Natalie gave Brennan a kiss on the forehead before placing her in the crib. "I won't be long sweetie—and then we'll go home to your mom and dad," she whispered as she walked across the room and knocked strongly on the door. When it opened she came face to face with a large bodyguard. "I'm ready to see Mitch," she said with a strong voice the whole while her heart was pounding.
As she followed the man down the hall she tried to steady herself for what Mitch would try and do—make her feel bad for past actions, make her think she was nothing and nobody loved or cared for her. But she knew the truth—knew that what she carried inside of her was all the proof of love she needed and that soon this would be over.
She walked in the door the guard opened and realized she was in a candle lit bedroom, "Mitch."
"Sweetheart—you've come to join me, finally," he said as he walked towards her but stopped short of reaching her fully.
"You wish. I'm only here because there is an infant down the hall that needs her mother and father."
"But she could already be with her mother and father—we can raise her as our own."
"No, we can't—she's Jessica's, not mine."
Mitch walked past her and behind her, whispering in her ear as he briefly touched her shoulder, "Jessica had a lot of things growing up that you didn't—it's only fair to take something else that belongs to her. Isn't that how you felt in the beginning?"
"I didn't know all the details that I know now. Everything I went through—it's made me who I am today, and you can't tell me otherwise—you can't make me think I'm a bad person for my mistakes because I was forgiven by my family a long time ago."
"And what about John? Does he know the person you were before? Does he know what you did when you first came to Llanview?"
"He knows—and he knows I don't want to talk about it—that I'm—."
"You're what? Admit it Natalie—you are still ashamed and angry about not being raised a Buchanan. Even John doesn't understand the real you, but I do—just let me show you what real love is like."
"You know nothing of what John and I have. Now what do I have to give you in order to get myself and Brennan out of here and back to the people that love us—because the only love you know is the twisted supposed love your father gave you," said Natalie as Mitch glanced over to the bed and her eyes narrowed and what he was suggesting. Before she had a chance to respond the door opened and John and Aaron came running in.
John's eyes narrowed at the picture before him though he was glad they came in just when they did—Natalie's eyes were frightened and his mind filled with thoughts of what Mitch had just been trying to accomplished and how far he'd gotten her to agree to his requests, "Natalie—go with Aaron, get Brennan, and then get out of here."
"John," she said softly as Aaron came up and took her by the shoulder.
"Just go," he said as he watched his friend walk Natalie out of the room but never making eye contact with her, "Are you proud of yourself? Proud of the power you have over her."
"I hold no power over Natalie—I just help her see the truth in life," he smiled.
John laughed at the words, "The truth? The truth is that Natalie is strong and brave and whatever you said to her before I walked in that door were lies. You make someone doubt themselves—all the way until you have them under your total power."
"You don't understand Natalie—you have too much baggage to give her the love she deserves—the love that I can give her child also and we'll raise together as a family."
That was it—that was all it took to have John lose control and push Mitch against the nearest wall and put his hand around his neck, "I understand Natalie just fine—and the only way you will get near her or our child ever again is over my dead body."
"Did I hit a nerve? I guess it's easy when you are so focused on your father's killer for twenty five years you can't let yourself love. Are you really sure you can do that now? Give Natalie the love she never got as a child."
John pushed his fingers deeper against the man's throat and heard him gasping for air just as he heard Brett walk into the room.
"Irish—stop!"
"I won't let him get away with all he's done to her."
"Irish—don't, it's not worth it," said Brett as he ran over and pulled John off of Mitch.
"I—I want to press assault charges."
Brett got directly in the man's face. "For what? I didn't John doing anything that remotely could be called assault. Guys!—we're in here!" he shouted as John turned to see Craig walk in holding Claudia tight by the arm and Sam following behind him.
"We got them?" questioned John as he shook his hand out—realizing just how close he came to killing the man.
"Yeah, we got them," grinned Sam as he put the cuffs on Mitch and the men left together.
Natalie stared at her hands when John finally walked into the hotel room he'd dropped her and Brennan off the night before he went and got debriefed with the rest of the men, "Asa sent the jet—it's waiting for us at the airport."
"Yeah?" he asked as he rubbed his eyes, feeling like he hadn't slept a week.
"Last night—we didn't get to talk much—I wanted to explain to you what I was trying to do by talking to Mitch."
"You don't have to," he said as he sat down next to her on the edge of the bed.
"I do—because he said things and I wondered if I really ever told you the whole story about him. About what he did to my family—I know you've read his file, but it probably leaves out a lot."
"Stop," he said softly as he took her hand. "I know the man—I could see in your eyes that he was breaking you down. I don't know exactly what he said and honestly—I don't care. Because everything he said was a lie—I love you Natalie with my whole heart—I always have. You don't ever have to doubt how I feel about you, ok?"
"Ok," she said softly as she watched John slip off of the edge of the bed and kneel on the floor before her.
"And to prove it even more—I was wondering—if you would do me the favor of becoming my wife," he said as he pulled out the ring he'd purchased at the jewelers just an hour before.
"Oh John," she said softly as she looked at the ring and then to his eyes, surprised by the tears that were feeling them at the moment.
"Is that a yes?" he laughed as she nodded and he placed the ring on her finger—not surprised that it fit her perfectly. Still holding her hand he stood up and pulled her up with him, "Let's go home then."