Natara Williams

"So.. Are you going to give him the ring back?" Neha chirped up from across the table.

The most humiliating, worst day of my life so far had been exactly one week ago at my wedding, and the hype hadn't even been close to dying down yet. But I kept hoping. "I already did." I mumbled, shoving a few more pieces of potato into my mouth.

Raj had been very quiet since the wedding, and I knew that maybe there was more to it than the obvious, but I didn't want to even bring it up. It would die down eventually, right?

But leave it to my little sister to continue to make the conversation more awkward. "So Natara, can you believe that about Mal? His like.. Whoa crazy obsession with you? I knew it all along, but I kind of thought you might too… soo…. Yeah."

And then, for the first time all week, my mom said something. "Yeah, Nat. To be honest, when you first mentioned your engagement, we all thought the guy was Mal, not this Oscar guy."

I dropped my fork. "Can we not talk about any of this… ever… again?" I tried to sound as irritated as possible, but it was hard. Because I definitely wanted to talk about it, but not to my mom, my dad, and definitely not Neha. The only person I wanted to talk to was Mal.

Of course I felt horrible for screaming at Mal. Yes, I felt so publicized and very embarrassed, but I couldn't help but feel horrible for my partner. I, again, knew deep down that I wanted to date Mal but… I didn't know what to do. Sure, it would have started with simply going to his apartment and talking to him, and we might have then made out, and more…. But the entire situation was just strange now. I didn't know how going back to work would be tomorrow, but that was something else I didn't want to think about, but rather, just deal with it as it was happening.

Raj spoke up. "He really does love you, Natara. Mal, I mean."

I sighed, ready to scream that for the last time, I didn't want to talk about it. But being a profiler and really into psychology, I put myself in my father's and everybody else's shoes. It was an interesting situation. My partner of almost a year and half being in love with me, and having to watch me marry a man I didn't even love. It was something for the books. "Dad, I…"

"Listen to me, you're my oldest daughter. And I know that what Mal did was crazy, but I want someone that loves my daughter that much. At the end of the day. I love your mother that much. And it's your decision how you handle the situation with Mal, but don't write him off just because of what he did at the wedding."

"I know, dad. Mal's my best friend in the whole world it's just that… he's my partner. How do you think the captain, or better yet, the lieutenant would react if they found out about this?"

Everything got silent.

And again, leave it to Neha. "Natara… this entire thing was on the local news. You marrying Oscar, the district attorney, that was a big deal. So when the handsome partner you've been fighting crime with made an appearance at your wedding and declared his love to you, naturally, that was publicized also."

Shit. She was definitely right. No matter what, I was going to hear from the entire precinct whether I wanted to or not. "Well, maybe none of them saw any of the footage."

"Okay, in a perfect world, but down here in reality, everybody saw it and… don't be surprised if they decide to end the partnership."

I froze, dropping my fork. End. The. Partnership. Was that even possible? I guess Neha was right. I had gone on thinking that Mal and I were such a perfect team that nobody could ever break us up like that. But with this stunt, if Anders saw it, it would be the very first thing he'd do.

And I couldn't bear not to be working with Mal. Sure, after all of this was going to change our friendship, but I wasn't so sure it couldn't be rebuilt. But not waking up every morning, heading to the SFPD, and hearing a witty joke every morning to top off my coffee, it would be hell.

"Natara?" Neha boomed.

"S- Sorry, zoned out."

She shook her head, and picked her plate up. "Come on everyone, let's do some dishes."

Mal Fallon

"Alright, well, Mal, you didn't leave me really any other options…" My captain, Maria Yeong, was very upset for me for the stunt I pulled at Natara and Oscar's wedding. And I guess that was my fault, because I didn't even anticipate this. I figured she would respond better than she did. Maybe a kiss, some hugs, some loving words, then back to my place…

"Come on, Captain. I know it looks bad, but it's not bad. Natara's gonna walk in here and pretend like nothing even happened! I promise."

She chuckled, slamming down the rest of her coffee. "Malachi, she will. But I know you well enough to know that you won't."

That's when the grumpy lieutenant entered the room… with Natara. Natara took a seat next to me, surprisingly. And Anders continued standing.

Natara's profiling rubbed off on me, and I realized that the only reason he was standing still, despite there being an empty chair next to the captain, was to assert his position. He felt inadequate in some way, standing made him feel more powerful. "Good morning agent, detective, We have a case in the works, so I will keep this very brief. But here's what's going to happen. Effective immediately. Mal, you will be reassigned a new partner, Blaise Corso. This is temporary seeing as she also has a new partner. And Natara, we're going to use you on this final case, and then… we don't need you in San Fransisco any longer. However, we definitely appreciated everything you've done."

I froze, seeing the hurt in my Captain's face, and the devastation in my partner's face, I needed to do something. "But Lieutenant! Come on, haven't you realized by now that Natara and I are a great team no matter what? We've.."

He interrupted me. "Saved lives? Stopped murderers? Eliminated threat? Right. Yeah, yeah. Clearly, there is something very romantic going on here. Which no matter how I try and justify it, there isn't any way this can go on. But, here is the game plan for today. Natara, I would love to have your eyes and ears down at the crime scene. And Mal, I would like for you to stay back here and finish up some reports." He then began to walk out, and Natara stopped him with a question.

"When you said, case in the works… do you mean?"

He nodded. "Yes, it's a hostage situation."

Blaise Corso

"Heard the news?" A familiar voice perked up from behind me. Mal Fallon, the infamous detective.

"Uh… you got rejected by Natara. Not surprised. I knew she wouldn't go for the whole Public display of affection thing."

He frowned, shaking his head. "Erm… no. Not that. I was reassigned partners."

"What? You're joking! I never thought I'd see the day… I mean, I knew they'd do something. But they reassigned you guys partners? That sucks! Who's the new partner? A rookie, like mine?"

I followed her as she entered the cubicle area. "No. It's you, Blaise."

She stood frozen in her tracks. "Me! But… Jeremy, and I…"

I laughed. "Don't be so excited, it's only a temporary thing."

"Then what about Natara? What's she gonna do? Ride solo?"

"She's getting sent home." The words burnt through my throat on the way out.

Blaise made it to her desk, and she began sifting through a stack of papers. "Mal… all that stuff you said at the ceremony, you really meant it didn't you?"

I knew I was going to keep getting asked this question. I decided honesty was the best policy. "Every word."

Blaise looked at me. "Yeah, well, it doesn't take Einstein to figure out that she feels the same way. She's just embarrassed. Give her some time. Trust me on this one, Mal."

I shrugged. "Well, either way now, I guess we'll never know. This will be her last case."

"Mal, If it's meant to be, it will happen. And you and Natara… you two were meant to be. I know this."

Natara Williams

I arrived at the scene. A large bank in the middle of downtown, typical. I wasn't a negotiator, but I've done it before. Many times. Although I had to admit, my motivation was very little. And it was understood. Me and Mal, we were a team. An unbeatable team. Working without him made me feel empty.

However, I had done it before. And I was prepared to do it again.

The scene of the crime was swamped with television reporters, news vans, and members of the police department. A SWAT team was present as well. Yet, despite the commotion, everything was fairly quiet. Several law enforcement teams talked amongst themselves. I kept my eye out for other agents, but there were none. That's when I realized them were expecting me to negotiate, something I wasn't really familiar with the specifics of.

That's when I was approached by my Captain, who I had never really seen leave her desk. "Natara, come here."

I didn't argue, I followed her briskly as she lead me up to a megaphone. After we were up directly in front of the yellow crime scene tape, she began to whisper to me.

"Listen, we've already gotten word from one of the robbers. Well, we're assuming he stole some money. We aren't sure… anyways, we're trying to figure out what they want. And… well… they responded with.. Your name, Natara."

I dropped my cell phone, and froze. I began to stutter, and didn't even realize it. "W- Wha T- They What?"

"They want you. Again, I don't know why. But we're guessing there is anywhere from fifty to one-hundred hostages in there, between all thirty floors of the building. A few have escaped, and they are undergoing interviews and whatnot. But for now. We need to make you the bait, Natara."

I had an idea, a silly idea. But an idea. "Why are you volunteering me as bait, captain? Why should I sacrifice my life again?"

She didn't know what to say. You could tell. She just sighed, and shrugged. "You're right. You're leaving tomorrow. Going back to Quantico. And I just separated you from your long-time partner. Of course, you're ambivalent. But here's the thing. These… men… If it is all men in there, have already seen you. They have somebody watching the outside, several men, apparently. If you don't go in, everybody in there dies."

I sighed, realizing that Maria was right. "Goddammit. So how do you want me to do this?"

She handed me the megaphone that was previously in her hands. "Just talk."

There were hundreds of people gathered on the street around us. And I knew this could very well end badly, all because of two wrong words. So I had to plan carefully. "Good afternoon, gentlemen. Special Agent Natara Williams, here. Now, I would love to know who I am speaking to today. Does anybody want to come forward?"

Silence. Cold, dark, silence. It must have been ten minutes. I kept repeating myself. "Don't be shy. I'm not trying to harm anybody. It's just me- Natara. You asked for me."

Again. Silence. I decided to push it. "Well then, I guess nobody's in there. They must not want me, after all. I guess I should leave…"

And right then is where I heard a voice.

Mal Fallon

With the Captain and Lieutenant being absent from the station and down at the crime scene, the Captain appointed Blaise and myself in charge temporarily. However, chaos erupted. Everyone was suddenly gathered around the tiny break room television, with my partner… I mean ex-partner's face plastered all over it.

A newscaster was speaking, "Special Agent of the FBI, Natara Williams is on-site. Today she is actually negotiating herself, if you can believe it. The criminals have specifically asked for her, and any moment, she is prepared to walk through those front doors. Using her impeccable skill and profiling talent, will she be able to secure all one-hundred or so hostages?"

Everything began to fade out. "Vanessa, I think so. She's done wonderful things for the city before. And I personally give my trust to her with this… who knows who's in there as far as hostages?"

The hot coffee in my hand, it fell, and it plummeted down towards the tiled floor, splashing steaming coffee on a rookie agent, Rolley Henderson.

"Ahh- shit! What gives, Fallon?"

I still couldn't speak. Natara. My partner. Love of my life. Throwing herself into the fire. I needed to prove this didn't affect me. But it did. And it was already too late to prove anything. I had already shown that I was crazy about her. And now, I was supposed to sit back, watch her risk her life, again? No. I couldn't. Not this time.

I didn't even reply to Rolley, or apologize. I just started running. Blaise stepped out of one of the corridors and tried to grab my shift. "Hey! Where are you going?" I couldn't even stop. "Blaise, you're in charge."

I started sprinting down the street, towards where the crowd was forming, and where it seemed a train of sirens were heading. I was hoping I could stop her before it was too late. Even I knew what she was walking into.

Natara Williams

"I certainly do, Miss Williams. But that's just a simple statement of an emotion. Here is what needs to happen, though. We're in a predicament. All of these hostages need you and well… we can discuss this further when you get inside."

I nodded. "How would you like for me to do that?"

I tried to observe where the voice was coming from, but I couldn't. The range seemed close, but that's only because it was amplified. I was assuming he had wired a microphone from somewhere deep inside the building to a speaker out here. Which meant he wasn't working alone. He probably had men working for him on every floor of the building. "Well, Natara. I realize you're a very smart woman. Smarter than me, probably. Maybe. We'll certainly find out. But either way, leave your gun. And… I will know if you have one. And if you come in here armed, Miss Williams, I will blow the head off of every single person in here. Understand?"

I was pretty used to situations where people made me either throw my gun, unarm my gun, or just lose it. I complied. "Of course." I pulled my gun from its holster, and dropped it on the pavement. "See. Gun is gone."

He laughed. "Alright Miss, go ahead, make yourself at home. ALONE."

The line cut out, and moved to an eerie silence. Shit, I muttered to myself. I whispered out loud, "Last one, for the road."

I approached the building slowly, one foot in front of the other. Walking into what could very well be my own death was risky, but expected of me. I made my way up the steps, counting each one in my head. And that's when I heard his voice. Mal's.

"NATARA? Don't be an idiot! What are you doing?"

I couldn't even turn around. My fingers jittered one last time, and they wrapped around the door handle, securing it in my hands. My last loud, uncomfortable breath escaped my lips. And I opened the door.