It hadn't been an easy decision. Oh no, not by a long shot. Besides, since where were things ever easy in Shane's life? But there he stood, outside the ring, waiting for the opportunity he had planned.....there it was. Hunter had the Big Show in a sleeper and Shane ran in with the chair. The idea was to act like he would be hitting Hunter, but have the man spin his opponent around, so he ended up dazing Show instead. It was going beautifully until Hunter didn't turn, causing Shane to smash the folding chair into his back. Shane stood in shock, until he remembered the millions of people watching his actions. He tried to act cocky, but could feel his stomach plunge into his shoes.

He sat alone, backstage the next evening. Last night, he had lost the only chance he had to finally feel free, to not live for somebody else's wishes, to be loved.

And then, there he was, not looking quite as furious as Shane had expected. In fact he was...smiling. But a cold smile, one that terrified him more than any anger could have. "I'm so-"

Hunter cut him off. "You tried. Let's focus on that for a second. You went out there and made an effort to get me my belt." His smile turned into a grin. "Would you like a reward for that?" Unwillingly, Shane nodded pathetically. "Well then let's see what we have here for people who try." They went together into the secluded DX dressing room, where Hunter lay Shane down on the couch and proceeded to undress them both.

The first time the two had been together had been painful for Shane, but nothing could compare to this agony. Hunter hadn't been gentle that night, but the rage

accompanying his thrusts now was torture. The first time, there had been lube and Shane was so blissed-out from the kissing it hadn't felt so bad. Now there was no lube, no foreplay, just Hunter tearing him apart. Even after Shane had passed out from the pain, Hunter was still pounding into his body.

Three hours later, RAW was taping. Inside the DX dressing room, no one knew what lay in the room farther back, except Hunter. It may have stayed that way to, until an enraged Edge came backstage to find the degenerates after his brother was booked in handicap match against the Acolytes, who had taken a sudden grudge towards the lightweights in the WWF. He looked everywhere in the dressing rooms, until he opened one door to find an incredibly disturbing sight- Shane, lying on bloody sheets and only half conscious. Forgetting all about Christian's plight, he ran down the hallways, screaming for help.

Shane woke up in the hospital. He could see his parents sitting in the chairs set up in the room. As his eyes half-opened, he saw his mother run over to wrap her arms around him. "Oh God, Shane, I was so scared..."

Vince cut her off. "Shane, what the hell were you doing in the DX dressing room?" Shane fought to say something, but not only was his voice not working, he couldn't think of anything to say to his rapidly angering father. "Boy, answer me! I've already lost my daughter to them, are you going too?"

He began shouting and a doctor ran into the room. "Mr. McMahon, you're upsetting other patients. If you can't quiet down, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." Vince started to protest loudly, but a group of security guards came to lead him away, Linda following after.

Shane was left all alone. Obviously, everyone knew where he had been found, and assumed the worst. Actually, they hadn't...the worst conclusions to be drawn was the truth. He was resigned to spending the rest of his hospital stay alone with what had happened until a voice in the hallway interrupted "May I come in?"

The person was out of sight and Shane couldn't place the voice out of exhaustion. Weakly, he said yes.

His visitor walked into Shane's line of sight then, and he drew a breath of shock. "I brought you some books." said X-Pac.