John & Natalie #12 December 8, 2005 - February 22, 2006: 8 hour original edit

12/9 Natalie seeks comfort from Rex at the diner. They talk about their old lives and wonder when they started to develop consciences. Rex warns Natalie that she can't let John and Cristian's behavior cause her to fall into the arms of a loser. Cristian receives a visit in his hospital room from Carlotta. She tells him that she is so grateful to have another chance with her son, and that she is not mad at him for keeping his identity a secret. She also reminds him that now he has a second chance with Natalie.

Carlotta then takes off for the diner, where she runs into her daughter-in-law. She can't hold back her enthusiasm about Cristian, and she is somewhat stunned to see that Natalie is not so excited. Natalie tells Carlotta that it's going to take some time for she and Cristian to heal and that she's not even sure she can ever forgive him. Carlotta crumbles against the diner counter, shocked at Natalie's words.

Evangeline is shaken when she runs into John but John apologizes to her for not letting her in on the truth about Cristian earlier. Van is grateful for John's words, but chagrined when the judge does not agree to release Cristian. Van heads back to the hospital to give her client the bad news, and she is shocked when Cristian has a violent outburst, throwing things around the room and vowing that he will not waste the rest of his life in prison.

John receives the sobering news that Natalie has resigned from the station. Fresh from her confrontation with Carlotta, Natalie stops by the station. She and John stare into each other's eyes, and Natalie's pain is evident. Will she let John know just how she feels about his betrayal?

12/12 Natalie confronts John in the precinct house and demands to know if he would have kept her in the dark forever about her husband being alive if Carlo hadn't confessed. John tries to explain his actions to an angry Natalie. He swears it tore him apart keeping the truth from her. She asks him how could he get involved with her knowing her husband was alive. He tells her that he went to Cristian and told him about his involvement with Natalie and gave him every chance to tell her the truth. Natalie snarks what did they flip a coin over who would get her? Natalie icily informs John that she hates him and always will.

12/13 Cristian receives a visit from Natalie who demands answers. He admits that he didn't know his true identity when he first returned but retrieved his memory rapidly after John had the DNA test performed. He wanted her to go on and remember him as he was previously. He loves her too much to let her go, he continues. He thought about her and dreamed about her all of the time and he changed his mind when he learned that there was a chance that he could get out of prison.

She retorts that she's angry that she didn't have a chance to make a choice on her own. He knows she still loves him and kisses her until she pulls away, informing him that anything that they had before is dead, like she is inside. Cris is taken back to prison with a sobbing and hidden Natalie looking on as a music montage plays.

12/15 John asks Cristian to back off and give Natalie some space and time to process everything that's transpired. John gives Cris his word he'll step out of the way if Natalie ever chooses to reconcile with her husband.

An unhappy Natalie visits Bo in the hospital. He tells her he just found out about Cristian’s identity just before the prison break. She confides how upsetting it will be if Cris is set free. He tells her that none of this situation is her fault. She just doesn’t know what is right anymore.

Natalie goes to the prison and informs an agitated Cristian that she wants a divorce. She tells him she just needs to be with herself, not as Cris’ wife or John’s girlfriend.

12/19 Fantasizing that Natalie has come to take him home after his name has been cleared, Cristian seeks a meeting with his attorney so he can get out of prison. Meanwhile, John remembers happier times with Natalie as he works out.

12/20 Nat gets stuck having to talk to John about work and tries to be nothing but professional, calling him lieutenant instead of by his name. He wants to remain friends but she only wonders what they would possibly have to talk about since he killed their friendship with his actions. She says that what sucks the most is he was her best friend! She tells him that she really needs that friend right now but thanks to him she has nothing but lies and betrayal.

He promises her that he is there for him if she needs him. He's afraid she'll hook up with the wrong person due to her feelings over both Cris and himself. He asks her not to go running to someone else who will hurt her. Feeling ashamed is only part of what he should feel, she tells him in response. There's no person she would get together with who would be worse than him. She learns of the possibility of Cris getting out of jail and hopes he does. What he did is not his fault. She won't be there for him though.

Evangeline lets Cris know that she's presented his case to the Supreme Court in Harrisburg and all they can do is wait for the decision. He shows her the divorce papers he's received but he wants to get Natalie back as well as deal with John. He won't sign the papers.

12/21 Jessica and Natalie give their delighted mother a cameo which matches the ones she presented to them several years earlier. John agrees to stand in for Bo during the annual holiday tree lighting in Angel Square. Great holiday scenes as John, Natalie, Cristian are all in the square and exchange meaningful glances. Carlotta cries tears of joy to learn that Cristian has finally earned his release from prison. Music montage.

12/22 Cris fields questions from eager members of the press as Natalie watches from the sidelines. Michael grouses to John about Cristian using Christmas Eve as his own star turn. Cris informs Natalie he's not giving up on their marriage. Later, Evangeline offers an unhappy Natalie some words of support.

12/23 At Llanfair, Natalie goes through a box of Christmas decorations that Viki has brought down from the attic. She is disturbed when she comes across her and Cristian's old Christmas stockings, and she has a flashback to a happier time. Cristian has stopped by Antonio's loft to visit his brother and Jessica. Jess fills him in on her DID, and Cristian is understandably surprised. Antonio answers a phone call from Natalie, who asks to speak with Cris. Natalie asks him to come by Llanfair, and he leaves with the promise of seeing Antonio at Carlotta's for Christmas dinner.

John stops by to see Bo at the hospital and has an intense conversation with him. He orders John to see a psychiatrist if he wants to remain in his position as Chief of Detectives. John is furious and storms out of Bo's room, but at least Bo gets the go-ahead from Paige to leave the hospital that night! Bo and Matthew are excited about their plans to finally build the tree house.

When Cristian arrives at Llanfair, Natalie demands that he take the ornaments and stockings. He says that they belong to both of them, and that he doesn't want them. Natalie insists that she will throw them out, and Cristian tells her to do as she pleases. She holds up the divorce papers and asks him once again to sign them.

When he refuses, Natalie screams at him to give her back her freedom, telling him that she could never love him after what he did to her. Cristian ignores her and pulls her into a passionate kiss to which she responds. After he pulls away, Natalie asks him why he did that; he points to the hanging mistletoe. He leaves Llanfair, and Natalie is visibly shaken.

Meanwhile, John has come on to the terrace with a box of chocolates and witnessed the kiss through the window. He watches Natalie with a sad expression on his face.

12/26 Evangeline accuses John of being a grinch after she finds him working at his desk on Christmas Eve. John fondly recalls a Christmas with his dad long ago.

John tells a surprised Michael how lucky he feels to have him as a brother. Natalie gives John a medal of St. Jude for Christmas. Christmas music montage.

12/28 John is quick to come to Evangeline's defense when Hugh bothers her regarding her acceptance of a deal for Todd. She turns on John but lets up when he apologizes for having the reflex to stick up for her. She's upset that Hugh has the jury that he wanted. They are finally able to sit and make small talk without either of them getting angry.

Natalie pays Cristian a visit and attempts to hand him a check for $27,000 but he has the wrong idea and thinks she's trying to pay him off. When she reveals that she's sold his paintings he's even angrier, wondering if she was low on cash or wanted to get rid of him in every way to be with John. Taken aback, a wounded Natalie explains how painful it was to have the beautiful paintings around and how amazing it was to sell them and keep him alive forever. She is angry over his thinking the worst of her but is soothed when Cris apologizes and agrees to keep the check. She asks to see his new work but he is not ready to show it yet, even though he always showed her everything. She's hurt again and leaves while he quickly follows.

At the police station, Natalie bursts into John's office with the confirmation of his psychiatric evaluation issued by internal affairs. Being concerned, she wants to know about it, she demands. He tries to say its standard after the prison riot. Citing the fact that they're no longer together, he informs her that basically it's none of her business. She's quick to retort that he'd keep it to himself even if they were together. He relents and explains that it's either the exam to keep his badge or he'll be forced to take a leave of absence. They manage to joke around; she suggests that now would be a good time to use the St. Jude's medal.

12/29 Bo shows Cristian the plaque Natalie had placed outside the church when she believed her husband was dead. Natalie suggests to John that they wipe the slate clean instead of starting the new year angry. John and Cris face off again on the subject of Natalie over the pool table at Rodi’s.

12/30 On New Year’s Eve, Cristian hands Evangeline a check for twenty-seven thousand dollars as payment for her services and as a retainer to help him keep his marriage to Natalie intact. Evangeline tells him that she helped him for moral reasons, but that she can't assist him with Natalie. She tells him that forcing Natalie to stay married to him is not the best way to win her back.

1/3 Cristian encounters Natalie in Angel’s Square and reminds her that no one should be alone on New Year’s Eve. Cris tells Natalie he's decided to give her a divorce after all. Evangeline finds John back at his desk late at night.

1/4 Antonio asks John if he can run another check on Nash and though John becomes busy when pursed by the doctor sent over by Internal Affairs, Antonio successfully gets into the database on his own. He finds an order of protection issued against Nash. John has his own issues and is not able to get rid of Dr. Crosby, even finding him in his office after walking away from him.

The doctor refuses to let John choose what he wants to talk about, asking him about Natalie instead. He declines to let John get away without revealing his feelings even though John tries to plead his own case. He's never broken the rules or lost control while on the job. Dr. Crosby cites John's losses of his father and fiancée and mentions that he will really lose it if another loss occurs. The doctor guesses that John always wants to be the one in control and hasn't been able to do that. John gets angry and leaves.

Natalie visits Cris because he wants to prove to her that they belong together. He shows her his latest work; it's a portrait of her made with remnants of their past life together. Items include a ticket stub, a portion of their wedding invitation, the deed to their cottage. Natalie seems touched but becomes angry as she accuses Cris of using tactics to get to her. She loves his work and he's using that love, she charges. The issue is his betrayal and the divorce will go through, she continues. In her heart she is no longer his wife.

1/5 Bo orders John to either continue his sessions with Dr. Crosby or face indefinite suspension. Michael presses his brother to admit that he's been thinking about their dad. Worried about his brother, Michael urges John to keep seeing the shrink.

1/6 Cristian and John decide to have a friendly boxing match at the gym, but their respective emotions regarding Natalie cause things to become somewhat competitive. Cris gets the upper hand on John this time, but between punches, the adversaries manage to express themselves just a little bit. Both of them admit to missing Nat, and Cris makes it clear that he's not just going to lie down and grant her a divorce. In spite of the bond they forged during the prison riot, it's evident that the men will never be the best of friends.

Meanwhile, Natalie soothes her aching heart by spending a bit of quality time with Rex and Roxy, who has just returned from her cruise. Together, the Balsoms bemoan the state of their love lives. Rex fills his mother and sister in on the debacle with Adriana and the Ultraviolet employee, and Natalie opens up about her feelings for the men in her life. Her tears flow freely as she talks about John and Cris.

1/9 Starr has perched herself in the center of the police station, refusing to leave until she hears something about her father's case, she tells John. John gives the worried girl his word that the Llanview PD. will not railroad Todd if they find proof he's innocent.

Later, Natalie takes her out for hot chocolate. Before John can even stop gazing at Nat's back, Bo summons him into his office PRONTO. The commish is not happy about John's episode with the therapist, or his failure to promise an effort. Left with no choice he asks for John's weapon and badge!!! Only then does the detective agree to participate fully in his therapy sessions. "What did you think he was going to do, talk to you about sports?" - Bo, after John complains that his shrink was getting "way too personal.”

Upon returning to the station, Natalie finds out about John's sparring match with Cris. John asks if what Cris said is true, is she divorcing him to be with John?

1/10 Natalie icily informs John that her divorce had nothing to do with him. Natalie tells John she hates him and can never forgive his lies. John thinks about his own dad as he watches a tender father/son moment between Bo and Matthew. Matthew suggests to a startled John that he may need closure on the subject of his late father. Natalie is outraged to hear how Evangeline brought up Viki's DID in open court.

1/11 Natalie introduces herself to Tess and then calls her on her actions. Nat then confronts Evangeline and warns her that she'll destroy her if she talks about her family again.

1/12 John receives Dr. Crosby's assessment and is irked to read that the shrink has diagnosed him with a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder. John offers Evangeline a sympathetic ear and a comforting hug.

1/13 At the station, Natalie walks in on Evangeline and John locked in a friendly embrace. She tears into them, accusing John of cozying up to the woman who just attacked her mother on the stand. Evangeline says that she's not putting up with this and removes herself from the scene. Natalie then proceeds to rip into John, asking him how he can be friends with a woman who tried to destroy her mother.

John reminds Natalie that Evangeline is just doing her job, and he also points out that not everyone is in a conspiracy against Natalie. She tells John that she is done with him, and he finally unleashes his anger, telling Nat that she can't have it both ways, either she needs to stop talking to him altogether or quit sticking her nose into his business. When he says that he's always been upfront with her, she reminds him that the whole reason their relationship ended is because he kept Cristian's secret.

As she walks away again, John grabs her and pulls her towards him. He tries to remind her of their connection, but Natalie insists that he only wanted to be with her because she needed saving. She says that Evangeline didn't need to be saved, and that's why things didn't work out between them; and now, Natalie claims that she no longer needs to be saved either. She storms out of the station.

Dvd #12B 1/16 A very edgy John arrives late for his session with Dr. Crosby, and is confrontational and hostile from the get-go, forcing Crosby to remind him that he's not far away from "forced retirement". John conveniently uses his subpoena as an excuse to leave early.

At Llanfair, Natalie is furious to discover Tess modeling Nat's wedding dress without permission. The pregnant alter manages to tear the zipper in the process, causing Natalie to discard it outside in a trash bag, but not before warning Tess of the dangers of love. The former Mrs. Vega gets a call from Dr. Crosby and leaves Tess alone to talk to him.

Upon arriving at the LPD, Natalie hesitates when Crosby's line of questioning turns to Johh, who is not happy to find them talking moments later.

1/17 Outraged to find Natalie in Dr. Crosby's office, John bitterly accuses her of trying to get back at him. Natalie explains to John how the shrink set her up and promises her former flame she said nothing about him to Crosby. Dr. Crosby warns Natalie he's holding John's career in his hands but she rails at the therapist for sullying a hero's name.

1/18 While Nash searches for Tess he runs into Cristian and then Natalie. He explains that Tess is missing and even though Cris suspects that Nash wants to keep Tess in charge, he agrees they should help to locate her. If Tess is in trouble, then Jess is in trouble as well, he states. Nash also advises them that Tess was upset by the amnio and that the sample was destroyed.

When Cris reveals that Jess is a reporter and that her investigative trait may have transferred to Tess, it dawns on Nash that he may know where she is. He thanks Cris for offering to help and not judging him and heads off to check out the schedule for trains to NYC. Nat is confused as to why Cris was so nice but he indicates that he thinks the man is honest. He's certainly torn up over Tess and Cris can relate.

1/20 Viki and her daughters spend some much needed catching up time over breakfast. Viki is disturbed to learn that Natalie gave away her wedding dress, because she was holding out hope for a Nat and Cris reunion. Clint interrupts. Carlotta and Cristian bond at the diner, and he convinces his mother to help him get some alone time with Natalie. Carlotta fakes being sick, and Cris closes the diner, trapping Natalie inside with him. She is cold towards him, going so far as to insult his coffee! Before she can storm off, Cris convinces her to listen to him for fifteen minutes. He takes her back to the happier days of their relationship, and by the time he's done, Cris feels confident that he is going to win Natalie back.

1/23 On a food run, John happens upon Van and brings up her spirits with a pair of lawyer jokes. Without the cloud of relationship issues, the two truly seem to enjoy one another's company.

1/24 As Evangeline second guesses the defense she mounted, John reminds the dejected lawyer that Todd alone is responsible for whatever punishment is meted out. Natalie and Jessica keep their grateful mother company as she heads to the courthouse.

1/25 The verdict is read and Todd is found guilty of first degree murder. Guilty of all charges is what everyone hears at Todd's trial. Chaos ensues as Todd flips over the table and screams for Blair; the judge calls for order. There is shock, along with tears and disbelief among people in the courtroom, except for Spencer and Denton who try hard to hide their smiles. John makes an attempt to comfort Evangeline who asks him to help her find the real person responsible for the murders. As far as he's concerned the case is closed unless there's evidence to the contrary, he tells her.

As Marcie rehearses a beautiful but haunting song for Michael, there are scenes of togetherness and consolation and sadness from many of the town's citizens. Adriana and Rex, Bo and Matthew, Starr is home with Blair, David and Dorian, Evangeline cries as John looks on, Viki cries as Todd is taken to Statesville as she leans into Clint's arms.

1/26 Down at the police station, the cops are forced to let a junkie loose on the streets because of a technicality. John loses his temper when the junkie makes advances on Natalie. He is reprimanded by Dr. Crosby. While waiting for Bo in his office, a photograph of Bo and Matthew inspires John to remember (flashback) comforting Michael as a child, after their father's death. He told his brother that their dad was good cop, and "that's the best thing you can be." Bo tries to get John to open up about what's bothering him, but he is unsuccessful.

The junkie from the police station almost assaults Carlotta in the park, but Cristian comes to his mother's rescue. The junkie flees.

On her way back from the station, Natalie runs into the three Vegas. After Carlotta excuses herself and Jamie, Cristian reminds Natalie of the dreams they once had of a family of their own. Natalie says that those dreams died when he did. Cristian responds by saying he isn't dead, and pulls her into an unexpected kiss. When Natalie claims to be unaffected by it, Cristian tells her he still knows when she's lying.

The junkie enters the church and pulls a gun on Michael. Fortunately, Reverend Stevens witnesses Michael's trouble and leaves to call the police. At the station, John takes the call.

1/27 John walks through the church doors and sees that it is his brother who has a gun pointed at him, he takes matters into his own hands, and opens fire at the junkie, putting three bullets into the junkie. As the he falls dead to the church floor, Michael flips out. He checks the guy's pulse, and then starts berating John for putting both of their lives in danger.

John is stoic, insisting that he needed to do what he did in order to save Michael's life. Michael is amazed by his brother's complete lack of emotion. John orders the area secured, and soon Bo shows up, demanding McBain's weapon. John hands it over, but maintains to Bo that he did nothing wrong. Bo is concerned that John fired three times, and also that he put Michael's life at risk. He orders John to be escorted to the station by another officer in order to undergo questioning by Internal Affairs. After John leaves, Michael tells Bo that he is worried. He says that John has finally lost control and that he's afraid he'll end up dead, just like their father.

At the station, Dr. Crosby and a representative from Internal Affairs rip into John for his careless behavior. John tries to brush them off, but he is ordered to hand over his badge immediately. John argues that he doesn't have to hand it over for 24 hours, but Dr. Crosby insists that if he doesn't, he will be locked up. Evangeline enters the station in time to witness John hand over his badge. After he storms out, Dr. Crosby asks her why she is not going after him. "He doesn't want me," Evangeline says. "He doesn't want anybody right now."

1/31 An overwrought Michael confides to Evangeline his fears about his brother going over the edge. Cristian encounters John at the gym and realizes that the suspended officer is struggling with some personal demons.

2/1 At Capricorn, John is annoyed when he overhears his name in a conversation between Evangeline and Cristian. Evangeline expresses her concern to John because she knows something is bothering him. Cris heads over to Natalie while John defends his actions. Evangeline thinks he should talk to Dr. Crosby. Natalie offers her own advice to John and it's the same but for a different reason. She thinks he should play the game in order to get his badge back and is surprised when John agrees. Furthermore, he'll do it to make everyone else happy, he says, though he doubts it will help any. Nat is lucky he's not her responsibility.

Nat appears to be jealous when Evangeline and Cris begin to dance (Cris persuades Evangeline and tells her it's not to make Nat jealous) and she asks to cut in. She can't believe Cris' choice of a dance partner. Cris informs her that Evangeline is a good friend. He states that he's glad that he's not John as he seems pretty sorry trying to hide his pain behind his macho tattoos. He's started a new calendar and where Nat was penciled in on his previous page, it's Evangeline who is there now.

2/2 John returns to the scene of the crime at the church, and is confronted by Natalie. Although he maintains that he would not change his actions, he confesses to Nat that he is worried about his relationship with his brother. He then confides that saving Michael the way he did was also in effort to keep a promise he made to his father. John asks Natalie why she won't just walk away?

Natalie reaches out to him, saying she can't, and that despite everything, he still matters to her, and she wants to help him. John claims that Natalie is better off without him. She relents, looking hurt. After she is gone, John remembers (flashback) his father telling him to always take care of Michael. John apologizes to Michael, and is forgiven. The two McBain brothers find peace with the situation.

2/3 Clint, Antonio, Nash, Natalie, and Bo begin the search for Viki and Jessica, who are actually hiding out as Niki Smith and Tess. Nash and Antonio nearly come to blows when the former reveals that Viki walked in on him with his arms around Jessica. Clint breaks them up, and Nash makes it clear that he is in love with Tess, not Jessica.

Clint and Natalie bond, and she discusses her feelings of conflict over Cristian and John. Clint reminds her that life is too short not to be with the one you love. Natalie makes a phone call, telling the person on the other end of the line that she's been doing a lot of thinking and would like to meet up for a chat.

2/6 Roxy presses Natalie to reveal which man she's chosen, then is amused to see John walk into Capricorn. Natalie offers an olive branch to John.

2/7 Cristian told Evangeline to take off her clothes. After some clarification, she learned that Cris just wanted her to change clothes, as he was going to be helping her paint, as a sort of occupational therapy. Cris told Evangeline not to talk, not to think, just paint. John wasn't too keen on going to the Craze party with Natalie at Ultraviolet. He was so uncomfortable at the party he could barely cope. "I don't do this, working so hard to be friends," John said. "It's this or nothing, John. Do you want me out of your life?" Natalie replied. John said he liked being with Natalie because they "just were," and there wasn't a lot of talking. Natalie reminded him that then Statesville and Cristian happened. John wondered why Natalie "kept trying with me." The two went into the party and had a beer at the bar.

2/9 John comes to the police station looking for Bo, but finds Natalie first. Their relationship appears to be improving, and she tells him that Cristian has been spending time with Evangeline. Bo shows up. Bo and John go into Bo's office, where John asks for his badge back. He offers to talk to Dr. Crosby every week, but Bo can tell John is only willing to go through the motions. He has no intention of truly working on the issues that plague him. Bo says that until he does, he has no place on the force. Matthew arrives at the station with questions for Bo and John about how to help Starr. Both Bo and John share nice moments with Matthew. As John leaves, he tells Natalie that she inspired him to ask Bo where he stands.

Cristian knocks out one of the coach's trainees while sparring at the gym. The coach notices Cristian's skill, but can't talk to him about it because he runs off to meet Lindsay after she calls with a possible job opportunity. Unfortunately, the job is for a caricature artist for a sweet sixteen party. Natalie witnesses Cristian's ego being hurt in this way, and feels the need to reach out to him the way she did with John. He is surprised when she claims to be fine with his friendship with Evangeline, but resolves to believe she feels this way because she is back on track with John. The boxing coach arrives at the diner and tells Cris he ought to participate in an upcoming amateur match. Natalie, appearing worried, tries to convince him not to take up boxing professionally. Cristian asks her why she even cares.

John sees Dr. Crosby at the boxing gym and accuses him of "stalking." Crosby ends up holding the punching bag for John. While John throws punches at the bag, Crosby tries to get him to talk about his father. John shares a little bit, but grows angry and shuts down quickly.

2/10 Natalie and Cristian have a discussion at the diner, in which she tries to persuade him not to become a boxer. Cris says that he can't pass up that kind of money, but Natalie reminds him that he has to win first. She also expresses her distaste at walking in on Cristian and Evangeline's paint fight. Cris wants to know why she cares. Natalie says that if Evangeline goes after Cris, it's only to make her mad. Cristian takes offense at this comment and wants to know why Natalie can't forgive him like she forgave John. Nat insists that she didn't forgive John, but that she is trying to be more understanding, and that she would like to extend the same courtesy to Cristian. However, she tells him that if he gets together with Evangeline, she will hate it. She won't try to stop it, but she'll hate it.

John and Evangeline meet up at the police station as they each wait for a chance to talk with Bo. Evangeline is pleased to hear that John opened up a bit more to Dr. Crosby. John asks Bo for help getting his job back. Bo says that although Dr. Crosby is impressed that John is beginning to open up, he is not yet ready to recommend that John be reinstated. However, Crosby has decided that Bo can give John one assignment: to accompany Todd to the maximum security facility. John sees this as grunt work and humiliation, but Bo reminds him that it's a way to prove he's a team player.

Upon leaving Bo's office, John runs into Natalie and tells her that he may be getting his job back. She embraces him on the spot, and everyone in the station turns their gaze on the couple. Embarrassed, Natalie apologizes, but John doesn't seem to have minded.

2/14 Natalie wonders if John was responsible for the dozen red roses which appeared on her desk. Bo assigns a grumbling John to escort Todd to the maximum security prison to await execution. Crosby reminds John how he could earn back his badge if he does well with the prisoner transport. Natalie learns that Clint sent her the bouquet, of course she was hoping they were from John.

2/15 Natalie thanks Dr. Crosby for giving John a break. Crosby thinks the task is easy enough despite the fact that Natalie seems concerned. It's Todd she's worried about; her uncle is bad luck. Things always go wrong for John when they can, she feels. Crosby assures her that reinstating John will be considered as long as he completes the job and keeps his temper in check.

John waits for Todd so they can board the plane for his new living space. Todd still insists he's innocent and pleads to speak to Blair or Evangeline. John relents and loans him a cell phone though Todd can do nothing but leave the attorney a message. John asks for proof of his innocence; he was set up by Spencer Truman is all that Todd can offer. John can't help it but he only sees Walker Flynn when he looks at Todd and that was someone who got away with too much for far too long. He has no patience to hear anything that Todd might have to say.

A big surprise shows up in the form of Natalie who begs John not to go because she has a bad feeling. She starts to say that every guy she...then stops herself. She just doesn't want anything to happen. The men board the plane as she carries on and tries to get him not to go. He has to, he assures her, as he waves goodbye.

2/16 On the plane, Todd tries to convince John of his innocence, and urges him to question Paige about Spencer's plan. Natalie tells that the plane transporting Todd has been grounded due to the weather. She also shares her concerns for John. As the plane prepares for take-off, Todd vows to John that he will get his family back.

Witnessing Michael and Marcie's newfound happiness, Evangeline asks Cris how he proposed to Natalie. He reveals that his proposal was through a painting-and Natalie walks in on the conversation, adding, "On a rooftop in Angel Square." Evangeline excuses herself, and Natalie and Cristian look on uncomfortably as Michael and Marcie celebrate their engagement.

2/17 Natalie storms over to Cristian's loft to once again try to persuade him not to enter the boxing match. He is upset when she says "First John, and now you," referring to the fact that neither man will listen to her attempts to warn them that they are in trouble. Cristian interprets the "John first" part to mean that he will always come second to McBain. Natalie makes it clear that this is not what she meant. Cristian comes on to Natalie, telling her that he doesn't believe she is really over him, because she keeps popping up at his door. Natalie calls him a pompous bastard and storms off.

A little while later, Cris receives a phone call from Lindsay, telling him that she has found a buyer for his art. However, Lindsay is in cahoots with Natalie, who believes that if she buys Cristian's paintings, he will have a reason to stay away from boxing. Lindsay warns Natalie that she knows what it's like to be in love with someone who has broken your heart, and that if Nat isn't careful, this meddling will come back to bite her in the face. "It already has," says Cristian, who has arrived at Lindsay's gallery on a gut feeling, only to discover that Natalie has played him for a fool. He storms out, and Natalie runs after him, asking Lindsay if the night could possibly get any worse.

The night is just about to get worse for John and Todd, who are on the plane headed to the maximum security prison in Ohio where Todd is to await execution. Todd continues to plead with John to talk to Paige Miller and investigate Spencer as the person who really killed Margaret. Suddenly, Charlie, the pilot, calls McBain to the cockpit and informs him that due to an ice storm, they are being rerouted once again.

Meanwhile, turbulence has allowed Todd to loose himself from the handcuffs, and he gets the upper hand on Wallace, the incompetent officer who is guarding him. While Todd and Wallace struggle for Wallace's gun, the weapon goes off and shoots Charlie in the shoulder. He starts to go unconscious, but John gets him to point out the autopilot switch. John puts the plane on autopilot, then storms back to Todd, telling him that no one is flying the flight. Todd realizes what he has done. Will the plane go down?

2/20 Cristian accuses Natalie of trying to trick him into accepting her charity. Dismayed to learn how Cris still intends to fight his first match that very night, Natalie urges her ex not to step into the ring. Cristian prepares to face his first opponent.

Aboard the transport plane, John and Todd find themselves in serious trouble when the autopilot suddenly malfunctions. Todd is forced to fly the plane after John passes out in the cockpit. After regaining consciousness, John locks Todd back into his shackles just as the starboard engine bursts into flames. John cuffs himself to his prisoner as the plane begins its steep and rapid descent towards the ground. Bo reports to a worried Evangeline that Air Traffic Control has lost contact with the prisoner transport. Bo elects to keep Natalie in the dark about a possible problem with John's assignment.

2/21 Bo is shaken to learn that the plane carrying Manning and McBain has crashed. Meanwhile, John and Todd extricate themselves from the burning fuselage just in the nick of time. Todd revives John for the second time.

2/22 Natalie comes to the gym just in time to see Cristian knock out his opponent. Cris informs an appalled Natalie he's boxing not for the money but in order to make himself feel better about his life.

Bo hesitantly informs Evangeline that the plane carrying John and Todd has gone down. Meanwhile, at the crash site, John refuses to unshackle his prisoner as they seek shelter for the night. Evangeline fills in Natalie and Cris as word comes that there were probably no survivors from the crash. Clint admits to Bo how sorry he feels for Nash. Close to hysterics, Natalie lashes out at both Cristian and Evangeline.