a/n: I am so happy you all haven't rioted yet. Thanks to everyone for the reviews and love. I heart you all. Glimmers of hope in this chapter.


"Seth. Calm down." Regal spoke calmly through the earpiece. How he could be so composed at such a time was beyond Seth and actually made him angry.

"Calm down?!" He repeated, actually damn near yelled at his CO. "It was him! I would swear on my life!"

"We know. We saw him."

"So what are we going to do about this?!"

There was a long silence before Regal answered. "You're coming back to HQ."

"WHAT?! No! He's here in Beijing. Why would I leave!?"

Regals voice shifted to the Authoritative leader he was, "Captain Rollins. You will comply with orders. That helicopter left Chinese airspace already. Come back and we'll regroup, figure this out."

Seth let out a defeated sigh before accepting. Then, "Has anyone told Abby?"

"No." Regal answered. "We'll wait for you to arrive back at HQ."

The flight seemed to last forever. Not because of the physical time it took, but because of thoughts that ran through his head. He knew three things to be true.

1. Dean had called himself Jon Moxley.

2. He didn't seem to recognize Seth when he was confronted.

3. He was most certainly working with the authority.

Seth knew it couldn't really be by Dean's choice. He remembered the man sitting next to him in the helicopter, recognized his face, but he didn't go by Wade Barrett when Seth knew him. Honestly, Seth never really learned his name. All he knew was that individual was responsible for Tyler Black, the one who almost destroyed everything. Dean must be brainwashed. It was the only logical explanation of the facts at hand.

The mind is a delicate thing, easily manipulated with the right tools and motivations. Barrett, at least from his own skewed recollection, was able to hide Tyler Black away in three months. He has created Jon Moxley in six. That means Dean was a tougher nut to crack. That means the damage to his brain may be significant.


"Moxley!" She squealed happily as he swaggered into the foyer of her office. "There's my beautiful pet."

"Stephanie." He regarded her with a cocky grin before sweeping her into his arms and planting a passionate kiss on her lips. "I always love to see a beautiful woman so happy to see me."

"Did you get what I asked for?"

He held up a small package wrapped in brown paper and she snatched it from his hands with an excited squeal. Tearing off the paper she gasped at the leather bound tome that seemed to have slipped through her fingers six months ago. She ran her fingers over the book and reveled in one-upping Headquarters once again.

Her happy blue eyes met his, "Did you run into any problems?"

"None I couldn't handle." He replied with a confident smile that showed off the dimples she so loved. "There was this one HQ agent though. Kept calling me Dean."

Her smile fell, "Oh?"

He laughed, "Yeah. Weird, right? HQ obviously has their database all kinds of fucked up."

The smile returned to her face, though it was strained and hesitant. She lightly patted his cheek and kissed him again, pressing her body into his. He pressed his lips to her neck once the lip contact was broken, making sure he concentrated on her most sensitive spots.

"Well, we won't worry about some HQ agent who obviously has his facts screwed up." She said breathlessly and pushed him away, but not without smiling and seductively running a hand through his hair, tugging slightly. "Go get cleaned up and I'll make sure you get thanked properly."

"Yes ma'am."

"Send Wade in on your way out."

Moxley left her office and a few moments later Wade Barrett entered. He stopped at the head of her desk and waited for her to speak first.

"Moxley said HQ was in Beijing." She stated.

He nodded, "Only Seth Rollins."

"He recognized Dean."

Barrett shook his head and chuckled, "of course he did. Plus that attitude you made me give him made that arrogant ass announce himself."

"I like his attitude." She snapped. "It's a far cry from Dean Ambrose. Plus, Moxley is far better skilled...in other areas."

"I don't need to hear about your sex life." He groaned. "He has no idea what he is doing. All he knows is that when you say jump, he asks how high."

She grinned and took a seat behind her desk, folding her hands in her lap, "And that's how I like it. Are you having second thoughts about my little project? You aren't gaining a conscience, are you?"

He threw up his hands in exasperation, "I would have much rather killed him, like we originally planned."

"Let's get one thing straight," she growled, leaning forward in her desk so she could properly glare at him. "I don't pay you to have opinions. You do what I ask, when I ask or I'll shoot you in the head and find someone who will."

"Like you're little boy toy, Moxley?" He replied, placing both hands on the desk and leaning down so their faces were close. "Face it, you need me to make sure we don't have another Tyler Black incident."

"Tyler Black was my husbands idea."

"And he relapsed."

She laughed, "It's your fault he relapsed."

"No, your husband wanted him to be a sleeper. Randy Orton activated him early."

She waved him off, "At any rate, keep an eye on Moxley. Make sure he won't need a tune up."

He nodded and took leave of her office.


Seth walked up to the apartment and stopped at the door, hesitating to do what he knew he had to. He closed his eyes, mustered his courage, and entered. Paige was already there, laughing and talking with Abby. He hadn't heard her laugh in a long time.

"Seth!" His fiancé squealed happily when she saw him and ran to him only to stop short at the look on his face. "What's wrong?"

"Can I talk to Abby?" He asked. "Alone."

Abby stood and co weed her mouth with her hands. Paige looked back at her, making sure she would be alright. Dean's wife nodded and Paige walked outside.

"It's Dean, isn't it?" She asked, tears already brimming and threatening to escape.

"It might be better if you sit down."

"Tell me Seth!"

He took a deep breath, "We found him...in China. He's working for the Authority under the name Jon Moxley."

She looked confused, "So, he's alive?"

He reached into his pocket and handed her a photo lifted from the museum security cameras of Dean pointing a gun at Seth, but his eyes were clear and very obviously his. She ran her fingers down the photo, tears now flowing freely. "He's alive."

"Yes. But-"

She surprised him by throwing her arms around him and hugging him tight. "Thank you!"

He pushed her away slightly. "You understand what I'm telling you though? It's Dean in appearance only. We believe he's been manipulated and brainwashed to forget everything about you, me, HQ, all of it."

She smiled hopefully, "But he's alive."