6.

Terry tried and tried to call Tammy only to find the line engaged and slammed the palm of his hand against the wall in frustration. Just as he was about to give up, he redialled one more time and was rewarded with the sound of ringing.

"Hello?" came the welcome sound of Tammy's voice and Terry's shoulders sagged with relief.

"Hey, baby, it's me." he said, smiling at her response - she sounded happy to hear from him.

"Terry! I didn't expect you to call, I was just about to head to the airport. Where are you?" she exclaimed.

He sighed and reluctantly began to explain the situation. "Well, I am at AN airport - JFK."

"Oh no! What happened?"

"My flight here was delayed and I missed my flight home. I am so sorry, darlin' ....." he began to apologise, but she cut him off.

"It's okay, honey." she said, but he could hear the disappointment in her voice and shook his head as she continued, "As long as you're okay. Don't worry, just get here when you can - better late than never, huh?"

"I really am sorry, Tammy. I don't know when I'm gonna make it home - the flights are full for the next couple of days ....." he trailed off, "I was really looking forward to seeing you today, I miss you."

"Oh, Terry, I miss you too." she replied quietly and this time he was sure there were tears in her voice.

Before he could say anything more, Terry noticed Benoit and Irvine hurrying towards him and covered the phone with his hand. "Uh, guys? Kinda busy right now ....."

"Trust me, you want to know about THIS!" grinned Irvine as Benoit held something in front of Terry's puzzled face.

"Keys?" frowned Terry, still bewildered by the whole thing.

"Car keys." explained Benoit, "There's a rental car out front - don't ask how we managed it, just go!"

"Are you serious?" Terry's face lit up, "How ....."

"No, really," warned Irvine, "DON'T ask."

"Give me a second, guys." said Terry, before speaking into his cell phone again. "Tammy? I'm on my way home - the guys found me a rental car. It'll take a while, but I'll be home as soon as I can."

"Drive carefully," said Tammy, "I'd rather have you home late and in one piece than not at all."

"I will." said Terry, listening to her reply and finding himself unable to stop a grin spreading across his face. "Love you too." he beamed before ending the call.

Irvine shook his head and turned to Benoit, "Don't you just wanna puke? What would the fans say if they knew Rhyno, the fearsome Man-Beast, was really just a love-sick puppy?" he laughed, dodging a good-natured punch from Terry.

"Thanks for this, guys." said Terry sincerely, "I really owe you big time - thank you."

"Yeah, yeah." said Benoit gruffly, "Don't you have somewhere you have to be?"

"Yep!" he beamed again happily, "You're both coming next week, aren't you?"

They both nodded and he gathered his luggage together. "See you then!"

The Chrises watched him hurry off and Irvine shook his head grimly.

"If you ever tell anyone I chatted up that skanky ho, you are a dead man." he threatened.

"Oh, come on, you were really getting into it; the bit about you being abandoned by your selfish wife and needing a car to go track her down 'for the sake of your ten kids'? Nice touch - real subtle."

"And you would have come up with something way better?"

"More believable anyway."

"Oh, shut the hell up! It worked, didn't it?"

"Yeah, that was one gullible chick." conceded Benoit with a grin, before gesturing after Terry, "But more importantly, that was one happy guy. Don't you think it was worth a little humiliation to know you did a very good deed?"

"You're only saying that 'cause you weren't the one who got humiliated! If she comes looking for me ....."

"I'll tell her you patched things up with your wife ..... 'for the sake of the ten kids'!" offered Benoit as he started to laugh again.

"Gee, you're a true friend!" retorted Irvine sarcastically, "Now, come on, before we end up missing our own flight!"

*****