There was an almost oppressive stillness to the night. No one moved. He could sense her fear, the building pressure of the situation, the need for all of this to be over … now …

"Cameron." Nick's voice was less forceful now, the bravado he'd once possessed long gone. All he wanted, all that mattered was ending this.

"Shut up!" His scream shattered the silence, its volume and venom illustrating the overwhelming sense of pain, frustration, and agony he currently endured. "I'm still in control here!" he bellowed. The words were meant to be statements when in fact they were yet another way to try to prove to himself that this wasn't another series of horrible mistakes. He couldn't mess up this time. This was too important. This was his last chance to have any kind of life with his son. As much as he hated the privilege associated with the Newmans, having one on his side for once … It could change everything. It could change his life. "We'll do this my way or we won't do it at all." He pressed the gun against her back again, his hand shaking at the enormity of it all. "I need to think. I just need to …"

He could see it all over her face. She was breaking, the events of the evening finally beginning to wear away at the unshakable exterior he'd become so accustomed to. There was something so wrong about this. She shouldn't be here in this mess because of him and he had to stop it … now. He didn't stop to think, not about the possible consequences, not about anything. He simply reacted.

Nick lunged towards her, his entire body crashing into hers and pushing her away from them. "Go," he screamed as he met her wide, fearful eyes for a second. "Go!" he screamed again.

Phyllis scrambled to her feet, the sound of her heart beat whooshing in her ears. The sounds and screams were so loud and chaotic that they were almost undiscernible, and she couldn't tell whose hands were gripping the gun until they were standing again. Nick gripped Cameron's wrists, the gun still clasped tightly in Cameron's hand and she watched them sway back and forth as they fought for leverage.

"Just give it up, Cameron," Nick sneered. "There's a whole group of people out here just ready and waiting to take you down. Just let go of the gun and it'll all be over. You don't have to do this."

"So it was all bullshit then? You were never gonna help me. You're a liar, just like I thought. I should have known better. Stupid! I'm so stupid!" The self loathing helped no one now and he knew this, but it didn't stop the thoughts. The anger he felt towards himself had to go somewhere. It nearly took on a life of its own inside of him as it grew and gave him power. He jerked his wrists hard and freed himself from Nick's grasp as he sent him hurtling towards the ground. There was only one way to even this score and he knew it. He pointed the gun squarely towards her, towards the one and only thing he could take from him that might make this anywhere near fair and still …

He heard her scream almost in time with the shot and he froze on his knees as he waited, afraid to turn around … afraid of what he might see in front of him. It was then that he heard the frantic sounds of the surroundings. The officers sprang into action, tackling Cameron to the ground. He heard the sounds of the walkie talkies, of the orders being shouted, of paramedics being summoned and he finally swallowed hard and forced himself to turn and look.

Phyllis was hunched over, her palms flat on the ground. He felt sick, his own wound long forgotten, the pain from the shot nothing in comparison to what he felt now. There was part of him that was terrified to approach her and yet another part that couldn't make it to her fast enough.

"Phyllis," he called her name, praying silently that she'd answer. Relief and joy flooded his body as he saw her head turn slightly towards him. At least she was alive. At she wasn't …

And then he saw them, her blood covered hands, the streak of blood that covered her cheek, only it wasn't her blood.

"Come here." He gently wrapped his arms around her, easing her off the ground and helping her over towards the back of the ambulance. "We gotta let them do their work," he said quietly.

"This is all my fault," she whispered.

"No it isn't." Nick leaned in, his lips pressing against her cheek and he held her tighter than he ever had. He watched as the paramedics leaned over Billy's lifeless body, the bullet that had clearly been meant for Phyllis lodged squarely into his chest. "It's not your fault. It's mine."

He still felt her body trembling as he held her close to him and listened to the sounds of the sirens finally starting to fade away into the distance.

"You should get them to look at that."

There was something almost surprising about her voice. It was measured and almost unnaturally calm. "I'm fine," he assured her. "I actually want someone to take a look at you," he whispered as he ran his hand down her cheek. "You've been through a hell of a lot tonight."

"I'm fine." She almost sounded guilty. "I'm not the one who got shot even though I'm clearly the person who was supposed to … both times." She shook her head. "I can't get the look on Jack's face out of my mind." It was bad enough to have to consider what Billy was going through. She also had to consider Jack. His eyes always betrayed him. Even though he fought to appear the stronger, more stoic brother, she could see the fear and torment there. Jack wasn't as strong as he wanted people to believe. He had his own demons and now, he was dealing with them alone. "They had the sirens on … that's a good sign, right?" She needed some hope – even if it was false.

"I'm sure they'll do everything they can." There was nothing about her concern that bothered him. Phyllis was that sort of person, never the one to burn her bridges with her exes. It was something he truly admired about her. She had the unique ability to continue to care and still maintain those boundaries. He squeezed her hand and noticed the dried blood that still caked them. "Let me see if I can get something to clean those up, okay?" He moved to stand and felt her hand clench tight around his arm.

"Just don't go yet, okay?"

It was so unlike her to show her vulnerability, so decidedly un Phyllis like to ask for help. It meant she trusted him, felt safe with him, and more important than anything … it meant she needed him. It felt good to be needed. He nodded slowly and resumed his place by her side. He let his shoulders rise and fall slowly as he felt her head drop and rest there. "Whatever you want," he said quietly.