Trigger Warning: for child abuse, and using a confined space as punishment. This is directly after Dalton moves out. Danhausen (aka Donovan) is 10 and Angels is right on the cusp of 3, this is set in early January 2000. Bryce lives with Ace full-time, he just turned 17 in this chapter.

Danhausen is sitting on the floor with Alan, his two year old brother. Alan looks up at him.

"You wik WCW better or WWF?" Alan asks.

"I don't know, I think right now, WCW," Danhausen says.

"Because of Papa?" Alan asks Danhausen, handing him a Sting action figure.

"I think he's doing a good job as head booker," Danhausen says. "A lot better than Russo."

"Dada, no like Russo," Alan says.

"You are right, he doesn't," Danhausen says. "Which is your favorite? Is it still ECW? I know Dad isn't there anymore but you still like it right?"

"It okay," Alan says.

"I forgot! Jericho is in the WWF," Danhausen says. "He's still your favorite, isn't he?"

"Mm-hmm, when I be a wrestler I work with him," Alan says proudly.

"I…I don't know if he'll be wrestling when you get old enough," Danhausen says. He chuckles seeing Alan line up all his Jericho action figures and one very old ECW action figure of their Dad, Shane Douglas. Even though Shane wasn't technically Danhausen's Dad, he still treated him as a son. Danhausen looks up to see Cornette walk into the room. Alan is too preoccupied with his toys to notice.

"Boys, put away your toys, it's lunch time," Cornette says. Danhausen looks at the young toddler who is still oblivious to their father's presence. Danhausen gulps when Cornette starts to approach them, he grabs one of Alan's Jericho action figures. Alan shakes his head trying to pry it out of Danhausen's hands. "Hey! What did I say?!" Cornette shouts, grabbing the toy out of both of the boys hands. Alan did not like that and started to throw the other action figures.

"No! Alan," Danhausen says, as the toddler starts to scream and cry. "Hey, it's okay! We…we can play after we are done. Please stop crying." Alan just continues to scream now kicking his legs against the floor. Cornette grabs onto Alan's arm pulling him to his feet. "Hey! No! Let him go! He didn't hear you!"

"Shut up! Go to your room," Cornette says, pulling a still crying Alan away. Danhausen stands there for a few seconds before running to his room. He shuts and locks the door, pulling out the cell phone his father had given him in an emergency. He shakily dials, deciding it was much safer in the closet in case he got caught. He closes the door, waiting for his father to answer.

"Donovan?" Ace answers on the fourth ring. "You alright, bud?"

"No," Danhausen says crying. "Dad, he…he dragged Alan away. I don't know what he's going to do. I think he is still angry from…from the fight." Danhausen gasps when he hears the knocks on his bedroom door.

"Donovan, open this fucking door!" Cornette shouts.

"Alright, bud, I'm…I'm on my way," Ace says. "I'm getting Shane on the other line, just sit tight."

"I'm scared," Danhausen says. Danhausen shrieks as he hears his bedroom door being kicked open.

"Donovan?!" Ace shouts through the phone. "That son of a bitch, if he touches…" Danhausen sits up dropping the phone when he hears a chair being brought over towards the door. He reaches up, opening the door only slightly, it shuts in his face knocking him back. He goes to open the door but can't. He pushes with all his might, the door still not budging.

"Let me out!" Danhausen shouts. He whimpers looking around the closet, it was pitch black the only light coming from under the door. He pounds on the door, sobbing uncontrollably now. "LET ME OUT!" Danhausen moves to the farthest corner of the closet until he sees the screen of his phone light up. He picks it up, answering it.

"Oh, thank God," Ace says. "The line disconnected, Shane's on his way, I am too. Where are you? Are you okay?"

"No, Dad, he locked me in the closet," Danhausen says. "I can't get out! He…he has a chair up against it! I want out!"

"HE DID WHAT?!" Ace screams. "Okay, I'm on my way, I'm going as fast as I can. Can you see anything? Do you know if he is still there?"

"I…I don't know," Danhausen says. "It is really dark in the closet, there's no light in here. I…I can try to look under the door."

"No, no, it's alright," Ace says. "How much power is on your phone?" Danhausen pulls the phone away from his ear.

"20," Danhausen says.

"You can use your phone as a light," Ace says. "Do you know where your brother is?"

"No, I…I came up here to call you right away," Danhausen says. "I knew you were close because you said your flight back to Connecticut wasn't until two days from now. Is…is Dalton with you?"

"That was very smart. No, Dalton is not with me, he's saying goodbye to his friends," Ace says. "You know what set him off?"

"Alan didn't hear him when he told him to put his toys away, then I tried to for him," Danhausen says. "Alan didn't understand and tried to pull the toy out of my hands. Then when Dad pulled the toy out of both our hands, Alan had a tantrum."

Alan is currently locked in the basement, he had tried to turn the light on, but was unable to reach the lights. He slipped on the step and fell down a few steps, 5 at the most. He reaches around unable to see where anything was at. But he knew that his Daddy kept a flashlight down here. He reaches out in front of him, shrieking when he knocks something off the chair he had just touched. He curls up on his side, wrapping his arms around himself. It was really cold down here. And he just wanted his Daddy. He wasn't even sure what angered his father in the first place. He doesn't hear the front door slam open and shut, doesn't hear the shouts.

"Where the fuck is he?!" Shane asks.

"You looking for the tattletail or the other one?" Cornette asks nonchalantly.

"Where the fuck is our son?!" Shane asks again. Cornette just points to the basement door. "Alan! ALAN?!" Shane yells opening the door, he could hear the sobs immediately. He turns on the light rushing down the stairs. Alan looks up at him.

"Daddy!" Alan shouts.

"Oh, my angel boy," Shane says, scooping him up into his arms. Cornette looks over at the door, immediately punched in the jaw by Ace. Cornette flinches but Ace just rushes past him up the stairs. He walks into Danhausen's room, the door completely destroyed, a chair under the closet door handle.

"Oh, God, Donovan?!" Ace shouts, pulling the chair away from the closet door. When he opens the door he sees Danhausen in the corner holding his cell phone in his shaky hands. "Donovan?" Danhausen looks up at him crawling over to him.

"Papa," Danhausen says, sobbing into Ace's chest.

"You aren't staying here another night," Ace says. "Pack a bag."

"But…but Alan…" Danhausen says.

"I promise, this isn't the last time you will see him, but you are coming with me tonight," Ace says. "Maybe even back to Connecticut. I know I can't keep you away forever." Danhausen nods standing up. He looked back at the closet, his suitcase was in there, but he didn't want to enter that closet ever again. Ace must have picked up on this so he reaches into the closet pulling the suitcase out. "Pack up, I'll be up in a few to come get you, do not come down no matter what you hear."

"Yes, Papa," Danhausen says. Ace exits the room heading down the stairs. When he does he sees Shane getting comforted by Cornette. Shit, he was too late, Cornette had already gained Shane's forgiveness. He knew that there was nothing that he could do, not until Shane saw for himself. All he could do was keep his son safe.

"I'm taking Donovan with me back to Connecticut, you can have him two weekends from now, but he's not staying more than two days at a time," Ace says.

"Fine," Cornette says.

"Where's our Angel? I would like to say goodbye," Ace asks.

"In…in our room," Shane answers. Ace nods, walking over to the master bedroom.

"Hey, Angel," Ace says slowly approaching the bed. Alan looks up at him. Ace wishes, he wishes he could take Alan with him too but he had no say, he was not his biological father.

"Hi, Papa," Alan says.

"Alright, look, I'm taking your brothers with me to Connecticut," Ace says.

"Can't…can't I come with you?" Alan asks.

"I'm sorry, Angel, but you can't," Ace says. "But you know what?"

"What?" Alan asks.

"I bet you can come stay maybe for a full week, we got the Royal Rumble coming up," Ace says. "You can see your brother Bryce again. You can meet all the people I work with."

"Jericho?!" Alan shouts.

"Well, of course!" Ace says. "Now, give your Papa a hug." Alan climbs off the bed hugging him tightly. "I love you, Angel, never forget that."

"I wuv you too, Papa," Alan says. Ace pulls away, wiping his tears. "Papa, no cry!"

"I know, I'm sorry," Ace says. "Want to say goodbye to your brother?"

"Yes, pwease," Alan says. Ace gently picks Alan up.

"I'll go get him," Shane says. He walks up the steps, walking into Danhausen's room. Danhausen looks over at him. "Hey."

"You…you don't have to say anything," Danhausen says.

"You know I love you right?" Shane asks. Danhausen nods. "We'll get this door fixed for when you come back."

"Thanks," Danhausen says. "I'm…I'm sorry I couldn't protect him."

"Hey, no, buddy, you did," Shane says. "You did protect him. Don't think that you didn't, okay?"

"Yeah," Danhausen says. "Look, I want him to have this. Just…just in case, and…well, I'd like to keep in touch." Danhausen says handing Shane the cell phone.

"Alright, you sure?" Shane asks.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Danhausen says. Shane just nods, putting it into his pocket.

"Come on," Shane says. He picks up Danhausen's suitcase. Danhausen reaches the bottom of the stairs, Alan running up to him hugging his legs.

"Hey, I'll see you in a few weeks," Danhausen says. "It'll fly by!"

"I wuv you," Alan says.

"I love you too, Alan," Danhausen says.

"I'll call you tomorrow," Ace says, hugging Shane. Deep down he still loved him, how could he not? He once loved Cornette but that was long gone now, had been for a few years. Danhausen waves to Alan as he walks out the door. He hated leaving his brother there, but it wasn't forever and he vowed to always protect him. That's what big brothers did.