Chapter Thirty

Natalie felt her stomach turn with uncertainty as he looked at her. His eyes were filled with rage and curiosity but she didnt know just how much she should tell him. All her and Victor had told him was that he had been a fallen angel and that when she thought he had died, somehow he didnt, and his soul was taken from him. They hadnt elaborated much further, mainly due to the fact that Victor still didnt trust him but now Victor himself was dead and John wasnt stupid..

"I really dont think that now is the time" she began to say as he moved closer to her..

"tell me because neither of us are leaving this car until I know" he said seriously and she swallowed hard.."tell me about this brother of mine"

"i dont know much about him, I.." she began and he cut her off by the stare he gave her. Her stomach tightened more.."You had a falling out ok, you didnt like each other, I told you that you were a fallen angel" she said quickly as he looked at her and breathed deep..

"so I wasnt the noblest of men" he said sarcastically.."why would he take my daughter" he began and then as if some sort of light bulb went off in his head, his eyes got wide.."for revenge?" he said almost like a statement than anything else.

"he's an angel for god sake, he wouldnt" she began even as her own wheels in her head began to spin, had Michael taken Victoria for revenge? Was this his way of making sure that John couldnt get near her?

"that son of a bitch, I will kill him" he said in a deadly serious tone as he fell back onto the seat..

"Listen before we get ahead of ourselves" she began nervously..

"he took my daughter" he snapped at her and she was surprised at how possessive he sounded.."tell me from the beginning, all of it" he demanded and even though part of her was scared to death to let him know anything else, well what did she have to lose at this point and maybe just maybe John was the only person who could get Victoria back. He was an angel at one time and he apparently still had some of his powers. With out waiting another second she began the long, depressing story of johns life or atleast what she knew of it.

She told him about Caitlyn and how he had tried to save her from the demon and instead he killed her to save her soul. She told him how Michael and the others assumed he had killed an innocent woman and he had been banned from heaven. She went on to tell him of how he turned his back on them and on his faith. He watched her without speaking, but his eyes spoke volumes. He was digesting it all and it was a hell of a lot of information.

She explained how she had gone to him for help and how a year later he came back asking for his own help in recovering something that Mitch had taken. She explained about the ring and how it held certain powers that apparently his brothers didnt want him to have. His eyes got widder as she continued to go on, she tried to be as nonchalant as she could, she tried to seem unaffected by all of it, especially when it came to them.

She spoke of the gathering at Mitch's, the necklace and the book. She spoke of Milan but left out parts of her getting incredibly wasted and making a fool of herself and when she finally stopped talking he just sat there, his eyes fixed forward as she swallowed hard against her dry throat.. The silence was deafening..

"thats basically it" she finally added, hoping that he would say something, anything at this point and he finally looked at her..

"we were a couple?" he finally said and his words made her stiffen slightly, unsure of what to say but she finally spoke the truth..

"No, I wouldnt say that" she said as he looked at her..

"I see" he finally said as he stared back out into the limo.."when exactlly did you hook up with the vampire" his words made her look at him now..He looked angry and then he looked away.."nevermind, it doesnt matter anyway" he said coarsley and then he moved to the front of the limp by the window that was closed, he knocked on it hard as it opened.."we can leave now" he said as the limo driver nodded and the car once again began to move but this time he stayed up by the front as they drove off, neither of them saying another word..

The ten minute drive seemed to take an eternity in that silence, she wished at this moment that she could read his mind. He looked numb and devoid of feelings as he stared straight forward..

Once at the house he got out of the limo without even waiting for her, she was feeling anxious now as she followed behind him closely. There was something about him not speaking that didnt sit right with her, she didnt know what he was planning and that was not a good thing..

By the time she got into his house he was already heading down a hallway and she finally called out.."john what are you doing" he didnt respond as she ran after him now and stopped when she got to his office, he was rummaging through things like a mad man. Tossing things onto the floor and grumbling under his breath.."please just tell me what your up to" she said once more as he stopped for a second and continued to look around..

"it was here, I know it was, I saw it just the other day" he began as he opened drawers and flung the contents out of it..

"what was there..your freaking me out here, what are you looking for" she said nervously..

"the ring, it was here, I know it was" his words surprised her..

"the ring? You had the ring?"she said in shock as he continued to go through all of the drawers.."but how?"

He looked at her now, annoyance written all over his face.."i dont know how but I had it ok" he snapped and she swallowed hard..He went over to a closet and once more began tossing things aside as she watched.."where the hell is it" he snapped and then spun from the closet and began marching over to the door as she watched..She didnt know what to say but if he had the ring, if it was somewhere in this place it may just be what they need to get to Michael.. He quickly left the room and stormed down the hallway, stopping at his bedroom door as he flung it open..

Natalie raced down the hallway after him, he was absolutely going through there like a damn tornado. Clothes were thrown about, dresser drawers laying half cocked from their positions..He then went to the closet and began pushing clothes aside and tossing shoes out of his way.."Fuck!" he yelled as she jumped now and he ran a hand through his hair shaking his head.."she must of found it, taken it" he said angrily.

"evangeline?" Natalie said with confusion.."why would she?" she began as he looked at her..

"why did she ever do anything because she knew what it was worth, she knew what it could do" he said as he yelled out a curse once more and slammed the closet door closed..

"But you said you had just seen it, why would she take it now" she asked as he inhaled deep..

"i dont know, if she wasnt already dead I would kill her all over again" he snapped as he walked past her once more and out of the room as natalie swallowed hard. He made his way out into the livingroom where he proceeded in pouring himself a drink..

"is there someone she would of given it to" Natalie asked as he leaned his head back and downed his drink..

"dont you think that if I would of known that I wouldnt be standing here" he snapped at her..

"I was only saying" Natalie began as he looked at her now..

"your not helping" he said dryly and she huffed..

"well im trying to ok" she snapped right back at him.."I need a phone" she said as she looked around for one and than quickly darted towards it and began dialing, maybe her uncle could find something out..John too began dialing his phone, he was going to put the word out and see if anyone heard anything..

They both made their calls and put out the word regarding the ring. Bo was reluctant to help concerning the ring. He still felt like John couldnt be trusted even if Evangeline was dead. He kept reminding natalie that he was souless and that until things were figured out that he shouldnt be going anywhere near Victoria, that was once they found her..

"i understand your concern Bo but its all we got, so if you could please ask around about the ring" she pleaded with him as he finally sighed deep..

"fine, when are you coming home" he said as she stared at John who was yelling angrily at someone on the phone now, demanding that they help him find the ring, that they owed him..

"as soon as I get her back" natalie finished.."i got to go" she said and hung up before he could lecture her more.. John too was hanging up his phone as he looked at her.."he is going to look into it"

"Great so now were just gonna sit here and she is out there with that son of a bitch" John snapped and then looked up at the ceiling.."You hear me you fucker, bring my daughter back!" he yelled furiously..

Time seemed to be ticking by incredibly slow as they stayed in that room, John was drinking once more and natalie was now sitting on the large sectional couch, her mind spinning, she just had to get Victoria back, she had to..He hadnt said much to her as he stayed in his own little world..

Finally he did.."how old is she?" his words broke the silence as Natalie looked at him..

"three months, give or take" she said quietly as he walked over, drink in hand..

"can I see a picture" he finally said low and natalie swallowed hard as she pulled out her wallet and handed him one. It had been taken just a few weeks ago. She was wearing a tiny blue dress, her feet bare and the tiniest hint of a smile on her little face.."she looks just like you" he said as he stared at the features of his daughter, their daughter. She had that same red hair, those same blue eyes, hell even her smirk was like Natalie's.

"she is a really good baby, barely cries and sleeps through the night" she said softly as he looked at her.."we have to find her John"

John nodded his head as he handed her back the photo.." we will" he said and then they went back to silence as natalie stared at the picture of her daughter..

After a few minutes of silence John finally spoke.."we cant just sit around and wait" she looked up at him as he paced.."you said she was taken from lanview right, from your place?"

"yeah..." she said cautiously, she didnt know where this was going but she was beginning to have an idea..

"then were going there" he said quickly..

"Oh I dont think that is a good idea" she said quickly, the last thing she needed was bringing John around the gang, they would have an absolute fit..

"Let me guess.. im not very welcomed there" he said dryly and she swallowed hard..

"yeah something like that" she said honestly..

"well they are just going to have to get over it" he said with a shake of his head..

"I dont think you fully understand the situation" she stood now as he looked at her..

"she was taken from there and thats where we need to go" he said seriously..

"I just dont think that would be a very good idea ok, they have mixed feelings about you" she said quickly..

"Listen they could hate me for all I care, were going" he stepped closer to her..

"wait.." she said as she stepped back.."if were going to go there" she swallowed hard.."cant we just take a car or plane, maybe your jet?"

"we dont have time for all of that, were hundreds of miles away and this is much quicker" he said as he neared her once more.."come on you should be an old pro by now" he lightened up some..

"I just dont like it" she said as he got right in front of her..

"last time it wasnt so bad" he raised an eyebrow at her and she remembered the last kiss and her heart began to race..

"Not particularly" she said quickly..

"explain to me why you seem so nervous when I know you want me to kiss you" he said surprisingly as her eyes got wide..

"what, no I didnt say" she began as her heart raced faster.."are you trying to read my mind again cause its rude and my thoughts are my own" she began to ramble nervously..

He smiled now amusingly.."so you do what me to kiss you then?"

"No I wasnt saying that" she swallowed hard and then he closed in the distance..

"we were close enough to make a child together, a simple kiss is nothing compared to" he began with a smirk..

"yeah well its different now" she said quickly..

"Oh were back to the whole souless thing, huh" he rolled his eyes but he didnt move, he was so close..

"you have to admit it makes things complicated" she said honestly..

"so you still dont trust me" he asked with a raised eyebrow..

"I dont know what I think" she said nervously..

"Maybe the problem here is that you think too much" he said as his hand came onto her arm and she swallowed hard.."maybe what you really need to do is let me worry about this for a little bit, even if it means your friends hate me, trust me I can handle that" he said honestly..

"you know when you say that it almost seems like" her voice trailed, she didnt want to finish that sentence but he did..

"like I have a soul?" he rolled his eyes and slowly dropped his hand from her arm.."i guess we all have our moments but enough about all of that, we got places to go and people to see, so you better hang on tight" he grinned and before she could react he was grabbing her and pulling her against him as they whipped through the air..

She screamed as they flew at lightning speed, god it really did feel like her skin was becoming separated from bone. The pain was absolutely unbearble but than just as quick as it started it ended as her feet hit solid ground. She was heaving and panting as the pain began to subside.."You know we really have to figure out another way to get places" she breathed heavy as he stood there unaffected.."that doesnt hurt you?"

"I guess im just use to it" he said with a shrug of his shoulders..

"well lucky you" she said with a roll of her eyes and than they landed at the long driveway that lead up to her place.."how did you know?" she asked with confusion and shock.

"i dont know, I just did" he said nonchalantly..."shall we do this"

Natalie straightened herself and took a deep breath, she knew this wasnt going to be pretty, hell she knew this was going to be absolutely horrible but she walked anyways. Her friends would have to deal with this because like it or not, John may be the only way they could get Victoria back..

As they neared the front of the house she stopped.."maybe you should wait here for a moment so I can prepare everyone" she said nervously, she really hated the idea of bringing him by everyone..

"havent you ever heard the saying about ripping off a bandaid quick, it hurts much less" he said dryly as he began to walk up to the door..

"wait..wait" she said nervously as he stopped and huffed.."atleast let me walk in first, we dont need anyone trying to kill you on the spot" she said honestly..He rolled his eyes but nodded for her to go first and she swallowed hard as she opened the door, this was it, like it or not they were in lanview..

The house was eerily quiet as they entered.."Hello?" she called out with a nervous tone, no one answered but than she heard her uncle bo talking loudly, he seemed annoyed and she looked at John and than headed to his office as John followed in tow..She gave a small knock on the office door..

Bo grumbled.."come in" and she looked at John once more..

"Please behave" she said to him quickly and he smiled..

"dont I always" he remarked and she rolled her eyes as she opened the office door, Bo was on the phone and his eyes got wide as he looked at her..

"i'll call you right back" he said as he hung up abruptly and looked at her in shock.."you came back" he said as he stared at her and before she could say anything he was rushing over to her and hugging her tight.."thank god you came back, I was going crazy here without you, everyone was" he continued.."I am so sorry that I let him in, that he took her" he began apologetically, he was still unaware of John outside the cracked open door..

"Its ok Uncle Bo, I dont blame you, you wouldnt of thought that he would take her, hell I wouldnt of thought it either" she said honestly as he pulled back and looked at her..

"are you really ok, he didnt hurt you did he?" he began as he looked her over.."how did you get here so fast"

"its amazing what the mind can do when it wants something bad" John said as he stepped in behind her and Bo's eyes got wide as he stared at John..

"Im fine Bo, I promise and john, well he is here to help" she said quickly, she could see that he was getting more pissed by the second..

"You can relax Bo, I didnt come here for trouble" John said dryly as Bo narrowed his eyes at him..

"Oh I am quite sure that trouble just follows you around" Bo said seriously as he than looked at natalie.."what are you thinking bringing him here, when the guys get back they are going to be livid"

John spoke before Natalie did.."regardless of how you all feel about me, my daughter was taken from here and im not leaving until I find something to get her back"

"Oh really now" Bo challenged him..

Natalie stepped between them quickly and she looked at her uncle.."Bo I know what I am doing ok, he killed evangeline, he stopped the apocalypse"

"yeah but why?" Bo asked suspiciously.."what exactlly is in it for you, huh" he said to John..

John rolled his eyes and came into the room more as Bo back up, taking natalie with him.."we could do this dance all day" John said sarcastically..

"if you think for one minute that just because your a sperm donor that im going to change the way I feel" Bo snapped..

"Bo, please ok... I told you he is here to help" she said quickly as she looked at him..

"you can think whatever you want, im not leaving" John said quickly as he walked across the room..

"this was a bad idea bringing him, he was horrible with a soul and now this" Bo said to her as he shook his head..

"He stopped evangeline from killing me ok, thats good enough for me" Natalie said honestly..

"and that doesnt change what he is" Bo said quickly as he spun and looked at John.."this is my house"

"and its my house too" Natalie snapped.."he stays" she was surprised at how strong she sounded and Bo looked taken back too.."please just let us look around ok, this is about Victoria lets not forget that"

Bo stood for a moment and than breathed heavy.."i still dont like it and I dont trust you" he looked straight at John..

"the feeling is mutual" John said dryly..

The sound of a commotion and voices in the hall made Natalie spin, everyone was home. Her heart began to race and than the door opened..

"i went and checked out that demon den, no one knows a thing or atleast they arent talking" Steele said as he entered the room first, followed by Cris, Rex , Gigi and the others, he stopped in mid sentence as his eyes landed on natalie.."Your back" he said in shock as he grabbed her tight and hugged her as everyone rushed in the room..

"what the fuck is he doing here" Rex and Cris yelled out as Steele spun his head and they all stared at John..

"everyone just relax" natalie quickly backed up and put her hands up.."he is here to help"

"help my ass, more like help himself" Rex snapped as he pushed past everyone and so did Cris and than Steele as Natalie got in front of them.."what the hell are you doing natalie, he is a fucking monster, a souless" Rex began as John rolled his eyes.."oh let me get my gun"

"stop it ok, everyone, I want him to be here ok" Natalie yelled out as everyone got quiet..

"have you lost your mind" Cris said to her.."you know what he is"

"Im not going to let you do this Nat" Rex said with anger as everyone got quiet..

"i guess im not getting a big welcome huh" John said sarcastically..

"shut up ass hole" Steele snapped at him.."natalie tell me your not buying his shit again, last time it nearly got you killed"

"Listen this was my choice ok, and I say he stays" she snapped at them all..

"Bo you cant let this happen, you cant not after everything" Cris said angrily to Bo..

"This is my choice Cris, so butt out" Natalie snapped at him.."actually why doesnt everyone get out of this room"

"Nat look at me" Rex said with worry.."he cant be trusted, he was planning the damn apocalypse"

"stopped it actually but whose counting" John interjected as they looked at him..

"listen you sorry piece of shit, im not buying your act" Rex snapped..

"thats enough" Bo roared out as everyone looked at him, including natalie.."if Natalie says he can stay than damn it he stays!"

"this is bullshit" Cris snapped..

Steele eyed John cautiously.."im with rex on this one Bo, he cant stay here"

"none of you have a choice so either he stays or I leave!" natalie snapped as they looked at her.."have we all forgotten what is at stake here, my daughter is missing" she yelled with a shakened voice as they all got quiet..

"But Nat" Rex said low now..

"No...no buts Rex.. he is staying and if you dont like it than you have to go through me" she stood tall..

"thanks for the protection but I can handle myself" john said quickly as Natalie spun and shook her head at him.."i mean we could do this old school style and meet at 3 in the parking lot" John smirked..

"dont tempt me" Steele seethed..

"Can you not instigate" Natalie snapped at John who rolled his eyes and walked over to the window, turning his back on them..She looked back at her friends.."we all want Victoria back and fighting isnt going to help anything" she said seriously.."so if you dont like this than you can leave but if you give even an ounce of a damn about my daughter than you will let me do this, my way"

Some of her friends began walking out of the room, shaking there heads as they mumbled under their breath. It left Rex, steele and Cris there.."I mean it" Natalie said quickly as she looked at them..

"if he does one thing and I swear just one thing" Steele began and then stopped short.."you better dot your i's and cross your t's buddy" he said as he stormed out of the room and John turned around slowly..

"I got this" Natalie said to Rex and Cris..

"I swear if you harm one hair, just one hair on my sister" Rex snapped at John who refused to look at him..

"this is unbelievable" Cris huffed and than he too stormed out of the room..

"rex I know what im doing, please have some faith in me" she said honestly as he eyeballed John..

"fine but if he gives me even one reason to doubt his sincerity, I swear nat" Rex said with heavy breaths..

"can we uh speed this up a bit, I mean time is crucial here" John finally spoke..

"meet me in the kitchen" Rex said to Natalie and then he looked at John.."Im watching you buddy" he snapped and then huffed as he stormed out of the room..

"cheerful bunch you got there" John said sarcastically..

"I told you that they werent going to be happy so dont make me regret this" Natalie said quickly to John who ran a hand through his hair..

"You got a drink Bo, I could really use something" John said quickly..

"there's a bottle of scotch over there" Bo pointed to his desk and than he looked at natalie.."I hope to god you know what your doing Natalie" he finished as he shook his head..