"I hate flying..." Mark groaned as he got out of his tiny airplane seat and waited to get out into the terminal.
"Did you really want to ride this whole way?" Sara chuckled stretching.
"Of course." He said shouldering his carry on and making a break for the jet way.
"Let's just get out of here. Airports make me nervous." Sara rolled her eyes and followed along.
"Mark..." Sara said running up to her husband a she dropped his things in his locker room. "Kane never checked into his hotel room." She looked frantic.
"I'm sure he's fine." He said laying out his ring gear and sitting down on the bench to stretch.
"You don't think it's odd that he hasn't returned any of my phone calls all week?" Sara asked pointedly.
"No dear, he never returns your calls. He knows you'll call back." Mark snickered. Sara sighed heavily and rolled her eyes at her husband's lack of interest.
"Aren't you worried in the least?" She squealed. Mark had to laugh. He loved it when she got so flustered she squeaked.
"If Kane is upset he hides and licks his wounds. You know that." He said finally turning to face her. Sara furrowed her brow and nodded reluctantly.
"Just the same, I'm going to see if he's here yet. I've got to apologize to him, Robin too." Her voice was cracking.
"Baby girl, this isn't your fault." Mark said compassionately enfolding her in his big arms.
"Maybe if I'd have just kept my nose out of it..."
"Then it would have just happened later. Kane is just too skittish and paranoid for anything to last." He said matter-of-factly.
"Mark, what a horrible thing to say!" She gasped slapping him on the chest. "I've still got to try..." Mark nodded and kissed her on top of the head.
"If you think it will help, go find him. I'll see you sometime after my match." Sara nodded sullenly and trailed off toward the door
Kane jumped at the knock at the door. Tugging down his glove he walked over and cracked it just enough to see out.
"Can I talk to you?"
"What do you want?" Kane growled skeptically.
"Look, I know we don't exactly get along but I..."
"Get to the point Matt." The big man said crossing his arms over his broad chest. The smaller athlete swallowed hard and took a deep breath. Only now did Kane realize how tired the other man looked.
"I want Lita back." He finally said. "Tell me how to do it. You know her better than anyone."
For a moment, Kane was stunned. He didn't know what to say or how to react. Finally, he started chuckling and walked back inside, leaving Matt standing just outside the door.
"She doesn't want you back." He said flatly, not bothering to face the Hardy.
"How do you know that?" Matt seethed, his teeth gritted. "You're sleeping with her aren't you?" Kane rolled his eyes.
"Not this again." The big man was in no mood.
"Just say it!" Matt yelled stepping into the room, his hands balled into fists at his sides. "Come on Kane, I'm not stupid. You're sleeping with my girlfriend!" He took another step toward Kane.
"What are you smoking Hardy!" He said glaring down evilly at the other man. "I am not, nor have I ever been sleeping with Lita. Are you satisfied?" He shouldered past Matt, stalking toward the door.
"You bastard!" Matt growled and drove his forearm into the back of Kane's head. "Just admit it! You want to take her from me!" He screamed. Kane staggered slightly and turned back to Matt. "You want her." The smaller man hissed. There was a wild look in his eyes.
"There is something very wrong with you." Kane said plainly unwilling to get into another fight with man.
Suddenly, Matt withered. His head dropped and he nodded mumbling something Kane couldn't quite hear.
"Just get over her. She doesn't want you anymore." Kane said flatly hoping the final dig would get him out the door.
Out of nowhere Matt lunged wrapping his fingers tight around Kane's windpipe. The two men crashed to the ground as Kane struggled to free himself from the other man's grasp.
"GET OFF ME!" Kane grunted flinging Matt back into a locker. He landed with a crash and didn't move. Blinded by anger, Kane jumped up and grabbed Matt by the shirt, hauling him to his feet. "Haven't you learned yet?" Kane snarled into Matt's face, and then pulled back a huge fist.
"Kane, don't do it!" Lita screamed from the doorway. Shaken from his rage, Kane dropped Matt's limp body and turned to her. "What the hell are you doing?" She screamed pushing past Kane and squatting down next to Matt.
"He was trying to kill me!" Kane explained holding out his hands.
"Matt? Matt are you ok?" Lita cooed over her ex, cradling his head in her lap.
"Lita...he started it." Kane sighed irritated at the whole situation. "I tried to make him leave." The red head waved her hand for silence. Kane rubbed his temples as Lita helped the now conscious Matt to his feet.
"Wha?" He said groggily rubbing his eyes. "Lita?" She nodded as she put his arm over her shoulder for support.
"Let's get you back to your locker room..." She said gently as they worked their way toward the door.
"Lita, I didn't start this..." Kane tried to tell her again.
"Not now Kane." She growled looking at him only from the narrowed corner of her eye. Kane sighed and took a step back out of the way. He knew there was no point in arguing with her now. With the mood she was in, he couldn't hope to win.
Once Matt and Lita were out of sight, Kane stormed down the hallway toward the arena floor. It was early enough that the floor would still be empty. He just wanted to be alone.
It seemed at that moment his whole life was turned upside down. He'd lost the love of his life, his best friend was acting really strange, and his sister, the only person in years who could ever comfort him, was the last person he wanted to see.
Kane wasn't sure why, but he was really angry with her. Rationally, he knew it wasn't her fault. She had been trying to help. Why did she have to put those thoughts into his head? If only she and Mark had had enough sense to keep their noses out of it maybe he could have pretended for a bit longer...
Kane stopped and leaned against the wall pressing his face against the cold cinder blocks. He balled up his fist and prepared to swing.
"K...Kane?" He stopped at the shaky voice. "Kane, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Not now Sara." He sighed and pushed off the wall walking away from her.
"Please? It's really important." She said jogging up next to him.
"I don't wanna talk." Kane grumbled adjusting his mask.
"Fine, then just listen to me." She said speeding her pace as he tried to get away.
Kane didn't respond. He didn't want to talk to her, he didn't want to say anything he'd regret and at this point he was afraid he would. Instead he walked a little faster hoping she'd just get the hint.
"Kane stop!" Sara yelled finally grabbing his big arm attempting to haul him to a stop. Kane glared at her, his eyes saying more than his silence. Sara gasped slightly and backed up a step. Kane nodded satisfied that he'd gotten his point across and continued down the corridor leaving Sara standing in place. She stood watching the retreating figure stunned.
"She still loves you Kane." She said loud enough for him to hear.
Kane's heart stopped, his breathing stopped. All he heard were her words flashing over and over in his head.
"What did you say?" He said finally as he turned to face her.
"Kane, she loves you. We were wrong. I'm so sorry." Sara sobbed as she walked over to him.
"How do you know?" He said cautiously, crossing his arms across his chest.
"Mark heard everything. She was talking to Lita and Mark overheard everything." She paused to wipe her eyes on the back of her sleeve. "I...I've been trying to call you all week. I'm so sorry. I was just so worried about you."
"She still loves me?" Sara nodded anxiously.
Suddenly, Kane slumped into the wall laughing. He laughed so hard Sara was slightly worried about him.
"She loves me!" He yelled grabbing Sara's shoulders and shaking her with each word.
"Yes! Yes she does!" Sara laughed with him, happy to see him happy again. He scooped her up spinning her around in a big bear hug.
"Where is she? Is she here yet? I've got to go find her. Oh God, I really need to apologize. I was such an ass." He rambled still squeezing the breath out of his sister-in-law. Sara broke loose shaking her head.
"I've got to find her." He called over his shoulder as he jogged back toward the locker room.