A new beginning Chapter 49

*Kane/J.J.*

"Are you feeling better today?" J.J. asked as they packed to move to the next town.

"Yeah, I'm not as pissed as I was." Kane replied.

"Good." J.J. said.

"I thought a lot about what you said. We need to move forward from this. We've finally gotten back together and I can't let one bad decision on his part to ruin it." Kane told her.

"Good I'm glad I could help." J.J. answered.

"You always help." Kane said smiling at her.

"Thanks babe." She said going over and giving him a kiss.

*Taker*

The talk with Sammy really helped. Taker thought. But I still wish there was a way for me to undo last night. How can he still trust me after that? Do we have to start at ground zero all over again?

If so I need to make the first move since I'm the one who screwed up. Taker thought. But what do I say? How do I start?

I wish I knew where we stand. How pissed was he really last night? Is he calmer this morning? Was J.J. able to talk to him? Get him to see that we can still make this work. Taker wondered.

*Hunter*

I have to 'help' Vince decide who I'll face. That way I have the upper hand. Hunter thought. Maybe even have him give me a special guest ref. someone who will tip things in my favor.

That could work. Hunter decided. I'll talk to Vince at the next event he can set it up before he lets them know who is getting the shot.

*Kane/J.J./Taker*

What am I gonna say when he walks in. Taker wondered pacing the lock room.

Can I just tell him the truth that I wasn't thinking? Taker wondered.

Is there any way I can make him understand? Taker thought.

"Kane." J.J. said as they drove to the arena. "I don't know what happened last night but you two need to talk a bit."

"I know." Kane said. "But how do we start?"

"Just listen to him if he wants to talk. Don't shut him out." J.J. said.

"I won't we've been through a lot in the last few months. We're still getting used to being friends. At least I am." Kane said.

"He probably feels the same way." J.J. told him.

"I hope he's not as confused about this as I am." Kane said making J.J. laugh.

"What's so funny?" Kane asked slightly insulted.

"You two." J.J. said. "After talking all night you still don't know how to talk to each other."

"You're right. But you have no idea how awkward that talk was." Kane said laughing now too.

"Typical men." J.J. said getting out of the SUV.

"What's that supposed to me." Kane asked following her out.

"Ask a guy to talk sports or work and they are fine. Ask them to talk about feelings or something serious and they clam right up." J.J. said slapping him playfully on the arm.

"That's not true." Kane countered.

"Yes it is." J.J. said. "If it wasn't the conversation the other night wouldn't have been half as hard."

Could she be right? Kane wondered. I guess she is I even have trouble talking to her about that stuff. I wonder if Taker thought that was a hard conversation too. Does he have as much trouble with it as I do? That doesn't seem possible.

"You ready for this?" J.J. asked before opening the door to the locker room.

"I guess." Kane said sounding unsure.

J.J. opened the door and they walked in.

Here we go. Kane thought stepping into the room.

He watched Taker pace for a minute or two before clearing his throat.

Taker jumped and turned around ready to fight.

He must have been deep in thought Kane realized when Taker whirled around.

"Kane." Taker said.

"That's me." Kane laughed.

"Are you still angry with me?" Taker asked after a minute not knowing what else to say.

"I can't say I wasn't." Kane began. "But I've gotten past that." He continues looking at J.J. for a second.

She calmed him down just like Sammy did with me. Taker thought. Women.

"I don't know what to say Kane." Taker continued. "I didn't think before I acted. I should have let you take the pin."

"I honestly can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing." Kane said shrugging his shoulders.

Does he mean that? Taker wondered. Would he have pulled me out if I hadn't done it to him first?

"We both wanted it Taker." Kane said. "Now it's out of our hands. Vince gets to decide who he can screw more, me or you."

"That's true." Taker said with a half-smile.

"I think given Vince's hatred of me you are a shoe in." Kane said slapping Taker on the back.

"I wouldn't put it past him to find a way to reneg on the match all together." Taker said.

"That's true I hadn't thought of that." Kane said.

*Hunter/Vince*

"Vince." Hunter said walking into the office.

"Don't you ever knock." Vince said sounding aggravated.

"No I don't." Hunter said sounding just as pissy.

"What do you want?" Vince asked already knowing the answer.

"I want to know who you're giving the shot to." Hunter began. "I also want a guest referee someone I can trust to do it right."

"You mean to help you win don't you." Vince said already sick of the conversation.

"NO I don't need help beating either one of those two." Hunter said. "I can beat them on my worst day."

"Then why do you want a special guest ref." Vince questioned.

"Because it will boost your ratings." Hunter said knowing that would appeal to Vince.

"How so?" Vince asked intrigued.

"You pick the right one and they'll tune in. Everyone will tune in to see what happens." Hunter said.

"I'll think about it." Vince said waving Hunter out of the office.

"Wait," Hunter said. "Who am I facing?"

"I'll let you know." Vince said once again waving him out.

*Hunter*

That no good son of a bitch. Hunter thought as he exited the office. He still won't tell me. I know he's decided already why won't he tell me.
He's trying to screw with me, but we'll see what happens if he screws with me.

*Kane/J.J./Taker/Vince*

Walking into the talent meeting they all took their usual spots.

Vince is late. He has to be its taking him forever to get here. Kane thought as he waited.

Glancing down at his watch Kane didn't see the time instead he remembered the day J.J. had given it to him. He'd been so surprised by a gift that he didn't know how to react to it.

Kane shook his head clearing the memory and saw that Vince was indeed late.

Finally Vince arrived acting like he was right on time and everyone else was early.

I wonder what he has in store for tonight. Taker thought. If I know Vince he's going to wait to tell us who gets the shot.

Vince stared naming matches like he was in a hurry to get out of there.

"Kane you will face Y2K Jerico for a title defense." He said at last.

"Taker you have Big Show." Vince said.

"As for the title match I'm still reviewing the tapes. I'll announce that at the end of the night." Vince concluded turning to leave.

Well that was a quick meeting. Taker thought. I wonder if he's even bothering to really look at the tapes.

Tapes yeah right. Kane thought. He couldn't be bothered with tapes.

Maybe this will work out for the best if he's watching the tapes. J.J. thought.

*Hunter/DX*

Has he really not decided? Is he giving them the actual person who made the pin? Why would he bother? Hunter asked himself as he headed with DX back to the locker room.

Hunter looks like he's thinking really hard about something. Chyna thought noting Hunter's silence. Usually he's already making plans when the guys have a match. He hasn't even said one word about my match either not even when Vince assigned it.

It's not like him to be this quiet. Billy thought looking at Jessie.

I don't like this one bit. Jessie thought. Something bad is gonna happen.

*Taker/Big Show/announcers*

Big show's only attribute is that he's big. He doesn't work out much and never does cardio. I should be able to wind him easily enough. Taker thought. Once I do he should be easy enough to beat.

I should be able to take him easy. Big show thought. He's big but not as big as me and no way can he use either of his big moves on me. I'm too big for him to choke slam or tombstone. Without those moves he's nothing.

"Well this promises to be a big match. I hope they reinforced the ring or it could collapse with these two in it." JR said.

"Big show will beat Taker easily enough." King said. "NO way Taker can get him up for a tombstone."

"I wouldn't count on that King." JR said.

They locked up and much to Big Shows chagrin he couldn't push Taker around.

He's smaller than me why can't I move him? Big Show thought as he pushed against Taker.

He's wrong if he thinks I'm gonna be pushed around like the others he's faced. Taker thought.

Suddenly Big Show broke the hold and kneed Taker in the midsection. Taker doubled up with the force of the blow but didn't stay down for long. Backing up quickly Taker hit the ropes and come out with a big right hand to Big Show's face rocking the big men's head back.

"Wow what a right hand." JR said.

Big Show took a big step back and Taker repeated the move. This time Big Show hit the ropes behind him do Taker clotheslined him over the top rope and to the floor. Big Show landed on his feet.

Backing up once again Taker flew over the top rope and down onto Big Show taking them both down in front of the announce table.

"Men that size shouldn't be able to fly." King said in awe.

Straddling Big Show outside the ring Taker began to nail him with rights and lefts.

With the ref counting Taker rolled back into the ring breaking the count. Big Show got slowly to his feet and barley made it in on nine.

Taker was on him the minute he got into the ring. Grabbing Big Show arm Taker propelled him into the ropes and slammed his shoulder into him coming out. Big Show doubled up with the blow to his midsection and Taker clubbed him in the back with both hands dropping him to a knee.

Hell no. Taker thought as Big Show go to his feet and wrapped his hand around Taker's throat. He's not choke slamming me.

Taker punched Big Show in the face and he let go. Returning the favor Taker set up for the choke slam but this time Big Show broke the hold.

They began trading blows in the middle of the ring punch for punch neither man giving an inch.

"It looks like boxing match in there." JR said.

"I think they could keep that up all night." King replied.

Finally Big Show ducked a blow. Falling back to the ropes he sprang out and tried to knock Taker down with a shoulder block. Taker rocked back but didn't go down.

Locking his hand with Big Show's Taker began to wring Big Show's arm twisting it unmercifully before dragging the bigger man to the ropes.

"Taker's going old school." JR shouted.

"How can he walk the rope like that?" King asked as Taker climbed to the top rope and across it.

Using the rope Taker sprang up and came down with his hand and arm across Big Show's neck and back.

He's winded now. Taker thought seeing the big man trying to get his breath.

Taker reached down and wrapped his hand around Big Show's neck pulling him to his feet.

I can't let him do this. Big Show thought trying to free himself a second time.

"He's doing it." JR said. "He's going to choke slam the Big Show."

"He can't possibly get him up." King replied.