"Huh? Court?" Brock sat up in bed looking from left to right, Gail was right Courtney was nowhere to be found. 'That dominick prick?' He considered the worst case scenario. 'He said he was coming for her.' He had no idea how far away the lunatic was, had he come to 'save' her. "Court?!" Brock shouted as he hopped out of the bed.

"What'd you do to her?" Gail snapped, concern washing over her 'I told her this was a bad idea. They don't call him the beast for nothing.'

"I didn't do shit." Brock snorted, he was still scanning the room waiting for Courtney to pop out of nowhere. "Court?!" He barked louder still, as blood really began to pump.

"Oh." Gail noticed that the comforter and pillows were stripped from her bed, with that observation she knew exactly where Courtney was hiding. "Court?" She knocked on the bathroom door.

"Gail?" A yawn could be heard from the other side of the door. Eventually the door cracked open, Courtney was rubbing the back of her neck blinking to moisten her dry eyes.

"Did you sleep in the bathtub again?"

"...Perhaps" Courtney shrugged, letting out another yawn.

"Was I snoring that loud?" Brock questioned, he had been told quite a few times that when in a deep sleep he was deafening.

"Did you have another nightmare?" Gail whispered not wanting Brock to hear about her friend's growing 'condition.'

"I . . . they're not nightmare's ok? I'm not six anymore." Courtney defensively folded her arms. "I just . . . I think too much for my own good." 'I'm not scared . . . I'm just cautious.' She tried to rationalize locking herself in the bathroom and sleeping in a tub in an attempt to feel secure.

"Is everything ok did he hurt you?" Gail looked over her shoulder glancing at Brock, Courtney didn't appear to be afraid of the beast but Gail most emphatically was.

"What?!" Brock's shoulder's rose and fell, rocking back and forth, he didn't like being left out. 'As bad as Paul . . . what a yapper.' He was sure Gail was bad mouthing him to Courtney. 'Don't feed in to her Bullshit.' He looked over at Courtney an annoyed questioning look on his face.

"Tell him to leave please." Gail still whispering tried to seem as stern as possible.

"You tell him to leave!" Courtney's tone was raising in volume. 'What's her problem?'

"You're the one who brought him here!" Gail snapped back.

"What I can't have friends over now without a permission slip?!"

"Not in your bed you can't and not with . . ." Gail could feel Brock glaring at her. "Not with Lesnar."

"Stop talkin about me like I'm not here!" Brock yanked Gail by the shoulder turning her to face him.

"Back off Brock!" Courtney stood between her friends, how she planned on protecting Gail she had no idea. 'This is not good.'

"Stay out of this." He pushed Courtney out of the way. He took another step forward but stopped when Courtney wedged herself between them again.

"Please Brock just . . . you don't have to be angry all the time ok? I want to help you-"

"Help me with what?! Do I look like I need help? I've never needed anyone's help."

"I want to help you embrace your inner cucumber." She had a reassuring smile on her face.

"My what?!" He didn't like the sound of that.

"Be calm be mellow . . . be cool as a cucumber." Her smile blossomed into a smirk.

"I don't want to be calm. I want to be the best and to be the best I have to push myself to my limits."

"You push yourself too hard Brock . . . I don't want to see you burn out."

"Since when are you my guidance councilor?"

"I wouldn't go that far. I just feel like you should know there's more than one sort of happy. Sure be the big bad wolf in competition, you already know how to do that. Sometimes though it's nice just to embrace your inner cucumber. If you try it and don't like it no harm no foul right?" She genuinely did have concern for him, Brock deserved to be happy just as much as the next person and she was worried he didn't realize that.

"I'm late." Brock shrugged off her proposal. 'Inner cucumber . . . hippie bullshit.'

"Late for what?"

"My morning workout I can't be resting on my . . . Court what was it?" He tried to remember what she had said.

"Laurels." She ended the phrase for him.

"Yeah that." He finally cracked a smile. Putting a hand atop her head he did the now customary shake and tussle of her hair. "I'm not embracing my inner cucumber that bullshit isn't for me." He saw disappointment inject itself into her face, but it was better to be honest than give false hope. "But I'll try . . . not to be so angry ok? I don't like yellin at you. I'll leave that to Paul." He internally patted himself on the back when he saw the smile reappear on her face. "That doesn't go for everyone." He looked over at Gail with distain. "But I need you. . ." Those words felt alien leaving his mouth, he corrected himself. " For some stupid fucking reason you care about me burning out and-"

"Some stupid reason." Courtney rolled her eyes.

"Listen . . . I'm going to keep you around."

"Keep me around? Oh wow thanks what a privilege. Come on Brock would it kill you to say it?"

"Say what?"

"It's alright to have a friend you know? Admit it we've gotten kinda close over the last week or so. If you want to be all macho about it . . . friend's with benefits has more-"

"I knew it!" Gail scowled at Courtney. 'She completely ignored me.' Gail wasn't all that surprised, but annoyed none the less.

"Keep your nose out of our business and your mouth shut! You don't know shit!" He pointed aggressively at Courtney's 'backup.' They had a mutual dislike for one another.

"Less angry remember?" Courtney tried to not let the situation get out of hand. "Alright we'll save the titling for later. Get to your work out fuck buddy!" Courtney laughed, ignoring the fact that no one found it as funny as her.

"Idiot." Brock shook his head as he made his way to the door. "I'll see you at the show Court."

"See you later alligator." She again cracked herself up. Brock rolled his eyes as exited the room.

'Less angry. Who does she think I am?' What was more shocking than her skewed view of him was the fact that he compromised to try. 'For a fuck buddy she's askin a lot.' This was not what Brock had bargained for.

Entering the hotel gym he was disappointed, one at the caliber of the gym and secondly that he wasn't alone. 'That's what happens when you're late.' It wasn't a bad view though. 'Torri.' He stood stationary watching her do squats for a minute. Finally he refocused and grabbed weights to place on a bar, an eye still glancing at Torri's figure. The clanking of the weights got the diva's attention, she turned to see the beast, who had no shame in his game, he continued to stare.

"Hey Brock." She seemed to not be effected by his lingering gaze. He didn't respond, just nodded and got in position to begin benching. "Before you start is-"

"What?!" He began to lift. 'What does she want?'

"Which . . ." She took a step back startled by the harshness of Brock's voice. "Which Diva is it?"

"Huh?" Brock didn't like talking while training but he was trying not to get angry.

"Well Stacey heard from Stephanie that Paul was going to file harassment charges against a diva whose been making unwanted advances to his client."

"Paul talks a lot." He hoped Torri would walk away soon. 'Court.' He wondered what Paul wouldn't do to get Courtney out of his hair.

"Was it Molly?" Torri continued to pry.

"I'm trying to concentrate!" Torri's looks wouldn't hold his attention much longer.

"It was! I knew it!" Torri jumped up in self congratulation. "She's a dog, definitely not your type."

"You know my type?" Brock sneered. 'Everyone thinks they know what I want what I need.'

"Oh come on it's simple. You're the athlete and the jock always go with the cheerleaders. Most of us divas were cheerleaders. Molly, she wanted to be an american gladiator . . . not like the rest of us."

"What about Court?" Brock got off the table and moved to the ground to do pushups.

"Courtney one of the new girls? Oh yeah she was, her and Eli she has a picture in her wallet there's a really funny story behind it. He-"

"Whose Eli?"

"Her high school sweetheart." Torri was a gossiper and knew everything about everyone. "So I'm right though? About your type. Bombshells? If you need a date to the slammy's there's-"

"They still do that?"

"They don't televise it anymore, but still have them. I don't have a date yet how about you?"

"Didn't you just hear me? I didn't even know that thing was still going on." Brock scoffed, standing up he walked to the door, he'd work out later, chit chatting was ruining his flow.

"Want to go with me?" Torri didn't see Brock as a possible suitor, but sitting next to the superstar that would sweep the award show, would prove she was a hot commodity.

"What's with you women?!" He slammed the door behind him.

"You!" Paul's voice carried the long block between him and the emptying bus. "Hey you trash! Talking to you." He pointed with destain at the Courtney as she moseyed out. She did not even glance in his direction.

"Did he just call you trash?" Gail hit her friend in the arm.

'Never turns off that one.' Courtney simply rolled her eyes. "Yeah we have delightful little pet names for each, watch."

"Are you deaf or just dumb." Paul continued to squawk at her.

"You're the dumb one douche nozzle." She grinned at Gail to prove her previous point. "Can't even remember my name." She shouted back. Everyone within earshot was now looking between Paul and Courtney waiting to see what would unfold.

"I don't care what your god damn name is, now come here!"

"Sorry I'm really busy playing my new gameboy." Courtney smirked to herself, knowing that statement would get under Paul's skin.

"I have business with you!"

"Business with who?" Feverishly pushing buttons she continued her walk to the door. Paul would not cave to her, moving as fast as his stocky legs would take him he cut Courtney off.

"You're gonna want to listen. I'll talk slowly for you!" All eyes were still fixed on them.

"Save your breath Paul I-"

"Listen here..." He gave Courtney a shove, in response she got well with Paul's personal space, in a display that she wasn't intimidated. "Where is he?"

"Where is he?"

"Where's who?"

"You know damn well who! I will not allow you or anyone else for that matter steer my client Brock Lesnar in a direction-"

"Oh Brock?! Why didn't you just say so?" She chuckled moving back a step or two, looking to her left and her right she put a finger to her chin in contemplation. "Well he's not here-"

"I know he's not here moron I'm not-"

"When I last saw Brock he said he was going to work out. Your client has standards he needs to uphold."

"So now you're a liar and a gutter-"

"I'm not a liar! You've exhausted all my patience now move out of my way!" She resumed her walk.

"I know Brock's schedule back and forth, he was not at the gym at five fifteen-"

"We slept in." Courtney nonchalantly stated over her shoulder.

"Slept in?" This was worse than Paul had though, did she already insnare Brock? He couldn't compete with whatever odd female charm she had. "Now listen here, before you go and do anything stupid. Your tiny brain might not-"

"To late for that, I did the stupidest thing I could, I let you open your big mouth."

"You think your smart remarks are getting to me? Well I've got news for you, I'm not the man to mess with." He again cut Courtney off blocking her entrance.

"Really? Keep in mind your client isn't here to back up any empty promises you make." Courtney was more than a little annoyed with this whole exchange. 'Inner cucumber.' She closed her eyes and set her breath to a slower pace. 'If I get in a blow out with him I'll have to hear it from Brock and I've reached my bullshit quota for today.'

"Oh believe me there's nothing empty about what I'm about to say, so listen carefully." He tried to emphasize the gravity of his next statement. Courtney cupped her hands around her ears mockingly taking Paul's advice to listen. "You think Brock's career is the only future I have influence over? Well you'd be sadly mistaken. I have more power than your meager mind can begin to comprehend. For instance you're aware that there is going to be a diva's battle royal right?"

"Yeah . . . meager mind was able to hold on to that." Courtney rolled her eyes. 'What is he getting at?' At the next pay per view there was going to be a Diva battle royal for the number one contender spot, a guaranteed match for the title.

"Good good!" He applauded her. "Well the manager of the next big thing." He pointed to himself. "Is in pretty well with the higher ups, and could influence what number placement any one diva would get. Are you following me?"

"I guess. Is this where I start groveling?" Her arms were folded a stoic look on her face.

"If you so chose. I have a simpler transaction."

"Transaction?"

"If you keep your distance from Brock I will use my sway to help you."

"And if I don't?"

"Kiss that title shot goodbye."

"I've said it before and I'll say it again I do what I want I-"

"Yes yes . . .shut up . . . do what you want of course . . . but for once in your life do what's smart!"

"Move out of my way Heyman, trust me it's the smart thing to do." Courtney's teeth were grinding, had Paul really gotten one over on her? 'I'm trapped between a rock and a hard place. I want a title shot more than anything else, and hell I've only known Brock for a hot minute but on the flip side of the coin, I . . . I can't betray Brock, just cold shoulder him out of nowhere . . . No matter how much flack I'm getting for this, we're friends.'

"I'll move out of your way . . . just stay out of mine." Paul got just what he wanted the last word, eventually sliding out from in front of the door. Courtney slammed it open entering the arena.

'Cool as a cucumber. Cool as a cucumber. Cool as . . .Fuck!' She couldn't calm down. 'Why am I even considering making a deal with the devil?'

"He really chewed you up." An unfamiliar voice spoke from the end of the hallway. Courtney stopped beating herself up and looked up from her feet, it was Shannon Moore.

"He's just got a mighty mouth, that's all." Courtney's nose wrinkled. 'Everyone in the tristate area must have heard him. What does Moore care anyway?'

"Is it true though?"

"Is what true?" Courtney sighed, the night hadn't begun but she was already exhausted.

"You and . . ."

"Brock?"

"People are saying you two are sleeping together."

"Is that what people are saying now a days? Too much time on their hands I guess. What's it your business anyway?"

"No it's not . . . I didn't mean it like that." He waved his hands in defense. "I just think . . . well . . . he just doesn't seem like your type . . . I mean you know he won't treat you right."

"So?" Courtney was scanning the arena for the next door she could escape into, this conversation was not one she had the patience for at the moment.

"So?! I mean whatever you do . . . I mean-"

"Say I mean one more time." She chuckled, he looked like he was about to jump out of his skin.

"Sorry."

"Why are you so jittery?" She could see the unease on Shannon's face. "I'm not going to tattle. I won't run and tell Brock you think he's a scum bag. You shouldn't just-"

"I didn't say that. You two can't have much in common, you can do better than him."

'Now I get it.' Courtney's eyes popped open. 'He's not nervous about Brock. He's nervous about me. He's got himself a school boy crush.' Courtney felt flattered but still had too much on her mind to add this to her plate. "That's why we're perfect."

"Huh?"

"He's not my type, I'm sure that I'm not his. We both aren't looking for anything serious . . . just want to have fun that's all."

"Oh." Shannon's face sunk.

"Try it some time."

"Try what?"

"Having fun." Courtney smirked as she turned a sharp corner.

"Hey! Court!" Brock was sweating from every pore, a grin of euphoria on his face.

"Brock." Courtney's smile was more fleeting than his. 'This is where you decide Courtney . . . what to do.'

"Did you see my match?" He had, as he always did, decimated his competition, using brute force to concur the challenger.

"Why would I?" She could see Brock's grin tighten in insult. "I already knew you were going to win. Duh." She laughed as Brock palmed her head.

"I guess you're right." Looking down at her he could see something was on her mind. "You Ok?"

"Brock I . . ." 'Screw it . . . take your own advice idiot . . . have fun.' "Cool as a cucumber." She gave a unconvincing shrug.

"Bull." Brock wasn't a genius but he knew she was keeping something from him.

"I'm just tired."

"You didn't get much sleep did you?" 'That's what you get for cooping up in a bathtub.'

"That's not what I mean . . . I'm tired of . . . I just let all the negativity get to me . . . put me in a slump."

"Paul? You get used to him after a while." Brock wiped some sweat from his brow. "Just ignore him, that's what I do half the time."

"Paul, Gail, Shannon . . . hell I heard Torri-"

"I was checking her out so what?" Brock blurted out, regretting it when he saw the shock on her face. 'She didn't know.'

"So nothing" Courtney shrugged. "I told her I had no problem with you going to the slammys with her . . . I tried caring less but I simply could not." Courtney smirked, leaving out that it had caught her by surprise, it had taken some volatile exchanges for her and Brock to even begin to cross the bridge into friendship, he and Torri did some sit ups together and they were already making play dates.

"I'm not even fucking going to . . . and what does Shannon have to do with this?"

"I was checking him out, so what?" She mimicked Brock's response to the mentioning of Torri.

"So . . . nothing." He rolled his shoulder's, it did irritate him, if Shannon won the challenge before he did, there'd be no point, if you're not first you're last. "Just ignore the dumbasses, they don't know what they're talking about." Brock huffed.

"Brock!" A man hard to ignore called out to his client. Courtney took Brock's hands and placed them over her ears.

"Idiot." It was an amusing sight seeing his big bruiser hands swallowing her head and most of her face.

"Brock where have you been? I've been worried sick! Not you again." He glared at Courtney, she simply pointed to Brock's hands implying she couldn't hear a word he was saying. "Brock I told you she was no good! She tried to blackmail me into giving her a better spot in the battle royal! She's using you! She's not really your friend."

"Do it."

"What?" Paul couldn't believe it, what was it about Courtney? How could she do no wrong in Brock's eyes. "Brock as your manager-"

"You do what I say!" Brock had to put Paul in his place, prove who was really in control.

"Ow Ow!" Courtney squirmed as Brock unknowingly flexed, putting pressure on her skull.

"Be careful Brock!" Paul wanted Courtney out of the picture more than anyone else, but he didn't want it at the price of sidelining his client for removing a diva from action.

"I don't like being lied to!"

"Lie? Brock I can't believe you would insinuate that I-"

"She wouldn't go to you for a favor if you were the last guy on earth." Brock shocked Heyman in his quick ability to see through his charade.

"Brock still squeezing!" Courtney reminded the two men she was still there. "If you don't let go, I'll kick you in the nuts so hard you'll taste your own-" She was cut off as one of Brock's hands left her ear and went to her mouth.

"I'm trying . . . to be . . ." Brock's muscles tensed and released. "Trying to be less angry Court but I don't have a hell of a lot of patience."

'Understatement of the century.' Courtney rolled her eyes. Brock shot her one last warning in the form of a harsh glare and then let her go, retreating a few steps.

"You've caused quite enough trouble I suggest you leave." Paul tried to shoo her away.

"Me? You're the one who started..." She paused to breath in and out, closing her eyes. "Inner cucumber . . . Inner cucumber . . . Inner-"

"What the hell is she doing?" Paul tilted his head to one side baffled by her mantra.

"Freak" Brock laughed. "Stupid hippie shit!" He continued to snicker his shoulders rising and falling with every chuckle.

"Stupid muscle head." She laughed back. "Well this has been grand, but I have places to go people to see." She waved as she began to walk away. "You know what Brock?"

"What?"

"You're not my type . . . at all." She stopped for a moment. "But hell isn't that half the fun? Friends are supposed to hate each other on the constant right? But you know what mends all hatred?"

"What?" He repeated unsure what she was babbling about now. 'More Hippie shit?'

"Pizza! Gail and I . . . it's pizza night . . . be there or be-"

"He already missed one work out he needs to maintain-"

"Blah blah blah . . . don't worry Evil step mother I'll bring him back before he turns into a pumpkin. Jeez . . . just think about it Brock." She blew him a kiss before turning a corner.