Chapter 6

Amber ducked under the clothesline Lexi tried to administer. "So do I have to dye my hair black?"

Lexi laughed. "Not if you don't want to. Though black streaks might look cool."

Amber turned and bounced off the ropes, launching herself at her friend. She caught Lexi in the stomach and took her to the mat. They hit with a thud and Amber rolled off. "I'll think about it." Sparring with Lexi seemed to help release some of the pent up energy and frustration she'd carried since last night.

"That was a good move." Lexi stood up and rubbed the spot on her head that contacted the mat. "I'm glad you're going to be on my side in the ring. I'd hate to have to face you for real."

A small sliver of pride settled inside her as Amber acknowledge her friend's compliment. "Thanks. That means so much coming from you."

"You're welcome." She reached outside the ring to the aluminum steps and grabbed their water bottles, then tossed one to Amber. "I know you were looking forward to a singles career, but I think this could be a lot of fun and a huge boost to your career."

Amber caught the bottle. "You think?"

"Sure. You're getting a lot better and with management aligning you with one of the hottest teams in the business right now how can you go wrong."

"Thanks. I didn't think about it like that." Amber took a long slow drink. She glanced over at the guys who sat in the currently empty crowd seats strategizing for the upcoming match. Finding out she'd be playing Seth's love interest in the storyline certainly didn't help to abate her current feelings. How in the world could she possibly stay focused with him always being so close?

"You ready to go again?" Lexi asked, she narrowed her gaze. "You okay?"

Still feeling less than one hundred percent, but not wanting to stop, Amber returned the bottle to the step. "Sure. Let's go." Just like she'd done so many times before she would work through whatever it was bothering her stomach. There wasn't any room in wrestling for wimps and she doubted it was any different in the big leagues.

For the next five minutes they worked on submission moves and timing. The entire time Amber battled the nausea, determined not to let it get her down. Lexi performed an Irish whip on Amber. Her back landed against the padded turnbuckle and she paused as a fresh wave of nausea, stronger than the ones previous, coursed through her. She sucked in a quick breath and closed her eyes. Damn it she wasn't going to throw up.

Lexi started toward her, then slowed. "Hey, are you sure you're okay?"

"Uh? Um...yeah," she sucked in another quick breath and pushed the feeling away. She hadn't eaten lunch yet. Maybe she was hungry or maybe it was all due to lack of sleep. "Let's do it again." She moved back into position, Lexi grabbed her arm and turned her toward the turnbuckle. Before she realized what was happening, Amber's world began to spin and she stumbled forward her legs giving out beneath her. She crashed into the corner post and immediately crumpled to the mat.

"Amber!" There was terror in Lexi's voice as she yelled. The sound of men's voices and chairs moving mixed with the white noise already whooshing in her ears. Too nauseous and dizzy to move, she lay on her size with her eyes closed as the voices grew closer.

"I'll get the medics," Dean said.

"Amber, honey?" Seth's concerned voice pierced the haze fogging her brain. "What's wrong?"

She didn't dare open her eyes. "Dizzy. Feeling sick," she managed to gasp.

"Move her this way," Roman ordered. Unable to find the energy to help, she tried to relax and allow the men to shift her until she lay cradled in Roman's big arms.

"I'll take her," Seth ordered. Then as if she weighed nothing more than that of a doll, she was shifted from one set of arms to another. "I got you," Seth whispered against her hair.

They made their way backstage where Doctor Amann met them. "This is getting to be a habit with you guys," he half-joked, then motioned for Seth to place her on the gurney the paramedics brought. "Amber, can you hear me?"

She nodded, but didn't dare open her eyes.

"Tell me what's going on with you."

"I feel dizzy and nauseous," she murmured.

"Anything else?"

"Tired." She let her head lull to the side. "Very tired."

"Did you not sleep well last night?"

"Not at all," she replied. "Too stressed about what happened."

"Have you been sleeping well otherwise?"

"Not really." She couldn't remember the last time she'd gotten a complete night's sleep without waking at least twice during the night.

"Okay." Doctor Amann nodded. "Have you been feeling sick before now?"

She shook her head.

"What did you have for breakfast?"

"I didn't," she managed to reply. "I wasn't hungry."

"You haven't eaten at all today?"

She ventured to open her eyes a slit and shook her head.

"What did you have for dinner last night?"

"Nothing."

His face screwed immediately into a frown. "When did you last eat?"

She took a moment to think. "Lunch yesterday."

He pursed his lips, causing his frown to deepen. "Take her to the infirmary."

Seth grabbed Doctor Amann's arm "Doc?"

The doctor patted Seth on the hand. "No worries. I don't believe it's anything serious."

Seth turned his attention down the hall and watched the medics disappear around the corner with her. "Are you sure? She looks so pale."

"Positive." Doctor Amann smiled. "She's exhausted, but I doubt it's much worse than that. I'm going to administer an IV and make sure she'd hydrated. I need you to go to catering and bring some food over to the infirmary. Once she's well hydrated and nourished you can take her back to the hotel for some much needed sleep."

Relief flooded through him and he gave the doctor a nod. "Got it. I'll be there shortly."

He turned back to Roman, Lexi and Dean. "So who is going to tell Hunter about this?"

Lexi rolled her eyes. "After what happened last night, the poor guy will have a freaking stroke."

"Regardless," Seth replied. "He needs to know. Amber won't be able to wrestle tonight, which means our entire segment needs to be rewritten or replaced. Better to tell him now while there is still time to change the program."

He exchanged looks with Roman and Dean who both turned to stare at Lexi. Her eyes widened and she took a full step back. "Oh no."

"Come on, Lexi, please," Seth nearly whined. After everything that happened last night Seth knew he wasn't high on Hunter's list of favorite people. The task of dumping more bad news in Hunter's lap should definitely come from someone he liked and respected. Someone he wouldn't hurt.

"Why me?" She protested.

"Because Hunter won't punch you for screwing up his show," Dean replied.

"Chicken shit," Lexi snapped.

"Bak bak, baby," Dean quipped.

She narrowed her eyes at Roman. "I can't believe you're with them on this. Just throw me to the wolf to save your own hide. Real nice." She folded her arms over her chest.

Roman's lips tipped up to reveal a hint of a smile. His hand snaked out and caught Lexi by the hip, pulling her to him. "I promise." He nibbled against the soft spot behind her ear. "If you do this for us, I will absolutely make it worth your while."