Chapter 16

The two stepped back out into the rain. Edge agreed to wait around the corner for a few minutes. They wanted to be sure that the clerk would start talking to her again.

Kat went back into the office and closed the door. "Hi again," she said.

"Back already," he said giving her a strange smile. "What can I do for you?"

"I came to get another soda," she said.

"More for Mr. Calaway?" he asked.

Kat shook her head. "No, he's asleep. It's not for him."

She stuck a dollar into the vending machine and a soda dropped out.

"Do you want any ice?" he asked her.

Kat saw no sign of Edge so she nodded. "Sure, that would be good."

"So where are you from?" he asked conversationally. "You don't sound southern."

"I'm not," she answered. "I'm from New York."

He nodded. "Makes sense. You ever been down south before?"

"Yea, never through here before though."

"I know that. I'd remember if a girl like you ever turned up here before," he said smiling at her again.

Kat forced a smile back, and stepped closer to the desk to get the bucket of ice he had.

"You know if you ever want a tour of the town, I could always…"

Just then the door opened and Edge walked in. Kat mentally sighed in relief.

He walked over to her with a smile shaking his head. "There you are. I was starting to get worried about you baby."

Kat returned the smile. "You worry too much honey. I told you I'd be right back with the soda."

"I know you did, but it's pretty bad outside. I just wanted to make sure you were okay." He stepped closer to her and wrapped his hand around her waist. He looked at the clerk. "Hi again," he said. "I don't think I've seen you again since we checked in. I'm Adam."

The clerk nodded. "Ed Danner, and I remember. I was just telling her that if she wanted a tour of the town, I could give her one."

"Baby, do you think you'd have time?" Edge asked Kat. "I have to do all my training, and you know I like you with me."

Kat nodded. "You're right. I wouldn't have the time."

Ed's face was reading blank but his eyes read annoyance. "She your manager or something?"

Edge shook his head. "She's my girlfriend, my better half, so to speak," he said with a smile.

"I see," he said. A thought occurred to him. "She's your girlfriend and she's staying with Mr. Calaway?"

Kat thought for a moment the plan had failed but Edge thought quickly. He shook his head. "I had an infection a few days before we got here. The doctor told me it might be contagious, so she's staying with him."

"But you'll be cleared soon won't you honey?" Kat asked sweetly, looking up at him.

Edge smiled and kissed the top of her head. "Of course I will." He turned back to the clerk. "Well it was nice talking to you, but we really should get back to my room."

Ed's face and eyes had both gone totally empty. It looked like he was gritting his teeth.

"Bye," Kat said, waving a hand to him.

The two left the office and headed back to Edge's room. The second they closed the door, they both burst out laughing.

"That was hilarious," Kat laughed. "Baby? He looked so annoyed!"

He grinned. "I know. You made it worse when you called me honey."

"Oh man I thought I was done for when he asked why I was in Mark's room. That was some pretty quick thinking."

"It was a logical excuse. When one of us gets sick, we get put in a room away from the other guys to stop the spread. It's happened to me before." He shrugged. "But I think that guy's gonna have it out for me now. Did you see the look he shot me when I kissed your hair?"

"How could I miss it? If looks could kill, you'd be six feet under by now." She laughed. "That was icing on the cake though."

He grinned. "I'm glad you think so. I was going to kiss you, but I figured that would be overkill. Besides if I had kissed you for real, then you might have backed off in surprise, and that would defeat the purpose."

She laughed. "Very true."

"Or you might have decked me on the spot," he said with a laugh.

"Maybe," she said. "Or maybe not," she added with a smirk.

He raised an eyebrow. "Really now?"

She grinned playfully. "That's for me to know."

"And me to find out?"

She smiled but said nothing. She glanced at the clock. "I'd probably better go check on Mark."

He nodded. "Yea, don't forget the ginger ale," he said handing her the bottle.

Kat stood up from the table and Edge walked with her to the door.

"Thanks for being my pretend boyfriend," she said smiling.

He shook his head. "You don't have to thank me; it was funny as hell ticking that guy off."

She laughed. "That it was. I'll see you tomorrow I guess."

He nodded. "Try not to get hit by lightning baby," he said with a grin.

"I won't honey," she answered with a wink as she stepped out.

Kat made her way back to Mark's room laughing to herself. Once she got there she quietly went into the room. She didn't want to wake Mark up.

She closed the door behind her and silently crossed the room, setting the ginger ale down on the table. She walked over to the bed and looked at Mark. He looked like he was sleeping peacefully. She guessed the medicine had done its job. She was about to step away when she noticed the pill bottle on the bed next to him.

She shrugged and reached across him to move it. She picked up the bottle and was withdrawing her hand, when all of a sudden he grabbed her wrist.

"Whoa!" she exclaimed.

His eyes opened and he looked at her groggily. He blinked a few times and then, seeing her, released her wrist.

"Sorry about that angel," he said sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "I felt something moving. I guess it was just reflex."

Kat nodded. "You almost gave me a heart attack," she said with a laugh.

He smiled at her and then reached for the water on the nightstand.

"I got you ginger ale," she said, passing him the bottle. "I figured it might be better."

He took a sip and nodded. "Thank you."

"How do you feel?"

"Not too bad," he said. "Not all that great either, but my stomach doesn't feel so horrible anymore."

"That's good. The medicine is working. Hmm do you think you could manage to eat? There's food on the table."

He shrugged. "I don't know how it'll go down, but I'm hungry." He moved to get up and she pushed him back again.

"I'll get it. You relax."

Mark chuckled. "Yes nurse."

She grinned at him and got the food. As luck would have it, she had picked up a container of dumpling soup.

"Here, it's soup, and it's still warm. This shouldn't make you feel sick." She handed it to him with a spoon.

He looked at the soup and stirred it.

"Problem?" she asked.

He shook his head. "No, but the more I look at it, the less I want to eat."

"Then don't look at it, just eat it. You said you were hungry. Don't make me force feed you," she said teasingly.

He laughed. "Somehow I get the feeling that you would." He ate a spoonful.

"You know it," she said with a grin.

"Was I asleep a long time?" he asked.

She shook her head. "Not too long, maybe an hour?"

"You were out getting the soda the whole time?"

She shook her head. "Not exactly. I went to get the soda, and the desk clerk was freaking me out."

"How so?" he asked.

"Well he knew my name, and he was asking me questions. It was just very awkward, and kind of creepy."

Mark laughed. "I told you the man looked like a born serial killer."

"He asked me if we were a couple too," she said.

He raised an eyebrow. "And you said?"

"I said no, that I was just sharing the room with you."

Mark shook his head. "You should have told him yes."

"That's what Adam told me."

"Adam?"

"Yea. When I left the office I ran into him. I went to his room for a while, and I told him about the clerk. He said the same thing, that I should have said yes. He said then the clerk would've left me alone."

"Maybe that boy does have a brain after all," he said with a laugh.

Kat laughed too. "He came up with a little scheme so that the clerk wouldn't bother me."

"Oh?"

She nodded and proceeded to tell Mark about how he had pretended to be her boyfriend.

"That was pretty smart," he said when she was finished. "Let's just hope the clerk's not as crazy as he looks. He might not like Adam too much after that."

Kat nodded. "Yea." Her eyes narrowed. "You're not eating," she said raising an eyebrow.

He pretended to groan. "Oh brother."

"Eat the soup; you'll get even more sick if you don't eat. I wasn't joking about that force feeding thing either," she said.

"Alright alright, I'm eating," he said sticking another spoonful in his mouth.

She grinned. "That's better."

Just then Taker's phone started to ring. They were both startled by the sudden sound.

"It's my phone," he said. "It's on the dresser. Answer it for me. Tell whoever it is I'm not available." He shook his head. "I'm not in the mood to deal with people."

Kat laughed and picked up his phone. "Hello?"

"Hello, is Mr. Calaway there?"

"No, he's not available at the moment. Can I take a message?"

"Yes, this is WWE management. Can you please relay to him that the problem has been fixed? He'll understand what I mean. Tell him that they need to be in Dallas in two days."

"Of course," Kat said. "Anything else?"

"That's it. Have a nice evening."

"Okay then, bye." Kat hung up the phone and went back to Mark. She sat on the edge of the bed next to him.

"Who was it?" he asked.

"Your management apparently. He said to tell you they fixed the problem, and that you guys have to be in Dallas in two days."

"Two days? Hmm, from here to Dallas is about an eight and a half hour drive. We'd have enough time."

"That's good," Kat said yawning. She stretched. "I guess I'm more tired than I thought," she said with a smile.

"You and me both angel," Mark said. "I think I'm just about ready to pass out. You didn't slip anything in the soup did you?"

Kat laughed. "No, don't worry, I didn't slip you anything." She stood up from the bed and grabbed her pajamas. She went into the bathroom and changed. When she came back out, the room was dark except for the table lamp on the nightstand.

She slipped into the other side of the bed. "Goodnight," she said.

"Night," he answered. He flipped off the lamp, and both soon fell asleep.

When Kat woke up the next morning, she found the bed beside her empty. She got up and took a quick shower. She dressed and stepped outside. It was bright and sunny, and the day reflected nothing of the storm that had happened the night before. She didn't see any of the guys outside, so she headed to Shawn's room.

She knocked on the door, but no one answered. She decided to try Randy and John's room. She knocked on their door and John answered it.

"Morning," she said. "Where is everybody?" she asked stepping into the room.

"Taker and Shawn went on some kinda errand. I'm not sure what. Ted, Cody and Adam went to the grocery store to get food for the drive. I think Randy's in the office stocking up on maps. He said he doesn't trust me," John said with a laugh.

"You guys are going soon?" Kat asked.

He nodded. "In about an hour."

Kat sat down on the bed. So they were leaving, she thought. Just then the door opened and Randy walked in.

"I got the maps John," he said. "Oh hi," he said noticing Kat. He sat next to her. "Something wrong?" he asked.

She shook her head. "It's nothing. It's just that you guys are leaving, and I'll be here by myself."

Randy looked at John. "She doesn't know?"

"Taker said she was still asleep when he left," John answered. "So I guess not."

"I don't know what?" Kat asked.

Randy turned back to her. "Shawn and Taker said that since we're leaving and your car's not fixed, that you should come with us. You said you were driving to Texas anyway."

"You're kidding?" she asked.

"No I'm not. Unless you don't want to come with us?" he asked with a grin.

"Of course I'll come with you guys!" she said laughing. "I'm just surprised that you guys don't mind."

"Listen, when Shawn and Taker both agree on an idea we usually go along with it. And besides, you're fun," John said. "None of us shut Randy up like you."

"You'd better zip it before I shut you up permanently John," Randy said.

"Cool it hothead," Kat said with a smile. "What happened to rainbows and butterflies?"

Randy laughed. "He knows I don't mean it, right John?"

"Whatever you say man."

A thought occurred to Kat. "So all of the guys are coming? Isn't it going to be kind of crowded for an eight hour drive in two cars?"

Randy nodded. "It would be, but Ted picked up another rental this morning. Between all our bags, we need the extra space. Him and Cody are probably going to be driving the new rental. Cody always makes Ted crazy when they're together. It cracks me up."

Kat laughed. "Poor Ted."

"Eh, they're well suited," Randy said shrugging. He looked at John. "Did you get all of your stuff and put it in the truck? We're not making any return trips."

Cena nodded. "Yea, I already checked all the drawers for clothes and everything. We're all set. We just have to wait for everybody else to come back."

A few minutes later, Ted knocked on the door. "We got the stuff," he said walking in. Cody and Edge followed behind him.

"Good," Randy said. "Now we just need Shawn and Taker. Where did they go by the way?"

"No idea," John said. "Taker just said they'd be back in a little while."

"Why don't you guys come pick what you want from the stuff we bought and put it in the truck? Ted asked.

John nodded. "Why don't we all go outside? We can give the keys back to the desk clerk." He looked at Kat. "Except you. Keep your key until Taker comes back."

Kat nodded. The guys went to the car Ted had rented and Randy and John pulled out some of the stuff. There were bags of chips, cookies, and trail mix, basic stuff you would eat on a car trip. Randy put it in John's truck and they all headed to the office to return the keys.

Randy opened the door and they all went inside. "We're checking out today," he said stepping up to the clerk. "We're just returning our keys."

"We should get sodas in here," Cody said to the other guys. "The grocery store didn't have any cold ones."

The guys started using the vending machine. Randy was returning the keys. He turned to Kat. "Tell Adam to come over here. He has to sign out from his room."

She nodded and went and got him. "You've gotta sign out."

He nodded and followed her back to the desk. He checked out of his room and handed over his key.

"How's that infection coming?" the clerk asked him.

Randy looked at Edge in confusion. "Infection?"

"Yea he was telling me about it last night, when he came in looking for his girlfriend." The clerk's voice had a curious tone to it.

Randy looked even more confused. "Girlfriend?"

Edge stepped closer to Kat and put his arm around her waist. "It's just about gone," he said to the clerk. "We should be able to share a room again, don't you think baby?" he asked Kat.

Kat smiled, and kept up with the ruse they had started the night before. Randy and the rest of the guys were lost. "I don't see why not," she said smiling at him sweetly.

The clerk nodded. "Well it's been nice having you all here." He looked at Kat. "You're leaving with them I guess?"

She nodded. "I'll give you my key as soon as Mr. Calaway gets back."

"Alright then."

The guys picked up their sodas and they all went outside.

"Would one of you two lovebirds like to tell us what the hell that was about?" Randy asked.

Kat laughed. "The clerk was freaking me out, so Adam pretended to be my boyfriend last night to scare him off. We were just keeping it up."

Edge grinned. "It worked like a charm."

The rest of the guys laughed. "That explains a lot," John said. "When he put his hand around you, I was like why isn't she smacking him?"

Kat laughed. "Makes it look more convincing don't you think?"

Cody nodded. "I think you really ticked that guy off," he said.

"Good," Edge said. "He's freaky as hell."

"You should have said he was bothering you," Randy said to Kat. "I would've given him a message without pretending to be anything."

Kat smiled. "If I ever need someone punted, you'll be the first to know."

Randy smirked. "Good." He looked out toward the parking lot. "I think Shawn and Taker are back."

"We'll go make sure everything's all set," John said. "Why don't you go get all your stuff from Taker's room?"

Kat nodded and went off to the room. She opened the door and found Mark opening and closing drawers.

"Got everything?" she asked.

He jumped slightly. "Sneaking up on me again?" he asked with a smile.

She grinned. "Just a little. Where were you and Shawn?"

"Shawn came with me to the mechanic's. I'm guessing that you already know that you can come with us?"

She nodded.

"And you're coming?"

She nodded again and smiled. "You sure it's okay?"

"Around here, pretty much whatever I say or Shawn says goes. I figured you'd say yes to coming, so me and Shawn went to the mechanic's. I remembered that you said you left your phone in the car."

"So you guys went to get it? That's really nice of you two."

Mark smiled. "I have your phone and your iPod. They're both dead, but you can use the car charger. There was nothing else in the car right?"

She shook her head. "No, that was it."

He nodded. "Good. So are you ready to go?"

"Who am I going with?"

"You can come with me and Shawn," he answered, picking up a duffel bag. "Your bags are already in my truck."

Kat grinned. "Oh goody," she said.

He laughed. "Come on then."

They walked outside and Taker put his bag in the back of the truck. "Give me your room key," he said. He headed to the office and returned a few minutes later. "Alright, we're ready to go."

A minute later, the rest of the guys came into the parking lot. "Everybody all set?" Taker asked.

They all nodded. "Alright. We're all probably gonna get separated on the road. We're supposed to be staying at the Sun View Hotel in Dallas. There should be a room booked for everybody."

Everyone got into their respective cars and they left the parking lot. Ted and Cody were together. John, Randy and Adam were in John's truck, and Shawn and Kat were with Mark.

"By the way," Kat said as they merged onto the highway. "I wanted to say thank you to the two of you for letting me come."

Shawn smiled. "I'm glad you're coming with us. It'll make the trip a lot more interesting."

.

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Author's Note: Hope you guys liked this chapter! I'll have more coming up soon. Don't forget to review. =)