| Part V |
That Monday night, Paul and 'Taker dropped the tag belts to Rock and Mankind due to some �interference� from Kane. Alex noticed that when 'Taker walked down the ramp his limp was extremely prominent. She sat quietly in his dressing room for most of the night. The fans didn�t care that he didn�t get in the ring, they just loved seeing him. The next night at the tapings, 'Taker didn�t even put on his ring attire. He barely came out on the stage. Alex thought about how disappointed some of the fans must have been. Vince and 'Taker worked it so that 'Taker would be �suspended� for not participating in the evening�s matches; therefore leaving his return open-ended. As the evening wore on Alex became quieter and quieter. Kane came into 'Taker�s dressing room. Alex was going over some final paperwork; she looked up at Kane. He could see the sadness in her eyes. What Alex didn�t know was that he could also feel it. �Hey, is he around?� Kane asked. �He and Vince are cutting his �suspension� promo.� Alex said. Trying to be funny, �I�m just glad they didn�t kill him off again.� Kane�s mask lifted as he smiled. �You okay?� Kane asked. Alex shrugged, �I knew the assignment was temporary, but I am going to miss him.� The words tumbled out before she could stop herself. �It�s only temporary, he�ll be back. The fans would miss him too much.� Kane replied, sitting down next to her. �It�s just been a long time since I had a best friend, and he�s the closest thing to one right now.� �Gee, thanks.� Kane said, sounding hurt. �I�m sorry.� she smiled, and reached over to hug him. �You�re important to me too. It meant a lot that both of you were there with me the other night.� As she finished 'Taker came in and sat down. �Are you all done?� she asked. �Yeah, just finished. Vince keeps asking when I�ll be back, but I can�t answer him right now.� 'Taker replied. Everyone was silent for a few minutes. What Alex couldn�t tell was that Kane and 'Taker were talking to each other. ~She�s quite upset. �I know; I can feel it. I�m going to miss her too.� ~Do you think she should know? �I�m not sure, she�s strong, but she�s been through a lot in the past few days. It might be good to know she has �sisters� whom she can lean on.� ~Were you able to convince Vince that she should be assigned to me. �No, she�s going to Jericho.*rolls eyes* Apparently he�s as busy as Rock with his signings and whatever. It will be for a lot shorter assignment than with me. Probably only four or five months. ~You�ll be gone that long? �I don�t know yet. She knows you�re here for her, doesn�t she?� ~Yes. �Are you going to be able to handle Paul? 'Taker could feel Kane�s evil smirk. ~No problem. �Come, little girl. Walk me outside.� 'Taker said taking her hand. Kane and 'Taker stood, and shook hands, which turned into a hug. ��Til you return.� Kane said. Alex left her things in the dressing room, and walked with 'Taker to his truck. It had taken some serious convincing on her part for him not to bring his Harley. She knew he preferred it, but in his current state, it was unadvisable. In the end she simply refused to tell him where she�s stored it. Alex opened the driver�s side and got in, turned sideways to talk to him. �Do me a favor?� she asked quietly. �Of course.� he replied. �Don�t say �good-bye�. I don�t like that word, and I�ve used it too often, only for it to become real.� She asked, her voice only a whisper. 'Taker took her chin and tilted it until she was looking directly at him. Alex saw a faint glow in his emerald eyes. �I will be back.� He said slowly, trying to make her understand. �I know, it�s not that.� she smiled, shaking her head and taking his hand. �This is hard. I don�t know how to explain� She paused, �how much your friendship has meant to me these past months. It�s been a long time since someone was there for me. I�d spent too much time alone, and then you appeared. It was easy to talk to you, and being with you has meant a great deal. I don�t know how to tell you how much the other night meant to me. I lost a friendship long ago, and thought it was because I was selfish and didn�t know how to be one. You showed me that it wasn�t my fault and that I could be one again. Thank you.� 'Taker felt her heart in his, and knew what she had just revealed was very hard for her to say, and he was incredibly touched. �Little girl, you will always have me. Your friendship is just as important to me. Mind you, you�re an annoying little brat sometimes,� he said grinning at her, as she looked up and smirked at him, �but you could do nothing to make me turn from you.� Alex stood on the doorframe, that way she was only slightly taller than him, and wrapped her arms around him. Taking a cue from Kane, she whispered, ��Til you return.� When she jumped down, he kissed the top of her head, and got in. As she watched him drive away, she wasn�t surprised when she felt Kane�s hand on her shoulder. She turned and took his arm as she looked up at him. She somehow knew 'Taker had told him to look out for her. �So, it�s just you and me kid.� Kane offered as Alex smiled. �My other best good friend.� She replied, leaning against him, as Kane chuckled. Kane decided to wait a little while longer before telling her. She had been through a rough couple of days, and he wanted to wait until she felt a little more comfortable around him. He still had trouble reading her, but had noticed it was getting easier. The more comfortable she was the better. Besides as long as he was around, there was no harm in waiting. |