Damon

Throwing a pebble over the fence, I bent down to pick another one. It was already past midnight and we just finished locking the nasties before Raph and Mikey came to pick 'em up.

It's been exactly four hours, thirty seven minutes and- raising my arm, I squinted my eyes to read the time on my watch - forty two seconds, since I asked Catherine to leave with my truck.

It made me feel a little better knowing that she's at home while nasties tried clawing my eyes out. The bastards and the guys at The Garage aren't exactly good friends so that was to be expected. They were large in numbers and Mitchelle kept apologizing for calling me. He was the most supportive one when it came with me wooing a woman.

I think it was a blessing in disguise. Like the big Guy just heard my prayer many nights ago on how I wanted help when it came to being too close to Catherine.

A little late and wasn't exactly helpful. I am thankful for the distraction, though. I don't want to think about it too much or I'll go crazy.

What was I even thinking? He was right. This was something I couldn't fix once I mess it up. Unless I drive my pathetic ass back to the apartment, knock her door down, and tell her exactly what I think about fate.

I was about to throw the pebble in my hand but paused. That scenario might scare her.

Nice and easy, like a fart ninja, Mitchelle said.

I raised my head when I heard a door creak open from one of the buildings across the fence.

I drove my way here with my other car, not really having a specific destination in mind. I guess going to this place whenever I feel troubled has been a habit of mine for so many years, my brain just knew where to go whenever I feel like I messed up.

A head appeared to be peeping through the small gap of the door. Once she saw who I was, she opened the door wider. Pulling her robe around her small frame, she made her way towards me. She stopped a couple of steps away from where I was, and because there was a fence in between us.

"It's you. I heard noises from one of the windows."

I gave her a small smile and saluted. "I'm sorry. I was just...driving around. Seeing where the road would take me."

She laughed, taking occasional glances from behind her to see if somebody else was awake.

"You weren't with Catherine. She was with a young man when she visited today. " Odd how it almost sounded like she was scolding me.

Wait. Catherine was here? With Robert?

So maybe this was my fault. Maybe I should have agreed when she asked me to pay the church a visit from time to time.

I'm no superhuman. Hard to admit that I may have issues when it comes to the family department. I'm not the kind of guy who would resort to withdrawal when things get too much, but that doesn't mean I stopped thinking about it.

I'm not exactly mad at my mother. I really am happy for her and what she is now, clearly seeing how she enjoyed taking care of other people. But if you're a kid that spent most of his nights on a huge sofa in a cold office, you'll miss the bedtime stories, or being tucked in. I wasn't fond of Parent's day at school either.

True, that I only step inside the establishment once a year to see Sister Mary. After that, I was content with just sitting on my truck as I looked at the place over the fence, usually during this time of day. Or night.

"And why, if I may ask, are you still awake?"

Her eyebrows scrunched as she thought about it. "I'm not quite sure. Just a couple of hours ago, I had this feeling that something's squeezing my chest and I was finding it difficult to breathe. That something terrible was happening to someone I know. You probably wouldn't get it." She laughed at her attempt to explain herself.

I, on the other hand, am experiencing what she felt. Like somebody's squeezing my insides. It would have been better if it was one of the nasties trying to choke me to death. That way, I'd know what to do.

I got up from the hood of my car and started walking towards her. We were just five steps from each other now.

"Are you alright?" She looked concerned as she took a step forward.

"Can..." Sighing, I gave her a reassuring smile. "Can you just stay where you are?"

She looked confused but nodded as she took a step back to her spot.

"It's alright, Damon. You'll be alright." Her soft words were like the hugs she used to give me when I got bullied at school. Only then, she said we, and not 'You'll be alright."

There were times when I got tempted to tell her the truth.

But every time I looked at her from the same spot I stood when I first found her here, I always end up changing my mind.

She looked happy.

Remembering all the times when I got home from school, with her slumped on the kitchen floor, I blamed myself for being born. She deserves so much more. But my father just had to seduce a woman just because Sabina was someplace else.

Seeing her now, I'm thankful I was content with seeing her from afar. This is where she's meant to be.

"I have to head back inside. You should go home."

Home...

"Oh and Damon?" She started walking closer to me, and call me a wuss puss, but I felt my eyes water. It was like she never left. It was like coming home again.

Clearing my throat, I stopped just in front of her. "Yeah?"

"You've grown so much as a person." She smiled. "I always noticed that sad look on your face. The only time I saw that handsome face of yours without a scowl was when you visited with Catherine." Her hand held onto one of the iron bars. "I'm no expert, but I can tell she's good for you. Are you treating her right?"

I nodded, rubbing the back of my neck. "Yes ma'am. Just like my mama told me."

Seemingly content with my answer, she smiled back. "Your mother raised you right."

I looked at her then, wondering if she knew who I really was. But there was no hidden meaning behind her comment. Relieved, I replied. "She tried."

"Well, I really have to go back inside now. You look tired. Go get some rest, alright?" She gave me one last look, then headed back inside, closing the door behind her.

"Goodnight mom." Taking a deep breath, I decided that I had to sleep this one off. I wanted the emotional torment over and done with but I need to calm myself first.

"I warned you, didn't I?" I turned around to see him looking at me, the way an amateur poker player's face lights up when he knows he's winning.

"I didn't tell her anything." He warned me about two things. So he might be talking about Mary, or Catherine. Either way, the answer still worked.

"Then it's time to go back to how things were before she was assigned to you. It's not your job to begin with." He sat down on the hood of my car, waiting for maybe me to admit that I was wrong.

"Things aren't going to go back to how they were. You, of all people, should know that. Heck, you weren't even contented with flirting with mortals." Laughing sarcastically, I spread my arms "You even got yourself a souvenir!"

Sighing, he slid a hand in his pocket. "I had feelings for your mother, Damon. She's a great woman but she was never meant for me."

"Bullsh*t." I never walked towards him. I just stayed where I was, but my fists were itching to make contact with a grim reaper's face. "Why did you mess around with her knowing that she isn't yours to have, genius."

He raised an eyebrow, pulling out a cigarette from his coat. "Well aren't you being a little hypocritical?"

Frowning, it took me a moment to realize that that was exactly what I was doing right now.

"My boy, we're more alike than you would care to admit. We both want things we shouldn't have. We could have them, but they simply aren't ours."

It's like being a child again. His voice inside my head, warning me whenever I came too close to telling my mother.

Here's the thing.

I'm not a child anymore.

"There's one little detail you missed." The lighter he was holding paused mid-air when I spoke.

"I'm not messing with Catherine. Unlike you, I want to make the woman who's probably in her insect-printed underwear, happy. You hear me? I want to make her happy. I want to make her feel beautiful every day and teach her how to cook. I want that woman to know that I'll be beside her even when she's having those mood swings they get. The sh*t I'm saying's cheesy as f*ck, but you know what? Who f*cking cares?! I'm screwed either way."

He put his unlit cigarette back in his coat, shaking his head. "To think that I even helped you move your things back to your office."

"Get off my car, old man or so God help me - "

He grinned. "He didn't, did he?"

I looked up and started counting ten. After eight seconds, I opened my eyes to see him with his hands in his pockets.

"Do you even know what love is?"

That caught him off guard. His arrogant smile leaving his face for a brief moment.

He shrugged the shock off, and buttoned his open coat. "I never really understood the point of having someone, but losing them afterwards. That's the con of being immortal, you just can't keep things. So why bother? I tried." He looked at the door my mother just went into. "Look where that ended. I'm trying to help you. I just want what best for you."

"If you're done talking, I would like to go back home now."

He stepped aside and opened the car door. "I don't think so."

The vibration coming from my thigh caught my attention. Retrieving my phone, I received a text from Mitchelle.

More nasties causing trouble at Val's place. Need help.

I stared at my phone, wondering it would break just by the way I was gripping it. Smiling, I turned to him.

"You just love me so much, don't you?" Taking my time on approaching him, he shrugged.

I was supposed to count to ten to calm my nerves. And I only counted 'til eight.

The last two seconds were spent with my fist landing on his perfect face.

He took a step back, grinning as he wiped the blood at the corner of his mouth with his thumb. Taking a deep breath, I walked back to my car and left him standing there.

I had a job to do. And after that's over, a few divine rules to break.

*****

He remained where he stood until the car was out of sight. It was then that another man silently stood beside him.

"You're making him loathe you." The man said matter-of-factly, and after a moment added another remark. "What's the next worst thing to being loathed?"

He looked at the blood on his fingers. Pulling a handkerchief from his coat pocket, he wiped his hand. "I'm just making sure this Catherine Wright isn't a mistake."

The man gave a theatrical gasp, clutching his chest. "You're doubting the Big Guy? I'm surprised you even asked for my help." Grinning, he slapped him on the back. "You owe me now."

He raised an eyebrow. "Isn't it your job to bring foolish humans together, Valentin? You owe me."

"You sneaky bastard. I'm going to check on her. I almost got caught by your son the last time."

He watched as the man his son obviously hated, left.

He let out a sigh and moved his jaw. His son knew how to punch, alright. Turning towards the building Mary entered, he gave a small bow.

"Your son's a good kid. I'm trying to make it up to him just like I promised. Seems like I still don't know how love works, do I?"