Boo...this is another short chapter, but it's the calm before the storm. Not much to say about this chapter so enjoy! :D

Restraint

How long did I kneel in that corner next to Seth? How long did he spend there just shaking from the fear that consumed him? I couldn't believe the hand that Lorken was trying to deal here. Why did he suddenly just stop caring about his relationship with Roman? How long did he have this ace up his sleeve. I take back every good thing I ever said about Desmond Lorken, the guy was a menace. Seth was fearless. From all the stories he told me, he looked death in the face constantly from his days as an assassin, but no man dared challenge the Alliance. No matter who you were you feared the power of the Alliance.

Desmond Lorken was the representation of how treacherous the Falishian Alliance actually was. I hated this, I hated all of this. The only thing that kept me from not running away from this was my promise to Roman, and the fact that I too feared the Alliance. They knew I was the apprentice of the late Doctor Ambrose, and knew I had his research as well as his medical prowess. Everything was falling apart, but it was no one's fault but Lorken's. I needed to find away to get Seth away from all this-no Seth and Roman.

Seth had a tight grip on my blazer his head buried in the crook of my neck. The only thing I could do was just hold him there. I slipped my arm around his waist and pulled him closer just holding him protectively. I wasn't going to let anyone get to him especially not Lorken. I wish I knew what the younger man was thinking right now, but I dared not ask.

How was he even going to charge Seth? I knew what happened, he was with Roman and I just before the explosion went off. He had an alibi, and even Roman could attest for this. I knew the big guy wasn't going to let Lorken do this, I know he was going to defend Seth...at least that's what I hope anyway. My chest grew tight at just the thought of him choosing Lorken's side, what if the Lieutenant Colonel possibly chose saving his career? I know he did so much for us already, but there was that small chance, and that had me terrified.

I punched the wall behind Seth as my own thoughts began to run like a wildfire. I was scared myself, if this was to escalate it'd end poorly for all of us. I was sick of losing good things in my life, and now the thoughts of the doctor and my mother slowly being pushed the forefront of my mind. I could only think of how everyone that ever smiled at me was suddenly ripped away without a second thought. Then their images were replaced with Roman and Seth. We already shared great moments together in just three months. No, no I didn't want them taken away either.

I rested my head on Seth's shoulder suddenly taking a stronger grip that I had on him. I felt him wince at the sudden added pressure. I felt everything in me release, tears began to fill my eyes and they slowly spilled on the smaller man's shoulder. I realized just how attached I was becoming, and now that I was I just wanted to cling to it. "Seth…" his name slowly fell from my mouth. I felt his hands reach up rubbing my back up and down comforting me in this time of weakness. He truly cared for us, I remember him giving me this kind of comfort back at the research station and even to Roman back at the hotel room.

I lifted my head from his shoulder when I heard footsteps coming closer to the door. We both stood up as the door handle shook and the door swung open. It was a very panicked and out of breath Orton. We both looked at him with very bewildered looks just wondering why and how he found us. "Thank god I found you guys. Roman's been worried."

"Overbearing as usual," I responded to the Colonel. To be honest, if there was a time where his older brother like personality was welcomed, this was a time. For once I didn't know what to do, and Seth was terrified out of his wits to even think of something. I motioned for Orton to step further into the room as I shut it quietly behind him. Perhaps letting him in the loop would help his mind some.

Seth sat down in the chair, with Orton taking the other side of the desk in the comfy leather chair. I took a spot right on top of the desk since there were no real other places to sit that wasn't the floor. I looked between Seth and the Colonel. "What do you know about Lorken?" I asked him in the nicest way I could. Deep down I was still seething, and just mentioning his name sent my mind in a whirlwind of emotions.

"What he's really trying to ask Colonel is how Roman and Desmond became so bitter towards one another," it seemed like Seth had saw that exactly what I was trying to ask. He was pretty good at putting words together than myself or Roman. I watched Orton carefully as he placed a hand on the desk tapping. He was trying to think about how to put his words together. He looked troubled by our curiosity.

He looked between Seth and I as he stared back at him waiting for his answer. "It's because of AJ Styles, mine and Roman's mentor." I looked at Seth who was sharing the same reaction as I was. We both looked at him with eyes widened just wondering what it is he meant. He noticed our reactions realizing this probably wasn't going to be easy to explain to us, but he kept going nonetheless. "There was an incident involving some leaked mission plans. Roman ended up wounded, but no one knows what happened to Styles, he just disappeared. Desmond was mission director and was blamed for the plans being leaked, he was stripped of his title and he blames Roman for it. It's hard to even get the two in the same room without them yelling at one another."

Seth looked down at his lap. "So I heard," he said quietly just absorbing what Orton had to say. If this really was Lorken trying to get back at Roman then to hell with fearing prison I'll punch that bald bastard's face in myself. I gripped the edge of the desk with only violent thoughts filling my head. I felt a gentle touch over the back of my hand, "Whatever you're thinking Dean...don't."

"I can't express enough that I don't like Lorken being here, and I'm sure he's only here because of-"

"Lorken is going to charge Seth your assassination attempt." I cut off Orton. He looked at me with wide eyes. I don't know why I said it, but it came flying out of my mouth. If he didn't like Lorken being here then I might as well drive that nail in further. I despised Lorken right now...no I hated him right now. Turnabout is fair play and I was going to make Lorken's life hell.

"He's what-!?" shouted Orton not even being able to finish the full sentence. He eyed Seth his breath coming to a sudden halt. "Seth's gear…if no one can see him, it'd be easy to blame him for the sabotage. Lorken couldn't have planned this could he? This has to be a ruse," I watched as he took a deep breath and slammed a fist down on the desk. He looked at us both with concerned eyes, "Listen to me, as long as you two are in my station you're under my care. But you can't tell Roman, it'll cut the last bit of restraint he's got against Lorken."

Seth and I shared a glance at one another, just thinking about all the information Orton had just fed us. Lorken was a manipulative bastard and I take back every good thing I ever said about him. Just why was he doing this? It seemed like he had some vendetta against Roman, and was taking it out on us. Was it jealousy? Was it spite? I had so many questions for Orton, but I felt it wasn't right to ask him. I'm not going to dance around this anymore, I was going to get it out of Roman Reigns just what exactly happened to his mentor.

Seth and I left the small secluded office taking in everything about the situation. However I felt like there was more to this, than what we were given. Orton had given us the short version, just to give us a feel as we began to tread dangerous waters. The younger man and I didn't exchange much words just thinking thoughts in our own ways, but I still refused to leave his side. The Colonel spoke of cutting the last string of Roman, but if I saw Lorken even look at Seth I'd show him why you don't mess with an Atlean.

I just didn't understand why Lorken was so desperate to get his hands on the research. They had already seen it plenty for their experiments so why did they need it once more? We returned to the dorm first so he could change out of the tactical gear and into his uniform. I gave a deep sigh as Seth and I took our place in the emptying mess hall. We just looked at one another saying nothing, but I was pretty positive we were both thinking the same thing. We had taken the day to purposely avoid Roman to process everything.

So much was running through my mind right now, and I wasn't sure how to handle my own thoughts right now. They were in such a mess, being caught between my team and my superiors. Made me wish we were still back in Cassiopeia, at least that had the beautiful ocean scenery to calm my nerves. "Hey," spoke up Seth. "We'll deal with Roman later, how are you faring with your bow lately?"

I gave him a blank stare for a moment. If anyone who should be concerned with now was him. Lorken was ready to put him in the firing line just to get at my research. But for him trying to defuse the situation now, it actually made me feel a little better. "I've been practicing when I can, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't getting better." I don't know what it was about Seth that made me so open, it was a strange feeling...almost like having that younger brother I never had. I wonder if Roman looked at us the same way.

Seth seemed to share a smile at hearing that. I'd probably be practicing more if I didn't have fulfilled the obligations I had to Colonel Orton. In between assignments I got what practice I could, especially with the upcoming mission. I thought about the lengths that Roman probably pulled to get me Ceadeus and and short amount of time getting it there, not to mention the engravings. As my mind wandered it made me think more and more of the older man. I finally broke the silence between us, "We should go find Roman, since Orton said he was worried sick about us. He's gotta have it figured out by now that we confronted Lorken."

Seth looked away for a second looking at his hands in his lap. By now I know that notion as a sign of doubt and worry from the smaller male. I understood how he felt, I was in the same boat but for a different reason. I know Roman said not to give Lorken the research but what would happen if I did? What would it accomplish? "Yeah, we should stop avoiding him now."

Seth and I were the last to leave the empty mess hall, realizing that not having Roman around now was just a strange feeling. We needed our big brother be able to feel complete, after all he was the one that brought us all together.

Roman, my older brother and Seth, my younger brother. I could get used to calling them that, I wonder if they thought the same.

Before we could actually move on, we needed to get Roman to finally talk about what happened to his mentor. I remember them talking right outside our dorm about how he was missing for five years, and I wonder if it had something to do with the assignment that Orton had for us. I had began to wonder where it all connected. The only connection seemed to all share was Roman, and yet it made me think about just where the good doctor's research played a part. There was something not adding up.

"You're thinking out loud again, Dean." claimed Seth next to me as we walked across the grounds back towards the dorm. He followed his comment with a small chuckle, as I turned to him raising an eyebrow. "I've been by your side long enough to know your expressions." I could tell he was trying to shift the conversation to something lighter and just nicer to talk about. I couldn't help but laugh at his attempts, at least one of us was trying.

Being with Seth was something entirely, and being able to spend the whole day like this with him didn't seem so bad. I wonder if this was how Roman felt yesterday spending the whole day with him. The younger man knew the position he was in, and certainly wasn't putting it off but he knew it bothered me so he was trying to get my mind off of it. I smiled just thankful for his presence, it was strange. He was the former assassin and was being the comforting little brother and I was the medic thinking about punching Lorken's lights out. Life was a strange thing.

"There you guys are," and suddenly my heart sank in the pit of my stomach. A part of me didn't feel like dealing with Roman at the moment, and another part of me really just wanted to dump Seth in his care so that I could find Desmond and knock his teeth down his throat. I chose the former of the two options, last thing I needed was to serve time in a military prison or worse hauled off to Luna. "I've been frantically looking all over for you guys. Have you two been avoiding me?"

I first noticed that Seth was the first to look away and avert Roman's gaze. It looked like he wasn't going to say it, "Yep." I answered bluntly, I wasn't going to beat around the bush for this, I was still pretty livid. I just needed Roman for once to cool it, so I could sort out my own thoughts...but it's never that easy is it? I just pushed past the older man not even bothering to spare him a glance trying to walk past him when he reached out and grabbed my arm.

"I know you guys confronted Lorken," he said sternly, I didn't even need to look at him to know that I had angry gray eyes bearing down at me. "That was reckless, like beyond reckless. Do you wish for everything we worked so hard for thus far to come crashing down?" We both remained silent. "Seth! Dean! Answer me!"

I grunted as I snapped my arm back away from Roman, finally shooting him a glare. The only thing that kept me from laying everything down right there was that Orton asked me not to (and politely I'll add), but there was that fear creeping up on me. That fear once again of Roman possibly choosing Lorken's side. "We don't need your moderation all the time." Seth? The way he said it was quiet, timid almost. Like he was afraid to stand up again the Lieutenant Colonel with the way he still refused to look up towards us.

"Tell us about the leaked mission plans," I followed up to Seth. I wasn't sure about him but I sure as hell had no problem standing up for myself. There were reasons we draw lines in the sand, and an even more important reason why we don't cross them and oh was Roman Reigns about to cross that border...so I'd cross it first.

"Orton." responded Roman with hints of venom in his voice.

I saw that twinge in anger spark in him, I knew I was hitting all the right buttons on the raven haired man. "Yes, but he's got nothing to do with this. Tell us what happened to Colonel Styles," I saw his hands ball into fists, I was beginning to tread dangerous waters now, they were a natural comfort zone for me. He said nothing, so I continued my prodding. "What happened to AJ Styles?"

I saw Seth shift back some from Roman and I, he knew the sparks of anger that were about to fly. I could hear the older man's breathing begin to grow erratic and faster, his large frame beginning to twitch more and more, as probably the memories were beginning to be pushed to the forefront of his mind. There was no turning back now, what ever happened now would make or break our team. He was anxious, nervous almost, looking ready to lash out at me.

He let out a deep sigh as his body began to relax. "Styles knew about the leaked mission plans, but didn't tell Lorken. He used to say to me: "Sometimes to deceive an enemy, you have to deceive your allies as well." He thought by not saying a word to control it'd be easier to divert the enemy and continued to carry on with the mission. It was working-" I listened to him choke on his words again. I suddenly felt bad for the big guy, that pang of guilt sinking deeper and deeper into my heart, but this needed to get out. He took another deep breath trying to calm his nerves. "It was working until Lorken aborted the mission. He got scared when he thought things were getting out of his hand and not going according to plan. We scrambled to get out of there and ended up getting caught. I caught a bullet in my leg and was dragged out of there by Bryan…" He paused a moment. "I don't know what happened to Jericho or Styles."

I placed a hand on my chin in thought, that small spark of guilt in my chest. This had been eating away at Roman for years but that still didn't explain Lorken's grudge against Seth. The only thing Roman's story seemed to accomplish was why he and baldy were bitter towards one another. Lorken was a control freak plain and simple, at least there was a constant in this whole ordeal. What didn't make sense was why he blamed Roman for being stripped of his position. This whole thing seemed to be more Styles' fault if anything, but I dare not tell the big guy that he'd cave my skull in.

That mission that Orton assigned us seems to be the only way we could pull off who and why someone was after the Colonel. What did he do to make enemies? It seemed like the only thing we could do was trust that the commander of this station would stick to his word and protect Seth. I still didn't quite understand how the military worked but I could only hope that Lorken wouldn't pull rank again. I'm getting frustrated just thinking about that bald headed snake.

I sat in the back of that plane with my elbows rested on my thighs and hands rested on my chin. We were about to jump out the back of this thing. Nearly half a year ago I didn't think this any of this would be apart of my life. It was surreal, I was expecting to wake up from this dream at any moment. My leg bounced in anticipation as my eyes wandered back and forth between Seth and Roman.

The bigger man paced back and forth as he usually did when he was nervous or thinking. He hadn't had a big mission like this since he got wounded according to him, so there was a chance he could be a bit rusty but I think his strength would more than make up for that. He looked quite intimidating with his large stature clad in his sleeveless tactical gear. Large arms exposed out from underneath the kevlar vest with his tribal tattoo on full display, and his long black mane for once not tied back in something. He wore the same black cargo pants and combat boots Seth and I had on and the only other thing he wore were some wristbands that looked to be made of the same material of his vest.

Seth was in the corner fighting invisible enemies practicing some lightning fast punches and kicks probably prepared for what's to come. He wore the same gear that was sent to him from Lorken, only added with a harness that strapped over his shoulder with multiple pockets on the front. Strapped to his lower back were the two same handguns that Roman had presented him with back at the research station and strapped to both his thighs were small handles to an extendable weapon. He too had his hair down on full display even being able to see that thick golden streak though his dark tress. I was almost jealous that my hair couldn't grow out the way theirs did.

I felt a shiver as I rubbed my exposed arms. I decided on nothing too fancy just a sleeveless black thermal shirt that clung neatly to my body. I wanted something that allowed more freedom in my movement since I had to haul around a large weapon that was almost as tall as me. I went with a leather glove on my right hand and of course the protective glove on my left, last thing I needed was my arm to be covered in welts and bruises from the Ceadeus' string snapping back into my arm.

We were still far off from our destination, so there was plenty of time to get over the anxiety. If we failed here there'd be no room for recovery. This was huge, this was more than just body guarding people in Atlas, this was more than just fighting brainless grunts in underground fighting tournaments. These were armed men we were going up against, trained to shoot anything suspicious that moves. We were three men armed with small weapons, instinct, and Project: Taladen.

"It's three against the world," I spoke up to them grinning from ear to ear. It was time to start trying to ease the tension between us. I wish what I said was only partially true, but it felt like it was the entire truth. There were so many out to bring us down, most of which was Lorken and his conniving ways, and the only real means of support we had besides each other was Orton. "I don't know about you guys but I like those odds."

"You guys should be arriving at your destination soon, we'll be dropping you guys off several miles north out from the target zone. You'll have to tread from there, the nearby forestry should be able to provide ample cover. Once you're on the ground, you guy are on your own." In the last month I've had grown nothing but respect for Colonel Randal Orton. He'd been covering for us and guiding us, as Seth and I grew more accompanied to the military lifestyle as well as training for Special Ops. If there's anyone who believed in us it was him. "Seth, Dean, Roman...take care of each other." I couldn't help but notice there was a small hint of hesitation in his voice. He was nervous for us.

Seth was the first to reach up to his earpiece to respond to Orton, "Thank you Colonel, we will." The younger man sat down next to me taking slow deep breaths before laying his head on my shoulder. Out of all of us I'm the one who should be the most nervous. I thought infiltration and sneaking around was Seth's thing but it went to show he was as human as Roman and I. I reached over and patted him gently on the head.

"You know…" I started catching Roman and Seth's attention. "If we succeed, we'll be like a shield of injustice." They both looked at me with blank stares looking rather confused at what I just said. I met them both with a sheepish look. "Well it sounded better in my head," I admitted before flashing a grin. I earned a light chuckle from them both in response. I was mostly trying to calm my own nerves, trying to say anything that came to mind.

There was still a lot of questions left unanswered, there was still no word on Ursa Minor or even the lost test subject. That didn't settle well with me but I had my own suspicions. I kept them all to myself I couldn't risk it by telling anyone not even my own teammates. For now I'd focus everything on this mission, maybe one day I'll tell them what is really going on.

Roman walked over looking like he wanted to sit himself between Seth and I, so I scooted over to give him the room as the big guy planted himself between us on the floor of the plane. I found this scene appropriate as he was the one that joined us together under his resolve. I felt almost bad that he still doesn't know that after a month that Lorken was still trying to condemn Seth. Since that day he had backed off about the research, but something told me not entirely he still hung around the station practically stalking Orton. He was giving me time to let it all sink in, but what he didn't know about this operation didn't hurt him.

The larger man looked between us smiling, how could he smile as we were moments from jumping out of a plane? Slowly Roman lifted his arm holding his fist out in front of him. "We're not a shield…" he started. He looked back and forth between us, as Seth confused but still followed Roman in suit by holding out his fist right next to big guy's so I decided to do the same not being left out. "We're The Shield."

Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, and Dean Ambrose.

The Shield.

I like it, I could get used to it.

Sorry for cheesy ending, but I felt it appropriate. So the issue in Ursa Major and Seth hasn't been shoved under the carpet...in fact HUGE chapter coming up.

And speaking of Seth Rollins, talk about the worst possible timing. I hope he doesn't miss another another big one. Hope he gets well soon. :(

~CrisisExceed