Chapter 10: It's Either Good or Bad

Vincent had started a ritual his first week home of walking in the mornings when he first wakes up right before dawn. As soon as he jumped out of bed he put on some sweatpants and walk around the block a few times. He liked how peaceful it was and how quiet the early morning was when few people were awake and he could just get lost in his thoughts. No matter how much pain he was in he would force himself up every day and walk for at least an hour and then head back home and have breakfast just as JT was waking for the day.

This morning was no different he got to walking before the sun had peaked on the horizon. He walked a steady pace with his cane every day it seemed like the pain became easier to deal with and his legs got stronger. His thoughts were always consumed by Catherine and VJ and his parents. He missed Catherine more than anything still felt like he woke up to a terrible nightmare only it never ends. Since he awakened he has felt like he went to sleep one night and lost everything the very next morning. While everyone had a chance to move on and cope with all the losses he hasn't. For everyone else, it's been five years but for Vincent, it was like time stopped only for him and now he had to catch up.

Vincent didn't know what to do with his life anymore. He couldn't be a doctor like he planned because of all the side effects of his coma he would never be 100% ever again so that was out of the question. He couldn't imagine having another career he never planned for another one. It was his dream to be a doctor. He didn't know what to do for his future. He couldn't even fathom dating someone new and falling in love with someone else either. Hell, he couldn't even imagine being a father. VJ was his and he didn't even know anything about him. He didn't know his favorite color, foods that he hated, or if he had a favorite superhero. He couldn't even imagine VJ acknowledging him as such. He wondered would he always think of him as some distant guy his mother knows.

He didn't feel attractive anymore, with so much muscle loss from the coma his body wasn't as fit as he used to be. The abs and biceps he was so proud of were gone. Instead, when he looked in the mirror he saw a thin fragile looking version of him as if he had been sick and lost a lot of weight. Roxanne his physical therapist said it would take time before he got back to his old self probably years. Impatiently he wanted results now.

All his thoughts depressed him he felt stuck with no purpose and the fact that Catherine called him every day made him feel even more worthless. He appreciated her calls cause it gave him someone other than JT to be social with but it hurt at the same time too. He wanted her back so bad it's like she is arms reach but he is forbidden to have her and it hurt him to his core.

After his walk, he came in to have breakfast as usual only he decided to cook eggs and waffles instead of the usual bowl of cereal he was quick to grab. While getting the food out he got a knock at the back door when he turned to the back door he saw it was Catherine, she waved through the glass window and Vincent smiled. As usual, she took his breath away she will always be gorgeous. In jeans and a light jacket, she walked in as Vincent opened the door for her.

"Hey"

"I told you I'd stop by" she smiled her eyes gleaming up at him.

"kind of early isn't it?" he smiled at her.

"yes but I knew you would be up we always were morning people"

"Very true," Vincent says he grabs eggs from the fridge.

"so what are you making?"

"Waffles and eggs"

"yum sounds good"

"Do you want me to make you some?"

"No, I already ate," Catherine says as she sits down at the kitchen island on a stool"

Vincent cracked a few eggs and stirred them in a bowl as Catherine sat quietly watching. He wondered what she had on her mind. Vincent's wrist started to hurt as he continued to stir his eggs and Catherine noticed as he tried to hide it. It was always the littlest things that caused him pain on a daily. something as simple as stirring eggs could cause him to hiss in pain.

"You know you don't have to go through this on your own Vincent," she says standing up and walking closer to him.

"I don't I have the amazing JT helping me out and my physical therapist Roxanne is great as well"

Catherine felt a ping of jealousy "oh and where were JT and Roxanne when you had your tonsils taken out in second grade?"

"Tonsils?"

"yes and someone brought you chicken soup that she made herself"

Vincent raised a bow at her but didn't say anything and continued stirring. He knew she wanted to be there for him and it was killing her that she couldn't be, but he also wouldn't let her either. Now that she had a family of her own he felt there was no room left for him.

She walked closer grabbing his hand to stop his stirring so he would look at her he sat the bowl down.

"You're not getting rid of me Vincent so get used to it" she put her arms around him and gave him a hug which he accepted.

She felt so good and warm against him. He felt this pull this urge and instead of letting her go he kissed her cheek and kept kissing her till he got to her lips. Once their lips met and she kissed him back their kiss intensified. His hands went to her hair and his other pushed her body closer to his. He could hear the light moans that escaped her lips when his kisses went back down to her neck. He grabbed her firm behind picked her up and placed her on top of the countertop. God, he wanted to devour her. She pulled him down on top of her and put her legs around his waist. She kissed his lips, his cheeks his neck and back to his lips again while she ran her hands through his hair. His hands were all over her lower body begging to feel her smooth skin. He closed his eyes as her tongue entered his mouth and danced with his.

Suddenly when he opened his eyes he realized he was still standing only just hugging Catherine. Nothing had happened after all it was a fantasy. An all too real one he thought as he turned slightly away from her trying to hide his semi hard-on from her. Dammit!

"Catherine I really need to be alone right now"

"No, I am not leaving"

"Listen it's a little new you know" she frowned as if she didn't understand. "For you, it's been five years for me..." he cut off shaking his head.

Catherine nodded finally understanding. "oh, umm" she blushed as caught a glimpse of his erection.

"I do want to see you maybe we should just get out of the house next time, you know be around more people"

she nodded.

"Just for now until we get.."

"..use to the situation yea I got it," Catherine says as she grabs her purse. "I'm sorry I feel so stupid"

"Not stupid, just being a good friend" he assured her. She smiled slightly.

Just then his phone rang.

"I am going to let you get that. I'll see you later"

Vincent reached for the phone as he watched her rush out of the door.

"Hey JT" Vincent said somehow knowing it was JT calling.

"Vincent I have some bad news" Vincent heartbeat begin to race please no more bad news.

"It's your physical therapist. She is dead, they think she latest victim of that rapist serial killer"

Vincent was in shock. "oh my god I can't believe it"

"I know man so tragic, she was a nice woman"

"I need to go there?"

"Go where?"

"The crime scene I have to help them find that killer" Vincent was furious now.

"Vincent I don't think there is anything you can do let the police handle it"

"JT you forget the extra heighten senses you gave me I should be able to sniff out that sorry son of a bitch"

"Whoa, careful on saying that over the phone and I'll be there in ten minutes" Vincent immediately hung up the phone and headed upstairs to change out of his workout gear.

The crime scene was outside the hospital at a park right across the street. JT gave him the ran down, that Roxanne had been jogging and was heading back to her car when she was grabbed by the killer. Vincent shook his head feeling like he should have been there to protect her. Then thought how could he, he walks around with a cane for god sake. Still, he hated the fact that the killer just left a six-year-old and a two year old motherless. Roxanna loved her kids often talked about them at Vincent's sessions. He was definitely making sure he would help catch this guy.

"Fellas this a crime scene you can't be here," a voice said from behind Vincent and JT. They both turned toward the voice and JT's mouth dropped.

"JT hey it's been a long time," Evan says. Then looks over at Vincent.

JT nodded reluctantly as Vincent and Evan stared at each other. Evan definitely knew who Vincent was he had seen pictures of him but he wasn't sure if Vincent knew who he was.

"I am Evan Marks" Evan holds his hand out for Vincent to shake.

That's him!

Vincent was thrown off guard he didn't expect to run into Catherine's husband. It took him a minute to realize he was supposed to be shaking Evans' hand.

"Vincent" he finally replied shaking his hand

"Nice to finally meet you"

This is awkward Vincent thought as they all stood there dumbfounded as to what to say. He looked at Evan sizing him up, he guessed he could see why Catherine would be attracted to him he was ok looking. Then Vincent thought about how he himself looked. Sickly, thin with a cane, and then felt extremely self-conscience. Already Vincent did not like Evan he didn't want to be around this guy any longer.

Evan eventually spoke again.

"so what bring you guys by here"

"We know Roxanne," JT says " and we can help catch her killer"

"umm guys the police can handle it we have been working around the clock to catch this guy and we have all the crime scene investigators we need"

Vincent finally spoke up "listen since my coma my senses have become very heightened if I could just get the clearance to any crime scene objects or clues I can help"

Evan looked skeptical "senses? no offense but we have all the manpower we need. I don't think heightened five senses or whatever you want to call it will be an asset here"

"oh what would you know, you guys have been looking for this guy for weeks and have yet to even get a suspect. If Vincent can help why not let him" JT added.

As Evan and JT continued to banter Vincent had zoned in on the crime scene he was getting a smell and could see traces of footprint that no one with the naked eye could see because it was concrete.

Vincent had started to walk off following the barely-there trail that lingered in the air. JT and Evan had eventually noticed as he was leaving the parking garage.

"Vincent, what's up? are you picking up on something?" JT asked walking beside him. Evan was following close behind.

"What's going on?" Evan says

"Shhhh" JT hushed him as Vincent continued following the footprint. They stopped near the sidewalk leading into the park.

Vincent stopped walking near the last footprint he could see he stared down at it. He could smell the bastard still, his shoes are soaked in something that transferred in the ground but he didn't know what it was some kind of chemical. Vincent placed his foot beside the footprint.

"This guy is definitely a size 11 narrow," Vincent said.

Evan looked over at him "good eye, we got a footprint from the last crime scene and it was that exact size"

"He has some kind of chemical on him I just can't identify it"

"Chemical? that's new we didn't find any on the previous footprint" Evan says as he stooped down to the ground to get a closer look. He was hoping to get a whiff of whatever Vincent smelled but he got nothing.

"He must have driven off in a car after that I lost the scent here" Vincent contained. "If I can know what that smell is maybe I can..." Vincent stopped talking then looked over at Evan. He was gonna do this on his own. "JT lets go," Vincent says as he turns to head back to the car.

"Wait," Evan says what are you about to do? This is police investigation I can't have you messing with my case you two are citizens, not cops"

"Listen I don't have time for this we have to get going" Vincent contained walking on.

"V what are you up to?" JT whispered.

"I'll tell you in the car after we ditch Evan" he whispered back.

"What aren't you guys telling me" Evan chimed in.

"Nothing, its nothing we have to go," Vincent says just as he reaches the car and opens the door.

"Vincent you think of anything make sure you come to me I don't want you guys trying to handle anything on your own. Give me a call" Evan handed Vincent his card.

Vincent reluctantly took it.

Once JT Vincent drove off he told JT what he was thinking.

"That smell I smelt it before its a chemical you worked with JT"

JT's mouth dropped. "The chemicals I used are authorized only to chemists and Biologists"

"Exactly which narrows it down to the only companies using it. There should be a list right?"

"yes all companies have to list which chemicals they are using"

"Good we need to get back to the house so I can sniff out that smell. I remember it because you were working with it last week and it was awful"

"you must be talking about Osmium tetroxide I had a mask on when I was working with it but I know that it smells awful."

"We need to go to the company that makes that so we can get the list of the chemists using it"

"I can't believe this rapist-killer guy is one of my people"

Vincent laughed "I guess nerds can be insane as well"

"Hey," JT says pretending to be offended.

Vincent laughs.

"V we got one problem though, the only how we are going to be able to get that list is with a warrant. That means we do need Evan's help"

"fuck!" Vincent says when he realized he now has to work with the man who stole his life.

JT shook his head, "this is going to be really interesting".

Vincent groaned he was not looking forward to this at all. He was trying everything in his power to get as far away from Evan back there as he could and now he has to work with him.

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