Author's note: Sorry it's taken so long for an update. Life has a way of getting screwy. Thanks to everyone still reading this. It means so much to know my stuff here is appreciated. More updates soon!
Mark pace around his locker room for no good reason. He'd been on edge even since Sara decided she needed to fly home for a couple of shows. He hadn't liked it but he'd understood. The road gets old quick if you've got nothing to do with the show.
"It even gets old when you do." He muttered and flopped down on the bench next to his bag. Quickly he reached in and found his phone. He hadn't called Sara all day.
After dialing the number, he waited. Mark let out a deep breath when the machine picked up.
"Hey baby girl. It's me." He said. "I've got a match here in a minute and I wanted to hear your voice before I went out. I guess I missed you." The big man paused and rubbed at his eye. "They added an extra house show between Toledo and Nashville so I won't be home until the weekend. Give me a call when you get this. I love you baby. Talk to you soon." He hung up suddenly sad. So she wasn't home… Why was that a big deal tonight?
"Maybe I'm just getting old." He groaned and tossed the phone back into the bag. "Too old." He smiled wryly and stood up glancing at the big white faced clock on the wall. "Almost time." He said and, grabbing his sunglasses and his leather duster, headed out into the pandemonium of the hallway to find his brother.
Through the curtain, Kane could see the arena poised for the next match. After the battle royal to determine the number one contender's spot for the women's title the crowd was all but ready for blood.
The big man stepped back and repressed a small shiver of excitement. This was it. This was his night for revenge. He'd make sure Test knew exactly how angry he was even if he already had a sneaking suspicion the big Canadian knew what he was in for.
"You ready big man?" Mark's familiar voice rose up behind him with just a bit of excitement to it.
"You know it." Kane laughed and shook the Undertaker's hand. "Test is mine." The Undertaker chuckled and shook his head.
"You always did have a one track mind." Kane shrugged and stepped aside as a crew member rolled his brother's motorcycle into place for his entrance.
"Two minutes Kane." He said offhandedly after setting the bike down on its kickstand and hurrying back through the mayhem.
"I guess I'll see ya out there bro." Mark said settling his sunglasses on his face and hoisting his big leg over the Titan's saddle. Kane nodded and adjusted his mask as he took his position just inside the curtain.
His pyro went off without a hitch and he pushed his way through. The crowd erupted, nearly drowning out his music.
Normally, he'd be smiling at the adoration but today, under that mask he was as grim as a funeral. Today wasn't about fun or pleasing the fans. It was revenge. No question.
A murderous grin made it's way across his face as he climbed over the ropes and raised his arms to set off the ring posts. The crowd exploded and then got even louder as the lights went down and the bell tolled followed by the revving of a massive V-Twin.
The Undertaker rolled out onto the stage to screams and flashbulbs. The big man raised his fist over his head and roared down to the ring, circling it once before parking the bike and sliding in with his brother.
A moment later, Test and Steiner emerged with Stacy in tow. The crowd jeered them mercilessly as they made their way down. Kane couldn't be sure but Test looked to be sweating just a bit.
"You sure you're ready big man?" The Undertaker smirked and patted his brother on the shoulder. Kane glanced over and nodded. The unbridled rage was dancing through his two toned eyes. "Good. Take him." Mark finished and stepped through the ropes grinning.
It took Kane a moment to realize what had just happened. His brother gave him the entry. He'd have to remember to thank him once the ambulance left with Test after the match.
The big man turned and had to frown. Steiner was in. Damn it.
"Taking your friend's lumps Steiner?" He growled as the bell sounded and the two men began circling each other. The shorter man shook his head and darted in. They locked up hard, each man vying for purchase on the canvas. With a final grunt, Kane sent Scott sailing backward into the turnbuckle just in front of his partner. "Tag him." Kane yelled.
Steiner's face contorted into a vicious snarl and he launched himself at Kane again. The big man sidestepped him and threw him down hard.
"You fucking hit Stacy!" Scott spat in Kane's face as he was hauled bodily off the mat.
"Is that what he told you?" Kane couldn't help but laugh. "You're a bigger idiot than I thought you were Scott."
"Go to hell!"
"Save me a seat." He growled under his mask and hoisted Scott over his head, gorilla pressing him, then dropping him down hard.
Steiner lay dazed for a moment. Kane didn't intend to let opportunity pass him by. He reached down and grabbed Scott by the back of the neck. Scott turned in his grasp and blasted him hard in the face.
Kane staggered a step and fired back, rocking the shorter man just the same. The two men continued, closed fisted until finally, Steiner staggered backward into the ropes. Kane laughed heartily and grabbed him by the arm, whipping him across the ring into his corner again. Scott hit the turnbuckle and sagged. Clearly, it was time to tag out. He had to.
"Go ahead." Kane breathed as he stalked over to him, but his eyes were only for Test. The big Canadian paled under the intent gaze. "Tag him." Scott raised his hand to his partner but Test pulled away slightly. Kane shook his head and pulled Scott to his feet.
Distantly, he could hear Mark across the ring, screaming to be let in. He was pounding on the turnbuckle. With a smile, Kane walked Steiner across to his brother and held out his hand.
Slowly, the Undertaker touched it and took even more time getting into the ring. It was effect. It would scare Steiner, they both knew it. And it was working.
"Ah Christ…" He heard Scott grunt as he slid through the ropes and let his brother have his way with him. The Undertaker had him by the arm, twisting it violently in what appeared to be a very uncomfortable direction.
His brother's face was a mask of fury as he went after him. He twisted harder and Scott sunk to one knee, his teeth gritted as he tried to reverse the strain. Mark didn't give him a chance. The big man climbed up the turnbuckle and walked out onto the ropes.
The crowd went insane. Cameras flashed like strobe lights around the arena as the Undertaker came down hard on his shoulder.
"You're gonna tag in your little friend there now aren't you Scott?" Mark rumbled into Steiner's ear.
"Fuck you Taker."
"Ooh…" Kane laughed reading his opponent's lips from the apron. "Bad idea." Mark seemed to think so too. The Undertaker swung hard, throwing Steiner into the ropes. The big man caught him with a boot to the face on his way back.
Scott dropped like a rock to the canvas.
Mark grabbed him by the arm and dragged him over to his corner.
"Tag him." The Undertaker snarled at Test. "Tag him or I'll kill him right here."
Reluctantly, the big Canadian reached out and touched his partner's shoulder. Scott seemed to sag in relief and crawled slowly through the bottom and middle ropes.
The fans hit the roof as Test made his way into the ring. If nothing else, Vince McMahon had done a great job of turning their tragedy into a ratings breaking feud. Everyone in the arena wanted a piece of Test for what they had done and now, through Mark, they would all get to see it play out.
Kane stood on the apron screaming to be let in. This was his chance! Test was fair game and waiting.
"Kane! Kane don't do it! Please!" Stacy's voice by his feet caught him off guard.
"Get away from me you bitch!" He roared down at her. The small blonde, it seemed, wouldn't be so easily swayed. She reached up and wrapped her arms around the big man's calf.
"Don't kill him Kane! We didn't know! I swear we didn't know!" She continued. Kane couldn't believe her! How dare she think that would make it better? So what if she didn't know she was going to kill an unborn child when she told her boyfriend to attack Robin? No big deal right? Wrong.
Kane shook his leg hard but she wouldn't let go. He was going to have to do something he really didn't want to do. Glancing back toward the ring, he saw his brother working Test over. It looked like he was taking it easy on him. The big man knew why. His brother was saving him for him. In fact, he appeared to be headed toward their corner.
The big man glanced back down at the stricken woman, still holding fast to his ankle and took a deep breath.
"Let go of me Stacy." He growled down at her. The blonde shook her head but didn't budge. "Don't make me hurt you."
He looked back toward the ring and saw something he never thought he'd see. Test had the Undertaker in a vicious choke hold. Mark's face was turning purple and the ref was counting too fast. He had to do something and quick.
Looking down at Stacy one more time, he drew a deep breath and kicked with everything he had. The blonde shrieked and went flying backward into the barricade.
His leg finally free, Kane slid into the ring and set both of his fists hard between Test's shoulder blades. The big Canadian dropped the Undertaker and backed away, arching his back in pain. Kane grinned sadistically under his mask and made a break for him.
"No way Kane, you're not the legal man!" The ref bellowed as he shoved him backward with both hands. Kane glared at the little man but there wasn't much he could do but go back to his corner. He needed this match! Sulking, he resumed his position on the apron.
Kane watched as his brother got slowly to his feet. He looked alright but he wasn't moving fast enough. Test was back on him, trapping the Undertaker's arm and neck in a vice like grip.
"Damn it!" The big man growled from the outside and stretched as far as he was able for the tag.
Mark's arm was twisted back unnaturally and from what Kane could see of his face, it was showing all the strain. This wasn't like Test. He didn't try for an easy submission out. He was scared. His eyes were showing too much white as he glanced back and forth between the Undertaker and Kane on the apron. He wanted out.
Kane laughed to himself under his mask. That wasn't going to happen. Suddenly as if by transference of thought, Mark was back in action, ducking under Test's arm and reversing the arm lock. The big Canadian doubled over as Taker torqued down hard and walked his man over to his corner.
"You ready little brother?" Mark was grinning wildly even as he breathed heavy.
"Just let me in." Kane replied and held out his hand. Mark chuckled to himself and slapped it.
"C'mon Kane." Test grunted as the big man climbed over the ropes. "I'll take you out like I did your girl." Mark's eyebrow shot up at the false bravado and he shook his head. This was not the smartest move Test could have made. Mark had never seen Kane so wrapped up in the destruction of any one person, with perhaps the exception of himself, in all the years they'd been working together.
"That's right Andy…" Kane chuckled. "You like beating on girls don't you?" Test looked up and spat on the big man.
"You wouldn't believe what I did to your little girl." He hissed up at Kane. "She never complained." Kane didn't waste any more time as he slowly wiped the saliva off his mask. Suppressing the urge to grab both sides of the Canadian's head and twist, he settled for a clubbing blow to the back of the neck that sent Test sprawling.
In the back of his mind he could hear his brother on the apron shouting at him but it didn't matter. He had Test at his feet and he was finally going to pay for destroying the first chance Kane had ever had for a normal family.
He killed my child… Kane thought as he grabbed the other man by the hair, hauled him to a standing position, and delivered a vicious elbow to the side of his face. Miraculously, Test kept his feet. Kane tilted his head minutely in disbelief and through a forearm at him. Test rocked again but still didn't go down. Kane shook his head and, grabbing him by the arm, sent him flying toward the far ropes. The Canadian bounced back running full force toward him. At the last second, Kane saw Test's arm come up for a clothesline. He ducked under it and, wrapping a massive arm around the Canadian's waist, lifted him off his feet and swung him around before dropping to the mat in a brutal sidewalk slam.
The crowd erupted as Test's back collided with the mat and Kane ate it up. For once in his life he wasn't wrong about something. Test had done so much wrong that all of these people could see it! Their cheers became shouts for blood in his ears and he was more than happy to oblige them.
"This is for Robin you son-of-a-bitch." He growled more to himself than to the man seemingly unconscious on the canvas. He got up and slid out of the ring near his brother's feet, rummaging around under the apron.
"Kane what in the hell are you doin?" Mark's voice sounded from his right side. "Get in there and finish this."
"That's what I'm going to do." He growled and glared at his brother as he pulled a chair out from under the ring.
"You're gonna get us disqualified." Mark said very matter-of-factly. Kane shrugged. "You'd rather just kill him?"
"I'm not going to kill him, just break his legs." Mark could see the leering grin even though it was hidden by his brother's mask. He couldn't help it, he laughed and stepped aside just in time to catch Scott Steiner by the fist and shove him back toward his end of the ring.
Kane watched Steiner bounce off the far barricade and slid into the ring, his steel chair in hand. The referee's back was to him as he counted over Test's still prone form. The big man tested the weight in his hand. It felt good. It would be the beginning of the end of Test. So what if they lost the match? Kane wasn't there to add to his win column, he was there to destroy the man who was finally attempting to get to his feet.
Kane hefted the chair to chest level as Test worked his way to one foot, and then to the other. He could feel the anticipation of the crowd worming it's way into him. They wanted this as much as he did. Test would bleed. The big man realized at that moment, exactly how much he needed to see him suffer. It wasn't a want, it was a need. His whole body had begun to vibrate with it. The chair was shaking in his hands as he watched the big Canadian staggering senselessly around the wildly gesturing ref.
The whole scene had gone to slow motion. Kane could see each droplet of sweat on his opponent's face, every rise and fall of his chest as he gasped for air and reached out to get past the ref and toward his own corner. Even the faces in the crowd were clear to him. Every body at ringside was screaming for carnage and it was his job to deliver it to them.
Finally, Test's face turned toward him and Kane could see the recognition in his eyes. It was the moment he'd been waiting for. The big man took a big step toward Test and brought the chair back to swing…
BOOM!
The flash from the pyro on the stage momentarily blinded him. The chair went crashing to the mat and Test was gone. He and Steiner were at the barricade as far as they could get from Taker without putting themselves in the path of whatever was coming down the ramp.
"What the…" Kane whispered as flames leapt up in lazy streams across the front of the stage. He glanced backward toward his brother but Mark's face was the same mask of confusion and disbelief.
The crowd was a dull hush as the fires began to slow and finally stop. Everyone in the arena seemed suddenly subdued. Even the four men in the match glanced back and forth between each other in bewilderment.
"What the hell was that?" Mark barked across the ring at his brother. Kane could only raise his hands and shake his head. Then the lights went out. The crowd broke into reluctant cheers. Something was about to happen, they knew it. It was in the air but…what?
The lights flashed briefly before they kicked back on and before Kane or Mark could make sense of what was happening, the fans erupted in a deafening roar.
Kane's head whipped from side to side just in time to see a red blur leap out of the ring to Test and take him to the ground as Steiner made a break for the ramp and disappeared.
"KANE!" Mark yelled and motioned him on as he jumped off the apron and ran at the commotion.
The big man shook himself out of his disbelief and slid out in front of Mark.
When he saw the scene on the floor his heart nearly stopped. Test was on his back on the ground fighting for everything he was worth as his face bled openly against the most familiar red hair Kane knew.
"Robin!" He screamed and moved to grab her about the waist but stopped himself. What if she wasn't healed? If he grabbed her he could hurt her. What was she doing there? She was supposed to be back at home in Detroit! Who the hell gave her the okay to get back on the road? Why hadn't she told him?
"Kane get her!" Mark ordered and shoved him toward her.
Reluctantly, the big man grabbed her by the arm and pulled. She didn't move but she shot him a look of such unbridled ecstasy that he staggered back a step. He opened his mouth to say something, anything but nothing came out. He had to make sense of what was going on.
Kane took another step backward as she jumped to her feet beside Test, delivered an evil kick to his kidney area, and reached a hand out to the big man.
Kane couldn't wrap his brain around what he was seeing. There, with a bloody hand extended, was the love of his life whom he'd left in her apartment two states away to recuperate from a brutal attack and here she was, seemingly in perfect health and looking more beautiful in her retribution than she ever had.
The big man shook his head again and finally took her outstretched hand, smearing Test's blood on his as well as she lead him into the ring.
"What are you doing here?" Kane's voice was a cross between anger and awe. How could she not tell him about this?
Robin didn't answer. Instead, she pulled him to her and, tilting his mask up just enough to find his lips, kissed him as hard as she could in front of the entire arena.
The bottom dropped out from under him as the crowd thundered their approval from the stands. This was his Robin and she was here! All thoughts of anger at her disappeared as he felt her arms around his waist.
"SHIT!" The sound of Mark's cursing tore him from the moment. Kane turned in time to duck the charging Canadian and immediately berated himself. He'd ducked to save himself but hadn't given any thought to Robin! What was wrong with him?
He glanced up from the mat in time to see Robin sidestep Test and bring something small and black down between his shoulder blades. The big Canadian crumpled to the canvas and lay twitching.
Robin raised her arms to the crowd and there was another BOOM of pyrotechnics as the ring posts exploded taking the crowd up with them.
Kane was getting to his feet when Mark walked up beside him. Both men watched in wonder as Robin played to the fans, climbing the turnbuckles and raising her arms in triumph. When she jumped down, she winked conspiratorially at both of them and turned back to Test. The big Canadian was on his hands and knees coughing violently. Robin knelt down beside him.
"NO!" Kane blurted and tried to go to her but his brother laid a hand on his shoulder.
"I think she's got this. Let her have her moment." He said. Kane took a deep breath but still managed a small step toward her. If Test was playing possum, he wanted to be close enough to finish what he'd started in the ring.
"You stupid bitch!" Test growled and gagged, leaning down onto his elbows as another coughing fit overtook him.
"Maybe so…" Robin smirked beside his ear. "But a stupid bitch who's not afraid to even the odds." She waggled the little black box in front of him and depressed a small trigger on the side. A small blue spark appeared between two metal prongs at it's top. Test's face went white as she drove the Tazer into his shoulder. He made a piteous sound as he fell back to the canvas and convulsed until she released him and jumped to her feet.
The crowd was eating it up. The entire arena was on its feet, stomping and screaming for Robin, for the Phoenix that couldn't be killed or stopped. The flashbulbs were blinding as they popped like strobes. Kane and Mark watched from the other side of the ring, kayfabe forgotten, and marveled at the presence her character had.
"That's my girl." Kane heard himself say and Mark clapped him hard on the back laughing.
"She's something alright." He said to his brother. Suddenly, his hand tightened on Kane's shoulder. Stacy came out of nowhere with a feeble spear that caught the distracted Robin in the ribs.
Robin cursed herself as her back hit the mat. Of course Stacy was at ringside! Test wouldn't let her out of his sight for that long!
Steeling herself for the onslaught she knew was coming, Robin managed to catch the blonde's foot as it came toward her and flip her onto the canvas. Robin jumped to her feet and saw Kane hovering threateningly over Stacy.
"I've got this." She said to him, her voice full of more menace than he'd originally thought her capable of. It nearly made his skin crawl but he stepped away, circling around so he could keep an eye on Test as well as see what Robin had planned.
The redhead reached down and grabbed a handful of blonde hair and dragged the suddenly overwhelmed Stacy to her feet.
"I…I'm sorry…we didn't know!" She begged. If Robin had been in a better mood, the tears in Stacy's eyes might have given her pause. However, circumstances as they were, she didn't so much as bat an eyelash.
"That doesn't make it any better." The redhead said flatly and, letting go of Stacy's hair, delivered a brutal open handed slap to her face. The blonde gasped and staggered back raising her hands to the already forming welt.
"Stace?" Test muttered from the ground. Stacy immediately turned toward the voice and bent to help him. Robin growled and planted her boot into the small of her back. With a yelp, Stacy went stumbling forward over the Canadian. Robin followed.
With what little composure he'd managed to collect, he grabbed the redhead's ankle. That was all it took. Mark stepped on his arm until he let go then pulled the big man up to his feet, wrapping him into a choke.
Robin glanced back at the Undertaker and then to Kane before she nodded. The men seemed to have Test well in hand. She'd done all she was capable of doing to him. It was time to deal with Stacy.
The blonde was on her knees, trying to regain herself. Robin stepped over and booted her again in the hip. Stacy yelped and flopped over onto her side.
"Robin…please." She whimpered, backing away as Robin strode over to her. "I…didn't mean to…I didn't think he'd…"
"Don't please me Blondie…" Robin growled settling one foot to either side of Stacy. "When I begged you tried to kill me."
"No…" Stacy squealed as Robin dropped to her knees, straddling her, preventing her escape. The blonde's eyes grew as huge as dinner plates when Robin reached behind her and pulled something out of her boot. The brass knuckles flashed in the arena lighting and made Robin smile even as Stacy began to cry again.
"Don't beg. Don't cry. You deserve this." Robin's voice was neutral, like a doctor's telling you that even though you don't want the shot you're going to get it.
Stacy closed her eyes and held her breath as Robin slid the metal down her fingers and settled it against her palm. The redhead couldn't help but smile as she cocked back and, with no thoughts of remorse, brought her fist down to the side of Stacy's jaw.
She felt the bone pop under her knuckles as the event security grabbed her and tried to pull her off the blonde. Robin didn't fight them. She had done a bit of what she'd come to do. Stacy was crying on the mat, holding her broken jaw. She twisted in the security guard's arms long enough to see a ring of similarly dressed men surrounding Mark and Kane. For now it was done. If she had anything to say about it, they'd have another chance later.
Kane watched as the security half carried Robin back up the ramp. The crowd cheered her on as she walked with them, turning here and there to acknowledge them but not once did she fight.
Once she disappeared through the curtains, he and Mark followed, their entourage keeping a safe distance.
"Is this in the script?" Mark chuckled leaning close to Kane's ear. The big man shrugged and kept moving. They'd find out backstage. If they kept them walking toward the garage? Well, that might be a problem.
Mark glanced toward him as they made it to the stage. That was all it took. Both men stopped and raised their fists before disappearing behind the curtain themselves.