AN: This idea suddenly popped into my head, so I decided, why not? This is part one out of two or maybe three. Please review, and/or read my other story about Shapeshifter, it's a crossover with Percy Jackson. The dialogue in this chapter is copied from the book.

Disclaimer: Shapeshifter is written by Ali Sparkes, not me.

The choice won't be yours, Dax Jones. Death is not the end.

-Lisa Hardman, Stirring the Storm.

Owen cursed as Robert Jones showed up next to Dax, it was then that he knew it wasn't going to end well. Catherine's eyes shifted to Robert in an amused way.

"Oh my! A family reunion! Dax's daddy! Why, Dax-I'm quite glad I didn't cook you now. I wouldn't have missed this-for-the-world! Here you are! Seeing your dad at last. Now… c'mon Mr Jones… let me in!"

Catherine was trying to mess with Dax by using his father, and Owen couldn't do a single thing about it. He wished that he could just solve it with a snap of his fingers, or a gunshot, but Catherine was too strong. She had already threatened to kill the entire oilrig crew, and Owen knew that it wasn't just bluff. He also knew that he couldn't let her do that, no matter what.

"Oh yeah, I get it now! Oh, you feel so bad, Mr Jones. Or can I call you Rob? Yeah, I'll call you Rob. You feel so bad, Rob, because you miss his mom so much you can hardly bear to look at him."

Owen hid a grimace. Catherine was right; it wasn't uncommon for a father of a Cola to not want him/her just because he/she reminds him of the mother.

"Shut up!" Robert shouted, sounding a bit hoarse. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh yeah, I do," Catherine went on, a big, nasty smile plastered on her face. "When his mother died, you were angry. You knew why she had to go, didn't you? You knew! And you didn't think it was fair. Not a fair trade. One little boy for the love of your life."

Owen wanted so badly to go and comfort Dax, but it was not the right moment.

"That's not true!" yelled Robert, but Owen was certain that everyone, including Dax, could hear the grief in his voice. It was absolutely true. "He's my son!"

"Yeah, and you do love him-kinda." Catherine shrugged and feigned a sympathetic look. "It's just that every day he looks more like her. It's the eyes-and the skin and the hair. And you just can't forget and that hurts. You must have been so glad when he turned Cola and the government took him away. Don't worry though-I'll take him away for you. For good!"

Robert went to rush at her, but Owen instinctively grabbed him. "No!" He pulled the man back. "You can't touch her!"

Only when he was sure that the rig worker wouldn't run again, did he look at Dax. It pained Owen to see Dax in this state, deeply hurt by what Catherine revealed, but yet trying to remain strong. Trying to hold it all in. It was the volcano all over again, just a smaller variant.

"It's alright, Dad,' Dax said. 'It's OK."

It clearly wasn't OK. But before Owen could do something about it, he got lifted up so suddenly that he nearly screamed. And then he had to grab hold of the metal struts, to not fall into the cold waters of the North Sea below him. His first response was to try and climb up, but he couldn't do it. Catherine, he realized.

Then he saw that he had company. Robert Jones was also dangling above the sea. A gush of wind signalled the entrance of Dax Jones, or well, a peregrine falcon of which Owen assumed was Dax. But then again, who else could it be?

"Dax! Go! Get away! Don't let her do this to you." Owen grunted out, feeling his body become heavier by the second. Catherine was preventing him from climbing up, but she surely won't mind letting go of him if he fell.

Dax shifted to a boy, confirming Owen's thoughts, and clung to the struts above them. "Climb up! Climb up!"

Owen wanted to shake his head, but even that was a big challenge. "Owen, you're strong! You can do this!"

"Can't," He gasped. "She's wiped me out. We'll fall when she wants us to fall." The truth hurt, admitting it out loud even more. But he had to stay strong for Dax, who was about to lose two important people in his life. Two father figures, because Owen knew that Dax saw him as such.

Owen had always had a soft spot for Dax, too. Even though it's not very professional, he did have his favourites. It probably wasn't a secret to them, but right now he wished that he had showed it more. He just hoped that Dax knew that he was his all time favourite, even after their rocky start. Even after Dax not trusting him in about every adventure he's been on. It all didn't matter, because in that moment, they both knew how much the other meant to them. But it was too late, now. Maybe if he had let Dax know that Owen was on his side, would always be on his side, then Dax would've trusted him instead of getting himself into trouble.

"Do as he says, Dax" Owen heard Robert say, his voice breaking only slightly. "Fly off! Please, son!"

Owen didn't even have to look to know that Robert was close to, or already, bursting in tears.

"Tell Alice I love her. And I love you too, boy."

"I know, Dad-I know. But you've got to try! Don't give up!" Dax reached down with both hands and Owen could feel Dax's fingers touching his knuckles, but that wouldn't be enough. Dax was strong and fit for his age, but he can't possibly pull up two grown man at the same time.

Owen only saw Catherine when she spoke, behind Dax. "Oh, Dax. What a thing! Who to choose? You know, I'm impressed. You've done so well. So I'll tell you what-you get to keep one of them. Jut one. Just grab the one you want and I'll help you get him up. You can let the other one go."

The volcano exploded. Dax cried out, more desperate then angry. "No, please! Please, please…" Dax begged Catherine, tears streaming down his face. "Please, you can't… no!" He was desperate.

It was a truly heart-breaking sight. It was then that Owen knew what he had to do, the right thing to do. He shouldn't even feel surprised that he didn't mind doing it, as long as it got Dax and his father out of this situation. Owen didn't even know for sure if they would remain safe, chances were Catherine would just kill everyone when she got bored. But he had to do this; there was no other choice.

"No! Not by her rules, Dax!" Owen shouted at his… friend? No, Dax was more than just a friend, he was like a son. A son that had to choose between his real father and his father-like mentor.

"Not this time."

Dax shouldn't have to, maybe even couldn't, handle the guilt from what he was asked to do by Catherine. Owen wasn't going to let Catherine tell him what to do.

"You're not choosing! You're NOT!" Owen looked him in the eye, trying to get the message trough.

"Remember this, Dax… it was not your choice." Owen tried to reassure his boy with one last smile, even as he disengaged his fingers.

He made no noise as he fell.