Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is sort of short. It's more an inbetween to the drama yet to come...heh Don't hate me! lolol Thank you! All of you, for the awesome reviews. I'll get back to writing. ;)
Robin was practically bouncing on her feet as Kane and Mark made their way through the curtain and the dozen or so security dispersed backstage.
"KANE!" She squeaked and jumped on the big man kissing his masked cheeks and forehead. "Are you surprised!"
"What? Robin…YES! What are you doing here?" The big man managed to get out.
"I wanted to surprise you!" She laughed as he set her down on her feet.
"Are you okay to be here?" He asked immediately taking her by the shoulders and looking her over.
"I feel fine." She grumbled, crossing her arms under her chest. "I wouldn't get back into the ring if I didn't feel fine, dear."
"You feeling fine and you actually being fine are two very different things." Kane retorted as he took off his mask and wiped his face on a towel Mark had brought to him.
"Hey little girl. Nice work out there." He smiled down at her, ruffling her hair.
"Thanks Taker." She grinned back. "I'm pretty proud of that one myself."
"Be careful with this one bro. She's something else." The big redhead said before clapping each of them on a shoulder and disappearing toward the locker rooms.
"Well it's nice to see he doesn't hate me anymore." Robin laughed as they watched him go.
"He never did hate you, sweetheart." Kane chuckled and pulled her against him. "He just didn't trust your motives." Robin shrugged against him.
"I have no motives." She pouted.
"So who cleared you to come back?" Kane tried to sound nonchalant. The last thing he wanted to do was ruin the afterglow of her triumph but he had to know everything was fine.
"I was cleared before you left." She lied but the grin on her face was as genuine as she could make it. It seemed to assuage Kane's anxiety. He smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Don't scare me like that. I was afraid to grab you out there." He chuckled and, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, began walking in the same direction Mark had gone. Robin swatted at his hand and moved to speak when the curtain at Gorilla parted and Test staggered through.
Kane stopped and positioned himself just slightly in front of Robin as the big Canadian stared a hole through them both.
"Keep walking Test." The big man warned, his face as cold and impassive as granite. The Canadian sneered and strode through, shoving them both toward the wall with what little strength he had left.
"This isn't over." He growled turning to walk backwards as he went down the hall.
"I wouldn't dream of it." Robin smiled sweetly, stepping around Kane. The big man swore under his breath and wrapped his arm around the front of her shoulders to keep her in place.
"Just wait sweetheart, I'll make sure you regret tonight."
"Go Test. Just go." Kane said, his voice as neutral as his face. It left no room for protest and, luckily for the Canadian, he recognized it and moved on.
"Wow… I think he's really pissed." Robin mused as Test disappeared around a corner.
"Don't provoke him too much. I won't always be around to protect you." Kane warned as they started moving again. Robin wrinkled her nose at him.
"I wonder where Stacy is." She said ignoring his warning. It was Kane's turn to shrug.
"I don't even want to think about her." He sighed and opened the door to his locker room. Immediately, he was assaulted by an ankle high, black and white blur. "Spike!" The big man laughed as he scooped the little wiggling dog up into his arms.
"I had to bring him with me." Robin beamed as she watched the reunion. "He's not the same without you around."
"Yeah, he doesn't have me or the other dogs to kick around." He laughed and set him down. Spike instantly made his way over to a pile that had once been Kane's travel bag. The dog had pulled everything out and made himself a nest.
"Nice job dog." Robin muttered as she watched him circle and finally flop down. "I didn't leave you in here so you could trash the place."
"He always does this." Kane laughed then turned to face Robin. "Where are you staying?"
"Well…here's the thing." She began sidling up beside him and wrapping her arms around his waist. "I don't have a room."
"What do you mean you don't have a room?"
"I didn't set one up because I figured I'd be staying with you." She winked evilly and swatted him on the butt.
"Well, you'll have to take that up with Mark." The big man said crossing his arms across his chest and cocking his hips to one side. It was all Robin could do to keep her eyes on his face when he stood like that. It was like a petulant child with a hint of cowboy.
"You've taken to staying with your brother and Sara in my absence?" She snickered.
"No, just Mark. Sara went home for a while."
"Oh she did, did she? I thought those two were joined at the hip or something." Robin said, her eyebrows shooting up into her hairline. Kane nodded. Robin shook her head minutely and sat down on a bench to take out her contacts. "I hope everything's alright."
"Me too." Kane said, his face darkening as he sat down across from her. "I hadn't even thought of that."
"Whatever it is, if either of them wanted to talk about it, they would. Right?"
"Yeah I guess so." Kane's voice didn't sound so sure. "Maybe I should go and talk to Mark…"
"Oh no you don't!" Robin all but barked as she tossed her contact case into her duffel bag. "Remember where their meddling got us?"
"Ooh, good point." He brightened. "But that's better now. Right?"
"You better believe it, big man." Robin grinned and stood up walking over to sit facing him on his lap. "I'm not letting you let anyone get in the way again." She grinned and kissed him with all the passion she had. Kane groaned against her lips and wrapped his arms around her ribs, pulling her as close to him as he could manage. No, he wasn't going to let her go away again. Never. Maybe Mark had the right idea…
"Hey bro, you ready to…. oh geez, sorry man." Mark muttered as he opened and quickly closed the door again.
"KNOCK!" Kane sputtered even as he laughed. "This is why you knock!"
"C'mon in Taker. It's alright." Robin assured him standing and pulling the door open.
"No no, I don't want to interrupt." Mark giggled but the look in his eyes said he had every intention of staying. "I'm gonna head back to the hotel. You uh, just show up when you're ready." The grin was still firmly in place. Kane rolled his eyes and waved his brother out of the room.
"Actually, I have a favor to ask you, Taker." Robin began. Mark attempted to sober his face and turned toward her. "I don't have a room. Can I crash with you guys?"
"Do you really have to ask that question, little girl?" He smiled. "…And you've got to stop callin me Taker. My friends call me Mark."
"I told you he didn't hate you." Kane teased. Robin shot him a look that could curdle milk. "Well, he doesn't!"
"No. I don't hate ya darlin." Mark began looking more serious than Robin had ever seen him outside the ring. "Matter of fact, I think I owe you an apology."
"Taker…Mark, really it's alright. I don't blame you for looking out for Kane."
"Really though." He continued holding a hand up for silence. "I don't do this very often so let me finish or it'll never get said." He sighed heavily and rubbed at his eyes before going on. "I pride myself on being a good judge of character around here. I've been in this business a long time and I've seen a lot of stupid shit come through. I should've known you weren't like the rest of 'em."
"Mark…" Robin tried to stop him. Mark just shook his head.
"As far as I can tell, you're probably the best thing that's ever happened to big ugly here. Keep him happy and he'll do the same for you. I know it."
"Thanks Mark." Kane said as he stood and pulled Robin to him.
"Don't mention it." Mark said and smiled almost sadly. "I'll see y'all back at the hotel."
"We'll be around shortly." He said to his brother. Mark nodded and waving good-bye, disappeared into the hallway.
"Wow." Kane said once he'd shut the door. "That doesn't happen."
"What do you mean it doesn't happen?"
"He…doesn't apologize. Ever." Kane muttered bending to retrieve his things from under the dog. Spike growled at the disturbance but settled nicely once he'd been handed to Robin.
"So I should take that as a compliment?" She asked scratching the dog behind the ear. Kane nodded emphatically. "Good to know."
"I hope he's okay." The big man said, more thinking out loud than to Robin.
"Is an apology that out of character?"
"Yeah. It is." Robin shrugged and chewed at her bottom lip. Come to think of it, Mark did seem a bit somber even for the Undertaker. Maybe she'd try to get him to open up to her after all. She knew all about the rocky history between the brothers and she knew how close Kane was to Sara. Perhaps an impartial third party was exactly what Mark needed…
"I don't suppose we can do anything about it here." Robin yawned and set Spike down on a bench. "Get in the shower and I'll pack up our stuff. Let's get to the hotel. I'm tired."
Kane grinned and swooped in to plant another soft kiss against her lips before nodding and retreating toward the showers.