Chapter 21

The following day, Jerica was shocked when her uncle took her to Disney World to bring her spirits back up. Of course, she couldn't ride any of the rides, but she had her photo taken with Disney characters and walked around, having a great time. He made her sit down several times so she wouldn't get dehydrated and bought her a new cell phone with an unlisted number.

Knowing not to argue, Jerica just went along with it, wearing blue jean shorts with a blue and white tank top that was tie-dyed. Her hair was up in a high ponytail and she had the barest hint of makeup on with white tennis shoes. After her fun filled day, Jerica went to the arena with her uncle and it was time to get to work. She parted ways, promising to have dinner with him after the show, and went to her office.

Mark was waiting when Steve showed up, walking over to share a quick embrace with his old friend, and asked, "How was yer day?"

"I left my hat off, look at this." Steve tilted his head down, showing the mild sunburn. "But Jer had fun. So you get it set up then?"

"Cage match, he doesn't know. All that's on the board is specialty match against unknown." Mark snorted derisively.

"Good." Steve couldn't wait to see Orton get his ass handed to him by Mark. "He's hurt my niece for the last fuckin' time, man." When Mark asked Steve what this was all about, he decided to come clean and looked into his best friend's eyes with a sigh. "Orton keeps sayin' that yer pursuin' Jeri." He shook his head, disgusted at the mere thought. "He keeps accusin' her of cheatin' on'em and she's done with it. She told him to get outta her life, though she's gonna give him parental rights." Steve started chuckling. "She actually asked him if fuckin' ya would make him feel better and the boy didn't know what to say. He was stunned."

Mark shook his head, rolling his eyes with a sigh. "Don't that boy got eyes? I'm datin' Stacy." He grinned when Steve made a lewd sound. "Yer just jealous, that gal has legs that-"

"Okay Deadman, keep it in yer pants. Ya got bigger and better things to worry bout tonight. Like makin' sure that pup leaves my niece alone."

"Oh he will. He'll be eating outta a straw for a long time to come."

"Good, she doesn't need this stress he's puttin' her through. She's still in her first trimester." Steve knew that any amount of stress could make Jerica miscarry and he was scared that it was going to happen. This is why he had taken her out that day and showed her a good time, effectively getting her mind off of Orton. "Just so we're clear, yer not interested in my niece right?" When Mark rolled his eyes and shook his head, Steve smirked, clapping him on the back. "Good man, thanks for whoopin' his ass." Steve walked away to go check on Jerica, worried about her.

Of course Mark wasn't interested in Jerica; he was obsessed with her. He realized he was and acknowledged the fact, inside his own head of course. Nobody else needed to know that though. He was pumped for this match; he didn't even need to work up an adrenaline rush, already buzzing. Maybe, just maybe, Randy had fucked up enough on his own to ensure Jerica never took his dumbass back. Of course that meant Mark would have to play dead and still keep his 'interest' under wraps, but in the end it would be worth it.

At a quarter to nine, a knock sounded on Jerica's door as she looked up, smiling when Steve walked in and knew it was time to go to the cafeteria for some food.

"Ya ready honey?"

"Yeah." She murmured, saving her progress on her laptop before taking his hand, allowing him to guide her out of her office. She locked it up, not trusting anyone at the moment and cracked a smile, nodding when Steve asked her if she was alright. "I'm fine." Jerica assured him, knowing he was worried sick about her, which is why he was doing a storyline in the company so he could travel with her. It did Jerica's heart good to know someone wanted to be there for her, to support her through this, and leaned her head against Steve's arm.

Steve was going to do his best to keep her in her office; she didn't need to know that her on again, off again boyfriend was very likely to be wheeled out of the building on a stretcher. No...That would just add to the stress factor. Steve knew Jerica still loved that worthless prick; she probably always would sadly.

True to Steve's silent vow, Jerica didn't know Randy was wheeled out of there and put in an ambulance with internal bleeding and a broken wrist. She walked out of her office, having told her uncle to go back to the hotel and she would meet him there. She just wanted to work since it was one of the only things that got her mind off of Randy.

Why did she have to love him so much?

Her finger felt naked without her ring, but Jerica knew she'd done the right thing for her and her unborn child. It was near midnight before Jerica walked out of her office, pulling her denim jacket on, bag over her shoulder. Steve had left the rental for her while he hitched a ride with one of his friends, going out for a few beers. Jerica missed drinking and smoking, but knew it would all be worth it as she pressed a hand to her protruding stomach. She was nearly four months along, another week to go, and smiled as she walked out of the arena.

Her first mistake was sending Steve off and working so damn late. Would the bitch never learn, seriously? David shook his head, ALMOST feeling bad for her. So she was on the outs again with Randy; same shit, different day. Now she was pregnant on top of it. Well, there was a silver lining to that; it meant he wouldn't have to worry about knocking her dumb, yet delicious looking, ass up.

"Shit!" Jerica cursed when she arrived outside and a strong wind picked up, causing a few of her papers to scatter about the parking lot. She went on the hunt, after making sure the rest would stay put in her bag, finally grabbing them. She went to reach for the final one and stopped her hand from doing so at the sight of a black steel toed boot before her. Her head slowly looked up until Jerica locked eyes with dangerous brown, slowly standing back up. What the hell was David still doing here? This shit was really getting old as Jerica crossed her arms in front of her chest, refusing to panic and carry on like any other woman. "You're on my work, Bautista, do you mind?"

"Not at all." David murmured, removing his foot and let her pick it up, his eyes skimming her body hungrily. If she was showing, he couldn't tell, and it wouldn't matter. She was still a fox, fat or not. Well...He amended, not TOO fat. He was an arrogant prick and admitted it. "You're looking," He circled her, coming to stand in front of her again, blocking her entrance to her car, on guard for a shot to the balls. "Sexy as ever."

Would he ever get the hint she wasn't interested in his dumbass? No, of course not. Why? Because he was a typical male who apparently had a problem with the word no.

"I'm not playing this game with you, Bautista." She stated in a monotone voice, sighing when he blocked her from walking past him. "David, unless you want me to throw up on you, kindly move." She wasn't really feeling morning sickness, but the sight of him was turning her stomach violently as she placed a protective hand against it. "Please move, I have to get back to the hotel and get some rest." She was exhausted and it showed; pregnancy hadn't been kind to her.

"Yeah, you look like shit." David agreed flatly, taking her face in, noting the circles under her eyes, then the way she protectively held her stomach. He reached out, splaying his own hand there, feeling the baby bump. Ignoring her indignant look, David didn't take offense when she backed away. "So you are getting round." He snorted, shaking his head. "Where's the happy daddy?" He asked conversationally, making it quite clear he wasn't going anywhere.

"Don't touch me again." She hissed dangerously, heart beginning to pound in her chest, wishing he would leave her alone. "I don't know and don't care. Randy can burn in hell for all I fucking care." Jerica spat, seeing the surprise in David's eyes, trying to look for a way to get away from him.

They were in the middle of an empty parking lot, the only cars being hers and his. Jerica could make a run for it, but she wouldn't succeed and couldn't put her baby in danger. Her cell phone was in her pocket, but David would catch her at a moment's notice so that wouldn't work either.

"Now that's interesting..." David drawled, stroking his chin thoughtfully and smirked, beginning to circle her again. He reached out and copped a feel of her ass, almost groaning audibly. Nice and firm, just how he imagined. "You really ought to consider giving me a try, baby." He was now backing her up into her car, eyes fastened with hers. "You need a real man, Jer, not some boy."

"When are you going to get it through your head, David that I want nothing to do with you?" Jerica demanded, tears shining in her eyes, a mixture of fear and anger. She clenched her fists tightly, no longer caring about the pieces of paper. "Why can't you leave me alone?" She refused to let her tears fall and felt him grip her chin with his strong hand. Jerica reacted instinctively and slapped him as hard as she could across the face, the smack echoing throughout the parking lot. "I said DON'T touch me!" She shouted at him and screeched out when he backhanded her, sending her sprawling to the pavement, tears finally falling.

"You fucking little bitch..." David growled, feeling his stinging face, not believing she had just struck him. Was she out of her mind? Didn't she realize he could easily snap her pregnant ass in two? "You're going to pay for that, Jerica." He promised, reaching down for her.

A roar made David look up, his brown eyes widening as he seen a motorcycle aiming right for him. He dodged out of the way, groaning as he landed on the pavement himself. Then he let out a scream of pain as Mark drove right over his left ankle. Mark had been nursing a beer when Steve called to see if he would go check on Jerica. The guy worried his ass off too much, or so Mark thought, until now.

Jerica's back was pressed against the car, her body trembling while cradling her cheek, a protective arm around her stomach. She could hear the snap of David's ankle when Mark ran over it and sniffled, knowing he deserved it. She didn't dare move, her knees scrapped from being struck to the pavement, not able to stop the tears.

Jerica watched as Mark dismounted his motorcycle and stalked over to David, who was screaming in pain, clutching his ankle. He began pulverizing him with his fists. Not one drop of remorse flowed through her as Jerica wiped her tears away, shakily getting to her feet, and had to press her hand to the car for leverage. She was still too shaken up over what transpired and what could've happened.

Mark stopped only when David was unconscious and his own fists were coated in blood. He pulled a bandana from his back pocket and used it to wipe the sweat from his face then the blood from his hands, snorting, hocking a wad of spit on the fallen man. He walked over to Jerica, eyes raking over her for injuries, narrowing when he seen the already forming bruise on her cheek. Grunting, he picked her trembling form up and carried her around to the other side of the rental car, knowing she was in no condition to drive right now.

Her hormones were skyrocketed at the moment as Jerica clung to him for dear life, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, refusing to let him go. Her heart was pounding something fierce and couldn't think. All she could do was cry pathetically against him, thanking the stars above he'd come to her rescue...again. It seemed every time Jerica was in trouble, Mark was right there to save her, Randy nowhere in sight. She couldn't even talk and didn't let go of him, even when he set her in the passenger seat, shaking her head frantically. Moving to where her legs were wrapped around his waist, her crying turned to sobs.

This meant Mark had to move so he was the one sitting down, adjusting the seat to accommodate him, stretching his legs out of the car and rocked her back and forth, rubbing her back soothingly. Every time she really needed that prick, Randy, he was no where to be found. 'What a man.' He mentally snorted, glad he arrived when he had, blood lit on fire all over again when he thought about what could have happened to her.

Burying her face in his strong neck, Jerica felt Mark's arms wrap around her while he rocked her, holding her close to him. Her entire body was tensed and she was sobbing, which wasn't good for the baby. Slowly, with Mark's soothing words whispering in her ear, Jerica calmed down until she was crying quietly against him, hand still pressed against her stomach as if assuring herself she was still with child. David would've raped her, or worse, if Mark hadn't shown up when he did. He was her hero, whether she liked it or not, and owed him a lot.

"Thank you." Her whispered muffle managed to sound clear, still clinging to him.

"Don't mention it." He didn't need anymore reminders what could have -no, what WOULD'VE happened if he hadn't shown up. Mark wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her hair, trembling with anger. "God darlin'..." He whispered, finally pulling away, and kissed the top of her forehead. "Are you alright?" He knew that was an automatic no, his hand moving down to rest on hers over her stomach. "The baby's not hurt, is it?"