Chapter 23

Kane waited patiently behind the curtains, hearing his music and nodded once, walking out past the curtains, Jaxine at his side. He didn't look anywhere, but the ring, climbing over the top rope and stepping in, helping her through the ropes before standing in the middle of the ring, raising his arms high above his head. A second later flames shot out of all four turnbuckles.

Jaxine cringed, but didn't jump, knowing she'd have to get used to that again. She patted his chest gently with her hand before walking over and stepping out of the ring under the second rope, jumping down with ease and leaned against the ring apron as X-Pac's music hit.

"Well King, I've received word that Jaxine and Stone Cold are officially done."

"Puppies are single again, JR! WOOHOO!"

Jaxine heard that and snapped her head to the side, glaring daggers back at King, who instantly sank back in his chair.

"Jaxine is a respectful woman who should be treated as such." He squeaked out, causing JR to start chuckling.

Jaxine smirked before turning her attention back on the match, scowling when X-Pac attacked Kane from behind, ready to jump in at a moment's notice if needed.

Kane didn't need the help. He all too easily dominated X-Pac, making it look almost like he was playing with the young man, which he was. He froze when he seen Tori on the stage, cocking his head in confusion, wondering what she was doing and started for the ropes. A second later he was flying over them as X-Pac delivered a spinning heel kick to his back.

Jaxine's eyes narrowed to slits when she seen Tori run down the ramp way, seeing a chair in her hand. "Oh fuck that!" She growled and ran around the ring, tackling the bitch to the arena floor and started pounding her head into it. "DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HIM!" She shrieked, slapping her across the face, her long nails leaving gouges in the woman's face and smirked wickedly, amber eyes flashing.

She cried out when X-Pac grabbed her by the hair from behind, lifting her up and brought her foot back, mule kicking him. He went down in an instance just as Kane got to his feet. She nodded at him, letting him know she would take care of Tori before ripping the bitch up by her bleach blonde hair and dragged her over to the side of the ring. Every time she tried getting away, Jaxine would yank harder on her hair.

There was no time to feel pain. Anguish, heartache, all of it would wait. He would have vengeance first, sorrow later. Jaxine helping him was an added bonus, as she had some pent up aggression of her own she needed to work out. He dragged X-Pac to the middle of the ring and tombstoned him straight to hell. After receiving the three count, he silently asked Jaxine to hand Tori over to him.

Jaxine eyes glittered almost maliciously as she yanked Tori by her hair, dragging her to the ring and threw her inside before sliding in after her. "You think it's okay to break Kane's heart, you dirty bitch?" Jaxine demanded, not caring who heard her. "You're going to really feel what pain is about now." She promised wickedly before tossing Tori into Kane's clutches, standing back, looking almost satanic as she watched Kane have his revenge. She was putting everyone on notice with this demonstration that she was here to protect Kane and vice versa. Nobody would mess with them, including the Undertaker and his Ministry of Darkness.

Kane performed the tombstone on Tori as well, which would lead to her new nickname. Tombstone Tori, which wasn't flattering when people would associate it with her getting her brains shaken. Disgusted, he rolled out of the ring, taking Jaxine by the hand and raising it into the air, fire jetting from the turnbuckles as he backed up the ramp way, still holding her hand, breathing heavily under his mask.

Jaxine was smiling as she looked back at Tori in the ring, snorted, and turned back around as she walked up the ramp way with Kane. She knew he was heartbroken and that he truly loved Tori, but that bitch wasn't good enough for him and Jaxine knew that. She could smell the rat a mile away, but never said anything because she cared too much for Kane to hurt him. Sometimes, a person had to find out and be betrayed to learn and work through it. She sighed, knowing Kane would want to be alone tonight, but she would be there if he needed to talk to her about it.

Once backstage he dropped her hand. It registered in his tortured mind that the Undertaker hadn't harassed them in any form so far and was quietly grateful for small gifts. "I need a minute alone." He whispered, gesturing for her to go to the dressing room, needing the solitude of the basement to scream and vent where no one would hear him.

"Take your time, sweetie." She murmured so only he could hear her, touching his chest before walking down the hallway, shaking her head. She hadn't expected anything less from Tori, that stupid bitch. She sighed and walked inside Kane's locker room, taking her hair down and fluffed it out a little before walking over to her bag. Poor Kane. She wanted to help him, but knew the only thing that would help was time. Time healed all wounds after all.

"Did you know she had been seeing X-Pac behind Kane's back ever since the second day she began dating Kane?" The Undertaker asked conversationally from behind her, leaning in the doorway, arms folded over his chest. "How he managed to put up with her is beyond me. I'm quite surprised it took him this long to tombstone her."

Jaxine closed her eyes when she heard his voice behind her, not turning around, and walked over to her bag to place the jewelry in it that she'd worn. "What do you want Undertaker?" She knew it was a ridiculous question and already knew the answer. She honestly didn't know what to say to him though as she took her brush out and ran it through, the somewhat black curly tresses resting against her back delicately.

"You and Austin are no longer engaged, I assume it was you who ended that little...relationship. Tonight seems to be a horrible night all around for love, doesn't it?" He watched her doing her best to pretend he wasn't there. "And now you're back with Kane, making your rounds again?"

"Kane is like a brother to me and I love him as such. I don't know what he feels toward me, but he was there for me last night after I left Steve. He's always been there for me...and he offered me my job back as his valet. If there's one person on this planet I would want to walk down to the ring with, it's him." She slowly turned around, her black hair framing her face, amber eyes calm, cool and collected. "We protect each other."

He stroked his goatee thoughtfully, green eyes boring into hers. "From what?" He asked finally, moving from his leaning position to walk into the room, kicking the door closed behind him with the heel of his foot. He knew Kane would be gone for quite some time to vent his anger and heartache out in the basement.

"From anyone who tries hurting us." She slowly took a step back from him, closing her eyes momentarily when the door shut, and opened them to lock eyes with 'Taker again. She was still exhausted from her emotional ordeal with Austin and didn't feel like dealing with him right now. "'Taker, you need to leave." It was pointless and she knew it, wishing Kane would come back soon. Though she had to learn how to stand on her own two feet against this man, this monster, who had somehow managed to worm his way into her heart without her realizing it.

Instead of what she was expecting, he nodded. "You're right, I have a McMahon to seduce." He said conversationally, turning around and walking from the room, leaving her there with her thoughts.

Kane would be several more minutes as he was currently busy destroying the basement's boiler room.

Her eyes widened when she heard that and shook her head, not believing 'Taker was going to go through with it. "Monster." She whispered heartbrokenly, feeling the chills run throughout her body, and walked over to her bag to pull her cell phone out, dialing a number. "Shane, it's Jaxine. He's coming for Stephanie. You have to protect her."

"Thank you Jaxine, when did he tell you?"

"Just now, he said he had a McMahon to seduce. Protect her at all costs." She ordered and hung up, raking a hand through her hair and felt the tears burn her eyes.

That was easier said then done. 'Taker had been counting on Jaxine's ultimate weakness. She was playing the heroine of everyone's life, but her own. How often had she saved or protected someone only to wind up inadvertently hurting herself? Stephanie was currently holed up in a hotel suite. He wasn't surprised when Mideon called to say she was being moved. He gave the one word order.

"He has her!" Shane shouted in the phone as soon as Jaxine answered it, trembling from head to toe while Vince was ranting in the background.

"Damn it!" Jaxine cursed and sank down on the couch, popping her foot up and down, knowing she had to do something. That precious child was about to be married to the Undertaker, a demon! "She's only nineteen." She whispered, dropping her head.

"Jaxine, you have to do something! He has my baby sister!"

"What do you expect ME to do, Shane?"

"Give yourself to him in exchange to save my sister!"

She swallowed hard, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I can't, I'm sorry." She hung up and buried her face in her hands.

~!~

He wasn't seen or heard from for the entire weekend, busy tormenting Stephanie. He didn't touch the girl, but he made sure Shane and Vince thought he had. Stephanie herself was kept in a small bedroom with adjacent bathroom, had regular meals that she refused to touch and daily sessions screaming at the Undertaker and then crying. He enjoyed sending photos of her tears to the McMahons.

Jaxine ignored the calls from the McMahon family, deciding that it wasn't her problem. She had to focus on getting her own life back on track and walked with Kane down to the gorilla position. He was facing Bradshaw from the Ministry and it was Monday Night Raw. Her outfit consisted of a long black skirt that went to her knees with a black corset that laced up the front; she'd gotten accustomed to them. She also delved in wearing the color black, deciding her life was in mourning ever since she'd left Steve. She didn't understand what was going on anymore as she followed Kane down the ramp way and the ring. When he lifted the ropes for her, she just declined with a sad smile and walked over to stand at ringside, her usual spot, right in front of the announcer's table.

Kane's head turned to follow her, sighing under his mask and moved to stand in the middle of the ring, automatically going through his normal motions. It was like Jaxine was merely existing because she had no choice. He wondered if it was Steve or his brother that was eating away at her. Or maybe some strange mixture of both. He knew the McMahons had been bugging her constantly, but she kept turning them down. That was the smartest thing she could have done in his opinion.

Ten minutes later, the match ended with Kane choke slamming Bradshaw, pinning him for the victory. She simply clapped her hands with a smile on her face, though it didn't reach her eyes and walked over to wait for him to get out of the ring. Surprisingly, no Ministry came out to help their team mate and Jaxine started feeling that familiar chill in the air. She quickly rushed up the ramp way, not waiting for Kane and went through the curtain. Her body collided with another, sending her sprawling to the floor and sighed upon seeing it was Steve.

"Sorry." She mumbled before taking off down the hallway, that feeling only growing stronger.

Steve could only watch her go, the love of his life, knowing she didn't want anything to do with him, pain filling his blue eyes. He shoved it aside when Kane appeared, refusing to let the Big Red Machine see his anguish. "She doin' alright?" He asked with seeming indifference.

Kane nodded, knowing Steve did care even if he would like everyone to think he didn't. Of course she was fine, physically. Emotionally she was crumbling.