Chapter 14
Catherine, Vincent and Ray met with JT and Tess at the "safe haven."
Tess grabs Catherine in a hug and looks to Vincent and mouths "Thank You."
Vincent nods to acknowledge Tess while looking around.
"Really JT? Is this the best you could do?" Vincent says looking around yet another abandoned warehouse.
JT bristles a bit
"Dude it's not like you gave me much of a heads up and I couldn't exactly rent you a suite at the Ritz now could I?"
Vincent rubs his hands over his face.
"I am so sorry JT, I am just tired and hungry and not sure what do to next."
JT understanding as always when it comes to Vincent is immediately placated.
"It's ok big guy, I think the first thing you might want to do is get cleaned up, get something to eat and get some rest. We can figure everything else out tomorrow. The water works in here, it's even hot and there is food in the kitchen area."
Ray had been quietly watching the interplay between Vincent and JT. He remembered Vincent talking about his best friend at home and JT was exactly how Vincent had described.
"Point me to the kitchen JT and I can whip something up." Ray offered. They headed back to the kitchen area, leaving Catherine and Vincent alone.
Vincent looked at Catherine, she took a deep breath and he could see the wheels turning. Jesus he loved her, but he could not handle one of her intense strategy conversations right now. He was exhausted by his fear for her and all he wanted to do was take a shower and hold her close. He had been beside himself for the few days she had been gone and he had been in contact with her the whole time. He couldn't fathom what his being kidnapped had done to her, but he suspected that her defense mechanism was the rapid fire way she jumped in and took charge when there was something to be dealt with. It certainly kept her too busy to deal with her feelings.
"Catherine come here." He held out his arms. She walked into them and placed her head against his chest. "There will be plenty of time for planning and strategizing later. Right now I just want to get clean and hold you, the last few days have been the longest of my life and I don't want to think and I don't want to plan I just want to be with you."
Catherine turned her face up to his and he leaned down to kiss her.
"You know sometime we are going to have to talk about those months I was away, you are holding it all inside and it's got to come out Catherine."
Catherine dipped her head down and bit her lip to prevent it from trembling. Vincent tipped her face back up to his with his finger. "But not right now." He lowered his mouth again and took hers. He could taste the salt from her tears. There was nothing more he wanted than to block out all of the bad memories they both had from those months, but if he was going to banish the nightmares and Catherine was going to move forward they had to get it out. But that was a problem for another day. Right now he just wanted his woman in his arms. Naked and needy. He picked her up and headed for the shower.
There was a shower, a big shower, but no tub. Vincent would have liked to soak in a hot bath, but he would make do. He turned it on full heat and waited until the steam filled the room. He grabbed the towels, made a mental note to thank JT for thinking of towels and shampoo and took Catherine into the room.
He undressed her and put her in the shower and then quickly undressed himself, he got in the shower and saw Catherine back arched with her head under the water. He swallowed hard, he would never get used to seeing her like this. Her eyes were closed, head tilted up and letting the hot water sluice down her body. She was magnificent. He walked toward her and she opened her eyes and smiled at him, opening her arms. He stepped into them, and he was home.
He stood with her in his arms, the hot water surrounding them, warming them. He breathed her in, savoring the feel of her in his arms, her hands stroked his back, moving farther down to follow the water down his ass, only to slide back up to his back. He mirrored her hands with his own. Sliding down her back to cup her ass and pull her toward him. Then letting his hands slide up her back, over her shoulders to cup her face. He stared at her, losing himself in the limpid pools of her eyes. They were so luminous he could see himself in them. Not the beast just the man. He could see how much she loved him. He took her mouth, his tongue seeking entry. She opened up to him, welcoming him inside, she slid her tongue around his, and they tangled, sending little sparks down his spine. He kept kissing her and moved his hands down her back and he pulled her to him. Between them he was hard and ready for her. Catherine could feel the length of him against her stomach and moved her hands down to palm him. He pushed himself into her hand and groaned.
Catherine smiled, he could feel it while he was kissing her. He pulled back from her mouth and lifted an eyebrow. She smiled again and pressed her palms together, her fingers curling around him. He arched into her, his head falling back under the water. She continued to work him with her hands, as he slowly thrust back and forth.
He pulled back from her and turned her around, pressing one hand against her stomach as the other came around to pay homage to her breasts. The one hand tugged and rolled her nipples as she arched her back, her head pressed against his chest. The other hand moved lower, he slid one finger into her, she was hot and wet. She moaned and moved her hips trying to take him deeper. He added another finger and pulled her ass back so his cock slid along the seam at the same time. Her ass was riding his cock in time to the thrust of his fingers. Catherine held on to his neck as his hands and cock drove her crazy. She was panting and so close to release, but Vincent didn't want things to end in the shower. He pulled back from her and turned her around. She reached for him and he kissed her senseless.
"Let's finish this in bed." Catherine was beyond the ability to speak and nodded her head at him. Now it was his turn to smile as he picked her up and stepped out of the shower.
Vincent carried Catherine to the bed and they came together all slick and slippery, she was wet and more than ready for him and he was so hard, he felt like he could blow right then and there. Catherine wrapped her legs around Vincent's waist he as rode her. She met him thrust for thrust as he buried himself inside of her over and over. His face is in the hollow of her neck, her hair surrounding him with her scent. The little breathy sounds she makes is music in his ears. Catherine wraps her arms around Vincent's neck and holds onto him like he is her lifeline. He lifts his head and kisses her and she comes apart around him, her muscles clamping down on him, milking him. His tongue plunders her mouth as he comes inside her, buried to the hilt.
He rolls off of her onto his back and pulls her tight against his body, her head cradled on his chest. Her leg curled around his. They are both breathing heavy, Catherine is tracing circles on his chest. The circles get smaller and her hands move slower as she drifts off to sleep in his arms. Turning and placing a kiss on the top of her head he smiles and let's himself join her in oblivion.
The next morning the whole group gathers to try and figure out what to do next. Vincent explains to everyone the details of his conversation with Bob Reynolds. Sam who has remained quiet through all of this has something to add.
"I think he might be right." At everyone's incredulous looks, he explains. "Remember I told you about the cave drawings in Ireland. Well some of those cave drawings showed what appeared to be a priest and/or priestess laying hands on the creatures. Maybe that symbolizes the power they have to transform?"
Catherine scoffs at the idea. "Do you all really think I have some crazy ability to heal beasts? Are you serious?
Gabe says. "Aren't I living proof of that? We thought that dying and being brought back to life is what saved me, but I tried it with the crazy fire starter beast and he stayed dead. And the only difference was you."
Catherine looks at Vincent. "Do you really believe this?"
Vincent thinks about it a moment and says. "Your father believes it." Gesturing to Gabe, "He believes it." And pointing to Ray. "And Barnes wanted you, Cat for a reason, the gems allow you to do things that are beyond our understanding, who is to say that you don't have that power."
Looking to Ray he asked.
"In all your time with Barnes have you ever heard of this?"
Ray shook his head. "I'm sorry but I have to agree with Cat, it sounds ridiculous…..and yes I am aware of the irony in that statement. I have seen a lot of weird things, but those are mostly the result of science…granted the gems are something beyond that but still…."
JT, ever the scientist says.
"There is only one way to find out."
Catherine upset turns to him.
"No way JT…..there is no way we are going to experiment on Vincent or Ray."
JT hands up in a defense gesture.
"Ok, Ok….it was just a suggestion, but Cat it's not really up to you is it? Shouldn't it be up to them? If you have the power to set them free, are you really just going to walk away from that?"
Catherine looked like she was going to tear JT a new one, Vincent sensing a blow out between his best friend and his love, stepped between them.
"OK…OK, everyone stay calm, no one has decided anything. I think this is something we all need to think about, or at least those of us that are beasts. How about we table this discussion for now."
Turning to Sam and Dana.
"It would appear that you two are safe from Barnes now that he knows about Catherine and what she is capable of. This is no longer your fight."
Sam spoke for the both of them.
"That may be true, but I get the feeling that this group will never stop Vincent. They are all about power and people like Barnes don't stop just because they found what they are looking for in the moment. Especially if they don't have her anymore. They will try and keep themselves secret and then keep trying to amass as much power as they can. Whether that be in using people like Catherine or trying to find new and better ways to make beasts. I appreciate that we may be safe for now, but how long will it last? When will they decide that we are a liability? I don't think any of us can stop looking over our shoulder as long as they exist."
As he spoke the mood in the room changed. All of them realized that they could not just walk away from this. It was too big, but none of them knew what to do about it either.
Vincent looked at his friends, at his family really. Last year it had been just him and JT needing to hide, now there was almost a dozen of them. But could they really take Barnes on, could they really shut him down?
Ray had been quiet this whole time. But now he said.
"There is something else to think about. Murfield or the Agency or whatever you want to call it, does do good. There are beasts out there that need to be put down, Vincent you know that first hand. It's Barnes that has corrupted the mission. Take out Barnes and turn Murfield into something that can help people and keep them safe. Including beasts. It could be the sanctuary some beasts need while treating or containing the ones out of control."
"If Catherine really can cure beasts and some choose that route, she would be saving lives. Plus there has to be more people out there with that ability, we could use their resources to find them. We could learn to live in harmony with the rest of the world instead of the shadows….."
Catherine looked at all of them. She was overwhelmed.
'I don't know….this just seems like some weird science fiction crazy crap. But first things first, I agree we need to take out Barnes. We need to get him off our backs so we can figure out what we all want. The question is, how do we do that?"
"Drawing him out won't be a problem." Ray offered to make contact, tell Barnes he left the complex once he saw Cat trying to escape, thinking he could follow her.
Tess asked.
"But what do we do with him, once we have him. We can't just kill him…..Gabe can we charge him with anything?"
Gabe thought about it.
"Can we prove he was behind the attack on Dana? Attempting to kill a federal officer would be enough to put him behind bars."
Ray excitedly exclaimed.
"The gems! One of them will get him to tell the truth, we know he was behind the attack on Dana we just need to get him on tape admitting it." He turned to Catherine. "The orange gem. That is the one he can't lie to you if you are holding it."
Vincent stepped in at that point.
"Wait….you want Catherine to get the confession from him. No way man, that is too dangerous!"
"I still don't like this." Vincent grumbled as he watched Ray sitting on a park bench waiting for Barnes to show.
Ray had contacted Barnes and told him that he had followed Catherine as she escaped and had information that he might find useful to further control Catherine.
"It's fine, Vincent you are right here and can blur me away if anything goes wrong. Once Ray starts to talk to Barnes I will make the approach. I have the gem and he won't be able to lie to me. Once we have him on audio, Tess will swoop in and grab him and this will all be over."
Vincent wasn't so sure that all this could be over so soon, but he also couldn't think of anything else either so here they were.
All of a sudden Vincent tenses up. Barnes sits down next to Ray. He can hear Catherine's heart start to race. She turns to him, gives him a kiss and walks over to Barnes.
"Hello Mr. Barnes, it's so good to see you again."
He is shocked. He gives Ray a dirty look and says.
"I wish I could say the same Ms. Chandler, but I must admit that I am surprised to see you. I would have thought Ray more loyal, not so easily swayed by a pretty face."
"I will take that as a compliment. But I am not here for compliments, Mr. Barnes. I am here because you ordered the hit on Dana Landon, and the kidnapping and 5 year imprisonment of Sam Landon."
Barnes face flushes red and his lips are tight as if he is trying to prevent himself from speaking. He narrows his eyes at Ray.
Catherine seeing him struggle, asks again.
"Mr. Barnes did you order the attempted murder of FBI Special Agent Dana Landon?"
Barnes tries to avoid answering but he can't the effect of the gem is to strong.
"Yes...yes I did."
Catherine smiles and asks for more.
"Did you order the kidnapping and 5 year imprisonment of Sam Landon?"
Barnes is sweating his face red and bulging.
"Yes, I did."
She continued on.
"Did you order the kidnapping of Professor JT Forbes?"
"Yes"
Her final question.
"Did you order Frank Darnell to kill Tori Windsor?"
Vincent gasps, in all the drama he had forgotten that this man was responsible for Tori's death. Just one more reason to love Catherine, she hadn't forgotten about her.
"YES Goddammit YES, I ordered all of those things. And I would do it again to get to you Catherine Chandler, a power like yours cannot be left unchecked. You would destroy everything I have built."
With those words Barnes lunges for Catherine, but he had no chance with Ray there and Vincent so close by. Ray leapt in front of her giving Vincent the seconds he needed to blur her away. He left her a safe distance away and returned to help Ray.
Ray and Barnes were struggling violently. Barnes had some kind of electric weapon that he was using to keep Ray from getting a good grip on him. Ray grabbed for Barnes and held on ignoring the electric current coursing through his body. Vincent managed to knock Ray off of Barnes, the movement was violent enough to cause Barnes's weapon to come out of his hands. Vincent took Barnes down and yelled for Catherine to bring the cuffs.
Catherine raced over and quickly handcuffed Barnes. Once he was secure, she turned to look at Ray. He was laying on the ground...not moving.
"Vincent!" Catherine yelled as she bent over Ray. "He is not breathing!"
Catherine started CPR on him. Vincent watched her... she was wholly focused on saving Ray.
"Come on dammit, Ray!...Breathe!"
Catherine worked for a good 5 minutes on him, she was nearing exhaustion. She looked up at Vincent, tears in her eyes.
"Ray...come on Ray!"
All of a sudden he shot upright, taking a deep breath on his own.
"Oh thank God, Ray...can you hear me...you're going to be ok."
Catherine collapsed and Vincent was right there to catch her as she crumpled.
Ray was coughing and breathing and coughing some more. But mostly he was just lying there taking stock of things.
"Barnes?"
"We got him buddy, he is cuffed and waiting for Dana to get here with the cavalry.
With those words, several black SUV's pulled up. Dana and Gabe got out of the first one and raced over to them. She directed several others in SWAT gear to take Barnes into custody.
"You did it Catherine." Gabe said. "We got it all on audio, he is going away for a very long time, and my guess is he will die in prison."
As the officers led Barnes away, Ray spoke up.
"That is not all she did."