A/N: This fic contains potentially triggering subject matter including but not limited to: suicidal references, gun violence, sexual trauma, homelessness, drug abuse, depression, homophobia, and cancer. It may contain inaccuracies. No copyright infringement intended. Thanks for reading!

BOOK TWO - PART ONE - CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

"So, what's this one about?" Sam was asking. She was seated on the couch beside Cat, who was making last-minute revisions to her lyrics. She had been carefully shielding the paper from Sam's vision for the majority of the time.

"Oh, it's actually one of the more personal ones on here," Cat explained. "It's called Raining Mercury."

"Is it another pride song or something?"

Cat smiled, but there was a hidden sadness in it. "It's a love song, actually. For you."

Sam's eyebrows shot up. "You wrote me a love song?"

"Kind of," Cat replied hesitantly. "Basically, I wrote this six years ago when I thought you'd died in the shooting. My doctors told me to imagine all the good things that could be happening to you. So, lots of lines are meant to be ironic, and parts of it are based on dreams, but… yeah. I hope you like it anyways."

"I can't wait to hear it," Sam told her, smiling widely.

Bryson called across the room to them, "Cat, you ready for Track Number Three?"

Cat nodded. "Let's do this." She took her place in the recording room—but this time, she picked up an electric guitar and pulled the strap over her shoulder before positioning herself in front of the microphone. "All set," she told everyone.

"Alright, I'm gonna count you down—start on my cue," Bryson said. He adjusted a couple switches on his soundboard, then counted down with his fingers, four, three, two, one.

Cat strummed the guitar as the backing track began. Her eyes locked onto Sam's through the glass. Then she took a deep breath and started to sing.

After only the first line, Sam was reminded all over again why she fell in love with Cat. She watched her with rapt attention throughout the performance, and it was as if they were the only two people there. By the end of the song, she was dabbing at her eyes again to hide her tears. Cat held some strange power over her that she didn't really understand—but for some reason, she was okay with it.

When Bryson signaled that the take was finished, Cat tore off her headphones and flung her guitar away. She ran out of the recording room and into Sam's arms.

"Shit!" Sam winced, protecting the left side of her chest as she stepped back.

"I'm sorry!" Cat pulled away. "Did I hurt you?"

"I'm fine," Sam forced out through clenched teeth. She took a deep breath, gathering her bearings, then carefully returned Cat's embrace. For several seconds, they just stood there and clung to each other. When they finally pulled away, they were both crying. Sam laughed, sniffling, and used her thumbs to wipe away Cat's tears. "I'm so in love with you," she said, then added, "Stop making me cry in front of people."

Cat leaned forward and kissed her for several lingering seconds. Then she whispered, "I love you too, Sam. I… kind of always have, I think."

"Me too." Sam kissed her again. "I'm so sorry for putting you through that." She forced a smile. "I like your version of events a lot better, by the way."

"You really liked it?"

"It actually makes me feel better to know that you were imagining all this stuff, instead of obsessing over the real thing," Sam told her. "It's what I'd hoped you would do."

"The idea of losing you almost broke me. After a while, I just had to pretend," Cat explained.

Sam took both of Cat's hands. "I'll never, ever put you through that again. I promise."

"I believe you." Cat looked into her eyes. Then she leaned their foreheads together until their lips were only inches apart. "Kiss me," she playfully whispered to her.

Sam gave out a low hum and did just that.

The two of them were already making out deeply when Jade once again walked over and forced them apart. "Not the time, you guys," she stated. "We still have a lot of work to do."

"Let's take half an hour," Bryson suggested. "I need some time to finish these up."

Everyone agreed. Eventually, Sam and Cat were alone again, and no one was paying attention to them. Cat pulled Sam in for another kiss, but Sam backed away. When Cat looked at her in silent question, Sam moved in next to her ear and whispered, "Meet me in the bathroom in five minutes."

"Why?" Cat asked, confused. Sam gave her a look, flicking her eyes to the side, and Cat eventually caught on. "Oh. Now? Really?" The tone of her voice suggested she was interested.

"Just hang out here with everyone for a while. We don't want to be seen leaving together," Sam told her. Then she pecked her on the lips, smirked and whispered, "I'll be waiting."

Cat watched her walk out the door. Then she took a deep breath and made her way over to where everyone else was standing and chatting. No one seemed to notice Sam's absence. After about five minutes had passed, Cat excused herself to the restroom.