"What's wrong, darling? Aren't you happy to see your husband?" asked Mitch as he came forward, and at attempting to touch Natalie's shoulder she jumped backwards. "Isn't she beautiful?" he asked again, this time touching the top of Brennan's head.

"Get your hands off of my niece."

"She's my granddaughter—and you are my wife—or have you been floozing around for so long your forgot? It's ok—you will be forgiven for your sins. I made you think I was dead. Speaking of dead lovers."

Natalie's eyes went cold as steel as she spoke, "We were never lovers."

"That will be no problem soon. I saw the sweet eulogy you gave your lover not so long ago—very touching and moving."

Natalie gave Rex's hand a quick squeeze as she stood up from the pew and walked forward, getting the imaginary creases out of her midnight blue dress before she began to speak, "First-I want to tell both Eve and Michael it's an honor to be asked to speak. John wasn't one of many words-so he'd think this was all a waste of our time," she laughed at herself.

"But I think he'd be shocked to see how many faces came today to remember him. He was an amazing son and brother-being there for them even when he was trying to grieve himself. He once told me about a story that had to do with him and two chairs one Christmas, but I think that's a story he'd rather keep private," she smiled through tears as she looked to Eve and Michael.

"John was a private man-and a man that until recently was still grieving. He felt he had to take care of everyone-be there for everyone-and when the world was finally taken off his shoulders I think his time here was done.

"I once told him I thought he was pushing his life away with his own two hands-because I honestly never thought he'd find the peace he wanted. But the last night he was with me on Earth I looked into his eyes and I saw the peace. I think that's something we have to be grateful for-that he found the peace and justice he wanted, because those two words sum John McBain, the cop, up pretty well.

"As for the private John-I'll leave those memories and moments between his family and myself. He wouldn't have it any other way," said Natalie as she walked down from the pulpit and over to his closed casket, leaning down and kissing the wood. "I love you, John," she said softly.

A shiver went up Natalie's spine at knowing he was still keeping tabs on her—and she remembered the pictures of herself as a child. He knew her every move—so he more than likely knew John was alive and had been watching him. She continued to stare straight at Mitch as she silently said a prayer for John and the rest of the guys to get to the compound.

"What the hell are we going to do when we get there?" blurted Craig as John drove the SUV down the driveway and made a quick right hand turn.

"I don't know—we'll figure it out—," he said as he froze at the sound of an explosion behind him. "What was that?"

"Oh shit—there goes the house!" yelled Brett from the back of the vehicle as he watched them speed away from a now burning building.

"He knew we were there—this whole time—he knew we were there," mumbled John as he reached for his cell phone that he had avoided using the entire time he'd been undercover.

"Who are you calling?" asked Aaron

"Bo—he needs to know what I'm about to go into," said John, the whole time feeling the St Jude's medal he wore burning against his chest.

"Well, my darling—I have disciples I need to teach. You can stay here with your niece for a bit longer, but our marriage bed awaits," he grinned as he left, leaving Claudia behind.

Natalie shivered again at his suggestions as he closed the door. "Your father was his disciple before—have you always been one too?" she asked to Claudia as she continued to hold Brennan—scared to let her go.

"That's of no concern to you—soon Nash and I will be raising Brennan as our own—Mitch will make sure of that," she spoke as she came forward and attempted to take Brennan.

"Get your slimy little hands away from her—Nash will never let you raise Brennan as your own daughter—he loves Jessica."

"He will if I blackmail him to go to the police and tell them how it wasn't an accident—I saw Nash stab my father with the broken glass with my own two eyes," she said as her eyes filled with fake tears and her voice wavered.

"You are unbelievable. Using a small innocent child to get what you want. This is the last time I say this—no other child with Buchanan blood will ever be raised by anyone other than her loving mother and father. Do I make myself clear?"

"Well, I don't know what Mitch will say about that—he's been looking forward to finally being able to raise a child from birth," she said as she looked at Natalie's stomach before turning and walking out the door.

Natalie heard the click of the lock and stayed there frozen—unable to move. Mitch knew she was pregnant—and she knew he wasn't above killing John so he could raise their baby as his own.

She closed her eyes and kissed the top of Brennan's head, a tear spilling out of her eyes, "Please hurry John."

"Ok—thanks Bo. Yeah—we'll call you when we're out and all is clear," said John as he hung up the phone and then turned onto the small dirt road they'd been using to get to the stakeout location.

"What did he say?" asked Aaron as they got out and went to the back where Sam had equipment set up.

"Just that we have to watch what we say. Don't yell at Natalie for going in by herself—don't kid with her when we see her—not until we're safe and secure. If she gets separated again from us—he'll use it to his advantage and make her doubt everything she knows. So let's just go in there and get her and her niece out of there—let's do it for Scott," he grinned as he patted Sam on the back.