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

Shattered

The Dolore

Alec's Point of View

Disbelief. From the moment my eyes laid on Faith I have been in denial. Like I am in a dream I am bound to wake up from. I understood immediately why Clayton wouldn't tell me this in person. I am just unsure as to any of the details but that will come in time.

Not wanting to wake up from this dream I insisted that Faith come back to my place. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. Things did get a little awkward when she realized who Ethan was. Faith shut down on herself but Brooke said she would stay with her. Ethan offered to go but Clayton refused to let him leave. Ethan understood Faith's reservations and offered to stay in the basement. I wanted to refuse but the look he gave me told me not to argue. After I was sure Faith went to sleep I snuck downstairs to be with him and only went back up when I could heard movement.

Clayton and Mike ended up in my living room. I can tell Clayton is hiding something from me but I am not sure what it is. I do know it is big, Mike is being way too intimate considering how pissed he was when he left to meet Clayton. It doesn't matter right now though, I will get Clayton alone soon.

Getting up for the morning I take a quick shower, shave and brush my teeth. I throw on some clothes without much thought to them and walk into the living room to find Mike and Clayton laying on the floor. "Good morning." I smile at them.

The both look up at me. "Good morning."

"You are hiding something from me Clayton." I accuse sitting down on my couch.

Clayton sits up and looks around. "How about we meet you downstairs?"

I study him, the man is in pain. Real pain. "Are you sure you don't want to go for a walk? Just me and you?" I offer.

"Give us five minutes okay." He smiles, turning his eyes away from me.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." He answers not looking at me. I exchange a worried look with Mike before I stand up, head to the kitchen to grab two cups of coffee before I making my way to the basement. "Good morning, Sir." I greet Ethan, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach while I pass him his coffee. Ethan opens his eyes but he says nothing. "I'm sorry for the uncomfortable couch. I do appreciate, you offering to stay. I know it would have been less awkward to just go home."

"And leave you alone with a damn near stranger in your house, are you mad?"

"She is not a not stranger, she is my friend."

Ethan sits up, glaring. "She was your friend. Where was she? Who had her?"

"I don't know. All I know is she is free." I take a sip of my hot coffee. "I don't care anymore. I only care that she is home safe."

"She's been gone a long time Alec. She could be a spy." Ethan worries.

"She's not." Clayton responds from across the room. I give him a frown; that was not five minutes. I meet his eyes questioning what the hell is going on. "It's Que's way of offering a truce."

"A truce?" I ask, damn near spilling my coffee. "You're joking."

"Says we are even, for the whole attempted murder thing."

I chew on that for a long while, unsure what to say. Ethan puts his hand on my knee, silently telling me it is the closest to an apology I am ever going to get and to simply leave it alone. I know he is right but I also know Clayton. There was a code Orange for fucksake. If it wasn't his run in with Tyriess of all people then what the fuck was it?

"What aren't you telling me?" I demand to the room.

"The code orange you heard about was for Faith, she wasn't in the best shape, as I am sure you noticed." Clayton frown.

"Okay that makes sense." I shrug taking a drink of my coffee. But the look on his face tells me there is more. "And I am missing something important." I note, setting my coffee back down.

Mike takes Clayton's hand. Clayton is visibly struggling to find words. He looks to Mike for help. "Clay was attacked, but not by the Quattro." Mike frowns.

"Attacked?" I repeat, hating my gut for being right. Clayton and Mike exchange a look. "By who!" I yell impatiently.

"The Dolore." Clayton answers.

Ethan sits up to his full height on the couch. Him and Clayton lock eyes for so long the entire room gets uncomfortable.

"You are sure?" Ethan asks, cautiously.

"Yes." Clayton responds. Ethan's body is so ridged I know something is terribly wrong. "They confirmed there attack on Darkest Desires and have taken credit for kidnapping Owen."

"Then he is dead." Ethan answers with such conviction it scares me.

"Yes." Clayton answers, tears slipping down his cheek.

"Angel?"

"I'm so sorry." Clayton cries, not looking at me. "It is time you tell us about the Dolore, Ethan."

"Don't look at me as if I have betrayed you. I've been trying to protect you!" Ethan answers hotly.

"Bang up job you are doing." Clayton responds lifting up his shirt revealing a massive amount of stitches that align to a similar symbol I seen before Darkest Desires went up in flames." The sight of it shocks me so much my vision gets spotty from an instant migraine.

"The minions can be ruthless." Ethan seethes. "You've been marked with a warning."

"It wasn't his minions."

"He let you live? Why?" Ethan questions.

"He told me that he was planning on telling the most protected slave of The Quattro himself but he was too out of it from the fire." Clayton replies. "Which goes in line with bitter Tyriess telling me Alec has always had special treatment and is very valuable to your family because of something in his past."

"What?" I ask surprised.

"The only thing I can think of is Glory." Clayton answers me, "unless you are hiding something?"

"You know everything about my past." I frown. "Too much." I turn to Ethan who drops his head in his hands, "What is he talking about?"

"The less you know the better." Ethan replies dryly.

"Not going to cut it anymore!" Clayton seethes. "Tell me why this fucker believes that Alec can get his wife back."

"You forget, I am not one of the four!" Ethan snaps. "I am not purvey to every damn piece of information there is. I just know what I need to."

"Glory?" I ask.

"I swear to you Alec the only thing I know about Glory is what you have told me." Ethan answers. "I've never told them that you even spoke about her. It might not be her. You might have witnessed something in juvenile detention that you aren't even aware of. All I know is Que wants you protected. He always has."

"Got a funny way of showing it." I reply dryly, trying to fight this migraine.

"You are treated better than Tyriess, a very coveted slave. If Clayton picked up on his bitterness, image how other Quattro slaves feel about you. Imagine their lives."

"I'd rather not." I snap, hating the idea of knowing I was being treated easy. My past was not easy but any definition of the word. But it explains so much, why Que has always listened to me, why I am not dead. He wants something only I can give him. What the fuck is it?

"Even if we wanted to, we can't give him Pricilla, we don't know where the hell she is!" Ethan replies frustrated.

"Que does."

"No, he doesn't. I may have gotten lucky with the cure for Alec because Que knows his damn sister but trust me he doesn't have her!"

"Trust you, after you kept something so vital from us?"

"I am trying to keep you alive!" Ethan defends to the room.

"He threatened Alec's life if he doesn't get what he wants." Clayton frowns.

"That is an empty threat. If he could get to Alec, he would have done it already."

"He pulled him out of a fire!" Clayton argues.

"And he kept him alive." Ethan retorts, ignoring the fact I am even in the room. "He wants something more than my cousin and he needs Alec alive to get it."

"Which would be what exactly?" I ask.

"The only person who can answer that is Que." Ethan frowns. "And I doubt he will. He's going to be furious that you are even aware that you're protected."

"While this is fascinating I really would like to be cued in on the massive detail I am missing!" I snap, feeling my right eye pulse. "Why are the Dolore's your enemies to start with? And does this have to do with Pricilla?"

Ethan turns to me, his eyes pleading forgiveness. "The Dolore have been around for a very long time. They are structured in a pyramid type way. When I was younger and Matt and I." He stops, trying to keep his calm. "Matt was very good friends with Pricilla. When he found out she was dating a Dolore member who had quickly become the leader's favorite and damn near son, he tried to warn her. Pricilla of course didn't listen. She got herself in a mess." Ethan shakes his head, "I'm sorry I lied to you Alec, Matt wasn't killed in a car accident. He died trying to save Pricilla from Xzavier." Ethan takes a few calming breaths. "It was years ago, I wasn't aware that Xzavier had come to power until after Bobby died, and I sure the hell wasn't aware that Bobby was his brother. Believe me you would have never been allowed near Bobby had I known."

"Brother?" I reply in shock. The air leaves the room, my heart stops in my chest. "Angel?"

Clayton nods in conformation while Ethan pulls me into him, "Breathe Pet."

"There is more." Clayton closes his eyes, opens them and looks at me. "Xzavier killed Bobby."

I find my mouth full of vomit and bolt for the back door, Ethan is directly on my heels. I lose last night's dinner on my back lawn. "This can't be happening! I can't hate his murderer! I need to hate him!" I scream, getting sick again. My migraine is so intense my vision blacks out.

"Alec you need to calm down." Ethan worries. I hear him yell at someone to get Brooke.

"I can't see Ethan. My head." I complain, trying to breathe.

Ethan pulls me into him and rubs my back, begging me to calm down, while trying to get me to take slow deep breaths. "He's having a panic attack, it set off his migraines." I hear Ethan explain, then feel small hands on my back.

"Alec, it's Brooke, can you look at me?" I turn to her, and I can feel her messing with my eyes. "Alec I need you to concentrate on something happy." I stare at her with an expression that she lost mind, how the hell was I going to think of something happy? "That's it, slow your breathing, listen to the sound of my voice. She talks to me for a few more minutes and slowly my vision comes back.

Finding my inner strength, I turn to Clayton. "Any more surprises?"

"No Angel, just details." He answers keeping his distance. The look on his face makes him appear twenty years older than he is.

I turn to Brooke. "Do you have anything for this migraine?"

"I do. I am also going to call in a few favors, see if there is any way I can get a solution for them all together."

"I won't hold my breath." I frown. "I have the worst of luck." Brooke gives me a sad smile and runs upstairs for her medical kit. Ethan picks me up and takes me back inside, keeping me on his lap. After Brooke gives me some pills, she demands I rest and have a light day, then goes back upstairs to help Faith with their breakfast.

When the coast is clear, Ethan turns to Clayton. "You need to start at the beginning and don't leave a single detail out."

Concentrating on Clayton's voice was extremely difficult. He was patient with me when I asked a million questions afterward. When everything eventually sunk in I was numb. Clayton stayed home from work to stay with me while Ethan and Mike ran our two businesses. I didn't know what to say. Clayton didn't seem that much in a talking mood anyway. Faith joined us after everyone left for work. We mainly laid in my bed and rested. Which admittedly we all needed anyway. I couldn't sleep though, I was too terrified of what I would find. Glory was right, having answers definitely does not mean you find peace.

About midafternoon I find Faith is asleep and Clayton is wide awake. I motion for him to follow me into the living room. The moment we get there I bring him into my arms and just hold him. After a very long time I pull away. "I know this isn't fair but are you sure the guy who attacked you was Xzavier Spencer?" I ask timidly.

"Him and Bobby could be twins." Clayton frowns. "I know what you are thinking. I really don't know if he could be reached Alec."

"I have to try." I reply, my eyes watering. "I can't have all these damn degrees about the human mind and not using them to try to save someone I consider a brother."

"I fear, hope like that is why Bobby died." Clayton admits to me.

I don't reply to that. I am still sorting my feelings out about it. "I'm responsible for Bobby's death. I am the one who made him an Angel to start with. He was starting a war with his own damn brother and didn't tell us!"

"We all share our part." Clayton replies. "But in the end it was Bobby's choice to join us. It was also his choice to meet with his brother without telling us."

"He had no research on The Dolore's or any other enemy of the Quattro." I frown. "Why did that never occur to me? That my enemies had enemies? That Owen was taken by one of them."

"It never occurred to me either." Clayton frowns. "Bobby knew, Xzavier was using him as bait to keep him in line. But it stopped working and Xzavier killed Owen for not obeying orders. Or possibly failing. He said he killed Owen ages ago. I don't know maybe it was for failing to return Pricilla to him?" I shake my head. "Xzavier also stated that Chloe, Levi, Kyle and Rachel were targets that Bobby refused to kill. Xzavier isn't someone you cross Alec, I think his refusal is why he is dead." Clayton takes my hand. "He blames us, you and me. For making a Bobby a traitor, because he loves us."

"So we're targets of his anger?" I ask. "And if he can't touch me for some fucked up reason, he would go after you." Clayton drops his eyes. "If he is as ruthless as you are implying, you shouldn't be alive."

"I'm sorry Alec but it's much darker than that." Clayton frowns. "He …" he stops, trying to find words, staring at his shaking hands. "He forced me."

"What?"

"I resisted at first but he threatened Mike. I cut a deal, if I cooperated then Mike would be untouchable." Tears slip down his cheek. I pull Clayton into me at lost for words. I know the pain and torture he is going through right now, I have lived it myself. I prayed no one I knew would ever have to go through this, especially someone I love this much. "He wants you to suffer with this knowledge. I'm sorry."

"Shh, don't apologize." I reply, my heart truly hardening against the man. Clayton was right, there is no saving him. And this prick is no brother of mine.

After some time Clayton finds some composure. "I still have to tell Mike that I cut a deal."

"You do?"

"You missed an epic fight." I frown. "I do."

"That is not going to be easy." I frown.

"I'm taking him away this weekend. Him and I need some alone time, unplugged, locked away."

"I can arrange that for you." I smile.

"Please do." Clayton smiles, drying his face with the collar of his shirt. "I still want to know why Ethan never told you about The Dolore's."

"Ethan's responsibility is to protect me Clayton. Just because he didn't tell me doesn't mean he didn't try to find Owen through his enemies."

"You defend him a lot." Clayton points out.

I take a deep breath. "Ethan and I have something that I am sick of hiding." I admit. "Bobby found out about all of this before he died and asked Ethan to move in with us." Clayton raises and eyebrow at me. "Ethan's a package deal Clayton; he goes, I go."

"I'll only accept that if he frees you." Clayton warns coldly.

"Clayton, please."

I watch him chew his lower lip for a very long time. "I've been tolerate of his friendship role with you Alec because it appears you want him here."

"I do Angel, but he is more than a friend." I respond, causing Clayton to close his eyes momentarily before he opens them. "I'm sorry this hurts you Angel, but I love him. I have loved him for so damn long."

Clayton turns away for a long moment before he finds his voice again. "Is he a want or some fucked up requirement?"

"Neither, he's a need. Next to you."

"But you are saying this on your own accord?"

"Yes."

"Promise that on our friendship Alec."

"I promise."

"I have my limits Alec." Clayton warns. "I don't trust his family and I don't completely trust him. You are asking me to support a relationship and that requires me to bend. I can and will do that for you, because you are asking. But don't push too hard. Don't ever try to marry him or some shit, otherwise you and I … we will break."

"Thank you." I smile. We fall silent for a while. I keep him safe in my arms, wishing I would have never let him leave on that damn tour.

"Are we accepting this truce with The Quattro?" he asks.

"Seems like the safest option." I frown. "I don't like it, not after everything Pricilla has done, for her to just walk scot free, it sickens me." I find myself fighting a sudden stabbing pain behind my left eye. Trying to ignore it I get up and head to the kitchen. I start pulling out food from the fridge and pull out almost everything in it. Clayton says nothing else, instead he washes his hands and starts to help. I smile at that, always keeping half my eye on him when he helps me. He has come a long way with my cooking lessons since the day he almost burned down my kitchen. Still, the man almost burned down my kitchen.

When Ethan and Mike get home they find a four course meal ready for them. Ethan gives me a concerned look but doesn't cause a scene about it. I turn on some light music, pour some nice wine and we all enjoy a meal, forgetting about the outside world for a while. Mike, Clayton and Faith insist on doing the dishes, leaving Ethan and I alone in my dining room.

He looks at his watch and frowns. "Need to be somewhere?" I question.

"Home." He admits, "I have an early meeting tomorrow and another night sneaking around is not in me." He looks at me worriedly. "Unless you need me to stay?"

"I wouldn't go as far as need, but I want you to." I reply taking his hand. "I want you in my life Ethan."

"You know I am already there." He assures me. "I know you got some tough news, but Clayton seems to be who you need right now. He knew Bobby way better than I did."

"And you? The ghosts of Matt coming at you like that? Wouldn't be the reason why you want to be alone?" He gives me a look that tells me I am right. "I don't want you to be alone with those ghosts."

"I don't think I am Clayton's favorite person right now Pet." He frowns. "Hell, I don't even think I am yours."

I give him a slight nod. "I won't deny I am not happy with all the lies, especially when it comes to Xzavier and Daniel. Honestly I am pissed but going off on you is pointless. You decide what I can and cannot know. I hate it, right now I fucking despise it, but I have no say. I paid this price for Clayton's freedom. I won't regret it or fight against it."

"Daniel was never a threat to Clayton. I swear." Ethan responds, his eyes begging for trust.

"I trust you Ethan." I reassure him, taking his hand. "As far as Clayton, give him time, he is willing to bend, to a point. Just stay."

"Not tonight Pet." Ethan responds, squeezing my hand.

"Damn it Ethan, I want you out of the shadows of my life." I bitch. "I need your friendship more than anything right now and you need mine. We can't have that and keep you hidden."

"Friendship, of course." He smiles, folding his napkin.

"No, Ethan." I correct shaking my head, placing my hands in his. "We are more than that, so much more." I squeeze his hand. "But in this moment, we need our friendship most." I whisper, meeting his eyes. "I need to heal Ethan, we all need to adjust to you in the sun. In time things will change. But right now, I just want to make it through the next five minutes without falling apart."

He studies me for a moment before he gives me a soft smile. "I understand." Ethan whispers, touching my cheek. "I have waited this long my pet, I can wait longer."

"Stay. Please." I beg.

"And Faith?"

"I invited Detective Cole here tonight but he texted me and told me he was running late. I am sure the moment they are reunited, you and I will be all but forgotten." I explain. "Please Ethan, stay."

"You are nearly impossible to deny." He bitches, grabbing the back of my neck and bringing my lips mere inches from his. Our eyes meet. "I will only stay if you can tell me what I need to hear."

"I love you." I whisper, brushing my lips to his so lightly I am unsure if he felt it. I pull away with pleading eyes.

"What is it Alec?" He asks, pulling me on top of the table.

"Do you trust me?" I ask, wrapping my legs around him.

"Of course Pet." He answers, rubbing his fingers lightly up and down my back.

"Will you tell me more about The Dolore?" I ask, watching his eyes harden. "Does your family have any other enemies?"

"Those are dangerous questions." He warns, in a stern voice.

I run my thumb over the worried lines of his left eye. "Why haven't you told me that you have been protecting me from so much more than your family?"

"Because it wasn't just me protecting you, Pet. You are protected by my family, no matter how much civil distaste there is sometimes. We protect what is ours."

"Did you know about Owen?"

"No." Ethan answers. "I swear to you if I had any hint he was taken by them I would have done something. I'm sorry Alec." His whispers, his eyes pained as he watches tears spill from mine.

Before I can say another word we see Mike walk into the room. "Alec." Mike states in such a tone goosebumps travel up my spine. His face is chalk white.

"Mike?" I ask, climbing off the table. "What is it?"

"You need to come." He responds, leaving the room before I can question him.

I turn to Ethan and dash out of the room, Ethan on my heels. "CLAYTON!" I call out seeing him on his keens staring at the television. I rush to him, quickly realizing everyone, Faith, Brooke and Mike are also staring at my television, all white as a ghost. "Clayton?" I question in a whisper turning to the television, trying to decipher what was going on. Ben's house was on the news with Ben's, Amber's and Daniel's photos. My eyes read the headline and my heart skips a beat, 'Cause of Death Has Been Determined to be Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.'

I feel my knees give out, landing abruptly the floor next to Clayton. I re-read the screen several times trying to process this nightmare. Ethan sits down next to me, trying to process himself. "What are the odds this wasn't an accident?"

"Zero." Ethan responds. "We need help, or we are all going to die."