| The Tables hath Turned By Kasey Natalie was alone in the dark. Literally as well as figuratively. For the past month, Jeremy had been declaring them officially broken up. She�d denied it, not acknowledged the break up, but Jeremy kept on saying they weren�t together. Natalie had kept hope alive, reminding herself of the time he�d done this before. But then it had only been a week. And this time, she�d seen Jeremy walking out with the pretty blonde woman from West Coast Update. She finally was forced to acknowledge the truth. They were over. Rolling over onto her side, Natalie tried desperately to fall asleep. Yet no sleep filled her eyes - only tears. The next day at work, Natalie did everything she could to avoid Jeremy. But by the end of the day, people were starting to get suspicious. She managed to evade their questions, but Dan cornered her after the eight o�clock rundown. �Natalie, what�s going on?� he asked, his brown eyes worry-filled. �Nothing,� Natalie lied. �Nat, any idiot could tell you�re upset. Give us some credit. What�s wrong?� �I...� she considered. �In your office.� �Okay,� he said confusedly. Once they were in his office with the door closed, he stood there with a puzzled expression and waited for Natalie to explain. �Jeremy and I...we�re over,� she said. �you know he�s been declaring us broken up for a month. I denied it and denied it, but now...� Natalie trailed off, took a deep breath, and continued. �I saw him leave with that blonde woman from West Coast Update. You know, Sally�s second-in-command?� A single tear rolled slowly down her cheek. �oh, Natalie...� Dan said sympathetically. �He hugged her tight and, on there, in the safety of his arms, did she allow herself to sob. �What is up with people going out with the lesser equivalent of the one they love? I mean Jeremy...Casey...� �Rebecca,� Natalie added quietly. �Yeah,� Dan said regretfully. �Her too.� �I just don�t know what to do,� Natalie said tearfully. �We were together so long and I can�t...� �Shh.� Dan said soothingly, stroking her dark brown hair. �It�s all going to be okay, Nat. You�ll get through this, and your friends will help you. Dana, Casey, me...whatever you want. In fact, I�ll bet Dana would beat the crap out of Jeremy if you asked.� Natalie choked out a giggle. �You�re not alone.� �Thanks, Dan,� she said meekly, resting her head on his chest. �That helps.� �No problem,� he said. �You�re one of my best friends. It�s what I do.� �You weren�t lying to Rebecca.� �What?� he asked confusedly. �When you said you were Dan, doer of good thing where women are concerned. You weren�t lying.� �I...well...Bobbi has a different version of the story,� he said. He tried to act casual about the compliment, but Natalie could see he was blushing slightly. Dana walked in. �Dan, can you cut-� she stopped dead. �Natalie? Are you crying? What�s going on?� �Nothing,� they said at the same time. �I can tell this isn�t nothing. What�s wrong?� �Jeremy broke up with her,� Dan explained simply. �Didn�t you deny it?� Dana demanded. �Don�t tell me you gave up!� �I denied it over a month, and I can�t anymore. I saw him leaving with Sally�s second-in-command to dinner twice last week. It�s over,� Natalie said, her eyes filling with fresh tears. �Oh, Natalie...� Dana said sympathetically. �are you okay?� Natalie nodded shakily. �I will be, I guess.� Dan could see Natalie was getting upset again. �Did you need something Dana?� he asked in a desperate attempt to take the glaring light off of Natalie. Dana�s mind snapped back to work. �Yeah. I need you to cut Oakland down to two-thirty instead of two-forty, okay?� �No problem,� Dan said. �Anything else?� �Nope,� she said. �See you at ten. You�ll be all right, Natalie?� Natalie nodded. �Okay, then.� She walked out into the newsroom. �Thank you,� Natalie said gratefully to Dan. Dana was her best friend, but she didn�t want to have to answer all the questions. �No problem,� he said easily. �I understand where you�re coming from. After Rebecca...I must�ve avoided Casey for four days. You don�t want to talk to people because you don�t want to answer all the painful questions. But sooner or later, you have to talk to SOMEONE or you go nuts. So how about if you meet me in here after the show and we spend a night on the town. No questions asked, I promise.� Danny grinned his irresistable grin. �C�mon, it�ll be fun.� �I...sure,� Natalie said. It would be best to just take her mind off of it all. Besides, Dan had always been so great to her. The show went on as usual, the control room atmosphere stiffer than ever before. As soon as it was over, Natalie walked out of the control room, Jeremy at her heels. �Come on, Natalie, what�s wrong? Normally, you would�ve been announcing to everyone in the free world that we weren�t broken up,� Jeremy said. She spun to face him. �What�s wrong?!� she exploded. �You broke up with me! You started going out with the Sr. Associate of the 2 A.M., and left me in the dust, and now you want to know what�s wrong?! Just leave me alone, Jeremy!� She stormed to Dan�s office and started to cry. Half of her wanted to run back and apologize. But the other half reminded her that she had every right to say what she had. It was his fault. He�d ended it. Casey and Dan walked in, laughing about something, and stopped dead in their tracks as they saw Natalie sitting and crying in the chair. Dan walked over to her, knelt before her, and hugged her. �What happened?� he asked, holding her tightly. �I...Jeremy asked and I...told him...get lost...� came her disjointed reply. Casey backed out of the office with his coat. He�d obviously missed something, and he figured right that second wasn�t the best time to ask to be filled in. Once Natalie had calmed down enough, she told Dan about her exchange with Jeremy. �How could I have said that, Dan? I said such awful things.� �Nat, what you said was right,� Dan assured her. �You don�t owe him an apology. He owes you one.� �I guess,� she said doubtfully. �Hey, Nat, you still up for that night on me?� Natalie nodded and smiled. �That sounds great.� �Where to, then?� Dan asked. Natalie considered. �I need some comfort food. To Tony Anthony�s for some shrimp cocktail!� �You got it,� Dan said. HE led her out to his car. The rest of the night seemed to fly by. Around 4 a.m., Natalie pointed out that they had to be at work in 6 hours. �Can I just crash at your place?� she asked. �It�s closer and will save you a trip.� What she really wanted to say was, � It won�t remind me of all I�ve just lost.� �Sure,� Dan said. �It�ll be easier tomorrow, too...or this morning...You won�t have to walk since your car�s still at the building.� The change of scenery as she woke up five hours later was great, she decided as she looked around from her position on Dan�s couch. No painful reminders of Jeremy. Dan walked out of his bedroom a few minutes later, dressed and looking incredibly tired. �Note to self: Get more than 5 hours of sleep,� he muttered, then saw Natalie sitting awake on the couch. �Morning...want some coffee?� �Yeah,� she said, realizing how tired she was, �coffee would be great.� He handed her a cup and sat beside her with one of his own. They sipped in silence for a few minutes, then Dan spoke. �So how are you? Feeling better?� �Yeah,� Natalie said. �Last night helped. Just taking my mind off it...the change of scenery, too.� She sighed. �I...I just can�t avoid it forever. And going to work...I don�t know if I can face him...� Dan could see her lower lip trembling. He set down his cup and hugged her. �I�ll tell you what. If he says anything to you, come tell me. I�ll...talk....to him.� �Thanks,� Natalie said quietly. The drive to work was made in comfortable silence. As they walked into the building together, they met Jeremy in the elevator. �HI, Dan,� he said amiably, then saw Natalie and was silent. She edged to the opposite side of Dan. As soon as the elevator opened onto the 49th floor, she walked out as quickly as she could without seeming obvious. Meanwhile, Casey walked into Dana�s office. �Hey, Dana, can I ask you something?� Dana looked up. �Does it have to do with the dating plan?� �no.� �Then go ahead,� she said. �Is Natalie cheating on Jeremy?� Dana looked confused. �Haven�t you talked to him? They broke up.� �Then what I saw makes more sense,� he said. �She was upset and came into our office and Dan seemed to know what was going on and he was hugging her...� �Yeah,� Dana said. �I walked into your office after the 8 o�clock rundown last night, and she was in there with Dan and her eyes were red. I asked....poor Natalie.� Casey nodded. Then, as if the thought had just occurred to him, he asked , �Why�d she go to Dan?� �What do you mean?� she asked confusedly. �I mean, why wasn�t it your shoulder she was crying on?� �I don�t know,� Dana said. �Unless Dan confronted her about it. He�s always thought of her sorta like his little sister.� �Plus he�s secretly in love with her,� Casey said without thinking. Dana�s eyes lit up. �She�s secretly in love with him, too! We have to get the two of them together!� Casey started laughing. Dana looked indignant. �What?� �do you realize how much we sound like Natalie and Dan? All we have to do is substitute our names for theirs in what we just said.� Dana smiled. �You�re right...finally. I get to pay Natalie back for how annoying she was while I was going out with Gordon. If she would�ve said one more time that I should talk to you because I was secretly in love with you, a dead body would�ve been found somewhere in the newsroom.� Casey grinned. �Okay. YOU can start talking to Natalie today. I have to wait sixty days to bring it up to Dan.� �Statute of limitations?� �Yes,� Casey said. �At least I�ll get it right...I made the mistake of waiting 90 days. If I�d known the results, I would�ve come at the right time, or possible before.� �What do you mean?� Dana asked. �Well, you had your epiphany somewhere around day 100 after the breakup. If I�d kissed you on day 60, at least we could�ve already been on a few dates before you made up the dating plan.� He started out. �Talk to Natalie!� he called over his shoulder. �Talk to Natalie about what?� Natalie asked, coming into Dana�s office. �Nothing. Casey just found out about you and Jeremy and wanted me to be sure you were okay,� Dana said simply. �I�m doing okay,� Natalie said. �You know I�m always here if you want to talk, right?� Dana asked. �I appreciate it,� Natalie said sincerely. �You know who else you should talk to?� No time like the present to put the plan into motion, Dana told herself. �Who?� �You should talk to Danny,� Dana said, trying to hide how much she was enjoying saying it. �Why should I talk to Danny? I mean, I am, but why do YOU think I should?� Natalie asked suspiciously. �He�s good at this kind of thing,� Dana said, then quickly added, �plus you�re secretly in love with him.� Natalie looked shocked. �I�m what?!� �You are!� Dana said, secretly gloating. �No, I�m not!� Natalie protested weakly. �I�m in love with Jeremy publicly. We broke up, but I�m still in love with him. That�s why you can here me saying, I am in love with Jeremy!� �I know.� �GOOD.� �But you�re secretly in love with Dan!� Dana said gleefully. �I. Am. NOT!� Natalie said, storming out of Dana�s office. Dana couldn�t help but smile. Yes, it was mean to tease Natalie, but oh, revenge was so sweet. * * * * * �Hey, Nat!� Someone was calling her name as she stepped off the elevator. She looked around to see Dan falling into step beside her. �Hi, Dan,� she said, smiling. �What�s up?� �Well, I have a question for you. My family�s had this cabin up in the mountains for a long time...I used to go up there a lot, but not for awhile. Anyway, I was thinking of going up there this weekend and was wondering if you wanted to come with me.� �I...That sounds great,� Natalie said. IT had been a month since Jeremy and her had officially broken up and Dan was more wonderful every day. Dana, on the other hand, was more annoying as time went on. �Cool. You�ll love it up there. It�s a pretty big cabin, right next to this pond that we can skate on...and it�s so beautiful. Especially with the snow...� Dan seemed lost in his own memory. �Anyway. So we�ll leave after the show on Friday.� �Sure,� Natalie said, then she remembered something. �I have Friday off.� Dan thought a second. �If you want, I could take the day off and we could go up that morning. Leave at like 8 instead of at midnight.� �That sounds terrific, Dan,� Natalie said. �Then let me talk to Isaac. I�d have the next night off in the rotation anyways. I�ll let you know on that,� Dan told her. At 8:00 sharp on Friday morning, Dan rung the doorbell of Natalie�s apartment. Isaac had gladly given permission to take the night off a couple weeks early. Natalie opened the door. �Hi, Dan, come on in. I�ll be done in about five minutes.� �no problem,� Dan said, stepping inside. Natalie walked into her bedroom and reappeared five minutes later, suitcase in hand. �You ready?� he asked. She nodded enthusiastically. �Let�s go.� Around noon, they reached the cabin. Natalie was amazed at how beautiful it really was. Snow dusted every branch of the pine trees that framed the chalet-style cabin. About four inches of snow covered the ground, and the pond glittered with ice. �Wow,� Natalie gasped. �I told you it was something,� Dan said quietly. Parking the car by the front door, they both carried in their suitcases, along with the boxes of food Dan had brought. The cabin�s interior seemed to compliment the rustic beauty of the outdoors. A picture window looked toward the lake. Stairs led to a loft, which Dan told Natalie she could have if she wanted. After unpacking, they decided to go ice skating. Dan found his old skates and the ones Sam had used in a closet. �Take Sam�s skates,� he told Natalie. �He was smaller than I was. They�ll still be much too big, but a little better, at least.� �Thanks,� Natalie said, taking them in her mittened hands. They walked out to the pond, where Dan tested the ice. �Seems sturdy to me,� he said, �at least over here.� He led Natalie onto the ice. �I haven�t skated since I was in high school.� she said. �And I wasn�t even that good back then.� �It�s okay,� Dan said, grinning. �It�s been probably ten years since I skated, too. We�ll relearn together.� Just then, Natalie hit a bump and started to fall backwards. Dan caught her in his arms. They just stayed there a moment, staring into each other�s eyes. Finally, Natalie snapped out of her trance and stood, mumbling an apology. As they skated more, they both gained confidence. And strayed further from the edge of the pond Dan had tested. Natalie had, quite accidentally, figured out how to propel herself backwards. �Hey, Dan!� she called like a little kid, �Look at this!� Suddenly, Dan heard a crack and Natalie�s head disappeared from view. �Natalie!� he screamed. Grabbing a long stick from the bank, he dashed to the area where Natalie had been. After a moment, her head bobbed above the surface. �Natalie, grab on!� he told her, holding the stick out so she could reach it. She held on for dear life, and Dan managed to pull her to safety. He picked up the shivering Natalie and carried her into the cabin, set her on the couch, wrapped her in blankets, and handed her a cup of coffee. Natalie took a long sip of the blessed hot liquid and looked up at Dan, who was standing anxiously before her. �Thanks you,� she said thickly. �I should�ve tested the ice out further,� Dan said. �I�m sorry, I-� �Don�t do that,� Natalie said, silencing him. �IT wasn�t your fault.� They were silent for a little while, then Dan asked, �Do you want something to eat? we never really had lunch.� �Sure,� Natalie said. Half an hour later, Dan called her to the table. Two places were set with heaping plates of spaghetti, two lit candles between them. It was already getting dark, and the candlelight played off of the icicles hanging in front of the window. Dan sat across from her, and dinner turned out to be wonderful. Dan was actually a very good cook. The weekend seemed to fly by. Before it seemed possible, it was Sunday evening and they were driving home. Dan dropped Natalie off at her place before going to his own apartment to relax. What kind of weekend it had been. But an image remained in his mind, more vivid than any other. Natalie staring into his eyes, him staring into hers...and what beautiful eyes they were. Even twenty-four days later, the image stayed at the front of his mind. �Hey, Dan!� Casey said, coming in and shaking Dan from his own world. �Hello, my friend,� he answered, much too perkily. �You know what today is?� �It is NOT our anniversary. Don�t try to make up for that one,� Dan told him. �I know that. I�m talking about a number here. A number from another important date,� Casey told him. �Seventeen days after Christmas?� �Okay, bigger number than that.� �I don�t know. Just tell me already, Casey,� Dan said irritably. �IT has been exactly sixty days since Natalie officially declared herself broken up with Jeremy,� Casey said proudly. �And there is a statute of limitations.� �Yeah, come talk to me in a month,� Dan said. �no. Because you taught me wrong. Statute of limitations is SIXTY days, even ask Dana,� Casey responded. �So the time is right. And I don�t want you to be scared.� �Why would I be scared? I�m not you, Mr. Tongue-Tied-when-it-comes-to-the woman-I-love. I am Dan, Doer of Good Things where Women are Concerned. So you don�t need to give me the pep talk. That would be one of the ways in which you�re not like me,� Dan said snippily. �Don�t get persnickety. I�m just saying, the time is right.� �Let me say it this way. I can handle my own love life.� �Then why do you always butt into mine?� Casey asked. �Just trust me. Natalie is secretly in love with you as well. So there�s little risk involved. The world keeps moving in one direction. Do something.� Dan stood up and stormed out. He wanted somewhere to just think. To be alone with his emotions. He opened the door to the editing room. Natalie was already sitting on the couch, her knees pulled up to her chest. �Hey, dan,� she said distantly. �Nat, what�s wrong?� Dan asked, sitting beside her. �have you ever noticed how it�s the hidden emotions that take the most work?� �What are you talking about?� Dan asked. �Well, i think I�m in love again. But I see the guy a lot, and I don�t want it to be awkward...so he has no idea how I feel. but it�s so hard because every time I see him, I want nothing more than to run and throw myself into his arms. Do you know what i�m saying?� Natalie asked. �Yeah,� Dan said, as he thought, //Casey was wrong. I read her so wrong.// �Show him how you feel, Nat. It�s the only way. Look at Dana and...bad example. But show him.� Natalie turned slowly and looked him in the eye. Her lips found his and they shared a long, passionate kiss. As they both leaned back, Natalie grinned. �That�s good advice, Dan.� �I could give you more advice if you had dinner with me after the show tonight,� he said, smiling. �You bet,� she said as Dana called her name. She walked out. Life, she decided, was very, very bright. |