"Hey, Taker, I think Vince is looking for you."

I jerked around at the sound of the voice on just the other side of me. I was skipping along, trying to keep up with Mark's long strides down the hall. I felt Mark's hand tighten briefly around my fingers before he consciously relaxed his grip. His chest brushed against my shoulder as he stopped and turned to face the man who'd spoken.

"Thanks, Show. Which way is his office tonight?"

Mark's voice was cold, filled with steel that I'd never heard in it before. I looked up at him warily. The closer we'd gotten to the arena, the tenser he'd become. He'd gotten quieter and quieter. We hardly exchanged more than a word or two on the cab ride from the airport. But when we stepped out of the cab and a few die hard fans had recognized him, he'd grabbed my hand and pulled me close. Carrying our bags in one hand he'd curled his other long arm around me protectively and hurried me toward the security entrance. I'd felt a little of our closeness returning.

Now I could feel the tension radiating from him, could feel the protectiveness in him as he stepped around me and placed his own body between me and the other man.

"Yeah, just go down this hall and take a right."

He gave a vague wave of one of his big hands to a door a few yards away from the one he'd just stepped out of. Big Show smiled and took a step closer to us. I felt Mark's hand tighten once again, felt the muscles in his arm tense.

"So who's the babe Taker? She's not who you were with last week."

This time I tightened my fingers around Mark's. I'd felt his grip loosen and saw him take a step closer to Big Show. I saw the instant anger that flared to life in Mark's green eyes and tried to defuse the situation. Tightening my grip on his hand I wrapped my arm around his, hugging his arm against my body and gave him a little tug down the hall. Once we got started he was willing to cooperate and kept moving at a steady pace.

I heard Big Show give an evil laugh, sending a chill down my spine. I never had liked his character on TV and his personality so far had not changed my opinion.

"It's not what you think, Dory."

I looked up at the sound of Mark's quiet voice. He pulled me to a stop just around the corner. His eyes were no longer hot with anger but more hesitant now. His hand reached out, hesitated briefly, then slid down the length of my throat, resting briefly on the pulse I know he could feel beating out of control. He gave a simple tap – tap with his fingers, just a couple of times before sliding his hand down my arm and lacing his fingers with mine. I was confused for just a minute before I realized what he was doing – the tap-tap was our signal that everything would be alright. I smiled at him.

"What I think Mark, is that what happened in the past is just that – the past. Last week, last month, last year doesn't matter. As long as it doesn't affect how you treat me, as long as it isn't something that's happened since you met me, then it's not going to affect us." I gave him a long look and then reached up, way up, to tap my own fingers against his chest, right over his heart. "As long as it stays in the past."

For the first time since we'd left my house at the crack of dawn this morning he smiled. A full smile, his lips curling and eyes shining brightly. I grinned back at him. We stood like that, staring at each other like goofy teenagers forever. It felt good to be back on the same level. There had been a distance between us the closer we got to the arena and I hadn't liked it. This was Mark, this was my Mark.

Suddenly a throat cleared behind Mark and I saw his eyes widen as he jerked around in surprise to see who'd managed to sneak up on him. A smile still painted his mouth but didn't linger in his eyes.

"Tony, I didn't hear you coming." Mark's voice was gravelly, rough with the desire he was trying to contain. He wanted Dory more every minute he was with her, it was starting to cut off his other senses. He never, never let anyone come up on his blind side but he'd never even heard Tony coming down the hall. And Tony was never quiet.

Mark watched as Tony grinned, his eyes running appreciatively over Dory before coming back up to meet his own. Tony's grin widened at the intimidating look on Mark's face.

Mark stiffened, enough was enough.

"Back off Tony." When Tony's grin only widened Mark gave up. Tony was a good friend and never did have enough sense to leave him alone. Shaking his head, he reached out and slapped Tony on the back. When Tony jerked in surprise and took an involuntary step forward, Mark was satisfied that he'd made his point without saying a word. Dory was his.

Nodding his head toward Dory Mark said, "I need you to do me a favor, Tony. Can you take Dory down to the front row and make sure she's ok? I think she'll be more comfortable down there. Stay with her. Ok, darlin'?"

He turned around to look at me. All I could do was nod. This was his show – literally. If he wanted me to wait on him backstage then I would. If he wanted me to sit out in the crowd then I would.

"Oh by the way, this is a good friend of mine Tony Dawson. Tony, this is Dory Sullivan. Take the best care of her Tony." He turned his back on Tony and focused his eyes on me. A tiny green flame burned in the depths of his eyes. The longer he looked at me the brighter the flame burned. Reaching out he wrapped a finger in a loose curl, wrapping it around his finger, pulling me closer.

"Tony will take you out to the arena floor and find the seat I've got for you." He grinned, flicking the end of her nose playfully. "You'll enjoy it. It's even better than those tickets you won off the radio. And I can guarantee you'll meet your favorite wrestler after the event."

I opened my mouth but before I could even think HHH, he laid his fingers gently against my lips and bent towards me. His breath whispered gently in my ear, "Me."

Grinning back at him I nodded. "I'll be waiting for you."

He nodded, satisfied. "Do you want to see the whole show or come back stage as soon as my match is over?"

"I'd rather be with you, if that's ok."

Mark nodded before turning to face Tony. "Take care of her Tony. Mine is the fourth match tonight. The only one after mine is the main event so she'll stay out front and watch the majority of the show. Bring her to my dressing room after my match."

Turning to face me he reached out a long arm and wrapped me in a tight embrace. "I'll see you later darlin'. The show's going to start soon and I've got to see Vince." Letting go he took a few steps away. "Tony will stay with you through the show and then bring you to my dressing room as soon as my match is over with. I'll see you later." Bending quickly he brushed a kiss across my forehead and turned away. "Take care of her Tony." There was an intense look that passed between Tony and Mark. I didn't understand the undercurrent and before I could ask, Tony nodded and Mark walked away.

We stood and watched him for a few minutes before Tony reached for my arm. We began to walk in the opposite direction.

"He'll be fine, Dory. The match tonight is an easy one and then you'll be right back together."

I glanced at Tony and smiled. "Thanks, Tony. I appreciate your reassurance."

My mind wandered back to the edginess that had been in Mark all day. The small confrontation with Big Show was just part of it. Something wasn't right. He'd been strung too tight and he'd told Tony to watch me and take care of me too many times. Something wasn't right. Mark had left out quite a bit about this simple trip.

Mark was right. The seats he'd gotten were great. I was front row center and could see every detail of the matches. The Hardy Boyz are great in person. High flying, risk taking, God they were great. And Brock Lesnar is huge. He walked right by me and looked in our direction. I'm pretty sure he was looking at Tony, wondering why he was sitting in the crowd. When I'd looked at Tony, he'd been staring at Brock with a frown on his face but when he'd noticed me, he smiled and started telling a story about his first road trip with Mark. I was easily distracted. I was eager to learn anything I could about Mark. But still there was a tingle of unease in the back of my mind. Something was wrong.

"So who's your favorite wrestler? Besides Mark of course."

Tony asked the question half way through the night. Brock Lesnar versus Goldust had just ended. Of course Brock had killed Goldust but it had been an interesting match.

"Besides Mark it would be HHH." I grinned at Tony. He was a great companion. He kept up a running commentary on all the guys. He had a story to tell on every guy that wrestled. "As a matter of fact, I keep giving Mark a hard time that I like HHH better."

Tony grinned and I could see he enjoyed the rib on Mark. His eyes flickered behind me and before I could ask what he was doing, he walked away into the crowd. In just minutes he was back carrying a homemade sign he'd bought from a girl in the crowd. I took one look at it and didn't ask how much it had cost. It would be worth it to see Mark's face when he came out to the ring.

I was laughing so hard about one of his Chris Jericho stories that I'd almost forgotten to be nervous about Mark's upcoming match. But then the lights went out and his music started. I was instantly on my feet, leaning against the railing.

I felt Tony moving up beside me, not out of excitement but taking more of a bodyguard position. I gave him a wry look, wondering what the deal was. He just shrugged and mouthed "Mark's orders" over the blaring music.

Just as Mark roared down the ramp, Tony elbowed me and told me to get ready. Tony's sense of humor hadn't been able to resist the sign. Mine hadn't either after he'd showed it to me.

Mark was dressed in his black leather pants and tank top and was wearing a red bandanna holding back his hair. I felt the frown cross my face when I noticed his hair. He'd braided it again. I understood the reasoning behind it but I still didn't like it. Mark did his regular routine of roaring around the ring and parking the big bike. The usual serious look he wore to the ring was firmly in place even after he'd entered the ring and looked our way. He didn't break character, no smile and wave but he'd already warned me that he wouldn't.

Tony elbowed me and I quickly jerked the sign up and over my head before Mark could look away. I saw his eyes widen and he took a step back before his eyes traveled down to who held the sign. I could see the green flame come to life in his eyes from where I was standing. His eyes flicked back up to the sign for a minute before coming back to me and Tony. A small smile curled his lips before he rubbed a hand over his face and turned to face the other side of the arena.

I lowered the sign and Tony and I looked at each other before busting out laughing. "I think we got his attention."

Tony laughed. "Yeah I think so. He definitely noticed your sign."

I looked down at the black writing on the brilliant white sign. I want to play The Game. Ok, it wasn't original but it was funny. I'd never forget the look on Mark's face when he'd seen it was me holding that sign.