A/N: In the good old days I'd hold this chapter ransom for something new to read. But, alas, that's not an option now. I'm feeling really good about this chapter. Enjoy! Until next time-PCGirl.


"Thanks again, Mom," said Natalie as she walked Vicki to the door of the community center after doing the check presentation and snapping a few pictures. It had been a few days since she'd given this idea to John and it seemed to work. She just hoped that one of the pictures would work and they'd know for sure if the boy was here.

"Anything for you, and for my grandson, he really does seem to enjoy it."

"He does-I always thought he'd take after his dad and want to be a detective."

"Speaking of father's-yours-."

"Mom, I really don't want to get into this. John is back-and Liam was so happy the other night when we hung out at Rodi's. Dad is just going to have to accept he's in our lives again."

"And how far into your life has he gotten already?"

Natalie couldn't help but smile, "We haven't talked about it really. I'm helping him with a case right now. I think we're both cautious about hurting Liam."

"I know you are, but you deserve happiness too, sweetie. Both of you. Your dad wants that too-he just has a different way of showing it."

"I guess so. Thanks again, mom," she smiled and walked back down the hallway. Stepping into the room she watched Liam working on making what looked like a catapult.

Feeling someone staring at her she looked over to see a man on the other side of the room. As he walked towards her the hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and she suddenly felt like she was not prepared for this.

"Hi-you must be Liam's mom. My boy is new here-that's him," he said, pointing to the blonde boy helping Liam. She wondered if he coached his boy into who to become friends with. And if so—how would the boy react when realizing it later that his dad used him as a pawn for his own sick game.

"Oh yes, hi. What was his name again?"

"Ben."

Bingo. she thought to herself. "I'm really glad the community center has this type of thing for them, you know."

"Yeah, it's hard being a single parent-figuring out how to make work and home life mesh as one. What you must give up of yourself. This makes it easier-gives you a break for a couple hours a week."

"I guess so," she said, thinking how strange that statement was. "I really don't think of it as a break-more of letting my son explore things and figure out where his passion lies. Do you have a passion, Mr-?"

"Parker. You can just call me Parker."

"Ok," she said and was suddenly thanking whoever was calling her phone. "Excuse me-I need to take this."

She kept walking until she was down the hallway, every bone in her body was telling her to grab Liam and run. That this guy wasn't safe. She wondered if the other women had felt that way-if they had any warning signs before it was too late.


It was the banging on the door that woke John from a dead sleep. Looking at the clock he saw it read after 1 am and he wondered who it was at this hour.

"I'm coming," said John as he rubbed his eyes and walked across the room. Opening it, the last person he expected to see was Natalie leaning on the door. "Hey."

"Hi," she smiled and he knew that look from years ago. When they'd close up Rodi's and have too much alcohol afterwards.

"You didn't drive, did you?"

"No, silly. I walked," she said as she came into the room and wobbled towards the couch.

Thank goodness, he thought and closed the door behind him. "Where's Liam?"

"He's with his Aunt Jessica and Uncle Brody for the night. She'll take him to school in the morning."

John nodded, though he had a feeling it wasn't normal for her to do that on a school night. He also felt it wasn't normal for her to drink the amount of alcohol he assumed she had, "Why don't you sit down?"

"Uhm, ok," she said and plopped herself down.

John had to smile at taking her in-he always thought she was beautiful, but with her hair pulled partially up and the slinky blue top that made her eyes pop even more she looked absolutely gorgeous. Almost like she was wanting someone to notice her.

He sat as well, but left space because he wasn't sure being close to her right now was a good idea. He wondered what exactly happened to make her go out drinking the way she did and end up here, "You ok?"

"I'm great. I met him today."

"Him? Who?"

"The killer," she said leaning towards him and speaking in a whisper as if it were a secret and there were others that could hear.

Crap. This was bad-he'd hoped she'd be able to handle this, handle the idea of being a victim again. She'd seem to be fine earlier when she forwarded him the pictures she'd taken, but obviously that wasn't the case, "Ok, well me and the guys will take it from here."

"No," she pouted. "I'm-I'm not going to let him take Liam away from me."

"Nobody is going to take Liam away," he said as he thought It's you I'm worried about. "But bringing you in was obviously a bad idea. So we'll figure out a new plan."

"Like what?" she asked and got closer to him. She was like a drug-intoxicating, and her getting closer wasn't helping.

"I don't know," he said and pushed back a piece of hair that had fallen out of its confines. His fingers touching her face sent an electric current through his body. It was something he'd longed for over the past six years, something that used to be as critical as breathing. "Natalie," he said, his voice having a warning tone to it.

"Don't you want me?" she asked and brought her mouth near his.

"Natalie," he said, pushing her back while every fiber in his being was screaming to do the opposite.

"You don't love me anymore? Is there someone back in Albany?"

"No," he laughed, "But I am completely sober here and you are-not."

"You used to like me when I got like this-said it turned you on," she said and crawled onto his lap and straddled him. "Is that not true anymore?"

"Oh, it's still true, sweetheart," he said with a hearty laugh. "And the only thing I want to do right now is make love to you, but we will both regret it in the morning. So let's get you to bed," he said as he was able to move her off his lap so he could get up and then steered her towards the bed.

"Will you sleep with me?" she said as she got under the covers.

John looked over at the couch, he should say no-should just put her to bed and get on the couch, but he couldn't find it in himself to do that. "Yeah," he said as he went to find a blanket in the closet and got on top of the covers.

As he laid down Natalie rolled into him and nestled her head into his shoulder. "John?' she said sleepily.

"Yeah?"

"Do you know where she is?"

"She?" he asked, confused at the question.

"St Dwynwen. I looked for her the other night, she wasn't in the box and I can't find her."

John gave a half smile at who she was talking about, "Yeah, I've got her."

"Good. I was worried we'd lost her," she sighed and was quickly out.

John looked over at the bedside table where the medal normally would stay. No matter the case or the circumstances she was always nearby. A memory of lost dreams and true loves, something he would pull out when he was missing Natalie and Liam more than normal.

But when he was going into a situation where he thought his life was on the line she was slipped into his pocket. There to protect him, so if something were to happen he'd have her close by. And if the worst case scenario happened that maybe it would get back to Natalie-that in the end she had been there beside him.

Looking over at her, the woman that held his heart for so long he kissed her forehead. He hadn't planned on tonight to end like this-but it felt right. Felt normal. And has he fell back asleep he knew this was the best place to be.


Too bright, is all Natalie thought as she began to wake up. And then she felt the throbbing in her head. What had she done last night? She'd gone to Rodi's-and then-John's.

"Oh God," she said out loud and opened her eyes slowly. She was in his bed. Looking down she at least was relieved to see she was still fully clothed. Sitting up slowly she called out for him and looked over to see a cup of water, a bottle of Tylenol, and a note on the table next to her.

N,

Headed into the station. Thought you might need these. See you later.

J

She smiled as she took the Tylenol. He knew how far gone she was last night, and still-he had been a gentleman and not pulled anything. Trying to remember what exactly she may have said to him she closed her eyes and remembered climbing onto his lap.

"Oh God," she repeated and then was stopped by her cell phone ringing. Getting up to get it she saw her sister's name pop up, "Hello?"

"Hey-where are you? You ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. What's up?"

"I just saw your car at Rodi's-but they aren't open yet for lunch yet."

Natalie laughed, "I-I uhm left it there last night."

"Liam left something at the house and we had to get it before going to school. You didn't sleep there either did you?"

"No," she confessed and walked to the bathroom to try and figure out something to do with her hair.

Jessica now knew the answer and laughed, "You are at John's, aren't you?"

Natalie groaned, "Yes, and what's so funny about that?"

"Brody and I made a bet last night. I said that you'd end up there, he said no way."

"Glad you find this so amusing. But you'll be glad to know nothing happened-despite my apparently very drunk advances."

"When you dropped Liam off last night I could tell your mind was in a bad place. I'm just glad John was there to help you out."

"Thanks, Jess. I guess I need to go do the walk of shame back to the car and hope I don't run into Roxy in the process."


It was after lunch when Natalie finally made it to the station. All she kept thinking was she was too old for that crap. She'd wanted to take a mental health day but knew there was paperwork to do and other things to sign off on. She should have avoided him-but felt like it would be better to apologize now than to let it linger awkwardly. Making it to the office she was greeted by someone else, "Oh-is John around?"

"Him and Craig went to pick up some lunch. You must be Natalie," said the sandy haired gentleman and put out his hand to shake. "I'm Aaron."

"Hi. Wow-that was quick."

Aaron nodded, "We got word from Brett that it was the same kid this morning. We just got here. And I hear them now."

Natalie turned to see the two walking towards her with to go boxes from Rodi's, "Hey."

"Hey," he said with a smile. "Natalie-this is Craig, and you've met Aaron."

"Nice to meet you."

Craig smiled, "I owe you an apology. I thought John was crazy when he thought you would be in danger from this guy. But luckily Irish knows his stuff and we can catch this ass hole before he does any more harm."

"Thank you," she said with a shy smile.

"And he's also an idiot to ever let you go," he laughed.

"I'm-I'm going to go to work. We'll talk later," she said, giving John a nod and leaving the room.

As John closed the door and looked back he saw a look between the two other men, "What."

"I'm-just that was faster than I expected is all," grinned Aaron.

"Expected what?"

"You and Natalie. That's all."

"There-," he stopped after the first word. "Nothing has happened. We're parents to Liam. That's it."

"Uh huh. Sure, McBain. Whatever you say," laughed Craig as they started working on the board.