.2.

He picked up on another heartbeat, other than Katharine's, nearby. He remained silent for a few moments listening as it became louder and much more prominent signifying that the person was making their way towards the apartment. He focused in on the heartbeat as the person it belong to closed their apartment door without locking it, moved slowly down the corridor before coming to a stop outside Katharine's door.

"Someone's outside," Matt whispered, causing Katharine to glance at him and over to the door. "Male, thirty-ish, strong heart. He's hesitating."

Katharine stood from her position, and waited for a knock to sound. She watched as Matt remained on the floor, his eyes unseeingly focused on the floor beneath the door. She focused on the door, at the shadow of two feet beneath the door.

"He's going to knock in three... two... one..." as soon as Matt had counted down, a knock sounded upon the wooden door. It was a heavy knock, one with determination.

"Take the boy into the bedroom. Stay there until he's gone," Katharine whispered, as Matt stood and carried the boy quietly into the bedroom. She watched him for a moment as he made his way into her bedroom, a route he was familiar with, and took a deep breath. Matt picked up on that, and waited by the door as her heart rattled with fear. With each step taken towards the door, her heart thumped louder than the one before.

Katharine opened the door to her neighbour. He was tall, with intense blue eyes, and brown hair that had a dusting of grey. He had recently moved into the apartment down the hall after a bitter divorce from an equally bitter wife. They had spoken a few times when passing each other in the corridor. Matt sniffed, the scent of alcohol mixing with cigarette smoke hung heavily in the air, and he wondered if Katharine had picked it up.

"Hey Kath."

Both Katharine and Matt picked up on the nickname at the same time. Matt furrowed his brows, and Katharine bit her lip.

"Hey Chris," she said. "Everything okay?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Chris spoke, his eyes dancing around at the room behind her. Katharine narrowed her gaze at him as she noticed that he was looking everywhere but her. "Heard some bangs coming from here, just wanted to see if everything was... in order."

"Well, thank you for hearing out for me. Everything is fine... just..." she trailed off, as a cough sounded behind her. Both her and Chris moved their attention towards the doorway to her bedroom where Matt stood, topless with bed hair. Katharine smirked, trying to hide it from Chris, before turning back to Chris, who stood with his mouth agape as he took in the man in the apartment. "My boyfriend... He's back in town."

"Oh... Well, um... I guess, have a good night," Chris said, stepping backwards with his gaze still upon Matt. He gave one last glance towards Katharine before she shut the door behind him, and quickly locked it.

They waited in silence for a moment, as Matt listened out to the retreating heartbeat of Chris as he made his way back to his own apartment. Katharine shook her head, amused.

"Thank you... for that display," Katharine smirked. "I'm sure he loved that."

"He didn't," Matt smirked, as he pulled his top back over his head. Katharine moved towards the couch where she took a seat, watching as Matt reapplied his clothes. He moved towards her when he was done, and took a seat opposite her. They sat in silence for a moment, the horrible realisation of their situation rushing back to them.

"What are you going to do about the boy?" Katharine asked, quietly.

Matt licked his lips then scraped his teeth across his bottom lip. "I have to take him back."

"Is that wise?"

"It's the only option I have," Matt whispered, his voice heavy.

"And what if the Russian's have returned?"

"I need a distraction."

Katharine closed her eyes and took her head in her hands. Matt sensed her reaction to his comment, and sat forward reaching for her hand. She allowed him to take her hand in his own.

"I wouldn't ask you if I didn't think it would work," Matt continued.

"Matt..."

"We're strong together. We always have been," Matt urged.

"I don't do that anymore."

"Do it for the boy," Matt whispered.

Katharine gave a small nod, before whispering. "For the boy."