A/N: Thank you so much for tagging along! The last chapter starts...NOW!

After an uneventful but cool ride up the stairway-turned-escalator, the entire group was deposited on the third floor.

"I'm having one of those in my first mansion," James said somewhat deliriously. Penny, who was supporting part of his weight, just smiled at him. "But I'm going to put cool colors on the walls, so it's like moving up into the clouds. Like a sunset. But sparkly. It's gonna' be so rad."

"James? Did you get another shot?" Kendall eyed him suspiciously.

"I'll never tell," he said, fading into a hum that sounded something like the Barney theme song.

"That's a yes."

"At least he's still upright," Penny said positively.

"And the media room...it's gonna' have allllll my movies in it," James continued.

"And mine," Carlos chimed in, "'cause I'm gonna' be a stuntman."

"Yep. Of course I have my best buddy's movies, too. And a trophy case for Kendall's...like hockey cups and MVP awards."

"Oh, so I've stopped singing by then?" Kendall raised an eyebrow at James. "And I store my trophies at your place?"

"Where else are you going to put them? You're going to be living out of a suitcase for five or...six years," James huffed as they reached the center of the hallway. "Pro players move around all the time. You'll come crash at my place. All the time. Plenty of space. You can have your own room if you want. Or a wing. And an arcade. And a dance-off stage where I will always win."

"Only if it's rigged," Carlos said automatically.

"A wing of my own?" Kendall had paused, touched that James had dreams for him as well. "I'll take it."

"Wait," Carlos said, stopping short. "Does this look like the first floor to anyone else? I'm having serious deja voodoo." The long hallway had dark paneling, many doors up and down the space and occasional furniture. It just lacked the enormously high ceilings and the atrocious, modified art.

Logan wasn't there to correct Carlos, so Kendall did it. "It's voodoo. And yeah. We're just missing Moon's gigantic butt."

"Surely he has some atrocious art around here somewhere," Penny murmured.

"Oh, he does," Catgirl said, grinning as they approached a small, ornately framed portrait on the wall.

"Is that the Mona Lisa?" Kendall said incredulously as they drew closer to a small framed painting. "How did he...ohhhhh."

"Is that Moon as a girl?" Carlos hooted in laughter. It was, indeed, Moon's slightly smiling face positioned where the noblewoman's beatific face was normally set. "Why is he so weird?"

"Not even his therapist could explain that. This is actually one of his favorites. You can tell because it hides this entrance." Catgirl said, twisting the frame to the side. A section of the wall sprang back, revealing a passageway. The sound of distant meows and soft music drifted out. "Welcome to the Cat Haven."

She led the way into a fifteen foot-long tunnel filled with warm air and the pungent smell of catnip. Halfway through there were windows built into the wall and everyone stopped to peer through them into the wonderland of cats.

"Oh, look at them!" Penny found herself saying in wonder, though all the boys seemed struck dumb at the sight. The viewing window was a hollow, plastic semi-circle that held a large, soft cat bed with a mama cat and a squirming pile of tiny kittens.

"They have kittens!" Carlos smushed his face into the plastic.

Everyone crowded around the window and made silly noises at the adorable, wee things. They didn't even have their eyes open yet and their tiny, shaking paws could barely hold them up as they searched endlessly for the perfect position against their mother's warm belly.

"It gets better," Catgirl assured them with a happy smile. "Come on!"

Carlos darted right behind her and was the first to make it into the room ahead. "There's sooooo many, guys! Dude!So awesome...."

"I'll be there in a minute," James answered as Penny helped him along. "Some people can't go that fast."

"You're doing so well, darling," she whispered. James sighed. Every step was a fight. The pain of his many cuts plus pain meds were exhausting his resources completely.

"Kitties!" Carlos' voice called out ahead of them.

"James?" Kendall had appeared back at the mouth of the tunnel, taking in his posture and the lack of color in his face. When James shook his head minutely, Kendall smiled at him.

"You're gonna' love this. It's totally worth the walk."

James managed a smile and moved forward with Penny's help. The vest was helping, keeping him warm but the rest of him was wet and cold. Everyone was cold and wet, of course, except for the girls who wore badass, totally waterproof gear. That was something else he would have when he was a millionaire. A really cool Bandanna Man costume that was bulletproof and waterproof and acid-proof. It would be so cool.

As he stepped into the room, the warm air felt delicious on his skin. "Room" wasn't quite the word for the two-story suite like this - an enormous space with actual small trees and grassy hills and a...creek? The ceiling overhead was a perfect projection of the sky outside, on what must have been the biggest screen James had ever seen. The trees were probably in planters under those mounds of carpet and cloth, but it looked magical and soft and welcoming and brilliant. And everywhere, cats of all kinds lolloped about happily.

"Isn't this crazy," Kendall said with a huge smile, looking a lot like 10-year-old Kendall on a freshly-swept ice rink.

A few cats were hunting, crouched down and poised to pounce on other cats. Other were chasing small red dots up the hills and back down. Some drank from the creek while others attended to the milk waterfall in one corner. It must have been good milk, as there were quite a few contented cats lazing about. There was a row of mirrors where some cats were transfixed, admiring and then attacking their reflections. There was a soft corner for napping with many cats cuddling together in a happily exhausted pile.

"This is my favorite part," Catgirl said as she walked over to the separate area. A sign read "Mama Row" above the row of large wooden cat houses with glassed windows. The houses were hinged and could be opened from the outside. Through the windows, you could catch glimpses of a Mama cat and tiny baby kittens.

"Those are for the mama cats who want to hide their kittens. Instinct is a powerful thing. But that way the workers can take care of them if need be."

"There are workers," Carlos repeated in surprise.

"There are five full-time workers in Cat Haven, including a vet and two groomers plus two janitors. Sure, the kitty litter room is easy to clean and refill, but it has to be done every day. And that milk waterfall can go bad if they don't watch it carefully."

Now Kendall noticed that the cats had collars and tags on them and looked well-cared for. The whole room was smart, well-run and definitely fun. For the first time, Moon's fortune didn't make Kendall angry.

"Wow..." Carlos kept turning in a circle. "Can I hold one? Can I hold two? But wait- I'm wet! Kitties hate getting wet!"

"There are blankets in the baskets over here. Just wrap up and sit down. I'll bring you one."

James was already moving to sit in one of the clean soft recliners that lined the wall. Penny grabbed a blanket to set over his wet, cold jeans and he sank back with a sigh.

"Do we have time for this?" Penny asked Kendall.

"This is actually part of the plan. Everyone needs to bond with a cat."

"I love it when what I want to do is part of the plan anyway," James said happily. "Can I have a kitten?"

Catgirl showed her expertise right away, choosing kittens who were a little older than the first ones they saw. These striped tan and white cuties had white faces and paws and tummies. She piled three into James' arms and stepped back with a smile.

James gazed down at their little faces with awe, growing a bit teary-eyed. How could something so tiny be alive? And how could their tiny mouths be making such shrill sounds? They were so cute that it hurt to look at them.

The kittens grew quiet as they explored the expanse of James' arms and hands and chest with jerky, clumsy movements. The biggest one was not satisfied and he put his front paws on James' chest and mewled right up at his face.

"Hey, little guy," James said in a watery voice, "what are you so angry about? Aren't I soft?" In reply, the little kitten gripped James' warm vest and started climbing. "Oh, okay. Penny- don't let him fall." James couldn't move his arms since the other two were still toddling all up and down his forearms.

Penny held her hands close, but the kitten didn't need any help. Those tiny claws were sharp and in no time, he was up, perched on James' shoulder and looking around in confusion. "What are you trying to find, little guy," James asked, staring at the little face so close to his own.

The kitten gave a soft cry and padded toward James' voice. Eventually it teetered and tottered its way over and off the vest, nosing along until he found the dip of James' collar bone. There, he decided, was the perfect place. He dug in his little claws and kneaded James' skin a few times. James winced, but it was totally worth it when the little guy curled up and laid his tiny head against James' neck. So much trust! James tried not to move a muscle.

"Dear little thing," Penny said, petting him gently. "He's only a little bit of fluff."

"I love him so much," James admitted, feeling a pang that meant he'd do just about anything to protect this little guy.

"He really likes you," Penny said with a smile.

"I think he was just too tired to keep being angry. The other ones like me better." They had been perfectly happy with the hills and valleys of James' arms and were settling down in the crook of his elbow while pawing lightly at each other. Slowly, they grew still.

"Why do animals always go to sleep on you?" Kendall smiled as he knelt by James, petting the two balls of fluff in his elbow.

"I guess I'm just boring," James said with a sigh and a happy light in his eyes.

"Ha," Kendall had to say in response.

"Double ha," echoed Carlos.

"Thanks, guys," James murmured. "Aw, are you purring?" he said as he rubbed a finger over the head of the one tucked against his side.

"I don't think I'm boring enough, guys - help!" Carlos wailed as he grabbed at a kitten darting over his knee. "No, no, Jerry, you have to stay here." He deposited Jerry on top of the other two, hoping to get them to start playing together. Jerry obligingly hopped on to the smaller, slower kitten Carlos had named Tina. She immediately rolled over and pawed at his face. The third kitten finally made it over the blanket hill of Carlos' shoe and rolled over to the outside. "No, Spring Roll, you have to stay with me," he said as he picked the little fluff ball up and put him back in the circle of his criss-crossed legs.

"Spring Roll," Kendall asked. "Why did you name him that?"

"Because he keeps bouncing and rolling over and so...I don't know. Maybe I'm hungry?"

"No eating the kittens," Catgirl said as she scooped up Spring Roll.

Carlos looked distressed. "How am I supposed to bond with them when they keep running away?"

"I'll try to find you some sleepy ones. These guys are too busy."

Kendall watched Catgirl efficiently search the rooms. "So this isn't your first time here."

"Surprised? My name is Catgirl," she said as she deposited a sleepy gray and white striped kitten in Carlos' arms and took away the three active ones.

"Aw...I'm going to call you Mandy," Carlos said immediately.

"Much better," Kendall said.

"Are those real hamsters in the hamster balls," James had to ask, watching a red clear plastic ball being chased by two cats.

"Fakes. But the kitties can't tell the difference."

James nodded then looked down at his comfortable kitties. Between the vest and the blanket and the three warm bodies resting on him, he felt peaceful even though the pain was a dulled but wearying constant. He watched Kendall call the girls over, and thought they were probably talking about something important. But his body was overloaded and exhaustion was dragging him down. They would figure everything out without him.

With a sigh, James let his head rest on the back of the chair and drifted away in a haze of medicated pain.

"Logan. We had to go upstairs because that's where the Cat Room is," Kendall said with as much patience as he could scrape together. "We're letting James rest and we'll be on our way." He listened to Logan rant for another minute while the girls disagreed about how to best get James outside. Everyone was stressed and tired.

A soft sound came from the corner of the cat room and made everyone but Logan fall silent. Kendall pulled the phone away from his ear.

"I think he's having a nightmare," Carlos called over, his brown eyes full of worry.

Kendall's gaze shot to James, who was twitching restlessly in his sleep. "I'll see you outside in fifteen minutes," he interrupted Logan to say before hanging up. "I've got this," he told the girls. Nightmares could be a problem for James and with what he'd just been through, this would be a bad one. Kendall scooped up the kitten snuggling against James' neck and held it out to Penny,

"Kitty rescue operation underway" Catgirl said, as she pulled the two kittens out of James' arms and moved out of the way with Penny. James' whining was already turning into whispered begging.

Kendall gritted his teeth and shook James' shoulders, probably a little harder than he should. "James, wake up. James!" But his friend kept sobbing out incoherent words, eyes closed, arms held still as though he couldn't move them.

"Wake him up!" Carlos said urgently, already in tears.

"James!" Kendall shook him again, harder, this time, and that got a reaction.

With a harsh scream, James jumped up, knocking Kendall away with a strong blow to the stomach. Then he was five feet away, frozen in place, sucking in deep breaths and looking around with wild eyes.

Carlos touched Kendall's back. "You okay?" He nodded and kept his eyes on James, who shuddered, one hand holding his ribcage.

James was still blinking away the vision of the dungeon around him. It had seemed so real...the clown standing over him, leering, holding a bloody blade in his hand. When James had struck out, it felt like he'd finally hit the bastard, but...

Kendall was watching him, a hand pressed to his stomach, green eyes awash with pain and concern. Behind him stood the girls and Carlos, all looking sad or shocked. "Sorry," the blonde said simply, "you were having a nightmare."

James dropped his gaze to the floor. The slices on his ribcage were throbbing anew, his nerves were raw and more than anything, he just wanted to hide somewhere. Tears flooded his eyes. But before they could fall, Kendall's arms were around him, pulling him in covering him up from anyone's view.

"It's okay," he murmured. "You're okay."

James let himself break, just a little. "I saw him - the clown," he whispered. "He wouldn't stop. It hurt...so bad and he...he liked it."

Kendall sucked in a sharp breath, automatic rage kicking in. But this wasn't the time for it. He let his breath out slowly. "Come on. You're awake now. Remember- he did stop. Catgirl made him stop, right?"

James forced his mind to remember, to picture the clown on the floor, his blood spreading silently. But he couldn't stop crying, and he had to turn away from his friends. Kendall moved with him as James put his back to the girls. He could feel Kendall motioning them back.

"You're safe. We're in the Cat Haven. Remember all the happy kitties?"

James shuddered and tried to calm down. He knew where he was; he could hear the cats meowing. But his dream had pulled him right back into that dungeon. A few shuddering sobs shook him on their way out and Kendall gripped him tighter. Words just started coming out.

"I was so scared, James, knowing you were here and that he was here, too. I knew it was going to be bad. And I was stuck in the hospital and didn't know how to find you, or any of the guys at first. It was the worst night of my life. But they made it out. And you made it out, too. You're here and he's dead and I am going to get you out of this goddamn mansion, I swear. All you have to do is walk. That's it. We'll do the rest."

James took in a deep, shivery breath, trying to find the words he needed to say. "And we'll all go together?"

"Of course. Logan said there are ambulances outside and police and a SWAT team. We just have to get you safely there."

"No. We have to get all of us safely there," James insisted, pulling back to meet Kendall's fiery green gaze with watery-eyed intensity. "You, too."

Kendall glanced away before forcing himself to look back at James. "I know," he said, and it was easy to see the certainty, the confidence and the stubborn faith in the green eyes. "I've got a plan. So...how many pockets do you have in that vest?"

Atticus Moon was nearly apoplectic with rage as he charged into the atrium, yelling up at his Thinker statue. "Where in the hell are they? Why can't I find them in my Forty Million Dollar Automated House?"

"I think Catgirl is turning out to be a better villain than you, honestly," Rosie the Bearded Lady said, gesturing with the turkey leg in her hand. "If she wanted minions, I'd probably sign on."

"Me, too," agreed Smitty, the Tattooed Man. "She's kinda' hot."

"Oh, fine! Desert me in my hour of need! Go ahead- leave! Or find her and join her side!"

"Okay. You're the boss," Rosie said with a shrug. "I don't know where she is. So I guess I'm out." She moved for the front door with that easy grace that made her such a desirable minion. But it was too late to court her back now.

The other circus freaks followed, even his Evil Spitting Dwarf! Atticus Moon never begged, but he seriously considered it for two seconds. Then he discarded the idea. "I don't need you! Keep walking! I'll get the systems back online and they will catch every last Big Time Rrrrrrat in the mansion!"

"Yeah, good luck with that."

Moon head snapped to the side. A door had just opened down the hall. "There they are- get them!"

"You're on your own," Smitty called back. As they opened the front door, a flurry of yells and activity let Moon know just how close he was to being infiltrated.

"No, no, no!" Moon ran up and slammed the door behind the group, hitting the buttons that locked it and slid down a steel plate as well. The noise went away instantly. He was safe in the house; of course he was! He turned away and straightened his tie. He still had his magnificent house; it would protect him. "There now. No getting through that!"

Then he strode purposefully back to the hallway, where he spied Kendall nearly through the door, helping his limping, ridiculous friend. "You! You think you can just walk out of here? Think again!" He brought his smart watch up and started pressing buttons. "Emergency lasers...where is that screen?' He frowned as the first systems he encountered had some sort of bug and ignored his commands. But finally he saw his failsafe emergency panel. "A-ha! Motion-activated laser guns in the atrium!"

With a graceful flourish he pushed the correct buttons and several large panels slid open along the walls, revealing his back-up lasers. There were five different guns in each panel, one long-range rifle, one short-range rifle, one ultra-powerful microgun and two machine guns, in case one didn't do the trick.

The blonde teen came to a jerky halt as the guns nearest to Moon focused directly on him and the tall, tan idiot. The pair of them froze and the others behind them, who had noticed they were in the sights of the other guns, also stopped.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Moon," Kendall advised, looking far too smirky for someone who was seconds away from being shot to death.

"Well that's because you're not as clever as I am," he retorted. "You don't recognize when you've been beaten. So. Give yourselves up and spare yourselves more misery. I've won." The chorus of giggles coming from somewhere in the group showed that they didn't take him seriously enough.

"Did you hear that, James," Kendall asked, giving him a glance. "I'm not clever enough to beat Moon."

"Since when? He just doesn't know about your secret weapon," James replied.

Moon straightened up. "There's no way your secret weapon trrrrrumps my Back-Up Superpowerful Secret Laser Gun and Machine Gun System! Give up!"

"No," Kendall said smugly. "Meow."

Moon stared at him. "Did you just...meow at me?"

"Of course not. That was Spring Roll." After that nonsensical sentence, the boy dug his hand into a fabric pouch around his neck and drew out...a tiny, sleeping kitten!

Moon gaped. That was a pouch from the Cat Haven! "What? How did you...oh no..."

"Oh yes! Not even you would shoot a defenseless kitten with a laser." Kendall said, tucking the kitten away again.

"Of course not! How dare you- - how beneath you- to steal a kitten?"

"We're not stealing them. We're taking them hostage. All of us have one," Kendall said, putting James' arm back over his shoulder and heading for the door while Moon continued to sputter.

"But- but that's reprehensible!"

Kendall and James had already turned the corner and were heading for the door. Behind him came the short one and Moon finally found words. "You!"

Carlos froze in place. "Me?"

"You would be a perfect sidekick for me! I have a vacancy and could use a Lego Master such as yourself to rebuild what I've lost. Plus, I have just the name for you: Star Boy." Carlos' eyes grew wide. "Yes, that's perfect, isn't it? And I have a great costume warehouse full of whatever sorts of paraphernalia you want to wear. Imagine it...Moon and his Star Boy."

The boy dropped his eyes. "You're a bad man. You hurt all of us, especially James."

"But that wasn't me!"

"Don't give me that! That clown was one of your guys and he tortured my best friend!, I want to be a good Papa to little Mandy." The little kitten he pulled out of his pocket blinked sleepily and snuggled into his chest. "Let's go, Mandy!"

Carlos stalked off and then it was just the girls in black, holding kittens as well and grinning.

"Have a nice time in jail," Catgirl taunted him. "I'm sure it'll be a longer stay this time."

"But you can't get out! The door is locked! And my Automated Mansion has the best security-"

Moon watched helplessly as Catgirl ignored him and opened the panel. It took her five seconds to disarm the front door systems.

"Damn you, Catgirl," Moon said, falling to his knees. "If it hadn't been for you, I would have gotten away with it all. You...and Big Time Rrrrrrush."

At that, everyone turned back to smile at him. Then Carlos opened the door and led the others out into the sunshine and free air.