Cornette drives up to the house.
"I expect you to get him out without any complications, you understand?" Cornette says sternly. Donovan just nods in response. "Good, now go." Donovan exits the car slowly approaching the house. He reaches the porch and rings the doorbell. After a few minutes, Cole opens the door.
"Oh, hey," Cole says.
"I don't know if you know who I am or not…" Donovan says nervously.
"Of course I do! You work with Dalton," Cole says.
"Yeah, look, my car broke down just over there," Donovan says pointing to the right. "Was wondering if maybe you can help me out?"
"Right, well, I'm kind of busy right now," Cole says.
"I'm supposed to be meeting my brothers," Donovan says. Cole sighs but nods.
"Let me just get my coat," Cole says. Donovan looks over his shoulder to see that he is just out of the eyesight of his father. He looks inside, noticing the alarm system on the wall on the left. He wasn't sure what kind of system it was, so he steps into the house looking at the screen. 'Silent alarm', he shakily touches the button, sighing in relief when the alarm didn't sound. He could hear footsteps coming towards him. "It is chilly out there tonight isn't it?"
"Very," Donovan answers. He slowly leads him towards their car, Cornette stepping out. Cole stops in his tracks, looking back at his house.
"I wouldn't if I were you," Cornette says, cocking the gun he had pulled out of his pants.
"I'm sorry," Donovan mutters, pushing Cole toward the car. Cole is pushed into the backseat, Donovan climbing in the passenger seat.
"The next one is mine," Cornette says. "I expect you to behave."
"Why…why are you doing this?" Cole asks.
"Russo wants you," Cornette says.
"Vince…Vince Russo?" Cole asks confused. Why would Russo want him? They drive for what seem like forever, when finally they come to a stop.
"Stay here, if I see any sort of escape attempt I will not hesitate to discipline you," Cornette says. He exits the car walking towards a tree, hiding behind it. Donovan looks out the window at him, he bites his lip pulling out his phone.
"Hey, man, what are you doing?" Cole asks.
"Someone has to know what's going on," Donovan says.
"Didn't you hear what he just said?!" Cole shouts. Donovan sighs turning around to look at him.
"At this point, I don't care," Donovan says. He looks down at his phone contemplating who to call. He decides not to call any of his brothers, that would be too hard for Donovan to handle. So he decides on the only next person he trusts. He brings the phone up to his ear as it starts to ring.
"Hey, Hausen!" Ethan Page says.
"Ethan, listen to me," Donovan says. "Cornette is currently trying to kidnap Cole and another guy. I need you to know that…that I didn't want to do this. You know how he is. You know…"
"Whoa, whoa, what?! Where are you?! Are you safe?!" Ethan shouts.
"I…I can't tell you where I am," Donovan says.
"Yes, you can! You can fucking tell me…it isn't too late here," Ethan says. Donovan can hear the other Impact stars starting to crowd around Ethan. "Donovan, you know he isn't going to let you go after this. Please, run or do something!"
"I can't do that! He has Cole, I am not leaving him alone with him!" Donovan shouts. Cole puts his hand on Donovan's shoulder. Donovan looks out the window to see Cornette staring right at him "Fuck! I…I got to go. Just…tell my brothers I'm sorry. I'll be okay, I'll survive, I promise."
"No! Donovan! Don't hang up!" Ethan says. "I love you, no matter what happens…I'll be here."
"I love you too," Donovan says. "I really have to go. Bye." Donovan hangs up the phone resting his head up against the headrest. He knew exactly what was awaiting him when he got to wherever they were headed but just hearing his voice was enough. Enough for Donovan to keep fighting. A few more minutes pass by, a young man walks by the car, Donovan instantly recognizing him as MJF. What was he doing out here alone? Before the two can warn him, Cornette tackles him to the ground.
It looks as if Max is putting up a fight until the gun is pulled out and pointed straight at Max's head. He pulls Max up pushing him towards the car, he pushes Max into the backseat shutting the door angrily. Once Cornette enters the car, he puts his hand on the back of Donovan's head forcing him forward into the dashboard hard. Donovan winces.
"Who'd you call, huh?" Cornette asks. When Donovan doesn't answer, Cornette squeezes the back of his neck. "Who did you call? Was it your dear old Dad?"
"Ethan!" Donovan shouts finally being let up. "I called Ethan."
"Page? Out of everyone you picked him?" Cornette asks. "You really are stupid."
"I think you underestimate Ethan, Jim," Donovan says. Cornette chuckles.
"I fucking hope they have some good places to put you," Cornette says. "You are lucky I'm not sticking you in the trunk right now."
"Why'd you even agree to this anyway?" Cole asks trying to get Cornette's attention off of his son. "I thought you despised Russo."
"I do, but…thought it might be fun to experiment," Cornette says. "Might as well get comfortable, we have a long drive ahead of us. Get in the back with them, Donovan." Donovan just nods exiting the car getting into the back.
"Shit, your head," Max says. Donovan puts his hand on his forehead feeling the blood. Max pulls a handkerchief out of his pocket handing it to Donovan. "My name's Max. You can call me Maxwell if you want."
"Donovan Danhausen Laurinaitis-Cornette," Donovan says. "I go by both Donovan and Danhausen so…"
"Adam Cole," Cole says. "Put pressure on it."
"You feeling dizzy at all?" Max asks. Donovan shakes his head. Max gasps as his phone starts to vibrate underneath him.
"Give it here," Cornette says. "Donovan, yours too." Donovan pulls out his phone handing it to him, Max is much more reluctant. Why was Darby calling him? Or Jericho? "PHONE, NOW!" Max jumps instantly handing the phone to Cornette. Cornette rolls down his window and throws the phones out the window. "Cole, you bring your phone?"
"No, sir, didn't have time," Cole says.
"You better not be lying," Cornette says. Donovan looks over at Max who is visibly shaking.
"Hey, it's okay," Donovan says. "You are okay. Try and take some deep breathes, focus on something else." Max nods looking out the window, counting the signs as they drive by.
"Thanks," Max says starting to relax.
They made small talk until each and every one of them falls asleep. Donovan is the first to wake, being pulled out of the car thrown onto the ground.
"Go inside, sit on the couch and stay there," Cornette says. Donovan stands up slowly approaching the cabin. He tries as hard as he can to keep calm. He opens the door leaving the door open for Cornette. He sits on the couch.
"What…who the hell are you?" DeMott asks. Silas grins widely slowly approaching the man.
"I see your Dad got you to help, huh?" Silas asks. Donovan looks up.
"Silas?" Donovan asks. "What the hell are you doing with them?!"
"I'm going to have so much fun now," Silas says patting Donovan on the head. Donovan instinctively jerks his head away.
"Where do you want me to put these ones?" Cornette asks.
"Come on," DeMott says. "We'll put Cole with Gargano. And I guess…Max with Sammy."
"Kyle? Roderick?" Cole asks.
"You'll see them at dinner," DeMott says.
"You have any place that's confined?" Cornette asks.
"Confined?" DeMott asks. "I guess, we'll have to search around. There's a chest in Brandon and Janela's room."
"How big?" Cornette asks.
"It stretches across the whole width of the bed," DeMott says. "Why?"
"My idiotic son decided to call his boyfriend to warn him about what we were up to," Cornette says.
"Right, yeah, I can ask if we can use it," DeMott says. "You do this regularly?"
"Yes, after I've found out just how much it scared them," Cornette says. "Alan was 2 and Donovan was 10."
"Two?!" Cole shouts. "You really are fucked up!"
"Adam, with all due respect, shut up," Max says. He climbs the stairs, DeMott taking the key off the wall. He unlocks and opens the door to Sammy's room.
"In you go," DeMott says. Max nervously approaches the door, being shoved inside. He can hear the shower running. He walks over to the closet, a few shirts and pants at the bottom but absolutely no hangers. It was a rather plain room, the walls were a light blue shade, a simple lounge chair in the corner. There was only one bed, was he going to have to share with Sammy? He hears the shower turn off and instantly turns around to give the man some privacy. Sammy exits the bathroom, his body runs cold, he recognizes him immediately.
"Maxwell?" Sammy asks his voice shaky.
"Yeah, it's me," Max says. "How'd you know?"
"The scarf kind of gave it away," Sammy says making his way over to the closet. "I see you've already snooped around?"
"No hangers," Max says. "Um…listen, I can sleep on the floor if you aren't comfortable sleeping in the same bed."
"And face you not get any sleep, no, we…we are better off sharing the bed," Sammy says. "I'm fine, I'll live."
"Okay, if you are sure," Max says. "Just tell me when I can turn around, okay?"
"Sure," Sammy says slipping on the sweatpants. He turns his attention toward the door when he hears the yelling. "Shit, Brandon!"
"I thought I told you to take care of him!" Hayes shouts.
"I…I'm trying, sir," Brandon says. "But I'm not trained to…I don't know what I'm doing! He has…wounds all over and the burns."
"If I have Aleister help can you handle it?" Hayes asks.
"And Kyle?" Brandon asks.
"Okay, fine, patch him up as best you can, if you need anything, you know where to find it, don't ask, just do it!" Hayes says.
"Yes, sir," Brandon says.
"I'll bring them to his room," Hayes says.
Max looks at the door then back at Sammy.
"What was that all about?" Max asks. "Who has…who was hurt?"
"Ryder," Sammy says. "It's not good. Hayes gave Gage a time limit but he didn't listen and…when they found him, he's lucky he isn't dead."
"Fuck," Max says.
"You know why they wanted you?" Sammy asks.
"Didn't ask," Max says.
Aleister and Kyle both reach Ryder's room, they weren't exactly sure of what to expect. When they do walk into the room, they both start to access him.
"Brandon, do you know if he has a fever? Has he regained conciousness at all?" Aleister asks. "You have a flashlight, a small one?" Brandon hands him the small flashlight.
"I don't know about any fever," Brandon says. "I'm just trying to stop the bleeding."
"Okay, let me see the bag," Kyle says. He looks through it, they came prepared, the contents of this bag were similiar to a EMT's bag. He pulls out two tourniquets. "Okay, this will have to do."
"The one on his thighs aren't as bad as the ones on his arms, I know that," Brandon says. "Um…he regained conciousness once, asked for…um…Dolphin?"
"His boyfriend, Dolph Ziggler," Aleister says. "The burns on his chest aren't severe, maybe just first degree, it is the cuts we are most worried about. Are there anywhere else?"
"No, just his chest, stomach, thighs and arms were cut," Brandon says.
"I mean, we could do it just about the elbow or up by his shoulder," Kyle says.
"Just above the elbow, the ones above seem to have stopped bleeding," Aleister says.
"At least I did something right," Brandon says.
"Hey, you are doing your best," Kyle says. "Hand me the thermometor, Brandon, can you take his blood pressure? Just push this button."
"Where at?" Brandon asks.
"You can put it on one of his legs," Aleister says. "They came prepared."
"You aren't kidding," Kyle says. Both Aleister and Kyle start to put the tourniquets on Zack's arms.
"I…I don't know how to fucking read this thing…" Brandon says.
"It's a tad bit low but I'm sure that'll change now that we got the tourniquets on his arms," Kyle says.
"I don't think it is wise to have him in here alone," Aleister says.
"I'm staying with him," Brandon says. "I was ordered to by…well everyone. But that means Janela is in there alone."
"Do you ever worry about yourself?" Aleister asks looking at the younger man. Brandon just looks over at him, chuckling nervously. "I can tell you always put people before yourself. That is not good in this type of situation."
"Well…" Brandon starts to say getting cut off by Aleister.
"You can't protect everyone," Aleister says. "Not by yourself. That puts…it's dangerous. Focus on yourself." Brandon just stares at him for a while before completely losing it and breaking down. "And…that, keeping things in. Alright, just…let it out." Aleister says laying a hand on Brandon's shoulder. They didn't know each other well enough for him to do anything else. Brandon finally calms down, completely exhausted. "Can I carry you into the bed?" Aleister asks. Brandon just nods. Aleister puts his arm around Brandon's waist hoisting him up. Brandon takes a few short steps before his knees give out. Aleister picking him up bridal style putting Brandon on the bed. The door opens and in walks Martini.
"I heard," Martini says.
"He was that loud?" Kyle asks.
"No, I was keeping guard over the door," Martini says. "I suppose we can let him rest and serve him dinner later. Come on, Kyle, it is your turn for dinner. I imagine you'll want to see your lover now that he has arrived."
"Adam?" Kyle asks standing up. Martini just nods closing and locking the door.
"He's already downstairs," Martini says. Roderick quickly comes over to Kyle. They both decend down the stairs to find Cole sitting at the table. Kyle gasps rushing over to him, Roderick looks over at Cornette then back at Cole.
"Roderick Strong Whitmer Corino McGuinness!" Kyle shouts. "Get over here now." Roderick drops his gaze to approach the two men.
"I could kill him," Roderick whispers.
"It doesn't matter, I'm here now," Cole says pulling the two into an embrace. "I was so worried, but Bobby didn't want me to…"
"He was protecting you," Kyle says. "That's what he does best. He is the oldest after all."
"Are you okay?" Cole asks.
"We are fine," Roderick says kissing Cole on the forehead. For just how long are they going to be okay was the question.