Darla sighed sadly as she stood in the hotel lobby. She had just returned from the arena after a long show and she was dead on her feet and cold. She had been forced to walk to the hotel after 'Taker had left her at the arena. He had said to her that since she apparently felt she didn't need him, she could make her own way to the hotel.

She secretly thought that he had been very childish in his decision but she wouldn't have dreamed of saying that to him. And so it took her very nearly two hours to get back to the hotel and now she was drained.

She could have gotten a ride from one of the other wrestlers but she feared that 'Taker would find out and she knew what would happen to her if he did. Her back still hurt from the beating she had received after he caught her talking to Jeff Hardy, and she didn't wanna give him a reason to do it again.

Darla snapped out of her reverie when the desk clerk waved his hand in front of her face. She smiled, blushing a little and took the spare key from the clerk.

"Thank you," Darla said softly.

"Will you be alright ma'am?. You look like you're cold," the desk clerk said worriedly.

"I'm fine, it's nothing a warm shower wont fix," Darla said.

The desk clerk smiled warmly and Darla walked to the elevator. She really did need a shower after the long walk in the cold. She stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the second floor. The elevator ride only took a few seconds but to Darla it seemed like hours. She needed a shower and although she wasn't sure 'Taker would let her take one, she would give it a try.

The elevator doors opened and Darla very nearly yelped when she saw the big man standing in front of her.

"Hey, sorry if I scared you," Glen said.

Darla stepped out of the elevator and smiled. Glen couldn't help but notice that she seemed scared.

"You didn't, I just didn't expect anyone to be there," Darla said softly.

"Are you alright?"

Pain glistened in Darla's eyes for a second as well as something else, Glen wanted to believe it was a silent plea, but he couldn't be sure as it quickly made way for a look of feigned surprise.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Darla asked, a little too quickly for Glen's taste.

Glen decided to be outright about it. She had to face what was happening to her.

"'Taker seemed very upset with you yesterday," Glen said.

Darla visibly winced at that remark but she quickly retorted.

"That's been settled," Darla said, rubbing her hands.

"At what cost?" Glen asked gently.

Darla seemed flustered for a few seconds until she finally found her voice again.

"I have to go," Darla said.

Glen didn't say anything, he just gave her a meaningful look. Darla quickly turned away from Glen and walked to the hotel room. Good, Glen thought, maybe now she'll finally give her situation some thought. And hopefully she would get out while she still could.

Darla was confused as she stepped into the hotelroom. He couldn't possibly know about what 'Taker sometimes did to her, could he?. She shrugged the thought off as she noticed that 'Taker was still up. He was sitting in bed, watching television.

"So you finally decided to show up," his voice rumbled.

Darla nodded weakly and 'Taker let out a short laugh.

"You're pathetic, you can't even walk a couple of miles without looking like you've been dragged through the mud," he mocked.

Darla closed her eyes as his words stung at her heart, she would not allow herself to cry. She knew that if she'd cry he'd only continue his mocking. There was a long silence as Darla stood there.

"Mark?" Darla asked after a while.

"What?" he growled.

Darla took a step back and she was tempted to say 'never mind', but she knew that that would piss him off more than anything. Calling his name for no reason would not improve his mood.

"Could I take a shower?" Darla asked softly.

'Taker was silent for a while before he put down the remote and crossed his massive arms over his chest.

"Now why would I let you do that?" 'Taker asked.

"I'm cold and dirty," Darla answered, praying that he wouldn't get upset.

"What if I don't care?. What if I want you to just stand there all night?" 'Taker asked.

Darla didn't say anything, she just stood there praying to god and anyone else who might be listening. There was another long uncomfortable silence until Taker spoke up.

"Take a shower but don't take longer than 10 minutes," Taker ordered.

Darla nodded quickly and stepped into the bathroom. She stripped herself of her clothes and after creating just the right shower she stepped underneath it. She sighed loudly as the warm water flowed over her body. Her back started aching for a few seconds but the warm water quickly eased the aching and Darla sighed again.

She hadn't forgotten about her ten minute limit so she quickly washed her hair and her body and dried herself. The long shower would have to wait for another time. As Darla stood in the bathroom she realized there weren't any clothes in there. She stepped out of the bathroom with the towel around her and silently stepped to her bag.

She could feel 'Taker eyeing her up so she quickly grabbed some clothes. She heard the bed moving and suddenly the tv was turned off.

"Drop the towel," 'Taker ordered behind her.

Darla turned to him and stood there for a second.

"Drop it," 'Taker snarled.

Darla quickly dropped the towel and stood there in front of 'Taker, naked and ashamed. She wasn't very tall and didn't have a huge chest, but her lack of height made them look bigger than they were. She was slender, with not much muscle. 'Taker smirked as he took the sight in and said:

"Come here."

Darla made sure he didn't have to say it twice as she immediately stepped to him. 'Taker grabbed her arm and pulled her onto the bed. She winced as her back protested to the pressure of Taker's heavy body.

Taker's hands roamed her body but her body did nothing in response. It had stopped responding a long time ago. She acted as though she liked it, though she doubted 'Taker would care if she didn't. She responded with a passion and a love she did not feel anymore, but none of it mattered. As long as he was happy, he wouldn't hurt her. That was all her life was now, making sure he was happy so he wouldn't hurt her.