Kim closed the file folder in front of her and checked her watch. Her next appointment had called and rescheduled, leaving Kim with two hours to kill before her last session of the day.

It was a little late for lunch, but Kim picked up the phone to call Shane anyway. If nothing else, maybe they could just spend some time in front of the fire with Jeannie.

"Donovan residence," Kim heard as Simmons answered the phone.

"Hi. It's Kimberly," she responded. "Is Shane available?"

"I'm sorry, Madame Brady," the butler replied. "Captain Donovan and Master Black left some time ago."

Kim's heart beat a bit faster at that news. "Did they say where they were going?"

"No, ma'am."

Kim sighed. I'm sure it's just more investigative work. "Thank you, Simmons. If Shane returns, please have him call me at my office."

"Yes, ma'am. Should I tell him it's urgent?"

Only if my being worried counts as an emergency, Kim thought to herself. "No, it's not urgent. I'd just like to speak to him if possible."

"Very well, ma'am. I'll be sure to give Captain Donovan the message when he returns."

"Thank you, Simmons. I'll be home at the normal time."

"Yes, ma'am."

Kim hung up the phone. As she did, she felt that old, familiar chill come over her. Shane was in danger, or at least that was what her body was telling her. Stop it, she told herself. She was only feeling this way because she had just learned from Simmons that Shane and John were off doing something, somewhere. It's just your imagination playing tricks on you.

Trying to force the fear from her heart and mind, Kim stood and walked towards her office door. She knew Kayla was working today. Maybe if the Trauma Center was not busy, Kayla could take a break. A little chat about the new baby coming would surely take Kim's mind off of her worries.

Kim left her office and walked down the hall towards the elevators. As she walked, her mind seemed to be at war with itself. As much as she tried not to think about it, she could not ignore that Shane's trial was less than two weeks away.

Shane was insistent that if he could stop Lawrence, he would never have to face a trial at all. The thought of having the charges dropped and never facing any time apart was a dream come true for Kim. Yet, logic told her the price was too high. The risk was too great.

Stop driving yourself crazy, Kimberly. Shane had made his decision, and Kim had vowed to support him, even if she didn't agree. All she could really do know is hope he was right . . . and that he came home to her, no matter what.

Within a few minutes, Kim arrived at the Trauma Center. She was a familiar figure here as she was frequently called in for counseling consultations. She nodded to the receptionist and walked to the nurses' station where she could see Kayla standing, making notes in a chart.

"Hey, Kay," Kim said as she approached.

Kayla started a bit, then looked up and offered what Kim could tell was a forced smile. "Hi, Kimmie. What brings you by?"

"I had a little time to kill this afternoon and I thought maybe you could get away for a short break." Kim looked closely at her sister, then continued in a softer tone, "And maybe you could tell me what's clearly bothering you."

Kayla lowered her eyes. "I'm fine. Just engrossed in my paperwork."

Kim rolled her eyes. "That might work with a lot of people, little sister, but it doesn't work for me." She stepped closer. "This has something to do with Lawrence, doesn't it?"

Kayla sighed and put the chart she was working on back in the rack. Nodding towards the staff lounge, she began walking that way as Kim followed.

When they were inside the empty lounge, Kayla poured herself a glass of orange juice while Kim chose ice water. Kayla then sat at the table and Kim joined her.

"Don't think I didn't notice that you didn't answer my question," Kim finally said. "So tell me what's going on."

Kayla stared at her orange juice and spoke softly. "Jack ran into Steve and me when we were coming back from lunch. He said that Shane had called him and told him to find Steve and tell him that Shane and John were waiting for him." She took a shaky breath. "Steve obviously knew what that meant and took off. He said Shane and John needed him."

Kim felt the chill flow through her again. This time she knew it wasn't just her imagination. Shane was in danger. And so were John and Steve, apparently.

Silently, Kim reached over, took Kayla's hand, and gave it a gentle squeeze. She forced a small smile to her face and a hopeful tone to her voice. "I know you're scared, and so am I. But Shane, Steve, and John have been in a lot of scrapes together. They'll take care of each other."

Kayla nodded. "That's what I keep telling myself."

They sat together in silence for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. Then Kayla looked and her watch and stood. "I better get back. I need to check on a patient soon."

Kim nodded and stood as well. Together, the sisters walked out of the staff lounge and back towards the nurses' station.

As they reached the desk, a noise from the front doors caused Kim to turn in that direction. As she did, she saw Steve walking through the doors, half-carrying, half-dragging another man.

"I need help here," he yelled.

Immediately, Kayla ran towards the door. Kim followed and as she got closer, she could see that it was John who was being assisted by Steve. Kim watched the Trauma Center entrance, silently begging for Shane to follow Steve and John inside.

Kayla raced to Steve and John. She helped support John until an orderly and stretcher arrived.

Even as she kept one eye on the door, Kim did not miss the looks exchanged between Steve and Kayla. It appeared that Steve was unharmed and his quick smile conveyed that to Kayla.

Where are you, Shane? Kim's mind screamed as she continued to watch the commotion surrounding John. The orderly arrived with the stretcher. Steve and Kayla lowered John onto it, as Marcus came running up to them.

"What happened?" Marcus began examining John.

"He took a bullet to the shoulder," Steve replied. "I put some pressure on it for as long as I could, but I had to drive. He's lost a lot of blood."

Marcus nodded and moved Steve out of the way. The orderly pushed the stretcher towards one of the trauma rooms, while Marcus barked orders. Kayla moved with them, quickly and professionally applying pressure to John's wounds.

Kim offered a silent prayer for John and then turned to Steve. He was staring at the door to the room where they had taken John.

"Steve?" She walked slowly towards him. He turned and caught her eyes, then quickly lowered his.

"Where's Shane?" she asked, her voice cracking. She knew Steve did not want to tell her the truth. When he did not immediately answer, she demanded a response. "Tell me, dammit," Kim said. "Where is Shane?"

Steve reached out and put his arm around Kim's shoulder. "I don't know," he said hesitantly.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Kim's fear was beginning to be replaced by anger. She pulled away from Steve and faced him. "Just tell me the truth, Steven."

Steve sighed and adjusted his patch. "Shane was already gone when I got there. I saw these guys taking John away and followed them. They were going to kill John and dump his body in the river. I managed to stop them, but John took a bullet in the process." He took a shaky breath. "All John said was that 'Lawrence took him.'"

Kim's heart sank and she nearly collapsed. Steve reached out and grabbed her, pulling her to him. Kim leaned into Steve and tried not to lose it completely.

"I've got you," Steve said as he embraced Kim. His voice took on a determined tone as he continued, "I promise you we're going to find Shane. I'm not going to stop until I find him."

Kim nodded and closed her eyes, trying to hold onto Steve's words. Please be okay, Shane. I can't lose you again. I just can't.