Chapter XIX: Creepings and Creakings
Therese was up at the crack of dawn, worried about how Kevin was doing. Checking on him, she found him fast asleep and refused to wake him, knowing he wouldn't be feeling well. With no one to bother her, she pulled out paperwork and made some calls back to the office. Glancing over the guest lists, no one name was connected to any on the visitor sheets for SmackDown! The agency confirmed that they could find no links either. Since the fingerprints on the first letter were identified as the mailboy's, no fingerprints had been found again. The offending papers were entirely clean. The suggestion was now being made that they concentrate solely on SmackDown! employees. When she asked which people in particular, there were a few named but only with complete speculation. No one stood out except for one name that surprised her—Vince McMahon. The disgusting thought of a father writing those letters was pushed away to the back of her mind and she continued with compiling and e-mailing her weekly reports.
Her breakfast of fruit had wasted away and her stomach reminded her that it close to time for lunch. She tucked away her papers and laptop and went to check on Kevin. He was still snoring lightly and had yet to move. As much as she didn't want to wake him, she knew he needed to eat and begin to take care of his back. Pilfering the kitchen, she cooked him a warm breakfast big enough to feed a small army, hopefully enough for the both of them. The smell of food had done nothing to wake him and she set the tray down on the bureau before sitting down on the edge of the bed. A gentle nudge didn't help, so she nuzzled his neck and gently nibbled his ear. His eyes slowly opened and she pulled away to smile at him. "Good afternoon, Sleepy."
"Last time I checked, I wasn't a dwarf," he muttered and wiped the sleep from his eyes.
"Would you rather I called you 'Sleeping Beauty'?"
He snorted, then said, "Big Sexy will do."
"Well, Big Sexy, roll over and let me see your back." He did as commanded and she lifted the edge of his black shirt to reveal a bruise on the verge of every color of the rainbow and a little larger than her hand splayed out. She ran a hand over the area to feel how swollen it was and he tensed under her touch. "Sorry. It looks better than I thought."
He rolled back over and asked, "What do I smell that is so wonderful?"
"Breakfast," she said with a chipper tone and bounced over to the dresser to bring him the tray.
"Wow, maybe I need to get permanently injured," he grinned but then grimaced as he pulled himself up to rest against the headboard.
"I don't think so. I know how bad it looks, but how bad does it feel?"
"Very sore."
"You want some more painkillers?"
"Yeah," Kevin muttered. She settled the tray across his lap and perched on the edge of the mattress while retrieving the pills from the nightstand. He scooted over some and patted the spot he had vacated. She settled beside him and stole a piece of bacon from his plate. He slapped her hand but she had it shoved in her mouth before he could do anything. He speared the sausage from hers and almost received a stab wound from her fork as she attempted to retrieve it.
"This can't be good for the digestive tract. Truce?" Therese asked and offered him a grape.
"That's your peace offering?" He raised his eyebrows in question
"My sausage was bigger than that piece of bacon I stole and I'm offering some of my fruit!" she replied, astounded.
"Alright," he laughed and popped the grape in his mouth.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Stephanie sighted a groggy Evan and Shawn ambling across the hotel dining room, she plastered on a fake smile and rose to greet them. Her intent was to tell Shawn off at breakfast, but she knew full well that she couldn't with Evan present. And he probably knew so, too, she angrily thought. "Good morning, gentlemen."
"Morning," both of them muttered and bypassed her, heading straight for the food. They eventually plodded back to the table and plopped down in the seats.
"What's on our agenda for today?"
"When I finally wake up," Shawn started and rubbed his eyes, "I'm going to pack. We need to be on the road in less than an hour. It's a four-hour drive alone, so I thought we could eat lunch before we get there."
"Then what?"
"I'm going to work out, relax, and then go to the arena. You coming with me, buddy?" he asked of Evan, who, out of nowhere, perked up and readily agreed.
"Steph, you shopping today or something when we get to Dallas?" Evan asked, curious to know if she would be accompanying throughout the day.
I wish I could, she thought. Even though she had full reign to do what she wanted, the woman was too scared to be out on her own. "No, I think I'll just stay in the hotel room or hang out with you guys. That okay?"
"Yeah, you can definitely hang out with us," Evan replied before taking another bite out of his toast.
"I'm done here," Stephanie said, wiping her hands on a napkin. "You guys took too long, so I didn't wait to eat. When you're ready to leave, come get me. Don't forget, you and I," she glanced at Shawn, "need to talk later."
"Sure," he mumbled around a mouthful of eggs with his eyes glued to the plate. HBK didn't see the look of disgust on her face as she walked away.
The drive felt much longer than it really was. The two adults chose to let Evan control the conversation, as he was happy to oblige. Shawn was still trying to formulate a coherent excuse for last night without telling her the truth, which she took as aloofness, a continuation of the previous evening.
Once in Dallas, Shawn disappeared with Evan to a friend's gym. Stephanie checked in with Therese to let her know everything was still fine and then lost herself in paperwork. She was already behind and would incredibly be more so by the time they left San Antonio. Well, depending on our conversation, we'll see how much longer we're in San Antonio…
The knock at the door startled her out of her thoughts. Stephanie peeked through the hole to see Shawn standing on the other side, nervously shifting his feet. She opened the door and motioned for him to come in. "Hi," he diffidently said and then asked, "You got a few minutes?"
"Yeah, have a seat. What's on your mind?" she politely asked and daintily sat down, crossing her ankles.
"We should probably leave in about an hour. Since Therese isn't here, our plan for tonight is shot," Shawn explained, "I haven't really been able to come up with anything, so I think we should go early and leave at the most inconspicuous time. I guess you should dress the same and just come in with me. That'll work?"
"Yeah."
"Okay," he replied and stood to leave.
"Are you sure there's not something else we need to talk about it?" she asked as he brushed past her.
Shawn's eyes dropped to the floor and he slowly turned back around. He nodded and settled back in his seat. "I was hoping you'd forgotten we were supposed to talk."
"Forgotten?" she asked in surprise. "I'm not sure I can ever forget about how wonderful you made me feel last night—"
"Wonderful? It was that good?"
"If it wasn't, why do you think I'm complaining? Shawn, what happened?"
"Please, don't get mad at me," he said, tapping his fingers against the inside of his thigh.
"Too late," Stephanie replied and slightly leaned forward.
"Alright, don't be any more mad at me. When we were…when we were about…Anyhow, this searing pain hit my back and, well, I really couldn't do anything. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't, you know, do anything, so the only thing I could think of was just leaving."
"You couldn't tell me?"
"That's probably the most embarrassed I've been in a while. Of course, I couldn't tell you," he answered with a wave of his arm.
"There's other ways we can get around back pain," she said with a seductive smile.
"Yeah, I know, but I was so em—"
"Embarrassed, I got you. Tonight's our last night before we have to go back," she said suggestively.
The image of a sensuous Stephanie flitted across his mind and the sick feeling of betrayal squeezed his stomach. "I haven't been feeling real well today. If it's something, I don't want to give it to you."
"Okay," she said with disappointment as he stood.
Shawn bent over to her and cupped her cheek before giving a quick, soft kiss. "I'll come get you when we're ready to leave." She nodded, followed him to the door, and shut it softly behind him. Oh, the plans I have for you when I get you alone… she laughed to herself and gathered up her work before freshening up to leave.
The trio arrived at the arena early and walked in without so much as a second look from the security guard. Stephanie noticed he was a different man from the previous night. Shawn deposited her in his dressing room while he and Evan went to check on the card. She set-up the monitor for the show and then kicked off her shoes before settling on the couch.
Not long after, Shawn burst into the room with a red-faced Evan behind him. "We're leaving…now," he angrily stated.
"What happened?" a surprised Stephanie inquired.
"Evolution found out we were the ones who set off the stinkbombs and we've been asked nicely by administration to leave," he replied, sarcastically.
"You're kidding?"
"Does it look like it?" he replied. Evan shook his head, blue eyes focused on the floor.
"Sorry, guys," Stephanie tried to comfort.
"I'm angry that I drove down here and no one bothered to let me know. Oh, Bischoff said he tried to call me several times but I supposedly didn't answer my cell phone. The damn liar," Shawn mumbled. "I mean, Jackie Gayda and Maven are on the card, for crying out loud!"
"I'm really sorry," Evan muttered.
Shawn ruffled the boy's curls. "It's not your fault. It's mine."
"But it was my idea," he replied.
"Look, I'm not in the least sorry we did it. I'm just upset that I drug you out here for nothing."
"It's okay. I like hanging out with you guys," he quietly replied. Stephanie barely hid the smirk that tried to pop out. She couldn't wait to tell Therese that Evan actually admitted that he liked to be with Shawn Michaels.
"I'm taking y'all out for a steak dinner. Let's get in the car," HBK said, motioning for the door.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kevin set down his fork across his plate and sighed, rubbing his stomach. "You're gonna make me fat if we stay here much longer."
"You've eaten about everything that I can actually decently cook. Don't get too excited," Therese replied with a crooked grin.
"I think I could eat that lasagna every day."
"Don't be liar," she said and stood up. "I'll clean up in here. Go, lie down on the couch and catch a quick nap before RAW."
"Will you marry me?" he laughed.
"What?" she said, whipping around.
"You cooked me supper and told me I could have a nap and watch television. I wanna snatch you up before someone else does."
"I have you fooled," she replied with a cockeyed look. "This is a one time deal, so don't get hurt again."
Kevin handed her his plate as the phone rang. "I'll get it," he said and loped off to the living room. Therese almost had the kitchen back in spotless order by the time he was back.
"Everything okay?" she asked and tossed aside a dishtowel.
"Kind of."
"Is Stephanie and…Mark okay?"
"Yeah, but Shawn won't be on RAW tonight." Her eyes went wide as the worst possible scenarios played through her mind. "It's not that bad," he said with a slight smile and related Shawn and Evan being ratted out and the subsequent punishment.
"Are they coming back tonight?" she asked, a bit anxious for their return but also a little disappointed her time alone with Kevin would be soon over.
"No, I think Shawn's too tired to make another long drive today. Which means, it's just you and me for another night," he said the last with a seductive grin.
"Men never cease to amaze me," she said to herself, shaking her head. "Go, so I can finish up." She pushed him towards the door and he dragged his feet. To get him to move, she pinched his butt and he whipped around. "I said, 'go.'"
"Not if you do stuff like that." She glared at him and he finally ambled off.
Kevin watched RAW to keep up with what was going on. After the show and a movie, the two turned in for the night. Therese tossed and turned for two hours, trying to get warm. Apparently, Kevin had turned down the thermostat and she wasn't about to change it. After a pair of socks, pajamas pants, and another shirt under her jersey, she decided she would hunt down another blanket.
The hall was barely lit from the moonlight creeping in from the empty bedrooms and she fumbled with the doorknob of the closet. The extra blankets were on the top shelf, or so she thought in the dim light. She reached for the top shelf to pull one down but the cloth caught on something. The entire shelf fell and she slipped on the rug in her surprise.
The noise woke Kevin and he stumbled out into the hall, turning the light on. He found Therese sitting in the floor, squinting up at him in the bright light and surrounded by towels and tablecloths. "Are you okay?" he said through a stifled laugh and held his hand out to her. "What happened?"
"First off, it's not funny," she said, ignoring his outstretched hand, "and, second, I just wanted a blanket."
Kevin glanced around the door into the closet. "There's not any blankets in there."
"I didn't know that in the dark," she replied and began sorting the cloth around her, "and I didn't want to wake you up by turning on the light."
"You could have turned off the air."
"I thought that's how you wanted it, especially since you've been using that heating pad." Now that the tablecloths and towels were sorted, she held out a hand and he pulled her up.
"Your hand is freezing," he said and reached for her other.
"That's why I was looking for a blanket. Do you know where Shawn keeps them?"
"They're in the bathroom closet, but get in my bed with me. It's already warm."
"That's quite alright. I have my own," Therese said and started to backpeddle to her room.
"I promise to be on my best behavior. Scout's honor," he said and held his hand up in the salute.
"Just let me warm you up."
"Okay," she resigned and flipped off the hall light. Kevin followed her into the room and climbed into the bed behind her. Every part of her tingled as he pulled her close, one hand splayed across her stomach. He snuggled his face into her hair and inhaled deeply, wondering what the scent could possibly be. She couldn't resist and leaned against his chest, feeling the broad expanse against her back. When it felt this good, she didn't care about the precariousness of their relationship. Kevin couldn't remember the last time he had had a woman in his bed and it be this innocent. Not that he didn't want to make love to her, because he did, he just enjoyed being with her and holding her close in any way he could.
Therese woke to an empty bed in the morning and struggled to see the alarm clock. She had slept hours past her usual morning routine. Instead of bolting out of bed as she would normally, she turned over and stretched, burying her face in the pillow, which still incredibly smelled like Kevin. Before her feet hit the floor, Kevin came strolling in with a breakfast tray.
"Get back in bed," he ordered.
"I take it you're feeling better," Therese stated and crawled back under the covers.
"Somewhat. I'm still fairly sore, but if I don't start moving more, it won't get any better," he replied and set the tray down across her lap before settling beside her.
"Wow, this looks great."
"I am more than just a pretty face," he said and pursed his lips.
"Maybe," she replied, indifferently.
"Maybe?" he exclaimed, taken aback.
"Yeah," she replied with a bob of her head and stuffed a mouthful of eggs into her mouth.
"So," he started, changing the subject, "when are we getting in the ring together?"
"Can't tomorrow because of SmackDown! I think Stephanie and I have plans Friday and we fly back to Connecticut on Saturday. It doesn't look good. Sorry." She already had plans for wrestling—no, beating down—Sable. Grappling in the ring with Kevin was too close for comfort. Then the realization hit that she was lying in Kevin Nash's bed, sharing breakfast with him.
"Today is good," he suggested. "I'm available." suggest
"But everybody's coming back today." Why she was still protesting, she had no idea.
"We'll go after we eat," he stated.
"Okay," she replied, slightly dejected.
"Don't sound so excited."
"If you were me, you wouldn't be excited about this match either."
"But you're getting firsthand lessons from the man himself."
These first hand lessons ended up in being a lot of goofing around in the ring. Therese had quickly shown herself capable of defense, so Kevin had moved on to the actual components of wrestling. She humored him but hands and heads kept ending up in the wrong place. Each time they would burst out in laughter and try again. Eventually, the laughter never stopped and she ended up trying to tackle and pin him, obviously without trying to hurt either one of them.
Therese took a flying leap onto his back from the middle turnbuckles and dangled from his neck. He was laughing so hard that he doubled over. She was about to tangle her long legs in his knees and trip him up when another body landed on her. They all tumbled to mat in a heap. The other person rolled off with a triumphant shout and yelled at them, "Whacha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?!"
Therese rolled her eyes and picked herself up off of Kevin, pulling him with her. Turning to Evan posing on the turnbuckle, she stated lightly, "Don't get so excited. Our backs weren't on the mat. You didn't get the pin."
Evan jumped down from the ringpost and started circling them. He charged her but she stepped out of the way and Kevin rolled him up, throwing him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and tickling him. "Tap out," Kevin demanded through a laugh.
"I…can't," he replied through a hiccup of laughter.
"Do you give?"
"Yes…yes…YES!" he screamed through the giggles and Kevin gently put him back down. A pout formed on his lips and he stated, "I'm going to tell Shawn and Steph."
Therese began laughing. "And what are they going to do?"
The pout turned into a smile. "I don't know. Just thought I'd say it. Anyways, I was just supposed to run in and tell you we're back and we're going back to the house."
"Alright, babe. We'll be right behind you," she replied and ruffled his hair.
Therese and Kevin were not long in following and offered to take care of supper since everybody else had been in the car for over four hours. When night fell, each filed off to their separate rooms. Therese tossed and turned for an hour, thinking about the night before in Kevin's bed and debating on feigning being cold again. She scolded herself for the thoughts but quickly found ways to justify them. With a resigned sigh, she rose and tiptoed out of the room.
Stephanie had waited until she thought everyone else was sound asleep. Shawn was obviously not coming down with something and she was ready to put her plans into play. He would never want to turn her down again after she got through with him. Sticking her head out into the dim hallway and seeing the coast clear, she slowly padded down the hallway. A squeak behind her caused her to turn around and check. She took a couple of steps backward and collided with a warm body.
Stephanie let a stifled cry and whipped around to find Therese leaning up against the wall, trying to catch her breath. "What are doing?" Therese hissed.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm…going down to the kitchen to get a drink of water," Therese answered with the first thing that came to mind.
"So am I," the brunette replied and wrapped the silk robe tighter around her so that Therese couldn't see the blue negligee.
"Well, good. We can go together."
"Okay," Stephanie replied but inwardly groaned.
They crept down the stairs together and milled about the kitchen while each slowly drank a glass of water. They avoided each other's eyes and made small talk, both trying not to look obvious about their evening intentions. Stephanie couldn't wait any longer and suggested that they return to their rooms. Both snuggled back under the covers in their respective beds. Therese took it as an omen and chose to give up on her secret mission. Stephanie, however, was debating on how long she should wait before sneaking back out. Within half an hour, she was back in hall, slowly creeping across the wooden floor. A board loudly creaked and she paused, sucking in her breath. She tentatively took another step but froze when she heard, "Stephanie, you're up again. You okay?"
"Therese," she said, "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
"Yeah. I'm surprised the whole house didn't wake up when that board creaked," the blonde replied, folding her arms across her chest.
"I need a blanket. They're in the bathroom closet, right?"
"Yeah, and don't ask me why I know that," Therese replied and led the way. She pulled down a pink one and handed it to Stephanie. "These boys know how to keep the air down in here."
"Yeah," Stephanie muttered before returning to her room.
Therese suspected she was up to something, assuming the 'something' had to do with one Shawn Michaels. Stephanie crawled back in her bed, seething with angry and muttering insults about the "guard dog" in the hallway.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
TBC…
Author's Notes: This chapter is not one of my best and I apologize, especially since it's taken me over two weeks to get it out. I finally finished my capstone paper (70% of my grade for this class) and turned it in today! Whaaahooo! I have two other projects due in the next three weeks but hopefully they won't hinder me in updating as much as the capstone paper did.