**Axel''s POV**


    Convincing Josie to get in the shower hadn''t been nearly as difficult as I expected.


    I think she needed the break away from everyone to gather her own thoughts.


    I wish I could port her home, so she can shower in a ce she feels more


    I should send her into the female showers and wait for her outside, but there''s no way I''m leaving her alone. Grabbing up two of the military-issue clothes packages in our sizes and two wash kits that include towels, I push open the door to the men''s changing room.


    "Hurry it up in here. I need the room," I call out.


    "Axe, I can shower in thedies'' room," Josie says from behind me. Her voice is so soft and she sounds tired.


    "I''m not leaving you," I shake my head, turning to face her


    Her sad eyes search mine and I can see she is close to tears again. I hate seeing her like this. She is so strong and the bravest woman I know, but yet again she is being tested by the fates. It''s cruel that we are given back one person we love, only to have another taken from us an hourter. Haven''t we already been through enough? Hasn''t Josie proved herself enough?


    "Let me check the women''s, there''s probably no one even in there," she nods, epting I''m not backing down on staying with her.


    I follow her to the female changing room and stand back as she enters.


    "Is anyone in here?" She calls out.


    "Just me, but I''m almost done," a female voice calls back.


    Momentster a woman I recognise as one of the techs that had been helping us


    at the mansion walks out.


    "It''s all yours," she smiles sympathetically.


    "Thank you," Josie breathes.


    "I''m so sorry about your bond. I''m going to grab some coffee and get straight to searching for any sign of him," she says.


    "We appreciate that, thank you," I respond, because I can tell Josie is unable to speak right now without losing herposure.


    Josie nods and can''t hold back the small sniffle as she pushes open the door to thedies'' changing room. I follow her in and flick the lock on the door so no one cane in and catch me naked in here.


    I ce our clean clothes on a bench and then guide Josie towards the showers. I hang up our towels and put the wash kits inside the stall before turning the shower on so it has a chance to warm up before I pull off my own filthy clothes.


    Josie stands with her arms crossed protectively over her chest and she stares off into space, lost in her thoughts.


    "I know it feels like the world ising down around you, but no matter what happens, I promise you I''m going to get you through this,” I say to her as I gently move her arms, so I can pull off her top hoody.


    "Do you think he left willingly?" She asks, her voice cracking with emotion.


    +25 BOARS


    "No," I shake my head. "There''s no way. He loves you just as much as the rest of us. I know I could never leave you and the kids, no matter what, and that''s how I know with 100% certainty that he was taken."


    "I needed to hear that, thank you. I hate that the others doubt him, it kills me to know we are not as solid as I thought," she admits.


    "We are solid. The others just let that journal get to them. Think it''s easier for them to think he left of his own free will than ept the scary truth that he was taken from us. They''d rather think he is well than in trouble, and they also don''t want to admit that someone with our strength was able to be taken without any of us noticing, because to ept that is to admit we failed," I say.


    "That makes sense," she nods, "But it doesn''t help.”


    Josie is quiet whilst I help her into the shower. I scrub the dirt from her skin and her hair until the water runs clear, and then I wash myself as quickly as possible before wrapping us both in towels.


    I find ab in the washpacks and begin working the knots from Josie''s hair whilst she closes her eyes, desperately trying to connect with Luke. I don''t speak, letting her concentrate and lending her some of my strength in an attempt to strengthen the connection.


    Out of seemingly nowhere, I feel a flicker through the bond. A brief, but sure spark


    of confusion from Luke. Josie''s eyes snap open with a gasp.


    "He''s alive, did you feel it?" She asks, her face a mask of relief.


    "I felt it," I nod.


    "Am I imagining things, or did I just feel Luke?" Theo asks into the mind link.


    "I felt it too," Deacon confirms.


    "I need you all toe to me now. I think if we all do it together we can get


    through to him," Josie says.


    "Where are you?" D asks.


    "Women''s changing room," I say.


    "Kinky, I''m on my way," Theo responds.


    "I''ll be there in a moment," Deacon says.


    "Coming," Mason grumbles.


    Josie and I dress quickly into the camouge print uniforms and I decide now is not a good time to let her know how good she looks in the uniform. I unlock the door for the others and Deacon arrives a few momentster.


    "I''m going to take a quick shower while we wait for Theo and Mace," he says. Less than five minutester Theo and Mason walk in and Mace looks pissed.