Chapter 5

Ted went to play his PS3 until Janet and Tiffany arrived, which was two hours later, and wondered if Martina needed more time to rest. He walked in her room, seeing she was up staring out the window, and cleared his throat quietly to get her attention. "Jess, they're here."

"Oh okay." She whispered after a minute, remembering her name was Jessica now and walked over to sit on the bed as the girls walked in, closing the men out.

"You can see her when we're finished." Tiffany trilled and walked over, sighing with a gentle smile. "Hello honey, I'm Tiff and this is Janet."

"Now that the introductions are over with, let's get busy."

~!~

Randy smiled slightly, wondering if he really should be out here, knowing how nosy and pushy those two women could be. "Think they'd kill me if I went in there?"

"I think someone should be, she doesn't know them."

"Not to mention their never-ending mouths."

~!~

"Hmmm so you fell down a flight of stairs?"

"Two actually, I'm very clumsy." Martina chuckled softly, while Janet began cutting her hair, feeling some of the weight lift from her head, sighing gently.

Nodding, Martina answered their questions with ease while Tiffany even did her makeup. Her stitches were dissolving on her cheek so, after Janet was done with her hair, Tiffany put foundation with brown eyeliner and natural eye shadow to hide the injuries, clear gloss on her lips. Her hair was a deep auburn red that had golden streaks in it, going just a little past her shoulders.

"What do you think?"

"Wow."

~!~

"How long does it take?"

"Can't rush perfection." Cody smirked, busy whipping Ted's distracted ass on the PS3. "I win, again."

Randy snorted from his place at the table, browsing the local paper and smoking, a can of soda in front of him. "She's getting her hair dyed; come on, it's going to take awhile. Be patient."

The door opened as Martina stepped out, looking like a new woman, though still moving slowly, seeing a beaming Janet and Tiffany going to retrieve the guys. She was nervous and fingered her hair, the beautiful gold accenting the red nicely and went with her jade green eyes. She looked up when Ted came over to her, tears shining in her eyes.

"No, no, no crying!" Tiffany grunted, shaking her head. "You can't cry or your makeup will run, honey."

"Whoa, you look..."

"Smoking."

"I was going to say beautiful, but...yeah..." Ted couldn't believe how stunning Martina was. "Jess, you're a knockout."

"Randy, what do you think of your wife's new look, man?"

After hearing his friend's reactions, Randy braced himself before looking up, blue eyes giving nothing away. Dear god she was a vision. Her black hair had been gorgeous, but it made her look so pale, wraithlike, especially with the length. This new color, the red and gold, gave her cheeks a flush, the makeup masking the bruises and cuts he knew were there.

"Damn...You look stunning." He said finally, trying to keep his voice from going low and husky like it had the last time.

"Of COURSE she does, Orton." Tiffany conceded with a roll of her eyes, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder, smirking. "You really landed yourself a looker."

"That he did." Janet was grinning as well, patting Jessica's shoulder gently and nodded when she went to open her mouth, probably to thank them. "Don't mention it honey. Get well soon." Her and Tiffany walked out, knowing their job was done.

"I feel really different." Martina commented as soon as they left, running a hand through her colored hair, smiling when Ted stepped forward to gently hug her. "Thank you." She couldn't say it enough and walked over to Randy, smiling when he bent down to where she could hug him around the neck, not wanting to reach up because of her injured ribs.

"You do look beautiful." Randy murmured against her ear, gently wrapping one arm around her. Careful not to squeeze, he didn't want to hurt her. "Did they bother you?"

"They're nosy bitches, but we love them." Cody said cheerfully.

"Down Fabio, down."

"Can you please stop calling me that? I'm NOT gay."

"No, they just asked me what happened and I told them." They HAD to know Tiffany and Janet were going to ask about what happened to her; the girls weren't that stupid after all. "For the most part, it was silent with Tiffany and Janet bantering back and forth." She shrugged as Randy slowly released her, loving the feeling of his arms around her body, staring up into his eyes again. He had the most beautiful eyes she'd ever seen on a man. Martina slowly pulled away and walked over to a full length mirror, wincing slightly, and looked at the reflection that stared back at her. 'Wow...' She thought, fingering her hair again, the makeup hiding what happened to her as she tilted her head to the side. 'Hello Jessica, goodbye Martina.' Her eyes closed briefly as she thought that, before opening them again, a smile replacing the frown.

Randy was studying her thoughtfully, aware she'd been dishing on his eyes again, mildly curious about that. They were just plain, ordinary blue, nothing special. Now her green orbs, those were something to look into. They were like green pools a person could just fall into.

"It's good to see you smile." He commented casually.

"For the first time in two years, I feel completely safe and I just know things are going to be alright." She murmured quietly, Ted and Cody having gone back to playing the PS3 and watched through the reflection as Randy came up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders gently. Maybe she was wrong about Randy; maybe he didn't hate her as much as she thought. The man had offered to make her his wife, fake or not, so he had to like her on some level and wanted to help her. "I'm gonna go lay back down." She patted his hand gently, before slowly walking back into her room, just wanting to be alone to reflect on her new life and identity.

Shrugging, Randy watched her go and headed over to play whatever game his friends were, dropping down on the couch behind them. "I play winner." He announced, mind on his new 'wife'. Now that was odd. This meant no more dating, which made him smirk. Of course, he would have to get to know Martina. 'Jessica.' He mentally corrected himself, which made him think they had to have a date.

Randy's wife...Jessica Orton...Martina couldn't wrap her mind around it and sighed heavily, while staring out the window, the bedroom dark. She was different, everything was different. Was it wrong to think of Randy as a great choice for a phony husband?

Was it wrong for her to think how incredibly sexy and strong he was? Martina was just getting off a really bad relationship, if it could even be called that, and she knew Roger was currently searching for her. With her blue eyed savior on her mind and the thought of what was to come, Martina laid down and drifted off in a restful, peaceful slumber.

"Please, remember to be polite." Ted said after Randy presented his idea of taking Martina –Jessica- on a date, so they could get to know each better. At first, he found the idea retarded up until Randy pointed out that, as a married couple, people would expect them to know each other well and be comfortable, affectionate even. "And don't be pushy."

"Uh, don't you think he needs to run this idea by Jessie first before you start handing him advice?"

"Good point." Ted said with a nod, looking over at Randy, who was staring at the television screen. "Just remember what she's been through."

"And don't ask her about that bastard either. Show her we're different."

Ted nodded, glancing back at the bedroom door that was closed. "Is it wrong to already be attached to her?"

Cody didn't say anything, wondering what Ted meant by that.

"Define attached. Because if it's in a non-platonic way, then WHY didn't you say so BEFORE I did the whole marriage thing?" Randy arched an eyebrow, feeling a little territorial, which was more a point of pride then anything. She was HIS wife; well fake wife, but same difference. "I can handle this, I've been out before."

"Not with someone like her."

"She's already like a sister to me." Ted assured Randy, feeling protective of Martina, not wanting her to get hurt. "She needs to trust us, just take it slow, man. That's all we're saying."

"You'll be fine." Cody hoped, with a cracked smile, before going back to playing his game.

"Cody, if you don't stop playing without me, I'll kick your ass."

Cody snorted, rolling his eyes. "Knock it off and play the damn thing then!"

"How the fuck am I going to take it fast? Not like I'm asking her to hop in bed with me." Randy snorted. "It's a getting to know her kinda date, moron. Like, her favorite color, her likes; dislikes…that sort of thing."

"Basically, what every good husband needs to know." Cody said, not looking up from the game, whipping Teddy's ass, even though he was now paying attention. "Wham, bam, thank you ma'am, I win. Again."

"Aww fuck!" Ted groaned, not amused in the slightest and sighed heavily as he shook his head, starting a new game. "I wonder if she's a gamer..." He wondered aloud, rolling his eyes when Randy smacked him upside the head, already knowing the answer to that question. "Alright fine, maybe we can make her a gamer then."

"That would be awesome having a woman to game with."

Ted grinned, already having plans to ask Martina -Jessica- about it, before proceeding to kick Cody's ass. He trusted Randy and knew the man was doing what he felt was in her best interest.

Ted was a bit too overprotective. It would appear endearing and cute to women; to Randy, it was an annoying habit his friend was going to have to break himself of. At least when it came to him and Cody. Obviously they weren't going to hurt Martina, they were trying to help her now, weren't they? Randy sat back to watch the two, mind not even on the game.

~!~

A week later, Martina was finally healed and could walk normally, though her ribs were still sore. The bruises were gone, stitches having dissolved, and she was a new woman. Randy had taken her out shopping for a new wardrobe, which remained the same. Long sleeved shirts, jeans and sweatpants. She wore the same thing to bed, except they were pajamas. Martina didn't want to show her body to anyone, knowing it was hideous. At least her face and hair were beautiful, the rest of her not so much.

Martina's eyes slowly fluttered open as the sunlight hit her face, causing her to groan and rolled over on her side, wincing. That wasn't a bright move as she slowly sat up, clearing her throat, and took a sip of water that was on her nightstand. Even though she was 'married' to Randy, he still provided her very own room in the suites, which she was thankful for. Slipping out of bed, Martina went to make some coffee, knowing that's the first thing the men would want when they got up.

Cody was the first one up, sniffing, and crept over to wake up Ted. "Dude...She's making coffee."

"I LIKE coffee, especially when annoying fucks like you insist on waking me up." Ted groaned, pulling a pillow over his face.

Cody sighed, wondering if he should tell Martina the only one who drank coffee was usually Ted. He drank it as a last resort and Randy only drank it when he couldn't get his hands on an energy drink or soda. "Hmmm..." Nah, he'd let her do it, though he wasn't sure WHY she did it; she didn't have to wait on them. It made him uncomfortable. "Morning, Jessie."

Hearing that name was still new to Martina as she poured herself a cup of java, needing to wake up, letting out a loud yawn and nodded. "Morning Cody." She murmured quietly, jetlagged beyond belief.

She wasn't used to traveling, but slowly her body would get used to it. Randy had assured her it was normal, though Martina would deal with the jetlag as long as she didn't have to look at Roger again. Dreaming of him was bad enough, which is why she hadn't been getting much sleep, and often spent the nights staring out the window silently crying.

"Morning. You look like...you slept badly." Cody corrected himself, before he could say 'hell', that would have been bad. Of course she looked like hell; she had been beaten damn near to death and had only recently started showing serious signs of improvement. Though, it also looked like jetlag was kicking her ass. "Not sleeping so good?" He asked sympathetically.

"I hardly sleep. I'm afraid he'll find me." Her voice was distant and soft, not wanting to wake the others and sipped her java as her eyes closed, acting as if it was her lifeline. "I'm fine, Cody." Martina murmured, cracking a smile at him, before walking past toward her room to enjoy her coffee.

The sun had barely risen over the horizon when her body shut down, though it was only for two hours. Every time her eyes closed, she saw Roger staring back at her with that knife, causing tears to swell in her eyes. Even in her dreams he wouldn't leave her alone. Martina sat down on the bed and drew her knees up, leaning her head back against the headboard, just staring straight ahead.

Cody made a mental note to ask Randy and Ted about maybe getting Martina some sleeping pills, knowing she had to get more sleep than whatever it was she was scraping by on. He wanted to follow and assure her Roger would never find her, but knew that wouldn't assuage her fears. Only time and eventually learning to trust them would do that. There was no way Roger was going to magically track them down; not with the way they constantly moved from place to place and, even if by chance he did, he surely couldn't be stupid enough to think he could get away with anything, not with the three men standing between him and Martina.

Martina was silent for the most part, staying holed up in her room, only to be dragged out when either they left to go to the next place or when the guys wanted to talk to her. They often tried including her in conversations, but Martina just wanted to be left alone for the most part. She didn't want them seeing her bruised face, makeup only covering so much, or the tears in her eyes.

She hated seeing the pity in their own because Martina was stronger than they gave her credit for. She was weak at the moment though physically, mentally and emotionally, especially after nearly being killed by her now ex-boyfriend Roger. No doubt he was trying to track her down, but with her new identity, that was going to be close to impossible.