WARNING! This part contains subject matter that some readers might find offensive. Please read with caution.

Michael stepped into his room, having just arrived home from work. He grabbed his textbook and opened it up, laying it in front of him. He stared at the page, unable to think about anything but Shannon. He couldn't keep his mind off of it.

Shannon was the baby of the three McBains, being eight years younger than Michael and eleven younger than John. Michael thought back. He had already spent two years at college and he was heading back to Atlantic City for the first time since his Aunt's funeral two years earlier. Even back then he had seen pain on Shannon's face. He had blamed it on the funeral. Shannon and her mother had been very close. But he wouldn't argue that the pain was there. The fear...

Michael stood outside his uncle's home and rang the doorbell. He waited a moment but nobody answered. "Uncle Aidan?" Michael called, knocking now. The patrol car was parked in the driveway, but still nobody came to the door. "Shannon! Sweetie, are you home?" Still nothing. Michael bent down and picked up the hide-a-key, pushing his way inside.

"Shannon?" Michael called again. He could hear muffled whimpering coming from the bedroom. Instinctively, Michael grabbed for the handgun on the table in front of him. If somebody was in the house, he wasn't going to let himself get hurt. He slowly made his way towards the room, the whimpering becoming more clear.

Michael slowly pushed open the door and stopped short. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Didn't want to believe it. Shannon was pinned on the bed. Little, innocent, twelve year old Shannon and there was his uncle, her father holding her down, trying to perform the most horrible of all acts anyone, let alone a father, could do to a child.

"Get off of her," Michael said loudly. Aidan McBain heard him now, looked back. "Get your disgusting hands off of her."

Aidan looked at him, pulling himself up. "Turn around, Michael and put the gun down."

Michael didn't even realize that he had the gun drawn on his uncle. "Shannon," Michael said. "Go call John. Get on the phone and tell John to get down here. Tell him what happened and tell him to get down here now." Shannon didn't move. "Shann... Go." Shannon managed to get up and out of the room. Michael kept the gun drawn.

"Put the gun down, Michael," Aidan said.

"You son of a pregnant dog." Michael said. "How could you! She's your daughter. How could you?"

"Just... put the gun down, Michael. Walk away from this. You can still walk away."

"And let you abuse her?" Michael said. "And let you rape your own daughter?" Aidan stepped closer to Michael, whose hand shook. "Stop! John is coming and he is going to find out exactly what it is you've been doing."

Aidan reached for the gun, trying to get it away from Michael. The struggle continued as Shannon stepped back into the doorway with John unnoticed.

"Michael!" John said. It was sudden and loud as the gun discharged, Shannon screamed. Neither man moved for a moment and then Michael stepped back in shock, shaking as his uncle slumped to the floor.

"I... shot..." Michael stammered.

John walked over to him and grabbed the gun from Michael. "Get out of here, Mikey." he said

"But I shot..."

"Get out of here, Michael! Get on a bus, go back to school and don't say anything. Don't say anything and I'll take care of it." Michael didn't move. "Go!"

Michael?" Marcie was knocking on the door. "Michael, are you home? It's me."

Michael shook out of his trance, going to the door in a cold sweat, swinging it open. "Marcie. Hi, sweetie. Come on in."

Marcie stepped inside, looking at him. "What happened?" she said "Michael, you look like you've seen a ghost. My God..."

"It's nothing" he said .

"You're as white as a sheet." she said.

"I'm fine, Marcie." Michael said again.

"You're shaking..."

"Please. Drop it,"

"But Michael..."

"Marcie!" Michael stopped himself. "I'm sorry. I just... I had a bad day. Lost a patient." he lied.

"Michael, I'm sorry. I can leave you alone if you want..."

"No," Michael held her closely. "No I want you to stay. I need you to stay Marcie. I need you to stay."