Chimera

A/N – Hello again! Having finally finished Bridgewood, my historical BATB fanfic about Rebecca and Alistair, I took a break, but now I'm back. It's been a while since I've written a VinCat story. I needed to catch myself up, so I thought some of you might need that, too, especially if you haven't read my other BATB fanfics. So to help bring everyone up to speed, here are some things you need to know about my BATB world:

In my S2 VinCat stories (message me if you want a list of them in the order they were written), Vincent regained his memories and eventually got back to being basically the same guy from S1, only with more strength and skills. Tori didn't die but has come into her own and is currently in a love relationship with Blaise—a blind, homeless man who took her at "face" value. Through recent surgery he's recaptured some of his vision and is a good partner for her, balancing her cranky disposition with his unfailing wit and charm. Gabe Lowan never turned evil or became a beast again. There's still an awkward friendship between he, Catherine, Vincent, Tess and JT, but they're working at it. Tori got pregnant but miscarried. Then Catherine accidentally found herself pregnant with Vincent's child. Though concerned, they nevertheless accepted it and planned to marry. However, tragedy struck when Bob Reynolds was released from jail to battle a former opponent who was developing a rogue army of super-soldier beasts. He developed a virulent toxin to kill all beasts only to learn his daughter was going to marry one and was having Vincent's child.

Reynolds kidnapped Catherine, suppressed and altered some of her memories, then air-dropped her into the poorest area of Cambodia, where she escaped her tail, eventually gave birth to her baby and struggled to survive. Back in New York, Vincent discovered a small band of former Muirfield agents who had escaped destruction and now sought to right the wrongs that had been done by that organization: Doctor Dawson Griggs, Kai (a linguist), and their computer geek, Sara, JT's former girlfriend! They helped find Catherine and return her and the daughter he didn't know she'd bore to New York. With Reynolds back in jail for his crimes, everything finally seems to be going their way, and their new little family struggles with normal life. Well, if only….

Chapter 1

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
-From "Dream Within a Dream" by Edgar Alan Poe

The thunder of footsteps behind her reverberated in the soft ground, causing her to stumble onto one knee. Fear drove her quickly to her feet again. Was there one? Three? A dozen? She didn't know and dared not look behind to see how close the pursuer was. That fraction of a second could cost her her life—if that's what he was after.

She mentally reset—that the one chasing her was a 'he' was only a guess from the ominous weight of its presence. 'Monster' was too inadequate word, but the only one that came to mind. It roared and she felt the heat of its molten breath scorch her jacket. Catherine tried to scream but opening her mouth produced nothing but a strangled noise. She sped toward the gate ahead, a small opening in the wall, but it was enough. It had to be. What lay beyond she didn't know or care. She only knew she absolutely had to reach it . . . or die trying.

A furlong before the gate, a fallen branch tripped her once again. She felt shooting pain as the skin of her knee broke open, but ignored it. No. She was so close! She struggled to get back up, to stand, to push onward, but there was no more time. The fine hairs on the back of her neck stood straight up as the sudden silence behind her filled the woods. One step and she'd either be consumed or safe.

Move. She willed her body to obey. Only a little bit further and she'd make it. But no. She was out of breath, out of energy. Out of time. This was it. She couldn't go on. Her legs had no more strength; her lungs, no more breath. He'd caught her.

Resigned, she straightened to face her tormentor and turned.

And screamed.

*

"Catherine, what is it?"

"What?" Heart still pounding as if it would leap from her chest, Catherine opened her eyes and squinted into the dark. Light from the hallway illuminated Vincent's face above hers, pushing the edges of her nightmarish vision aside. No monster. Husband.

A crackle of sounds came from the baby monitor on the nightstand.

He pushed sweaty tendrils of her hair away from her face. "Nightmare again?"

How did he know? Had she cried out? She looked frantically around the room. Everything was as it should be. She looked back at him with a sigh of relief and sagged back down. "I guess so."

"It's okay. You're safe. You're home." His eyes were filled with concern, but when she nodded and relaxed, he sighed, as well. "That makes three nights in a row."

"Yeah, I don't know what's wrong with me," she said, trying for calm. "I promise you, I'm not worried about anything right now. Things are good."

A drop of sweat from her hair broke free and slid down into the now-deep valley between her breasts, belying her words—breasts now uncomfortably full of milk for their child. While it only tickled her, his eyes followed its trail, his tongue automatically dampening his lips before he swallowed, and she could see him work to recall the gist of their conversation.

"Probably just an after-effect of the treatment you received from Reynolds," he said, not very convincingly.

Catherine frowned. When her father had kidnapped her and spirited her out of the country almost a year ago, now, to 'protect' her, he'd taken the added measure of dosing her with something designed to not only wipe her memories but alter them. She'd spent the last few months back in country fighting the effects of that and rebuilding her memories and life with Vincent—the object of her father's most devastating suggestions. That her own flesh and blood had sought to turn her against the man she loved was bad enough, but to have taken away her precious memories of their relationship had been pure evil. Vincent had refused to let him win, though. And with the help of a team of ex-Muirfield scientists and their loving friends, Catherine had slowly regained everything.

They had wed in a simple civil ceremony and, with the baby daughter she'd delivered in captivity, finally begun their new life together as a family, minus all the threats they'd had in the past. This should be, at long last, a quiet, carefree time of love and laughter for them. Not one filled with monsters.

She tugged back up the bed covers which had dislodged in the night, her sweat starting to make her feel chilled, and turned into his warmth. "It's nothing—just a stupid dream. I'm sorry I woke you."

Vincent automatically curled a leg over her, pulling her close. "Don't worry about it. I just wish I could make them go away."

She smiled at him in the darkness. "I have an idea for that."

"Oh, yeah?"

She could almost see the creases in his cheeks deepen into dimples. Just then, the baby monitor squawked again.

"Uh-oh." She could hear the resignation in his voice. He started to get up.

"No, I'll get it," she said, and pushed up to sit. "I'm wide awake."

"What time is it?"

She looked over his shoulder to the illuminated dial of the alarm clock. "Four."

"She's early."

"Maybe I woke her up." Catherine pushed him back down when he started to rise with her. "I got this. You stay here. You've been putting in long days at the clinic. You need your rest. I'm just going to feed her and put her back down."

"Bring Abby in here. You'll rest easier."

It was true. Even one room away, Catherine still struggled with being unable to hear every little sound their three-month-old daughter made. For Vincent's and their relationship's sake, she'd put on a brave face, gritted her teeth, and put Abby down in the nursery each night. It was what most parents did, after all. But it was still so difficult.

She got the baby and brought her back into the bedroom. Vincent shifted over and set pillows behind her back so she could nurse. She quickly peeled down one sleeve of her gown and gasped as the baby immediately latched on. She should be used to it by now, but the strength with which Abby grabbed on to suck and the relief she felt with the letdown still surprised her.

Vincent propped his head up with one elbow and watched.

"You're doing it again."

"What?"

"Torturing yourself," Catherine said with a tired grin, feeling more relaxed.

He grinned back. "Yes, I am. And it's a sweet torture."

Catherine felt shy with her post-baby body. She tried to cover up. He stopped her.

"You still take my breath away. And I suspect you always will."

"But what about my scars?"

"Those are stretch marks and are totally natural. The fact that your body has changed because of carrying my child . . . is beautiful. It's like I left my mark on you." His lips parted at the baby's soft suckling sounds. Finally, he shifted onto his back, one powerful arm slung over his eyes.

"You know, Daws sent me to a patient the other day," he said, eyes still closed, "a young mother. Her child won't suckle. The baby isn't flourishing. We're still trying to determine why. It makes me so thankful when I look at Abigail."

"She's strong."

"Yes. Because her mother is strong. I'm still amazed you delivered her in that forgotten country all by yourself and we were able to bring you both home alive and well." He opened his eyes and looked at her. "You are my miracles, both of you."

"You found us; that's all that matters."

He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. "I don't know what I'd do without you. Thank you, Catherine. For accepting me. For loving me. For giving me my beautiful daughter."

When Abby fell back to sleep after nursing, Vincent picked her up and took her back to the nursery, then returned to bed. Catherine, still drowsy, had only partially covered up.

As he pressed down onto the bed, she opened her eyes and saw the fire. For a moment she was back in the dream, running for her life. Then she remembered: safe. He growled low, his body responding to hers. Okay, not completely safe, but he would protect her even if it meant fighting himself.

Seeing her look, he grunted and started to pull away. "I'm so sorry."

"No, it's okay." She pulled him back. The heat that was obviously running through his veins now heated her own. She swallowed and looked at him shyly, knowing what he wanted but would never beg her for. "You know, I could really use a distraction right now."

He let out a breath that had Thank you, God, written all over it and swooped down over her. "Oh, baby, you got it."

*

"Wow. Is she still not sleeping through the night? I thought you'd gotten Abby straightened out."

Cat sat across from Tess some hours later at the little café they enjoyed so much. The breakfast crowd was filling in. Good thing they got there early. "We did. Why?" She gave the sleeping baby in the sling across her chest an affectionate pat on the bottom.

"The dark circles under your eyes. You look like you haven't slept in a month."

"I do?" Catherine picked up the rounded blade of the tableware knife and peered into it. Tess tsked and offered her a compact mirror instead.

"You look absolutely beat."

"I've been having nightmares, actually. Plus, Vincent has been . . . attentive."

Tess cocked her head. "The nightmares I can understand. It hasn't been that long since you were trapped in Cambodia. I'm sure it will take a while for those to go away. But if Vincent's 'attentiveness' means something other than him helping you with the baby and other chores around the house, I think you need to have a serious talk with that man. He can't be demanding right now."

"I know. He's not. It's just . . . he's just being . . . Vincent. I was gone for a long time, Tess. His body isn't like other men's. His needs are . . . greater."

"Greater than once a day?"

Cat blushed and looked everywhere but at her best friend. "More like once an hour, in the night anyway."

"What?!"

"He's feels bad about it, he does. But how can I say no to him? I mean, I thought I'd lost some of my physical appeal after having given birth. I still have stretch marks and curves where there didn't used to be curves. But to Vincent, well . . . he thinks my body is sexier than ever. Go figure." She blushed again.

"I figure you better shut this down or you're going to collapse."

"There could be worse things, believe me. I'm sure all will get back to normal, soon. And it's not like I don't enjoy it. I just—"

"Okay. TMI. I've intruded far enough. But the point is, you need to reel this in, set some limits. At least for the time being until you get your strength back. If what my brother and their wives went through, once Abby starts walking, you're going to have years of physical exhaustion ahead of you."

Catherine laughed. "She's already crawling away from me—obviously an early starter."

"Well, perhaps that has something to do with her DNA. Have you had her tested yet?"

"No, but we will. I just don't see the point in doing it this soon. She's just a baby, Tess. What harm could she do? Besides, without Evan," her voice broke and she had to take a deep breath. "Without Evan and his expertise on DNA, where will we have it done?"

"I thought Daws and crew could handle that."

"As you well know," she grinned at her former partner who had finally given in to the handsome doctor's pursuit after insisting JT and Sara at least try to come to terms with their discovery of each other again. "Doctor Dawson Griggs is a specialist in a number of areas, none of which is DNA. Neither JT nor the others have that skill, either."

"Well, bummer. Too bad you didn't spare a geneticist when you toppled Muirfield and Reynolds' special company. With Gabe's girlfriend also out of the picture, that's kind of a big problem."

"We're working on it. There might be something in my mother's files that will help. In the meantime, life goes on like normal. It's just that this baby business is tougher than I thought."

"You need a break once in a while."

"Vincent and I are taking turns. But since we're both on day shifts, it's taking its toll."

"I'll make the offer again, then. I can handle that baby for an afternoon. Even overnight, if you need it."

Catherine sighed. "JT's made the same offer. But I don't know, Tess. It's difficult for me to let go. She's . . . special, you know? Maybe soon."

"Okay, well, when you're ready, let me know. She is all kinds of adorable," Tess said, giving up for the time being.

The baby wiggled and opened her eyes. Catherine smiled down, ran a thumb down Abby's cheek and tapped her nose.

Tess sighed and leaned back to watch the tender motherly display-a far cry from whatever 'normal' used to mean. "Who would've thunk it, huh?"

Cat beamed up at her. "I know, right?"

*

Christopher Butler waited impatiently as Bob Reynolds was led into the 'meet and greet' room of New York's main jail complex on Rikers Island. They sat separated by a plexiglass window. As soon as Reynolds sat, he picked up the phone.

"What?" Reynolds asked without preamble.

Butler seemed unruffled. He was no doubt giddy that his boss and mentor was back behind bars as it meant more freedom for him—something he knew Butler had been chafing at the bit for, for some time. If only the man knew that no one would trust him. At least he still held that card. Not that Butler knew it, himself. He almost felt sorry for the guy. Almost.

"We finally heard from Chen," he reported. "He just passed on the information that Catherine had been rescued in some kind of a black ops mission."

Reynolds snorted. "Leave it to Chen to finally figure out what the rest of the world already knows." A muscle in his cheek twitched. Chen had been their operative on the ground in Cambodia, and the one who had initially captured Catherine where they'd dropped her in country. The incompetent agent was supposed to have kept an eye on her, but she'd slipped away from him early on. He'd spent the next six months trying to find her again. Too little, too late. "I'd sure like to know how they found her before him." The 'they' meaning Vincent and crew. "But it hardly matters now. Next time he's in town, send him to me. I want to give him a piece of my mind."

"I'll be sure to pass that along." Butler grinned. Chen's fate was no concern of his. "Learned one important detail from him, though, I think you'll find rather fascinating. I know I do."

Bob looked up at his smug tone. "What's that?"

Butler leaned in close. "He believes Catherine definitely gave birth while in country," he said in a hushed voice. "Said he found evidence a child named Abigail was born to a woman matching Catherine's description shortly before she was rescued. He's checking on the details now."

Bob Reynolds went cold. His mind bent on the name Abigail and a spike of adrenalin stabbed through him. What had Catherine said the day they took General Allyn and his zombie beast army down? That at least Abigail was safe. Could it be true? Catherine had given birth to a daughter? His grandchild? He silently seethed. He'd rather hoped she'd miscarried. With what they'd put her through, she should have. That Butler and Chen had that knowledge now didn't bode well. It wouldn't do to have that secret out. He feigned a bored look to cover his worry. "So? Come back when you have some real news. There are ten thousand babies born every year to women in that country."

"Sure. But if it's true, you know what this means?"

Bob leveled what he hoped was an uninterested glare at his former right-hand man.

"If Catherine gave birth, that baby is a first-generation beast."

He had to at least look somewhat intrigued. "Possibly."

"Want me to bring her in?"

"Catherine? Absolutely not. Don't touch her. She's my daughter. If anyone is going to get the truth out of her, it'll be me."

At the determined look on his former boss's face, Butler reneged. A battle for another day. "Sure. Just thought I'd pass on the rumor."

Bob stood and signaled to the guard that his conversation was over. "Never bring rumors to me, Butler. You know better than that."

After Reynolds was escorted back to his cell, Christopher Butler passed through the final security door and pressed a button on his iphone. A male voice answered right away. "See if you can track down Cherri Ellison for me. Pronto."

*

"So this is it."

Sara stepped inside the large main room that made up the gentlemen's club and looked around. "Interesting. The whole place yours?"

"Well, from time to time Vincent has lived here. Even Blaise."

"The man who recently had eye surgery?"

"Right. Tori's . . . partner. He was actually completely blind before the procedure. Used to be homeless, too." JT laughed nervously. Now that his former girlfriend and earth sciences professor-colleague had been discovered to be one of Reynolds' former inductees at his post-Muirfield operation, they were still getting reacquainted. It was awkward at best.

She nodded. "You have an odd assortment of friends, JT. From an overly involved Assistant District Attorney, to cops, an heiress, a super-soldier and the homeless. It's strange. I always pegged you as the studious professor-type who enjoyed the quiet life."

"In my dreams. Yeah, well, I didn't sign up for this life. It just sort of found me."

"As mine found me."

"Were you ever going to tell me?" He blurted it out before he could stop himself.

Sara looked up, surprised. "I still haven't even told my own parents. It's not something you share."

"I seem to remember you yelling at me for not coming to dinner to meet your parents." At her look, he continued. "The truth is, I had beast issues right then."

"You did?"

"Gabriel Lowen wanted me for a snack. I was fortunate to escape with my life. After that, I realized there was no way I could bring you into that world."

"And yet I was already in it," she said without heat. "You know, you were the first normal guy I'd tried to bring home."

"So much for normal, huh?"

"Don't say that, JT. Despite everything, to me, you're as normal as normal gets."

He laughed. "Not sure if that's a good thing or not."

"Believe me, it's a good thing." She put her purse down on the entryway table and looked around. "You know, I really don't want to step on anyone's toes here. You're obviously in another relationship now—"

"We don't . . . really know where we're at."

"Oh. Well, all the more reason for me not to come in between, but – I don't know if I should tell you, but Daws has eyes for your partner."

"Tess is not my partner. We just work together. It's . . . complicated."

She nodded. That was a fact.

They stared at each other a moment, silently acknowledging that things were never as they seemed. Finally, she lifted her hands in surrender. "No judgments here."

"Good. Likewise."

Feeling more at ease now that that was all out in the open, Sara took a big breath and looked around. "It's a nice place."

JT shrugged, also happy to move beyond that awkward beginning. "It's become home. Here, take a look at our 'hub.'" He walked her over to the bank of high-powered computers. "Of course, it probably doesn't rival what you've got at your place." 'Your place' meaning the small technology center at the after-hours clinic Dawson Griggs, Kai, and she had established with discarded and other-wise pieced-together old Muirfield equipment. "But we do what we can."

"Ah. Now this is what I call home." She ran her hand over the keyboard of the main computer.

JT started to smile then spotted the half empty bowl of stale chips. He scooped it up along with two coffee mugs, a water bottle, and an empty bag of gummy worms. "Uh, sorry. I wasn't expecting company so soon. Can I . . . can I get you something to drink?"

She smiled. "A beer would be nice."

"Beer?" He let out a sigh of relief. "I can do that. One sec."

*

"When you said dinner and dancing, this isn't exactly what I was expecting." Tess came to a halt in front of the club and looked at Daws.

"What? I guy like me can't have a little fun? Have you ever even tried it?"

Tess let him pull her into the venue after purchasing their tickets. "I think I saw this in a movie once. Didn't even know they had one in New York."

"Hey, this is a happening place, and I'm a happening guy."

She laughed. "Whoa. Hold the clotted cream. It's getting a little thick in here."

He laughed and grabbed her hand. "C'mon. It'll be fun. Loosen you up."

"I don't need loosening, thank you very much."

"The hell you don't. A couple of Jell-O shots and once you get into it, you'll definitely appreciate what it can do for your spirit."

"My spirit's just fine, but it won't be if I ruin these clothes. I'm not dressed for . . . this." She peered up at the black-lighted stage filled with paint splattered drums with no small amount of trepidation.

"Don't worry," he said, tugging her along after him. "They provide full-body smocks."

"Oh, perfect."