Smackdown was nearly ready to hit television screens worldwide. Thousands of fans had flocked into the arena after hearing rumours that Undertaker would be making a special appearance. It was completely packed to the rafters with fans all chanting and cheering their favourite wrestlers names waiting to see what would happen first.

Having such an amazing fan base like that had always made Mark happy. Since his debut his fans base had grown rapidly with supporters all over the world chanting his name, wearing merchandise with his ring name on it and showing their support any way they could. He had never experienced a feeling quite like this and hearing the fans chant his name in the arena started to make the adrenaline rush unbearable. Being out in the empty arena earlier today he had discussed a good match with A-train and they both agreed Mark would get the pin fall victory.

Although A-train hated lying, he couldn't really tell Mark about the segment taking place midway through the match with Laura. He had to be made aware of interference by Test but as far as Trish and Laura's interference, he had no idea it was coming. A-train only hoped he'd stay in character and not try to hurt anybody or cause a scene on live TV.

As Mark strolled the corridors to head to the canteen he didn't notice the arrival of Laura. Little to Mark's knowledge, she had been in the arena for quite some time without him knowing. But she had just gone down the corridor to head to the locker rooms to change, when Mark turned his head as he got distracted by idol conversation by Gail and Jillian who were hanging around the make up room. "Hey big man" Gail said in what she thought was her sexiest voice; Mark just nodded and said "Ladies"

"Where you off to then? Mind if we come with?" she had got up off the seat and stood in front of him "I couldn't help but overhear you're having problems at home, but don't worry we'll make you feel better" she ran her finger down his chest and Mark looked irritated and just carried on walking without a backwards glance.

That's exactly why I don't socialise with Divas, nothing but trash!

He glared angrily at anybody who crossed his path as he made his way to the canteen to eat. Who does she think she is? Coming onto me I could flatten her in an instant. He smiled at that evil thought as grabbed some food and made his way over to an empty table.

There's nothing or nobody to distract me tonight for my match, I will be happy and that's how it will stay, no diva trash eye candy at my side. He smirked again as he tucked into his food focusing on the match he had tonight against A-train.


Takes place a few hours before the live smackdown broadcast:

After a short flight from Sanford to Charlotte NC Laura had arrived at the hotel she was staying in and checked into her room. She quickly deposited all the things she didn't need and packed a small bag for the show that evening. She never went to an arena without her ring gear just in case there was a schedule change and she was needed. With her bag packed and her stuff all put away safely she headed out of her room and down the corridors to exit the hotel, to grab a cab to the arena to get some practise in ready for the segment later that night.

The cab ride only took ten minutes, which Laura was grateful of, as the cab driver had recognised who she was and kept badgering her with questions. She answered some but other times she just wanted to rip the guys head off for being such an ignorant jerk. But realising that stress was not what she needed right now; she headed into the arena through the back entrances and made her way down the corridors heading down to the arena. Friendly and familiar faces greeted her and she smiled and greeted them back. "Yo Laura you looking for anybody in particular?" she turned her head and saw it was Phil who worked with the ring crew "Yeah just need to find test and A-train"

"They were in the ring when I last saw them, but they were with the undertaker and he didn't look too pleased as usual"

The knot in Laura's stomach tightened as she heard his name again, she had spent the past few hours suppressing him from her mind so she could think straight. But hearing it again brought everything back and she had to swallow the thick lump in her throat that had suddenly formed. "Are you ok?" Phil asked noticing Laura went quiet when he mentioned the Undertaker "I'm fine, just need to head somewhere" she bid him goodbye and then made her way down the rest of the corridor to check whether Mark had exited the ring yet.


"Do you think this storyline will go ahead?" Test asked A-train as they were just putting together small matches to keep themselves entertained until the show later that night. "I'm not sure" A-train replied looking at his tag team buddy.

Mark had told them both about the meeting he had with Vince and they could instantly tell his hatred of it. He had never been one to socialise with divas, they had known that fact since the very first day they arrived in the WWF days. And hearing about this storyline made them uneasy and fearing slightly about Laura's safety for both career and personal. "Mark has never really been a fan of divas, but I've noticed that whenever he mentions Laura's name he acts likes he's really against it but there's a sparkle in his eyes"

"Well he's only just finalized the divorce with Sara, maybe he's not comfortable being around women"

"Could be, that might explain a lot of things"

"Like what?"

"Well for starters maybe he doesn't want to get close to Laura because he's afraid he'll end up liking her or summat"

"Could well be, anyway enough of that we need to find Laura to discuss the segment" Just as they said that Laura poked her head out of the curtain to check who was in the ring. When she saw both Test and A-train she smiled in relief and made her way down the ramp towards the ring.

"There you are, we were just about to send police patrols out looking for you" Test said as he watched Laura slide under the ropes and into the ring "Sorry guys, the cab drive here was a nightmare"

"What happened?"

"Just some jerk cab driver kept asking me questions and deliberately driving slow so I had to answer them and then he charged me more fair"

"Wow what an ass"

"Yup, anyway enough about him. What's happening with the match tonight?"

"Well we spoke to Mark" A-train replied "And he seems ok with Test beating him up outside for the distraction but he doesn't know about Trish getting involved yet"

"Which by the way where is she?" Test asked only just realising she wasn't around. "I saw her in the back a couple minutes ago"

"She should be here otherwise it's gonna mess it up tonight"

"Don't worry guys," Laura said warming herself up for practise "If I know Trish like I think I do, she'll just play along with it tonight"

"Mmm lets hope so" Test shook his head but then said "So, about this distraction. We were thinking that when Trish gets up on the apron to distract the ref, I pull Mark out the ring to beat him up and A-train distracts him as well. But then you run down the ramp to knock Trish off the apron and start to fight with her outside, I then see what happens and come over to get you away from Trish. You quickly get off her and as I am helping Trish up, you climb to the top rope and dive off it onto both of us knocking us to the floor. A-train becomes distracted by this so Mark can pick up the victory" Laura nodded taking it all in but then said "How'd you think Mark will take this?"

"We were discussing this and we're still not sure" Test admitted but said, "We don't see what the problem is with it"

"Mark doesn't like having a diva around him, but I've never understood why. He never minded before when a diva asked him for help with a move or submission, but these past couple months it's like he's made of stone" Laura shook her head but carried on stretching. A-train looked at Test and then they looked back at Laura, "You haven't heard have you?"

"Heard what?"

"Mark got divorced last year, and in these past few months its been finalized and Sara took everything away from him. She really raked him over the coals" Laura just looked at him completely shocked at what she heard, but listened when A-train continued "So for the past couple months he's been all over the place, keeps taking his anger out on the wrong people and sometimes takes it too far when wrestling"

"How'd you mean?"

"Remember that match he had with Jamie Noble?"

"Yeah"

"That bloody nose and broken cheek bone weren't part of the script" Laura leaned back on the term buckles for more balance as she remembered watching that match. Mark had walked to the ring with a purpose that night and made poor Jamie suffer. He beat him senseless and soon he was knocked out cold. Laura shivered as she remembered watching him being wheeled to the ambulance with his face covered in blood.

Test noticed Laura looked pale and tried to reassure her "He's calmed down a lot since then and spent the next few weeks suffering the consequences for his actions against Jamie. He apologised to Vince and the main board of directors for that and was then given some time off to cool down. Thankfully he's been fine ever since"

"But is still treating all women like crap" Laura frowned at that, is that why Mark was so against this storyline? He thought she was just some slut who wanted to jump into bed with him?

"I wouldn't put it as harshly as that"

"Then how would you put it?"

"I'd say that Mark is just afraid of getting hurt again, beneath this tough exterior Laura is a real man with feelings, and right now he's hurting. Sara really did a number on him and since then he's had his guard up and tends to hide away and show no emotion. Maybe having a little ray of sunshine like you around could brighten his days up again because right now he needs someone; I'm not saying another lover. But somebody to show him that friendship and caring about somebody are not bad things. He's licking his wounds and I think that you can be the one to heal him. I only hope for your sake and for the future of this storyline that you do it soon, otherwise you're in for a rough ride with the deadman"


Authors Note: Here you go guys, 3 more chapters are up! Sorry it took so long, College work just seems to be getting in the way. I'm currently writing the chapters where Mark finally becomes the good guy so I hope you'll enjoy it when it's posted! :)

Also i'm not sure why i put Smackdown as a live broadcast on thursday night, I remember watching it ages ago and it was on thursdays not fridays, anyway its my story so i can do what i want with it! haha :)