"It's Lena, she's been beaten and attacked. Someone must had busted into her cell and almost had killed her.."
No. It can't be true.
Catherine felt the phone slither from her hand through Vincent's worried stare. It had gotten out of control now. Lena got attacked in jail and somewhere inside of her believings was giving her the idea that a certain wild creature was into the picture. And she knew that person far too much to be declared inoncent here. Too stunned to react, her eyes shifted up to the man before her sight in fear. Vincent. There he was, still being in front of her and worried of her reaction coming from her phone. And haunted breathtaking..
Oh God. He had tricked her up to come up here, while Lena was being attacked. He was more worse than she expected him to be now.
Oh God, would it ever stop? Things between Vincent and herself only seem to get worse with time they spend whenever they were together or not, something bad comes up each time and it gotten to be Lena being attacked. Just like a curse. She wasn't sure whom to believe anymore. Something snapped inside and Catherine felt it was her heart that just snapped into pieces as she continued to stare at Vincent in shock as she was the one who got shot by her boyfriend, this time. Or it was more of an betrayal act. Oh God, what made her fall for a guy like him, what did she saw in him, anyways?
Oh right, she remembered trying to save him by covering his ass away from disaster state or more like from exposing his ass to the light. Protecting him, even if her badge was at stake, including that time when Special Agent Hendricks suspected her from lying to him when a bullet in blood was found at the crime and arrested scene. But thanks to Gabe, things got better. Better for her relief, but not for the agent. She did and gave everything for Vincent. She loved him. God, it pains her to even thinking of it, that she ever did loved and desired him. She loved that man who was the most perfect boyfriend ever. But that man is now dead. Vincent's been dead to her now. Damn, how could I have been so foolish? He got me tricked..Did I really had fell for that guy? Maybe from the past, cause she wasn't so sure who she was seeing before her eyes.
That was just too much.
Because that man in front of her was nothing more than his bad and ugly shadow. He wasn't who he used to be. She didn't need his pity or whatever he felt for her anymore. This stranger, how far would he go and hurt her, now?
But if Vincent was standing across from her, then who did attacked Lena? Before she could accuse him from any farther, many scenarios came through her mind such as if he ever had to do with the attack. What about Tori, did she had worked up with him? Which that explains the reason of his presence here. Did they set this thing up, together? So he can cover her up, from his ex-girlfriend? Playing the alpha and the omega here? Like they could conquer the whole world from the humans that made them become the killer machines of today. Natural Born Killers, anyways. Did he ever had known that about the attack? Had he known that Lena was going to be beaten and by keeping her away from the station would made things for Tori more easier to finish things off? So much for keeping his humanity all together.
Vincent watched Catherine shaking up her head like she couldn't or didn't want to believe of whatever she was seeing of him now.
"Cat? Cat, are you still there?" She blinked twice like she got away from her thoughts at Tess's concerning voice through the phone.
What? Her phone was still working despite being dropped down on the ground, like on the melting snow? She bent down on her knees, grabbing the phone swabing the thing off on her uniform. Still shaky as she tried to avoid to look but couldn't despite Vincent who kept its stare at her.
"Catherine-" She cut him off without any hesitation. She was done about trusting him now. Done...
"Shut up..."She got back up to her feet as she placed her phone to her ear. Enraged eyes threw fire at him, were holding their movement like she made sure that he wasn't trying to flee or blur from her sight anymore now. "Which hospital?"
"Cat-"
"Which hospital was Lena admitted into?" She breathed in and out as she tried to remain calm here. And quite menacing through her tone of voice, she even heard Tess gulp when she responsed this;
"Benjamin's. A few deputies with Medina and I rushed in where we had heard the screams coming from Lena's cell. Lena's screams, Cat. But by the time we got there, she was uncounscious and in blood. Oh God. I was the one who called 911 and ordered the ambulance to go into the other hospital-thinking it was more safe to keep her away from Gretchen's murder case or even to have Alvarez in there. But that's not all of it, Cat.." had reclaimed Tess on the phone, hesitated as she held on her breath from what Cat could guess. There was more into it as she sense it.
"What do you mean?"
"Pitt and Yi were injured as well after they had tried to stop the attack. Not fatality, but still. After I left Lena, both Pitt and Yu went to guard her. I believe they heard the screams first before I could do anything.."
"A..A..And Lena?" The thought of an innoncent woman lying on her very own blood on the floor after a very vicious and merciless attack and possibly by an certain beast that took advantage of Cat and Tess's patience was just unbearable as she bent her head down. She closed her eyes and tight enough to back away the threatening tears that wanted to go out. But she couldn't. She won't cry not right now, when justice was boilling through her blood. Her other hand was clenching until her knuckles became white, like she had the urge to punch somebody in order to let the frustration out or more like she felt punching Vincent. After all, it was his fault. He must have had sent Tori to finish off Lena, that's why he felt no hesitation about coming with her here. Cat felt so certain about this.
"Look, Cat, it would be better if you could come up here. Since I can't keep talking on the phone for any longer, I'll tell you more if you could come up here at the waiting room with or without Vincent, if he's still around with you now.." Her lids went back up as she stared at the same man whom her partner was refering to. His features didn't hide any feelings at all, he looked as petrified as he was listening to the conversation with her. There was no mistake at this. Maybe he wasn't a part of Lena's attack, but Vincent was capable of everything now. As he guessed whatever she was thinking of him now, he tried to make a few steps towards her.
"Catherine, I.."
"I'm on my way.." She hung up her phone and whirled back as she walked away from the crime scene to reach up to her car who was parked a little far away from the lost crime scene, but mostly far away from Vincent who was following her back, like he wanted to explain her to come back. She didn't held any urge to walk away from him.
"Catherine, wait!"
"I gotta go.."
"Please, let me explain..!"
"There's nothing to explain.."
"I have nothing to do with this, you have to believe me, Catherine!" He tried to reach her by grabbing her arm from making any move, but she dodged him away with a push from touching her arm. She didn't wanted him to touch her like she needed a shoulder to cry on. He stepped back as he took a look at her, frustrated tears at the corner of her eyes wanting to come out as she turned around to face him. Anger. He held his breath as she held one hand to her chest when the other was pointing him at fault.. Not to mention that her heart was rushing out fast as well. She was pissed off and tired of being manipulated.
"Catherine-" She pointed him with her finger as a warning sign back at him. Breathing through icy cold air.
"Don't. You. Dare. Touch. Me..."
"Let me explain-"
"Don't you get it? We're done! We're done here, Vincent! Done!" That struck him like a statue in shock. He had known that things between them were over because of his bad choices, but to hear her saying these words out loud in anger state like this, it just frightened him.
"I've been trying so hard, to make things work between us, but the only thing that keeps it from getting better is you.." Her voice was shaking as she tried to remain under control. Vincent was just lost now, like he couldn't follow her into whatever she was saying now. But he had the feeling, that the heart had a lot to say now.
"What are you trying to say.." She scoffed back at this question.
"Ah! You know exactly what I'm trying to say. While I've been trying to cover your ass for a year and half, there you are fooling me around behind my back.." Cat closed her eyes as she put two fingers on her temple, trying to rethink of something as she was trying to calm down. Even if she desesparetely wanted to explode right now. God, did she even known him now? What else Reynolds had done to Vincent now? Who was this man..Who looked so much like..
"First I understood about Alex and Gabriela...But letting a stupid and useless bitch like Tori taking-" She hissed a shaking breath out as she raised both of her arms up as she showed her hands up as an desparate act. Like she don't even want to imagine the worst. "Look, I don't even want to know! Everybody is free to screw whomever they want..And I agree with that point, since I used to screw with a lot of bad guys around.." Before I've meet you, she almost had added that answer.
"But hiring an ex to go and finish off a person you barely had seen.." Now, he raised an hand at her, mentionning her to stop at this. He shoved a big frustrating breath out. He knows that she's gone too far and yet he tried to defend himself, quiet as he could, even if he was burning inside. Anger, perhaps?
"And, like I said, you're just unbelievable..Freaking-" It was his turn to cut her off, as his voice's tone sounded a little hard to hear, like she had managed to hit a sensitive nerve on him. He eyed her with darkerned eyes, trying to stay on guard, like he wasn't going to take any stupid and useless blame on him now.
"Really, you honestly believe that I would have done this? I spent the whole day searching about fingerprints and beast killings with you and you believe I've set this up?"His voice went up a little higher than he could try to deny it. Angry, but moisted green emarald eyes had snapped open, were staring back him now. Damn those tears at the corner of her eyes were threatening to fall, but she was as angry as he could see her now.
"It would be possible, either way Vincent.." Did she just said that? She really had the thought that he could go and kill someone at such a far distance? He hoped that it was wrong that Catherine was making this up to make him talk or even admitting he was into this planning attack. He tried to find any clue that proved that everything she just said was wrong, just to look up to her beautiful features or even concentrating on her heartbeat. But she meant it much to his shock..
"Catherine, I thought you knew better than that.."Vincent didn't knew what else to say, but he had known for sure, that somewhere inside of him was breaking into pieces.
"That's what I thought as well, we can agree on that.."She turned her head away from him as she started to climb up onto the grass. With big steps ahead from him, walking behind her back. "It might be better for you to stay away from exposure for now on.." More from me. And then, she felt like she was being pulled back from behind as he grabbed her wrist hoping his hold was not so hard on her. That was enough. "Vincent, I mean it.." She turned her head back down at him, his fingers tighten up to her wrist as he never wanted to let her go.
"And I meant it, about me. I didn't hurt or killed your friend.." She gave him a hard look, shutting all lights of hope much to his eyes willing of convincing her that he was far from the guilty guy that someone was trying set him up. Vincent didn't wanted to give up, at all.."God, I wasn't even there when it took place, you gotta have to trust me on this, Catherine.."Damn he sounded like he was pleading to her to hear him loud enough for her to understand. "Please, Catherine-"
"And that's the thing, I don't think I should trust you, Vincent. Not this time. Not anymore.." Her voice just broke at this as she swallowed back a big lump into her throat. Not wanting to burst into tears and not in front of his eyes who were staring at her glooming ones, too thunderstrucked to even reply anything back. Oh no. It was done and she made it clear this time. He gave up his hold on her as she backed her way away from him,between them as if they were about to split here and once again. He stepped back as he dodged from getting hit from Catherine only turned her back at him. "And if you want to prove that you're not involved into Lena's attack, you're gonna have to testify at the station. That you're innocent, but that's without my help, Vincent.."And she left him alone,without turning back. Not even second from it. He shook his head as if he had no idea of what he was witnessing now.
"Catherine!" She could hear him calling her name back. "Come back!" Damn, Cat tried to not fall into temptation. "Catherine!" Damn him. Hearing him calling her name, it was like she wanted to go back into his warming embrace. Coming back to him-Resist Cat! Don't fall into his tricks, you're tougher than that, she reminded herself as she kept walking away from him.
He rushed up to the street leaving the park grounds as he watched her climb into her car, slam the door, pushed the brakes in, put gaz into the engine and turned back as she drove backwards trying to find a way back onto the street far away from the snow and away from him. He stood there, feeling nothing but helpless now. How could she accuse him of setting up an attack like that one she heard from Tess? It just couldn't be possible.
He was losing her,again. He couldn't believe it.
Cat concentrated to look up to the road, but somehow she couldn't get Vincent's haunting eyes away from her mind as she watched him from the rearview, watching his form getting smaller and smaller as she drove away from him. He looked so broken. Damn, it was hard enough to run away from him, again. The first time was the hardest, when she walked away from him as she had closed the door behind her back, at his houseboat. Leaving him with a bad gunshot wound and a huge gapping and guilty wound for her to hold. However, the second time was different, she left him alone with a wounded heart and he wasn't the only one here, hers was also broken as well.
She swore to herself that she wouldn't never shed any fallen tear for some stupid guy. Not once in her life, it had happened at all. Until Vincent managed to break her rules, today.
Stupid and silent tears were falling down on her cheeks as she headed the way to Benjamin's Hospital's building.
...
Sitting at the waiting room area as she sipped her bad coffee at the middle of the evening, Tess couldn't take off of her mind the lastest images of an very badly wounded Lena lying down on the cell floor. Damn, it only seemed just a few minutes just after she was done talking with Cat's running away friend. Damn, that bitch spit on me and got attacked by an very wild and huge chewbacca! All that in one day!
Lena had a threat on her back and an very costing one. However, it wasn't the only thing that shocked Tess, that scene had quite reminded her of the hostage evening when a great and good friend, Freddy DeMarco had died at the precinct that night. It shocked her to see that. But cops do know when they have to sacrifice their lives for others, no?
"Hey, is Chandler coming?" Freak, Medina's voice was coming towards her direction, she kept staring at her cup, refusing to look up to him.
"Yeah, I just called her to come up..." She tried to solace herself as much as she could, hoping he won't notice that her voice shoke. Like she wanted to burst into tears. Now, is not the moment! Get a grip here! She swallowed that big lump she held into her throat. "How are they?"
"Pitt had a few and bad internal injuries to his head, from what I heard. But the surgery went ok. Docs have no idea if he's gonna make it or not. They have him into induced coma and wait for his condition to change. However for Yi, she would be fine. Nothing bad other than a few cuts and small bruises, but she may have to stay inside, just for an observation.."
"And Sandler?"
"Still in surgery..."
She and Medina had come up right behind the three ambulances to the hospital. Both Yi and Pitt were injured by the attack, however chances for Lena to survive were low. There was too much blood around.
Tess remembered the screams as she and the other cop had rushed into the corridor that led to Lena's jailing cell bars, only to come up to late. Inside, there was an uncounscious and very badly wounded Lena lying down on the floor with deep flesh wounds coming from what looked like a wild creature had bursted in. Claws of marks, bruises, the back of her head was hit as well, not sure how much hard it got hit, but with the blood on it, it wasn't a good sign. Blood was on the wall as it slowly fell down like a trail, which meant that Lena got pushed and her head had took a huge hit, at it. Damn. Beast marks on her torso and..Gosh.. She told Cat that she would talk to Lena and make her change her mind..It failed.
She couldn't tell her that. Couldn't tell how badly Lena looked like, it was too personal. Not on the phone and not to Vincent, directly. Who knows what that guy was up to now? Did he had anything to do with the attack? And Lena's attacker, was he or she an..
"It's not your fault, Vargas. Stop blaming yourself..."Wow, Medina really sounded calm and very serious when he wanted to be. Guilt was all over her face.
"I should've had stayed.."
"Then, 'it' would had killed you right away and Chandler would be left without an partner..Get over it.." Tess looked up at him. The cop in black was leaning his back to the wall with his arms folded to his chest and not caring much of whatever he stared right ahead of him. Dang, he was a mess to mess up with it. Not only he bursted his ass here to clear up an old case, but he was also here for something else too. And might concerns Catherine. Like that night when she had go out at the middle of the night while Cat was interrogating an very nervous Patrick. Tess had caught him talking to someone that night and for her, it was bad news.
"Hey, Tessy!"She slamed her car's door back and headed right at him making sure to be careful of her steps as she did not wanted to mess with any evidence on the snow. Quite intrigued.
"Who were you talking with?" Trying to look innoncent, he just put his fists in his pockets, adding; "My wife, Laura, saying 'Goodnight' to me, quite a romantic thing to do, isn't it?" But Tess wasn't buying any of it.
"Did not looked like you wanted a 'Goodnight kiss' from whomever he or she was on the phone with an old frog, like you..."She came over to him, still angry, but the balloon pool thing was no longer the problem at the moment. Realizing, that she wasn't kidding around, he tried to defend himself;
"Look, Tess, whatever you've heard is not what you've-"Oh Damn, he was hiding something back, she cut him off with a tone that sounded a little too harsh. "Think of? You mean? I don't think so! Exepct for the 'Foxy and sexy' part, I believe you're up to something..." He just eyed her with a glare, forgetting the fun side now as she added;
"And I don't mean by alone, I believe more of the possibility that you are working with someone else, other than your partner..."
Santiago Medina was hidding something and he was very good at it. She caught him mentionning Cat's last name on the phone and whomever was on the other line was rushing him for answers.
"Medina.."
"Yup.."
"Who were you talking the other last night?" Two days ago, to be sure.
"My horny and dirty little chihuahua named Renny .." Nice try. After she had thrown that awfull coffee cup into the nearest garbage, Tess rose up from her seat and went to face him, fists on her hips as she demanded answers from him. She wasn't all impressed with his act.
"Don't make fun of me, Medina. I heard you talking to someone the other night, outside at the haunted place's gardens and you looked very pissed off.."
"Just like you are now.."
"You are up to something, aren't you? You just did not come up here on your own accord about resovling some stupid case! You're here because you wanna to bust Cat into the Feds!"His smirk had gone away as he stared down at her.
"You're being too emotional, Vargas and your partner doesn't need that.-."
"George had told me your history about that guy's murder and with the deal you had to make with the FBI. Does the name of an Hendricks ring you up a bell here?" At this threat, the cop's eyes had darkened in as a warning sign for Tess to shut up right before he could do something he might regret. She had known that her brothers were kinda close with Medina and his wife, Laura along with their kids. And she had known for sure, that Medina had go through a very dark period when he was young before. But not as much as she knows now and Medina refused to ever talk about that period.
"Don't know a word of whatever you're trying to spit at me. And like I said, you're being too emotional and people are watching here, including your partner coming toward our way.." He nodded his chin up, making sure she knew what he was talking about. Tess whirled around to see an ashen and exhausted Cat still in uniform with her hair down on her shoulders, walking toward their way. Bloodshot but fixed eyes and sweating. She assumed just to look up to her partner who really wanted to punch the first person here. Or more like she wanted to punch an ex by now. Things did not gone too well, with Vincent. Something had snapped, she could scent it.
"Hey, Cat-"
"Where's Lena?"
"Still in surgery, kitty cat.."had scoffed the other cop behind Tess who just grimaced in anger. "And as for those stupid rookies, they should be fine with some rest, well paid here.."
"What are you trying to say here, idiot?" Had glanced Tess over her shoulder, as Medina followed.
"All I'm saying is the two of you should had been more careful with the suspect. And look what we've got? Two rookies injured not to mention that there's a so-called delusional serial killer whose been attacked and may be dead by now. Leaving a lost kid and a good husband.." He stared down at his shoes as he said that, not giving a damn thing if both of the girls had exploded or not.
"Ex-husband..."had corrected an very frustrated Cat who wanted to shove Medina down, if Tess didn't held her back from jumping to him now.
"Whatever. The two of you decided to hide a case from your boss and look what happened.."
"Cat, just wanted to push Sandler to tell the truth out of her . Until she could find more evidence to prove that Sandler is innocent or not.."
"Which she might be guilty. If the gun has her fingerprints and if the bullet was coming from it, then there's no way out for this runaway bitch..It's such an awful ending for a close friend..Isn't, Chandler? Always trying to keep your friends close.." He then, stared at the angry female cop here who felt like she wanted threw herself out from her partner's grasping hold on her. "But that's only if she survives or not.." So Lena is still alive, is she? But Catherine wanted to make sure from that fact. From his words, Medina went to the cafeteria to get some new coffee leaving the two girls alone as Tess went back to Cat's attention, after making sure he was out from their sight.
"I was going to tell you about Lena still being alive, but with the stupid rule here-"
"So Lena's still alive? That's what you've been trying to say?" Tess tried to continue her line, hoping it would be enough for her partner to rassure, which wasn't.
"Barely, when Medina and I came to the crime scene, there's was too much blood around. Yi and Pitt were quite still responsive, but as your girl, not so much.."
"What do you know about it? About the way Lena was attacked, I mean.."
"Dunno so much. But there was blood to the wall. I thought she got shot, but it looked more like she had hit her head pretty hard.."
"What about the door?"
"It was ripped off, like some hulk had come in. We'd probably check the security footage to see who came in, after I left Lena alone.." Security footage? It might be a good idea, but how much would they get from them?
"Oh God.." Catherine shook her head as she closed her eyes, in defeat. Her fears had come true, Lena got attacked by an beast which they were all facing trouble once again, all because of Vincent. Just by then, the taller female cop noticed that something was off with her partner feeling uneasy now.
"How about Vincent, you think he can help us.."
"Forget about Vincent, he's no use." Cat just shook her head, desperate, but frustrated." And I'm not defending him this time, Tess. I'm done with him. I think he may be behind this set up.." Tess gave her a long look as she stepped back a few steps backwards.
"You're not thinking that he would sent she-beast to try and kill Lena? Come on, Cat, you're not seriously thinking straight here.." But Catherine was serious as she opened up her eyes back. She was tired of crying and pissed off by one and single man whom kept on destroying her life, from what had guessed Tess. "You think he had done this?" Just unbelievable.
"Well, maybe. I don't know what he's capable of now. He's a changed man, Tess. Or more like a dead person to me now. He had no hesitation about coming with me to the two grave scenes. He may think of whatever he wants now, but I'm done with him, for good now.." And she meant it. Her partner just sighed at this. It was another loose, to take. They were on their own now.
"Ok, if you say it like this.."had followed Tess as she believed her or not, but Cat wasn't bothered at her answer.
"Where's Patrick? He should be here by now.."
"He's here with the ADA and behind you.." had answered the interested one behind them. She turned around to see an very shocked and exhausted Patrick, who did not looked any better than her. Ever since he was brought up to the station, Patrick didn't had the time to check up on himself, his blue coat was unbuttoned, his black shirt was wrinkled, his black and strings of silver hair was a mess as if he got awake from a terrible nightmare, or more like someone had snatched him out of it. It looked like he had cried, from his puffy and red cheeks, but that was before he laid eyes on her and her partner. He looked betrayed and angry. Despite, what he lived for the past few days, Gabe managed come with him to the hospital, hoping he won't make such a scandal in front of the lead female detectives here.
"Look, Patrick, now is not the time to make a scene.."had first started Tess, trying to defend Cat, but the broken man didn't wanted to hear any of it, accusing her partner of being all this.
"A scene? You think I'm making a scene by coming here? Your partner said she was going to anything to protect Lena!"
"I never said that...All I said is I needed more proof and the truth coming from herself, in case you were lying to me.."had defended herself Cat.
"Which you did..You forgot to mention that you used to have a short record, before it got away, you can ask Deputy Yi to clearify it. When she had you arrested, a few months ago because of some stupid fight.."had reminded Tess which made him shut his mouth as he looked back to the girls, pretty shocked. They had found his past record. Damn, he got burned by them. Patrick stared back at Catherine for support, but her eyes were refusing his needing for help, by saying this."What else do you have to say for your defense, Patrick?"
"And that's without lying, Patrick. Sandler's life is into a very and thin line here. We have three bodies from the same bar club, and your girlfriend may add up to the list, if she doesn't survive.."had admitted Gabe calmly, for the first time since he and Patrick had first stepped inside. Too stunned to speak, Patrick just couldn't believe it as he looked back to the three people waiting for him to answer or defend his word. They accused him of lying to their faces. But he had to admit this, he did not told Catherine the whole truth before, but it was to protect Lena, he did this all for her. For her safety and protection, which he had failed. From her stare, Catherine watched the man drop down on a chair, covering his face with both of his palms, shoulders shaking with quiet sobs, in silence and without a word to say.
"Looks like Lena's boyfriend might need a real lawyer this time and a damn good one who can defend all his lies about saving the love of his life.."had whispered Tess close to Cat who folded her arms against her uniform as she kept watching Patrick breaking into sobs. She couldn't help, but to feel bad for him. It just wasn't fair. Patrick had sacrificed everything to protect Lena from any harm, but to lose her, at the end? That wasn't fair, at all.
"I know that feeling far too much, Tess. Just far too much.." Gosh, she hated her job, at sometimes when you totally feel helpless.
...
"We should do this, once in a time, I mean going out, together.."
"Yeah, it should be fun.."
"You and I both deserve it, Regan. We both deserve it.."
Regan and Miguel had come back into their place after they gone out on a date. And boy, she never felt so happy ever since a very longtime. Ever since the last time, she felt so loved and desired, a very far and long time. As she dropped her purse on the counter, she watched this man would helped her to earn her life back, after facing an horrible dark place. Miguel, so strong, so loyal, so willing to help the people he loves and face the danger. A beautiful man underneath of all these hard muscles. She couldn't help to stare at him, taking his boots for him,wanting to kiss him so furiously, touch him everywhere, feel him under her..
Damn, she shouldn't be thinking about sex now. Yes, she does love Miguel and everything as well at the moment now. But sex was kinda scaring her off. It was the reason why she had to move away and come back here. She didn't wanted to live in fear for the rest of her life or making her son Vincent live in fear. But wouldn't she switch times only to get rid of that sweet baby boy like him? Never at all. And Miguel saved her. The both of them. He was her hero..
Someone in her past life used to respect her, only to become a prey to a beast and nearly...
"I'm so good for bed now..Phew, that was some date and all that wine makes my head go nuts now.." Regan shook her head vanishing all the bad thoughts away from her mind as Miguel put his boots into the closet. Their appartement was small comparing to the condo she used to have in California. A small living room with a flat screen, Miguel's flat screen. A big and large green sofa big enough for three people in it. A small very round table. A kitchen counter behind it. An guillotine window up of the sink. At the corridor, three doors were there. The bathroom, a room for her son and the last room was for herself and her boyfriend..Every wall in a blue light color.
A nice and quiet place. What else could she ask for? She took off her coat and drop it on the counter along with her purse. She wore that same black dress as she did the other night, before.
"You mean, a little wuzzy.." She grinned as she watched him coming right toward her, with a funny smile on his face. Damn, what a naughty latino guy, she thought as she stared at him and his muscular abs hidding behing that black shirt, were blocking her way. "Would you be coming? I don't wanna feel alone on that bed.." He stared to slip off that black strap down from her shoulder with his hands, slowly but gently. He was sure a nice boy.
"Right after I call my parents. I need to know that Vincent was put to bed and that everything went alright, after we both drop him there..So we could have a little time for ourselves.."She put her hands on his shoulders, telling him to hold back his move for a second with an amusement smirk. Hold your horses. Big Boy.
"You cannot choose between the two, right, Regs? A devoting mother and a very daring, but loving girlfriend. But that's what made me fall into you, Regan. The most beautiful and unselfish woman in here, Regan.." He pecked a short kiss on her lips, allowing his own to get wet before he could go on. "I love you. Regan. Te quiero, mi amor.." He replied between a few breaths as he kissed her for one last time before he stepped backwards, letting her go as he went to the bedroom.
Ahh Miguel. The romantic one in the couple.
Regan stretched her neck and noticed that she should wait any longer to call her parents and later, it was bed with Miguel. She whirled back to face the phone hanging on its charger next to the washing sink, when her dreamy and happy smile vanished to a very concerning one. Shocked like as if she got herself into a car crash,her blue eyes couldn't take off the letters on the window.
Whores always gets themselves punished..
Written into a very deep and red paint, at the window. Close enough to be blood. But what was worse was the picture tapped upside down of the letters.
And that picture was a picture of six friends. All of them showing up their huge whitening and grinning smiles. Jeffrey. J.T. Vincent. Alex. Herself. And Ash. A few months before nine-eleven, the six of them took that picture on a daytime at some park, near the river. Before they all had parted their ways, before Vincent had enlisted, before Alex and Jeffrey moved from Benjamin's to NY's hospital, before J.T decided to become a biologimist professor, before Ash dropped out from saving the living people to the dead ones and before she left the city to California..
With him.
However she knew who took that picture and that person wanted to finish what he had started. And her friends, including Miguel and her son were next on his list. They were facing danger and it would be her entire fault, because she survived him.
He's not gonna let you go away that easily, Regan. He'll soon come and finish what he had started. The next attack might be the last and you won't be able to go through it. There won't be any other chances, this time.
Petrified, Regan had let out a chilling scream enough for her neighbors to wake up from their slumber.
...
...
Four hours passed ever since Cat had walked into the waiting room and still nothing new coming from the surgery room where they had taken Lena into. Tess decided to go back to the precinct to check on the crime scene, while Medina who had come back had stood up by the wall as his eyes were closed like he was in the middle of doing any breathing exercise. And from some weird reason, his presence made Cat feel uncomfortable. Something was wrong and wasn't a good sign. The silence made her feel not so great.
"I think, Patrick might need a lot of support from now on. Concluding the events of today.."had replied Gabe as he sat down besides her, glancing a look behind where Patrick was on the same spot. Just a few chairs away from them and still quiet like four hours ago, hasn't moved from his seat. That poor guy. "You know, you're gonna have switch clothes someday, or else you'll end up sweating like crazy..."
"Gabe, I don't want to talk now.."
"Things didn't went alright, with Vincent..From what I see.." Damn, just to hear that name made her think she got herself bitten by a such two-timer and insidious snake who left her an incurable poison, boiling through her veins.
"That's the thing, Gabe, I don't know what's right anymore..I feel like I've been tricked from the very first beginning.." With a sigh, Gabe scratched the back of his head when he put his other arm on both of shoulders for comfort. Even if she didn't wanted any of it, expecially coming from him.
"Catherine, don't let this get into you, you can do better than that-"
"Stop it, Gabe.."
"Cat-"
"I said; Stop it!" She gave him a glare look that froze him from saying anything else. "What would have had happened if it was Tyler behind these doors? Would you had let her down in a time like this, for someone like me?" Ouch, that one came out too fast. He tried to defend himself as he wanted to clear things out.
"It's not what I meant. All I'm saying is that you shouldn't let this guilt take over you. It won't help your friend at all." However she just rolled her eyes as she brought back her hair away from her eyes, like she needed to do something to handle the frustration. Or wanting to rip off her hair with her fingers, though.
"You shouldn't even be here, Gabe. Not when Medina could be guarding you from a far...He could use it as an threat.." She popped her head at the other detective as he let out a fake and huge snore, pretending he was taking a nap. The former beast took a look at him, as if it didn't bothered him.
"Let him use it if it please him so badly. I know that I'm innoncent, that I didn't killed Tyler in cold blood, Catherine.."
"Then, what was that scar, lying down on her spine?" Her voice shook as she was in the verge of crying. That came out of nowhere, Gabe turned his head back to her in shock, not knowing what to say about that fact. However, Catherine waited for him to explain. Hazel but determinated and angry eyes, were ready to snatch him out alive.
"Uh.." She scoffed at his short sure if it was an hysterical laughing matter to Gabe who stared at her, surprised by her reaction. She just couldn't believe it, Vincent and now Gabe, mostly when this guy next to her could had killed his late girlfriend, even when he wasn't conscious enough of his actions? She didn't know which one of them was worse than the other now.
"You did this to her and I mean, scarred her, didn't you? Put your claws on her, like you owned her. Well that's quite familiar to me, stating that you almost had tried to kill me, once.." She caught a huge hit on him.
"Catherine, I can explain-"
"Uh, Detectives?" had asked another voice coming through the room like it both woken them up. The three of them walked up to an very tired and built African-American in his early fifties man in blue scrubs, determinated to get any news about Lena's condition. ER, Dr. Anthony Anderson. He looked exhausted like he had spent all his life depending on rescusing Lena, like all night.
"What's the verdict, doc?" Medina had put his hands on his hips as he waited for the old man to add anything useful.
"Usually I would only talk to the family members of the patient, because what I'm about to reveal is not easy.." Cat turned her head back to Patrick who was still sitting at his place, unmoving, but still, he could hear them from a far. Patrick wasn't lucid enough to hear whatever the doctor had to say as Gabe managed to keep him away at the moment.
"There isn't any family member coming from Yalena Sandler anymore, but just a cousin and an uncle living in Chicago.."Nice try, buddy, she thought back as her attention was back to Dr. Anderson.
"And you are?"
"I'm Gabe Lowan, ADA from the District Attorney's office. More of an assistant's..."had introduced Gabe pointing himself before he he turned back on Cat and the other cop who were besides him."And this is Detectives Catherine Chandler and Santiago Medina. NYPD and NJSP are both working on a few cases.."
"Cold cases and a few new ones to come.."had let out Medina trying to hide a smirk, but Catherine ignored his remark and including Gabe's glare towards the other cop, as she followed."Is she in a serious matter, is that what you're trying to say?"
"We-We..Uh had managed to stitch her wounds, or I may say try to stop the bleeding, but that's not what we should worry about.."
"She's in critical condition. The back of her head got hit pretty hard that must had cost a pretty bad injury..Mostly on the back of the head, traumatic brain injury.."Cat continued to stay calm as she was trying to adjust the news that the doctor was trying to explain to both of them. She could sense that he was feeling uncomfortable from all this. Even from the experience he has around here, he felt very uneasy about this.
"Her vital organs were hit as well, like kidney and left lung but only because the wounds on the abdomen and breast were deep, more like a wild creature had come in. Bruises on both arms and legs, but mostly scars on her face..Almost beaten to death..If it were my daughter, I would have wanted to have that sonofanbitch dead..But that's not all of it." Like whomever had done this, had wanted Lena to be dead or leaving her into a paralyzing state she might even not recognize herself. If Lena survives this or not. "When she was brought up here, we weren't so sure of how much serious her head injuries were that bad. So as soon we were done stitching and bandaging her up, mostly her head, we've sent her up to do every MRI and X-Ray's to see how much damage it occured.." Oh God. "And as soon, we figure out how serious it is, we'll figure out if doing an surgery would be planned or not, but that's only if her condition stays stable.."
"We'll probably keep on checking on her heartbeat, hooking up to a ventilator breathing machine, brainwaves..Everything. Making her feel comfortable..Until we get results from tests.."
"What are the chances.."had cut Cat into the speech, not caring for other eyes to stare at her action. The doctor gave her a look, before he could say. "What do you mean?" That question was hard for Catherine to say, but she need and had the right to know.
"You believe that she could or maybe possibly could die?"
"Betting on my years of experience and from Dr. Neurologist Carlton Trowensky, she might." He gulped at their stunned faces. "Chances for her are very thin and with that brain injury, she may never wake up or even getting back to herself ever again. Trowensky believes that if Sandler's condition doesn't change into the next seventy three hours to come, but Dr. Trowensky, fears that she may have a closed head injury.."
"Then, what's gonna happen, if she never ever regain consciousness?" Her eyes widened in fear, at the answer that the doctor had replied later on. Anderson winced as he added this to her.
"She might end up, brain dead..." These words were like a death sentence to her ears. If she was that tough enough from the outside, Catherine was sure that she was falling very hard from the inside. Gabe looked back at her, concerned by her silent reaction. Pale as snow, but mostly from the shock. She looked like she had seen a ghost. "Catherine?"
But she didn't wanted to hear anything else. Like she had said to Vincent, earlier. They were done. Just like Lena's life was done and it all was because of Vincent.
...
"Where is she?" It startled the red haired woman by surprise, who was hidden in the bathroom back at J.T.'s place. It wasn't the hot water that was slapping her bare skin that scared her. It was Vincent bursting into the room and he sounded angry. Way too much angrily. Beastly like, since she swore to herself that he almost had roared.
She was taking a shower, after the event she had to go through with Gabe. What on earth did she had seen? They've told her that Gabe was no longer a beast after Cat saved his ass, so why did she seen it happening, in the later future? Tori seeked for help and it couldn't had been Gabe or Cat, since they didn't trusted her anymore. She went for J.T, instead. She knew she was breaking the rules by crossing a line by stepping inside of her old sex lover house, but what else could she do? And Veronica Vasquez? Forget this stranger who pretended to had known her late mother. Hair drenched and soaked despite trembling in fear, she turned off the faucets, both of them and grabbed a green towel from the suspender to cover herself. She stared at the door where she could hear J.T's nervous and shaking voice responding to an very angry Vincent.
"Hey, Big Guy, where have you been?"
"Where's Tori? Damn it, J.T, where is she?" She put an hand to her mouth hoping that no sound would come out while her other arm was holding back the towel from falling. That side with the scar on it.
"I thought she was stuck with Gabe? Why, did she fleed away?"
"I tried to track up the guy and he didn't responded. But a few cops on the street said that she went away with a cab. So, yes, I believe she ran away. So, one last time, where is Tori, J.T?" Damn, Vincent sounded like he wanted to break the house down. Even with beast mode or not.
"Don't know what are you talking about!" A huge roar between man and beast was heard in the background. Damn, Vincent was failing of keeping himself all together.
"She started all this! She did this to me!" That strucked her in a hearbeat. That was it, Vincent was losing it. He accused her of being a murder or even lying to him. To Catherine as well, when she only had tried to help her when she used to be a beast like her demanding father. The hurt inside of his voice was easy enough to hear.
She walked backwards to the wall, enough to lean on it as she tried to hide behind the bath-shower. Oh God, did they even have a tranq gun here? In the bathroom? All sudden, Tori felt that the other room went quiet. Too much quiet to her taste. What happened?
..Thumb, thumb, thumb..BOOM.. With a surprising gasping sound, Tori felt like a tons of shiver were penetrating through her spine as she stared in fear at the person who had walked in the bathroom.
"No, Vincent!" Her eyes widened as the bathroom's door slamed loudly into the wall. Her slim figure covered with a green towel, slipped down on the floor as she witnessed the scene. Paralyzed in fear.
Drenched from head to toe, his clothes soaked to his skin, but mostly by the humidity and rain, a very transformed and beastly Vincent was eying the bathroom around with heavy and deep breaths, or more like the other guy in him managed to take over him. Her breath was caught to her throat as his wild, but piercing and amber eyes turned up to her green orbs. A wild creature looking and hunting for a prey. Sniffing for air.
Fangs that replaced his teeth, but mostly veins on his hard face, no longer hiding through his features. Blind rage. He was hunting her and ready to attack her. She tried to run back, only to realize that her back was blocked to the wall, but her legs kept on pushing back. Hunt to kill. The Beast had come out.
"Please, please, Vincent!"
"You did this..You killed them all!" The monster in him made it easier with all that fury boilling through him. Oh my God. He couldn't stop himself from growling like a beast. She shook her head, fast in fear. Damn, it would have been easy if she remained a beast, she would had known what to do...
"No, please, Vincent, don't do this!" Ignoring her begging pleads to live and falling in tears, he approached to her way, dangerously as he growled. And a huge one, loud enough for her to never forget. She screamed in terror when she noticed what was going to happen next.
"No!" She watched him raising up an hand. Claws up ready to slash her out of rage as he growled. She bent down on the floor, curling herself into a fetal position as she was ready to take the blow to come up, until...
Something fell down on the floor. And hard.
"Geez,man..Now, I'll have to drag you out from the bathroom and on my own.." Did she just heard J.T's own voice now, what about Vincent? Opening her eyes up, Tori sat back on the floor as she brought her knees back to her chin, staring at the uncounscious lying form down close enough to her feet. Vincent lied down on his back with three darts on his left leg and boy, did he looked so fine and quiet like this? Still trying to control her breath, she glanced up to an very groaning and shaking J.T holding a tranq gun down to Vincent. He sighed back in relief when he realized his best friend remained motionless, before he let out something like this, when his glance went up to her and still angry;
"What the hell have you done, again?" Yup, he didn't looked so grateful to have her into his place anymore, not like she expected him to be happy with it. The only thing she was grateful of, it was the towel that didn't fell down despite the terror she experimented just now.
...
Catherine drove herself back to the precinct after she left ICU building of Benjamin's hospital. Very determinated and luscious enough attitude. She had to talk with Ward, even if it means facing her boss's frustration again. It was hard to leave the hospital, expecially an very bandaged Lena lying down on her bed. The doctor had told them that they needed to do other tests to see how far Lena's brain injuries were before suggesting to do another surgery. Anderson wanted to make sure, before he could decide if turning Lena off from the machines, was an idea or not. Damn, she couldn't even step inside of that room, since the word 'Guilt' was marked on her forehead, like she deserved that punishement.
Oh God, if it wasn't for all these machines hooking up to her,or even breathing for her, she would have been declared dead already. She and Gabe had spoken to an very sobbing Patrick that the next few days are gonna be up to him or whatever family Lena has left behind to make a step for her keeping in life support or even turn her off. Angela was too young to make an decision, Patrick was too distraught and depressed who kept on blaming and pushing the fault on her, for not protecting Lena. She and Tess would have to look and dig through the oncle and cousin left somewhere in Chicago, but they wouldn't be able to turn their only family member off from the machines. They would want to pursue and sue the Police departement for not helping Lena. But like Patrick had mentioned before: Lena refused any help from the cops, stating that nobody would believe her, since she took too many risks to protect her daughter away from Álvarez's sight.
And Óliver Álvarez? He can't not know if his wife was there, fighting for her life or not had thought Cat as she pushed the wheel, in frustration. Medina was laughing at her face while Gabe tried to protect her. Damn, that man was foolish, but she could see that he was worried for her. That guy could be declared guilty if he ever had killed his late girlfriend and here he is, worried his ass off for her. She made her decision as she parked close to the departement.
"Get two deputies to guard the building, don't let anybody come into the room, expect doctors and nurses. Nobody else. Gabe.." She didn't wanted to look towards him as her eyes had never left the glass, inside where an unrecognizable Lena was lying in bed. Cat felt like she was boiling inside and in a fury state. Was how Vincent had felt when he tried to kill her father? All that anger consuming him inside?
"Cat-"
"And put Patrick under witness protection. Whomever had attacked and left Lena for dead, may go after him too.."
"Cat-"
"Save your breath, Gabe, I'm sorry, but I don't need it now.." With a sigh, she left the building without turning back. The fact that Lena may never survive was still pounding inside of her head.
After she reached up the stairs and went up to Ward's office, she knocked on the door.
"Come in, Chandler.." His voice was grim and annoyed, but that was the usual thing when you had to work with him as Cat stepped in his room and closed the door behind her back, to avoid any saying coming out..Her captain was standing up as he foccused up on case, too much occupied to yell at her.
"I may need your permission on this request, Captain Ward.."
"After adding another body on your list of the possibility of having a serial killer on your hands, it's not a excuse. What is your request?" But what came later, surprised him as he dropped everything he was working on to find his best detective staring at him, very serious and quite determinated and stubbornly. She folded her arms against her chest as an act of resist cause whatever she would do in a few minutes later would change everything.
"I want to go undercover.."
I'm coming to get you, Álvarez, alive or not, you do not scare me. Just watch me..
...
"Gee, what the hell had happened to him?" J.T was coming out from his bedroom, rubbing his eyes from sleep, wearing nothing but an old and used blue shirt with black shorts . Groaning. Damn, he needed a shower and some coffee, not hearing an annoying woman sreaming at his ear. This very early morning.
"Hear, hear, what can I do more to satisfy your presence, missy.."
"Shut up. Like I said-What happened?" J.T groaned at the person standing in front of the bar. It was morning already, he didn't managed to had a good night sleep, last night. First he had to drag an very heavy and drugged Vincent to the sofa after he tried to attack Tori and second, he had to hide Tori back into Vincent's old room. She stated after bursting into his place that she was losing control and that with Gabe, she didn't feel pretty much safe either. Losing control as an beast? Or something else? And it didn't looked like she fake it, at all. She was really scared by staying with Gabe.
And now with Tess? He turned his back to reach up an blue coffee mug as he groaned. She did look pretty even if she was in a bad mood today.
"You want the short or the long story to start off the day? Let's just say that he went Hulk state last night as he tried to kill Tori.."
"I'm sorry, what?"
"Yeah, you heard. Vincent tried to killed her and I had to stop him, tranq him down.."He pointed up the coffee machine aside on the bar." Want coffee?" But she declined his offer as she sat onto one of the booth, dropping her head down to the counter, tired and moaning.
"You don't have scotch?" The girl needed a strong drink after she went last night from what J.T could had figured out. He shrugged his shoulders as her dramatic behavior didn't mattered.
"Sorry, ran out of it, since yesterday. Heard coffee is better to wake up.."
"Sometimes, it's even hard to wake up. Expecially from nightmares.."
"Like what? Waking up with a beast?"He meant it as a joke, but Tess didn't looked like she wanted to laugh. His grin was fading when he realized how serious she was. She rose her head back up as she stretched her arms as if she woked up and found herself here.
"Sort of..I'm sure you've heard about the girls we had found buried underground and Cat's friend that got attacked, last night.." He gave her a weird look as he started the coffee machine. Tess started to explain the situation of the case that she and Cat worked keeping it as a secret before it got bad. Along with Gretchen and the other girls's death and with Lena lying on a hospital bed looking like a dead mummy and hooked on monitors, breathing machines, brain waves..From what Catherine had told her through her phone, it was big a loss. Lena might be brain dead and Vincent might be the cause of her attack by sending Tori to kill her in jail. That was a lot to take in for J.T. Why would Cat believe that Vincent had anything to do with the attack? He was with her for the whole day! He couldn't be in two places at the same time.
"Cat's devastated by all this. With Lena's brain injury and wounds and believing that Vincent is setting her up..."
"You must be nuts! Vincent would have never and never had done that!" J.T was stunned by all he had heard, but wouldn't never believe that his best friend had something to do about it. "You said it happened so fast during the time he was with Cat. He couldn't have been in two different places at the same time! You've seen the security footage when that Sandler girl got attacked.."
"Oh yeah? What about foxy hair ball?"
"Tori was with Gabe the whole day and before she went up here.."
"And you believe that?" She scoffed at his face. "So you hide her, hidding the clothes she wore after the attack? Geez.."
"No! I hide her here, because.."
"Because of what?"
"Because Tori is no longer the same person here now! Ok? She's very different from before. Ever since the kidnapping thing, she felt like something was wrong. She couldn't even recognize herself anymore with the beast gone, she feels insecure and very scared.."
"And you brought her in? Despite, Gabe's warning to sent an injonction against her.." J.T raised up his arms as if he allowed to get himself arrested, for a stupid joke.
"Let's bring down all these bad walls for a minute, Tess. She came here, soaked from the rain and very scared. She wasn't here to see or to even look for Vincent. So I agreed, for now.."
"You're sure that she went straight here and not to the precinct, to attack Sandler?"
"Yes." Damn, it was hard. Tess just sighed, not sure if it was ok or not to believe him.
"It's not that I don't want to believe you, J.T. It's just ever since Vincent got shot by Cat, you've been taking Tori's side.." Ok, now he felt like he had to explode his own heart out, without Vincent's help. Again, a joke.
"That was before, I even realized that she had an impact on him. Beast feelings cravings on each other's stuff. I was wrong about it, you know?"He cut her off as he started to explain. "I felt so bad for sidding Vincent over Cat, without knowing the reason behind this mess. I felt like so bad for Cat later on, after she tried to save him. But it was only a few days after the hostage at the precinct, that I felt Vincent was quite coming back to the guy that I used to hang out with. The best buddy I used to know and missed as well. That whatever feeling Tori had on him had suddenly vanished and free from it.." He really did sounded like he had missed his best friend for long while. But for Tess, it wasn't enough.
"Free? Like he got whatever he wanted from her? Like satisfaction? You really believe that Cat would gladly take him back, after all the sacrifices she made for him?"
"No, it's because he end up.."
"It's because I was stupid enough to not had the guts to stand up for her..." A weak groaning and pissed sounding voice had interrupted them from a two of them were startled as they both looked at the lying form on the couch as Vincent's half open eyes were staring at them back as he managed to lift up his head, before he let himself drop down on the sofa. He had heard them arguing like an old couple. Damn. "I lost her because of that. But I had forgave her, a long time ago.." Guilt was forming up into him, no wonder Cat had started to hate him now..
Him being capable of comitting a murder of a person he barely had known.
"You may had forgave her about saving your ass, but do you really think, she's going to forgive you of whatever you had done, recently?" But Tess wasn't so impressed by his answer.
"Tess.."J.T. had started but she cut him off, before he could finish his line.
"Oh, I'm sorry, you're defending him, now? After his ex-girlfriend did to us, including Cat? Who had to take all the blame for both of them?" Tess turned her head back at J.T. as she pointed the hopeless and lying man behind them.
"Tori wasn't my girlfriend from the entire start, Tess.." had added the man still lying on the couch as he raised his forearm to cover his eyes with a grimace. Or more of how loud Tess could be, at early mornings like today.
"Right, like Cat wasn't good enough for you? Mind get your eyes checked up, won't be too hard for you, no?" At this moment, her phone had rang as if it did not give any time for Vincent to answer. Tess stared down at the receiver and looked back at him with a hard look like he was at fault for everything. "Speaking of Cat.." She picked up the call along with the unwanted coffee mug. Extremelly hot coffee mug and stood up from her seat walking away from the bar as she talked with Cat. Wincing, Vincent pushed himself into a sitting position, despite feeling a little groggy from the sleeping darts from last night. He rubbed his temple as if he woked up from an hangover. J.T circled from the bar and slowly walked right into Vincent's direction. He looked quite sorry.
"Look, Vincent, about last night.." But the former soldier stopped J.T right away.
"Don't appologize. You had to do what you had to do, J.T. It's not like you hadn't done that from before.."He cleared up his throat as he spoke this.
"I had to do it...I'm sorry, you were about to have Tori for desert, Big Guy.." For desert? Feeling a little shaken, Vincent stared up at J.T, his expression was dumbfounded as he was told, that he had tried to kill Tori, last night. He really had no idea, at all.
"What happened?" His friend just blinked at this. Did he just say that?
"You mean, you don't remember, at all?"
"You think I should?" Duh, like he would. It quite reminded him the time when he had these mysterious blackouts from last year. When he would beast out and wake up covered in blood, at one night. From these stupid experiements from Murfield, but thanks to a certain Dr Vanessa Chandler's hidden formula, it helped him to get himself back under control. But mostly, thanks to Catherine's love and her belief that she wasn't the one who caused these blackouts. That was a huge relief to him.
"I don't know about that, but all I could remember was you, being all beast up and boy you were a mess. You were looking for Tori and tried to..You know what I mean.."
"Where's Tori now, did I hurt her?.." J.T just pointed the other room where an petrified Tori locked herself inside and hasn't moved from it, since last night.
"Hidden at your old room. She said that she couldn't handle being with Gabe, that he was starting to scare her off which I don't know why.." How and why?
"Did she tell you, for what reason Gabe had started to scare her off? Because of the charges, he'd threaten her from coming to us?"Having no idea of the recent news of whatever Gabe's old demons might had resurfaced or not, J.T. sat on the table in front of him,trying to ignore a pacing Tess, holding her phone in one hand with the other held the mug ready to drop down on the floor. Right behind the couch where most of his computers were she was standing too close, to them."I don't know about that. Did something bad had happened with Cat, Vincent?" Vincent hung his head down, not wanting to say anything to J.T. That thought of her accusing him and those angry tears at the corner of her eyes. Locked into his mind, for good.
"We're done, Vincent. Done.." Her words were determinated and so full of pain. She couldn't trust him anymore. It was hard to believe that it was over. All over for them. Vincent didn't wanted to believe it, he couldn't do it. Because somewhere inside of him, made him believe he could recollect the breaking pieces back together. Somehow he still held on hope. But.
Here it is with Catherine again. She must hate him now. He shook his head in defeat, words couldn't express his thoughts as if they were blocked up again. But her angry eyes, they were still in his mind like as an punishement like he had deserved them. Haunting him for the rest of his life. And besides, he quite deserved that new darkening sight of her eyes staring back at him, after all the pain he caused.
Done, they were done and for good this time.
"Big Guy?"
"Done.."
"What?"
"She said we were done, but after Tess had called her about her friend that got attacked in jail."He looked back up at his friend, who still waited for him to follow."She believes that I've set this attack up, but how could I have done that? I was with with her the whole time..And I've cut ties with Tori, recently.." He admitted to the only person who could trust him now.
"Until last night.." Getting agitated, Vincent almost made a punching nerve back, as if he wanted to break something.
"You say that I tried to kill her and yet, I don't remember anything at all.." He was getting frustrated at this, he felt like he was back from the start, trying to remember when he just couldn't do it. Trying to stay patient, J.T looked up from Vincent and stared at Tess who was talking or more like she wanted to yell at whatever choices of words she was listening now.
"Look, Big Guy, I don't know what to say. All I know is that after I told you about that cop invastigating Cat, you took off with Ash saying you needed to make sure of how these girls had..You know, died.."
"At first, I believed it was from suffocation from air, since they were buried underground for I don't know how long..Until I discovered these bruises on one of the girls's body. At the arms and legs.." These bruises looked out of ordinary. He was sure of it.
"Maybe she got herself beaten up, at whoever had her killed?"
"That's what I thought too. And epileptic was option too, but I scented some bad smell coming into the autopsy room.."
"Bad smell? Mostly from decomposure.."
"Not quite. She was still in good shape when I camed in. Ash believes that she was poisoned, since he had found no evidence of struggle said that her death was too fast.."
"From axpshysia, maybe.." But Vincent shook his head. He heard Ash saying that he had found saliva and blood stuck through Alicia's throat, but he wasn't convinced about the abuse struggle. Ash knew something else was wrong.
"I don't believe that. I think there's more to it.."
"Like what?"
"Like I was able to detect that smell, when Ash couldn't at all, like it was invisible to him..I was the only one in this place, J.T."Damn, he could still remember that smell at that room and how it was nauseous and sickening. That gory smell through the air, like death had a smell. "I believe Alicia and the other girl were transformed into beasts, before they got themselves poisoned and killed.." If J.T was standing at this moment, he would have fallen down on the floor. No joke, for real..
"Just because, your other side did detect it, when Ash couldn't?"
"Yes!"
"Wait a minute! Two beasts? You mean someone got hold of Tori's beast blood and transformed two unfamous girls into beasts? I thought it was sealed away by the FBI and Gabe.." There he was panicking as he rose up from the table and pacing back and forth, to Vincent's sight.
"Turns out, it wasn't. Someone got hold of it and started to create beasts. Catherine believes that I may be up to something and sent Tori to finish her friend off, while I was with her, last night.." J.T stopped his fastening pacing and stared at him, with both fists on his hips. Surprised. He couldn't believe this.
"Damn, come on, Vincent. You've got to be kidding me. Cat wouldn't never think such of a thing like that. She's cop, I'm sure she's smarter than this! She must know that you are innoncent that you have nothing to do with this.." Vincent scoffed at this answer. His mocking laugh sounded more as if he was about to have a breakdown soon or later. He moved his hands up at J.T who stopped to talk for a moment, knowing his friend had more to reveal.
"Oh yes, she's smart enough, to think that I could sent her up by taking her away, so that my ex could go into the precinct and make all the way to the cell where her friend was held behind bars to kill her off.."
"The weird thing is that I couldn't find out the reason of how Alicia and Helga had died. It's like everything was blocked inside.."
"What about the poison? You think it might be connected to beasts, if there is some beast poisoning.." His friend stopped him before he could go on.
"Might be, since I was the only one who could detect it and might be the reason of how I went all bananas over Tori, last night-"
"The hell you did what? Cat, we don't have enough proof to put Alvarez behind bars, we don't even know the hell of wherever he is now!" Tess's yelling inside of the Gentlemen's Guild interrupted him. They both turned their heads to look at her coming quite close enough to J.T's mini office full of computer, as she argued with Cat. And she was standing quite close to the computer with the coffee mug threatening to fall off down.
"You go undercover? Inside that land of doom? It might take months or even years to figure out the problem in all this! Where are you going now? Hospital, you say? New York's?"
"You believe that jerk is even there?"Like it would. She sighed in relief as Catherine was explaining the reason of wanting to go undercover and track Alvarez. "Okay, I'm glad you're not going through this alone, so what's my cover is going to be? A screaming Beyonce Knowles?" The boys waited for an answer from Tess. But as Vincent waited, he could have heard her heart race at whatever answer her partner had gave her, through the phone as her eyes widened in anger.
Which made the coffee mug drop..It just slipped from her hold.
J.T had let out a scream, that quite sounded like a girl's that got herself caught by her father who rushed himself into the bathroom, to see her naked by accident.
"A what?"had yelled Tess as she completely had forgot about the coffee liquid that had dropped onto one of J.T's keybords of computers. Accidentely, of course, too much for the professor's poor beating heart and that was about to explode in panic, ready to pull off his hair and maybe yelling at the not so caring cop. But for Vincent, the computers weren't a problem to him. Too stunned to say anything and from what he could understand through the conversation, Vincent had sworn that he had heard from Catherine saying that she wanted to go undercover and avenge her friend's attack.
"I want to avenge her. Avenge Lena, Tess.." She sounded just like him. That blinding rage. When he had told her that he wanted to go after her father to kill him and when things had already started to fall apart for the both of them.
...
Phew, that was a long and tiring chapter for me to complete. I hope I did justice. Gosh, a lot had happened, Cat believes that Vincent is responsible for Lena's attack and wants to avenge her, just the way he had tried to do with her father. Tori got attacked by him in full beast mode, geez. Something is not right with Vincent. Regan's story is about to explain soon enough and the reason of her return would be explain as well. Poison? Who poisoned the girls? Is Vincent going to watch over Catherine while she'll go undercover? And poor J.T...
Up to you to find out, Beasties! Thanks for the support! xpetti 4Bemer and Msolsun. P.S I hope my spanish is not so bad! Please sent a lovely review! See ya!
