A/N: Since Jamie continues to be the ever-so wonderful man that he is, I had another jolt of inspiration. Next week is the last episode (!), and it's implied that he and Amy have something - or have had something - going on between them. One of my Tumblr buddies even thinks that he was the father of one of her kids. o.O

But it all adds to the drama, which is good. I've never really written something like this before. But I like it. ;)

Anyway, I'll be (hopefully) getting the DVD set for my birthday, so if I do go on with this, I won't run the risk of getting viruses and dealing with pop-ups. :p I'm even willing to pay $22 now, and stay off of Tumblr next Tuesday until I'm able to watch the finale.

The things I do for my fandoms.

A little context: Since Bob is going to South Africa, and Cathy isn't part of the syndicate that won, she decides to stay behind. But this means she has nowhere to stay, so Stuart and Jamie's mom offers for her to bunk at their house in exchange for watching Jack and Daisy. After a couple of days, Stuart tells Cathy about Jamie showing Amy the picture at the hotel, adding that to the knowledge that Jamie now co-owns a strip club. Cathy realizes that even though she loves Jamie, they both want different things, and she's not willing to sacrifice her own morals just to be with him. Not wanting to go back to her parents just yet, her older sister, Emma, offers to let her stay at her house. This one-shot centers around Cathy going back to the Bradley house one last time to say goodbye to Jamie.

Farewell

It took everything she had not to run over and break the windows, slash the tires. His precious Ferrari was just making her even more enraged.

She rang the doorbell, looking over her shoulder again. She knew Emma wouldn't leave her there alone, but she needed the reassurance.

Mrs. Bradley opened the door. Of course.

"Oh, hello, Cathy," she said. "Didn't think I'd be seeing you around so soon."

"Neither did I." She tried to laugh, but found she couldn't. Mrs. Bradley had been nothing but kind to her, and she loved Stuart's kids. It would be so hard to go back home.

"I reckon you're not here to say goodbye again," Mrs. Bradley joked. "Not to me, anyway."

"Look, you can just tell him I'm leaving, okay?" She would rather not face him. This was going to be hard. So very hard.

"Dear, I think he needs to hear it from you." She gave the younger girl a pointed look.

"Right."

Mrs. Bradley stepped aside and nodded toward the back of the house. "He's in the pool."

…

This shouldn't have been difficult. And it wouldn't have been, if not for him. She was planning to throw all her emotions at him and leave as fast as she could. She hadn't known he'd look so happy to see her.

"Cathy!" He hopped out, dripping wet from the pool water. He shook the water from his hair. "I'd give you a hug, but I don't wanna get you all wet."

She nodded, panicking silently. She couldn't go through with this. She'd chicken out, tell Emma that she'd be staying. She was scared to think about life without him.

Then she remembered what Stuart had told her. About the picture, about him owning a strip club. It all built up inside her, fueling her frustration.

"You alright?" He stood in front of her, towel around his shoulders, looking concerned.

She tried to speak, but nothing came out. Why was it so hard to say three simple words? I'm going home.

"Speechless, are we?" He gave her a crooked smile. "I know you find me attractive, but I didn't expect this."

"I'm leaving," she mumbled, picking at a loose string on her coat.

"Huh?"

"Jamie, I…I came to say goodbye."

He blinked, perplexed. "Goodbye? You're not supposed to go home for another few months."

Surprised you'd remember that, Jamie.

"Well, I feel bad about living here, when your mum does so much for me…and Emma offered to let me stay with her for a while. I mean, it was nice of you guys to take me in when Uncle Bob went off to South Africa, but…I think it's time for me to go."

She expected him to laugh it off, tell her good riddance, do something that screamed jackass. It was his way; it's how he dealt with these things.

Instead, he got the most heartbreaking look on his face. For a second, she almost thought he was really upset about this.

"Where'd all this come from?" he asked after a minute. His voice was quieter, weaker.

"It's how I feel about the situation, Jamie. It's nothing against you, okay? I just…I think it's best for everyone."

The fire in his eyes returned suddenly. Here was the Jamie she knew, the Jamie she feared.

"Like I'd believe that. Stuart told you, didn't he?"

"This has nothing to do with him-"

"I don't know why you insist on letting him talk shit about me!" He shook his head, amused. "My own brother…"

"What about what you've done?" Cathy shot back, her temper rising. "You're the one who showed Amy that stupid picture!" She bit her lip as soon as the words left her mouth.

"So. This is about me, is it?"

She blinked back angry tears. "Yes. It is." She forced herself to look into his eyes. She was going to remain strong.

"I told you before. I'm not going to change the way I am."

"I know that. And that's why I think it'd be better if I left. I can't constantly be wondering about you, Jamie. I really can't. I can't wonder if you're going to get caught for the robbery, I can't wonder if you're sleeping with someone behind my back…" She swallowed hard, more tears pouring down her face. "And I can't wonder if you really do care about me."

"Cathy…"

"I can't, Jamie! I can't do this anymore!" She ran her hands through her hair, sighing. "I'm doing you a favor, aren't I? You don't have to deal with poor little Cathy, keeping you away from your hookers and your drugs."

"Cathy, listen to me." He looked angry, but his eyes were pleading with her.

"Don't tell me otherwise." She turned to leave. "I think you'll be happier if I'm not here."

"Cathy!" He grabbed her elbow, but she tried to jerk away. He held onto her with both hands; she tried to kick him, but she missed. While dodging her foot, Jamie lost his balance and started leaning sideways. Cathy felt herself tipping over, unable to escape from his grasp. Before both of them knew it, they had fallen into the pool.

Cathy managed to swallow one mouthful of water as she fought her way to the surface. She gulped in the air, thankful the pool wasn't too deep.

She glared at Jamie as he came up for air. "Thanks a lot," she said.

"No problem." He swam over to her; she tried to get away, but her clothes were weighed down with water, making her move slower. He easily pulled her to him, and in no time at all he was kissing her.

She hated him for this. It was the one thing she couldn't say no to, what he knew she loved. If there was a way to make her stay, he had found it.

For a few blissful moments, she let herself get lost in his arms. He was gentle with her, kissing her lips slowly and tenderly. For someone who must have had many girls before, he didn't seem to want to strip her of her clothing or stick his tongue down her throat. He was willing to go slow, content just to be with her.

They both pulled away to breathe. He still had that look in his eyes.

"Cathy…don't go. Please."

She remembered a few nights ago, at the hotel. He had given her a similar look, told her he cared about her, wanted to be good for her. And then he'd turned right around and went back to being stupid.

How was she ever going to trust him?

"I'm sorry, Jamie," she said, pulling herself up onto the ledge of the pool. "I can't."

"Cathy, wait!" He leaped out of the pool and ran after her.

She walked toward the door, shivering, not even noticing that she was leaving a trail of water on the hardwood floor.

"Cathy, please-"

"What's going on?" Amy materialized, seemingly out of nowhere. She looked disdainfully at Cathy. "Why are you soaking wet?"

Cathy wrenched the door open and walked outside without a word.

Jamie was following her. She heard the slap of his feet against the pavement. He caught her arm and spun her around, pulling her to his chest.

"Let go of me," she muttered, knowing it was no use.

"Cathy, would you just stop and think for a minute? I don't want to lose you again."

She looked up at him, angry all over again. "Maybe next time you'll learn how to keep a girl, then!" She pulled the passenger door to her sister's car open and got inside.

"Why are you all wet?" Emma asked, glancing at her. "And…why is he outside like that in the middle of October?"

Cathy shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes again.

"Hey…it's alright now." Emma smiled sadly. "You'll be fine now, Cathy. You don't have to see him again."

Her brain was telling her the same thing. But for some reason, her heart refused to shut up.

Or stay whole.