Part 1 of 3


She walked through the security barriers after waving her pass at some of the security crew and didn’t know where to start. She’d only been away for a few weeks, but it felt like much longer. Some folks had left, some new faces had arrived and it just felt different to her. If pressed, she wouldn’t have been able to explain why, other than maybe she was different. She had a lot of time to take stock in herself, particularly in how she had not been giving any time to herself. She knew better than that. She’d been taught years ago about maintaining balance and harmony and she’d forgotten it until she’d been so off kilter that she ran. She’d made a promise to herself to not loose sight of it again. She’d been able to so far, except those few days with John, she reminded herself. But then they were in harmony during a lot of that time, she chuckled as she remembered. She didn’t usually let herself get so carried away, but he had been damn persuasive and she had allowed herself to be persuaded.

As usual, she gravitated to the catering area to look for David. It was always a good place to start. He did like to eat, she giggled to herself. She had checked herself into her room and only had her small bag with her, full of things she might need tonight. Benoit spotted her first and grinned. She smiled back at him as he walked toward her. His smile helped ease her tension about being back.

“Carrie, you look great sweetheart,” Chris said as he wrapped his arms around her. “So good to see you back. We’ve missed you,” he said with a wink as he released her.

“Thanks,” she said and reached up and kissed his cheek.

“None of that shit now,” David said from behind her. She turned to him with a smile. Before she could say anything, he wrapped his large arms around her and pulled her tight. “Thank God you’re back,” he said to the top of her head. It was only loud enough for her to hear. She returned his fierce hug and was ready to let go, but he wasn’t.

“Does this mean we don’t have to baby sit this guy any more,” Eddie asked.

“Shit,” was all David said in response to his buddy’s tease. He loosened his hold on Lil’ Sis so she could step away if she wanted. She took a deep breath and took a step back, but not completely out of his welcoming embrace. She’d forgotten how much she missed all the guys and how much they took care of her and each other. It wasn’t that she’d really forgotten, but being wrapped up in massive arms brought the point home again.

She felt a light tap on her shoulder just before Eddie said, “Don’t I get a hug, Little Mami?” She shook her head with a grin and turned to him to oblige. “Welcome back,” Eddie said quietly. “You scared the hell out of ese,” he said cryptically. She frowned at him and met his eyes. He was serious, she saw. She kissed his cheek and smiled at him.

“Thanks,” was all she said.

“Let me take that,” David said as he reached for the bag still hanging on her shoulder. She let him have it.

“Has the schedule changed,” Lil' Sis asked David. She heard Chris chuckle beside her.

“See, what’d I tell you? She’s not here five minutes and she’s already into shit,” Eddie joked. David grinned at his buddy, he knew he was right. She couldn’t not ask. It was like asking her to not breathe.

“No, schedule’s the same. I was gonna put this in my locker, unless you need it right now,” David paused. She shook her head and returned his smile. She was starting to feel like she was fitting back into the routine, not fully, but better than when she first walked in a few minutes ago. The sounds, the smells and the rhythm of the place were familiar.

David scratched his chin as he looked over at his sister in law, taking in her slight change in appearance. He noticed the hair color change, it looked a little lighter. Her clothes weren’t hanging off of her and he was damn happy about that. He had been worried that she might have lost weight while she was wherever she was getting her shit together. He knew that Kris didn’t eat when she was stressed and had worried that Lil’ Sis might be the same, but she seemed fine. It took him a couple of moments as they walked in companionable silence to the locker room for him to finally recognize her nose piercing. That was it, he chided himself. He knew there was something different.

The only thing he said to her about it was, "What's with the new piercing? You going retro?"

"Shit? This coming from someone who has Captain Kirk side burns? Whatever," she chuckled.

Once they had some down time that day, he called Kris. She'd asked him to call once Carrie'd arrived to let her know if she was okay and to give her his impression of her, since she knew Carrie probably wouldn't.

"She seems okay to me, honey," David said as he stretched his legs out in front of him on the bench. He was in the locker room, killing time before he was expected in a meeting about tonight's show.

"Oh Dave," she sighed. "You're hopeless," she teased him. He continued to rub his chin, noting that he needed to trim his patch soon. His wife loved that tuft of whiskers and he loved to love her with them. He was distracted by that vision so he missed his wife’s words over the phone.

"What was that, Honey? I missed it," he admitted with a grin.

"I asked if she looked any different or if she'd lost weight again or anything else," Kris repeated.

"Um, she looks good honey," David said. Carrie looked the same to him, petite and pretty as always. "Oh, wait. She has her nose pierced," he said in an offhand manner. Kris yelped into the phone. David was confused by her response. "You okay, baby?" He heard Kris start to laugh quietly.

"Oh yeah, baby. More than okay. Her nose pierced, you said?" Kris chuckled. David frowned into the phone at her response.

“You want to tell me what you mean, baby,” David asked.

“No, not over the phone. But, she’s going to be okay,” Kris assured her confused husband.

“How the hell do you know that,” he said. He was still worried that she might take off again if things got hectic since he knew it was more than just Mike that caused it last time.

“I’ll tell you when you get home honey,” Kris sing songed into the phone. David frowned again. His wife had definitely lost it today. Must be the kids driving her crazy, he thought. Then he remembered Lil’ Sis’s comment about his side burns and laughed with her.

“You know she gave me shit about my side burns,” he asked Kris.

“Really? What did she say,” Kris was smiling though the phone in her relief. The fact that Carrie gave Dave any shit about his facial hair was a damn good sign to her.

“She called them Captain Kirk side burns. They’re not, are they,” David asked his suddenly giggling wife.

“That’s funny, honey. Um, well they kind of are, don’t you think?” Kris giggled at the thought of her diminutive sister teasing the hulk of a man she married. She never seemed to care about his size and it seemed she still didn’t.

“Oh hell. That wasn’t what I wanted to hear,” David said quietly. “You think I should change them,” he asked.

“No baby, you look hot honey. You know how I like your fuzz,” she teased as her voice dropped low. He swallowed before he answered.

“Baby, you’re bad. I gotta sit in a meeting in a couple of minutes and now? Now, all I can think about is you and the things you force me to do,” he chuckled. He adjusted his track pants for comfort as he listened to her low moan into the phone.

“Better call me later. We’ve got things we need to talk about,” she whispered. He swallowed again. She was so damn bad and he loved her. Even now, she could send his pulse through the roof, over the damn phone.

“Count on it, naughty girl,” he growled. She laughed and hung up.

***

“Good to see you, Min," 'Taker said as he wrapped his arms around her. He found her hanging around the pyrotechnics, sitting on crates and watching the techs get set up for the night.

"Thanks, good to see you, too," she smiled up at him as he set her back down. The two men that were working on wiring the effects for the night had paused as 'Taker had walked up. Both had been worried he was coming to see them about something. They'd been told not to mess with him or get on his bad side when they first started and neither of them had any dealings with him so far.

"I see something I haven't seen on you in a long time," he smiled down at her as he touched the tip of her nose lightly, not wanting to cause any pain if it was a very new piercing.

She shrugged, "Yeah, I got a wild hair, what can I say." Her eyes showed her amusement at his noticing her nose piercing. He hadn't said anything about her lack of when they had seen each other for the first time in years several months ago.

"You look good, sweetheart. How are you feeling," he asked quietly. The techs kept their heads down and tried to appear invisible at the intimate turn of the conversation.

She grimaced before she answered. "I'm doing better, a lot better thanks. Still some work to do, but a lot better." He nodded, he understood what she meant and he had an idea what the piercing signified. He was one of the few that guessed it represented her reconnecting with herself, her real self, not the successful corporate self she showed most people.

"Are you gonna kick my ass," he teased. One of the techs looked up in surprise at the Dead Man's words. It was unfathomable to him that anyone could kick the big man's ass.

"Do I need to," she asked in an offhand manner. He shook his head, knowing that she understood his meaning behind the tease. It was his way of seeing if she felt like herself again. Her calm response was music to his ears. He felt able to relax, knowing that she was standing in front of him, safe and acting like herself again, her old self. The self he knew from their time together. He stopped his wayward thoughts before they went any further.

"Dave's glad you're back, Min. He's been a little lost by himself," 'Taker told her. She met his eyes to verify the meaning of his words. He was the second one to tell her of David's issues of her not being on the spot to help. She'd been able to help him via phone and email, but she wondered if somehow she's made some blunders since she wasn’t right on the spot to see to things personally. He’d probably never tell her, so she thought she’d ask someone who might.

“I find that hard to believe, love. I always feel like I’m holding him back or cramping his style or something,” she said truthfully. She knew he changed his plans regarding eating establishments when she traveled with him. She had hoped that during the last few weeks he’d had his fill of strip clubs so she wouldn’t feel like she was depriving him of that entertainment. She never asked him to change, but he did, just like all of Evolution used to do when she traveled with them. ‘Taker clucked his tongue at her, something he hadn’t done in years. She lifted startled eyes to his and saw his amusement.

“Honey, you’ve traveled with him all this time and you still don’t know him? I’m surprised, Min,” he said as he took her hand in his.

Neither were cognizant of the pyro techs and the fact that they’d stopped working completely to watch and listen as the most feared man joshed and teased the tiny lady. Carrie looked away for a moment, thinking about his words. She knew what he was referring to, even if she didn’t like to admit to it. She and David made a good team; they seemed to work together very well. She’d only seen him more relaxed with his wife and kids. She was just glad that Kris and he had the strong relationship that could take her traveling with him instead of his wife. Plus she knew that David wasn’t as lone of a wolf as he like to think he was. He liked being around people, even if he was just being quiet on the sidelines, he liked being with people. She crinkled her nose at the truth of her own thoughts as they related to herself. She had done some serious introspection in the last few weeks and had finally admitted that she wasn’t as antisocial as she once thought either. Damn.

“Earth to Min? Anybody home,” ‘Taker said quietly as he squeezed her hand. He recognized that she had drifted. She used to do that when they were together too, so he didn’t take offence. She blinked her eyes and refocused on him with a slightly embarrassed smile lighting up her face.

“Sorry, I wandered a bit,” she admitted. He chuckled at her simple admission. Maybe, just maybe he’d see her start to relax during the travel week. He knew she kept herself busy, going in a million different directions at once for one specific reason, so she didn’t have time to think. Oh, she thought all the time, she was way smarter than he ever thought of being, but he was more honest with himself and was comfortable with who and what he was after all these years. Min was still trying to get comfortable in her own skin, he thought. He hoped that her time away had given her a fresh perspective and gave her back the courage and confidence in herself and her abilities to handle what ever the hell life threw at her.

“Did you eat yet,” he asked. No reason to stand and talk in front of the two techs any longer than necessary, he thought.

“Um,” she said as she thought back through her day. He shook his head at her and claimed her hand again.

“Min, if you have to think that damn hard, then the answer is probably no. Let’s go see what they have tonight,” he said as he rested her hand on his arm and walked away.

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end

Part 2 of 3


Mike hung up the phone, thinking about Dave’s strange request that he come out and join him for the California swing of the Smack Down tour. He said he needed some help and with Carrie being gone, he was stuck and could he come and help. Dave hadn’t asked for his help traveling in a long time, so he wasn’t sure how much help he’d be but he said he’d go if Dave was sure he would help and not just be in the way. Dave assured him he was needed and would be a big help to him. He told him the hotels and the airlines and told him when he needed him to be in town. He had a day and a half to get his shit together, book his flights and pack. He hoped that he wouldn’t miss her call while he was away. He cursed himself, what was he thinking? She wasn’t going to call him, she didn’t want to talk to him, not now or ever. It had been almost a month and they were the longest weeks of his life. He knew she was safe and that was most important to him, he just wished that she would talk to him, call him, something. ‘Taker had said not to push, but a month? That was bordering on abandonment from his perspective. He ached for her, he wanted to see her, talk to her and just hold her. But she hadn’t called him once, hadn’t returned any emails and he was starting to seriously think she was gone and he had just lost the best thing in his life. He had been staying at his parents’ house, because Lisa was still camped out at his house and he didn’t want to go there ever again if he could help it. He had bought clothes just so he didn’t have to go home to get more. Lucky for him, he had a several suits still at the dry cleaners so he could use them for this weekend. He tried to remember what else he needed to pack. He knew he needed to bring a book or two for the flight, plus buy whatever was available for the long ass drives or endless waiting. He knew there was more, but he couldn’t think for the moment. He’d come back to it once his reservations were made.

Dave closed his cell and smiled at his buddy. “He said yeah, he’d do it.”

“Good. I knew there was something going on there. Once you told me, it made sense. You think he’ll be pissed,” Chris asked him. They were in some nameless, faceless gym, changing back into their dress code mandated clothes.

“No way. She’ll be pissed. She might kill me for it, but I have to try,” he said with a smirk.

“You have a day to try and figure out how to do it without tipping off either one. That should be interesting,” Chris chuckled.

“Yeah, I know. I have an idea, but I’m not sure how it’s gonna work,” he smiled at his friend.

Mike's flight was on time. Dave left him a message on his cell to meet him at the arena once he’d checked in at the hotel, said there was a minor change, not to worry. Once checked in, he worried, he couldn’t help it, he always did. What if Dave needed something and he couldn’t help, what if it was something he didn’t know a damn thing about? He changed into more casual clothes gratefully, since Dave said he didn’t have to be official this evening. Once he’d set up his room, basically unpacked what little he’d need for tomorrow and ensured there was an early wake up call for him, he went to the lobby to wait for a taxi.

David was pacing beside her. It wasn’t usual for him and she wasn’t sure of the reason for it. His schedule today was relatively light, his match this evening looked straight forward, so she didn’t understand his worry. His cell phone rang and he quickly answered it, before it had a chance to get started on the obnoxious song.

“Yeah,” was all he said as he walked away to talk in private.

“He’s just leaving now,” a voice told him.

“Thank you, thank you very much,” and he disconnected. He dialed another number. “He just left now,” he said to the voice that answered.

“Okay, thanks,” a deep voice replied.

David walked back to Carrie and waited. She noticed he had stopped pacing. Was something going on at home, she wondered. Her cell buzzed and she looked at the number in confusion. He didn’t normally call her here, she thought as she walked away to answer it. She missed David smile as he heard her cell ring.

“Hi,” she said to the familiar voice.

“Can you do me a favor and come see me. I want to talk to you about something,” he said insincerely.

“Okay, right now,” she asked.

“Yeah, if that’s okay,” he said and covered the mouth piece so he didn’t give himself away.

“Um, okay, see you in a few,” she said and hung up. She walked back to David and said vaguely, “I’ll be back in a while. Shout if you need me, okay?”

He nodded with a straight face and watched her walk away. Once she was around the corner he pumped his fist in the air. Now he just had to catch Mike. He knew he should be arriving in about five minutes, the hotel wasn’t far from the venue and traffic was still pretty light. He walked towards the gates, knowing he’d see Mike’s sorry ass soon, he smirked to himself. She was either going to kill me or love me, but something had to be done, he thought to himself. They were both miserable, he knew. The hardest one to persuade was ‘Taker, he didn’t like to interfere, he said. But he gave in eventually, since neither one knew they were being set up. They could both walk away if they wanted.

Mike saw Dave waving at him from the other side of the barriers, pointing him in the direction of the will call window to pick up his pass. Once the pass was secured he walked through and grinned at his buddy.

“Hey, you look good. What’s with the suit? You said I didn’t have to wear one today,” he asked.

“You don’t, but I did earlier. Had some media stuff and it ran long, then came here …” he replied. Mike nodded in understanding, media events tended to run long, especially now for Dave. He was expected to field all kinds of questions from media and fans since he became the champion. It was all coming back to him, he remembered watching Hunter go through the same stuff.

Eddie walked up to David a few minutes later and asked him, “He get here okay?”

“Yeah, just making a stop before I tell him The Undertaker wants to see him. Watch his face when I tell him, it should be priceless,” he chuckled. He was having a hard time controlling his giggles, but knew he needed to for just a few more minutes.

“You’re mean,” Eddie laughed. David nodded and smiled. Mike walked out of the restroom and saw Eddie with David.

“Oh no. I am not playing poker tonight. My wallet hasn’t recovered from Orton. No way,” Mike said sternly, crossing his arms over his chest.

“What? No fair. Maybe we were going to teach you a new game tonight. Maybe a different kind of poker? But now you say you don’t want to learn,” Eddie teased the big man with a twinkle in his eyes.

Mike shook his head and smiled at him. He liked Eddie, he knew he was a good guy. He remembered him from David’s previous tenure on Smack Down, but knew that Eddie didn’t remember him, because David was almost invisible the first time through.

“Hey Mike, Eddie was just telling me The Undertaker was asking to see you when he heard you’d be here tonight,” David said with a straight face. Mike tried to hide his discomfort at hearing that news, but knew he wasn’t very successful.

“Oh,” he asked as he tried hard not to gulp.

“Yeah, he told me to ask you to go see him as soon as you got here,” Eddie said with a perfectly straight face.

“Oh, okay,” Mike said, thinking that sounded ominous.

“C’mon bud, I’ll show where his room is tonight and then we can go meet some folks,” David said to his worried friend. Eddie was grinning openly behind them as they turned and walked away.

Mike followed David, not knowing what ‘Taker wanted to see him about. He had done everything that the older man had advised, so he was unsure of the reasons for his request. But then, maybe he’d heard something from Carrie and wanted to talk to him about it? Maybe that was it. That’d be great, he thought. David pointed out the door and stayed back, so Mike could have privacy as he talked to him.

The door was slightly ajar, so he just pushed it in. He didn’t see anyone at first glance. He turned back to the door and pulled it to and turned around and stopped dead. Her eyes were wide and her hand was at her mouth. She didn’t say anything. He was unable to speak for several long moments. He drank in the sight of her, she looked beautiful. He looked at her from head to toe, drinking in every detail of her. He could smell her perfume and it almost made him weep, he had missed her so much. She was wearing one of his favorite business suits and her hair was pulled back from her face. He wanted to reach out and touch her. Her words stopped him in his tracks.

”Are you here to invite me to your wedding,” she asked in a venomous tone once she regained the power of speech.

“What,” he yelped. His brow knotted in a deep frown. He didn’t know what the hell she was talking about. She was impatient with him obtuseness.

“Your wedding. Last I heard, you were getting married.”

“What the hell are you talking about,” he asked her, knowing his voice was raised and he knew he needed to moderate himself. Deep breath buddy, you went to the gym today so you should be fine, he told himself. On the other side of the door, a set of eyebrows raised as the owner of them listened to the interplay between the two.

“I was told you were getting married and you didn’t need me anymore,” she snapped.

Understanding finally dawned on him. She must be referring to one of the many lies Lisa told her. He didn’t know what she had said specifically, but that one would have made her run away, certainly.

“Why would I marry that bitch now when I didn’t for all those years,” he asked her.

“What,” she asked, clearly not expecting that answer. Her eyes looked to his, unsure.

“Babe, I am not marrying her. I told you that she tried that shit years ago, but I wouldn’t go for it then. Why the hell would I go for it now,” he asked her as he took a step towards her. She looked at him, not ready to fully understand what he said. He could see the confusion on her pale face.

“Carrie, I don’t know what other lies that bitch told you, but none of them are true. I am not sleeping with her, I don’t love her and she isn’t pregnant with my baby. Does that about cover all of them for you,” he asked her with an ever widening grin.

She looked at him, her eyes got wider and she nodded. He closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around her and held her, finally. She mumbled something that he didn’t hear.

“Ssh, don’t talk. It doesn’t matter. Don’t. Just let me hold you,” he said as he kissed the top of her head. The door was pulled closed silently behind them. ‘Taker smiled and walked away to let Dave know his plan worked.

Just holding her was enough for now, he knew. He guided her to the large couch and sat down with her. He leaned over and kissed her forehead, knowing if he kissed her lips his brain would shut off and they needed to talk first. He still held her hand, and brought it gently to his lips.

“Carrie, I missed you. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Please…please don’t scare me like that again,” he said quietly.

She slowly nodded as she looked into his ice blue eyes, trying not to loose herself. She still hadn’t said anything intelligible. She was trying to get her brain back in control. She thought she had it all figured out, but seeing him walk in the door just scattered everything she thought she’d achieved in the last few weeks. She sat with his hand wrapped around hers, quietly. She just looked at him, knowing that he loved her regardless of how much she had tried to hide from it in recent weeks. A stray thought occurred to her and she giggled.

Mike looked at her and asked, “What, Babe? What’s so funny?”

“David,” she said as she shook her head. “Now I know why he’s been so off the last couple of days. He was acting very weird and today he was pacing and driving me crazy. You know I’m gonna kill him, right,” she asked him with a smile. He smiled into her green eyes and said nothing.

David was getting a cup of coffee and laughing with Benoit when he spied the couple walking towards him, holding hands. He grinned and pointed them out to Benoit. Randy was also in catering and saw Carrie with Mike walk through.

She walked up to David with a stern look and said, “You asshole. I should kick your ass,” as she wrapped her arms around his ribs. “Thank you,” she said into his chest. He grunted quietly so she knew he heard her. She pulled herself away and looked at Chris seriously.

“And you. I’m sure you were involved in this somehow. You look too guilty not to be,” she laughed at him as she hugged him also.

He returned her hug as he said, “Somebody had to do something, you weren’t going to.”

“Bastard,” she said without malice into his chest.

She pulled away from him and looked at both of them as she said, “How do you know I wasn’t happy being miserable,” she smiled. They shook their heads at her and continued to grin. Mike had stayed quiet by her side, but couldn’t stop smiling.

He piped up to David, “Yeah, what she said. And no, I am not going to play you a game of poker over it. Something more fair, something physical…” he smiled at his buddy’s surprised face.

“Is there anything you need help with this evening, David? If you’ve got everything under control, I’m going to leave and I’ll see you in the morning,” she told him.

He nodded at her as he watched Mike bring her small hand to his lips. They watched the happy couple walk away and knew they wouldn’t see them for the rest of the night.

David grabbed his cell and said to his friend, “Oh shit, I have to call Kris and tell her what I did. She’ll be mad at first but relieved that Carrie didn’t kill me,” he said honestly.

She was hoping they’d run into one person as they walked back to her rental. They didn’t, but she knew she’d see him later and would thank him for his treachery. She couldn’t believe how giddy she felt, having him just hold her hand. Once they were back at the hotel, they decided to move her things in to Mike’s room, since it was easier because she always traveled light.

She had just finished putting some water in the ice bucket when Mike said, “Carrie, we need to talk. We need to talk for days, I know. But right now talking isn’t what I want to do to you.”

His voice had dropped to almost a growl as he finished. He kicked off his shoes and pulled off his shirt as he sat on the bed, sending his message loud and clear. She arched her brow at him and felt like playing with him since she was in her suit and was still feeling incredibly giddy.

“I don’t know mister,” she said seriously as she pursed her lips and tapped them with her index finger. “I don’t know if you’re ready to be punished,” she smirked at him as she pushed him down on the bed with her foot still in her heels planted firmly on his chest. He quickly recovered from his surprise and reached up to help her out of her stockings. He loved her in her suits. She drove him wild when she wore them, and she looked hot tonight.

Later as he returned to bed with some cool water for both of them, he said, “Those were the longest weeks of my life, babe. I don’t want to go through that again.”

“I know. I’m sorry. Everything just got to me all at once,” she told him as she cracked open her bottle to drink. Both of them were quiet, lost in their own thoughts for many minutes.

“I hear you heard about some of my jail time. That’s something I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to talk about and I hope you can understand,” she told him seriously.

“Hell, Carrie. I had no idea before,” he said seriously. He finished his water and reached for her as he said, “Tell me what you’ve been doing for the last few weeks, Babe. Anything fun and exciting,” he smiled. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled the covers back up to keep her warm.

That was the opening she needed and proceeded to tell him about her recent real estate purchase in Vancouver , but kept her plan for tomorrow a secret for now.

His reaction was similar to John’s. “Real estate tycoon? No shit? You’re just full of surprises, Babe. Did you rob a bank to pay for it or what,” he asked.

He realized they had never talked about money before, only briefly argued over who would pick up the check at restaurants. She proceeded to tell him about her serendipitous meeting of geeks at school and where that led her. He sat and listened as his eyes grew wider the more she said. He had no idea, none. Once she finished her brief outline and all the ramifications sunk in, he slowly turned to her and smiled.

“Babe, do you know what I wasted my time at school for? Do you know what I’m a consultant of,” he asked her.

“Marketing, right,” she asked with a vague look. He chuckled, since it seemed he had a few surprises for her, too.

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end

Part 3 of 3

She wasn’t able to hide her surprise when she opened her eyes and saw him in a pair of sexy glasses. He saw her look and grinned at her.

“What? You don’t like the four eye look,” he joked.

“Honey, I like it, I like it a lot. I just didn’t know you wore glasses,” she said quietly as she looked at him in his glasses. She thought he looked very sexy with his unshaven face and glasses. They were small silver frames and something else, she couldn’t tell.

“Babe, it’s one of the secrets I’ve been keeping from you. I wear contacts, but I have to give my eyes a break from them occasionally,” he told her as he noted her heated look. He closed his book and sat on the bed, next to her. She reached up and rubbed her hand across his rough chin, relishing the feel of his day old growth. She raised her brow at him as she considered their plans for the day. He said he didn’t have any after they dropped David off for his signing, but she knew she had a few commitments, but that was later. He leaned down and brushed her lips with his. She licked his lips and from there, his brain ceased to care for the next hour.

She had her head resting on his shoulder as she thought about their day ahead. A funny thought popped into her head, “Can you see me,” she asked him since he had taken his glasses off just after she had separated him from his shorts again.

He smiled at her question and reached over wildly trying to find her like an exaggerated drunken blind man, “Why would you ask that, Babe,” he smiled.

“No, really,” she persisted. He twitched his lips before he answered her.

“I can see you, but not the details. You’re kind of a blur to me, but I can see you smile,” he said as he saw her flash of teeth. She was quiet as she absorbed this new detail about him. Another thought occurred to her, spawned by his earlier comment.

“What else have you been keeping from me,” she asked in a small voice.

“What? Other than I’m a mad scientists involved in some mind blowing experiments related to sexual prowess, not much,” he grinned at her. She giggled at him, he was so silly sometimes. “Didn’t you know you were my test subject, little lady. I didn’t want to mess with my experiments by telling you,” he continued.

“Tell me what your experiments say about this,” she said as she climbed on him and leaned down and kissed him deeply.

He mumbled, “Damn the experiments, this calls for full scale research.” He reached up and gripped her ass...

David watched the couple approach him in the lobby as he waited for the car. He was glad that he managed to pull it off, but he was happier that it worked and they were back together. He knew how upset his long time buddy had been for weeks. He’d traveled with Lil’ Sis all last week and saw how quiet she was. He knew something had to be done. Kris was astounded that he’d managed to pull it off. He remembered last night’s phone call with a small chuckle.

The day was going to prove interesting since he had never traveled professionally with both of them before. He had a fan signing that was going to be at least two if not three hours long. Lil’ Sis had told him she had an appointment during that time so he’d be there with just the office folks and the local reps. He wondered what her appointment was.

Mike looked at him and winked as he tried to stop his grin. Shit head, David thought as he watched him watch Lil’ Sis. He thought today might prove eye opening to Mike, since he had never seen her work with him before either. He was betting he had no clue how proficient she was.

“Any surprises I need to know about David,” she asked him as she sat down near the doors.

“No, not really. I was asked again if I could visit some kids in the hospital this afternoon,” he told her quietly.

“Oh? Okay. What time and where,” she asked him as she flipped open her portable to incorporate the requested changes. He told her the time and name of the hospital. She nodded as she tweaked a few things on their timeline for the day, seeing that the car was available all day, as requested.

“No problems that I can see, but you can only stay an hour and a half or you’ll miss your ride,” she said with a grin.

Mike had stayed quiet next to her, but had watched her rapid fingers and tried to follow her small screen. He shook his head, lifted his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. He met David’s eyes and just shook his head at her actions. He knew he’d never have been able to give his buddy an answer that quickly. David nodded at her answer and knew Mike was in for more eye openers as the day progressed.

“Anything else, David,” she asked him, in preparation for closing her portable. He looked over at his buddy and grinned before he said anything else.

“Yeah. We have a late dinner date if we want it,” he told her. She paused in the act of closing her portable and waited for him to continue.

“Okay. It must be after the show, I’m guessing,” she said as she looked to him for affirmation. She waited for him to say more but he purposely stayed mute and tried to keep a straight face. “Are you going to tell me who or do I have to guess this morning,” she said with a good natured chuckle.

Mike was watching the interaction and mood between the two and was amazed. It wasn’t a side he normally saw from his buddy except when they were alone and he never saw this side of her outside home. They were relaxed and comfortable with each other, he was pleased to see. He felt a little like an outsider, but knew they weren’t aware of it.

She flicked her gaze over to him as she said, “What do you think, Mike? Any guesses about the mystery dinner guest?”

He shook his head and stretched his hands apart, showing he had no idea. Any further comment was delayed because their car showed up. David grabbed her bags as was his normal custom and loaded them in the back while she went to speak with the driver. Mike watched them in awe. They had this shit down to a science he realized. He was definitely out of his league, but he’d enjoy the ride while he could. He put his bags in the trunk and climbed in next to David and waited for her to come back and slide in. They were facing front, giving her the other seat all to herself.

She slid in and sat down without a word. She flipped open her portable again and asked without looking up, “You grabbed some breakfast, I hope?” Mike knew she was talking to David since they had enjoyed a very naughty breakfast that morning. David noted his friend tense at her question and could guess the reasons. His buddy was so easy to read sometimes.

“Yeah, I did, but I could always eat more if there’s time, you know how I am,” he lobbed at her.

“Really,” she looked up with a smile as she took in the sight in front of her. Two large men that were gorgeous to most women she knew and most women she didn’t know, she though to herself. Who would have guessed that she would be traveling in their company? Not for the first time did she replay a funny quote from one of Kris’ favorite signers, Wynonna Judd – “Life is too short to surround yourself with ugly men.” Damn right, she though to herself. The first time she remembered that quote she was in the company of Evolution several years ago. She mentally shook herself and got back on track.

“Dinner will be early or lunch will be late, depending on what you feel like calling it because of the hospital thing, so I think a very late dinner works today, don’t you,” she asked both of them.

Mike nodded as he looked over at his buddy. If she was like this all the time, his buddy had it made, he thought. She managed shit for him so he didn’t have to waste his energy worrying and could concentrate on his main job.

David sensed his friend’s look and returned it with a smirk and a nod. Yeah he saw Mike was starting to get it, starting to see how she managed shit without blinking an eye or breaking a sweat. He didn’t know how she did it, but she had been able to do almost a good a job when she was hiding out and doing it via email and phone. Something he knew Mike or he could never do, because they had tried early on and failed miserably.

***

Mike was still turning over their earlier excursion as he started in on his next set. He saw she was doing a wide variety of ab work or as she referred to it, gut stuff. She looked great in her form fitting blue tank and low riding black running pants. He was enjoying just watching her work out. It was something he didn’t get to see very often, but knew she was at a gym most days when she traveled with Dave. He was watching her flex and stretch as he continued on his sets. He lost count a few times and had to start over. Dave had noticed his lack of rhythm and grinned at him. He was sure Dave knew the reason. Whatever, he didn’t care.

She had surprised him again today, but it wasn’t a bad surprise it was just so unexpected. He’d never seen anyone shop for a car, a Mercedes he corrected himself, by talking to the factory in Germany . He thought he understood what they were doing when they pulled up to the dealership, but the salesmen all smiled and greeted her like some VIP or something. That was weird enough, but then when they ushered her into a private room with a video conference set up, it just became too surreal for him. Just walking in to a Mercedes dealership was enough of a shock, but realizing that Carrie was actually buying one and getting it custom ordered directly from the factory? It was too much for him to swallow. He'd just stood off to the side and listened. He was sure he had a glazed look on his face the entire time.

He let his eyes wander around the gym and he spotted a few other wrestlers making use of the gym before showing up at the arena in a couple of hours. He surmised that they were the only ones that had all their meals, transportation and shit timed out and scheduled to the minute. She was amazing, he thought again. Dave had it made.

His musings were interrupted by Orton stepping up to her and watching and waiting. She was on the incline board with a weight on her chest as she did her crunches. He could see that her eyes were closed so she didn’t know Orton was so close. He set his weights down in preparation for harassing Orton when Dave’s quiet voice stopped him.

“Don’t. She can handle him. She’s been handling him for years,” Dave said with a smile to his worried frown. “Trust me on this.”

Mike stayed silent but didn’t move to intercept Orton either. He tried to pick up his weights and concentrate but he couldn’t so he just sat on the bench and waited and watched, like Orton, he later realized.

Just a few more, she knew and she’d be done with the damn things. She shouldn’t have eaten that bowl of ice cream. It was all that damn ice cream that made her have to endure this lovely torture, she thought with a grimace. As the next song on her player started, she paused. Who the fuck put this song on here? This was not one of her choices. She did not normally listen to and especially work out to hip hop. Damn it, did John mess with her player and put this song on here? She smiled as she listened to the words, “Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me, don’t cha?” Just a few more and she could stop the fucking crunches for the day. Her head was bobbing to the catchy tune and she was smiling at the lyrics, “Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was raw like me, don’t cha”. Very appropriate for some of the backstage saga she witnessed every damn day. She stayed still and flat on the board and waited for the song to finish before she opened her eyes. Even if she was pissed at John for messing with her tunes, that was a fun one she had to admit.

She opened her eyes as the last of the song faded and looked up into the blues eyes of Slim. She reached up to shut her player off and pull her ear plugs out.

“Hey,” was all she said as a greeting.

She wondered how long he had been standing there, watching. She set the weight down on the floor and sat up. Randy had wondered how long he’d have to wait before she’d open her eyes and notice him. He didn’t want to mess with her too much since Dave and Mike were both there, but he needed to talk to her. Now was the time, before they got to the arena with all the noise and distractions and shit.

He smiled at her before he said anything. He’d rehearsed what he wanted to say to her for hours but all of that left his head the moment she looked into his eyes. All his resentment and anger receded.

“Can I talk to you,’” Randy asked her.

She nodded. He looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders, she thought.

“Um, remember when you told me a long time ago…” Randy took a breath and looked away.

She stayed quiet, she had a feeling what was on his mind and wasn’t sure if he would have the guts to actually come out and ask her, but that’s what it looked like he was working himself up to.

“Remember when I asked you if…if I could take you to dinner,” he said as quietly as he could and still be heard above the music in the gym.

She nodded, she guessed his direction correctly.

“You remember what you told me? You remember your answer,” he asked her as he continued to glance at her and look away.

She nodded again, waiting for him to come out and flat out ask her about it. She wasn’t going to make it easy for him. She was going to make him say it.

“You said I wasn’t the right type. That’s what you said. So I thought cool, and didn’t think about it again.” He grimaced and looked at her as his million dollar smile slid into place, “Well, I tried not to think about it again.”

She nodded again and continued to wait.

“Then…then I see you with Dave’s buddy Mike. You lied to me, you said you didn’t like men. You could have just told me no. You didn’t have to say the other shit,” he finished with a frown.

She smiled into his frown. She took a deep breath to stop herself from laughing out loud. So this was where the rumors of her being gay came from. Oh, she was going to mess with him and yank his chain in a minute or two. She could see he hadn’t made the leap yet, but she’d make sure he did. She got up and sat on the bench and lifted off some of the other weights so he could sit down too. She pointed to the bench for him to sit and he did.

“Randy, I hate to break this to you friend but I never told you I liked women. I’m not sure where the hell that came from, but it wasn’t from me,” she said as she successfully hid her grin.

Mike saw Orton sit next to her on the bench and almost jumped up, but a head shake from Dave stopped him.

“Randy, I said you weren’t my type. Not that I don’t like men, because I most definitely do. I didn’t want to be Anne Bancroft to your Dustin Hoffman.”

She saw that he didn’t recognize the reference so she tried again, “Slim, you’re younger than my baby brother.”

“So,” he said, still not understanding her point.

He had dated and slept with many older women and none of them were worried about his youth. Some of them said they loved the fact that he had more stamina and was ready and willing when needed. She dragged her fingers through her hair, causing her clip to unsnap and fly off in who knows what direction.

“Randy, you might be fine with the age difference, but I am not. I don’t want to go back to twenty two or twenty four or whatever you are now. I’ve been there once and that was enough, thanks. It has nothing to do with you personally, it’s me and the whole age thing.”

That wasn’t true, but she thought she’d throw his ego that bone since she was going to fuck with him in a second.

“Think back to the Evolution days,” she said to his frown. He nodded.

“Okay, did I ever once give you any indication that I was sleeping with women? Particularly, any specific woman?”

She received an uncertain headshake from him. Then she saw in his eyes the memories of all the times he had paraded himself naked in the locker room thinking that she didn’t care.

She looked down at his sweats and the obvious arousal and said quietly, “Exactly, Slim. I knew what you had to offer by then buddy and it wouldn’t have been much of a surprise now, would it?”

She couldn’t help herself, she giggled at him. He blushed at first then started to laugh as he remembered how casual he was in his nakedness, whether she was in the room or not, it didn’t make a difference to him at the time.

She stood up and said with a grin, “I should kick your ass for telling everyone I was gay. But it helped me more than hurt me. I got to see all kinds of things that I wouldn’t have,” she laughed.

He shook his head as he stood up and towered over her.

“Carrie, sorry. Sorry for being such a shit head to you most the time. I didn’t mean to, it’s just that…”

She nodded, she knew what he was trying to say. She hugged his ribs and he hugged her back. She stepped away and smiled at him.

“See you later, Slim,” she asked.

“Yeah,” Randy said with his crocked smile.

She walked back to the ladies locker room to change. Mike looked over at his buddy and saw his wink. He was surprised, but glad he’d been right.

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