| Part XII |
Kane and 'Taker sat in their dressing room together. The girls had scattered around the arena for various reasons. �Where�s Alex?� 'Taker asked. ~Have you seen her today? Kane asked. Kane watched as 'Taker�s face became a mask when he shook his head. ~At all? Kane continued. �She�s avoiding me.� 'Taker muttered. Kane angled his head in confusion; knew how close 'Taker and Alex were. This was beginning to get out of hand. ~Is she blocking you? Kane asked. 'Taker could only nod. ~ Have you tried talking to her at all? Kane asked. 'Taker shook his head as he rose from his chair and began pacing the room. He turned to Kane starting to speak, then paused for a moment when Steve, Chris, Jeff and Jesse entered the room. �Hey.� Jesse greeted. �We were just wondering if either of you had seen Alex?� he asked. �I thought she was with you!� 'Taker yelled. Jesse shook his head, �We had breakfast then she went back to her room. I thought she came down here with you guys.� The men watched as Kane shook his head. 'Taker growled and moved toward the door. Just before he reached it Alex and Matt walked in. Alex jumped back before she slammed flat into 'Taker. �Where have you been?� 'Taker demanded. Alex felt his concern and his temper. However despite the concern she felt, Alex's attitude answered first, �Ex-cuse me?� she asked. 'Taker saw the spark in her eyes, but was unable to rein in his temper and continued headlong. �Nobody knew where you were. You usually ride to the arena with one of us. You should have told one of us where you were.� Taker growled. �I don�t clear my schedule with you!� Alex snapped. She moved around him to the table and dropped her things roughly. �We ran into each other in the lobby.� Matt explained. �We went to the . . . .� �You don�t have to explain where we�ve been to HIM!� Alex yelled. 'Taker turned to her. The men in the room watched tensely as the giant and small woman glared at each other. ~Alex. 'Taker began. ~ I was . . . That�s as far as he got before Alex broke the connection. The obvious pain traveled across her face. Alex shook her head quickly, pushing the throbbing headache to one side. The pain and hurt she felt from 'Taker to the other. Alex felt the mass of emotions from all the men in the room. Jesse stepped forward laying his hand on Alex's shoulder. Alex jerked away from him and stepped back when she saw the shock and hurt on his face. Alex raked her fingers through her hair. �I have to talk to Travel. I�ll be back later.� She mumbled as she quickly walked out the door. There was a collective release of breath as Alex left the room. �What did she say?� Jesse asked. 'Taker didn�t speak for moment, trying to grasp what had just taken place. �'Taker?� Jesse called. ~That�s not the first time is it? Kane asked. 'Taker turned to him slowly, ~No. he answered. �What did she say?� Jesse asked. When 'Taker looked at him confused. �I thought you guys were talking to each other.� Jesse explained. 'Taker shook his head. �I thought you guys were linked that way?� Chris asked. �WE ARE!� 'Taker snapped, then closed his eyes reining in his temper slightly. The entire situation was beginning to take a heavy toll on him. �I tried.� 'Taker continued calmly now. �But the ladies also have the ability to block us when they choose.� �She looked like she was in pain.� Jeff mentioned. 'Taker nodded, �When Alex does it, it hurts her.� Turning to Kane, �Only lately it�s more painful.� 'Taker began to pace the room again. �Alex has been blocking me almost constantly. I�ve had to stop communicating telepathically because I can see the pain on her face. She�s been avoiding me, so I can�t talk to her physically.� Steve chuckled despite the tension in the room. �Yeah we can see how you �talking� to her goes.� �When did you two get so chummy?� Jesse snapped nastily, turning to Matt. �We just . . .� Matt began, then became a bit nervous when he realized he had 'Taker�s undivided attention and Kane took a step toward him. �We�ve just been hanging out. We ran into each other in the lobby, she was by herself. So we went to the mall for a while.� Matt explained. �Has she said anything about what�s wrong?� Chris asked. �I haven�t asked her.� Matt stated plainly. �Why the HELL NOT?!� Taker growled. �You seem to be the only person she�s talking to right now!� �The one time I tried, she freaked out. Then she didn�t talk to me for two days.� Matt explained. �Now we talk about everything but. Even then her moods are so erratic. One minute she�ll be talkative and then she�ll be moody and not say anything.� Kane nodded putting a calming arm on 'Taker. ~Easy brother. She hasn�t retreated completely. She hasn�t shut everyone one out. 'Taker grunted taking little comfort in Kane�s words. Trying not to be with angry with Matt or even Alex at this point. He had always been the one Alex turned to. Now to be shut out; to be so completely blocked from her was making him insane. To say nothing of what it was doing to Kane. Kane�s connection to his �brides� wasn�t just by communication. For Kane it was physical; he felt all his brides in his heart and in his soul. To be blocked by one of them was painful for him. He had always respected their privacy and their relationships. However he had also always been able to have some sense of what they were feeling or where they were. Alex's powers were far stronger than they first imagined. Kane was having difficulty holding on to the connection he still had with Alex. And even that was growing weaker by the day. �There�s something else.� Matt said hesitantly, in the silence that had overcome the room. �Alex got sick at lunch.� Matt stated. �We were just sitting there, she jumped up and ran to the ladies room.� Matt continued. �What�s strange about that?� Jesse asked. �She got sick again when we got back to her room.� Matt explained. �What were you doing in her room?� Chris snapped. �We went back to pick up her bag.� Matt answered. �RIP said she walked in on her yesterday and she was throwing up.� Jeff added. 'Taker raked his fingers through his hair, as the ladies entered the room. All of them immediately sensed the nerves and tension. �What�s going on?� Ice asked. ~Has Alex talked to any of you today? Kane asked them. One by one they shook their heads. Kane sighed heavily. He was at a total loss. Everyday Alex drew further and further away. He could see through the mask that she tried to put on everyday. He attempted everyday to talk to Alex about what was wrong. However when he pushed too much he could see and feel Alex's pain at blocking him. Kane walked over to stand near Matt. �You are the only one she�s talking to right now.� He began slowly. Matt nodded, always taken back when Kane spoke out loud. �Just watch out for her.� Kane asked. When Matt nodded again, Kane turned and sat down heavily in the chair near the corner. Steve quietly explained to the ladies what had transpired in their absence. 'Taker sat down next to Kane. ~Don�t worry brother. We�ll figure this out. 'Taker stated placing his hand on Kane�s shoulder. Then tried to find comfort in his own words. |