ImNotThomas, ChocoMintandRock, DAsNumbah1Fan (Aw, I'm touched :) Thanks!), RosemaryPennykettle, Gunner3284 (I know you can't read this, but I'd still like to say you'd have been blocked.), Running Spirit, CourtsxBatFan, Jadiee, NZGirl25, Sshaw101, TheScarletOctopus, iCarlyfanatic101, MariaLuvsYew, BatxForever, CatHeartsU, Wonderstruck-Ambition, and Batzevieforever: Thanks for the reviews. :) Here's the chapter!

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Everybody's Fool

Chapter 44: Time Stands Still

I do NOT own Victorious

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Beck had the night shift again for the 4th night in a row. Personally, he didn't think his main manager who makes the schedules was being fair. He had a family at home he would like to have dinner with every now and then. By the time he returned home at night, Cat would already be halfway asleep and his son would be in his crib, snoring away quietly. With such a long day, it was unbearable. Cat did bring him lunch, which was nice. Since his store was hardly busy, she would stay with him and eat with him. The customers would love to see his son anyway.

But it wasn't the same…he wanted to spend time with his fiancée. They hadn't made love in a week, which was bad for their relationship…and it was because they were too tired. Beck would be too exhausted from work, or he'd come home too late and Cat already would be settled in bed. A healthy relationship involved making love at least once every few days, so Beck was worried that this would be hurting them.

He couldn't lose her.

He looked at the clock on the wall again…8: 43…17 minutes till he could lock the doors, count out the registers, and go home to his future wife and son. Sure, they'd probably be asleep, but at least he'd be able to kiss his son goodnight and hold Cat in his arms.

The soft ding went off and a man entered the small store. Beck forced a smile. "Good evening, sir. Anything I can help you find tonight?" He said, standing from the seat behind the counter. The man, wearing a black windbreaker, black jeans, a baseball cap, and sunglasses, brought out a silver object that Beck knew all too well and it was aimed right at his face. Beck put his arms up in surrender. "Hey, hey, man…take it easy."

The man looked nervous as the gun was shaking in his white knuckled grip. "Give me all the cash in the register. Now." He growled out. Beck nodded and went to the register, doing what he was told. He opened the cash drawer and brought out a paper bag that read the store name on it, put all the cash in the bag, and handed it over. When the man took the bag, Beck prayed he would leave, but suddenly the gun was aimed right at his forehead. "You dare to describe my appearance to the police, I swear to god, I'll find you and kill your family. You hear me?"

Beck's heart almost stopped. He couldn't risk Cat's life, along with Anthony's. They meant everything to him and this stranger could stay true to his word and kill them…he'd never forgive himself. Beck nodded hastily. "Yes, I won't tell. You have my word."

"Good because trust me, I'll find you and make you watch as I kill them with my bare hands." He kept threatening. And he suddenly smacked Beck with the gun across the face, making Beck fall against the wall behind him with his cheek now cut and bruised. "See ya." And the man left.

Beck quickly grabbed the phone and dialed 9-1-1 as he ran to the glass door, locking it, and watching as the robber left the mall through the food court, but when the security guard stopped him for some unknown reason, the gunfire went off…

Beck ran to the backroom of his store with his heart racing. The gunshots were still clearly heard as the operator picked up.

"9-1-1, what's your emergency?"

"My name is Beck Oliver, I'm a manager at Sunglasses Hut in the Beverly Center in Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive! My store was robbed and now the robber is shooting people in the food court!" Beck blurted out all in one breath. He just wanted to be home, holding Cat…he wanted to be in the safety walls with the alarm on and knowing his future bride was safe as well. "Please, get me out of here!"

He heard voices in the background as the woman came back on. "Please remain calm, Beck, the police are on the way. Please head to the backroom of your store."

"I'm here." Beck croaked out. "I'm safe…"

"Good, stay there and out of site of the gunman. We're getting calls of the shooting there as we speak."

"Okay, I need to call my boss and then call my fiancée to let her know I'm okay. Thanks." And he hung up, dialing his boss. His boss panicked and said he'd be there soon, but obviously outside. He was worried for Beck's wellbeing, which he was glad for. Beck then called Andre…

"Hello?"

"Andre, it's Beck. Please for the loves of God tell me you're not working right now." Beck couldn't take it if his friends were currently in the building…they all worked there in the mall. He was glad Cat was on maternity leave for another week.

"Nah, man, I was off at 4. Why? Wait, what the hell is that noise in the background?" Panic rose in his voice.

"There's a shooting going on, but Andre, if I don't make it, I need you to promise me you'll care for Cat and Anthony. Please." Beck let his tears fall.

"WHAT? Beck, get the hell out of there!"

"I can't, I have to stay here, but promise me, please!" Beck begged. "Just in freaking case!"

"Yeah, man, you know I will…but you're going to be alright. I'm heading down there right now and I'll be outside the backdoor of your work. I don't give a shit what the police say, you will get your butt out there when I get there, understand?" Andre sounded courageous, yes, but scared at the same time.

Beck sobbed a little…he was terrified. "Yeah, I understand…thanks…can you ask the others if their working? The gunman was shooting in the food court, so I hope Tori wasn't working tonight…"

"Oh my god, I hope not either since she works at the Starbucks right there!" Andre sounded even worse. "I'm leaving the apartment right now and I'll be there as soon as I can." So they hung up and Beck had to do what he didn't want to…

Call Cat…

"Hey, baby." Cat answered her cell phone with her sweet, tired voice. "Are you leaving the store already? It's only 9."

"Cat, listen to me, there's a shooting going on in the food court and my store was robbed right before all this." Beck told her in a serious, yet scared voice.

She gasped. "Beck!"

"I'm in the backroom now of my store, and the door is locked. I locked it after he robbed me." Beck was shaking violently. "I'm scared, Cat…calm me down. Only you can calm me down."

"Just listen to me, baby." Cat cooed, as if she was walking to Anthony. "Everything will be alright. I'm heading over there right now after I drop Anthony off at Tori and Jade's. They're home tonight." That answered the question if the others were working. "I'm sure Jade will come with me. I'll be there soon, baby. Stay on the phone with me until…whatever happens. Can you get out?" The gunshots were still going off…what the hell was happening out there? How much ammo did that guy have? "Oh my god, Beck, they sound so close!"

"They are…" Beck's voice cracked. "I need your arms around me, Cat…I can't do this."

"I'm already about to get in my car with Anthony. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"I don't want you talking on the phone while driving." Beck told her, no matter how much he didn't want her to get off the phone. "I'll see you when you get here. Andre's almost here."

"Okay, Beck…I love you so much. Anthony loves you too."

"I love you, my sweet angel." And they hung up.

Beck heard the gunshots cease as his cell phone went off. He answered. "Hello? Andre?"

"Yeah, I'm outside, man. Get out here. Now." He had never heard Andre so serious. Beck raced to the backdoor, getting his keys into the lock and turning off the alarm. He opened the door and Andre was right there. Andre couldn't help himself when he hugged Beck tightly. "Ah, man, you had me freaked out!" Andre told him. "I'm glad you're-"

"Pretty boy."

Beck winced at that voice…the voice that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Andre turned with him to the entrance of the food court that was there and there stood the gunman, holding the gun to them.

Andre gulped as Beck stood frozen next to him. "Put the gun down, man. We don't want any problems."

"Say goodbye." The man seethed as he pulled the trigger.

BANG!

"NO!" Beck yelled after Andre pushed him out of the way.

The gunman took off running, but suddenly a police car pulled up quickly and stopped him.

Beck put his hands on Andre's gunshot wound on his shoulder. Thankfully he looked to be nowhere near his heart. "Come on, man, stay with me." Beck begged.

Andre grunted. "Aw, eff-ing crap, that freaking hurt like a mother…"

Beck chuckled a little through his new tears. "At least now you can say you've been through just about everything."

Andre rolled his eyes as an ambulance squad came up.

Soon Cat ran into Beck's arms after he was questioned by police and had an icepack on his cheek. "Beck!" She screamed. "Oh my god, I'm so happy you're alright!" He hugged her tightly, never wanting to let you go.

Beck pulled her back and kissed her lips. "I want to get married." He said once they separated. "Can we get married soon? Life's too short to wait any longer, Cat."

Cat smiled gently through her own tears. "Yes."

Random Fact about DA: SAN DIEGO CHARGERS ALL THE WAY! My whole family is Charger Fans. What's your team? If you don't have one…how sad…