AN: A huge thank you to EmerC for being the first and so far only reviewer for this story! And though it might take a while, I will definitely finish this story. I swear so upon the River Styx, which if you've read the Percy Jackson books you'll know is the most serious oath you can take. *Thunder boom in the distance…*

Disclaimer: Shapeshifter belongs to Ali Sparkes.

If you know how, you can look really dead, even to the expert eye.

-Tyrone Lewis, Stirring the Storm.

It was cold and dark when Owen opened his eyes, though it could also have been result of the huge impact he had made on the hard water surface.

It felt like he was freezing to death, and he couldn't do anything about it. Even if he had the energy to move his limbs, it wouldn't have mattered much, for he knew that they were already searching for him. Judging on the closeness of the beam of light they were almost there. The light that suddenly came down on him confirmed his slow, hazy thoughts.

They had found him. Whoever they were would have to wait.

He remembered everything that happened, the memory was a bit foggy maybe, but even in this state did he know what it meant. Catherine had gotten her parasite hands on everyone. Even Dax. Owen had come too late to prevent that, and by now she probably would have Mia's power too.

A less recent memory resurfaced. Catherine had been able to heal herself the last time she had Mia's powers. She would be close to unstoppable now she had the complete package.

If he had been in a more aware state he would've paid more thought to the inflatable above him, where he was now being dragged to. Carried by whom or what he didn't know. Vaguely he wondered how he was still alive, he had of course tried his best to land safely, and it had worked to some extent. But if Catherine had won, who could have been there fast enough for him?

Owen knew for sure that he hadn't been in the water for long- otherwise he would actually have frozen to death.

He thought back to Dax's expression when he fell. He had been furious and desperate. Maybe it had been enough to defeat Catherine? Certainly he had tried? Despite his barely alive state, Owen couldn't bear the thought of Dax battling Catherine after she'd sucked the life out of so many COLA's. She was powerful and obviously not afraid to kill Dax.

A small dark shape shot to the surface, not that far away from him.

An animal, a fast animal. The only animal he could think of at the moment that fit the description was an otter. Well, an otter and a beaver, but he couldn't remember clearly whether a beaver was fast enough or not. Plus, did beavers even live here in this sea? But then again, neither did otters… did they? He had never really paid it any thought before, but he himself had never seen an otter on the North Sea. He knew of the existence of sea otters, but as far as his knowledge went they weren't on the North Sea.

What kind of animal was it then?

Owen himself also surfaced, but not before closing his eyes against the sunlight he knew would be waiting there for him. Slowly he opened one eye, years of experience forcing him to scan his surroundings. He saw Tyrone hovering above him, his face grim, with another man.

Tyrone was alive? Who else had survived Catherine?

Owen's eyes searched for Tyrone's, praying to god that the younger man would look and understand the meaning. They had discussed this matter before. Not the situation where he would get fished out of the sea, mind you, but the one where they had to deal with the aftermath of the abducted COLA's.

Tyrone wasn't fully paying attention to him though- he glanced sideways at something else in the water.

The other man was checking Owen's body for signs of live, so he held his heartbeat still, a trick he had learned in his past. The man was focused on something other than his face, so Owen risked a glance at Tyrone, for he couldn't turn his head to get a glimpse of whatever was in the water behind him.

Astonishment crossed over Tyrone's face, but he only shook his head slightly in disbelieve before concentrating on Owen again. Again, Owen noticed the subtle glint of disbelieve in his eyes. Small enough to not get seen by others, but Owen knew it was there. Feeling reassured that Tyrone knew of his still alive status, he winked before closing his eyes again, just to be sure that no one else discovered him.

Owen did his best to stay 'dead' when Tyrone and the other man tried to 'bring him back from the death'. Keeping his face expressionless and his breath quiet and easy to miss.

Relieve flooded through him when he heard Tyrone tell the man to get the body bag. He carefully cracked one eye open first to check if they were alone, and then opened the other eye too. There wasn't really anything he had to do now, except wait till they were completely alone. But he wanted- needed to know something first.

'Catherine?' He mouthed to Tyrone, followed by another name. 'Dax?'

Tyrone leaned down till he was close enough to whisper the words so quiet that not even Dax could've heard them had he been there. For good measure, he placed a hand on Owen's face, blocking the sight from anyone who might try to read what he was saying.

"Catherine is the only casualty, as for Dax… I think he is in the water behind you, right now. He is an otter. He is not wounded anymore, but your dead hit him hard."

Before he could reply to that, the other man came back with the bag, leaving Owen to his thoughts. An otter? After all these years, the boy kept surprising him. Owen felt a tiny hint of sadness rise up inside of him, he wouldn't be able to get another glimpse of his new shift. Not yet, at least. Not now the whole word except Tyrone thought him dead.

Of course, he had known the consequences of faking his death, but he couldn't help but feel guilty. He was leaving all the COLA's behind. He was leaving Dax behind. Tyrone had confirmed that he in particular was shaken up pretty bad.

As Owen felt his body being lifted up he conjured up another plan, something he and Tyrone had not yet discussed. He needed to let Dax know where he was going, and that he was alive. If he didn't, then Dax would never get over it- and despite Owen's last words, would without a doubt blame himself for it.

Tyrone won't mind that much, really. At first he may be a bit reluctant, but eventually he will agree that this is the best choice. The fact that Dax will most likely also tell Gideon and Luke about them might just make Tyrone accept it.

Owen was not going to let Dax suffer if he could anything about it.

AN: That's it for today! Two more parts left before this story is completed. Yes, I've decided to make it four parts instead of two or three ;). Please review!