Chapter 279: Cat and Mouse 35

Psych

I heard the pop of the gun before I had even pulled into the parking lot. There was a scream and then it happened again and my body moved without me even thinking about it.

Jumping from the bike I heard it fall into the gravel and ran. I ran like my life depended on it because in a way it did.

Cat was back there.

Had I just heard her lose her life? Had I left her to die?

Fuck.

“I’m right behind you.” Ink puffed.

Feet skidding on the gravel, I rounded the corner. Pole vaulting over the low wall and tried to make sense of what I was seeing before me. It looked like a disaster movie.

Mairi was on her side, clutching her stomach as her blood leaked out onto the flagstones. Melody was pushing at it. Trying to stem the blood.

“Shit.” Ink moved past me but suddenly I couldn’t move because my eyes were fixed on the two women half hanging over the cliff edge.

Lottie and Dana.

The muscles in their shoulders strained.

The one person I couldn’t see was the one person I wanted to see.

Unless.

Fuck had she gone over the cliff? Was that why they were lying like that?

I rushed foward, skidding down beside them on my knees.

And there she was. The love of my fucking life was dangling over certain death holding onto the hands of her friends.

They were the only things stopping her from falling onto the rocks below.

“Fuck my hand is slipping.” Dana said through gritted teeth.

“Hold on cat.” Lottie's face had turned red.

I reached down, leaning out dangerously far over the edge and reached for her. Closing my hands around Cats slender wrists I heaved her upwards. My muscles screamed. So did she and I was sure I heard her shoulder pop out of the socket.

She moved up and inch, then another and I almost gave a yell of relief when my fingers slipped. Cats eyes widened. “No.” The word ripped out of my mouth as I caught her by one arm.

In the distance I could hear sirens screaming towards us. And dimly under it the sound of bikes.

The Lost Reapers were finally coming, but they would get to us too late unless I got my shit together.

“ink.” I yelled. “I need some help.”

“A little busy here.” He yelled right back and that’s when I remembered Maria bleeding form on the floor. I was on my own.

“Hold on Cat. I’m gonna get you up. Just hold on.”

She lifted her beautiful brown eyes to me. “It’s ok.”

“Don’t fucking talk like that. Hold on to his god damn hand and don’t let go.” That was from Lottie. “We are going to get you up.” Her arms went around my waist. Adding her strength to mine and then Melody did the same.

Cat came up like she was made of air, and all of us fell back into a heap.

“Holy shit.” Lottie rolled to her side and burst out laughing. “That was close.”

The laughter didn’t fit the situation but I kind of got it. I didn’t laugh though. I just wrapped my arms around Cat and sucked in breath after breath of her scent.

“Psych.” Inks voice was high and urgent. “A little help please.”

Finally I lifted my head. Catching Cats eyes. “Are you hurt?”

She shook her head, clearly unable to speak.

Helping her to her feet, I passed her into the hands of her waiting friends and went to help Ink.

“What’s the fuck?” Gunner yelled, pushing past the paramedics and Police that were suddenly anywhere. He fell to his knees next to his woman. His eyes wide and panicked with worry. I stepped out of the way so he could get close to her.

Police swarmed everywhere, shouting orders and being useless. I watched as Dana stepped away to speak to them. Leaving Cat to lean heavily against Melody.

Taking a deep breath I stepped forward and it was the most nervous step of my life.

“Hey.” I said quietly.

She lifted her face to me. “You saved me.”

Next to her Melody grinned. “Excuse me, I see Rancher and he looks like he’s going to spank my ass.” She winked. “Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking.” She sauntered off, leaving me alone with Cat for the first time in weeks.

“You came back.” She said softly.

“Heard you got yourself in trouble.” I chuckled to break the sudden tension.

Her frown remained in place. “I didn’t think you cared anymore.” She grimaced as she moved a step towards me.

“Is your arm dislocated?” I asked reaching for her. “Should I get the paramedics?”

Cat came to a stop right in front of me. Holding her shoulder. “No, it just aches. Why did you come back, Psych.”

“Because Raven called and-“ I trailed off. Her eyes were beseeching me. “Because you needed me.” I finally said. “Because if you need me then I’ll be there.” I took a deep breath. “I might have left but I had to come back. I couldn’t stay away. Not from you.” My hand shook as I wrapped my fingers around her hip. “I love you too much to stay away and I know you don’t feel the same. I know you need more time and if you want me to leave I will.”

Finally letting go of her shoulder, she pressed her hand to my chest and I winced back. Cats eyes flicked downward.

“You have a new tattoo?”

I nodded, holding my breath as she flicked open my cut. “You have a cat over your heart?”

Again I nodded. “Yeah. Seemed apt seeing as I have a cat in my heart as well.”

She brushed her fingers over it. “It looks new.”

“I was in the middle of getting it when I got the call. The big dude.” I chin jerked towards Ink. “Was doing it. He came to help because he wants to move down here. Him and a few of the others.”

“I see.” She tilted her eyes to me. “And what about you? Do you plan on moving down here permanently?"

I searched her face with my eyes. “Do you want me to. Do you want me to stick around?”

She didn’t answer me at first. Instead she moved to the edge of the cliff and looked down. Following her gaze I spotted the broken body of Stella on the rocks below.

Dead.

There was no way she could have survived it.

“It’s over isn’t it?” She whispered.

“Yeah her and Josh will never be able to hurt anyone ever again. It’s pretty apt that she’s with him in the water now. Hopefully they will rot in hell together.”

“That’s not what I meant, Psych. Well not entirely. It feels like an end to an era. Time to put the past behind us and move forward.”

I held my breath and said nothing.

“I would like to move forward with you.”

I spun her into me so quickly that she gave a little scream, and drew several police officers' attention to us. I ignored them all.

“Are you serious? I’ll take whatever you give me, I’ll wait until-“

She surged up and silenced me with her lips. “How about all of me Psych. I’m sorry it took me so long to realise but I am so in love with you.”

“So no more casual hook ups?” I joked, and watched her eyes flare. Instantly my head lowered over hers. “I love you too kitty Cat. I have from the second I saw you. Let’s put the past behind us and start living for the future.”

“Together.”

“Together forever.” I answered back and kissed her.