A/N: I did my best to not publish more stories, but when this idea crossed my mind I couldn't resist it. I must apologize for another new story, but hopefully you'll enjoy it as much as I loved to write the fist chapter. This story is based on " Ringer" - a TV series for those who don't know. I'm sorry for the spelling and grammar mistakes. As most know, English isn't my first language.

Until We Bleed

Chapter One - Two Twins, Two Lifes

Sat impatiently on the wooden chair, Maryse Ouellet waited for the end of the late night meeting. Running her fingers through her long light-brown hair, she tried to hide her eagerness.

Her eyes scanned the room in an attempt to calm herself - she could swear that at any moment her heart would jump out of her chest and her body would fall flat on the cold floor.

If someone asked, Maryse would say, in her most sincere opinion, that too many people were sharing the same space - even if only eight recovering addicts were in the room. There were inside the reserved space too many people to share their troubled life - and to listen to her revealing her messed up existence.

Closing her eyelids, Maryse had flashbacks related to her recent past. The Montreal native's life hadn't always been problematic as it was nowadays. In a life that the brunette didn't recognize anymore, she was full of happiness - nothing could take her down - and surrounded by people who loved and cared about her. In that unbelievable life she had all she wished for.

- Maryse, do you want to share anything with the group? - Opening her eyes, she found the session coordinator staring at her along with some members who belonged to the small group.

Uncrossing her legs, the Montreal born wrapped her shaking fingers together. She felt butterflies inside her stomach due the vast nerves running through her body - the twists inside her belly made her wonder if she would throw up in front of all those people.

It wasn't the first time she attended to a Narcotic Anonymous meeting - also known as NA. However it was the first time she would bring up a theme she had buried profoundly until a couple of days ago when a surprising letter was delivered to her.

- Yes. - Inhaling a long and deep breath, the twenty-seven years old woman prepared herself to reveal a secret which had become her dirty little secret over the years. It had been a lengthened period since she verbalized it. - My sister sent me a letter; she asked me to visit her. She wondered if we could meet this weekend and I could stay as long as I want with her. I'm willing to accept it. We haven't seen or spoken with each other in many years.

In a heartbeat, six years had spent since she saw or exchanged a word with the only family she had left: her sister. A quarrel was the one to blame for the detachment.

- How do you feel about it? - the counselor inquired. His voice was accurate. The man had many years of experience with recovering addicts and he knew how to deal with them; he knew how to help them get out of the hole they buried themselves into.

- I'm feeling an emotional train wreck. - The drug-free female blurted out. No other words would enlighten her mental condition. Her fingers ran through her lengthy hair one more time. She tended to do it when she was tense. - I don't know how she will react when she sees me.

- Does the change scary you? Do you think you may not recognize her physically and psychologically after the years you have been apart?

Her lips coiled into a demure smile after listening to the question. Many years passed by, but the troubled woman would always find her only sister in a middle of a crowd. The former drug addict would recognize her sister until the end of the times.

- I only have to gaze at myself in a mirror to see my sister's features. - It was tough to not communicate with a sister. Nevertheless, it was tougher to not share a life with a twin sister - they were connected even before being born. - I understand we both changed - no one stays the same after all this time -, but I'm frightened to know how much. All I wish is to reconnect with her this weekend.

The rest of the NA session was a blur to Maryse. She didn't recall who spoke and who said what after her intervention. All her thoughts were directed to the weekend ahead: did the time change her twin sister too much? Would they reconcile after the dramatic fall out they suffered?

- I didn't know you have a twin sister. - Turning her eyes at the man standing at her front, Maryse pulled up a strained smile. The dirty blonde man standing at her side was her sponsor: Jack Swagger.

The Oklahoma native had been her life savior many times in the last past six months - since she started her healing process. Late night calls had saved her from falling into her addiction again.

If it wasn't his intrusion, the French-Canadian wouldn't have realized the meeting by now was over. People were on their feet sharing little to no information about their identity and drinking coffee. Maryse couldn't stop her lips from coiling into a silly smile. Ex-junkies left drugs to become addicted on coffee.

Occupying the empty chair at her side, Jack kindly handed in her direction a mug of dark coffee.

- I tried to not think about her too much through the last years - the Montreal native confessed, accepting the hot drink her sponsor was offering her. Don't take her wrong, she loved her sister with all heart. Though, imperative matters had been left unsolved between them and it was painful to think about them.

- Why didn't you tell me about her before?

If Maryse had opened up to him regarding her sibling, perhaps it would have been easier to choose the words to help her go through with her drug liberation process.

- As I said: I try to not think about her. - She didn't wish to reveal many details. As much as Jack helped her, he didn't have the necessity to know the cause she didn't mention her sister previously. - I received a letter from her a week ago. She wants us to meet at her house in the Hamptons.

- Hamptons? It's far away from here. - New York and Wyoming were two states separated by countless miles. Maryse had a long journey to travel. - What's her name?

- Her name is Marianne. - Pronouncing the name out loud brought back childhood memories. Back then nobody would envision the two twins would ever break their friendship in bad terms as they did.

- You aren't feeling anxious only because of your sister. - It wasn't a question; it was a statement. Jack was the only person she trusted after everything she had gone through. Apart from Jack, no other person knew about her being an important witness. Her testimony would put behind bars one of the most wanted men in Wyoming.

Seven months ago - when she was still a drug addicted -, the beautiful French-Canadian was working on "Eggs and Legs", a strip club owned by Alberto Del Rio - a very powerful man involved in criminal activities. After the end of another late night shift, she caught herself in a middle of a cold blood murder. It would have been better for everyone if she kept her mouth shut regarding it. Nonetheless, the brunette ran away from the strip club and went straight to the police station to tell what her hazel eyes had witnessed.

Prior to her going further with her conversation with Jack, a familiar figure showed up at the entrance of the room. With his hands in his jacket's pockets, the manly body stared at Maryse.

- Give me a minute. - Rising up from the chair, the Montreal native went to meet the man who had entered in the room not too long before. His presence was unpleasant, but she could do nothing to avoid it.

- Is that your boyfriend or sponsor? - The man with a British accent queried, as soon as she reached his side, with his eyes fixed on Jack.

- Jack? Sponsor, but…- The brunette swerved her eyes in the blonde man's direction. After a prolonged glance - she was wondering if they one day they could be something more -, her attention returned to the detective named Wade Barrett. - He is my sponsor.

- Are you ready for tomorrow morning?

Maryse swallowed nothing but air. Seeing her sister for the first time in more than a half-decade wasn't the only troubled thought inside her mind. The next day she would testify against the man, who was her boss until not too long ago.

- What will happen to me if my testimony isn't enough to arrest him?

- With your testimony, Del Rio will be sent to jail for life. Nothing awful will happen with you - Wade assured her confidently. He was a man who kept his word. - With him behind bars no one can hurt you Maryse. Plus, we will protect you. Police has many resources.

The man of law tried to assure the former stripper with his words. Nevertheless the words didn't make Maryse feel confidence - she didn't feel safe as he wished. If Alberto was put behind bars by her, then his men would come after her under his orders and they would murder her without think twice in relation to their action. No one could protect her from Alberto's rage.

- No one can protect me - she mumbled without caring if the detective listened to her. It was the truth and no matter what Wade said would change it.

Clearing his throat, Wade spoke again - he completely ignored her last proclamation: - Tyler will take you back to your hotel room. He will spend the night with you and tomorrow I'll pick you up and bring you to court.

Maryse furrowed her eyebrows. The place where she was staying was hardly a motel. She was a witness under the police protection and they placed her in the "Double Nickel Motel" to be safe - no man under Alberto's orders would locate her there. She felt they could have chosen a better edifice for her to stay.

Turning her back to the British born detective, she made her way back to Jack. Quickly, she picked up her leather jacket along with her purse.

- I must leave now - she told him without a further explanation to her abrupt departure. The sponsor had knowledge of the circumstances. He didn't need to inquire who Wade was and the reason she had to leave.

- Call me when you get home - Jack ordered - it wasn't a request. He was worried Maryse would have a relapse because of the stressing situations she had ahead. It wouldn't be the first he would see it occurring.

Passing by the food table, Maryse wrapped her fingers around a plastic cup and filled it with coffee. Wade accompanied her to the car where the officer Tyler would be waiting for her. Being the English gentleman he was, Wade opened the door up for her.

- Do you want a coffee? - With a dazzling smile, Maryse entered inside the undercover vehicle and handed the plastic cup at the other detective.

Hurrying up to his vehicle, Wade wasn't aware of Maryse's flirtatious behavior - neither had he noticed how easily Tyler would fall for the stunning witness.

One thing Maryse Ouellet had learned throughout the years was to use her charm to get what she wanted - due to it men were constantly at her feet. The brunette was about to use all her appeal to fool detective Tyler.

Maryse knew no one could protect her - she was the only person with whom she could count. The Montreal born would do whatever she needed to do to save her skin.

Marianne Ouellet - better known as Marianne DiBiase ever since she got married with Theodore "Ted" DiBiase five years ago - crossed her arms over her chest. The Prada sunglasses not only hid her hazel eyes as they hid the direction to where they were glancing at.

It could be said the elegant platinum blonde looked lost in the bus stop station. She looked out of her element. The high class woman didn't purport someone who would wait for a bus to travel - or as someone who was a friend with someone who used a bus. They could be closer the Hamptons, but some strangers interrogated themselves of the reason a wealthy woman as she was at such place.

- Good morning ma'am - a police officer greeted Marianne when passed by her. The married woman pulled up a smile, not feeling as confident as she portrayed to be.

Giving a few steps in her Louboutins white pumps to analyze the bus that was approaching from the station - hoping it to be the one which would bring her twin sister -, the platinum blonde didn't realize the scarf inside her handbag had fallen to the floor.

- Ma'am. - Listening to the police man's voice again caught her off guard. Dealing with a law officer wasn't her cherry on top of the cake. Twisting her high heels without losing her smile, she saw him holding her white scarf. - You dropped this.

- Thank you. - Hurriedly, she picked up her expensive belonging - all her outfits were signed by haute couture designers - and then her attention returned to the unclean bus, which had stopped.

The bus doors opened. Person after person left the transportation. Only after thirteen people she saw for the first time in six years her reflection once again. Apart from the different hair color - Maryse was a brunette while she was a platinum blonde -, nothing could distinguish the two twin sisters - wasn't it the true meaning of twins? To share the same face?

Face-to-face - as they were looking at themselves in a mirror -, Marianne and Maryse were breathing the same fresh air for the first time in nearly six years. After their spat, being in the same space was almost imaginable. However, it was happening; it was real.

- Hi - Maryse said breaking the awkward silence that seized between them. Marianne took off her sun glasses revealing her hazel eyes. They even shared the same eye color.

- You look thinner, Maryse. - Their accents were very alike - the difference was hardly understandable. Nonetheless, Marianne's accent was less tricky than Maryse's. It was another meaningless difference between them.

- You look…- The younger - younger by one minute a seventeen seconds - twin travelled her eyes through Marianne, from head to toe. The platinum blonde was very sophisticated in her expensive clothes. Marianne didn't remember the same woman with whom she cut ties six years ago. -…blonde!

It wasn't the best compliment - in a matter of fact, it couldn't be considered a flattering remark. Nonetheless, Maryse was flabbergasted by her sister's appearance and she didn't have words to describe it. Her twin sister was certainly living the life she desired since they were little children.

- I was wondering how you would look after six years. - Marianne fathomed her sister thoroughly too. She convinced herself that the only difference between the two was the weight lost by Maryse and, of course, the hair color. Nothing else had change physically.

- Not nearly as good as you.

A tress of her straight hair covered Maryse's face due to a weak gust of wind. Carefully, Marianne tucked the tress behind her sister's ear with her fingers. With her long platinum blonde hair tied up in a complex hair style, she didn't have to worry with the air in movement. Her hair would always look impeccable.

- That's all you brought? - she inquired, taking a look at Maryse's bag. The brunette was only supporting a small backpack.

- I'm travelling light these days. - An embarrassing smile was offered by the fugitive while she held one of her backpack's straps. She had to run away from Rock Springs before Wade understood it and before Del Rio was released from prison. Bringing all her belongings had been a huge "no". She had only packed the essential.

In an astonishing gesture, Marianne wrapped her arms around her twin sister's frame. Without hesitation, Maryse hugged her back. A simple embrace from her twin made her feel better inside.

- I missed you so much - the younger twin whispered. It was true: she missed Marianne crazily. She avoided speaking about her twin to other people due to the dreadful memories a conversation about her would carry, but she never forgot her.

In her sister's arms, Maryse felt secure for the first time in a long time. Her future wasn't dark as before stepping out of the bus. She could see a light at the end of the tunnel - the light was her sister.

Breaking the hug, Marianne held a tender beam. Without delay, the two twins sauntered until Marianne's car - a silver Porsche which wasn't parked far away. Marianne and Maryse had a long way to roam until reach the DiBiases' Hamptons dwelling where the unexpected would take place.