Alright guys, here it is. This is the sequel to my other story "Hanging In The Balance". It's rated R due to language and violence. Buckle up, folks. We're in for a bumpy ride.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of the characters in this story. There owned by The CW, CBS Studios and the companies that work with the network. Any dialogue and or story likeness is coincidental and not intended to offend anyone.
VCVCVC
Catherine Chandler gazed joylessly out the window of Bellevue. She found herself doing that a lot these days; Her eyes would set on the New York skyline, watching as autumn slowly transitioned into winter while her mind traveled light years away. So far she'd done a pretty good job of portraying the steadfast survivor. To her family, Tess and even Vincent. But inside, she was falling apart. The pain she was in went far beyond the dozens of stitches that laced her abdomen. Her trauma was an endless pit, and she was falling into it. Hard. It had been fifteen days since she'd woken up from the medically induced coma that she had been put into as a result of her brutal attack, and she was still in the hospital. That was five more days than originally projected, but the damage her body endured was extensive and there was still plenty of healing to be done. But when it came to the recovery of her spirit, the surface had hardly been scratched. The day she woke up, after everyone left her to rest and the warm fog of morphine wore off, all of the memories of that night came rushing back. She was still stuck there, alone, in the dark and in need of a hand to lead her back into the light. But she didn't know how to ask for it. So she painted a smile on her face, deceiving the ones who loved her most and suffered in silence.
She rolled her head toward the door as the handle turned. Heather, spritely as ever, bounced in, grinning from ear to ear.
"Hey Cat! How are you feeling today?"
Catherine gave her sister a half-hearted smile. "I'm okay. What's got you all hyped up?"
"I just saw Dr. Barnes in the hallway and he said they're releasing you tomorrow!" She beamed. But her grin faltered when she saw that Cat didn't share her enthusiasm. "That's good news… isn't it?"
Cat struggled to perk up. "No, no, that's… that's great. I'm happy to hear it." This time her smile reached her eyes.
They fell into a discussion of how they'd take the next step. Much to Heather's chagrin, though it would have been to her delight under better circumstances, she had to leave the next day on her first ever business trip. She'd be gone for five days, leaving Cat to potentially fend for herself, unless they could think of a solution.
Cat patted Heather on her arm. "Don't worry about it, I'll give Tess a call and—"
Tess popped her head in the doorway. "Did somebody say my name?" She asked, strolling into Cat's room. She looked between the sisters and saw how exhausted Cat was. Pulling up a chair to her bed, Tess gave her hand a sympathetic squeeze.
Heather grinned. "Perfect timing. Cat is getting released tomorrow. The only thing is, I have to leave town for the rest of the week, so we were just trying to figure out who's going to look after her while I'm gone. She's gonna need a lot of help getting around and doing things, at least at first."
Cat folded her arms and sank further into her bed, embarrassed.
Tess shrugged. "I've got a few more days of vacation to use up, I can play babysitter."
Cat grumbled, making Tess laugh. "Easy there, killer. It won't be that bad, we'll just rent movies and eat chinese. I'll even let you pick where we order it from." Tess joked.
Tess had assumed the role of comedic relief, but to the more observant eye, one could see that she was unhinged. She, like Cat, was also playing charades, masking the troubles she had as a result of the attack. Tess was haunted. Seeing it again and again. Choking on the reality that she couldn't save her friend, cracking under the truth that it was her bonehead mistake that almost cost Cat her life. Tess spent hours at the hospital with her everyday. It was the only time the images of that night faded away.
They were in the wars, Cat and Tess. Though they didn't know it yet, they would need each other to find a way through in the end.
For the next hour, Cat was witness to Heather and Tess' catty banter, watching tiredly as they ping-ponged about work, men and other relatively harmless things. The company was nice, but she couldn't shake the gloomy mood she was in.
Cat yawned dramatically. "Hey guys, I'm beat. You mind letting a cripple get some shuteye?"
Heather and Tess complied and stood to make their leave. Heather kissed her sister's cheek and Tess ruffled Cat's hair. As soon as they left, Cat closed her eyes and let out the breath she had been holding. Her hands began to shake. When she opened her eyes again, they were full of distress. She returned her gaze to the window. How was she going to face the real world again, now that it seemed so much bigger and more frightening than ever?
As if on cue, the answer revealed itself when Vincent popped the window open and stepped into her room. Cat relaxed just at the sight of him.
Vincent, in turn, warmed at the vision of Catherine. She was so lovely, even while cooped up in a hospital bed, although she'd be reluctant to hear it. But her modesty was one of the things that he loved most about her. That, and her unbelievable strength. He'd actually been a little taken aback by how well Catherine was managing, and honestly, a bit wary of it. During his time on the frontline, he'd seen the way his fellow soldiers dealt with traumatic events and PTSD was more than common; it was expected. So Vincent was keeping a close eye, fully prepared to be there for Catherine when she was ready to stop being so brave.
He walked to Catherine's bed, grabbed her hand, stroking it between his fingers and placed a lingering kiss on her lips. Catherine gave her first genuine smile of the day in response. The only comfort she could find, lately, was in his touch. Vincent sat in the vacant chair and rested his head against her arm, staring up into her eyes like a man who'd been saved.
"I assume you heard the good news?" Catherine asked. She knew Vincent was still spending most of his time out on the ledge. He was trying to give her some space while she recuperated, but was usually within earshot in case she needed him.
Vincent smiled again, softer this time. "I did… How do you feel about it?" He instinctively knew that she was troubled by the prospect of leaving the safe confines of Bellevue. But he made it his mission to show her there was nothing to be afraid of.
Catherine shrugged. "I guess it's okay. I'm happy that I won't have to deal with my crabby nurses anymore. Although I'm not too sure about how good Tess's bedside manner is." She laughed, self-deprecatingly.
Vincent gave Catherine's palm a sweet kiss. "Don't worry about that. Tess loves you and only wants you to be as comfortable as possible. And I'll be there to make sure you are. It's going to be alright, Catherine. You'll see."
Catherine smiled grimly and turned her sight back toward the city Skyline. "I know… I know."
VCVCVC
Meanwhile, in a rundown brownstone over in Hell's Kitchen, more than a dozen members of the Latin Kings boiled in their hatred for the vigilante. He had cut down three more of their brothers, and for that, there was a penance to be collected. The leader of their gang, Franco Chavez, watched analytically, his tattooed arms folded over his chest. He was fierce, intimidating and absolutely ruthless. He'd been born and raised in the slums of New York City, having to fend for himself from the start. It didn't take him long to rise in the ranks of the LKs. And his fearless, coldblooded reputation kept his challengers away. But now that there was a new menace on the streets, one that had already taken the lives of so many of his crew, his authority was beginning to be questioned. Franco knew he had to make an example of the beast, or his own neck would be on the line. He let out a loud whistle, grabbing the attention of his mates and silencing the heated grumblings that filled the room.
"Brothers. I know your anger well, because I feel it too. And we'll have our payback. But to give the monster the kind of punishment he deserves, we have to be patient."
Franco had been following the case as it unraveled in the news very closely and had members of his gang stalking Vincent's every move while he devised a plan to guarantee their revenge.
One especially furious member of the crew spoke. "How patient do you want us to be? It's almost been a month and he's still walking around, scot-free with our blood on his hands."
Franco's jaw clenched; his eyes seeming to turn ink black like a bull shark's. He stepped nose-to-nose with his detractor. "Call me out like that again, and the monster will be the least of your troubles. What I've got planned for him is worthy of his crimes against us, but like all good things, it will take time."
The lesser man cowered back into the crowd. Franco stood tall and turned to address the rest of the Latin Kings.
"Patience, brothers. And when the time comes, we'll have him and those cops right where we want them; begging at our feet."
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