"We are here today, to pay tribute and our respect to a pillar of our community, to our protector. Officer Kane Calaway. We are also here to show our support for Kane's family and friends" spoke the pastor, looking around the hall filled with people wanting to say one final goodbye to someone who had looked after and protected so many people in the city he called home. His closest family members in the front row, heartbroken and stricken at the sudden loss they had suffered. Several officers from the station he had once worked at scattered amongst those in attendance as were those who had known Kane from his time in the criminal underworld. All had come together to say one last goodbye to someone they all knew and called friend or colleague. A rare occasion the pastor doubted would ever happen again.
Upon the pastor finishing his open speech, the police officers scattered through the crowd stood from their seats, making their way over to Kane's casket. Upon reaching it they laid the folded American flag and began to unfold it to place over the vanished wooden casket. Mark watched on from besides the Sheriff his heart aching, still trying to overcome the shock of finding out his little brother had passed on before him and left a legacy worth remembering. Along with the family he had once claimed were his world. Hence he had done everything to make sure they were protected, even at the cost of his own life. His eyes stayed focused on Paige as she looked down to her hands folded in her lap, her attempt at hiding her tears from the rest of the world, even when everyone in the first few rows felt the same as she did. Heartbroken
"Calling officer Kane Calaway" spoke the sheriff of the police station Kane had once dedicated his life to. Either side of him were other officers Kane had worked beside and called friend during his years at the station, in front of him was the casket with the America flag laid upon in it, signalling a fallen hero. "This is the last call for Officer Kane Calaway. No response" added the sheriff, sadness in his eyes as he looked over to Kane's family members, each with tears in their eyes and leaving tracks down their cheeks. Each grief stricken to lose him in such a way. "Radio 14-20 is out of service after 22 years and five months of police service" finished the police department sheriff, he knew the man had been a hero to so many, none more so than his two grown daughters and nieces, although he would admit he have believed Paige too was his daughter until Mark had corrected him.
"Gone but never forgotten" whispered Aleister from his position in the front row. He took noticed when Paige gently took hold of Emma's hand, much like Crystal did with both of her daughters. Just as he watched as the older blond woman stood from her seat, heading over to the podium where the pastor had spoken his speech from at the beginning of the service. The tears staining her cheeks as she looked over to her husbands casket, just as her blue eyes were glassy from the ones still waiting to fall. Yet her attention soon went over to the people her husband loved, his family and those he came to call family, to all three he had called his girls and those who did everything in their power to protect them no matter the cost. Her heart slowly breaking as the denial she had been going through began to wear off and the realisation set in, how he had gone before her and now waited for her to join him one last time.
"Kane Calaway was a role model to so many people. He was a friend when someone needed it, a loving husband, father, uncle and brother. He would always do what he thought was right, whether it meant second guessing someone he loved or fighting for what he believed him. When he did something he put his heart into it" spoke Crystal as she looked around the large hall, seeing people her fallen husband had helped during his time as an officer, just as she seen other police officers and inspectors sitting side by side with those of the criminal underworld, yet when she looked she was surprised to see several members of Evolution there to pay their respects, Stephanie, Hunter, Randy and Dave there, along with Vince himself. "He loved his work, whether it be patrolling the streets and making it a safer place or training the next generation in the ways of the business he started out in. He brought us all together, yet his most proudest moment will always be watching each of his girls go on their own journey of self discovery" added the blond woman as she began to cry at what she had lost yet she knew she had to continue with the eulogy she was determined to deliver. "He always seen his girls as a bright lights in a sea of darkness. He never said how proud he was of all those he called family, how extraordinary they are. He was right and so was he. Kane was a hero to this city, to all of you and he was to me. Goodbye Kane, you will be missed" finished Crystal, breaking down in tears as she looked over to her husbands casket one last time, knowing nothing would ever be the same now, the family she knew would be divided by the end of the day.
Later that day, at the home Crystal had shared with Kane and her daughters the wake was being held for her fallen husband, she was almost shocked to see what the Wyatt family had done in her absence. The boards they had created with photos of Kane throughout his life, to an edited video showing him through different moments. Yet her favourite had to be the photo standing on its own. Just Kane on his own wearing his uniform with Hero to us all written above it, a small yet broken come to her lips upon seeing the tribute they had done for someone they had seen as a friend and alli. The food also being set out including some of her late husband's favourites, much like their was some of the normal things to find at such an event along with drinks for all those who attended. Yet Crystal struggled to work out which was worse, the news of her husband's death, the funeral or the wake she was about to walk into.
"I'm sorry for you loss" came a voice from behind her, upon turning Crystal was met with Vince McMahon, sadness in his eyes to be at such an event and to lose someone he had considered a friend. "He was a great man and friend, he always spoke of his beautiful wife and his special girls, even of Saraya" added the patriarch of the McMahon family, he could still remember all the times when Kane had spoke of his trips with his family and how proud he was of each of them, even what his plans for the future had been. His retirement plan had been simple, spending it with his wife and girls. Do all he could to help them in their chosen path and supporting them when they needed it most. Crystal could only nod in response to hearing what her husband was like when he was doing his job no matter which side of the law he was on.
"Is there anything we can do?" asked Michelle when she stood next to her sister in law, the memory of when Crystal had found out about Kane's death coming back to her, how devastated she had been to the point she had dropped the phone she had been talking on at the time, even how she had said she needed to go home to be with her own family and eventually the denial she had gone through over her husband being gone. The grieving blond could only shake her head in response, knowing the only things she wanted would be denied to her. She soon looked back to the crowd of people, each sharing their memories of her husband with each other, even seeing those under the Shield banner mingling with others as if they were just normal people. Her heart swelling with love upon seeing the young children also there despite not understand what was happening around them, although she strongly expected Jordan knew.
"There's nothing anyone can do. All I want is my family to be united but I know that wont happen" quietly responded Crystal, turning her attention to the video clips of Kane playing on repeat, she soon realised she still clung tightly on to the flag she had been given by those in the police department, she didn't want to let it go as she knew if she did then she would confirm the man she truly loved with all her heart was gone and had left her to pick up the pieces of her life. "He held this family together, acted as the middle ground. Now he's gone there's nothing to stop it falling apart. He loved all of them, no matter where they had come from. Tried to help everyone even Mark" added the grieving widow, her memory taking her back to when Kane had confessed to her he couldn't bare the guilt of scrubbing Saraya completely from their lives, as well as told her what he had done, revealing he had hidden Knight's Raven away and searched for everything that was rightful Paige's. Even how he had kept the toys she had brought for Summer and Emma. That memory had brought a smile to his lips, as did the one when he had called Paige his daughter for the first time.
"The family wont fall apart" responded Mark, watching Paige from across the room, yet the sternness of the situation playing in his mind mixing with the grief of losing his little brother so soon. "Our family will be reunited again" added the older man as he looked around the room to Summer and Emma, how both stayed close to those they trusted, much like Renee was around for his only daughter, as did the three who often stuck by the girls as if they were their personal protectors as well as the others scattered the large room, almost as they were making sure nothing would destroy the time of mourning each member of the family would be suffering through.
"As long as you see them as enemies it will be" replied Crystal as she looked to where Mark was staring, seeing how he sent daggers in the direction of the Shield members despite them being no harm to anyone instead they were there to support the people they loved. "They were his family as well. Just like us they lost him. The longer you see them as a danger the longer this family will be torn apart" explained the grieving widow as she pointed out what was being ignored in her mind, it wasn't long before she walked off to join all three of her girls, leaving Mark almost shocked to hear her words yet all he could do was try and understand and let go of his anger. Kaia soon returned to the pair, the pre-teen looking around the room saddened about why so many people were gathered together but also seeing the good side to it, yet she still felt more comfortable with her parents, even when she knew the family she had once cherished and took for granted so much would change once more.
"She's grieving" whispered Michelle just loud enough for her husband to hear her. "She just lost her husband, killed in the line of duty by someone so ruthless. With luck she will see in time just how dangerous those people are. See them for the enemy they truly are" added Michelle, smiling down at Kaia when she looked up, clearly having heard her words, although not understanding them. As far as the eleven year old could see the people she was referring to were kind and caring, as well as accepting rather than dangerous.
The following day at Evolution head quarters, Stephanie, Hunter, Randy and Dave sat around their normal meeting table, the room quiet with sadness as they all looked around the room waiting for the person to have called the meeting to arrive. Shane too sat there in silence, unable to come up with anything to say, knowing those in the room with him still had distrust when it come to his loyalty. All the older McMahon could do was sit and think how it could have been a member of his own family to have been killed. It could have been someone close to him yet for some reason the renegade four had instead target Kane as their main threat. As if by magic Vince appeared, clearing his throat at the head of the large table to gain everyone's attention. An unreadable expression on his aged features as he looked around at the six in the room with him, as if looking for any sign of weakness in them.
"We have to do something to stop the four responsible for this" spoke Vince, his voice demanding the attention of everyone sat around the table, behind him appeared pictures of the four he was referring to via a projector. "The Rhodes Brothers can wait, as of now they are a low priority. All resources we have goes on finding them and eliminating them. Even if that means we have to use their tactics against them" added the patriarch of the McMahon family as he pointed the four pictures behind him, suggesting he was willing to do whatever it took to end those who had taken away another was so respected by others in the criminal community. He soon looked around the room, sending a stern look to each of those he had called the meeting with, he knew when it come to it, those at Shield would do all in their power to destroy those who had hurt them.
"Shield have Charlotte. Becky, Bayley and Sasha caught her the day Kane was killed" uttered Shane, knowing the three girls had locked her within one of the pods of the elimination chamber, taking the keys to the chamber itself with them. "They wont hand her over this time nor will they let her go. Its best to leave Charlotte to them" added the oldest of Vince's children, feeling guilty in a way. Charlotte had been in their grasp when they had met with the Rhodes Brothers months before hand yet they had let her get away with the others who worked with her. He knew had they all worked harder to find Charlotte then there was a better chance Kane would have still been with them and with the people who loved him. Just as he knew the one responsible for Kane's death was likely to be off limits as well.
"We've already received word from the Hounds. They will handle Baron as he is has been targetting them in an attempt to finish what was started years before hand. They also request if we catch Andrade to leave him alive, his fate will be decided by what remains of Kane's closest family members, his wife and girls. Our main priority is catching and eliminating Cena once and for all" explain Vince, knowing the Hounds were more determined than ever to end the threat that Baron posed to those they loved, even if that meant working with those they didn't trust all that much. Much like each knew there wasn't much they wouldn't do now, nothing was off limits in their crusade for vengeance.
"We supported Saraya when she became queen of our world. Mourned her loss when she was taken. Its about time we stood up and did supported Paige too. We should have done it from the beginning" responded Hunter, remembering when Saraya had been named the queen if only as a nickname to begin with, still to do this day those in the underworld see her as the leader they needed and thrust seen her only child as royalty. "If we had then Kane wouldn't have become a casualty in this war or the catalyst for what is to come" added Hunter as he looked around to the others in the room as he expressed his regret for the path they had taken. He knew each of them would work towards their goal and the ultimate downfall of those who opposed on them.
A/N – Sorry for the long wait on this. Had a lot of personal issues to sort through and I wanted to get this as close to as perfect as possible. Thank you to everyone who has been following this story. Watch out for part III coming soon. Stay safe wherever you are.
