After a few more rounds of pool we eventually moved to the Xbox. In the middle of the game we were interrupted when Mary blocked the TV.

“Mary what the hell?” Shane said annoyed. I was actually kicking his ass this time and damn proud of it.

“You!” she growled at me as she pointed a finger at me. I just looked at it then her and finally just raised an eyebrow at her.

“Me?” I said bored.

“You’re brother just took off!” That got my attention.

“He stranded me here!” I growled as I started to let the fury build.

“no, the ass left in the middle of our conversation. He went to the front of the building and then grabbed a hold of a ladder that came out of nowhere! It was too cliché to be real!” I relaxed and stared at red faced Mary.

“Relax. He was waiting for an important call from the office. Apparently they are working on a merger and that was probably his second, our friend and old comrade, Giles, picking him up with the company Helicopter. I spoke with Giles the other day about the deal. It’s supposed to be some big significant merger, but I could care less.”

“Wait what?”

“Giles flew the helicopter to pick him up for the meeting he probably had to go to. Don’t be surprised. He has left in more cliché ways before. Just ask Alison.”

“This Giles guy is a pilot and also Jason’s second in control of the company?” Mary said as her anger looked to be disappearing.

“Yep. He was the top pilot of our unit. Even flew the helicopter that brought in the recon team for-“ I stopped abruptly as images unexpectedly ran through my mind. Jason, Jake, Lucas and Brown were all working on getting me into the helicopter. Giles shouting for us to hurry since we were getting shot at. Hawthorn wasn’t there, but my brothers started to press on everything that was hurting with bandages while Brown shot out the open door.

I started to rub my side and leg as the images disappeared and I saw Mary standing in front of me concerned and when I glanced at Shane he looked worried and curious.

“Never mind.” I mumbled before I ushered for Mary to move from in front of the TV. She did so and soon I through my thoughts into the game and the fake reality of what was endured. Shane stayed silent during the game. Even letting me snipe him and I relished in the anger management.

“You okay?” Shane whispered when we finished the round.

“Truth or lie.” I whispered back without making eye contact.

“Truth would be helpful since you spaced out for almost a good five minutes.” I felt him turn towards me and so I turned my head and stared into the bright green depths that were full of concern.

“Giles was the pilot that brought my brothers and Brown to the place where I was and successfully got me back to our base.”

“Truth while evading details.”

I turned away. “Yep.” I stood up and stretched and was joined when Shane stood and placed a hand on my shoulder. He turned me towards him. “No details.” I whispered to his observant gaze.

“You will have to reveal them at some point so that you can heal.” He said gently while he frowned at my rueful smile.

“The wounds are healed but the scars will never leave.” I humorlessly chuckled as I walked out of the room. I had run out of control and ability to hold things back about what happened. I could feel Shane prodding me.

Walking down the hall a little further I found a small gym and proceeded to wrap my hands before I worked with the sandbag. I felt rather than saw Shane enter the room and stand back a little so that I could have some time.

When he didn’t leave after ten minutes, and I had worked up a good sweat I turned and glared at him.

“Stop.” I said sternly. He just raised an eyebrow at me.

“Why is it so bad to talk to someone about the details?” he said gently.

I opened my mouth, only to snap it shut. I sat on the ground and played with the wrap on my wrists as I thought. Why was it so hard?

“No one has asked. They saw what I looked like, and it said enough.” I said softly. I rubbed my side again as the pain started to increase. “Talking about it makes the pain more real.”

“That’s a start.” Shane sighed as he walked towards me. When he looked at me I didn’t see any pity. Only a man that was willing to help me no longer be in pain. He crouched down to face level with me.

“I can’t tell you everything at once.” I said just above a whisper as I stared into his eyes that seemed to hypnotize me. Shane gave me one of his small smiles before he leaned in and brought our faces a couple of inches apart.

“I know. I’m a good listener. Tell me when you are ready.” Shane closed the gap and connected our lips. What had me surprised though was watching his eyes darken in hunger again since neither of us had closed our eyes. When he pulled back he didn’t say anything but got up and then helped me up before the alarm went off and he ran out of the room. Not before he sent me a breathtaking smile back at me first of course.

In a daze I left the firehouse with Molly. After tucking her in bed I lay down in the guest bed across from her room and just stared at the ceiling. My hand numbly came up my body and covered my mouth before gentle fingers traced them. They were still tingling a little. Shane’s lips were soft and it didn’t seem weird. Sitting up I realized why I never had a girlfriend again since Juliann.

“Shit!” I said as I flopped back down on bed. “I like him… A lot.”

Eventually I fell into a peaceful sleep and dreamed once again of the past and the few glimpses of Shane I got in high school. Though it ended in the locker room again; it made me lay in bed a little longer as I thought about it when I woke. He had a strong sense of control, and I wondered if it could be broken.

The weekend and the following week passed by smoothly and I was starting to really look forward to the days that I would pick Molly up and take her to Alison. There were even days that Alison wasn’t working, but I still went to the firehouse. Shane didn’t intimately touch me again, and I was wondering why and then wondering why I wanted him to kiss me again. It was such a weird theory, but I couldn’t deny it. I liked Shane a lot and I knew he could help me talk about the pain, but getting through Shane’s self control also seemed to push me to spend most days there.

The day before thanksgiving Shane and I were having a good time, joking around about the absurd calls that he has gotten. We were walking up the steps to the meeting area when we caught the tail end of the conversation.

“I know you’re hiding something.” Marcus said in a stern voice.

“She is planning on watching her brothers whoop you threes’ butts in the game they used to play as kids.” Shane said as we passed them. I chuckled at the growl Alison sent towards him.

“Traitor!” She yelled before she went to a normal voice. Her word froze my step and I felt Shane tense beside me. “And I thought you would be happy I invited you!” I looked at Alison before I looked at Shane and saw his eyes darken as he glared at Alison.

He was invited and didn’t plan on telling me. I didn’t ask him to attend because I thought he had his own family to go to. Why would Alison invite him if he had family? Why didn't he tell me he was invited?

“Ali?” I growled at her. It wasn’t her place to ask him.

“what I thought it would be nice to have one of the guys that you actually don’t intimidate be there. Don’t blame me if he didn’t tell you, I was going to have you invite him, but I thought a surprise was better. Sorry that Shane never told you-“ Her rambling was cut off when a roar interrupted her. I stood there in shock.

“ALISON!” Shane roared as he stormed to Alison, and pinned her against the table she was leaning against. “Enough” he whispered. I watched as Alison blanched, and felt myself grow angry at him scaring my sister. Before I could pull Shane back someone I least expected stepped between the two.

“Back off.” Marcus whispered harshly to Shane. Shane didn’t look back at me when he turned to disappear. Turning I left for the garage door and let it slam behind me while I marched out to my motorcycle. Revving the engine I peeled out of the parking lot and sped towards home. Weaving through traffic and ignoring their horns of protest. I made it home in twenty minutes instead of thirty. Running to the woods in my backyard I found my ax in a stump and yanked it out. I then started swinging wildly at a downed tree. Not doing anything but letting my anger out in a way that no one would get hurt.

The incident kept playing in my head. But one question remained firm. Why didn’t he tell me he was invited? It meant that he didn’t have family to spend it with. Pausing on a pull back swing I thought of my computer and what I could do to answer my own questions. Computer. No! I snarled at it. I would not snoop like that!

Sighing I walked back to the house and put the ax away before I headed inside and put my anger at Shane aside for the time being. Alison on the other hand still had my anger; she didn’t have the right to say anything. It was Shane’s choice and obviously he had his reasons for not telling me he had been invited.

Thanksgiving Day came quickly and I put on my best jeans that weren’t torn and then a black tank top underneath my blue polo. With sneakers on I was ready for my mother’s approval and for the game that would happen at one point during the day.

On my bike I made it to Alison’s house before the others so I waited for my brothers to arrive before I walked up to her door with them. Molly let us in and after her hugs a squeaking step gave Alison away. I felt my brothers and myself freeze when we saw Alison. She was once again in a dress. Strapless, white, with a black belt completed her outfit. She looked like her old self with the smile she was wearing. I snapped my jaw shut when mom walked down the hallway and promptly gave us hugs and kisses.

“Oh I’ve missed you boys!” she said between hugs.

“Mom, I think hell is going to freeze over” Jake said while he still stared at Alison.

“Watch you language and why would you say that?” she said as she planted her hands on her hips with Alison standing beside her.

“That is the second time I’ve seen my sister in a dress in a month.” Jake teased with a smile.

“Watch it.” Alison growled. I stared daggers at her with my pent up anger.

“Ohhh… Feisty” Jason Laughed as he walked down the hall.

“All of you leave your sister alone. I for one think it’s nice that she is dressed up.” Mom said as she let an arm wrap around Alison’s waist.

“Yea, she is also avoiding playing in the game.” Lucas chuckled as he headed down the hall as well. Alison finally looked at me and I saw her wince from my glare. Her eyes turned to sorrow before she whispered to me.

“I’m sorry” she whispered. I softened my eyes when I saw her guilt. I gave her a curt nod before I shouldered past Lucas who had paused to listen. I went to Molly at the island and sat on the stool beside her as I watched her color in Ariel the mermaid. I grabbed a crayon and helped her color in some of the fish.