| Part XVI |
The next morning Alex awoke early feeling rested, which put her in an all around good mood. However she was a little displaced without her emphatic abilities. She was putting her stuff together when Kane walked in. Alex beamed at him and practically skipped across the room to hug him tightly �Morning.� She said brightly. Kane looked down at her and with his hands framed her face, �It�s good to see you smile.� He mentioned. At his statement, Alex was reminded of all she had put him through over the past few months. Alex vaguely remembered that while she ignored 'Taker telepathically, she had avoided Kane physically. Rarely would she let herself be in a room with him, or she shrugged away from his touch. When she was near him it always made her remember her �failure�. �What is it?� Kane asked at the look on her face. �I�m sorry.� She whispered. �These past few months have been so weird, and I treated you and 'Taker so badly.� She apologized. �I�m sorry for not trusting you. For not coming to you.� �We�ll always be here. You just have to remember that.� Kane reminded her. When a knock came; she looked at him curiously. �The guys are meeting here; we�re all going to go work out together. Alex bit her bottom lip nervously; �What is it?� Kane asked. �Yesterday . . .the way I treated everyone. I hate how I get when I lose my temper.� She explained. �I won�t let them in if you don�t want. Just tell 'Taker to meet us downstairs.� Kane offered. Alex didn�t hesitate, �No.� shaking her head. �It�s better if I do this now.� Another hearty knock at the door let them know the guys were still waiting. Alex sat on the bed and started to twirl the ends of her hair as Kane went to answer the door. Without her empathic abilities, she had to rely on the physical to know who was entering. She watched as Steve, Jim, Hunter, Jeff, Matt, Jesse, X-Pac, and Jericho entered the room, everyone talking amongst themselves, they didn�t see Alex at first. Her memory was still a little fuzzy but was almost certain they had all been in the room at the time of her outburst and collapse. As they entered the center of the room Alex had to smile when X-Pac stopped abruptly and caused a chain reaction human train wreck. �Oh boy!� Alex exclaimed. �I must have been really horrible last night.� They all stood there and stared from Alex to Kane. Jesse finally stepped forward, sitting down next to her on the bed and he took her hand, �Alex . . .� �Sshhh.� she asked shaking her head, �Let me do this.� Alex turned and looked around the room, seeing a bit of trepidation and uncertainly on their faces, she smiled. �Relax.� Alex stated, smiling brightly. �I�m really bad at this so bear with me.� she asked of them. �I was beyond awful yesterday.� She began, looking around the room. �The only explanation I can give is I haven�t been myself for some time now. But it�s no excuse for the things I said or the way I behaved last night. Or lately for that matter.� She amended. Alex looked at the floor and sighed feeling the tears running down her face, �These started yesterday.� she mentioned wiping them away uselessly. �And now they won�t seem to stop.� She smiled. Jericho stepped forward, crouched down in front of her and took her other hand. She smiled down at him, oddly comforted at the small gesture, then continued taking a deep breath. �I didn�t mean one word of what I said last night.� She apologized. �No, take that back. You guys aren�t my friends.� She smiled seeing the look on Jesse�s face. Alex lifted his hand and entwined her fingers with his. �I�ve known most of you guys a long time.� looking at Jesse, Matt, X-Pac, and Chris. �The girls are my sisters; so that makes you all brothers.� she smiled, looking at Steve, Jim, Hunter, and Jeff. �Overbearing . . .overprotective . . .hardheaded.� she grinned wickedly through her tears as she looked around at all of them, �but brothers. I�ve hurt the girls and I hurt you. You were all trying to help me and I wouldn�t let you and I�m terribly terribly sorry.� Alex laid her head on Jesse�s shoulder as she continued. �I�m so sorry.� Jesse hugged her to him for a minute waiting for her tears to stop. Alex wrapped her arms around his neck as she cried on his shoulder. �Hey ask Matt,� Jeff offered smiling at her, �that�s what big brother�s are for.� �Yeah,� Jesse agreed, �to be abused.� Alex looked up and over at Matt who smiled brightly as he nodded his agreement. Alex loosened her hold on Jesse�s neck and laughed through her tears. Jesse reached out to rub her head. �How are you feeling this morning?� Jesse asked. �Not too bad really. Headache is gone, which is weird. I�d been in pain for so long it�s weird that it�s not there anymore. And I slept last night.� She replied, raising her hand and wiping her tears to look at him. At that moment the bathroom door opened and 'Taker walked out. �Although how I slept at all is beyond me.� She whined. �HE,� pointing in 'Taker�s general direction, �snores to wake the dead.� 'Taker dropped the small bag he had in his hand onto the bed. �How many times do I have to tell you I do NOT snore!� he growled. �YES!!! You do.� Several of the men answered back, making Alex laugh. �HA!� she declared. �Besides the people down the hall know you snore as well.� 'Taker rolled his shoulders and shrugged. �So do you.� He stated calmly. �I do NOT!!� Alex yelled indignantly, getting off the bed to walk toward him. Matt leaned over and nudged Jeff. �Remind me again why them speaking is a good thing?� he asked. Then shot a dirty look at Chris and Hunter when they chuckled softly. �SHHH!� Jesse admonished as Jeff just smiled at his brother. �He�s new.� Steve explained. �Watch.� Kane replied. �I can�t believe I�m saying this . . .but I�ve missed this.� X-Pac mumbled, shaking his head. �Me too.� Jim agreed. Having known 'Taker the longest, besides Kane, he enjoyed watching someone go nose to nose with 'Taker and hold their own againgst him. Or in Alex�s case it was more accurate to say nose to beltbuckle, and MORE than hold her own. �You�ve known me for how long and you just now mention I snore? I don�t think so.� She countered, hands on her hips. 'Taker shrugged again, �I�m just too much of a gentleman to mention it before.� �Gentleman?!� Alex yelled. �Gentleman my butt.� She stated emphatically, as she continued toward him. �Of all the stupidest . . .� Alex began. �I�d have to be a gentleman to put up with all your weird little . . .� �Weird?!� Alex shouted. �Honey, you don�t want to go there. You want to talk about weird?!� she challenged. �Oh really?� 'Taker asked, his hand at his waist looking down at her. Alex stopped when she was only inches from him. She clasped her hands behind her back, the argumentative look on her face changing into a sweet smile she angled her head looking up at him, �Missed you.� She whispered sweetly. 'Taker only blinked at first, he dropped his hands from his waist and pulled her into a hug, �That�s playing dirty, little girl.� he whispered. 'Taker then leaned down and kissed her forehead as Alex giggled and returned the hug. �Go.� He ordered lightly, �The girls are waiting for you.� �They�re in mine and LaShana�s room.� Steve informed her. �Just down the hall.� As she walked toward the door she gave her �brothers� hugs as an extended apology. With Matt being last he took her hand and walked her outside to the hall. �I wanted to say I�m really sorry for yesterday.� Alex began, when they were alone in the hall. �You just apologized a minute a go.� He reminded her. �It will never be enough.� She sighed, shaking her head. �You guys, all of you, have been so great. I remember bits and pieces and I can barely believe some of the stuff I�ve said and done over the past couple of months.� Alex sighed. �Kane and 'Taker didn�t ask me hang out with you.� Matt informed her quietly. Alex groaned and closed her eyes as she remembered screaming at him the night before. Reaching for his hand she squeezed it tightly, �I�m so sorry about that. I know. What an awful thing to say. I know you�re my friend. I know you were worried. That�s what . .� �Friends do.� He finished for her. Alex smiled up at him and laughed lightly. �You really feeling okay?� Matt asked, studying her face intently. �I�m getting there.� She answered smiling. �Good - I�m glad.� He informed her, leaning down to hug her. The door opened again and the guys walked out to leave for their workout. �She doesn�t look to be in a hurry.� Jericho observed. �Sure doesn�t.� Jesse agreed, grinning like a Cheshire cat. �She looks pretty comfortable actually.� Hunter mentioned. �Quit stalling, little girl.� 'Taker admonished. Alex only turned her head, keeping her arm around Matt and sighed heavily, �I�m going. I�m going.� She answered. �I don�t remember him being so bossy.� Alex mentioned to Matt. The guys all laughed aloud. �She�s definitely not completely better yet.� Jim mentioned, when he�d stopped laughing. �Off with you.� 'Taker stated, pointing down the hall. Alex groaned and walked down the hall waving good-byes as the guys went in the opposite direction. |