I do not own…just this story
Thank you for the amazing reviews and I know I left the last chapter on a cliff but hey it was worth it wasn't it? Anyways on with the story
Chapter 26
Catherine immediately turned to see what had happened. She felt fine and she looked to Tess.
"Tess are you okay?" Catherine whispered to her.
"Yeah, I'm not hit are you?" She looked at Catherine.
"No, let's get out of here before I lose it in here" Catherine said and she gripped the door.
The door wouldn't budge as she pulled. Suddenly Catherine caught the smell of smoke. It was then that she realized the shot had to have been some kind of explosive.
"Tess, we need to get out of here now" Catherine told her in panic.
"What is that smell?" Tess asked her when suddenly there was heat radiating above them.
"The house is on fire" Catherine called out to her.
Tess quickly grabbed the handle and pulled only to realize the door still wouldn't move. The smoke began to creep through the floor boards slowly as they struggled to open the door. Catherine began to cough as the smoke got thicker around them. Tess quickly reached back into her boot and pulled out a small gun.
"Cover your face" Tess called out and shot at the door.
The bullet pierced the wood and Tess moved to her back using her legs she balanced herself before kicking forward sending the door flying open. In that quick action the fire roared as fresh air hit it sending Catherine and Tess flying into the open air and into the mud. Catherine coughed breathing in the fresh air as did Tess. They quickly scrambled away from the burning house and to a nearby tree leaning against it for support. Catherine looked back at the house to see it was engulfed in flames. A shot rang out again and Catherine looked to Tess.
"We have to get some cover" Catherine whispered to her then moved her eyes to a tree line.
"Okay on the count of three we make a run for it" Tess told her.
"Right" Catherine gripped her side from the cramp of coughing and waited for Tess to count.
"Three" Tess called and they ran.
They were so close to the tree line when Catherine heard a whistling and felt piecing pain in her leg. She collapsed right at the tree line.
"Cat" Tess called out to her stopping to look at her leg.
Protruding from her leg was a knife, and judging by the look of it was deep.
"Shit Cat" Tess told her moving to slide her arm around her back and move her into the tree line.
Just as Tess had her Catherine felt another piercing pain in her back causing Catherine to cry out in pain. Tess quickly blocked Catherine's body with hers and moved her into the tree line. Tess laid Catherine down on her stomach just as someone flew at them. Tess grabbed her gun and swirled covering Catherine with her body ready to fire if needed. It was then Tess got a good look at the person standing before her. Jake stood in his beast from taking in the look of Catherine and Tess before roaring and bowing his head as he changed back. Tess watching in wonder as Jake finally changed back and moved to her.
"Tess are you hurt?" Jake asked.
"Nothing too bad. Catherine is hurt" Tess told him moving so Jake could look at her.
On the right side of her back Catherine had a knife buried to the hilt. Jake quickly moved to her.
"Catherine are you having trouble breathing?" he asked her.
Catherine lifted her head to look at him.
"No, I can breathe just fine. Just pull it out" Catherine begged him.
"Okay, Tess take her hand and hold her still" Jake told her moving to brace his hand against her back.
Once Tess was positioned Jake nodded to her and gripped the knife pulling it quickly out of Catherine's back. Catherine cried out under the sting of the knife leaving her skin as tears spilled on her dirty cheeks. Jake ripped at his shirt and applied it to her back tying it in place with his belt. He then moved his attention to her leg and did the same. Once it was removed he tied a piece of cloth tightly around it to keep the blood from flowing out. Catherine rolled over and Tess helped her stand up against a tree. A shot rang out again and Jake snapped his head up again.
"Tess I need you to take Catherine and hide" Jake asked her.
"Okay" Tess nodded to him,
Before Jake could move Tess grabbed him by the shirt and kissed him passionately. She pulled away after a moment to see a stunned Jake looking at her.
"In case I don't get to thank you later" Tess grinned.
"Oh I am so counting on later" Jake winked at her and with one last smile he disappeared into the woods.
Catherine looked at Tess and smiled even through the pain that was radiating thru her.
"What?" Tess laughed as she slipped her arm around Catherine's waist and moved into the woods.
"Nothing" Catherine whispered as he felt herself getting weak.
"Come on Cat stay with me" Tess told her as she took another step.
Suddenly Catherine heard Vincent call out and something in her snapped. She pulled back from Tess and ran through the woods to where Vincent was. As she neared the front of the house Catherine saw Vincent clutching his arm. She could smell the blood from the wound and then before she could move she saw Jake move so quickly he tackled Chapman before he pulled the trigger. Catherine flew to Vincent side and hugged him. Jake flipped Chapman to his back before he swung around and kicked out at Jake. With one quick roll Chapman dodged another attack from Jake. Chapman turned to his side and pulled a gun from his hip firing a shot at Jake. Jake howled as the shot hit his arm. Catherine turned around and saw Chapman raise his gun again this time aiming for Vincent. He pulled the trigger and everything stopped. Catherine didn't take a moment to think she gripped Vincent and moved herself in front of him. Before Vincent could react Catherine gasped as the bullet slid across her arm passing away from her and Vincent. Catherine gasped before another shot was heard. Vincent raised his eyes to see Tess standing by the porch her gun raised. Vincent turned his attention to Chapman who now laid motion less a hole between his eyes. Vincent hadn't realized what happened until Catherine's grip slipped an she collapsed.
"Catherine" Vincent called to her pulling her into his arms.
Tess moved to jake and ripped at her shirt this time wrapping his arm tightly. Suddenly Will rounded the corner and froze at the sight. Without thinking Will looked at Vincent and Jake.
"Grab his body and let's toss it in" Will told them.
The fire was burning hot and anything entering that fire would very much be nothing but ash.
"Will what if…" Vincent started but Will held his eyes as he responded.
"Nothing happened here tonight" Will told him as he moved to the body.
Vincent and Jake nodded and with one big swing they sent Chapman's dead body into the fire burning away what he had done and any evidence left behind. Will, Vincent, and Jake stayed behind as Maggie came to get Tess and Catherine taking them back to her house to work on Catherine's wounds.
After several hours Will, Jake, and Vincent finally arrived at the house. When the guys entered the house Maggie ushered them into the kitchen. Catherine was fast asleep in the living room resting after Maggie fixed her leg and back.
"How is Catherine?" Vincent asked Maggie as she handed them some coffee.
"She is good, resting. The wounds are healing, she won't need stitches" Tess told him as she moved into the kitchen and straight to Jake.
Vincent was about to ask her something but snapped his mouth shut and watched Tess hug Jake before kissing him. Maggie sighed and laughed as she hugged her husband. Vincent grinned and left the kitchen to go find Catherine. As he entered the living room and saw her sleeping on her side wrapped in a quilt. He carefully knelt down to the floor and brushed a piece of hair away from her face. She looked so peaceful in that moment. He kissed her forehead softly before he stood and moved back to the kitchen. She needed to rest more than he did and right now he could smell Maggie fixing some food for the gang. Vincent still didn't know how tomorrow would turn out but right now his family and friends were safe and that's all he cared about at the moment.
Okay first off let me say this is not the end of the story. We still have about 4 chapters left and of course the final chapter will be a flash forward so to speak. Thank you so much for all the support you guys have given me and this story. I will be working on another story when this one is finished so you know It's gonna be good….so until next time…