The next morning found them in the hotel café, breakfast laid out before them, but neither was eating. Kane stared off into space; Gabrielle pushed her food around on her plate. She finally laid her fork down and took a sip of coffee.

John walked in and joined them. The waitress came over to take his order, but John waved her away. He wasn't hungry today either. The three sat in silence for a moment; for some reason, today felt like the end of the world. Maybe in some way, it was…

Gabrielle finally spoke up. "I hope you realize what you're getting yourself into, John." He jumped a bit at the sound of her voice. He glanced at Kane, who looked impassively back at him. He looked back at Gabrielle. "Well, to be honest, I don't know what the fuck is really going on here. But I made you a promise, and I intend to keep that promise."

He was hoping to get at least a hint of a smile from her, but she simply looked at him, her green eyes hooded. Kane shook his head and looked away. "As long as you know…." Gabrielle trailed off, sitting up straighter suddenly. Kane focused back on her. "Gabrielle? What's wrong?" Both he and John looked around the room , but could see nothing wrong. She stood up, eyes fixed on something unseen. "Kane…it's him."

Kane stood up like a shot, nearly overturning the table. John leapt to his feet as well. "Where? Where is the son of a bitch?" Gabrielle opened her mouth to answer him—

-and there was nothing but darkness. The café disappeared; they were in complete and utter darkness. Kane immediately reached for Gabrielle but got nothing but air. "Gabrielle! Where are you?"

There was a laugh, low and throaty. Kane knew that laugh.

"Taker! You bastard! Show yourself, coward!" The laugh came again. "Not yet, little brother. You see, I just dropped by to finally reclaim what was mine." Kane growled, his hands itching to go around Undertaker's throat. "NO! You won't take her from me, damn you! You WON'T!"

"Too late, little brother," Taker whispered; there was a deafening clap of thunder, a bright flash of light, and then….he and John were in the café again. The people inside were eating, talking, acting as if nothing had happened.

Gabrielle was gone.

The hotel room again. Kane was on his cell phone, trying to reach his father. Bearer's voice mail picked up. "Dad, please call me back as soon as you get this." Kane flipped the phone shut and tossed it on the bed. His hands went to his head and he grabbed it, squeezing his eyes shut. He wanted to scream; he wanted to pick up something and tear this room apart. The rage and pain inside him was tuned to a fever pitch; he had never wanted to kill someone so badly before now.

John sat in a chair, watching Kane warily. He felt empty, like something had been ripped out of him. He wanted to say something to Kane, but had no idea if it would even be safe to do so.

Kane dropped his hands and began to pace back and forth, muttering to himself. John shifted uneasily in the chair. "Where has he taken her?" he asked quietly. Kane snarled. "How the fuck should I know? I don't visit him, but I'm going to find him, oh yes, I'm going to find him and fucking kill him, THAT'S what I'm going to do…."

John stood up, taking a deep breath. He walked over and grabbed the larger man by the shoulders. Kane stopped, eyes widening. "You feeling suicidal, Cena?" he asked. John shook his head in exasperation. "Stop! Just stop for a damn moment! Going off the deep end isn't going to help get Gabrielle back; we have to sit down and think this out—" His words cut off as Kane's hand went around his throat; John's eyes bugged out.

"I know," Kane whispered. "I'm not an idiot, and don't try to play me like one. I know you're in love with her, Cena. You can give me all the bullshit in the world about being 'just friends'; I know better. I ought to choke the life right out of you…." He trailed off and let John go, his shoulders sagging. Cena stepped back quickly, coughing. Kane looked at the floor. "But she would be angry with me. She trusts you. She wouldn't want me to fuck everything up over simple jealousy."

John massaged his throat. "I've tried to tell you time and time again; she loves you, Kane. I see it in her eyes when she looks at you; I hear it in her voice when she talks to you. Yes, I do love her…but I know it can never be. " He took a tentative step forward. "That's why we have to work together…Gabrielle needs us."

Kane looked up at him, and John saw a lifetime of pain in his haunted eyes. "Then help me…because without her, I have nothing…."