DISCLAIMER: As much as it breaks my heart to admit it, I do not own anyone or anything connected to Vince McMahon and his awesomeness. I can only claim property rights of OC.

Cody let the dressing room door slam shut behind him. He was pissed and he wanted Randy to know just how pissed he was.

"What's your problem?" Cody crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Randy.

Randy didn't even look up from lacing his boots.

"I said what is your problem?" Cody moved to stand in front of Randy. Randy continued lacing his boots, trying to bite down the urge to knock Cody on his ass.

Cody tensed as he waited for an answer. He had never bucked against Randy's authority until now. He'd never had a reason. But now, after seeing the fear in Claire, he had one helluva good reason. Just when Cody thought Randy was ignoring him, Randy stood from the bench, bringing them eye to eye.

"You're my problem." Randy stared hard into the other man's eyes. Since when did Cody have the nerve to stand there and challenge him?

"Yeah? I'm glad I'm your problem! You need to back off of Claire." Cody took a step closer to Randy, bringing them almost nose to nose.

"I do? I didn't ask what you thought. That's not what you're here for." Randy's hands clenched. He wanted nothing more than to knock the shit out of Cody.

"I want you to leave Claire alone. She's scared. Of you." Cody's eyes narrowed.

"I don't give two shits what you want."

"Stop being an asshole."

Randy laughed, the low sound rumbling from deep in his chest. The sound was full of menace. "You want to chase a piece of ass, that's fine. If you want to fuck a little corporate princess, do it on your own time. But get one thing straight, when you're here, you're on my time. When you're here, you focus. Got it?"

Cody swallowed hard, Randy's vulgar words were like acid. He hated hearing Claire referred to as a piece of ass. She wasn't anywhere close to being something so casual. The hell of it was, Randy had a point. He had to focus. Guys who didn't focus ended up on the injured list. Guys who let themselves get distracted could easily hurt someone else in the ring. That just couldn't happen. Cody didn't want to be responsible for hurting someone because he couldn't focus.

Swallowing down the bile in his throat, Cody nodded, "Yeah, I got it."

Randy glared at Cody for another second the nodded. "Get dressed."

Randy slammed the locker room door behind him. He couldn't get the picture of them out of his brain. He felt like someone had submerged him in ice as he watched Cody lean closer to Claire. His blood had frozen in his veins as Cody's lips came within a hair's width of claiming Claire's. He couldn't let it happen. He just couldn't. Jealousy flicked along his spine, made him see red. He didn't want anyone else kissing Claire. Claire didn't know it yet but she was his.

* * * * * * * * * *

Claire stuck close to Jaz as they watched from the gorilla position.

"Everyone's talking about it." Jaz whispered, glancing around to make sure no one over- heard.

"Talking about what?"

"Cody kissing you." Jaz lowered her voice even more as John Morrison walked past them. He stood a few feet away, waiting for his music to hit. He glanced over at Claire and winked before pushing thru the curtains.

"He didn't kiss me." Claire hissed.

"Almost. If that snake hadn't interrupted he would have." Jaz looked at her friend, noticing how pale she was.

"Jaz, he's just a friend."

"Looks like he wants to be more than a friend." Claire could have died on the spot. The last thing she needed was Mark Calaway over-hearing their whispers. Claire turned slowly, looking up at Mark.

"No, he doesn't." Claire denied.

Mark nodded seriously, "Yes. He does. I know the look a man who is going after what he wants."

"Come on, Mark. Be serious." Claire looked between Jaz and Mark, hoping one of them would defend her.

"I know that look, Claire. That boy is on a mission." Mark patted Claire gently on the shoulder before walking away. Mark heaved a sigh of relief. He was encouraged by the buzz going around the locker room. He knew as long as Cody had taken an interest in Claire, he didn't have to worry. Randy knew there were certain lines you just didn't cross. No matter what. Stepping into another man's territory was one of them. Secretly, Mark was glad. He had been worried that Randy was going to try messing with Claire. He had a habit of making notches in his belt. He didn't want Claire to be added to that long list of women that had fallen for Randy's seduction.

Cody is much better Mark thought as he entered the dressing room. Cody might be young but he had a lot of heart. He had a gentleness in him that would be a good match for Claire. He had the strength and confidence Claire deserved as well as a gentle hand that would treat her right. Cody was not the kind of man that would take advantage of her then leave. No, Cody would make sure Claire got everything she wanted.

Mark slowly began packing his gear as Mike Mizanin, better known as The Miz, entered the locker room, quickly followed by John Morrison. "Dude, I got fifty bucks on it."

Mark folded a shirt and placed it in his bag, trying to ignore the high-pitched tone Mike's voice had taken.

"No way, man. I got a hundred on Orton. He's gonna hit that before Cody even figures out how his dick works."

Mark swallowed hard and counted to ten. He wanted to turn around and knock Morrison right on his over-inflated ego. He turned slowly, facing the two loud-mouth punks. There wasn't any doubt in his mind who they were talking about. It made his blood boil to think they were betting money. "You think that's funny?"

The Miz froze in place, realizing Mark had overheard. FUCK! Of all the people it could have been, why did it have to be their unofficial leader? Mark was not the kind of man you wanted to piss off. Apparently they'd done just that, "No, it's not funny."

Mark took a step toward them, cracking his knuckles as he moved. "You think it's funny to bet on something like that?"

Mike shook his head as Morrison opened his mouth to answer. Mark shook his head and pointed a finger at John, "Shut it. You wanna put money down on who is going to take advantage of a woman? What kind of perverts are you?"

Mark continued without waiting for an answer. He turned to John, "How would you feel if that was your sister?" Mark then turned to Mike, "How would you feel if that was your wife?"

Mike sighed heavily and glanced at John. "Sorry."

Mark nailed both of them with an icy stare. "If I hear one more word about this, I'm coming for you. Both of you."

Mark turned and grabbed his bag. If he stayed in the locker room one more minute he was liable to beat both of them within an inch of their lives. All Mark knew for sure was that he'd put the hurt on any man who tried to take advantage of a good woman.

*** A/N – Please read and review. The more feedback I get, the better the story gets! ***