Disclaimer, etc., in part 1. Thanks to everyone still reading this one.

Part Twenty-One

Eve pulled her purse a little higher on her shoulder, the woman taking the receipt that the clerk handed her before turning and heading for the door to the hotel. She'd already loaded her things into her rental car, so now all she needed to do was get in her car and leave, maybe stop to grab something quick to eat before driving on to the town that RAW was in that night. It was only about a three-hour drive, which was better than they got sometimes. A lot better, really. Plus, it was actually a pretty day, if a little cold - it was the end of January, after all - so the drive wouldn't be too bad. It would give her time to think about everything that had happened, maybe come up with a plan of some sort to deal with CM Punk and her new position as a member of the New Nexus.

"You're up bright and early this morning," a voice said from a few feet away as she exited the hotel, and Eve spun around to find CM Punk a few feet away, leaning against a wall next to a planter with a plant in it that didn't look very healthy. Not surprising, since it was the middle of winter.

"I thought I would get an early start," the woman stated, frowning slightly as she looked at the man. This was actually the first time she'd spoken to him since the Corre had come after them and he'd told her to get out of the ring the night before. Truth was, she wasn't entirely sure what to say to the man. While she still didn't trust him - or his motives - when it came down to it, he had tried to protect her the night before. She'd seen a replay of it, a video of it on-line, and he hadn't hesitated to put himself between her and the members of the Corre the night before.

She just didn't know why.

Punk shrugged. "Smart enough move. Never know when traffic might get bad," he said, then stepped over to her. "I'm riding with you."

"I didn't invite you."

"And I didn't actually ask you. I'm not going to try anything. Not going to pull anything. And you have to admit that it's always safer for two people to be on a trip together rather than just one."

"Why? Because I'm a woman?"

"No. Because some people out there are assholes."

"You should know," Eve tossed back, and Punk smirked at her.

"I like it. You've got... spunk."

"You might not like my spunk if it drives me to kick you in the nuts," the woman replied, and Punk grinned again, nodding as he stepped back.

"Yeah. I like it. I really do. Sometimes it's fucking boring being surrounded by yes-men," he said, shaking his head, then arching a brow at her. "I'm still riding with you. 'Cause we need to talk."

"We have nothing to talk about."

"I think maybe we do. Like about the fact that John Cena was at your door at almost one o'clock in the morning," he said, and Eve felt her jaw drop open in shock... or maybe it was outrage.

"What the hell are you doing? Spying on me? I may be forced to be a member of your stupid little group, but I am not your property!" she declared, reaching out to shoved at his chest, then kicking him in the shin when Punk grabbed her wrists to keep her from smacking at him. Cursing softly, he stepped back, dropping her wrists.

"I never said you were. I was still up last night. I don't sleep much, and I'd gone down to the indoor pool to swim some laps. I came back up, I saw him at your door. So I eavesdropped."

"Well, if you eavesdropped, you'll know that just because Cena was at my door didn't mean he came into my room."

"I never said he did. You handled him well."

"I didn't ask for your approval," she snapped out, and Punk shrugged in response, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

"I never said you did. You have it anyway. It wasn't fair for him to act like you knew about the title match, but I can see why he might want to believe it," the man said, and Eve frowned in confusion, not wanting to ask why he thought that, but wanting to know what he was thinking just the same. And perhaps Punk saw the question she wasn't asking in her eyes, because he smiled slightly, stepping closer to her again, his eyes on hers as he spoke. "It makes it easier for him. You see, Eve, he was the one that got pinned last week. And when he got pinned, you became a member of the New Nexus. If he can believe that you're happy in your position, that you want to be a member, then he can feel less guilty. If he can make himself believe that you're underhanded and sneaky - the way he sees me - then suddenly, it's not his fault that you're in the New Nexus, because you would have ended up there anyway."

"It's not like that."

"Maybe not. But he wishes it was," the wrestler said, then took a step back, the sudden move making Eve realize just how close he'd been to her; they'd practically been touching they'd been so close.

"Not everyone thinks like you. Cena doesn't-"

"I heard the conversation last night. He was already accusing you of things... Accusing you of knowing that I'd gotten you put into the match. Saying that maybe that was the reason you'd stopped him from going after me in the parking garage," he said, then tilted his head to the side, looking at her. "Why did you do that, by the way?"

"I already told you. Because I wouldn't have put it past you to have the rest of the New Nexus lying in wait to attack him if he'd tried to go after you," the diva said, then arched a brow at Punk. "Why did you protect me last night? In the ring when the Corre came out?"

Punk almost looked offended at that question. "Because I didn't want you to get hurt. If you believe nothing else, believe that. I didn't do this to hurt you."

"You pretty much forced me to join your team. If that's not hurting someone-"

Punk's expression was fierce as he interrupted her. "No one is going to hurt you when you're part of us. We won't allow it. *I* won't allow it. You might not like me, but you will safe."

Eve shook her head, stepping back. "I need to go."

"I'm still riding with you," he told her. He forced a smile that didn't really reach his eyes. "Want me to drive?"

"I'm driving. And if you insist on riding with me-"

"Which I do-"

"Then shut up and get in the passenger seat."