okay... Does your dad know anything about where we are?" Natalie asked and Connor got a bit confused for a minute. He almost doubted who... which man was actually his dad. Natalie saw his confusion and knew why.

" Travis isn't really your dad Connor, and I was never married to him... he's sick but...there's no time for that now... Your dad, does he know where to find us?" She told him and then asked.

"No, I don't think so" Connor told her getting a bit upset. Natalie pulled her nine year olds head to her chest and held him as he started to get more upset.

"Connor John Mcbain" she said low so Travis would be unable to hear her. " I love you so much... you know that right? So... So very much and I won't let anything happen to you... to us... Everything will be fine... we'll get out of this and we'll be home with your sisters and your dad before you know it" She told him as she pulled him away from her chest. Her son was too upset to look at her, to look her in the eyes.

"Connor... Look at me... Forever and Ever. Right? McBain's fight right? I need you to be strong just a little bit longer Connor... just a bit... I need your help and we can get back home. " She told him and he started to look at her. He pushed the tears down deep inside of him. He pushed his fear down further. He nodded his yes.

"Good" she said and she smiled at him. She whispered in his ear what she needed him to do. Connor looked at her after she told him what to do.

"Mommy?"

"I know its a bit scary Connor but... I know you can do it... I know it... you're made of some strong stuff. Some brave, stubborn stuff, which I'm pretty sure you get from your dad. " She told him and smiled weakly.

"Not all of it mom" Connor said and she started to get a bit emotional. She continued to look in his eyes. " I get some of it from you too" Connor said and a tear escaped her eye. She smiled and pushed his dark hair back off his face. She continued to look at him and couldn't help but get more and more emotional. She could see John in every bit of Connor; he was the spitting image of John. Right down to his intense eyes and his warm heart.

Connor saw his mom lost for a moment and then he tried to get her attention.

"Mom...Mom... I can do this... I'm not scared..." He told her and she looked at him again. She wiped away a few tears that ran down her cheeks.

Natalie was a wreck inside. Her only hope was the small plan she came up with but... but she needed her sons help to try and pull it off. That scared her the most. Her son getting hurt but right now... right now she felt they had no other choice.

"So you're okay then?" She asked.

"Yeah... I want us home tonight. All of us together." He said and she smiled" I'm not scared ... I'm determined... like when Daddy took my training wheels off" He told her, She smiled, Laughed a bit even as it took her back to that time for a moment.

Flash back

"John... he's not ready yet"

"Of course he's ready... Tell her Connor... tell her how ready you are" John told Connor as he was taking the training wheels off his bike with a wrench.

"I'm so ready mommy... I can do this" Five year old Connor told his mom as she sat herself and her very pregnant belly down on the swing on the front porch of their house to watch.

"Okay Connor I'm going to hold on to the back for a few minutes till I feel its time to let go, till I feel you're ready to do it alone" John told him as Connor took his seat on the bike.

"I'm ready now Daddy...you don't have to hold on" Connor told him and started to peddle off before John even got a hand on the back of the bike.

Connor rode off a bit unsteady at first and Natalie stood to her feet.

"JOhn... grab him... grab the back of the bike he's gonna..." She started yelling a bit as she got nervous. John just ignored her and watched their boy find his balance and ride the bike up and down on the front lawn.

John walked closer to Natalie smiling.

"He's fine... He's doing it himself," He told her and he sat on the swing. He patted the seat next to him and she looked at him, smiled weakly, and sat too. Natalie was holding her belly when she sat.

"The two of you... Damn" she said shaking her head" You two almost put me into Labor" She told him and he laughed

"We like to keep you on your toes" He said teasing her and she shook her head. She watched as Connor was coming close to the bushes that lined the front of the house. He misjudged his braking time and he fell into one of the bushes.

"I have a feeling Connor will be keeping us both on our toes." She said and she laughed as John jumped up from the swing to go grab his son from the bushes.

End FB

"Mom...Mom..." Connor said to get Natalie's attention as he saw Travis start to come from the other room. Natalie snapped out of it quick.

Natalie and Connor watched as Travis came out. Travis was still smiling, even humming... He seemed overjoyed that he thought he had a son. Natalie shook her head for a moment. She even felt bad for him for a moment. He was delusional, but having a loving wife, a family, seemed to be the thing that drove him and his sickness... his illness. They continued to watch as he walked closer to the door.

"Sheryl, I have to go back to work. I'll probably be late, don't wait up" Travis said as he took the keys out of his pocket. Travis unlocked the inside locks that kept her locked in and then he opened the door slightly.

Natalie looked at Connor. It was time and she motioned for him to go ahead.

"Daddy...Daddy... " Connor said towards Travis as he was almost out the door and about to lock them in the apartment. Connor walked towards him as Travis stopped in his tracks. Travis got almost a confused look on his face and then got a wide smile on his face.

Connor bravely walked over to Travis. " Can I go with you? To work I mean... see what you do? ... Please? I'd like to spend time with you" Connor told him so convincingly. Watched and it was her chance. She picked up the glass vase that sat on the table in the living room. She put it behind her back. Travis was so busy listening to Connor that he didn't even look her way.

Travis smiled even wider. He was so taken up by the boy, by Connor. By who he thought in his sick mind was his Son. Travis now looked back at Natalie.

"Sheryl... did ya hear my boy... he wants to spend time with me. We can get to know each other..." Travis said and he was so overjoyed, he forgot completely about what he was doing with the locks.

"I heard Travis honey and that's wonderful," She told him standing up and walking over to him by the door. She walked slowly, getting closer to the open door and to both Travis and Connor. Still having the Glass vase behind her back she heard Travis' words.

"I've got everything I've ever wanted Sheryl... You... a son who loves me... a new baby on the way...I'm so fortunate" he said and he leaned his forehead close to hers and touched it. Travis closed his eyes.

Natalie felt his head on hers, she started motioning for Connor to go thru the half open hour to run, but Connor didn't. Natalie started to freak inside for a minute. The plan was for them to distract him when he had the door unlocked, get him to lose his train of thought and then as soon as Connor could get out of there he would run. Well Now was that time. Travis continued to have his forehead up against Natalie's and his eyes were closed. Connor didn't move... he didn't run.

Connor knew he couldn't just run and leave his mom. Although she told him that was the plan. He knew he couldn't. And now... now Travis said something about a new baby... Connor was more confused than before but he didn't let it affect him. He knew he had to focus and they both could be home soon.

"So can I daddy? Please... it would really mean a lot to me" Connor said selling this a bit more as the door still stood half opened.

"Travis" Natalie said softly as he seemed so lost in himself and his joy." why don't you take him... show him... let him be proud of you" she told him and he finally pulled his head from hers

"Yeah... do you think... he would be proud of print shop owner?" he asked her and she smiled at him.

"Of course he would... I am... I am so very proud of you. I love you and he does to. " She told him and he looked about ready to walk on the moon.

Travis walked away from Natalie for a minute towards the door. " Come on my boy... let me show you what I do when I leave home in the morning" Travis said to Connor as he put his arm around his shoulder and walked them out into the hall.

Travis was about to turn and lock the door when Natalie moved to the door.

"Travis honey... Travis..." she said as he distracted him a bit. He looked at her as she walked out of the door slightly.

"Yes Sheryl dear?" he said, " I forgot to kiss you good bye," she said as she saw him pucker up. She motioned with her hands for Connor to start running when she saw his eye's close. This time Connor did. Natalie brought the vase from where she had been hiding it behind her back and she brought it down on the back of his head, as hard as she could manage. She knew it would only stun him but hopefully it would be long enough for her and Connor to escape.

Travis fell to the floor with a loud thump. He was a bit bloody and seemed to be unconscious. With out even checking to see if Travis was alive Natalie wasted no time in running after Connor.

Natalie caught up to Connor by the front entrance of the Building. Connor was struggling with the door but it wouldn't open.

"It won't open Mom... It won't" Connor said as he yanked more frantically. Natalie looked at the door as she started to pull on it as well, trying to force it open.

"Damn! Its locked from the inside... we need the keys" She said, frustrated.