****Hey! Well, we're moving along nicely aren't we?......not too far to go with this story now...thanks for the reviews and hope you enjoy this one!****

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Chapter forty-one

The next three days went by quickly and they found themselves in yet another city. Kevin had been watching Lenny carefully and he was beginning to get worried. She wasn't well, and it was starting to show. But whenever he tried to talk to her about it she just shrugged it off as a bug of some sort, and he relented. He also found it strange that she wouldn't let him go anywhere on his own anymore, but he didn't argue about that either. It was nice having her with him, and if she wanted to be next to him every minute of the day, well that was fine by him. Still, she looked pale and she seemed edgy. Even Scott had noticed.

"What's the matter with Lenny?" he asked him as they left the ring, nodding to where she was standing with Mark and Amy.

Kevin shook his head and frowned. "I'm not sure. She isn't well, but she won't see a doctor because she says it's nothing serious. And she seems....I don't know, nervous or something."

"And you have no idea why that is?" Scott asked, frowning himself as he thought about it. He had gotten to know Lenny in a very short time and he liked her. From what he could tell, she didn't seem like the nervous type. A suspicion was forming in his mind, and he narrowed his eyes as he looked at his friend. Obviously Kevin didn't have the same theories about Lenny's state of health.

"None at all. She seems to be changing in some way," Kevin murmured.

"Towards you?"

"No, not towards me. In fact, she seems a little clingy lately. Maybe it's just because she hasn't felt too good, I don't know."

"Do you mind her being clingy?" Scott asked, raising an eyebrow. In the past, a clingy female would have driven Kevin out of his mind.

A smile tilted the bigger man's mouth. "No, I don't mind. I like having her nearby all the time."

"Ooooh, sounds like someone's in love," Scott taunted, chuckling.

"Yeah, I guess it does," Kevin agreed easily, his smile getting bigger as they approached the place where Lenny was standing. He reached out and drew her into the circle of his arms, smiling down at her as she relaxed against him.

Scott stood watching them and tried to hide his amazement. Kevin was in love. He blinked and repeated it to himself again, finding it hard to believe. He had known that Kevin liked Lenny a lot, but he hadn't realised how deep it went. It was nice to see, and he hoped everything went smoothly for his friend, even if it made him re-evaluate his own life. He turned when he felt a presence beside him, a quick smile lighting his face when his Talent Liaison looked up at him.

"Hello Kristina, I was wondering where you'd got to," he said, giving her a killer grin. She had become a shadow lately, and he couldn't go anywhere without her being nearby. He had been the object of much ribbing about her since he had come back, and he mostly took it in good part. But sometimes he couldn't resist teasing her. She was so easy to embarrass it was untrue, and he took great delight in making her blush.

"I had to arrange an autograph session for you," she told him, tucking a stray lock of blonde hair behind her ear and glancing at him reluctantly. She was finding it harder and harder to meet his eyes lately, what with the way he kept looking at her. She felt like she was being hunted.

"Mmm, another session? Will you be there, sweetheart?" Scott drawled, leaning down slightly to brush the lock of hair back when it fell forward again.

Kristina jumped at his touch and looked at him nervously, taking a quick step back. "Yes, I will, I have to....er..." she tailed off and stared at him with wide brown eyes when his thumb rubbed across her bottom lip, making her freeze. She just knew he must be able to hear her heartbeat, and she wanted nothing more at that moment than to jump on him. He was so incredibly sexy....she cleared her throat and then swallowed. "I have....things...er....to do, I have to go!" she managed to croak, rushing away from him and disappearing out of sight.

Scott laughed wickedly as he watched her go, a thoughtful look on his face. Kevin turned to look at him and shook his head. "You're being mean to that poor girl."

"I can't help it," Scott said, shrugging. "She makes it so easy."

Kevin narrowed his eyes. "She looks pretty when she blushes, huh?"

"Oh, she sure does," Scott murmured, staring down the corridor where she had gone. "I think I'll just go and change," he added, walking off with a determined expression.

Mark shook his head as he watched him go, moving to stand next to Kevin. "Don't tell me he's gonna start chasing her?"

"Looks that way," Kevin agreed.

"I thought maybe he'd changed a little."

Kevin shook his head. "Nope. Scott's still much the same when it comes to women, and his Talent Liaison is very much a woman. I didn't think he'd be able to resist for long."

"Maybe she won't make it easy on him," Amy said, joining the conversation. "From what I've learnt about her, she's quite strong willed. Nice, too."

"Well, if she gives him a run for his money, it'll be amusing to watch. No female ever says no to Scott Hall," Kevin said, chuckling. He looked down at Lenny and frowned suddenly, becoming concerned all over again. She wasn't joining in with the conversation; in fact, she didn't even seem to be aware of it at all. She just stood against him chewing her lip and staring vacantly up the corridor. "You okay, baby?"

She raised her eyes to his and gave him a smile, making him relax a little. "I'm fine. Sorry, I was daydreaming," she explained, forcing herself to put on an act. "Are you done here? Because I'm hungry!"

Kevin grinned at her, pleased to see her acting normally again. "Yep, just let me get changed and I'll feed you."

"Mark has to go to the locker room too, so maybe me and Lenny can go to the restaurant and meet you there?" Amy suggested, taking Lenny's arm so she couldn't argue.

"Sure," Kevin agreed, relinquishing his hold on her and bending to give her a small kiss. "I won't be long." Mark kissed Amy and then they went in their separate directions.

Amy walked with Lenny and looked at her with concern. "You haven't told him yet have you?"

"No," Lenny replied, looking miserable as she thought about what she and Kevin had spoken about a couple of days before. "I was going to the other night. But then he pulled out this packet of condoms and said he didn't want to risk getting me pregnant. He didn't even explain why, so I guess he just doesn't want children."

"Oh," Amy said, frowning.

"Yeah 'oh'. How was I supposed to tell him after that? He'll be so disappointed in me," she said, blinking away tears.

"Disappointed? Lenny, you didn't get pregnant on your own, he had something to do with it as well. And he loves you," Amy said softly.

"I don't know if he does, he's never said so, not once. I tell him all the time," Lenny said, feeling worse and worse the more she talked. She glanced at Amy and wondered if she could confide in her about Chris Benoit, but she knew that she'd just tell Mark. He in turn would tell Kevin and then who knew what would happen? "I think I'm losing my appetite again."

"Well, you have to eat. You have more than yourself to keep healthy now, and....Lenny, you don't look well lately," Amy told her, looking at the girl's pale white face and dark shadowed eyes. "Aren't you sleeping?"

Lenny shook her head. "I sleep some of the time, but I can't stop thinking about...." she trailed off and shrugged. "It's just difficult sometimes."

"You have to tell him, this isn't doing you any good," Amy said firmly.

"I know. I will, when I think the time's right," Lenny murmured, looking up as they reached the restaurant.

"Let's just hope that's before you start showing. Kevin's not stupid," Amy said, seating herself at a small table. "And you have to see a doctor soon, too."

"I know," Lenny said again, her shoulders slumping.

They ordered lunch for themselves and huge meals for Kevin and Mark too, then sat back and waited. Lenny glanced around the large dining room, her eyes falling on a table where Chris Benoit sat eating with John Cena and Paul Levesque. Paul waved across at her and she only just managed to raise her hand as her stomach turned over. Chris smiled nastily at her, making her quickly look away. She reached for her glass of water and took a sip, her hand shaking.

Amy saw the way Chris had looked at Lenny and then took note of Lenny's reaction, and she frowned. "Lenny, what's going on? Why was Chris looking at you like that?"

Lenny froze and closed her eyes briefly, trying to calm herself down. Her nerves were shot to pieces lately, just waiting for Benoit to launch another of his little surprise attacks. "It's nothing, really."

"It doesn't look like nothing," Amy said, glancing at the door to see Mark and Kevin walk slowly in.

Lenny grabbed her hand when she spotted them too. "Please don't say anything to them, please? I can't tell anyone...I can't..."

"Calm down, Lenny, I won't say anything. But you and I are going to have to have a little talk later on. I want to know what's making you so edgy all the time, and why you're scared of Benoit. You are scared of him, aren't you?" Amy asked, recognising the signs easily.

"Yes," Lenny whispered.

"Okay, we'll talk later," Amy said, looking up and smiling when Mark joined them.

Kevin sat down next to Lenny and drew her into a hug. "Hey sweetness, what did you get me?"

"Turkey steak," Lenny told him, taking a deep breath and using all her acting skills to mask how she was really feeling. She was so grateful that Kevin was by her side that she felt like crying, and she barely managed to keep it hidden from his eagle eyes.

"Great, I could pretty much eat a whole turkey right about now," he murmured, looking up and smiling when the waitress brought their drinks. "Well, only another few days of this and I can go home and have you all alone," he said, looking down at her and arching his eyebrows wickedly, making her smile.

"Lucky bastard," Mark grumbled, frowning at him. "We won't be able to get home for another month at least, and then it's only because we're passing through Texas."

"Yeah, well, I deserve some time off," Kevin replied.

"And I don't? I might remind you that I've got a baby on the way!"

"And that's why I deserve some time off now," Kevin said, winking at Lenny.

Mark looked confused. "How do you figure that one out?"

"Well, see, you'll be getting tons of time off when the baby arrives. I, on the other hand, will not. Therefore I should be getting tons of time off now."

Mark rolled his eyes and looked at Amy, smiling. "I guess that probably makes sense on his planet."

"You wouldn't believe the things that make sense on my planet," Kevin said, chuckling and taking a sip of his drink. "Want to hear some more?"

"No way!" Mark grumbled. "If I stick around you too long I'm likely to go insane."

"Now that's not fair. Lenny isn't insane, and she's been around me for a long time," Kevin replied, winking at Lenny again.

"She's insane for getting with your ugly ass in the first place, so her state of mind now is debatable," Mark shot back, grinning and raising his eyebrows.

"Asshole," Kevin muttered, giving him a mock glare.

"Ah, I knew we'd eventually revert to insults," Mark said, shrugging.

"Never mind, honey, the foods arriving. Now you can fill your great big mouth up and me and Lenny won't have to listen to you anymore," Amy said, smiling sweetly and patting Mark's arm.

His eyebrows shot up and he looked at Kevin again. "Now see what you've done? You've even got my wife insulting me!"

"That's not my fault! Maybe she just finally opened her eyes and saw what she was married to..."

"Shut-up!" Amy said, banging the table and then laughing at their expressions. "I want to eat my food in peace. Now either stop bickering or go away!"

"Sorry, baby," Mark murmured, looking contrite.

"I'm sorry too. I guess," Kevin murmured, ruining his own look of remorse by laughing. He glanced at Lenny and found her staring off into space, and he frowned. This was getting ridiculous. Normally she would join in, but for the last few days she had barely said a word. He tilted her chin up and gave her a slow smile, watching with concern as she focused on him, blinking as if she was in a daze. "Lenny, are you sure you're okay?"

She took a breath and smiled. "I'm fine, honestly. I was daydreaming again."

"You've been doing that a lot lately," he said, frowning.

"I know. I'm tired I guess," she replied, watching as their food was put on the table.

"You do look tired," Mark said, looking over at the other two. "I think you're gonna have to let her get some more sleep, Kev."

"I think you may be right," Kevin said, leaning in to give her a small kiss and then turning to his food with a huge smile, his worries assuaged for now.

Lenny breathed a sigh of relief and darted a look at Amy, looking away when she found the other girl staring at her with more than a touch of worry.

*********

Later that afternoon Amy finally had a chance to get Lenny on her own, and she took her back to the now empty restaurant. Both Mark and Kevin were busy, and Amy needed a coffee break, so they got themselves a cup each and sat down at a small table. "Lenny, tell me what's going on with Chris Benoit," Amy said instantly, raising her eyebrows.

Lenny's shoulders slumped slightly and she bit her lip. "He....he wants me to talk to Kevin and get him to retire," she murmured.

"What? Why?"

"He hates Kevin," she explained, feeling slightly less burdened to be telling it to someone else.

"Did you tell him you would?"

Lenny shook her head. "I said I wouldn't, at first. But he made some threats...."

Amy looked shocked by what Lenny was telling her. "He made threats? Like what?"

"He threatened to break Kevin's legs....and he warned me not to tell anyone, otherwise I'd pay as well."

"How many times has this happened?" Amy asked and then sat back and listened as the other girl went into detail about what had been happening.

When she finished, Lenny raised her eyes to Amy's and gave a sad smile. "I can't tell Kevin. I don't know what might happen if I did, and I don't want him to get hurt."

Amy shook her head. "You have to tell him, Lenny. You can't let Chris get away with what he's doing. And nor can I."

"You mustn't say anything!" Lenny said, her eyes widening at the thought.

"I have to. If you won't tell Kevin what Chris has been doing, then I'm going to tell Mark," Amy said, standing up suddenly. She gave Lenny a sympathetic look. "I know what it's like to live with that sort of fear hanging over your head, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Lenny, this is the best way. It's the only way. I'm going to find Mark and talk to him about this, then he can decide whether or not to tell Kevin or whether to leave it up to you. But Chris is not getting away with this." She patted Lenny's hand. "Stay here and finish your coffee. I'll come back soon and let you know what's going to happen."

Lenny nodded silently, and dropped her eyes to her cup, feeling dreadful. She almost wished she hadn't said anything now, but she knew it was the right thing to do. That knowledge didn't make it any less scary though.

*****

Amy found Mark and drew him away from some of the other guys. He smiled down at her. "What's wrong honey? You got a craving for my body?" he asked her, grinning wickedly.

"Mark, this is serious. I have something to tell you," she said, frowning. "It's about Chris Benoit and Lenny."

"Benoit? What about him?" Mark asked, suddenly serious.

Amy started telling him everything she knew, trying to keep her voice down so no-one else would hear. But neither she nor Mark realised that Chris was standing just outside the room they were in, and he could hear every word they said. His brows drew down and he scowled, his eyes narrowing as he clenched his fists. So that little bitch hadn't been able to help herself, after all. Just like a typical woman, she had to go and open her mouth. Well she wasn't getting away with it. He smiled grimly when he heard Amy say where Lenny was, and he turned and walked off in the direction of the restaurant, his eyes sparkling with anger.

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***** And that's the end of THAT chapter. What? A bad place to leave it, I hear you say? Really? Okay...maybe I'll post the next chapter soon.....maybe........*****