John put his head into Bo's office, "Hey-you got a few?"

All day he'd been thinking of last night-of Natalie being so upset at seeing the killer that she found the bottom of a bottle first instead of him. Bo knew her better than anyone-and he knew he could help come up with something to help calm her nerves. They could go on with catching the guy without her-but it would make it a lot easier if she was on board.

"Sure," he said, feeling normalcy again at seeing John around. At first he was unsure about him being back-but it was good, and it seemed like John had his priorities together. "I saw two new guys earlier-FBI?"

"Yeah, Craig and Aaron. We made confirmation on the guy this morning-and he made contact with Natalie yesterday, apparently."

"Oh," said Bo as he leaned back in his chair. "You ok with that?"

John shrugged, "It's the job. It's why I came back because some sort of sixth sense told me where he was going to strike next. It's Natalie who isn't ok with it."

"What happened?"

"I don't know. We haven't talked about it-but afterwards she needed some liquid courage. Bo-She's the strongest person I know-I've watched her mourn two husbands, stare down serial killers and survive psychopaths. I know she can do it-I just need an idea of how to get her calm and focused."

"It's been a long time since any of that has happened John. A lot has changed. And almost all of that was before Liam was around."

John nodded, "Last night she said she was worried about losing Liam."

"Then let's take him out of the equation."

John chuckled, "And how do we do that?"


John walked into BE-him and Bo had worked out a plan to help Natalie. It involved multiple people so they split it up between the two of them. John knew he needed to come by here anyways, so he offered to take this part.

"Lovett," he called out and watched as Brody turned around. Bo had clued John in on what had happened while he was gone—after kidnapping Liam before Bo didn't think it was a good idea to be on the force but had suggested he take on the head of BE security.

"Hey-heard you were in town. You sure are brave coming around here."

John grinned, "I'm heading there next, but first we need to talk-about Natalie and Liam."


As the elevator dinged with each floor he thought maybe he shouldn't handle this now. Brody had laughed and called him either the bravest man he knew or the dumbest, and he was starting to agree with him.

Walking into the waiting area he smiled at the girl behind the desk, "Hi-I'm here to see Clint Buchanan."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No," he shook his head and kept his hands in his pockets. "Tell him John McBain is here to see him."

"Ok," she said and picked up the receiver. At her saying his name John could hear a barrage of noise coming from the other side and he couldn't help but having a slight grin on his face. "Uhm, he'll see you now," she said nervously as she hung up the phone.

Opening the door John realized he should have checked with Brody on if Clint had a gun in his office.

"You have some damn nerve showing up here, McBain."

"What? In your office or in Llanview in general?"

"Both. I'm not going to let my daughter or grandson be hurt by you again."

"Good. Because they aren't going to be. But then they never would have if you hadn't seen it in their best interest to put a false restraining order out against me. So from where I'm standing I think you are the one who should be embarrassed Clint, not me."

"You were the one floozing it up with some hussy while your child and the woman you supposedly loved were waiting back at home for you. I've nothing to be embarrassed by."

"Because that's the Buchanan way, right? Never admit to your wrong doings and take down anyone that stands in your way," he laughed, wondering how Bo could be so opposite of his brother.

"Natalie and I are good-and we're going to get better. You can accept it or not-I don't really care," he said and turned and left before Clint could try and get the last word in.


Walking up the walkway John remembered the first time they'd seen this house. How they had fallen in love with it and the dreams they had placed here.

He also remembered the last time he was here. Holding that damn picture of him and Sam, heading back to Port Charles hell bent on killing Manning. He wished he could go back and tell that John to turn around, sit down, and wait. That by leaving he would be missing out on so many dreams and memories.

John knocked on the door and heard the running of footsteps before it opened, "Oh-hey," said Liam and he ran back upstairs.

"What was that about?" he asked, watching Natalie come down with a bag in her hands and place it by the front door.

"Apparently since school is out next week Brody and Matthew have decided to take Liam, Ryder, and Drew up to the mountains for an impromptu camping trip. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

John grinned, "It was Bo's idea."

"Ya'll are making plans for my son without me?"

John heard the horn honk and then the rumbling of feet again. Liam was almost to the door when Natalie made a grunting sound.

"Sorry mom," he said and ran back to give her a kiss and a hug.

"You be good for Brody and Matthew, ok? And have fun-I'm going to miss you," she said as she stole another hug.

"I will-hey, Dad-do you want to come too?"

John felt his heart speed up at being called Dad, "I've got some stuff to work on, but I'll try to get up there as soon as I can. If not this trip then we'll go again soon, ok?"

"Ok, bye," he said and went running out the door, grabbing his bag as he went.

Natalie stood in the doorway to make sure he got into Brody's truck safely before turning back to John, "So spill it. Why did you three-or four if you include Matthew-decide to get our son out of town?"

John put his hands on her shoulders, "Because it will put your mind at ease. He's now safely with an LPD detective and the head of BE security, who also happens to be a former police officer and Navy SEAL. Nothing is going to happen to him.

"Do you want to tell me why you decided last night to drink as hard as you did?"

Natalie sighed and sat down on the arm of the couch, "I met the guy-after Mom left and he was just standing there watching me. Then he came over and introduced himself as the dad. Said to call him Parker."

John nodded his head back and forth in thought, "Could be a first or last name."

"Or a red herring."

"What else?"

"He started rambling about being a single parent. Just creeped me out."

"Would it have creeped you out still if you didn't know the whole picture?"

"Probably not."

John brushed her hair back out of her face, "In all the years I've known you I've only seen you scared of one thing-losing Liam."

"And you."

John nodded, "When I was talking with Bo earlier I mentioned having witnessed you go through serial killers, dead husbands, and psychopaths. You've never had that reaction afterwards. It scared me."

Natalie grinned, "John McBain scared?"

"Just of losing you. And Liam. So we thought if we took him out of the equation-if we put him somewhere you knew he would be safe that maybe we could get this guy with your help. If you don't want to that's fine-I told Aaron and Craig we might need a plan B, just in case."

"No, I want to help."

"Good," he smiled. "Now should we talk about what else happened last night?"

Natalie covered her face with her hands, "I am so embarrassed, John."

"Hey," he said as he pulled her hands down and kept a hold of them. "Don't be. I-I wanted you too last night, Natalie. But I also wanted you to be fully aware of your actions. No regrets."

"How noble of you," she laughed.

"Let's get through this first. And then we can figure out the rest, ok?"

"Ok. What are your plans for the night? Need to get back to the station?"

"No, Aaron and Craig went and checked into the Angel Square Hotel. I wanted to make sure you were ok so we called it a night."

Natalie laughed, "I can only imagine what Roxy said when she saw the two of them. How about I order us a pizza and you can look through old pictures of Liam. Or just sit and say nothing—like old times. I'm not sure I want to be alone tonight, John."

"Sounds perfect. And I will be here as long as you want me to," he said and they got quiet.

"I'm—going to call that pizza in," laughed Natalie, wondering exactly where his mind had been just then.