Disclaimer: I own Peter! The other characters I am only borrowing for an unspecified amount of time—I'll have them back good as new in time for tomorrow's episode though, okay? (Oh—and I'm making no money off of this so don't sue!)

Author's Note: Time jump! LOL This chapter takes place about a month and a half after chapter 6.

Title: Unexpected Complications 7/?

"Wait here," the bored-looking guard told John after leading him to a chair before disappearing through the gray doors.

After a few minutes he took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself as he saw the guard lead 'John Doe'—known to John to be Cristian Vega—into the visiting room. He sat down and picked up the phone as John picked up his end.

"What brings you here McBain?" Cristian nearly growled into the phone. He had heard from a prisoner who had been busted by John that the man was now particularly cozy with his wife.

"I should have told you this when I found out but—"

"Cut the crap. I know," Cristian said darkly, pinning John with a hard gaze.

"You know?" John asked slowly. "Know what exactly?"

"I know that you're with my wife. How does it feel McBain? To have her nestled in your arms every morning, to feel her soft hair brushing across your—"

"That's enough," John said loudly, trying to fight the blinding rage threatening to overcome him. "That's enough," he repeated, lowering his voice to a normal volume. "That's not what I came to talk to you about."

"Really? To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit then?"

John sighed. "You have a daughter."

Cristian sat back in his chair and blinked. "What?" he finally managed to choke out after a few minutes.

"Natalie found out she was pregnant a few hours after I found out that you were really Cristian… It was too late to stop your transport to Statesville so I decided it would be best to keep my mouth shut for then."

"And what about later?" Cristian asked angrily. "You didn't think it would be in anyone's best interest to let me in on this?"

"Look, I'm sorry okay? But it was your decision to cut yourself out of Natalie's life and let her believe that the man she loved was dead, not mine. I figured that you gave up any rights you might have had when you chose to let her suffer through that again."

Cristian nodded, obviously still trying to fight his temper but somehow managing to stay calm. "So why tell me now?"

"Cristina's two months old now and—Natalie wants me to adopt her."

"Cristina?" Cristian asked softly.

"Yeah—in your honor," John replied, pulling a small photo from his wallet and sending it over to his side. Cristian picked up the picture and studied it—the photo had been taken by John in a special moment and showed Natalie curled up on the bed talking softly to Cristina.

"She's beautiful," Cristian finally managed to whisper after several moments. He lifted his head to meet John's gaze. "Can I keep this?" he asked, holding the picture up.

"That's why I brought it."

"Thanks," he replied. "So—you want to tell Natalie the truth?"

John nodded. "But first I thought that maybe—" He hesitated.

"You thought what?"

"I thought that what with Llanview's bad track record with DNA tests—the way they all come up being fixed—that maybe you'd submit to another one first? This one would be to prove once and for all that you are Cristian Vega and—"

"To prove that I'm Cristina's father?" Cristian guessed.

"Yeah."

"I think that'd be a good idea. Why break Natalie's heart again if this does turn out to be some fixed DNA test?"

"Okay. I'll get Peter Gallagher on the next flight out here—he's one of the best DNA technicians there is and one of the few who cannot be bribed. We've tested him numerous times and never once has he taken the bait."

"Ever think maybe he saw you guys coming?"

"No—I've known Peter since we were in second grade together. He's a good man, one of the best we've got." He stood up when the guard signaled. "Guess it's time to go. I'll call the warden with more details later."

Cristian stood up as well, making sure to grab the picture of Natalie and Cristina. "All right. Thanks."

"No problem." He moved to hang up the phone.

"McBain?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for taking care of them," Cristian managed to force out before hanging up and turning to leave with the guard.

"My pleasure," John whispered to the dead air before hanging up and turning to follow his own guard from the visitor's room.

"Hey, there's the man you've been crying for the last half hour," Natalie said gratefully as John walked in the room.

As if corroborating her statement Cristina's cries immediately subsided and she smiled happily as John plucked her from Natalie's arms and kissed her forehead. "How are my favorite girls?" he asked, leaning in to give Natalie a short sweet kiss on the lips.

"Just peachy," Natalie replied with a smile. She loved how good John was with her daughter; it made her heart melt.

"Good. I was thinking that maybe for dinner tonight—" The ring of his cell phone cut him off. "Hold that thought."

He pulled it from his pocket and glanced at the Caller ID to see 'Peter Gallagher' flashing. "I have to take this."

"Want me to take the baby?"

"Nah, we're fine. I'll be right back." He walked into the living room and flipped his phone open. "McBain."

"Hey John. Got your message—just tell me when and where."

Glancing back to check that Natalie was well out of earshot John nonetheless spoke softly as he whispered, "Statesville Prison in Llanview, Pennsylvania ASAP."

"Give me a second to go through the computer," Peter replied, balancing the phone between his head and his neck as he switched the computer on and called up his schedule.

"Looks like I'm clear for a cross-country flight, two DNA tests and a return trip starting tomorrow night. That soon enough for you?"

"That would be great. Listen Peter, I know that you've got a lot of people—"

"Do me a favor and can the speech McBain. This is gonna cost you quite a few big ones—or maybe just the truth behind how exactly Kathleen Baker came to the conclusion—and then proceeded to spread said conclusion around—that I liked to watch gay porn to 'get in the mood.'"

John laughed at the memory. "Sorry man. I was jealous as hell that you got such a knockout to go out with you—it didn't help that Kathleen had laughed in my face when I asked her out a week earlier."

"You're forgiven Johnny. Now about this test—"

"Listen, I can't really talk now. Give me a call once you land and I'll come meet you, explain everything all right?"

"That's fine. I'll see you tomorrow night."

"See you tomorrow night, and Peter—thanks." He hung up without waiting for a response.

John looked down at the content baby girl in his arms and sighed as he leaned down and kissed her forehead again, cradling her head gently in his free hand.

By this time tomorrow night he knew that there was every possibility that his, Natalie's and Cristina's lives would have been changed forever.

TO BE CONTINUED