Unbreakable by Barbara Handshy Anderson (Section 6)

Sometime in the middle of the night Gabriel’s face and voice invaded his dreams. He could hear the sinister voice saying, “I own you, I own your child, and I will own him.” Jake woke up with a start. And there she was, his angel, just as she had always been. He could not recall a time in his entire life when he had dreamed of “the bad man” and she had not come, to protect him, to calm his fears. She didn’t sing this time though. She just stood there. She looked very sad, like the angel he had seen in the video.

Becka quietly whispered in a groggy voice, “Jake?” Then she sat up with her eyes wide opened as Jake’s angel disappeared.

Jake turned to Becka and said, “I’m sorry, Honey. I didn’t mean to wake you. I was just dreaming.

Becka turned to Jake with a confused look on her face and asked, “Jake, who was that?”

Becka responded, “The woman? Over there? Who was she, Jake?” Then in realization she whispered, “Your angel.”

Jake jumped out of bed and started pacing the floor. He was pressing his hands to the top of his head as if he was afraid it would explode. Finally he sat down on the edge of the bed.

“If you saw her … then she wasn’t a dream … she was … real. … I don’t understand. Becka, why would she come to me? After the terrible things I said … she still came.” He raked his hands through his hair and hung his head

Becka was concerned for him. She gently put her hands on his shoulders. She didn’t know how to console him. She didn’t know how to help him. So she was just there for him.

Jake called the hospital at 3am to make sure that Catherine had not passed away. After all they had seen her ghost and that could mean …

“There is no change Mr. Vincent. We will contact you immediately if there is any news,” said the nurse at the other end of the line.

“Thank you,” Jake said as he hung up the phone. He got out of bed and put on his pants.

Becka stirred and reached for him. Realizing that he wasn’t there she sat up and asked, “What are you doing?”

I need to talk to my Dad,” Jake replied. “Joe told me everything he knows about Catherine and what happened back then. Now I’m wondering what my Father knows,” he said as he pulled a shirt over his head.

Jake shook his head. “No, Becks, I want to do this on my own. But thank you.” Then leaning over to kiss her, he said, “I don’t know how I could get through this without you.”

“I love you, Jake Vincent,” she said as she reached up to stroke his face. “Don’t forget that. Do you want me to wait here ‘til you get home?”

“No,” he said. “If I need you, I’ll find you.” He kissed her again and left, grabbing a flashlight as he walked out the door.

When Jake arrived at his father’s chamber he could see that Vincent was asleep, so he walked to the mirror pool. He was able to watch the reflection of the first streaks of dawn shoot across the sky as the stars one by one went out. He smiled at the memories he had of this place. He could almost hear his father’s voice encouraging him as he taught him how to swim. The laughter of Jake and his childhood friends as they swam here still reverberated in his memory. There wasn’t a place in these tunnels that didn’t ring with echoes of his childhood. The memories comforted him.

Jake just about jumped out of his skin. Holding his hand to his chest he said, “Dad, are you trying to give me a heart attack? I’m surprised I didn’t fall in. Backing away, his face became more serious.

As they walked, Vincent patiently waited for Jake to speak. “I have a lot of questions, Dad. I don’t know where to start,” Jake finally said.

Vincent nodded from time to time as he read it. Handing it back to Jake he asked, “What are you going to do about this?”

“I don’t know,” Jake replied. “In the letter she said that her lawyer would answer any questions that I had. I certainly have a lot of questions, so I went to him. Did you notice the letterhead?” He handed the letter back to Vincent.

Looking at it he was a little surprise. “Joe Maxwell. Becka’s father is Catherine’s lawyer?”

Jake told Vincent about the meeting at Joe’s office. “He’s an old friend of hers from back then. So is his wife. Joe used to work with her in the District Attorney’s Office and Jen has known her since they were in college. He investigated her disappearance and death. He has a file with your name on it. He knows you’re my father.”

Vincent noticed that Jacob was avoiding even saying Catherine’s name. He just referred to her as “her”. Vincent looked deep in thought and nodded. “Yes, that’s right. He was a friend of Catherine’s. It was so many years ago, that I didn’t even make the connection.”

Jake said, “He knows your name, Dad. He showed me an interview with her. When he asked her about us, he asked about you by name. She shut him down. She wouldn’t even tell her lawyer who we were.”

Vincent recalled a long ago promise she had made to him … “Vincent, your secret is safe with me. I would never betray your trust.”[1]

Returning to the present he softly said, “No, she would never break her promise.”

After a brief awkward silence Jake decided to jump right to the heart of his questions. “Who is Gabriel, Dad?” he blurted out.

Vincent inhaled sharply. He had a faraway look in his eyes as he recalled the horror of those terrible days. Then he spoke softly, “He was … someone … something … so evil, Jake … beyond imagining … beyond any nightmare … beyond belief. How do you know that name?”

Jake recalled his reaction to the video. He said “There was a video in the casket among other things. She is on it. So is he. I freaked out when I saw his face. I didn’t know he was real. I thought he was only an image in my dreams.”

After catching his breath Vincent said, “I always knew that someday I would have to tell you … about him … about what happened. Are you sure you want to know, Jacob? You used to have nightmares about him when you were a child.”

“I want to know the truth, Dad. I’m trying to understand,” was Jake’s reply.

Vincent nodded and began telling Jacob the story. The story of his love for Catherine. The story of the terrifying illness that nearly killed him. The story of Catherine’s courage in saving his life. The story of his agonizing search for Catherine after she disappeared. The heartbreak of her death. The story of his search for their child, for Jake. The horror, the pain and the despair that Gabriel had wrought in their lives. The joy of bringing his son home. He tried to recall every detail. He didn’t want to leave anything out. If there was any chance for them to put the pieces back together, they had to look at all of them, no matter how ugly they might be.

Hours later as Vincent finished the tale, he said, “According to Peter, it was me that showed her the way out. He said she followed us into the tunnels and made her way through the tunnels to him.”

Silence settled around them. The ghosts of the memories hung so thick in the room that they could almost touch them.

“Dad? Why haven’t you ever told me these things before? Why did you keep it a secret?” Jake asked.

Vincent breathed deeply and answered, “It wasn’t really a secret, Jacob. It was just that you were touched by such evil from the moment you were born. You were surrounded by it for the months before I found you and brought you home. I wanted you to grow up as untouched by it as possible. Even then, somehow, he still haunted your dreams. I promised myself that I wouldn’t keep it from you when you finally asked. I always knew that one day you would.”

Jake replied, “I had a dream about him last night ... about Gabriel. When I woke up in the dark, she was there.”

“My angel …Catherine … She was there. Just like she has always been there my entire life every time I ever dreamed about him... except she didn’t sing… She just stood there looking at me. She seemed … very sad.” Jake was silent for a moment and added, “Becka saw her too.” He waited for the words to settle and said, “If Becka could see her, Dad … then she isn’t a dream… She has to be … real. I don’t understand it. Why? How?”

Vincent was silent for a moment and replied, “I don’t understand it either, Jacob. Perhaps she is trying to protect you. She always calmed your fears.”

“But, Dad,” Jake replied with a raised voice, “She’s not dead. I called the hospital to be sure. She isn’t a ghost. How can it be if she isn’t dead?”

Vincent shook his head. “I don’t know, Jacob. I know it doesn’t make sense, but we know she’s been doing it for years. Don’t we?”

Jake raked his hands through his hair. In frustration he said, “I’m trying to figure out what the truth is, Dad. I’m trying to understand why she did what she did. But the more answers I get, the more questions I have. I can’t make the pieces fit together in any way that makes any sense.”

Vincent nodded, “That’s what I said to her the last time I saw her. She said that I shouldn’t waste my time trying. That the pieces will never fit back together.” He thought for a moment and said, “But I can’t stop either. They have to fit.”

“Is that why you wouldn’t stay away when she asked you to? Why you went back?” Jake asked.

Vincent nodded and answered, “She was trying so hard to keep her feelings from me. To keep me from feeling her pain. But I think, perhaps because of her illness, she was struggling to control it. There were moments when I could feel that she still loves me in spite of the fact that she was pushing me away.” He let Jake think about his words for a few moments and then said, “Just like I know that in spite of your pain and anger at Catherine, you still love your angel.”

Vincent could see the muscles in Jakes face flex as he clenched his jaw. Finally Jake spoke quietly. “Why didn’t she come with us, Dad? If she had just come home with us … instead … she walked away. Why?”

Jacob was thoughtful for a moment and asked, “I wonder if it has something to do with what he did to her?”

“You haven’t seen it?” Jake asked. Then he explained, “She has a scar on her wrist. It’s a circle with a G in the middle. Just like this,” he said, drawing the scar on a scrap of paper. Jake closed his eyes and said, “He branded her, Dad. He burned this symbol into her skin. It was in the video. The branding iron was in her casket with the video.”

“Yes. I went to the hospital to see it for myself. I’m sure.” Jake answered.

Vincent closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths to calm himself. “Oh, Catherine,” he whispered to himself. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Vincent explained, “There was a time … when I always knew if Catherine was in danger. I protected her. After my illness, I lost that gift. When she needed me the most, I wasn’t there for her. I failed her, Jacob.”

“If she doesn’t blame you then you shouldn’t blame yourself,” Jake said, “What good does it do now anyway? It’s all in the past. Blaming yourself won’t change anything. I’m sorry I told you about it, Dad. I didn’t mean to cause you more pain.”

“No, Jacob, it’s all right. I’m glad you told me. I needed to know. It could be an important piece,” Vincent said. Then turning his attention to his son, Vincent asked, “Are you all right, Jacob?”

Jake smiled a little. “I don’t have an answer for that, Dad. But thank you for telling me the truth. I know the memories are difficult for you.” He embraced his father.

As Jake turned to leave, Vincent said, “Jacob.” Jake turned back to his father and Vincent said, “There is something you should remember as you search for the truth.”

“Something Father told me years ago… You need to remember that there is a truth … beyond knowledge[2], Jacob, beyond everything we ever hope to know.”
“What is it?” Jake asked.

“It’s something you have to discover … for yourself … before you can understand it … before you can believe it,” was Vincent’s only reply.

Jake nodded as if he understood, but his brow was furrowed. He pondered his father’s words as he made his way out of the tunnels.

Exhausted, Jake returned home. He called his supervisor at the hospital. He called Joe and then he went to bed.

After a few hours of sleep, Jake felt again the pressure of two little arms around his neck and a soft voice saying, “Sank you bery much, Khun Doc Jake for you to be my friend.” He shook himself awake. After a little rest he felt more able to make some definite decisions. He headed for the hospital to meet with his supervisor and then to Joe’s office.

Sitting in Joe’s office, he reflected on everything that had happened in the last few weeks. He had been so sure of himself and everything he believed. So sure of his past and confident about his future. Now it felt like everything was changed. He felt like he was walking in someone else’s life. Everything looked the same, and at the same time it all seemed strange and unfamiliar. He resisted the urge to panic when the waves of anger and pain and guilt washed over him. Then sometimes he felt as if he was trying to walk through thick mud and every step he took required all of his strength.

Joe came into the office and saw Jake standing at the window. Jake looked so sad and alone. Joe was reluctant to disturb him.

Without turning around Jake said, “I’d like to apologize, Joe. I’ve been kind of … out of control lately.” The words sounded lame even as he heard them coming out of his mouth. So he stood there for a moment feeling awkward until he felt a hand on his shoulder.

Joe’s heart went out to Jake as he spoke. He couldn’t imagine how all of the recent events and revelations must be tearing him apart. Joe approached his son-in-law and put his hand on Jake’s shoulder. Jake turned to look at Joe.

Jake swallowed hard and nodded. He reached into his jacket and pulled Catherine’s letter out of his pocket and handed it to Joe. “If you don’t mind … I would like to deal with this too,” he said.

Jake turned back to the window. Through clenched teeth he said, “I’ll do it. I will take responsibility for the foundation. Just tell me what I need to do.”

“You don’t seem very enthusiastic. Can I ask why you’ve chosen to do it, when you clearly don’t want to?” Joe inquired.

Still looking out of the window, Jake answered, “I’m not doing it for her. She asked me to help someone … a little girl who doesn’t deserve to suffer just because I’m angry at her. The only way I can do that is with the foundation’s money.”

Joe nodded and said, “Well, if that’s your decision then we had better get to it. There is a lot you need to know. Do you have time now or do you need to go to work?”

Jake shook his head. “I don’t have to go to work,” he said sadly. “I met with my supervisor at the hospital this morning about … everything. My work has been suffering lately. He suggested that it’s probably best for me to take a leave of absence until I get through it all.”

Over the next couple of hours Jake was schooled about the Catherine Chandler Foundation and her estate. He was shocked at how wealthy Catherine was. He was impressed by the amount of money that the Foundation gave to charities and scholarships. He was surprised to find out that the homeless youth shelter where he had met Becka, and where she now worked, was supported solely by the Catherine Chandler Foundation. He recognized the names of many of the scholarship recipients as children he had grown up with in the tunnels. The most stunning revelation of all was that the scholarships that had paid for virtually all of his education had come from her foundation.

He was struggling to take it all in. He put his head down into his hands and breathed deeply. When he finally spoke, he said, “I owe her everything. I have no idea how I will ever be able to pay it all back.”

Joe was confused. “What do you mean? You don’t owe her anything. I don’t understand.”

Jake looked up at Joe. The conflicting emotions were clearly written on his face and in his voice. “She pays Becka’s salary, Joe. She has paid for my entire education. Everything I have is because of her.” Shaking his head he exclaimed, “I am so angry at her for deserting me! I CAN’T … OWE … HER!”

Joe nodded and said, “Jake, Becka works hard at the shelter. She makes a difference there. The money she is paid isn’t charity. She earns it. And the foundation scholarships are all merit based scholarships. You earned those, just like everyone else on that list. They had nothing to do with the fact that she is your … you know … your … mother. No one on the scholarship committee even knew who you were. It’s my understanding that Cathy didn’t even know your name until recently. You don’t owe her anything.”

Jake laughed a little when Joe said that. He recalled that he had said those very words to his father not long ago. “That’s not what it feels like, Joe,” he said bitterly.

After finishing up with the formalities, Joe turned to Jake, “You look exhausted, Jake. I can see that this has all taken a toll on you. Try to get some rest.”

Jake agreed. Shaking Joe’s hand he said, “Thank you, Joe. For trying to understand … for trusting me.” Then he asked, “Can I ask you something, Joe?”

Jake said, “I’ve never actually known anyone that had this much money.” He paused for a moment and then said, “She didn’t act like someone who …”

Joe thought for a moment and then asked, “Have you ever heard the saying, ‘Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also?”

Joe shook his head and continued, “Money never was Cathy’s treasure, Jake. If it was, she never would have worked at the D.A.’s office. Cathy’s treasure has always been people. People who were helpless, the people that she knew, the people that she cared for, and especially the people that she loved.”

Jake looked at him quizzically and said, “Just then … when you said that … something in your voice … the expression on your face … it reminded me of …”

As Jake left the office, he couldn’t shake his irritation at the way everyone seemed to speak of Catherine Chandler. He seemed to be the only one who was angry at 25 years of lies and neglect. Everyone else seemed to love her in spite of the deception she had perpetrated on them all. Feeling very isolated and alone, Jake found consolation in knowing that Becka was still there for him.

After Jake left his office, Joe had made a decision too. He opened the locked drawer in his desk and removed and envelope he had put there for safe keeping.

As he passed the receptionist on his way out he turned and said, “I need you to push back any appointments I have this afternoon. I’m going to be out of the office for a couple of hours. If there is an emergency, call my cell.”

Greg nodded, not really sure what was the right thing to say. “I hope she pulls through this,” he finally said.

“What can I do for you, Joe? Is this a social call or business?” Greg asked.

Joe reached into his briefcase and pulled out the envelope with the book that had started it all.

Greg emptied it onto his desk and looked at it and read the note out loud. “What am I looking at?” he asked.

“That’s it, Greg. That’s the book that ruined Cathy’s life. The evidence that I gave her. It’s been missing all these years. She gave it to Peter Alcott so he could give it to me. Peter brought it to me a couple of days ago.”

Greg looked at it for a moment. Then Joe continued. “Greg, she thought she was still in danger. She thought there were more people involved. Is it possible that she was right? Could there be someone out there who is still threatened by her?” he asked.

Greg shook his head and answered, “I don’t know, Joe. I’ll have my people take a look at it. I don’t know what we can get from it after all this time.”

Joe leaned forward and said, “Listen, Greg, whatever you do with that book, be careful. A lot of people are dead because of whatever is in that book. I don’t want any more lives to be ruined because of it. Do you hear me, Greg?”

Greg nodded and asked, “Have you seen any strangers hanging around the hospital? Or anything out of the ordinary?”

“I’ll let you know if we discover anything, Joe,” Greg said as he walked Joe out.

As Joe was leaving the building he spotted an old colleague coming in. They made eye contact and both stopped.

Smiling, Joe said, “I didn’t really have a chance to talk to you last time I saw you. It was a pretty crazy day. Does Greg still have you consulting on the Chandler case?”

“Yes,” she answered. “But there really isn’t much to it. He just wants me to follow up on some old leads to make sure we didn’t overlook anything back then. But it was so long ago. I don’t expect to find much.

“Well, I just dropped something off with Greg that you might find interesting,” he said.

“How is Catherine doing, Joe? Is there any chance that I could interview her?” Diana asked. “I have some of questions I would like to ask her.”

Joe answered, “She’s still in a coma, Diana. Right now it’s not looking too good.”

Joe just smiled a little and said, “Thanks, Diana. I’ll let you know if anything changes. But you were in the interview the day she came in here. What else do you want to know?”

She shook it off, saying, “I guess it isn’t really that important. Never mind, Joe.” She couldn’t tell Joe that the real reason she wanted to meet Catherine was because she wanted to see, up close, the face of the woman who had broken Vincent’s heart so badly that he could never love again. She wanted to speak with Catherine so that she could understand what kind of woman would turn her back on her beautiful son.

Interrupting her thoughts, Joe said, “Listen, why don’t you send me a list of questions for her and when she’s feeling up to it I will ask them for you,” he offered.

Before turning to leave, Joe said, “Okay then, I guess I’ll let you get to it. Why don’t we get together for lunch some time? It would be great to catch up.”

Then they went their separate ways, both knowing that it would probably never happen.

Three weeks after Catherine’s surgery, Peter heard a knock on the balcony door. Peter went to investigate. He found Vincent waiting there looking out on the city skyline. Peter joined him and they stood there in silence. Peter could sense Vincent’s sadness.

Vincent sighed deeply. “Peter, I need to see her. I need to see Catherine. She needs me. I can feel her slipping farther and farther away each day.”

“Vincent, she’s in the ICU. I don’t know how to get you past all of the hospital security,” was Peter’s reply.

Vincent asked, “Do you think Joe Maxwell could help me? Do you think he would help me?”

Vincent said, “Do you think he would be willing to meet with me and help me see Catherine?”

Peter said, “I’ll go call him right now. Are you sure you want to do this?”

Vincent said, “I’m desperate. I can feel her slipping away. I don’t know what else to do, Peter. She’s dying. She needs me. Jake told me that there is a video of Catherine that was in her grave. Do you think Joe would let me see it?

Peter nodded. “I’ll ask.” Then said, “Will you wait here?” He went to call Joe.

Vincent could hear Peter on the phone. “Hello, Joe. This is Peter. I know it’s late, but would it be possible for you to come over here tonight? … Yes, I know what time it is. … There’s someone here that wants to meet you. … It’s Vincent, Joe. Yes, Joe, Cathy’s Vincent. Jake’s father. … No, Joe, I’m not kidding. … That’s fine … yes … Oh and Joe? … He wants to see the video that was in Cathy’s grave. … Would that be possible? … Yes … and Joe … can you come alone? … Thank you, Joe. … All right … See you soon.”

Vincent could feel his heart pounding out of his chest. He placed his hand over his chest and breathed deeply in an effort to calm himself. As Peter stepped out onto the balcony, Vincent asked, “Do you think I can trust him, Peter?”

Peter looked worried. Then he said, “Catherine chose to trust him, Vincent. That says a lot. Joe and his wife have not left her side through all of this.”

Vincent nodded. Peter’s reassurance set his mind a little at ease, but his heart was still beating wildly when the doorbell rang.

Turning to Vincent, Peter said, “Vincent, why don’t you wait here on the balcony for a few minutes while I explain some things to him?”

As Joe came into the room and looked around, he looked a little irritated when he didn’t see anyone there. “I thought you said Vincent was here, Peter?”

Peter was patient. “He is, Joe. But before I introduce the two of you there are some things you need to know. Please sit down and I will explain.”

Joe was impatient, but tried to keep it in check. He had never come this close to solving the mystery of Vincent before and he didn’t want this opportunity to slip away.

Peter began, “Joe, I have known Vincent for most of his life. Ever since he was an infant. He was abandoned as a newborn. He was raised by a small group of people who live, for the most part, secluded from the world.”

Peter answered, “No they aren’t fugitives as far as I know. They each have their own … reasons. But for Vincent, it was imperative for his safety. He would never have survived growing up in our world.”

“Why, Peter? Is something wrong with him? Is he deformed in some way?” Joe asked.

Peter thought for a moment, then answered, “I wouldn’t say “deformed”. His features are different from … well … from anyone … but not deformed. If he had grown up in this world, Joe, he would have been subject to constant ridicule at best. At worst he would have been killed or treated as an outcast, a freak. But where he grew up, among people who loved him and accepted him, he was able to survive and thrive.”

Joe was intrigued, “Peter, you’ve known Cathy since she was born too. Have Cathy and Vincent always known each other?”

Peter shook his head, “No. No that was just a coincidence. If you believe in coincidences. Years ago Cathy was brutally attacked. She was badly beaten and her face was slashed.”

Joe nodded, “Yes, I remember that. It was just before she came to work at the DA’s office.”

Peter continued, “Vincent was the one who found her unconscious and bleeding in Central Park. He took her home to his father and they stitched and bandaged her wounds and took care of her until she was strong enough to go home.[3] During that time Cathy and Vincent developed a deep bond. The love they had for each other was something … beyond anything I have ever seen or known.”

Catherine was in Joe’s office. She said, “There are things that you don’t know. Things … that I don’t share with anyone.”

Catherine said, “There’s someone in my life that … I care very deeply for. Someone that I love.”

Sighing, she answered, “I don’t know. I’m praying.” She smiled a little.

Catherine looked relieved as she smiled and said, “Me too.” Then she added, “You have a heart like his.”[4]

Coming back to the present, Joe asked, “If they loved each other so much, then why did she let him believe she was dead for the last 25 years? What kind of love is that? And why hasn’t he been around for the last 3 weeks? If he loves her so much, why isn’t he there by her side at the hospital?”

Hearing a sound, they both turned to see Vincent standing there beside the balcony curtain. “I was hoping that you could help me with that, Mr. Maxwell.” There was a long silence as they all stood looking at each other. Vincent slowly removed the hood that partially obscured his face and said, “She needs me. She needs to know that I’m near. She’s lost and alone in the dark, Mr. Maxwell. … She’s been alone for too long. I can feel her losing hope. I can feel her slipping away. I don’t want to lose her again.”

Joe stood frozen in place. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He walked slowly toward Vincent. After looking at him closely, he asked, “You are the one that Catherine …? You’re Jake’s … father?”

Despite his shock at Vincent’s appearance, Joe cautiously extended his hand and said, “Call me Joe.”

Vincent understood what he was trying to ask. He answered softly, “I don’t know, Joe. All I know is that this is what I am. This is who I am.”

Peter said, “Why don’t we all sit down? We might as well be comfortable while we talk.”

Vincent and Joe both turned toward Peter and nodded. The tension in the room was intense. Vincent spoke first. “Joe, your daughter, Rebecka … she’s an exceptional young woman. You must be very proud of her.”

Joe smiled and nodded, “Yes, we are. Jake is pretty special too. You did a wonderful job raising him, Vincent. He’s a good man.”

At that Vincent smiled too, and said, “I had a lot of help. He often reminds me of Catherine. This has all been very painful and difficult for him. I think Rebecka’s love is what’s holding him together.”

“He said he wanted the truth. I told him everything I know. He was pretty shaken up by it,” Joe said.

Vincent nodded. “Yes, he was, but he needed answers. He came to me afterward and I told him everything I know as well … everything that happened.”

“Yes, if that’s possible. I’m trying to understand what happened to her and why she left instead of coming home with me and Jake.”

“I don’t know if it will give you the answers you are looking for. It’s hard to watch,” Joe replied.

Joe set up his laptop on Peter’s dining room table and Vincent began to watch. The video evoked emotions in him that were difficult to control. As he watched the image of the woman he had loved so many years ago, he was struck by her beauty and her sadness. He was amazed as he watched the birth of his son. Then seeing her pain and suffering at the hands of the monster who had destroyed her life filled him with rage. At the same time he was overcome by sorrow and guilt that he had not been able to save her. By the time the video ended with Gabriel’s sneering face, Vincent was shaking in an effort to control himself in Joe’s presence. He didn’t want to frighten him. He pounded his fist forcefully on the table and said Catherine’s name with such emotion that it shook Joe to the core.

Putting his head in his hands, Vincent began to weep as he said, “Oh, Catherine. Catherine. Catherine. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Peter and Joe sat in silence as Vincent cried for several minutes. Gaining control of himself, Vincent said, “I’m sorry. I …”

Joe interrupted him, “There is no need to be sorry, Vincent. It has affected everyone who has seen it. Do you mind if I ask you a couple of questions?”

“When Gabriel said, ‘I will own him too.’ was he talking about you?” Joe asked.

“Jacob was very sick. I allowed myself to be captured by Gabriel, so that I could help my child. But no, he didn’t do that to me,” Vincent said.

“There was an electrified cage in the basement of his mansion. It had been ripped apart by someone or something incredibly strong. Can you tell me about that?” Joe asked.

Vincent was thoughtful before he spoke. “Joe … I’ve taken a great risk by revealing myself to you. But I am desperate to see Catherine. I don’t want her to die thinking that I have let her down again. I came to you because I need your help to see her. What Gabriel did to me back then … is meaningless. I’ve chosen to trust you because Catherine chose to trust you and because my son respects you. We love the same people, Joe. We both want them to be well. We both want them to be happy. Will you help me to see her or not?”

Joe was silent for a few moments. He was clearly considering the situation. “Catherine was moved to a private room this afternoon. We might be able to pull it off, but I can’t do it alone, Vincent” he finally said. “Would you allow me to call my wife?”

A couple of hours later Vincent, Joe and Jen were in Catherine’s darkened hospital room. Joe was standing with Jen. Jen couldn’t take her eyes off of Vincent. Vincent couldn’t take his eyes off of Catherine. The only sounds in the room were the sound of the monitors. Most of her scrapes and bruises had healed. The bandages and staples had been removed from her head. Except for the cast on her arm and the tubes and wires she was hooked to, she just looked like she was sleeping. How he longed to scoop her up in his arms and take her home with him, where he knew she would be safe.

Even though she was unconscious, Vincent was hesitant to touch her. She had been so afraid to be touched in the days before she had collapsed. He approached her and quietly sat by her side. Oblivious to Jen and Joe, he took her hand and with his other hand he stroked her cheek. He turned her hand to look at her wrist. Gently stroking the scar there, he began to cry.

He kissed her wrist and said, “Catherine, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I couldn’t find you. I’m sorry that I couldn’t save you from him. That last night in the garden, you said we had seven days. I lied that night, Catherine. I said that if you let me share those last seven days with you that I wouldn’t have any hopes or expectations. I tried. I really did. But I couldn’t help it. I love you, Catherine. I can’t help hoping. I’ve heard you calling out to me. I’ve heard you lost in the dark these last weeks. I’m here now. Follow my voice if you can, Catherine. Follow me out of the dark. I want you to come back to me. I need you to come back to me. You’ve been alone for too long, Catherine. It’s time to come home. There are people here who love you. There are people here who need you. I need you. Jacob needs you. I know he is hurt and angry right now. But he needs to know his mother. He needs to know how amazing, how beautiful you are. You deserve to know him. Come back to us, Catherine. Please come back.” He continued to hold her hand as he lay his head down against the side of the bed and quietly wept as he repeated her name softly over and over.

Sitting alone in the dark, Catherine wasn’t sure how long she had been there. Up until now she had only been able to hear the indistinct voices of those who came to see her. She had been unable to make anyone hear her calling out. She had nearly given up even trying. She suddenly felt someone touching her hand. Someone was stroking her cheek. Her heart started beating faster as she realized it was Vincent. She felt him kiss her wrist. When he began to speak, she could hear his voice clearly. “Vincent?” She stood up and began moving toward his voice. She heard him say, “Follow my voice if you can… Follow me out of the dark.”

“I’m trying, Vincent. Keep talking. Don’t leave. Please don’t leave,” she pleaded.

As she moved toward his voice the darkness began to lift a little. When Vincent stopped speaking she started to panic. “Don’t leave me alone in the dark, Vincent. I don’t want to be alone in the dark anymore.”

Then she realized that she could still feel him holding her hand. She could hear him quietly crying and whispering her name. She kept moving toward the sound.

As Catherine’s eyes began to open she was confused in her unfamiliar surroundings. Then she saw him … Vincent at her side. His head was bowed and he was crying. She tried to reach out to him with her free hand. Her arm felt very heavy. With great effort she reached to stroke his hair. She tried to say his name, but she couldn’t make any sound come out. She squeezed his hand as tight as she could and he stopped crying.

The love and longing in Vincent’s voice was breaking Jen’s heart. She stood there, crying for both of them and everything that they had lost, when she thought she saw Cathy move. “Joe, look!” Jen gasped.

Vincent thought he felt something. He felt a warmth in his chest, radiating from her as she slowly recognized him. He stopped crying. He could have sworn she squeezed his hand. YES! She was definitely squeezing his hand. He thought he felt her lightly stroking his hair. Lifting his head he tentatively looked at her. Her eyes were blinking. She seemed to be attempting to focus. Her eyes seemed to lock with his and then … she smiled softly and squeezed his hand again. She lifted her broken arm with great effort and caught a tear with her finger before it fell from his face. Her arm suddenly fell to her chest. She started to close her eyes again. Her grip loosened and Vincent could see her fading again. He held her hand tighter, refusing to let her go and said, “Catherine! … Catherine! Stay here … Stay with me Catherine. Don’t let go, Catherine. …” And then he softly whispered in her ear, “I love you, Catherine. Please don’t leave.”

Catherine took a deep breath and opened her eyes again. She gripped his hand a little tighter.

Joe came forward. “Vincent, now that she’s awake doctors and nurses will be here soon. They will know from her monitors that something is happening. You need to go.”

Vincent tried to let go of her hand, but Catherine’s grip was too tight. He could see her pleading with her eyes not to leave. He wondered why she didn’t speak. Holding her hand to his chest he said, “Catherine, I have to go. I can’t be caught here. I promise I WILL BE BACK. Can you fight to stay with us? Please don’t slip away again. Joe and Jen will stay here with you. All right?”

Catherine’s grip loosened as her expression relaxed. Vincent reluctantly retreated from her bedside and left quietly the way he had come. Her eyes followed him until she couldn’t see him anymore. Jen rushed to her side.

Holding Catherine’s hand in both of hers, Jen said, “Cathy? Hey, Sweetie … welcome back. It is so good to have you back. I have been so worried about you. Don’t you ever scare me like that again.”

The duty nurse came in and began checking monitors, taking vital signs. Looking closely at Catherine’s eyes.

Thirty minutes later Becka slipped quietly into Catherine’s room and whispered something in her father’s ear.

Joe followed her out into the hall. As soon as the door was closed behind them he asked, “Where’s Jake? Is he coming?”

Becka quickly said, “Shhhh, Dad.” Then she whispered, “Jake’s here. He’s in the waiting room down the hall.”

Becka rolled her eyes. How can he not understand? she thought. Then she said, “He doesn’t want to see her, Dad. Not if she’s awake.”

“If you need him for anything, we will be waiting down the hall, okay?” Becka added. She kissed her dad on the cheek and then turned back to where she had come from.

Becka could feel the growing distance between them. She was worried that eventually the strain on the relationship between her and Jake and her parents would be too much. She was afraid that eventually she would have to make a choice between them. For the most part, Becka tried not to think about it. But she knew that sooner or later, she would have to think about it.

Jake and Becka sat close together in the waiting room. As Jake held her close he was thankful for her love and support. At the same time he felt ashamed that he had been relying on her so much. She looked tired. He knew that the situation was putting a great strain on her relationship with her parents.

The door to the waiting room opened and Joe came in and sat down opposite Jake and Becka.

“So what’s the news, Joe? Have they told you anything? Is she going to be all right?” Jake asked.

“Right now, all we know is that she is out of the coma. They are going to assess her tomorrow. We will know more after that,” Joe replied.

Joe said, “We were here with your father when she woke up, Jake. He was talking to her, pleading with her really, and she woke up.”

Jake was taken aback. He wasn’t sure if he heard Joe right. “Wait … What? Did you say my father was here? MY FATHER? I don’t understand. How could my father be here?” he asked.

“Your father reached out to me. I guess he was desperate. Vincent asked me if I would help him to see Cathy. He was sitting there talking to her, and crying and she just …”

Jake interrupted, “Joe, are you telling me that you actually brought my father here? Are you kidding me?!?! Are you crazy? Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? How could you do that?” Jake sounded very angry.

Joe became defensive. “Look, Jake … Vincent reached out to me. He’s the one who wanted to come here. He said he had to see her. So Jen and I helped him. That’s it.”

Jake was pacing back and forth. He couldn’t believe that Joe would endanger his father like that. “You’ve seen him, Joe. You must know that most people who saw him would shoot first and ask questions later. I can’t believe you put him in danger like that. For what?”

Joe was trying to explain. “Hey, wait a minute, Jake, your father is a grown man! No one made him come here. That was his choice. And it’s a good thing he did, because she responded to him. Cathy has been lying there in that bed for three weeks. She couldn’t respond to anyone, but she responded to him. She needed him.”

Joe’s defensive tone just made Jake angrier. “SHE NEEDED HIM? WHY IS EVERYONE SO WORRIED ABOUT WHAT SHE NEEDS? WHERE HAS SHE BEEN FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS WHEN WE NEEDED HER?”

Jen had come running when she heard the yelling. She was afraid of what she would find. She entered the room in time to hear Jake.

Jakes voice had become softer even though it was clear that he was trying to control his rage. “Where … was … she … when … he … needed … her? Where was she when I needed her?”

The defensive anger seemed to drain from Joe as he heard the pain in Jake’s voice. He could suddenly picture the little boy who grew up wishing he had a mother. And the little boy that had watched his father live for years without the woman that he loved.

Joe spoke softly. “I’m sorry, Jake. I really am. But this is something you have to take up with your father. He asked for our help and we helped. And I’m not sorry we did.”

Jake nodded, His suppressed rage was clearly visible on his face. He turned and left the room.

Becka was standing speechless in front of her parents. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’m sorry, Dad. … but I have to go.” She turned and ran from the room. She caught up with Jake at the elevator and threw her arms around him. Becka had made her choice.

Jen came close to Joe and gently touched him and looked up into his face. “Hey, Joe, are you okay?” she asked.

Joe looked at her, the pain was evident in his eyes. “Did we just lose our daughter, Jen?”

Jen tried to smile through her threatening tears. She shook her head and put her hand on Joe’s cheek. “No, no, Honey, we haven’t lost her.”

Jenny smiled and tried to sound cheerful, “It’s going to be okay, Joe. I promise.”

“No, it doesn’t feel okay right now,” she agreed. “But you know what they say, don’t you, Joe?”

She smiled and said, “Everything will be okay in the end. If it isn’t okay, then it isn’t the end.”

Joe tried to smile, he put his arms around his beautiful wife and in that moment he truly understood what it was to cherish her.

The next day when Jen entered Catherine’s hospital room, the first thing she saw was a huge bouquet of red and white roses. They were breathtaking and the sweet aroma filled the room. Leaning her face into the bouquet, she closed her eyes and inhaled the beautiful perfume. As she opened her eyes, she noticed a card nestled deep in between the stems. Opening it she was moved to tears as she read, “Catherine, With love all things are possible. Vincent”

She turned to Catherine. How she wanted to talk to her about Vincent, about her recovery and about their children. “Wake up Cathy. We have so much to talk about. You have been holding out on me, Sweetie. How in the world did you ever keep Vincent a secret? He loves you so much. Oh My Gosh, Cathy, he almost broke my heart last night. Is he really Jake’s father? C’mon, Cathy wake up so we can talk.”

Just then the nurse came in to check on Catherine. “It doesn’t work that way, Mam.”

“Patients waking up from this kind of brain injury … they don’t just start talking, Honey. It’s going to be a long time before she’s in any condition to talk to you about anything. Maybe even never. She’s got a long hard road ahead of her,” the nurse said.

“Right now she’s sedated. It’s common for people coming out of a coma to be confused and agitated, sometimes even violent,” the nurse explained. “She’s been sedated so that she can’t hurt herself or anyone else. But don’t worry, Mam, she’s fine. She will probably be sleeping most of the day. She won’t know if you are here or not.” The nurse then turned and left the room.

After the nurse left the room Jen took Catherine’s hand and said, “What does she know, Cathy? The old busybody. She doesn’t know you. She has no idea how strong you are or how much you’ve already overcome. This is will be like a walk in the park for you.”

Jen sat with Catherine for about an hour and then she took Catherine’s hand in hers and said, “Hey, Cathy. They say you are going to be sleeping all day. So I’m going to go for now. I’ll be back tomorrow, I promise.” She kissed Catherine’s forehead and left.

Late in the afternoon Catherine opened her eyes. The room was quiet. Looking around she felt slightly woozy and disoriented. Where am I? Am I in in a hospital? she wondered. The walls were white. It smelled … sterile. How did I get here? she asked herself. Trying to sit up she found that she couldn’t move. Her wrists and ankles were restrained to the sides of the bed. She could feel something tightly strapped across her chest and hips. No, no, no, no, she thought as she tried to push down the panic that was rising within her. The last time she found herself in this position was when … no, no, no … Calm down, Catherine. This can’t be happening again. It’s NOT HAPPENING! THIS IS NOT HAPPENING! she told herself. It’s just a nightmare. You’re okay. You’re okay. She tried to force herself to remain calm as she tried to gently coax her right hand through the restraints. It didn’t work. The more she struggled the more difficult it became to suppress the panic. She could feel it rising from deep within her. The tightness in her chest. She tried to call out for help. She tried to scream, but no sound would come out. She began frantically thrashing against her restraints. Her chest was on fire. She felt like she couldn’t breathe. The nurse came in and seemed surprised to find Catherine awake and in such a state. She ran back out and came back in with a large orderly. Catherine froze. Every limb of her body felt like it was on fire. The orderly held Catherine down while the nurse gave her an injection.

“Don’t worry Miss Chandler,” said the nurse. “It won’t hurt. You will feel better soon.”

In Catherine’s head she was screaming, pleading, NO, NO, NO, No, no, no, no… until everything slowly went black.

Vincent had been restless since returning from the hospital the night before. Catherine was alive. She was awake. She had seemed so afraid to let go of his hand. But he had no choice. Leaving her so soon after she had awakened had been nearly impossible. He had lingered in a tunnel beneath the hospital for hours after he left her side. Finally returning home, he had found it difficult to sleep. Now it felt as if time was standing still. He was desperate for news of Catherine. He was desperate to see her again. He was wondering why Jake hadn’t come with any news.

Late in the day he was trying to pass the time playing chess with Father. But he was so distracted that he had already lost two games in a row. Father loved to win at chess. After all, it was a rare treat when he played the game with Vincent. But two in a row was unheard of.

“Oh for Heaven’s sake,” Father exclaimed. “You know how I love to win a good game of Chess, Vincent. But you aren’t even making an effort. There is no satisfaction is such a victory.”

Vincent appeared to be studying the game board, but he was actually so far away that he didn’t even hear Father’s complaint. Looking up, he saw Father staring at him expectantly.

“Hmmm?” Vincent asked. He sighed heavily and said, “I’m sorry, Father, I just can’t seem to …”

Just then he was seized by a feeling of panic and dread. He knew instantly that it was Catherine. He struggled to catch his breath as her panic increased until she was in such a state of frenzy that he bolted from the room. His old instinct to save her at any cost had kicked in. He would not lose her again. He too was in a near frenzy as he approached the tunnels under the hospital. But as Catherine’s sedative began to take effect he felt her beginning to lose consciousness. “Catherine, no, no, no …” Then somehow through the primal rage that had overtaken him, he heard her voice…

“NO!” He heard Catherine say angrily. “No, you can’t protect me, Vincent. I won’t let you … do that … ever again.”

He turned left and right trying to determine where her voice had come from. Not seeing her, he answered into the darkness, “I want to protect you, Catherine.”

He heard her voice again, “I know you do. But I can’t let you. I won’t let you. That can’t be part of … who we are … ever again.”

He still continued to look in front, in back, and from side to side, trying to determine where her voice was coming from.

She continued, speaking softly, “I will try to keep you from feeling my fear. But if you do … promise me, Vincent, that you won’t come to me. You can’t come to me. I need you to promise.”

He could feel his rage was being replaced with despair. Calling into the dark, he said, “Catherine, what you are asking is impossible … I can’t … I can’t do that.”

Then he heard her softly reply, “Then my only option is to leave, to go as far away as I possibly can and never see you again.”

Her reply had been so soft that he finally realized that her voice was coming from inside of his head. He held his hands to his head and pleaded, “No, Catherine, no.”

And then he heard her say, “No one else can be hurt or die because of me.”

Vincent felt the last of the rage draining from his body. He leaned up against the tunnel wall and then slowly slipped to the floor. His desperation for her was evident as he softly repeated her name over and over. He could not control the fear that gripped his heart, not knowing what was happening to her.

He wanted so badly to rip the doors off of the hospital, or to crash through the balcony window of her hospital room and take her home with him where he knew she would be safe … But the conviction in her voice as she promised to go away and never see him again held him fast to the tunnel floor.

So he waited. He waited for the shadows of the city to lengthen. He waited for darkness to envelop the world above him. He waited for the city to slumber. And all the while he waited, he hoped and he prayed that she was all right. Finally he felt that the time was right and made his way up to the alley behind the hospital. Climbing up the fire escape, the way he had done just the night before, he made his way to the balcony of Catherine’s room. The curtains had not been drawn, so he could see her laying on the bed. He waited to see if anyone would enter her room. After only a few minutes he could see a shaft of light from the hallway stream across the floor as a nurse entered the room. She walked to Catherine’s side. He saw a syringe as she injected something into her IV. A low growl from deep within him escaped before he could stop it. But he stayed perfectly still as he watched the nurse tuck the blanket tightly around Catherine. And then she left.

Vincent managed to slowly pry the lock of the window and slid it open. When he reached Catherine’s bedside he could see that she was sleeping soundly. He wanted to touch her, to hold her hand. Pulling back the blanket he discovered the restraints that were keeping her tightly secured to the bed.

No wonder you were filled with such terror, he thought. Didn’t they know what this would do to you? He could feel the rage rising in him again, filling him, over taking him. Then he heard her voice again saying, “That can’t be part of … who we are … ever again.”

Vincent was able to calm himself enough to think more clearly. He quickly unfastened her restraints, removed her IV bag from the pole and wrapped her in the blanket. Lifting her from the bed, he quietly slipped out of the window onto the balcony and managed to slide the window shut behind him. It was only a few minutes before they had reached the safety of the tunnel beneath the hospital. When Vincent felt that they were a safe distance away, he leaned his back against the wall of the tunnel and sat on the floor with her in his arms. He was shaking from the intense emotions as the adrenalin in his body began to subside. He needed a few minutes to recover.

As he watched her gently breathing, he recalled the last time he had held her this close in his arms. He remembered the last time he had carried her to safety. It was the night she had died.

He held her close to his chest and whispered in her ear. “I love you, Catherine. I won’t let you go this time. I won’t let you be hurt again, I promise.” He closed his eyes and breathed her in like a breath of fresh air. “Never again, Catherine,” he said. And then he rose and carried Catherine to the tunnels. She was too weak to protest and he wouldn’t have listened anyway. In the tunnels he could keep her safe. He was not sure what kind of care she needed, but he would at least know that she was safe and she was alive.

The sentries sent word on the pipes that Vincent was coming back, and that Catherine was with him. Vincent asked the sentry to instruct Father to prepare the guest chamber closest to his. Word of Catherine’s arrival spread quickly through the tunnel community. As Vincent neared the living quarters he began to see all of his dear friends lining the tunnels to see what was causing all the excitement. Mary and Father followed him in to help him get her settled.

“She is unconscious, Vincent,” Father stated. “She isn’t still in a coma, is she?”

Vincent shook his head, “No, Father. I believe she has been sedated.” And then he stammered, “They had her in restraints, Father … RESTRAINTS!” He clutched the back of a chair in an effort to control his anger. “Didn’t they know? Didn’t they know what that would do to her?”

He was pacing back and forth. “She must have woken up and thought it was happening all over again … She was so frightened, Father. She was terrified … beyond all reason!” He paced back and forth even more. “By the time I reached the hospital, she had been sedated.”

Father was afraid to ask, but he had to know. “Tell me, Vincent, what did you do? What happened?”

Vincent’s pacing began to slow as he slowly calmed down. “I waited, Father. That’s all I could do. I waited … until it was dark … until it was safe. And then I went into her room through the balcony window and brought her home with me.” Vincent’s chest was heaving.

Mary placed her hand on Vincent. “Well, she is here now, Vincent. Don’t worry. She will be safe here. Let’s just let her sleep and we can all figure this out in the morning.”

Vincent rose from the chair and embraced Mary. “Thank you, Mary,” he said and kissed the top of her head. “Sweet, sweet, Mary. What would we ever do without you?”

Mary blushed terribly and pushed, Vincent away. “Ohhhh, go on with you, Vincent.” And she rushed him out of the room. Turning around she lifted her apron and wiped a tear from her eye.

[1] Beauty and the Beast Season 1 Episode 1 “Once Upon A Time”

[2] Beauty and the Beast Season 1 Episode 20 “To Reign In Hell”

[3] Beauty and the Beast Season 1 Episode 1 “Once Upon A Time In New York”

[4] Beauty and the Beast Season 3 Episode 1 “Though Lovers Be Lost”