A/N: Trying to post through my phone so if layout is wonky I'll fix it later. Until next time-PCGirl.

John and Aaron made their way onto the floor-the rest of the task force was still downstairs dealing with the followers of this cult. He had shown Natalie's picture around until someone admitted they recognized her-said she was the Messenger's bride and they were up here consummating their marriage.

The idea of Natalie being put in that position made his stomach churn, so they quickly made their way up here alone, the only back up they needed was each other.

John could hear Natalie's voice at the end of the hall, she was fighting who he could only assume was Mitch. He wanted to smile at knowing she hadn't lost her fight yet, but instead looked at Aaron and gave a nod as they went together into the room, "Freeze, Lawrence."

He felt sick at seeing Natalie pinned against the mattress. Making eye contact he saw a relief at seeing him wash over her face and his feeling of dread subsided. He'd got to her in time.

"Excuse me, gentlemen-but my wife and I-."

"She's not your wife," said John coolly. "Now step away from her or I'll shoot."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Try me," he said as he aimed.

"Natalie is here completely by her own free will. Tell him my darling," he said as he looked towards her.

"Like hell it is," she said and took the opportunity to kick him and push him off her.

Aaron went over and pinned Mitch to the floor before he had a chance to retaliate while John grabbed Natalie off the bed and pulled her towards him. "Are you ok?" he whispered and felt her shake her head against his chest.

"Get these clothes off me-they drugged me and put them on while I was asleep," she said as she looked up at him, her blue eyes swimming with tears as his mind raced with what else they may have done while she was unconscious.

"I'm here-I've got you," he said as he pulled her close again before leaving the room as the rest of the FBI agents came down the hall.

Natalie sat in the interrogation room alone. Her mind racing with everything that had just happened. She wasn't expecting John to show up, but at seeing him standing in the doorway, rescuing her again, it was enough to fight Mitch off. Hopefully for the last time.

Looking down at her clothes she was happy that the other man with him had a spare set of sweats in his car. She thought she remembered John calling him Aaron-someone from the Bureau.

She felt like she was drowning right now-everything from the past few months crashing down on her, and she wasn't sure how to stay afloat.

At hearing the door open she saw a new agent come in and she gave him a polite nod, "When can I get out of here?"

"Soon, I know you are ready put this all behind you. I just have some questions. When did you first encounter Mitch Lawrence?"

Natalie laughed at the question, "How long do you have?"

"I'm going to stay a few extra days to help Aaron wrap this up, Bo. As soon as they finish talking to her and we get her cleared by the doctor's I'll put her on the next plane home," said John as he finished his conversation with Bo and then sat down next to Aaron.

Aaron had been observing John quietly-watching how he handled Natalie during this time. Finally coming up with something to say he gave him a half smile, "You always treat her with kid gloves?"

John laughed, thinking back to the moments in the past when he told her off for one reason or another.

If you get me why is it you keep trying to piss me off?

Ahh, but you were told to stay out of it.

No, you know what you want? You know what you want? You want some guy that's going to take on everything you're dishing and not give it back to you. That's what you want. Guess what, Natalie-that'll never be me, ever!

"Definitely not. I may have underplayed our relationship earlier."

"Shocker," he said with a grin. "I could tell earlier-that it wasn't just casual dating with you two."

"Since I've come into her life I have been the source of a majority of her hurt or pain. And yet she never walked-not until the end when we realized it was for the best. We've been out of each other's orbits for a bit, and months ago it was suggested to me that she was in trouble. I brushed it off-pretended she didn't matter as much to me anymore as before. And the whole while she was being held captive-twice.

"It may seem like I'm treating her with kid gloves this time because even the strongest building will crumble under the right amount of pressure."

Natalie sat on the side of the exam table waiting for the doctor to come back in and give her the ok to be released. Looking over she saw John sitting there quietly, not saying anything, just hanging his head down and his hands interlocked on the back of his neck, "You don't have to stay, John."

Looking up he gave her a slight smirk, "Yeah, I do. I told your Uncle I would take care of you. What type of friend two either of you would I be if I didn't do that?"

She gave him a slight smile, maybe one of the first true ones she felt like she'd had in months, "You're a good friend, John. Thank you again."

"Don't mention it. If this Doc will hurry up, we can get out of here. What's the first thing you want to do when we get home?"

"Feel the sun on my face. Do you know how long it's been since I been able to do that? Or have the wind in my hair? Hell-I wouldn't mind going to AC and just sitting on the boardwalk and take in the sound of the ocean."

"And watch the sunrise?" he asked with a smile as he thought about the times they did that on the roof of the hotel.

"Yeah," she smiled back.

"I'm sure Banks is ready to see you too."

"Jared's alive?" she questioned, and John watched an expression somewhere between shock and anger appear on her face.

"Yeah-Bo had me banned from his room so I never saw him, but from what I heard he's going to make a full recovery."

"He's a disciple of Mitch's, John," she said, the friendliness that he'd just heard in her voice was replaced by a coldness he wasn't expecting.

"You're sure?" he questioned, but he already knew the answer. Something had always seemed off with the guy-he'd thought it was just because he was with Natalie.

"Positive. He and that Hank guy were talking before the bomb went off. I was inside the bathroom, but I heard him mention how he didn't care that Jessica was his daughter, she was as crazy as he was. I realized what that meant and wouldn't let him come in the bathroom-barricaded myself against the door."

John took a moment to take in this new information before standing up, "I'm glad I didn't know this before or else I'd kill him myself. I'm going to call Bo so he can pick him up and see what's taking this doctor so long You going to be ok for a few?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine," she said as she watched him walk out and leave her alone in the quiet.

"You need me to park and go in with you?" asked John as he pulled his car up to the drop off lane at the airport.

"I think I can handle that myself," she said with a half-smile. "And thank you again for everything-including bringing my purse and wallet with you."

"Would have made getting home a little harder," he laughed and then paused in reflection for a moment. "When I get back and you are settled, we need to go out. A couple beers at Rodi's and a game or two."

"Sounds like a plan. I'll see you soon."

"Safe travel home," he said as he watched her get out of the car and into the terminal safely.

Walking up the departure board she looked at it and sighed.

Home. She wasn't sure where that was right now-not just the damage the bomb caused Llanfair, but also where she was welcomed. Had the bomb and then Mitch not happened would they have forgiven her yet and welcome her with open arms? Or would there still be animosity for what happened to Nash and the loss of BE?

It seemed like everything back in Llanview was a source of pain right now, so maybe it was better to avoid it. Let everything there and with her settle. She studied the board again and saw a place she would love to visit. Walking up the agent she gave her a smile, "Hi-I'd like to purchase a one-way ticket please."