Written by Hipsy Bohannon Co-written by Sandi Lynn Sabolchic and Angie Sanders Rogers

"Yeah, I have seen her before. She was in here last Saturday night causing all kinds of trouble."

"Yeah, that sounds like her," Shane said, as he watched the grey-haired bartender wipe the counter down with a filthy rag. "Well, if she comes in here again can you do me a favor and call the number on the back of this card and let me know?" Shane asked, laying the card on the counter and sliding it toward the server. He asked in a way that was more telling than requesting.

"Will do officer, but if I were you I would check with them Dixon brothers she was running with," he said, stuffing the card in his pocket.

"You talkin' 'bout Merle Dixon?" Shane asked, leaning into the counter. Shane asked leaning into the counter eyeing the bartender intently. He enjoyed the way this posture seemed relaxed and laid-back, but was actually an intimidating stance. It placed his muscular upper body closer to the bartender and put them eye-to-eye behind the bar. His mark didn't even realize how that maneuver could make even the tightest-lipped guy talk. Criminals and witnesses alike couldn't figure out if they wanted to help the cop or just tell him what he wanted to hear to get rid of him.

"Yep, she and his little brother Daryl couldn't keep their hands off each other. Thought they might get busy right there in that spot you're standing in. They gave the whole damned bar a show, then she went and started a bar brawl. Them Dixon boys mopped the floor with some good ol' boys who were just trying ta be nice and get her home safe and sound. I still ain't gotten all the blood off the porch," the aging man said, pointing in the direction of the front door.

Shane clenched his jaw and ran his palms over his wavy dark hair. He looked down at the floor. His anger was growing by the second and he knew he better get out of this place before he lost his cool. Thoughts of himself ripping the messenger over the bar and beating him to a pulp right there on the dance floor entered his mind. How dare he even suggest that his Lil' Bird would even be caught dead in this place, let alone fawning all over a fucking Dixon. He didn't know of Daryl, but the elder Dixon brother had notoriety in the circles of law enforcement. If Daryl was anything like Merle…Shane's nostrils began to flare. He had heard time and time again over the years about the piece-of-shit scumbag who didn't deserve to breathe the same air as Ally. Merle had been in and out of jail for the past 20 years in every county within 50 miles. His rap sheet ranged from drug possession and sales to assault. His hands were registered as weapons in this state by the time he was 21. Shane turned on his heels and stormed toward the door.

"Hey, ain't ya gonna pay me for the information?" The server yelled.

"Just call me when she comes in, you'll get your money then, pigeon," Shane called over his shoulder, never turning to look back. He walked across the parking lot and ripped open the passenger door on the cruiser, climbing in with a huff.

"So have they seen her?" Rick questioned, starting up the patrol car and pulling out of the drive.

"Yea, said she was in there last week. Bartender said she was hangin' all over Merle Dixon's little brother," Shane said through gritted teeth. "Are you fucking kidding me, Lil Bird? A God damnned Dixon!" Shane barked as his fist hit the dashboard.

"Now calm down, Shane I'm sure it wasn't like that. She's not that kind of person and you know that," Rick said, trying to calm his lifelong friend down. Shane's temper was getting worse and worse and now that Ally had packed up and left, he was really coming un-glued. Shane ran his hands through his hair again trying to calm himself. It stayed quiet in the car as the miles passed by. Rick glanced over at his friend who was staring at nothing out the window.

2 weeks ago…..

"Shane, get your fucking hands off me!" Ally screamed, trying to yank herself free of the death grip Shane had on her arms. Shane just shook her harder, his face bright red and the veins popping out along his brow.

"Not until you listen to me damn it, this isn't what it looks like." He tried to lower his voice. He wanted to reason with her even though he knew there was no way to talk his way out of this one.

"Shane there's a naked girl in our bed, what the fuck do you even mean it isn't what it looks like," Ally screamed, finally ripping free of his grip. She marched over to the bed and ripped the covers off the blonde bombshell. She was still curled up looking a little too pleased with herself, It grated Ally's last nerve the way she smirked as the strange woman watched the show go down between the pair. The woman didn't even try to hide her nakedness. She just stretched out, grabbing a smoke from the bedside table and lighting it. Ally snatched it out of her mouth and took a long drag from it.

"What the hell are you doing, Alexandria! You don't smoke anymore!" Shane yelled at her like a petulant child.

Ally arched an eyebrow at him. "And I thought you stopped fucking dirty skanks. Looks like we were both wrong!" Ally said smugly, an evil grin spreading over her face, as she flicked the cigarette at Shane. He jerked out of its path and stomped it out on the bedroom floor burning his bare foot.

"Who the fuck are you calling a skank?" the blonde on the bed screeched.

"Shut up!" Ally and Shane screamed at her in unison.

"That's not what you were saying a few minutes ago, big boy," the blonde temptress purred, licking her lips and looking down at Shane's boxer covered crotch.

"Bitch I swear to God, come here!" Ally hissed as she grabbed a hand full of blonde mane and drug the scrawny bitch off the bed onto the floor. She dragged the kicking and screaming woman along the carpet until she made it to the front door. She grabbed the handle, wrenching it open, and continued to drag the naked dame into the darkness of the yard. Shane couldn't help but smirk as he watched his 'Lil Bird man-handle the floosy. Ally released the blonde and stormed back to the house, pushing Shane into the door frame from where he had been watching the show. She walked quickly into the bedroom, gathered up the girl's whore-wear, and charged back out into the yard, throwing them at her. The harlot looked to Shane, who just shrugged and followed Ally back into the house, shutting the door on his easy conquest.

Woman had always come easy to Shane, and truth be known he had had his fair share. Even after his wedding to Ally, the way he saw it was no harm no foul. If Ally hadn't come home early from spending the weekend at her mother's, she would have been none the wiser. He leaned against the door frame of the bedroom and crossed his arms over his bare chest. He watched as Ally scurried around the room, ripping open drawers and throwing their contents into the suit case she had dragged out from under the bed.

"Come on, Lil Bird, are we really going to do this again? Why even waste your time, baby? You know you ain't going no where. Just stop!" he said, crossing the room and grabbing the handful of socks from her, placing them back in the top drawer.

"No Shane, not this time. This time I am going. I can't do this with you!" she screamed, grabbing the socks and throwing them in the suitcase.

"I know I fucked up Birdie, I did… but come on ya gotta give me a break here!" he pleaded.

"No, Shane I'm done with giving you breaks! I have been nothing but good to you Shane. I have done everything you have ever told me to do. I changed everything for you. Everything! I'm finished!" she yelled, zipping the zipper up on her large suitcase.

She grabbed it up and started pulling it out of the room, but before she made it to the bedroom door Shane was on her. He grabbed her elbow and whirled her around, pulling her to him till his face was inches from hers.

Shane snarled. "And just where ya gonna go, Bird? Hmm? You answer me that. If you leave me, you leave with what you came with and nothing more! Did you forget where I found you? You don't have anything without me. No money, no home, no nothing. You're nothing without me! You would be dead in a ditch or fucking some crack dealer for rocks if it wasn't for me, so if I were you I would do my best to remember that!" As his fingers dug into Ally's thin arms, her face was masked in pain and her eyes were beginning to tear up not only from his grip but from his words as well.

"I hate you!" Ally whispered through the pain.

"You hate me? You fucking hate me?" Shane mocked. Dragging her body to the closet, he threw her into the rack of clothing that lined the wall. "You hate all this? Look at all this shit!" he yelled, as he began ripping her clothes off the hanger and throwing them in her face. She held up her hands trying to block them.

"All this you hate, huh? I bought this!" he screamed. He grabbed her again and yanked her out of the closet, dragging her through the house as he knocked things over with his free hand. "How about this, and this… you fucking hate this shit too?" He continued to scream as he laid destruction in his path.

"Shane, stop it!" Ally cried out, trying to twist her arm free.

"Why, Birdie,why should I? I'm just showing you all the shit you ain't gonna have without me, girl. You live the life, I tell ya. You think you're gonna be ok without me? You're dreaming, Bird," he yelled spit hitting her in the face. Shane slammed her against the wall a little too hard. The picture frames fell, shattering glass onto the hardwood floor. "If I let you leave you would be tricking down at the truck stop by the end of the week. You're nothing, Birdie! You ain't never been worth anything, and you will always be nothing without me. I made you who you are, girl!" Shane's voice was low and lethal as his eyes bore into Ally's.

"I would rather be a whore than to be your girl one second longer!"

She didn't even feel the slap, although her body reacted to it all on its own. Her hand flew up and felt the heat on her cheek from the sting. Her eyes grew large with shock as they looked into Shane's, who looked just as shocked as she was.

"Oh my God Lil bird, I didn't…I…" Shane tried to find the words to say how sorry he already was feeling but Ally's small hand went up stopping him. She just nodded and slid against the wall till she wasn't in front of him. Then she slowly turned and walked toward the front door, grabbing the Mustang keys off the hook. Shane followed her out and stood at the open garage door. He watched her open the hatchback. He had gone too far this time. He had pushed her around before, but he had never all out hit her. He knew he had crossed the line.

He watched her struggle to get a large box off the shelf marked 'Salvation Army.' He knew it held all of her old clothes. He was supposed to drop it off at the donation center years ago, but just never had. He knew it was all of her old clothes - the ones he said she couldn't wear anymore. The ones he had deemed too cheap for any woman of his to be seen wearing. The ones from her old life. He remembered calling them "trailer park rags." He walked over and reached up over Ally's head, causing her to flinch. He pulled the box down easily and sat it in her trunk. She walked over and shut the hatch, then made her way to the driver's door.

"Lil Bird…" Shane's voice cracked a bit. He had never meant to take it this far. Ally stopped for just a brief second. "You really gonna leave me, Birdie?" She stabbed the knife in his back as she opened the car door. Shane's pride took the hit. How dare she think she could just leave him? Shane slammed the door shut. He leaned down towards her ear, and his voice took on a sadistic meanness.

"Good! Don't want ya no more anyway. Never really did. Who would, Birdie? You're no good. Can't even keep your man satisfied. Ain't no wonder I been running around all over town behind your back all these years. You hear me girl? I don't want you, and no one else does, either! Ya ain't nothing but trash! You disgust me!"

He finished his rant by giving her a villainous smile and opening the car door, allowing her access to her get away. He watched as her tail lights left the driveway, then he ran his fingers through his hair and let out a sigh. He loved Ally more than he had ever loved anything. She was his, and that's just the way it was. He walked back inside through the mess he had created, heading straight for their bed. As he lay there he was comforted only by the knowledge that Ally really didn't have anywhere to go. She didn't have a job. He wouldn't let his woman work - that was a man's job. Her job was to take care of him, and she did her job well. He was a man, though, and what man didn't like a little strange every now and then? She would forgive him. She had to. This was the only real home the girl had ever known. The only real stability she had ever had. He held on to the idea that she was just going to her mama's and she would be back in a day or two. She'd be back when she realized just how easy she had it with him.

Present day…..

"Shane!" Rick called to his partner again in a louder voice, finally pulling Shane out of his memory. "She loves you man, she'll be back, ya just got to give her a little while to calm down. You know how woman are," Rick said, giving his friend a reassuring smile. Shane nodded and gave Rick one of his award winning grins.

"Whoo-eehh, boy, do I ever! And ya know what, you're right. She'll be back and begging to come home."