"You're being rude Catherine by not introducing me to your friend here," he said staring at the woman behind desk, "My name's…"
"I know who you are Quinn," Angel said in a harsh tone, "Why the hell did you come here?"
"To see Catherine of course. I dint' know she was entertaining company. But I believe the question in the air is what I did to her? Nothing the little slut didn't' enjoy."
Angel was in front of Quinn in a flash and punched him in the face. Quinn stumbled back into the closed doors. He brought his hand up and saw the blood on his fingers. He laughed as he regained his balance.
"She's certainly under your skin already. Kinda makes a man wonder what she did to get there."
Quinn pushed Angel back a few steps and stared to walk over to the bar. Angel's eyes followed him while he listened to the rapid beating of Catherine's heart. Not doubting Quinn could hear it to and was enjoying it. "This is one nice office you got here Catherine. Who'd you bone to get this club? Did you think I'd forget that you belong to me like you did?" Quinn looked at her with a mixture of anger and pleasure as he saw the tears fall from Catherine's blue eyes. Quinn started to walk towards her desk, relishing in the sight of her trying to sink herself further into the chair, when he was grabbed by the front of his shirt and found himself staring into a pair of deadly yellow eyes.
"You're a vampire, right Quinn? Then as a vampire you should've have noticed the scar on her neck. That's MY mark on her neck, meaning she belongs to me. And since you took advantage of her long after I gave her that mark, that means you were fucking around with something that belongs to me and I really don't like to share." Angel threw Quinn into the wall by the door as Catherine ran over to his side. Angel grabbed her hand and moved her behind him. Quinn struggled to get up, growling at the humiliation he just suffered. "I suggest you remember who Catherine belongs to. I won't kill you for touching her, I'm going to let her have the pleasure of destroying you. But you so much as come near her, I won't hesitate to rip your throat out." Quinn's face betrayed the fear Angel had distilled in him, but quickly recovered and stepped into the elevator.
"I'll see you around Catherine. After I kill your Champion, I'll take great pleasure in punishing you," Quinn smiled maliciously at her as the doors closed on him. The minute he was out of sight, Catherine let her breath out in a deep sigh. Angel looked at her worriedly as she sat down and put her head in her hands.
"Don't' worry, he came here for me. He won't bother with anyone else," Catherine mumbled through her fingers. Angel knelt down in front of her and placed his hands over her. Catherine jumped at his touch and pulled her hands away.
"Why do you pull away like that when I touch you? Or when a guy touches you," Angle said slowly realizing why she was touchy. Angel met Catherine's eyes and saw them swimming in self hate. "He raped you, didn't he Catty?"
Angel's question caused her to shake all over and the tears now flowed freely down her face. Catherine began talking in gasps between the sobs that rocked her body.
"It's not like we hadn't' already been together. But when he caught me and chained me up…I finally saw the evil in him. I couldn't believe I had fallen in love with him like that. I should've known. He told me I knew deep down. That I liked it. That no one would forgive me for what I had done with him, that I disgusted all the good people in the world. Then he raped me. Over and over and I couldn't stop him. He kept beating me, telling me that I enjoyed, but I didn't. He just kept telling me I did because I was a whore and a freak. No man would ever want me again when they learned what I had done. He just wouldn't stop and I kept screaming for him to stop but he wouldn't. I tried to fight back, I did Angel I tried, and tried," Catherine's voice was almost shrill and so full of pain and shame. Angel hugged her close and this time she let him. Catherine cried out all the pain into his shoulder as he held her lightly and stroked her hair. His own eyes now tear-filled as he finally knew what hell Quinn had put her through and the real reason she'd stayed away from him. Angel tried to hush her and pulled back to look at her. His hands gently wiped the moisture from her face.
"You're not disgusting. You didn't know. We love who we love and you believed you loved some one worth loving. That doesn't' make you a horrible person. No one as wonderful as you should have to suffer something like that. Or be made to believe lies the bastard told you. I could never hate or be disgusted with you Caty, ever," Angel said holding her reddened face in his hands. He looked deep in her eyes and saw some of the pain lift. Angel knew it would take more than words for her to come to grips with it, but at least she had something to help her. Angel hugged her again and let her finish crying silently. "One of these days Caty, you'll have to teach yourself that it wasn't' your fault and let the shame go."
All Catherine could do was nod. He was right and she knew it, but it would take time for her to believe it. At least Catherine knew Angel didn't hate her for it. She didn't know if she could live if she had disappointed him. After a few more minutes Catherine pulled back to get a tissue of her desk. Angel reluctantly released her. She wiped the remaining drops from her face and offered a weak smile.
"That was pretty cool the way you through Quinn across the room," she said half-heartedly hoping to lighten the mood. Angel offered her a half smile.
"Maybe I could be your body guard," Angel said, getting a small giggle from Catherine, "I hope I didn't upset you by referring to you as something I own. I know all about equality and everything, I just wanted to eat him at his own game."
"Its fine, it worked. I just wish I had thought of that sooner. I might not have had to face as many vampires over the years." They both quietly laughed at this. Angel still kneeled before her and stared into her face. She makes me feel something, something I used to feel, he thought. Catherine felt her pulse begin to rise a little as Angel continued to stare at her. They were both jerked out of their thoughts when the clang of the elevator doors opening made them jump. Angel stood up quickly and walked towards the people getting off the elevator, trying to give Catherine some time to compose herself.
"We got our stuff and, hey did we miss something?" Dawn asked, looking at the tear stained Catherine.
"Nothing, just over-sharing memories. I'll tell CJ to keep an eye on things while I show you guys where you'll be staying," Catherine said hastily changing the subject. Angel and her joined the others on the elevator and made their way around to the entrance of the apartments. ON the way up, Angel kept glancing worried looks in Catherine's direction, looks that didn't go unnoticed by Dawn and Connor. As they stepped into the hallway, Catherine led them to a door not far from her apartment.
"This one I figured you boys could stay in," Catherine said turning the lock and opening the door. Angel stepped in to a beautifully decorated apartment. This one was done in more white and blue. It reminded him of the homes off the Florida Keys.
"Very Cabana style," breathed Dawn, "Wait, how come Angel came in uninvited?"
"No one's lived here in a while. It' sort of like a guest room for me," Catherine explained, "the two rooms are down this hall and here's the kitchen. I'll have some blood brought over for you soon. Well, it's been a long night and I still have some work to do. Why don't' you boys get settled while I show the girls to their rooms and get back to work," Catherine said heading out the door. She stopped long enough o look over at Angle and smile a knowing smile which he warmly returned. When Catherine had closed the door, Angel turned to see his son grinning at him
"What?" Angel asked innocently, picking up the suitcases and heading down the hall to the bedrooms. Connor followed with his own bags and continued his grinning.
"Nothing dad. Nothing at all."
Back at the warehouse Quinn went about smashing everything he could and ranted at the image in the mirror.
"Stupid lying filthy-ass slut!" he shouted slamming a vase into the ground. The dark women in the mirror watched the display with intrigue.
"Did you develop feelings for the immortal, Quinn? And here I thought I was the only one," it said coyly.
Quinn stopped his raving and approached the mirror.
"I'm sorry your highness for having you doubt my desires for you. You far exalt the immortal whore."
"Quinn, do not apologize. It is natural for you to be jealous of this Champion who seeks to rob you of your joy. I know I remain above all those you encounter. Soon you will have her in your grasp once more and no one, not even the Champion will save her." A smile played on her lips as she stared at Quinn and watched his eyes light up at the memory of torturing her.
"Soon," he said, "soon."