Chapter Two

Natalie leaned against the balcony as she stared out at the now rising sun, she hadnt slept a wink at all last night but then again how could she after everything that had happened. She had wondered what this moment would feel like, to finally get the vengence she had wanted for so very long and yet it wasnt sweet but bitter and then there was John, she wished she would of killed him when she had a chance. What was he doing back again anyways, it irritated her that he just came and went as he pleased without a care in the world..And had he been following her?

She felt the presence of one of the girls, Gigi Morasko as she entered the bedroom that natalie stood outside of as she inhaled the air..

"i brought some coffee" Gigi said as Natalie kept staring out into the new day upon them.."looks like it might actually be nice out today" she tried to make small talk, very much like natalie and the other slayers she too had lost loved ones due to evil but unlike natalie she still had hope for this world..Natalie didnt answer as she stood there, leaning over the balcony.."did you sleep at all" she continued as natalie looked at her now and took the coffee from her..

"Ive slept enough" she said as she sipped the hot liquid, sometimes she would go days at a time without sleeping because then again evil never really did sleep, did it? It was always out there, waiting.."i wanna check in on that lead about the wolves" Natalie said as she looked back out into the morning..

"Oh...i was hoping we could" Gigi began softly..

Natalie turned and faced her.."are you coming or not"

Gigi swallowed hard..."yeah um.. are you sure you dont want to just take it easy" she said nervously and now natalie couldnt help the bitter laugh that left her mouth..

"wow, you too huh" she said bitterly as she walked back in the bedroom..

"nat come on, its just" Gigi began..

"Listen there is shit that needs to be done ok, im not about to just lay around and have a good time cause thats what everyone thinks I need" she snapped at Gigi who just stood there and gulped, then natalie was walking out of the room..

Natalie made her way down to the study, she knew Bo would be there, hell he slept just about as much as she did, the only difference was that it showed in his face..She heard the guys talking before she even entered and then she swung the door open as they all looked at her..

"Oh good, your up, I was waiting for you" Bo said as he smiled at her, he knew she hadnt slept but he never made that big of a deal about it which she was nice, Cris looked over at her and smiled softly but she refused to look over at him.."we got a few leads about a wolf pact on the outskirts of town" he continued as she walked over and continued to sip her coffee..

"so what are we waiting for" she finally said as she neared him..

"well as of right now they havent crossed any boundaries" Bo began as she rolled her eyes..

"and that means?" she said sarcastically.."how many of them?"

"Including the alpha I would say about ten" one of the guys named Brody said from the side as Natalie glanced at him.."but this guy is strong as hell and one nasty attitude to go along with it"

"have you ever met a friendly wolf?" natalie rolled her eyes.."i want in" she looked at Bo..

"the only leads we have to go by are in some trashy paper that no one puts stock into but you know how that goes" Bo said with a smile.."rumor is they may be hiding by lantano lake, its mating season so they will be very protective"

"good, I always like a challenge" natalie smiled big.."I'll get ready" she said as she left the room and Cris looked at Bo..

"this isnt healthy" he said to Bo..

"are you kidding Bro, these fuckers are everywhere" Brody said with a roll of his eyes.."I'll get my guns" he finished as he left the room and the others followed as cris sighed..

"You cant just keep on letting her work like this" cris said to Bo..

"listen son this is what we do, you'll never get her respect by hounding her, I know my niece" Bo said quickly..

"Im not hounding, im concerned and apparently im the only one" Cris huffed..

"dont act like your the only one worried about her " rex said angrily as he came into the room and Cris looked at him..

"You know what I mean man" Cris said quickly..

"listen nat needs to do what she needs to do ok, I get that and I also know that if you try and stop her your going to have one hell of a fight on your hands" rex said honestly..

"so we just keep throwing her into the fire, until when?" Cris said with annoyance..

"No one is throwing anyone into the fire cris" Bo finally barked out.."this is our life, this is what we do or have you lost track of that"

Natalie stood outside by her car, piling her trunk with every bit of arsenol she had, one could never be so sure about what they would run into..

"You got this baby to perfection" brody grinned as he came over and admired the car, she liked him, he didnt look at her like the others, in all honesty he treated her like one of the guys and that she liked..

"jealous?" she smiled with a raised eyebrow but it quickly faded as she saw from the corner of her eye, it was him again, it was John, what the was he doing here? Before she could speak one of the other guys by the name of Steele, a huge giant of a man that scared off most people on a good day, standing at nearly seven feet tall and just as wide with muscle yelled out..

"what the hell are you doing here!" steele yelled as John grinned..

"glad to see you have still been eating your wheaties Steele" John smirked.."or better yet the whole damn field"

"you have some nerve showing your face around here, hell boy" brody said as he walked over and natalie made her way too..

"wow with this overwhelming friendliness, I dont know what to do" John mocked with a grin and then he looked at Natalie and smiled.."Natalie" her name rolled off his tongue as he smiled wide..

"You really have a death wish dont you" steele got right in front of him, towering over him like the giant he was..

"Now that is a bit ironic dont you think" John smiled..

"what the hell do you want Mcbain" Natalie snapped angrily as he looked at her..

"not on first name basis anymore huh darling?" he raised an eyebrow..

"Oh im gonna enjoy crushing you" Steele said angrily to him as he rubbed his fist..

"No one is crushing anyone, steele, brody, stand down" Bo said as he came out and they looked at him..

"i guess today is your lucky day" Steele said through gritted teeth as he stood back some and Bo came up..

"he doesnt need to be here Bo" natalie snapped as Bo came walking up..

"oh look the ray of sunshine himself" John smiled as he looked at Bo..

"Listen just because I stopped my men from beating you into next week doesnt mean were on any friendlier of terms" Bo said firmly as he got in front of John.."what are you doing here"

"why such the hostility and after everything I have done in the past to help you out" John said sarcastically and then his eyes landed on Natalie and he gave her a knowing smile that made her burning hot, but not with desire, he was pissing her off, her mind went back to how she stood in that damned room for thirty minutes while he toyed with her, of course no one but them knew about that, well unless he was about to change that now and she wouldnt allow it..

"he's not even worth our time, seriously" natalie spat out as she turned from them all and the guys looked at her and then began walking with her..

"times a funny thing, aint it sweetheart, I mean sometimes minutes can feel like an eternity especially when" he began with a smile and natalie stopped and spun, facing him with angry eyes.."sore spot?" he smiled again..

"alright enough of this, what do you want John" Bo cut him off as Natalie gritted her teeth, her hand hanging dangerously close to her knife, she wondered if at this angle she could indeed hit him with it, possibly? Granted it would be impossible to kill him but oh how much fun she would have trying..

"i do think we should take this to a more private place, plus im parched" John glanced at the house and then at Bo.."the kiddies can run off and play" he mocked..

"bo just give me the word" Steele said as Brody backed him up..

"fine but were making this fast" Bo said with annoyance..

"Your joking right, we dont owe him a thing" Natalie couldnt help but yell out as John looked at her..

"Oh I wouldnt go that far sweetheart, I do remember helping you out not to long ago, actually I believe I remember every single detail" he smirked..

"You son of a bitch!" natalie had had it as she took off running, Brody grabbed her within seconds of her plunging a knife into John.."Let go of me, let go!" she yelled..

"glad to see you still have that fire in you" John smirked with delight..

"enough!" Bo yelled and then looked at natalie.."i am giving you a direct order to stand down and I mean it"

"i cant believe your going to let that piece of shit in our place, are you crazy!" Natalie continued to fight brody with impressive force as John took a step back but kept that smug smile on his face..

Bo turned and got right in her face as Brody held her arms.."I said enough, let me handle this" he warned her..Natalie huffed and stopped struggling against brody.."Now give me five minutes" Bo said to her firmly and then he looked to John..

"let go of me" natalie snapped again as she broke free from Brody and then spun and stormed back over to her car..

"looks like someone had a little too much coffee today" John mocked..

"cut the shit John, I said I will talk now get inside and make it fast, some of us have an actual job out there" Bo snapped as he began to storm to the house, natalie was damn near hyperventilating as she got to the trunk of her car..

"that guy really has a pair of balls" brody said with annoyance but Natalie didnt answer, she was fuming, why the hell was he there and what the hell did he want!

John followed Bo into the house with little more than a few nasty glares thrown his way not that he expected any less, but hell he had his own life and he didnt owe a damn thing to anyone, especially none of these wanna be heros.

He gave his smug smile to those he passed as they headed into a study, rex was already in there as they entered.."what the hell is he doing here Bo" rex said as he jumped up from the chair he was sitting in, he was seething..

"Not now rex, go take a moment" Bo said with annoyance, he was just as unhappy about this as everyone else was but he also knew that if John was there then something was going down. Fallen angel or not he may be able to help them even if his motives were always less then pure.

"But Bo" rex began..

"Nice to see you too kiddo" John smirked..

"dont you fucking talk to me, you think I forgot that you almost let me rot with those demons you bastard" rex yelled but he kept his distance..

Before anyone could say anything natalie stepped in the room.."Rex it aint worth it, he aint worth it" she snapped as she glared at John..

"well I dont know about you but I could use that drink now" John said sarcastically as he looked at Bo..

"both of you out, now and I mean it" Bo said sternly as Rex huffed and puffed and then pointed his finger at john..

"You better watch your back" rex snapped and then natalie was taking him out of the room..

"and everyone thinks I have an anger issue, you really should start some classes here or something Bo" John laughed..

"the only reason I agreed is because out of curiousity I wanted to know what you wanted, dont push your luck" Bo snapped at him as he slammed the door, leaving them both in there alone..

"I cant believe that son of a bitch has the nerve to show up here, I want to fucking kill him" Rex yelled angrily..

"yeah well stand in line" she said sarcastically.."come on lets get a drink"

"You better make it a double" Rex said through gritted teeth..

Bo made his way to his desk and pulled out a bottle of whiskey as he began to pour two glasses.."that wouldnt happen to be Blanton's, is it?" John began as Bo looked at him and stared.."or you know, whatever" he rolled his eyes as Bo pushed a glass at him and took a huge swig himself..

"start talking John" Bo said without patience..

John picked up his glass and smelled the whiskey first and turned his nose up some, it definitely wasnt what he was use to drinking, it smelt horrible but he sipped it slowly and cringed as it went down.."wow you could clean out a gas tank with this stuff" he said with a shake of his head as he put the glass down..

"would you like to keep on insulting me, or would you like to tell me why you are here" Bo snapped as he took another sip..

"well you are a busy man and im well, you know..i have my things as well" John began as he looked around the room.."alright well I guess the small talk is over, huh?" John said as he looked at Bo who was just staring at him as he drank.."Im here to collect on a favor" he finally said with a raised eyebrow..

Bo nearly choked on his drink as he looked at John.."Your kidding right, what exactlly have you ever done for me" he laughed bitterly..

"well there was the vamp issue in new orleans" John began..

"Oh the one where you nearly had my niece killed" Bo gritted his teeth with anger..

"Oh come on Bo, we both know she is a strong girl and I helped but she had it" John shrugged his shoulders..

"You really are a piece of work, you know that John, when exactlly did you decide to turn against humanity and become a selfish bastard huh" Bo said angrily..

"Oh well we both know we have our own ways of getting by but I didnt come here because of new orleans dear friend" John smiled smuggly..

"trust me we are far from friends" Bo said sternly..

"were not very different Bo, not really anyway" John shrugged his shoulders..

"when was the last time I was making dealings with the low life scum of the world only to benefit myself" Bo barked out at him..

"You say potatoe, I say potato" John said with a smile.."But before you get your panties in a twist there or have a coronary, I came about the little demon issue in Texas, the one with your boy there"

"Oh yes how can I forget, you came into action at the very and I mean very last second, well thank you for that John, let me give you an award" Bo said sarcastically..

"hey I helped your little group of misfits, I have a life you know and I put things on hold" John said a bit loud but his face stayed calm.."lets not make small of my part" he stared at Bo..

"so you came because for whatever reason you think you need to be repayed for not sitting back and watching a young kid die because of your selffish ways!" Bo could barely contain his anger..

"nothing is free in this world" John said matter of factly..

"You really are just one big asshole" Bo shook his head..

"You dont have to like me Bo, actually it doesnt bother me either way but I came to collect and im not leaving without payment" John smiled..

"you know he would of left me there to rot" Rex said as he downed his drink and then poured another.."i swear if it wasnt for you showing up when you did" he shook his head..

"I know rex, I know" she said softly.." I would of died before I let something happen to you" she said honestly..

"Yeah well it shouldnt of had to of ever come to that" Rex said bitterly..

Natalie's mind drifted to that room again, to her standing there, mortified and all to save Rex but then again she would of done anything, anything to save him..

"natalie" Bo's voice snapped her out of her thoughts as she looked up and he stood in the kitchen doorway..

"is that son of a bitch gone yet" Rex stood now..

"Just calm down Rex" Bo said quickly.."can you come with me" he then said to natalie as she looked at him a bit shocked, all sorts of ideas running through her head now..

"He's still here isnt he" Rex stepped over to Bo..

"Rex I said not now" Bo said quickly..

Now Natalie stood.."whats going on Bo" she said quickly as she looked at him, she wondered if she had guilt written all over her face, did he know what she had done, had John told him..

"its him isnt it, she isnt going anywhere near him" Rex said protectively as he went next to natalie..

"Oh rex when are you going to learn that this isnt your battle to be fought" John said as he came over to the door..

"I told you to wait" Bo barked at him..

"You son of a bitch, what do you want!" rex yelled..

"rex stop it, dont do this" natalie said as she grabbed Rex's arm..

"You should listen to your sister there bucko" John grinned..

"shut up!" Natalie yelled at John..

"i dont have all day you know" John said with impatience..

"you know you are making this a hundred times worse" Bo snapped at John..

"rex just trust me everything will be fine" Natalie said to her brother even though at this moment she wasnt so sure..

"he's a manipulator, a scum of the earth" Rex snapped..

"wow rex that is endearing" John said sarcastically as rex went to lunge for him but natalie grabbed his arm..

"dont let him get the best of you, that is what he wants" she said seriously to Rex..

"I swear to god you lay one finger on her" Rex warned John who just rolled his eyes, he was tiring of this now..Rex glared at John and then spun from the room..

"so are we all good now, can we finish this, it is getting late" John said with a mock yawn..

"Oh trust me we are far from good" natalie snapped at him as she pushed past him, knocking into his arm as she stormed to Bo's office..

Once in the room she immediately went to Bo's desk and grabbed a drink, downing it in one sip, when Bo and John entered she turned and looked at them.."so what the hell is this about"

"well arent you just a bucket of sunshine today" John said with a smile..

"Im not in the mood Mcbain, what do you want" she snapped bitterly..

"Now Natalie just calm down ok" Bo began as he closed the door to the office...

"this is me calmed down" she said with a tight smile..

"You know you probably should take me up on the classes Bo" John smirked..

"what classes" natalie snapped angrily, he was toying with them, she didnt like it one bit..

"nothing..."Bo said quickly.."Lets just get to the bottom of this, shall we" Bo walked over to his desk as natalie huffed and stood on the other side of the desk with her arms crossed over her chest.."the reason I called you in here is because John gave me some really good intel" Bo began..

"Oh really now?" natalie spun and looked at John.."and what selffish purpose is motivating this"

"cant a guy just be helpful" John grinned as she narrowed her eyes.."by the way, red really is a wonderful color on you" John smirked and she felt her chest tighten as she looked at him.."i mean the contrast to your skin is impeccable" he smiled big..

"wow your really unbelievable" natalie said with a shake of her head..

"can we just get this over with" Bo cut them both off as natalie looked at Bo.."like I was saying, John for whatever reason came to us with some intel regarding a person of interest"

"Oh this should be interesting" natalie said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes and John nonchalantly paced the room..

"its Mitch Lawrence" Bo began as natalie's eyes got wide..

"the Mitch Lawrence, aka warlock with a cult following" natalie said somewhat in surprise..

"what can I say I know people" John smirked as natalie narrowed her eyes at him..

"Oh im sure you do" she said with a clipped tone.."what do you want with a warlock, or let me guess your doing business with him too" she snapped..

"geez cant a guy just try to be nice around here, seriously Bo, classes trust me" John said quickly..

"natalie you know we have been looking to get in with him, he is single handedly accountable for 90% of the disappearances not to mention the dark magic he is conjuring" Bo said seriously..

Anyone who was anyone in the world of slayers knew exactlly who Mitch lawrence was, he was the grand daddy of all things evil, he had the ability to give life as well as take it in a heart beat. He had turned over 100 some odd followers in the last month alone and word was it that he had a book as old as time, one that could if used with the right spell, could bring on the apocolypse..

"why are you really doing this" natalie looked right at John now..

"what can I say, maybe he has something of mine and maybe I want it back" John said with a tight smile..

"you know you could be just like him, give it a few years and you could be right there at the top of the food chain but then again, isnt that what you want" she said angrily..

"Listen we could banter this back and forth but the fact of the matter is that I have a means to get close to him and your going to help me do it" John smiled..

"and what exactlly makes you think I would do anything to help you at all" Natalie said sarcastically..

"a deal is a deal natalie" he grinned..

"can someone please tell me this deal that keeps getting thrown around" Bo said quickly as Natalie stiffened..

"would you like to tell him, or shall i" John raised an eyebrow..

"There is no deal" natalie snapped quickly.."he is delussional Bo" natalie said with a roll of her eyes..

"Oh am I cause I remember very, very well" John began..

"You know what, screw you" natalie snapped and then she looked at Bo.."what do you want me to do Bo"

Bo looked between the two of them a bit suspiciously but didnt say anything..John spoke before he could.."well actually it is what I want, lets just say that I need distraction for the big man"

Natalie spun and looked at him.."a distraction? You want me for a distraction" she couldnt help but laugh bitterly.."your out of your mind"

"am I though? Cause I mean not only would you be able to get close to him but you could also get some very valuable information to use for your little crusade to save the world" John smiled sarcastically.."but then again if that isnt your number one plan anymore then I understand"

"dont freaking mock me, you know I want to get close enough to him, he is trying to bring on the damn apocolypse!" she snapped.

"well then" John leaned against the wall and tapped his foot..

"natalie we could really use this, we havent had an oppourtunity to get close to Mitch, imagine what we could do here" Bo said quickly..

"Oh and if I just happened to get killed in the process" Natalie said sarcastically..

"not big strong natalie" John grinned..

Natalie ignored him and looked at Bo.."this would never work, every monster out there knows what I look like, its not like I could just waltz over to him and have a chat"

"and that is where I come into play, see natalie" John walked over to her now.."I just so happen to have a few tricks up my sleeve as well, I mean I was a god and everything and well lets just say that im not entirely powerless" he smirked..

"and how exactlly do you plan on doing that, hmmm?" she stared at him hard..

"why dont you let me worry about the big stuff darling and come along for the ride, hell you never know, you may just enjoy it" he licked his lips as he looked at her..

"Oh trust me, there would be nothing enjoyable about this except seeing Mitch's head on a platter, or maybe yours" she smiled at him..

"thats the fire I love, so is that a yes" he grinned as she narrowed her eyes more..

"natalie we could have a shot at a normal life here, like a real normal life once and for all" Bo said as she looked at him and swallowed hard, she didnt know what was more frightening to think of, the apocolypse or a normal life..

"fine" she said quickly and then she spun and looked at John.."Under one condition"

He looked surprised for a moment and then smiled.."go on" he said with a tight smile..

"you need to donate one million dollars to the church when were done" she smiled big, she knew that would get him, he wanted nothing to do with the man upstairs and if he thought he was gonna get her to crack then he had another thing coming, he wasnt the only one with tricks up his sleeve..

"Oh thats cute" he laughed loud, like a real hearty laugh as he looked at her.."is that all?" he continued to laugh..Now she was getting mad, why was he laughing..He should be pissed.."why dont we make it an even two mill, how about that" he grinned as she narrowed her eyes now..

"Your lying" she snapped..

"is that your condition?" he said again as he looked at her and she didnt say anything, she was pissed.."well then yes, two mill to the church of your liking" he laughed again..

"Your serious?" Bo said shocked..

"I have more money than , well lets just say that god would know to do with, so why not, its not like she said she wanted me to do community service for them, a check I can write" he laughed..Natalie felt a pit burning in her stomach, damn it, she should of thought this through more.."so is that it, am I free to go?" John smirked..Natalie stormed across the room and stared out the window..

"so when is all of this going down" Bo asked..

"i'll swing by tomorrow and pick up Natalie, we'll go from there" he smiled..

"I can drive myself, thank you very much" natalie snapped but she didnt turn around..

"fine, meet me at my place by ten am, you do still remember where it is, right?" he grinned, she didnt answer him.."till then" he finished and then walked out of the room..

"natalie this could just work" Bo said quickly as she stood there staring out the window, she watched as John stepped out, as he got to his car he stopped and glanced over at her, a huge smile on his face and then he was leaving..

"if it doesnt then I will kill him" she said under her breath and she meant every single word..