Meanwhile when J.T was dropping Ed into Gabe's loft, Ash was talking to his assistant through speaker as he was driving to reach up the club. Trying to keep his attention to the dark road with both hands on the wheel, he followed with this;

"Look, all I want from you Fujiko, is to call me when you get the tests results.."

"If I get nothing at all? What am I gonna tell the cops, or Tyler's parents?"

"Just tell them the truth. Just do the health checkup, examine the rest of the organs'state. Give it a try.."he explained with a sigh and added as he looked down on his phone. "Soon or later, they'll gonna face the fact that their precious daughter ended up dead by blood lost.." Anyways, the truth always hurts. After that talk with Cheng, he thought about reconsidering of doing an second autopsy, just to make sure he wasn't on the wrong way. But since he has plans tonight, he just couldn't come up to his promises, so he ended up calling his assistant.

"Or maybe frozen to death.." He swallowed a silent cursing.

"Whatever. Look, I'm already late and I shouldn't be talking on the phone when I'm driving, might get cops's attention by now. Just text me if you find something that I did not..And even if takes all night, text me tomorrow morning.." Usually it takes at least a whole week for doing a health checkup and receiving the results, but he knows that Fujiko Tanaka is one of his best assistants that he ever has worked with, so she shouldn't disappoint him.

"You got it! Boss! And take it easy with liquor, don't want you to be sick tomorrow morning!" Despite the hard work she's been told to do, she always managed to do her best in everything. If not, she always has good contacts. She and Ash, had worked with an experimental ME guy, a few years before, so they could always have each other's back, no matter what.

"And be sure to bring me, a big french vanilla cappuccino for the hard work, tomorrow morning! And be sure to not throw up your stomach on it!" And hung up. Bossy that girl!

He shook his head, it's not being sick in the morning that he was worried about, but having to tell J.T and Vincent, two guys he hadn't seen for almost ten years, tell them facts that had happened ever since they both parted ways. The gang that used to be solid back then, ended parting theirs ways after Vincent had enlisted to the army. However, if Ash had agreed about going to that reunion it was for Regan's sake. How Vincent would take the truth about Regan's return to town? If that guy ever remembers his own past life.

"Let's just hope that nothing ends badly when I'll reach up, there.."he murmured to himself.

...

Catherine couldn't take her eyes elsewhere else than to look at him. Vincent. He made his way walking behind a very happy and enjoying J.T who was talking to a very beautiful and wavy blond haired girl and a dark haired guy that looked like he was coming out from the sun. From her very careful sight, she could see that Vincent had lost some weight, nothing dangerous of course. He had shaved and looked clean, like the last time she had seen him. Despite the dark circles under his eyes and a quite interesting scent coming from him. He still looked like the same strong man she had last seen, ever since J.T's kidnapping, they both lost contact to each other as Catherine was too much focusing on her work, trying to get rid of any thought of Vincent coming into her mind.

And what did Vincent do? In all this? Courting Tori or did he just decided to leave town and come back later on? Like nothing had happened? A part of her wanted to go and greet him like a normal friend should do. No, more like taking his black leather jacket and shirt off and the rest of his clothes off of him, so that she could carress him and feel his magnificent, strong and muscular biceps of his with her palms on his skin, giving him pleasure of eternal and merciful life..Kiss him, sharing a very savouring kiss with his lips. Breathing into his deepest kisses. Bite him everywhere with very much pleasure...His caloussed hands all over her...

Snap out of it! Bitch!

She put her elbows on the counter and hid her face with her hands, trying to calm herself down. She was a strong woman, she can handle an ex coming up at the same bar like she does. Everybody is free do to what they want, no? She should be working here, not looking for a prey, however pulsing emotions were resurfing and she hated them. Expecially, when her back was facing his sight.

"There you go! The bretzels and the Sayuri bottle with two shots. Hope your date did not ditched you here..."That had startled Cat when she put her eyes back to the owner's voice. The barmaid came back with her order, bringing the pink bottle along with two small sizes of glasses for shots with a bowl of bretzels. Thank god for that distraction, she wasn't so sure if she would had made it alive with thoughts of Vincent and herself, stripping each other's clothes off.

Here we go again! Just get drunk already!

Forgetting about waiting any longer, she took the bottle, got rid of the cap and pour herself a drink, in hurry. She swallowed the hot and creamy drink with a grimace down,feeling the drink burning inside of her throat. A little too fast, to say. Not sure if it's the asian part of her that makes it go weird when it comes to drinking a drink, or it's just herself losing up her mind.

"Hey, take it easy. This stuff is strong when you're not used to it.." You're telling this now? Cat just waved her hand, like it didn't mattered at all.

"Gee, thanks for saying it..." Gee, she hated that asian part of herself. She could handle a few red wine glasses, but to something else that she wasn't used to it? She'll gonna lose it for sure. Just when she assured the barmaid with a firm smile, she saw two other people coming in and she sure had recognized that laugh, that girly laugh coming from no other but...Yalena in disguise.

Like Tess had mentionned before, Lena had changed her appearence, nothing drastic of course, but very different from her view. Lena had short chopped black hair with red highlights. An plum short and sleeveless dress along with the same heavy eye-shadow color and very deep red color lipstick on her lips. She hanged herself to her date's arms like she was very drunk, or pretending to be a drunken prostitute. Lena and her date were coming out from the playground from downstairs and made their way to reach themselves to a table. Just two tables from Catherine's left side. Lena looked quite a little too clean to be a dirty escort girl, with too much care, to say. Her cover would blow up to any minute by now. no matter how hard she tried. And that blond haired guy? Such a total loser and far away from Evan's natural and charming style.

Time for action.

Talking with Lena should keep her thoughts away from Vincent and the urge to jump at him-Snap out of it! She shook her head as she poured herself another shot of sake and stood up to walk up to Lena's table, with the sake shot that was being held between her fingers. Balancing her curves like she was doing a top modeling show. Just forget about playing the wifey part, playing the whore was much more fun, even if she doesn't see herself as one.

"Watch my purse for me, please?" she called back to the barmaid as she made her way to the table where a laughing Gretchen and her date were enjoying their time together. Trying to put a frown and disapointing espression on her face.

"Mio Dios, Benjamin, you are too funny to be real!" she heard Lena saying back to her date, with a fake spanish accent. He just shrugged his shoulders, playing innoncent. "What can I do? Babe? I was born this way when it comes to beautiful chicas like you..."

"I believe your wife would find you more funnier, when she'll discover that you've been playing on her back with two girls..."At that sudden reply, both Lena and Benjamin looked up at the owner's voice. Quite a deeper one that only Yalena would recognize.

"And that includes me..."

"Who the hell are you?" Catherine just faked a laugh as she managed to look betrayed waving up her drink at his face. An drunk and betrayed woman, to specify. And it worked so well, cause neither Lena or Benjamin knew whatever the hell was going on now.

"Seriously, Benny? You found better than me? I thought you liked asian girls far better, because we don't age faster than others girls! I'm so deceived by you!" The interest guy in a blue suit stood up to her, as he almost pushed her away. But, she remained on her feet like that move didn't bothered her, at all.

"Look bitch, I do not know you! So back off!"

"And you choose her? She doesn't even look like an new JLO from the block! Everything about her is fake and so are you!"

"Hey, I do not know what the hell you are talking about-"However he didn't had the time to finish when Catherine threw him her sake shot to his face with her right arm, to Lena's shocking face. Ben just stood there at her sight, soaked with sake on his face. Despite the loud music, the people sitting around were also looking up at him, in silence and stunned. The fact that one tough guy like him that got humilated by one woman. He just stared at her shocked as Cat put the empty shot down on the table, just in front of Lena and folded her arms to her chest as she added;

"You better run, before I dial your wife's number.." His eyes widened in shock at that. No she wouldn't dare.

"You wouldn't dare.."

"My phone is in my purse, at the bar over there, just watch me and I'll do it.."As she turned her back to walk up to the bar, he rushed away from her sight like his life was depended on it. Such a coward, can't even stand for himself. She smirked back as she watched him run like a coyote. Dang. Men can be such like little boys were, always running and running.

"Why did you did that for? He was my date and I needed the money!" Lena's voice had brought her back to reality as such the people went back into their doing. She looked back at her, not being impressed at all.

"Well, that's how you greet a old buddy from class? I'm sad to hear that..."

"Who are you? and what are you talking about?.."

"Quit the dump act. It's me, Cat...Don't you remember the girl with the braids, at school? I used to hang out with the bad guys as boyfriends. We used to be lab partners. You and I...And to tell you this, reunion class was a total disaster coming from a very bad cannibal movie, so you didn't missed much, either way.."

"Cat.."Lena may had changed her appearence, but only her pale skin and blue eyes remained the same, according to Catherine. She continued to stare at Catherine as if she was about to be blown up by an old friend.

"Let's chat, cause I believe it's been long enough, since we last saw each other, Gretchen or should I say..Lena...And I don't think your date would come back anytime soon.."

...

"Do you take girls as clients too?" That shook an rushing Gretchen who ended caught by Tess, who was leaning at the door with her arms folded to her chest, wearing a top red deep but shorty dress with a messy but curly haircut that she made on her own. She wasn't as good as Catherine when it comes to find the best dress or hair, but she tried anyways. She watched the girl sitting on the unmade blue bed as she put her stuff in her bag, more like a sport bag to say. Tess could have swore that she have seen a few hundreds bills inside of it..

"I'm sorry, but my last client just left and I have an important appointement with Dr 's gonna have to wait.."had replied Yalena or Gretchen, trying to hide the money with clothes she needed for the next morning. Gretchen looked very different from the last pictures that she shown up to Cat. This Gretchen had a very long blond hair that reached her waist, but could possibly look for a wig. She wore a blue turtleneck sweater with black joggings with sneakers as shoes. Her dark eyes were different as well, they were a light blue. Mostly contacts. But the only problem in here was the color of her skin. The real Yalena had a lighter skin, but Gretchen shared her anscestors's. Just a little a darker, despite the founding make-up to cover up her disguise.

"Oh come on! I have two hundred bucks with me and your boss told me you were the best from all the girls here!"had insisted Tess patting her small purse, like she begged for a free brownie to some waitress to give.

"Sorry, gotta pass, but you can always ask Eve or Alicia-"

"Or maybe Gretchen who's actually your friend Lena?"At that question, the real Gretchen looked back at Tess whose pleading stare got replaced by an frown.

"I believe we can chat for three minutes, before you can reach up for your appointement at the New York's General Hospital. I don't mind paying a hundred bill in order to talk with you.."

...

Vincent couldn't possibly remember the last time he had so much fun with friends around. He walked behind a very laughing J.T along with a blond woman, that could probably be Regan and the dark haired guy, named Miguel, her new boyfriend to their table. Despite the club that had changed into a fancy and partying bar, he managed to recognize the place he used to go with friends and past girlfriend from before. Ahh the nostalgia feelings... Before that, while waiting at the bar, all alone, came an rushing J.T who almost had pushed him aside from the bar, like he just got out from a tornado.. Vincent managed to catch his balance as he put a hand to his chest, hoping to cease the accelerating heartbeat of his as he stared at the guy who sat next to him, completely out of breath. With stunned wide eyes, he let out in one breath.

"Woah! J.T, don't scare me like that! What's gotten into you?" J.T managed to fix his glasses and held an finger in front of Vincent's face.

"One word: Tori. She's never gotta leave us alone, that's for sure! Dang. I don't know how long we gonna keep avoiding her by keeping her at Gabe's place. Soon or later, we'll have to do something urgent about it!"

"And Ed? You're sure if it was a good idea? To let him be there with her? And alone?" J.T looked desparated enough.

"You think I had better choices? I would have had asked Gabe, but since the guy is busy talking with his lawyer, Tori was the latest and least favorite person that I wanted to see and leave a petrified dog with.." Vincent just sighed at this. Soon or later, he's gonna have to face her and do the pep talk to calm her down. Like Catherine used to. Even without the beast in her, Tori would have to accept the changing matter and the fact that there is no future in stores for the both of them.

"I know, but at the moment, it's better if she tries to calm down, or even learn about to calm down on her very own.."

"Anyways, last night, you hanged up quite fast while you were playing incognito at that place.." Okay, that one was out of nowhere as Vincent asked, not knowing where J.T was going with this;

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, Big Guy, what did you see last night, at that haunted place? You know when Gabe was holding Cat against her will, before you ended up kidnapped by her father. What did you see? Back there?"Vincent just froze at that thought. Dang, he almost had forgot about that detail. Ever since he got owned by an very vengenful skunk, it slipped his mind. Playing the very amateur detective that he was, he did not excepted to fall into a gory scene that took place in there. It was just horrible to watch and stand there with his phone on. Something very bad and awful had happened back there.

"Can I get you anything, guys?"Thank God! A barmaid came just in time. Much to his delight.

"Two Sapporo beers, please?" He showed up two fingers to the barmaid's sight, as if he avoided J.T's question. "Vincent?"He pushed back at his friend who shook his head, not wanting to say more.

"Not now.."

"When?"

"Tomorrow morning, and besides, I also want to spent one normal night between friends. So the thing with Gabe's late girlfriend can wait to tomorrow morning, let's just try and enjoy the night..." He nodded a few thanks to the barmaid who gave them their beers as Regan and her boyfriend had bursted into the place and walked to them.

"Hey, you two!" Regan had greeted them as both of the two guys stared up and down at her, at shock like they were unsure of whatever their eyes were seeing at the moment. It was so unexcepted, they felt like two complete idiots. She was so hot...

J.T was right about Regan, she did changed from the last time he had seen her. Gone was the most skinny and shy blond haired girl with big glasses and came an very beautitul wavy and long blond haired woman in a short black and strapeless dress and very confident of herself than she used to be years before, always hidding behind Alex or her notebooks whenever it came to meet new people. She smiled as she felt like hugging both J.T and Vincent, but held herself back as she managed to say something like that;

"It's great to see you again, J.T but mostly you, Vincent. Gosh, it's been a longtime.." She looked both at them, before her eyes landed on urge to not cry, was hard, but she held herself back. Well she also got rid of that horrible stuttering. He just blinked at that. Did she just said a line without stuttering?

"Wow, I-I-I mean, yes. It's been long enough, right. It's good to see you again, Regan, you sure did change a lot.." Not sure if it came out wrong...

"Thank you.."However, she did changed a lot, but never once in his life, did he had seen her with much founding make-up on her face and skin. It's like she was trying to hide something, from showing. She looked cute with that mascara and pink lipstick.. Arghhh! Go throw yourself out from a window!

"Got rid of yor glasses, I see.." The blond haired woman shyly smiled putting a lock of hair behind hair, hoping to not die from blushing.

"Went through laser..."

"Don't try to steal my lady, Keller, you may be a war hero to everybody here, but I won't hold back, if you try.."had jokely warned the dark haired guy, Miguel as he put an strong toned arm around Regan's waist as she bursted laughing at her boyfriend's joke, slapping his hard chest when he smilled brightly as he wasn't ashamed of speaking up his mind.

"Don't worry about that, I'll plan to stay single for a while.." Like he planned to get a new girlfriend, but he just doesn't see that happening so far. "Still, you've been warned, man..And where are my manners? I'm Miguel. Miguel Valdez..."had said Miguel, unable to do an handshake since his left arm was around Regan's waist when the other was holding both theirs coats. Mexican origin, Miguel looked tall and very muscular much like Vincent's height and weight and prefered to wear darker clothes as well like a shirt with long sleeves and pants with the same color. A messy but short deep brown haircut along with brown eyes, a nice trimmed black beard. Despite his own going jokes of 'not touching my girlfriend' he did looked tired like he never slept a single night of his life at all. Most be doing a bodyguard job or a cop job, just to look at his muscular form. However Vincent found nothing harmful about the big guy.

"Okay, well looks like everybody met everybody now. How about we play a fair pool match? Heard that there was a playground downstairs.."had soften up the situation J.T, picking up the two beers as they all went downstairs to play pool...

When they came back up, he felt like someone was staring at him back, but managed to keep straight up as he followed J.T with Regan and Miguel to their table as J.T started with this;

"So, where you've been Regs?" He said back sitting with Vincent at his left side when the couple were facing them. Despite the loud music on the air, Regan just let out a light chuckle, going all shy like she used to.

"There and there. Been back here, since two weeks and had met this guy right here.."she explained shortly back as she gave a small pat on Miguel's shoulder, with a tease.

"And I've meet her too, as well.." He added as he looked back her with a lovely smile.

"And Jeff? Where the hell is that drag queen?"

"Drag queen? There are two drag queens that I know here. It's you, Forbes and Ash.."had added the voice behind them. The professor dropped his jaw in shock at that when Vincent tried to not whistle at that reply.

"I'm not a drag queen!"

"Not me, either!"had replied the other voice who came out from Jeffrey. A man with a blue shirt with sleeves rolled up to his forearms, his black winter coat hanging on his left arm, a messy black hairtcut with a beard that needed to be taken care of. That smog expression on his face as he was staring at them now. J.T and Vincent just stared at him, stunned to see that person..Both of them stood up to stare at the two guys right before them. Jeffrey didn't changed that much, he may got himself a new haircut getting rid of that awful tendrils locks haircut thing that kept falling on his face. Thank God! And Piggy or Fatsto Boy Ash, that was his nickname back at med school, turned out to be Ash, the meerkat now. Since he managed to deflate just big enough..

"No, kidding! Ash, you look like a meerkat now.."

"Oh crap! You don't look like a pig anymore!" Ash just made a face at that line, putting his hands on both of his sides, ready to to explode, but couldn't help himself as the urge of the smirk on his face appeared;

"Who said I was looking like a pig? It's good to see you again, Vince!" The only one thing that hadn't changed about Ash, is that he was always happy to greet a lost friend, that he hadn't seen in years. Vincent took his handshake and give him a bear hug. "It's good to see you too, man.."He added as they pulled appart as Ash hugged J.T as well. "Dude, you sure did deflated like alot!"

"Like a balloon, I know..So where you guys been?" had asked Ash sitting between Miguel and Vincent when Jeffrey volunteered to go fetch them some interesting round. "Like Regan just said earlier; There and there. Been there back and forth.."J.T had shrugged back, not wanting to say more.

"What about you, Big Guy? How did you managed to survive the heat and war, to come up back here, like alive?"

"I guess it's luck, I believe.."Vincent just took the cap off of his beer and took a sip with a wince. Nope he did not like the taste of japanese beer. He can also tell from the past as well, if he could ever remember it. "However, I don't remember much later on. All I know is that I woke up at the hospital after getting shot from protecting that Windsor girl and the rest I believe you know from the news.."He managed to keep the story short and fair, without adding too much details.

"So the amnesia thing is real?"

"You just heard the guy, Regs, he's recovering from memory loss. Blood loss, probably...Don't wanna to push him, if I were you.." The blond haired woman just narrowed her eyebrows in annoyance, before letting this out;

"Relax, fatso-boy, I was just asking. It may take forever to remember, Vincent. Why not consult a hypnosis therapist? It might help you to recover your memories.." He just frowned at her. Like it could possibly do any good to have his mind being tested or controled again. His best friend next to him, just defended his bride by adding this;

"And what? Make him do a chicken act?" Everybody just laughed at this remark. J.T had just saved the day or the rest of the night so. Just when Vincent thought he'd feel relaxed even if it was for a moment, he heard Jeffrey coming back to their table as he drop out;

"Well, if I didn't had an weird cabaret held by my hands by now, I've would've had jumped in bed with those two chicks back behind us.."He put the liquor on the table as he passed the shots to everyone. Anyways, if there was a thing that Jeffrey refused to change was having nightstands with ramdom girls. Both J.T and Vincent winced in disgust at that thought.

"You'll never settle down, do you? Always gonna just jump on the first girl you just saw.." had said J.T when Jeffrey brought a stool seat as he sat between J.T and Regan and pointed the two tables behind J.T and Vincent's back. "Well, I wouldn't go for the one with the purple dress, but I'll certainly go for the one with the blue dress and cat eyes. She's a smokin' hottie over there..." Vincent froze at that sentence, it was clear enough for him on why he felt like he was being watched when he walking to his table. Not because someone was watching him from a far, but that a certain cat was watching him from away and from her seat. As everyone poured some Moutai Yingbin to themselves, he looked from his shoulder as he managed to catch up from the two tables from his sight. He could had swore that his heart skipped a beat when he glanced up at her.

Catherine.

There she was as beautiful as he could remember from the last time he seen her. Dressed in this blue dress with her hair as curly as she could look much more like a actress from thirties or sixties. Or more like the first time when both of them had shared their first kiss on her rooftop. Looking so much in love. He remembered the taste of her lips on his, her tongue tied with his and her hazel eyes glancing up at his own with so much love and passion with desire. He couldn't believe how much of a lucky guy he was, ever since that night after she confessed her heart out to him.. Vincent just closed his eyes and let the whitening flashes of memories coming through his mind.

"I love you...I don't need walls or doors.."

"I'm so in love with you..." And he ended up kissing her back, with such relief and hope that she feeding him with her love so beautiful. She was ready to give up everything to be with him, from that moment. Vincent opened his eyes back and continued to stare at Catherine, ignoring Jeffrey's calls.

"Hey, Bug Guy wanna to get drunk?"

"Shut up, Jeff!"

"I wasn't talking to you! Fatso-boy! I was talking to Bug Guy over here, who's all on dreamland now...Talking about that girl with the cat eyes over there, do you think she's available? Or that she has a sister?"

"It's actually, Big Guy, not some giant bug.."had clearified J.T annoyed by that. Despite hearing his friends biggering about all and everything, Vincent couldn't get his eyes away from Catherine who was talking with the girl with the purple dress that Jeffrey had briefly mentionned. And from what he could manage to see from their table, he saw that they were in deep and intense conversation. He didn't needed to hear whatever they were saying, just to watch them talk was quite good. Just to glance at her moving lips.

"Vince.."had tried to say J.T hoping to get his attention, until he realized why. He followed his glance to whatever Vincent was staring at awe and gulped. I don't think it's ever gonna stop with Cat...

...

"I don't know what Patrick did told you about me and my troubles Catherine, but it only concerns me and nobody else.."had said Lena, scratching the back of her head as Catherine went sat across from her, with taking her coat and her purse along with the drinking bevurage with the bretzels as well.

"Patrick came to me that day and only on his very own will, Lena. He's very worried about you.." The interest just rolled her eyes grabbing the liquor bottle and poured herself a shot and drank it.

"I don't think he should, I'm handling it just fine.."

"Just fine? You could go to prison! Wake up, Lena! This could go very bad.."

"Very bad? I told you, I got this under control. I can handle it.."

"How about Gretchen? You think I didn't noticed the changes? The switching names so you could have a better view at your soon ex-husband? Did you started to stalk him ever since this day?"

"Óliver wouldn't never notice, even if I ever had a face removed, Cat..Like it ever mattered.."

"What if he does? Lena? You are his wife, in papers legaly I believe. Not to mention you've spent a few years with him.."

"Like you think about getting an divorce would have been easy.." And as she was about to take another drink, Catherine grabbed her wrist from doing it. Lena kept her eyes on the move as she avoided Catherine's. This was not a game that she could lead and end on her own.

"Ever thought of getting out of it, alive? Would have been easy?" It was a point, Lena may not get out of it. Just to look at it, Lena may never get her happily ever after, so unlike Shirley Maclaine's character in Sweet Charity. Or even to see her daughter ever again.

"I was very naive back then, Cat. After I moved to my uncle's place, he helped me to go back at school and got a job, waitressing at his diner as I managed to pay him back, even if he refused my offer stating that I was living in his roof and treated me like a daughter. However, two years after graduation, I kept working at my uncle's diner until I meet him.." Cat pulled her hand away from Lena and stared at her.

"Óliver Álvarez.." Lena just looked up, her eyes were fierce with anger and regret at whenever she heard that name. Like she wanted to spit at it.

"He rescued me from a psycho client when my uncle didn't paid attention. So ever since that day we decided to see each other and more often. It was, I believe. Love at first sight. It happened to me, to a poor girl like me and out of nowhere. He seemed to look nice, sweet and also patient, whenever we talked about stepping to the next step. Got hitched very quickly. Had my first time, Cat..Something I shouldn't have had let him touch to just take it away.."

"After I had Ángela, I started to notice that he wasn't looking at me the same way like he used to. I thought it was because of the pregnancy and decided to do some fitness, in order to restore my once before image back. I had lost the baby weight and I was quite proud of myself because of the hard work I had put my body and mind into. What I did not noticed, it was that he played behind my back..." Still a bit drunk, Catherine tried to manage to look concentrated as she kept listening to Lena's story who poured another shot of sake and took a bretzel from the bowl. "I wasn't excepting this to happen so soon and since I haven't worked even since I got married, I decided to listen to his conversations and most of them were private, if you know I know what I mean, Cat.."

"Did you confront him, about them?"

"His many mistresses, you mean? There's so many that I lost all count on them together, it didn't mattered to me. I just wanted him to tell me the whole truth,Cat. I may had been very naive but not that stupid. When I demanded answers of why he always came back so late at home, he just bluff it out saying it was work that kep him late, but I knew better. When I suspected him to cheat, I ended calling one of his workers at the hospital to know if I could bring him something to eat while he was at break and spend time together, they said something like he was out and went to a italian restaurant with one of his whores and you wouldn't believe your eyes if I told you with whom he went with.."

"With whom? Gretchen?"

"Way worse than you think, Cat. Lina. He used to go out and to have a blast with her, before she ended up with a life sentence like HIV..." Cat redressed her back up at that name, blinking like she couldn't catch it the meaning of this. Álvarez had an affair with Lina? Did Lena and Lina have ever meet each other, before?

"I told him about the fact he was cheating on me and the fact, he was leaving Ángela alone and despite the toys he had brought to please her, or the promises he kept breaking, I did not wanted to be tolerated to be treated like a idiot...I told him that I was his wife. His wife! That I needed to be treated with respect and that I didn t wanted to keep going on like this, living in a lie! That's when I had been slapped by him at the face, for the first time Cat..Óliver did this! He told me that as long I was living with him, he was the one making the money and the rules. That I have to obey to him like a slave. I married a monster! Cat! I married a monster! I ended up being manipulated by one like him!" That was enough for Cat's ears as she stopped Lena from adding anything more than that.

"The only thing that I don't understand is why you did not pressed charges against Álvarez, if you thought he could do any harm to you or to your daughter.." Now Lena was desparate enough to let out a chocking sob out from her throat.

"You think it was that easy, Catherine? I had thought of it so many times already..However he would have got out of it. With power bailing him out whenever he wanted, he could go away with it. No matter what."

"That doesn't mean you have to give up on everything you cherish about, Lena. I've seen rich people like him going becoming criminals or even going to prison when they were found guilty.."

"And what did the law had to say about naive and stupid girls falling for creeps like them? A man like him? They're being judged them as stupid and falling girls who get what they deserve, Cat. That includes me. It was a mistake. And it was hard with Ángela around. After following my cousin's advice at whatever I wanted to endure the pain with him or I could take my daughter and run as far away as I could..I decided to take the second option, Cat, because I refused to be treated like an abusive wife, when others would blindly and gladly take the blade, because they are afraid of leaving their men. Unlike me who took action. I've been married with him for a longtime, however I managed to take the run, since five years.."

"You've been on the run for five years, by now, Lena and I still believe you're making the wrong decision by doing this and putting yourself into useless danger. The law here is very different from Chicago, Lena, once you got caught, there's no point of return. Let me help you. Let the cops and the law help you.."

"I don't think that your stupid law can help me from running away from Óliver, Cat.."

"You haven't done anything wrong yet. But think about your daughter-"She got cut when a loud slapping sound was heard on the table that made her jump in shock. Lena was having none of it and she wanted to make herself clear about it as she yelled as if her heart wanted to burst into tears and demanded to be heard.

"Leave my daughter alone! Like you know anything about having kids on your own Catherine, which you don't, at all! What would you do if your kid was the one who was being abused by your husband? You'd just stand there and do nothing?" Silent at this. Cat just sat there not knowing if Lena wanted to know the answer or not. She tried to save Vincent from hurting himself and he ended hating her. She felt like she failed them. The couple they used to be from before. "I felt like this, when Oliver laid a hand across my face and the fact that Angela was there watching it, completely confused on why her daddy was beating up her mommy? When they were supposed to love each other? How do you explain that? And, the next day. I decided to leave with Angela along with two sleeping bags and a few bills. I took off without even thinking of it twice.."

"Lena.."

"Catherine, let me ask you a question and please answer me, fairly and honestly.." The brunette looked up at the girl in disguise, who looked very desparate and was about to do or say something drastic. "What would you do if the man you love, whom you thought you knew, starts and keeps hurting you again and again and no matter how hard you kept trying to save him, physically and mentally...Keeps on beating you up until you can't no longer breathe? You would still think that there's a way out?" Lena held her eyes to hers waiting for an answer, however Catherine just sat in her seat saying nothing at all but to look up at her hoping that Lena wouldn't do any stupid that could drive her into hell. She wanted revenge on Álvarez, but the way she was handling the things were just wrong. Like kidnapping Ángela from her daddy was wrong and she could face charges from Álvarez and Child Services if they ever heard that she ran with their kid. Might make her look like a delusional mother with suicidal thoughts. There was no way people were gonna take her seriously.

When Lena heard nothing from her, she just shook her head like she lost a fight against cancer or more like she was disappointed from Catherine herself. She let out a light chuckle that sounded like she was on her own when nobody wanted to help her. She stood up grabbing her coat and purse as she was preparing to leave.

"I'm not surprised with your silence, Cat. I just thought that you were thinking differently from the other people that I've meet. I guess I was wrong.."

"Lena.."

"You know, back at school you used to be friendly and brave enough to speak your mind, whatever situation you faced anyways. Never I've seen you afraid before like you managed to always put a brave face. I admired you for that. A good model, you know. But from what I see now, is just the Cat I always to feared to see. The person who looks down at you like they were expected something better from them.."And before leaving a tip on the table, she added this; "Your mother's death destroyed the nice person you were and left you paralyzed since you refused to let people in.." Letting Lena to tell her that she was deceived by her didn't shook her, but mentionning her mother's death was something. Catherine stood up and circled the table so that she could face the girl. "You became cold, Cat. Your heart became like ice..." Anger was burning inside of her. Usually, Catherine managed to stay calm at these situations like these, but this time, it was just enough.

"Be careful, Lena. You wouldn't want me to say anything bad about yours, so you better not say anything bad about my mom or else I may even be more tougher than most cops all together.." Lena just laughed at that threatening remark as she put on her coat.

"Or else what? You gonna beat me up or sent me to prison?" Trying to keep herself poised from the storm, Catherine managed to warn her for a last time.

"For the last time, Lena don't you do anything stupid or else I may not be able to help you from it.." Anyways, Lena didn't wanted to repeat herself again as she added before leaving the bar.

"Doesn't matter Cat. I got used to it. People who can't help you, because the way you're handling things is against the law and I may go to hell for it. But it doesn't matter anymore Cat. What would come would come and I'm not afraid of it. As long my daughter is safe and far away from Oliver, I'll be happy. And it's something you'll never understand Catherine. Sacrificing your life for sparing an another. The one you've been trying to save and love until your very last end.." Lena made her final decision. She left the brunette in the blue dress without waiting for her to call her back, feeling completely worthless because she was right in one point. Lena would be ready for whatever price would come in order to save her daughter, when Catherine failed to save the man of her life's dignity. She knew that Lena was right and that she failed Vincent and their relationship. She did sacrificed everything for him to be saved and look what happened to the income?

Catherine sat back down as she stared at Lena's empty seat, completely out of space when she didn't suspected that someone had come to her table...

"I believe, it didn't went well with your date?" That husky and familiar voice had almost spooked her out from her reverie. She turned her head around to see the owner's voice who was standing behind her with his hands in pockets. His soft but hazel eyes were staring at her with sympathy..

"Vincent.."

...

"I hate you, Jeff!"

"Aargh!"

"That thing is disgusting!"

"Taste like a cow's farting!"

"Get it away from me!"

"Shut up!"

When everybody at his table were accusing Jeffrey or more like whining to him, after they all drank a Moutai Yingbin shot, Vincent was watching Catherine talking to the girl, like she was trying to help her out to change whatever descision that short black haired girl had made. But when both of girls were getting intense, he quite knew that meeting wasn't going to end in good terms. However, despite the loud music, he managed to hear something like a threat coming out from that girl.

And Cat looked like she wanted to punch her at her face.

Before that girl left, she made Catherine remind that whatever had happened that night when her mother ended dead had left her destroyed and paralyzed. It was true it did left her destroyed but she managed to put a brave smile on her face and pushing the pain aside as she cared about other people's feelings and problems. Like his personal problems. Ignoring J.T's protests, he stood up and walked to Catherine's table where she sat alone now that her friend vanished out from the place leaving a good tip on the table. He was never good with words, but he managed to say a few words, as he stood behind her back. "I believe, it didn't went well with your date?" At these words, Catherine turned her head up at him with surprising eyes at him like she wasn't expecting him to come.

"Vincent.."

"You don't mind having a friend joining your table, I mean.." He said back as nodded the empty seat, across from her. But when she said nothing to his question, he brought the stool and sat but just a few or five centimenters from he wanted to respect her space, without pushing it too much though. When Catherine was trying to look away, he stared at her for a moment. She lost a few pounds and looked tired from the dark circles under her eyes despite founding make-up. She must have spent her time at work, quite too much. And knowing Catherine, she was quite the workaholic type or more like she was trying to keep her mind away bad things. Bad things like him. But she remained the same and most beautiful and brave woman that he knows. He could hear her heart almost wanting to snap out of its ribcage so badly, maybe because he was sitting close enough to her left side. Vincent snapped his eyes away from her and grabbed the half full pink bottle as he faked to read the paper on it. It was akward. The two of them were quiet, until he let out this;

"Were you trying to convince her, or something like that?"

"Sort of it. I guess, I cannot always rescue everyone, though.."He looked back at her, dropping the bottle on the table. "Why, you say that?"

"Never works. I guess you know why.."

"Mind telling me how you didn't succeed?" With a shrug, she just poured another sake shot and added back as she stared at the drink held by her two fingers, knowing that Vincent was looking up at her move.

"I don't know. I guess it's the nerve of wanting to save someone who just doesn't want or doesn't believe need to be saved. Not that I expect anything in return and look what it got me into?" He winced at that sight, when she took the drink and swallow it, a little faster though. Making a grimace as for a result of the rushing drink. "A couple of messes.." had cleared Catherine back as he also agreed back. He knew where she was getting at. Covering up for him, saving him or his ass from getting exposed, cleaning up his messes. She did a lot for him, even after their break-up and what did he do, to thank her? Blaming her for shooting him, believing she ended up chosing her father's side, even if she only had done it for a choice of right or wrong. He used all most of his anger and had directly pointed all the faults on her side. It's not like she had the choice to shoot him, but he only was blinded by anger towards her father for nearly destroying his life and Tori by his side, didn't helped at all.

"You know, that whatever happened between us is not entirely your fault. I messed up as well, Catherine.." She turned her eyes back to him despite her cheeks getting into a lightening red, because of the amount of alchool running into her system. "About us falling appart, you mean?" Dang, she looked cute with that blushing thing on her cheeks, he wasn't so sure if he could ever remember a moment when he and she ever had a similar drink night, before he ended captured.

"I mean, Catherine, when you found out wherever I was held, I was totally different very far different than you excepted me to have become and I couldn't remember a thing at all. And even when I started to get better, earning my humanity back, I was still different.."

"That didn't mattered. Things were getting better, between us, I felt it. Vincent.."He just shook his head, adding this;

"Yeah, I know that. But still, it wasn't the same as before. Things changed between us. Me, becoming more violent every single day and you, sacrificing your life.."But still, she wasn't convinced.

"Which I was ready and to willing to give up.."He shot her warning look, as he cut her at that line. She blinked twice when his tone had changed when he said this;

"Which I am forbidding you to do it and don't you even dare thinking about giving up everything for me. Catherine. Don't waste your life for me.." That stopped her tracks in a jump. She sighed as she turned her eyes away from him, making a firm line with her lips, trying to calm down. When he thought that things would get better between them, Vincent had managed to drop it all fantasies down. It was out of from nowhere, of course, but still fresh in his mind and the thought of Catherine getting hurt because of him just loathed him.

However, Catherine knew they ended up broken appart from each other and even if they tried to form a frienship relationship, she had some light of hope that soon or later they'll end up discussing about their future together, if they could ever have a future. However after hearing his answer, she felt her hopes were just crashed down. Too much to be true. Nothing could change the past, what's done is done now. She snorted at that answer. She wanted to tell him to go away with his so importants tellings about on whatever things she should decide to deal with whatever things she wanted to deal with. That's one thing she agreed with Lena. She won't be manipulated or controlled, by no one else than herself first.

"Yeah, you're right in one point. We both have changed and I haven't noticied that.." As Vincent was about to answer, her phone vibrated breaking the tension between the two of them. Getting through her purse, she added again; "Turns out I didn't notice it and I ended hurting you, Vincent, by trying to be fair for both us.."

"Catherine.."

"I think it's a curse that whomever falls for me or for you just ends in badly terms, anyways. Let's just stay friends. I believe it's more safe for the two of us.."And besides, she wasn't here just to do the formal talk with him. He is free to do whatever he wants and that means without her around. Snatching her phone out from her purse, she checked her emails and frowned when she read them. Must be from Tess had thought Vincent.

"I guess I have nothing else to do than to arrest Lena.."

"From what?" He had no idea who was this Lena girl, must be that girl who had just walked away from Catherine's table.

"From killing her soon ex-husband, in order to keep him away from finding their daughter or hers, for short story.." She sat up, feeling a little clutz from the drinking as she managed or tried to wear her coat by passing her shoulders, through it with difficultly gestures. "Do you need help?" Vincent wasn't so sure if she could make it walking outside of the bar, without falling down. She waved him off with a hand as she almost fell back down.

"Nope, I'm good..Oops.."

"Come on, I'll help you.." Forgetting that little and akward chat they just had earlier, he stood up and went behind her back as he catched her from falling or even stepping on his feet. He helped her to pass her arms inside of her coat. Gosh, she was so close and he hoped that she hadn't noticied that stupid skunk scent that he tried to hide with cologne and Old Spice deodorant. Oh boy, he felt like having a fever just to smell her scent, so close to him.

"I'm ok, really Vincent, I can handle it.."

"I'll see that happen, if you don't fall over someone or throwing up your vomit to someone's shirt.." She laughed back as he helped her to wear her coat. With a a forced but happy smile, she turned back to him and did the soldier salute to him.

"No vomit would be done, sir!" He just shook his head. "You sure don't need a ride over home?"

"I'll call a cab, like I told you, I'll be fine.." She shook her head, telling that she can take care of herself with this.

"Catherine, about earlier.." It was now, her turn to cut him from finishing his line. Trying to comfort him or like more herself so.

"Never mind. We've both have changed and we both know we can't go back from it. Like I said I cannot save everyone. Vincent, we'll have to deal with it and I believe it's better that we stay friends for a while.." Guess, she hadn't forgot about the early little chat they had.

"Okay, so..I'll see you around?" Dang, what kind of answer was that? She grabbed her purse, left some money for the expensive sake on the table and waved him off. "Sure, I'll see you around as well.." And both of them turned their backs from each other. But as he was about to move back to his table, Vincent returned back and called..

"Catherine, wait!"

"Yeah?" She turned back to him a little alerted by his rushing calling. Gosh, these uncallings things has to stop, it's not healthy for the heart. He could hear that heartbeat of hers, beating out in alert very much as she looked like.

"I..I..Uh...I missed you..Seeing you..I mean.." He blurted out. Way to go! Keller, do you also need a couple red and bricks falling down on your head? He could tell that she was a little upset as she was waiting for something more coming out from him. "Oh.." Oh? That's all she gets to say back? He could go and do the walking of shame thing now, until...

"Well, you know what? Vincent?" He waited as she let out, something he wasn't excpected to hear. "I missed seeing you too..." With a nice and sincere smile, Catherine left the building from where came just watched her walking away, like a idiot. But with much relief and sadness as well as he was glad that she didn't hated him as much he thought. At the end, he won't have to do the walking shame thing after all. Hands in his pockets, he turned back to his table, sitting at the same spot he left and grabbed the drinking bottle with some an unexpresive expression, not paying everyone's attention. Everyone at his table was watching him pouring a shot of the awful drinking bottle, all of them were stunned at his move. Ash was the first to break the silence;

"Hey, J.T, do you think she just rejected him?"

"Do I even know?"

"So, Bug Guy, does she has a sister? I mean that was the reason of why you went up to her, no?"

"Vincent, I don't think you should drink that..."Regan looked a little worried as she stared at him taking the small sized shot full of Moutai Yingbin to his lips.

"Yeah, Jeff just wasted three hundred bucks for an awful drinking bottle-" SPLASH! At that, Vincent didn't hesitated but to spit all the drink at Ash's face, even before he could manage to finish up his line. Everybody stayed silent, too shocked to say or even do something. The only thing they could hear was Vincent coughing as he managed to clear his throat giving a few punches to his chest like he needed air. "You wasted three hundred bucks, for that crap?" He said back in one helpless breath, slaming the shot back down.

"Wanna try something new? Bug Guy?" With both strong purple sleeves arms folded to his chest, Jeffrey managed to look proud of his choices. Ash was wipping off the drink from his eyes with his two fingers as he looked up at Jeffrey, angrily. J.T. offered him a kleenex tissue from his pocket, helping him to clean up while Vincent almost but groaned at this so innoncent question by Jeffrey;

"Hell Nooo!"

"Well, there's a few things that haven't changed at all.."had murmured an annoyed Regan as she looked back to Miguel, who just shrugged his shoulders, but nodded as he agreeded with her in this. Boys would be boys.

...

"About time, you ended up calling! My butt was starting to freeze up, in any time by now.." Tess was waiting for a cab, outside of the club. And she was in a very bad mood and the weather was no good either. Talking with Gretchen was no big use at all. It was true that she and Lena switched identities and promised her to have her back covered, but she wasn't so sure for how long, though. One arm was trying to keep her warm while the other was holding the phone close to her ear and even with an expensive brown coat on her back, a gift from ex-boyfriend, didn't helped the situation.

"Got anything on your side? With Gretchen?" She could hear from the phone that Cat was walking out on the street, from the sounds of high heels.

"No, I don't believe so. At first, she just waved me off, but when I called her by her real name, this is where she ended up spooked.."

"And?"

"Still, not much. True. Gretchen did admitted about the switching names and the thing about Álvarez? She did said that he was always busy at the hospital that she and Lena had barely seen him around the club.." Tess sighed at that answer, feeling defeated by going nowhere with the case. She raised her head as she kept trying to look up for a cab.

"So, Lena had been around at the club, for nothing? Tess, you're got to be wrong. Lena swore that she was seeing him from a far.."

"I wished that I was wrong, Cat. But I'm not, other than this I didn't get enough from her. The only thing that caught me out of guard was the hundred bucks that she was trying to hide into a sport bag.."That caught her partner's attention. Gretchen was hidding money for what kind of reason and why?

"Hundred of bucks stuffed into a sport bag? Who is getting that money? Her surgeon?"

"A certain Dr. Rodriguez, I guess.." Tess wasn't sure about if the surgeon had accepted the money from the beggining cause most of doctors refused to be paid like that. They wanted to be paid on the right way. What if it was black money and who was getting it? And why the appointement was made at the last minute, like at the middle of the night?

"Did you asked her about anything more?"

"Cat, even with a warrant, I couldn't. I mean if she doesn't know more than she's already knows.."

"Damn.."

"What about you? Did you find anything?" She listened to Catherine's explaination;

"From what Patrick told me, it was true, I mean about the beating part and the running away thing as well. And I still believe that Lena is making a big mistake about tracking Álvarez down. But I did found something else that slipped through my mind.."

"About?"

"Have you seen Lina? When you went into the bar? Was she around?"

"Not that I know. What about the sick and ex-escort girl? What does she has to do with the case?" She didn't paid any attention to the frail woman who was talking with Cat, at the bar. In fact, she hadn't seen her for the entire night. So no sight of Lina. What does that mean? Good or bad?

"Lena had said that Alvarez and Lina were having an affair during their mariage. She has something do to with all this..I remember her saying that she didn't not know much of Alvarez. She only knows him as the guy who handles the financial things for the bar and the fact, that she knew that he was once married...So, them having an affair.."

"So you believe that she has to do something, I mean with Álvarez? Like she could cover for him?" It was Tess's turn to sound confused. At the beggining, she thought the case was just a passade for Catherine to escape from her personal feelings with Vincent, but it was starting to freak her out as the more the two of them were getting into the mess, the bad it was going to end for both of them.

"Like you told me to follow my guts, I believe she has to do something with they ever had reconnected or not. Lina's absence might explain something behind it and I believe she knows more than I excepted.."

"So, what do you have in mind, Cat?" She snapped her fingers at the air and waved, when a yellow cab was finally coming into her way.

"It's too late to search Lina and Gretchen might be in surgery as we speak so we can't reach them for the moment being, but I can tell you that Lina is a suspect, now that we both know that she shares a past with Álvarez. And with Lena knowing all this, I'm afraid that she might do something drastic.."

"Cat, can you be more specific? What worse can happen with Lena?"On the phone, she could hear Catherine taking a deep breath first, before she add this;

"I guess, we'll have no choice but to arrest her, I'm afraid so.."

...

God, things are bad for Lena as she is about to explode and it's tearing Catherine appart, cause she knows she can't allow this to happen or else she'll have to arrest her. What do you think about VinCat's reunion, so far? I hope I did justice! I had fun writing this chapter, especially with Catherine's thinking of ripping Vincent's clothes into pieces and Vincent remembering their first kiss, not to mention that stupid move he made later. So we know a few things about Lena but I don't think it's over for her. There's more to tell and mostly about Regan as well. And VinCat moments to come as well.

Thank you for your support beasties! You're the best guys! xpetti 4Bemer, Msolsun and all the others that are still following this story. I was having a hard time lately. I guess, winter time is not such a good time for everyone here...That includes myself..

Send me a review with full of love! See ya!