Gunshots continued to rain down on the bikers, when Hawkins stepped out from behind his protection and took aim on Big Mike. Just as he was about to fire, something shoved him to the ground. He snarled, turning his head to give whoever pushed him particular hell, only his eyes widened in horror as he saw Cat standing there. Suddenly, she flew backwards a few feet, slamming to the ground.
Hawkins shouted her name.
Titan snapped his head around to find out what Hawkins was yelling about. His eyes followed Hawkins’ gaze to see Cat laying on the roof.
She lay very still, sprawled out on her back as blood dripped down from her shirt onto the rooftop.
It felt like his heart had stopped beating and nothing else mattered except to get to his woman. He immediately did a running crawl over to her and lifted her up into his arms. It was then when he saw the front of her shirt and the blood she was losing rapidly. “No, no, no baby. Don’t you leave me, I need you.” Tears rolled down his face as he began to rock her in his arms.
Hawkins couldn’t move for a moment then he grew enraged. He shouted out to everyone else on that roof, “Kill that motherfucker Big Mike! Get him, get him good and dead.” Hawkins looked over the edge and found Big Mike trying to ride away. He aimed and began shooting.
Everyone took aim, shooting at the same target.
Big Mike never stood a chance. As he tried to get away from the carnage, he died where he was. His bike flipped and he hit the ground under a hail of bullets. He was left staring at the sky with sightless eyes.
Hawkins slowly turned, walking over to Titan, who still held Cat close to him, tears rolling down his cheeks as the brothers all gathered around him.
Boots pushed his way through everyone and shook his head when he got close to Titan and Cat. He reached out and slid his finger to Cat’s neck and he pressed them around to find her pulse, if she had one. He finally found the spot and he thought he could feel a pulse. It was weak but it was still there.
Boots looked up at Titan. “Brother, she’s still alive. We need to get her to the infirmary, so I can see how badly she’s hurt.”
Titan stared at him in a stupor. “She’s still alive?” he asked, unbelieving.
“Her pulse is weak but she’s got one,” Boots quietly told him. “We have to hurry man, she’s bleeding out. We have to stop the bleeding.”
Titan stood up with her in his arms. He didn’t even notice the other brothers helping him up. He headed for the steps and everyone including Hawkins followed him.
Boots went first and got to the infirmary before everyone else. He pushed Dennis’ bed over to the far wall. Then he got things ready for Cat.
Titan carried her in and laid her carefully on the bed.
Boots was right there, ripping the shirt she was wearing open and inspecting the damage the bullet had done. Blood poured from the hole in her chest and Boots quickly put pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding.
Cat groaned as she felt him pressing down on her.
Boots looked up at the brothers standing there and said, “Somebody get Dennis out of here and under a locked door. He doesn’t need to be here.”
A couple of the brothers cut the zip ties holding Dennis to the bed, dragging him up and off the bed. Dennis cried out and one of the men cuffed him in the head. “Shut your fool mouth, prick.” They pulled him out and put him in another room, where they quickly ziptied him to another bed. His wounds began to bleed and he demanded medical help. The brothers ignored him and left the room only to come back and find everyone except for Titan and Hawkins leaving the infirmary.
Boots was busy administering medical aid to Cat as he fought to save her life. He had to dig the bullet out of her chest without any anesthesia but she never regained consciousness.
Titan and Hawkins never took their eyes off her as Boots worked on her.
Boots was in his zone, doing what he knew best. Soon, the floor and the bed were covered in used gauze pads as well as the table that held bloody instruments. Then after what seemed like a lifetime, he stood back and looked over at Hawkins. “That’s the best I can do man.”
“Was it enough?” Hawkins asked.
“I hope it was but we won’t know until she comes around again.” Boots looked at Hawkins and Titan. “She lost a lot of blood and the bullet got close to her heart but I don’t think it did any damage.”
“What the bloody hell was she doing on that roof?’ Hawkins growled. “I told her to stay in the basement, where it was safe. I told her.”
Titan and Boots shook their heads.
“You know what she was doing there, old man,” Boots told him. “She probably saw what was coming and didn’t want you to die like that.”
“Why? Why the hell would she risk her life to save mine?” Hawkins asked. “She doesn’t even know me.”
“Because you’re her family!” Titan exclaimed. “You may not want her around but to her, you are family and that means something to her. She never knew what it felt like to have a family that wanted her but she always wanted one.”
“Even as bad as Cheryl and Isobel were towards her, she was hoping you would be different,” Boots told him. “She hoped you would accept her for who she was, what she is. I’ve been watching her since she got here. She just wants to be accepted and loved.”
Hawkins’ eyes glimmered as he just shook his head and turned to walk away.
Titan watched him go, then he sat down and reached for her hand. “Come back to me, Little Cat. I need you to come back to me. Fight. Please fight to come back. If you don’t want to stay here, I’ll follow you anywhere. Just fight it.”
Cat seemed to float as if walking along a lighted path. The further she walked, the more she noticed the colors around her changing as the light grew brighter in whatever world she’d stumbled into. Fog rose from the ground and swallowed her feet, she watched it yet didn’t really seem to be bothered with it. A voice kept calling to her, so she was drawn forward by the voice.
“Caterina, baby girl, come to me, my beautiful daughter.”
She turned a corner.
There sat a man on a bench. He looked up and smiled at her. He held out his hands and waited for her.
She stepped forward and sat beside him.
He looked her over carefully and then smiled brightly, “You turned out to be a beautiful woman.”
“Who—who are you?’ She asked, yet in her heart she felt as if she knew who he was.
“My sweet girl, I think you know who I am.”
She nodded. “You’re the man in my dreams, aren’t you?” she asked. “You’re my daddy.”
Jesse nodded. “Yeah baby girl, I’m your daddy.”
Cat looked at his face then slowly gazed around at her surroundings and asked, “What is this place?”
“It’s kinda like a waiting area,” Jesse told her. “You aren’t supposed to be here this soon. Today isn’t your time to die.”
Cat turned her tear filled eyes to Jesse and said, “I-I saw what was going to happen. I couldn’t let Hawkins die, not like that.”
Jesse nodded. “I know honey. I was watching everything. I know what you did and I know why you did it. It’s ok. It’s ok because today wasn’t his day to die either. Baby girl, you have a decision to make. Do you really wish to stay or do you want to go back?”
“Is it even possible for me to go back?” Cat asked her dad.
“If that’s what you really want, it is possible.” Jesse reached out and brushed a strand of her hair away from her face. “Before you choose, I want to tell you a few things. Explain why I acted the way I did when you were little. Baby, you were my world. When I first held you, my heart was so full of love for you. I did love you Caterina, when I was alive. I know that because after I came here, I still loved you. You were my little girl, you were the best thing I ever accomplished and that means something to me.”
“Then why were you never there for me?” she asked. “Why did you leave every morning before I got up and not return until after I was asleep? Why did you never see that I was waiting for you to notice me?”
Jesse stared at her and admitted, “Because I was young and stupid and didn’t realize I wasn’t going to have time to slow down and make it up to you. Your mother didn’t help the situation I know, but that doesn’t make my own actions any better. I should have tried harder to fit you into everything I had in my life. You paid the ultimate price and for that, I’m so very sorry.”
Cat realized something as she sat there talking to her father. She could feel the love, the sorrow, and the regret in him. She knew in her heart that he did love her after all.
“Tell me baby girl, how is my dad taking all of this? You’re coming back, your gift. Is he okay with it?”
Cat sighed deeply. “I’m not really sure. I think at first, he was really freaked out. He would barely look at me, let alone talk to me. Then mom attacked us and I led them to her bank in the woods. We found Nash, Nicky, and Robbie. I think that really freaked him out then. I’m not sure I can stay there when this is over. I know I’ve got Titan in my corner and Luna, but it may not be enough. I was never accepted at the Abbey and now, I know why but still… I want to be just like everyone else and be accepted, gift or no gift.”
“Oh, baby…” He reached over and patted her hand. “Give my dad another chance will you? Please, for me and my brothers? He can be a stubborn fool but he’s a good man.” He leaned back and said, “You also have a good man waiting for you. He truly loves you.”
“Titan?” she asked and at his nod, she admitted, “I love him too. I had a dream about him before I went to Granite Falls. You know, I was married to Davey Lamond. Well, after Davey died thanks to mom, I was so lost. I loved that man dearly but with Titan, something sparked between us and it’s only grown stronger. He makes me feel safe, protected and I love being with him.” She shook her head. “If I had anyone to go back to, it would be him.”
“Then go back to him. He gave you a very important gift and you have to be alive to bring that gift into the world.”
“A gift…what gift?” she asked in confusion.
Jesse glanced down to her belly while genty placing his hand upon her and smiled. “You’re gonna make me a grandfather, baby girl.”
“How can that be?” Cat was puzzled. “I didn’t think I could have a baby. I mean Davey and I tried for three years, but I never got pregnant. I’ve only been with Titan a few weeks. How can I be pregnant?”
Jesse leaned into her and kissed her forehead. “Babies are a gift from God himself. While Davey was a good man and he did love you, he wasn’t your destiny. Maybe, just maybe Titan is who you were meant to be with. I do know if you want it to be born, you have to go back and claim that man.”
Cat smiled and in her smile was a serenity not many have. “I’ll go back and claim my man. I want this baby so much. I never thought I’d be able to have any children. I’ve always wanted a baby of my own.”
Jesse smiled and told her, “Some prayers might not be answered right away but God knows when you are ready for them to be answered.” He leaned in and smiled. “Will you give my dad a message from me?”
Cat grinned at the deviltry in his eyes and nodded.
Jesse leaned close to her ear and whispered the message to her.
After a moment of his whispering, Cat leaned back and giggled. “Ok, I’ll tell him… So how do I get back?”
Jesse stood from the bench and reached out for her hand. “I’d be pleased to walk you back.”
Somehow, going back didn’t take as long as she thought it would.
They reached a doorway and Jesse stopped. “I can’t go any further but you can. You go back and claim your man and don’t forget to give my dad that message.” He stood back and looked at her one last time. “You truly are a beautiful woman and I’m proud to be your father.” He leaned toward her and kissed her forehead again.
As soon as his kiss touched her head, Cat suddenly felt as if she were falling, when she landed she gasped and opened her eyes. She gazed at the room and found herself in the Infirmary.
Titan had a hold of her hand with his head lying beside her belly.
Boots was there, tending to the IV and her bandages.
Titan heard her gasp and raised his startled gaze, to stare at her. He looked as if he couldn’t believe her eyes were open. “Cat?” he whispered.
Cat smiled. “I-I’m back, baby. I came back for you.”
“Oh, dear God. Thank you,” Titan whispered. “Thank you, thank you. Thank you! I’m so glad you came back. I wasn’t sure I could go on without you.”
Cat smiled then a wave of pain hit her and she groaned. “What the hell happened to me?” she whispered.
“You knocked Hawkins out of the line of a bullet then it slammed into you. I—baby, I-I thought you were dead,” Titan admitted.
Cat lifted her hand and touched his cheek. “I think I was, at least for a while anyway. I knew I had to come back to you. You and me,” she whispered. “We got unfinished business, baby.”
Titan smiled softly, still looking so happy to have her back with him. “We do?”
Cat nodded. “Yeah, we do. I love you with all my heart. I want you to know that.”
“I love you with all my heart too, Little Cat. I want to be able to tell you that for the rest of my life. So don’t plan on going anywhere. You hear me?”
Cat nodded. “Yeah, I hear ya. We still have a lot of work to do, we still have to find Isobel and stop her once and for all.”
They were interrupted by Boots and his stethoscope as he checked her vitals. When the man was done, he smiled. “Damn good to have you back, little girl.”
Cat smiled weakly. “It’s good to be back, Boots. Can you go get Hawkins for me? I have a message for him and he needs to hear it right away.”
When Boots walked out of the room, Cat looked over at Titan. “So, I have a question for you.”
“Ok, shoot.” He smiled as he held her hand in his.
“How do you feel about kids?”
Titan froze and the smile slid from his face. “Kids?” he whispered. “Are you sure?”
Cat nodded.
With a growl, Titan crushed her lips under his. It wasn’t until Hawkins cleared his throat that Titan broke the kiss.
“Save that until she at least recovers a little bit ok, boy? She can’t take all that shit yet.” Hawkins growled.
Cat smiled at Titan and giggled softly. Then she looked over at Hawkins and crooked a finger at him.
Looking curious, Hawkins came close and bent down.
Cat then whispered her father’s message in his ear.
Hawkins paled with shock and backed away slowly as he stared at her in utter disbelief. “How, how the hell would you know something like that?” he finally asked her in a strained voice.
Cat winked at him. “If you think about it for a moment, you’ll know, grandpa.”
