I own none of the WWE superstars (but I'd love to own Mark for a night).

Dr. Gunter's Proposition

I pulled my hand out of his grasp. "What!"

"I'm going to kill him," Glen muttered softly, eyes still closed because they were swollen shut.

"You don't mean that," I said. "You're out of your head. It's the medicine talking. Yeah, that's it." Who was I trying to convince here, me or him?

"Not...the...medicine," he grunted. "Mark...will die."

"No." I shook my head from side to side as tears sprang into my eyes. "You can't mean that. He's your best friend!"

"Enemy," he whispered. "He...is...my...enemy."

I backed away from him slowly, his words replaying over and over in my head. It was like a nightmare come true. Glen waking up out of a coma and declaring that he would kill Mark was unbelievable. What did he think he could possibly do...from a hospital bed? What could he do when he was lying there, bleeding internally with broken bones and bruises, unable to breathe on his own. What did he think he could really do?

And did he think I would actually let him kill Mark?

"I'm going to get the doctor," I said shortly, then practically ran from the room as fast as my legs would take me. I found Dr. Gunter waiting outside in the hall a short distance away.

"Something wrong?" he asked me when I ran up to him.

"Glen's awake!" I exclaimed breathlessly. "And apparently his memory is still intact, if his threats to kill Mark are any indication."

"Threats to kill Mark? What?" he asked, sounding thoroughly shocked.

"Mark's name was the first thing out of his mouth," I told him. "And his vow to kill him was next." I leaned against the wall and sighed. "This really sucks."

"Maybe it would be a good idea for you not to visit him for a while," he suggested. "For a day or two."

"What am I supposed to do for two days, sit at home and worry about him?" I asked despairingly.

"Actually, I have a task for you, one you might like," he said mysteriously.

"A task? Like what?" I asked curiously. "Because I could really use a distraction from this whole nightmare of a situation."

"This will be quite a distraction," he said. "Come on, walk with me."

We started walking down the hall together slowly, silently. Neither one of us spoke.

"So talk already!" I said finally as we came to a stop in front of a very familiar hospital room. I looked at him, at the closed door, and back at him. "Why are we here?"

"Mark wants to leave," he said shortly. "He still has a concussion, so we don't think it's a great idea for him to be alone for the next week or so."

"So? What do I have to do with this?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I think it's obvious. He wants to leave, you need a distraction..." He smiled at me. "Basically, I want you to take care of Mark at your place for a week."

"What? No way!" I exclaimed, shaking my head. "There's no way that he would agree to something like that."

"I think he would. Know why?"

"Why?"

"Because it's the only way that we'll discharge him right now," he said. "The offer will be too enticing for him to pass over."

"Is he really well enough to leave right now?" I asked.

"He's a wrestler. He's used to concussions and other bodily injuries," he said with a shrug. "But with you taking care of him, keeping a watchful eye, that'll be good for him." He looked hard at me. "Will you do it?"

I didn't even have to think about it. "Of course I will," I replied immediately. "I can't imagine anything more appealing than taking care of a man for a week who pretends to hate me."

"Great. Then let's get in here and tell him the deal," he said, and quickly opened the door.

"Dr. G, you're back," Mark said, glancing over at the door. I stepped out from behind the doctor and Mark's eyes narrowed. "And you're back, too. What's going on here?"

"I have a proposition for you," Dr. Gunter said, walking over to the bed.

"What kind of proposition?" Mark asked, avoiding my gaze.

"One I'm sure you'll accept," Dr. Gunter said confidently. "I'm willing to discharge you from the hospital right now."

"Really? I hate this hospital crap," Mark said, smiling for the first time in a while. Then he glanced at me and his smile faltered. "Wait. What's the catch?"

"You are to do absolutely nothing for a week," Dr. Gunter said.

"That's it? That's the catch?" Mark asked incredulously.

"One more thing. You have to allow Jade here to be your caretaker for the week," Dr. Gunter said. Mark immediately started to protest, but the good doctor interrupted. "Mark, it's either a yes or a no. It's not up for negotiation."

"You have to decide. What do you hate more, the hospital or me?" I asked, taking the silence that followed the doctor's statement as my golden opportunity to speak.

Mark closed his eyes for a minute, and an expression appeared on his face that made me think that he was thinking long and hard about what I had said. He opened his eyes and glanced at me before looking at Dr. Gunter. "I want to leave."

"Does that mean that you accept the fact that you have to rely on Jade's good hospitality for a week?" Dr. Gunter asked, needing clarification.

"I want to leave," Mark repeated. "And if that means I have to leave with her... If that's the only way... Then ok."

"Great. You'll be out of here in no time, as soon as Jade can bring you some clothes," Dr. Gunter said.

"I'll go right now," I said. I looked at Mark, trying to contain my sudden excitement. "Is there anything you want in particular?"

"Just for you to hurry," Mark replied.

"Ok," I said, immediately heading for the door. I opened the door, then looked back at him. "Are you sure that's all you want?"

Mark looked thoughtful for a minute, then smiled. "Could you bring me some silk boxers from my luggage? Any color would be fine."

"Sure thing," I said, and hurriedly left the hospital, feeling like I was walking on air...