Disclaimer: I do not own Death Sentence.AN: Sorry for the long wait for an update I wasn't able to find the time to write till now. I hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Juniper glared over at the three other boys who sat across from him at the breakfast table. They had been giving him a bit of a hard time the past couple of days after over hearing him call Miss Shay, Aunt Shay. He had informed them, that she was, in fact, his aunt now. But the kids didn't seem to believe him. One of the kids goated him once more as Juniper felt that Darley temper flare up in him. He got to his feet and leaned over the table. Taking the boys collar in his hands.

"Juniper William Darley!" Shaylee scolded from across the room. Juniper ignored her for a few seconds as he glared the other boy down. When he saw Shaylee walking his way, he dropped the boys shirt and sat back down. "Juni, what on earth has gotten into you? Do I need to talk to Joe again?"

"No Aunt Shay." Juniper said as he glared down at his hands. Shaylee ruffled his hair and stood up.

"No Aunt Shay." Shaylee heard one of the boys taunt. Shaylee clinched her jaw. Her momma bear instincts where starting to bubble up inside her. Even though she was not Juniper's mother, she had quickly became his primary care giver when the boys where busy. Shaylee put on her best smile and knelt back down to be face level with Juniper.

"Why don't I ask Joe to let you stay with Billy and me tonight. We'll have a movie night." Shaylee said as she ruffled his hair again. "We haven't had an Auntie day for a while."

Juniper smiled widely, but it quickly faded and he shook his head. "Mommy is coming home tonight."

Shaylee's breath hitched in her throat. Billy hadn't told her anything about Tommy leaving rehab. She had thought the woman still had a few weeks left. But with Tommy coming back into the picture, it meant Juniper would be spending less time with Joe and the rest of his family. Shaylee sighed and brought Juniper into a tight hug. "Maybe your mom will let you stay this weekend."

Juniper once again shook his head. "Mommy said we are moving."

"She what now?" Shaylee said trying her hardest not to lose her temper at school. Juniper looked up at her with sad blue eyes, and her heart began to break. She looked up at her teacher's assistant and motioned towards the door. Letting the girl know that she had to leave the room for a moment. As calmly as she could, Shaylee walked out the door and out to her car. She pulled out her cell phone and called Billy's number.

"I'm guessing the kid told you that Tommy came home today." Was how Billy decided to answer the phone. Shaylee growled and Billy sighed heavily. "Don't be mad, babe. We know how much you love the kid. You'll still be able to see him at school. And the weekends Joe has him."

"Oh really?" Shaylee spat into the phone. "Cause Juniper just informed me that that bitch is planning to move out of town with him. I swear to god Billy…"

"Wow wait a minute." Billy said then turned away from the phone. Shaylee could tell he was talking to some one, but she couldn't make out what he was saying. "Joe said Tommy has an apartment set up just down the road from the school. You sure he isn't just pulling your heart strings."

"You didn't see his eyes, Billy." Shaylee growled at him. "He maybe a Darley, but the kids eyes don't lie."

Billy was silent on the other line. She knew he was going through everything in his head. "I'll have Joe talk to her."

"You better, Billy. Or I fucking will." Shaylee growled back at him. "I'll be damned if that bitch will take that boy away from us. And I'm warning you now, if I don't like the outcome of Joe and Tommy's little talk, I'm taking shit into my own hands."

Billy looked down at the phone after warning Shaylee to stay out of Joe's business and she didn't reply. "Bitch."

Joe gave Billy a confused look as he looked up from counting the stacks of money in front of him. "Trouble in paradise?"

"Not for me little brother." Billy said running a hand over his bald head. "You better talk to Tommy. Make sure she isn't planning on taking Juniper and running. Juniper told Shaylee that he is moving out of town. And Shaylee isn't going to take it well if she does. You'll be planning Tommy's funeral."

Joe felt a sucking twist of his stomach. It was true that he had been absent in his son's life for the past four years, but he had grown close with him now. There was no way he was going to allow Tommy to run off with his son. "I can't Billy. I'll kill her if takes him."

"Well if you don't talk to her, Shay is going to. Do you really want that to happen?" Billy asked with a small smirk as Joe's eyes widened.

"Fuck man." Joe replied as he ran his hands through his hair. "You mind if I go dip out?"

Billy shook his head. "Naw man. Go take care of shit. I really don't want my woman on a rampage if you don't."

Joe snickered and pulled on his red leather jacket. "Thanks man. I'll call you when I get done talking to her."

XOXOXOXOX

Billy looked down at his phone and rolled his eyes. There was no way Joe had talked to Tommy already. He had only been gone for fifteen minutes and was already calling his phone.

"What?" Billy asked when he answered the phone.

"The Bitch lied man." Joe growled into the phone. He was breathing heavily and by the sounds of rustling clothes, he was running.

"What do you mean man?" Billy growled back.

"I don't have fucking time to explain!" Joe growled back. Billy usually didn't allow any one to speak to him with that tone of voice, but he could tell that Joe was starting to panic. "It's five minutes till school is let out and Shaylee isn't answering her fucking phone. Get a hold of your woman and tell her not to let Juni out of her sight! Fuck. Man fucking move! Yeah I know it's fucking blood, now get the fuck out of my way!"

"Joe…" Billy growled. But Joe didn't let him finish.

"There isn't fucking time, Billy! Please just fucking get Shaylee on the damn phone!" Joe hung up his phone and sped up. He was doing his best to ignore the pain in his abdomen. His blood had already soaked through his white shirt, and he was sure he was leaving a trail of blood. But at the moment, all that mattered was getting to his son before Tommy did.

Billy fought the urge to throw his phone across the car after getting Shaylee's voicemail for the third time. He looked down at the clock in his cat and cussed. School was out. Tommy was going to be there to pick up Juniper at any moment, and Shaylee was ignoring her phone. He dialed the school's number in one last attempt and about lost his cool on the ditzy secretary as she tried to put him on hold. Finally he could hear the clicking of the woman's heals as she headed across the hall to Shaylee's room.

"Miss. Shay. You got a phone call. He says it's important." Billy heard the woman hand the phone over but could hear her words before she walked away and Shaylee answered. "I don't know who it is. He was very rude."

"Hey baby." Shaylee answered with a slight laugh.

"You got your phone on you?" Billy growled at her.

"Kinda broke it. What's going on?" Shaylee instinctive grabbed a hold of Juniper's hand as he started to head towards the door to meet his mother.

"Well don't be fucking breaking shit!" Billy yelled into the phone at her.

"Just tell me what is going on Billy." Shaylee said and Juniper glanced up at her as the rest of the students left the room. Leaving her and Juniper alone in the room. She saw Tommy making her way towards the school and quickly shut the door.

"Don't let that bitch take him." Billy replied. "Joe called. Said she had lied. Said something about blood. We are both on our way. Just don't let her get to him."

Shaylee could feel herself panic a bit. "Billy, by law I can't keep her from taking him. I can stall her, but I can't keep her from her son."

"I don't give a fuck about the law." Billy growled back at her.

"You think I do? But right now I'm not your Shaylee. I'm Miss Shay." Shaylee growled back at him. "And Miss Shay don't break the fucking law. You better be getting here fast Billy. Cause I'll come out to play if I gotta."

"Fuck!" Billy yelled into the phone. He knew what would happen if she let down her good teacher act. It was something they couldn't afford. "Stall her as long as you can. Fuck call the cops if you gotta. Say you got a tip that she's dangerous or some shit."

"You really want me to involve the cops? Are you high?" Shaylee asked as she heard the front doors to the school open.

"The good teacher would call the cops." Billy said almost as a warning than a reminder. A warning that she was in fact the good teacher and not his Shaylee at that moment.

"I have to go." Shaylee hung up the phone and placed her best fake smile on her face as Tommy walked into the classroom. "Tommy! It's so good to see you dear. You look amazing. Joe didn't inform me you where back."

Tommy looked down at her son, who was clinging to his teacher's legs. "Are you ready to go honey?"

She hoped her voice was calm as she held a slightly shaking hand out to her son. Juniper's grip tightened on Shaylee and Tommy glared down at him. "It's time to go Juniper. I have Uncle Keno waiting in the car."

Juniper shook his head and his behind Shaylee. He hadn't heard what Billy had said on the phone. But he had understood enough from Shaylee's side of the conversation. He wasn't supposed to leave with his mother. And if she had Keno with her, he really didn't want to go. She had always told him to call the man Uncle, but he realized the man wasn't like his Uncle Billy. Billy didn't stay in his mother's room or kids her like Keno did. He was also always mean to him.

"I don't wanna go with Uncle Keno." Juniper protested. "He's mean."

Tommy took a step forward but Shaylee put a hand up to tell her to stay put. She bent down and got eye level with him. "What do you mean by he is mean to you?"

"He yells a lot. Throws things." Juniper said with a sniff. "I want my daddy."

Tommy let out a laugh and grabbed Juniper by the wrist. "So does your Uncle Billy. But you never complain about him."

Juniper tried to pull away from his mother and grabbed on to Shaylee's hand. The commotion must have caught the attention from the principal, because she was in the room with a stern look on her face.

"What is going on here." She demanded as she took in the scene in front of her.

"Just a child tantrum." Shaylee said as she tried to keep herself calm. "Did you go home and change? I thought you where wearing an orange shirt this morning."

Mrs. Henry seemed to get the hint and nodded. "I spilled coffee on it. I trust you can handle this with out disturbing the rest of the classes going on."

"Yes. Sorry Mrs. Henry." Shaylee replied as the woman left the room. Shaylee looked down at Juniper and saw the betrayal in his eyes as he slowly started to loosen his grip on her hand. Shaylee grabbed his hand and smiled at him.

"Do you still have my number?" She asked. Juniper looked away from her and nodded. She was about to reassure him, that she wasn't going any where, when the door flew open and Joe stumbled in.

"Oh my god." Shaylee said as she rushed to his side. "Joe… are you bleeding?"

"Don't… let.. her… take my son." Joe painted as he held onto the door for dear life. Shaylee could see he had lost a lot of blood. His fingers and lips had already started to turn purple.

"Daddy!" Juniper cried out as Joe stumbled forwards. Shaylee caught him and lowered him to the floor. She looked up at Tommy who had a firm grip on Juniper's arm. Juniper fought hard to get out of his mother's grip. "Daddy! Daddy l get up!"

"You should let us go Miss. Shay. Juniper doesn't need to see this." Tommy said in a chillingly calm voice. Something in Shaylee snapped. She pulled Joe out of the way of the door as he tried his hardest to stay awake and help her move him.

"Are you armed?" Shaylee asked in his ear. Joe nodded slightly. "Did she do this?"

Joe nodded again. Shaylee grabbed the back of his pants in the area he kept his gun, to make it look like she was trying to move him farther into the room. The moment her hands wrapped around the gun, Joe shook his head. "Not in front of Juni."

Shaylee fought the urge to ignore him as she got him to a chair. She then turned back to Tommy. "Call 911."

Tommy didn't move. Just stared back at her. Shaylee looked up at her and tried her best to look shocked. "Tommy, you need to call 911 or he is going to die!"

Tommy seemed to jump into action when Juniper let out a cry for his father once more. She didn't want Joe to live. Not after what she had done. But she couldn't let her son know what she did. She got her phone out and pretended to dial. This action made her let go of Juniper's arm and he raced over to his father.

"Juniper, listen close to me sweetie." Shaylee whispered so to make sure Tommy wouldn't hear. "I want you to run. Out the door. Don't you stop till you see your Uncle Billy. Don't let any one stop you."

Juniper shook his head and hugged his farther tightly.

"Go Juni." Joe made himself say as he felt himself slump more into the chair. Juniper clung tighter to his father and Shaylee had had enough. She took a hold of his arm.

"Damn it Juniper run!" Shaylee said, pushing the child towards the door. He could hear the familiar sound of his uncle's mustang speeding up the road to the school. He turned to protest again when Shaylee pushed him outside the door and slammed it shut behind him, leaving him alone in the hall. He burst into tears as he ran out the door. Spotting Billy's car parked behind Jen's beat up Ford truck.

"Uncle Billy!" The small boy cried out as he ran down the steps as fast as his little legs would carry him. Billy looked up at the child's voice and watched as a large muscular black man grabbed the boy around the middle and picked him up. Juniper fought against him and once again yelled out for Billy.

"Uncle Billy! Let me go Keno! Uncle Billy help!" Juniper beat his fists against the man's back as he flung the kid over his back like a sack of potatoes. He turned and started to head towards the parking lot.

"Stop hitting me you little brat." The man growled in a deep voice. "If your momma wasn't such a good lay, I'd dump your sorry ass in a fucking ditch. If you hit me one more time, I might do it any way."

"Now is that any way to talk to a kid?" Billy growled as he threw his cigarette on the ground and started to walk up to the man.

"This ain't no concern of yours Darley." The man growled back.

"Well that's where you are wrong." Billy growled back. Trying to remind himself that he was at a school and pulling a gun in this man wasn't a good idea. But this guy was pushing his luck. "That kid there happens to be my fucking nephew. Do I gotta tell you what that means? Or are you smart enough to drop him. I've been itching to get my hands on you for a while Keno. Just give me a reason to."

Keno quickly handed Juniper over to Billy. "Sorry man. She never told me who the dad was. I wouldn't have been messing with her if I knew."

"Sure you wouldn't." Billy growled. "And if I hear you been selling to any of my clients again, I'll put you 10 feet under."

Keno put his hands up and quickly backed away as the police sirens could be heard getting closer. Keno quickly jumped in his truck and room off.

"Juniper, where is Shaylee?" Billy tried to keep his voice calm as the police cars started to surround the school. Juniper pointed back towards the school and Billy's heart almost stopped when a cop came towards him at gun point. He stiffened knowing he was packing and knew it was too late to run.

"Drop the kid Darley." The cop demanded. Juniper's grip tightened around Billy's neck.

"Uncle Billy?" Juniper asked nervously. He had never been scared of a police officer before. But he couldn't understand why this one was pointing a gun at his Uncle and it did frighten him.

"Uncle?" The police officer asked confused as he lowered his gun. "Sorry man. We got a call about an intruder. When we saw your car we got suspicious."

"Yeah I get it. If be suspicious too." Billy growled. "But you might want to do your fucking job and get the real intruder for a change."

"Are they going to take mommy away?" Juniper asked as the cop turned to walk away. Billy clinched his jaw. He knew the cop had heard. At that moment, he had wished he had thought the boy not to talk around cops.

"Your mom is in there? Why are you out here?" The cop said placing his hand on his gun again.

"Mommy came to get me. Miss Shay didn't want me to go with her. Then fast came in. He was bleeding." Juniper said as he started to cry again. "Daddy started to go to sleep and Miss Shay told me to run till I got to Uncle Billy. I didn't want to. Daddy told me to go. He fell asleep and Miss Shay pushed me out the door and locked me out. So I ran to Uncle Billy. Miss Shay is still in there with Mommy and Daddy."

The cop looked up at Billy with a questionable look. "How did you know to be here?"

Billy shrugged as he tightened his grip on Juniper. The police never made him nervous. But knowing that Juniper was witnessing all this did. There had been a reason he and Joe had stayed away before. They didn't want Juniper to grow up like they had. But now he was quickly being brought into the reality of their lives. "Joe called. Said he needed me at the school. Didn't say why."

"Don't go anywhere." The cop warned and Billy rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, I know how this works." Billy retorted as the cop walked away. He heard him tell his fellow police what Juniper said. Billy quickly saw a few of them send him questionable looks as they headed into the school. Billy watched as students where quickly escorted out the back door. He knew the safety of the students came first in their minds. But in his, they needed to get Joe and Shaylee out of there. Joe was obviously hurt, by what Juniper had been saying.

There where a few cops yelling for some one to lower their weapon and Billy put Juniper in his car. He didn't need to hear what was going on. A few pops of a gun went off then the school was silent. Billy could feel his heart trying to beat out of his chest. Waiting for any sign of Shaylee or Joe.

"Get a paramedic up here!" a police officer came out of from the front door yelled down at the waiting ambulance. "We got two in critical."

Billy's eyes got wide as he watched the paramedics run into the building. A few seconds later they where heading back with some one on a stretcher. Billy quickly stepped in front of the window, blocking Juniper's view.

"Uncle Billy?" Juniper asked quietly. Billy glanced back, realizing the kid had climbed in the back seat and was still watching the whole thing. "What's in the big black bag?"

Billy could feel his heart drop as he looked up and saw them bringing out a body bag. "Don't worry about it kid."