Don't Leave, Please

"Why are You all Ditry?"

"Cathy!" Lance ran up to her and jumped into her arms, "You're back!"

"I missed you too," Cathy laughed, "Did Bozer take good care of you?"

Lance nodded his head.

"Why are you so dirty?" Lance asked.

"Um....." Cathy looked at Mac for help.

"Flat tire." Jack said.

"Oh." Lance smiled.

"I think it's time you and I head on home." Cathy looked at lance.

"Ok," Lance sighed sadly.

"I'll bring you with me tomorrow." Cathy laughed.

The little boy lit up.

📎📎📎

"Lance," Cathy called out to the little boy, "What's this?" Cathy held up a small device.

"Mac gave it to me," Lance smiled, "he said to push this button, and he'd come find me if we were in trouble or if I was."

Cathy smiled.

"Well, That was very nice of him."

"Yeah." Lance took the device from Cathy.

"Lance, what's that beeping sound?"

"I pressed the button." Lance smiled.

"Omg, Lance why?!" Cathy took the device away from him.

Lance shrugged his shoulders.

Cathy stepped out onto the front porch and waited for Mac to arrive.

His car pulled into her driveway, Mac got out.

"What happened?" Mac asked.

Cathy shook her head.

"Nothing, Lance pushed the button on purpose."

Mac shook his head.

"I told him not to do that."

"Well, everything is fine, you can go back home now." Cathy walked to her door. "Goodnight Mac."

"Night Cathy."

📎📎📎

Cathy was lying in bed, sound asleep. She didn't know he was watching her, standing there quietly.

He came closer. His hand reached out. He placed his hand over her mouth and clamped it shut so she couldn't scream.

Cathy's eyes shot open. She stared at the intruder with fear in her eyes.

"Shhhh," Danny smiled, "I'm not going to hurt you." Danny then held something in his left hand. It shined in the moon lit room.

Cathy began to breathe quicker, her heart began to race and pound against her chest.

Danny brought the object closer to Cathy. This time, she could see what it was.

A knife. Of course.

Danny brought the knife closer to Cathy. His smile grew wider as the knife got closer.

Cathy's arms shook. She went to move them. But they felt as if they were weighted down.

Tears pricked her eyes. They begged Danny not to do it.

Danny took his hand off of her mouth and grabbed the knife with both hands.

He held the knife slightly above his head. Before he brought it down on Cathy, she let out a bloody scream.

📎📎📎

"CATHY!" Someone forcefully shook the screaming girl.

Cathy's eyes shot open. She quickly sat up, tears fell down her cheeks as she looked around the room.

"M-Mac?" Cathy looked at him with confusion and relief.

"It was just a dream," he promised, "You're fine now."

Cathy hugged herself and closed her eyes tightly. More tears continued to spill from her eyes.

"Did Lance call you?" Cathy look up at Mac with glassy eyes.

Mac only nodded his head.

"You started to scream," Lance said quietly from the doorway, "I didn't know what to do."

"It's ok, thank you Lance." Cathy gave him a small smile.

The little boy retreated to the guest bedroom.

"I'm sorry, Mac, I didn't mean for Lance to wake you." Cathy wiped her eyes as more tears threatened to fall.

"It's fine, I wasn't really asleep anyway." Mac softly smiled.

Cathy scoffed and smiled. Then her smile faded.

"He had a knife," Cathy looked down at her hands, "he was smiling at me, he was going to kill me." Tears fell down her cheeks fiercely.

"Danny?" Mac asked.

Cathy nodded her head.

"I shouldn't be scared at all," Cathy shook her head, "I shouldn't be afraid. But what I saw in my dream, made me terrified!" Cathy took in a shaky breath. Her hands started to shake. "My Mom left me, told me she was going out for a bit, but she never came back." Cathy looked up at Mac. "My dad," Cathy paused, "died after my mom left. I come home from school just to find his body with a bullet in his skull." Cathy sobbed. "I had to go to school with dirty clothes. I didn't mind it, I could care less." Cathy blinked, tears fell onto the blanket, "but, other kids decided to bully me because of it. They threw food at me, called me names." Cathy shook her head, "I had enough. I beat the kids that bullied me, got kicked out of school. Lived the rest of my life with my aunt. She died, don't know how, she just never came home. I was 20, had a job by then." Mac remained silent. "I have no family! They're gone, dead! Some of them don't want to even talk to me! It feels like I have no one!" Cathy broke down.

Mac walked towards Cathy.

"But you do." He smiled. "You have me, jack, Bozer, Riley, everyone at the Phoenix Foundation, cares about you. That's your family."

Cathy looked up at Mac and smiled.

Cathy stood up and wrapped Mac in a hug.

"Thank you Mac." Cathy whispered.

Mac wrapped his arms around Cathy.

"You're welcome." He smiled.