Chapter 28

Kim and Lana were at the hotel relaxing a few days later; the guys had gone to the arena hours earlier to practice and prepare for the championship match they would have that night and Danny was napping in the next room.

Lana had let out a low groan, trying to stretch her back a little.

"What's the matter?" Kim asked, looking up from her magazine.

"Ugh, I've had this backache about all day. Of course, having a belly like a whale doesn't help any."

"Neither does you and PL going at it practically every night," Kim said, failing to hide a grin.

"Would you knock it off? If you must know, that is his idea most of the time, though he's kind of gotten less 'enthusiastic' during it since I'm close to being due."

"That's right, the baby's due in a couple of weeks. Isn't it kind of risky to have come with us, though, especially being so close?"

Lana shook her head. "This whole thing was Paul's idea, with this big match and all, and he wanted Danny to come with us to boot. I tried to talk him out of it; a pregnant woman close to delivery and a toddler wouldn't exactly be my idea of fun travel companions."

"Tell me about it," Kim giggled a little. "I've traveled with an overgrown toddler for almost two years, that is, when he isn't engrossed in his ever-growing collection of porn."

"Yeah, I think he's tortured my husband with most of it," Lana agreed before groaning again.

"You know, I packed some of those heat wrap things," Kim offered. "I think you should try one of those and lay down for a bit before we have to get ready."

"That might not be a bad idea. What time does the show start?"

"Brian said eight thirty, according to the card."

"Oh good, I can at least get a nap in for a couple of hours."

"Go ahead," Kim nodded. "If Dan wakes up in the meantime, I can keep an eye on him."

"Thanks. Just get me up in a couple of hours if I'm not up already."

Meanwhile:

"Hey, dopefuck! Come outside with me while I have a cigarette. I want to talk to you," Brian yelled from down the hall.

"Jesus, Midget, why don't you just broadcast it all over the world?" Paul asked after catching up to him. "If we're going to work a good strategy, we don't need every dickhead in the building knowing about it."

"Don't know what your problem is, dude; I'm confident we have this thing in the bag."

"You would, but it doesn't mean we can slack off. We've been on Raw almost a fucking year and this is the first shot at a title we've had."

"And about damn time. Being put on Heat every week is getting old, especially when guys like you are up at six every morning to work out, you're disciplined, help people out even when you don't have to, probably spend more time with fans than anyone, yet who got fucked over all the time until now?"

"You got a point there," Paul agreed. "So what great ideas do you have for us to work this thing?"

"I got tons," Brian grinned, lighting a cigarette before hammering out the details.

"So what do you think?" he asked once he had finished.

"I think with that strategy, we're going to kick some major ass and walk away with some gold. And what's even better is that the girls will be here to see us do it up close and in person."

A few hours later:

"Feel any better?" Kim asked, seeing Lana was dressed to go to the show.

Lana nodded. "A little. I think the combination of the heat wrap thing, a nap and then a long shower may have done the trick for the most part. There's kind of a dull ache in my back and lower stomach, but it isn't that bad, at least right now."

"Good. I took the liberty of cleaning Danny up and dressing him while you were napping. He's all ready to go."

"Thanks, Kim. I'm sure he was a handful the whole time."

"I don't know; he seemed to enjoy the bath. Of course, I got one in the process, but at least he had fun. Still, it's one less thing you had to do."

"True. What time is it?"

"Seven fifteen. And the venue's about fifteen minutes from here, so we should be good. I'll grab Danny while you get the key card and lock up behind us."

Lana nodded. "We better go then. Something tells me this is going to be one night none of us are going to forget."