Author's Note: Hey everyone. Another week, another chapter! Enjoy! :D Tell me what do you think about it in the review section.

Last time on "Indomitable Hope":

"You were involved in a near-fatal accident with something I can't really describe. When you came in by ambulance to the emergency operating room, you were covered in mass amounts of blood and scratches that were too enormous to be caused by an ordinary animal living in New York City," he explained while lifting the mirror up to show her scanty bandage-covered face and the abdominal region," The meds and the team of doctors who worked on your recovery also noticed that there were a series of deep punctures near your lungs. Whoever attacked you missed a critical part of your lungs region by a few inches. If you weren't found in the park by that good samaritan at the time he or she did, you might be dead now as the shock of losing so much blood and those wounds near your lungs made your systems began to shut down. You are very lucky."

Scratches?

Enormous?

An animal living in New York City?

These words screamed inside Catherine's head while the doctor told about her wounds and miracle rescue. Couldn't it be? No way! The beautiful brunette silently recalled the dream she had before waking up. A dream of her encountering a man who turned into a beast, attacking her on a sidewalk. Her face began to turn pale and her hands shook at the thought that Vincent, of anyone who could do such a thing, was the one who attacked her.

"Ms. Chandler, are you ok? Is something bothering you?" the doctor questioned at the sudden reaction of the injured woman sitting in a hospital bed in front of him.

Catherine couldn't believe it. Why would Vincent want to attack her, the one person who swore to her that he would love and protect her with all his heart? Even after all they been through, something didn't add up. Something must have happened when he was captured by "Muirfield" three months ago.

However, she couldn't reveal this revelation to the guy next to her. She didn't know if this doctor was an honest guy or a secret agent working for the heinous government organization. Taking a couple deep breaths to clear her head, Catherine coolly answered the doctor.

"I am fine, actually. I am just thinking about the events of last night. But, nothing is coming up. I'm sorry. If I do remember something clearly, I let my friends outside know." She smiled sweetly at the guy, hoping that he would take the bait and hush up about the whole incident.

Meanwhile as Catherine and Dr. Brown were chatting about the incident and the extent of her injuries, J.T., Heather, and Tess stood outside as they waited for the doctor's assessment and permission to continue their visit. Heather just stood by a window next to the room's door that was shielded by a huge blue curtain, praying that nothing serious happened to her beloved sister. The short-haired young adult was also trying to figure out how to tell her sister the biggest secret she found out recently. This secret was important yet dangerous as Heather feared that it could change her relationship with Catherine if handled wrong. She balled a fist up tightly and raised it up to her mouth as if she was lightly kissing it. However, she was using it as a stress reliever as she kept on thinking and waiting.

The other two people who waiting for any news on their beloved friend's condition were crouching down and leaning against a white hospital wall across from Heather. The two lovers stared at each other quietly as they were trying to plan out what to do next. They had no doubt n their minds that the attack last night was Vincent's doing ever since Tess received the details from Heather during a frantic phone call. And, without any doubt, they had to catch him before he attacks someone else.

But, it did leave a lot of questions left open. How could Vincent attack Catherine without recognizing her? It made J.T. ponder the situation more and more. If one person couldn't recognize their "soulmate", then something was up. However, no matter how much they wanted the answers to their dying questions, Vincent, if found, was in no condition right now to answer them.

J.T. and Tess continued to come up with different theories of Vincent's disappearance, staring off into space for a while. They didn't notice that Gabe, who went into an empty hospital room to take care of some "official" police business, returned to the area where they were waiting at. The ADA could see that the three of them were deep in thought while being very desperate for answers. Answers that he wanted so badly, answers to questions that the task force and other precincts were starting to ask as reports of Catherine's attack surfaced on various police morning briefings.

Nevertheless, as much as he wanted to stay there for Catherine, he decided that he would protect her from afar as he had to continue the search for Vincent. He looked down at the couple who were deep in thought, loudly clearing his throat to signal for their attention.

Instantly snapping from her complex meditation, Tess adverted her eyes to his direction.

"I am sorry to disturb you guys. However, I have to head back to work to figure how to proceed with Catherine's attack. Before I leave, I would like to talk to Tess privately, if you don't mind? It's a work thing."

Gabe diverted his attention to Tess in hopes that she would agree to participate. Tess eventually agreed nonchalantly, standing up from her spot to follow the ADA into an empty room.

"Thanks for allowing to me to discussion work things," Gabe started off as he closed the door to the room so one could overhear their talk nor disturb them. Tess just nodded along vaguely, hoping that the unwanted conversation would end sooner than later.

Gabe continued, "As mentioned in yesterday's briefing, I still want you to interview multimillionaire businessman Curt Winsor. If possible, I want you to conduct it this afternoon right after lunch. I am going to tag alongside you and Luke Conrad. You might be confused in how Curt Winsor and these cases are all related, but time will tell about the true nature of this relationship. I have prepared a list of questions that we need specifically ask him as he is picky about the information he gives out. Do you understand?" Tess just nodded in compliance. "Good, I will see you after lunch at the precinct."

The dark-haired guy placed one of his hands on the doorknob to signal that he was almost done with the chat. "Don't mention to anyone else, including to Catherine. She has too much on her plate with finding out that possibly Vincent was her attacker and the pain he caused to her both physically and emotionally. I can't bear to see her in that much pain..."

"Wait, you said that "possibly Vincent was her attacker", what does that mean? How do you know if or not he is actually the suspect? What evidence do you have?" Tess asked with a suspicious tone. Gabe grimaced a bit as he began to answer them.

"I said "possibly", I have my hunches that it is him. They are just guesses and shouldn't be taken as the absolute truth as we need to do more investigating on the cases. However, as a former beast, I can tell, with ease, what is a vicious animal attack and what isn't. And, hopefully, you are thinking on the same page that these attacks were most likely caused by a Muirfield-created beast like Vincent. We have to investigate more, which I believe there might be more clues at the residence of a former sponsor for this monstrous organization. Please understand that the answers will come with time, please wait patiently."

Tess nodded at Gabe's wise words. But, something else was bothering the middle-aged woman that she had to ask for clarification. "Can you tell me why you suddenly care for Cat a lot lately?" She stared fiercely into his amber-colored irises in hopes to coax the truth out him. But, he slowly downcasted his eyes so he could not make direct eye contact with her as he said these words in a sorrowful tone:

"Because when someone rescues you from entering the gates of Hell, you are eternally grateful to them. You would do anything for them to see their happiness entwined with yours."

As Gabe was finishing up his short chat with the Tess, the doctor came out to greet Heather and J.T. with the news of Catherine's condition. The doctor kept an eye on his notes while looking at the duo. "I want to say that the worst is over," he began, "But, we aren't out of the clearing yet. Cat's vital signals and outward appearances seem fine but let's see how the next twenty-four hours hold out. The injury first seemed horrible with massive bleeding and gaping wounds, especially near her lung. However, thanks to surgery and the quickness of bringing her to the operating table, she is slowly recovering. The bandages around her face and abdomen area don't show any new blood seeping out. However, I am going to recommend to the head nurse that they should change it within the next hour to prevent future complications and infections. I would also like to see an x-ray of her inners before the day ends to see if how the injured areas are holding up. Are there no objections?" The chocolate-colored hair doctor devoted his full attention to the two people to see what would be their response.

Heather spoke up first, responding lightly, "I don't believe so, doctor. I am so happy that she is alive despite being attacked viciously by a monster." J.T. just snarked at Heather's mention of a "monster" as Vincent was far from being a monster. He was just influenced by a truly real monster named Muirfield.

"Thank you, Ms. Chandler. I do believe that your sister wants to resume the option of having visitors come and see her. I would advise that maybe you should go in first by yourself. I don't think she knew the true identity of the person who donated blood for her operation. I don't know how she will respond that the blood she received wasn't from you because your blood types weren't a complete match."

Heather just nodded to confirm the doctor's words as she began to walk in the direction of her sister's room, ignoring the chubby professor's confused expression of needing more information on the situation unraveling before him.