Chapter Seventeen

"Mommy, do you think Uncle Mikey will let me keep my cast?" Eve asked as she and Natalie walked down the hospital hallway. It was around 5pm and they were on their way to meet Michael so that he could take off Eve's cast. Thought of her and John's earlier encounter was still on her mind, but she was trying hard to act normal for her daughters sake.

Natalie scrunched her face up in a slight look of disgust. "Why would you want that Honey? It's been on your arm for over month and I don't think it's going to look, or smell that pleasant when it comes off."

"Because I want to put it in water and see what happens."

Natalie laughed at Eve's curious nature. "How about you ask Uncle Mike if you can use the sink in the hospital room. That way he can clean up the mess."

"Okay, Mommy."

"Are you nervous about getting the cast off?" Natalie asked knowing that like both her and John, Eve tended to keep her fears and worries bottled up inside.

Eve shook her head. "Nope."

"Not even a bit sweetie? I mean it's okay to be scared…"

"I know Mommy; I am scared of things like spiders but, not about getting the cast off because there is a good reason not to be."

She sounded so sure of herself and confident that Natalie had to ask, "Why's that, Eve?"

"Because Uncle Mikey is going to take it off. And Uncle Mikey is a doctor just like I want to be and Doctors help people not hurt them." Natalie thought briefly to the disaster that was Paige Miller and Spencer Truman, but she quickly pushed those thoughts away and smiled reassuringly at her daughter. "That's right."

"Plus, Uncle Mikey loves me, so I know he won't hurt me. Just like I know when you say you won't let me drop off the monkey bars I believe you and when Daddy says he will catch the bad man that took us so I trust him."

Though surprised that Eve was referring to how they had been taken by Cristian, Natalie kept her face impassive. The girls were continuing to attend weekly therapy sessions with Dr. Crosby, but mostly the sessions were a way to reassuring the girls that they were safe and that they hadn't done anything wrong that made them targets. The Doctor had explained to John and Natalie that it was best to let them talk about what had happened on their own, rather than push them. So, that's what they were doing – remaining patient and not trying to find out what had happened while they were with him.

"And he will."

"Mommy?"

"Yes, Eve?"

"I was really scared that night."

Suddenly not caring if they were late for the appointment or not, Natalie led her daughter over to a bench and sat down beside her. "So was I."

"That man was so angry Mommy. He just kept yelling and screaming at Sydney and me that we weren't supposed to be around and how daddy ruined everything and was to blame for this."

This time Natalie couldn't control the surprise look that came onto her face, "Is that how you figured out John was your daddy?"

Eve shook her head. "No, he never said daddy's name. It just made sense to me that he was because of Uncle Mike and Grandma Eve. But why would he say those things Mommy? Did daddy do something wrong?"

Knowing this was going to be a very hard question to answer, Natalie sighed. Finally she decided to be as honest as she could. "No daddy didn't do anything wrong. You see, that man that took you is named Cristian Vega – and he was Nana Carlotta's other son."

Now, it was Eve who looked surprised. "Nana Carlotta's son?"

Natalie nodded. "Yes. You see, a long time before you and Syd were born Mommy and him were really good friends. He was very different back then – a very nice and kind person. But then he did some very bad things so I stopped being friends with him."

"Bad things like how Josh ripped the heads off me and Syd's Barbies?"

Natalie smiled softly, "A little bit worse then that. But right around the time I stopped being friends with him, I met your daddy and we became friends. That made him very mad and he blamed your daddy for the fact I wasn't his friend anymore."

"But he was a bad person."

"I know, but he didn't see it that way. And after Daddy went on that long trip I told you about, he came to me and tried to be friends again. But when I said no, he got very angry and said it was daddy's fault and then took off. That was the last time I saw him."

Eve took a second to absorb everything. "So did he take us to get back at you and daddy?" she finally asked.

"I think so sweetie. But no matter how angry someone is, that is no excuse to do bad things."

"Mommy, do you think he will come back and try and take us again?" Eve asked, now seeming slightly nervous.

"No. Uncle Bo and Daddy are doing everything they can to find him and put him and jail – and just between you and me, your daddy is the best police man I have ever met. Eve, did that man say or do anything else when he had you?" Natalie asked gently.

Eve shook her head. "No, he just yelled a lot and then locked us in that room. I was trying to be brave and help Syd, but he was really scary. You remember that man who used to take care of Grandpa Asa's cabin? The one Syd and I were scared off?"

Natalie nodded, remembering how both girls had been terrified of Bill when he worked for Asa. "Yup."

"Well, he looked like Bill, except scarier."

Natalie's eyes widened in shock and horror, but she quickly forced herself to act normal. "Well, he's not going to hurt you ever again. And you know Mommy is always here right? Same with Daddy. If you get scared or want to talk, you just come to us."

Eve nodded and jumped to her feet. "I know Mommy, now let's go get my cast off."

Forcing a smile, Natalie nodded and led Eve toward the room where Michael had told them to meet him. Once she was all settled, Natalie excused herself and ran for the doors to get outside. Their earlier fight forgotten, she pulled out her cell phone and frantically dialed John with shaking hands.

He answered on the second ring, and Natalie didn't even wait for him to say hello before starting to speak. "He's changed his appearance."

"What?" came John's confused reply.

"Cristian. Eve finally opened up and told me about that night, but she said he was scary because he looked like Bill."

"Bill?"

"He's used to be the caretaker… wait that's not important. What is is that Bill was about 200 pounds, with hair past his shoulders and a beard. If that's how Cristian is looking these days, then he could be anywhere and no one would recognize the pictures of him. Hell, I don't even know if I would recognize him. Oh god, John, he could be anywhere in town, he could even be at the hospital watching us…." Natalie's voice was rising in panic.

"Okay Natalie calm down… Where is Eve?"

"Inside with Michael."

"And do you have Syd with you?"

"No, I left her with Jess and Nash." Natalie said with a shaky breath.

"Okay and where are you now?"

"Just outside the hospital."

"Okay, now listen to me. I want you to go back inside and stay with Michael and Eve. Do not move until I get there. I am on my way."

"Okay…" Natalie said as she ended the call. Still shaking she began to put the phone back in her purse, but swore under her breath as it dropped from her hands and spilled out all over the ground.

Frantically she began to gather what was important, but froze in horror as she heard the all too familiar voice behind her. "Need some help?"