2.

After a tense week, Monday rolled around again. Nobody knew what was going to happen, or even if Kane was going to show up. He'd blown off the weekend's house shows to hide out. If any of the other talent pulled a stunt like that they would have kissed their jobs goodbye; but once again sensing a cash cow about to rear its head, they decided to see what Kane would do and capture it for a worldwide audience.

Shay was disgusted when she overheard Bischoff discussing that very thing with a few members of the camera crew. At least one camera was to stay with Kane during the entire two hour broadcast, just in case something 'interesting' happened. She hoped for his own sake that Kane stayed at home or wherever the hell he was and spared himself further indignity.

No such luck. An hour before the show was to go on the air, a tech excitedly ran into the medical room to spread the word: Kane was in the arena but he'd disappeared into a locker room. Shay rolled her eyes as the trainers began speculating, wondering why these people couldn't just mind their own business. Sure she had tried to reach out to him last week, but not to exploit him. Of course, after tonight it would seem that everyone was out to use him.

She finished storing her supplies and wandered out into the hall. Two guys with cameras ran past, heading toward the back gate where the wrestlers entered. Shay sighed and went in the opposite direction. This was crazy. With all the other things going on, with fifty writers sitting around twiddling their thumbs, all they wanted to do was chase Kane around.

"Morons…" she said under her breath. She stopped at the catering table, wrinkled her nose at the unappetizing looking food, then continued on. She wouldn't have to be back in the med room until the show started.

At the next corner she was almost knocked off her feet by Tom, one of the veteran cameramen. Grinning, he helped Shay catch her balance.

"Is there a fire or something?" She asked, irritated, before he could jog away. Tom was one of the few crew members she knew.

"In a manner of speaking, yes," He said with a laugh. "Bischoff offered a bonus to whoever gets to Kane first."

Shay rolled her eyes. "Tell me you are not pulling a tabloid stunt like that Tom. I thought you were better than that."

He actually looked hurt. "Hey…I'm not after Kane. That's for those young morons. If Kane wants to be on TV, then I say let him find a camera on his own time."

"So why the hell are you running then?" Shay said, a smile tugging the corners of her mouth.

"Are you kidding? Trish and Stacy are starting promos for the new diva shoot. The head brass wants to start with some shower shots."

"Tom…you are a perverted old man," Shay said with a laugh.

"Yeah well…perverts have to make a living too." He swung his camera up to his shoulder and pointed it at her. "So…if ya see Kane, you gonna come find me and let me know?"

"Um…No. And get that thing outta my face," She shoved the lens aside and walked away on the sound of his laughter.

Shay finally ended up in the makeup room, watching Bubba Ray get a quick haircut from his girlfriend, Trina.

"I don't know why you don't just let your hair grow," Trina grumped. Bubba's hair was so short it was pretty much just five o'clock shadow on his skull.

"Because I would look like a large white bowling ball with hair on it," Bubba answered.

"And? You look like a large white bowling ball anyway." Shay spoke up from her perch on the counter. Bubba shot her a grin, while Trina tried to level her with the evil eye.

"Watch it. You don't see me making comments about your boyfriend."

"Be kind of hard, considering I don't have one," Shay said with a laugh. Trina grinning knowingly but said nothing. Bubba looked confused.

"Trina…I thought you said she and…"

Trina smacked the back of his head. "Shut up."

"What did she say?" Shay looked from Trina to Bubba, then back. "What did you say about me woman?"

"Well…looks good, gotta run…" Bubba slid off the chair he'd been sitting in, trying to get away before Shay decided to badger him for information.

"I haven't said anything," Trina said innocently. She grabbed a whisk broom and cleaned off the chair, then started to rearrange items on the counter.

"Ok. Who said what then?"

Trina fiddled with a comb. "Want me to give you a trim? You're always complaining about your hair…"

"Don't try to change the subject. Who said what damn it?"

Trina rolled her eyes and settled into the chair that Bubba had vacated. "It's nothing to get worked up about. I just heard that you were seen going into Kane's locker room last week, that's all. Everybody has seen you flirt with him, so people were putting two and two together and coming up with five." She shrugged. "I just mentioned to Bubs that you talked to Kane."

"Rumor starter," Shay slid off the counter, then leaned back against it with her arms crossed. "I was just…you know…making sure he was all right. I didn't see what happened, but I heard."

"Yeah. Trish, I'm sure." Trina smiled. "Was he Ok?"

With a sigh, Shay told her what had happened. Trina was one of the few people in the fed she'd gotten to be close to. They had shared travel costs and motel rooms before Trina finally snagged Bubba.

"Ah…so he went into scary berserk mode." Trina shook her head. "Everybody should have seen this coming. You know how the fed likes to fuck with people. You'd think, as long as he's been here, Kane would have known the mask would have to go eventually. I wonder why he didn't just quit, if it meant that much to him."

"Because he's not a quitter. Hell, I don't know," Shay pushed away from the counter. "I guess I'd better get to the med room. Show's gonna start soon." She promised to meet up after the show to get something to eat, then made her way back through the hallways.

Lost in thought, she wasn't paying attention to where she was going. Shay turned a corner and yelped in surprise when she walked into a very wide chest.

Kane was standing there, hands clenched at his sides. He was dressed in his wrestling gear, the black towel once again covering his head.

Shay looked up at him for several seconds, then sighed. "You shouldn't be wandering out here. Bischoff put a bounty on you."

He didn't say anything. Didn't even move. Shay wondered if she should check to see if he were even breathing. He was, of course. Even if he wasn't speaking, she could still feel the anger coming off of him in waves. Maybe he was going to throw another temper tantrum. She almost smiled at that thought; Bischoff would just love to catch something like that on film.

Making a quick decision, she grabbed his wrist. "Come on." She pulled and to her surprise he followed along without question or protest. She stopped to make sure no cameramen were hovering, then headed into a side hall that housed unused dressing rooms. She tried the first door, and swung it open. Flicking the light switch, she looked around then nodded. "Here…" she pulled him inside and then let go of his arm. "Don't let those assholes shove a camera up your nose before you're ready."

Kane stood there for a moment, then nodded. Shay looked around the room again, taking in the clutter of boxes. "Better than nothing I suppose. I have to go to the med room. Just chill out…try to keep a grip will ya?" Without waiting for an answer, she turned and left him there.

She made it to the med room just as the show started. Shay sank into a chair and looked at the monitor, watching the opening shot of the crowd. She couldn't figure out why she'd just helped Kane hide himself out. It wasn't like he'd ever done anything for her. Hell…just a week ago he'd tried to throw a bench through a metal door because she'd set him off.

"You're losing your mind, kiddo," She muttered.

"If you say so." A deep voice behind her made Shay jump. She turned to see Hunter standing behind her. "Gonna tape my leg up? Or should I wait for somebody who's mentally stable?"

"You'd be waiting a hell of a long time," She grumbled. Shay stood and motioned him toward the back of the room. "Come on, you're the first of many." She spared one last glance at the monitor, then turned away. As usual she'd miss most of the show while she took care of various injuries and medical requirements. It didn't matter; she was sure that whatever happened she'd hear about it one way or another.