Finally the next chapter. I owe everyone a huge apology for the delay. I let myself get distracted with something else and couldn't seem to get into writing. But I finally did. Please let me know what you think. Thanks again for being patient and reading my story.
Chapter 10
Natalie's Room
After John leaves, Natalie reaches out and takes her cousin's hand. "Starr I need you to help me with something and I need it done before John gets back."
Starr looks at Natalie confused. "Of course I'll help you in any way I can. But why can't John be here when I do it?"
"Because he's not going to like what I'm about to do and would try to stop me."
"I don't know you very well and I know I shouldn't put myself in your business," Lulu says. "But if this is going to upset John then why do it?"
"I have to. I will do anything I have to if it will keep my son safe and I don't really care who I have to walk over to do that, even if its John. I'm even willing to make a deal with a devil to protect my son. That's why I need you to call your father and have him come see me."
Stunned, Starr stares at her cousin. "But you hate my dad. And he hates you. Why would you go to him for help? Is this about the picture he sent you of John kissing Sam?"
"Oh believe me, I have a few things to say to him about sending me that picture, but that's not why I want you to call him. I need his help because he's the only person I know in this town that can play just as dirty as my dad. Listen, Starr. Yes, I know Todd hates me. And I have to tell you the feeling is very mutual. But right now he is the only person who can help me." Natalie explains.
"Won't John help you?" Lulu asks. "I admit I don't know him very well. But from what I have seen and from what Dante had told me, he's a stand up kind of guy. He seems to be someone who takes his responsibility seriously."
"He does," Starr agrees. "Natalie, you and I both know that John is the person to have around in a crisis. If he knew you or Liam were in some kind of trouble and needed to be protected he would never leave your side. He would give his life for you. You of all people know that."
"I used to know that." Natalie said shaking her head. "In the entire ten years I have known John there was never a doubt in my mine that I could count on him when I needed him. Even in the times we were apart, I knew he would always have my back. But now I just don't know. If someone had come to me in say June or even July of this year and said to me that I would be asking Todd for help instead of John, I would have laughed in their face. But after everything that has happened over the last few months, I just don't know if I can trust him anymore."
"But you can trust my Dad?" Starr asks in disbelief. "Don't get me wrong, I love my Dad. But that doesn't stop me from knowing who he is. He won't help anyone except for maybe one of his kids unless there is something in it for him."
Natalie laughs a little snidely. "Oh, believe me I know better then to trust him. But if I know Todd, then he has contacts in this town that can help me with everything I need. And as far as him not helping me unless there is something in it for him, don't worry about that. I have something I think is going to get him to do exactly what I want. So what do you say? Will you call him for me?"
Starr studied her cousin for a moment before she took out her phone and started dialing. Putting the phone to her ear, she waited a few moments for someone to answer. "Hi, Dad. I need you to do something for me."
Emergency Room
Needing a few moments away from Natalie, John had went in search of Dante to find out what was going on in the case against the men who attacked Natalie. He found Dante waiting outside the cubicle where the two men who attacked Natalie were being treated, waiting for them to be transported to the station. As they waited the curtain opened and the suspects were led out in handcuffs. John looked up as the men walked out of the room and surprise filled his eyes. "Well, well ,well. If it isn't Mr. Bluestein and Mr. Swartz. You two are certainly a long way from Llanview. Would either of you like to tell me why Clint Buchanan sent you to beat up my pregnant girlfriend?"
"Wait a minute. Do you know these two?" Dante asks.
"Yeah I do. You see I've ran into Mr. Bluestein and Mr. Swartz, or as they like to call themselves Mr. Blue and Mr. Black, before. They have done some work for Natalie's father in the past."
"Really? What kind of work?" Dante asks.
"I could never prove it of course, but they beat the crap out of a guy named Robert Ford on the orders Clint Buchanan." John explains. "Clint felt like Ford had taken advantage of Natalie's twin sister Jessica and needed to pay for it."
"He did take advantage of her, but you could never prove we had anything to do with what happened to him, Lieutenant." Mr. Swartz speaks up. "We had an alibi."
"Yeah its amazing what having all the money in the world can buy you. But you didn't answer my question. Why would you try to beat up Buchanan's pregnant daughter?"
"Hurt her?" Bluestein snorted. "Have you looked at the two of us? We're not here just to confirm our good health. She could have broken my knee and his eyes may never be the same." He said pointing at his friend.
"What, are we suppose to feel bad for you because you decided to attack a woman who could fight back?" John asks barely containing his fury at the situation. "You put a pregnant woman in the hospital with a possible head injury. She could have lost the baby. You attacked her while she was holding a baby. Liam could have been hurt!" While he was talking, John kept moving closer and closer to Bluestein until he was close enough to grab him by his collar and push him back against the wall.
"Easy, easy there John." Dante pulls him back away from the suspects. "You need to calm down. You don't want to give them a chance of getting out of this by charging you with police brutality."
"They attacked my family." John bites out, trying to get his rage under control.
"I know that, John. But you have to control yourself if we are going to find out why they attacked her." Dante let go of John and turned back to the two perps. "Now would either of you like to explain why you came from Llanview to Port Charles to attack Ms. Banks and her son?"
"We didn't attack her," Swartz started.
"You didn't attack her?" John's anger was making him almost shout. "Then why is she in this hospital with a possible head injury? Why did she almost lose our baby? You could have hurt her or Liam."
"Stop trying to lay this thing on us." Bluestein said defiantly. You can't prove we did anything."
"I think we can." Dante said. "My wife and I saw what was happening on the docks. Even before we got there we could hear her shouting at you to leave her and her son alone."
"Is that what Clint Buchanan sent you here for, to hurt his daughter? I never would have thought that of him. He always seemed to be a man who wanted to protect his children, especially his daughters." John told him snidely.
Swartz sighed in resignation. "No one was suppose to be hurt. We were only trying to take her home."
"Well it seems like she didn't want to go from the looks of you. From what Natalie said she wants to stay here for awhile. Why were you so insistent that she go with you? Why would Clint Buchanan send you all the way here to take his adult daughter some place she didn't want to go?" John asks.
"Because you're here." Bluestein smirked. "He doesn't want you anywhere near his little girl. Can you blame him after what you did to her? You don't deserve to have a woman like that. And if Mr. Buchanan has anything to say about it, you won't ever have her in your life again. So don't get to comfortable with having her and your son around cause he will find a way to get Ms. Natalie away from you forever."
John stepped up into his face. "Is that right? Clint is going to make sure I never see my girlfriend and children again, right? Well, I don't think I have to worry about him taking them from me in the near future. Cause I don't think either of you are brave enough to tell him you put his daughter in the hospital. I think the both of you will gladly sit in jail for a couple of days to try to come up with a way to explain how it was you let tiny pregnant woman get the best of his two best guys. So I think I have a few days to come up with a plan to protect my family." Stepping back he turned to face the officers waiting to take the suspects to jail. "Get these two out of here. Make sure you follow proper procedures. I don't want them getting off on a technicality."
"Yes, sir." The officers said as they led the prisoners away while John glared at the men who were trying to help take his family away from him.
Dante watched the man who was fast becoming his friend as well as his boss and saw the rage mixed with confusion on his face. "John, are you ok man?"
John sighs. "I just don't know. I feel like my life has been turned upside down and I just don't know why. I mean I know part of it is my fault cause I messed up and I know it. But how can what I did mess up everything that was so great in my life. There is something else going on here and I just can't figure out what it is."
"Did Natalie not tell you what was going on?"
John shakes his head. "She didn't have much time to tell me anything. All I know is that she was apparently in some kind of accident that put her in a coma and she is four months pregnant with my child. But none of that meshes with the letter I got from her around the first of October. I'm so confused right now and the only person who can give me the answers I need can't seem to talk to me without the two of us yelling at each other."
"Maybe I can help. I still need to get her statement and she might feel more at ease answering questions from me."
"I don't know, but maybe. Let's go." John and Dante start walking back towards Natalie's room.
Natalie's Room
Starr was on the phone with her father. "Hi, Dad. I need you to do me a favor. Yeah, I know you would. Can you meet me at the hospital? No, no. Calm down Dad, I'm fine. Tell Carly that Michael is to. Yes, I'm sure. I just need you to meet me at the emergency room. I'll explain everything when you get here, I promise. Ok, I'll see you soon." Starr hung up the phone before looking at her cousin. "He's on his way. I hope you know what you're doing."
"Trust me I do. And please don't tell John about this. I don't need him coming down on me about this right now." Natalie says.
"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone." Starr promises.
"Who are you not telling what?" John asks as he and Dante come into the door to hear Starr's last words.
"Oh, Starr was just promising me that she wouldn't tell anyone in Llanview about what happened. I don't want Mom to worry and everything would just be better if Dad didn't find out anything about what happened right now."
John not quite believing her decides to let it drop for now. "Natalie, this is detective Dante Falconari. He has a few questions he would like to ask you about what happened today."
Natalie turns her attention to the man who came in the room with John. "You're the man who helped me this morning. Thank you."
"That's not necessary, I was just doing my job. Ms. Banks can you tell me exactly what happened this morning."
"Please call me Natalie. As far as this morning goes, I'll tell you what I can. Liam and I had just gotten into Port Charles this morning. We had stayed in a hotel just outside of Port Charles last night and left early because I wanted to get here as early as possible. I parked my car at this little diner near the pier, I think the name was Kelly's but I'm not really sure. I decided to take Liam for a walk on the dock to see the water before we went to get something to eat. We were on the dock for just a little bit when I decided to leave so we could get something to eat and find a place to stay. Before I could leave, though, I was grabbed from behind. The man said his name was Mr. Black and it was time for me to go home while the other one reached for Liam who was walking beside me. I jerked away from him while sneaking my pepper spray out of my pocket and keeping them away from Liam. I sprayed Black with the pepper spray in the eye, picked Liam up and started to run. But the other one grabbed me before I can get away. I kicked him in the knee and he went down. I started to run again but he caught me by the foot causing me to fall. Not wanting to fall on Liam I turned so I would land on bottom. When I hit the ground I hit my head and dropped Liam. The man, I think his name was Blue, went to get Liam and I picked up a board from the dock and hit him with it a few times. Then I went to get Liam but Black grabbed me before I could. That was when the two of you walked up and you know what happened after that."
"Did you know these two men?"
"I have never met them, but I know they worked for my father. They came to get me on his order."
"Can you tell me why your father would send them after you?"
"I can, but I think that is something I should discuss with John first in private."
"Alright then, they can go outside with Liam and you can tell me now." John tells her.
"I don't want to do it here, John. There are to many interruptions. When I tell you everything that has happened over the last few months I want to be able to do it without someone interrupting. Besides, you are bound to say something that upsets me and if you cause my blood pressure to go up again the nurse just might have you banned from my room permanently."
"Natalie I need to know what's going on."
"And you will as soon as I get out of here. But right now, I need you to take care of Liam for me." She tells him while rubbing the back of her now sleeping son. "He needs to have something to eat and a bath. We don't have a place to stay yet, so can he stay with you until I get out of here and find us somewhere to stay?"
"He's my son Natalie. Of course I'll take care of him."
"Good, thank you. He has a bag of clothes in my car. The keys are in my purse, where ever that ended up."
"Oh, its right here." Dante spoke up handing her the purse. "The officers found it on the dock and gave it to me."
"Thank you," Natalie said as she got her keys out and handed them to John. "The car is a green Corolla. Hopefully it will be easy for you to find."
John looks at her confused. "What happened to your BMW? I thought you loved that car."
"I wrecked it John! Or do you still not believe me about the coma?"
"Honestly, Natalie, I don't know what to believe. I still don't see how you can have a car wreck, almost die, be in a coma for two months and me not know anything about it. Someone would have told me. As far as I know, I am still your emergency contact. By law the hospital would have had to call me before they informed anyone else. I am down to make any of your medical decisions that you are unable to make just like you are mine. We made the decision to do that when we moved in together because we thought it would be more secure for Liam if his parents were an united front on any and all decisions."
"Yes, John, I know. I was there, remember? And that was the way things stood until you decided to cheat on me. A decision you didn't ask my opinion on, by the way. When we took out the restraining order, the judge issued an order removing you as my medical contact. He felt you shouldn't have rights to make any of my decisions if there was a chance you were a danger to me. So when the accident happened my parents were called and Dad started making all the decisions regarding my health and care. HE decided to keep it quiet and HE decided to not call you. Now you can choose to believe that or not cause right now I don't even care any more. All that matters to me now is that Liam and this new baby are kept safe. And I will do anything to make that happen, even if it means trusting the lying, cheating, unfaithful man you have become!"
The room sunk into an uncomfortable silence as John finally realized just how much he truly hurt Natalie. Not wanting to intrude any more on a family matter, Lulu walks towards Dante. "I think maybe we should go. Natalie I'm glad you are ok and I hope to get to know you better if you stay in Port Charles for awhile."
Natalie takes a deep breath trying to calm the sudden rage that came upon her and smiled at Lulu. "Yeah, I do to. I don't know how long I'll be here, but I would like to spend some of that time getting to know you. Thanks again for all your help."
"We were glad to do it," Dante tells her. "I'll let the Chief here take the rest of your statement. I hope everything works out for you."
As Dante and Lulu walk out the door, Epiphany walks in. "Ms. Banks we are ready to move you to your room now. Does this cute little guy go with us?" She asks smiling at the sweet little boy asleep on his mama's chest.
Natalie smiles down at her son, rubbing his back lightly. "No, his daddy is going to take him home for the night."
"I don't want to leave you alone." John tells her.
"I'll be fine. Liam needs to get out of here for awhile. He needs to eat and I'm sure you want to spend some time getting reacquainted with your son. So take him home with you, but please bring him back tomorrow. I don't want to miss spending Thanksgiving with my son. I'll be in room..." she trails off looking over at Epiphany.
"Room 602," Epiphany tells them.
"Room 602. Will you bring him back to see me tomorrow?" She bends over to kiss Liam bye on the head.
"Yeah, I wouldn't want to spend Thanksgiving any other way then with my family." John reaches down and takes Liam into his arms. "Come on little guy. Let's go get us something to eat and let your mama rest." He walks to the door and turns to look at Natalie before he leaves. "We will see you tomorrow. Call me if you need me. Starr are you coming?"
"No, I'm going to hang with Natalie for awhile, at least until they get her settled. My flight doesn't leave til later, so I have time."
"Ok, we'll see you later." He goes to leave to only stop and turn to face Natalie when she calls his name. "Yeah, what it is?"
"Do me a favor. Don't have him around the little tramp. Please don't have her over while you have him."
John sighs, shaking his head. "I promise it will be just him and me." He turns and walks out the door.
Epiphany brings a wheel chair over to the side of the bed. "Let's get you upstairs. Ms. Manning, you can meet us up there."
"Ok, that's fine. Natalie I'll make sure that person we talked about earlier finds you." Starr goes out the door hoping her cousin knew what she was doing.