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

A/N: I really like this chapter and I dunno why... Hope you guys like it, too!

It's Good To Be Back

By the end of the ride from the hospital, Mark seemed like he was in a much better mood. He seemed different now. Healthier? Happier? He had insisted that we ride with the windows down so the wind could blow through our hair. Weird.

"Home sweet home," I said as I parked, a bit more sarcasm in my voice than I had intended to be there. I glanced at him. "How are you feeling?"

"Surprised to be alive," he answered. "You're such a speed demon."

"You made me nervous," I pouted. The whole ride from the hospital had been uncomfortable. I had tried to concentrate on the road, but it had been more difficult than I had expected. I kept remembering our talk in the elevator, kept remembering how his fingers had felt pressing gently against my lips. And I could feel his eyes on me the whole time, melting me like the sun melts ice cream on a hot day, on any day. He was making me a mess!

"You made me scared," he countered, opening the car door on the passenger's side.

"Scared?" That's weird, I thought. Mark? Scared? The two just don't mix!

"Scared that you were going to get us into an accident. You should go back to high school and retake the Driver's Ed course," he said, smirking as he got out. Then he shut the door, leaving me alone in the car. The windows were still down.

"Looks like Mr. Sarcastic is back," I said with a groan. I leaned my head on the steering wheel.

"Damn right," Mark called out. "Mr. Sarcastic is back. Now..." He flung my door open and started to pull me out. "Let's get in the house."

"After I let the windows up," I said, pulling away.

"Fine, fine," he said, letting my hand go. I stared up at him, wondering why he wasn't all dizzy and weak like he had been before at the hospital. Maybe the medicine had kicked in or something. "Ok, woman, what are you waiting for?" he asked. "Let the windows up so we can go inside!"

"What are you in such a hurry for?" I asked as I let the windows up.

"I'm starving!" he said impatiently. "I'm telling you, I don't love IV or hospital food. Tonight, I'd like a nice, home-cooked steak."

"You can't cook. You can't do anything for a week," I reminded him.

"Who said I was cooking?" he asked with a crooked grin. "You're cooking tonight for me, darlin."

Yep, it had happened right before my eyes. The old Mark was back, more sarcastic and even more cocky than ever before. I couldn't decide whether to be happy about it because he was actually talking to me again, or to be upset about it because he was back to his old ways. I mean, I absolutely loved the fact that he was talking to me again, but me and the old Mark never got along at all...

We went into the house and found Chris and Steph sitting in the den. They had been out when I'd came for Mark's clothes earlier. That explained the looks of surprise on their faces when they saw me and Mark enter the room together.

Mark grinned. "See something interesting?" he asked them.

"You're out! Oh my gosh!" Steph squealed happily, hugging him.

"Hey Chris, you better get her," Mark teased. "That is, before I bend her over the nearest table and..." He hugged her tightly to him and grinned.

"You're gross!" Steph said, pushing him away and laughing at his dirty joke.

"Watch it, buddy," Chris said playfully. Steph nodded her head in agreement.

"You want to watch it? Ok." Mark grabbed Steph's hand and started to lead her to the nearest table.

What the hell? I thought jealously as I watched them.

"Did you knock some screws loose when you got that concussion?" Steph asked, pulling away. Her tone was mild, but I knew she was getting more than just a little fed up. Mark was definitely taking the joke too far.

"Maybe," Mark said. He sat down on the couch, leaning back comfortably and giving Steph the once-over. "But I'd love to knock the screws in your bed frame loose."

"Ok, seriously, that's enough," Chris said, all traces of amusement and laughter gone. "I mean it."

"I mean it, too," Mark said, eyes still on Steph. "I heard you like it when a sexy man such as myself talks to you dirty like that."

Steph glared at him, then looked over at Chris. He nodded his head at her. She turned to me. "Jade, I'm afraid that due to unforeseen circumstances, Chris and I have to leave now."

"But guys..." I whined.

"We were just starting to have fun!" Mark taunted them.

"We can't stay. We'd like to avoid giving Mr. Assclown on the couch another beatdown," Chris said, rolling his eyes at Mark.

I sighed. "Thanks for keeping me company last night," I said sadly. I hugged Steph first, then Chris.

"Last night? Damn it!" Mark exclaimed. "I bet I missed the greatest threesome!"

"And thanks for the awesome breakfast this morning, Chris," I continued, trying to ignore Mark.

"No problem," Chris answered.

"I'm sorry, guys," Mark said suddenly from the couch. We all looked over at him. He looked and sounded sincere.

"You mean it?" Steph asked.

"The Deadman apologizes?" Chris asked unbelievingly.

I kept quiet and listened. It sounded kind of shady in my opinion.

"Yeah, I mean it. I'm sorry," Mark said. He grinned a most devilish grin. "I'm sorry for not asking you guys earlier... But who's up for an orgy?"

My mouth dropped, but I quickly pressed my lips tightly together.

"Ah, shit, let's get out of here," Chris said angrily. "Come on, Steph."

"I'll walk you guys out," I volunteered.

"No, that's ok," Steph said quickly. She glared daggers at Mark. "You've got your hands full with that thing over there on the couch."

"Too true," I said. I watched them leave and waited until I heard the front door close before I turned around to look at Mark. "What the hell is your problem?" I practically screamed at him.

"Problem? There's a problem?" he asked innocently. "I wasn't aware of that."

I rolled my eyes and stalked out of the den, frustrated. "I'd give anything for the Mark I got to know a few days ago to come back," I muttered as I walked to the front door and locked the door.

"Is that what you want?" he asked from behind me. I turned around to find him standing there with his arms folded across his chest, looking down at me.

"What?" I asked nervously.

"You just said you'd give anything for the Mark you got to know a few days ago to come back," he said. He stepped a little closer. "Is that what you really want?" he asked in a low voice.

I backed into the door as he kept advancing on me. "I want that more than anything in this world," I whispered.

He placed an arm on one side of me and the other arm on the other side. I was a prisoner in his arms again... He leaned down and pressed his lips against mine.

"Mark," I whispered, putting my arms around him, feeling his warm, muscular body against mine. I pulled him closer as he suckled gently on my bottom lip. "I've missed you..."

"Funny," he said, pulling back abruptly. "You know what I want more than anything in the world right now?" he asked in this utterly sexy voice.

I smiled seductively at him. "I can think of some things," I whispered. "But, uh, why don't you tell me?"

He licked his lips. "I want..." He leaned down, gently tugging on my earlobe with his teeth. "I want..." He breathed into my ear.

"God, Mark, what do you want?" I asked, feeling like I was melting.

"You..." he whispered in my ear. "I want you...to fix my damn steak."

I gasped, surprised. "What?"

He pulled back, smiling at me, at the look on my face. "I don't think I stuttered, Jade, my love," he said. "I want my steak. I'm starving!"

I couldn't believe him. Yep, he had transformed back into the same old Mark right before my eyes, and I had been helpless to stop the transformation.

"Well? Are you going to fix my food?" he persisted. "I mean, Dr. Gunter said you had to take care of me for a week. I think that includes making my meals when I'm hungry."

"Back to being an ass, I see," I said coolly. I walked past him, brushing lightly against him and cursing myself when I shivered.

"Yep, I'm back to being an ass," he called after me as I headed for the kitchen. "And let me just say, it's good to be back!"

A/N: OMG, is Mark an ass or what? LOL! Can't give you all a preview for the next chapter but I'm working on it. I'll try to update soon... So what's this, my sixth new chapter for this story in like 2 or 3 days? I'm on a roll! And I still have more tricks up my sleeve, even though I still have on a sleeveless shirt...