Fractured Reflections - Chapter 2

Bagram Airfield

Afghanistan Desert August 8, 2002

After getting tossed around by Captain Faulks to determine squad leader, the recruits spent the rest of the day locating their quarters and assembling the room. Each unit had two twin beds, a small closet on each side of the room, and a kitchenette. Each floor had two latrines with showers sectioned off between male and females. Outside of the quarters stood a canteen that soldiers drank beer and shots to familiarize with the unit before hell began the next day.

Fiona left the canteen early to get some shuteye in a room she shared with Marisha Lafferty, who hails from Los Angeles, California. The two shared common ground, which includes a mother dying when they were young and raising a brother as their father works. It was easy to relate to her and Fiona felt they were becoming fast friends, which felt comforting. Since arriving in Afghanistan pre-911, anyone she got close to got new orders or Fiona sent to another unit. Although it was the Army way of life, it was still difficult on her soul to grow fond of someone and they disappear without an explanation.

As Fiona tosses and turns in bed for an hour, she jumps up and paces. It wasn't discomfort as the beds were the coziest thing she slept on in over a year. She just felt restless despite being tired. She looks around and hears nothing but whispering winds. In comparison to living in Hell's Kitchen where there was noise of garbage cans, neighbors fighting, and a frequent siren. The fact no one drops an f-bomb for flavor can make her a little nervous. It might seem strange, but a lifelong New Yorker comes to expect these things. As annoying as it is at night, it was the white noise that people slept to. In other locale, she was able to sleep against the ambient noise of nature's animals and latter didn't bring comfort, but it was it was something.

She sits down to put on her a partial BDU with only her t-shirt. She hopes that a walk would clear her senses and help her sleep. The night air was cooler with 29 celsius, but the air still swelters around her. The base enclosed enough for her to walk around alone, which helps with the safety factor. Since the units were not in sight of the perimeter fence, the recruits were allowed to leave their quarters within reason.

When she steps outside and strolls, she smiles at the setup of the base.

"This would be great for skateboarding." she thought to herself as she examines the surroundings. Once the coast was clear, she ran towards a piling and vaults across the top before breaking into a roll before landing on her feet. She hasn't practiced her parkour tricks in a while, but it gave her a sense of home for a brief few moments. Instead of being overseas with war all around, her mind was in Hell's Kitchen with kids cheering her on as she practice for Parkour championships. She spent an hour in sanctioned areas vaulting and jumping off walls like a cat. She finally takes a short leap off a wall and bends down to catch her breath from the exertion.

Her mind was so focus on home that a single applause caught her off guard. She spun around into a defensive stance before seeing Alex standing there. She immediately went to attention and saluted a superior officer.

Alex laughs and provides the customary return salute.

"At ease, Lieutenant." he grins, but also gave away hints of his accent. While the two did speak before, he spoke with a neutral accent, which made it difficult to sense where he came from. However, the way he talks now sounds familiar. "I'm here on official business, but you may speak freely."

"Official business, huh?" Fiona laughs as she knew the exact reason. She attempts to remain respectful, but he appears before her informally. While there were no rules against this as long as it doesn't lead to conduct unbecoming, it actually help drop her guard. Was the man smiling? His body language was at ease, which help her ease down at well. "I've only been here for a few hours. What laws did I break besides drinking?"

"Officially, there is no alcohol in the canteen." he spoke. Given the Islamic rules about alcohol, there were restrictions on alcohol within Afghanistan. However, Muirfield made an exception for reasons unknown, which was a delight to soldiers who have already seen hell. "There are some that might consider your stunts as vandalism…"

Fio's mouth gapes open. She never hits the building hard enough to cause damage. She was known for exceptionally light feet, which didn't hurt when she went towards champions. However, a wagging eyebrow from Alex gave her a sigh of relief. She would smack him if MPs wouldn't arrest her for striking a superior officer.

"I must say, you are quite good at those stunts. I hardly see any polish on the walls. Otherwise, I might have to scrub those walls, which can get quite wet."

She blinks her eyes at the comment, but brushes it off as a warning. Wetness during the day might be a relief, but the cooler night could harm the body. Therefore, she went towards the compliment.

"Oh, thank you sir." she smiles proudly. "It's called Urban Parkour. Started when I was ten to keep me away from boys and drugs. I've won two trophies for group presentation and eleven individuals."

"I knew I was right about you. Your stealth and ability to scale walls efficiently makes you an asset in this project. With a little more training, you'll be unstoppable."

Fiona folds her arms and gives him an enigmatic grin.

"Oh, I didn't stop you by taking your gun away? I'm pretty sure I did and you never saw it coming."

"Can't say that I did." he smiles as he approaches her. "And that brings me to the reason I am here. I really need my weapon back."

"Well, I was hoping to keep it as a trophy." she spoke teasingly for a moment. She knew that he was responsible for all of his equipment. The government can hold him fiscally responsible if he loses it in a careless fashion. "But I suppose you need it to keep rescuing some privates from caves."

Fiona scans her badge on quarters and opens the door. Alex follows suit and swipes his badge as well. She raises an eyebrow, but actually respect his desire for protocol. In the world of plastic surgery, anyone can be made to look that good. His accent did change from earlier, so who knows who he truly is. She knew someone could try to steal his access card, but she doubts they would get far. As difficult it was for people to get his gun, she doubt he would ease up on an access card that grants entry to restricted areas.

He nods his head and follows her to the elevator. He was back to his man of few words, but she actually likes that. There were people back home who talk the talk, but fail the walk. She could tell by Alex's actions that he was a gentlemen and means what he says. However, he did give her a look over. It wasn't ogling, which pisses her off because it shows absolutely no class. It was a brief examination, which she couldn't complain as she did the same to him. She was suppressing a grin because any acknowledge might lead to a breach in protocol.

Once the doors close, Fiona turns towards him and smiles.

"So, I have been curious." her expression made it clear that she apprehensive in asking. "I 've been thinking that you look like a Native American or Hawaiian."

She leans against the wall and stares at him trying to gage his reaction. She didn't want to offend him. For a brief moment, she also wonders what it would be like to be pressed against the wall by those muscles and kissed furiously. This base was the wrong place for these fantasies or offensive questions.

"It's been bugging you huh?" he leans against the wall and crosses his arms. "Why do you want to know?"

She got a reprieve when the doors open and Alex makes his exit. He had a good stride, but Fio didn't have trouble keeping up with her long legs that bounces off the floor.

"Well, I told I'm curious." she smiles at him. "Your skin tone is dark, but you don't have African American, Hispanic, or Asian dominant features. So Hawaiian?"

"Not even close." he laughs softly. "Do you want to keep guessing?"

Fio sighs and shrugs. She was usually better at figuring people out, but this man was an enigma. She closely examines his features and notices traces of weathering from extreme conditions. She saw similar features from when she went to Alaska for a Parkour competition.

"I want to say Eskimo?" Fio pitches her answer at him.

"The actual term is Inuit, but yes." he spoke with a smile. There wasn't a hint that spoke of offense, which actually shocks her. She has met some hispanics who got all fired up because she got the heritage wrong. Instead, he still had those kind eyes. "So that has been bugging you?"

Fio stops at the question. It wasn't so much the question, but the friendly warm tone it was spoken with. It almost borderlines flirting.

"Are you asking me if I've been thinking of this non-stop since meeting you this morning?" she smiles a little wickedly and leans against the wall.

"Well, you brought the subject up." he shrugs and chuckles. "I'm almost surprise you didn't mention middle eastern."

Alex realize almost too late that he had subconsciously move closer to her. He was well within her personal space, but Fiona was not subconsciously complaining. The slight touch of his rippling muscles against her shirt teases her for a moment before she regains her senses.

"I guess I did." Fiona giggles as she gives off a snort, which amuses Alex. "But I haven't been thinking about this all day. I got duties, you know. It was an observation, that is all."

"Were one of these duties observing me all day?" he teases her.

"You're really full of yourself." she laughs incredulously. She could get offended like an uppity bitch and report him to command. She wouldn't because she likes him. However, there wasn't anything sexually harassing about his comments, but rather the same jokes he would give his peers. "You really think I haven't done anything else today?"

"Since the order was to R&R until training exercises, I know you haven't done much since taking my weapon from me. Speaking of which." he grins as he holds out his hand. "Can I have it back, please?"

Fiona wrinkles her nose sulking before smiling again.

"Wait right here." she momentarily enters her room and returns with the MP5. She hands in back in a responsible fashion. "I cleaned it for you just to show there aren't any hard feelings. Borrowed a maintenance guide and all that."

"Thank you." he said shouldering his weapon and reaches into his pocket. He pulls out a neckchain with 9MM bullet with a hole drilled through it. There was a totem etch on the shell, which Fiona didn't readily recognize. He hands it to her. "There is no official medal for successfully taking my weapon from me, so here is the next best thing."

"How long have you been carrying this?" she said as she examines it. "It isn't like you would hand it out to anybody."

"Actually made it this afternoon when you weren't observing me. The totems are spirit guides that will watch out for you"

Fiona smiles and puts it around her neck.

"Thank you." she wasn't sure what to say or do.

"You're welcome." he takes a step back. "Good night, Lieutenant."

He turns around and walks towards the elevator.

"Captain." she spoke again and he turns around.

"Yes?" He look at her expectantly.

"I want to apologize for my actions this morning. It wasn't appropriate." she smiles apologetically. "I meant no disrespect."

Alex tilts his head and walks towards her.

"Well, it was the first time someone flashed me to finish their objectives, but that is what counts. The object was to take the weapon my weapon away, which many have failed. You assessed the situation and took a unique approach. Unconventional, but the type of thinking that saves lives. It was brilliant."

Fiona was almost blushing.

"Thank you, sir."

Alex just wants to tell her to call him by his first name, but it was against protocols. A personal relationship with a lower ranking officer was inappropriate and grounds for court martials. Instead, he nods politely and said good night once again before walking towards the building. He was making every effort not to turn around, which would admit his attraction to her. The days were going to be difficult.

Fiona stood there smitten as she admires his muscular frame. He and Keller had equally handsome looks, but Alex's fierceness and soft spoken nature makes her wonder how deep his still waters ran.

"Goodnight Alex." she whispers without realizing that she called him by his first name instead of last name and rank. She slinks in the room and gets cozy into the bed. The Colonel promised hell and fury for training, so some sleep was advised.

Present Day

New York City, SoHo District

As Vincent walks past her, Cat senses something is off. There was no pulling her into his arms and kissing her. There wasn't even a greeting or joke. He just drift past her with his eyes distant. He brushed it off as a bad night at the hospital. Cat knew what those nights were like. She had days at the precinct that had her questioning humanity. However, something seemed different than his answer. Between war overseas and at home, a rough night should pale in comparison. Something else was the matter.

He didn't sleep that night or the next. Whenever Cat woke up in an empty bed, she found him browsing the internet. He claimed he was researching a case at the hospital. He had not outright lied to her, but he had omitted portions of the story for her safety in the past. She was worried he was doing it again, but she didn't want to push him too much.

The third night was the breaking point. The clock said 2:48 in the morning, which she sighs at. She rips herself from cozy bed and puts on her robe.

"Enough of this shit." she grumbles before stomping towards the living room. She gets a view of Vincent watching TV in his boxers. She didn't mind the view except for his obsessive munching on Cheetos. The dust residue on his chest made her want to hurl whatever they had for dinner. She walks in front of the TV and crosses her arms.

"You're awake again?" she stares at him. Despite how sexy she looks with her chocolate flowing hair on her arms and tank top/lounge pants combo, he could tell she was crossed. "This is three nights in a row. If you don't sleep, I don't sleep. What the hell is going on?"

Vincent knew he was in trouble by her tone, so he attempts to laugh it off.

"It's nothing, babe. Just a little insomnia. Go back to sleep so we are not both awake." he said flashing his disarming grin before going back to Cheetos. She groans in disgust.

"Bullshit!" she says as she grabs the bag and remote from him. "This thing has gone on long enough. We haven't slept in three days! You go to work and you come home like you spent the entire shift treating every possible patient in New York. This thing is not healthy and I am not even the doctor in this relationship!" she said before looking at the bag. "You don't even like Cheetos!"

Vincent leans forward and shrugs.

"Well, we are out of pretzels." he attempts to look cute to soften her anger, but her glare gave him his answer. "You're incredibly sexy when you're angry. Has anybody told you that? You got this little wrinkle in your nose."

Cat threw the bag at him with full force, which spilt quite a few Cheetos on him and the couch. He looks stunned at the floor and stares right back at Cat.

"Hey!" she shouts incredulously as he rubs his forehead. "What the hell?"

"Ok,this is what going to happen." she spoke as she pulls him off the couch and directs him to the bathroom. "You are going to shower to get all that Saliva-Cheetos dust off you. Seriously, it is gross. When you are nice and clean, we are going to talk about this."

Vincent tries to protest, but Cat pushes him towards the bathroom.

"Go now!"

"Yes, dear." Vince groans and shuts the door. When she got into the "Pushing Vincent" mood, there was no arguing with her.

Moments later, Vincent emerges from the shower clean and relaxed. However, the dark circles existing in his eyes still troubled Cat. He crashes on the couch and looks at Cat with a smile.

"Happy?"

"Well, I am happy you are nice and clean." she giggles as she strokes his face. "But we need to talk about what is going on so we can both get some sleep." she stares hard at him. "What is going on?"

Vincent closes his eyes and deeply sighs before shaking his head.

"I don't know." he gravely answers before looking back at her. "And I don't have the foggiest idea how to explain it."

Cat nods and sits beside him, running her fingers through his hair.

"Just try. Maybe we can figure this out together." she spoke softly and gave a half smile.

"Let me put it this way." he speaks before pausing for a moment. "Have you ever gone to a crime scene and had a feeling you were missing something? A piece of evidence was right there and you gut tells you this, but you don't have a clue what or where it is?"

Cat nods.

"Yes," she looks at him with thoughtful silence before softly smiling. "Like you know if you had that information, you could break the case wide open."

Vincent sighs in relief at Cat's answer. He felt she understood his dilemma and it relaxes him more.

"That's exactly it! It is like your mind won't allow you to see it; something deep down is keeping it from revealing itself." he stood and paces as he exhales loudly. "Ok, now think of that without any of the physical elements involved."

Any understanding Cat may of had was lost at that last statement.

"I'm not sure I'm following you." she stands up to walk towards him and caress his shoulders. Her jubilant dark eyes stares into his. "Baby, just tell me what this is about."

Without any warning, a deep guttural growl escaped his lips. Cat's eyes flashes open in surprise since it was the least of her expectations. She flinched as his hands grew tighter around her arms and his nails embedded into her skin. The soft yellow eyes made a stark contrast in the dark room and his face was a mass of malevolent anger. No matter how many times she has seen him beast-out, it was never anything predictable. It was always a horror show in the making because it was hard to tell where on the primal line he was.

She knew he loved her and that he would never intentionally hurt her. The intentionally part was the key word because he does not always control himself and havoc ensues. Cat releases his shoulder steps back. Despite them being married, she knew when to back away. If he felt threatened, it would create a difficulty in calming down.

She passively put her hands up to signal his primal brain she is not a threat. Over the years, she gotten to know the Jekyll and Hyde of Vincent Keller. She has also gotten insight how his primal brain works and how to not provoke it.

"Vincent, baby. Please stop." she maintain her calmness. In order to implore him, she cannot be frantic. It would only excite the beast in him if he saw her as a prey. "You need to get this under control. Look at me."

Despite her best effort, anxiety still hit her voice. After seeing how Liam was a ruthless killer, it wasn't a stretch to think that one wrong move can send Vincent over that edge.

"Vincent, look at me. Control it! You cannot allow it to control you!"

Vincent turns towards her with his hideous alter ego staring at her. He slowly moves towards her as if he was trying to make a kill.

"Catherine, get out of here!" Vincent shouted. As much as she enjoy cat and mouse in the bedroom, she could tell this was not one of those times. However, Vincent warning her made her feel that he was still there.

"No, Vincent!" she crosses her arms at him. "You've worked hard to control this, so you are going to fight it!"

He responds with a loud growl that sends saliva flying towards her. Cat covers her face to protect against the flying fluids. When the growling stops, she lowers her arms and groans at the saliva dripping from her skin.

"God Dammit!" she shouts.

Vincent cocks his head and stares at Cat to show his bewilderment at the outburst. He slowly relaxes until he was himself. Everything but the familiar coppery smell of blood.

Cat grabs a towel from the bedroom and wipes herself off. She shakes her head at him.

"I don't want your spit all over me!" she shouts and throws the towel at him before realizing something was off. "Vincent! You're bleeding."

Vincent could tell from the look of horror on her face this nosebleed was not simple. It was starting to come from his ears and nose in significant quantities

"Vincent, my god!" she shouts as she runs to grab the tissues. "You got to tell me what is going on."

Vincent lays back on the couch and scoffs as Cat nurses his nose and ears.

"It's not like I don't want to tell you." he stares down and sighs. "How can I explain it if I don't understand it myself?"

Cat scoots in and takes his hand. She caresses it as he softly stares at him.

"Let's go back to the beginning. When did this all start and what brought it on?."

Vincent leans back as closes his eyes.

"Four days ago, a patient came through the ER. Young guy, mid to late 20's, brutally beaten. We rushed to stabilize him before getting surgery involved. After that, they operated on him for seven hours. It was awful. Three ribs with one puncturing his lung causing it to collapse. Multiple fractures and swelling all over the place. " he runs his hands through his hair. "He's stable for the moment, but that can change at any moment. Whoever did this, fucked him up real good."

Cat listens to him, but gets perplexed as he went on.

"Vincent." she giggles and shrugs. "This is a day in the life of Dr. Vincent Keller in New York. How is this relevant?"

"I'm getting there." he spoke in a manner that he was building up the story. "I checked on him when I did my rounds the next day. The chart state his name is Jacob Conner Jr. I never met him or anyone with that name before, but that name has been raising red flags in my head. Something I am supposed to know with my own life depending on it and it is not coming in."

Cat moves closer to him and cups his hands as she senses his agitation. He didn't seem in danger of going into Beast mode again, but it was best to help him keep calm.

"I'm supposed to see something in the picture and I can feel it right there. All I have to do is remember it."

"Vincent, you have to calm down. Your anxiety is taking control of you and going Shrek is not going to help matters. Relax and let it come to you." she caresses his face and leans close to him.

"I know." he says leaning back and taking a deep breath. Cat's words were catching up to him when he shifts towards her with a smile. "Shrek? Did you really just call me Shrek?" he gives a small chuckle at the mention of the cartoon.

"Well, you kind of look just like him when you go all beast on me." she smiles and gently kisses his lips.

"Great, just great." Vincent grumbles between kisses. "Even at my worse, you find a way to make me lovable."

"Well…" Cat smiles as she slides her hands under his shirt and teases his skin. "If you are Shrek, that makes me Princess Fiona." she leans to kiss him but he moves away suddenly. His entire mood went from playful to serious in a split second.

"What did you say?" he whispers unsure of what he felt.

"Princess Fiona." smiles tentatively and bewildered by his response. "You know, the Princess who he finds out is an ogre…"

Vincent places his hands over face and sighs with vexation.

"Sweetie, I know who Princess Fiona is. But…" he starts as he stands up. However, he begins to swoon and grabs a wall to steady himself. Blood starts to flow through his nose and he grabs his head with both hands. He screams in anguish as Cat bolts up towards him.

"Vincent?" she tries to reach him as she moves around. "Oh god! Vincent!?"

The only benefit of a doubt is that police training gave her decent upper body strength. Cat has fond memories of one of Tess' first remarks towards her was about her lacking in that department. Her sarcastic wit as Cat work the pullups during Police Academy gave her happy memories. It also gave her the ability to lug her husband to bed.

She starts to clean him up while he groans.

"Babe, I'm fine" he protests and wipes the blood from his nose. "It is just a sleep deprivation. And the nosebleeds…" a blood curdling scream interrupted his sentence as a stream of blood flows from his ear this time.

"Vincent, stop self-diagnosing! You're clearly not fine! People who feel fine don't have projectile blood coming from their nose and ears." she scolds him as she lays him on the bed. She runs to the kitchen to get a damp cloth and returns. "You are to lay down for the rest of the night! No moving! None at all!"

"Oh jesus." he snarls like a wounded animal. "Would you stop fussing over me?!"

"No! You married me because I will fuss over you among other reasons!" she shakes her head as tears begin to form. She tried to keep the conversation light that moment, but it was taking a strain on her. "Vincent, you're scaring me! You're beasting out and you can't curb your shifts after you've worked so hard to take control of it. Whatever this is…"

She didn't finish her sentence when Vincent growls fiercely and runs towards the bathroom leaving a trail of blood. Cat jumps up and follows him cautious. She enters to see Vincent sitting on a toilet with rubber hose around his arm and injecting a syringe into his arm.

She had seen that scenario too many times as a cop. A deadbeat who does something horrible for a heroin fix. It was strange that Cat's mind shifts to that because she always thought Vincent was better than that.

"What the hell are you doing?" she yells out with her arms crossed. If he was having bleeding issues, heroin was not going to help.

Vincent turns around and shows a small bottle of yellow liquid. It was not any substance she has seen on the market, but she did recognize it.

"Fixing this before I have a cerebral hemorrhage." he speaks as he places the bottle closer to her and pulls the tubing off. "It is the serum JT made from Liam's blood. What did you think I was doing?"

Cat stood there embarrassed at what she thought it was. The lack of sleep had made her eyes miss the color of the syringe and thought the worst. Vincent leans back as the shift back to normal. She was thanking god it worked, but it was a crap shoot. Vincent's color was returning to normal and bouncing back to his normal grumpiness.

She jumps into his laps and wraps his arms around him. Relieved that the serum had worked and not sent him over the edge. She had lost enough people in her life. She didn't need to lose Vincent.

"Thank god."

Vincent embraces her into his arms and holds her close. He caress his wife's hair and snuggles her into his strong arms. They both stand up when Cat surprises him with a smack to the face. The loveydovey moment was gone for the moment.

""Hey." he shouts as he rubs his jawbone. "What the hell was that for?"

"For not clueing me in. You just came in and shoot yourself up with some shit you didn't know would work? What if it didn't? And when did you get that stuff? You know what it looked like!?"

"But it did work." he gave a sensuous grin and kisses her neck. He knew her mind was frantic with all the crap in the past. He slides his hands under her night shirt to give her something more pleasant to think about.

"But what if it didn't?" Cat spoke knowing it was a losing battle against the Keller charm. Why did she has to fall in love with such a charmer like him. Things get scary and he charms her into everything is ok. She wasn't about to let him have the last word. "You know, you can really be…"

"But it did." he cuts her off before engulfing her lips with his own. She surrenders to her passion and softly kisses him before it turns fierce. She pulls his shirt off and slid her fingers over his skin. He moans softly as her fingers strokes his lean chest before reaching lower to unbutton his jeans.

Burying his face in her neck, Vincent's hands slid up the back of her nightshirt to massage her bare back as she kissed his neck. Her hands slipped into his jeans as Vincent stepped back for a moment to pull off her nightshirt shirt and step out of his pants before pulling her into his arms again, enjoying the feel of his skin against hers. They kissed again, more hungrily than before as his hands slid down her back, cupping her buttocks and pressing her hips against his.

Catherine pulled her head away from his for a moment, staring into his eyes. She leaned against him, kissing his neck, as she slid down. Vincent closed his eyes as she kissed his chest, then stomach before moving further down, her lips and tongue making him gasp with pleasure. He grasped her shoulder with one hand, wrapping his fingers in her hair with the other, moaning as her mouth and tongue massaged his most sensitive part. Breathing heavily, he pressed on her shoulder and head, guiding her lips back up to his own, pressing himself against her as they stumbled towards the bed falling across it, him lying on top of her with her legs around his waist. Vincent's lips traveled down her neck to her chest and breasts, cupping them in his hands while he kissed and teased them. He had always loved that they were perfect; soft, rounded, supple and sensitive to his touch and how perfectly they fit in his hands.

He slid his hands down further, pulling off her underwear before letting one hand slide between her legs. He heard her gasp and felt her arch her back underneath him as his fingers entered her and moved in and out of her body. Vincent gasped as her hand stroked him, feeling his body throb as her fingers glided across him teasingly. He allowed his mouth to travel down her breasts to her belly, hearing her breath quicken as his fingers moved faster inside of her. As his mouth slid down her belly, to join his hands, Catherine arched her back as though being pulled by the heavens, moaning loudly as she clutched the sheets beneath her. Vincent could hear her heart pounding loudly in his sensitive ears, and the sounds of her nails clawing at the silken fabric of the sheets as his tongue probed and teased her. He heard her breathing heavily between moans of pleasure, his hands grasping her hips, massaging her thighs. When she cried out and started to shake, he slid his body up hers, his mouth moving across her belly, her breasts, her neck before joining hers, kissing her deeply. They moaned together as he entered her, he could feel her legs tighten around his him. Her fingers dug into his back as he slowly began to rock back and forth on top of her, enjoying the sensation of her body grasping his, urging him on as she moved with him. They moved together slowly, for a few moments, savoring the feeling of their bodies together.

They began to move faster, crying out with pleasure at each thrust. Catherine moaned even louder and began to tremble underneath Vincent, her fingers grasping at his hips. Moments after she began to orgasm, Vincent did the same, moaning with a final aching thrust as he bent his head into her shoulder, almost as if in prayer, whispering unintelligible words of devotion as Catherine rested her head on his shoulder, her eyes closed, her face peaceful and calm.

They lay like that together, neither moving for a few minutes, neither of them saying a word as they held each other, listening to their pounding hearts slow and their breathing return to normal. Finally Vincent rolled onto his side, pulling Catherine with him, their arms still wrapped around another, their foreheads touching as they stared into each other's eyes. As he lay beside her, feeling her leg thrown across his hip, her foot sliding sensuously up and down the back of his calf, Vincent smiled at her as his eyes began to flutter shut.

"I love you, Catherine." He whispered softly while allowing his finger to trace her soft lips.

A smile spread across Catherine's lips as she stared into his own eyes.

"I love you, Vincent." She murmured faintly as her own eyes fluttered shut. "But I want you to call JT in the morning..."

She was answered by low, rumbled, breathing as Vincent had fallen into a deep sleep.

As Vincent slept,he tossed and turned while a flashes of light pulsed through his head.

"Who are you?" He whispers aloud and wakes Cat up. She sits up and rubs her eyes at the sight. Vincent rarely talks in his sleep. Additionally, the way he was thrashing around with desperation in his voice guaranteed she wasn't sleeping tonight either. She climbs out of bed to grab a notepad and pen to record his mumblings. She sat beside him with concern in her eyes. She has seen him in different states, which includes fugue. This one was entirely new to her.

As Vincent dreams, fractured images try to reconcile memories that had been suppressed. Each fleeting memory involves a young woman, which brought recognition. There were Lieutenant bars on her uniform with similar emblems. It had to be someone he served with in Afghanistan, but how can he forget her? Despite a majority of memories were serious, there were moments when she had a smile that brought warmth and comfort through a turbulent storm. Her pretty face was offset by light green eyes that reminds him of a cat he once had if he also had long reddish black hair. Why was she nearly blank in his mind? Was she a former lover or a friend?

As more familiarity gained ground, the memory starts to come to life. Insurgents were opening fire on them with mortars and rifle fire. Their team manages to find cover behind boulders, but the shelling was sending debris in their direction. He turns towards a nearby person.

"Here! Let's take cover in here until the bombings stop." he speaks to nearby person.

"No! I'm not going in there!" A female voice answers with anxiety filling her. "I can't do it Vince! I'll freak out!"

Vincent stops moving and turns to stare at the unseen person in disbelief.

"Are you crazy?" He scowls at her staggering. "Conner, there are mortars blasting all over the place. If we don't take cover, our guts are going to be splattered all over these rocks!"

Despite her not becoming clearly visible to him, he knew the voice. Despite being tear filled, it had that Hell's Kitchen cadence he knows well.

"Please, I'm serious. I can't handle small spaces." her terrified voice echoed. "You go right ahead and I'll just take my chances."

It was rare for Fio to admit fear. He has seen her scale and jump place with a 300 foot drop without a second thought. To see her shaking and close to tears was unnerving.

At that moment, the mortars increase it intensity, but not before Vincent pulls her into the caves.

"Negative Conner! I'm not leaving you out there, Fio! If anything happens to you it's on me and I'm not willing to live with that."

His dreams goes blank for a moment and his subconscious searches.

"Fio." Vincent whispers in his sleep. "No…you can't stay out here."

Cat blinks at the mention of the name Fio wondering if it was a man or woman he was dreaming of.

The memories return to his dream as it starts forming images again. He has Fio in his arms offering reassurance. It was more a platonic hug that everyone needs in time of stress.

Conner buries her head into his chest as tears fall down.

"If you ever tell anybody you saw me like this…." He began to recognize the woman more as her light green eyes and fair skin became clearer. Her hair has fallen out of bun due to fighting, which now has sweat and dirt dripping into already muddled face.

Vincent gives his trademark laugh and smiles has he holds her close.

"I won't tell a soul." he says before leading her deeper into the cavern. "As much you don't want to be outside, I'm terrified of loud noises. So how about we keep each other's secret. Deal?"

The girl raises an eyebrow suspiciously as she backs out of his arms.

"No blackmail...at any time? Right, Vinny?" she holds out her hand grinning wryly as she relaxes.

"You got yourself a deal, Fiona." He scowls as she knew he hated to be called Vinny as much as she hated to be called her full first name.

Cat watches him relax a little more, but still doesn't stop the concern.

"Fiona." He whispers in his sleep. "Don't call me Vinny!"

His voice came across louder as Cat furrows her brow writing down his words.

"And you are going to have some splainin to do about this Fiona when you wake up." She whispers gruffly. "And I will call you Vinny for the rest of your life just to piss you off if you are dreaming about an old girlfriend!"

Continuing to dream, Vincent smiles at Fiona.

"Well, this isn't so bad, is it." He gave her a gentle squeeze of the shoulder then furrows his brow as another scatter of bullets echoed through the caves causing Vincent to place his hands over his ears. "I take that back…this is just hell!"

He shouted then leaned over looking at Fio's radar device.

"Any walkers in the area?"

"Negative." She replied as she continued to study the blips on the screen. The screen began to fade in and out adding to Fio's already raging anxiety.

"FUCK!" She shouted and hit the unit along its side with her palm, cursing with every slap.

Vincent's eyes grew wide hearing the words coming out of her.

"And you kiss your mother with that mouth?" He jested attempting to lighten the moment.

"Eat my shorts, Keller." She retorts without lifting her eyes from trying to repair the device. "God, I wish my brother was here."

"Because you miss him or because he can fix stuff?"

"Both." She flashes a smile at him then reached into her pack and pulled out a photo of a girl who was 11 or 12 holding onto a boy who was 5 or 6. "That's the Jakester." She giggles as she passed the photo to him. "He has been a techno geek since he came out of womb. He can fix just about anything. And now he is 16 and could probably hack into the pentagon if he didn't fear prison." She rolls her eyes. "He thinks he's too pretty." She grinned. "And he is."

Vincent took the photo from her and studied it for a moment.

"Yeah, he looks like he had the market on the toddler chick scene. Cute kid." He stares at her and back at the photo for a moment. "Was there ever a time when you weren't smoking hot?"

Fio stops working for a moment then looks up at him repugnantly.

"Holy Crap Keller! I was 12! What is wrong with you?" She shook her head as she looks back at the screen. "Pedophile!" She muttered playfully under her breath as Vincent burst out laughing.

"Ok! That is NOT how I meant it and you know it!" Vincent attempts to back-pedal out realizing how it sounded. "But even for a 12-year-old, you knew even then how to make those green eyes work for you."

She grimaces and shudders.

"Ok, I think this would be an ideal time for an abrupt subject change since this one is about to land you in hell. "

From the first day he had met her on the airstrip, Vincent had formed a deep friendship with Conner. At first sighting, Vincent was interested because of her good looks alone; but as time went on, she became so much more to him; as an early riser, Vincent was always up at the crack of dawn. Each morning Fiona was up before anybody in the unit checking with Col Phillips and Cpt Faulks for enemy activity in the area and what training exercises she should brief the team with over breakfast. Even though Vincent didn't have leadership responsibilities within the squad, Fiona often confides in him with her concerns about the proximity of the Taliban hostiles. Additionally, she had her reservations about Muirfield and felt they didn't get the full truth on the injections and side effects. Vincent reassures her that the medical staff states the injections are safe and to stop worrying.

In hindsight, he wishes he took heed to those concerns.

"Muirfield…don't trust." He mumbles in his sleep.

Cat looks up from her writing as though an alarm had been set off by hearing those words again.

"Muirfield." She whispers to herself as she picked up her phone frantically typing out a text to JT.

Cat – JT I need you to look at Vincent – URGENT

JT – How urgent? Get over her right now urgent? Go back to bed and finish your REM cycle JT and come over after you are well rested urgent?

Cat – URGENT! Like in get your ass over here yesterday, JT! I'll explain in detail when you get here.

JT – On my way.

As Vincent continues to dream, his last image of Fiona Conner was standing outside the canteen where their squad spent much of their time when they weren't training or in battle with enemy. The moment brought to mind many times Fiona had left to return to her quarters; however this memory was linked to an event that instilled a sense of foreboding as she walked away. She begins to fade from his sight.

"Fiona…don't go…don't go Fiona…" His voice grew louder and more anxious. "FIONA NO!"

He sat straight up in bed and screamed as tears streamed down his face.

"Vincent." Cat threw her phone onto the dresser and went to hold him as he sobbed. "Baby…it's ok…you're here with me…it's ok."

She strokes his hair and face. Tears ran down her own face; she had never seen him this way and it frighten her.

"I didn't listen to you! Fiona! Why didn't I listen?" Vincent was hyperventilating as Cat attempted to calm him.

Placing her hands on his shoulder, Cat looked into his eyes.

"Vincent…baby…I need you to calm down. Whatever happened was a long time ago. You are here with me now. Stay with me…"

Vincent's face twisted into a terrifying snarl as he pushes Cat backwards onto the pillows then stood up. He stares at Cat for a moment who stared back with horrified eyes before emitting a resonating growl as he ran for the door.

"Vincent! NO!" She cries out as she stood up to run after him.

Before Vincent could get through the door, he was met by JT. JT didn't hesitate to fire tranq darts into each of his legs.

"Sorry buddy, but you aren't going anywhere."

Vincent looks up at JT as he fell to the floor.

"You son of a bitch." He groans as he fell into a deep sleep.

JT looks at Cat puzzled by the current state of affairs.

"What in the hell kind of sex are you two having?" He shouted incredulously.

Cat tilts her head at JT and throws a pillow at him.

End of Chapter 2