Dedicated to @StarlingAsterisk who read like 17 chapters of this in 1 night (not even a night, hours!)

Natasha debated her next move as she stared in silent horror at the gadget in her hand. Whoever had killed Macmillan had been in her car. The thought sent a shiver down her spine as she wondered what other incriminating objects had been left for her. She retrieved a flashlight from the  glove compartment and did a quick search of her car. Seeing nothing else out of place, she turned the light off and focused on the problem at hand.

If she kept the phone, the police would soon track it to her and she had a feeling that would be the last straw for Nathan. He'd been patient enough so far but how much longer would he keep believing that every bad thing that had happened to her was not of her own doing.

If she tossed it out the window like she was tempted to, she would be throwing away a key piece of evidence that could help catch the killer. But then if the killer had left it in her car, they had probably removed any evidence linking to them. And now that she'd touched it, her fingerprints would be all over it.

"I swear I'm cursed," Natasha groaned leaning back on her seat with her eyes closed. She wasn't sure what she should do. Everything was just so tiring and confusing. 

She'd made a grave mistake with the knife back in Macmillan's office. Although in her defense, there was a bleeding, dead body in front of her rendering her irrational. This time, in her car, she was calm and thinking rationally. Her eyes snapped open and she sat upright.

"Okay, new plan. Go to Nathan, give him the phone, tell him the truth about where it came from and then pray I don't end up in an orange jumpsuit," she said and searched for a plastic bag in her glove compartment and tossed the phone in before she started the car.

The drive to the station didn't take as long as she would have liked despite the fact that she was driving slow to buy enough time to calm her nerves. There were several cars in the parking lot even though it was almost 9 p.m so it was hard to see if Nathan's car was still there. She took a deep breath before heading into the station.

She asked for Nathan and attempted to keep her heart from beating its way right out of her chest as she waited for him. Just when she'd managed to convince herself that everything would be fine, Michael walked up to her. Tossing the phone out the window and running it over with her car was starting to look like a better idea.

"Miss Evans," he nodded curtly. She stood up hastily and almost knocked the chair over.

"D-Detective Carter, hi," she stammered. "I was looking for Nath- uh, Detective Henderson." The plastic bag containing the phone in her hand was starting to get soggy from her sweaty palms.

"He's attending to something. Is there anything I can help you with?" Michael asked.

Natasha was quickly losing her bravado. The phone felt like it was getting heavier in her hand and if she didn't turn it over soon, she was sure the anxiety would kill her. 

"I found this in my car," she said, holding the plastic bag out to him. He eyed it warily then back at her, eyebrow raised.

"I believe it belongs to Macmillan Bandieer," Natasha managed to say.

Michael folded his arms over his chest, still not taking the phone. "You don't say."

Natasha flinched at his mocking tone and her hand faltered, falling back to her side with the phone still firmly within her grasp. She turned away from him, deciding to ask the lady at reception if there was any other person she could talk to.

"Hold on," Michael called to her, halting her steps. "Come with me." He walked past her and Natasha briefly entertained the idea of ignoring him and continuing with her other plan. She trailed after him nonetheless, dreading the inevitable interrogation. Surprisingly, he led her past the interrogation room where she'd been earlier. Was he by-passing the questioning and throwing her straight into a cell?

"Wait here," he said leaving her standing in an empty passageway while he went into one of the rooms, closing the door behind him. Not long after, he emerged with Nathan in tow. The latter looked as tired as she felt, a few strands of his disheveled hair sticking up all over the place.

"Long story short, she says she found Macmillan's phone in her car," Michael said, gesturing to the plastic bag Natasha was still holding on to.

Nathan frowned but took the phone which Natasha happily handed over. "When did you find this?"

Natasha was dreading this question because Nathan would know that she had lied to him earlier but she answered regardless. "When you took me to my car, it was on my seat when I got in. I touched it before I realized what it was so my fingerprints are on there."

Nathan turned the plastic over in his hand before handing it to Michael who was carefully watching their exchange. "See if forensics can get anything out of that and then call the phone company and tell them the phone was found sometime close to 8 p.m so they can just send over any information on its location between then and 4 p.m."

Michael walked away without saying anything else, leaving the two standing alone. 

"You lied to me," Nathan stated as soon as Michael disappeared round a corner. "Again."

"I'm sorry. I got scared," Natasha apologized in a weary voice.

"I've heard that excuse too many times coming from you," Nathan barreled on. 

Natasha sighed, dragging her hands over her face. "I'm exhausted. I've had a shitty day. No-I've had a shitty two weeks. I've been arrested twice for murders I didn't commit. I discovered my father is actually a monster whose only interaction with me left me feeling like a worthless piece of trash. I saw a bloody dead body and a murderer was in my car. Maybe they planted a bomb in there too and the next time I set foot in it, it'll blow up. My mum couldn't be bothered to show up for her only child who was just scared and wanted someone to hug her and tell her everything would be okay..."

She trailed off, choking on a sob and a lone tear rolled down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away but many more fell after it. "I just want to go home, crawl into my bed and pretend none of this happened."

She was slowly coming apart while he looked on and Nathan felt a pang of guilt for not being able to stop it. It really had been a hellish couple of days for her. 

"I'll take you home," he offered.

Natasha shook her head as she wiped the tears away with the sleeve of her sweater. "Thanks but I drove here. I'll just go, if there's nothing else you need from me."

"I'm sorry Natasha," he said, feeling dreadful that he would have to deliver another blow when she was already feeling beaten down. "The forensics team will have to go through your car, just in case the murderer left a clue behind."

Upon hearing this, she looked so crestfallen that Nathan almost changed his mind but they both knew he was right and this was for the best. 

"You don't have to wait till they are done with the car. I'll take you home," he said and she nodded, defeated.

He asked her to quickly give a statement about the phone for the official records and asked forensics to check out her car then showed her to his. She was silent all the way home and Nathan made no effort to strike up a conversation either. All the lights in her house were off and the driveway was empty, indicating that her mother still hadn't arrived.

"Thanks for the ride," she said, opening the car door. Nathan caught her arm, stopping her from getting out.

"I'll wait here till your mum gets back," he said.

"You don't have to do that," Natasha said, shaking her head.

"I want to. It's not safe for you to be alone."

"Okay, but you're not staying out here. Come on," Natasha nodded towards her house.

"Eh, I don't think your mum will be happy to find me in her house. I'll just wait in my car. It'll be just like a stakeout," Nathan argued.

"Seriously," she laughed. "If you stay out here then I'm sitting in your car with you."

"You need to go to bed."

"Seems we've reached an impasse then," Natasha shrugged.

"Fine but if your mother kills me, you owe me."

Natasha rolled her eyes, feeling a little less depressed as they entered her house.

"Would you like some tea?"      

"No, thank you. Get some rest," he urged her after she'd yawned for the second time in a minute.

"You're just going to sit down here alone?" she asked, rubbing the sleepiness from her eyes.

"The telly will keep me company," Nathan said, settling down on a couch for emphasis.  "Now go to bed."

"Okay. If you change your mind about the tea..." Natasha began but Nathan cut her off.

"I'll be fine. Go." He smiled at her and she finally gave in and left.

The day's events finally caught up to her as she changed into pajamas and she fell asleep the minute she snuggled into her blankets.

***

A far off sound poking at her subconscious tore Natasha from her sleep. Once the sleepy haze cleared, her eyes focused on the person crouching next to her bed.

"Nathan?" she mumbled sleepily.

"Hey," he said softly. "I'm sorry I woke you but there's something you need to hear."

Natasha sat up and  stretched her arms. "What is it?"

"Come downstairs," he said, straightening up.

Despite her confusion, she followed him out.

"How did you find my room?" she asked, stifling a yawn.

"It wasn't easy. I knocked at one of the doors for a couple of minutes before I finally decided to open it and I discovered it was the bathroom," Nathan replied.

 Natasha giggled in response as they reached the lounge. "So what is it you want me to hear?"

"The landline rang a couple of minutes ago and I let it go to voicemail. Your mum left you a message. I thought you'd probably want to call her back right away," Nathan replied.

"Oh," Natasha said feeling a slight twinge of disappointment. "Thanks."

She played back the message on speaker. Her mother's normally matter-of-fact voice sounded soft and weary. "Hi Tasha. David told me you were released and that they took your phone. I'm sorry I couldn't come to the station.  I'm presiding over a very sensitive case and I've had the jury sequestered for the duration of the trial so I'll be staying in the capital until it's over. I'll be checking in on you as much as I can. I love you."

Natasha wasted no time in picking up the phone and frantically dialing her mother's number but no-matter how many times she tried, she kept getting the same message.

"The number you have dialed has been disconnected or is no longer in service. Please check the number and try again."

***

I must say, I love messing with your heads lol.

So my life took a turn for crazy town lol. But it's slowly getting back to normal (why can't I get Olivia Pope to "fix" my life?). After this I'm hoping to go back to Friday updates.