Part 14: Threats and Realizations

See Part 1 for disclaimers

Hey guys! It took me a bit to finish this chapter, what with starting college and all. Enjoy, and I'll try to have the next chapter up as soon as possible...

And here's a little something to remember: reviews give me inspiration! ;) Love you guys! Manda

Natalie hadn't said a word the entire way home or during dinner, even when Shane had presented her with his newest prize, a large earthworm he'd found in Jessica's garden. After he had been tucked into bed that night, Michael and Natalie were sitting on the front porch swing. She was wrapped in his arms, with her head resting on his shoulder as she continued to think about the day. "Michael, should I just let them do the DNA test?"

Michael sighed and kissed her temple. "I hate to say this, but that is your decision, sweetie. I love Shane as if he were my own, and in my heart he is my son, but legally only you have the right to make decisions like this." She sat up. "Let's change that." He looked at her closely and rubbed her cheek with his thumb. "What are you saying?" "I'm saying that you should adopt Shane. That way you would be his father in every way that counts." His eyes filled with tears. "Honey, nothing could make me happier."

Two months later, the adoption proceedings were complete, and Shane was now Shane Michael Buchanan McBain. They had asked the judge about the father's rights, and she had assured them that he had none in the eyes of the law now that Michael was the legal father. As they drove home, they had no way of knowing that their world was about to be turned upside down…

When they got home, Michael took Shane out for a baseball game so that Natalie could have some downtime. Shortly after they left, the mail came and she was flipping through it idly when she saw an address that turned her blood cold. It was from Thomas Jenkins in Huntsville Prison. Her hands trembled as she tore the envelope open and began to read the letter inside.

Natalie,

How's my baby boy doing? That's right I know about my son. You thought you could keep him from me? I have eyes and ears all over Llanview. I swear to you now, I will get my son one way or another. You'll never see him again. Say good bye to your little boy right now. Everywhere you go you'll be looking over your shoulder you'll never know when I'm coming. Good luck sleeping at night my love.

Thomas

She sat on the couch and reread the letter over and over again, tears streaming down her face. That was how she was when Michael and Shane returned home. He quickly sent Shane to his room to play and sat beside Natalie. "What happened?" She silently handed him the letter. He read it and his face flushed with anger as he took Natalie into his arms, crumpling the letter up into a ball and dropping it on the floor.

"You shouldn't do that; that's evidence," she whispered through her sobs. He managed a strangled laugh as he stroked her hair. "I'll worry about it when I'm done taking care of you," he replied. She pulled back, scrubbing the tears away with the backs of her hands. "There's no time to take care of me, we have to worry about Shane right now."

"You are absolutely right. We have to do everything possible to protect him, starting with letting Bo know about this." She nodded. "You're right. Shane!" He came toddling into the room. "Mama!" She laughed and pulled him into her arms. "Hey, sweetie. Listen, we're going to take a ride to go see Uncle Bo." Shane clapped his hands excitedly. "Yay!" Shane and Bo were the best of buddies; Bo had fallen for him right away and was constantly taking Shane and Matthew on all sorts of trips.

Natalie smiled and looked at Michael. "You're coming with me, right? I don't think I'm in the condition to be driving at the moment." "No way would I let you out of my sight right now." Natalie smiled and went to get Shane's' coat.

At the police station, they found out that Bo was out on a call. They could either wait for hours or talk to John, who had been anything but supportive of Natalie and Michael's marriage. Still, they needed to do something so they went to talk to him.

After looking at the note he looked up at them. "Natalie, this is just an empty threat. Jenkins is in that prison for thirty more years; how is he supposed to take your son away from you?" Natalie sighed in frustration. "Damn it, John! I know that you don't care about Shane at all, but he's just a little boy who needs to be protected. You're telling me that you would put his life at risk just because you hate his father?"

John put a hand over his eyes and sighed deeply. "No, I'm saying that legally I can't do anything except maybe charge Jenkins with harassing you. But even that would be a little hard to make stick unless you're willing to have a DNA test done on Shane to prove why he would be harassing you. And then you'd have proof he was the father, proof he could use against you if he was to get out of prison early." "So we're screwed whichever way we go with this; is that what you're telling me?" "I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do."

Natalie stormed out of the office, stopping to get Shane from Officer Mitchell and went to wait in the car. Michael looked at John with anger in his eyes. "Man, you just can't get over that Natalie got over you and has a new life now, can you?" "What?" John pretended to not know what he was talking about. "Natalie has a son and a husband now, and you're so bitter you would make a lemon taste sweet. Be careful about that bitterness John; it could end up costing that little boy his life and then how would you feel?" He went after Natalie not giving John any time to regroup and retaliate.

John sat at his desk sighing deeply. He honestly didn't know what his problem with Shane was, but maybe Michael was right. Maybe he was just bitter because Natalie had moved on. But one thing was for certain: he couldn't continue putting Shane and Natalie at risk because of his personal feelings. He picked up the phone and called Bo.

TO BE CONTINUED