PART 3

Jackie hurried on through the hallway, a slight limp in her step from the accidental clothesline she had received from Rey Mysterio. Her eyes scanned the empty halls back and forth with each beat, the young diva in search of Charlie Haas. He had disappeared so quickly after saving her from Bubba Ray Dudley, she hadn't gotten the chance to thank him. And knowing herself, she wouldn't be able to get to sleep that night if she didn't catch up with him and do just that.

If only she could find him...

She kicked her pace up a notch, shuddering at the thought that she could very well run into one - or worse yet, both - of the Dudley brothers. She sighed with relief as she recognized a locker room door as his. Taking a deep breath, Jackie knocked on the door, pushing it open and entering once she'd heard Charlie's voice on the other side, inviting her to come in. He glanced up and saw her standing in the doorway, a soft smile playing on his lips.

"Hey..." he said, a slight tentativeness in his tone.

"Hey," Jackie replied, taking a step into the room. "I've been looking all over the place for you, you vanished after what happened out there."

Charlie looked away for a moment, shuffling around some of the ring gear he had placed on the table beside him. Jackie raised an eyebrow curiously as she took note of the almost shy look taking over his face.

"I-I didn't really see the need to stay out there, I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. It wasn't a big deal," he insisted, shaking his head.

"It was to me," she said sincerely, taking a few steps in his direction. "I just had to stop by and thank you for what you did."

"Hey, don't worry about it. Like I said, it was nothing," Charlie replied, offering her a small smile.

"Well, it was more than nothing to me, Charlie," Jackie said, gently placing her hand on his forearm. "You saved me, and God only knows what would've happened if you didn't come out there. You really helped me out, and whether you feel it was a big deal or not, it means a hell of a lot to me. So, thank you, I really appreciate it."

He nodded, a chill running up his arm at her light touch. Breathing deeply, he hopped onto the table, sitting on it as he paused before speaking.

"A friend of mine was in danger, I couldn't just sit back and watch," he reasoned, looking up at her. "I only did what I felt was the right thing... and by the way, you're very welcome."

Jackie smiled, taking his hand in hers and giving it a gentle squeeze. Then, as if on cue, Charlie stood once more, sealing off the already minimal distance between them. In a very daring, uncharacteristic move, Charlie placed his hands on her waist and ducked his head down towards hers. Jackie's eyes widened slightly as he paused mere centimeters from her face, his lips hovering just in front of hers - until the door swung violently open, banging against the wall. Charlie jumped and took a protective stance in front of Jackie, his eyes narrowing as he saw Kurt Angle, his goon Luther Raines standing just behind him.

"Not to interrupt this touching moment," Angle voiced with annoyance, "but what the hell do you think you were doing out there?"

Charlie rolled his eyes, snorting at the General Manager in disgust. Sometimes he wondered why he and Shelton were ever a part of Team Angle in the first place.

"Well, Kurt, I'll tell you exactly what I told Jackie. A friend of mine was in trouble, so I helped them out. In case you weren't aware, they call that loyalty," he said matter-of-factly.

Kurt shook his head, a smug look on his face as he smirked at the pair. To think he actually used to hang around with that no good excuse for a Superstar. And as he eyed Jackie scornfully, he began to wonder why he ever made the trade for her and Rico in the first place.

"Well, Charlie, I'm glad you're so loyal to your friend Jackie, because you'll get to prove just how loyal you are next week... in a match. You and Jackie will be teaming up to take on Luther here, and... oh, Sable," he replied with a cocky grin.

Charlie shook his head, his gaze traveling from Kurt to Jackie - whom he was positive could beat the living hell out of Sable - and then finally settling on Luther Raines. He spoke to Kurt again, though his eyes stayed focused on the large man behind him.

"You just tell Luter - and that skank, Sable while you're at it - that we'll be ready."

-------------------------------------------

"Torrie, I can't do that."

The blonde woman frowned, pouting up at her boyfriend. Though John found her expression to be adorable, he shook his head. For whatever reason, she was set on the idea that he could get Charlie and Jackie together simply by speaking to Charlie himself. As much as he wanted to see the two together, they weren't in the sixth grade anymore... they'd have to talk to one another about that, not him.

"Oh, why not?" she whined, smacking him gently on the arm. "Charlie's never going to have the guts to ask her out unless someone convinces him he can do it. I don't see why you can't just talk to him."

John laughed, "I don't see why you think I'm some kind of matchmaker. We can't butt into their lives, Torrie. The only ones who can put the two of them together is themselves."

Torrie shook her head, grabbing a hold of John's hand as they entered the arena catering room. She knew very well that Jackie and Charlie were responsible for their own relationship. But what her boyfriend didn't understand was that it was very possible that Charlie would lack the confidence to talk to Jackie about his feelings.

"I never asked you to play matchmaker," Torrie said, glancing up at him. "As far as I'm concerned, the match has already been made. But Jackie's convinced there's nothing but friendship, and Charlie is too damn shy to say anything to her. I just want you to inject a little confidence in him, let him know what to say to her."

John sighed, using his free hand to reach up and smack his forehead.

"Why can't you do that?" he asked.

"Because, you're a guy. Guys are supposed to talk to other guys about this sort of thing. Now come no, he's right over there. If you ever want to get any again, you'll go."

With that, Torrie let go of his hand and gave him a nudge, pushing him in Charlie's direction. John exhaled heavily as he walked away, turning back and shaking his head at her. Torrie shooed him along, giggling to herself. John approached Charlie from behind, tapping him on the shoulder.

"Yo, Char, can I talk to you for a sec?" he asked.

"Sure, John, what's up?" Charlie replied, turning to face him.

Before speaking again, John tossed a glance back in Torrie's direction. He held back a groan as he discovered that she was watching them. If he avoided talking about the subject he had been sent for, she would no doubt find out.

"First thing's first... for the record, Torrie sent me, so if I start stumblin' on my words or whatever, that's why," he explained, to which Charlie laughed. "But anyway, it's about Jackie..."

"What about her?" Charlie asked, rather quickly in John's opinion. His eyes widened noticeably at the mention of the diva's name as well.

"Well, Torrie was just... okay, we were just wondering why you haven't asked her out yet," John stated, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"Ask her out? Why would I do that?" Charlie questioned, trying his best to appear oblivious. John read him like a book, though, and he shook his head.

"Come on, man, I know you guys got something goin' on. Why are you gonna fight it?"

Charlie sighed, dropping the cup he had filled with coffee down to the table. He locked eyes with John, who was gazing at him expectantly.

"It's not that I'm fighting it," he said, taking a deep breath. "It's just... I'm not the best with words. Whenever I try and tell a girl I like her, my words get jumbled up and I end up making an ass of myself. I know I'm a little old for that to be happening, but it does."

"So if you can't tell her how you feel in words, why not just show her?" John suggested, his eyebrows raising a bit. "I mean, actions speak louder than words, don't they?"

Charlie nodded, thinking back to a few days ago, when he and Jackie were talking in his locker room. He had come so close to kissing her, and he probably would have, had Angle not barged in.

"Actually, I almost did, the other night," he admitted. "Jackie came into my locker room after I saved her from the Dudleys, and I almost kissed her. I would have, too, but Angle came in and made that damn match before I got the chance."

"Baldy does have a way of ruining moments," John said, shaking his head. "But ya know what... if you came that close to doing it then, why not try one more time?"

"I don't know, man," Charlie said, a hesitant gaze in his eyes. "She looked pretty surprised... you think she'd go for it?"

John glanced back in Torrie's direction, noticing that since they had separated and he started talking with Charlie, Jackie had joined her. The two women were off in a corner, giggling as they eyed the two men across from them. He chuckled to himself, turning back to Charlie and giving him a playful swat on the arm.

"I definitely think so."