A/N: Ok, so I admit it-I'm a little evil at where I ended this chapter. Next chapter is pretty much done, but won't be posted til next week sometime. Until next time-PCGirl.


Natalie slid into the booth at the diner to wait on Jessica. Last night had been nice-her and John had sat up for a long time going through photo albums. Recollecting all the stories he'd missed of Liam. He'd taken the couch overnight and had gone back to the hotel to get a shower and changed before going to meet with the guys.

"Good morning-how was singledom last night?' smiled Jessica as she slipped into the seat across. She had a feeling Natalie wasn't alone last night, and was hopeful for some juicy gossip—her sister deserved happiness, and knew it was John that brought that.

"It was nice," she said, not wanting to get into the details.

"Do you want to tell me why our boys and my husband went on a sudden camping trip with Matthew and Drew?"

Natalie laughed, "I-It has to do with the case I'm helping John with. It was better for Liam to not in town."

"For him?"

"No, for me," she said as she began recounting the story. She was almost done when she stopped talking and began staring off towards the door.

Jessica followed Natalie's gaze and saw a man that had walked up to the counter to pick up a to go order. "That's him?"

"Yeah," she said quietly, but didn't feel as scared as she was the other day. She actually felt more confident. "Parker," she called and watched as he turned to see her.

"Hi," he said. "I was hoping we'd run into each other," he said as Natalie saw the look Jessica gave her, thankful the way Jessica was sitting he couldn't see her face.

"Yeah?"

"Ben was talking about not knowing a lot of kids yet, being new and all. Would it be ok if Liam came over and they hung out-give him a chance to really get to know him."

"Sure. Here-write down your address," she said as she pulled out a piece of paper and a pen. "What time would you like to meet? Liam's pretty open today."

"Will 3 work for you?"

Natalie thought for a moment-that would give them six hours-that should be enough time, "Sounds perfect. See you then."

Jessica waited until she heard the door close before leaning forward, "Are you crazy? This is bad-I-I think Brody should come back and help out with this."

"No, he's doing what John and I need him to do-and that's protect Liam." She laughed at the thought—years ago, right after finding out his true paternity she wouldn't have let him be in the same room as Liam. When Brody had Jessica had gotten back together it was awkward—but they'd found middle ground and came to a mutual respect for the other.

"And what about you-who is protecting you while you walk into a room with a serial killer without her child with her. One that he's expecting to have for a supposed playdate that doesn't exist," she hissed out, leaning forward so no one else could hear her but her sister.

"John."

Jessica sighed and nodded, leaning back against the cushion. Vegas. Haver. Barber. Being pushed off the roof by Marty. In each of these cases John was somehow connected to the start of the problem. And each one he had come through for Natalie, "I know, and I know protecting you is what he does best. Just-as soon as you have cuffs on this guy I want you to call me-ok?"

"I will-and we'll all be fine."


John walked down the hallway and knocked on Natalie's office door before entering, "You ready?" he asked as he came in and saw her pulling her shirt over a bullet proof vest.

"Yeah," she said and then pulled her hair back. John had surprised her with how calm he was when she told him she took the initiative and set up the meeting before checking with him. She'd been waiting for a Damn it, Natalie, but it hadn't come. Maybe because they were past that point. Maybe it was because he was trusting her to make the right moves.

"Good. The guys are already over in the neighborhood. But first, I need to do something," he said as he walked over to her. Leaning down he let his lips brush hers-just enough to taste her and then smiled. "Did that calm any nerves?"

"Yours or mine?" she smiled at him.

"Both, I guess," he laughed and then went into serious mode. "Ok, so I'll ride with you and you drop me off near the front of the street. Just keep him talking. Remember Craig is going to be at the back door in case he runs that way. Aaron will come through the kitchen. And I'll come through the front door. We aren't going to let anything happen to you. If this goes just the way we discussed it should be over in a few minutes."

Natalie noticed something in his body language, something she normally didn't see, "Hey, look at me," she said, placing her hand on his chest, feeling his heart racing, and waited until she had his full attention. "This isn't Las Vegas. Or Steven Haver. Or Hayes Barber. Nothing is going to happen-no worries, ok?"

"I know," he said as he ran his finger down her cheek before kissing her softly. Letting her walk in front of him out the door he placed his hand on the small of her back as she led the way to the car.


She took a deep breath before ringing the door bell. Looking around she didn't see anyone-if Craig and Aaron were already on the property they were doing a good job at hiding.

Hearing footsteps from inside she smiled as he opened the door. "Hi," he said, looking around and not seeing Liam.

"Hey-Can I come in?" she asked and was welcomed in. "Listen-I know Liam was supposed to come today, but I'd really like to get to you know a little better first. Is that ok? Will Ben be upset?"

"No, he-he actually isn't here right at the moment, but will be shortly. Can I get you some water?" he asked as he took a cup off the back table and began to grab an unopened bottle of water.

"No, thank you though," she said and put it in the back of her mind to have the cup tested later.

"So what exactly do you want to know about me?" he asked, sitting on the arm of the chair, his arms crossed in a defensive stance.

"You know the basics," she shrugged, letting the question flow over her. "Where are you from originally? What do you do for a living? What your full name is?"

"What the hell does that have to do with our kids being friends?"

"It has everything. I'm not letting my child be around someone that I know nothing about. Someone who just randomly drops into town with no backstory. So if you really want our sons to become friends then I suggest you start explaining yourself."

"Explaining myself?" he laughed, and she realized she'd hit the trigger point. "You women are all alike. You think just because you bring them into this world you get to decide who they see and don't see."

"I'm not doing that, trust me. But I need to know who my child is around. Is there anything wrong with that?"

"Is that why your son doesn't see his father? Because you don't trust him? Don't think he's good enough for Liam?"

"This has nothing to do with Liam or his father. This has to do with you and what you've already put your child through."

"Don't tell me what you think I've put my child through. I wouldn't have done this if they had given me custody," he said as he reached in between the cushion and side of the couch and pulled out a gun.

Natalie took a deep breath-she'd been expecting it but expecting it and having a gun in your face were two different things. "You don't want to do this."

"Don't tell me what I don't want to do."

"How are you going to look your son in the eye when he's older? Do you realize what this will do to him when he realizes his dad used him to make friends so he could destroy their lives? He's just a kid, Parker. He doesn't deserve to have his life destroyed as well-because it will."

"No-no. Shut up," he said as he started waving the gun around.

"Hey-why don't we sit and talk? Like normal parents. Can you do that for me?" she asked, trying to remain calm.

When asked later the exact chain of events she wasn't sure which happened first. She saw Craig standing at the edge of the patio, looking into the living room for a second and making eye contact briefly. Then there was the click of the trigger and John jumping in front of her. Where he'd come from she wasn't sure. When he'd pulled the gun out she thought she'd heard someone in the kitchen area but had assumed it was Aaron. Maybe it wasn't-maybe it had been John all along.

As she watched him fall she heard a crash from the patio doors breaking open, but didn't see it, already on the floor, rolling John over and instantly putting pressure on the wound, "John! Hey-stay with me! Stay with me!" she yelled, wondering how many times he'd yelled those words to her in a moment of fear. She remembered when Jared was shot—the fear that consumed her at losing him. She couldn't let this have the same outcome, so she pushed it as far down as possible.

Seeing his eyes open and the clear blue of them lock with hers she released the breath she'd been holding and smiled. "Hey. I'm here," she said as she continued with the pressure and looked over to see Aaron on the phone, saying officer down. It was semantics really-he wasn't a cop at the moment, but once a cop always a cop. Scanning the room she didn't see Craig and wondered where him and Parker were at.

"Natalie."

She barely heard her name. It was so soft and not like his normal tone at all. "The ambulance is on the way-we're pretty close to the hospital. Just hang on for me, ok? Hang on for me and Liam."

"Natalie-I lo-."

"No! You don't get to say that to me. Not now. Not like this," she shouted and couldn't hold back the fear anymore. "John-please," she cried as she turned to see Aaron had left the house to wait for the ambulance.

Leaning down she pressed her lips to his, feeling his press back for a moment, then heard Aaron's footsteps running back inside, "The cavalry is here."

"See-you'll be ok," she said as she pulled back and noticed his eyes weren't focusing on her anymore, but instead behind her. "John," she said quietly and looked behind her, expecting see someone standing there and wondered what he was looking at.

"Dad," was all he replied in a whisper.