Shane sat in the chair across from the bed, watching A.J. sleep. He couldn't push back the guilt twisting through him at what happened earlier. He glanced over at his phone as it vibrated. Shane knew he needed to answer the calls but he couldn't bring himself to leave. Not after the story he'd been told. Not after knowing that after all this time both Faith and Wellington still wanted A.J. "They can not have you." Shane said softly, rage coloring his words. He wanted to hold A.J., to protect him while he slept but Shane was scared of hurting him. He had seen the fear in A.J.'s eyes when Wellington had grabbed his face. Heard the pain and humiliation as A.J. had told his story. "How do I protect you from this man?" Shane knew the name and the family. His father and Wellington's were school friends. "I can't involve dad in this, he wouldn't understand how I feel about you." Running a hand through A.J.'s hair, Shane stood up and headed to the bathroom. He made sure to grab his phone before leaving the room. He needed to make some calls and get some answers. In all his years of knowing Juls and Bray, he'd never known them to make such a huge mistake. Faith was a loose end whose history with the group went back further than he thought.
They had agreed to hide the secret but now...Shane felt his stomach clench as he looked back at the bed and the sleeping man there. "It looks like our decision affected you without us knowing it." Shaking his head, Shane scrolled through his contacts until he found the number he was looking for. As the phone rang, he stood in the doorway watching A.J. Shane wasn't sure what he could do but he would do what ever it took to keep A.J. safe.
"How in the fuck were you able to drive with a broken arm?" Shane looked at A.J. expression tight as he struggled to control his anger. The story A.J. told him made his rage simmer just below the surface of his skin. The fact that someone had hurt A.J. was enough for Shane to come apart. "Christ, you must have been in so much pain."
"It wasn't easy but I did it because I had to get away from him. He'd told Dre, Shin, and Clay I left them! I wouldn't have Shane, I mean come on Dre and Shin are grown men but Clay? Clay was a child, as smart as he is he was only sixteen! But when Sadie showed up I knew we were going home. I didn't know about the shit storm between Wyatt, Red, a-and Faith." A.J. looked up at Shane, watching his expressions as they changed from worried concern to angry determination. "You don't have to be so worried Shane. I froze tonight because I wasn't expecting him. I've gotten comfortable with you taking care of things and I've become lax." He let out a rueful chuckle. "Dre would kick my ass if he knew."
"I'll talk to Dre and explain things. He's supposed to be in town this weekend, right? I think Sai and Juls are planning a party for him." Shane's look turned thoughtful as he pulled A.J. closer. "Maybe we'll go out to the house and spend some time there."
Shane sighed as he thought over their plans. If he and A.J. did go out to Sadie's, he knew A.J. wouldn't want to leave. Maybe that wasn't as bad...
"Shane?!"
Shane started in surprise at the voice in his ear. "Danial, jesus I'm sorry got sidetracked. Were you sleep, I apologize if I woke you."
"It's ok I was up with the baby. Everything ok, you sound agitated?"
Running a hand through his hair, Shane took a deep breath to calm the rage churning in his stomach. "Allen was attacked tonight."
"What, are you serious?! What the, wait hold on, woke the baby."
Shane grinned as he heard the sound of Danial's daughter. "How is she and Brie doing?"
"Great, they have me wrapped around their fingers."
Shane chuckled as he listened to his friend. "It's only going to get better."
"I seriously can't wait, now keep talking, how is Allen, is he ok?"
"He's sleep right now but..." Shane broke off as he turned into the bathroom. "Danial his ex is...christ I can't even focus." Taking a deep breath Shane let it out as he leaned back against the wall. "The bastard's tried to kill him before. He's someone from Allen's past..."
"Do you know him or is there anyway to find out who he is? I mean seriously, are you just going to let him get away with that?"
Shane grinned at Danial's flood of questions. This is why he'd called him instead of Sadie or... "Our dad's went to school together." He heard the silence on the other end and wondered what Danial was thinking. "I can't..."
"You could, however just make it a coincidence? I mean come on Shane, you know you want to have a little fun before you really hurt this guy."
Shane grinned despite his bad mood. "You sound angrier than I do."
"That's because I'm putting myself in your position. If it were Brie or Birdie..."
"I swear Danial, it's taking everything in me to stay here." Voice low, Shane glanced back over at the bed. "If I knew where this bastard was hiding out I'd go beat his ass. The things he put Allen and Shinsuke through..." Shane sighed as he slid down the wall. "It took everything in me not to just let go. The look on Allen's face..." Shane sucked in a harsh breath. "Danial, I've never seen him look so scared."
"Well then we now know what we need to do. You talk to Bray or Juls yet?"
"No, he just drifted off. They've been calling, I've been ignoring them." Shane pinched the bridge of his nose. "All of this started because she showed back up. Her lies to Bray are why I even got involved."
"We still don't know who the father is?"
Shane frowned as he thought about what he wanted to say. "I've got someone looking into it but if my suspicions are right, Allen's ex could be the father."
"They're trying to pin the baby on him?"
"Yeah and I'm not sure if I should tell him or not. Especially now, if he gets attached to her and it turns out she isn't his..." Shane broke off, throat tightening with the thought of how A.J. would feel.
"Christ, these two are a real piece of work aren't they?"
"Yeah and you know Faith, always with the drama." Shane sighed as he ran a hand across his face. He was exhausted and they hadn't even left town yet. "I need your help with something as well. Give me a few days to look into somethings and I'll get back with you?"
"Sure, just let me know what I can do. I'll see what I can find on this guy if you'll send me what you have."
"Thanks Danial, I'm going to give Juls and Bray a call in a few." Shane told his friend goodnight before disconnecting the call. Standing up, he stretched his tired muscles. He needed to check on the front door, Alistair should have seen...
"Shane?"
Shane walked out of the bathroom, a small smile curving his lips. "Hey sleepy head, how do you feel?"
"Thirsty, water?" A.J. rasped, blinking to clear his vision, head turning in the direction of Shane's voice. "Where..." He looked around the room, a frown curving his lips down.
"Here honey, drink this." Shane poured him a glass of water and held it out to him. Watching as he took a drink, Shane sat back down in the chair from earlier. "How do you feel?" Giving him a quick once over, his frown deepened at the dark bruises on A.J.'s skin.
"Like I've been in a street fight." A.J. sighed as he looked over at Shane. "Did you get some rest?" Glancing over at the clock, he frowned at the time.
"No, I've been up since you fell asleep." Shane gave him a small smile, watching as his color slowly started to return. "You do understand that I can't just let him walk away after what he's done. You belong to me, there is no way I can let him live after hurting you the way he has." Shane watched A.J. stiffen, whether it be from anger or excitement, Shane couldn't tell. He did notice the tremor in his hands as they held the glass. "Honey?"
"I never expected...I'm sorry Shane. Wells was one mistake I've tried my best not to make again but I can't..." A.J. shook his head as he struggled to order his thoughts. "It's been years since I've seen him. I-I left with Clay and never looked back. Now this...asshole...is back and he's trying to destroy everything important to me." Looking over at Shane, A.J. saw something flash across the tan face. Dark eyes watching him with a knowing look.
"Six months...six months and I will tell you what you want to hear. I'll fix this in the meantime, all of it. Wellington, Faith." Shane moved to kneel beside the bed. "I never should have left you here alone, I knew this asshole would show back up again just never thought he'd show up here."
A.J. held the dark gaze, heart racing at Shane's statement. "Tell me...six months? What's going on in six months?" A.J. sat up straighter, back against the headboard as he watched Shane closely.
Shane felt his face heating as he realized his slip. "Just something I have to take care of. Either way, I don't plan on letting this bastard near you again." Shane watched as A.J. frowned, his head tilted to the side as he looked at Shane thoughtfully. "Allen?"
"We're changing the codes and the locks, right? That should be enough and as long as he can't get back into the building..." A.J. drifted off as Shane frowned. "Shane, what is it."
"I think we should move, I don't want to stay here and something else happens to you because of this fucking idiot." Shane said through clenched teeth. He could feel his temper rising as he looked at the bruises on A.J.'s arms and jaw. "He's marked you before?"
A.J. nodded as he studied Shane. "Part of why I have my tattoo." He pointed to the AJ on his right side. "He carved my initials into my skin after WWE first tried to sign me. Said it was his way of making sure they wouldn't want me. Then the tapes..." A.J. felt the numbing fear of what those videos could cost him. "Shane, what he did..."
"It wasn't consensual and I'm not fucking leaving you because of that." Sighing, Shane pinched the bridge of his nose. "Look, today we're going to take off and go find a new place. I won't feel right staying here knowing someone attacked you." Shane looked up at the soft sigh, stomach fluttering at the soft look on A.J.'s face.
"Maybe, ummm, m-maybe a house? I-I mean, I'll help pay my share! I can afford to do that mu..." A.J. broke off as Shane kissed. A slow, soft kiss that left A.J. gasping and shaking as Shane slowly pulled back. "Shane?"
"Honey, you don't have to pay for anything but if it will make you feel better, fine. I understand the need for independence." Climbing onto the bed, Shane gave A.J. a small smile. "I need to keep you safe and in order to do that you have to be close. We practically live together now so a house wouldn't be such a huge jump."
"Nothing to big though, a lot of rooms isn't really a good thing with Wells running around lose. He likes to hide in the dark, sometimes he..." A.J. broke off as a shiver moved over him. "He thought it was funny to scare people, which, ok yeah it can be but there is a limit."
"What did he do." Shane watched as blue eyes blinked up at him in confusion. "How, did he scare you." Keeping his voice soft, Shane watched as another tremor shook A.J.'s hands.
"H-he would shoot at me in the dark. Said it would keep my senses sharp." A.J. jerked at the hand on his arm, looking up into Shane's dark expression.
"He shot you, didn't he?"
A.J. nodded, watching as Shane struggled to control his anger. "I survived, thanks to Shin and Clay but I knew we had to get away from him. Fra...I mean Faith...of all names for her to choose. Faith refused to leave him, I don't know but I can't go back through the shit he put me through."
"I'll kill him simply for the attempt." Shane stretched out next to A.J. "Maybe not six months, maybe less." Running a hand over A.J.'s tattoo, Shane let his thoughts drift. He was going to make Wellington pay for everything he's done to A.J. Starting with this latest incident. His kindness only extended so far and Wellin...
"Shane, god stop!"
Shane blinked as he refocused his attention on the brunette in front of him. "Allen?"
"My...tattoo...christ, stop tracing it." A.J. had to grip Shane's wrist to get him to understand.
"Why?" Shane stared in confusion at the letters, until he saw the puckered skin beneath the ink. "The scars are still sensitive." Shane watched as a flush spread over A.J.'s skin. "I was thinking about what I was going to do when I saw him. How I was going to beat him senseless for marking you."
A.J. bit back a moan as Shane moved closer. He sucked in a quick breath when Shane pressed a kiss against the first scar. Shivering, A.J. felt Shane move down to the next one. "What, uh, wh-what are you doing Shane?" He panted as Shane started to trace the letters with his tongue.
"I'm going to erase his touch from your skin." Shane leaned back and looked down at A.J. "I keep telling you I'm a possessive asshole, seriously honey there's no other way to put it. I need you, more than anything and I need you to understand that I do not share. Not you and not like that, never like that." Taking a deep breath, Shane gave A.J. a gentle smile. "Let me take care of you, for now, let me erase his touch from your body...please."
A.J. stared up into Shane's earnest expression. He nodded, watching as Shane moved over him. He pulled the sheet down slowly, the silk sliding across A.J.'s skin silently. Shane admitted to needing him, which meant it must be ok to admit it. A.J. shivered as Shane blew against the wet skin, making goose bumps rise on his skin. Shane would make him feel better, he always did. Which meant if it was ok for Shane to say it... "I-I need you too, Shane." He didn't want to become dependent on Shane but it looked like it was already to late.
Shane growled low in his throat, moving over A.J. he stared down into wide, dilated blue eyes. "I am here, no matter what happens I am not leaving you, understand? I'll kill him before he can ever have you back." Shane watched as the flush of excitement darkened A.J.'s skin. He would tell him soon, he had to...the words were tearing the walls of his heart apart the longer he waited. Leaning down, Shane kissed A.J. "No matter what happens, I will always be here."