Attn: I don't own them. You know this but I have to write it any way. Don't want those greedy bastards at ABC taking offense cause I write a better story than them and having them sue me for copyright infringement or some shit.


This chapter is rated R for excessive swearing. If you find it offensive don't read the end of the chapter.

Chapter 7

Natalie blinked her eyes and looked around in confusion. She was lying on the floor of her little cell Carlo had the balls to call a room. She couldn't remember how she had gotten there though. Her brain was fuzzy, as if awakening from a long deep sleep. She groaned as she sat up; her head hurt as well.

Maybe she fell off the bed she thought to herself as she stood unsteadily. She walked to the door and looked out the crack in it, trying to see if there was anyone around. She squinted and strained to see but saw no one. Carlo must be out or something. Griffin too...

Her head still hurting and her mind still groggy she looked around the room again for something to break down the door. She probably wouldn't get a better chance to escape. Finding nothing that would be strong enough she slumped onto the bed in defeat. The pain and fuzziness in her head had lessened as she moved around and she was grateful for that if nothing else. She rested her head on the headboard of the bed and prayed someone would realize she was alive and in need of rescuing.

Suddenly she sat up and muttered, "headboard!!!!" She jumped off the bed and tore off the mattress from the bed mumbling "I'm so stupid!"

John sat at his desk going thru the pictures of the John Doe's his team had managed to get on such short notice. Though they only went back 2 weeks there were still quite a few of them. He had had no idea this many unidentified males were found in the area! There had to be at least 50 of them! He had gotten thru the about half and so far he hadn't found the one he was looking for.

He didn't know how he would know if he found the right one but he felt that if he found it he would just 'know'. It was a skill he had used many times with the FBI and on this last case it seemed fitting that he trust it now as well. Officially he was still FBI until he found the killer even if he was working out of the LPD and had his own office.

Suddenly he came to a picture that made him stop and look closer. He read the name and description.

Name: John Doe

DOB: Unknown Approximately 30-35 years of age

Height: 5'11

Weight: 185 pounds

Eye Color: Blue

Tattoos piercings or other markings: Small Birth mark on right thigh in a circular shape approximately 1cm in diameter. No other markings

Cause of Death: Multiple Gun Shot Wounds

The victim was found on an abandoned road out side of Carbondale by a jogger (Name: Jason Roe). Victim was face down lying in the middle of the road. Positive ID was not able to be made. Dead for at least 36 hours before the body was found. Autopsy report attached.

John read the report closely and knew he needed to find out more about this man. He called a buddy and asked him to run the finger prints thru the FBI database and see what he could find. If he was a betting man, and he was, he would bet that this man had a record of some kind.

Carlo watched Llanfair from the top of a hill over looking the mansion. His binoculars perched on his face as he studied the Buchanan's. They were holding a funeral for their beloved Natalie. He laughed at that. How surprised they would be if they knew that they had buried a hooker in place of one of their own. Or rather his own. She was still his wife after all.

He smiled even wider as he remembered how he had tricked the luscious redhead into marrying him. She had been so gullible. All he had had to do was play the victim. He had staged a mugging when he knew she would be waking by and let her comfort him and help him to the hospital. After that he had simply started hanging around places he knew she would be and had struck up a friendship. When he had her trust he had convinced her that he was in trouble with the mob and that he was afraid for his life. He had told her that if they married he could pay them off and because of her family connections he would be safe. She had bought it, hook, line and sinker!

The one thing he hadn't counted on was her putting her entire trust find into a trust for her children. And if she had no children it would go to Rex. Even in the event of her death her money wouldn't go to him! He had been son angry when she had told him that. He had been planning on her having a little 'accident' and gaining her funds. That would have been the ultimate revenge. Using the Buchanan's money to destroy them.

His reaction to that news had been... rather violent to say the least. He had about beat her to death for ruining his well laid out plans but if there was anything Natalie was she was a survivor. She had grabbed a knife and sliced him but good. He had nearly bled to death after she had taken off. If he hadn't had a guy in the hospital that he had called in a panic to patch him up and help him fake his death he wouldn't be sitting here planning his revenge yet again. This time things would be different. Nothing was going to be left to chance. He would have his revenge.

Natalie looked at the bed frame and nearly screamed with joy. The frame came apart! Quickly she grabbed the metal sidepiece and yanked it up. It slid from its spot on the wooden headboard and clanged on to the floor. Going to the footboard she did the same and the metal rail was free. She picked it up awkwardly and held it as if it were a bettering ram. She moved to the door and started using it to beat at the door. It took a few minutes but the door flew open with a crash.

Natalie gasped at the noise but put the rail down and moved cautiously out the door. Her eyes darted around the room looking of her captors. When she didn't see them she headed for the door. Her heart beat furiously with the fear that she would be caught any second but she continued. She opened the door and saw that she was in the woods somewhere. There was a dirt road going by the little shack she had been held in.

She could hear no traffic, which was definitely a plus. She had to get away but she didn't know which way to go. Thru the woods or follow the road. The woods seemed the obvious choice. Carlo could come back at any moment and if she followed the road he would definitely spot her right off. If she went thru the woods she would have cover and it would be harder for Carlo to find her.

But that was exactly what he would expect her to do. He would think she took off thru the woods so maybe she should do the opposite and follow the road. She could hear the traffic coming and could hide before someone saw her.

The decision was made. She took off running toward the tree line next to the road and once she was just inside the tree line she began walking down the road, hoping to hell she was going the right way and that she got far enough away before Carlo found her.

9 and ½ hours later

Carlo came back to the shack still planning his revenge. Griffin next to him in the car. They had spent the day preparing for the next 'session' with Natalie and watching the Buchanan's. The 'sessions" with their little captive were progressing and they needed to step up the 'treatment'. Even after the first few 'sessions' her mind continued to resist the 'suggestions' they were giving her and he wasn't sure just how much she was getting from them. Simple drug/auditory therapy wasn't working as well has he had hoped. It was time to use more aggressive means to gain her cooperation.

As they came into the shack Carlo immediately noticed that the door to her 'room' was open. He swore violently and raced into the room!

"FUCK!!!!! God damn it! Son of a Bitch!!!!" He was furious when he saw the bed frame. He whipped around to Griffin who had followed him into the room.

"What the fuck were you thinking??!! I told you not to put anything in this room that could be taken apart! Jesus! I TOLD you she was resourceful! You stupid mother fucker! Do you know what you have done?"

Griffin was taken aback by his boss's rage. Normally Carlo was cool, controlled and talked with a cold dignity that was frightening. To see him completely lose control of himself and actually use such crude language was shocking and damn scary. He fumbled with an apology.

I...I'm...I'm sorry. It was a bed. I didn't think... It was just a bed..." he stammered and started to unconsciously back up.

Getting himself back under control Carlo lowered his voice, though the rage still burned in him. "You are a simpleton." He reached behind him and took hold of the gun he was carrying, "and you have been a thorn in my side for way too long!" So saying he aimed the gun at Griffin and shot him dead.

Stepping over the bleeding body of Griffin he exited the shack and looked around. Where would she go? "Here Natalie..." he murmured to himself. He looked into the dense forest and smiled. He grabbed another gun and a flashlight and started off thru the woods thinking that Natalie would be a sitting duck out in the woods all alone. He would find her, bring her back, and teach her a lesson she wouldn't soon forget...

TBC...