A/N: Angst, but when isn't it?

Shifting in bed, Clarisse frowned as she slowly became aware of being alone in bed. The warmth of Joe's body had now been replaced by the cool air of the room which she felt even though he had covered her with the blankets.

Rolling over, she snuggled into his pillow and sighed. Slowly slipping back to sleep, a movement on the bed made her smile, but the smile quickly died when her nose picked up an unfamiliar smell. Her eyes flew open and grew wide with fright as she saw a darkly clad figure, wearing a mask, leaning over her. Opening her mouth to scream out for Joe, her scream died when a white cloth was placed over her mouth.

"Come on, we gotta get outta here before he returns," another dark figure whispered loudly from the open French doors.

"Gim'me a hand."

"Oh good grief," the figure by the window grumbled quietly even as he moved to help gather Clarisse's limp body into his partner's arms.

"I didn't mean like that," grumbled the man as he grunted under the dead weight.

"Tough."

"Ah shu'up an' move."

CnJ

In all Joe's years as her protector, nothing had ever happened to her. Sure, there had been attempts, but he'd always kept her safe, even took a bullet for her. But now – now that he was her husband, the man that was supposed to protect her even more than a hired guard was supposed to – now he had failed and she was gone.

"Why the hell did I leave her alone? Damn it!" he yelled, throwing the glass of water that he'd left sitting on the night stand against the wall. Groaning and rubbing his forehead, Joe grumbled, "That was brilliant, Joseph," before moving to clean up his mess.

As he picked up the broken pieces of glass, his mind wandered back to another time of shattered glass.

"Joseph, what are you doing?" Clarisse turned to her escort with a frown.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but something just isn't right." Joe kept his eyes on the crowd, Clarisse pulled tightly against him.

Clarisse, trusting him completely, said nothing more. She knew from years of knowing him, that he had an uncanny way of sensing when things weren't as they should be. It had once frightened her, but now, it eased any fear she might have, except this time was different. The hairs on the back of her neck seemed to stand on end, and a chill went down her spine. This time, she could feel it.

Joe knew that Clarisse was afraid. He'd felt the chill that went through her, and he could feel the slight trembling that her body did as he pulled her tighter against him. Still keeping his eye on the crowd, he wondered, for the second time, why his men hadn't appeared yet.

"I'm so sorry, Joseph." Clarisse whispered. "I should have listened to you when you requested that I stay home." The last words had no more left her lips than a shot rang out. With wide, horrified eyes, she watched as Joseph turned his back to the crowd putting himself in front of her.

Joe ground his teeth together as the bullet ripped through his flesh. One word slipped from his lips as he pushed Clarisse to the ground and lay over her, protecting her from any other bullets that might follow. "Rissee." Another shot rang out, shattering a window directly behind where they had been standing just a moment before.

Clarisse stared at the man that she had loved for so many years, with fear in her eyes. He was pale, and hearing the nickname she hadn't heard in years, made her fear grow. "Joe?" she whispered, her fear causing her to lapse back to using his nickname.

"Shh, it's going to be alright," he whispered just before two of the other guards shouted out to them.

"Joe? What happened?" Shades asked as he knelt beside the man that had been his mentor and friend as well as boss for the last ten years.

"He's been shot, Steven." Clarisse whispered from her place underneath Joe.

Shades carefully rolled the now unconscious Joe to his side. "Are you alright, Your Majesty?" he asked as he helped her sit up.

"I'm fine, but Joseph isn't. We need help now."

"In this crowd, Your Majesty, it would be better if the men and I took the two of you to the hospital ourselves." Shades whispered all the while giving orders to the other security who had gathered about. "John and I will stay with you and the others will carry Joe to the car."

"Is it safe?" Clarisse was shaking as she took hold of Shade's hand, never taking her eyes off of Joe.

"Since there have been no more shots, it's assumed that the shooter has fled, but we can't be sure so we're taking you out the back. John and I will be in front and behind you with very little distance between us and you." Shades cleared his throat. "I'm sorry for the discomfort it may cause, Your Majesty, but it's the only way I know to keep you safe."

Clarisse shifted her gaze from Joe to the young man beside her. So wise for a man of only twenty nine years. "I understand, Steven," she assured him then turned her gaze back to Joe. "I only ask that we go with them."

Shades understood her request and nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty." He nodded.

"Let's move." He ordered into his headset, watching to make sure that the men did as they'd been ordered.

Clarisse had never felt so unsafe in all the years she'd been Queen, but her reason for feeling safe was now unconscious and possibly dying.

Joe shook himself out of the memories and stood to dump the broken glass into the trash. He had to find her. He couldn't lose her. "I've already lost my daughter, I won't let them have my wife too," he hissed. He would find his wife, and then he would find his daughter, and after they were both safely home, the men that were behind this would pay.