I DO NOT OWN THESE CHARACTERS. THEY BELONG TO THE CW NETWORK. THIS IS A WORK OF FANFICTION BY OMEGAPWHITE.
Please suspend all disbelief as you read this.
The room took on a scary silence as Vincent stood transfixed by Catherine's admission. Shocked by the one thing he'd never expected her to say.
How did she know he was her donor? He couldn't deny it now. Finally Vincent broke the silence.
"How do you know?"
"I remembered your face from the night of the accident. I put two and two together and realized it was you. I didn't plan on telling you, because I wanted to respect your wishes to remain anonymous, but I couldn't let you walk away thinking you did something wrong," Catherine said.
Vincent leaned against the door, but he didn't turn around.
"I'm sorry, but I thought I was doing the right thing by not telling you. I didn't plan on meeting you. After seeing you that first day in the park, I tried to stay away, but when I saw you at Jamba Juice, I found I couldn't. I came to the park today, because I needed to be alone with my thoughts. No woman has ever affected me like you have in such a short period of time, but I think I know why our attraction to each other is so strong. You may want to sit down for this," Vincent said, in a low voice.
"Okay."
Vincent finally turned around, but he couldn't bring himself to look at Catherine.
Catherine took a seat on the sofa and tried to steady her nerves. She didn't know what to think or say.
Suddenly, a knock came at the door.
"Were you expecting someone?" Vincent asked, with a surprised look.
"No."
Catherine felt her heart drop, because she knew it had to be Evan. She got up and headed for the door. She opened it to find a young pretty girl standing there. She looked extremely nervous and scared.
"Hi. Are you Catherine Chandler?"
"Yes. How can I help you?"
"My name is Heather Reynolds. I'm from New York, but I've been in Mississippi almost three weeks, hoping to speak with you. I don't know how to say this without hurting you, so I'll just come right out and say it. My dad passed away recently. He left a letter for me and in the letter, he detailed an affair with Vanessa Chandler, your mother. It seems your mother became pregnant and to keep her husband, your father, from finding out, she took an extended business trip when she was almost six months pregnant."
Catherine interruped Heather, before she could continue. "You had better come in," Catherine said.
Heather took a seat on the sofa. She scanned the room as she tried to steady her shaking hands.
"Catherine, I think I better go," Vincent said.
"No. Please stay," Catherine said, in a soft tone.
Vincent took a seat in a chair. He saw the pleading look in her eyes. He knew she probably didn't trust the young girl and didn't want to be left alone with her.
Catherine tried to remain calm, but she knew what was coming next, but she needed to know.
"Please continue, Heather," Catherine said.
Your mother stayed with my father in New York until the baby was born. Afterwards, she returned home and left the baby with my father. She made trips often to visit, right up until she died. By now you must have figured out I was that baby. I apologize for showing up unexpected, but I have been calling and I didn't want to leave town without speaking with you first. I hired a private detective to find you and that's how I got your address and phone number. I know it's a lot to take in right now, so I'll go and leave you to process it. I'll be staying at the Hilton Jackson until next week. I hope to hear from you soon. Here's my cell number as well.
Heather walked out of the door, but Catherine didn't say anything. Tears welled up in her eyes. Everything was going wrong in her life. She felt as if she was sinking in an ocean without a life jacket. She was always so strong, but it's hard to be strong when everything is falling apart around you.
Vincent took a seat beside her on the sofa and embraced her. She rested her head on his chest as the tears of sorrow and pain flowed down her face.
Vincent didn't try to continue his previous conversation, because he knew it wasn't the right time.
She raised her head up and he looked at her red eyes. Her face was even more beautiful in her vulnerable state. He leaned in and kissed her softly. She wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. Their tongues touched as the passion of the kiss inflamed their bodies. Catherine pulled Vincent down on the sofa as he began to kiss her with more fervor.
Catherine felt Vincent's erection on her thigh, as it started to grow. She wanted his erection inside her. She needed to feel him. She wanted him to make love to her. Then he stopped.
"We can't do this. We will both regret it tomorrow. I know you want to make the pain go away, but this isn't the answer. Believe me I want nothing more than to make love to you right now, but not this way," Vincent said.
"I know. Will you at least stay with me tonight?"
"Sure. I can do that. Are you hungry?"
"Yes."
"Lets go get my truck, grab some take-out, and rent some movies."
"Great idea."
CATHERINE
The next couple of days went by in a blur as Catherine adjusted to having a little sister. She'd finally worked up the nerve to call Heather and they'd chatted over the phone for hours. They even went to dinner a couple of times. Eventually, Heather left and everything seemed to go back to normal.
Catherine had several dates with Vincent and they were growing closer everyday. Without Vincent supporting and encouraging her, she would have fallen apart, but she didn't think she was ready to be in another relationship so soon.
One night Vincent called and he sounded so serious. He wanted to talk, so Catherine told him to come on over.
Vincent headed over to Catherine's place. He had decided he needed to tell her the whole truth, because things were getting serious and she needed to know. It would probably traumatize her, but he hoped she would be open-minded. He parked in the front of her building. He just sat in the truck thinking. He could lose her after tonight and that was troubling him.
Years of dating and she was the first woman he had really connected with. If she was the woman he thought her to be, she would take it all in stride. Well it was now or never. He slowly exited the vehicle and proceeded toward the door. Feeling skeptical and nervous, he knocked and waited for Catherine to open the door.
Seconds later, she opened the door smiling.
"Hi, Vincent, come on in."
He was having second thoughts, but it needed to be done. He would just say it, before he changed his mine.
"Catherine, you may want to sit down. I need to get this out and if I don't say it right now, I may never get up the nerves to do it again.
A feeling of angst came over Catherine. She remembered Vincent had tried to talk to her right before Heather showed up. She looked at him and worry lines were on his forehead. She had never seen him so unguarded.
Finally, Vincent spoke.
"Years ago, I lived in New York. I had two brothers, who were firefighters. One day I received a phone call that changed my life forever. They had both perished in a fire. I was devastated and angry, so I joined the Army to get away.
One day I was approached about volunteering for a new project that would make us supersoldiers. I agreed to be a participant, so I was injected with a serum that gave me superhuman powers along with heightened senses. We were more of a sweeper unit to clean up the Army's mess. After four years, I decided to leave the Army. I was then given a serum to remove all traces of my supersoldier abilities. After I made it home, I started to see some changes. I have a friend who is a scientist, so he took some blood samples and he discovered I had minuscule traces of the original serum in my blood along with cross-species DNA, which later I learned if triggered I would transform into a beastly creature. My friend made a serum that isolated the cross-species DNA and removed it, but I still have my supersoldier abilities.
I find myself perplexed at how I could have transferred it to you though. I know recent studies have found scent receptors in the kidneys, but I took medicine before the transplant to avoid transferring anything to you. Our connection is too strong for simple human attraction, so the only reasonable explanation is that my kidney had to have minute traces of cross-species DNA, that we missed."
Vincent looked at Catherine for reassurance, but there was none. She didn't make eye contact with him. An eerie feelings came over him, and he knew she couldn't accept his past or the man that stood before her desperate for her acceptance.
In a low voice, Catherine, started to speak.
"My parents were killed. My uncle who reared me, died of cancer. My fiancé cheated on me with one of my friends. I found out at my bridal shower, along with the news of her pregnancy. As a result, I stormed out to my car and drove off. Later, while going through an intersection, I was hit and almost killed. I lost both of my kidneys and had to have a transplant. I discovered my donor is a man I have a fiery connection with. My ex is harassing me. I just found out I have a sister, my mother hid from us. Now I may have cross-species DNA.
My life should be cordoned off with yellow tape that reads disaster area. After everything that has transpired, I should probably be in a straitjacket by now. I'm going to take a hot bath and try to clear my head. I'll call you, if I ever decide to speak to you again. Now I must ask you to leave.
Vincent turned and opened the door and slowly walked out. He left his heart behind as he closed the door. Tears clouded his vision as he walked to his vehicle. He cried for her. The hurt and pain she'd experienced. He cried, because he had no idea she'd been through so much. He cried, because he couldn't comfort her. He cried, because he knew he'd lost her for good.
CATHERINE
Catherine lit some candles and played "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" by Al Green.
She soaked in a hot bubble bath and hoped she could forget everything, if only for a few minutes.
Later she cleaned her closet, hoping to keep busy to avoid reality. She came across her mom's old jewelry box. She'd held on to it, because it held so many memories.
She thought back when she would sneak in her mom's bedroom and try on her jewelry. Everything sparkled and she was enthralled by all the rings and bracelets with the colorful stones.
She opened it and looked at the jewelry. After her mom's death, she couldn't bring herself to open it or even wear the jewelry. Now years later, she was staring at the past with hurt and pain growing by the minute.
She tried to open the bottom drawer, but it was locked. She retreived a butter knife from the kitchen and attempted to pry the drawer open. Fifteen minutes, it popped open, to her surprise.
A stack of papers and letters occupied the compartment. She looked at the letters and they were from Bob Reynolds, Heather's father. Most of them were love letters, but one of the letters appeared old and fragile. Catherine opened the letter and read it.
Just when she thought she'd weathered the storm, an earthquake hit. Life would never be the same again.
And in that moment, it hit her.
"Oh my, God, Vincent!" Catherine yelled.
She called Vincent's phone, but the voicemail picked up. She quickly hung up. She would try in the morning. She couldn't leave a voice message. She had to tell him in person.
THE NEXT DAY
Catherine tried Vincent's cell phone, but no answer. Finally she called his work number.
"Haynes Engineering."
"Vincent Keller, please."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Keller left for California this morning, to assist with the opening of our new location. Would you like to speak with one of the other associates?"
"No, thank you."
Catherine hung up the phone. Flashes of Vincent walking out the door came to mind. She didn't try to stop him. She hadn't been understanding to his past and now she was the one that needed his forgiveness.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER. I KNOW IT IS A LOT TO PROCESS, BUT IT WILL ALL COME TOGETHER. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS IN THE LETTER.