Chapter Seven: Explanations

Disclaimer: I own everyone not recognizable

The next morning Carli's eyes shot open. She sat up gasping for air. She felt like someone had been choking her and she couldn't catch her breath. The nightmares were back. She did her best not to wake him as she got out of bed in a panic. Oh shit I'm going to be sick. Carli ran to the bathroom and relieved her stomach of its contents. She brushed her teeth frantically as if she could scrub away her dream. She started the shower and had it as hot as her skin could handle. She scoured her body over and over trying to erase the flashback. She started crying from the pain but she kept going. Half hour later she stepped out, her skin raw from the brutal shower. She brushed her teeth again and went to the bedroom. John heard her in the bathroom and watched her now. She got dressed for the gym, grabbed her cd player and ran out the door. He could tell something was up from the way her skin looked. He sat up and threw his legs over the side. Did I rape her last night? He jumped in the shower and continued to think about it. I don't remember hearing her say stop. She was screaming. He let the water run down his body as regret filled his heart.

Carli went to the hotel gym and was relieved it was empty. She pushed her body to its limits and fought the tears doing it. Other hotel guests came in and Carli decided to go for a swim. Again, nobody was in the pool yet. She dove in and did lap after lap. John went in search of her and even saw a few other wrestlers. They could tell something had happened by the look in his eye and the tone of his voice. He finally saw her in the hotel pool. He sat on a chair and waited for her. When she got out she saw him at the same time her body started shaking. She stopped and looked at him.

"Are you cold or is it me?" He said softly. Her teeth were chattering and her body began shaking so much she could barely stand. He grabbed the towels and wrapped them around her. When he felt her skin he was terrified. Her skin was turning purple and she was about to fall over.

"Let's get you upstairs." He picked her up gently as her knees gave out. She melted into him and felt as if she would pass out. He got her to the suite as fast as he could and lay her on the bed. He wrapped the covers around her tightly and went to draw a bath. He kept checking the water to make sure it wasn't too warm yet; he didn't want to send her body into shock. He took off his clothes and went to get Carli. He removed her bathing suit and carried her to the tub. He was glad it was a Jacuzzi so he could submerge as much of her as possible. He held her tight against his chest trying to warm her up. He knew to slowly warm her body and they sat there for several hours. He would drain and refill the tub making it a little warmer each time. All he could say to her was "I'm sorry." When he felt she was the right temperature he got them out and wrapped her in bed. He lay next to her helping to keep her warm. He stroked her hair and placed soft kisses on her face and head until she fell asleep.

"John?" She whispered. She looked around the room. "John?" Carli was trying not to panic. He came running back in the room. She was on the verge of hyperventilating.

"Hi." He said softly as he sat on the side of the bed and touched her face. He noticed she was breathing heavy and her eyes were wide. She looked at him and grabbed at him to hold her. She hugged him and squeezed him as much as she could. His heart wanted to leap out of his chest. He held her in his lap and rocked her back and forth. It took her awhile to relax but when she finally did she wanted food.

"Let's go downstairs." He laughed. They both dressed and went out the door. She was holding onto him a little tighter than usual. It was like she was hiding from something and wanted to just be inside his skin. When they got to the restaurant they saw the gang and were invited to sit with them. Carli hid her face behind John's shoulder and shook her head.

"Thanks, but we'll sit over here." John replied and gave a half-hearted smile. Sara and Torrie looked at John questioningly and he mouthed back 'I don't know.' The two girls looked at eachother as it hit them what it must be. They sat in a booth and Carli still hadn't let go of John. He turned in the seat to face her and cuddled with her. When the waitress came over he ordered for them both and noticed the gang was looking at him with worried faces. He gave them a sad smile and looked at Carli. He kissed her forehead and whispered, "If you want to tell me, I'll listen." When their food arrived she broke from John but still sat with their legs touching. When they finished eating they went back to the suite and sat on the couch. They were trying to decide whether to head for New York tonight or leave early in the morning. John had to be at the arena at noon for a huge meeting that was mandatory. Carli wanted to leave immediately so they packed up and headed to the lobby to check out. She again hid behind John and wore track pants, a tank top and his sweatshirt. She had on big sunglasses and a ball cap. While he checked out she called the hotel in NYC and said they'd be there that night. She practically ran out of the hotel and to the rented SUV. She jumped in and threw her stuff in the back. Carli just wanted this day to be over. When they arrived after the three hour drive, they went straight to their suite and got into bed. All she wanted to do was sleep. John was worried about her but didn't want to bring anything up that may upset her. He called Shawn and Rebecca and told them how Carli had been that day. He had to admit what happened the previous night, but Shawn and Rebecca said that wasn't it. Shawn said he'd talk to him at the meeting in the morning and he'd tell him what he thought might be it.

Carli woke up and decided she needed to tell John she'd be at the meeting with him. She didn't want any secrets between them. She went to the sitting area and saw him laying on the couch watching a movie.

"Hey baby, you feeling any better?" He asked as she lay on top of him. She shook her head and looked at him. John stroked her hair and looked at her with as much emotion as he could express without words. She kissed him trying to express her emotions.

"You taste like pizza." Carli said calmly. He had to laugh. "I have a confession of sorts. Well, not really a confession, I didn't do anything wrong. I just don't want to shock you in the morning." John looked at her like she would turn back into a pumpkin. "I work for WWE." He looked stunned. "I'm a lawyer. I cover everything from contracts to HR issues to merchandising you name it. Tomorrow's meeting is huge and I'll be there."

"Why haven't I seen you before?" John asked calmly.

"I have legal assistants and HR assistants who work directly with the newer wrestlers. I only deal with the wrestlers as their careers get bigger. Sometimes I never deal with a wrestler; sometimes I'm deeply involved in their careers. Hogan, Shawn, Mark, Mick, Dwayne, Paul. When they venture out of the ring, I need to help analyze and advise what's best for the WWE and that individual." John shook his head in understanding.

"So what's going on tomorrow that involves you?" Hoping she could answer him.

"Some things are happening that are serious. I can't talk about it but I know you're not involved or at least as far as I know. Do you need to confess anything?" She smiled at him and he shook his head.

"Just one small thing. I know it's only been a week, but I do love you. I know its crazy and this has never happened to me before, but I can't help it." Carli smiled and kissed him. Their tongues delicately playing with eachother. John knew there was no way he would touch her tonight even if she wanted. He wasn't going to again go through what had just occurred in Baltimore. They lay on the couch watching movies and Carli couldn't deny how safe he made her feel. He thought back and the only thing explainable if it wasn't him was a nightmare that seemed real to her. They both slept on the couch that night tangled up in eachother.

Carli was up and gone before John even stirred. She covered him with a blanket before she left and placed a note on the bathroom mirror. A limo arrived promptly at 7:30 to get Carli and her legal assistant and HR assistant were already in the car. They spent the 30 minute drive going over the meeting and the itinerary from Vince's opening to Carli's monologue to the powerpoint presentation to the review of the company policies. It would be a long day for the employees and she knew it would drain all of them. They went to Carli's office in the city before heading to the arena.

Everyone was handed a packet as the walked into the meeting that gave the breakdown of the day's events. They all sat down and waited for the meeting to start. A few of them asked John how Carli was and he said she was fine. Ever since they left Baltimore she seemed 100 better. He sat with the usual group towards the front. Suddenly the back doors flew open and in came a flurry of people walking swiftly down the center aisle. All eyes turned to see the commotion. In the center was Carli and she had five people around her. She was trying to talk on her cell and remove her coat at the same time. She still wore her sunglasses and she looked incredible. She handed her leather trench coat to a man on her left and when she finished her call she handed her cell to the girl on the right. She was wearing a black sleeveless turtleneck with a charcoal wool calf length skirt and knee-high boots. She was handed her briefcase and another cell phone. The group walked to the stage and began setting up. John just watched her as she took control of everything and was completely at ease with the insanity around her.

"She's fuckin hot!" John heard from somewhere behind him. "I need to get me a piece of that ass." He was beginning to explode when he saw the look on Carli's face. She had obviously heard the idiot because she was looking at someone behind him. The guy was being shushed but he was paying no attention. Show looked at John and signaled for him to relax. "I wonder what's she's wearing underneath that skirt." Carli picked up a piece of paper and flew down the steps and straight at the offender.

"Get out of my building, you're fired." Carli said calmly and quietly but her eyes were shooting daggers. The guy just laughed and shooed her away. "You have one last time to exit on your own." The guy continued laughing at her and even put his hand on the back of her knee.

"Come on pretty thing. Calm down I was paying you a compliment." The guy eyed her up and down. Quicker than he could blink Carli grabbed his hand and twisted it forcing him to the floor. She pulled his arm behind him and pushed up causing his shoulder to pop out of the socket. The entire room could hear the bones snap and the offender screamed in pain as he fell to the floor. Carli stood over him and placed her spiked heel in his lower back.

"Get the fuck out of my god damn building you nasty piece of shit!" Carli yelled in his face. She turned and looked at the guy who had been sitting next to the now fired stage hand. "You have three seconds to get his ass out of this building or you can join him on the street." Fearful for his job he had never moved so fast. Carli took a deep breath and went back to the stage. The entire room was dead silent. Some of them had seen Carli get mad but never like this. Most of the group turned and looked at John who looked very worried. Something was going on with Carli and he had to find out. The beginning of the meeting was two hours and the wrestlers were glued to the front of the room. Nobody wanted to see the wrath again much less on themselves. They gathered in catering for the break and John went straight to Shawn.

"Dude, what the fuck was that?" John asked him. Torrie, Trish, Stacy, Show and Mark came over too. Shawn signaled for them to step out so nobody could hear. They found a locker room and he motioned for John to sit down.

"Five years ago she was viciously attacked. She spent six months in the hospital. When I say vicious, I mean the worst thing your brain could imagine and then multiplied by 15. It took her awhile to become the Carli we all knew and loved but as you saw today and the other night at the club, she can snap instantly to defend herself if she feels violated. Sometimes it's extreme, sometimes not." John heard sniffing and he looked at the girls who had tears in their eyes. He noticed Show and Mark rubbing their eyes as they all thought back to what had happened. "We came real close to losing someone so pure and real and genuine. She means the world to all of us and for her to allow you into her life is an amazing thing, John. You're the first one outside of the group to get this close since before it happened." Shawn squeezed his hand as he processed all he had been told. "I'm guessing she had a nightmare about it and you saw her trying to clear it from her head."

"Does Baltimore have anything to do with it?" John asked. Shawn shook his head.

"Nothing really triggers the nightmares. When she's not with us she has bodyguards 24/7." Shawn replied. John stood up and ran his hands along his head. "It's a lot to handle, John, and if you can't, get out now." John moved to the corner and put his head against the wall.

"Where's this guy?" John asked his voice shaky.

"Nobody knows. We think Carli knows who it is but she's too scared. She gave a description and information but she won't give his name." Mark answered.

John turned and wiped his eyes. "He'll never fuckin' get near her as long as I live." He said as he stormed out of the locker room. He went in search of Carli and saw Shawn, Mark and Show right behind him. She was on her way out of catering and was on her cell again when she was grabbed by John and squeezed into a hug. She hung up her call and handed her assistant her phone and drink and hugged him back. John held onto her and vowed silently to protect her. Carli saw Mark, Show and Shawn standing close and could tell instantly they told him. She pulled away from him and put her hands to his face. She gave him a reassuring smile and kissed him softly.

"Everything's okay, baby." She whispered. He hugged her tight again. Her assistant ushered everyone back into the meeting and left John and Carli in the hallway.

"I want to know everything, but I can wait until you're ready to talk about it." He said quietly while still hugging her.

Carli pulled away, "We'll talk tonight." She smiled and kissed him. "We need to get back in there."

"Like I could actually pay attention." John retorted. He gave her one last kiss and they walked inside.