John was seated in the squad room with Talia when Michael popped in to ask him for the key. Real fast, once Ramsey popped up, Antonio and Michael started in on a fake conversation about specialists and costs and other medical nonsense he didn't really understand. The conversation ended with Antonio storming off and Michael looking sad.
Once Ramsey went back into his office, John finally took a breath.
"Having Michael on our side has really paid off" Talia said.
"Yeah, he's a peach" John said, and Talia laughed a little too loud.
"She seems really comfortable around him" she said.
"they've always been friends, even before she and I – "he didn't say anything else.
Talia nodded, "That's good. When your family likes your significant other"
"Carlotta likes you?" John asked.
"Not right now. If she ever did"
"She's a tough customer" John said.
"How would you know that"
"Natalie was married to Cris for a while. I worry we still get spit in our coffee"
Talia laughed again, "If I know one thing, I know Carlotta takes her food too seriously to spoil it with spit"
"I hope so" he said.
"You want me to come over tonight?"
"I don't think so. With Mike there – "
"Right" she said, "what are you going to do"
"We'll figure it out" he said.
"I know you will"
He gently knocked on the door of room twelve. She had only mentioned once that she was in this room, and he knew there was Jared in one room around here, not to mention Marcie. She opened the door and wordlessly, he stepped inside.
"You look pretty" he said, and he set the sixpack he had gotten for them on the coffee table, "I figured-" he paused to assess what he saw, her bag was on the bed, and the few amount of clothes she had were being packed, "What's going on?"
"Um, I'm headed back to Llanfair tomorrow" Natalie said, "Jess came over after the burial"
"Out of the blue?"
"I don't think it was out of the blue"
"But she was mad at you yesterday, and today she wants you to move back in?"
"She said she needs help, and she's right" Natalie said.
"Yeah" John said, "I guess I just don't get the change"
"She remembered she needed her sister"
"I don't think she had that realization all of a sudden"
"I guess" she said, "but she's my sister and she needs me John"
"I know she does" he said, "but I'm worried about you"
"Nothing to worry about" Natalie said, "I got it"
"I know you can take care of her and yourself at the same time, I know you want to help out with Bree" John said, "but your mom asked you to stay away, your dad asked you to stay away – "
"I don't know that mom and dad were involved" Natalie said, "She came on her own, no one was with her"
"And that's not weird to you?"
"If she asked for space, they'd give it to her" Natalie said, moving the beer to the fridge. How nervous he was about this was rubbing her the wrong way.
"Natalie, I am worried"
"About"
"Why the sudden change? Why did she take a complete 180 on you?"
"I don't know" Natalie said, "but she needs me and I'm going. And I need you to understand that"
"I'm sorry" he said, "I know better than to tell you what to do, but I don't want you to get hurt"
"I'm not going to get hurt" Natalie said, "Jess wouldn't do anything – "
"Grief makes people different"
"I know" Natalie said.
John sighed, "You do" he paused, "Just – watch your back. Maybe Jess forgave you, maybe she didn't, but your dad – "
"Yeah" Natalie said, "You know I told Jess I wouldn't be there til tomorrow. So we could have one more night together"
He gently pushed her hair behind her ear. "I hate that this happened to you. I can't hate getting to sneak some time in with you"
"Same here" she said, "tomorrow we go back to sneaking phone calls and texts til you figure out how to kick Ramsey out of office"
"More fake dates with Talia"
"At least I'll probably be too busy with Jess and Bree to watch them" Natalie said, "I don't know that I can take another fistfight between you and Antonio"
"This will end soon, Antonio got a good lead" he said, "and after all this is done, you and me should take a vacation or something"
"Music to my ears" she gently kissed him.
"I am going to miss you" he whispered against her lips.
"I will too" she whispered back, "but you don't have to miss me tonight"
He smiled and kissed her again.