The phone was just ringing again. Mark sighed. He hadn't been able to get a hold of Sara all day and he was really starting to worry. It wasn't like her not to answer or at the very least call back.

She'd been distant and quiet since the incident in the hallway with Stacy. He'd tried to talk to her but she hadn't seemed interested. Maybe she was still mad? Mark shook his head.

Granted, he'd never really said he was sorry for their last fight but he didn't feel sorry. She was getting in way over her head with Stacy and Test and he was only trying to point it out to her. Just trying to show her how dangerous they could be. She could be so stubborn sometimes…

"Hi, we're not home right now…" The answering machine babbled in his ear. The big man let out a deep breath and waited for the beep.

"Baby girl? Are you there?" He waited. "Sara, talk to me. I'm startin to get worried. Call me when you get this all right? I love ya darlin."

"Hello?" A breathless voice came from the other end as he moved to close his cell phone.

"Sara?"

"Yeah." She said. Mark felt himself smiling immediately.

"I miss you."

"I know hon. I just had to get away for a while. The road was starting to get to me."

"Gets to me too. It gets to me more when you're not here." He was met with silence. "Baby girl, are you still mad at me?"

"Why would I be?" Mark cringed. She was mad all right. He could hear the tightness in her beautiful voice.

"Darlin, I just don't want you to get hurt is all."

"Mark, stop it. It's not worth arguing about anymore. I'm tired and…" There was a knocking at the door. He could hear it through the phone.

"Who's that?" He asked and tried to keep the irritation out of his voice at the interruption.

"Hang on." Mark grumbled and folded his arms as he leaned back against the headboard of the hotel bed. "Mark? John's here." She laughed and Mark smiled. He knew he could count on his old friend to check on her while he was home.

"Tell Bradshaw he's a son of a bitch." He chuckled. "Only ever shows up when I'm not home."

"What'd you call me ya redneck piece of scooter trash?" The familiar voice growled even as he laughed through the phone.

"Thanks brother." Mark said and meant it. He'd mentioned to Bradshaw about Sara's sudden change in attitude before his friend had gone home with a dislocated shoulder. He knew if anyone could get to the bottom of it, it was John Bradshaw.

"Don't mention it. I'll take care of everything. Call ya later. Here's your wife."

"Hello?" Sara laughed as she regained the phone.

"Well I'll let ya go visit with the asshole." Mark laughed. "I'll call ya when I get up in the morning. Alright?"

"Sure thing Taker." She giggled. "Talk to you tomorrow." Mark frowned. She never called him Taker.

"Alright baby girl, I love you."

"You too baby. Bye." She said and was gone.

Mark frowned at his cell phone and snapped it shut. He didn't feel any better, not at all.

Sighing heavily, he tossed his cell phone down on the bedside table before standing and stretching. Suddenly, Mark was restless.

"What the hell…" He muttered to himself and walked to the dresser to leave a note. He was going out to try to clear his head and the last thing he needed was Kane to come looking for him. The big baby could be slightly over protective at times.

Grabbing his keys, he fought the urge to punch the doorframe and walked out.

By the time he'd gotten to the elevator he was thoroughly pissed off.

"She called me Taker…" He grumbled and punched the button for the lobby. Where did that come from? Where had she been all day? Hadn't she thought to call him even once? Had she thought about him at all?

His brain was running circles around itself and he hated it. He hated how he thought at all when she wasn't with him. When she traveled with the company he never once worried about their relationship, not once. But as soon as she was gone and he was alone…

"I need a fuckin drink." He sighed and leaned his head back against the lift wall. Why was he worrying? It wasn't like they had any problems. She was perfect for him and she constantly told him the same. They enjoyed the same sports, ate the same foods, laughed at the same things, and when he looked in her eyes he saw the same love reflected there that he felt for her. See? No reason to freak out…

But he couldn't stop himself from thinking about it.

The elevator opened onto the lobby. There wasn't much happening as he made his way to the revolving glass door and stopped, glancing at his keys in his hand.

"No…" He said and made a sharp turn to the right. No sense in tempting fate. He was in the mood to drown his insecurities and he could do that just fine in the hotel bar. No chance of getting pulled over and thrown in jail if all he had to do after was stumble up to his room.

The bar was more crowded than he'd hoped. The big man fidgeted with his bandana and made his way to a table near the back. It was dark enough; maybe he wouldn't have to deal with anyone but his old friend Jack.