I'm so touched by all your sweet responses, thank you! Okay after the cliffhanger drove me almost nuts I have to say I was a little disappointed in the next episode, it felt like a filler or some ground to build up from in the next episodes. But I nonetheless picked up some vibes and glances here and there that inspired me. As always I hope you enjoy...

Catherine: Tess, Tess you need to bring your gun down, he needs help!

Tess: What is happening?

Catherine:

Please No were the only words left in my head. Let him be okay, please we had just found each other. I talked to him, searched for the bullet wound all while I tried to get Tess under control, there was no time for explaining it right now. I was so afraid for him that my words probably made no sense to her. Please come back to me Vincent, I begged in my mind, hear my voice and come back. Slowly his features transformed back to the face of the man I loved. And so thank god, also his knowledge came back as he ordered me to give him the knife. I fumbled with the zippers, to get it out of his backpack as quickly as I can. Tess had shouted from behind me to stop, to step back but she would have to shoot me if she had wanted me to stop helping him. When he went to cut the bullet out I had to turn my face away, I couldn't watch it. His pain was my pain and I felt every bit of it. My eyes linked with Tess, pleading with her while she tried to reach someone outside. I knew her decision before she had moved one muscle.

Then Tess started to run for help and while it had hurt me physically to leave him there, I knew I had to get to her, I needed to prevent her from telling anybody. It would be our End. So I went after her, calling her name while desperately trying to make her slow down, so that I could talk to her. Water splashed everywhere while I tried to stay behind her, but as much as I trained she had always been the faster one of us two. When Tess climbed up that Ladder, I realised I was to slow, to far behind and that I would never get to her in time. But Vincent did. She struggled in his grip, even bit him as I was talking to her, franticly hoping I would find the words to break through her. I didn't and J.T. with his last minute shot didn't helped that situation either. She was laying on a improvised pillow and we're discussed how to proceed. J.T. was in full run and hide modus, trying to talk us into action. But I needed a moment to think, when I could get a moment of silence I knew I could come up with a plan.

To my Luck, Vincent shared my opinion of not leaving her down here if there was a little chance that she could listen. If I would wake up down here all alone I would go crazy, there was not a chance I would do that to her, despite all our circumstances. She just needed to listen to us but I knew this would be tough. She was my partner and best friend, we had mastered our whole training together, I knew how she ticked and there was a big chance for this to get worse. But I couldn't leave everything behind if there was even a slight chance to evade it. So Vincent and I sat down and talked, hoping to find a way that this story wouldn't sound down right crazy to her. Also I could look him over making myself believe that he was okay. He showed me the wound, always the doctor he had sewn it himself, telling me again how he healed a lot more quicker. Than he brought our concentration back to the sleeping form in front of us. After some time and a few talked trough scenarios, I figured out the best way was probably to talk to the cop in her, the one who always went for justice. But for that I needed proof and so I left her with Vincent, even if it broke my heart. I had always wanted to protect her and now everything was so completely out of hand. All that could save us would be my words. If I find the right tone, the right words maybe there was a chance.

Evan was talking to J.T. and I formally introduced myself as Detective Chandler, always trying to hold my mask in place when I was a mess on the inside. I could lead him outside for our talk, giving J.T. the chance to switch the samples. He gave me the reports under a strange look but let me off the hook quickly this time, thankfully because I didn't had the power to argue with him in that moment. I still tried to comprehend the thought that he had truly changed sides, working for Muirfield now. It felt like this was all we had done over the last month, chosen sides for the fight. Relieved, I was just about to leave the building when Joe grabbed my arm and almost dragged me in to the press room. Without a moment of preparation I was pushed in front of too many cameras, the lights blinding me for a moment while I tried to find my composure. So much for being back as quickly as possible.

Vincent: What are you doing, whe... where are you going

Catherine: I gotta go build a case, she's not going to believe me so I have to get proof.

Vincent:

Her pulse quickened over her fight with the drug, what gave me a moment to prepare myself for her wake up. When she was conscious again and opened her eyes, fear were the first thing I saw in her look. So I tried to speak softly to her, kept distance and explained again that I would not hurt her. Hopefully she would give me enough time to say what I wanted to say before Catherine came back. That she did this all to keep Tess safe and not because she didn't trusted her. But the more she came to her senses again, the more defensive Tess became, building up a wall with sarcasm and I realised slowly that there would be no way that she would believe me or see me as something else than a killer. Catherine was our only chance, so we waited. Interesting how Tess reacted exactly the way that I ever thought Catherine would. Wary with a trace of fear. When she finally started to really talk to me I quickly realized that she was indeed a good cop, observing our situations perfectly. She sensed all my fears and addressed the weaknesses in our relationship, laying them all one by one on the table, as I wouldn't see them myself.

To change the topic I told her about our similarities, like our families, our brothers and the most important of them all, Catherine. Told her that I would never hurt her and how I always tried to protect her. Maybe she would have liked me when we have met somehow different. Talking to people had always been one of my weaknesses because I never could find the right words when I needed them. I know there was no chance of winning her over like this but I would even try the impossible. We talked some more about Catherine and I begged her to listen to her best friend, to try and trust her Judgement. And with no other option I let her go, hoping that she would search for Catherine instead of Joe praying for her to listen to her former friend and partner.

When Catherine came back in the tunnel I not only saw, I smelt her fresh tears. So it didn't worked, I knew before she tells me. It broke my heart that she had to loose another friend, another trusted one because of me and all the Problems that came with me, But her step was sure as she packed up and informs us it's time to go. I couldn't believe it, she truly was willing to let everything behind, her Job, her Sister and her home. When I asked her about Tess she confessed the deal she had been offered. Turning me in and Tess would cover. Why didn't she do it? J.T. and I could have been long gone and she would have been safe. I told her, to let me leave and save herself but she wasn't having it. And that is the moment I knew she would go to the end of the world with me.

I try to comprehend that thought when we made our way through the tunnels only stopping when I heard a noise. The architecture of these canals and the echo was making it hard for me but I was almost sure that it had been a gunshot. Were they already here? Damn, I had hoped for more time. I slowly pushed her behind me, trying to protect her with my body but a second later this two Guys were shooting at us. When I heard one telling the other that they need me alive I know it's Muirfield, it has to be.

A few hours later...

It seemed like she had lost a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Her joy over her recovered friendship with Tess was beautiful to see, it made her eyes sparkle. For me it was hard to say if I was happy to have Tess in our Team or if it was just another life that I had ruined only because of my existence. Because I had tied that beautiful woman to me. I didn't wanted to ruin her mood so I kept my thoughts to myself and tried to enjoy how the moon illuminated her skin and how she smiled happily at me. I hoped so much that I could give her more of these Moments, the sweet and carefree ones. Like now to just be with her, like a hundred times before on our fire escape. She said we would never separate, no matter how dangerous it would become it was us versus them and that I should finally stop pushing her away. My heart believed her. We had so many obstacles against us but it would only made us stronger. And so I gave my girl the good night kiss, that I always had wanted to give her standing here before I jumped down, making my way to the address J.T. had giving me wondering how long we would be able to just be before the next catastrophe would happen...