Author's Note: In case you missed it, I uploaded two chapters this time. So you might need to back up one chapter before reading this one. There's a huge clue dropped in the last chapter and a very important backstory for the 'Angel Killer'.

Chapter 22

"Get away from me Kat. You've caused enough problems for me." Jason's harsh words echoed in Kat's mind as she slowly packed her suitcase. It didn't take long for word to get back to her supervisor that the Angel Killer had an obsession with her. She had been recalled back to New York for 'her own protection'. She thought that was the most ridiculous idea she'd ever heard, but orders were orders. Russ would be leading the investigation from this point on.

Kat glanced at her self in the mirror and gave a slight cringed. She looked a mess, but she had been for nearly three weeks, since Jason had yelled at her. She couldn't blame him, she had withheld information and his ex-wife had died as a result, still his words stung. She'd attended the funeral with the rest of her team, offering only a small quiet, 'I'm sorry' to Jason as she walked by him. It was slowly killing her to not be able to wrap her arms around him and offer him comfort, but she was a survivor. She'd survived losing her son, walking away from Tommy, her ordeal with her blown undercover job, surely she'd survive Jason. But damn if she wouldn't be wounded deeply at losing him.

Slowly she tried to straighten her sloppy pony tail before shrugging and going back to not caring. Usually Kat always appeared pressed and polished but today she stood in her room wearing a pair of worn jean with holes in the knees, and one of Jason's shirts he'd left behind. She'd meant to give it back to him when she found it, but it still smelled of his cologne and it comforted her. Her hair was unwashed and greasy, thrown back into a messy ponytail with strands falling out of place all over. She wore no make up. Her eyes were dark and puffy from lack of sleep and crying.

"Taxi's here boss." Russ said softly from her doorway.

"You shouldn't call me that anymore Russ, you're in charge now." Kat replied as she finished zipping up her suitcase.

"You'll always be boss to me, boss." Russ nodded.

"Thanks Russ, you're the best." Kat offered him a sad smile as she made her way past him.

"This isn't right." Kale said from his spot at the front door. "You've been on this case for three years, you deserve to bring this guy down, especially after what he did to you back in September."

"Orders are orders." Kat shook her head.

"I don't like it either." Rachel added. Dell laid a large hand on her smaller shoulder.

"Hillard's right, orders are orders. There's nothing short of quitting that she can do."

"And I can't do that." Kat nodded. "My job is all I have left."

"You'd have more if you'd just call him." Russ said from behind her.

"I'm not calling him." Kat snapped. "He told me to get away from him."

"He was hurting and acting out of anger." Russ argued.

"Drop it Russ. I'm not discussing this with you." Kat glared at him. "My relationship with Jason is none of your concern, that goes for all of you. If I find out any one of you were talking to him about me, I'll personally put a bullet in your knee cap, understood?"

"Yes ma'am." Kale and Dell replied as one.

"I'll send Lindsay your love." Kat said as she hugged Kale.

"Thanks." Kale nodded.

"Be good to Tom. No mind games, got it Master Dawson."

"I promise, I won't use the force on this one." Rachel laughed sadly.

"Keep me posted Dell, I know you can get through the blocks and find me some loopholes to work with."

"Already on it Hillard." Dell nodded before wrapping his arms around her much smaller frame. "We'll miss you're bossy ass around here."

"I'm not bossy." Kat raised an eyebrow after he'd released her.

"No not at all." Russ said sarcastically. Kat looked at her once second in command.

"Catch this fucking bastard Russ. I can't handle a desk job for too long."

"I'll do my best boss." Russ nodded. Kat nodded back to him before picking up her suitcase and walking out the door. Her former team watched sadly as she loaded her suitcase in the trunk and climbed into the backseat.

"Think she'll ever talk to him again?" Rachel asked no one in particular as the taxi pulled away.

"I think he'll be the one to call her." Russ answered.

"I hope so, they just fit together so well." Kale nodded. "I haven't seen her as happy as she was with him."

"She's a tough one though, she'll get through alright." Dell shrugged. "Let's get to work guys." The others remained silent as they closed the front door and picked up were they'd left off a few days before.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Good night Lilly-pad." Jason said quietly before kissing his daughter's forehead.

"Night Daddy." Lilly replied before snuggling under the covers. Jason walked quietly out of her room, but paused in the doorway to watch her for just a moment. It was the night before Christmas Eve, his parents were coming over in the morning, as well as Liz's parents.

Slowly he made his way down the stairs and into his livingroom. He sank down onto the couch as the silent darkness of his house crept around him, the only light in the whole house was the Christmas tree twinkling in the den. He let his eyes adjust to the darkness as he stared at the front door. In his minds eye he was playing his first night with Kat. He recalled how warm her body felt pressed against him as he drove himself deep into her, how his body shivered as he heard her moaning his name, how she seemed to set him on fire from the inside out.

He missed her, even if he wouldn't admit it out loud to anyone except himself. Quietly Jason stood from the couch and moved about the still room. His fingers found the small box he was searching for without trouble hidden in the end table drawer. Once again he sank onto the couch as he flipped open the box, revealing a single diamond ring. He stared at the small piece of jewelery with a mixture of hurt and regret.

He'd planned to propose to her the very morning that Liz died. He'd planned to wake up early and make a nice breakfast to share with Katherine. Maybe take another tumble in the sheets before showering together. Then once they were clean and dressed, he had planned to led her to the livingroom. Then, he was going to drop to one knee and ask her to stay with him. To share a life with him, to be his wife. He'd planned the livingroom since it was were they'd had their first night together. But, of course, none of that happened and now here he sat alone with the damn ring.

"Dammit Kat!" He said suddenly as he slammed the lid closed. "Why'd you have to go ruin everything? I'd had this all figured out! Why couldn't you have just told me everything you knew?"

Jason rested his head against the back of the couch as a few tears slipped from his eyes. He quickly wiped them away, silently scolding himself for breaking down over her. He stood from the chair walked over to the door, tracing the details with his fingers as he replayed their first time together in his mind. He finally sank down to the floor and buried his head into his hands and quietly sobbed until he was too tired to cry anymore. Feeling completely drained Jason pulled himself to his feet and went to bed.

XXXXXXXXXX

Jason pulled his covers tighter over his head as the sunlight filtered into his room. It was Christmas Eve already, but he was feeling like to doing anything but celebrating. There was nothing joyous about this year.

"Good morning Jason." A soft female voice called from his doorway. Jason recognized the voice as his mother's.

"There's nothing good about it." Jason groaned. "When did you guys get here?"

"About a half hour ago. I wanted to get the turkey in the oven before Howard and Georgia arrived."

"Lilly up yet?"

"She's in the backyard with your father." Linda replied. Jason heard her move across his room and felt the bed shift with her weight as she sat next to him. "We're worried about you Jason."

"I'll be fine, Mom." Jason mumbled, still hidden under his covers. "I just need some time to adjust to my new life."

"Jason, we have no doubts you'll do fine with Lilly. You're an amazing father to her, and it's only a slight change to have her full time rather than part time. We're concerned about your personal life."

"Mom, not you too!"

"Why did you push Katherine away, Jason? Just last month you begged me to go shopping for a ring with you, and then this month you're trying to act as if she doesn't exist. If you truly love her, then you should let her see this side of you. You should let her comfort you. Of all your friends, Katherine would know how you're feeling..."

Jason quickly sat up and met his mother's gaze cutting her off. "Kat withheld information that might have led us to our guy before he got to Liz. How can I marry someone who is responsible for the death of my ex-wife, the mother of my daughter? How can I ask Lilly to face Katherine everyday with the knowledge that she's the reason her mother is gone? How can I put Kat through the guilt of seeing us everyday? I can't do that Mom."

Linda Scott regarded her son with wide eyes for a moment, as she processed what her son was saying. Finally she narrowed her midnight eyes at him. "I'm ashamed of you Jason Lee Scott. I'd expect better from you."

"Huh?" Jason blinked in surprise. What did I do wrong?

"Think back Jason, how was it that Katherine was shot all those years ago?" She raised an eyebrow as she waited for Jason to think. "When you rushed forward to protect Elizabeth, the robber fired his gun. Katherine and Tommy lost Charlie that night. They lost their son because you were protecting your wife."

"I... I didn't know he had a gun." Jason stared down at his lap.

"Could Katherine have known that Elizabeth would be targeted?"

"No." Jason replied quietly.

"Do you blame yourself for Charlie's death?"

"No, I'm not the one who had the gun." Jason shook his head.

"Then how can you blame Katherine, when she's not the one who took Elizabeth's life?"

"I... She... I..." Jason closed his eyes as he felt his chest tighten. "It's complicated."

Linda watched her son for a few moments, wishing that there was someway she could help him sort out his thoughts, even though she knew he just needed time to see things clearly. She gently placed her hand on his shoulder. "Just think about what I said." Jason nodded lightly. "Now, get showered and dressed.

"Yes, Ma'am." Jason nodded. Linda left her son sitting on his bed and returned to the kitchen.

Have I really been too hard on Kat? She withheld information about our guy... She wasn't the one who stabbed Liz... We could have had him... What good was the information? It still hasn't led us anywhere... "Fuck!" Jason cursed as he put his head in his hands. He couldn't convince himself to believe either side anymore. Part him understood what his mother said, Kat had no hand in Liz's death. Yet the other part of him believed that she was slightly responsible.

Jason begrudgingly climbed out of his bed and made his way into his bathroom. He turned on the water and undressed. He stood under the stream, letting the hot water relax his muscles. Without looking he reached up for his shampoo and poured some onto his hand, however it was not his usual musky smelling soap. Instead his senses were assaulted with cherry blossom. He hadn't realized there was still a bottle of her shampoo in his shower.

"Kat." Jason breathed as he inhaled the scent he so associated with her. Once again, he found himself unable to control his tears as he let the water wash the sweet smelling soap off his hand. He watched with blurry vision as the suds swirled down the drain. "I miss you."

After his shower, Jason dressed and made his way down the stairs. Howard and Georgia hadn't arrived yet. His father and Lilly were watching some cartoon on the television and his mother was in the kitchen cooking up a storm. It should be Kat in there cooking with her. Jason thought bitterly. You screwed that up for yourself there Jason... But Kat's not totally blameless here... I chased her off...This is getting me nowhere...

The doorbell chimed breaking him out of his thoughts. "I'll get it." He called as he noticed his father starting to stand from the couch. He rushed over to the door to allow Liz's parents inside. "Howard, Georgia. I'm so glad that you could come."

"Thank you for inviting us Jason. We're so glad to spend the holiday with Lilly." Howard nodded. He was an older man with salt and pepper hair, a strong chiseled chin, and emerald green eyes. Liz had her father's eyes.

"After all, she's all we have now." Georgia sniffed, trying to hold back her tears. Georgia might have been nearly fifty-six, but she hardly looked a day over thirty. Her dark blonde hair showed no signs of gray. She wore her hair in a short bob that sat just below her ears. She had a round tan face and deep gray eyes.

"That's why I invited you. I don't want Lilly to lose you. You're always going to be her family." Jason nodded.

"Grandpa!" Lilly came running from the livingroom and threw her arms around Howard's waist. "We've been waiting for you!"

"You have?" Howard laughed. His mood brightened the second the little girl reached him.

"Pops and I were going to ask if you wanted to throw the football with us." Lilly grinned. She called Liz's father, 'Grandpa' and Jason's father 'Pops' to keep them straight. She just added the grandmothers names. Grandma Linda and Grandma Georgia.

"I think that sounds like a fabulous idea Lilly." Howard nodded.

"I'll see if Linda would like some help in the kitchen." Georgia said as she slipped past Jason.

"I suppose I'll..." Jason started, but quickly realized that no one was in the room with him. "Find something to do." He said lamely. He made his way to the garage and started working on his bike, trying his best to keep a certain blonde out of his mind... and failing miserably.

Finally he gave up and sat on the floor against the wall, arguing with himself in his head. His eyes stared unseeingly across the garage. His arms rested on his knees, with his hands dangling and the wrench still clasped in his fingers.

He wasn't sure how long he'd been sitting there when he decided to call her. Slowly he took out his cell phone and pulled her number up from his contacts list. He held his breath as he waited. One ring... two rings...

"Hi You've reached Katherine Hillard. I'm sorry I'm unavailable to take your call. Please leave me your name, number, and a brief message and I'll return your call as soon as I can. Or you can reach me at my office if this is a case related call. Thank you, and have a great day."

Jason closed his phone without leaving her a message. He realized that her voicemail wouldn't have picked up after only two rings, she'd ignored him. He blew out the breath he'd been holding and stared at his phone. The ball was in her court now, he'd reached out to her. Now it was up to her if she wanted to take his hand.

XXXXXXXXXX

It hadn't been easy, but he'd managed to make a clone of Katherine's phone. He knew every call, every text... everything. Thanks to some help, he'd set it up so that everything hit his phone first with a delay to Kat's real phone. He wasn't surprised when Jason's number appeared on the screen. He quickly hit the ignore to keep it from ringing to the real phone. If he was judging Jason correctly, which he knew he was, he'd realize that he'd been ignored and would skip leaving a message. Even if Jason did go against his prediction, it was easy enough to open Katherine's voicemail and delete the message. The password was easy, especially now that he knew more about her past, Charlie's birth and death day, 0222

The 'Angel Killer' smirked. No wonder Katherine hated the number 2. He let out a small laugh as he leaned back into his chair as he pulled out his own phone and dialed a number. "Hey it's me... yeah, hey can we meet?... Uh, I just missed you, that and I need a little help... Meet me in our spot in an hour. See you there."

He hung up his phone with another smirk. He glanced in the mirror, this disguise was perfect no one would ever recognize him. His dark hair was now a beach blonde and his light blue eyes were a deep brown. He even wore a prosthetic nose and makeup to appear tan. To the average eye, he appeared as nothing more than a tall beach bum.

He had more disguises than just the beach bum, he'd been everywhere, right under Hillard's nose. He'd even been at a couple crime scenes with her. Thanks to the skills he'd been taught by his sister, she'd been the makeup artist for her college theater group, he could transform into anyone that he wanted. He'd even been black once.

"Watch out Hillard, I'm coming for you, soon." He grinned as he slipped on his jacket and

walked out the door.