16

Dallas was sitting in the arena near the ring. Oddly enough, when Randy was around, it was the only place she could go for some peace and quiet. He was constantly on the phone, on his computer, or had people around him. But it was Sunday, so technically speaking she was done with his except for turning in his finalized travel plans. He was taking a few days off to go do some promotional work for the action figure line that was coming up, and since he wasn't scheduled for anything else, he wouldn't need an assistant. It was likely one of the public relations people would deal with it, so that was good.

What had made the week really hilarious had been Taker. He had kept his promise – in a roundabout way. He didn't give her attitude. As a matter of fact, Dallas got the distinct impression that he avoided her through the day. And like clockwork, he showed up at eight and asked when she'd been done. And then he'd appear at the time she said and they spent the night together.

At least, that's how it had worked the past two nights. Tonight was looking different already. Taker wasn't wrestling, and she hadn't heard a peep out of him all day. The show would start in about two hours, so that gave her just enough time to hunt Randy down, pry his attention away from his computer for thirty seconds to sign off on the last of his paperwork, and find Craig to turn it all in. More than enough time actually.

When the doors were opened for the public, she was standing near the curtain. That was her usual Sunday night position, and before the first match was over she was joined by Rachel.

"Please, don't let me get stuck with Cena." Rachel crossed her fingers and raised her hands skyward in her usual dramatic fashion. Dallas laughed.

"You are so getting stuck with him. Everybody else took a turn." Dallas said, still grinning. One of the production guys sitting near them overheard.

"Neither one of you is gonna get stuck with Cena next week. He's out filming a part in a movie." He informed them before heading on his way.

"Ah. The bearer of joyful news." Rachel did her version of a happy dance. Dallas just shook her head and peaked through a gap in the curtain as the crowd cheered over something that had happened in the ring.

"Is it time for my vacation yet?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

Rachel giggled. "You still have a few months to go. You made this week a freakin' breeze, for which I am eternally grateful."

"I did?"

"Everything was practically already done. Except for Taker's rental car for today, but that was easy enough."

"Ah. I didn't know he needed a rental today."

"Yup. He wanted to go home for a while, I guess." Rachel shrugged. They were in Houston, so home for Taker was pretty close. "He's done with Raw except for a taped promo, and going back to just Smackdown."

"Isn't he the lucky one?" Dallas asked with a smirk. Taker hadn't mentioned it at all. Which was kind of odd considering how much talking he had wanted to do over the last several days. "That probably won't last too long. Does Craig actually have his shit together this week?"

Rachel shrugged. "I have no idea. I guess…" She trailed off and made a face. Dallas followed the direction of her gaze and saw Lisa, who was flirting her blonde butt off with Cena. "Finally. They'll both get what they deserve." The tone of Rachel's voice cracked Dallas up.

"If she only had one more week to really sink her claws in." Dallas finally said between giggles.

"Ladies…" Craig interrupted them, stepping up behind them as they watched Lisa work. Dallas turned to see him holding out their folders for the next week. "Will should be back with us Tuesday, but it won't be for long. He's transferring over to a road management position."

"Really?" Rachel took her folder, made a face, and opened it as if she expected it to jump up and bite her. Her relieved sigh was enough to tell Dallas that she really hadn't drawn Cena for the upcoming week.

"Really. He'll be working under Michael on a few projects." Craig smirked. "And Dallas, I believe that Vince wanted to schedule a meeting with you tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully this will give you time to get ready." He tapped the folder in her hand. "See you ladies tomorrow." With that, he walked off, heading toward Lisa and Cena. He passed Lisa her folder and moved on without much conversation. Dallas watched Lisa look into her folder, pour expressively, and wrap an arm possessively through Cena's.

"What was Craig talking about? Vince wants to meet with you? It must be big if Vince himself wants a meeting."

"I have no idea." Dallas honestly didn't. She could not recall having a meeting with Vince that did involve the entire backstage staff. The highest up the ladder she had ever spoken was to Jim Ross, and Stephanie. She glanced at her folder, then looked again. "I thought he said Will was back?" She made it a question.

"He did. Why?" Rachel asked.

"Huh." Dallas showed Rachel her folder. Rachel started laughing.

"Oh. I get it. That's why he said you'd have time for your meeting, since Taker isn't even here until Tuesday."

Dallas smirked and thumbed the papers in the folder. "This better all be in order."

"I'm not quite up to your level yet, but I try." Rachel smiled. "Lucky me. I got Glen this week."

That cracked Dallas up again. "How long has it been since you PA'd for him? Three years?"

"Oh. Yeah." Rachel had to think about it. "Time flies, huh? Hey…at least I know what his quirks are."

"Among other things." Dallas muttered, snickering. Rachel elbowed her in the side.

"Ha. You are so funny. I guess I'll go see if he's around, and get out of here." They said their goodbyes and Dallas headed for the locker room where she had stowed her bag. She was going to hit the road as well. She had a long drive ahead of her, all the way to San Antonio. Three hours, give or take. She felt tired just thinking about it.

She made all the way outside before she realized she could not find her keys. "Damn it." Dallas muttered, and checked her pockets, then her bag. She'd had them earlier of course, because she had driven in. And parked. And she'd tucked the key into the back, because she distinctly remembered griping about the zipper getting stuck.

Dallas cursed under her breath and turned to go back inside. She ran nose first into a chest. She looked up, rubbed her nose in irritation, and tried to look annoyed. "Thought you were gone for a day or two?"

"I will be. Looking for this?" Taker jingled her keys. "I sort of borrowed your car for a while."

"You could have asked." Dallas let him put her hand from her nose and stood still while he eyed her critically.

"You'll live, I guess." He bent down and kissed her on the tip of her nose. Dallas only shook her head. He was obviously in one of his moods. "Let's go."

"Go where?"

"Out of here." Taker grinned at grabbed her bag, and then her hand. Dallas followed along behind him willingly enough. "My house, for starters."

"Your house?" Dallas asked as he unlocked her door, and opened it for her. He didn't answer until he'd stowed her bag in the trunk and was settled in the driver's seat.

"Yeah. You know. The place I pay for, and keep all my stuff." He put the car in reverse, backed up, and back into drive before glancing at her. "I suppose I should have asked first…"

"It would have been nice." Dallas laughed. He seemed to relax and realize she wasn't mad about it. She wasn't, really. She hadn't even booked a room for the night yet, so no problem there. "I have a meeting tomorrow at 2." She said, getting comfortable.

"Oh yeah?" Taker smiled. "I'll have you there in plenty of time.

"But it's your day off. I'll get myself there." Dallas pointed out.

"Well, you won't have to because I'll get you there. In fact, we have one little pit stop to make before really hit the road." Taker refused to elaborate. Until they arrived at the airport fifteen minutes later.

"I would have thought you lived close enough to avoid a flight." Dallas said with a laugh. Taker smirked and parked in the rental return lot, and helped gather up Dallas's things from the trunk. She followed him, wondering what he was up to. She had the car until Tuesday, which was when she would be turning it in and getting on a plane.

Taker finally came to a stop next to a large black truck. He tossed her things into the back, and then opened the door to help her in. He grinned and shut the door before disappearing across the lot toward the terminal building. Twenty minutes later he was back with a small envelope. He handed it to her as he slid behind the steering wheel.

"Ok. I get that this is your vehicle." Dallas said, smiling as she opened the envelope. "Only because I was nosy and I looked in the glove box. What's this?"

"Your refund voucher. Since I'll get you to the arena tomorrow afternoon." Taker smirked, rather pleased with himself. Dallas had to laugh.

"So you think that somehow you have outmaneuvered me? You know if you had said 'hey, how about you ditch the car and ride with me' I would have said yes."

"Where's the fun in asking?" Taker was still smiling as he guided the truck from the parking lot.

"So now you're dragging me off to your turf, so to speak. And dare I ask what you have planned?"

"That's classified." Taker pulled onto the highway and reached for her hand.

Dallas smiled. "You'd tell me but then you'd have to kill me."

"I wouldn't necessarily kill you. But there are some things I would rather do than talk about. Especially when I'm driving." He leered at her. Dallas had to laugh. He was in a rare playful mood, and she was not used to it.

And another thing was different as well. Usually when they had ridden together he was quiet and lost in his own thoughts, or playing some weird game of 20 questions in an effort to learn more about her. Now he just chatted about random things. Dallas couldn't figure out his angle. And then she had to laugh at herself for assuming he had one. He presented a very different side of himself in private than he did in public, that was for sure.

"I have a question." Dallas asked after they'd been on the road for a bit. Taker glanced at her and raised an eyebrow.

"Shoot. "

"What did you have to bribe Craig with to get me assigned to you as a PA again?"

Taker snorted. "What makes you think I did?"

"It's a little bit too coincidental. Because if I think about it, technically speaking you would have Will this week. And I probably would have gotten Glen. Rachel would have been up for Randy. And Lisa would still be humping Cena's leg."

Taker laughed at that. "Nobody said master detective is in your job description. I'm impressed."

Dallas sighed. "I am not trying to start an argument here."

"But?"

"But…please don't fuck with my job. Don't go trying to score me special favors or rearrange things to suit you."

"Well for this week, you're gonna deal with it. Craig owed me a favor. I collected. He said it wasn't a big deal because Will needs time with Michael to get trained. If it bugs you, I won't do it again."

"Good."

"Unless you ask me to." Taker amended, smiling at her groan. She did not need to prove to him she wasn't interested in whatever stroke he had at work. She was independent that way he supposed.

"You'd be waiting a long time for that to happen." Dallas said, smiling again. He turned off the highway and soon they were driving through some deserted back roads. "So you live in the middle of nowhere?"

"Pretty much." Taker smirked. "Should be there in a few minutes anyway."

"Ok. Good." Dallas sighed and was content to watch the dark scenery around them as he turned onto the gravel drive that led to his house. There were landscaping lights around so it wasn't completely dark, and she could see that he lived in a big sprawling ranch house that had been added to a few times. "You knock around this place all by yourself?" She asked as he parked and shut the engine off.

"Tonight's the exception." He said with a grin. He got out before she could say anything else. He went around the front of the truck and opened her door, giving her a hand down to the ground. Dallas stretched as he leaned into the back to grab her bags.