Present Day...
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"Looks like coffee did not bring you justice, at all..."Catherine jumped at her partner's voice, Tess, who camed back after giving the report to their captain, about an random case they've just had finished. A day just like any other, anyways. Catherine had let out a huge yawn, for her response.
"Ok, I see it did not affect you at all"followed her partner as she sat on the desk to take a close look at Cat.
"Well, maybe I need more than three cups of coffee to stay awake..."Cat rubbed her eyes to take the unwanted tears away, leaning her back to her chair, tiredly.
"Are you sure, it's only about the coffee, that makes you feel down? or it's just about a guy,that we both know and that we cannot say the name? Like at all..."had tried to guess Tess, crossing up her arms to her chest and gave Cat an unimpressed look. Been caught, Catherine just sighed or more groaned for an answer.
"I guess I have nothing to hide..."
"Cat, are you sure, you're ok?"
"Why, you ask me that?"
"I mean, just look at you! You could look like a female version of that sleepy dwarf from that disney film!"At that, Catherine just shook her head, not getting on whatever Tess was talking about.
"Does not ring any bell to me..." Tess just rolled up eyes, giving up on the 'keeping guessing talk' and got to the point, such as:
"For God's sake! Cat! You're a zombie!"
In fact, Catherine and Tess did not had the time to sleep at all, even after completing twelve cases, to be exact. Tess seemed to be okay, but as for Catherine, not so good. She had black circles under eyes and her hair looked like they really needed a shower and right away. Well, she looked like a mess, like always. Beautiful, but a mess.
"Yeah, that's what it looks like after working on almost twelve cases, to be clear..."had said Cat as she opened up an another file, trying to ignore her intolorant partner who was about to fuss up soon or later.
"Okay, that's enough!"Tess grabbed that file from Catherine's hands who had stared up at her, dumbfonded.
"Tess! What the hell?"She had said as she saw her partner threw up the file, at some officer, who was also yawning, but had woken up in shock, when the file landed on his head. With a thump sound. Must have been an heavy file to examinate.
"Hey Gonzalez! Here's some work for you!" And turned her attention to her partner's dumbfonded look as she said: "You and I need to have a talk, like now!" Before Catherine could even react, Tess grabbed her arm, got her out of her seat and dragged her into the interogation room, unaware of the others officers's weird looks.
"Pff, Diva..."shrugged Gonzalez as he checked the file, when Catherine was being dragged by Tess into the interogation room. When they first came in, Cat had finally broke free from her partner's grasp as she watched Tess closing the door behind them.
"Sit..."
"Seriously, Tess?"
"Just sit, damn it!" Cat did as she was told, she circled the table as she took a sit to a chair, they were for the suspects that were once interrogated in this room when Tess remained still.
"Seriously, Tess, I don't know what's going on..."
"And, you're going to tell me, what's going on!"
"Well, I have no clue..."had said Cat like she had no freakin idea on what Tess was fussing about, but she was wrong-Tess kinda knew her well too much-when she jumped into conclusions like;
"You're sure it's not about Gabe that you're running from? Like using cases to escape, for an example.." That left Catherine annoyed.
"Come on, Tess, do you really think I've put a guy into all this?"
"Well, that wouldn't be the first time...You look really tired Cat and I know it when I see it..."
"It's just the long hours on the job, that's all and by the way, we almost got our asses kicked if we did not work hard enough on these twelve cases, so maybe you should thank me for-"
"What about Vincent?" That just stopped Catherine from making up excuses. She looked up at Tess, dumbfounded, however her partner who was trying to act like some bad cop style, even if she failed to look like one, wasn't impressed when she saw the look on Cat's face.
"It's about Vincent, right? He's the reason of why, you've been so focused on these twelve cases non-stop? Right?" When Tess heard nothing from Cat, she knew that she was right in one point.
"Tess.."
"It's him, right?"
A lot of things had changed ever since JT's kidnapping and the fact that Tori almost had died trying to save him and if it wasn't for Catherine, she wouldn't even be here today. She thought she could ever and forever hate the red haired girl after stealing the man of her life, but at the end, Tori was just a victim and she wasn't aware of the bad influence that she was giving to Vincent.
You belong with Vincent, you make him feel more alive than he ever was with me..
Her words were stuck into her mind, like a plague. Still, she saved her from death's doors, just like when she had rescued Gabe whom had woken up without any beast blood in him. She heard Vincent coming back into the dungeon, after making sure his best friend was safe, to find Tori, she thought. However things did not turned out that way. He was screaming her name. Hers.
Catherine!
She had look up from Tori to see him coming in the place, trying to catch his breath as he was looking at her, almost like unbelieving the fact that she was here and safe.
She has a small pulse, we have to call an ambulance, Vincent!
At that moment, their eyes had met, like Tori wasn't in the picture and Cat kinda hoped it wasn't real, but it was. Somehow, the old Vincent was back, he was here and before her eyes, like he had never left. No words could tell, but the heart knew better. The wanting to go back to him and kiss him were still there. It wasn't fair.
Oh no, not now, please.
Tess just sighed as Catherine rubbed her temple, she was using work to escape her feelings toward Vincent and trying to ignore them by going out with Gabe, which did not work.
After a few dates, ever since valentine's day, Gabe had suggested that she should move in with him by giving a copy of his key. Catherine was quite surprised by this sudden gesture, but had declared that she wasn't ready move with him and added that they should take things slowly, before rushing things like commitment. Gabe tried not to look disappointed, but he understood. He was hurt inside. He knew she needed time to adjust, but he still sounded hurt when he said;
It's because of him, right?
However, what came later, sounded far different from hurt.
You shouldn't let Vincent control your heart, or even interfiere your life, Catherine...
It's nothing like that, Gabe, I just need time...Maybe, I'm not ready yet..
Ready for what?
I don't know! All I know, it's that I need some time..
Everything was a total mess. Vincent, Gabe, Tori, Bob Reynolds, her own mother and not to forget that 'so called mystery thing about the fact that her anscestor Rebbeca Reynolds, was somehow involved into these unsolved murders cases. Rumored, that the killer was in fact a beast.
God. Would she ever get a break, from all that mess?
"Looks like the cat is out the bag in here..."had said Tess waking her partner up from her thoughts, who shrugged at the end.
"Tess, it's not you, it's me, okay? It's just...a lot things had happened lately and it's a mess..."tried to explain Catherine.
"Including two guys..."
"Yes and no, I mean I don't even know where I stand now with Vincent, ever since that day in the dungeon, the way we had left things out, I just can't describe it..."She followed looking back Tess, who was now sitting on the chair in front of her, trying to understand her words.
"Just try me.."
"One day, he was angry at me for destroying everything we had tried to manage from falling down and now, I felt like that nothing of that had happened, it's like he came back, after all that time...And that makes me..."
"Angry?"
"Angry and upset, like a part of me wants to go back to him and another that wants to stay out of it, for good..."
Somethimes, she just wanted to punch Vincent for making her feel these hurtful emotions.
"More like your dad's talking, you mean.."Cat just groaned in frustruation, she did not want to bring her dad or more like Bob into this pep talk.
"You can say that too..." She just wanted to forget everything at all and concentrate on her life, but that means letting everything that she fought so hard go.
Meaning like letting Vincent go out from her life, but was she willing to let him go?
"And Gabe, in all this?"added Tess, crossing her arms to her chest as she leaned to her chair, Cat just rolled up her eyes.
"I thought I could go on, with Gabe I mean, he's a nice, fantastic person and human being and I appreciate the fact that he's been there for me, when I was feeling down, mostly after the shooting thing, but..."
"You felt it was too much to bear..."had cut Tess right in the middle.
"I said I just needed some time before starting a new relationship with a guy, like I need some break, but I don't know, I feel that pressure all over, like Gabe is waiting for me, at the next door, you know?"Tess just made a weird face at that point.
"Like he's watching you sleeping from your window?" She asked as she watched Cat's expression change into horror, almost her jaw fell down.
"Tess!"
"Sorry! It's just the thought you gave me made me go all into mary-sue chick falling into some stupid vampire shit stuff, no offense!"She justicifed herself before laughing at her partner's shocking stare.
"Gabe never did that! That's kinda creepy Tess! And I'm not patthatic and stupid girl like you know who!"tried to reply Cat in a warning manner, but failed, when she followed her best friend's laughter. Oh God, sharing a good laugh had felt so good. It's been a long time.
"You're really sick in the head! Tess!"
"The laughter is always the medecine, no matter what!"
"Cat, I know that you're stronger than that, so why the worry?"had added Tess, trying to calm down when Catherine wipped off the so unwanted tears falling from her eyes.
"I don't know, maybe, ever since we all got Vincent back from Murfield, I've been trying to help him, like a lot, that I did not have the time to think about myself, Tess. All I ever thought was getting him back to his feet, helping him to regain his memories, our memories, that love we once had for each other. That went in a good way,for a while, but Tori had came..And.."
"So you blame the ex-female beast, now?" Catherine just shook her head, not knowing how to deal with the situation when it's about Tori;
"Maybe, but you have to remember that it wasn't her choice to be born as a beast or to be awaken without having one now.."
"And I believe Gabe came along in the picture, hoping to get something in return..."
"I believe so...Tell me, why guys have to be so complicated?"she said letting a long sigh of defeat. Tess just shrugged.
"Don't know about that, it's usually the other way around, as they say. What? You want to turn yourself into girls now?" Catherine just stretched her arms, like she never had the time to do it.
"No, maybe I just need some fresh air, you know, like out of the city for a while..."she said as got up from her chair and tried to not to grin at her partner's face.
"And I am not into girls, Tess, so don't get any ideas! By pairing me up with next girl you know, on the street!"She went up to the door as Tess followed up her step and look up at Cat, but being serious this time.
"Cat, you would tell me if something is bothering you, right?"At that point, Catherine looked up to her partner's eyes and figured out that Tess was also worried for her, fearing that she might lose it, one day or another. All that time searching for Vincent, Catherine, who was so into trying to rescue him, was unware of the comments that others cops were giving behind her back or that she might end up like Joe, their ex-boss, for an example. Neglecting her own duties at the departement, for a personal matter.
"Yes, I will, don't worry about me, Tess, I just need to figure this out, on my own.."
"Good, because you really need to lighten a bit, take a break, you know?"had asked Tess as she opened up the door for both of them.
"It's ok, really, I'm doing fine, Tess, no need to worry..."But, she felt Tess wasn't done talking with her yet.
"You know what? It's been a while since we didn't hang out as single ladies, we should go out for a beer"As they walked back to their desk, Catherine stopped her tracks causing Tess to turn back to her.
"Out for a beer, really?"
"Yeah, it's a way to drown our sorrows away, you know?"
"So, it's a date, Vargas?"
"Don't hit on me, Chandler! Or you'll be disappointed!" At that, the girls just laughed before going back to work. A few minutes later, after their conversation, when Catherine was checking her e-mails, Tess couldn't help, but feel worried about her best friend's behavior. Catherine was always considerated like a tough one, but the break-up thing with Vincent had almost left her in pieces and even if she didn't want to admit it, Tess was kinda worried that she would lose it again.
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"Now, is not the time to talk Hendricks, I have some work to do now.."had said a man with a heavy portuguese accent as he continued to walk on the haunted streets of New York, when he rather had wanted to stay at home and not to have the FBI behind his back. And at the middle of the night also. He was on the phone, talking with the devil himself.
"Come on! Medina! You owe me something at least, I just want you to put someone into interogation, since I can't do it..."
"Don't bullshit me, I'm working on a case right now..."Actually, he was working on a missing case along with his partner Cheng Nguyen, another cop with two years younger than him, since two years now. Tyler Stevenson was the case they were working on at the moment and she's been missing for a very long time.
"I'm working on a missing case, at the moment as we speak..."
"But why does the NJSP departement has to do with this case?"
"Why, do you even want to know?"he asked as he looked at left and at right watching young officers doing their research, while he was having a chat with FBI Agent, Brian Hendricks.
"Never mind, the only thing I want from you is to track Bob Reynolds's daughter, Detective Catherine Chandler and force her to make her speak..."
"Why can't you just do the job?"
"Because, I have tried to make and force her to speak and.."
"For what?"had cut Medina as he stopped his tracks and stared up at his watch, thinking how much time he has to go through with this.
"For the arrest of her father, I felt like she was hidding something very important and that makes me so mad at the same time and since, I was retired from the case by force from my boss, I just cannot help it..."
"And what am I supposed to do in it?"
"Open up the case, Medina, you and I both know why we want to bring justice to those who need it far more than anybody else..."
"And your point is?"
"Just try to pick up where I left off...And I won't bother you again..Try to make Chandler speak, force her even and don't lose track of her until she admits that she is hidding something or someone like..You know, you're good at it.."Were the last words that the young detective had heard until he heard his partner scream his name.
"Look, I have to go now, we'll end this chat later, old guy..."he hang up and rushed to find his partner who was waiting for him, at the entrance of some abandoned house. Where a body laid to be found...
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Okay, that's it for today, I know it's short, but I'll try to update as soon as I can. What do you think Hendricks is up to? What's gonna happen to Cat? By the way, happy New Year!
