A/N: I know it's been a really long time since I updated. Sorry for that, real life job and fight scenes being hard for me appear to have combined to make this take forever. I did want to make it exciting so please enjoy and review.

Chairs thrown and tables toppled,
Hands armed with broken bottles,
Standing no chance to win but,
We're not running, we're not running.

There's a point I think we're missing,
It's in the air we raise our fists in,
In the smiles we cast each other,
My sister, my brother.

About the time we gave up hoping
We'd ever find these locks still open,
Stumbling on stones unturned,
The hurt we feel, we all have earned.

The lines we cross in search of change,
but all they see is treason.

Although we have no obligation to stay alive
On broken backs we beg for mercy, we will survive
(Break out) I won't be left here
Behind closed doors.

Bonfires burn like beacons,
Guiding the lost and weakened.
Flames dance on crashing waves,
Guiding ships who've gone astray

Time out, let's stop and think this through,
We've all got better things to do,
Than talk in circles, run in place,
Answers {are} inches from our face.

Although we have no obligation to stay alive
On broken backs we beg for mercy, we will survive
(Break out) I won't be left here
Behind closed doors.

Black eyes, broken fingers,
Blood drips and I let it run
down my lips into my swollen gums.
When hope is non-existent,
Our instincts all scream "Run",
We never turn our backs or even bite our tongues.

Although we have no obligation to stay alive
On broken backs we beg for mercy, we will survive
(Break out) I won't be left here
Behind closed doors.

Rise Against- "Behind Closed Doors"


Melissa's joints were in agony. She'd never considered herself tall but she felt like a giant trying to pull her legs into what the nurse had dubbed a "sleeper chair" but felt more like a torture device. Every time she pulled one leg up it just shoved the other off leaving it to dangle precariously over the edge of the chair and peeking out into the cold hospital air. She was in and out of sleep anyway. Not to mention that recently the monsters under the bed had taken on a way too real feel. There already was some Air Force friend of Wagner's outside the door, keeping the boogiemen at bay. But that didn't mean they weren't creeping towards her house right now, ready to descend on her parents and her family. She wasn't alone in not being able to sleep. In fact; Juli was the only one asleep and that was well deserved, blissful, drug-induced sleep.

Kenny paced back and forth, his footsteps in cadence with Juli's heart monitor. The steady rhythm only served to increase his agitation. He couldn't believe that Cranky was so quick to send him off. Well he believed it, but that didn't make it right. If Cranky would have just looked past the little brother thing and assessed the situation he would have seen it was a stupid move to send he and Dorian away with Juli and Melissa. Cranky had deep wounds on his chest, Wagner had been skewered through the shoulder and Julian's hand was broken. He and Dorian only had a few bruises and they were the ones waiting nervously for word. Melissa was asleep in the recliner chair in the corner of the room, close to Juli's sleeping form. Dorian was across the room slumped in an uncomfortable looking chair holding his head in his hands. Kenny stopped pacing and questioned him quietly, as to not wake Juli or Melissa.

"Am I the only one confused about how this all turned out?"

"Nah man," Dorian nodded his head towards the door, "and the armored guard outside seems like a little much."

"This is a perfect example of what happens when Cranky decides how things go. We're lucky the room isn't padded just in case one of us bumps our heads on the wall."

Dorian replied in a calm voice but his tapping foot gave way to his anger.

"It seems so messed up. But what are we supposed to do?"

"I don't know, but doing nothing is really getting to me."

Kenny gazed across the room at Juli's sleeping form. The right side of her face was horribly littered with cuts and bruises. She looked so tiny hooked up to machines with the side safety rails in position. Even though he knew how strong she was, it didn't stop him from being highly pissed at her being hurt this way. He wanted to fight dammit, do something to show how angry he was about all of this. Dorian stood with a sudden burst of energy and looked to Kenny.

"So captain commando there wouldn't leave these two to go and find us would he?"

"Most likely not," Kenny replied, "but I don't know how long he'll go without contacting someone."

Dorian's energy was rising with the tone in his voice. He paced by the window, night sky now clear, lit by stars and moonlight that trailed in though the slits in the blinds. The peace of the night was in contrast to his mood. He'd been itching for a fight and who was he to resist? He was sick of this. In his short time with his father he'd been through a crash course in Shadowlaw and had come one conclusion. That talking didn't matter, strategy was shit, honor meant nothing. Shadowlaw only understood one thing, and that was violence. On the street he'd understood that and it'd kept him alive. This was like a war and war was dirty, war was trauma, war was death. The results of forgetting that were laying the hospital bed across the room from him. Julian was spouting all this non-violent bullshit and all Dorian wanted to do was rage. Dorian spoke, planting the seed that would finally set things in motion.

"You know, it doesn't really matter if they know we're coming-"

Kenny finished his sentence, thought process having taken the same turn as his.

"-because we'll already be halfway there."

Dorian knew he'd gotten Kenny's mind going. Kenny, perhaps, had more reason to fight than he did. Regardless of the reasoning, he knew they had just has much right as anyone else to fight against these bastards. Sure he'd gone along with the plan, but they'd been so blindsided by it that it was like they had no other choice but to listen. But now with time to think, time to worry, he knew they had to fight. He and Kenny looked at one another, both searching for an answer as to how they were going to get out from under the armored guard.
Melissa rose quickly from her makeshift bed, letting the fleece blanket fall to the floor. Her arms were folded tightly across her chest as she quietly exclaimed.

"I swear all talk and no action."

Dorian snapped back, slightly startled at Melissa's sudden outburst.

"So you got any ideas?"

Kenny approached her.

"I thought you weren't so much into this fighting thing?"

"Well I'm not, so it's easy, my choice just happens to be the same as everyone else's. It's not fair you don't get a choice."

Dorian turned away form the window, joining Melissa and Kenny in a semicircle at the foot of Juli's bed.

"Melissa's right Kenny, Shadowlaw has been working to fuck us over for a while now. We deserve to show them we're not into hiding."

Kenny nodded.

"As for the guy Wagner posted out there?"

Dorian continued.

"Like I said, he won't leave her and Juli, so all we've got to do is get out and we've got it made."

Melissa moved from the bed and to the closet, reaching for her tennis shoes pushing them onto her feet without bothering to unlace them as she spoke quickly.

"So let him catch me, I might not be able to fight but I can run pretty fast. All I've got to do is get him far enough away from this room before he catches me that you guys can get out."

Kenny rushed to Melissa.

"Are you sure, I mean this will get to Guile."

"And he can be mad, I know this is the right thing."

Kenny turned to find Dorian on the floor lacing up his shoes. He spoke without looking up.

"She's right Kenny, who would we be if we didn't do our part?"

Once again the three teens stood in a semi circle. The circle of friends was one made of fate. If all the bad shit hadn't happened to them, to their loved ones, they might have never met. But because of it here they were, in complete understanding of the others' plights. Closer because of the pain. Kenny smiled.

"Yeah. So… are we putting on a show?"

Melissa smiled back shaking her head as she pulled her hair back into a ponytail.

"Well how else are we going to make him really think I'm serious?"

Dorian laughed getting pumped to dash away.

"Fucking A you guys, let's do this."

There was a beat of silence before Melissa screamed and ran for the door.

"I don't care what you say, I'm GOING!"

She flung the door open giving Kenny time to catch up to her. He wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled as he yelled back.

"You can't Melissa, it's too dangerous. Just stop this."

She struggled against his hold, elbow making contact with his cheek. He fell back into Dorian and the two struggled for balance for a moment. By the time they had their bearings, Melissa was out of the door and into the hall. The soldier was standing now, a mere step away from nabbing Melissa before she had the chance to run away. Dorian darted forward, reaching for Melissa's wrist.

"Please Melissa, we're safe here."

He pulled her towards him, further from the soldier's grasp. Kenny approached then. As soon as Kenny was in line with her, Dorian and the guard, she shoved Dorian. He loosened his grip instantly, adding momentum to the push as he made contact with Kenny's form, and then the guard's. The three stumbled in a mass of flailing arms and legs for a couple of beats before the airman regained his balance. Melissa was down the hall about to round the corner before he yelled at them as he ran in her direction.

"You two get back in the room and lock the door from the inside!"

Their hands shook with anticipation as they waited for what seemed like hours but was in reality only mere seconds for the soldier's form to round the hall corner and disappear from sight. Kenny was up first, running at full speed towards the stairwell at the opposite end of the hall.

"Come on Dorian, no time to waste!"

Kenny was ahead of Dorian as they raced down the hospital stairwell, coming out of a side entrance and racing to the street to wave a cab down. Cranky was going to have to learn that he couldn't control what Kenny did anymore. He'd fought too hard over the years not to be permitted to defend himself, defend his loved ones. Cranky was going to be pissed, but Kenny was hoping that his salvation would be that Cranky was on that list of loved ones.


Everyone in the Guile home waited. Cranky, Julian and Wagner paced around the room while Ken sat motionless of the sofa and Guile nervously attended to Jane, asking for assurance that she would use the gun gripped at her side if needed. The seconds dragged on like minutes. They were waiting for destruction, for chaos, for revenge, for peace, for a million things they hadn't yet realized could only come from within. Standing in that empty room together they tried to relax and seem casual, but it was hard. They couldn't help that waiting with their bodies poised, their senses heightened, flinching at the tiniest noise was their path to peace. In making the first move, they were destroying the very thing they wished to fight for. Their stand, their mission was doing nothing but destroying their purpose. But what other choice did they have? If knowing Shadowlaw was going to attack was power, why did it feel so weakening? Why did it feel like defeat?

They heard the footsteps before the door busted inwards. Because of previously being kicked down in Shadowlaw's last attacks, it fell easily off it's makeshift hinges. It hit the hardwood floor flat, the resounding smack echoing in the space like a gunshot. It only served to push the waiting fighter's adrenaline to it's limit.

Guile darted first, seasoned instincts knowing what to expect from a siege of this sort. He met the smoke grenade halfway as it rolled into his home and pitched it back out of the open doorway. The soldiers flooded in through the front entryway like a tidal wave of destruction. They were expecting Guile and the others to be blinded by the smoke screen, their thermal goggles in place. Guile stayed low as the soldiers headed inside and swept the lead soldiers feet out from underneath him. He hit the ground hard, his attention having been on the fighter ahead of him. One man alone couldn't have stopped the torrent of men that had descended upon his home so instead of stressing he concentrated on the floored soldier. He grabbed him by the face and slammed his head down knocking him out cold. Sure, it seemed a cheap shot, but Guile knew it'd be the only one of this fight as he was at least 25 years senior to most of these men. Pain exploded in his shoulder as an elbow strike was brought down upon him. He answered with an upper cut to the attacking soldier's gut. Guile might have been old, but he was strong and the soldier doubled over, his face meeting Guile's knee as he rose to standing. His goggles flew off with a spay of blood from a more than likely broken nose.

As the soldier hit the floor, Guile found himself surrounded by two soldiers. The last trickle of soldiers had entered his home and the sounds of fighting filled the space like a bad war movie turned up too loud. He was momentarily distracted by none other than Vega DeCerna waltzing through the door. They'd been right- that much he could tell by the satisfied smile on that bastard's face. They were here for Cammy.

The short distraction proved too long as Guile's face reared back from the force of a blow to his cheekbone- literally knocking him back into the fight. The soldier behind him tried to link his arms up and around the bigger man's shoulders. Guile let him get the best grip he could before he leaned forwards, flipping the soldier over his body and slamming his form down onto the second soldier. Four down. Guile wanted to keep them busy so he could keep an eye out for Jane. He'd lost sight of Vega but it wouldn't be long before he erupted in rage at seeing that Cammy wasn't among the people here and that he'd been tricked. Then all hell was really going to break loose.


Every instinct was screaming at Julian to jump into the fight instantly while the element of surprise was still on his side- but those were old instincts from the streets. They told him to get the other guy before he got you. Sure, it worked on the streets, but not with these guys. With Shadowlaw it was different. You needed to keep you and yours healthy and injury free so you had a chance to survive the next fight. There was always a next fight, he knew that from experience. Shadowlaw seemed to have an endless number of grunts to do their bidding- hell, he'd been one of those grunts. Since he'd arrived in L.A. he'd been acting on instinct, his emotions raw. And now he was injured enough that playing each fight, each move right was not only helpful, it was essential.

He waited long enough for everyone else to become engaged in fights, not in cowardice, but to protect. Cranky and Wagner were more injured than him, Ken was keeping most of the soldiers away from Jane and Guile was the trained eyes, he called the shots. Julian could play back-up without taking a shot to his pride. The soldiers had spilled into the house like a swarm of angry wasps- dominate and eliminate. It wasn't until he heard the sound of glass shattering behind him that he acted. He turned his back from the head on assault and prepared himself for the sneak attack from the back entrance. Though they were still yards away, Julian saw soldiers enter through the shattered sliding glass door. One remained to stand guard as the other three advanced, immediately spotting Julian- knees bent, body low, poised and ready to fight. He couldn't help the half smile that spread across his lips and to his left cheek.

They advanced towards him and Julian moved slowly, meeting them in the wide open kitchen entryway. The sounds of fighting around him went away and he was totally focused now. The first one reached him and Julian smashed his face with a right hook. Pain exploded through his injured arm but his cast held strong. The soldier's face fared far worse than Julian's injured wrist. The bloody red scrape appeared instantly like a tire track in the mud as the hard, textured material ripped it's way across his cheekbone taking bits of flesh on it's trek. The soldiers hands were to his ravaged face in an instant- that must have stung worse because he pulled them away even quicker and darted at Julian again, eyes crazed. Julian ducked low and avoided the soldier's wild swing. The other soldier was at him now, more cautious after seeing his buddy's face torn up. Julian bent low and brought his shoulder to his gut. He fell backwards, head making contact with the kitchen counter. He was down for good, that much Julian could tell from the broken tile that fell after the soldier slid to the floor.

That left two for him to fight- one untouched and Bloody Face; three if he counted the soldier who stood still, guarding the back exit. His merely standing there while Julian overpowered his fellow soldiers proved that Shadowlaw was here for one thing. They didn't want anyone getting out. This was about cornering and overpowering them. Any doubt of this attack being about getting to Cammy left Julian's mind and he felt satisfied as his plaster fist smashed Bloody Face's eye like a piece of fruit. He was ready to quickly take out the remaining soldier when the guard by the door caught his eye. He'd turned his attention outside.

As suddenly as the soldiers had come crashing in through the sliding glass door, the guard came flying into the Guile home. Julian was grabbed from behind as he watched Dorian pounce on the floored guard, face filled with rage.

"Dorian!"

Julian struggled against the soldiers hold, having a hard time untwisting his arm from the intricate hold and trying to keep his eyes on Dorian. His instincts were screaming. Dorian wasn't supposed to be here! He didn't know if Shadowlaw would try to take him again and he sure as hell didn't know if Dorian could survive this fight. All fighting pride left Julian and all he could think about was getting to Dorian. As he let the soldier turn him so they'd be face to face, he brought his booted foot to his groin with as much speed and strength as he could manage in the confined space. His grip loosened instantly as he crumbled to the floor. Julian was around the counter at lightning's pace to find Dorian still poised above the fallen guard.


Dorian jogged quickly alongside Kenny. His blood was pumping for a fight, heart in double time to even the frantic beat of his feet on the pavement. He couldn't help but recognize that despite this need for fighting, his fists shook, knuckles white from being clenched so tightly. Words begged escape from his throat to tell Kenny he'd changed his mind. He'd just escaped a life of this very thing, found someone who gave two shits about protecting him, it wasn't an experience he was used to. His rage was still too new and hate pushed these feelings down into his stomach like an atom bomb ready to explode, it felt as if any minute he'd blow and everything he ever wanted would be destroyed. Sure, he hadn't talked about it, but he spent years in the hellhole Shadowlaw created for him, never knowing a reason why. And that told him he deserved to fight. And Kenny too.

The cab driver hadn't asked questions on the ride, took his money and left. Now he and Kenny were making their way through the neighbors yards. It was strange, dodging bikes, sprinklers, and rakes in their path as they moved through the suburban yards. Kenny spoke as he pulled a plastic kids table against the fence to allow them easy access into the Guile's backyard.

"Okay, so we go in together, we can take them down more quickly that way."

"Sounds good, buddy."

Dorian almost didn't believe his own words because the moment he said them he knew it was a lie. His heart pumped so fast he could feel it in his throat. It felt as if all the built up rage was about to erupt. He'd set his mind on finding out what had happened to him and now it was as if his past sat behind a dirty glass window and all it would take was one more hard push and it would collapse to perfect understanding. He shook his head as jumped on the kids toy and pushed his body over the fence.

As they landed on the soft dirt the sounds of battle filled their ears. Glass shattered and Dorian watched as soldiers entered the house through the back door. He sprinted forward, running full speed towards the guard who'd posted himself at the doorframe. He heard Kenny's voice faintly behind him, echoing to wait. But Dorian was on the war path.

As he ran his memory flashed. Nothing made much sense, like before, but those uniforms reminded him of fear and pain. The flashes screamed in his head jumping so quick it was hard to make sense of it all. Even in all the confusion, they took over. Stone walls with dried blood droplets, cold hard floors, the sounds of screaming. He let out a cry as he tackled a soldier posted at the shattered sliding glass door. They hit the tile floor together and Dorian started wailing on his face. He saw the back of a woman's head. She was protecting him. He didn't know if the fall had knocked the soldier out but he wasn't moving. His fist continued to fly again and again down onto the defeated soldiers face. He was frozen in fear, involuntary shivers the only movement his frightened body would allow. She screamed at them to stop and they hit her again, her blood flying from her face onto his. He was muttering curses under his breath as hot tears burned his cheeks. Once his fists were covered in blood he raised both of them in the air and brought them down together on the chest of the soldier. Blood flew from his ravaged face and onto Dorian's. He'd stopped blinking, as he moved towards her, eyes wide, praying she wasn't dead. Arms wrapped around him, pulled him away as he still threw punches and pushed him against the stove. Dorian tried twice to get away from the tight grip, to continue his brutal revenge, but Julian's voice finally broke through.

"Son! He's down. You can stop."

Kenny's voice came next.

"We had a plan I swear, but then he just darted!"

Dorian pulled away from his dad's hold as he exclaimed.

"We came here to fight! What the fuck's the problem?"

Julian bit back, voice angry but filled with worry over the situation. He glared angrily, more at Kenny than Dorian.

"That wasn't fighting. You wanna be all big and bad and break the rules, you do this my way. Understood?"

Kenny nodded but Dorian only stared in contempt. Julian appeared to ignore their reactions as he continued.

"You two stay in here, head off anyone who tries to come in. They might send some back-up."

He didn't wait for an answer, just turned and headed towards the living area where grunts of exertion could be heard. Dorian lifted his shirt and wiped the blood/tears mixture from his face. It was hard, but they remained by the door, poised, ready to intercept anyone who came through. Dorian kept cutting his eyes to the soldier on the floor and his bloody pulp of a face. Kenny spoke quietly, eyes remaining on the door.

"So wasn't the plan, buddy."

Dorian let the pause drag on before he answered quietly.

"I fucking know, alright?"

"Cranky is going to own my ass."

"He would of anyway."

Kenny gave a short laugh.

"Yeah, probably."

"And pretty soon Julian is going to start taking advice from Crank-"

Kenny grabbed Dorian's arm.

"Shhhh…you hear that?"

The friends remained quiet, looking out into the dark night through the jagged shattered door. Glass crunched under his shoes as he strode through the door way, nonchalant. Dorian's eyes widened as she spoke.

"Genta."

Kenny stepped forward.

"…as ugly as ever."


Cranky wiped blood from his lips before he slammed his fist into the offending soldiers nose. It wasn't long after the soldiers engaged them that he started taking hits. He was half numb, half in pain, each state having the opposite of the desired effect on him. He was slow and felt like he'd bee run over by a Mac truck. But despite that, he didn't miss Vega making his track up the stairs. After making quick work of the smaller soldier, Cranky pushed past the rest of the fighting and ran for the stairs, not far behind Vega. Somewhere in the distance he thought he heard someone protest, but his rage pushed it past comprehension. Vega was walking and even though he had to have sensed Cranky closing in, he waited until they reached the top hall, flat ground to greet him. He turned and chided Cranky.

"Mr. Crankhurt, I was trying to make this easy on Camilla. Watching you die is most certainly not going to be easy on her, and she has to stay calm…for the baby."

Cranky stepped forward, his fatherly instinct overriding any common sense. He knew he gave into his taunt, but he didn't care. He knew Vega was stronger than him, but he didn't care. He was weak and drugged and half numb, but he didn't care. All that mattered was Vega had threatened the people he loved most in this world, and had to be eliminated, no matter the risk. In that moment, he realized Cammy's relationship with Vega and knew, rational thought meant nothing. So even though he was battered, bruised and bloody, he pointed accusingly at Vega and yelled.

"You're not going to lay a finger on either of them, I can promise you that!"
Vega smiled and a spilt second later was advancing. Cranky barely avoided an elbow strike to his face, his clumsy dodge throwing him off balance for a moment. He ducked low to avoid a right hook. He answered with a jab followed by an uppercut that reached thin air as Vega back flipped out of range. Vega shook his head no and wagged his finger at Cranky.

"Not before Camilla has the pleasure…"

Vega strode grandiosely down the hallway, kicking in doors, looking for where Cammy was hidden. Cranky waited patiently for Vega to complete his search, smile forming across his face even though his breath was coming in loud pants. He watched in relish as Vega asked for a confirm of identity for the female downstairs, chest rising and falling in quick cadence. Cranky could see the haughty calm give way to psychotic rage as Vega realized he'd been had. Cranky took his turn to taunt Vega.

"Yeah, that's right. Cammy's not here. You know, Shadowlaw's hired help leaves something to be desired. They didn't even notice Cammy as she left in plain sight. You're never going to see Cammy again as far as I'm concerned. I'm going to finish this so she never has to worry again, I promised."

Vega laughed. It was a little uncontrolled as he appeared to be trying to regain his composure after realizing he no longer had the psychological advantage.

"You are just a side thought, Crankurt. So tiny and insignificant that Camilla, in perfect knowledge of MY promise, left you to me to do away with."

Vega rushed him, flurry of punches pushing him back slowly, towards the stairs leading down to the rest of the fighting. He was barely avoiding the hits, he had to do something. Cranky bent low and rammed his shoulder into Vega's stomach. He doubled over, allowing Cranky to flip him over his shoulder, body hitting the stairs before coming to rest at the flat platform between flights. Vega was up just in time for Cranky's kick to make contact with his chest. Vega's body hit the wall, picture frames sliding to the floor. He grabbed Cranky by his shirt, and pulled him close. Cranky's throat went dry as Vega's knee sharply hit him in the gut. His body flew back and before he could hit the wall, Vega followed through, kicking Cranky in the shoulder with the other leg and then backhanded him. Cranky's body hit the stairs hard. It was amazing how strong Vega's hits were. His body was long and lean, but he still packed a punch. He turned and watched as Vega pulled out his claw and began strapping it to his wrist. He practically foamed at the mouth as he spat at Cranky.

"Remember this as you die, you are the fool who asked for blood!"