A/N I do not own these characters. I am simply borrowing them for my own amusement, and hopefully that of my readers. I mean no harm and am gaining no profit from the use of these characters so please, please don't take me to court! Thanks Ya'll...

Chapter 15

It was late when Natalie got to Llanfair that night. After her talk with Bo she had gone down to the lab and worked on her most pressing cases. She had called a real estate broker on her lunch break. After telling her what she wanted in an apartment she had called John's cell phone to leave him a message saying that she would be looking at some places tomorrow.

She was getting out of her car when she heard it. A faint noise, almost like someone running their fingernail over metal. She peered into the darkness but could see nothing. Suddenly she heard rustling in the bushes nest to her and then a prick in the back of her neck. "Hey!" she got out then sank bonelessly to the ground.

A figure wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black sweatpants picked her up silently, easily, and carried her into the night.

Vicki sat on the couch in the library waiting for Natalie to come into the house. She had heard the car pull up so she knew Natalie was here. Bo had called her up and filled her in on what was happening with Chris...and with John. She had been shocked about Chris and Please with John. He made Natalie very happy and that was all she wanted for her daughter.

Five minutes passed.

Then ten minutes.

Getting worried Vicki went to the door and opened it up. Seeing the dome light on in her car Vicki figured she was getting something from the car. "Natalie are you coming in honey?" she called. There was no answer. Now very worried she hurried to Natalie's car and stopped short when her feet made contact with something on the ground.

It was Natalie's keys. Vicki bent over and picked them up. "Natalie?" she said, scared...worried. "Natalie?" She said a bit louder. When she again got no answer she knew something was seriously wrong. Natalie wouldn't leave her car open and her keys on the ground. She spun around and ran to the house.

Grabbing the phone she hit one on the speed dial.

"Bo Buchanan." Bo answered his home phone. He had just got back from a basketball game with Matthew.

"Bo. Natalie is missing!" Vicki said with out preamble. She was hysterical and crying by now.

"What?" Bo exclaimed. Looking at his phone and seeing that it was the Llanfair number he said, "I'll be right over." He hung up the phone and then grabbed his keys silently thanking God that Matthew was over at a friend's house for the night. After going to the game Matthew had wanted to stay at Donny's house. He started to dial John's number then saw the clock 10:30pm. John was still out of communication, something about a witness that he had to protect. His shift didn't get over until midnight.

He jumped in his car and raced towards Llanfair. He hadn't wanted to believe John when he had said Chris could be dangerous. He had known Chris all his life and it just didn't seem possible that he would hurt anyone. Now he wished he had paid more attention to John's warning. He turned at the Llanfair drive and headed up. He stopped as he got to Natalie's car.

He got out and made his way carefully to the front door of the house. He didn't want to disturb anything if Natalie had indeed been abducted. He had the sinking feeling that was indeed what had happened. He entered with out knocking and went right to Vicki. She was standing with Kevin and Clint, in tears.

"Vicki, what happened?" He asked.

"I...I...I don't know" she sobbed. Holding a tissue to her face she trembled and shook. "I heard her pull in and then I waited for her to come in," she wailed.

Clint put his arm around her and said, "It's not your fault. None of us really thought Chris could do anything like this."

Kevin was beyond pissed. He was pacing back and forth muttering cuss words. "When I find that son of a bitch I will KILL him. He is going to wish he had never heard the name Buchanan!"

Just then Jessica and Antonio came running in the door. "Have you found Natalie yet?" Jessica asked breathlessly.

Bo knew all that Vicki knew so he went out side to look for clues. Taking out his phone he called it in. "Put out a APB on Christian Vega! Now!" he barked into his phone then hung up abruptly. He took out his gloves and went to Natalie's car. He searched it slowly and carefully, not wanting to miss anything.

He was still at it when several police cars pulled up, their lights flashing. The CSI van pulled in right after. Bo walked down to meet them and began handing out orders. "Listen up. This is personal. Natalie is missing! I believe Christian Vega kidnapped her. We need to find something to tell us where she is!"

There was a low murmur thru the crowd as they realized that this was about Natalie. With an intensity that only came when one of their own was the victim they began to get to work. Soon the driveway, yard, and house were full of police officers and CSI people. Bo was standing near the front door trying to talk Kevin out of attacking Antonio for information on his brother.

"I told you already!" Antonio said for the fifth time, "I don't know where he is." He looked at Bo appealingly. "I swear, I don't know! Natalie is like a sister to me, I would tell you if I knew."

"Tell me again about the last time you talked to him." Bo said, finally getting Kevin to stop trying to punch Antonio.

"I told you. After I talked to Natalie this morning I went to the diner. I told her about Chris and how he was out of control. We talked to him around 5pm. He was mad about Natalie hooking up with McBain. He was jealous, but he said he was getting past it. I swear. He was a lot calmer when we left the studio." Antonio explained yet again.

"Did he say anything about where he was going tonight? Or who he would be with?" Bo asked.

Antonio thought hard to what Chris had said. "He did mention a date. I thought it was a good thing. You know moving on, dating again."

Bo nodded, listening intently.

"Commissioner! I found something!" CSI Henderson called.

Bo hurried over to CSI Henderson and asked, "What did you find?"

Henderson held up a piece of fabric and a hypodermic needle. "I found a needle. Probably something to knock her out with and this looks like canvas. It has paint on it."

"Chris!" Bo muttered. It seemed he had been right. Chris HAD kidnapped Natalie.

"Eleven thirty" John muttered to himself. Only another half an hour till he could call Natalie. He couldn't wait to talk to her. He had this strange feeling that something wasn't quite right and he knew it wouldn't go away until he spoke with her.

Babysitting a witness was his least favorite assignments but he had to do it again tomorrow night then he was off to Pennsylvania...and to Natalie. He couldn't wait to see her. Her beautiful red hair her smiling lips and her glowing eyes. They lit up his world and he couldn't even remember what his life was like before her. He sifted in the chair and felt the soreness in his side. He smiled as he flashed back to their first meeting. Or rather the first meeting HE remembered.

She had been so beautiful leaning over him, giving him water. He remembered how his body had stirred to life at the sight of her. Even after being shot he still had felt more desire for her then any woman he had ever met. And every day after that the attraction, the fondness had only grew. It seemed so simple now, but when he had realized he was in love with her he had been shocked! And now...Now he couldn't imagine his life with out her.

John was jerked out of his thoughts by the banging on the safe house door. He got out his gun and checked his watch. Midnight. Hank was right on time... He opened the back door slowly his gun ready for any surprises. He breathed a sigh of relief when he was that it was Hank. Opening the door wider he ushered Hank in and slapped him on the back, "Right on time Buddy."

Hank grinned and gave John an arm punch, "What's this I hear about you leaving the bureau?" he asked.

John shook his head, "Not the bureau just the AC office. I got a transfer to the Pennsylvania office outside of Philly." He told him.

Hank looked him over closely and then laughed, "Man you are really whipped!"

"What? I am not whipped." He said defensively.

Oh come on. I know you are seeing that Buchanan chick. She lives right near that office." Hank said, " Tell me where are you going to be living when you leave AC?"

"That's none of your business," John retorted.

"Whipped," Hank snickered. He saw John glance at his watch for the 4th time since he had gotten there. "Oh go home John. You know you want to call her!"

John nodded and turned for the door. He turned back and said, "I am not whipped!"

Hank laughed and followed him out to the door. He watched as John got to his car then yelled, "Whipped!" he was laughing as he shut the door and settled in for the night.

John heard him and muttered a curse under his breath. He turned the car on and then pulled out. Hurrying home he about sprinted into his apartment in his haste to see if Natalie had called (He had had is cell calls forwarded to his home phone for the next 2 days). Seeing that there were 2 new messages on his machine he pressed play.

"Hey John! I was just calling to tell you that I am going to be looking at apartments tomorrow. Hope I find something! Hope you are having a good day. Love ya. Bye."

He was grinning stupidly as the number flashed prompting him to either delete or save the message. "I am so whipped' said as he hit the next button. He was still grinning stupidly when he heard Bo's message.

"John I know you are on Witness duty right now but call me as soon as you get in. Natalie is missing. We think Chris took her."

John didn't waste time calling Bo back he simply ran for his car and raced to Llanview.

To be continued...