Ash stalked him, his pupils dilated and his fangs elongated. "You've been a pain in the ass from day one. You're a fucking jinx. No one, and I mean no one in this department, in the whole of the fucking THIRDS attracts trouble the way you do. You've been fucking kidnapped more times than I can fucking count. You have no professionalism, act like a fucking child, and think we're your personal playthings."
"That's not true," Dex said with a groan, pushing himself to his feet only to get a boot slammed onto his back, propelling him down against the mat. The part about him attracting trouble hit a little close to home, but Dex wasn't going to let it get to him. Dex never went out searching for trouble, or at least he didn't think so. He just did what he felt he had to. What was he supposed to do, just stand back and do nothing? Let someone else take care of it? Leave his family's safety to chance, rely on strangers to come through for him and those he cared about?
"Ash, stop!" Cael made to move forward, and Ash threw a hand out.
"Stay out of this, Cael. Your brother has a lot to fucking answer for."
Dex sucked in a sharp breath and tried to calm himself. He could feel his muscles contracting. His canines were out, his claws itching to extend. Ash needed to get it out of his system, and Dex would give him what he wanted, for his and Sloane's sake.
"You think you can just show up and take over? That you can tell us to jump and we'll say how high, because you're Dexter Fucking J. Daley? Fuck you, Dex! We were fine before you showed up with your fucking gummy bears and shit eighties music."
Dex laughed. "Come on, Ash. No one's going to think any less of you if you admit that you love me and you're afraid to lose me."
That did it.
Ash let out a fierce growl. He grabbed Dex by his shirt and hauled him to his feet before delivering a series of left and right hooks followed by jabs. Dex did his best to block them, but a couple of hits landed where intended. The only reason Dex wasn't out was due to his mutation. He wouldn't have stood a chance otherwise. Ash wasn't holding back. Dex hooked his right arm around Ash's when he threw another punch, pulled at the back of Ash's knee with his foot, and used his knee to sharply strike Ash's thigh muscle, giving him a dead leg. Ash growled as he fell onto his good leg, but he held on to Dex.
"It won't change anything," Dex promised. "We'll still be a family."
"Fuck you!" Ash pushed himself onto his good leg.
"I swear on my life, Ash, I'll protect him with everything I have."
"Shut the fuck up!" Ash delivered a blow Dex hadn't expected--a backhanded slap across the face. Ash stood stunned, his wide eyes on Dex and his now split lip. "I...." Ash swallowed hard and tried to back up, forgetting his dead leg. He fell on his ass and didn't move. Dex was stunned by the unshed tears in Ash's eyes. "I'm sorry," Ash said, wiping his eyes before any tears could fall. Ash's jaw was set, and he didn't look at Cael when Cael kneeled down beside him.
"It's okay," Dex murmured. "We've done a lot worse to each other." He was going to be sore for some time.
Ash shook his head. "That was different. I was my father."
"Oh, Ash, no." Cael took hold of Ash's face, gently turning his head so he could look at him. "Don't compare yourself to him. It was an accident."
"Don't make excuses for me, Cael." Ash pushed himself to his feet, refusing help from Cael. He faced Dex, and Dex could feel the remorse rolling off him in waves. "I knew what I was doing. I was pissed, and I took it out on you. And I'm not talking about fighting you."
"I know," Dex replied gently.
"Why did you let me do it?"
Dex winced as he stepped up to Ash. He held on to his side. "Because I meant what I said. We're family. And nothing's going to change that."
Ash frowned and averted his gaze. Dex could see he was trying his best to remain stoic. Without a word, Dex brought him in for a hug. Ash grunted, but he wrapped an arm around Dex. He lowered his head, his voice quiet when he spoke.
"I can't lose him."
"You won't. Look after them for me." Dex knew he didn't have to specify who. For all of Ash's faults, he'd take good care of Cael and Tony.
With a sniff, Ash pulled back, giving Dex a shove away from him. Dex laughed. He stood back as Sloane stepped up to Ash, waiting for whatever Ash needed to say. Ash pulled Cael close and leaned into him. Cael's soft smile was a relief. The last thing Dex wanted to do was cause his little brother any trouble.
Ash met Sloane's gaze. "Just tell me why, and I'll let it go."
"So another asshole like Moros doesn't come along and shoot someone I love in the chest. And there will be another Moros. Even without him threatening us like he did, there's always someone else. You know that as much as I do."
"What about the team? Who's going to lead us?"
Sloane's gaze never wavered. Slowly it dawned on Ash, and his eyes widened. He shook his head.
"No."
"Come on, Ash. No one else can lead Destructive Delta."