Sighing, Shane looked at the stack of papers on his desk. He had planned to get it done through out the day and hadn't succeeded. Letting out a soft huff, Shane looked up at the sound of a knock on the door. He let out a soft chuckle at the man standing there, surprised at his visit. "Clayton?"

"Hey Uncle Shane, I was wondering if you had some free time? There's some things I need to talk to you about."

Shane nodded, motioning the young man inside the office. "Sure, for you I have as much time as you need." He watched as Clay walked in and shut the door behind him. "What's on our mind?"

Clayton Asher DuBouis stood six foot three, weighed about two hundred fifteen pounds and was whip cord lean. His bright gray green gaze didn't miss anything as he looked around the room. When he finally turned to look at Shane, he wore a look of worried confusion. "Clay, whats going on?"

"Uncle Shane, is it true Uncle Allen doesn't know about my relationship with Alexander?"

Shane blinked in surprise, the question catching him off guard. "I don't...you and Alexander?" Shane shook his head, the question making him pause in thought. "I'm not sure, you two have been together since you were sixteen so I thought he already knew." At the small shake of his head, Shane's frown deepened. "Are you saying Allen doesn't know about you two being together?"

"I thought mom or Uncle Dre would have said something, I told him a while back about Alex but he's never...I-I don't know if I should tell him or not Uncle Shane. With everything going on..."

Shane sighed as he watched Clay sit down in front of his desk. "Do you want to tell him? I mean, eventually you're going to have to, considering you two live together."

"I know but how do I tell him? The only time we've really ever sat down and talked about Alex was after what happened at school. How, ummm, how do I tell him now? Especially since the last time I mentioned him, Uncle Allen was, ummm, was going through that situation."

Shane frowned at Clay's hesitation. "Clay, what do you know about what happened in Japan?" Shane studied the young man in front of him, seeing him for the first time in a long time. Clay was no longer a child, he'd grown up after what happened to him six years ago. Clay knowing what happened to Allen, however, was new to Shane. "Clayton?"

Clay sighed as he looked from Shane to the floor then back. "Ok so that guy, Wellington? H-he was the one whose friend attacked Alex. I saw them at the restaurant a few weeks ago, mom wasn't there but Uncle Dre was. I told him who the guy was, I-I didn't recognize Wellington until he looked at me. I swear to you Uncle Shane if I had known it was him I never would have let them near Alexander!"

"What did you do Clay?" Shane felt a chill race down his spine at the flat look on his nephew's face. "Clayton Asher?"

"Ok, so I followed the guy. I wanted to make sure it was the same guy, you know? I followed him to this warehouse down in the wharf district. Uncle Shane this guy is obsessed with Uncle Allen and Shinsuke! I mean he had this room with all of these photo's and..." Clayton broke off as he stood up from his chair. "Uncle Shane, this guy is not safe for any of us. He had a collage of the family, like a tree of who was who and how. I-I didn't get to see it all but..."

"What is it Clayton?" Shane knew that if he didn't find out before Juls or Bray, there was going to be hell to pay. "What else did you see or hear?"

"Uncle Shane this man is serious about getting Uncle Allen back, by any means possible. When he kidnapped us in Japan, he sent me away while he kept Uncle Allen and Shinsuke locked up. I don't know what happened after that but I do remember that I had to reset Uncle Allen's arm on the plane because that bastard broke it." Taking a deep breath, Clay looked at Shane. "He plans to kill anyone who stands between him and Uncle Allen and that includes you too, Uncle Shane."

Shane sat back in his chair, anger racing along his nerves. "And Faith, did you see her as well?"

"That's the strange thing, I haven't seen her since mom said she was in town. I've heard you have and so has Uncle Allen but when Uncle Dre and I went looking for her, nothing. It's almost as if she's disappeared."

Shane frowned as he thought about what Clay said. "Ok, well first off, you and Alex need to decide on whether you're going to tell Allen about you two or not. Second, what did you do after you followed Wellington's friend?"

Clay refused to meet Shane's dark gaze, knowing that despite Shane being his uncle, he was obligated to let his parents know if he were in danger. "I told him if he ever comes near Alex again I'll kill him this time." At Shane's hard look, Clay sighed. "Uncle Shane he tried to hurt Alex again, I can't keep letting this man get away with that! You nor Uncle Dre would allow that if it were Aunt Kristy or Uncle Allen! A-and Juls damn sure wouldn't allow it if it were mom, so..."

Shane watched as the young man in front of him seemed to stand up taller. "So what, Clay, what did you do?"

"I invited him to the fight club." At Shane's sharp sound of anger, Clay's expression hardened. "He attacked Alex back in Japan and now he's tried here. I will not allow it again Uncle Shane."

"Why come to me, why not go to Bray or Juls?" Shane knew Clay's answer but wanted to hear the answer for himself. "You came to me for a reason, what is it you want from me?"

"I made a mistake a-and I need to make it right." Clayton walked over to the window. "J.D is an asshole for what he did and I can fix it but..."

Shane watched as Clay's shoulder's bunched. He knew what the young man wanted to ask. Knew that if he'd gone to anyone else, he would have already been told no by now. "Clay, you already know..."

"Please, Uncle Shane before you say no, please just hear me out ok?! You know how I feel about Alexander a-and you would understand better than Uncle Bray or Juls when I say I owe J.D.!" Clay turned to face Shane, face hot with his anger. "He was a fucking professor and he tried to fail Alex because he wouldn't sleep with him. I owe him because he tried to blackmail my mom to keep him quiet! I fucking owe him, Uncle Shane for the simple fact that I have the right more than anyone to see him punished!"

Shane watched the flushed face of his nephew, could see the resemblance to his mother and uncle. Fingers drumming against his desk top, Shane studied Clay closer. "You understand that if she says no I can't challenge her, I am her champion, Clay, if your mom says..."

"She won't say no, not to you Uncle Shane a-and ummm, maybe...what if you ask Uncle Allen..."

"No, Clay, christ you know the rules on that. He's not a member of the club nor has he been invited. We may be in a relationship but that doesn't mean I can just bend the rules when ever I want. There are three other people who would have to be included in the decision as well." Shane pinched the bridge of his nose, aware of what it was Clayton was asking him to do. "You understand that your reason's for asking me to speak on your behalf have to be valid and very, very good." Shane let out a soft sigh as he watched Clay's face relax. Watching the young man pacing across the room, another thought occurred to Shane. "You may have given me a reason to call a meeting after all."

Clay turned to look at Shane, head titled in curiosity. "Uncle Shane?"

"You said J.D. is a friend of Wellington's?" At Clay's nod, Shane grinned. "Well it seems you and Seth both have an issue with a friend of Wellington's and I have an issue with Wellington himself."

"You think mom will allow it, I mean Al said he'd go in with me because Alex is his twin so I won't be alone but..."

"She will once she finds out his entire group is harassing not only Chris and Seth but Allen and now you as well. Juls will make sure of it." Dark gaze narrowed in thought, Shane studied Clay. "When did you and Alistair talk about this because he approached me this morning." Shane watched as Clay's face reddened with anger. "Clay?"

"A few weeks ago, after one of the matches in Wyoming this guy approaches Alex. I didn't really think anything of it because he looked like one of your business friends. Al went to get the car and I looked away for maybe five seconds Uncle Shane and he was...gone! I don't...Alex refuses to talk to me about what happened but I found him in the bathroom, shaking and pale. His suit had been ruined but he said nothing happened, they did something to Alexander and he refuses to tell me what."

Shane frowned as he thought back to that night. "That's the night your parents were in Louisiana. Something suddenly came up that they had to take care of." Shane remembered the conversation with Allen that night. He'd been upset they'd had to leave but understood it was an emergency. "Allen said something didn't feel right about them leaving and when I talked to Juls, she seemed pissed."

"I don't know Uncle Shane but I can't protect Alex if mom keeps thinking I'm a child. I don't know the man that we saw that night but Wellington and J.D. I do know. They will not stop unless we make them stop."

Shane sighed, a tired sound as he glanced over at his phone. He let the call go to voicemail, knowing the caller would figure out he was still at the office. "I'll talk to them, I won't promise that Nattie and your mom will agree but if Juls and Bray see it from your point of view then you just might get your chance." At Clay's relieved look, Shane's frown deepened. "Understand Clay, this is not like sparring in school, these are real life fights where the punches hurt more than the words and when you step in the ring it's about in the ring not out. You can have your grudge but if you can't back up what you're saying..."

"I can back it up Uncle Shane, trust me, after the past couple of weeks, I have every reason to."

Shane nodded, glancing up at the figure standing in the doorway. "Well, come in, seems you were the topic of conversation." Shane watched as Alexander and Alistair both walked into the office. "Guys, I've got a show to run, don't tear up my office. Alex, lock up once you're done." Standing up, Shane picked up his bag, keys, and phone. "Clay, you keep this as the rules state or I swear..."

"Don't worry Uncle Shane, I know what the rules say."

Shane nodded, giving him a hard look before heading to the door. Giving Alex a reassuring grin, he gave Alistair a pat on the back then left the room. As he was closing the door he could hear the angry tones between his nephew and assistant, the conversation more telling than even Shane expected. Pausing by the door, he listened to the angry exchange, a smile curving his lips at Clay's stubbornness.

"What did you do Clayton?"

"Nothing, I came to talk to my uncle, that's all."

"Then why would you have to follow the club rules?! Have you asked him to sponsor you? Please, Clay don't tell me..."

"Ok then fine, I won't tell you! I came to talk to my uncle and get some advice that's all, that's it!"

Shaking his head, Shane headed towards the elevators. He'd talk with the others tonight, first there was a brunette waiting for him. Pulling out his phone Shane sent off a quick text, grinning at the immediate response. Tonight, there was nothing else he would worry about other than Allen, their kids, and their future.