Shane watched the television screen in front of him, grinning at the brunette flying through the air. He would admit to a sense of disappointment at not being able to see tonight's show but content to see him later tonight. A.J and the kids were going to enjoy the show then dinner with family and friends. Sighing, he glanced down at his phone, frowning as it lit up with a message from Danial. Before he could open it, Shane was thrown to the floor as the car came to an abrupt stop. Looking up, he let out a hiss of pain as his side throbbed. "Alistair, the reason we stopped so suddenly is..."

"There is a burning vehicle blocking the road. Do you want me to see if they require assistance?"

Shane looked over the front passenger seat and frowned. "Who the hell is that? Does it look like..." He broke off as four men dressed in black got out of the smoking vehicle. "Back up Alistair, we need to get out of here now."

"We can't there's someone behind us as well."

Shane bit back a curse as he watched the dark clad figures approach the car. "Do as they say, don't resist, and no matter what do not tell them who you are. If it's who I think it is, giving your name could get you killed." Reaching into the black bag beside him, Shane handed Alistair a vest. "If you get the chance to run, you run Alistair, understand?"

"Sir?"

"I need you to find a way to get back to the farmhouse. Tell Juls and Bray everything you can remember from tonight, understand?" When the dark head nodded, Shane sighed. He let out a soft curse as Wellington came into view. "This is the worst way for tonight to go."

"Come out come out where ever you are! I'm going to cut out your heart and put it in a jar! Come out come out the murderer in the car! Come out and show me the real coward that you are!"

"It's Wellington." Pulling out a small black bag, Shane handed it to Alistair. "Take this, make sure you give it to Sadie or Drè, no one else Alistair, not even your twin." Pulling out a silver case, Shane put in the combination until the locks clicked. "Alistair, you have your holster with you?"

"Yes Sir?"

"Good, take a pistol, make sure you don't use it unless necessary. Wellington will do anything to get Allen and if that means using you he will." Shane watched as the group started to circle the car. "No matter what happens to me you make sure you get back to the farmhouse." Pulling out his phone, Shane dialed A.J., grinning when the cal was answered on the second ring.

"Shane?"

"Hi honey, congratulations on a great show, you looked really good tonight." Shane kept his gaze on the men while putting on his bluetooth. "Allen, I need you to do something for me, ok?"

"Anything, what's up?"

"I need you to find Danial and tell him that the mask has been dropped over the eagle's eyes." Shane glanced over at Alistair, moving back as the door was jerked open and he was motioned out. "Make sure you repeat it exactly like that. Now before anything else I need you to mute your phone." Shane moved back from the doors, tensing as Wellington's voice got closer. "No matter what you hear don't forget I love you and the kids Allen."

"Shane what in the hell are you talking about? You'll be here..."

"I may not be making it back as planned sweetheart and if that happens I need you to make sure you tell Danial what I said." Shane took a deep breath, face going blank at the man now glaring at him through the car door. "Wellington."

"Get your murdering ass out of the car McMahon...now!"

Shane felt his temper spike at the tone but knew he couldn't risk getting himself hurt right now. Still, he couldn't help taunting the other man. "And if I don't? What do you plan to do about it?"

"I'll make sure to send you back to Allen piece by piece as long as he is not with me."

"Shane is that...why do I hear Wells' voice?! Are you in trouble, is that..."

"Just do as I asked honey, I will talk to you later." Shane put his phone in his pocket, grateful that his bluetooth wasn't easily visible. He could hear A.J on the other line yelling for Danial as he climbed out of the car. Glancing over at Alistair, he felt a quick flash of relief that he hadn't been hurt. Standing in front of Wellington and a man who looked a lot like Clay, Shane frowned. "What is the meaning of this? How did you find out where..."

"Money can buy you anything and if you have enough of it you can get whatever you want."

Shane glared at Wellington, aware that someone close to either Allen or himself had betrayed them...again. "What the fuck do you want?"

"I want Allen of course and you will give him back to me."

Shane felt a laugh bubble up in his chest as A.J now yelled at Danial and Natalia. "I'm not giving him up, the only way for you to get to Allen would be over my dead body. Even then you would still have to get past his brother and sister."

"Which I have done before, you are merely a stepping stone in my path to reclaiming what is mine."

"Are you not fucking listening to me, you can not have him, Allen belongs to me not you." Shane tried to keep his temper in check, ignoring the man shouting in his ear. "If you think I will simply hand him over to you..."

"Danial I need you to do something! Find out where Shane is, he should have been in the car which means Al is with him. Call Alex o-or Clay, they have to know...

"I do not expect anything, I do expect you to put up a fight, I for one would love that. To get to beat your ass finally after everything you have done!"

"I have done? I have done nothing compared to you! You who can't seem to let go of a man that no longer wants you! You, who can't get it through their head that their ex no longer has feelings for them! You chase after a man that has moved on with his life, why can't you? Why can't you let him go?" Shane watched as Wellington's face turned red with anger. He tried to ignore the panicked voice in his ear, stomach twisting at the worry in A.J.'s tone.

"Shane what the fuck is going on? Are you and Al ok, what do I need to do to help?!"

"Because he was meant for me! My father said I could have him, made sure I was able to get him and then you...you and your fancy company come around and try to take him from me!"

"I didn't do that you did. Do not blame me..." Shane broke off at the knife now pointing at his throat. "Can't face me without a weapon we see."

"Relâchez Alistair, il ne nous a rien fait. Laissez-le partir au moment où il revient à l'endroit où ils allaient, ce meurtrier sera mort."(Release Alistair, he has done nothing to us. Let him go by the time he makes it back to wherever they were going, this murderer will be dead.)

Shane looked up to see a woman with piercing hazel eyes staring back at him. Glancing over at Alistair, Shane held in a sigh of relief as he was let go. "Who are you?"

"I am Amalia Cozètte Cantù-Bordèux, wife of the late Sydney Bordèux. I am here because I demand my weight in flesh."

"I didn't kill Sydney." Shane watched as the woman smiled at him, the look cold and calculating. "I wish I had but unfortunately it wasn't me."

"I am well aware of the witch and her protectors. You are the primary one, the pillar of her strength as well as the one who keeps our darling Wellington from his true love."

"Allen doesn't love him, has made it clear more than once that he has chosen me and yet Wellington can't seem to let him go." Shane felt the urge to wipe the smirk off of Wellington's face, knowing exactly what the woman was hinting at. "She will not let this go unpunished, you harm me you risk her brothers unhappiness."

"Then I will risk it, she took my Sydney from me! I will take you from her!"

Shane jerked back, gaze moving down as a burning pain started in his stomach then spread. Looking up in surprise, he stared at the man in front of him. "You shot me?" He knew the answer to the question but the shock of what had just happened...

"Shane...Shane was that...has someone been shot?! I swear to god if you've been shot...

Shane felt a small smile curve his lips as he slowly sank to his knees. "No matter what happens to me, you will never have him."

A.J blinked in surprise at the sound of the second shot, hands shaking as he looked up at Danial. "Shane?" He could hear the other people around him, the sound of a female yelling and Wellington's hysterical laugh. "Shane answer me please."

Danial paced across the room, talking to Bray and watching A.J. "No, he's not really saying much but we've been recording the conversation. I don't know Wyatt, Shane went to Baltimore for business two weeks ago and was supposed to be back tonight. From what we just heard..."

"Shane's not dead." A.J stared at the phone, listening to the sounds of what sounded like someone being drug across gravel. "He's not, Shane is...Sadie said there is no way Shane..." He couldn't catch his breath, the sound of the gunshots still echoing in his ears. "They shot him twice Danial."

Danial frowned as he sat down next to A.J. "Allen maybe you should go check on the kids. Bring them here, Clayton and Alexander are on their way, they can take the kids out to the farmhouse."

"Do not leave him alone Bryan, if what you both have heard is true then we must find Shane immediately. Sadie will not stand for this and there will be more blood shed than necessary."

"Yeah, well just make sure you let me know what ever you find. I'm going to stay here with Allen, Nattie went to look for Becky and Big E."

"Good, I will contact Sadie myself. Do not worry we will take care of it."

Danial glared down at the now black screen. "Yeah, you two taking care of it is what worries me." Sighing, he looked up at the pale man next to him. "Allen?"

"I asked him to wait an extra day before he left, he almost...w-we were so occupied the day of that he almost missed that flight too. He was supposed to be home tonight Danial. We're supposed to go to dinner and a late movie. Shane never breaks a promise, he would never..."

Danial watched as bright blue eyes turned watery. "What did he say before you found me?"

"The eagle has been unmasked or something like that. I don't...I can't remember." A.J stared at the phone, listening to the conversation on the other end. "Shane's not said anything in a while, do you think..."

"No, you know how your sister is, Juls won't stand for this either. Especially since it will upset Sadie and with it upsetting you that's a guarantee to upset her."

"The mask has been dropped over the eagle's eyes. Shane said to repeat it exactly like that and you would know what that means." A.J looked up at Danial. "This is worse than when the helicopter crashed. At least then we knew and could see him, now..."

Danial dialed Bray again, repeating what A.J just told him. "He has to be in the car Wyatt or somewhere in the general vicinity."

"If they moved him it will take longer, we may go with Hunter's suggestion and wait until morning. If anything they are now in our territory, we will find them."

"I sure hope so because if Wellington comes after Allen now there's no guarantee that Allen won't kill him." Danial studied the other man, watching as he ran a hand over his phone. "Look, let me know what ever you find. I'm going to take Allen and the kids to the hotel, maybe catch E or Kofi on the way out."

"Have Natalia call Sadie to check up on her. If the people you two heard can be believed they will go after Sadie or Andrès next then Allen as well as the children."

Danial nodded, reaching out to lay a hand on A.J.'s shoulder. "Yeah ok, well either way keep me informed."

"We will Danial and..."

Danial tried to ignore the shiver the soft tone invoked, hating how Wyatt still had some type of power over him. "And what Wyatt?"

"Thank you for watching over him, after everything I put you through you are not obligated to assist us."

Flushing, Danial turned away from A.J., sucking in a quick breath to calm his nerves. "Yeah well it's for Shane and Allen mostly, they're both my friends."

"Than on his behalf I thank you, Bryan. Be safe, it would not do for something to happen to you as well."

Danial pushed back the hot flood that moved over him. Bray's words shouldn't mean so much but they did. After all this time he was still affected by the other and his powers. "It's not a problem, now I umm, I-I need to go. We've got to go get the kids and find Nattie or Becky...well speaking of, I'll call you once we're back at the hotel."

"Goodbye Danial."

"Ladies, glad to finally see you." Danial nodded to Nat and Becky. "Where's Charlotte?"

"She's on her way, had something she needed to do first."

Danial nodded at Becky's answer, aware that both women were watching A.J.

"Shane?"

"They shot him...twice. They shot him and he hasn't said anything since b-but Shane isn't dead. Sadie said...s-she said Shane can't die, that the fireflies wouldn't let him. Sadie promised they would watch over him, that I..." A.J broke off at the sound of a knock on the door. Looking up he saw Big E, Kofi, and Xavier standing there. "They shot Shane, E they shot him and now..."

Danial watched the big man enter the room, his usually smiling face set in determined lines. "Take him to his dressing room. Get the kids and his gear then head back to the hotel. We head out to the farmhouse tonight."

"And you?" E looked from Danial to Nattie and Becky. "Am I staying and sending Kofi?"

"No, You're going with Allen, if he shows up without an escort I'm liable to get cursed." He grinned at A.J.'s soft huff. "I'm not chancing your sisters anger."

"Speaking of, she's calling me now." Natalia looked down at her phone as she answered it. "Sadie?"

"Nat please tell me you are looking at my brother right now. Please tell me that he was not with Shane..."

"He's right here and the phone's still on. We can hear what ever is going on but nothing from Shane."

"Juls and Bray found the car. He was thirty miles outside the city. I am coming up tonight, everyone is to meet at the farmhouse. From what I could understand they found Alistair in the woods."

"How was he, Alex know yet?" Natalia motioned Danial over, not wanting to upset A.J. She turned the phone on speaker but kept the volume down. "E, Kofi take A.J to go get the kids. Xavier find Owens and tell him to be ready for a fight then find the Usos's. We will have to call them and Roman in for help on this one."

"I can help here Nattie, I can't just leave and Shane..."

"Could be hurt and you not being safe is something he does not need to worry about right now. Go with E and Kofi, get the kids and your stuff together. We'll ride out together just to make sure there is no trouble." Nattie nodded her head, giving A.J a small smile. "You know your sister and Bray won't stand for anything happening to Shane. And Sadie would just as soon slit the throat of anyone who upsets you than not do anything." She gave A.J a quick hug. "Go, you need to focus on the kids for a few, and when you come back hopefully we know something more."

A.J nodded, picking up his phone and following Big E from the room. He couldn't sort out how he should feel or if he should feel anything at all. "They shot him E, as if it were nothing they shot him and Shane didn't even..." A.J broke off as he went back over Shane's last words. No matter what happens to me you will never have him. "Do you...do you think that they..." He couldn't bring himself to say the words, stomach twisting at the thought. Looking up at the silent man next to him, A.J took a quick breath. "E?"

"It would be easy to say nothing happened to him but you heard what happened just not who it happened to. You said they shot him but how many times, maybe he was able to get a shot off? Hopefully we find out something soon because to be honest, things just don't feel right."

"What do you mean? Xavier still dating Faith?" At the other's frown of frustration, A.J blinked in surprise. "He told us that he wasn't seeing her anymore. That she had been trying to cause trouble and he didn't need that in his life right now."

"Yeah well that's not how it looks if you ask me. She's a little to inquisitive for my taste."

A.J grinned at E's statement, shaking his head as he pushed open the door to his dressing room. He let out a sigh of relief at the sounds of the kids playing. "Hey guys who's up for pizza and a movie?" At twin shouts of agreement, A.J nodded, glancing over at a now silent Dominic. "Dom?"

"Is everything ok with my dad, you were on the phone with him earlier but..."

"Yeah, as far as I know everything's ok, he may be a little late getting in, that's all." A.J gave him a reassuring grin, hoping it would at least ease the look of worry on Dominic's face. "Dom, what is it?"

"Will we have to go back to mom's, her new boyfriend doesn't really like us being around."

"No, you're staying with me until I can reach your grandmother. Shane said you're supposed to travel with us until we get to Nantucket then you're staying with your grandmother for a few days." A.J watched as a look of relief crossed the small face. Heat constricting, A.J took a shallow breath. "I'm going to go change, E is going to stay with us until we get back to the hotel." At the chorus of agreements, A.J turned towards the bathroom. Grabbing his bag on the way, he kept his gaze focused on the floor until he was in the bathroom, door shut firmly behind him. If what he had heard was true then he'd lost Shane. After two weeks of him being gone on a business trip, A.J had been more than ready to see him. "He took him from me." A.J whispered softly, hands shaking as he looked down at the now silent phone. Pressing the mute button, A.J took a quick breath before trying one more time to reach Shane. "Shane, honey, please, if you can hear me let me know. Please, give me something." Voice breaking, A.J tried to hold back the trembling, the fear that maybe this time Wellington had succeeded in taking from him the one thing he's ever wanted in his life. No matter what happens to me you can never have him. "If you took him from me I swear I'll make you pay Wells. After everything you've done, you can't have Shane, I won't let you. I will see you in hell before I let that happen."

Getting dressed, A.J glanced around the bathroom, making sure nothing would be left behind. By the time he opened the door, the dressing room was filled with three more people. One of which made him wish to be home. "Anything?" He asked softly, aware that the children were still in the room. "Please tell me you know this bitch and..."

"I do and we will discuss it once the children have been put to bed. Until then, come, let's take them out to eat. I wish to spend some time with you, if you do not mind?"

A.J looked over into gray green eyes and sighed. "You know I don't but going out? I just...I'd rather stay in, honestly."

"You know that is not what Shane would want, especially since you have already told Dominic that everything was alright."

A.J looked over at the small trio, watching as Dominic and Asher tried to teach Amber French. "How long Sadie?"

"I do not know frè but I swear to you I will do everything I can to help fix this."

A.J nodded as he packed his bag. Walking over to the three in the corner, he grinned when bright blue eyes turned to him. "Hi angel."

"Bowon joor daddy!"

He grinned at the excited laugh, leaning down to pick Amber up, A.J gave her a quick kiss. "Good job baby girl. How about we learn some more over something to eat?"

"Pizza daddy? You said..."

"Yes fussy we'll go get pizza." A.J grinned at the kiss he was given, arms tightening around the small blond. "Do daddy a favor, grab your coat and gloves, it's kind of cold and I don't want you to get sick." When she nodded, A.J set her down and watched as she ran over to Sadie. Watching as Dominic and Asher followed, A.J reached for Shane's leather jacket. He'd left it in his hurry to catch his plane and A.J.'s worn it since. He wouldn't show how he was feeling in front of the kids, knowing worrying them would only make it worse. Instead, he gave them all a grin as they headed out. Until he had been given solid proof that Shane was dead, he wouldn't believe it. Not until he'd seen a body would he ever let Shane go.