Part Eleven

"You did WHAT?"

"Steph, please calm down. You're going to blow a gasket."

"That's not the only thing that's going to blow, Lita if you're not careful. You're walking a mighty fine line here. You're within a hundred miles, hun and out among real people. What if someone recognizes you?"

"That's just it, Steph. No one has. And I don't think they're going to. No one knows about my situation except those within the fed. The public would have no reason to suspect anything. Besides, I rented this little farmhouse from the nicest old man. The place is small, but perfect. It's homey, Steph. No offense, but your luxurious secluded cabin in the mountain was like being in a high priced prison. I was going crazy there already."

"It'd be a short trip, red," Steph laughed, dropping her head in her hands as she spoke to Lita on her cell phone. She picked mindlessly at a flaw in the wood desk she sat behind.

"Hey, I'm a blonde now, remember?"

"Look," she said, ignoring Lita's little joke. "I'm really not comfortable with this, ok? There's too much at stake here, including your health and the health of your baby. I'd hate for Kane to figure out your not only alive, but living well in North Carolina. Not with how unpredictable he is at the moment."

"What do you mean Steph?" Lita asked, her voice turning dead serious.

"He's still causing problems, ok?" Stephanie answered her, not wanting to go into the details behind the monster's latest rampage. Stephanie grimaced as she thought about the chokeslam Maven had taken in the locker room a couple days before when he accidentally bumped into the big red monster with his athletic bag. "I'm sure he'll calm down soon."

"Matt's coming back this week, isn't he?" Lita asked suddenly, plucking at information she knew Stephanie didn't really want to divulge.

"Yeah, he is," the brunette sighed. "He called Daddy and told him he needs to get back in the swing of things. He needs to work to keep his mind off everything. Daddy told Bischoff to book him into a match with Christian."

Lita sighed from her end of the phone. "I hate this you know. Not being there. Not able to have any control of anything. That's the part that's the hardest right now. Not feeling in control anymore, having to hide for my safety."

"Lita you are in control. You decided to do something to save your baby and the man you love. Granted, it was an extreme choice of options, but, Li..." Stephanie cut off as she looked up from the wood grain on the desk as she heard a soft knock on her door. "But, Lisa," she emphasized the name Lisa, "everything's going to be ok. Just trust me." She motioned the person knocking into her office with her right hand, the phone still glued to her ear with her left.

"Lisa?" Lita questioned. "Someone came in the room, didn't they Steph?"

"Yes, they did." Stephanie answered. "I should go now,"

Lita bit her inside cheek, then spoke. "Stephanie wait! It's Matt," she said softly. "Isn't it? He's there?"

"Yeah," Stephanie sighed. "I really do need to go." She looked up at the elder Hardy and gave him a sympathetic smile. Matt in turn made a hand motion as if to say no problem. He crossed his arms and waited for Stephanie.

"Steph, just tell me this. Does he look ok? Is he well-rested? Because, if he's coming back to wrestle, he needs to be in top form. Don't let him.."

Stephanie cut her off. "Yeah, yeah, girl. I know. Don't worry, I'll take good care of him for you. I promise. Now I really do have to go. I'll talk to you later, ok?"

"Ok," Lita answered in frustration. She said her goodbyes and hung up the phone. Sitting down at the kitchen table, she drummed her fingers impatiently on the old wood table. "He was right there with her," she said to herself. "How I wish I was too."

Stephanie's office

"So, Matt," Stephanie said from behind her desk. "Welcome back. How have you been doing?" Stephanie hoped he hadn't heard much of her conversation, especially when she had used Lita's name. If he had, she was sunk.

"I'm doing alright Steph, ready to get back to work," he answered. Looking at her, he sensed she was a tad nervous, a characteristic the youngest McMahon rarely displayed. "So, you're taking care of someone?" he asked.

"Uh, yeah," Stephanie said anxiously. She thought quickly to explain herself. "I promised my friend Lisa I'd take care of her dog for her for a few days."

Matt chuckled. "Kind of hard to do when you're on the road as much as us, isn't it?"

"Nah," she answered. "He's little, so I figured I would just bring him with me. Shouldn't be a problem." She quickly changed the topic. "So, what can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if I could get a match tonight. I want Kane."

"No."

"What do you mean no? Stephanie, he has caused me so much heartache the last two months, well three really. I want a piece of him. If not for me, for Lita." His eyes held a far away look for a moment.

"I don't think that's the best idea right now Matt," Stephanie said. "Your emotions are too raw. And besides, Kane's been pretty much intolerable around here. I booked you into a match, but you're taking on Christian, not Kane."

"What? Steph, please. Give me Kane. I want to destroy him, the no good bastard. I don't care if he's been intolerable, he deserves a good ass whipping for everything he's done, and I'm ready to give it." Matt's eyes darkened as he spoke about his nemesis.

"No," Stephanie said. "You're fighting Christian, not Kane. I'm not giving Kane a match tonight because he was suspended last week for attacking Maven. And that's my final decision. You're early on the card, Matt. I suggest you go get ready."

"Fine," Matt grumbled. "But I will get him sooner or later, mark my words." He turned on his heel and stomped out of her makeshift office.

Alone again, Stephanie dropped her forehead against the table with a thud. "This is harder than I thought," she said to herself. Raising up again, she rubbed where her head had hit the table. "And now I have to find a dog to carry around for a few days!" She groaned as her head hit the table once more.

To be continued........