A/N: Shattered is protected by copyright! Try it and I will Sue!

Shattered

Cautious

Clayton's Point of View

The girls and I spent two days dragging Faith around the streets of New York to get her absolutely everything she could ever need and more. When the adventure is finally over we are packing the plane with over twenty pieces of new luggage before we fly to Portland. We get to the city hours before the concert. The girls head straight to the venue but I go to the hotel to set up Brooke and Faith for the night. I had pre-registered my room so it doesn't take long to get my room key and head up the elevator. When I walk in there is a man sitting in the chair. I recognize him instantly.

"Mike?" I question. "I thought I told you to stay put!"

"Like that was going to happen!" He bitches, crossing his arms over his chest. "Code Orange and then you turn your phone off!"

"Long story." I reply.

"Cliff notes version!" Mike demands.

I take a few breathes to calm myself, before I answer calmly. "I met a Quattro slave that said he represented Que. He told me something I don't know if I should believe." I swallow hard. "He freed Faith as a peace offering for Pricilla trying to kill Alec and I."

"Faith?" He replies surprised.

"She's in the next room." I shrug.

"Seriously?" I nod, he studies me for a moment longer. "What did this slave tell you exactly?"

"I'm not ready to answer that." I frown. "I'm not shutting you out Mike, I swear. I just need to talk to Alec first. You can be there if you'd like, but I don't want any more conspiracy theories in my head."

"You don't need to process alone." He frowns.

"I need you to trust me when I say, yes I do." I reply looking him straight in the eyes. Mike stares at me for a long while. Unable to take all of his unspoken questions I go to my luggage and pull out the vinyl. I had it wrapped in one of my shirts for safe keeping. "I've been wanting to give you this for a while. Kind of a wedding gift. But getting my hands on it has not been easy. I did manage to do so yesterday." I hand it to him. "This is the reason I didn't want you looking at my bank account. I was going to wrap it, but since you are here …"

Curious he takes the shirt of the record and stares at an originial copy of Hello Little Girl, signed by John Lennon. "Clay." He whispers holding it preciously for what it is. "This is the first song he ever wrote."

"I know. You might be a little obsessed with the Beetles." I smile.

"This is too much Clay." He whispers trying to give it back.

"No such thing." I argue. "You deserve it on both a personal and professional level."

He stares at it a while longer. "Thank you."

I smile. "You're welcome." I look at the time and frown, I have a flight to Kansas tomorrow. "Since you are here, do you mind attending the concert in my stead? I'm exhausted Mike, I need to sleep before I get back to central standard time."

"Not so fast." He glares, carefully putting the record down on the table. "Was this slave the one who contacted you after you were attacked? Did you know about Faith this whole time?"

"No." I assure him. "Faith was a complete surprise."

"And the slave?"

"I wasn't necessary expecting that." I admit. "I thought it would be more dangerous. Que himself perhaps."

"You are lucky it wasn't Que!" Mike snaps. "You shouldn't have done this alone! You promised to be with me, and you keep something like this from me? Do you have any idea how much danger you could have gotten into!"

"Forgive me for protecting you."

"Stop it!" he seethes. "I am one of you, remember. An angel. You have to stop acting alone and reckless! You want me to forgive you after you shut me out on something like this!"

"Shut you out? I told you everything I dared! I am trying to keep you safe. And for the record, I shut Alec out more." I remind him.

"Not helping!" He warns. "You thought you were meeting Que! What the hell was the plan Clayton?"

My eyes widen, Mike never calls me Clayton. He's furious, his entire body is damn near vibrating. Cautiously I answer him with the truth. "I wanted to confront Que face to face. Alec and I were damn near killed. I was hoping it was enough to bargain for Alec's freedom. Instead it appears to be enough to get Faith's. Though to be completely honest, I'm actually pissed Que sent a slave to do his fucking bidding."

"Thank the heavens for small favors!" Mike snaps. We fall silent as he stares at me, working to calm his own temper. When he has control of his emotions he speaks calmer, "Had you not shut me out on the fact you planned on meeting with the head of The Quattro, I wouldn't be so angry." He responds, his eyes liquid furry. "But you did. You don't trust me, your own husband."

"To be fair I planned this before we got married." I reply sarcastically.

"Seriously, not helping!" he warns getting angry again.

"Mike," I reply reaching for him.

"No!" he responds, jerking away from my touch. "You don't forgive people who break your trust. I've never broken your trust, why because apparently I haven't earned it? And here you are, breaking mine!"

"How have I not trusted you? By protecting you? I get you are angry and scared Mike but you knew more than Alec before I came here. You asked me to trust you and I gave you what I could give. So tell me how the hell have I broken your trust? By not wanting you near this?" I demand. "Damn it, I hate that you are! I want to . . ."

"What keep me away from your life?" he asks, truly offended. "What are we doing? What is this? I mean, I think we went too fast Clay. We obviously went too fast."

"Mike."

"Get some sleep, you need it." He stands up and heads for the hotel door.

"Mike please, don't leave without promising to come back." I call after him, stopping him in his tracks. "You can hate me right now, that's okay, I earned that; but please promise to come back." I beg.

He stands in one spot for a very, very long time. I sit there, trying to breathe as tears spill out of my eyes. Finally he turns toward me. "This is it Clay. You get away with this shit once! You ever shut me out again . . ."

"I won't, I promise." I interrupt.

"You promise what? That you won't shut me out or that you will trust me?"

"Damn it Mike I do trust you! You wouldn't be where you are with me personally or professionally if I didn't!" I hiss. "You've seemed to have missed it. You and Alec are the people I trust most in this world!"

"What did this slave tell you?"

"You don't have time for that, the concert is starting soon." I argue. "Mike I swear, I will tell you."

"Short version." He demands, through clenched teeth.

Not really wanting to say this out loud without Alec being able to explain it, I frown. But Mike isn't giving in and I know if I don't answer him the odds of him walking out on me are astronomical. "He referred to something happening when Alec was a teenager. My best guess is that it has something to do with Glory, but I can't be sure. Whatever it was, it got the attention of The Quattro's enemies and The Quattro themselves. He told me Alec was protected which he seemed very bitter about."

"Why couldn't you just tell me this ten minutes ago, why continue to shut me out!"

"Because I am guessing!" I frown. "Alec has always been honest with me that he holds back. He could know all of this and simply never told me. He could know more about everyone's death than he is letting on."

"You honestly believe that?"

"I don't know what I believe right now Mike." I reply, feeling a sudden wave of fresh exhaustion.

He studies me for a moment longer. "I'm not ready to forgive you just yet Clay." He replies honestly. "And I would prepare myself for Alec to feel the same way if I were you. He's pissed. I've never seen him this angry before. I would suggest you call him, sooner rather than later."

Mike's reluctance to forgive me hurts worse than I want it to. "Okay, but I am not telling him about Faith until we get home." Mike's glare shows his disapproval. "Come on, the man deserves good news and I selfishly want to see his face." I explain.

He gives a deep sigh opens the door and turns to me. "I'm coming back to you … this time … I promise." He walks out to get to the concert. I close my eyes to avoid the reality of watching him go. I absolutely hate the past twenty-four hours. Knowing my hell isn't over I lay back on the bed, trying not to feel sorry for myself. Aware the longer I put Alec off the worse it is going to get, I force myself to call him.

"Angel?" he answers, worried and angry.

"I can't explain right now." I start. "Alec, everyone is safe. Everything is fine. I just need you and Ethan at the airport when we arrive home in two days. Just let me finish this tour." He says nothing. "Alec please, some things are better left explained in person."

"There was a Code Orange Clayton. Ethan told me what you were up to. Did they hurt you?" he asks, causing me to raise my eyebrow.

"No. "I answer truthfully. "I wasn't touched I swear. It was a messenger boy, a slave named Tyriess."

"Tyriess?" Alec whispers in response, indicating that Alec in fact knew exactly who I was talking about.

"Angel, he didn't harm me. I swear. Everything is alright."

"If everything is alright then who the hell was in the urgent care?" he argues. "Did you pull your stitches?"

I let out a loud sigh. "I am in the same condition as I was when I left, better even as I am healing. Angel please, trust me."

"You are seriously asking for my trust right now Clayton?" he snaps.

"Yes, Master I am." I reply. My eyes widen in my slip, he asked me not to go there with him again. "I'm sorry, I meant Grand Master." I correct myself.

The line is so silent I pull the phone away to make sure we are still connected. "One of these days you are going to ask too much of me Clayton." He replies in a pained voice. "We will meet you at the airport. Talk to you then."

I hear the line go dead, and find myself surprised he didn't reprimand me despite my apology and correction. With the little energy I have I find my charger and plug my phone in next to the bed before lying down in it. Admittedly that could have gone better but at least it wasn't worse. It takes me a while to fall asleep but I eventually do.

I am jolted awake by Monica and Lilly jumping on my bed. I hiss in pain when they accidently land on my chest and get an apology from both of them but they are too excited to feel all that bad about it. I encourage them to go on their spree without me but they refuse. They believe shopping is the healing of all problems and therefore I find myself up on crutches drinking decent coffee and talking to strangers while Lilly and Monica help buy Faith another three season wardrobe. I do hand the clerk my credit card at the end but they gave it back, saying the girls have already paid for everything. I glare at them and Lilly gives me a wink with a smile. She is just happy that something awesome is happening in our lives for once. I get that.

Faith came to us with the clothes on her back, she is boarding with almost thirty very strategically packed large pieces of luggage. Truth be told while she looked amazing she also looked overwhelmed and exhausted. Mike had stayed behind in the hotel to work and is pretty much doing the same on the plane.

Not in the mood for it I plug into my MP3 player and listen to some prospects, only to be surprised a few song in with one of my earbuds being removed. "Surprised you're not taking a few business calls." Faith notes.

"Little too occupied with watching over you." I admit, taking off the other earbud and pausing my music.

"I am fine. Admittedly I was dazed when I was left in your care but the girls have helped me find my footing rather quickly. They really are wonderful people. I remember you now. Sorry it took a while, it just felt like a different life."

"You seem to have fallen back into your old self rather quickly. Glad to see you are not timid, like you were the first night."

"I thought I was being sold to you." She admits. "Took me a bit to accept I really was free. How did you do it?"

"Short version? Nearly paid with my life. Your freedom is their apology."

"I've never known them to apologize." She frowns.

"Apparently there is something unique going on." I shrug.

"Must be." She confirms. She falls silent for a minute. "So that man over there has been your husband for all of ten minutes."

"More like a month." I defend.

"Right. And in that month you have buried several friends, get your surprised to be ex-boyfriend off of murder charges for the death of Alec's lover, died twice, and willfully put yourself at the mercy of your enemies." She recaps. I look at her in astonishment. "What? I am a detective at heart. And honestly, Mike needed someone to talk to at the concert last night."

"Glad he had an ear, he was pissed when he left." I turn to her, "I am surprised that you went though."

She smiles, "The girls insisted. It was the least I could do with how kind they are to me. But I'm not used to a lot of people around. Mike picked up on it pretty quick so he took me to his box seats and we hung out." I smile at that. "Great food. Damn it's been a while since my taste buds were happy." She gives me a pointed look, "He doesn't believe you have absorbed being married."

"Admittedly that takes time, but it is sinking in."

She shrugs. "So to make sure I have my facts straight, seeing as the last time I seen you, you an Alec were inseparable, you were the one who ended things with him?"

I run my fingers down the length of my scarred hand. "Alec." I stop and try again. "When we met, I wasn't ready for him. He is someone I could never lose. He eventually pushed and I ran. He forgave me. We stayed close. But it wasn't until rather recently that I was ready but by then he had moved on." I give a deep sigh. "And being honest with myself so had I. When the time came for me to accept love, Alec had become my best friend, not my lover. And I his."

"Mike wonders you know, now that Bobby is gone. If you regret marrying him."

"That is absurd!" I growl in true surprise. Faith lifts her hands up in surrender. "Thanks, now move." I smile. She smiles back and takes her seat with the girls again. Truly annoyed I call out to my husband. "Michael Brandon Walker-Reynolds!" Mike stops typing and slowly turns, lifting his head up to look at me. "Get your ass over here right now!" I demand, fully aware we have an audience. This plane is not all that big but the audience are our friends and they are polite enough to pretend to not be listening. Mike slowly rises from his computer and makes his way to me.

"Sit." I order. He glares but he does so.

I take his hand and squeeze. "Do you remember this plane?" I ask. "This is the plane where we commenced our marriage."

"Do you have a point or are you trying to gross out our friends?" he asks turning pink.

"You didn't hear me." I replied annoyed. "This is where you and I officially became husbands."

"Okay." He replies, still embarrassed but more confused.

"I chose you." I explain. "Not Ryan, not Daniel, not even Alec. All of which at one point in my life I had more than one opportunity to marry. But I didn't. I chose to marry you." He turns to Faith and then back to me. "Yeah she talked to me, because you were shutting me out." I reply dryly. "Your fear is unfounded."

"I wasn't. I told you we went to fast." I let go of his hand, hating that this fight isn't resolved. "I believe my fear is justified." he continues, his vulnerability showing all over his face. "I mean, I know you and Alec have always been close but when you finally got over Ryan, he was never single. Now he is. Kinda." He shakes his head, "The fact that you have yet to prove you trust me with your darkest secrets." He stops. "We rushed this."

"We rushed this because we was certain of our feelings for each other. At least I was." I assure him. "We have time to get to the know every part of each other. We are together, that matters." I kiss his cheek, "I want us to go away for the weekend just us."

"I told you I don't need a trip Clay, I need you."

"You need me without interruption." I correct. "It's the only way to stop this doubt from growing and destroying something beautiful." He looks at me with tears in his eyes, "We are going away Mike. Just me and you. No electronics. I will tell you my darkest secrets, you will tell me yours; including being honest to me about your family."

His eyes narrow at that. I respond by taking his hand back into mind. "Stopping doubt is never easy."

He frowns, choosing silence for a long while. "I know better than to tell you I am jealous of Alec. And reality of it is, I'm not. But I need to hear it from you Clay. Tell me that despite the fact you two consider yourselves each other's soulmates and angles is not going to prevent us from being something amazing. Tell me that you aren't going to wake up one day, realize you had bad timing all these years and chose him."

"Alec and I had that moment in time where we could have run off and gotten married. But I chose not to. I hurt him so badly and it changed what we had into what we have. And you know what we have is complicated at best of times. You know what I have asked of you, have you changed your mind on being okay with it?"

"No." he assures me. "I swear. Clay what you asked of me and what I am scared of are two separate things."

I search for the proper phrasing, to put this to rest once and for all. "My relation with Alec is not comparable to what you and I have. Mike, I didn't marry the wrong man. Our rush to forego engagement and simply go and get hitched was not a whimsical thing for me that I set myself up to regret. But you questioning like this, makes me wonder if you regret it?"

"Clay." He whispers, obviously offended.

"Kiss me you idiot." I smile. He hesitates before he lightly places his lips on mine and then turns away. I wrap my arms around him. "I know you are not ready to forgive me." I whisper in his ear, pulling him into me despite the emotional pain and the physical pain of him laying on my chest, "But I am not going anywhere. I am your husband. We will get through this together. I'm sorry I have scared you so much recently. Mike, you have to know I need you." I kiss his cheek and he relaxes a little, letting me hold him until it is time to land.

The last concert goes off without a hitch. Mike and I sit with Faith in the front row and we simply enjoy ourselves. When it is over, the crowd clears out and we make our way to the back. The girls find themselves in their normal routine with the V.I.P. fans and then I spot him. A man in a sleeveless hoodie staring at me. He looks nearly identical to Bobby Spencer. He realizes I recognize him and puts his fingers to his lips, before walking away. Not taking my eye off of him I squeeze Mike's hand. "Get security. Mike I have to go alone, I won't risk both of us."

"Go where alone?" He asks, not letting me go. "Clay what is going on?"

"I just seen a ghost." I reply. "Mike please, do as I say. I don't want to risk the girl's lives." His eyes widen in comprehension that there is real danger. "I am not shutting you out. I am trusting you with the their lives. Now go."

"On it boss." Mike responds, letting go of my hand. "Clay!" he calls in a whisper, causing me to turn my head. "Promise to come back to me."

"I promise to try." I respond, heading out of the auditorium where my ghost vanished. I know my security decal is following me so I am not all that worried about it. But the moment I clear the auditorium I am snatched by the arm, pulling me into a storage closet. "Get rid of them!"

"That is impossible!" I hiss. I feel a knife on my throat and watch through a crack in the door as my security starts to look for me. I say nothing as they pass by. I grunt when I feel the knife cut into my skin and down my ribs, swallowing hard when it touches the tip of my dick.

"So you are the famous Clayton Reynolds."

"One and only." I struggle causing the knife to press against my balls.

"You are a meddlesome fool."

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to ignore his hand dropping under my pants and the cold blade against my most sensitive skin. "What do you want?" I ask, trying to stay calm. He responds by digging the sharp blade slightly into my skin, causing me to hold my breath while I feel blood dripping on my upper thighs.

"I am a very powerful man myself." He gloats, causing me to fight the illness in my stomach. I take a deep breath and jerk my elbow hard; aiming for his throat, but it doesn't affect him much. He drops the knife in my clothes and manages to pin my wrists tightly with one hand. "You really want to piss me off Mr. Reynolds?" He asks, trapping both my wrists in one hand as he reaches back down my clothes. "I really wouldn't suggest it." He picks up the knife. "Doing so has already cost so many of your friends lives. How many more will it take?"

"What have I ever done to you?" I ask, confused. "I don't even know you."

"You caused my brother to switch sides!" he hisses.

"I wasn't aware there were sides! I had no idea he was tangled in this mess!" I struggle.

"Yet you loved him?" he asks, taking the knife and dragging it just above my cock.

I grunt from the pain, feeling more blood spill from me. "Yes, I loved him. But I let him go."

"You broke his heart." He accuses, putting the knife under my cock.

"No, I guided his heart to the man he truly loved." I reply.

"Oh yes, my brother the traitor, falling for the victim. Protecting him!" Xzavier yells, causing me to swallow. "I did try to change his mind, took Owen Young as a punishment." I squeeze my eyes shout at the name, "Worked for a while, such a lovely play toy. I did enjoy putting him in so much pain"

"And when it stopped working?" I challenge.

"I killed Owen." Xzavier answers, sucking my ear into his mouth, then dropping his lips to the crook of my neck. "You smell delicious, and I am assuming this is your husband's mark?" Fear overcomes me, "I wonder what he taste like."

"Leave him out of this! He barely knew Bobby."

"True." He admits. "But my brother has tasted you, and I am curious as to why you are so special that he would betray his own family."

I struggle against his grip, he adjusts and I only stop when I feel the blade cut into my throat. We hear my security coming back this way. "One sound and you are dead!" He warns, pressing the blade deep into my skin.

After the foot falls silence themselves he relaxes a little but keeps me trapped in his grip. "Why did you kill my friends? Why did you save Alec from that fire?"

"Your friends were targets that Bobby couldn't bring himself to kill. So I had to do it myself." Xzavier notes, making my blood turn cold.

"Why were they targets?" I ask, tears streaking out of my eyes.

"They pissed me off." Xzavier answers dismissively, causing my knees to buckle. He yanks me onto my feet. The blade draws blood. "This isn't why I am here!"

"Why then? To kill me?"

"Don't tempt me!" he warns, moving his hands underneath my clothes. "I am already frustrated enough! I was going to deliver the message to Alec myself, but he was too out of it from the fire. Never mind that the moment the The Quattro realized The Dolore were in town, Alec has been impossible to get to. He comments bitterly. "But you, you are all exposed and absolutely delicious." I feel his breath on my skin while he continues to touch me. My stomach turns and I swallow bile. "Tell your precious Alec, I want my wife back."

"You're kidding right?" I ask in disbelief. "The bitch damn near killed Alec and myself. Not to mention, tortured my husband. He can't help you!"

"Oh but he can." Xzavier insists, touching me intimately. I am so terrified my body thankfully isn't responding. "Don't you realize that you are the best friend of the Quattro's most valued slave?"

"I don't know what you are talking about." I lie, earning the knife digging deeper into my throat.

"I am very tempted to kill you Clayton Reynolds." He replies angrily. "But it won't give me what I want. Tell him to give me Pricilla or else. He shoves me into a wall and rips my shirt open. I cry out when I feel the knife cut down my chest. I feel his hand over my mouth. I grab at his arm but it's made of fucking steel. I feel every inch of the carving he makes on my chest. "Hmm, that mark looks lovely. I should keep you."

"Kill me." I growl, refusing the idea of being tortured and enslaved by this guy.

"No, my message is too important." He flips me around and pins me to the wall. "But I am going to taste you, feel you. See for myself what made you so damn special that you brought about my brother's betrayal that in the end forced me to kill him." I struggle hard but he pins my legs and my arms. "Resist me and I swear I will keep your husband, just as I kept Owen for so many tortuous years. Take it like a man and I will leave him alone."

"Give me your word my husband Mike is off limits to you and yours in any fashion and I swear won't resist you." I reply, sacrificing myself for someone I love.

"Get on your knees and suck me off, as I if I were Bobby himself; only then will I give you my word." He growls. I drop to my knees instantly. Turning slowly. The only advantage I have is that he looks like Bobby. But I learn all too quickly, he doesn't taste like him. It takes effort to keep myself from vomiting, especially because I am constantly gagging on this guys dick. Thankfully I am good at what I do and he busts a nut pretty quickly. When I swallow the last drop me pushes me down and puts his foot on my face. "Stick that ass up, spread your cheeks and beg for my cock. Don't stop until I give it to you!"

I do my best not to cry, thankful that he at least uses my blood for lube. I won't describe the next horrific moments of my life. I mentally tried not to be there for them. All I focused on was Mike, and getting back to him, knowing he was safe. When this nightmare bargain comes to an end, he shoves a damn plug in my ass before turning me over. "Either I get my wife back, of Alec gives up his life to save yours. Then again, I might just take yours out of spite." He puts his hand over my mouth and nose, causing me to struggle to breathe but it's no use. My mine's eye flashes to Mike and Alec and then the world goes black.

I wake up in the dark and cold. My body is sore as all hell. It takes me a moment to realize where I am more or less what just happened. I examine my cuts, realizing they are really deep and there is a pool of blood on the floor. Fighting back dizziness. Feeling violated, I reach for the damn butt plug and yank it out of my body, tossing the metal plug across the room with a clinking thug. Struggling to stay conscious, I dress myself then search my pockets, surprised and relieved to find my phone. I had one text message from an unknown number.

You have three days.

Denial will only bring forth death.

For the first time in a very long time I register what terror really is. Trying to keep my wits about me I call Mike. "Help, please."

"Clay where are you? We've been searching forever!"

"Not far from where I exited, some closet. It's dark, there's blood."

"Clay?"

"It was Xzavier. He damn near killed me. He might have succeeded. Mike, there is so much blood."

"Clay you are scaring me."

"I'm petrified baby." I cry trying to pick myself up off the ground. "He could have killed me. Why am I not dead?" I hear foot falls I turn and cringe when my eyes register bright light.

"Clayton!" Mike yells, running to me. He sees the blood, the tears and brings me into him.

The security team follows him in and takes in the scene. "Try not to touch anything." They warn us.

Mike pulls away for a moment to take in the scene and me. "Clay?" He asks realizing his shirt is covered in my blood.

"I'm fine." I decide, accepting denial. This didn't happen. Bobby's brother did not just . . .

"No, you're not." Mike responds, getting on the balls of his feet, putting my body in between his two strong arms and lifting us up. "Code orange." He tells his one of the guards.

"That is not necessary." I complain.

"I am your husband, I will decide what is necessary." Mike answers, walking me out of the room. He takes me outside and I find myself in a chair next to Brooke who looks really upset.

"It's just a flesh wound." I dismiss.

"Says the man who likes to show off his chest." She scowls looking at the cuts. "Sharp knife. That's a good thing." She tells me. "This is going to take a while but if you don't rush me then I can leave little to no scar."

"I like that idea. But don't put me out okay? I am not ready for another trip on anesthesia."

"Local has the risk of pain." She warns.

"I can take pain sweetie." I assure her.

I am rushed from the venue where our last successful concert was to the nearest urgent care. Mike doesn't let go of me the entire time. When we get there I am laid out on a table but Mike refuses to let go of my hand while Brooke retrieves the medicine and supplies that are needed.

"I'm going to need a full work up." I tell her when she gets back. "He . . ." I can't bring myself to complete the sentence.

I feel Mike squeeze my hand so hard I grunt. "I'm going to fucking kill him with my bare hands!" Mike seethes.

"He let me go." I whispers, trying to cover myself with my shredded clothes. "He let me live." I swallow hard. "I woke to a horrible text message."

"Text message?"

"I'll show you later."

"Are you sure you don't want to be knocked out?" Brooke asks, sitting down next to me. My eyes weld with tears, shaking my head no. "Okay." She gives me an IV. "I wish they had more powerful drugs here but I will work with what I have. You are going to feel fuzzy. You probably won't like it, but you won't like the feel of needle and thread more. I need you still Clayton, otherwise you will scar."

"Do you know who did this? Why?" Mike asks, fighting to stay calm despite his rage.

"It was Xzavier." I admit, allowing the tears to fall. "He said he killed everyone. Including, Owen and Bobby." I cry out in pain from Brooke's fast working hands.

"Sorry," she apologizes, "but it is not going to get better than this."

"It's okay, I'm here. I'm right here, not going anywhere I swear." Mike tells me, holding my hand while Brooke does her work.

"I need music." I insist. "Please something angry."

Mike grabs his phone, goes through his library and finds something fitting. Brooke takes over two and a half hours to sew up my all my cuts. When she finishes she does her best to be quick during a very uncomfortable time. She runs some test on the swabs and looks at me, shaking her head. "HIV is negative," She whispers. "The rest I am going to have to send labs for. I'm sorry Clayton but these tests will need to be re-ran for some time. But today, you appear physically healthy." The moment I hear the words I break down crying.

While Brooke gives me necessary inoculations, just in case Mike manages to get me a new set of clothes. We leave the urgent care and I look at them. "This didn't happen." They both frown. I glare at them. "I will take it easy I swear, but the girls, they don't need to know."

"It's okay baby. We will keep them safe." Mike assures me, taking me into his arms. The drive is short and I find myself at the airport instead of our hotel. The crew had packed up and left on tour buses. Only Monica, Lilly, and Faith were on the plane waiting for us.

I give them all a weary smile, "It's time to go home." Using my crutches, I walk past all of them finding a corner in the back of the plane. Mike sits down with me, taking me into his arms. Lilly follows us.

"There are a lot of questions we are not going to get answers to aren't there." Lilly accuses accurately. "Are you in trouble Clayton?"

I give a half smile. "No."

"Liar."

"Don't okay." I shake my head. "Please, just let me protect you."

"Why do I have a feeling I am going to be touring Europe?" She mutters.

"Europe, Australia, Asia if you want." I shrug, "if I feel it is necessary."

"Is it?"

"I don't know yet." I answer honestly. "Most likely."

"What can we do to help?"

"Nothing, just be safe on the other side of the world and don't complain about it."

"Fine but only to cities with good shopping." She smiles.

"Thank you." I smile, giving her a gentle hug.

She goes back to Monica and fills her in. "Dublin!" Monica calls with a worried smile. I give a half smile and nod, pulling Mike into me.

The flight takes a little under two hours. When we land I insist on being the first one off the plane. I am greeted by a very upset Alec. He runs up to me, hugs me, then proceeds to tell me off. I stand there on my crutches, waiting for the rest of the passengers to disembark. Alec is in a full-fledged rant when Faith approaches us. But Alec is too busy telling me off to notice her.

"What the fuck is so fucking important that it had to fucking be told to me in fucking person!" He eventually asks, taking a much needed breath. I stare at him then nod my head toward Faith.

"Alec?" Faith questions, causing Alec to turn to her in anger.

His face changes from furry to disbelief in an instant. "Faith?"

"Yeah it's me, but I don't recall you ever cursing so much in your life." she smiles embracing him.

I turn my head to Ethan and mock the words 'thank you' while I lean a little on Mike, watching the tearful reunion. Alec keeps pulling Faith back and then hugging her again. After about the tenth time of this Faith steps back to dry her tears.

Alec turns to me, "You did this? How?"

"I love you." I reply with a smile, kissing Mike on the cheek.

"Thank you for this Angel." He turns back and starts to freight over our lost friend some more. After a while the Monica and Lilly bid us goodnight and head home and the rest of us end up at Alec's for the night.

Faith proves to be rather uneasy about Ethan's presence and he offers to leave because of it. But I find myself sticking up for Ethan and informing her that he is the reason she is free today. This is beyond a shocking to her and Mike but it blows over easy enough. Ethan finds himself sleeping in the basement while the rest of us are upstairs but at least the man wasn't kicked out of the house.

Mike and I found ourselves on Alec's living room floor. Having given up the spare bed to Faith and Brooke. Alec insisted on sleeping alone, which bothered me but I had a feeling he was going to sneak downstairs so I let it go. When the lights go out, Mike grabs my hand. "Are you okay?"

"Kinda."

"Are you ready to tell me about that text?"

"In the morning ,I swear." I promise, kissing his hand. "Still processing." I admit not wanting to talk about this. I feel him let go of my hand and then I feel his hands unbutton my shirt. "What are you doing?"

"Helping you process." He whispers.

"Mike." I protest, when he kisses my ribs. "You haven't forgiven me."

"No, I haven't." he confirms, raising up to my shoulder and biting down hard.

"Fuck." I bitch, truly aroused. Pushing him off of me. "I don't fight like this, there isn't a pause button."

"Shut up Clay." He demands, kissing me hard. I find myself pushing him away again. Frustrated he reaches up and turns on one of the lamps in the room then he comes back, lightly touching my chest. I stare at him. "There is a pause, baby." He whispers, gently scratching his nails down the good part of my arm. He leans down to kiss my chest and I hold my breath. He raises his head and meets my eyes. "Look at me Clay." I swallow hard and look at him. "It's me, your husband." He kisses my lips tenderly. "Just me." His hands are careful and gentle yet exploring. He continues to be cautious with me, letting me lead as he progresses. With the meds and my head though my body simply isn't going to respond in the way it should. "It's okay." He whispers, reaching in his wallet for a packet of lube. "Mike please don't, we don't know if it is safe." I argue.

"Already thought of that." He whispers holding up a string of condoms, "swiped these from the urgent care." He puts his chin on my chest. "Please don't deny me the gift of helping you washing away this memory." My breath is shaking but I nod my head in consent. He prepares himself, keeping his eyes locked on mine for any sign of resistance. When he doesn't get any he begins, kissing and biting until he is sure I am wanting him. When he slides into me, I hiss and clinch while dragging my nails down his back. "Open your eyes Clay." He whispers, waiting for me. When I do, he smiles. "Stay with me, right here." He encourages as he starts to move inside. He is insistent on keeping eye contact while he touches me intimately. This wasn't a race for orgasms, this was him, helping me move on from what had happened.

When we do reach the point of release we both let go with quite grunts. Then he kisses me softly, and then studies me, making sure I am still with him. "Thank you." I whisper. Touching his cheek with the back of my hand.

He rolls onto the floor and pulls me ever so gently on top of him. Holding me while we find sleep. I was hopeful that it would help with the dreams, but it didn't. It was however, comforting to find him there, with the light still on, sitting up and rubbing my back. I kiss him, get up, shower and then come back and lay next to him, grateful is there, helping me adjust to the hell. "Rest baby, just lay here with me." He whispers in the light. I say nothing as I lay my head on his shoulder, eyes wide open in the light. My mind races to the reality that I have to tell Mike that I am protecting him. Our only fight made that abundantly clear. But how? Not to mention I have to figure out how I was going to tell Alec any of this, much less ask him about his past. Something the man has been cryptic with for years. In the end though, assuming Xzavier is a man of his word, I saved my husband tonight. Now, I just have to figure out how to save my soul mate.