Chapter 3

"Awesome hardcore match bird-boy!" Chaya grinned at Scott as he came into the green room where she was watching the show with her uncle. Bret had scowled when she insisted he stay, but he was now deep in conversation with old friends, laughing over their past antics. Scott moved further into the room, smiling at the cluster of legends around Bret. "Thanks Chay." he replied, absently rubbing his ribs. Chaya's smile faded and she was by his side in an instant. "What's wrong?"

"Nothin." Scott told her, giving her a boyish grin. Chaya scowled at him, hand on hips. "I'm not buying Levy. What did you do?"

"Took a bump the wrong way, relax."

"Lemme see." Chaya demanded stubbornly. "Be back in a minute Uncle Bret!" She called out as she dragged Scott out into the hall and into a deserted dressing room. Once there she demanded that he remove the bloodstained Sandman shirt he was wearing so she could examine him. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours." Scott smiled, folding his arms. Chaya huffed out a breath and frowned at the dried blood on his forearms. "Nice hack job Scott. What the hell were you blading with, a butter knife?" Scott dismissed the hard edge in her voice as soon as he saw the worried look in her amber eyes. Damn he'd missed her. In two strides he'd crossed the room and was pulling her in for a hug. "You're not getting out of this that easily Levy. Off with the shirt and tell me what the hell you've been doing to yourself!" Scott smiled over her head before pulling away and obeying her stern orders. As soon as his shirt was off Chaya settled her soft, cool hands over his abdomen. He couldn't stop the chuckle from erupting in his throat. "Careful, I'm ticklish." He saw the smile briefly appear on her lips before she resumed her examination. "You know if I thought anything was wrong I could have had a trainer check it out." Scott pointed out as she methodically poked and prodded his ribs. "Like you went to see a trainer back in '94 when you broke your arm diving through three stacked tables?" Chaya asked dryly.

"That was an isolated incident."

"Like hell it was Scott." She snapped up at him, her tone catching him by surprise. But then she looked up at him with a pleading look in her eyes. "You've gotta start taking better care of yourself or you're not going to last much longer in this business." When he didn't say anything she went into the bathroom and soaked a hand towel. When she returned she began to clean the blood from his arms. "Your ribs are bruised." Chaya informed him without looking up. "You're going to have to bind them tonight and again tomorrow before your next match."

"Fine." Scott replied, his voice completely void of emotion.

Chaya's heart sank. She hated it when Scott was angry with her, and the last thing she'd wanted to do was start nagging him again. In the past they'd had several arguments about Scott's reckless style of wrestling and Chaya's constant nagging. But deep down Chaya knew that Scott was a responsible performer and would never intentionally do serious damage to himself, just as Scott knew that Chaya only pestered him because she cared. When Chaya was finished, she tossed the soiled towel on the bench and stood to leave. Scott caught her arm and dragged her into his lap. "Chay look at me." He demanded softly when she continued to stare into her lap. He felt her heavy sigh before her eyes met his. There was an amused twinkle in his chocolate brown eyes. "I've missed the hell outta you girl."

Chaya smiled softly and fingered one of his frizzy curls. "Same here. I'm sorry I..."

"Forget it Chay. You're right. I need to start taking care of my injuries. But hey, now that I've got my personal nurse back I'll be in top shape 24/7 right?" Chaya laughed. "You bet."

"Good." Scott leaned forward to place a loud smacking kiss on her forehead.

Andrew chose that moment to re-enter his dressing room. In two seconds he was across the room hauling Chaya out of Scott's lap. He'd obviously misjudged how light Chaya was because she all but flew over his shoulder when Andrew grabbed her. "WHAT THE HELL?!" Chaya yelled as Scott jumped to his feet. "Drew have you lost it?!" Andrew could only stare at him, one arm firmly around Chaya's thighs as she dangled from his shoulder. "Let me go!" Chaya screeched as she struggled free. "What are you doing in here Drew?" Scott asked running a hand through his hair. "It's MY dressing room jerk-off. What the hell are you doing here with her!?" Andrew demanded. "Relax buddy, we were just_"

"THAT is none of your business Mr. Martin." Chaya cut him off sharply. "And I'll thank you to stay the hell out of my life!" Chaya slammed out of the room leaving the two men alone.

Andrew turned to glare at Scott. "Stay away from her." He demanded in a deadly even tone. Scott merely smiled. "I could give the same advice to you buddy."

"I ain't laughing Scott. Stay the hell away from her, I mean it."

"Since when did she become your personal property?" Scott asked hotly. Andrew's eyes flashed and his nostrils flared. The careless question had hit too close to home. "Get out."

"Fine." Scott pushed past him, completely puzzled as to what had just happened between them. He considered Andrew a friend, but he wasn't treating him that way now. He needed an explanation. He needed to find Chaya.

Andrew sat down, hard, as soon as the door slammed firmly behind Scott. The urge to destroy was choking him and he clutched the hard edges of the bench, straining to gain control of his raging temper. "AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!" His roar of frustration echoed in the empty room, and passers by looked curiously as the door to the dressing room rattled on its hinges. Get a grip, Andrew told himself furiously. But he already knew it was going to be an impossible task. How on earth was he going to survive with Chaya around, haunting him with her luscious curves and dimpled smile. You're a deadman, he thought bitterly as he stalked towards the showers.

"HE'S A DEAD MAN!" Chaya screeched as she stalked down the hall. "Who's tombstone are you carving now little one?" Adam chuckled as he fell into step beside her. "I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count."

"Hmm, too soon for you to be pissed at McMahon. Sean and I haven't even begun to prank on you yet so that just leaves... oh no hun. Don't tell me you two already got into it." The cold glare she sliced at him was all the answer he needed. "Chay, c'mon little one, stop for a second." Adam snagged her arm, bringing her angry stride to a halt. "What happened?" She crossed her arms in front of her and huffed. Had she been a dragon there might well have been fire coming from her rosy lips. "It's only been three hours Chay. What could he possibly have done?"

"He walked in on Scott and I." Adam's eyes widened as he imagined the scene in his head. "What were you doing with_"

"Examining his ribs. He took a bump the wrong way and did some serious damage. Scott doesn't like doctors. He's a stubborn brute. He hasn't changed."

"And Andrew walked in while you were playing nurse? Is that it?" Chaya held silent and Adam sighed. "What else?"

"Nothing." Chaya replied, rubbing her temple with one hand. Adam saw right through her. "I'm not buying."

"I don't care."

"C'mon Chaya. Something else had to have happened."

"Fine. Scott was kissing me."

"WHAT?"

"Oh will you calm down. It was a friendly kiss on the forehead. Exactly what you and Sean have done since I was fourteen."

"Well Chay, it's a LITTLE different now." Adam told her exasperated.

"How? How is it different?" Chaya demanded.

"You're almost twenty-four now."

"So what?"

"It's possible that Andrew could have thought that you and Scott were_" Chaya blushed for a fraction of a second before she blew up again. "What difference does it make? What I do now is NONE of his business. If I wanted to screw the entire roster it would be NONE of his DAMN business!"

Several people turned to stare at her outrageous statement. Chaya blushed furiously and turned on her heel to stalk down the hall. "What was that all about?" Jason asked coming to stand beside his dumbfounded partner. "Ding, ding, ding. Round one." Adam replied wryly.

"You're kidding, already?"

"Drew saw her with Levy." Adam explained simply. Jason let out a low whistle as they watched Chaya disappear down the hall. "In that case, I'm changing my bet. No way they're gonna last an entire month. Two weeks, tops."

"Forget it, you're already in for a month. Hell, I said they'd go at least two. Looks like Sean is closest at three weeks." Adam laughed. Jason clapped a hand on his shoulder and grinned. "Suddenly, I can't wait for our next loop."

"Chaya! Chay wait up!" Scott called across the cavernous parking lot. The show had just ended and Chaya and Bret were on their way out to their rental car. Chaya motioned for her uncle to continue on before she turned and waited for Scott to catch up. "Are you okay?" Chaya asked as he gingerly held his ribs out of breath. "Yeah, just a little stiff."

"If he laid ONE FINGER on you_" She stopped, catching the smug look in Scott's mischievous brown eyes. "You're right, you're no match for that big blond behemoth."

"Behemoth? I thought you and Andrew were_"

"Ancient history. Leave it." Chaya said quietly before continuing to walk. Scott matched her stride, carefully shoving his hands in his jean pockets. "So you're signing your contract tomorrow right?"

"Yup."

"They got a story for you yet?"

"Don't know. But McMahon says I'll be on the next loop, so they musta thought of something."

"Well, here's hoping their idea is worthy of your talent."

"Here's hoping." They reached the truck and Scott opened the passenger door for Chaya, exchanging greetings with Bret. "See you around Chay."

"Goodnight Levy. Bind those ribs, or I'll be breaking a few more of them myself."

"Yes ma'am!" Scott replied cheekily before closing the door and waving them off.

"What was that all about pixie?" Bret asked, darting a sideways glance at his niece. Chaya had a faraway look in her eyes. The look she got when she was trying to figure something out. "Chay? You okay?"

"Hmm, oh yeah. Fine. Just tired." Bret nodded and they rode the rest of the way in silence. Chaya looked out the dark window absently. Her thoughts were clouded with Andrew's glaring blue green eyes and Scott's warm chocolate brown ones. She shouldn't be feeling this way. She shouldn't be feeling guilty, but no matter how she tried to convince herself, the guilt wouldn't go away. Why should it matter that Andrew caught her with Scott?