Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, other than Brielle.
Rated: M
Warning(s): Slash, Het, Stripping, Exotic Dancing, Domestic Violence, etc.

"Mr. Copeland, I have to ask that you calm down." The woman said. "Now, I know that you're upset. It's understandable. However, I am not in a position to contradict what the court has said."

Adam jabbed at his chest with his thumb, frustrated and infuriated. "Look at me! How could you think that I would ever want to hurt my beautiful baby? It's sick and demented to think like that!"

"There was evidence presented to the court in the form of photos taken of the child. She had bruises all over her face and her chest, Mr. Copeland. How do you want to explain that one?" She asked.

"I would never lay a hand on her to hurt her! Not even if I would die otherwise!" Adam screamed. "I've raised her her entire life. I've cared for her. I've loved her. Every damn dollar that I earned went to her!"

"You have to admit, Mr. Copeland, that does sound a little bit resentful." The woman said matter-of-factly.

Adam couldn't believe this. How dare she? How dare she stand there and tell him how badly he had raised his child? "You know what? I'm done with this. You're obviously going to be absolutely no fucking help to me."

"Mr. Copeland, I would have to ask that you refrain from using profane language." She said.

Adam rolled his eyes. "I don't want to hear about what you would 'ask me to do'. Leave me the fuck alone."

Adam stalked off, a determined look on his pretty face. He brushed the blond hair out from in front of his face and tried to hold back the tears that brewed to the surface. His baby was God-knows-where, held captive by that demented monster who had… who had… Adam couldn't even think about it. He squeezed his eyes closed and his throat burned for a drink. Oh, he wanted a drink so badly that it hurt. But he couldn't do that.

The minute that he found out that he would be a parent; he had sworn to lay off the alcohol. And while it couldn't be avoided at work, he had promised himself that he wouldn't touch a bottle outside of the club. He couldn't allow his mind to be impaired for even a minute. If he lost focus of what was important, then all could be lost to him. He knotted his fingers in his hair and hissed at the pain that it caused. It was nothing compared to the pain in his heart.

Adam jabbed his thumb into the down-button and waited for the elevator to come around. Once the doors opened, he stumbled inside and waited for the doors to close. Flipping the switch for the emergency stop, the loud wail of a siren broke into his silent reverie and he flinched. But seconds later, it fell away to a dull hum. Falling to the floor, he buried his face in his hands and let the tears slowly roll down his cheeks.

What would he do without Brielle? When he had first come to the US, he had been extremely free spirited and carefree. It wasn't exactly the best way to be, he understood that. But then Brielle had come into his life and she had grounded him. She had shown him what it meant to live life for someone else, not to just worry about yourself all the time. Now, she was all that he cared about. He didn't know how to live life without her.

He felt his phone vibrate in his back pocket. "Hello?"

"Oh, hey Adam. It's Jeff. I didn't exactly expect you to answer, since this is the third time that I've called and the only time that you've answered. But what the hey? I just called to ask if you were okay."

Adam swallowed hard and rubbed the tears out of his eyes. "Of course I'm okay. Why wouldn't I be?" He heard Phil's voice in the distance, before Jeff cursed. "I should be asking if you're okay."

Jeff chuckled, but it was strained. "I'm fine. It's just that, ever since Phil found out that he was pregnant, he's been having the most disgusting cravings. That, and my brother is driving him out of his fucking mind."

"You're brother can be rather obsessive sometimes." Adam remarked.

Jeff sucked in a breath and started to defend his brother. "Hey! My brother isn't that bad."

"I bet you couldn't even say that with a straight face." Adam said. Within seconds, Jeff had broken down into peals of laughter. "Exactly as I thought."

Over the next half hour, the two men talked as if nothing had transpired between them. It was almost as if that fight that had occurred just… hadn't. Adam had never disobeyed him, Jeff had never been viciously attacked. Adam hadn't felt so comfortable around his old friend in a long time, and it made a warm feeling blossom in his stomach. For the first time in the turbulent hours he had spent in the hospital, he felt whole.

Adam told him about the fact that Brielle had had to have emergency heart surgery, and that she had come through with flying colors. He neglected to mention that Chris had taken her off to God-knows-where, because Jeff had his own problems to worry about. Jeff told him about the attack – not in detail, but enough to get the general gist of what had occurred – and he told him that the attacker had been none other than Chris Jericho.

"You know, Adam, if Chris has come back into your life, then you should hire Jay. Jay can put that bastard behind bars for any number of the crimes he has committed over the last ten years."

Adam's eyes narrowed. "Jay? Jason Reso? He's a lawyer, yeah, and also a mutual friend. But isn't he a defense attorney? What would he want with a case like this?"

"Didn't you say that he was a friend, Adam?" Jeff asked. "He'll do whatever it takes to help out a friend."

Chris walked into the airport, Brielle in tow. He had had her hair cut so that it barely brushed her shoulders and all of the curls had been combed out. She wore a black baseball cap on her head, which was a few sizes too big for her petite little frame. She was also dressed in loose black pants and a baggy black shirt to hide all of the stitches and gauze that she still had to wear on her chest. Yes, this would do just fine.

The doctor hadn't exactly cleared her to travel, but that didn't matter. It would only be a few hours, and then she could sleep all of the pain off. He just needed for her to be out of the country. Once she was out from underneath the watchful eye of the US court system, it would be harder for that little bitch to track her down. Brielle would be officially his. Not that he really wanted her, no. He just wanted her for the chaos she would cause.

Brielle looked up at him with her wide, innocent blue eyes. Those eyes, so full of trust and love for this man that she barely knew. It should break him that it had been so easy for him to earn her trust, but no, he was only disgusted. Disgusted that Adam hadn't taught her better. And as he looked over her overly skinny body, he shook his head in disbelief. Disbelief that Adam hadn't treated her better.

Chris walked over to one of the women behind the desk. She perked up when she saw him. Her nametag read 'AJ Lee'. "Hello, sir. What can I do for you today?"

"Hello, ma'am." Immediately, Chris turned on the charm. He could see how AJ started to melt like butter. "I need two tickets for Winnipeg, Canada. We need to leave as soon as possible."

AJ hit a few keys on the computer. "You're in luck! It seems as if there is a flight that is leaving for Winnipeg, Canada in twenty minutes. There are two tickets available for second class."

"I'll take them." Chris said. He handed over the money for the tickets, as well as photo identification.

"Very well then, Mr. Jericho." AJ printed up his two tickets and tore the two apart to create two separate sheets. "I hope that you enjoy your fight. Please make sure to fill out the survey when you land."

"Of course. Have a nice day, ma'am." Chris told her with a smile.

"You too, Mr. Jericho. And you too, sweetie."

Brielle only stared at the woman with her wide, confused blue eyes. This was all so much to take in at once, and she was understandable confused and overwhelmed. Chris yanked on her arm, silently conveying that it was time to leave. Brielle made a choked little sound in the back of her throat, but stumbled after her father, yanking her little suitcase behind her. It was time to start their new life.

"I'm home!" Chris called as he stumbled into the house, an exhausted child locked firmly in his arms. The rental car still had all of their suitcases nestled safely within it.

"You're finally home, son!" Chris watched as his father slid out of the chair and walked over to him. "And who is this beautiful child that you have with you? I didn't think that you were gone that long."

Chris smiled as he brushed the child's golden hair out from in front of her face. "Dad, this is Brielle. She's the daughter that I never knew that I had with that bitch -,"

Here, his father cut him off. "Chris! You should know better than to talk in such a manner in front of children!"

Chris looked down sheepishly, but felt his anger boil inside. "Of course, Dad. How silly of me." Chris tried to laugh it off. It didn't work. "This is Brielle Copeland. She's four-years-old and has a heart defect."

"And you flew with her?" His father sounded affronted.

"Of course I did!" Chris exclaimed, beginning to feel like he couldn't do anything right. "Should I have walked?"

"Don't take a smart-ass tone with me, boy!" His father shot back, and Chris felt like reminding him about what he had said about language in front of the child. "You know the consequences travel could have on her health."

Chris frowned. "Yes, Dad. I had to do tons of research before I could even think about getting custody of her. As it turns out, there have been a few (not well-known, but a few) cases where alcohol has caused heart defects in kids."

"And you think that his drinking caused her heart defect?" His Dad asked.

Chris rolled his eyes. "I don't think. I know."

He shifted Brielle around in his arms and started to carry her through the house, his father following closely behind. He felt like every second that he had had with her since he arrived had been micromanaged by this man. Maybe it would have been better if he had stayed in the US… no, he knew that it wouldn't have. Adam could find her and then he would take her back – what would that leave Chris with?

Finally, they arrived in the room that would belong to Brielle. His father stood in the doorway as Chris set Brielle down onto her bed and tucked the brilliantly pink blanket around her. All of the time, she remained fully unconscious. And then, Chris turned to his father. He wore a disapproving look on his face, a look that Chris was extremely familiar with. It reminded him of how he would never be the son that his father had always wanted.

"How will you even care for her?" He asked.

"I'll make do." Chris mumbled under his breath.

"Chris! Think logically! You're not a kid anymore! You're thirty-seven years old! And, to make matters even worse, you still live with me!" His father screamed.

"I'll make do!" Chris shot back. He stormed over to the door and slammed it in his father's face, locking it seconds later. And then, he fell down on his hands and knees. "How will I make do?"