"There's something about this I don't like." muttered Kane, staring out the window. "Something just ain't right."

"What's wrong Kane?" Molly asked as she braided Raven's hair. He shrugged, not taking his eyes off the long driveway that lead from the gates to the front door and the grounds around it. "Just a feeling."

"I've got it too." agreed Raven. Taker nodded in agreement. "Me too."

"Do you want to leave?" asked Jeff from the doorway. "Because you can if you want to."

He looked around the room, where everyone was gathered. "Nobody has to be here if they don't feel completely safe. I won't hold it against anyone if they want to leave. We'll catch up with you at Mother KayT’s in three days as per the usual plan. Be careful, stay safe and don't put Mother KayT in any excessive danger."

Lita and Matt exchanged a look and jumped to their feet as Jeff stalked out of the room. Chris Jericho also stood up. "Should we go after him?"

"I'll take care of it." Matt said over his shoulder as he followed his younger brother out of the room. Kane looked at Lita apologetically. "I didn't mean to upset him."

"You didn't. Jeff's just feeling extremely tense right now." Lita settled back into her seat. Bradshaw frowned. "But... we haven't had to do anything for three days. Just kick back and relax."

"That's the problem." Rocky spoke for the first time since they'd arrived at Buchannon's Playground. He was a far cry from the Rock they'd all known and loved or hated. The intensity was still there, but instead of running his mouth off about anything and everything, he only spoke when he had something to say and even then, only when it was something that he deemed important enough to get the attention of the others. One thing hadn't changed though. When the Rock spoke, people listened.

"Jeff's been running at full speed for so long now. He's been getting us organized, dealing with spies, organizing attacks, keeping our useless asses safe. He can't relax any more." Rocky looked around the room. "Let's face it – Skittles is a damned good leader. He was the first to go into hiding and since then, every time someone went on the run from those bastards, they went straight to Jeff. Anyone of us could've attempted to take over leadership and I doubt we would've been challenged. But we left it up to him. Why did we do that? Because he's the best godamned person for the job. And we all know it."

There was a long silence, which Farooq broke. "You're right, as usual. The kid wouldn't have brought us here if he wasn't 100% certain we were safe."

"Can I tell him you said that?" Lita stood up. "I think Jeff's in a little need of ego stroking right now."

"I'm fine." Jeff stood in the doorway. "I just needed to blow off a little steam." He looked at the Rock. "Thank you. I heard what you said and it means a lot to me. I know I may not seem like much of a leader, but I just try to do what I think is the right thing as best I can."

Tajiri said something in his native language and everyone looked at Raven, the only one there who could speak fluent Japanese for a translation. "He said that when all this is over, he will be proud and honoured to say that he fought with you."

"Thank you Tajiri." Jeff bowed. "I am honoured that you speak so highly of me and I am unworthy of your compliments."

The Japanese Buzzsaw glared at Jeff, then turned to Raven and spoke quickly, gesturing emphatically. Raven snorted and turned to Jeff. "I quote 'Bullshit.' He also wants to know when DX are meant to be showing up."

"Oh crap." Half the room spoke in unison. Kane shrugged. "They'll be fine. Didn't someone say they were planning to stop by Mother Lil’s and see if she had any letters for them?"

"Yeah." Edge spoke up. "When Christian and I went to Mother KayT’s to round up some food, she said that the Outlaws had been by and were planning to meet us here after collecting the letters from Mother Lil."

Mother Lil and Mother KayT were both members of the Mother's Club. Mother KayT supplied them with fresh food, basic supplies and a lot of loving attention. Mother Lilly was the 'mailman' for the NCC and the others. When family and friends wanted to write to their loved ones in hiding, they simply sent the letters to Mother Lilly. Whenever they could, someone would drop by and collect their mail. It was also rumored that Mother Lilly had an extensive weapons collection, but there was no evidence of it.

It had been six weeks since anyone had been able to collect the mail and to those who were expecting letters from loved ones, it felt like six years. Which was why the majority of those present were feeling on edge. Chris Jericho looked around the room in disgust. He had no problem with any of those present, in fact he had an astonishing amount of respect for them. He was disgusted at what they'd been reduced to. By the fact that these people, once so strong and different, were now fighting for the simple right to exist as the same people they once were.

He looked around the room at the others. Kane was still standing at the window, watching the front. Molly and Raven were sitting at the window seat, Molly braiding Raven's hair into little braids and looking out over the gardens on the west side of the building while Raven and Tajiri talked. Shane and Test were playing with a Rubix Cube. Farooq, Bradshaw and Jackie were talking, Jackie curled up on Bradshaw's lap, in a rare display of public affection. Rocky was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall and thinking. Albert, Rikishi and Scottie 2 Hottie were playing word games on a piece of paper and Matt, Lita and Jeff were sitting in a group talking quietly.

"Fuck!" Everyone in the room froze and looked at Molly Holly in amazement, with the exception of Raven, who fell off his seat in shock. There was a moment of silence, then slowly a grin crossed Jackie's face as Farooq said "I coulda made a fortune with the odds on that ever happening."

"Damn Raven! Where'd Molly learn a word like that? I'm beginning to think you're a bad influence on our sweet little Molly." Jackie shouted laughing. Raven got to his feet. "Hell, I've taught her a lot of things, but that word wasn't one of them!"

Taker slipped over to where Molly was still staring out the window. "What's wrong?"

"I saw someone out there." She replied quietly, sounding a little confused and afraid. She looked up at the Undertaker who frowned. "It wouldn't be DX, unless they've completely forgotten the plan. So who else could it be?"

"Austin? Dudleys?" suggested Molly optimistically. Taker shook his head. "Sorry kiddo. Skittles! Git over here! Molly saw someone."

For the second time in as many minutes the room fell silent. Edge glared at her. "Are you kidding? Because I swear if this is your idea of a joke -"

"You saw someone?" Jeff held up his hand for Edge to be quiet. Molly nodded. "Male. Came around those trees and into the gardener's shed. I wasn't imagining it."

"Molly, if you say you saw someone, then as far as I'm concerned, you saw someone." He reassured her. "Right everyone listen up. Kane, Taker, Bradshaw, Farooq. Get your weapons and we'll go check things out. If it's one man we can take him, if it's a group it may be a different matter."

The Brothers of Destruction and Acolytes left quickly, Farooq signaling to Jeff that he would get his weapons. Matt looked at his little brother. "What do we do?"

"I want the rest of you to get ready to run for it. Get down to the underground exit and be ready to go. Wait 10 minutes, if you don't see us, if you don't hear from us, then go. Don't come looking for us and don't wait for us." He looked at Matt and Lita. "Don't wait. That's an order."

"Heard you the first time Skittles." Lita hugged him tightly. "See you soon."

~~~

The five men moved quickly towards the shed. If anyone had been watching them, it would have been easy to see that they'd done this many times before. They circled the shed and took up their positions.

~~~

"Yeah, but -"

"Shhh!" One of the men placed a hand over one of the others mouths. "Did you hear that?"

The other five shook their heads. The first speaker looked at the door to the shed. "Someone's out there."

~~~

Lita ran around the room, gathering up the few possessions she'd left laying around. Matt was in Jeff's room, doing the same thing. They met in the hall at the same time and after checking that everyone had already gone ahead of them, clasped hands and ran for the stairs.

~~~

Taker, Kane, Bradshaw, Farooq and Jeff stood outside the door of the shed. There was the sound of muffled voices inside. Bradshaw strained to listen, but he couldn't make out was being said or who was speaking. The five of them looked at each other. 30 seconds .

~~~

The six people inside the shed gathered up their weapons and packs. They looked at each other, and silently put their hands in, breaking on a whispered count of three. Guns at the ready, they approached the door. They paused, switching off and getting ready to act on instinct.

~~~

"It's been six minutes." Shane looked at Matt & Lita. Lita nodded. "Three minutes to go."

"I'm not leaving him here." stated Matt. Lita ran a hand through her hair. "I didn't think you would. four minutes... then we're going after him."

"He said not to." Test reminded them. Matt shrugged. "He didn't mean it."

"Well he did, but he knows we'll ignore him. The rest of you bail, but I'm not leaving him." Lita remarked, checking her watch. "Three and a half minutes."

~~~

The two groups moved at the same time. Those inside kicked the door open, just as Taker raised his foot to do the same from the outside. As a result, the first person to run out of the shed ran directly into the Undertaker's raised boot, knocking himself out. As he hit the ground, the next two came out and tripped over the first ones prone body, going down with a shout of "Shiznit!"

"Jesse?" The five NCC members looked at the pile of bodies in a combination of surprise, annoyance, relief and anger. They looked up at Hunter, Chyna and Shawn who were sheepishly lowering their guns. Jeff sighed. "I've gotta get back."

"Where's he going in such a hurry?" asked Shawn. Farooq glared at the Outlaws as they got to their feet. . "We're on evacuation plans. If he's not back in three minutes to let everyone know that he's okay, then there'll be a mass exodus outta here."

"Well if nothing's happening, why don't we just go up to the building?" suggested Chyna. Taker looked at X-Pac. "What about him?"

"Leave him here." suggested Bradshaw & Jesse in unison. Billy looked at them. "You know, that's not such a bad idea."

"We're not leaving him here." Hunter said sternly. "Kane, could you carry him up to the barracks?"

Without waiting for an answer, the others turned and started walking off. Kane looked down at the unconscious body of his former friend and delivered a swift kick into his ribs before carelessly scooping him up and tossing X-Pac over his shoulder before heading back.