Claire could not believe this. Amelie was splitting up her and her friends! And worst of all, Shane was going to be live bait for Bishop. She could not bare for anything to happen to Shane, or Eve or Michael for that matter; even Amelie, Sam and Myrnin - as strange as it was to feel for a couple of vampires.

Pacing back and forth, Claire couldn't think of anything except not letting Shane out of her sight. She can't lose him; she can't let anything bad happen to him. Claire retreated up the stairs to Shane's room, since hers was occupied at the moment. She bit her lip and stared out the window at complete chaos in Morganville.

Startling Claire a bit, a pair of arms wrapped around her slender frame and a sweet and delicate kiss was placed on her neck. Claire smiled to herself breathing in Shane's intoxicating scent before turning around to face him. Shane pulled her close, their bodies fitting perfectly together, and kissed the top of her head.

"Nice costume," he said grinning. "But I don't think it really suits you."

Claire laughed and looked up at him. "Like you are one to talk."

"Please, I know you can't resist me; half-naked and dressed in leather."

Heat rushed to Claire's face as she thought about how hot he was right here - even in the leather.

"See?" he said gloating to her. "I'm hot."

Claire rolled her eyes and laughed. "Maybe you should change and get all ugly again. Kidding!" she yelled, catching a look from Shane. "But seriously, put on some clothes especially with our house being overrun by a bunch of vampires."

Shane nodded. "Good enough reason for me," he agreed. He hated having all these unwanted bloodsuckers in the house, but they didn't have any other choice if they wanted to survive; the Glass House became the command center for those faithful to Amelie. "Turn around," he instructed Claire. He pulled on a ratty, worn in t-shirt and his favorite pair of worn jeans - overjoyed to be out of those uncomfortable leather pants. "All good. You can turn around now," Shane told her.

Claire turned around to see Shane looking normal and still very. very hot. He held out a t-shirt and sweats to her.

"At least until you can get to your room to change," he offered.

Claire gratefully took hold of the clothes and Shane had already turned to face the wall. The costume she wore fell to the floor and she pulled on Shane's clothes which were a few sizes too big but she didn't care. She loved the feel of his clothes on her skin. "You can turn around now," she told him.

"Hot," Shane said, facing Claire again, a grin spreading across his face. "My clothes look really good on you," he added.

She bit her lip and blushed. Claire took Shane's hand in hers and pulled her towards his bed.

"Claire," he said, in a warning tone.

Claire shook her head. "I just want to lie here with you for a few minutes. Because right now, right here with you is the first time since Bishop arrived that I've felt safe and like nothing else matters but this moment."

Shane climbed into his bed and pulled Claire's body against him. Once she got settled in against him, he draped his arm protectively around her frame. "It will be okay Claire," he whispered against her ear.

"Since when are you Mr. Optimistic?" Claire asked, turning around to face him. Her fingertips traced the shape of his lips. "I just...I can't bear anything happening to you Shane," she confessed, trying to fight back the tears. "You don't even have your hospital bracelet off from...you know," Claire cried, resting her palm over where Jason stabbed him. "I don't want anything to happen to you."

Shane snorted. "I know you are worried about me Claire, but every time you go out of this house I go crazy worrying about you. Most of all, tonight when you put yourself directly into harms way," Shane told her. "It was bad enough that I had to go, but then you and Eve both get yourselves invited into the Lion's Den." He tilted her chin up to make her look him in the eyes. "I...I care about you a lot Claire. And it would kill me if anything bad happened to you."

"I don't want you to go out there Shane."

"-and I don't want you to go out there either Claire," Shane interrupted her. "But you're going to go anyway aren't you?"

Claire nodded. "I have to Shane. I have to help Amelie. It's the only way to help Morganville."

"Which is exactly why I have to go and do what Amelie trusted me to do. I don't enjoy sharing a house with these bloodsuckers or taking orders from them but Bishop is far more dangerous than Amelie," Shane admitted. "Bishop has turned Morganville upside down in a matter of hours. If we want to survive we have to all play our parts. Besides, I'll be just fine. Look at all I've been through. I'm tough as nails," he said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Everything you've been through - we've been through is what worries me Shane. You aren't invincible and sometimes I think you forget that."

Shane pressed his lips against Claire's, kissing her very gently. "We will all be okay Claire. We will get through this. And when we do I am taking you on the world's best date."

"Promise?" Claire asked, entwining her fingers with his.

"Promise," Shane agreed, resting his forheard against hers.

They stayed like that for awhile, until there was a knock at Shane's door - a knock Claire wished never happened..