The next day was Sunday, Independence Day. And though it was technically a holiday, the business of the World Wrestling Federation never ceased. Once again, Stephanie and Mark were back on a plane, this time journeying to Fayetteville, North Carolina, the site of Monday Night Raw.

While the couple were once again seated in First Class, Paul, Glenn, and Saphirra were all seated in coach. While it would have been easy for him to acquire three additional First Class tickets, especially since seating on this particular flight was sparse, Mark ultimately decided against this.

He wanted his brother to feel comfortable, and he knew that this would be much easier for him if he was seated next to both his father and his potential new love interest. He had to give his brother space. If Mark was too persistent, then Glenn would surely recognize his brother's insincerity.

They had already spent a significant amount of time with each other over the weekend, and though Paul and Saphirra were keeping a very close eye on him, Mark knew that he would simply have to allow time to run its course.

Blood was thicker than water, and in his mind, and if Glenn was any true little brother, then he would join Mark once again.

It was the only way.

As planned, Saphirra continued to play the role of infatuated "girlfriend" very well. After peeking in on his brother and his servant the night prior, Mark didn't see either of them until they were all departing for the airport this morning.

However, what he saw greatly pleased him.

Much to his delight, Glenn seemed much less angsty and uptight. While he was still very much distant and aloof, Mark could easily tell that Saphirra was already proving to be a much-welcomed and calming addition to Glenn's otherwise cold and awkward disposition.

While Saphirra was rarely unsuccessful in completing anything for her master, Mark still had to pull her aside and warn her of what any potential failure could mean for he and the Ministry.

His warning, however, was very straightforward and very much urgent. In fact, Mark outright warned that there would be "severe consequences" if Saphirra failed in her mission of luring Kane into the Ministry.

Mark had so much riding on this entire ordeal. If he failed in recapturing the WWF Title, then he probably wouldn't get another championship opportunity, even if he was the majority shareholder.

It was at this moment that Saphirra came to the stark realization that neither she nor Glenn's feelings truly mattered in this instance. All her master cared about was winning the WWF Championship, and for that, he would literally do anything, even if he had to sacrifice his most faithful servant.

After checking into their hotel, Stephanie and Mark quickly departed for the arena. The couple didn't even have time to make themselves comfortable, and quite frankly, Mark wasn't concerned in doing so.

Since this morning, Stephanie had taken notice of the very dark temperament that her husband had inexplicably taken, even as they were celebrating Independence Day with their friends.

Stephanie realized that Mark was putting an extreme amount on pressure on himself. As the leader of the Ministry, he couldn't afford to look weak. His loyal followers needed someone to look up to, and since there was no higher authority than him, Mark had to step up and be a leader.

And despite all of his preaching, Stephanie could also tell that Mark still wasn't entirely on board with even the idea of making amends with Glenn. He felt that relying on his own merits should have been enough to defeat Stone Cold Steve Austin, so him having to reach out to his younger brother, truly felt as if he had finally reached rock bottom.

Still, Stephanie remained hopeful. She just had to believe… for both of their sakes.

After arriving to the arena for Sunday Night Heat, Mark learned that Austin wasn't scheduled for tonight's broadcast. However, he still had to have eyes in the back of his head. Austin was a cunning rattlesnake. He always knew when and how to strike, so just because he wasn't in the arena right now, didn't mean that he wouldn't eventually show up.

Still, Mark was a man, and while Stephanie watched on a monitor from her dressing room, he, alongside Paul Bearer, stalked to the ring, with the intention of challenging Stone Cold to a rematch for the WWF Championship.

This was the first time that Mark had been seen publicly since losing the championship, and as he gazed around the arena in disgust, the Deadman found himself in no mood for the raucous, pro-Austin crowed, who wouldn't even let him speak.

The people in attendance were all so rabid for the Texas Rattlesnake that Mark actually snatched a microphone out of Paul's hands in pure rage! He was unraveling at the seams!

And with this challenge, it was finally time for Mark to make himself whole once again.

"No more is about pinfalls, one-two-threes; that's done with," Taker started, but having to loudly state his position, since the crowd in the arena were still loudly chanting for the Rattlesnake. "It's not about ratings; it's not about television. It's about two men — and I use the word loosely with you, Austin — that just don't like each other. Now what I seek is retribution.

"I don't want your soul, because it stinks. I don't want your rotting flesh, because it ain't worth a damn. What it is that I want Austin, is your blood."

Listening intently, Stephanie began to visibly squirm at her husband's words. He was actually starting to scare her, and she definitely didn't like that feeling. Refocusing her attention on the monitor, Stephanie then heard Mark declare, "Because last week, I tasted the blood of Austin — and I liked it."

As Stephanie began to look into the eyes of her husband, she honestly thought for a fleeting moment that Mark was starting to lose it again. It wasn't just his words, it was his intentions. It was the blank, nearly psychotic look that he had in his eyes that made Stephanie fear the absolute worst.

When Mark felt wronged, slighted, or even outright disrespected, he would go to extreme lengths to make the offending party's life a living hell. And just by his tone alone, Stephanie now understood that this was exactly what her husband had in store for Austin.

Knowing that wherever Austin was, that he now had his full, undivided attention, Taker finally revealed, "So let me lay it out real easy so you can understand: at Fully Loaded, Austin, I want a rematch for the World Wrestling Federation Title — my World Wrestling Federation Title — and I want it my way. Everybody knows we hate each other. Everybody in the back knows; everybody out here knows. So I want to happen, it's time for one of us to get hurt, and it's going to be you.

"Austin, Fully Loaded: I want a First Blood Match."

Hearing Mark's challenge made Stephanie gasp aloud. This was not part of the plan. "What is he thinking?" she wondered, as she nearly leapt from her seat.

She had to talk him out of this!

Back inside the arena, however, with both Kevin Kelly and Michael Cole both stunned at the Phenom's latest challenge, Taker ended his declaration by saying, "Now you've got 24-hours to get back with me, Austin, but you can rest assured, you don't have a choice.

"Austin, let's see if you are a man."

Stephanie was frantic. She had to find Mark.

Challenging Stone Cold to a First Blood Match was not part of their plan.

Not only was she deathly afraid of what Mark and Austin would do to each other, but she could only imagine what would happen to the company if Mark somehow ended up incapacitated.

From the look in his eyes from only a few moments ago, Mark didn't look like he cared about the company; he didn't look like he cared about anything. All he wanted to do now was hurt people, and Stephanie could only hope and pray, in her desperate attempt to somehow reach her husband, that he ultimately didn't end up hurting himself.

Following this blockbuster announcement, the Hardy Boyz, alongside their manager, Michael Hayes, defeated the tag team of X-Pac and Kane. After the match, the Acolytes inexplicably attacked the Hardyz from behind, but it was X-Pac and Kane who came to the duo's aid.

Surprisingly, as the Acolytes were being pummeled into the mat, the two heavy-hitting brawlers didn't even attempt to fight back. The two men simply took their beatings in stride, which was highly uncharacteristic for the Ministry members.

This not only caught the immediate attention of X-Pac, but also of Kane, as well.

Something was definitely afoul.

Several minutes had already passed since Mark had issued his challenge to Stone Cold, and Stephanie still couldn't find him anywhere. It was almost as if both he and Paul had both vanished.

"Where could they have gone to?"

After rapidly turning a corner, Stephanie nearly bumped right into the front of Terry Taylor, who looked to be on the hunt for his latest scoop.

Not only was Stephanie startled, since she honestly didn't realize that she was practically speed walking at this point, but so was Terry, as well. After all, Stephanie was not only the daughter of Vince McMahon, but she was also the wife of the Undertaker. And after seeing what Taker had done to Test last Monday night, he definitely did not want to become the Undertaker's latest victim.

He had to proceed with caution.

Before Terry could even ask her to partake in an impromptu interview, Stephanie asked almost frantically, "Terry, I hate to bother you, but have you seen Mark?"

Realizing whom she was referring to, Terry gulped and stuttered in his response, "No… no, I haven't. But I have seen Test, and if you don't mind Stephanie, I would like to get your response to the GTV video that we saw last week."

Feeling her heart sink instantly, Stephanie turned slightly in the direction of a nearby monitor, where Mark's assault of Test replayed once again.

While she was aware of the fact that Terry was simply just doing his job, she honestly didn't appreciate being ambushed. Stephanie never wanted to see that footage ever again, because in truth, she knew that the reason why all of this had even happened in the first place was because of her.

Realizing that Terry was also being accompanied by a cameraman, Stephanie attempted to compose herself and simply go along with this short interview request. She couldn't let her temper get the best of her.

Waiting patiently as he was given the signal that Sunday Night Heat had returned from its commercial break, Stephanie watched as Terry began his line of questioning. "Stephanie, we've seen that GTV video tape a second time. What is your reaction and what is your relationship with Test?"

Knowing that this was finally her time to put him in his place, Stephanie replied boldly, "Well, with all due respect, Terry, that's my personal business, and you're not entitled to know. And neither is anyone else for that matter."

Watching as he begrudgingly nodded in agreement, though he honestly wasn't expecting this type of brazen response from her of all people, Stephanie added curtly, "What Mark did to Andrew disgusts me. Mark needs to stay out of my life, and leave us — and leave me — alone."

Storming away from him before he could even follow up with a second question, Stephanie left Terry standing in her wake. This evening had started off all wrong, and she just had a horrible feeling that things were only about to get a lot worse.

After about ten more minutes of searching for her husband and still being unable to find him, Stephanie abandoned her mission and returned to her dressing room.

She was tired, frustrated, and her feet were killing her. All she wanted now was for this night to be over with, so she could return to her hotel room, and hopefully, things would be better tomorrow.

But true to her intuition, things only got worse from there, as Test was set to take on the Intercontinental Champion, Jeff Jarrett, in singles competition.

The business relationship between Jarrett and Debra had been rocky for the past several weeks, and in this latest matchup, Jeff looked to right the ship that had unexpectedly veered off course for both he and his manager.

Stephanie, however, was simply stunned that Test had even been scheduled for any physical competition. After all, Andrew had already suffered a concussion at the hands of her husband.

He should have been in bed resting. Was Mark really taking his grudge against Andrew this far?

Test, however, was made of true grit, so he refused to just sit at home and collect a paycheck, no matter how severe his injuries were. And while she may have found Andrew's determination admirable, Stephanie also realized that Test was only risking further injury to himself.

Not even a week had passed since he had been assaulted, and he was going after the highly skilled Jeff Jarrett in an Intercontinental Championship match?

This just wasn't smart, she felt.

To his credit, Test started off the match hot. He caught Jarrett in two pinning predicaments very early in the match, which caused the Tennessee crooner to bail out of the ring. However, this was all just a ruse to buy Jarrett some much needed time, which was all that he needed.

While Jarrett was able take control of the match for a brief moment, Test powered back once again, and looked to have the match well-in-hand, when out of the crowd, the Mean Street Posse — Joey Abs, Pete Gas, and Rodney — all attacked Andrew from out of nowhere!

Not only was this shocking to the announcers and to the crowd in the arena, but also to Stephanie.

After all, what business did the Posse have with Andrew?

While she had used her brother's friends to get one over on Stooges, neither of them had any reason to go after Test. Andrew was already badly injured, but all three men still gang-attacked him relentlessly, and all Stephanie could do once again was watch helplessly in despair and anguish.

"Why are they doing this?"

Stephanie quickly received her answer, when from up on the stage, Saphirra, who was wearing a very provocative, barely there black, latex catsuit, walked out, while sporting a very devious smile on her face.

While the North Carolina crowd began to shower the First Lady of the Ministry with resounding boos, it suddenly became clear to Stephanie exactly what was going on. Mark was not only sending a very direct and clear message to Test, but he was also clearly sending the exact same message to her.

No matter if the two of them had made amends or not, Mark wanted to remind Stephanie that Saphirra's one true loyalty would always be to him. So if she had to conspire with the Posse to do her master's bidding behind, then this exactly what Saphirra would do.

Mark truly controlled everything, and he clearly did not want this to become lost on his wife, and to her, this stung more than anything.

Following the Posse's most heinous assault to Test, Hardcore Holly came down to the ring, to challenge anyone in the locker room to a fight. While Stephanie continued to stare blankly at the monitor, she really wasn't even paying attention anymore.

She was just so worried about Andrew.

She desperately wanted to go to the trainer's room to check on him; to make sure that he was ok. However, without her knowing of her husband's exact whereabouts, she knew that she was undoubtedly flirting with danger, and she couldn't risk Test being attacked again.

Enough was enough.

Back inside the arena, Hardcore Holly's challenge was quickly answered by the 500-pound Viscera, who quickly began to make short work of the pompous "Super Heavyweight." However, Viscera's momentum was cut short, when Holly attacked him with a steel chair to the back!

While Holly grabbed a microphone and began bragging to the North Carolina crowd about how he hadn't even broken a sweat, the next person to answer the Big Shot's challenge was none of there than the Big Red Machine, Kane.

In almost a blink of an eye, Kane grabbed the lighter man about the throat and crushed him with a thunderous Chokeslam, the fifth that Holly had taken in a week!

Things only got crazier from that point, as the Big Show, Holly's ally and Kane's latest adversary, also began to stalk to the ring. It looked as if things were finally going to be settled between the two giants, until the entrance music of the Phenom began to cascade throughout the arena.

The Deadman, alongside Paul Bearer, was coming down to the ring, and he instantly commanded everyone's attention, including Stephanie's. While the Big Show carefully circled around the ring, not daring to challenge Kane now, the Undertaker never took his evil stare off of the 500-pounder.

Even as he carefully entered the ring, standing shoulder to shoulder with his younger brother, the Undertaker never took his eyes off of the bewildered Big Show, who, despite his confusion, mouthed to both men that he would eventually get his hands on the both of them, one way or another.

The question now was, why had the Undertaker come to Kane's aid? After all, the last time that anyone had seen either brother in any shared capacity together, was during an explosive Inferno Match back in February.

Had the Undertaker and Kane finally made amends?

Unfortunately, things only became more complicated during the main event, when the Big Show took on the Road Dogg Jesse James in singles competition. Inexplicably, Kane came back down to the ring, but only this time, instead of going after the Big Show, it was the Road Dogg who was the recipient of Kane's monstrous Chokeslam!

With the Road Dogg taken out, it was finally time for Kane and the Big Show to settle their differences, until X-Pac ran down to the ring, hoping to put an end to tonight's madness.

Over the past several weeks, both Glenn and Sean had become such good friends with each other, that seemingly, X-Pac was the only person who could stop Kane during one of his violent rampages. X-Pac realized that Kane truly did not understand the magnitude of attacking an ally like the Road Dogg.

Glenn wasn't just some monster; he was a person, and he had to be taught right from wrong. He just needed a friend like Sean to help steer him in the right direction.

As X-Pac and Kane were leaving the ring, with Sean attempting to show Glenn the error of his ways, on top of the stage stood the Undertaker and Paul Bearer, seemingly awaiting their family member. Not only was Sean surprised by the two men's appearance, but also the Big Show, as well, while Kane silently assessed the situation, as well.

Sunday Night Heat ended with more questions than answers.

What was the relationship between Kane and the Undertaker? Had the two brothers truly reunited? And if so, what did this mean for Stone Cold Steve Austin?