"So you're scared." Kane shrugged. 'She finally saw me for the monster I am.'

"I . . . well what just happened was scary." Carrie paused not knowing what exactly to say. 'I was scared of him just then, of what he would do. I know he doesn't want to hurt me . . . but what you want and what happens are two very different things.' She admitted the unfortunate truth to herself. "We should get going." Carrie headed for the door, but Kane grabbed her arm. She couldn't stop herself in time, she let out a frightened gasp.

"It's over now . . . I can't hear the voice anymore, I'm in control." Kane sighed trying to reassure her that everything was ok ' She's still scared of me. I want to tell her that it won't happen again, but I don't know that it won't.' He let go of her.

"That's good." Carrie nodded preceding an awkward silence.

"I don't know why . . . why it's happening now."

"All you needed was a little push here and there." The farthest stall door opened, it was the other Kane, one hand behind his back.

"You!" Kane didn't hesitate as he formed a human wall between Carrie and his attacker.

"was it you who was the voice Kane heard?" Carrie peaked around Kane's side.

"No." Kane contemplated weather or not it would have been better to lie.

"He's had that voice inside of him all along. He just tried to bury it. He never told you? This is what I wanted. I want you unhinged Kane, unrestricted." Even though his face was hidden one could be sure he was smiling, he felt as though he had won, that Kane was practically where he wanted him. 'He's almost there, he'll make me famous, monster versus monster.'

"You'll regret it." Kane took a step forward. Only then his impostor pulled what he had been hiding, it was the tire iron from before.

"Kane we need to go." Carrie tried to pull on his arm, but he refused to budge. 'What is Kane doing? He's going to try to fight him head on? Doesn't he see that he has an unfair disadvantage here? ' "Kane!"

"You go ahead." Kane's eyes were fixed on the man in front of him. 'I might not be able to keep control of myself, but I can take control of this. Who cares what he wants. What I want is to tear him to shreds.'

"He's got a weapon Kane. A mean one! Pick your battles lets go!" Carrie continued her futile attempts to pull him away.

"You wouldn't understand. They call him a machine for a reason, he'll lose every part, every bolt and gear just to get at me." Kane's doppleganger advanced till he was face to face with said machine.

"Carrie, I'm going to settle this."

"No, I'm not going to let you bleed out on the floor just to prove a point. I'm not joking around Kane we have to leave!"

"You should listen to her, Or me, or the voices in your head it doesn't matter really, same outcome. Aren't you supposed to be protecting her? Or is that not your goal anymore? You're becoming short sighted, seeing red?" He was spitting out jabs trying to rile up Kane again, and it was working.

"I can do both. I'm not going to be the one bleeding on the floor." Kane didn't turn around as he made his declaration.

"This is ridiculous!" 'If you can't beat them join them, hopefully this works.' She stood between the two towering men.

"What are you doing?" The mask tilted to the side in confusion.

"I'm not going to let you hurt him! " Carrie stood her ground.

"Big words." Before Kane could react Carrie had a gloved hand around her throat.

"For someone who is useless without her attack dog. Speaking of which what were you saying just a minute ago? You can't manage to do one thing right let alone two, you're biting off more than you can chew" He taunted Kane as his hold tightened.

"It's OK Kane." Carrie coughed, worried Kane would completely lose control again. Carrie was gasping and sputtering as he lifted her off her feet. Trying her best to control her flailing arms she reached into her pocket.

"Let go of her!" Kane went for a punch but stopped as Carrie was held as a human shield blocking his attack. " You said you wanted me unhinged, put her down and I'll show you what that's like." Kane growled as he watched on helplessly.

"You're close but not there yet, letting any feelings other than rage consume you. Just a few more pushes will do the trick. I have quite a shove planned too, do I have perfect timing or what? That's where you come in." Carrie's face was turning a grayish hue as she was able to get little to no air in. "You don't mind if I borrow her for a bit do you?"

"You're not taking her anywhere! I'll break your legs." Kane tried to figure out a spot he could take the man down at without hurting Carrie.

"You're in no position to threaten me! Now move! I don't know my own strength and that's bad news for her. I'll fight you when the time is right. Now isn't that time, like I said I have plans." Kane was surprised when with a thud Carrie hit the floor and the man who had been holding her was down on his knees, holding his face, groaning in pain.

"What just happened." Kane had not been privy to Carrie's master plan.

"Welcome to the real world!" Carrie panted and gasped as she struggled to get to her feet, Kane gave out his hand to help her. "Not everyone can power slam a titan, but anyone's paranoid friend can buy them mace from a kiosk at the mall." Carrie grinned holding up the can, she had bested him this time. ' I saved myself. Finally.' "Can we go now please?!" She pleaded to Kane.

"You can't escape me forever, I'm everywhere, I'll destroy you!" The impostor groaned. Kane placed Carrie behind him, walking over to the man on his knees still wiping his tearing eyes. Kane lifted him by the back of the head to position him on his feet, only to kick him in the sternum causing the man to fall yet again.

"Now who is in no position for threats?." Kane stared down at the man who was curled up in a wayward fetal position, covering his face with one hand and his other holding his chest. Kane wanted nothing more than to beat the down and out man till he was broken from head to toe, but glancing back at Carrie who was rubbing her throat her eyes thoroughly spooked, he reconsidered. "We can go now." Kane declared with some frustration, rolling his shoulders as he tried to calm himself. He took Carrie's hand and they left the bathroom. Their antics had not gone unnoticed, the entire pizzeria had their eyes glued on them.

"VERY Intense pizza experiences. Probably should wait a few minutes before going in there." Carrie pointed at the bathroom door, an uneasy smile on her face as she waved to the patrons. Kane still had a tight lock on her other hand.

"Are you ok?" Kane asked as they reached the car.

"I'll be fine." Carrie nodded. Kane handed her the keys, they had a mutual understanding that Kane was in no mental state to be at the wheel.

"If you want to leave in the morning I'd get it" He felt defeated, unknowing of what to do.

"I promised." Carrie shook her head.

"Promised?"

"That we'd get through this together."

"You're leaving monday."

"Well like monday ish, I figured seeing as I'm NOT bailing out on you, it would be a waste of a hotel room not to stick out the remainder of the week right?"

"You need to make up your mind." Kane was growing tired of all this plan changing. He wanted things to be simple like they had been. 'When all I had to worry about was me and my demons it was all easier, it was controlled madness, now it's just a madness free for all. I was a monster not a man for all this time. Can I even be both? Is it possible to be a functioning person and the monster I was bred and fed to be? I'm losing part of myself. That's why the voices are coming back, the monster won't let go so easy. She's right I do miss it. I want to have Carrie at my side but not at the cost of losing my identity.' Kane looked at his reflection in the car window. 'I WANT to stay a monster.'

"Plus you said you'd come visit, every weekend you could. Then I'll come back when everything is copacetic right?" She got in the car speaking surprisingly optimistically.

"I couldn't even keep a promise for all of four minutes. I don't expect you to stick around and-"

"Together Kane! It wasn't just a promise I have to keep it's one I want to keep ok? We're a couple now right?" Carrie went out right and asked.

"A couple?" Kane for some reason was caught off guard at that phrase even though they had been tip toeing around the topic for the better part of the week. "Yeah something like that."

"Something like that" Carrie rolled her eyes. "What a smooth talker, but I guess that makes sense for now."

"How's your throat?" Kane could see her skin redden where she had been grabbed.

"You just asked me if I was ok. I ask you if you're ok after slamming your back into a car and I'm overbearing. You ask about my throat and-"

"It's different." Kane snapped.

"How?"

"He's hurting you on purpose."

"I don't think he accidentally sent you through a windshield."

"You know what I mean! We all know . . . he reminds us all the time" Kane winced slightly "that he's hurting you to get to me. You can take on Lita or Maria all of the divas you want, but you can't be expected to be able to defend yourself from him. That's what I should be doing."

"Says who? I mean Sidney wants-"

"Says who? Says me! He's right when he says they call me a monster, a machine because I will bring down everything in my path. All this time I've been hell bent on destruction now you're here and-"

"You're off your game." Carrie knew what he was getting at.

"I'm a freak Carrie, that's what I'm meant to be. That's what I'm best at! I don't know what I'm doing. with you" Kane turned away and concentrated on the lines in road.

"You're not exactly blowing my mind." Carrie scoffed.

"You think this is funny? Don't mock me Carrie." Kane wanted nothing more to get out of this confining car, to get some real air.

"I'm not mocking you I'm agreeing with you."

"What?"

"You are a freak, a monster, it's my fault for pushing you so far out of your comfort zone. I apologize, you were right this whole time I don't understand you. I was looking at this through my point of view and flipped your world upside down because of it." They were pulling in to the parking lot. "It's caused you a lot of grief and pain and anger, I thought I was taking you away from all that but I was just shoveling more of it in your face. I took that whole conversation of us being friends, wanting me around, that you were starting to feel it was ok to be you, and ran with it because that's what I wanted, I was selfish. I can learn from my mistakes though! I can respect the monster you are, if you can realize that's not all you are." Carrie bit her lip waiting for his response. 'Why are you always so selfish Carrie, so stupid!'

"Splinter."

"What?" Carrie locked the door as they got out. 'Splinter?'

"That's the name of my pet rock." Kane changed the subject abruptly. "You said you wanted to know about me . . . I can try and show you what makes up a monster."

"I never meant to try and change you. Just wanted to . . . get a peak inside, you know? Under the hood of the machine. " Carrie smiled. Kane tilted his head slightly. "What?"

"That's actually your smile Carrie."

"Well yeah."

"It's a good smile."

"Thanks . . . but?" She could tell this wasn't a simple out of the blue complement.

"But the faces you make . . . That smile you have, the rest of the day."

"Not so cute?"

"That's not the problem. I meant what I said, if I had to be dragged out of hiding so do you. You're just as twisted as me Carrie, your here in hell with me, we both aren't normal. That's why we get along. Because you can appreciate it."

"Well I appreciate that your pet rock is named after the rat from teenage mutant ninja turtles, that's badass." Carrie laughed. Most of the time she didn't want to think about how different from everyone else she was. 'Fake it till you make it right? But maybe Kane's right. Maybe I can't hide forever . . . maybe I shouldn't want to.' She got lost in thought.

"I'm proud of you for knowing that." His big palm scruffed up her hair as they walked in through the lobby. "But I meant you appreciate what it's like to be a freak. I had my mind and body distorted, I'm a freak from head to toe." He looked at himself in a lobby mirror, usually he opted not to look at himself, it just reminded him of the monster everyone sees, but today was a day of self reflection. 'Lizzie said you found me attractive at the bar that night. What about this face could you find attractive, it has to be.- "You're a freak too, just one that can hide it better."

"Is that a good thing?"

"No. I can make other's feel my torment, I can find pleasure in their fear and suffering as any monster would, and I can do it out in the open. I want people to feel the way I do, I want them to feel what power a freak can unleash. You hold it in Carrie, only thing that gives you away is that freaky smile."

"Freaky smile? Like I said not so cute I guess" She crossed her eyes inward to try and see her mouth. Kane couldn't help but laugh as her face contorted, eventually Carrie caved and began to laugh too.

"People say my smile is demented, but if they really looked they'd see that your smile's that of a true blue freak." 'Still cute, sometimes, but cute isn't everything.'

"You're not the first one to say that." Carrie shrugged.

"And you do it anyway?"

" I can't really change it . . . I just am . . . a freak, a freak who puts on a smile every hour of every day because . . ."

"Because why?" Kane's hand thudded into the elevator button.

"I'm the opposite of you Kane. I don't want people to feel my pain, my torment, my fears. I don't want people to feel what I feel. I don't even want people to see me, I want to be invisible. I'm not so good at that part, too eccentric for my own good. What I am good at is closing those emotional demons neatly away and replacing them with a smile. They're still there it just doesn't really matter anyway." She shrugged as she passed through the doors, she wasn't making sense, not even to herself, she was rambling like a crazy person. "It's just that I'm not confident like you."

"Not confident? You must not understand that word." Kane's nose scrunched baffled by her statement.

"You are a presence to be taken notice of."

"Because I'm a monster!"

"Because you demand that notice, that respect, that fear even. If you have something to say everyone will listen. I'm not confident that anyone would bother to listen to me if I had anything legit to say. I'm afraid I'll lose what I have . . . who I have. No one wants a debbie downer, at least if I smile I know my friends will stick around." Carrie shrugged again as they reached their floor.'Simple as that.' "But I never perfected a genuine smile, a girl I used to work with . . . Ashley!" Carrie dug the name out of her memory banks. "Said I had a sociopath smile, like a serial killer . . . but not in a bad way." Carrie laughed, that statement always hit her funny bone.

"There's a good way to be a sociopath?"

"Not really sure." Carrie had asked Ashley that same question. "She said I wouldn't kill anyone though, I was weird but harmless. I've been called worse. That description stuck though, people at the shop started calling me WBH."

"You let them tease you like that?"

"They weren't teasing me . . . at least I don't think so." Carrie fumbled for her room key. "And who cares if they were, no harm no foul, didn't hurt my feelings. Always wanted a nickname. Ah ha!" She finally got the door open.

"Odd ball." Kane shook his head as he watched her belly flop on the bed.

"That one works too." Carrie lifted her head from the mattress. "Do you need to take a shower? Cause if not I call dibs! His gloves smelled rank." She turned over onto her back.

'I wasn't fast enough to stop him. Whatever he has planned it includes her.' He just stood there silently. 'I am off my game.' His jaw tightened. 'Past my prime?'

"Is that a yes or no?"

'You can't protect her. Not from him, and not from yourself.' He recalled what the voice had told him. Kane was still battling with himself. He was confident that if he didn't have the distraction of his feelings and concern for Carrie he could take out the other Kane, he could control and center his rage during any fight he was in. 'As just a machine.' But he was in a relationship now, he had someone to care about, someone to protect. 'As a man.'

"Kane is everything ok?" Carrie got up and waved a hand in front of his face. Kane grabbed her wrist.

"How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Be a functioning freak. I can't beat him like this." 'I don't have enough time to make a difference by becoming physically stronger.'

"Like what?"

"With Emotions" He frowned. "Any emotions." Even the word made him feel queasy and weak.

"Sure you can. Do what you've done with every other hindrance, work it to your favor. Then shove it in everyone's faces." She grinned. "People told you that you were deformed, you took that 'deformed body.' and made it an indestructible force. They told you that you were insane, you channeled those problems into a unshakable mindset. People called you a freak, you embraced that. Emotions suck." Carrie saw the shock on Kane's face. "Yeah any person who says feelings are great . . .bullshit. We've both known what it's like to have emotions, and not. Tell me things aren't easier without them."

"You don't have emotions?" 'I'm fighting to learn how to balance mine and she's feeling nothing at all?' "That's a lie." He now vaguely understood what it was like to feel and care, it was written all over Carrie's face.

"I do now. Ages sixteen through like twenty three twenty four . . . just nothing just going through the motions. I'd feel happy, sad, angry, infatuated . . . every once in a while, but for the majority that time, emotional flatline." Carrie scratched the back of her head nervously.

"What changed?"

"Something . . . blah blah blah . . . short story shorter I had one of those feeling spikes . . . but this time it never stopped . . . the emotion, and it was like a slow trickle one emotion after another . . . tried to stop it, because like I said, they suck but didn't really work out." Carrie sighed. "It's not all awful though! I mean there are obviously good emotions!"

"That's what I need to get rid of!" Kane stated as if he had come to a epiphany.

"You want to . . . stop being happy?"

"Yes." Kane nodded.

"I could mace you, seemed to suck the joy out of that guy."

"Well that mace was meant for me wasn't it?"

"Huh?"

"Sidney bought it right?"

"Yeah."

"Then I'm willing to bet my good eye that he said to use it on me." Kane was quite confident. 'He still thinks I'll hurt her' "am I right?"

"Good news is . . . you get to keep your eye." Carrie chuckled weakly.

'You need some kind of protection. Who knows when your 'date' will snap. He's insane Carrie! You're getting in over your head. But what do I know?' Carrie recalled the conversation that had transpired as Sidney purchased the item.

"Right." Kane scoffed.

"Anyway back to my point." She could see the soured look on Kane's face. "You always could use those good emotions as a benefit."

"What as fuel to do what I do best? Destroy? The two don't exactly go hand and hand."

"When you win a title how do you feel? Good right?"

"Yeah but that's not what I'm thinking about in the ring. I'm thinking-"

"No but it's the light at the end of the tunnel right? Put your good feelings, at the end of the tunnel, a desirable outcome. When you're in the ring, in a fight, toss them ahead of you. Do what you do Kane. Do you! Destroy. Just pick them up afterwards, your reward, if they're really good feelings they'll be there."

'Hungry hungry hippos.' Kane flashed back to a similar conversation from years ago. "Carrie you are my good emotions."

"No, that's not how it works. Those emotions are all you!" She frowned, it didn't seem like Kane was getting it.

'She's getting angry at me?'

"But Rome wasn't built in a day." She took Kane's cheeks in her palms. "And I learned my lesson, no need to rush the machine, it might overheat." She leaned up and kissed him. "Now come on." Carrie brought her hands down from his face and began to tug on him.

"Where are we going?" Kane was tired, just wanted to lay down.

"To take a shower." Carrie had a cheeky grin. 'Not everything had to be so heavy, I'll show you good emotions.'

"Together?" Kane was caught off guard. "I barely fit in there by myself." Kane pointed out.

"A tight fit never hurt anyone." Carrie laughed. "That and there's a lock on the bathroom, no ambushers. I think we should end this date on a high note."

'That skin.' He wanted to see and feel her skin again, he felt his urges rise.

"If they storm this door. I will kill them all." Kane pointed out.

"Stop thinking so negative. Monsters can have good times too you know." She finally lured him into the bathroom, locking the door behind them. Till the hot water began to run out they staid in that shower.

"I finally know how you feel." Carrie sighed as she ate breakfast the next morning.

"About what?"

"About wanting someone to stop smiling." She chuckled looking at Kane who seemed capable of smiling and scowling at the same time. "You have to stop doing that."

"Why?" Kane didn't understand isn't this what she wanted, for him to be less angry.

"Alright! good job man!" Murdoch appearing from seemingly nowhere had his hand in the air for a high five.

"Good job on what?" Kane seemed annoyed that his breakfast was being interrupted.

"Now's not a great time." Carrie spoke on Kane's behalf.

"I get it I. I'd need to refuel too after a long night." Murdock seemed oblivious to who he was speaking too as he gave an awkward wink to Carrie. "There was a bet going around the locker room if you two would-"

"For the love of god please stop talking! I just want to enjoy my waffles." Carrie shook her head.

"You should show her some respect. She's not a horse to be bet on." Kane's chair squeaked as he pushed himself away from the table and stood, looming over the redneck.

"Hey hey." Murdock put his hands up in defense. "I didn't bet on y'all just saying that I was cheering for you man. Glad you guys finally did the deed, or however you city folk say it." He pointed at Carrie not really wanting to took Kane in the eye.

"We don't-"

"What we do. Is none of your or anyone else's business. Does your small brain understand that?" Kane gave Murdoch a shove.

"Loud and clear." The fearful man nodded and scampered away. Kane sat back down, he wasn't going to let this ruin his day.

"Aaaand that's why you can't smile like that" Carrie laughed.

"What does that have to do with anything."

"You and that smile are basically a walking billboard advertising to anyone within a ten mile radius to the fact that we had sex. I don't especially care, but other people do and you can't go toe to toe with everyone that makes a comment."

"I disagree." Kane stated confidently.

"Alright" Carrie shrugged. "Do you. Be as happy as you want." Carrie smiled back at him. "Just know that, we will have sex again, there's no need to get SO hyped."

"Monsters never get the girl, it's a victory ok?"

"Ok." Carrie stood up, playfully rubbing Kane's head. "So my and pose had a day planned if you want to-" Carrie began as she walked to the lobby. Kane got up, rolling his eyes.

'How many times do I have to tell her, I can't let her out of my sight.' "Yeah sure." He followed her.

"Oh god damn it!" Sidney shouted as Carrie and Kane came into view.

"What?" Carrie asked puzzled as to how Sidney could be angry already.

"You two had sex didn't you?" Sidney questioned with disappointment in his voice, it was written all over Kane's face just as Carrie had warned.

"It's none of your business!" Kane snapped.

"I have to look out for Carrie and she could do better than you!" Sidney's words struck a cord with Kane you could see his face turn from annoyed to angry. Lizzie and Janet got out of the car.

"Is everything ok?" Lizzie asked as Sidney and Kane continued to argue.

"Sure, if you overlook the face that we're about to witness a homicide.

A/N (Story spoiler alert.)

Approximately two or three chapters from now in the original story Undertaker makes a cameo. But I was considering using a different superstar from Kane's past. What does everyone think?