Author's Note: First off, I wanna thank you people who have reviewed my story! D-E-N-I-S-E, Joey Jordison18, Liz, and fredzwildchild, who gave me my first comments, and a HUGE thank you to DXDiva13 and Bingobaby who keep coming back! It's a brilliant ego boost to come on after a new chapter and read your thoughts on each one. In case anyone happens to be worrying about whether Shane and Dani will ever get together, I'll give you a hint: I'm a helpless romantic (*cough* YES!!). Anyway, about this chapter: a small character makes another appearance, and the lyrics are from No Doubt's "Underneath It All."

~~~~~

Danielle was, if possible, more frustrated than she'd ever been before. Everyone around her endured two weeks of hell at her hand, and at least four people weren't speaking to her by the time August 7th arrived. Shane was one of them. She had spoken to him no more than twice since he visited her in the hospital, and even then her words were sickeningly civil to match his. They days still passed, and Danielle's health did improve.

There was a good side to her anger, it pushed her and made her work harder to get better. She worked out as much as Vince and he trainer would let her, and she followed all of the doctor's orders, just to get healthier as fast as possible. It worked, and she felt she was ready to go back to work before two weeks were up. No one else agreed with her, so she still had to serve her time.

The fans had been told that she was on vacation, and Danielle's feud with Stephanie was put on the side. There were plans for an immediate revival, in fact, Danielle had a match planned for her first night back. Her against Stephanie, and Vince was scheduled as the special guest referee. Definitely a show-stopper, and the start of a great new storyline.

Sean hadn't spokne to her in two weeks, Danielle was surprised when she didn't mind. The unknown blonde at his room that night hadn't made another appearance, but she had noticed Sean going out at night more frequently. She didn't try to dissuade him, he could make his own choices. If he decided to go out, get drunk, and kill his liver, that was his own decision and his own fault.

Fighting with Shane did bother her, but it seemed like he purposely tried to aggitate her everytime they met. His question kept playing in her head, why could he get under her skin so easily? Every day he could get her frustrated for hours just by one glance, one comment, or one simple smile- meant to irritate her. She tried to keep her calm, but his actions and her current attitude didn't mix.

~~~~~

It was finally two weeks after the hospital, and it didn't come fast enough. Danielle was in the Women's Locker Room, backstage at Raw is War, getting dressed and ready for her match. Since she was making a big comeback, she was dressed differently. Light pants with red flames leaping up from her ankles, and a red top with a ball of fire on the front- it fit her perfectly. She was going to have an amazing match, with attitude to spare, and it was going to be so good to be back in that ring.

Someone knocked on the door, and they let themselves in while she got her shoes ready. Danielle could feel them walk up next to her, and she answered without looking. "Can I help you?"

"Can you give me a smile and let me wish you good luck?"

She froze for a moment, then turned and stood- meeting Glen's wide smile. She laughed and gave him a toothy grin. "I don't need luck, have you seen my competition?"

"True, but you'd better be careful." Danielle raised her eyebrows, and he gave her shoulder a punch. "We wouldn't want you to bust anyone's implants... especially yours."

Giving him the finger, Danielle went to her gymbag and threw it over her shoulder. She felt so much better now- the time off did wonders for her health but was terrible for her disposition. "All natural, Glen. You know I'm too cheap to buy fake ones." They laughed, and she walked over to the door. "Escorting me?" she asked with a grin.

Glen motioned for her to go ahead of him, and he shook his head. "I suppose... but I'd better get a bigger tip than last time."

~~~~~

The fans response was amazing. They knew she'd be back for that night's show- in a match against Stephanie McMahon- and they went wild when her music hit. Danielle walked to the ring with a huge grin, listening to the cheering and giving high fives to the people close to the ring barrier. One man had her name written across his face, and she had to laugh.

Taking the extra time to stand on each corner turnbuckle, she basked in the noise and looked out over the people. The excitement was rushing through her body, and she knew this match was going to be a hit. She had looked forward to this moment all week, and now it seemed to pass by too fast.

Stephanie and Vince came to the ring, accompanied by the McMahon "No Chance" music, and Danielle gave them a narrowed stare. Cold as ice, while she was wondering how Stephanie could walk in that outfit. It was like the red skirt Danielle had worn when she was The Godfather's hoe, only coloured differently. It brought back good memories, and Danielle fought back a smile.

Neither of the women was given a microphone, there was no plan for a conversation, and Danielle heard the bell ring. She smiled slightly, this was going to be good good good, and the cat fight began.

Yelling insults at her, Stephanie tried to scratch or claw Danielle's face. Either way, Danielle caught her arm and hit her with a clothesline. That'll show her. Stephanie fell, and Vince immediately ran over. He held Danielle back- without any reason to do so- and the fans started booing. When Stephanie got back to her feet, she pushed past Vince and tackled Danielle. They fell to the mat, kicking and punching, and Danielle quickly got the upper hand.

They rolled outside the ring, and Danielle threw Stephanie into the ring barrier. The fans loved it, and they cheered louder as Danielle got back into the ring and climbed onto the turnbuckle. She dived off it, going for a high kick, but Vince had gotten out of the ring and now pulled Stephanie out of harm's way. Danielle fell into the barrier, and then landed on the floor in a heap. She rolled in pain, and slowly started to get back to her feet.

Vince and Stephanie were back in the ring, and Danielle rolled under the bottom rope to meet multiple kicks to her side. Stephanie stomped her- damn, she had to wear high heels- and Danielle reached for her leg. She got an ankle, and one sharp tug brought the shorter brunette crashing to the mat.

Getting up again, Danielle stood above Stephanie, but then turned to Vince. He deserved to get some payback, and Danielle grinned as she tackled him. Beating him into a corner as the crowd cheered her on, she kicked him repeatedly. He slid to the mat, and Danielle turned to meet Stephanie- who caught her off guard with a weak clothesline. Danielle got back up immediately and went to the ropes, before Stephanie could notice.

It was time for her specialty, including a talent that she'd been taught recently by Mark Calloway. She jumped onto the ropes and then flew off, back to the center of the ring- hitting Stephanie with a kick that knocked her off her feet. Then came the pin... but Vince wasn't able to do the count. Danielle stood up, livid and cursing, and gave Stephanie a stomp while she waited for another referee. One came seconds later, and the crowd went wild when Danielle's hand was raised in victory. She stood in the ring, arms high above her head, and she'd never been so glad to be back in the squared circle.

~~~~~

The congratulations happened again, and Danielle smiled the entire way back to the hotel. She was back where she belonged, and there was nothing that could bring her down from her missed good mood. It had been a while since Danielle had smiled so much and for so long. Her mind dismissed and thoughts of Shane, she was cheerful now and nothing was going to stop it, and she only came out of her daze when she walked past the hotel's cafe. This hotel was smaller than the last one, but it had a rustic quality that induced such a comfortable feeling- it couldn't be matched.

There was a semi-familiar face, one that she never expected to see in New York City. They'd last met in the hotel in Florida, and Danielle had to grin. I guess I can ask Morgan if she remembers me now, and maybe find out why she's at all our of hotels. Maybe she's a stalker, Danielle thought, and she hid a laugh.

The café was almost deserted, it was late though, and she casually ordered a mug of cappuchino. Sitting by the counter, Danielle watched Morgan and thought. Now, how am I supposed to go about this? Just walk up to her, tell her the old story, and see if she remembers some messed up little redhead? Danielle sighed. I guess that's the plan- since I can't think of anything better.

She walked over silently, and slid into the seat across from the blonde- who didn't even notice her. She was buried in a stack of papers, flipping through them with a red pen and marking in the margins. Danielle raised her eyebrows, is this girl completely oblivious to the rest of the world?

"Sorry to bother you," Danielle said, and Morgan's head shot up, "but I have an odd question to ask you." She met surprised green eyes, and gave her a smile. "First off, nice to see you again."

Morgan smiled slightly and sat straighter in her seat, watching some redhead- whom she'd only met once- start to chatter. "It's... nice to see you, Danielle." Her eyebrows raised, and Morgan shrugged. "I'm good with names, and you're quite famous with the people around here."

"Really?" Danielle grinned, and then looked at the pile of papers. "You work here! I was wondering why you were at the same hotels!"

"Yes, I'm one of the creative writers. I just got hired on that day we met, when I was... on the piano." Morgan shrugged- Danielle was surprised that she wasn't prouder of her talent- and gathered her papers. "So," she said suddenly. "What's the odd question?"

"Well," Danielle replied with a sigh, "when I saw you before, I got this strange feeling that I'd met you already. And then I got to thinking, and I remembered meeting a little blonde girl named Morgan when I was only seven or eight." She saw Morgan's eyes get wider, and she laughed. "I told you it was odd. Anyway, she had long ringlets, and this happened in Halifax- Nova Scotia- and I must've said only five words to her."

"And I had Fuzzums, a little teddy bear," Morgan said softly, and she studied Danielle for a moment. "But, you said your name was Cassidy. I remember that, and you told me you were running."

Nodding, Danielle laughed again softly. "I go by my middle name now."

Morgan sighed and looked at her in disbelief. "What a coincidence," she said softly. "The girl my mother wouldn't let me talk to is now a national celebrity... one who actually compliments me on my talents!" She laughed, and Danielle shrugged. "You should be proud."

"I was just thinking that you should be," Danielle replied. They sat in silence, and she kept drinking her how-chilled cappuchino. "So," she said after a while. "You're one of those people who decide whether I get beat up or not."

"Those people?" Morgan repeated with a laugh- Danielle could almost see her coming otu of her shell. "I suppose you could say that, although my ideas have to be approved first." She couldn't believe this, here was a redhead that she'd met when she was five, and now they'd both ended up working in the same company. Different jobs though- they couldn't be more different in they tried. An easy-going preformer who had thousands of adoring fans, and the quiet writer who couldn't get noticed if she tried. "Life sure is funny," Morgan said.

Danielle raised an eyebrow. "That's a nice way of putting it."

"What I mean," Morgan added, "is that most of the people like you, in this company, wouldn't be caught dead talking to a lowly script writer."

"People like me?" Danielle said, relaxing in her seat. "You mean, seemingly self-absorbed people who have everything but take it all for granted, and somehow manage to sleep at night after being themselves for a day?" Looking at the shocked Morgan, Danielle had to laugh. "Sorry, I have a habit of doing that to people I don't know."

"I've noticed," she replied, and then grinned. "Like I said, I've heard stories about the infamous Danielle."

Danielle laughed and twirled the glass mug in her hands. "Oh, now you've got to tell me what you mean. In a nutshell, of course. I'm pretty sure A LOT has been said about me- especially lately. Good and bad."

"You're right about that. About your talking habit, I heard you did that to Vince one time." Danielle grinned, and Morgan laughed that time. "You mean, that's actually true?" She got a nod in reply, and she shook her head slowly. "And the story about you and Stephanie McMahon pulling that joke on the new guy, back in 2000, is that true?"

"Tell me what 'new guy' and what we did." Danielle replied. There were so many jokes and things she'd done to get in trouble, so this one was probably going to be true.

Morgan nodded, trying to remember, and then she smiled. "Chris Irvine, you got him drunk and then he woke up in a car with no wallet, keys, and someone else's clothes?"

Danielle started to laugh, she remembered that one clearly. A group of about ten of the wrestlers had went for a night out, and they'd invited Chris. Once he'd gotten wasted out of his mind, Stephanie had given Danielle a dare. How could she resist? She'd convinced him to change slothes- knowing he wouldn't remember it the next morning- and had driven him to a parking lot across town. She left him in a rented car and got a drive back to the hotel from Stephanie, after Chris had passed out in the backseat and they'd hidden his wallet and the car keys under the seat. He'd came back the next morning- unbelievably pissed off- and it had started an all-out war of pranks between Chris and Danielle. They'd become good friends in the process, and Danielle had to snicker.

"Yeah," she replied to Morgan. "That one's all truth. It was a dare, I never thought it would work out so good."

~~~~~

Danielle was back to her hotel room, and she sat watching the tv in a favorite silk nightgown. There was still a soft smile on her lips as she relaxed, even though she wasn't paying attention to what was on the screen. Her mind drifted from thought to thought lazily, a far cry from her irritated and arguementative attitude of the last two weeks.

Like it always did, her mind went over all the normal topics. Finally having a match and getting back to the ring, her conversation with Morgan, and the time in the hospital. She could still feel the panic, and the sharp prick of pain as a needle pierced her skin. That state of mind bothered her cheeerful mood, so she immediately dismissed it.

The next thing she thought about didn't surprise her, but it did deflate her happiness. Sean, that man who she suddenly didn't know, and who had become violent and possessive. She didn't like the changes and the new desire for intimacy he was showing her, Danielle had begun to dislike him altogether.

There's times when I want something more,

Someone more like me.

There's times when this dress rehersal

Seems incomplete.

Danielle sighed at her train of thought, and she remembered a question that had been asked of her. At the hospital, Shane had asked her why he could get under her skin so easily, why he could bother her with a few words. Had he actually asked it as a question, or did he just tell her to think about it? Danielle couldn't remember. She still hadn't figured out the answer, and she was beginning to wonder if Shane knew it either, or if he had just meant to bother her. It would make sense, he could've asked or posed a question about annoying her just to annoy her, but that didn't sound right.

But you see the colours in me,

Like no one else.

And behind your dark glasses,

You're something else.

You're really lovely underneath it all.

You want to love me underneath it all.

I'm really lucky underneath it all.

You're really lovely.

It was surprising that his question didn't bother her that much. That raised so many questions itself, some of which made Danielle's skin tremble. Why did Shane always give so much for her? Why did he put up with her for so long? When everyone else gave up on her- he didn't, when they thought she was over with- he still believed in her. She didn't deserve a friend like him, and her deserved a better friend than her... even if he'd never looked at her as only a friend, just like any other.

Truth be told, Danielle was never sure of Shane's feelings. He always kept a part- if not all- of his composure, his ability to keep calm and not be affected by anything that happened between them. At least, he never seemed to be lost or confused. Danielle couldn't think if she'd ever seen him not being in control. He could keep his emotions and reactions in check easily, but his actions said things he never would.

You know some real bad tricks,

And you need some discipline.

But lately you've been trying real hard,

And giving me your best.

And you give me the most gorgeous sleep,

That I've ever had.

And when it's really bad,

I guess it's not that bad.

You're really lovely underneath it all.

You want to love me underneath it all.

I'm really lucky underneath it all.

You're really lovely.

Actions speak louder than words, she thought, so what is Shane trying to say to me? She'd always thought he had a crush on her, to put it simply, because it was obvious. Danielle figured it was nothing more than that, anything more than that would be hard to believe. Could anyone feel so much without ever having a relationship? More importantly, could Shane? She had thought 'no', he was too composed to let something- or someone- take him over that easily, but tonight she wasn't so sure.

And me, what exactly are my feelings about this, about him? Danielle shifted on the couch and lay her head on the end, staring off at nothing. She didn't know the answer to her question, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to think about it. The last time she did it, her confusion got the better of her and she knew it had bad effects. One of which was going to the hospital. Danielle had moved away from her question, and she still didn't know the answer when she went back to it. She didn't know the answer to any of her questions.

So many moons that we have seen,

Stumbling back next to me.

I've seen right through and underneath,

And you make me better.

I've seen right through and underneath,

And you make me better.

You've used up all your coupons,

And all you got left is me.

And someone I'm full of forgiveness,

I guess it's meant to be...

You're really lovely underneath it all.

You want to love me underneath it all.

I'm really lucky underneath it all.

You're really lovely.

Danielle got to her feet quickly, and she went to the bedroom. Looking through her bags, she finally found what she wanted. It was impulsive, confusing, but she felt the need to write down some of her questions. It sure beat another hospital trip, and maybe she could answer then eventually, or maybe someone could answer them for her. That someone, she hoped, might be Shane.

The scrap of paper was simpy titled "Questions" and she couldn't write fast enough to keep up with her mind. Why does Shane put up with all I do to him? Why would he give up anything for me? Why do I hurt Shane by trying to keep distant- distant so I won't hurt him? Two questions stood out more that the rest, and those were the two that Danielle wanted to answer the most. Is Shane in love with me? Have I fallen in love with him?

~~~~~