A/N: Thanks guys! huggles all

Matthew laughed, looking over at Catherine. "Sweetheart, if the gun didn't work this time do you really think it will work this time?"

"Get off of her. Now," Catherine said, keeping the gun trained on him.

He laughed again. "You know what? With that little thing you almost look threatening."

"Get OFF of her. NOW," Catherine repeated, louder, taking a step toward the two.

Sara watched Catherine from under him, wincing as he shifted his grip on her arms. His knuckles were turning white from his tight grip on her wrists and she whimpered as she felt his nails digging into her skin. She watched as he turned his head back down to look at Sara.

"You'd better tell your little friend to watch what she says," he told her. "Or this might be more painful than it already will be.." he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling something out. Sara felt her blood run cold when she saw it- a flash of silver. It was a knife.

"That's it!" Catherine yelled, pulling the trigger on her gun. A shot rang through the entire house as he fell over onto the floor motionless as the bullet made contact with his chest. Catherine wasted no time and ran over to Sara, setting the gun on the bed and checking to make sure she was alright. "Are you okay?" Catherine asked, looking down at her. Sara's wrists were still above her head and Catherine took her hands in hers, setting them down at her sides. "Honey it's going to be okay, the police are on their way," she told her.

"Cath.." Sara whispered, looking down at the floor where Matthew had collapsed.

"What is it?" Catherine asked, following her gaze down to the floor. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him no longer lying there and no pool of blood on the floor. "Where did he go?" she cursed under her breath.

"Miss me?" he asked from behind her, holding the knife up to her throat. Catherine froze when he heard his voice, her hand slowly reaching for her gun. "Don't," he warned, grabbing her gun from the bed and throwing it to the side. "I was prepared," he whispered into her ear, throwing his jacket off to reveal a bullet-proof vest.

Catherine shut her eyes tightly. This is it, she thought. I'm sorry, Sara. She winced as she felt the jagged edge of the blade make a thin slice into the skin on her neck and watched as a small drop of blood dripped onto the floor.

"Let her go," Sara said.

Catherine's eyes popped open, looking down at Sara.

"Let her go. Don't hurt her. She's not the one you want.." she said quietly.

"Sara.." Catherine said slowly. "Don't--"

"Wait a second.." Matthew said. "This is quite amusing, actually. What are you saying, Sara?" he asked her, pressing the knife to Catherine's throat. She winced involuntarilly, hoping Catherine didn't notice so she didn't do anything risky.

"Let Catherine go and..you...can do what you want with me," Sara said quietly.

"Sara.." Catherine said.

"Hmm.." He thought for a minute. "You know what? I actually quite like that arrangement."

"No!" Catherine yelled. "Sara--" she said, trying to convince her otherwise.

Sara just shot her a small smile. "It'll be okay, Cath," she told her.

"Alright..." Matthew said, grabbing firmly onto the back of Catherine's neck. "So...let's take you somewhere you won't be able to interrupt," he said, moving to the closet. He threw the door open and shoved her inside, slamming the door shut and pulling a piece of furniture in front of the door so she couldn't get out.

"Sara!" Catherine yelled, pounding on the door. "Sara, don't do this!"

Sara had taken the opportunity that had arisen and jumped off of the bed, running for the gun. Matthew quickly turned around and saw her reaching for it. She slid onto the floor, her hand centimeters away from the gun when she felt him shove her into the wall.

"That wasn't part of the plan, Sara," he hissed. "But I do like it when you fight back," he smiled. "Makes it a lot more fun for me." Sara shuddered as she watched him pull his knife back out, his other hand holding firmly onto her left shoulder. He ignored the pounding he heard coming from inside the closet and slid the blade under one of the straps on the tank top she was wearing, watching it fall as he sliced it in half. Sara let out a whimper. "This is what you told me I was getting if I let your little friend go," he whispered into her ear.

Sara shut her eyes tightly, swallowing hard. He was right...if this was what it took to keep Catherine safe then she was going to do it...she didn't want to, but she wouldn't be able to stand it if Catherine got hurt anymore.

Catherine was more important.

She tried to keep herself calm as she saw him move the knife down.

Catherine was more important.

She shuddered as she felt the cold metal press against her skin.

Catherine was more important.

She fought back the tears that were forming in her eyes as he put his hand on her right thigh.

Catherine was more important.

As he moved his hand up and down, she bit the inside of her bottom lip, willing herself to be quiet.

But Catherine was more important.

Sara turned her head away, looking at the closet door, where Catherine was trapped inside, pounding and shouting from the inside.

And then the front door of the house was thrown open. The police swarmed inside, Brass in front of them with his gun drawn. They ran to the bedroom and Brass kicked the door open, pointing his gun at Matthew. "Put the knife down!" he shouted.

"She told me this was what I was going to get," he said. "And I'm not going to let anyone interrupt." He stood up and lunged at Brass with the knife in his hand. Brass quickly pulled the trigger, the bullet hitting his chest and he noticed the bullet-proof vest. He fired again, this time hitting him right between the eyes and he collapsed onto the floor, the knife falling from his lifeless hand.

Brass looked down at Sara, who was shaking uncontrollably and looking up at him with fear-filled eyes. He quickly took his jacket off as he holstered his gun, wrapping it around her shoulders. "Hang on Sara," Brass said. "Paramedics are outside. Where's Catherine?" He watched as Sara slowly turned and looked at the closet door. He took the hint and shoved the piece of furniture out of the way, only to be knocked out of the way as the door was thrown open and Catherine stumbled out.

"Sara!" she yelled, quickly running to her side. She wrapped her arms around the younger woman's neck, holding her close and squeezing her tightly. She didn't want to let go. She wasn't going to let go. She had come too close to losing her to let go now. "Sara..." she whispered. "I was so scared for you.."

Sara just nodded slowly as the tears began to run down her cheeks. "I know, Cath. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize, it's not your fault," Catherine told her.

Brass but it. "I'm sorry to interrupt," Brass said. "But...you guys should probably go outside and let the paramedics take a look at you two."

Catherine just nodded slowly, looking down at Sara. "Sara? Did you hear that? We need to go outside.."

"Okay..but I don't want you to let go of me," she whispered.

"I won't Sara. I promise."

She was never going to let go again,

Never.