Authors Note: Sorry it has been so long…got caught up with school and work but here is the latest chapter. PLEASE review…I need all the help I can get. Again…I don't own anything or anyone you recognize…Imara's all mine though. Enjoy…

The trio arrived at pdx, Portland's international airport early the next morning. They made there way to baggage claim without a problem, and in silence. Imara was still upset that Shane had left her. She hardly knew these two strangers, what was she going to do? She shrugged it off as Shawn hailed a cab and they all climbed in. Sandwiched in the middle of the two large men, Imara kept her focus straight ahead. Not really paying attention to anything.
Hunter noticed her ice exterior. He wanted to melt her cold casingr but he was going to have to earn her trust first. So, Hunter devised a plan. Smiling, he slid his arm around the back of the seat.

They arrived at the hotel, checked in and found their room, again still in silence. There were only two beds this time both in the same room. Hunter gave Shawn a knowing look.
"Don't worry one of us will sleep on the couch." Shawn attempted to comfort her.
"Oh, it's fine. I don't mind really. I'm not much of a sleeper anyway." She sat down on the furthest bed and stared out the window, lost in the Oregon rain. Her MP3 player sang out healing melodic sounds as the rain continued it's down pour. She liked it here. This place cried for her.
Hunter and Shawn snuck out into the hall way.
"Look, Shawn, I have an idea to get her to trust me but I need to do it alone. Do you think you could disappear for a few minutes? I know this is an awful thing to ask but she's gotta trust one of us and since her and I already started to bond a little bit…" Hunter pleaded.
"Say no more. I was going to go get some food anyway. I will be back in an hour though. It can't be too obvious, she knows games better than we do, dude."
"I know man. Hey thank you I appreciate it a lot." He shook hands in that 'we're too cool for school…and hugging…' kind of way with his partner and watched him make his way down to the hotel restaurant.
Hunter walked back into the room and watched her for a moment, staring out the window. He walked up to her, careful not to startle her and gently placed his hand on her shoulder but ended up making the poor, startled girl jump a clean foot in the air.
"Hunter! Didn't your mom tell you not to sneak up on people like that?" She tried to catch her breath. She took out her ear phones and looked at him. "What's up?"
"Well, I wanted to try and make you feel better because I know this is hard for you. I have an idea." He went to his bag and got out a mystery bottle of creamy goo.
"Hunter…what is THAT?" she asked in absolute disgust.
"It's a secret. It helps heal bruises and things faster. I'm not sure how and it's probably just a mind over matter thing but hey, it works."
"Oh, Hunter, you know, I don't need that. I'm fine. I am so clumsy it's nice to remind myself to be careful and if you take those reminders away, well," she tried convincing herself, to no avail.

"Imara, stop it. We both know that I'm not stupid. I want to help." He took a few steps toward her.
She stood there, just looking at him. Her eyes lost their sparkle and her timid smile faded into sadness. She tensed up as he approached. "Hunter…" she whispered.
He warmed some of the lotion up between his hands. He was now only centimeters away from her. Hunter teased the bottom hem of her long shirt, never breaking eye contact. He slowly lifted the cotton garment up, revealing her bruises. Imara, too embarrassed to acknowledge what was happening, looked away and closed her eyes tightly. Hunter took her chin in his hands and pulled her gaze back up. "Imara, open your eyes, and look at me." He demanded, softly. "Trust me." She looked up at him through wet eyes fighting with all she had the tears menacing to empty down her cheek.
Hunter began to rub the lotion on her damaged skin with the softest touch he could manage. He knew that this was all a hoax, and he was sure she did too, but that was not the point. The desire was for her to trust him and see that he would do anything to make her feel safe.
Imara couldn't take it anymore. The stress of all of this was too much. She broke down and let out a colossal sob falling face first into Hunter. He was more than willing to catch her and hold her until she got it out. He guided her sobbing body to the bed and sat down with her just holding her in his arms. They sat in silence, with the exception of the soft sound of Imara crying. Hunter stroked her hair and rubbed her back. He waited there, patiently and affectionately for her to let it all go. Her sobs began to subside and eventually she just lay there in his arms.
After a while of silence and safety in his arms, Imara pushed herself up and looked at Hunter. Her eyes were in swollen disarray and mascara traced tear lines down her flushed face. As long as she couldn't see it, she did not care.
Hunter looked at her, and never in his life had he seen a woman look so sad. It was obvious how much she let go into those tears that stained his clothes. In that moment, their friendship became solidified.
Hunter leaned in towards Imara and gently landed a kiss on her crinkled forehead, cupping her sad face in his strong hands. "Imara, you can trust me. I am here for you."
"Hunter, all that crying really tired me out. Will you just lay with me for a while?" She asked through a yawn. She fell back onto the bed resting her tired head on the pillow.
Hunter obliged and rested up against the head board. He stroked her back gently as she drifted off to sleep. He whispered to her when he was sure she was asleep.
"I promise you, as God as my witness, I will make sure that you are safe. Nothing bad will ever happen to you again. No matter what." He leaned down and kissed her sleeping forehead. He continued to rub her back until Shawn came back in.
He came in quietly, not sure what he was going to find. He saw Hunter on the bed with Imara. "Is she sleeping?" He mouthed.
Hunter nodded and motioned for the hall way. Both men congregated in the vacant space out side the hotel room door.
"She lost it man. Imara cried into my chest, and cried hard." Hunter informed, shaking his head.
"That poor girl. We've gotta do something. What are we gonna do though? We can't keep running her from hotel room to hotel room? What did Shane have in mind for the long term?"
"Man I don't know. I don't think he thought we could pull it off and get this far. We have to somehow get her off the road and into some sort of stable housing."
"Hunter, don't you have some leave coming to you?"
"Yeah, Vince won't sign that now though. He wants both of our asses."
"Well Shane still has some power; I bet he could swing it."
"Maybe, we should get back inside, I hate to leave her alone."

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Vince was seething with anger when he arrived at Portland International Airport. This was not okay. Imara belonged to him and damn it he was going to get back what was his. He tracked down a cab and made his way to the Hilton. That's where he assumed the Musketeer's had gone off to, that is where the Raw superstars had rooms reserved. When he asked the front desk for room information for the rouge wrestlers, he was disappointed to say the least when the young woman refused to offer up any information.
"Don't you know who I am? I am Vincent Kennedy McMahon, DAMN IT. Tell me where my wrestlers are!"
"I am sure you are sir, but I don't care if you are the president of the United States, I can not give out that information. Now sir, if you do not calm down I will have to ask security to remove you from the premises."

Mr. McMahon was in shock as to the way he was being treated. No one treats him like that. NO ONE. While he stormed away from the desk he decided he would meet them at the arena posting lookouts all over. He would know where they were at all times. This was going to end, and it was going to end tonight.