Arg. I think I'm falling behind. I hate this, it happens to me all the time; just when I think I might finish a story, I run out of ideas, or I forget to write them down, or I just get too lazy to write at all. I'm sorry, but I have to say the lack of motivation in the form of reviews is starting to get to me. People are reading, but not giving feedback and praise. How the hell can I continue and entertain you all if you don't give me some general direction? Arg, I'm just frustrated with myself, don't take it personally, you guys. You know I love you all. At least you're all reading. Thank you so much!!! Well, here's the next chapter!! Enjoy!

Ashley asked Brian and Paul to stay with her that night, the fear Snitsky instilled in her not yet gone. She offered Layla and the girls to sleep over as well, but they declined, so Ashley climbed into bed, her boys on either side of her, Brian's arm tight around her waist and Paul's hand tangled in her hair. It was in the comfort of her best friends' presences that the Dirty Diva fell into an easy sleep.

Kane, on the other hand, didn't find sleep that night. His worry for the blonde diva caused him to toss and turn uncomfortably all night, half-wanting to sit outside her door, and half-wanting to find the ECW maniac and finish the job he'd started in the ring earlier. He decided against both, because sitting outside her door would feel strange, and would probably be very uncomfortable and hunting down Snitsky might cause more problems for Ashley, and make her seem like his weak point.
Like Booker and Charmelle, he thought grimly, thinking of Matt Hardy's brilliant yet cruel ploy during the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at 'Mania. Not only would I not want to put Ashley through something like that, there are no grounds for anyone to think that about her, or me.
Kane gave a frustrated huff and flopped over on his back for the umpteenth time.
God damn it...he growled silently, glaring at the ceiling.

Weeks passed with not a peep from Snitsky, (much to their general relief), and Backlash brought excitement to all three brands of the WWE. Matt and Jeff managed to hold on to their titles, much to Ashley's, (and inadvertently Kane's), joy, but the fall of Bobby Lashley threw a dark cloud over the three brands, and they could feel a shift in the already insane boss's mentality. Kane was only glad that he hadn't brought his 'do rag to SmackDown, and Ashley laughed when he told her this, and she began hatching a plan to remove the damned thing if he ever stepped foot on the arena premises with it on. Melina also held on to her Women's Championship, much to the Dirty Diva's chagrin, and the boys, Matt, and even Kane had issues keeping her leveled the few days following Backlash. Some times she could be caught stalking around and muttering angrily, and others she could be found training intensely, creating game plans for her currently non-existent future match with the A-List She-Witch.
She voiced her championship desires to Kane, who told her to go talk to Teddy and Vince for another title shot, but she would immediately back down, and bumble through excuses containing Mickie James, her 'horrible performance at WrestleMania', her ankle, and a million other miniscule things. Kane finally got exasperated with the cover girl and shortly told her to feed her excuses to someone else, which startled her and kept her away from him for a few days. At first he told himself he wouldn't back down, that he'd done nothing wrong in scolding her, but as the days went by he started feeling apologetic and guilty, something that hadn't happened in a long time. The only problem was that his pride wouldn't let him find her and voice his repentance. So he watched her from afar at house shows and live events, relishing in her team's victories and silently cursing those opponents who felled them.

Brian's victory over Domino excited her to no end, and she and her friends celebrated extensively. That, coupled with the fact that there hadn't been even a word from the manic giant from the Land of Extreme, was probably where her guard started to fall. Their Friday night taping in Pittsburgh saw most of the excitement trained on the steel cage match between the Animal and the Deadman and the bitter rivalry between MVP and Chris Benoit, but Ashley had a slight segment of her own, a call for a match with Jillian when her leg would be completely healed. Waiting backstage, Ashley gave her backstage Anti-Jillian bodyguards Brian and Paul a thumbs up before heading out from behind the curtain, her theme "Light a Fire" blaring in the fans' ears and unknowingly thumping its beat in Kane's chest. High five-ing fans and hopping on her good leg excitedly, Ashley slid into the ring and prettily accepted a mic from one of the many techs surrounding the squared circle. Her music dying down, the Dirty Diva cleared her throat and began speaking.
"Now, I know these past few weeks, my absence has allowed a few superstars to run a little rampant," she began, eliciting cheers from the crowd. "Melina...well, I can't really do anything about her right now, seems Mickie's been taking my place there, and good on her for that." More yells came from the fans as Ashley shrugged her shoulders and nodded. "Jillian, however, I can most certainly do something about that," she said, planting her feet firmly on the mat, her pleated camouflage skirt swishing slightly. "Michelle's been keeping the talent-less skank in line as best she can, but who dishes out discipline better than me?"
"Meow!" JBL exclaimed to Michael as the people in attendance went wild, and it took Ashley several tries to get a word in.
"So here's the deal--Jillian, it's going to be you and me, one-on-one, and you're going to pay for what you did. I'm going to make you hurt so bad that your mole in Boogeyman's stomach will feel it! I know you're probably too scared to come out, or maybe your singing has finally made your ears fall off or whatever, but hear me--you will get yours so get ready, beeyotch!" And with that, Ashley dropped the mic and went to slide out of the ring, when suddenly Snitsky appeared from behind the curtain, and began heading his way to the ring.
"Holy hell, JBL what the hell is this?" Mike cried. "What the hell is Snitsky doing here?"
"I don't know, it's been weeks since that scuffle on ECW, what good does it do him to be here on SmackDown?"
The question went unanswered as Snitsky cornered the blonde diva as she tried to run around the ring and escape, the insane bully grabbing a fistful of hair at the nape of her neck and pulling her against him.
"What's that evil son of a bitch going to do?" JBL asked as the monster tossed Ashley back into the ring. Stalking over to the announce table, Snitsky threw a technician out of his seat and folded the metal chair before climbing into the ring to tower of the cowering diva. Fear in her eyes, Ashley tried to crawl away, her eyes searching up the aisle for Paul and Brian, but Snitsky just laughed.
"This man is sick and twisted John, I mean, she's defenseless! From the looks of it, London and Kendrick have been disposed of already, she's helpless!"
"I don't know what's runnin' through this sick freak's mind, but I can only hope that someone comes to her rescue!" JBL replied to his announcing accomplice, completely in awe of the happenings in front of him.
"Your little boyfriends aren't going to help you, princess," the giant leaned down to whisper in her ear menacingly. "Big, bad Snitsky took care of them...no one's coming to help you now!" and his demented laughter filled her ears as he raised the chair above his head. Near tears, Ashley clenched her eyes shut and tried to cry out but couldn't, and when the steel blow she was expecting wasn't delivered, she cautiously opened her eyes and found Kane battling it out with Snitsky outside the ring. The ECW freak had a maniacal look in his eyes as he and the Big Red Machine traded heavy blows, but Kane just looked angry, his eyes aflame, his punches doing all the talking.
"And look at this, Kane has come to save Ashley yet again! It's a good thing Kane has a bad history with this beast, or else Ashley'd be toast!" Michael exclaimed, unknowing of the current personal history brewing between the Diva and the Big Red Machine.
"I'd hate to see the future Mrs. Layfield be hurt by that monstrosity, that's for sure," the cocky Texan commented.
"Be serious, you moron, she could have been ever more seriously injured then she was a few weeks ago!"
"And holy hell, Kane's just thrown Snitsky into the steel steps, it seems all hell has broken loose here on Friday night SmackDown!" JBL squawked as the bang echoed throughout the arena.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, huh?" Kane shouted at the woozy Snitsky. "What'd I tell you, you bastard? Huh?" and he kicked the monster in the chest repeatedly, causing the madman to jerk around in pain. Grabbing the steel folding chair from the ground that Snitsky had dropped, Kane stalked over to the bully and whacked him in the head. Rage flared in his eyes as he struck maniac twice and a third time. Slumping over, Snitsky moaned almost pitifully and Kane glared at him as he hopped into the ring, kneeling beside Ashley and brushing her tousled hair from her face. Sobbing with left over fear and rapidly-bubbling relief, Ashley shocked the crowd and Kane as she flung herself at the Big Red Machine, thanking him almost frantically.
Kane's here, safe now, her mind mantra'd; Kane's here. Collecting herself, the frightened woman pulled away and swiped at her wet eyes, and Kane helped her to stand. Lowering the middle rope, he assisted her in exiting the ring before stepping out himself, propelling the blonde up the ramp and away from the dazed Snitsky. Keeping his eye on the nearly-prone man outside the ring, he led Ashley backstage, where Paul and Brian were rousing and recovering from their own attack by Snitsky. Eyes welling all over again, Ashley threw her arms around them, apologizing repeatedly as they comforted her. Kane merely stood and watched the little scene with his arms crossed, his narrowed eyes occasionally glancing behind him, but without more than a grateful peek from beneath Paul's arm, the Dirty Diva allowed herself to be led away by her two friends to where they could hear Matt throwing a fit as he came from whatever direction he was coming from.

Hours later, Ashley managed to shake her three babysitters and snuck off to check the hotel gym, where her intuition told her she could find him. And find him she did, beating the life out of a large punching bag. Each time his large fists hit the leather, Kane gave a shout of frustration, and Ashley was almost too afraid to approach him. He threw punch after punch, before finally collapsing for breath, letting his hands rest on his knees as he panted. Sweat poured down his face and into the cut beneath his eye, given to him courtesy of Regal's brass knuckles. He swore furiously under his breath and swiped at his eye, and she finally stepped up to him, shyly offering him a white towel.
"Um...are you ok?" she asked as he gingerly patted his face. He didn't answer, but merely sighed.
"Thank you so much..." she began, brushing some hair back behind her ear and looking at her shoes. "That's the second time that you've saved me...I-I...I know you're mad at me and all, but I--"
"Stop," he said softly, touching her shoulder. "I'm not mad at you. You annoyed me, yeah, but after you left, I felt really bad for being so short with ya', and well...Well it's me who should be sorry."
Ashley stared at him in wonderment for a minute before practically tackling him into a hug, one that brought them even closer physically than the one in the ring earlier in the night. After the shock of the initial contact faded, he noticed how tightly she had herself pressed against body. He felt womanly parts molded against his skin, and was suddenly rocked with images of this scene with a slightly less innocent twist; clothes strewn across the floor, steamy breaths and heated words. The sudden thoughts reeled him, and he shook his head in earnest to get rid of the pictures, but only when he felt her warmth leave him did they cease, and he breathed a silent sigh of relief.
What the hell...? he thought to himself, but before any further thought could be processed, she spoke again, a little more cheerful, but not by much.
"I really just can't thank you enough, Kane...I know I must seem like such a little kid to you...I can't even take care of myself." she crossed her eyes and blew a raspberry in frustration.
"And you eat Lucky Charms," he commented.
"Ugh, gee thanks," she moaned, rubbing her temples.
"Hey, hey, hey now, no need to get all down on yourself. You take care of yourself just fine. There's just no protecting yourself against someone like Snitsky. He's a mean, vile, sadistic, evil, insane son of a bitch. He doesn't care about anything but hurting people."
Ashley sighed and flopped down on the rubber mat, stretching out on her back as she lay down. The assets that had nearly become a part of Kane's own body now seemingly bulged out, his eyes almost forcibly drawn to them.
Pfft, and just what is it exactly that I'm looking for, he scoffed at himself, but once again, a slideshow of illicit skin, two mouths breathing the life out of each other, hisses, tongues and nails across flesh flew behind his eyes, and when he blinked, he could have sworn he saw the Diva before him void of clothing and eyes full of heated desire. Rubbing his eyes, he looked again, but found only the fully-clothed Ashley, the crook of her elbow drawn across her eyes. Disappointment and relief flooded through him, and he was thankful she couldn't see the unwilling torture passing across his face.
Knocking the punching bag away with his hand, he nudged her with his toe before turning from her. "You're no little kid," he said as he walked away, causing her to sit up and stare after him, wide-eyed and confused.

-meep- Hurray for chapter seven!! Tra la la, Snitsky is so mean...And yes, I know that Edge picked his spot very well and did something that wouldn't have been possible without Mark Henry...for those of you who don't know, I'll stay mum, but for those who do, GOD DAMN IT!!! Lol.