It was the week of Thanksgiving and there was a thousand things Natalie would rather be doing, then attending the National CSI conference in Las Vegas. She understood the appeal – logistically Las Vegas was the perfect destination for most conferences; it had the space, the hotels, the amenities and entertainment. Plus for the CSI industry, Vegas was the setting of the original CSI show… it was the show that got people interested in forensics, and likely was responsible for the career path of many of the real life CSI techs attending the conference. Vegas had suddenly become synonymous with the term CSI – down to the museums, themed escape rooms and bars. Plus, people loved Vegas – the shows, the gambling, the endless drinks. How could the annual CSI conference be anywhere else?

But for Natalie, she wished it was anywhere else. Anyone who knew her, understood her personal aversion to Las Vegas and the memories it invoked. It was one of the main reasons why she tended to avoid this conference. She had gone only once before – opting to only stay for one day, and fly in and out that day. She had been planning to skip it again – but when she was offered a keynote speaking engagement, she couldn't turn it down. She had wanted to – and she almost did, but ultimately she knew the topic she was being asked to speak about was too important to ignore.

So here she was, in Vegas.

As usual the conference ran from Monday through Wednesday. It being scheduled the week of Thanksgiving was an unfortunate occurrence and one that Natalie assumed wouldn't be made again. When she was checking into the hotel, she had overheard a number of attendees complaining about the higher flight costs and the impact this was having on their families. As a mom, Natalie definitely got it. There was enough holiday stuff to be done/planned/prepped without adding cross country travel to her endless list.

She had arrived late Sunday night – taking an evening flight from Atlantic City. Most of the conference attendees were staying at Paris but she had opted to stay at Aria wanting something somewhat quieter. It turned out that there was another conference being held at Aria, so it wasn't quite as quiet as she had hoped.

Natalie hadn't signed up for much – just a few lectures on new technologies, and opted to skip all of the networking events. Instead, she planned to spend most of the time in her room, going over her own presentation which was to be held on Tuesday afternoon. But by late afternoon Monday, she was board. She had wandered the exhibition hall, checked out the few booths she was interested in and took part in her scheduled lecture. And in going over her own presentation realized there was nothing else to be done – she was completely ready.

So she went for a walk.

It had actually been her therapist's suggestion. Natalie had been in therapy for over two and a half years now, but her sessions were getting more spaced out. Initially the sessions had been weekly – to help deal with the trauma and get a handle on her anxiety. Then slowly It was every other week, then monthly and now was only once every few months. In fact, those closest to her didn't even know she continued to go – it just wasn't something Natalie felt the need to advertise. But it had helped and she was grateful for the progress she had made. So when Natalie realized she would be going back to Vegas, she immediately booked a session with Dr. Matthews.

"It just holds so many memories for me – the tournament, losing Chris…. John. It's just a lot."

"Of course it is. Given the childhood you had, the bumpy road in finding and then being accepted by the Buchannan's, your path in finding love – your wedding was your fairy tale. At that moment – and likely for the first time in your life - everything was perfect. A happy ending where you were finally the heroine with an entire lifetime of happiness to look forward to. Then you leave for Vegas on what is supposed to be your Honeymoon, and it all gets ripped away. It's only natural that Las Vegas is a trigger for you."

"So, you think I should cancel?"

Dr. Matthews smiled at her. "Absolutely not. Natalie – you need to give that presentation. We both know how important it is. And you are ready to do it. The progress you had made these past two years is remarkable. I have encountered very few patients that have your strength, and perseverance. You can do this, you need to do this."

Natalie sighed. "I know."

Leaning back, Dr. Matthews decided to take another approach. "What is the first word or thing that comes to mind when you think of Vegas?" Noting Natalie's silence and having a good sense of the answer, she pressed on. "What is it?"

"John."

"That was what I suspected. So, let me ask you this, knowing what you know now. EVERYTHING that has happened since the very first time you arrived in Las Vegas, if I offered you the power to go back, prevent it, take another path, would you?"

Natalie couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Have you started watching the cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies early this year?"

Dr. Matthews ignored the sarcasm, long also learning it was often used as a coping mechanism or a defensive strategy and asked again. "Would you?"

Natalie's mind instantly went to her house. The toys that always seemed to be scattered on the floor and the little kid-artwork proudly displayed on the fridge. Memories of bathtime bubble explosions and the never ending bedtime songs. Camp outs in the living room… all those little moments that parents can easily take for granted. And then there were the memories of him. The good times… and the bad, all of which had ended up leading her to her cozy home and the utter love and adoration that she saw reflected in little tiny eyes on a daily basis.

"Never."

"So, then you need to stop viewing Vegas at the evil villain of the story. Yes, the story didn't end where you planned and it definitely became a much longer, twisty adventure story – but ultimately you got your happy ending. Maybe not the one you wanted or planned for, but you are happy, right?"

"Yes," Natalie smiled. "Very happy,"

"Well then, that's how you have to see Vegas. The place that started that new trajectory toward your eventual happy ending. So embrace it. Go to the conference – don't hide in your room, go out and see the city. Make new memories – like giving your amazing presentation. Heck, maybe even try and play a game of pool when you are there."

Natalie let out a small laugh as a she shook her head, "I haven't picked up a pool cue in almost 4 years. I don't think that's likely to happen."

She started off wandering down the strip, just taking in some of the bright neon lights and outrageous Christmas displays. But as it got closer to mid-afternoon (likely when the hangovers started to wear off) the crowds got bigger. Soon anywhere she went, she was packed in like a sardine, with no real idea of where to go. Having grown up in Atlantic City, the casinos themselves weren't enticing, and as someone who hated shopping on a good day, Natalie was definitely not interested in any retail therapy. Since she still wasn't used to the time change, her late lunch felt more like an early dinner – so even the countless dining options weren't appealing. Figuring it was time to head back, she opted to detour away from the strip – figuring some of the back streets would be less crowded and make for a quicker walk.

Overall, Las Vegas of the present wasn't that much different than the Las Vegas of 2005 – the only real difference she noticed was the abundance of dispensaries. But once she was a few blocks off the strip, Natalie started seeing the difference. It was much less flashy, far grimier and just gave off this odd sense of danger. Most tourists who ended up here, would likely have turned back at this point. But not Natalie. This was the type of area she had grown up in and she didn't scare easily.

So she kept walking. Dr. Matthews had been right – she felt freer and calmer. Las Vegas wasn't the villain she had made it out to be.

She was nearing the turn that would take her back to the strip and her hotel, when she saw the bar. It was small, tucked into a corner of a mostly abandoned plaza. It didn't look busy – she could make out a few figures siting on bar stools watching something on TV. But it wasn't the bar that made her stop – it was the brightly shinning neon lights that advertised POOL. What were the chances that the moment Natalie thought about Dr. Matthews advice, she would instantaneously see a pool table? It had to be some sort of sign.

Not having anything better to do, she went inside.

Upon entering, Natalie found herself grateful she had never been one to care about clothing or high-end brands. Whereas her twin sister Jessica would have immediately stood out and screamed tourist in a place like this, Natalie didn't. Her outfit was basic - blue jeans, a black tee-shirt and her faded black leather jacket. The bartender – one of the few other women in the place – gave her a once over before going back to pouring a drink. And when Natalie approached the bar to order a beer, the interaction was straight forward.

The pool table was empty, so Natalie took her beer and walked over to it.

She wasn't exaggerating when she had told Dr. Matthews that it had been almost 4 years since she had last played. It had been at Rodi's – probably one of the last "date nights" she and John had before their relationship had imploded. Her parents had gladly taken Liam for the night, so they could have a rare child-free evening since John had been spending so much time on the case in Port Charles. Looking back, she now knew that the kiss between him and Sam Morgan had happened only a few weeks prior, so her memory of their "perfect" night was now clouded by that knowledge and by the guilt John must have felt.

Taking a long sip of her beer, Natalie pushed those thoughts away. Picking up the pool cue, she started to play. Her first few shots were a bit rough but she quickly found her rhythm. It was like riding a bike.

Much like every other time she played, she started to relax. The stress and world just fell away, and it was her and the cue. She tended to forget this feeling – and just how much she loved the game, and told herself she needed to get out and play more.

"Want an opponent?" Natalie was started out of her thoughts by the gruff male voice behind her. Turning around, she encountered an older man – about 60, holding the other cue.

Natalie nodded as she took a sip of her beer. "Why not?" she agreed.

The hours passed quickly… the bar was getting busier and Natalie had an endless stream of competitors. None of which had won.

The crowd was getting rougher – though focused on the game, Natalie's years working in law enforcement had heightened her senses. This bar was likely a front for something – probably drugs, and her current opponent had been armed, she could see the outline of the gun under his jacket. There was also something about how he looked at her, that sent off warning bells. He had made polite conversation with her as they played, but she felt as if he was studying her and digging for information.

"You're not from around here, are you?" He had asked after making his first shot.

Natalie shook her head. "Just visiting."

"What brought you here?"

"A conference," she answered automatically but then realized that was a mistake as she didn't need anyone knowing she was in anyway associated with law enforcement. Having seen signs for an insurance conference at her hotel she quickly added, "I'm an insurance agent."

The man nodded. "Pretty far off the strip aren't you?"

Natalie concentrated on taking her shot and then answered. "I just felt like taking a walk and was drawn in by the pool table. I'm meeting some coworkers for a late dinner," she made a show of checking her watch, "actually I should be leaving after this game." Natalie was grateful he turned out to be a terrible opponent as it made their game go that much quicker and saved her from any further conversation.

She had also noticed a man at one of the booths was also watching her intently. He looked to be about her age but she just knew that he was in charge. In the last half hour, Natalie had noticed various men coming in to the bar and seeking him out, staying just a few minutes and then leaving again. He was surrounded by three women – hookers was her guess – and two large men who appeared to be his bodyguards.

It was time to leave.

After winning her last game, Natalie quickly put her jacket on. She started to head towards the bar to pay for the two beers, but she stopped when the man who had been watching her stepped in front of her.

"Your drinks are on the house."

Starting to feel a little nervous, Natalie shook her head. "Oh no, you don't need to do that,"

But he shook his head, and placed his hand on her arm. "I insist. This has been most entertaining for me to watch. You must know, the average pool game length is 8 to 10 minutes. Your games barely went past 5 minutes. In the past two hours, you have played 15 games, and not lost a single one. Are you a professional?"

Natalie smiled, "No. Just lucky I guess."

The man stared at her intently, "Have you considered playing professionally?"

Natalie was starting to grow uncomfortable, but knew remaining calm and polite was her best option. "I am a firm believer that the things you enjoy often become less enjoyable when money is involved."

The man laughed and smiled widely. "Quite true, I like you." He offered his hand, "I am Dominic."

Natalie shook it quickly and then let go. "Nice to meet you Dominic. But, I really do have to get going…"

"Please could you play one more game?"

Natalie got a sense that this was a man who wasn't used to being told no. Studying him for a moment, she opted to go the safer route. "Just one more game? I really do have to go, I have to meet someone…" She threw him a wide smile, "But as you said, my games don't tend to last longer then 5 minutes. So I guess I would be fine for another one. Do you want to go first?"

Dominic laughed loudly. "Oh not against me. You'd wipe the floor with me in seconds. One of my employees – I've never seen him lose to anyone. I'm just curious to see which one of you is better. I almost believe it may be you!" Dominic waved his hand at the bartender, "Another drink for my new friend…. Ms?" He looked at her questioningly.

"Natalie," she answered.

"Another drink for Natalie." Dominic turned away from her and began speaking to one of the large men beside him. From the snippets she heard he was being tasked with finding her next opponent.

After being handed a beer by the bartender, Natalie made a conscious decision not to drink it and discreetly placed it on the table beside her. She took a few steps back and leaned against the wall. There was only one exit that she could see, the main doors she had come in. She had gone to the washroom earlier, and found it at the end of another hallway. There was only one other door – one marked private that she assumed led to a backroom or an office. Her only way out was through the main doors. Her phone and wallet were safely in her pocket.

She debated placing a quick call or text to Jess or her mom, alerting them to her location but she didn't want to worry them. While she definitely wasn't feeling completely comfortable, nothing had happened suggesting she was in any sort of danger. Pulling out her phone, she quickly dialed her home number. After a few rings, her answering machine clicked over. Raising her voice slightly, she began to talk, "Hey, Sorry I am running a bit late." Natalie looked down at her watch, "I know we said 7:00, but I'll be there by 7:30. I got caught up playing pool, but I am almost done."

She took another moment to send a quick email off to her work address – with her ping to her current address. As she put the phone back in her pocket, she could see another man had joined Dominic by his booth. Natalie could only see the back of him; the leather jacket covering his broad shoulders and the shoulder length brown hair.

But she knew.

It was irrational and crazy – but Natalie knew her next opponent was John McBain.