| Part II |
Over the next few months 'Taker tried on several occasions to read Alex. Kane and he traveled together sometimes, so he tried as well. Sometimes they were able to feel her approaching or sense when she was upset about something. Other times it was completely blank. If they were in a room with her, they would try and it always caused her pain. Alex followed 'Taker from city to city completely enjoying her work. Somewhere along the way she and 'Taker started to sharing a room, also Kane started traveling with 'Taker. So she spent a great deal of time around both of them. It sort of unnerved Alex when Kane looked at her. He didn�t speak, but somehow he and 'Taker were able to communicate. She knew the rest of the guys from before, but now she was able to interact more with them. 'Taker had started calling her �little girl�, which by this point didn�t bother Alex much, besides which she couldn�t get him to stop. She was sitting in their hotel room when the phone rang. �Hello?� �Damn, you�re hard to find these days.� Her sister Lydia replied. �Hey, what�s up? Is something wrong?� Alex asked. �No I just couldn�t find you through your usual number and I just spent an hour trying to track you down.� They talked about nothing in particular for a few minutes. �Um, I thought you might want to know something.� Lydia started. �Ben and Anna are having problems. They�ve separated.� Alex felt herself become rigid. �Why would I be interested in that?� �Come on, you guys were . . .well I never was sure what you were, but now�s your chance.� Alex laughed without humor, �Who says I want it?� Alex snapped sarcastically, she turned as 'Taker walked in the door. �I thought you might want to at least know.� Lydia replied. �Fine, now I know. Look, I appreciate the call but if that�s all you called to tell me, I have work to do. I�ll call you when I get back to town.� Alex replied trying not to sound angry as she hung up the phone. �Little girl?� 'Taker asked concerned, he felt anger and confusion from her. �Is something wrong?� �No.� she replied avoiding his eyes. �We should find Kane and we need to go. We�re going to be late for the show.� Alex turned to pick up her bag and laptop and headed for the door. When they got to the arena 'Taker went to his dressing room and Alex wandered around looking for one of the crew. She found who she was looking for and got some paperwork she needed. She sat down on an equipment box and was looking over the paperwork. As she sat there, she couldn�t concentrate; the phone call from Lydia bothered her. She was thinking to herself when someone came up behind her and poked her in her side. She jumped dropping papers, �Dammit Jesse!� She looked over at her friend, Road Dogg Jesse James. He grinned sheepishly, and picked up her papers for her. �What�s wrong baby girl? You looked like you were on another planet.� She grumbled at his nickname for her. �Nothing, I was just thinking about something.� She looked up to see X-Pac and Kane approaching. X-Pac and Jesse were friends for so long that they tended to travel together. Alex knew them both well from before and considered them to be more like her brothers as they tended to treat her like a little sister. Kane looked at Alex with curiosity in his eyes, since she couldn�t see the rest of his face for the mask. Alex smiled hoping it would disguise her mood. Alex talked to the guys for a few minutes, trying not to let her mood get the better of her, but it wasn�t working. She jumped off the box, �I have some stuff to do, I�ll see you guys later.� As Alex turned to leave, 'Taker walked up. �Little girl, I�ve been looking for you.� �AAARRGGGGHH! �Little girl� �baby girl�, why did my mother bother to name me!� Alex exclaimed and stomped off. She walked to the nearest empty office she could find. She sat in a folding chair, holding her head in her hands. �Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! What the hell did I just do? I�m not even mad, and I just bite their heads off.� She was holding her head when she felt a strange sensation. She grew dizzy and her vision blurred a bit. Alex grabbed the table because she thought she might pass out. When the feeling left her she had a headache. She heard a rap on the door. She looked up to see Kane. �Are you alright?� He asked, his voice barely above a smoldering grumble. Alex blinked at him at first. She didn�t realize he could speak. �I don�t usually.� he said as he walked in the door to sit beside her. �It bothers me sometimes. But when you walked away you look very upset.� Alex sighed, �I�m sorry, I didn�t mean to yell at anyone. My mind was elsewhere and I got a phone call from my sister.� �Is something wrong?� �No, no, I just didn�t particularly like the subject we were discussing. And now it would seem I�ve developed a headache.� Alex replied holding her hand to her temple. �I should find the guys and apologize. I hate being a jerk.� Kane reached out to hold her hand. �I think they can take it, they�re jerks themselves sometimes.� Kane replied. Alex smiled and squeezed his hand. She felt better around him. There was something very peaceful about his presence. Alex looked around backstage for 'Taker, he was at the curtain with Paul Wight, waiting for their cue. As Alex approached, 'Taker looked at Paul. He looked like a lovesick schoolboy; because of his size it was hard to remember he was so young. �Don�t even think about it, son.� 'Taker growled. Paul grinned sheepishly, �What?� �Don�t �what� me boy. I�ve seen the way you look at her.� As Alex got closer, Paul could not respond. Paul looked down and smiled at Alex. She didn�t want to delay them, so she just stood next to �Taker putting her hand in his and squeezed. He looked down at her, squeezed back, and kissed the top of her head. She heard their music start and watched them walk down to their fans. She turned around and walked smack into X-Pac. �Oh, first rude and now clumsy.� Alex said. X-Pac smiled at her, �You alright?� �Yeah, I didn�t mean to bite your head off, it�s . .� �No need to explain.� X-Pac interupted, waving his hand, �We all get moods. Is there something we can do?� �No, I�m fine.� He hugged her quickly and she left to go back to 'Taker�s dressing room. She saw Jesse standing outside his dressing room door. Alex walked up behind him poked him on the side. He jumped and turned around. �Hey baby g . . .sorry.� �No, I�m sorry, that was mean of me. I was in a mood and I took it out on you guys.� �Well you know the D oh double G can take the attitude adjustment now and then,� Jesse hesitated, �baby girl.� She smiled and groaned good-naturedly. She continued down the hall to 'Taker�s dressing room. It wasn�t until she was drifting off to sleep that night that she realized that Kane had read her mind. ~~*~~ A few days later IceWolf grinned as she walked into 'Taker�s room. �Okay, I�m here, what�s up? Where is she?� �She�s in Kane�s room working.� 'Taker answered as he moved across the room to hug her. �It�s been a long time.� �Yeah, work was keeping me busy. So what exactly do you want me to do?� IceWolf questioned. �Just be her friend, she doesn�t know yet, and Kane�s not ready to tell her. Maybe you�ll have better luck reading her. You know, woman thing and all.� 'Taker guessed. IceWolf rolled her eyes and headed out the door to go down to Kane�s room. She walked down the hall and knocked on the door �Come in.� came a voice. IceWolf walked in, she moved across the room looking for her. She got to the balcony and found Alex sitting on a chair looking at the skyline. �Oh, I thought you were 'Taker. Hi!� Alex held out her hand. �I�m Alex. You must be IceWolf. Jim has told me a lot about you.� �Oh, boy! I hope he didn�t bore you.� IceWolf smiled. Alex laughed, �No, �course not. He obviously cares a lot about you.� IceWolf blushed slightly. The girls sat down to talk about work and just getting to know one another. IceWolf was as unsuccessful at reading Alex as the guys had been. ~~*~~ �It�s like she knows. She has a wall around her feelings, and it�s hard to get through.� IceWolf stated. �I know what you mean now about the headaches. It hurts her to be read, like she subconsciously knows someone is trying to get in her head.� �Okay. You are going to be around?� �Yes, I�m around permanently now.� IceWolf replied. �Well, maybe as she gets to know you better, she�ll let her guard down.� 'Taker hoped. |