Chapter 14

Jaxine was dazed as she looked back at the house, seeing it burst into flames, and bit back a strangled cry as she pressed a hand to her throat. When she looked up at Kane, he simply assured her with his eyes that Undertaker hadn't died before looking over at Steve. Tears of happiness and anguish mix flowed down her cheeks as she snuggled against him, seeing both of them were alive and well, sighing with great relief.

"Steve..." She whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck while he drove, wanting to be as close to him as she possibly could. Though her lips were searing from Taker's kiss and she knew she would soon not forget it.

Steve wrapped a comforting arm around her waist, drawing her closer to him, a half-healed cut visible over his eyebrow. "Kane knew where this place was." He said through gritted teeth, eyes straying to the rearview mirror, half expecting 'Taker to be behind them already.

"That was where our parent's house once stood." Kane said quietly. "Before he burnt it down." It had only seemed fitting to set the newer house on fire.

"Oh Kane, I'm so sorry..." She whispered, never knowing what exactly Undertaker had done, touching his arm and sighed heavily when he flinched away. She scooted over and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close, knowing he needed the comfort right now. She slowly pulled back, sniffling, tears in her eyes. "Thank you, gentle giant." She smiled and kissed his masked cheek before going back over to snuggle against Steve. A frown marred her features when she reached up, brushing her fingertips against his bandage, the tears falling. She had some explaining to do for not listening to him and knew it, but for right now, she was just glad to be back in his arms.

It was a long drive and finally Steve pulled over at a roadside motel, needing to sleep. He knew Jaxine and Kane probably did too. Considering he and Kane had slept a few hours, being beaten unconscious did that too one, and then had immediately started the search for her after coming too. He checked them all in under false names, knowing Jaxine wouldn't mind sharing a room with him. He nodded to Kane before stepping into his room, ushering her inside.

"Are you alright?" He asked her, his eyes scanning the black nightgown she wore.

Jaxine slowly shook her head, for once not being brave, and dropped to her knees as she buried her face in her hands, crying and sobbing her heart out. She felt Steve come up behind her, lifting her up in his arms, and laid her on the bed. She grabbed his hand when he walked away, pulling him into bed with her and snuggled up against him, tears soaking his chest. She just needed to feel loved and comforted right now, she needed him to wrap those arms around her to make her feel safe. No words were spoken as she cried her heart out, her lips trembling from what happened between her and Undertaker. It had ignited her feelings for him that she'd locked away long ago and now she didn't know what to do. She was so confused as she felt Steve rub her back, not even able to look up at him. She'd lied to Undertaker when she said she was in love with him, just to get under his skin. The truth was, she liked Steve a lot, adored him even, but her feelings ran deeper with Undertaker and she didn't understand why.

Kane sat in the middle of his bed, Indian style in just his jeans, his mask laid on the nightstand next to him, hair hiding his face as he contemplated. He knew what he had seen in the Undertaker's bedroom. Jaxine was returning 'Taker's kiss. He was confused. He had taken her away out of instinct, but had he done the right thing?

~!~

The following day, Jaxine was up before Steve due to Kane knocking on their connecting door, knowing he wanted to talk to her about what happened at the house. "Kane, I really don't want to talk about it." She pleaded with him, swallowing hard when he just raised an eyebrow, and walked back inside her and Steve's room, closing the door quietly behind her. She then went to take a shower, needing one desperately.

Steve was up when she came out, her bag sitting between his feet having brought it with him. He'd gone out to the truck to get it while she was in the shower, figuring she wouldn't want to wear that nightgown any longer. He had also changed while she was in there. Tight blue jean shorts and a black tee shirt with 3:16 on it in white lettering. "Feeling better?" He asked gently.

She had a black towel wrapped around her and it was tucked in between her breasts as she nodded, her black hair brushed back as she walked over to grab her bag, feeling him grab her wrist, and looked back into his blue eyes. "Are you alright?" She finally whispered, touching the bandage of his eye, anguish entering her eyes.

How could she love a man who destroyed others and not the one standing right in front of her, who wanted to protect her?

"Yeah, I'm fine." He said, shrugging it off with a slight grin, pulling her so she was standing between his legs. "Jaxine...did he hurt you?" He asked softly, staring up at her, his blue eyes filled with concern. He obviously knew she was going to be quiet and traumatized from the ordeal, he just needed to know.

"No, he didn't." She replied softly and cupped his face in her hands, kissing his lips, and smiled as she pulled back. It wasn't the same as kissing Undertaker and she hated that it wasn't. She wanted that fire and type of passion with Steve, but knew it would never happen. "Where are we going today?" She asked, changing the subject, and grabbed some clothes out of her bag, deciding on a pair of blue jeans and a bluish black tank top. She would change into her outfit when they arrived at Raw, but she had no clue where it was located.

"To an airport and then to Chicago." Steve said, rubbing the back of his neck. "That's where tonight's show will be. You can even stay at your house, how'd that be?" He stood up, gently pulling her back to him, her clothes pressed between them. He leaned down and kissed her this time, wrapping an arm around her waist, the other one stroking her arm.

Jaxine smiled against his lips, loving the sound of sleeping in her bed, and slowly pulled back to run a finger down his chest, her eyes never leaving his. "Only if you stay with me." She laughed when he growled, capturing her lips with his again and dropped her clothes on the floor, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him. The towel was securely around her so she wasn't worried about it dropping, breaking the kiss and hugged him tightly around the neck. "I hope you're not upset with me for not listening to you. I was only trying to protect you and Kane." She said in his ear, her voice like warm honey.

Steve shook his head, blue eyes sparkling. "Nah, I honestly didn't expect anythin' else from you, Jax. That's just the kind of person you are, a woman who'd give up herself to save other people." He pressed his forehead against hers. "I just hope when the time comes, you'll realize sometimes you have to give up the others and save yourself." He whispered softly.

She decided not to comment and pulled him down for another kiss, rubbing the back of his neck, and felt Steve pull apart when they heard a knock from the other room. It was Kane letting them know to get ready to leave. She smiled up at Steve and quickly walked inside the bathroom to change.

A few minutes later, she came out with white tennis shoes on and grabbed her bag, smiling when Steve took it along with her hand, not minding as he guided her out the door and toward the truck. Kane was already waiting as Steve unlocked the door and she was sat between the two men as they headed toward the nearest airport. Kane drummed his fingers on his leg thoughtfully for the entire ride, seeming oblivious when Steve asked him if there was a problem, not realizing he was getting on the other man's nerves. He glanced down at Jaxine several times throughout the drive, glad she couldn't see his face behind the mask, she'd see just how confused he was beginning to feel. Kane did not like being confused. They needed to talk.

Kane wasn't the only one confused as Jaxine sat silently throughout the drive, writing in her notebook. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Taker and instantly opened them again, trying not to do that too often. She would tremble slightly and smiled when Steve put his arm around her, leaning against him, sighing. She could see Kane wanted to talk to her, but she couldn't do it. This was Undertaker's brother, his flesh and blood, and no matter how much she cared for him, she couldn't talk about that kiss. It was between her and Undertaker, nobody else.

At the arena, Kane and Steve were both on high alert, neither feeling a repeat of the other night was in order. Kane disappeared to do his own thing, not one for traveling in packs to begin with and also needing space from Jaxine to finish his internal debate. Steve watched the Big Red Machine go with a grin, his arm around her. "You know, he kinda grows on a person. Must be 'cause he's so damn quiet and easy to get along with."

"I got along with him the first moment we met." Jaxine replied with a smile, leaning against him, wearing a blue denim jean skirt with an Austin 3:16 baby shirt that showed off just a little of her stomach. Not enough to brand her a slut or anything. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail with clear gloss on her lips and blue eyeliner on her eyes, bringing the color out. She had white tennis shoes on her feet so she could make a run for it if necessary. Steve and Kane made her promise to NEVER pull a stunt like that and she grudgingly accepted, knowing they were worried about her. "It's great being home." She purred with a giggle, laughing as Steve started tickling her. "Knock it off Austin!"

"Austin? Since when do you call me, Austin?" He demanded, tickling her even more, laughing when she dropped to the couch, trying to evade him. He grinned playfully at her, kneeling over her and continued the assault on her ribs. "Damn girl, you really are ticklish, aren't ya?" He chuckled, letting up long enough to let her get a breath of fresh air before beginning again.

Jaxine was laughing so hard as she tried shoving him away from her, squirming beneath him, and tapped on his shoulder. "Okay, okay I give in! Uncle!" She giggled more, barely able to breathe and opened her eyes only to stare into his baby blues, smiling and caressed his face with the back of her hand, his lips instantly meeting hers. He was so warm and caring, Jaxine could easily see herself falling in love with him, but she had a roadblock and it was a big one at that. She moaned softly, wrapping her arms around his neck, loving his weight and his sweet kisses.

Why couldn't she just forget 'Taker ever existed and give her heart completely to Steve?

Even though Steve could feel her responding, he could also sense her mind wasn't on him. "Jaxine," He murmured, breaking the kiss to look into her eyes, gently running his fingertips down her face. "What're you thinkin' about honey?" He asked quietly, wishing he could read the thoughts he could see swirling in her amber colored eyes.

"What are we?" She softly asked, staring deeper into his blue eyes, feeling herself beginning to become hypnotized.

A suffering sigh followed when a knock sounded at the door, causing their moment to be interrupted as Steve got off of her and he waited until she was straightened before opening the door. She wasn't surprised to see Kane, but that changed when he extended his hand to her, holding his hand up when Steve came to follow. This was his way of asking her to talk to him alone.

"Hey big man."

"I'll be back." She murmured softly to Steve before being pulled out of the dressing room by the hand, knowing Kane could protect her. Whatever was on the big man's mind, Jaxine had a feeling she wouldn't like it.