A/N: Italics are dreams that characters are having.

He lays motionless on the hospital bed with many tubes and wires attached to his body. A machine monitored his heartbeat as another helped him breathe. A needle connected to a tube kept his body hydrated while another kept the pain at bay. The morphine made his body forget the bullet that was once lodged by his heart.

Some would say he was a lucky son of a bitch. He managed to come back home in one piece while others were missing limbs and some their memories they wish to never recover. He came out of the war with one large scar that he would trade if he could. It was a souvenir of a very huge mistake he wishes he never took part of.

Voluntarily he joined an elite group of armed forces who were fearless and wanted to face danger head on. They went after terrorists, leaving communities ablaze. 'Kill them all' was their motto and they did the best they could.

Secret laboratories were also demolished. Most were built for the sole purpose to kill while few were to help heal and save lives.

One day he was left alone in a sector, all suspects were presumed dead. He was to search each room and make sure they didn't a leave a live body. Cages lined the wall and what he discovered next left him disheartened. Animals laid dead in their own pool of blood, shot to death by whom he considered as family, a band of brothers connected by an oath.

"You killed them all. You're the animals not them."

An injured scientist launched at him with a knife. He felt the stinging pain as it sliced through his cheek. Just as he was trained he wrestled with the scientist who was still armed with a knife. They both struggled but he knew he had the upper hand as he was much stronger. He twisted the knife and turned it to face the owner. The scientist gave up, knowing what his fate was but before his death he stabbed his enemy with a syringe filled with something only he knew of.

The pains of the past haunted him every day and every night. His nightmares were recurring and he spent every waking moment trying to forget all the sins he committed.

He gasps for air and opens his eyes. To his left sat a figure, blurry as his eyes were still adjusting to the bright afternoon sunlight that came in through the window.

"Where am I?" He says weakly.

"Hospital." She answers, her voice weary. "The doctors were able to remove the bullet from your chest." Her eyes were tired, the restless night showing in her face.

The sound of her voice brings a smile to his face. He rubs his eyes and his vision starts to clear. "That's good. Would be a pain to get through airport security if they hadn't." He chuckles.

She smiles lightly. "Not sure if I should be happy to hear you joke about being shot but it's nice to see you smile for a change."

He slowly moves his hand and lets his fingertips rest on hers. "Don't worry about me. I'm okay."

"Do you remember anything from yesterday?"

"You saved my life. Thank you." He tries to move his hand closer to hers but wince in pain instead.

"Barely. The doctor said an inch to the right and you would have been killed." She pauses and places her hand above his."I should be thanking you. If it weren't for you we would have never caught the suspect. Sorry you got shot in the process. I promise you that he will go to jail for what he did."

"I thought...you said..."

She shakes her head. "I thought so to. The bullet they pulled out from you matched the suspect's gun and ballistic confirmed it. I never thought I'd say this but I'm glad my shot missed for once. You're a true hero." She smiles at him and squeezes his hand. "Is there anything else you remember?"

"I was in Time Square, somewhere along there when I heard the shots. My instincts just kicked in and I ran towards it. That's when I saw him and the gun. I knew I had to stop him so I ran as fast I could and tackled him. Then I saw blood and before I passed out I remember seeing you, your eyes. Your voice was the last thing I heard." He flips his hand over, their palms now touching.

She meets his eyes for the first time since their last meeting. An exchange of acknowledgment passes between the two, that they will always be connected by this traumatic event.

"Knock knock." Another female voice by the door breaks their stare.

She quickly lets go of his hand and turns to her partner who was walking towards them. She stands from her chair and the second female was much taller. They were opposites in physical stature. One tall, tan and of Latin descent while the other short, light and of mix heritage. They came from two different worlds but their partnership was one of a kind.

"Vincent this is my partner detective Vargas."

"How you feeling?" Detective Vargas asks.

"Like I was shot." He pauses and looks from one detective to another, leaving his eyes on the shorter of the two, their gaze meeting once again. "Other than that never better."

"Hhmmm...sorry I interrupted." Tess smiles and winks at her partner. "But our boss Joe just wanted to know if you were awake yet."

"You didn't interrupt anything." Catherine quickly chimes in. "I just finished asking him questions about the suspect. Isn't that right Vincent?"

"Yes. I was just telling detective Chandler how I chased him down."

"We're glad that you're okay but my partner and I have to get back to the precinct. We'll let you know if we have any further questions."

"I'll be in here detective Vargas."

"C'mom Cat."

"Feel better Vincent."

As she reaches the door she looks back one last time, her olive eyes meeting his longing brown eyes. "Bye." She silently tells him.

The two detectives walks quietly through the halls as nurses and aids bustled along pass them. They reach the elevator and the closest, Catherine presses the down button. They stare at the metal doors, waiting for it to open. Above the door, the arrow pointing down blinks and the doors slide open.

They enter the empty elevator and detective Vargas presses a button with the number one on it. The door closes and without realizing it Catherine lets out a breath she had been holding.

"What the hell was that about?" Detective Vargas asks.

Catherine turns to her partner who was already staring down at her with a grin on her face. "Tess, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh please Cat. You two may have not noticed but I was actually in the room. I saw the two of you, the longing stare and you holding his hand. Don't tell me that was nothing."

She crosses her arms in front of her. The conversation was something she did not expect. "I was just thanking him for helping us catch the bad guy. Nothing more."

"Just so you know, in the future when you two hook up don't be surprise to hear I told you so." Tess tells her happily.

"The guy got shot. He's a witness." Once more in a futile effort she tries to explain to her partner that nothing was going on.

"But he's hot. Don't you agree?"

"Will you drop the conversation if I agree?"

"Yes."

"Fine. He's hot. Okay. Happy?"

"Ecstatic. Serious question."

"I thought we were dropping this."

"I lied. Are you going to tell our witness that you stayed here in the hospital all night long?"

"How did you..."

"It's written all over your face and besides you're still wearing the same clothes from yesterday. Speaking of, you might want to change before we head back to the precinct. We don't need everyone to know about your crush."

The elevator stops and the doors slides open.

"I don't have a crush on him." Catherine tells her partner as she gets off the elevator. "I'll meet you at the car. I have to make a phone call."

"I'm dropping the subject. For now."

West of the city the sun was settling itself on the horizon. It was late afternoon and soon twilight will takeover.

The machines were the only sound of life as the patient slept. His heart rate was steady and his breathing normal. He slept peacefully as he dreamt of the girl with green eyes dressed in a golden gown standing by the rose bush.

The sky was clear and the sun was up. The breeze was light but the air was cold enough to form goosebumps on her arms. She brushes the hair away from her face and places it behind her ears. From the corner of her eyes she sees him standing by the shadows of the castle.

She smiles at him and he slips further away into the darkness, far enough so that she wouldn't be able to see him. He stares at his arms covered in hazel hair and wished he was able to feel the cool breeze on his skin.

"Why are you hiding?" Her voice was gentle and kind.

"Stay away." He grumbled as he stares at his paw like palm.

"As you wish but before I go, whenever you're ready I will be right here."

He whispers in his sleep and he stirs before opening his eyes.

"And the hero finally wakes. You scared the shit out of us Vincent."

"Chip." He says weakly.

"Don't tempt me Vincent. I can call you Scar just like in Lion King."

"Boys." She looks over at her son standing next to her and then at the young man lying on the bed, one that she raised as her own. Her thick brown hair touches her face as she bends down and her lips gently touches his forehead. "Vincent, honey what J.T. meant to say is, we're glad that you're okay. You had us worried."

"I'm sorry Ma." Vincent answers.

"I'm happy that people like you still exist in this world but please be more careful. We just got you back."

"Ma don't worry. I'm okay I promise."

"You've got a scar Vincent. When did his happen?"

"It was months ago and it's healed now. I didn't tell you or J.T. because I know you'll just worry. Besides you're too young to have wrinkles Ma." He cracks a smile.

"Thank you honey but we will continue this conversation next time."

"I know. Can I talk to J.T. alone?"

"Sure. I'm going to get some coffee. Honey would you like me to get you a cup?"

"No Ma. I have an early class tomorrow and the coffee will keep me awake all night."

She walks out the door and leaves her two sons alone in the room.

"What did you want to talk about?"

"Do you remember that story Grams and Grandpa told us when we were kids?"

"You mean that story about your ancestor being half man and half lion?"

"Yea that one. This may sound crazy but I think I just met the girl from the story."

"That is crazy. It was just a story Vincent. A story they told us so that we would behave. Do you remember how scared we were that we would turn into that monster every time we got into trouble?"

"The detective that saved me, her name is Catherine."

"Coincidence."

"She has green eyes."

"I have green eyes."

"Your name is not Catherine nor are you female and you have brown eyes."

"If I wear contacts it can be green too."

"I'm serious J.T. There's something about her, something familiar, as if we've met before. I don't know how to explain it. Am I crazy?"

"Considering you jumped in front of a bullet I would have to say yes you are but if you're talking about this girl from the story and the detective, I don't know. She was the last face you saw before losing consciousness. And the doctor said you flat lined in the ambulance and she was there. Maybe this connection you feel has something to do with that."

"I died?"

"For a minute or so. I didn't have the heart to tell Ma. They say you lost a lot of blood. Had it not been for her you probably wouldn't be alive. The detective was here all night and afternoon until you woke up, she stayed with you."

"She did?"

"Yea she did. She thought she shot you. Ma was mad but she was more scared of losing you. After your surgery they gave the bullets to some cops and had it checked out. Bullet was from the suspect and not hers but she still felt awful about it. Her and Ma talked for a while. Girl to girl stuff. Ma didn't want to leave you all alone. I had classes and my T.A. is out sick. Ma was short staff at the shop. The detective said she would stay. She called us when you woke up. And here we are now. All caught up."

"Thanks. I guess you miss a lot when you get shot."

"Just don't do anything else crazy. Ma, she's not getting any younger. She was always worried when we didn't hear from you. She was happy to read you were coming back home and now this. You're a part of this family as much as we are yours. I'd hate to lose you. You're my best friend."

"I promise no more jumping in front of bullets."

"I'm serious Vincent."

"Not to get too emotional, you know I love you and Ma. Our family wasn't like others but I'm happy you two came into our lives. I promise to be more careful and besides I'm stuck on this bed for a while."

"Good. Now that's out of the way. That detective is pretty hot."

He furrows his brow and his mouth turns to a frown, distorting the scar that covered half of his face.

"Got it. She's spoken for. Vincent and Catherine, eh?"

"You just said you didn't believe the story."

"Maybe not but its interesting to see where this one is headed. Get some rest. Ma and I will be back tomorrow. Good night."

"Good night."

As he closed his eyes all he could think about was the detective named Catherine.