Well, guys, this may be the last new part for a few days. I have a whirlwind weekend planned and I doubt I'll get a chance to sit down and pound out the next chapter anytime soon…This whole week should be fun, including working 8 hours then seeing Larry the Cable Guy today, working a 12 hour shift Saturday, going to the Delaware State Fair all day Sunday, and my Anniversary is Monday (zoo & dinner that day)… Tuesday I have a ten hour shift, so the soonest I'll really get a chance to type is Wednesday after a short 8 hour day at work… but the caffeine buzz will most likely be gone and I may be knocked out by 5:15 Wednesday! Please don't kill me, especially when you get to the last line, LoL.

Lilian swallowed, brushing her bangs back from her forehead with the back of her hand. A thin sheen of sweat had formed on her forehead, her hands clammy as she waited for the medical examiner to lift the curtain separating her from her nightmare. She wiped her hands on her shorts, needing to do something with them so she wouldn't wring them, a nervous habit of hers, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart.

Without a word, Rob reached down, taking one of Lilian's shaking hands in his. She glanced at him, feeling somewhat calmer as he smiled encouragingly at her, letting her know without words that he was with her and that everything was going to be okay.

"Mrs. Garcia, are you ready?" she heard the medical examiner, a nice lady who had introduced herself as Melinda Warner, ask over an intercom.

"Yes," Lilian answered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"When I lift this sheet, I need you to tell me whether you recognize the person on the table. If you do, then please give the name of that person," Melinda instructed. "If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Lilian replied. A few seconds later, the curtain was lifted, and Lilian found herself staring at her husband. He looked pale, washed out beneath the bright lights in the room. A towel or blanket of some sort covered his waist, but his chest was bare, bruises and cuts marring his broad chest, obviously from the accident. His face was also bruised, a large gash on his temple that had obviously been carefully cleaned before Lilian had been asked to identify him. His eyes were closed, and he looked almost peaceful… a far cry from the man who had tormented her so many times the past few days and while they were married.

"Can I…" Lilian swallowed again, trying to calm herself down. "Can I see his left bicep?" she asked quietly. Even though she was positive it was him, she still needed to make sure. She needed to see the one thing that would seal the fact that it was him. Rob squeezed her hand, giving her another surge of courage.

"Yes, that is not a problem," Melinda replied, turning the table so John's left side was facing Lilian.

The little blonde sighed, closing her eyes and leaning her head against Rob's shoulder, turning so he could hug her. The tattoo he had gotten three years ago, seemingly binding her to him forever, was definitely there. There was no doubt in her mind that the person laying in the morgue was her husband.

"Lilian, do you recognize this man?" Melinda asked.

"Yes," she replied, her voice muffled by Rob's shirt.

"And who is he?"

"His name is John Garrett."

And with that statement, Lilian burst into tears. Her nightmare was finally over.

Lilian sighed, taking a seat in the car after Rob opened the door for her. The night had arrived quickly, especially after the task of identifying John's body and filling out all the necessary paperwork. Now, all she wanted to do now was take a long, hot shower, slip into her favorite pajamas, and go to sleep. She wiped at her dry eyes, cursing her allergies and the dry night, wishing desperately that she had some eye drops. They were, however, back at the hotel.

Rob circled the car, taking a seat behind the wheel, looking tiredly at Lilian as he played with the keys in his hand, not yet starting the engine of the car. "Do you want to go to the hotel?" Rob asked quietly.

Lilian nodded, sighing. "Look, Rob, I know this is a lot to ask, but my house is about five minutes from here. Do you mind stopping there real fast so I can get some clothes and a few other things?"

"Of course not, Lilian," Rob said.

"It's just with our upcoming schedule, I don't know when I'll be back to start to clear things out, and there's a few things I wanted to grab…"

"Really, Lil, it's not a problem. You don't need to explain yourself," Rob reassured her. "Just guide the way."

Within a few minutes, Rob pulled into the driveway of a beautiful white house. The lawn was well kept, and there were several flowers, lilies and pink roses to be exact, blooming along the border of the house. Rob got out of the car, smiling over the car roof at Lilian. "Lilies?" he questioned, nodding in the direction of the house.

Lilian blushed, smiling shyly at Rob. "Yeah," she said. "They're my favorite flower."

"Mine too," Rob replied.

"Really?"

"Nah… but it's a good nickname for someone by the name of Lilian."

Lilian blushed even harder, smiling when Rob grinned at her. Shaking her head, she walked to the door, choosing a key from her key ring to open the door. She pushed the door open, sighing before she entered the hose slowly. "It's hard to believe I'm not afraid to walk through this door," Lilian said softly, looking around the room. Rob stood behind her, staying silent, allowing her to take time to reflect and think out loud. Lilian walked into the house, shaking her head. "Look, I wasn't even gone a week and John destroyed the place," she said, kicking a plastic cup that was on the floor with her toe. Then she realized Rob was behind her, his hands in his pockets, looking somewhat uncomfortable and hesitant as she talked to herself. "Damn it. Sorry, Rob. Let me go grab a few things and I'll be right back."

Rob nodded, watching as Lilian ran up the stairs two at a time, seemingly ready to get the hell out of there as soon as possible. He stood there, keeping his hands in his pocket as he looked at the photos on the wall. Lilian and John, dancing on their wedding day, the couple looking so happy as several onlookers watched. Lilian, throwing the flower bouquet over her shoulder as a bunch of eager girls, including Trish and Lita, waited. John, in Army camouflage, kneeling in front of a tank, a serious look on his face, holding some sort of gun. Rob gritted his teeth, shaking his head. As if it wasn't bad enough to beat the shit out of your wife, the man who had done so had been a member of the United States Armed Forces… a man who was expected to protect his country. How could he protect the United States when he couldn't even protect or take proper care of his wife? He sighed, feeling a twinge of guilt when he thought that it was probably better that John Garrett was dead.

"Rob, you ready?" he heard Lilian ask. He turned, nodding his agreement. However, a streak of white fur ran out, tripping Lilian. The duffel bag she had thrown her stuff into bumped against her hip as she fell forward, right into Rob's waiting arms.

"Oof," she said, surprised when Rob caught her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, easily steadying her. Instead of moving his hands, however, he simply stared into her green eyes. Lilian stared back, swallowing as she said, "Sorry. I almost forgot about the fucking cat. I'll have to ask the neighbor's kid to take care of it for a few days until I can get back here and figure out what to do with her."

"It's okay, Lil," Rob replied. He smiled at her, feeling her hesitating to put her arms around his waist before she finally did so. Sighing, he closed his eyes for a brief moment before reopening them, his brown eyes once again meeting her green eyes. "Look, Lil, I know this isn't the best time or place, but there's something I need to tell you… something that's been on my mind for a long time."

"What?" Lilian asked softly, glad Rob was holding her up. Her knees were weak from being in his arms, and she was afraid that if he let go of her waist, she'd fall on the ground.

"Lil… I really like you. A lot. I've always liked you, and was heartbroken when you got married and left. Granted, your leaving really wasn't your option, but… when you came back last week, I was so overjoyed. I was so surprised to see you with Stephanie… it was like a dream come true. I made a promise to myself that I wasn't going to let you slip away again. I don't want you to ever be hurt again… and I'll make sure that you're treated the way you should be treated… like a princess."

Rob paused, taking a deep breath. "Oh, Rob," Lilian said, sniffling slightly as she hugged him hard. "I like you too," she admitted. "There's always been a special place in my heart for you. It was hard to leave WWE back in 2003 without saying goodbye to my closest friends, especially you."

Rob grinned, relieved, as he hugged her back. They separated, smiling at each other. Lilian kept her hands on his forearms as Rob hesitantly brought a hand up, placing his palm on the nape of her neck. He kept his other hand at the small of her back, tracing circles with his thumb. Slowly, he guided her towards him, preparing to share a first kiss. Lilian licked her lips slightly, closing her eyes as she eagerly waited to meet his lips.

His lips were almost touching hers when a familiar cold female voice interrupted them. "Well isn't this sweet?" the woman asked, causing Rob and Lilian to hastily break apart, though Rob brought his hand down to lightly grasp Lilian's arm.

Lilian's eyes widened, her gaze darting between the woman's face and the silver gun in her hand which was pointed at both her and Rob. "I can't believe this," she murmured, shaking her head, almost as if she was trying to wake up from a bad dream.

"Oh, you better believe it," the woman said with a mirthless chuckle. "Now let go of each other and get over there by the kitchen table."

Lilian and Rob did as she said, moving slowly as they stared at the hateful woman before them, who was following their every move with that gun, a wild look in her eyes.

Lilian and Rob glanced at each other, knowing that they were in deep trouble. They both knew that the woman before them was, for some reason, suddenly very unstable.

Sable.

End part 14… OMG SWERVE!