Chapter 10

Vincent held Catherine in his arms, letting her cry. She had the tougher job here. Lying to their friends and dealing with her Father. He could imagine that the stress of it all was overwhelming her. He was so proud of her. She truly is the strongest person he knows. After a few minutes, she pulls back, wipes her face and smiles up at him.

"Thank you, I needed that."

She comes up on her tip toes and kisses him gently.

"I needed that too."

Vincent tightens his hold on her.

"Anytime….are you ok?"

Catherine shakes her head.

"Yes, or at least I will be. It was really hard lying to JT. Vincent he is devastated. Drunk on scotch and gummy worms. We have to fix this quick so we can let him know you're alive. Watching him, just guts me."

Vincent pulls her close again. Touching her, the only thing keeping him grounded. When what he really wants to do is find Reynolds and slit his throat.

"He will forgive us. I know him, don't worry he will forgive us. What happened with your Father?"

As they go inside, Catherine fills him in. Watching him process it all, something crosses her mind. Without really thinking it through, she asks him.

"Vincent are you the reason my Mom made it home safe. Is that why you were there the night she died? Is that why you were able to save me?"

Vincent stops abruptly. The bottom drops out of his stomach. He stands there, eyes closed. He knew this day would come. He listens to her heart. It is racing. He should have told her a long time ago, but he was trying to keep her safe last year, she would have run off like a crazy person and gotten herself killed and him exposed. Then things spiraled out of control, then his memory was wiped. He of course now remembers it all, but it just didn't seem important after all this time.

"Catherine….yes to both."

He stands there, arms at his side, hands open. He is watching her. He wants to explain why he never told her, but he is not sure of her reaction, will she give him a chance?

He is surprised.

Catherine drops to the couch. Head in her hands.

"Of course you were, it makes sense, how my mom escaped…how you just happened to be there the night she was killed to rescue me….you keeping tabs on me."

She looks up at Vincent. He is frozen, his fear written all over his face. She jumps up and wraps her arms around him.

"Vincent…I get it. When we first met, if you had told me the truth I would have gone off halfcocked and crazy to find the truth and only ended up getting myself and possibly you killed. I know my weakness, I am like dog with a bone when I want something. That makes me a really good detective, but not so good at protecting myself or others when it comes to Murfield, and when we met I was so focused on finding out what happened to my Mom, I never would have listened to you. You lied to keep me safe and I get that. I really do."

Vincent is speechless…..

"You're not mad at me?" He can't believe she is not angry with him.

She gestures to him to sit down next to her. Taking his hand in hers. She holds on to him.

"Vincent, we are lying to our best friends right now to keep them safe. What kind of person would I be if I judged you for doing the same thing?"

Vincent is still shocked. He just stares at her.

Catherine smiles at him, tugging on his hands.

"There are some questions I have, if you wouldn't mind telling me now? I promise not to run off all crazy. We have nothing but time."

"What do you want to know?'

Catherine takes a deep breath and Vincent squeezes her hand.

"Tell me about Afghanistan."

Vincent is quiet at first. Thinking back on that time. The emotions rise to the surface. The fear, the pain and the confusion.

"You already know that your Mom looked after us. She was worried that the military was pushing the experiments too far too fast. Especially after Lafferty's fugue event. There was a raid. It ended up being the last raid that left the compound. I was not a part of it, but something went wrong. The base, went crazy. One minute were working out, or training and the next minute I hear shooting, on the base. For some reason your Mom was the first person I thought of. I ran to medical and overheard her fighting with one of our unit commanders. He threatened her and I intervened."

Vincent lifts Catherine's hand to his mouth and kissed it.

"That was the first time I saved a Chandler. She told me that the project and all of us were being exterminated. We escaped. Until Zach found me, I thought we were the only ones who had. We made our way back to the states and to NY. Your Mom actually hid me out, for about a year, until that night…"

Catherine is riveted. She and Vincent's life is much more entwined then she ever knew.

"Your parents' house in West Chester was the perfect hide out. There was plenty of woods nearby, I could let the beast out and it seemed to help me keep him under control. I actually slept in your basement sometimes. During the day when everyone was gone, I would shower and eat. I don't remember seeing you at the house, but I saw your picture."

Catherine could tell that Vincent was lost in his memories, his face softened as he continued talking.

"One day I was inside, eating or something and I just kept staring at your photo, I thought you were the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. Your Mom had mentioned college and law school and how smart you were. I would stare at you, I was mesmerized and then later… haunted."

Shaking his head he returned to the present.

"I remember Heather as well."

He chuckled.

"She almost caught me once or twice. I shadowed your Mom, I was sure that Murfield would come for her once they figured out that we hadn't died in Afghanistan. She wouldn't hide, she just got a job at the local hospital and lived her life. Almost daring them to come after her. I guess it lasted just about a year. Until the night she was killed. She left the house to come help you and I followed her just like I always did."

He stopped there for a minute, listening to Catherine's heart, making sure she was ok.

Catherine nodded her head, she wanted him to continue.

"That was the first time I saw you. The pull I felt to you, even then was so strong, that it blocked everything else out. I was so focused on you, that I didn't hear them coming, I didn't pick up anything until they started shooting and of course by then it was too late for your Mom. It all happened so quick, you took off running…them chasing you and me chasing them. I became so enraged at what they had done to Vanessa and what they were going to do to you, the beast just broke whatever control I thought I had built up and slaughtered those men."

Vincent hung his head, just for a moment in shame. Catherine recognized his behavior and once again placed her hand on his cheek and made him look at her.

"You saved my life, Vincent."

He nods his head, acknowledging her. Gazing into her eyes, he said.

"The way you looked at me that night….you had no fear of me, you were confused and scared, but not of me. I wanted to pick you up and run off with you, but the beast was in control that night. I watched you…..call the police. Watched the ambulance check you out. Heard you talk to the police, and saw the way they looked at you. I figured the fact that no one believed you would keep you safe. I had no idea it would be such a burden to you. I am so sorry for that."

Catherine kissed him gently. She crawled up into his lap. Wrapped her arms around him and burrowed into him.

"Thank you for saving me and thank you for giving me the extra time with my Mom. If you hadn't gotten her out of Afghanistan, she would have died there."

He smiled as he held her. She felt so good in his arms. She felt like….home.

"After that night, I found JT and you know the story from there. I kept tabs on you over the years just to make sure you were safe. And to be honest, I couldn't get you off my mind. I think you were saving me all that time. I never gave in to my beast side. I tried every cure JT cooked up. I didn't have a plan to come find you or anything, but you were always there. That morning when you first came to the warehouse, when I saw you the first time. I told JT who you were. He just about lost his shit. I know I have said this before, but it really was the best day of my life."

Both of them are quiet. Each lost in their own memories of the past. Catherine accepted a long time ago that her Mother's death was not her fault. Thanks to Vincent. They both reacted the best they could to circumstances beyond their control. That is all they could do, just keep moving forward.

Vincent had the equipment set up at the cabin to listen to Reynolds. It didn't take long for them to get their first hit. Reynolds called someone, but he didn't introduce himself or say who he was talking to.

"Vincent Keller is dead."

A digitized voice responded.

"Are you sure?'

"Yes, my daughter came to see me, she is…was involved with Keller and I made some discreet inquiries. There was an incident at Curt Windsor's place last night and Det. Chandler took some time off of work, and her partner seemed pretty shook up."

Catherine and Vincent exchanged a look. It was a good thing JT and Tess didn't know he was alive.

"So we need to activate another asset. Windsor must be eliminated, at least now we don't have to eliminate Keller."

Catherine put her hand on Vincent's arm to calm him. To remind him of the bigger picture.

Reynolds continued.

"I think we need to activate Nixon. Windsor is high profile and took out Keller. He is going to ready for us next time. Nixon has what we need at this point. If for some reason we can't contain him after, we can take him out, like we planned to do with Keller. I am ready for this to be done. Windsor is the last NY threat. I want out of this."

Vincent and Catherine looked at each other. Surprise on both of their faces. Reynolds wants out?

"I have reconnected with my daughter and I want to put all this business behind me. I will help you clean up NY, then I am out. Is that clear."

The digitized voice responded.

"We shall see about that. This is not something you can just walk away from Reynolds. Things just don't stop because you want them to. Maybe you should consider bringing your daughter into the family business. After all it's in her blood….isn't it"

Reynolds lost it.

"Listen, I said I will help, but you keep my daughter out of this. I have done everything you asked. I took down Murfield!"

He was interrupted.

"Yes, using your daughter's pet to get that done. Keeping Keller alive instead of terminating him like you were ordered to. Returning him to NY, instead of anywhere else in the world. And then you lost control of him and now he is dead…useless to us. You went off plan when you captured Keller instead of Lowan. But no more. The plan is to eliminate all the Murfield assets in NY. Windsor is the last one. I am not releasing another dangerous predator to make your job easier. Get it done!"

The call was disconnected. Cat and Vincent could hear Reynolds muttering under his breath but not make out what he was saying.

Vincent looked shell shocked. The phone call made it seem like Reynolds had saved his life and put him back in play in NY so that Catherine would find him.

"Vincent…..Vincent?"

He turned from her and started for the door. Looking over his shoulder at her he said.

"I am sorry, I just need minute."

He blurred away.