Author's Note: Hey guys, long time no see! Here is another long-awaited chapter. I have been recently busy with work, so I don't know if there is the final edit. I might edit it some more in the coming month.

However, enjoy! :D

Last time on Indomitable Hope:

"Hey J.T., sorry to spoil for the moment but thank you for the limo," Cat uttered her thanks, breaking the trance between the two lovers. A bit flustered, J.T. turned his eyes towards the petite woman. "No problem, Cat. I hope you can enjoy tonight. Here, let me be a gentleman and open the door for you."

And with that, the finely dressed man in a black-tie suit broke away from his partner's embrace to go to the back door of the limo. He opened the door casually, bowing his head a bit as he spoke, "Ladies, I invited you to enjoy the ride on "la limousine de J.T."

The two ladies just giggled as they approached the open door. Cat volunteered without a word to go in first. Once she lifted her eyes to focus on what was in front of her, the petite brunette suddenly frowned with a look of annoyance.

Tess looked at her best friend in confusion. Why was Cat suddenly annoyed? The taller woman looked at her boyfriend, yet he didn't say anything nor expressed any emotions on his face to indicate any meaning behind this. He just displayed a blank stare. His silence only made Tess even more puzzled; what in the world was her boyfriend up to now? The taller woman's insides fumed as she focused her eyes on her friend's situation once more. Placing both her hands on the upper part of the open car door, the female detective leaned her body slightly over the door to see what or who was inside. She gasped at the very moment of what she saw.

"Ok, ok, ok," Tess was the first one among the group to brazenly speak up. "Who in the fuck invited Gabe to join us?"

Cat, who, at first, was a bit embarrassed at her friend's sudden outburst, sternly looked at the "gentleman" who sitting inside their ride, staring him down until he opened up and spilled the reason why he was here. She wanted to know how and why he was in this limo. Did someone forget to keep their promise of maintaining Cat dateless throughout the gala? How dare them.

Feeling the growing pressure from the two detectives' stares, the man in question began to speak up. "All of this is my fault, don't blame J.T., please. I trust that he didn't know of your plans beforehand, so I asked him if I could join you guys on your procession to the gala. I hope I didn't disturb the pre-festivities."

Tess side-glared at J.T. once more before responding. "You didn't disturb us, don't feel too guilty. In all honesty, we wanted this to be a girls night. But since J.T. is the only man in this party, I guess you can join him. Just don't do anything stupid, if you know what I mean."

Gabe just merely nodded at Tess' demand. To win Cat's heart, Gabe knew he had to agree with her rules even though he disagreed with them. While the ADA was deep in thought, the two ladies and J.T. slipped into the car and took a seat: J.T sat next to Gabe and the ladies across from the two guys with Cat keeping some distance from Gabe. Once everyone settled in their places, J.T. closed the car door and motioned to the limo driver that they were ready to leave by pushing a call button on a side panel.

While en route, the conversation inside the vehicle was mostly centered around Tess and J.T., talking about daily musing and other small talks. Gabe joined in the discussion once in a while. However, Cat was reluctant to participate. The younger female detective just stared out the window, watching various buildings, parks, and other structures whirl by with little interest. She had a lot on her mind especially about a particular man who wasn't supposed to be in the same vehicle right now. It is best if I steer clear from him tonight…

"...so, there was a recent incident at work where a novice detective tried to get Cat's attention. I think he even tried to invite her to the ball. Right, Cat?" Tess teasingly asked the woman sitting next to her. Tess even tried to lightheartedly jab her elbow at her friend's side to get her friend's attention, also to lighten the mood.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. About Crosby, right? Yeah, he tried to hit on me, but I said I am sorry, I am taken…" Cat answered mindlessly, turning her eyes towards Gabe to see what was his reaction to Tess' small talk. Damn you, Tess, she thought as she looked at Gabe's sullen face. She didn't want her best friend to blab about her interoffice relationship mishaps in front of the very man who was trying to win her affections. He wouldn't take this story of younger colleagues unfortunate flirting so lightly.

Feeling the building tension inside the limo over the scandalous small talk, J.T. quickly changed the topic by speaking up hastily. " So, um, how about that one commanding officer that is trying to keep everyone together in your office? What was his name again? Oh yes, McIntyre, wasn't it?"

Gabe took the hint and answered J.T.'s question, "He has been in and out of the office since that day when whatever attacked Cat. He has been handling all the press releases, talking to reporters, reporting to local and state governments, and working with the FBI to find out what happened and who was behind the attack. He has been very busy. However, since tonight's gala is very important for the New York Police Department as well as for the city itself, McIntyre will be in attendance."

A tall yet slender woman was sitting in front of a vanity, finishing the final touches of her hair, makeup, and jewelry. The redhead wore minimal facial makeup, instead focusing on her eye makeup to make her emerald green eyes pop out. Tori carefully wrapped her hair in a tight bun, placing it at the nape of her neck before securing it with a small, black hair tie. She also put a pearl hairband just above it to make the arrangement look elegant.

A sound that seemed to be like a series of soft footsteps approached her from behind. The redhead slowly turned around to face the owner, which, to her surprise, was her father. He was dressed in a black tuxedo that looked relatively new. She was expecting that Vincent or maybe a servant would come and get her, not her father. It wasn't that she hated to see her father standing right there in her room, but wanted it to be Vincent instead. Those deep hazel eyes. Those broad shoulders. That lean body. Mmmm.

"Hey Tor, just checking up on you. The limo is currently waiting outside, that is why I came," her father spoke lightly as his words cut through her daydream of Vincent, "But no hurry, you still got plenty of time before you have to get going really. Is everything fine?"

Tori just gave her father a small smile before replying. "Everything is fine. Where is Vincent?"

"He is waiting by the grand staircase downstairs."

"Perfect! Tell him that I will be done in a minute, ok?"

"Sure."

Curt Windsor gave a quick peck on his daughter's cheek before walking out of the room. But, what Tori didn't know was that Mr. Winsor wasn't going to go downstairs and relay his daughter's message to their permanent guest. Instead, he walked towards his second-floor office, took out his cell phone, and dialed a mysterious number. The elder Windsor placed the phone up his ear and waited for the dial tone to start ringing.

Once he got a confirmation that the number went through, he closed the thick wooden door to his second-floor office and walked towards the glass windows that overlooked the vast courtyard that was cast in a dark orange glow of the evening sun. He peered out from the windows and looked at the various staff members down below while waiting for someone to pick up on the other end: the taxi driver was waiting diligently next to his car; a few gardeners who were near the bushes by the side of the main entrances, gathering fallen, dead branches. He then noticed a lone figure approaching the central roundabout.

Was that who Mr. Windsor thought it was. What was he doing here?

Mr. Windsor ran as fast as his legs could go. He ran with such urgency that when he ran down the staircase, it only took him about thirty seconds to get to the bottom. He passed a puzzled Vincent who moved his eyes back and forth to watch Tori's father galloping towards the front door, opening it, and disappearing into the courtyard.

As soon as the elder Windsor reached outside, his eyes darted all over to find that mysterious figure. Once he saw the person he was searching, Mr. Windsor jogged towards the subject in question.

The millionaire stopped in front of the man. He started to speak with his words coming out in between deep exhales. "What the hell are you doing here, Rob?"

Mr. Windsor grabbed the younger man's upper arm forcefully and pulled him to an area next to the mansion where they could gain specific privacy with their conversation. When they reached the location, the other man smirked as he slyly replied with a smooth tone, "I am just here to check up on the subject behind our little experiment. What's the matter, nervous about something?"

"I'm not. It's just you showed up here unannounced. Besides, we are heading out soon for the Gala."

"Ah, yes, that annual Gala put on by the city council with the police and fire departments. Is your daughter taking Vincent as her date?"

Curt Winsor just sighed, thinking of a way to answer that question without upsetting Reynolds. He knew that Vincent could be a potential threat to the partygoers if the right triggers were activated, or even yet, Robert's biological daughter could show up and recognize her former boyfriend. According to what Robert told him about Cat's and Vincent's past encounters, this potential one could spell potential disaster. But, on the other hand, he didn't want to break his daughter's heart and not permit her to take the handsome man with her. Especially now that she has started to show feelings towards Vincent, a beast just like her.

I better tell the truth, Rob would find out anyways, the millionaire thought as he began to speak. "Yes, she is taking him to the gala. And no, she isn't going alone as I am going as well to oversee the two. You have to remember that my daughter and I aren't any different then Vincent, we share the fact we can beast out anytime."

The FBI agent wasn't thrilled about Windsor's answer, "You and your daughter aren't as strong as him. And also, you two aren't being chased after by three agencies. However, I will let him go with your daughter since it's a masquerade and I trust you that you provided adequate masks for both parties, hoping that no one would recognize Vincent."

Curt nodded in response, letting Agent Reynolds continue to speak. "Good. You know the risks if either Muirfield or the NYPD find out that Vincent is still alive. Just a friendly warning. Have fun at the gala."

Thomas Reynolds then extended his hands towards Curt's left shoulder, patting it lightly to assure the millionaire. The younger man smiled a little as he turned around and walked away from Mr. Windsor, towards the direction of the gates at the entrance.

The millionaire watched in silence as the FBI agent walked away. Once out of sight, he could hear his daughter calling for him. "Dad, where are you? We are ready to leave. Hurry up, we can't be late."

And with that, the millionaire headed towards his daughter and the limo that would soon depart to the grand gala.

A lone figure was finishing up a glass of wine at a dark bar somewhere inside the city. The man was wearing a slick black tuxedo that looked like it was dry cleaned to perfection. Even the bow around the figure's neck was tied precisely: no strings hanging out nor either side was sticking out oddly. Even his shoes were impeccably polished as they shined like a precious jewel under the dimmed bar lights. Although his salt-and-pepper colored hair was cut in an Ivy League style, it was combed neatly, parted precisely in the middle.

He placed the empty wine glass on the table as someone sat in the empty seat across from him. The man with the meticulous suit lifted his piercing green eyes towards the stranger yet said nothing. He was waiting for this stranger to say his first words, waiting for a reason why he was called this place.

"Thanks for coming, McIntyre, even though you have a pressing matter coming up in the next hour," the stranger started to speak. Captain McIntyre knew this guy, he was one the fellows whom he met a month ago to seek information about the beast attacks investigation in Prescient 44. He recognized those dark brown eyes, that buzzcut. It was Li Zhao. The gentleman continued to speak while McIntyre investigated in who this stranger was. "I just wanted to pass along this new assignment from the boss today."

The younger agent pulled a long, brown envelope from his inside coat pocket and gave it to the older man. McIntyre opened it tenderly, reading the orders. His expression remained neutral until he reached the middle section. Something written there disturbed him. He read that section once again, confirming if what was written was true or not. He placed the letter face down on the table, being careful to not lure any of the bar attendants' attention upon the note.

The salt-and-peppered man quietly spoke in a mild manner, making it only audible between him and Zhao. "What the hell is this? Why do I have to capture Vincent Keller now? What happened to try to get Agent Reynolds on our team?"

"Well, things have changed at Central Headquarters. Agent McCleary doesn't want Agent Reynolds anymore, especially when that traitor joined forces with another beast, Curt Windsor. And those two have something more valuable than Reynold's skills and knowledge. According to our intel, who have been keeping a tab on the Windsor Manor, there was some recent activity that was brought to our attention: possibly another person who possessed beast-like abilities residing at that place. And we believe that person is indeed Vincent Keller. McCleary was able to gain a copy of the New York City Gala's guest list, and sure enough, there is a plus two written beside Curt's name. We presume they are his daughter and Vincent. Since you are going tonight, we like you to do the job."

Panic quickly filled the older man. "But, what happens if he beasts out? If Reynolds is working with Windsor, I would surely think they are continuing on the research or even starting their experiments…"

The middle-aged Chinese agent could see the panic rising inside McIntyre's blazing green eyes. Li Zhao tried to quiet down the worried soul with a simple solution. "If worst comes to worst, you will have to shoot Vincent."

"What? What happened to capture him? You want him dead instead?"

"No, that is not what Agent McCleary wants," Li Zhao whispered in anger, "We want Vincent alive. But, if he poses a danger, kill him. However, if you do indeed kill him, we still need his body as we can use it for future experiments. Do whatever it takes to bring Vincent back to Muirfield, do you understand?" The emotion in Zhao's voice thickened in an authoritative tone towards the end.

McIntyre just nodded to indicate that he agreed to the terms. Zhao just smirked back. "Good, I expect to see an email from you by midnight tonight or seeing Vincent turn up at our labs once again." The Chinese agent then got up from his chair and headed towards the exit.

The salt-and-peppered man whispered something once he was out of Muirfield agent's range of hearing.

"Tonight is going to be an interesting night."