Shannon grabbed some plates out of a cabinet and passed set them on the table along with silverware. He still wasn't sure what was going on other than Chris and Autumn was obviously intoxicated to the fullest. He observed the two of them with a smile on his face. Amidst the situation of his best friend being kidnapped this was a nice alleviation from the worrying.

"Well, I think I'm going to go sleep this alcohol off." Chris gave a wink to Autumn which didn't go unnoticed by Shannon. "I'll see you two in the morning."

"Wait, you have to eat something." Autumn motioned to the display of food that was set before her. "Come on Chris, you aren't leaving until you eat something."

"I'll take it with me." He smiled and took the plate Shannon put in his hands.

"You going to be ok man?"

Chris nodded and patted Shannon on the back. "Thanks to the two of you I will be. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." They called in unison as they watched him walk away.

Shannon took a seat and fixed plates for both him and Autumn. "So, wanna tell me what that was all about?"

She smiled bashfully. "It was nothing. Just a brother and sister bonding, that's all." She giggled drunkenly.

"Then why are you smiling like a Cheshire cat?"

She brought her hand to her face to try to cover her embarrassment. "It's nothing S'more, really. Can we just eat? I'm starving."

"It's a nice night out. Want to move this to the porch?"

"Sure, sounds nice." She smiled and watched as he so politely grabbed her plate walking ahead as she grabbed their sodas and followed him. Even though his hands were full he still held the door open for her. Now all of a sudden she was noticing all the small things that he did. They sat quietly on the steps and listened as the crickets and katydids sang in the distance. A soft breeze blew in from the south and she watched him from the corner of her eye. Maybe Chris was right. Shannon had been there all along and she had been an idiot not to notice. Although there was no guarantee that he would feel the same about her.

"You're quiet for someone who just polished off about two fifths of Tequila."

"Sorry. I just have a lot on my mind." She slurred her words as she squeezed some Duck Sauce on her Chinese Wanton.

"You wanna talk about it?"

"Not really. Well, just not until I've had time to process it."

"Ok then." Shannon remarked and continued eating as they enjoyed the peacefulness night.

-- -- --

Chris sat the plate of Chinese food on the dresser and walked over sitting in the chair next to the window. He couldn't eat; he didn't want the effects of the alcohol to wear off just yet. He was in a state of drunken bliss, well not quite bliss but for the moment all he could think about was Mel and how much they had both taken for granted. He was stuck in the thought that each day was promised but had quickly realized that you never know when something may go wrong and you can't get those days back. He thought of all the things he'd yet to do in life and with Mel. He thought of how much time he spent worrying over petty things and how much he'd given to his job. It just wasn't worth it. And he vowed then and there to make a change. When he got Melony back they were really going to start living life, not just existing.

-- -- --

"You think we ought to check in on Chris?" Shannon asked as he stood next to Autumn at the kitchen sink.

"I think he probably passed out." She smiled and passed him a plate to dry off.

"Much like you are gonna do if you don't go lay down."

She saluted him and stumbled backwards before catching herself. "You're probably right."

"Whoa, you ok?"

"Never been better." She gazed at him thorough her long black eyelashes as if seeing him for the first time.

"What? Do I have something on my face?"

Autumn stepped forward, her face in close proximity to his. "Actually you do. Right there." She trailed her finger across his bottom lip. "My lips." And she kissed him feverently. And he reciprocated without a second thought. Then his conscious kicked in.

"What's wrong?" She asked as her hand lingered on his chest.

"Nothing. Well, it's just that… well, you're drunk."

She nuzzled her head into his neck and moved her body closer to him. "Correction, I've been drinking. I'm tipsy but not intoxicated and I fully know what I am doing here."

Shannon's heart was racing. He'd waited for this for so long but never expected for her to make the first move. While he wondered what was behind the sudden change of heart he didn't dare question it. He cupped her face in his hands and looked her in the eyes. "Are you sure about this?"

"As sure as I'll ever be." She grabbed him by the hand and led him to the guest bedroom where she was currently camping out.

-- -- --

Melony lay awake staring at the ceiling. There was something so very familiar about the voice from earlier. Despite the fact that they all wore masks and stayed covered from head to toe, there was just something about the guy who had stopped her from escaping. She couldn't put her finger on it and it was driving her crazy. It was beginning to become too much for her. She wasn't sure if she could hold it together any longer. The tears fell from her eyes and her body heaved with each sob. She just wanted to go home.

Out of the corner of her eyes she saw a note being passed under the door and slowly she got up to retrieve it. 'Hang in there, the first part of the money has been received.' She crumbled up the paper and threw it across the room. She should be relieved and thankful but she was angry and worried. How much money were they asking for? What would Chris do to get the money if he didn't have enough? And the one nagging question that kept her up most of the night, why her?

-- -- --

Chris lay awake staring at the ceiling going over in his head all the enemies he had that were capable of such a heinous act. He couldn't think of a single one. Sure he had some disagreements with some of the guys at work but none of them would do anything like this. Would they? Outside of work he rarely associated with anyone. Everyone he knew was somehow, someway associated with the wrestling industry. The only exception to the situation was Brock Lesnar. It wasn't a coincidence that he just happened to show up and Melony went missing, was it? Chris glanced at the clock and flipped on his lamp. He couldn't sleep and there was no sense in pretending that he could. It would be a matter of hours before they called again and Chris couldn't sit by and wait a second longer. He was taking matters in his own hands. Something he should have done in the beginning.