The Same Last Name

A/N Wow! I am seriously happy that everyone is dying for more:) And for the first time, we will see Vincent's side of things from his POV. Yay! Lets see how his mind works...

Chapter 14

Catherine stayed in her apartment for the next few days, her misery too much to bear. She called the manager and told him she was having personal issues and so she wouldn't be working for a few days. He was very understanding, telling her to take as much time as she needed. He also said if the other staffers asked, that Catherine had a stomach bug.

Heather knocked at her door several times a day, asking if she needed anything. Catherine always told her she was fine and she just needed to be left alone.

Tess, Joe, Evan and JT also knocked a few times, having heard she was sick and wanting to be sure she was okay. Catherine ignored them, feeling bad about it but knowing it was for the best. They were, after all, Vincent's friends. After a couple days, they stopped knocking at the door.

Vincent himself had called and texted her numerous times, leaving messages that she ignored, and texts that she erased without reading. He had also shown up to her room, knocking repeatedly. Catherine sat in silence, the shades drawn and the door locked. She hadn't changed her clothes or bathed since that fateful day. She ate only enough to stay alive and only got out of bed to eat or use the bathroom. Beyond that, she was listless and defeated.

After 5 days of this, Vincent had enough. He knew she wasn't sick. He knew something had happened. He went to her apartment, and pounded on the door.

"Catherine, open up! I know something is going on with you. Open this damn door before I break it down!" he shouted.

After a minute, he heard the lock click and the door swung open. Vincent was unprepared for what greeted him, though. Catherine's hollow eyes stared at him. She was unbathed and her clothes were wrinkled and unkempt, as if she hadn't removed them for several days.

"Catherine, oh my god..." he said, walking past her into her apartment. It was a mess. Dirty dishes were piled in and around the sink. The place was starting to smell. He chanced a glance in her bedroom. The sheets were twisted and knotted.

Turning to face her, he saw she hadn't moved from the door. Gently, he guided her away from it and shut the door. He threw the lock. Catherine made no sound as he guided her to the couch.

Taking her hand, he put his other hand under her chin, forcing her head up to meet his eyes. She stared at him, her face a mask of defeat.

"Catherine...what happened?" he asked gently.

She continued to stare at him as if he hadn't spoken. He almost thought she was in a state of shock. She was almost catatonic. "Catherine...?" he tried again.

Finally, she blinked and seemed to realize that he was there. "Catherine.."he breathed out.

Before he knew what was happening, Catherine was screaming in his face, and pounding on his chest and legs. "You bastard! You arrogant, lying son of a bitch! I hate you!" she screeched.

Vincent grabbed her flying hands, trying to figure out just what the hell was happening. Obviously, this had something to do with him, but why was she calling him a liar?

"Catherine, stop! You're gonna hurt yourself! STOP!" he shouted.

Catherine deflated like a balloon. She panted quietly, eyeing Vincent as if she were a wounded tiger. He stared at her.

"Catherine, what the hell was that?" he asked her.

"Get the hell out!" she cried. He shook his head.

"Na-uh! Not till you talk to me. What is going on? You dropped off the face of the Earth for 5 days! No one has talked to you or even seen you. You have bags under your eyes and you look like death warmed over. Talk to me!" he beseeched.

"Why don't you ask your girlfriend?" Catherine shot back.

"I am asking her!"

Catherine snorted, and said, "Nice try, asshole. But, I'm not falling for your lies anymore."

He pushed his hands into his hair. "What have I lied about?" he asked, at a loss.

"You've lied about everything."

"Care to elaborate..."

Catherine held up her hand and started ticking things off her fingers. "You lied about why you married me. You lied about our whole relationship. You've lied about Alex. You've lied about EVERYTHING!"

"Woah, first off, what the hell are you talking about? I haven't lied about anything. I told you the truth."

"Oh, really. You told me the truth when your father threatened to disown you if you didn't marry me? You told me the truth when I was home alone every day and you were with Alex, instead of at work? You told me the truth when you said I meant more to you than just sex? You arrogant bastard!"

"I...what? Who the hell has been feeding you this pack of lies? Yes, my father threatened me, and yes, you mean more to me than just sex. But the part about Alex, that is a flat out lie. I haven't been with her in years. I told you that!"

"You told me a lot of things. So, you were seeing Alex the whole time we were together? Hell, you probably still are. Go to hell and take that bitch with you!" Catherine spit out.

Slowly, things clicked in Vincent's brain. Alex...Alex had said something to Catherine. And if he knew the vindictive bitch the way he knew he did, she had spouted a pack of lies.

"Catherine, Alex lied to you. I don't know what she said, but it was all lies. I was never unfaithful to you. Hell, after the divorce, I still wasn't. I told you that. I didn't want her. I never did. Our parents set their hearts on us marrying from the time we were in diapers. And, yeah, we did date as teenagers, but I ended things with her because I couldn't see myself spending the rest of my life with her."

"Whatever," Catherine scoffed. Vincent grabbed her face, forcing her to look at him.

"It's the truth," he said softly. "I couldn't with her, but when I met you that changed."

"How the hell would it change? You sure as hell didn't love me."

"Maybe I did. Maybe I was too blind or stupid or whatever to see it. All I know is that when you left, I felt like my heart was ripped out of my chest. I couldn't work. I couldn't function. I couldn't...live."

"Yeah, well...doesn't change anything. You're leaving next week. You'll go back to your life, and I'll continue on with mine. The sex was great, but it's over. Just get out Vincent," Catherine said, her voice quivering from unshed tears.

"Catherine, I told you before. This isn't just about sex for me. I care about you. I l-" he started, but she cut him off.

"Don't tell me you love me, because I know that's a lie."

"It's the truth. I do!"

"Then the joke is on you this time, cause I don't love you. Now, get out," she said, her voice hard as granite.

Vincent sighed deeply, knowing he had lost her...again. All because of that self serving bitch. He looked at Catherine, wondering if it would be for the last time. He placed his hand behind her head and pulled her toward him, capturing her mouth with his. She protested, pushing against his chest. But, he held firm. After several seconds, he pulled back, fully expecting her to slap him. Instead, she stared at him, a glazed expression on her face.

Standing up, he walked to the door. Throwing the lock, he pulled the door open and started to step through. Pausing , he turned to face her again. "Catherine, I do love you. I think I always have. I'm sorry about everything. Good-bye," he said, before walking through the doorway.

Closing the door, he listened. A keening wail came from inside, followed by a loud thump. Vincent fought the urge to go back inside and take her in his arms. His fist clenched at his side.

He had a visit to make...

A/N OH BOY! Wonder who he is gonna go see? *Evil laugh inserted* In case you couldn't tell, this story is winding down. I'd say probably about 3-5 more chapters. Review!