Caroline immediately dropped the gun and helped Catherine up. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Good acting, by the way," Catherine smiled.

"Well, I am an actress," Caroline laughed. "Is your shoulder okay?"

Catherine shrugged. "I'm only slightly bruised. I'll be alright."

"Go find your sisters," Caroline smiled.

Catherine nodded and made her way through the FBI agents and out the door, running briskly past Matt and Mariah.

Ashley and Scarlett ran to their sister. "Are you okay?" They asked in unison.

"I'm fine," Catherine laughed, kneeling down to hug them. "Gosh, I thought I was never going to see you again."

"And we, you," Ashley said with tears in her eyes.

"What do you say we go home?"

The girls nodded and stood up.

Matt knelt down beside Cath and cupped a hand to her cheek. "Are you alright?!"

"I'm fine," she shrugged. "I have to take the girls back to the apartment."

"No, Cath, look at me, okay?" Matt said firmly. "You alright?"

"I said I'm fine," Catherine sighed.

"Come on," Matt said, helping her up. "Let's get you to the paramedics."

"I don't need to see the paramedics. I'm fine," Catherine said in exasperation.

"No, really, Cath," Matt sighed, pulling into a hug. "Cath, I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry."

"For what?"

"For everything. I didn't have a choice, Cath."

Ashley and Scarlett looked at each other with confusion.

"What do you mean?" Catherine asked, feeling very much confused as well.

"Catherine," Matt said sternly, "it has been and always will be you that I love. Nothing will ever change that, no matter who comes back, or who dies, or what changes. I've made up my mind. Catherine, I want you."

Catherine pressed her lips into his gently. "I knew it was Mari," she said with a soft laugh.

"Really?" Matt said his voice breaking. "What- I mean...wait...what?"

"You think I wouldn't recognize my best friend?" Cath smiled.

"She looked a lot like Mel," Matt said, raising an eyebrow. "A lot a lot. It was painful."

"I know, Baby," Catherine said softly, wrapping her arms around him. "But at least we know who was behind her death. We don't have to hide anymore."

"Except for that guy I accidentally killed back in 09," Matt chuckled teasingly.

"Dang. I knew I was forgetting something," Catherine laughed.

"Where's Mari?" Matt chuckled, looking around.

"I think I saw her head off in the direction of the hospital. She wants to be with Josh."

"Oh," Matt nodded. "God, if he doesn't pull through, I don't know what I'll do."

"He'll be fine," Catherine sighed with a smile. "He's Josh. If what happened in New York didn't kill him, he'll get through this."

"What did happen in New York?" Matt asked with a frown. "I got some half muttered lie last time I asked."

"Some mugger stabbed him in the chest and he had to have surgery. They almost got his heart," Catherine sighed.

"What?!" Matt said in surprise. "He told me he scraped his stupid knee, tripping over a tree root."

"Well, he didn't," Catherine shrugged.

"The idiot," Matt muttered. "How Mel ever put up with him, I'll never know."

"Do we want to go to the hospital, or head back to the apartment?"

"No, I should go," Matt sighed. "Josh needs to know it's over."

"Do you want me to go with you?" Catherine asked slowly.

"Yes," Matt nodded. "Cath, how could you risk your life like that? If I had lost you-"

"Better me than the girls," Catherine shrugged.

"No, Catherine," Matt said firmly. "If I had lost you, I wouldn't be able...don't pull something like that again. Please, I'm begging you."

Catherine gently put a had to his cheek. "I did what I had to do. I'm sorry that it upset you, but Matt, I had to take their place."

"I know," Matt whispered, pulling her into a hug. "I know."

"I love you," Cath muttered against his shoulder.

"Forever and always," Matt said, holding back tears.

—————

Mari rushed through the hospital parking lot, inside, and to the front desk. "I'm here for Joshua Taylor!"

"He's been moved to a room," a nurse replied. "Right through that door. First door on the left."

"Thank you," Mari said breathlessly, rushing toward the room.

"Hey," Josh smiled weakly.

Mari creaked the door open further. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Josh shrugged. "Now that you're here."

Mari smiled weakly, the sick, shaky feeling returning to her stomach. "They won't let you put the blanket on? Aren't you cold?"

"I can't feel much of anything, to be honest," Josh sighed.

"Is there something I can do?" Mari asked slowly.

"Just let me look at you," Josh smiled softly.

At that moment, Matt and Catherine came through the door.

"Hey," Matt smiled. "How are you doing?"

"Better, now that she's here. She's safe," Josh sighed drowsily. "Do you have any raisins?"

"Raisins?" Matt questioned in suspicion. "You hate raisins."

"I love raisins," Josh mumbled. "They're reminders that somebody out there cares. That's what she told me. That's what she always tells me."

Mari looked to Cath in confusion. "Mel?" She mouthed silently.

Catherine shrugged. "I...I can get some of you want," she said slowly.

"No," Josh sighed. "No, I'm fine."

"Hey, where are the girls?" Mari inquired.

"Carlos came to pick them up. They're staying the night at his place," Catherine sighed. "I thought it'd be better."

Mari nodded.

A nurse entered and announced that visiting hours were over. "You can all come back in the morning."

"No," Josh said firmly. "She's family. Mel stays."

"I'm not family," Mari said in confusion, "b-but I can stay."

"If you wish," the nurse shrugged. She turned to Matt and Catherine. "But I'm afraid the two of you will have to leave."

"Come on, Baby," Cath said, putting an arm around Matt's waist.

"Alright," he sighed.

The two made their way to the apartment, and immediately got changed and decided to heat up a frozen pizza since neither had eaten in quite some time.

"I've been thinking about getting a motorcycle," Cath remarked, pouring a cup of coffee.

"That is not happening," Matt said firmly.

"Why?" Catherine whined.

"Because I don't need you dying, that's why," Matt replied, wrapping his arms around her waist. "In fact, I demand to go first."

"Never," Catherine smiled, kissing him gently. "We'll die in each other's arms. How does that sound?"

"Like the ending to a romance novel," Matt smirked. "Sounds like a deal."

The couple soon headed off to the bedroom and Matt immediately crawled underneath the covers. "You coming?"

"Yeah, but I'm going to take off my shirt first. It's hot in here," Catherine sighed. When Matt blushed, she added, "I'm wearing a tank top under."

"Good," Matt said awkwardly.

Catherine turned up the air conditioning and removed her t-shirt, revealing a badly bruised left shoulder.

"Woah," Matt gasped, his face twisting into a frown. "Cath, you told me you were fine!"

Catherine looked in the mirror. "Guess I hit that wall harder than I thought," she shrugged. "It's nothing."

"'Nothing' is what you say when you're mom asks you what you did at school," Matt said, standing up and reaching determinedly towards his cell phone. "That is certainly not nothing."

"It's a bruise, Matt," Catherine sighed. "It's not like I'm bleeding from the head or something. I'm fine, really, I promise. Now, can we please get to sleep?"

"No, Cath, I'm calling Jack," Matt said firmly.

Catherine put a hand on his arm. "Baby, it's one in the morning. Jack is sleeping."

"So? I'll wake him up."

"No," Catherine sighed. "Listen, it doesn't hurt and I'm not in any immediate danger. There's no reason to call Jack."

Matt gently pressed his forehead against hers and gave a small whimper. "But I'm worried about you."

"I know, Matt, but you need to trust me."

"I do, I do." Matt nodded.