AN: Hi, Beasties! Okay, so, first of all I am totally new at writing fanfiction. I've always loved reading it, but never have I been brave enough to put myself out there. How awesome is it that "the beast" makes me brave enough to try! I love this show to pieces and since it is moving snail pace (not necessarily a bad thing) with the Vincent/Catherine storyline, I figured it's only fair that as fans we keep each other occupied between episodes. So, here it is. If you hate it feel free to tell me... in the nicest way possible of course ;)

Disclaimer: Rights to Beauty and the Beast belong to CW/CBS. Never owned it. Sadly, never will.

Chapter 1.

Nights like this were always the hardest. When his senses dragged in every foul stain that tainted the wind. Anger, hatred and a faint tinge of lust- the last impression possibly conjured by his imagination- all attacked his brain. Still, the worst one of all hit him the hardest. Fear. Her fear. He'd prayed for her safety tonight- a calm inside the storm she surrounded herself with daily. No such luck.

Perched atop the old rickety building concealing the alley, Vincent saw everything. Her two remaining attackers lurked in the dark, waiting for her to reveal herself. He saw the youngest of the two with a chain wrapped around his hand, preparing for an assault behind the dumpster. Glancing further away he saw the other thug waiting with his pistol. Then he saw Catherine.

Her lithe form crouched close to the pavement behind the very building where he rested. Vincent signaled in on the slight shake of her body, the unsteady pounding of her heartbeat. Her gun sat useless in her holster, emptied of its bullets as she had poured them into the first two men that chased her down. Yet Catherine was determined to win. She was a trained fighter. A survivor. Those facts did little to qualm his agony. His fists clenched in anger and horror. A hunger of violence wracked his body, demanding vengeance for the threat they posed to her.

How dare they try and hurt Catherine! She is an innocent. She is pure and just. She is mine.

The animal roared inside him, banged against his reserve for release. Not much longer. The armed man crept closer towards the building's corner where Catherine hid, motioning for his accomplice to back him up. Vincent saw Catherine tense then. Her stance changed to that of a prepared fighter. Good girl. She knew they were near. A few steps closer from her enemy had her springing into action. Catherine drew her leg swiftly underneath the man rounding the corner, causing him to trip and subsequently lose his weapon. He gained his balance quickly, throwing punches that never made contact. She was quick. Moving in fluid motion, Catherine avoided his attack. Suddenly, the chain from her other attacker's grip sprung around her slim neck, pulling tight, nearly lifting her from the ground. Vincent should have sensed him immediately. He should have blocked the man's approach but his sight had stayed on Catherine as she fought for herself.

"No," her first assaulter ground through his teeth, "Keep her alive. I want her to witness every moment of this. I want her to suffer first." The criminal's black eyes had been devoid of everything except hatred and desire.

Vincent hadn't imagined anything. The man's foul odor of lust stung his nostrils sending all thoughts of rationale into oblivion. Ablaze with a need to save her, Vincent, with his beast unveiled, pounced swiftly. The jerk's hand never reached Catherine as the talons of the beast ripped into his shoulder and sent him spiraling to his death against a cold brick wall.

The second thug was smarter, but his doom no less apparent. Releasing his chain from Catherine's throat, he backed slowly towards the wall, his hands up in surrender. Vincent fought against the beast's urge to kill. Perhaps he would grant mercy. The beast knew no mercy, but the man inside was just. Two odds in one form. Ultimately the mere vision of Catherine slumped to the ground- clutching her throat, harshly gasping for air- put them both in agreement. No man would ever hurt Catherine and live to tell of his plight.

Vincent gripped one hand around the man's neck, lifting him from the ground much like he had done to Catherine. Only the beast relished in his own strength. He held back nothing. Veins protruded from his skin, pumping with the anger he unleashed on his victim. His fangs seethed between his lips tasting the dew of the justice to come. His eyes narrowed in on the evil being he held above him, watching in glory as life spilled slowly from his eyes. Appeased with his claim on the man's life he dropped the limp body with no remorse.

The crackling of the pavement behind him made him twist around in alarm. Please let her be okay. The beast had already assumed the worst. The thought that he would find her breathless, lifeless, conjured a tortured roar from his lungs, the sound reverberating off the walls surrounding them. Instead of the corpse he'd imagined, Catherine stood facing him. Her face was stricken with shock, her body stagnant from fear. Fear of him.

Damn, she's afraid of me.

Vincent closed his eyes, willing himself to calm down and leash the beast once again. But the scent of her fear only fueled the monster more. His breathing audibly deepened and slowed; His sharp-clawed hands shook with impatience at the beast's stubbornness. A gasp tore from Catherine then. Oh, what she must think of me now.

His eyes opened then to welcome her well-earned fear and disgust, but it never came to him. She was gone. In his failed effort to return to his human form he'd scared her away, literally. The beast tuned in on the push of her feet against the pavement, sprinting in the direction of her brownstone apartment. Vincent felt himself running behind her before he could object. The soft sheen of her hair whipped across her face as she constantly glanced backwards at his approaching form. He heard her gasps of air turn into faint cries as they both neared her apartment door. Stop scaring her! Let her hide! Leave her alone! The beast continued after her. Both man and beast wanted her to be safe, needed to know that she was.

So, he continued closely behind, still willing the man inside to take control once again. Catherine fumbled with her keys as she reached her door, urgently running through and quickly pushing the door behind her. Vincent was much quicker. He'd dashed inside her apartment behind her long before she even thought to close the door. He watched silently as she took every precaution in clamping every lock tightly on the door before she turned and leaned against it. A brief scream exited her then, for the beast, in all his grisly form, stood directly in front of her. Face to face, toe to toe, his golden eyes gleamed with a challenge for her to attempt to flee from him once more.

Only she did not. With her breathing slowed, her heartbeat calm, a soft gasp escaped her lips. Her expression changed from fear to confusion. To recognition. Catherine raised her hand to timidly stroke his disfigured face.

"I know you, don't I?" she whispered. "You're him."

So, I've been told that reviews are awesome. First fanfic, so, never had one. Would love to find out...

LovelyLadyD