Disclaimer: These characters and this general plot belong to... someone? Not me, that's for sure, don't sue me.
A/N: This has been in the works for a while, and is I think the longest thing I have ever written, published or not. It's longer than Saved Again by about 10 pages... suffice it to say with my schedule these days, this is going to take a long time to get up and posted. Be patient with me please! I want to say that I absolutely loved this time on OLTL, I thought this was one of, if not the best, storylines Jolie had during the time I watched. A couple things I need you all to go along with for this story to work out. You may remember the time travel story for the 40th. This was when Bo/Rex slept with Emma/Gigi instead of Asa/Bo. This changed the story and made David Bo's son instead of Spencer Asa's son. So here, that time travel didn't happen. Also, I want to note that I started watching in 2005 so my frame of reference for Clint is mainly JVD, and I will concede I wrote him more like he was towards the end of the show rather than how he was during this actual time. And no car crash because... I didn't want to cry. Please remember I'm bad at chapters. I think that's all, so please read and review!
"Bank shot" she called as she lined it up.
"No way" he retorted.
"Wanna bet? Next round?"
"You're on" he smirked. He so enjoyed watching her being cocky around a pool table. He wasn't even upset when she made the shot. The smirk on her face made his heart beat a little faster.
"told ya"
"the usual?" he asked, and headed to the bar.
She smiled as she watched him head to the bar. For weeks now, this had been their temporary reprieve each night. She knew it wasn't healthy for either of them, to only have this small outlet. She also knew if she didn't beg and plead with him for this each night he wouldn't take any break at all, and that would be far worse. At least on this night, he was flirting right back with her, which was a nice change of pace. It was nights like these that made her believe there was hope after all, that someday the two of them could be a normal couple. As he headed back toward her, she could see that same hope reflected in his eyes. She took her beer from his hand and they continued their game.
There was no doubting that she was gorgeous. He thought that at least once every time he was near her. He was happy she made him do this each night. It was probably the only time of the day he was thinking about anything besides this case. She was supportive of him in every way she could be, but he knew it at some point it wouldn't be enough. He knew at some point she'd need him and he'd disappoint her. For this night at least, he was glad to be shooting pool with her and distracted from all his problems for a little while.
"Did you eat today?" she asked him.
It was a regular question she asked. He wondered if he'd ever be able to repay her for this.
"Did I?" it was the same answer he often gave. She was often the one making him eat when he forgot to do so.
"That's what I thought" she said, "Why don't you order us some burgers?"
"I'll play you for them" he teased.
"Oh yeah?" she said, "I'll let you break"
"Deal"
She was getting him to eat and take a longer break. It wasn't lost on him what she was doing. He simply didn't fight it. If he was being honest with himself, he enjoyed the feeling of knowing she cared so much about him. He again wondered how he'd ended up with her after all he'd done to shove her away. He broke.
A game and a burger later they had gone back to the Angel Square Hotel. It was their regular night. John grabbed the case notes he kept at home, the ones that contained his circumstantial evidence, the stuff he believed but couldn't prove. Natalie grabbed the reading she had to do for class the next day. They worked mostly in silence, John's bed their make shift desk. She had come to really enjoy it, it solidified what she already knew about her relationship with John – they simply got each other.
It was hours later when John looked up from his notes. He enjoyed their easy silence each night, he appreciated the space and the support she gave him while they both worked at night. Once again, he saw that she'd fallen asleep doing her reading. She was always trying to keep pace with him. One of these days, he swore he was going to slow down to her pace. He wondered what that would be like.
Like he had many nights before he put away his notes, then got out of bed and put all her books away just the way she wanted them put away. He gently pulled her down on the bed so she would sleep comfortably. He pulled the covers over her and turned off the light before joining her.
Not for the first time, he wondered how much longer she could keep taking care of him before it was too much. She had enough going on in her own life and he knew she was putting it all on hold for him. He was afraid what would happen if he lost her this time.