Collateral Damage

by 80sDaysFan

In 1991, Days paired Shane and Kayla. This is an AU attempt to fix that plot by asking what if Shane learned Steve might be alive? Can Steve cope with Kayla "moving on"? Will Steve's return bring Shane and Kim together? And can everyone put aside their differences to save Salem - and each other - from Lawrence Alamain? With appearances from many Salem residents.

316. Chapter 316

Kim felt Shane let go.

When Shane had been shot in Stockholm and had nearly died, Kim had first felt the icy chill. And when he had been caught in that explosion on the mountain, she had felt it again. But when the ISA declared him dead during the Jericho mission, Kim had refused to believe it. She still felt him. She had said that she would have known if he was dead.

She knew it now.

Her body had gone so cold before, but now it was numb. Her insides felt hollow, as if her entire being had filled with emptiness. This feeling was so much worse than the cold.

Kim watched the door to the trauma room as an orderly pulled Kayla out of the room and her sister collapsed, sobbing, into Steve's arms.

Tears flowed down Kim's cheeks and she began to rock back and forth. How could you die? How could you leave me? How could you leave Andrew and Jeannie?

Oh, God . . . Jeannie.

Shane would never know. Kim could have told him through the door; she could have told him that Jeannie was his daughter. If he had known that, it would have given him more strength. She was sure of it.

She dropped her head into her hands. The tears kept flowing. Kim felt so empty, so alone. She looked back at her sister, who was being held and comforted by Steve.

Who's going to comfort me? Kim wondered.

It wouldn't be Shane. Kim closed her eyes as she realized she would never again see the light shine in his eyes as he smiled. She would never hear his soft accent as he read poetry or told her that he loved her. She would never feel his arms envelop her when she needed his strength.

"Kimber. . . ."

Kim opened her eyes at her brother's tentative voice. Bo was standing in front of her, his eyes downcast.

"Roman called," Bo explained. "He said Shane. . . ."

Kim could only shake her head as the tears continued to flow free. Before she could say anything, Bo pulled her from her seat and wrapped his arms around her.

"He's gone." She barely managed to choke out the words as the sobs wracked her body.

Bo gripped her tightly and whispered words that did not register. The only thing Kim heard was the echo of her own words.

"He's gone."