Brother Mine

by Blackstar1979

"Brother Mine" Mark is preparing to retire from wrestling so he can keep a promise he made to Nina his dead first wife in a drug-induced dream. The bonds that were forged and those that were almost broken play a part in book three. This is a partial summary see Chapter 1 for full.

6. Chapter 6 Descending into Distrust

Chapter 6 Descending into Distrust

Over at a house show in Ivey Towers Grandville South, Mark is standing in the back watching a match. Asuka, one of his best female students rushes the ring and beats the crap out of Liv Morgan another of his female students both women had been signed shortly after Vince visited the school. They were on the taping of a new reality show "WWE Road to Ring" that creative had thought up to further showcase talent from his school on a national stage. One of the producers asked to film inside his school and Mark really didn't mind the showcase being taped for TV but he was still unconvinced that places other than the training floor or the showcase ring should be aired. The last thing he needed was some fan thinking they can just walk into one of the housing buildings and get them self an impromptu meet and greet. If said producer kept bugging him, he'd just have Sophie set the guy straight.

Asuka walks backstage behind the curtain after her match. She was super excited that she got the chance to perform in front of her largest audience yet. As she heads to her dressing room, she talks with Shinsuke Nakamura, he'd been helpful in giving her someone to chat with when the cameras were off. The owner and coordinator of her school Mark Callaway holds out his massive hand telling her good work. She takes his hand and slowly thanks him in American English. He didn't demand she learn English he'd just suggested learning it could help her get the best billing after she left the school, she found herself wanting to show him that she was worth his praise. It still amazed her that he could speak Japanese. He tells her what she should work on as far as correcting her move set and reminding her of the work safe policy. He then heads back towards his dressing room to prep for his own match. Liv Morgan limped backstage and stuck her blue tongue out at Asuka. To this Asuka makes a slashing motion with her hand across her throat like Mark dose in his matches to signify the end is near. Liv rolls her eyes and walks away. Shinsuke tells her not to let Liv get to her. She then says, "No worries." They head to catering.

Paige and Becky are sitting next to each other gossiping about the latest news that WWE was going to pull yet another person from their school. Ever since Mr. Callaway had talked them into continuing after getting a better Co-coordinator Mr. Foley, it seemed as if everyone was taking off in the right direction. They see Asuka and wave her over. She and her shadow Shinsuke sits down across from them. Paige brings up Mark's challenge that he made on Raw. "I still think it should be open to everyone." Becky agrees loudly and then starts calling herself "The Man" making a motion with her hands like she is wearing the belt around her waist. Other wrestlers look at the four and turns their attention back to their own meals.

Stephanie walks in to catering, Paige and Becky walk over to her and starts throwing ideas at her for women to be included in the race for Mark's belt. Charlotte Flair an already established diva, says she wanted no part in that. Naomi the woman's Champion walks over and asks Paige was she trying to fight Mark because she thought he'd go easy on her because she was in his school or was, she just afraid of all this glow, as she lifts the woman's belt and tilts her head to the side with a smirk. Stephanie says since Paige and Becky were still student pros that would take them out of the race anyway. Shane walks over after hearing the girls start getting loud trying to talk over each other and says because they were on the "WWE Road to Ring" show they could possibly contend for the woman's belt in a few months if they were fully pulled into full contract by October. Right now, all of Mark's students that Vince liked except for Rapture who had a full contract and was no longer a student, were on partial contracts. Student pros were part student, part performer, the student pros could do house shows but not any television spots except for on the R2R show and any showcases that Mark's school had televised through LEGNA USA Productions. Stephanie gets in Shane's face and snarls that this was not to be discussed in catering. Shane says then maybe it was time for a creative meeting, then he walked away, leaving Steph standing there with her mouth open. Steph storms after Shane.

Naomi looks at Paige and says, "You got heart, but I still don't think you can handle this glow." Becky gets in Naomi's way and says they would be happy to take her belt. "You may be happy to try when you get on the card, oops I mean if you get on the card, but trying only gets you so far. Bye ladies." Naomi then sashays away with Charlotte.

Mark had a match with Shamus, and when Shamus went for the "Bro Kick" Mark blocked it and slammed him against the ropes. "Nice try fucker." Shamus said when Mark went for a choke slam and Shamus dodged under his arm and punched him. They exchange a few more move sets. Mark caught Shamus in midair and slammed him for trying to jump from the top rope and knock him down. Dean Ambrose's music hits, and he charged out along with Seth Rollins, the two jumped in the ring and started attacking Mark.

Which gave Mark the win via disqualification. Shamus went to join in the fray when the Usos charged out through the audience and started fighting off Mark's attackers. As Mark is finally on his feet and helping even the odds Shamus, Seth, and Dean jump out of the ring. As they are retreating up the ramp. Jimmy Uso grabs a mic and says, "If anybody gonna be in line for that belt it's gonna be USOS." They get a good pop from the crowd. Jimmy tells the crowd the date of the next time, they would be doing a live show here in Grandville South.

Mark heads to the back to trainers' row to get checked out. When Seth and Dean attacked him one of them kicked him in his fucking head. Though the Usos' cavalry run to his aid was planned, Mark had needed the distraction to lay on the mat and get his head from spinning almost 20 minutes later he entered his dressing room to Janet and Tony at his dressing room door when he walked in. Janet asked was he ok. "Yeah little one, I'm going to hit the shower you two get ready to head out soon as I'm done ok." When Mark is done with his shower and dressed in his street clothes, he really didn't feel he should be driving. The dizziness had subsided but him and concussions were not strangers. One aspect of this he wouldn't miss is people not working safe. He asked Janet did she want to drive, and she excitedly said yes.

On July third, Joy looks out the window of the private jet that Chase had waiting on them this morning. Bobby and one of the new guards talk up near the flight deck. Bobby soon comes to sit beside her, drawing her full attention. They were going to Washington for Robert to officially meet her family. This entire trip made Joy unconfutable. He must have picked up on her shift in mood because he took her hand rubbed a little pattern on the back of her hand releasing some of the tension that had built up unbeknownst even to her. She had not noticed that she was holding on to the arm of the seat with such a grip until her fingers relaxed.

Bobby watched his mate calm at his touch, not wanting her to think she had to lock herself inside of her head, he leans back in his seat and says quietly "Talk to me." She gazes at him then at Lance their newest guard from Joey's group. "Lance can you give us a minute, we're in the air now so you're welcome to grab you a break." Lance nods and walks towards the rear kitchenette closing the sliding door. Bobby returns his attention to Joy and asked, "Are you feeling ok?" She revealed that she didn't know why but she felt uneasy about this trip. Bobby draws Joy into him, and she lays her head on his chest and rubs her belly. "I can't say what your feeling, I know that I'm kind of hyperaware but that's just my nature." Joy says that she hadn't been nervous until she realized that Jack was going to be at the house as well. "So, are you worried that they will continue judging me based on what he's done or hasn't done?" Joy says that Elation was able to convince Jack to be at the dinner tonight, but she wondered what it was costing her sister. "I don't know him so I really couldn't say one way or another. Please don't stress yourself out about this." Joy says he is right and smiles up at him. He kisses her to see the strain retreat from her features into a genuine smile.

As they land, their alerted by the captain that they can use their phones and that it is 57 degrees at 10 a.m. and welcomed them to Seattle. Joy switched her phone out of airplane mode and her phone started populating with messages. Her earlier uneasiness was back ten-fold when she read a message from her older brother that they would have to have the dinner at his home instead of their parents' home because someone set their family home ablaze yesterday and though everyone was ok because their parents were out buying last minute groceries, the house was a total loss. He then added a dig about how Joy was probably happy since she hated being here so much. Tears welled her eyes. As she typed out a response.

Joy W: Why you would say that Kindred? Yes, you know why I left, but I never wanted our home destroyed. That was uncalled for. Why did no one tell me this after it happened yesterday?

Kindred: As for why no one told you. Mom and dad told us not to they feared that without your old room you wouldn't come home anymore. I'm sorry Joy, it's just that ever since you left the first time, mom and dad are always super excited like little puppies anytime you come for a visit. You are the one that left, and Elation and I, get to witness them miss you. It just pisses me off. I have room at my home you and your dude are welcomed to stay with me. Mom and dad are staying in town with Elation and Jack. I'm going to get our family house rebuilt our parents deserve better than to live out their years in that tiny house with them. I offered for them to come here to my place, but they don't like this area. I think it had more to do with they could finally get time with Elation and her husband.

Bobby ushered her inside the Ivey Transit Hummer stretch limo while the guys got their luggage, "What's wrong you opened your phone and I could feel the shift." Joy looks up at him and the tears in her eyes broke him in half and pissed him off. "Hey, what happened, is everyone ok?" She hands him her phone as she digs in her purse for a tissue to get herself together before their bodyguard came back. Reading the text message exchange made Bobby want to go beat the shit out of her smart mouth brother and get his mate as far away from this mess as he could. Pulling her into him he says, "It's going to be ok whatever you want to do we can." He rubs her back as she held onto him. Lance opened the door to sit across from them Bobby shakes his head and Lance nodded and set up front. Bobby wanted to get Joy calmed down. This storm was coming, and her brother just brought everything she'd tried to tamp down to the surface as she cried. Bobby just whispered, "I got you. It is going to be ok," over and over trying to comfort her while not displaying any of the rage he was feeling. He didn't know Kindred Wildflower, but the man was already on Bobby's shit list. After Joy finally calms, she straightens out of Bobby's embrace and takes the offered bottled water from him. With a look of mortification, she silently asks could they hear her back here. Bobby smirks and says, "No and even if they could, you're human, it happens." She lays back on him.

She starts doing her makeup and asked could they stop for a snack. "Right now, we are heading to Ivey Suites Seattle dad says they have a bakery." She looks at him and said they were invited to stay with her brother. "We aren't staying with him, I know I'm not 100% but if he said something and upset you, he'd end up putting us out because it would become very hard for me not to break his face. We can go to the dinner and I'll meet your folks, but Joy I know me, and I know that if his message is any indicator on how he is in person it is best that I don't share space with him for too long."

Joy knew how protective Bobby could be and saw his point. She didn't want her mate or her brother fighting or feeling that they must. Kindred could be a wise ass and she didn't want anything to further taint this visit. It was heart breaking that their family home on the reservation had been destroyed. She called her parents and spoke to her mother. "Mom Kindred said you feared telling me about the house for fear that I would not come back?" Her mother confirmed it and asked was she still coming, or had he told her before she got on the plane. "No, we are here heading to the hotel then we will be on our way to Kin's. Mother, I don't know why you'd think that I would leave or even worse not come at all." Her mother said that is what Kindred told them, so they didn't want to risk telling her because she really wanted to meet the man that was going to take her daughter and keep her from them. "Mother that is not fair, I have been with Robert for years and I have managed very well to come back as often as my schedule will allow." Joy had to change the subject when she felt her face heating? "Did they find the person that torched the house?" When her mother spoke, something did not sound right. "Wait the fire was set in what used to be Elation's and my room." Bobby's gaze snapped to her. "When I came for Thanksgiving last year the room held nothing that would have started a fire in it. That means the person had to be inside the house. Who all had keys to the house?" Her mother told her not to start that police stuff the sheriff was doing a thorough job. "Mother please answer my question." Her father gets on the line and tells her to stop upsetting her mother. Knowing that their talk was over for now, Joy says, "Yes father." They soon get off the phone with Joy reassuring her father that yes, she and her mate would be at Kin's tonight.

Across the country near New York, Harold is sitting by Natalie's beside when her hand twitched, he looked up though he knew better by now to expect anything. Almost three fucking weeks and she was no closer to waking than she was the first fucking night. Sadly, the first time this happened, he thought she would wake. He talked loud and soft to her and held her hand. The doctor had crushed that expectation within him when she said that it was just an involutory reaction. This time the movement persisted, and he looked up again. He slept with one eye open and when he couldn't stay awake any longer, he'd switch places with Ian. Rubbing his finger across her knuckles made her twitch again. This had not happened before usually he got one twitch not a series of them. Seizer was the dark thought that slammed into him as he rose and watched her for any other movement. A seizer they could treat the other thought that made him sit and hold her hand just a little tighter than before, was that she was dying. Yes, they were all dying it is the human cycle you were born, you lived, and then you died, but what worried him and kept his eyes glue to her face was the thought that the doctors had missed something on the many scans, and surgeries, and she would slip through his fucking fingers again. First, he let his work create a wedge in his marriage, and now as if the world just wanted to see how far his sanity would stretch one of his men had nearly killed his wife. He gets a call from his Commanding Officer that ordered him to either take leave or work his case load saying he could not just stay stationary and let the world burn down around their ears while he waited for Natalie to wake because criminals would not take a long weekend or so for him to sit idle. It took great draw on his training not to snarl into the phone. Taking a breath, he thought about his options, if he went on leave his C.O. would pull him off the Stanford Ryan case, and the Stark investigation and the 10 other cases on his desk collecting dust, one of which they were waiting for a ruling on the female wrestler Nikki Bella that had apart in the John Cena and Randy Orton case that involved his brother in law Mark. He asked his C.O. for time to make his decision. His C.O. must have heard the tightness in his tone and agreed but told him he had 30 minutes. "Yes Sir" It was better than nothing. If he was to do his job, he could not drag his son along and he would not leave him here to possibly suffer backlash from Ryan. He had to call his sister Paula and or his brother Mark. They were the only family he had and the only ones he trusted. He'd tracked down Nat's father and got the same bullshit excuse on why he couldn't come see his only child. Natalie's father had abandoned her and her mother when she was 19, to go find himself. Weeks right after that lost, her mother was killed while sunbathing on the patio of their home, via a car crashing through the wooden privacy fence and hitting her. The driver was fleeing a bank robbery. Steven Wakefield had turned too fast and slammed through the fence. He claimed he panicked and hit the gas instead of the brake. That action caused the car to hit the victim hard enough to knock her into the air against the shed 20 feet away. Wakefield tried to sue the police for chasing him. He was sentenced to life in prison. Harold's parents died of natural causes 6 months after Ian's 9th birthday. It was times like this he wished he had never moved out of Texas. If he still lived there maybe all this would have never happened. Looking at his watch he walks over, taps Ian, and tells him that he had to make some calls. Ian rolled off the ugly little sofa the hospital had put in the room.

He couldn't do this he was cracking as he listened to the phone ring. Paula answered and the entire story came out in a rush. Silence met his ears. "PJ" Paula answered and asked when it happened. He tells her. He asked if Ian could come there for a while, she said she would have to talk to Angel and the gang. Thinking of his son being protected by a few agents that were a part of his agency he said "No go home, keep him there please." Paula says she is only home for the weekend and on weeks that she is working the new bar. She mentions that Ivey Mansion was safer than their home anyway. "Not right now If Stanford has any pull or the amount, I think he has sending Ian to Ivey Mansion could very well get him killed." Paula asked were they in danger. "No, the only link that Stanford Ryan would have known about is Ian but if he shows up and one of those agents are dirty, Ian could get hurt or worse. For obvious reasons I do not publicize our relation. Please PJ, I am holding on by a thread as it is. If I take the leave and turn over these cases and some underling tanks them either from less experience or on purpose, lots of people including people I care about will, not could, but will be in the line of fire." Paula says she will ask Mark because this was a huge favor he was asking. "Where is he, I'll ask him myself?" Paula says he just left for a show in Orlando. Harold disdainfully mumbled something about Mark's schedule saying that Mark should be there with her. Paula went off on him and told him not to start transferring his own guilt on to her husband, because their lives were not the same. "I'm sorry PJ, please talk to Mark. I really must end this. After I close these cases I'll be retiring, I can't just abandon her, but if I don't do this work now, even if Natalie lives, both of the children and her will be in danger." Paula asked him to give her a minute she was texting Mark as they spoke.

Mark was on his Ivey Transit Luxury bus heading out of town he was running late but would get to the arena in time for his practice. He made this an ongoing arrangement with Ivey Transit and was thinking of just buying the bus and hiring a full-time coach operator because he liked not having to worry about either driving himself after a grueling show or when their schedules allowed bringing his oldest, her best friend and or her boyfriend with him. He didn't bring the twins along; they were too small and though Janet and Nikki were ok with watching after the twins he didn't want to always lay that responsibility on his teenage daughter and her friend. His oldest had come through so much fire this last few years, watching her have friends and interactions like a normal child swelled his heart with pride and joy. It had been almost 5 months since Janet had a night terror. He'd noticed himself in her, the good parts. He gets a message from Paula. His first instinct was to protect his women from anything that Harold was dealing with and say no, but he asked questions and knew that if the roles were reversed that his brother would have said yes and come up with a plan to make it work. So would Mark, after a brief exchange and a little planning he texted back yes.

Paula tells Harold Mark's condition and answer. "That's doable I can have him on the first thing in the air by tomorrow. Thank you, PJ, and thank Mark for me." He soon ends the call and walks back in to talk to his son. At first Ian glares at him and accuses him of ditching him off on family so he can run back to his work. Harold lost his hold on his temper and yelled advancing as he spoke, "First off, no one is ditching you. Second, going back to work now though, it's not my first choice the only other option is to take leave and drop all the cases on my desk. I am doing the only thing I fucking know how to do. If I lose you and her, I'll lose everything including my mind. Do you want Stanford to be able to just walk? You are going that is not up for debate. Do you fucking hear me?" His son flinched and shrank back away from him shaking. Seeing that he was genuinely scaring his son hurt. Harold was loud, not too long ago before Stanford Ryan, this would not have been Ian's response. The iron blanket of what his son had been through slammed into Harold like a fist to the gut. Ian before Stanford Ryan had never had to fight a grown man before or watch his mother get her ass handed to her in front of him. These past weeks he heard the whimpers as Ian slept. Harold looked in the mirror and silently cursed. Slowly he shut his eyes trying to bring his coloring back to normal from the puce it was right now and unclenched his fist. He wasn't going to hit his son, but Harold's stance and tone probably screamed a different story to his very frightened son standing by his mother's hospital bed with bandages running up and down his arms and bruises on his face.

Ian stood wide eyed he knew if he couldn't fight Stanford, fighting his dad would be an automatic fail. When his dad walked towards him, he kept a distance between them by walking backwards until he bumped into his mother's bed. Finding his voice when his dad stops advancing, he says "I'll go."

Over in Grandville South Proper, Maxwell Stalk Wolfe sits in a meeting with his queen position, his second in command, Salvatore Fenny-Paradise. "Give" Salvatore glances at his phone screen and gives the report on current activities dealing with Chase, Jonathan, and last but the one Wolfe cared the most about the child. "It sounds as if you are nervous." Wolfe pulls a pistol and lays it on his desk "We do have an excellent retirement plan."

Sal visibly swallowed then his words came out in a rush. "My apologies Wolfe but the last time I stood in this room you were determining if I would live or die." Wolfe says nothing has changed he was still the final word on Sal's last breath if he continued to be a good soldier, he had nothing to fear. Sal knew if Wolfe killed him here his body would never be found. His plan of leaving money behind for his remaining family would never get delivered if he just disappeared. He really screwed himself with that side mission with Alex. He was just glad that Alex paid the heaviest price there is and not him yet. He'd stuck to his duties and made sure that his performance was flawless these past few weeks. "I have intel on the rumblings you heard of the female don trying to rally what is left of her troops. She is working with the Dirty Cop Clan of all groups." Wolfe asked how he found that jewel of information. "One of my bugs are still in place. The female don goes to a clinic where she can give her orders without being recorded by the feds because it goes against HIPPA laws." Wolfe says to make sure that Sal's end to the DCC is final this time. Salvatore nods. Wolfe dismisses him.

Salvatore heads home, while at a stop light he turns his head and locks eyes with non-other than the doctor they kidnapped. Which turned out to be Chase Ivey's best friend. As far as Sal was concerned that entire family network was untouchable. He'd missed the connection and almost got himself killed. Now they were being guarded by a blend of paramilitary and feds and if both of those failed Wolfe had extended his den's protection. The light turned green and the dark car with Doct3n on the license plate revved its engine and sped away. Sal is almost ran off the road, when a fucking formation of cars and Hummers push in front of him keeping him separate from the speeding black car of the doctor. He wasn't even trying anything and almost ended up over the railing. He contacts Wolfe because he didn't need his boss thinking he was making any type of unapproved play. Wolfe had already heard about the interaction, Sal wondered from who but dared not ask. Wolfe told him it was good he called. He then told him that he had better let that be the last time it looked as though he was pursuing the doctor.

Back in Washington at Kindred's spacious home tucked away on the edge of Seattle. Bobby and Joy are sitting in the living room, and all is well until Elation comes storming in with Jack on her heels. Kindred loudly introduces them to Bobby over their bickering. Jack stops speaking and stares at Bobby. Elation oblivious to Jack's lack of movement and speech as she asks him what he said as he continued to stare. Life Wildflower, their mother, walks in behind them tilts her head and says it was not polite to stare at people. Jack mumbles "he's not a person, he's a freaking ghost" and walks off toward the back of the house. Elation apologizes for Jack and follows him. Before Joy could grab for his hand Bobby was through the door asking Jack what that was supposed to mean. Jack turned around his height was not impressive he and Bobby stood almost nose to nose. Jack says as Joy enters the room, "What I meant is that no matter how far you go Joy, you'll never escape his type."

Joy says, "That's enough you don't even know me well enough to make such a statement." He opens his mouth to retort but Bobby tells him he had 15 seconds to apologize or he was going to meet the floor. Jack asks was that why he was here to protect her from her own blood family. "Robert please stop, Jack I don't think I need protection from my own family what is wrong with you? You go from hardly ever being present now you are the one with everything to say?" Jack says he wasn't present when she was around, but it wasn't his choice. Kindred walks in between Bobby and Jack and says that they must be hungry and suggests that everyone just come on into the dining room and have a seat at his massive table.

As everyone including Joy's mother Life Buckmaster-Wildflower and her father Moose Wildflower all sit at the table. Life asks Bobby does he celebrate Independence Day. "I didn't for a while, up until I was adopted. Then I did with my adoptive father and grandmother until she died. As an adult it is just another day at work." Bobby was prepared for the question and hoped his truth satisfied them. He'd thought of lying but what would be the point? It was clear that Joy's family didn't like him. At least her brothers. Elation had not said much to him. Moose says that he forgot that Bobby was adopted and apologized. "I don't know why you would apologize it is not something I shout from the roof tops." Life asked did Mayor Ivey demand he celebrate other American holidays? "No, my dad and grandmother never tried to force me to celebrate anything I didn't want to. They left it up to me. I was adopted into the family after my grandfather passed, but he was a solider so being there to put a rose on my grandfather's grave on special days that meant something to my grandmother was just our thing. As for Christmas my birth mother was raised Christian so if anything, Easter and Christmas were something I was used too. Chase wasn't as strictly Christian as my birth mother, but I'd call him spiritual none the less."

Kindred stood and announced that he had news. Everyone looks up at him and he says. "Joy is not the only one getting married. I am too." Where most of his family congratulated him Jack and Elation laughed. "What is so damn funny" as he points at Jack and says, "You have been inside more females since you said I do than candy bars inside a fat kid, and you dare laugh at me?" Jack jumps on the defensive and says that wasn't true. He then turns to Elation asking is that what she has been telling her family. Elation says no but her tone gave away the truth. He asks her out of the room for a talk. "My home, don't trash it, like you did your own." Elation turned back to Kindred and said for him to grow up she then leaves the table to follow Jack.

Life asks will she at least be able to meet the young woman who will take her son. "Mother, father, it will take time, but I will introduce you to my mate. If your little question and answer session to this fake cop is any indicator it will take a lot of time." Bobby grunts but says nothing. "oh, you thought I stopped at listening to my sister Joy talk about how great of a guy you were and didn't do my homework on you? Fat chance, Joy says you are a federal agent that worked with her years ago in a few cases. I found your name in one other agency and that was the Texas Rangers after that you kind of went jobless. Yeah you did a small stint in State police work according to your father but even he was evasive at best when asked what your rank was. I think you are a very convincing rich kid that gets off on fooling my sister into thinking you are this great agent when really you are a family member away from inheriting the old man's fortune." Moose says he looked Bobby up on social media with a photo and came back with hardly nothing but recent pictures of him with his mayor dad. Life chimed in and said that Jack was elusive with what he did, but she knows what her son in law's job title is and that's enough for her.

Joy sees her mate ready to speak she needed Bobby not to lose his shit. She puts her hand on Bobby's shoulder and stands and says "Well the double standard of that comment alone is enough for me. I know what Robert's job title is, but for obvious reason I will not be announcing it so believe what you want."

Bobby stands as well, and flips open his close protection badge. He was tired of this one-way shit fest at his expense. It was also under a coded badge number. If he opened the other one there was too much that could backfire on him and this bunch was not worth him getting fired and fined. Moose asked to see it. Bobby shows it to him, and Moose of all people confirms its legitimacy as he says he'd recognize that symbol anywhere.

Moose welcomes Robert into the family and follows it up with he was glad his youngest was happy and prayed she stayed that way. Kindred stands and proposed a toast and says, "Congratulations Joy, you found you a Jack. You proved dad wrong, you did very well for yourself away from us. Oh yeah, no you didn't you almost got yourself killed." Seeing Kindred's words sting Joy, Bobby goes off on Kindred, telling him none of that was either of their fault. All the anger that had built up spewed from his lips like viper strikes. Bobby ended his tirade with the fact that Joy was set up by her boss not by him, or any of the other stories circulating through the fucking hot sheets. Joy excused herself and left the room, Bobby followed her.

Jack and Elation reenter the room, and Life asks Kindred why he was so angry at his little sister. After having time to think about all the stuff Bobby said, Kindred felt about two inches tall. Moose says that is not how he was raised. Life asked why Kindred would bring up the accident. "That's just it mom, that was no accident Robert said himself that her own job you know the "thin blue line" tried to become a rope around her neck. I was more ok when she finally got off the street doing her Captain Computer geek gig. She at least didn't have to worry about getting shot at or stabbed or anything."

The next day over in Grandville North, Ian gets off the plane and is picked up by his aunt Paula. She was a lot smaller than what he remembered but the last time he'd seen her she was pregnant. That made him think of the little girl his mom had just had. It was harder for him to leave her than anything, but he'd already opened his smart mouth to his dad and thought he was going to land in a heap the minute he stopped speaking. He'd shut up and his dad had visually calmed down. On the way to the airport his dad had told him that he wasn't going to hit him, that his words had just struck a chord, and then his dad asked him did he really believe the things that flew from his mouth. Ian lied and said no. His dad went on and explained again that all he wanted was for Ian to be safe while he completed his case load. He wanted to ask his dad but what about his mother and the little girl but not wanting to push his dad's last hot button while in a moving car, Ian had kept his fucking mouth shut. It is July 4th, but he didn't feel like celebrating anything. Paula was talking to him. He hadn't got much sleep and her asking him if he wanted a nap years ago, would have been insulting, right now it sounded good. "Sure."

Paula stole glances at her nephew he was taller than he was even a year ago but the look on his face really hadn't changed he still looked angry at the world. Without Harold's mop of dark hair, he would look just as angry. She remembers when Harold had got a crew cut, he walked around looking like a soldier and that was before he entered any type of law enforcement. Paula turned on the radio and a Slash song came on Ian didn't say anything, so she left it on. They pull through the gate to their home and Ian looks around then back at her. "Your dad asked for us to keep you up here and that is what is going to happen. These dudes don't play nice and from the looks of you and what he did to Natalie you already know this." Ian said nothing. His body language gave it away more than any words. He then asked were the puppies here at least. Pain and Panic were full grown Bull Mastiffs. "I wouldn't call Pain and Panic pups, but yeah they are in the back. They had their babies since the last time you were here." The excitement that she was used to seeing when she spoke with him about any animal took over his brooding features and fills it with a brief smile. He then asked where his uncle was. "Mark is getting ready for a pay-per-view called "Extreme Rules" Ian says oh ok.

After his aunt Paula tells him to go have a lay down and that she would be back with food, the twins, and Janet later in the day, Ian once again said ok. Then he remembered how screwed up he'd been twisted in his own head and said mean shit to his cousin. Now her parents were like the ones his dad trusted to keep him safe from harm from Stanford. Oh yeah this was going to go swell. Ian thinks to himself as he stretches out in the guest bedroom he'd stayed in last year. Pain nosed the bedroom door open and soon plopped on the bed next to him. He soon curdled around the huge beast feeling safer than he had in months and drifted off into a peaceful dreamless sleep.

Paula let Panic in the house, and he trotted towards Ian's room as well, as their enormous dog pushed himself into the bedroom Paula saw her nephew curled around the female Bull Mastiff and smiled as the male flanked his other side. If anything, her nephew felt protected enough to sleep. Harold had warned her of Ian's tendency to sleep walk and have night terrors. She watched the three for a while knowing Pain nor Panic would let Ian wander too far was a comfort. She quietly closed the door got in her truck, and heads back towards Granville South. She calls Harold and says, "Yes my nephew is safe and at the house with Pain and Panic." Harold called them their temple dogs referring to their size. I just called to tell you that I got him from the airport so you can concentrate on your work. How's Natalie and the baby?" Harold says no change.

Back in Grandville South, Logan had been called by Kevin to come help him out on to their back patio because Kevin didn't want to be stuck inside on the holiday and getting him out the door was hard for his wife Beth on her own. Logan had gone over and helped his cousin on to his patio Beth asked did he want to stay for a bite to eat. Logan had declined saying he needed to get back home. Logan just didn't feel like hanging with them. He'd run errands for them in between working all week and just wanted a few hours to spend time at his own home, he also didn't want Nikki stuck watching the boys for her entire holiday. Everyone in the family called him on his way back and wished him a happy 4th. When he arrived home to find that Nikki was not only not watching the boys, but Mia was home from the shop, he hugged her and asked was everything ok. She turns her face towards him and says that her boss had given her the rest of the day off after she fixed a van that the parts came in for this morning. Mia then asked was he still wanting to go to his family's party. "No, since he really can't get out of the chair and up mom and dad's drive way, it's at Kevin's this year. I help when I can, but I'm just not in the mood to be over there for long periods of time." Mia didn't press the issue but did say she wished she was half as close to her family as he made it look. Logan strolled over to the window looked out, Sighs saying, "Looks can be deceiving. Anyway, did you want to go to the fireworks show tonight? It's at Cherry Lake Pier this year, and I can't recall if Glenny ever went." An hour later, Bradley along with Candy pulled into their driveway. Logan greets his friends and asked were they going up to Ivey Mansion. Bradley said no that they were here to set shit on fire and pal around with the boys. "Stuff still strained with you Angel and Josh?" Bradley says he didn't think so but wasn't up for possibly being around too much. Candy says she was here to play with Glenny because when she got to watch him here lately, he was already asleep or very close to it. Mia thanks her for babysitting Glenny and Ethan while she worked, and Logan was out of town. Candy says no problem and asked Logan about his newest out of town project. "I swear Chase is throwing my name to his friends, I'm remodeling a building in D.C. That reminds me, Bradley I need you to finish the Journey Road project over in Dallas." Bradley says that job was almost done he gave it two more days and they would be ready for inspection. "Glad to have your head back in the game man. You have really been knocking those projects out." Later that night, the boys stand on the back porch with sparklers Bradley had brought. At first Glenny didn't want to hold the fiery sparkling stick. Ethan told him it was like the magician's stick and that was enough for Glenny, he soon was trying his best to cast spells on the banister. He flicked the last sparkler so hard against the railing that it broke off. Looking up at his daddy Logan he proclaims that he'd made the fire disappear. Logan made sure that the thing landed in the pool of water. Bradley lit a few fireworks and the boys jumped up and down counting off the little rockets that shot from the box and exploded 50 feet overhead.

Ethan was having a great time. This was the first time that the 4th was fun. He'd ate and had Ms. Candy's cake and now he and his friend Glenny were watching Logan's friend set the fireworks on fire. Mr. D asked Logan for the next set of fireworks. Ethan got so excited he wanted to at the very least take the fireworks to Mr. D. He looked up and asked, "Hey dad, can I take them to Mr. D?" Logan seemed to freeze and Ethan at first didn't realize what he said then it hit him. They were having a good day maybe his other mom was right he always ruined a good day. His real mom just stared at Logan. "Um, I..I mean Logan I'm sorry." Glenny broke the quiet and said Logan was his daddy as he grabs ahold of Logan's shirt almost pulling him off balance. Bradley came up on the porch since no one moved to grab the other bag of fireworks. "Glenn Dale that's enough." Glenny lets go and says yes sir. Bradley was a welcomed distraction as he asked the boys, were they ready to head to the lake since it was dark enough and they had already started hearing major fireworks. Ethan looked as relieved as Logan felt. The boys say yes and run in the house, to grab Candy who was the driver since Bradley came in drinking. The pier wasn't far away but walking at night by the lake was not something Logan was ready to let Glenny or Ethan do. Logan and Mia share a look in the silence that settled after the excitement of the boys rushing in the house. Besides that, Logan wanted to reclaim a family tradition of his when it was just him and Janet they would drive down here and sit in the back of his huge truck bed eat junk food and watch the show. Thinking about what Ethan called him filled him with a completion that he never would have thought possible.

Flashback: Months ago, when Mia and Ethan started staying here at his home, between all the court dates and counseling sessions for Ethan and Mia, and her not trusting her family. One night, Logan had just come home from a business trip. He didn't know what to expect. He knew that Candy and Nikki helped with the kids, but they would be home with her at night alone. She didn't down play his unease, nor did she take offence to it. When he got in the door and all was well, and there weren't any mysterious marks or any more than usual triggered behavior from Glenny that raised his faith that Mia was who she proclaimed to be through and through. That night after playing a G rated video game with the boys they put them to bed and headed out on the patio. Mia had asked where they were headed because she didn't want to get caught up in dreaming of them one day being a family and have the smoke and mirrors of a new relationship, but never get the family. Logan had just sat there and stared at her for a minute and then revealed that though it wasn't as colorfully put in his head he was thinking the same thing. Mia asked him did he ever think that he'd ever remarry. He was honest when he said after last year and part of this one, he didn't think it was in him to open himself up to the risk of loving another woman. Even when he'd readied himself for a divorce born of fear for his child and his own safety the thought of falling in love was beyond terrifying because he'd missed so many signs. He went on to say he fell in love with her power and determination, and her loving sprit before she moved in, but he was scared to admit it to even himself. Mia revealed that though she hadn't married, she once thought that Jerry was the one. Then after everything went down and he showed her just how vicious he could be, she felt that she too would never love any man as much and as hard she was falling for him. She spoke about his openness, his good nature and swore that he was way more than what he gave himself credit for being. Logan loved her and Ethan and didn't want to lose either of them. He went from having no children to one, to two and a lover that wanted more one day. He liked that she worked but made time for them and he tried his best to do the same. They had agreed that if they still felt this comfortable and strong about each other in the next 6 months that they would speak to the boys and see if they wouldn't mind being brothers instead of just roommates.

End of flashback

Logan drives to the pier behind Candy, the boys are helped into the truck bed and they, Mia and himself lay there watching the spectacular show. As the show ends the boys are excited as they watch the grand finale, a rocket show, with music that could probably be heard all the way across the lake at Ivey Mansion if the house wasn't sound proof. After saying their goodbyes to Candy and Bradley, they head back to their home. With Mia getting Glenny in his pjs and making sure he brushes his teeth, Logan is putting Ethan to bed he sits on the edge of the bed and pats the spot next to him. Ethan asks was it about what he called him and apologized saying he didn't mean to ruin anything. "What did you ruin, I thought we had a good time, but that is just what I thought I saw?" Ethan gets his words turned around and tried his best to say he had a good time and just stopped speaking when Logan held out his arms. Ethan months ago, would never have walked towards him even sitting down. Now Ethan walked into his embrace and squeezed him with his face buried in his neck for two reasons. One, he could feel as hot tears ran down his shirt. The man that Ethan was raised by hated when he didn't agree and punished the little boy for as long as he could remember for stuttering. Not wanting Ethan to get himself so worked up he slept bad, Logan embraced Ethan. The other reason was one of not trying to let Logan see him vulnerable which the boys at school beat him up for when Fred the kid that blacked mailed him wasn't around. The only thing that came out of that was that the attention from the local authorities alerted parts of Logan's family and Mia's PI that her son was at the police station. "Ethan, I know you had a good time. I had a good time too, I guess I should have said what I meant which is you didn't ruin anything." Ethan pulled away and wiped his eyes. Logan tilts Ethan's gaze back to his face with a finger under his chin that had landed in his chest. When Ethan looked him in the eye Logan says "Ethan, whatever you want to call me as long as it's respectful it is ok with me. I liked to call you son one day, but I won't do that without your permission."

Hours earlier, Paula drives with a very silent Janet sitting in the passenger seat. The twins were sleeping if you wanted to knock them out car rides would do the trick every time. "Look, Janet I know you didn't want to leave but we got to go home. Tony is not even in Grandville South tonight, Nikki is coming to our house after her track practice for the charity event. You don't have school or the internship this week, so what has you so upset?" Janet says she didn't do anything wrong so why did she have to go back home right now with Ian there. Confusion and something darker crossed over Paula's face as she slowly says, "Last time you guys were around each other you got along I know why he's the way he is right now, so what changed with you?" Janet said nothing worth repeating if that was what she was thinking. Paula let up on the questions and the steering wheel that she had been gripping so hard waiting on Janet's answer that her hands were sore now.

Janet was now curious as to why Ian was there at their house and why her momma hadn't just brought him up to Ivey Mansion something didn't seem right. "Momma why is Ian here, you said you knew why he is the way he is right now, what way is he?" Her momma seemed to be weighting just how much to tell her. Janet pulled her phone. Her momma told her not to start cyberstalking her cousin that it wasn't something that was going to be on her social media sites or at least she hoped not. She then says that Ian was attacked by a man that works for Harold. Janet had lots of questions and now felt kind of bad for not wanting to be there for her cousin.

Back at Ivey Mansion, Angel and Joshua watch the fireworks through the den window that faced the lake. As she handed JC to Joshua, she wanted to take a picture of father and son. Moving so she'd get the side of Joshua's face that had healed the most, she takes the picture. Grinning from ear to ear, she shows Josh the pic. She then says it was going in her photo album or as Joshua laughingly called it, the catalog of every person she'd ever met in life. Yes, it was now a foot thick she'd upgraded the binder size from the 7 inches it was last year. With wedding photos Sophie's and her own, and baby pictures of the twins, of Mark and Paula and of course lots of Jonathan-Chase, and even Vashon's twins had a few pages. Pictures from the other great events like her doing Mark's WrestleMania entrance, which was just what she needed at the time. She could have done without being attacked, but the rest of it watching Mark "The Undertaker" Callaway her cousin get married was damn near magical. Joshua comments on her book making the same joke Angel says, "There isn't really lots of different people that fill these pages, I prefer quality over quantity." As she is about to load the photo paper into the printer Joshua asks her for one more picture. Walking from behind the desk she set up to take another picture he says he wants a picture with all of them. Angel sits to the side of him and they try for a three-person selfie she raised the camera too high and he said it would be a great picture of her cleavage, but he wanted to put this on his desk. Dropping her hand that held the selfie stick, she wordlessly took her phone out of the clamp and got back up. Looking out the window as the rockets zipped into the sky, she asked "Your desk where?" Joshua says at the club. She knew this was coming. As she raises her gaze to his in the reflection of the window, she asked "Are you planning on going back there soon?" He says yeah that he couldn't hide from something he built. So many things popped into her head to say but he was right. Though all their names were on it, there were two Davenports that made it what it is today, and those were Michael for opening it, and Joshua for giving it the magic touch of continued success. She'd been unreasonably mad at the building like it lived to hurt her mate, but the edifice itself was never the culprit. "When you are ready to go, I want to come with. That's all I ask." Turning around she faces him as he seemed to be warring with what to say. He says he didn't want her thinking she had to watch him. Thinking back to the weird feeling she got watching him leave that night made her speak. "That night."

Joshua didn't want her thinking that she had to be his shadow every time he stepped foot in the club, they both held very different hours for work unless they were working together for band stuff. He cuts her off and says "That night is over, and I'm not going to lie to you or myself and say that it is going to be easy going back in certain parts of the place, but the longer I stay away, the harder it will be for me to return at all. I know we spoke of changes and a lot of them I agree with but babe I don't want you thinking you have to…" In a hushed tone as to not startle their child, she snarls she wasn't thrilled about him ever going back but she understood but he at the very least could let her come with him the first day back and that she'd prefer he not close alone anymore. He didn't want to fight with her. "Ok fair enough." He wouldn't point out that the night all this happened he wasn't scheduled there at all, but they'd have to put a better staffing system in place. That part he agreed with.

Across town, Andrew walked into his newest hotel room a familiar voice made him start drawing his gun. Niles sat in the dark corner of the room a smile on his face with a larger gun already trained on him. "That's it Stark. Let your eyes adjust and put away your piece. If I wanted to shoot you, I wouldn't have spoken giving away my position, you'd just be a dead rouge agent." He saw the brief but their curse before Stark holstered his weapon and closed the door leaning on it. Andrew says wasn't that the pot calling the kettle black. "Not exactly, what you believe I have done is not important." Andrew asked him what he wanted since he had come seeking his attention. Niles put his own weapon away, stands and walks the distance of the room slowly. "You need help and in short, I'm the one that can help you. I thought long and hard of killing the man that I took from that scene. Your boss and his mate are not in town so I would say you have a about three days before your status really excites your team. As of this morning you are rouge." Andrew asked was he here to collect. Niles smiles and then let's his face fall back into his trained neutral expression. "No, I believe you have had enough force from the likes of my agency against you. How well do you know your former charges?" Andrew sighs and says enough to know that the minute he goes above ground the family he was protecting will be ready to send him under and not just into hiding. "The entertainer Joshua Davenport you believe he has that much pull?"

"My STOP team nor I were hired by Davenport. The contract I signed was complex but was more than likely drawn up under his father or one of them. I can't believe you don't know this already. If you didn't kill your boss, you may be listed as rouge too right now. If that's fact how can you help me?" He speaks of having an in with one of the people involved. He then asked how the police woman was fairing. "If Joy is who you are thinking of as an in, it would be more like the end. You saw her when she was well enough to shoot the minute, I went towards her she shot me and now that she knows I was wearing Ivey Armor please don't think for a second that she values my life enough to just hit the vest if there were a next time." Niles accuses him of being afraid of Joy, then asked why he would have to rush at her again. "Look, I'm not seeing how anyone you have a connection with could help me." Niles says fine do it his way, but when he changes his mind the number to reach him was the same.

Niles pulls on his jacket and says, "Well right now you are charged with aggravated kidnapping of the person you were charged to protect who is a close relative of a few government officials." Andrew asks how Niles found him. "I knew what to look for." Niles said as he wiggled his fingers and walked out of the door.

Back in Washington, Joy takes Bobby to look at the remains of her house and the reservation security gives Robert a hard time. She'd nearly went off on the guard at the gate when he made a big deal about the limo. She'd pointed out that she'd arrived in November in a driven car and there had not been a problem. The guard told Robert he only had two hours then he was coming to retrieve them. They left before two hours were up even though Joy was sure there wasn't a time limit. She showed Robert where she went to school and the burned-out husk of where she used to live. He said the structure was a lot bigger than he'd imagined. Joy looks up at him and asked, "so just how small did you expect my home that fit the five of us and my father's at home business to be?" Bobby shrugged and said he really didn't have a clue he was just surprised.

As Bobby watched Joy walk around and tell stories that she'd never shared with him about her life here, he heard the sorrow in her voice when she spoke of the house. Bobby pulled his phone and took a picture of the house's remains. Joy looked at him and asked him what he was doing. "Two things really, I want this investigated by more than the local authorities that your mother is so in awe of." Joy asked and the other thing. "I'm sending Logan some possible work if he can get a crew here. They can stay in Ivey Suites Spokane." Joy asked how he was going to get Sophie to offer Logan's men shelter in a high season. "I've already spoken with Sophie and told her what the issues are. She said to find out if Logan was on board then she may be able to work some magic with getting them rooms without as great of a view for a reduced price." Joy says did he really think Logan would uproot a part of his company. "No, he has some people down the road. I saw a Conner Construction sign about 50 miles west of here, which tells me that he has at least a small crew here in Washington already." She mentions Kindred saying he was going to have it rebuilt. Bobby suspected that Kindred was in on the fire, he had no proof but a gut feeling, and his guts had been right more times than wrong. Something was up. He sends the picture to Logan and asks a few questions. Logan sent him messages saying he would have a crew check it out and asked what happened. Bobby gives him the short version leaving out his thought on who would do this and why. Joy asked him again. "Ok, I need you to detach, not think of this as your family but look at this place and tell me what your cop eyes see." They walk around the taped off area as she looks not at where she grew up, but at a crime scene. She points out distance from the road and something crossed her features.

Joy thinks back to what Kindred told her and how he told her. Her brother had missed a part in his little blame game tale. He missed the relief that their parents hadn't been home. "He blamed mom for not telling me, but mom blamed him last night. Someone is lying and I don't believe it is my mother. Those tracks were not made by a fire truck. So, whoever torched the house is driving a vehicle heavy enough to put treads that deep into the grass. A hummer maybe or a truck like Joshua's old one nothing else short of a semi would make an indention that precise. It wasn't raining the day before we got here. Most of the people here grew up with us and are very observant. Yet no one thought it strange that some stranger parked in my father's garden. Unless… Unless it was no stranger."

Kindred calls Joy, before she can say hello her brother says he can't find their mother and their dad is in the hospital. "What happened, where?" He says that he didn't know all what was going on because he was at work when he got the call. He says that their parents went back to Jack and Elation's home last night. "Where are Jack and Elation?" He says he didn't know. "What hospital, do you at the very least know that?" He rattles off a Shelden Medical Center address in a small town near the res. "Ok we are on our way. You keep trying to find mom, and the others please."

Daniel Bryant is riding his bike along a path that he liked to take to clear his head when he had a few days off. A woman walks out of the bushes, and he almost runs into her. "Hey why don't you watch where you're going?" he says as he peddles pass. He risks a glance back; some fans were not above running after them. She wasn't running after him, so he turned his attention back to the road. A car nearly knocks him off his bike coming the opposite way. Pulling off the road and looking back he watches as the car stopped near the woman he'd almost ran over. Well at least someone was getting her off the road. They weren't too far away from the reservation. The woman took off back into the bushes Daniel got suspicious when three men jumped out of the car and chased after her. Daniel rode down to a lower elevation he knew where the path she'd ran on lead to, and if she didn't, she could end up in the lake.

Life charged into a clearing down the hill. This morning made no sense when the sun greeted her, she got out of bed and went to prepare food for the household. As more of a thank you for Jack agreeing to let them stay. Moose had risen earlier to go for a walk. He liked the area. When her eyes rested on his cell phone still plugged into the charger she sighed, her husband was indeed "old school" as her son Jack had called him. She entered the kitchen, and something was off there was no sound, suddenly someone screamed, and she ran towards the sound of her oldest. When she got to the bedroom her son and daughter were in, it was locked she beats on it "Elation, Jack, are you ok?" Jack opened the door looked behind her and then back into the room he stood in front of, blocking her view as she tried to peer around him, he grabbed her by the collar slung her into the hall table. Upon contact with the table it collapsed under her weight. She lay confused and hurting as she stared up at her son in law. He bent down and grabbed her by the hair slapping her in the face. The urge to flee was within her but pain kept her in place. He then stands up pulling her to her feet. She tried to pull away and that's when he whispered in her ear that she was to be killed to prove to Joy that she wasn't untouchable. Remembering what had brought her running up to this suite of rooms filled Life's pocket of fear with anger. "Where is Elation?" Her daughter couldn't be a part of this. He quickly opens the door and pushes her into the bedroom that she only seconds ago had tried to enter, seeing that it was empty of her daughter, she turned to leave and that's when Jack smiled at her and slammed the door. Searching for something, anything to use as a weapon, she grabs a large glass dolphin off her daughter's bureau and tried to open the door and that is when she discovered that it had been locked from the outside. If she could help it, this edifice would not be her final resting place. Looking around she got an idea. She had to leave and get word to... She stopped in the center of the room. Who could she call? Minutes ago, she'd thought of how she'd always got after Moose about keeping his cell phone with him, but she hadn't intended on leaving the house, just making breakfast her cell phone was also still on charge. Looking at the window she moves over keeping an ear out for anyone coming to the door and raised the window. She breathed a sigh of relief that no alarm sounded. The relief was short lived when she looked at the nearest landing the fear that rode as close as a lover's kiss was back tenfold. Stepping out on the sloping roof she launched herself at the garage. Pain swam and so did her vison for a time as she lie near breathless on the roof of the garage. Rolling closer to the edge she flattened herself close to the house as not to be noticed if someone looked out the window. Moving slowly, she makes her way to the rear of the garage, steadied herself and then went over the side. As she hung over the edge of the rear entrance, she let herself fall the three feet to the top of the SUV Jack was so proud of tucked and rolled off on to the ground into a crouch and took off at a dead run into the woods.

Joy and Bobby sit in the waiting area of the hospital. The doctor Havana Howard-Sheldon Luke's aunt comes out, and after reintroductions are made, she says, "Moose Wildflower is concussed but conscious he has not spoken other than to tell us his name, he is in a great deal of pain from his accident. Kindred Wildflower has given persimmons for us to keep Moose for observation." Joy asked what happened. "Mr. Jackal Oxendine claims, that Mr. Wildflower who was in his care, tumbled down the stairs early this morning but refused to get medical treatment." Joy asked then how her father got here. "Mr. Oxendine admitted that out of fear for his father's wellbeing he'd yelled at his father to go to the hospital and that is when Mr. Wildflower collapsed in his kitchen. It was a good thing that Mr. Oxendine was home. We had to call one Mr. Kindred Wildflower and get permission to treat because Life Buckmaster-Wildflower was unreachable. The part that somewhat troubles me is that Mr. Oxendine did not call med transit he lifted an injured older man that was unconscious into the bed of his truck and brought him here. Stayed long enough to tell my staff the information I just relayed to you and left saying he had to get to work." Havana had tried to keep her tone professional, but she liked Mr. Moose Wildflower's books he'd written and the wooden art that he created for years even before becoming his doctor, seeing him so unlike himself and so afraid had hit her harder than she ever thought a patient older than 21 could affect her. Joy asked to see her father. "Of course." She leads them through the doors and into Moose's room.

When they entered, Moose's eyes widened. Joy came to his side and he said, "You have to go." Looking at her mate he says, "Get her away from here please." His voice held a rawness. His youngest asked what happened. He speaks as he tries to piece together what happened. "I left the bedroom this morning before the sun rose in order to take a walk, I heard Elation cry out, turning to check on her I was pushed, you may not believe me, this place thinks I am clumsy of foot in my old age, I have walked miles recently in a charity walk-o-thon without a misstep. The person did not speak and was wearing a mask that looked like a skeleton."

Joy could see this was upsetting her father. She did not want him this agitated and says, "Father, I believe you."

Moose went on speaking his speech pattern evening out for a time. "Upon landing at the bottom of the stairs going in and out of consciousness from the pain, I soon found myself in the kitchen not recalling how I had come there." Bobby asked why he asked for Joy to be taken away from here. "There are things I cannot explain. I heard Jack speaking to someone before he started yelling at me to go to the hospital. The skeleton he said my death would teach you your place. Jack and the skeleton grabbed me from the floor that is all I remember before waking here. We are all in danger we must go." Moose tried to pull himself up but found he was weak as a kitten and collapsed back onto the bed breathing heavy.

The next morning after helping get the twins dressed and fed, Janet went to the door of the bedroom that Ian was in, they returned last night, and he'd stayed in the room. Her dad was even coming home today. She knocks and hears a huff from Pain, Ian said come in. He didn't sound like the cocky older boy that had visited them only a year ago. As she opened the door shock took her voice then old anger flared. "You look like crap. What happened forgot how to throw a punch. You know how you asked me in front of your friends. How was it that you put it? Oh yeah, you found it hysterically funny that that Undertaker's seed couldn't throw a punch like professional wrestling is something you are just born with like it didn't take my dad years of training. Training of which I don't have, nor do I want." She expected anger but he made her angry and for a time doubt herself. What she got wasn't anger. He sat up wiped his face and said he was sorry. He then put the cover back over him and laid back down. "So, you never did answer me what happened, did one of those guys you had laughing it up at my short comings as the next generation female Undertaker, take a few swings at you that you caught with your face?"

Ian gets up and, in her face, she didn't back away, nor did she leave which was what he was aiming for he just wanted to be alone. He was the first to turn away there was no use in being mad at her he was wrong back then and just now. "LOOK, I said I was sorry I can't undo anything, hell if I could, some stupid shit I said to you, and I admit it was stupid, all you were trying to do is not have me unfairly mad at my dad. I acted like a jerk." Her words to him back then ran in a loop here lately in his head. "Your dad isn't just out here having fun; he is putting away people that could hurt you and making money that could help you." Ian remembered just flexing at her and lying because he'd told her that no one was going to touch him. Coming back to the present he says, "back then there was a secret that I had to keep, and it was messing with my head. I should have listened to you. Back to the point, if I could change what I said back then it would still have to come second, because if I could change anything, I would take out the man that hurt my mom." Janet asked with genuine surprise in her tone about his mother. "Can you close the door, I don't know who all is here." She kept staring at him but stepped back and pushed the door closed. He then told her everything, about Stanford Ryan the games he played to make himself look like a cool dude. The fighting and the last fight that had put his mom in the hospital. "I tried to stop him I couldn't if it wasn't for the fact that I stunned him and ran, he would have still been wiping the floor with me until my dad got there. If that is not bad enough, I have a little sister that was born, I'm guessing about 4 months too early she is small, if they allowed me to hold her, she would fit in my hand. Now my dad is out playing Rambo walking a thin line between sane and insane, my mom is in the hospital in New York not even able to defend herself even more than before with my little sister, and I'm here hiding from Stanford the guy that should go to jail, but my dad thinks he could get away with what he has done and come after me since Ryan would like nothing more than to get rid of me, the only wittiness able to pin his lying violent ass to the wall." Repeating everything and thinking about what his dad said had brought Ian to the latter of his statement. Yeah, the house had cameras, but Ian was there and saw most of the crap Ryan did. Unlike his mother who couldn't speak right now, he would tell the agency or anyone that wanted to know what kind of monster Stanford Ryan is.

Janet wanted to break the quiet that had slipped into the room as he brooded but that job was taken from her by her best friend Nikki knocking on her door next door to this room and saying she was here. That meant her dad was here too. He'd agreed to pick Nikki up on his way home since Nikki's charity race was on his way home. Ian spoke loud enough to carry through the door that they were in here. "just a word of advice, that crap you tried to pull with me getting in my face, don't try it with my friends and we will be ok. Don't make my choice to forgive you the wrong one, deal?" They shook hands as Nikki turned the knob and walked in. Janet excused herself. "Nicole this is my cousin Ian. I will be right back if you are here that means my dad is too." After talking with Ian, Janet just really wanted a hug from her dad. She remembered being angry at him, and unsure of how much she could tell him because of how she perceived things and was glad that she'd been wrong. Now they were on much better ground. She knew without a slice of doubt that she could go to her daddy about anything. Not saying he would like everything thing she did, but she no longer had any of Rachael or Megan's warnings of what her dad would do or say to her if she opened her mouth, running in a vicious loop in her mind dictating how she interacted with her dad. She could hear him in the large living room playing with Katie and Rosa. Her momma walked in behind her and said to them both that she was heading to the Last Ride's second location here in town. Paula and Janet both watch as Katie crawls on Mark's chest, he'd still himself only to pop his hand up and tickle her she giggled as Rosa climbed on his leg. Mark says playfully that he's been attacked by munchkins. Janet got a brief flashback of herself using her dad as a jungle gym when she was about four or five. Paula asked where Nikki and Ian were. "In Ian's room. I just came to give you a hug daddy. I'm glad you're home I missed you." Janet gets down on the play mat with her sisters and her father and hugs him.

Mark hugs her back telling her, "Darlin, I always miss you girls when I'm away." Soon Mark gets up to answer the door. Janet comes running through the house saying it's Tony. The system read Tony's legal name through the system and Mark would set it differently. Anthony Mathews Jr. was more comfortable being addressed by his shorter nickname of Tony his father Anthony the first had tried to and nearly had been successful at killing Tony with a knife to the gut, then killed himself via a bullet to the brain. For someone so young that had been through so much Mark respected the young. Oh hell, in his head he sounded like his father. Tony walked in and greeted him bringing Mark out of his thoughts. Tony was a hair's breadth taller than Janet standing at about 5 foot 9. Mark noticed that his oldest had grew more since his time coming home for more than hours or had he just not noticed the growth spurt? This was what he had been warring with for a time since his attack at Glenn's home. Carla, Glenn's wife, and the biological mother of Glenny, Logan's adopted son, had attacked Mark with a drug cocktail that had him hallucinating worse than the mushrooms John and Randy had slipped into his food. He'd went to Glenn's in search of information about his uncle who had been missing because Carla had drugged Jonathon as well but taken him from his own after party. Finding Glenn there they had fought and from there a lot of Mark's memory was filled in by others. During his recovery he'd have a very vivid dream and in it the old fears and sadness of losing his first love seemed like a siren pushing him to make better decisions, or risk repeating ones that caused him to get to the hospital too late to save Nina. The only way he saw to do what he'd promised the image of his dead wife was to leave WWE and get off the road or greatly reduce his time away. Yes, he had tenure in the company but 277 days of a 365-day year was becoming too long. He loved what he did, he was a company man, but he also had a family and he would not fail his second wife and restrain his relationship with his child like he had before. Glancing at Janet and Tony heading into the bedroom Mark says, "It's getting pretty crowded in that room y'alll come on in the den and I'll fix us something to eat." Janet, Nikki, and Tony all file out of the hall both the girls pick up a twin and head into the den Tony grabs the play mat. Mark says, "Ian Sean, you're not immune get on out here." His nephew was sporting a dark shiner and some other minor bruising on his face, but the kid had surely got taller in the almost year since Mark had seen him. "Hell boy, give you about half a year and you'll be taller than your old man."

Ian smirks at his uncle Mark's height comment then says, "Taller not tougher." Mark says smart kid and headed outside to start the grill. Now with Nikki and Janet's boyfriend Tony here, Ian really felt displaced. Their jokes were mostly inside ones. The only person he could relate to in a social sense was Nikki. He stood in the doorway that lead to the backyard and asked, "Hey did you need any help with anything?"

Over in Washington, Bobby and Joy exit Moose's room and get in their car. Putting up the divider Bobby turns in the seat facing a very pissed off Joy. Taking a breath, he says, "Okay next move, we should get some information from anyone other than Jack. I'm not on duty right now and this isn't your jurisdiction we have to be careful not to step on too many toes or make more enemies than we already have apparently." Joy says they must find her mother. "I agree, but if she isn't at the house where would she go?" Joy asked why he thinks her mother isn't at Jack's house. "A man Moose's size does not quietly fall down stairs." Joy says she must call the precinct. "To tell them what exactly? That you were scheduled to return today even though half your team is working for the SOB that tried to end you." Joy's tone along with the intent in her gaze cooled to icy, as she told him don't act like his STOP team is blameless and not working for or with the DCC because Andrew was the one that set this shit off. He wanted so much to just take her and hide her away from all of this, but someone was out to show her a thing or two about suffering and Bobby would be damned to hell if he would allow that to happen again.

Kindred's name broke the silence inside the expansive space in the back of the Hummer stretch limo Bobby and Joy sat in. "Call from Kindred Brother" said the slightly English female voice of Joy's phone. Joy looked at it for a second as she held it out watching her brother's face dance across her screen. She looks up at Bobby "what if he is a part of this?" Cold dread laden her voice as she answered the call at Bobby's silent urge with a nod at her hand holding the phone. "Hello, brother" Bobby cringed at her tone but brought back the expressionless mask his men were used to seeing.

Kindred wiped a hand over the back of his head and pulled at his long hair. "Joy, how's dad? I still can't find mother." Shit, she had him using that formal title shit she did when she was uncomfortable, her discomfort was almost tangible. The last thing she wanted right now was to be talking to him. She spoke again telling him that their father would pull through. Hair grab to control his own tone. "Sister, mine, would you care to tell me what the fuck happened?" he snarls into the line. She tells him what the doctor said. "I knew they should have come to my place. Mother wanted to spend time with E and Jack and now dad hurt himself over there hours after one of our family dinners." His other line beeped. "Hold please, Elation is calling. I'm going to rip her a new one and I'll get back with you in a moment." He said in his best sales voice. He was a partner in a real-estate firm in this area. Joy's outburst paused his finger from answering as she told him that their dad had not fallen down the stairs, and then spoke of someone trying to hurt him and threating his life. Nothing made sense but why would she be lying about this? No, he had not believed her when she was younger before she ran off to college. Here recently he could no longer deny that Jackal may be more aggressive than Elation who of which he could not find today either until seeing her number on his screen, had let on. Kindred stopped pulling his hair what would be Elation's excuse now? She was always full of them. "Have to take this" he said numbly. Joy hung up, and he felt as if he should call her back, but his phone switched, and Elation's voice cut into his racing thoughts. Her words were like a beehive buzzing in his ear. She asked why he'd called her like 20 times and left no messages. To this line of questions there was no self-hair pull to rein in his tongue. "You mind on telling me what the hell is going on? You had one job, make mom and dad comfortable happy while I got their fucking house rebuilt, and you let dad get attacked in your house and then you just fucking vanish. I thought he'd killed you or something. Glad to know you just counted the times I called you. Considering we do not normally speak did you ever think it could be important?" Elation told him to calm his tone with her because she was not in the mood. "Tough shit, where is my mother? Hell, where are you?" She says she just woke up. "You're at home," Try as he may he could not get the accusation out of his tone, "and didn't hear dad go rolling down the stairs like a fucking bowling ball?"

Over near the res, Life runs down a hill, Jack and two men were after her. She stops behind a tree to catch her breath, and that is when she saw a lone figure on a bike down the path. It was the man that had yelled at her so he could pass. He was in neutral colored biking gear and had shoulder length light brown hair that also adorned his face in a long caveman style. Hearing Jack further up the hill, she takes off running. The bicyclist waved at her he didn't look angry anylonger. Life knew she couldn't escape Jack and his friends without help. She ran towards him and tripped, hitting the ground knocked the wind out of her, someone was yelling. Voices blended into the cracking of wood, but that wasn't what terrified her, what terrified her most was that she was tumbling down the hill at a fast rate tree limbs, shrubs, and rocks alike dug into her body at different places as she futilely grabbed for something to stop the quick painful dizzying roll into the lake. She caught air briefly as the hill ledge did not stop her downward motion, her body oddly hit the water's surface. Life tried to swim but couldn't move her body would not listen. Panic and pain merged as she went under.

Daniel Bryan who was on the phone with Brie Bella didn't know why the three men were chasing the woman but with all her clothes on, and the fact that she wasn't thrashing he quickly told Brie to call the police and gave her his location. With that done, he dropped the phone on his bag, took off his shirt and jumped in after her. He soon managed to pull her limp wet form onto a shelter of land not in the direct sightline of where she'd went in. Feeling for a pulse and not feeling one, he starts CPR. He hears sirens and that just made him work harder.

A direction as Bobby had put it, was chosen for them as they head towards where an ex Grandville police officer and old partner of Joy turned fireman for this area had called Joy and told her that her mother was just pulled from the lake near WellPoint, Washington. As they arrive at the center of the clearing on the hill, police cars both state and local, fire trucks, and med vehicles, line the small road carved into the hill. They were losing sunlight fast because a storm was rolling in. Bobby helped Joy safely to the landing where the med crew were loading her mother into the med truck he didn't let go until they were on level ground. He looks at the ridgeline they were down in what looked like half of a bowl. The police were walking a path about 20 feet away. Bobby got an idea and called Jack's number and was half surprised that Jack answered. "Hey Life, just got pulled from the lake." No intake of breath, no shock, no question about her condition, just a readied excuse in an annoyed tone as Jack said that she went off on him and ran from the house this morning. "Was that before or after you helped her husband down the stairs?" Jack hung up. Bobby called Kindred "Be ready for a call from the network they found Life she was rescued from the lake out here near the reservation." Bobby looks at Joy as she talked to her ex-partner. Kindred asked how his mother is. "I don't know but they are loading her in the med truck right now, which means they have finished at scene, and are preparing the Art No Tell for the hospital to review as they transport. Kindred swears and says he finally got ahold of Elation who claims she had trouble sleeping last night after the dinner from hell and Jack gave her some night time med, so she's been sleep most of the day.

Elation gets out of bed. The night time med Jackal had given her wasn't her usual. Heading to the bathroom she wondered where Jackal was. Why had he not awaken her if her father had taken a tumble down the stairs. Her father was a large man how could she not have heard it? Where was her mother? Surely, Life would have heard and come to wake her, if not only to yell at her. Kindred with his overly dramatic self, had said he'd feared that Jackal had killed her. True enough her and Jack sometime fought physically, but it was just how their relationship was. They both burned hot with love and passion. Her little sister Joy's mate, Bobby would never love Joy as Elation's mate loved her. Bobby was hot though. He was surly older than Joy. Nothing she found on the man gave her a lot to go on. She'd tried to keep Jack out of her family circle making excuses for him to not be at the family events. He didn't seem to mind until Joy accused him of being too busy to visit. She had no room to talk the last few times before now her mate had not been able to visit either. Elation was sure that was Joy's doing not Robert's schedule. Joy had tried to cast doubt about Jackal long ago, saying that she believed him dangerous. Jack was a kitten he just voices his opinion louder than most. Joy bringing her mate that she intended to marry home was a well thought out affair Elation was sure of it. If her little sister thought, she was going to outshine Elation her little sister did not know her as well as she thought.

Back at the hospital, Joy sat in the waiting room this time with Robert and their team of guards. Kindred hurried into the room and asked was there any word on their mother. Joy sat stone-faced trying not to show the rolling emotional current that was battling for purchase of her outward appearance and shook her head no. Kindred wore his tribal necklace on the outside of his shirt for once. His dark hair cascaded down to the center of his back. He says he was going to see their dad. Joy jumps up and says she'd go with him. Kindred shrugs and follows one of the guards that flanked his sister.

Author's note: Reviews, questions or concerns are always welcomed. I did take some fictional license with the Washington state or the parts of it I will feature. :End Note