Chapter 10: Keep Laughing Lass

When Teddie made it back to the hotel at ten after ten, she was met at the door by Marcia.

"You rent this hotel for one night or two?" Marcia inquired in broken English.

Teddie frowned. "It should be five nights."

"No way."

"Why? What happened?"

"When I talk to the man at the desk. He say you only rent this bedroom for one night."

"What??"

"He say that we leave tomorrow."

"Ugggh!" Teddie groaned. She collapsed on the bed. "Tell me, what else can go wrong?"

The TV program Marcia was watching was playing a story about two teenage girls who had been raped. "I saw this last year," Teddie mused after watching for a moment.

"It is horrible, no?" Marcia commented.

Teddie shrugged. "I can't say as I feel sorry for either one of the girls," she admitted frankly.

Marcia was shocked. "Mama mia – why?"

"You know, they were never with the guy again after that night. Sure, it happened. It hurt. But then it was over. They never had to deal w/him again, except when they got to send him to jail. They were able to move on the very next day."

Marcia frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Teddie squirmed uncomfortably.

"I had to watch this program with Aidan—my ex," She finally said. "Aidan was a good guy...most of the time. But he had his problems. He liked to keep all his ducks in a row. He didn't know how to have fun. He didn't know how to compromise. It was ultimately his way or the highway. He was good about the little things, but when I would talk about the future and stuff like my career or how I had always dreamed of adopting at least one kid, he would freak out on me."

Marcia listened in silence. This was obviously something Teddie needed to get off her chest.

"And he was really strange about sex. He wanted it how he wanted it and when he wanted it. He made me sleep with him not even a week after Gracia was born. It just...wasn't safe. I hadn't had any time to heal. I hadn't even stopped bleeding. A couple weeks after that, he raped me for the first time. He choked me to keep me from fighting him. It was after that, when I started researching marital rape, I realized he had been manipulating me for a long time.

"You don't understand how it is to have someone who says they love you turn on you like that. You can't get away from it. You can't turn them in to authorities, because you love them and you think it's your fault. You have to live each day in fear of it happening again. You can't trust the person you love most in the world...and the person who says they love you. You have to face that person everyday when you wake up. You have to go to bed with them at night. Most girls who are raped never have to deal with their rapist again. But I had to sleep with that man every week for months after it happened." Teddie felt her eyes stinging. "That's why I don't feel sorry for those girls," she finished.

"I am sorry," Marcia tried to empathize.

Teddie shrugged. "It's done, it's over. Time to move on. Just promise me something, ok Marcia?"

The lady nodded.

"Don't ever tell anyone what I just told you."

"What if one day, you find a boyfriend?"

"Especially not him."

Mean Gene Okerlund began by introducing the Brisco Brothers to the crowd for WWE Hall of Fame class of 2008. While Teddy was pleased to have a special position up front as the photographer, she was secretly wondering how long her knee would hold out in high heels. Despite the brace, it already felt shaky.

Teddie was surprised and pleased to discover the Briscos were of Native American heritage. Her own grandmother was a full blooded Native American although with light skin and freckles, Teddie definitely took after the German part of her bloodline.

When JBL appeared to introduce the Brisco brothers, Teddie was surprised to hear him cracking jokes. Although he said them with a straight face and evil eye (in the beginning anyway), she was forced to lower the camera a couple times to contain her own laughter. She looked over at the other superstars seated on the front row and felt a feeling of contentment rise within her. It felt good to see them off stage and relaxed. When JBL pulled a joke, she glanced over and snapped pictures of various superstars smiling and enjoying themselves. As she zoomed in for a closeup of Edge, she swore he smiled just for her benefit, although it was hard to tell if he were looking directly at her from behind the dark shades. She even thought she saw Kane smile at one point.

Teddie had never heard of most of the inductees and there were many more other wrestlers in the audience she didn't recognize. She wished she knew more about the old times, but she had only started to watch wrestling a year previous.

Out of the corner of her eye, Teddie saw another photographer sneaking shots with a huge Canon.

"I hate fucking white lenses," she muttered to herself. Her D200 was the best she had been able to afford, and she had saved up for a long time just for that.

She must be tired, because she wasn't taking as many pictures as normal. While the other photographers buzzed right and left of the stage and audience, Teddie stayed mostly in one place, using her zoom lens to capture far off images. She knew she should be moving around more, but she was grumpy, exhausted, with a headache and a sore knee. She did walk to each side of the stage and carefully around the main audience, taking her time on every shot.

When Ric Flair's highlight reel played, CM Punk appeared for a brief moment, commenting on Flair's interviewing skills. Teddie glanced over at the rows of superstars, but although she knew Punk was there somewhere, she failed to locate him. And at this point she was so disgruntled she didn't even feel like looking.

"Somebody looks tired."

Teddie was reviewing her pictures after the ceremony and started at the sound of the male voice. She was surprised to see Finlay standing behind her.

"I am," She admitted, "It's been a long night."

She could've sworn Irish eyes were smiling, but it was almost impossible to tell...save for the crinkles at the corners of his shades.

"You headed home?"

"Yeah," Teddie nodded. "Soon as the crowd clears a little."

"And where might home be?"

"Right now home is a hotel room."

"Would it be alright if I offered you a ride back?"

"To the hotel?"

Finlay nodded.

Teddie shrugged wearily. "I suppose so."

"You look a bit little down and out - I am guessing your spirits could use a lift." Finlay added, motioning toward the door. "Let's beat the mob before they trample us."

"Ok," Teddie let Finlay open the door for her and they stepped outside.

Finlay took Teddie's elbow and guided her to the left. At the curb he stopped by a black car and opened the door, motioning for her to get in.

"What's this?" Teddie asked as she stepped toward the car.

"Rented car," he explained.

"Ahhh...I see."

As Finlay started the engine he asked, "Alright, where to?"

"Same hotel as y'all I think," Teddie said. There was an awkward moment of silence.

"So...you're from Belfast?" Teddie tried to initiate a conversation.

"Born and raised on her very streets."

Teddie smiled. "I've always wanted to visit Ireland. My own surname is Irish, actually."

"Oh really? What's that?"

"O'Toole," Teddie smiled. "My great grandfather and grandmother were immigrants."

"What part of Ireland?"

"I'm not sure, actually," Teddie admitted. "I do know that I'm directly descended from William Brewster who came over on the Mayflower, but he was English."

Finlay smiled. "Well, you should find out where your Irish side hails from," he said, "You might still have relatives in the old country."

"It's possible," Teddie acknowledged. "I know I have relatives in Germany also. I know at least one of my grandfather's brothers rose to the rank of Captain in the Nazi army during World War II. I think another was involved with the Gestapo, but I am not sure."

"So you are Irish, English and German."

"And Native American. I guess that makes me all-American, doesn't it? I have a bit of everything in me. But our family affiliates ourselves with the Irish because of our name."

"Well, that works."

"I guess." Teddie nodded.

"How do you like workin' for the WWE so far?" Finlay asked after a moment's silence.

"It's been fun so far. I never realized how hard it was to live on the road though," Teddie admitted. "Sometimes I just wish I had my own bed and my own town. And that I could just get into my truck and drive to wherever I want to go. I have a dog and a horse that are living on my parents' farm right now. I miss them so much. Especially my dog," Teddie owned. "She was my best friend and she was so good with Gracia."

"Gracia?"

"My daughter," Teddie said.

"You have a boyfriend or are you married?"

"Neither," Teddie shook her head. "I had a boyfriend, whom I considered my husband. He was...anyway."

"Abusive?"

Teddie frowned. "No. He just was never around and he couldn't communicate. The differences were irreconcilable."

"Mm-hmm." Finlay's tone indicated he did not believe her.

"Do you have a dog?" Teddie asked suddenly.

"What?" Finlay was taken off guard.

"I dunno...you seem like kind of a dog person."

"I have a dog, yes."

"What kind of dog?"

"Irish Wolfhound. Why?"

The complete bewilderment on his face caused Teddie to laugh.

"What does this have to do with anything?" He asked, chuckling himself.

"I don't know. I'm oddly spontaneous sometimes. I'm sorry." Teddie couldn't stop laughing.

"I see."

"I'm sorry," Teddie repeated, fearing she'd offended him.

Finlay suddenly flashed her a broad smile. "The dog's name is Rufus. He lives in the UK with my wife and son."

Teddie hadn't known he was married. She tried to smooth over the awkwardness the knowledge gave her. "My dog is Meeka," she offered. "She's a German Shepherd and Chow cross."

"Mmm." Finlay pulled in front of the hotel and put the car in park. He looked over at her and smiled. Teddie was amazed to see he still wore his sunglasses even though the sun had long since set.

"Never stop laughing, lass. It'll get you through some hard times and keep you beautiful."

"Um...o—okay," Teddie stammered. It was her turn to wonder where his statement had come from. "Thanks for the ride."

"Good-night."

Teddie opened the car door and glanced back over at him. "I had a good time," she added shyly.

"I did too, lass. I did too."

WOW! I am blown away! SIX reviews for that last chapter...thanks everybody!! You don't know how it cheered me up...I was having a horrible day, as my daughter is teething and she spent the day screaming at me and the dog. When I logged on and saw y'all's reviews it was like a ray of sanity in a dark world! :)

I know the Hall of Fame thing isn't very important to the story, but I spent (HOW MANY HOURS was it??) watching the whole thing for this story...and guess what? It was boring as hell. But I watched it so I thought I had to include it somehow. :)

Okay – ANYWAY. I'm not ENTIRELY sure yet...but this is what I'm thinking. I don't want Teddie to have a ton of guys chasing after her, but I don't want this story to be entirely boring either and since I love conflict I'm going to have her develop several close (almost / possible romantic relationships with several of our favorite WWE characters :) I have been agonizing about who these guys would be for several weeks and I think I've finally narrowed it down. Besides the obvious Jeff/Punk angle (which, if Jeff doesn't come back probably won't be that big a deal), I'm thinking about something involving Punk/Jimmy Wang Yang/Finlay. I will probably be bringing in OCs to pair with Matt Hardy and Brian Kendrick...just so Teddie has some friends since she apparently hates all the divas. :D Anyway...if you have suggestions for OCs (or want to be one!)...let me know!

ANYWAY...

Shout outs:

Rhysati Ynr: Haha – I am a section skipper myself! I have read too many college textbooks, I guess. Whenever I get bored I just skim until I am "re-interested". :) Thanks for the encouragement!

Inday: Well, maybe! They both think they are very different, but are actually more similar than they would like to realize!

Hatter-Zombie: Lol...I can't believe I am having this much fun w/this fic! This is like the fastest I have EVER updated a story! I am not too keen on lip rings, but I have this thing for guys w/long hair! IE Jeff Hardy & Punk, Kendrick...even Edge! Should I convince my boyfriend to grow his hair out...?

jada951: You're a great cheerleader – thanks for all the encouragement! I have never updated a story this fast before or had this much fun writing...I am getting more and more positive about finishing this! On other points...I remember being so disappointed when I found out wrestling wasn't real that I am pretending all the matches/feuds are real for my own benefit! At the same time, I'm trying to incorporate as much of the real characters into the story as possible! I guess we'll see how that works out! I really have no idea where this is going...my characters seem to take on minds of their own whenever I sit down to write!

JL2009: Thanks! I was afraid it was a little TOO cute, but it seems that it's actually worked out pretty well after all!

Cassymae: It helps so much to hear that I am headed in the right direction - thanks!