| Part XV |
Alex was sitting in the corner of the locker room chatting on her cell phone; when the door opened slamming against the wall she jerked her head up. She watched in quiet shock as Chris threw the towel he was holding on the floor. He stalked over to his bag and began grabbing clothes out to shower and change. �I�ll call you back.� Alex said into the phone. Chris jerked his head at the sound of her voice. Alex saw the forced effort as he pulled a smile across his face. �Hey baby.� He called out. He walked over and leaned down to kiss her cheek. Alex opened her mouth to speak, but Chris spoke first. �Who was on the phone?� he asked. �My sister.� She answered softly. Chris laughed, �They�re down the hall and you use the phone?� he asked. Alex smiled, �No, Lydia.� She explained. Alex reached up and took Chris� hand. She could feel the tension in him; it sat in her stomach, making her nerves jump. �Chris.� She began softly, �What�s wrong?� He sat down next to her, sliding his hand under her hair, he began kneading the back of her neck. �Rough match.� He answered and Alex noticed the sharp tone. The nerves in her stomach began to jump faster, the frustration from Chris growing stronger. �Tell me what�s wrong.� Alex asked, tired of beating around the bush. Chris shook his head. �Nothing. I�m . . .� Alex pushed Chris� hand from her neck and rose from the bench, stalking toward the door. After a second of shock Chris ran after her, catching her just before she reached the door. Alex jerked out of his grasp as he took her arm. �Alex, what�s wrong?� Chris asked. �If you don�t want to talk about what�s wrong, then say so.� She snapped. �Then I�ll just bug you until you tell me. But don�t lie to me!� �Alex, I�m . . .� �Chris! I can feel the tension and frustration coming off you. You�re so ticked off you�re about to come unglued!� she snapped, her own emotions getting caught with his. Chris eyes widen in shock, �What do you mean you can feel?� he asked quietly. Alex looked and seeing the shock settle on his face only confirmed the sudden shock she felt from him. Then it was Alex's turn to be shocked. �I thought Kane told you guys. When I was in the hospital, he said he told you.� Alex stated. �That�s you�re telepathic. That you, the girls, he and 'Taker can all talk to each other? He told me. But that doesn�t . . .� He replied. Alex shook her head, �Chris, I�m also empathic. I can feel other�s emotions. Right now you are pissed.� she remarked emphatically. �It radiates off you.� She added. Her hand rested on her stomach, the tension in him back. Chris noticed the move and saw the look that crossed her face. His hand reached up, seeing the discomfort, he cupped her face. �Is it painful?� he asked. Alex shook her head slightly. �Rarely. Depends on the emotion.� She answered, walking out of his reach. �But it�s not the tension that hurts.� She added softly, sitting on the bench again. �Why don�t you want to tell me what�s wrong?� she asked quietly. Chris walked over to her, kneeling in front of her. �It�s not really a big deal . . .� he began. �Don�t do that!� she gritted, slamming her hand on her knee. �Are you not listening?� Alex balled her hand into fist trying to stay calm. �It�s not that big a deal. Alex, don�t get so upset?� Chris tried. �Why the hell not?� she demanded, rising from the bench, moving away from Chris. �What ever is bothering you, you obviously don�t trust me enough to tell me what it is. Stop saying �it�s not a big deal� or �its nothing�.� Alex made a controlled effort to reign in her emotions. �Why won�t you tell me what�s wrong?� She asked again quietly. When all she got was silence, she continued. �Do you trust me?� �Of course. It�s just . . " Chris began. She stood in front of him and took his hand. �Is this something that�s important you?� she asked, already knowing the answer but needing to hear him say it. �Yeah.� He answered, huffing out a breath. Squeezing his hand, �Then why wouldn�t it be important to me?� she asked simply. Seeing the obvious pain cross her face Chris forced himself to try to relax. �I didn�t know.� He said, turning his hand to grasp hers tightly. He ran his thumb across the back of her hand. �About you being empathic. Are you sure it�s not painful?� He asked again. She shook her head before she answered, �It surprised me when you came in.� She paused thinking. �I�ve never seen you like this before. It got all caught up together . . .� she took a deep breath, still feeling the tension in him, but now having a handle on it. �The emotions got caught up with mine.� She reached up and touched his face with her other hand. �Tell me what�s wrong?� She asked softly. �Whatever it is - is obviously important to you. That much I can feel.� Chris raked his fingers through his hair. �It�s Regal.� He said finally. She felt the tensions in him decrease marginally. �This stupid angle. That ridiculous Duchess match.� Waving toward the monitor. �I�ve been trying to talk to Vince about someone else to feud with. But he and Shane are so wrapped up with the WCW purchase.� �Are they thinking about you going over there?� she asked. She felt the relief in herself when he shook his head. �No.� he answered. �But I can�t find five minutes to talk to Vince about switching the angle. Until then I keep getting stupid matches as �punishment� from Regal.� Alex wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him tightly. She ran her hands slowly up and down his back. The knot in her stomach slowly disappearing as the tension in him slipped away. �How do you do that?� he asked, murmuring in her hair. �Another gift?� Alex heard the smile in his voice. She tilted her head, looking up at him. �You mean you really didn�t know?� she asked. Chris shook his head and smiled, �No. But it certainly explains a lot.� Alex giggled, �Yeah?� �Yeah,� he answered. �I�ve been watching you for a while.� He reminded her. �Sometimes I would watch your face and see you making the strangest faces." Chris explained laughing lightly. Alex swatted him lightly and Chris held her tighter; Alex resting her hands on his arms. �When I�m in a crowed, sometimes it�s hard to handle. Too many people. Too many emotions.� She explained. Chris rested his head against hers. �I didn�t mean to hurt you.� He whispered. Alex looked up at him, shocked at the grief she heard in his voice. �You didn�t.� she assured him. �I�ve known for a while; Kane and 'Taker still have to help me sometimes. Only once, when I was around Tori, did it hurt. That was all the hatred she had for us. I feel a little weird sometimes, but it�s not painful.� She informed him. �What hurt is you didn�t want to tell me.� Alex stated. Chris kissed her forehead softly, �I�m sorry. I . . .I�m not sure why did that.� he answered. Alex stepped back, poking a finger in his chest. �Next time, don�t try.� �Well now that I know . . .� Chris began. Alex pounded her head on his chest in mock frustration. When she looked up, she laughed at the confusion on Chris� face. �I already knew something was bothering you.� She informed him. Chris nodded, �Yeah, because . . .� stopping when Alex shook her head. �Even if I weren�t empathic. I could tell something was wrong. I�ve watched you as well. In the ring.� She explained. �Since you started these matches with Regal . . .you don�t smile as much. You�re too good an athlete to not give 110% in a match, but I can tell you�re not happy.� She answered him. �I was trying to not let it show.� He admitted. �I could tell.� She said simply. �I didn�t want to upset you.� �What makes you think I wasn�t already upset?� she asked. �It�s a stupid feud. I want to know what the hell Vince was thinking.� She stated heatedly. Chris lowered his head, capturing her lips hungrily. Alex moaned softly as Chris kissed her slowly. �I love when you get wound up.� He murmured. �Your eyes light up.� Alex giggled softly as Chrislowered his head again to began kissing and nipping behind her ear. Alex ran her hand down his back slowly, smiling when she felt the shiver run down his spine. Neither of them heard the door open, nor the discreet and far too quiet cough. �Ex-cuse me!� a gruff voice demanded. Alex jerked her head to the voice, and failed miserably at trying to stop the blush that crept across her cheek. She turned her head back quickly and buried her face in Chris� chest. Chris laughed lightly at her as he stroked her hair. �Do you mind?� Chris asked. �Didn�t mean to interrupt.� Matt replied, not sounding the least bit apologetic. �Did you come by for a reason?� Chris asked pointedly. �Uhh�I can�t seem to remember.� Matt stammered, as Alex buried her head deeper in Chris� chest. �Lemme think for a min . . .� �What do you want Matt!� Alex demanded; the words muffled by Chris� chest. Matt swallowed the laugh at the sharp look from Chris. �Vince wants to see you.� He finally told Chris. Chris nodded and waved Matt out of the room, �Beat it jerky!� When Alex heard the door close she raised her head and smiled sheepishly at Chris. Chris leaned down kissing the tip of her nose, �I�ll be back in a while.� He stated. �You must being me luck.� Chris guessed. Alex shook her head, smiling, �You don�t need luck.� Chris reached out running his finger along her jaw slowly, he leaned down again, stopping just before he reached her lips and whispered, �I do need you.� ~~*~~ Alex jumped up from the chair when the door opened. She ran toward Chris, jumping in his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist, making his stagger back a few steps. �I�m all sweaty.� Chris protested half-heartedly. It was the night after the Duchess match with Regal. Chris was scheduled to fight yet another �punishment� match per Regal�s orders; this time for putting the Duchess in the Liontamer during the match. It was a hardcore title match against Rhyno, which meant Edge and Christian had gotten involved and Chris lost the match. When Regal decided to get involved after the bell Chris took the trashcan sitting in the ring and beat him over the head with it. It had taken all the refs to come out to hold Chris back and Regal was left unconscious in the ring. Alex paid no attention as she rained kisses on Chris�s face. �That was great!� she exclaimed. Chris turned them in a circle, making Alex laugh. �You liked that, huh?� Chris asked. �Does this mean the fued is over?� she asked, sliding to the floor. �Yeah, we have another match next week to end the fued.� Chris stated. �I�ll win.� He assured her when he saw her biting her lip. �Then what?� she asked. �Vince is setting up a feud with Guerrero for the European Title.� Alex threw her arms around his neck, squeezing tightly; �Baby, I�m so happy for you.� She exclaimed. Chris titled his head back, just staring at her. �What?� she asked, seeing the expression on his face. Chris tightened his arms around her as he smiled slolwy, �You called me �baby�.� He stated. Alex only blinked, �I . . .ummmmm.� she stammered, and then bit her bottom lip. �That little southern drawl. MMMmmm.� He hummed near her ear. Alex laughed as she rolled her eyes. �I do not drawl.� She protested. �Ah huh . . .just barely. I like it.� He whispered huskily. �Say it again.� He whispered. She raised up on her toes, leaning near his ear and slowly drawled, �Baby . . .� smiling when she heard him growl low in his throat before he turned his head to kiss her. |