Kane came back to the car, nearly ripping the door from its hinges when he pulled it open with amazing force. His eyes were glowing with so many different emotions that both Paul and Shayna were having a hard time reading him.

“They won’t tell me anything.” He growled, answering the question before it was asked. He leaned his head back against the headrest as he took several deep breaths, trying to keep himself calm. He didn’t know if Taker was alive or dead and that was tearing him up inside, just as it was Shayna and Paul.

They had been able to find out the town and the name of the hotel that Taker had been when he had been shot. Paul wasted no time in turning the Lincoln in that direction. With each mile that went by, he stepped down harder on the gas, his fear and worry growing steadily..

When they finally made it to the hotel, it was close to three hours after they had first heard the news on the radio. The parking lot was swarming with police, detectives and the media. Reporters had mobbed Kane several times while he talked to the police officers, trying to find out anything on Taker. They wouldn’t even tell Kane if his friend was still alive or not.

“And those damn reporters. They don’t give a shit about anything but getting their damn story. I think there is something much more important than that.” Kane yelled, venting his frustrations as he slammed his fist into the dashboard.

Paul placed a comforting hand on Kane’s shoulder, feeling the big man’s body shaking with the force of his anger and anguish. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again when he saw a woman rapidly approaching the car. Paul didn’t think she looked like a reporter or anything so as she came closer, he rolled down his window.

“Look, I know who you all are.” She said in a rush as she looked around her like she was afraid of being caught talking to him. “I work at the hotel and I saw him get shot…three times….in the back.” Her voice quivered slightly and she had to take a deep breath before she was able to continue.

“It was a man and a woman that did it, I believe. Right after it happened, they were seen leaving out of the parking lot like they had hell chasing them. They haven’t been caught yet, but I got a good look at both of them and their car. With this information, the police will get them. Anyway, what I really wanted to tell you is that he’s been taken to University Hospital. I know you have been trying to find out. And I really hope he’s going to be okay.” She finished and then as quickly as she had appeared, she turned around and was gone.

The people at the hospital were much more understanding that the police had been and within minutes, Kane, Shayna and Paul had talked to the doctor in charge and were then taken to Taker’s room.

“You can see him for a few minutes and then if you have any further questions or need anything, you can have the nurse page me.” The doctor told them and then hurried away to finish his rounds.

Kane swayed, feeling like he had been punched hard in the stomach as he walked into the room and saw Taker for the first time. It scared him to see his friend this way. He held Shayna’s hand in a vice-like grip as they stepped to one side of the bed and Paul stood on the other side. At first all they could do was stare down at Taker, who lay on the bed completely motionless, while tears filled their eyes. The doctor had been totally honest with them and had told them that he did not think that Taker would make it through the night.

The three of them jumped slightly, startled when Taker suddenly opened his eyes. He looked around the room once his vision had focused. His gaze touched first on Kane and Shayna, and then on Paul, and then finally settled on the empty space beside Paul. He smiles softly.

“You’re still here…” He whispered weakly, seemingly to no one at all.

Kane and Paul exchanged looks of confusion and then he moved closer to Taker and bent down until he was nearly level with him. Kane was sure that it was the drugs that were making Taker disoriented, yet at the same time he still had to ask.

“Who is still here, Taker?” Kane asked softly, his hold on Shayna’s hand tightened yet again.

Taker slowly turned his head and looked Kane in the eye. “Tia is here. She has been here all along. She told me that what happened this morning wasn’t a dream at all.” He answered and then looked back to the empty space beside Paul.

Shayna stepped forward, taking Taker’s big hand in hers. “Taker, did you just say that “Tia is here? There’s no way she could be. She’s….” She stopped abruptly when she felt a gentle breeze swirl through her hair as a feeling of peace and warmth engulfed her senses. She gasped in shock and then tears fell freely down her cheeks as the sensation of Tia’s presence in the room became so strong that she was not able to deny it. Kane and Paul could not either.

Taker looked at Kane and Shayna once again. “She said that she misses and loves both of you very much.” Kane held Shayna close to him as her body trembled.

“She also said that there is a better place waiting for me and when the time is right, she and I will be together there. And that is really what I want most of all. To be with her forever…Forever in Eternity.” He finished with a weak smile as he closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.

Paul, Shayna, and Kane left a short time later and went to a nearby hotel. It wasn’t quite an hour later when Kane received the call from the hospital. After hanging up the phone, he turned to Paul and Shayna.

“Taker finally got his wish to once again be with Tia….Forever.”