For disclaimers, warnings, character list, etc., see chapter one.

Chapter III: Too Many Questions

Samia's fourth full week on the road found her extremely bored. She felt like she had spent almost more time in the gym in the past weeks than in her entire life. Window shopping had become a bore too. She and RVD, along with some of his friends, went out to the theatre, the movies, and some baseball games, but the evenings seemed to never get there. After the first two weeks of watching practice, she decided the best thing to do was to watch carefully and see if she could learn a thing or two. However, the blonde couldn't take her eyes off the nWo while watching them run drills in the ring.

When Samia and RVD arrived at the arena for another night of action, she hoped the faction wouldn't bother her again and that it would be another quiet Monday, much like the house shows had been. "Why don't you go ahead and get out and I'll find a parkin' spot?" she offered from the driver's seat, elated to have found something to do that involved part of her job.

"Sure, see you inside," he replied and climbed out of the car to head across the lot. She found the closest parking spot, turned off the ignition, and popped the trunk to retrieve the black sports bags.

"Hey, Angel." She jumped in surprise and turned to see Shawn Michaels standing behind her, his black and white nWo shirt glowering at her. He had materialized from out of nowhere. "Let me help," the wrestler offered.

"I've got it. Really, I do," she replied and moved in front of the trunk as if to shield their belongings.

"I didn't say you couldn't handle it. I'm just trying to be nice," HBK stated and tried to reach around her for the largest bag.

"Nice? Is that what you call the trouble you got me into last time?" Samia asked, scooting over to stop him and putting her hands on her hips.

"No, me and Kevin just wanted to get to know you a little more," he innocently answered with a little pout.

"I appreciate the gesture but I value my job. Rob trusts me and I'd like to keep it that way. Y'all have a bad reputation," she explained but quickly held up a hand at the offended look on his face, "now whether or not that's the truth is a different story. My job is to stand behind Rob and that's what I'm gonna do."

"Hey, now. No one is asking you to do otherwise." Michaels stopped abruptly. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught RVD staring at them.

Samia quickly spoke, the cool professionalism returning. "Mr. Michaels was just…"

Michaels cut her off. "RVD, this girl deserves a raise. You ain't gotta worry about her." He picked up the gym bag and handed it off to Van Dam. "Now, the nWo on the other hand…" HBK pointed at him accusingly and then walked off.

"Rob, I…"

"Don't worry about it. Take a chill pill," he said with a smile and squeezed her shoulder. "Let's go." She stared at his back for a moment as he walked off, slightly surprised that he had nothing else to say, and then grabbed the rest of the bags and hurried to catch up with him.

"J. R., is that chick dead? What?" Lawler exclaimed after seeing the footage their crafty cameraman had shot. "That's the second time that we know of that Shawn's come on to her. What girl wouldn't want the Heartbreak Kid?"

"Maybe she's just faithful to her man," Ross responded, reprovingly.

"She's not dating anyone, J. R. And you know that I, of all people, ought to know. She ought to be grateful that some man is actually coming on to her. Run with it, Samia. Get you some, girl!"

"King!"

The next week found Samia socializing while RVD was waiting for his match. She had finally made enough good friends to quit clinging to him at every show. "After Rob had that tag-team against Booker T and Goldust, I know exactly what you mean," Samia agreed with Lita and started to laugh with her but the laugh caught in her throat as she was spun around. Dressed in black slacks and a white dress shirt with one too many buttons undone, Shawn Michaels wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her to him. He took the long-stem red rose that was in his mouth and stuck it between her teeth as she started to form a question.

"Shall we dance?" he asked and then took her hand in his to waltz her around the closed cafeteria.

She quickly pulled the rose from her mouth to speak. "Excuse me…but, um, you can have this back." He took the flower from her and tucked it in her French braid, never missing a beat. She knew she should just stop but couldn't help keeping up with him since she hadn't danced like this in so long. He held a tight grip on her waist but a feather light touch on her hand. She tickled the back of his neck and he smiled.

"You dance beautifully," he said, interrupting the silence in the entire room.

"Thank you. My dad thought every lady should know how to dance. He was teaching me for my wedding…So how in the world did you learn?"

"Let's say that was the only elective left open my sophomore year of college. I was gonna show up enough to pass the class but when I found out there was this hot chick in there…well, you can figure it out from there."

"That's a no-brainer," she scoffed as he twirled her with one hand.

"Really? I found out about this hot chick that just got hired by the WWE and I thought I'd find out if she's in dance class. Show me how much you know. Go out dancing with me tonight. Just me and you," he said, lowering his voice to husky whisper to try to persuade her.

"Are you crazy?"

"I must be since I'm gonna do this," Shawn answered before he spun her around, drew her up close to him, and then bent her over his arm. His lips hovered above hers. Samia's heart stopped and she quickly drew in her breath. Even if she had wanted, she didn't have the ability to push him away.

"Shawn Michaels! Let go of her now!" Rob Van Dam shouted at him from across the room. Startled, Shawn let go of her but quickly caught her inches from the floor. She didn't bother with an excuse when he pulled her up to her feet, which didn't matter since she could hardly breathe from Shawn dropping her. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Showing your lady a good time."

"Back off, dude," he growled at Michaels.

"Is that a threat?" Shawn returned the snarl.

"Do I look stupid?" Van Dam moved a few steps closer towards them.

"Do you want me to answer that?"

"What do you think?"

"What is this? Who's Line's 'Questions Only'?" Shawn bantered, their retorts beginning to overlap.

"Alright, guys," Samia cut in, stepping between the two that were now nose to nose. "I'm fine. No harm done. Rob, don't let him bother you before your match with Bubba Ray."

"Bubba Ray? Interesting," Shawn said, rubbing his chin. He had no intention of doing anything but had taken a few lessons from the Cerebral Assassin. Mentality was half the game.

"Get lost," Rob bit out. Not waiting to hear a response, he locked arms with Samia and they were off. She was grateful RVD never said a word about the incident, especially since it had been a guilty pleasure. The rose in her hair was finally remembered and she quickly tucked it in her handbag, hoping a particular someone hadn't noticed.

"RVD should have never interrupted," Jerry Lawler barked. "Couldn't he see they were having a moment? That is so rude!"

J. R. ignored his comments. "I would like to know what Shawn Michaels' plans are—what exactly the nWo is up to with this poor girl."

"I wanna know what Shawn and Samia are up to," the other announcer cackled. Ross rolled his eyes and wondered why he wasn't used to the pervert's comments by now.

Back at the hotel, Samia twirled the red rose between her fingers and wondered what she should do with it. She wasn't crushing on Shawn Michaels but it had been a long time since someone gave her flowers. There was a point he was trying to make with all this and she was sure it didn't solely involve her. All the woman could figure out was that he was playing RVD to knock him off his game. However, what would be the point in that? Rob had nothing they could possibly want besides a good match. He still held the Intercontinental belt but only X-Pac would be interested in that, who hadn't so much as spoken to RVD, even to make a threat. What had Rob done to become a target of the nWo?

She smelled it again as she rose from the bed to throw it away but the knock on her door surprised her. "Just a moment," she called, dropping the flower in the wastebasket, sitting down at the table, and spreading out some paperwork. "Come in."

Van Dam appeared on the other side of the door and she realized the basket was right beside the adjoining doors. "Do you have a print-out of our schedule for next week?"

"Yes," she replied and began sifting through papers before producing the right one.

"Thanks," he said, taking it from her and turning to go. "'Night," he called behind him as he shut the door.

She started to reply but the door was already closed. Sighing in relief that he hadn't noticed the rose and said anything, she started to ready for bed.

However, RVD had noticed it in the wastebasket. He, too, was thinking the same thing. Why had he become Shawn Michaels' target? Samia wasn't the kind of girl HBK usually had on his arm, especially if it took that much effort to get her. Rob had been worried at first but she had stood fast with each temptation. Had he not gotten to like and appreciate what she did for him, he couldn't have cared less, beyond the damaged pride, if she walked out on him. Was it because Shawn couldn't stand the fact that he had been turned down—more than once—by her? One way or the other, the wrestler and his valet were marked.

TBC…