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 CHAPTER.

"Mr. Keller, did you hear me?"

"I'm sorry, Amber, what did you say?" Vincent asked.

"Have you decided who you're going to hire?" Amber asked.

"Yes. I'll email the list to you by this evening."

"Okay. I booked a flight to Jackson for you tomorrow evening, since the grand opening is in the morning." Amber said.

"That's great. I'm taking an early lunch, so I'll see you in an hour."

"Okay. Enjoy your lunch sir."

"Thank You."

Vincent drove around in his rental car, trying to clear his head. He'd been in California two weeks and he was quite surprised he was able to accomplish anything. His mind was preoccupied and without his assistant, Amber, he would have been lost.

He saw Catherine everywhere he went. How he longed to see her or hear her voice. Then he found himself angry at her. He had opened up about his past. Shared sensitive, personal information and she didn't even try to understand what he'd went through. He had to move on. It was going to be hard being back in Jackson. Knowing he could hear her heartbeat if she was in close proximity to him. Maybe he should just stay in California and start over. No, he wouldn't run away.

THE NEXT DAY

Vincent opened the door to his studio apartment. He was happy to be back home. He put his bags in the bedroom and went looking for his phone. He was on the plane, headed to California, by the time realized he didn't have his phone. He wondered if Catherine had tried to reach him.

He found the phone on the nightstand and charged it, so he could check the call log and voicemail. Ten minutes later he checked his messages. No voicemails from Catherine. He hardly expected her to call, but he still found himself disappointed that she hadn't.

His friend J.T. had left several messages, so he returned the call.

"Dude, where have you been?" J.T. asked.

J.T. and Vincent were childhood friends and Vincent trusted him implicitly. In fact, J.T. was the only person besides Catherine, who knew the details of his Army experience.

"I flew to California, to assist with the grand opening of our new office location and I left my phone at home.

"So, what's going on with you? You seem out of sorts."

"Before I tell you, please don't lecture me. I just need you to just listen for once."

"Okay, I'm all ears."

"Well, one night I came across a car accident and I saw an injured woman. I tried to comfort her, but she passed out, so I stayed with her until the paramedics arrived, then I followed the ambulance to the hospital. Because I wasn't family, I couldn't get an update on her status, but I was persistent and eventually I found someone who was willing to tell me. I found out she could possibly die if she didn't receive a kidney transplant. I know what you're thinking, but I had an instant connection with her and I couldn't let her die, so I gave her one of my kidneys. That's why I asked you to send me the medicine, so I could ensure my kidney was free of cross-species DNA. Everything went smoothly with the transplant, but I requested my identity remain anonymous. I visited her everyday at the hospital, while she was in a medically induced coma, so she never saw me.

One day I went for a walk at the park and I saw her again. I heard her heartbeat before I saw her, but she spotted me before I could leave. We had an instant attraction to each other and she thought she recognized me from somewhere, but I downplayed it and made up an excuse to leave.

Later that day we ran into each other again and I found myself wanting to know more about her. I really tried to fight it, but I couldn't. I can't explain it. It's like an invisible force was pulling us together.

We talked for a few minutes and then I received a call from work, so I had to leave, so I asked her out before I left.

When I called her, she didn't return my calls, but eventually we ran into each other again.

To make a long story short, she figured out who I was. Shortly thereafter, she received some troubling news and I supported her during this difficult time and we became closer. I thought since we were getting serious, I should be honest with her, so I told her everything about the Army. Well, she heard me out and then asked me to leave. She didn't try to understand or even ask questions. I know I should move on, but she got to me like no woman has ever done before."

"Since, you've been away, maybe she has changed her mind. Has she tried to contact you?" J.T. asked.

"I don't know. I left my phone here while I was in California and the battery died, so if she did, she didn't leave a message."

"Why don't you call her?"

"I can't. I'm angry with her, because I trusted her enough to share my darkest secret and she showed me no compassion."

"You have to at least try. I know you're hurt, but put your pride to the side and go after her. You cared about her enough to tell her about the Army, then you should at least try to talk to her. If she rejects you, at least you know without a doubt, where you stand."

"I'll think about it. I need to decompress after my trip, so I'll call you later."

"Ok, later."

Vincent hung up with J.T. and decided to go the the park and go for a walk. He walked for a while and still he couldn't bring himself to call Catherine. He remembered how cold she'd been. How hurt he'd felt. He had let his emotions get the best of him and he couldn't endure the pain again.

He sat on a bench and enjoyed the sun, hoping he could stop thinking about Catherine. And then he heard it. Loud and clear as if it were his own. She was near and he knew it. He jumped up and looked around and then he saw her. Only she wasn't alone. She was walking with a man and they seemed pretty well acquainted. Then the man hugged Catherine. Vincent's pulse started racing. His face flamed with anger. A rage engulfed his body begging for release. He had to get away, before he committed an irrational act. He cut across the grass to avoid being seen and headed toward the parking lot.

CATHERINE

It had been two weeks and Catherine still hadn't heard from Vincent. She hoped he would call, but he never did. She kept thinking about their last conversation. How cold she'd been. Never once did she try to be open-minded, more supportive. She had simply asked him to leave. He didn't utter a word as he slowly walked out the door. The image replayed over and over in her head. Haunting her. Oh, how she wished she could turn back the hands of time.

In the back of her mind, she knew she had been unfair, unjust and it was because she was selfish. Growing up, she was spoiled by her parents and afterwards by her uncle. She hadn't been taught to be considerate and understanding of others. After becoming a criminal attorney, she became known as a cutthroat attorney. She won her cases by an means necessary and didn't care who was hurt in the process.

Then she had the car accident and everything changed. She met Vincent and he was kind, caring and understanding. And the most selfless thing he could have done was donate a kidney to a complete stranger.

The full ramifications of Catherine's actions weighed heavily on her mind, so she decided to go for walk.

Ten minutes later, she arrived at the park, and before she could enter the park, Sam walked up.

"Sam, what are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you," Sam said.

Sam came from old money. His family was like the Vanderbilts of Mississippi. He was the epitome of high society. He and Catherine had attended the same private school together and later Yale.

Looking back, Catherine realized she hadn't really loved Sam. The idea of being a high-profile couple with money and power excited her. Meeting Vincent had opened her eyes. He ignited feelings in her, she'd never felt before.

"I'm listening."

"Look I made a mistake. I let things get out of hand with Alex. I need you to forgive me, please."

Catherine knew Sam hadn't made a mistake, nor was he sorry she'd found out. Everything pointed to his domineering father. He was a man of status and wealth. He believed in keeping up appearances and he wanted Sam to be the next District Attorney, so Sam was undoubtedly forced to do damage control.

Alex had played her hand and it might as well have been the deadman's hand, because a child born out of wedlock didn't fit into the grand scheme of things. The family's attorney would offer her a handsome sum of money to abort the baby and go away quietly or she would conveniently disappear, never to be heard from again.

"Sam, I have been through so much, since that awful night. I had a car accident immediately after I left the bridal shower. I lost one kidney and the other one was failing. Luckily I received one from a donor in time. I've had other family issues to come up as well, so at the present time I can't focus on us. To be honest, you never loved me and I never loved you. It would have been a marriage of convenience. I think you should stop living under your father's thumb and find out what makes Sam happy."

Sam hugged Catherine and said, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you or committ actions that would lead to you being hurt. You are right about everything. Until this moment, I didn't see myself. I didn't know myself. Everything I have done has been to please my father. I do care about you. I never loved Alex and I suspect you know that already. I can't replace your kidneys or erase the hurt I've caused you, but I am truly sorry. I hope you can forgive me one day."

"I have forgiven you, Sam. Now we must move on."

"Thank You."

THE NEXT DAY

Catherine made the one call that she knew would change her life forever. She hoped Vincent would finally answer.

"Hello."

"Hi, Vincent. I have been trying to reach you."

"I was out of town," Vincent said, dryly.

"I know. I called your office too."

"What was so urgent?"

Catherine detected the anger in his voice and she knew he had every right to be angry.

"I need to talk to you. It's really important."

"Haven't we said enough? The last time we talked, it was a one-sided conversation and I was shown zero compassion."

"I know and I apologize. I've had time to think about everything and now I know I was wrong. You were there for me and I should have been there for you too."

"Well it's settled. We're both sorry and now, we can move on. I have to go now."

"Vincent, please, if I meant anything to you, I ask that you give me the opportunity to show you something. Come over tonight and afterwards if you still feel the same way, I won't contact you again.

"He wanted to hurt her like she'd hurt him, but he didn't have the heart to do it. He knew he would go. He missed her and besides, he needed to know who she was hugging at the park.

"Fine. I'll come. What time?"

"Seven o' clock is fine."

"Okay, see you then."

LATER THAT EVENING

Catherine waited nervously on Vincent. She expected him to still be upset, but even if he never talked to her again, at least he would know the truth.

Finally a knock came at the door. Catherine opened the door and Vincent stood there looking very serious. She hadn't seen him in two weeks, but it seemed like an eternity. He had on a white button down shirt with jeans and boots. Even dressed casually, he was very handsome.

"Come in, Vincent."

Vincent walked in, but he didn't say anything. He was not making it easy for Catherine and she knew it.

"Have a seat," Catherine said.

"Vincent took a seat on the sofa, but he avoided eye contact with Catherine.

Catherine took a seat beside him.

"Vincent, I know you're upset with me and you have every right to be. You were open and honest with me, but I didn't see it. I have underwent some transformations of my own and I know I was wrong. I apologize for hurting you and being so selfish. I asked you over here, because I want to show you something."

Catherine handed the letter to Vincent to read and waited for him to finish.

Minutes seemed like hours while he read without any facial expression.

Dear Vanessa,

I received your letter along with the blood samples. I had them tested and the diagnosis is correct. Catherine has Menkes Syndrome. Life expectancy is usually 1 to 3 years. I know you have tried numerous doctors and treatments to no avail.

I am going to divulge some top secret information to you that only I and a few others have privy to. I can save Catherine's life, but I must be honest with you. The treatment involves cross-species DNA and there is some minimal side effects. As she gets older, she could possibly experience heightened senses as well as have a high IQ. Any injuries that she sustains will heal very quickly, but the healing components will slowly fade over time, because of the human body's inablity to replicate animal chromosomes. I added a blocker to the serum, so if any testing occurs in the future, it will appear as an anomaly. Unless the doctors have a special machine, they won't be able to identify the abnormality. Keep in mind she may have a strong connection to animals or anyone that has even minuscule traces of cross-species DNA.

As of now only soldiers have been given this serum. Being that I am a private contractor for the military, I was able to secure a vial of serum for you, so I will overnight it to you.

Vanessa, you are most likely a carrier of the syndrome, so if you decide to have children in the future, there is a 50/50 chance of the child being born with the same syndrome.

I apologize for the formality of this letter, but I had to be direct with you. I would do anything for you and I hope you can see that now. I tried to call you first, but you were unavailable, so I opted for a letter instead. Call me when you can, with an update on Catherine.

Bob

Finally Vincent handed the letter back to Catherine and said, "So, now you can accept me for who I am, since you realize even if my kidney had cross-species DNA, it wouldn't have mattered."

"I said I was sorry. I don't know what else I can do. I was wrong."

"I accept your apology, but I can't forget how quickly you disregarded me. We've talked and I've listened. If there is nothing else, I have to go now."

Vincent got up to leave and Catherine felt her heart breaking. What could she do? He was upset and wasn't receptive to her apology.

Before he reached the door, Catherine blurted out, "I LOVE YOU."

Vincent stopped and turned around. He looked directly into her eyes. He knew she was telling the truth. All his anger vanished as he looked at her beautiful face. He had missed her and he had been fooling himself thinking he could just walk away.

The love in her eyes ignited a flame within. Euphoria swept over his body. His heart beckoned for her. Slowly he walked toward her.

"What did you say?"

"I said, I LOVE YOU."

He embraced her and their lips collided. Their tongues greeted each other. She surrendered completely. Kissing until their bodies burned with desire. Then he stopped and whispered in her ear, "I LOVE YOU TOO."

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER. HOPEFULLY IT WASN'T TOO SLOW. LEAVE SOME FEEDBACK AND LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS.