Chapter 10

Paul appeared in the doorway, panting and red faced having run all the way from the other side of the arena. Mideon had relayed to him what had happened, though he was sure he hadn't gotten the full details. He could still remember Mideon's suggestive leer as he said ''Taker and your little poppet are getting to know each other better'. Then he had to stop when he seen 'Taker being hauled out on a gurney, praying Grace was alright.

"Daddy!" Grace cried as she ran to him, tackling him with a tight embrace, the sobs overwhelming her as she trembled violently against him.

She was scared to death now, though she had defended herself and hoped she broke something. She heard a snap in Undertaker's shoulder and hoped it was dislocated. That would send the man off the road for a few days at least. She didn't let her father go and dropped to her knees, feeling him hold her up as she buried her face in his neck. This was her daddy and she needed him right now.

"Dear Lord, what happened?" He demanded, holding her tightly, patting Grace on the back soothingly, worry in his eyes as he looked at the other people in the room, all of who looked away apparently not too keen on telling him. "What'd he do?" He whispered his heart dropping to his knees.

"What do you think?"

Through sobs, Grace told her father what she told Larry, having to pull away to stare into his eyes. She seen the rage building in them and sniffled, hugging him again. She felt Steve pull her away from her father and wrapped her arms around his neck, crying her heart out and felt him lift her in his arms, sitting on the bedding, refusing to let him go.

"Steve saved me..." She whispered, watching as her father walked over and shook the man's hand. Grace knew her father was probably going to do something and honestly didn't want to know what it was. She just wanted to go back to the hotel, feeling dirty and disgusting. "H-He lied to me...about leaving me alone..." She sobbed harder. "H-He probably lied about...your condition...too..."

"What condition?" Paul demanded frowning as he realized that's what's Grace was referring too when she called him, asking if he was sick if he would tell her. "This is an all time low, even for him..." He sighed, chewing on his thumbnail nervously.

"So drop him like a bad habit. You don't owe him anything."

Paul just grunted.

"H-He lied to me about that too?" Grace was hysterical now as she slid from Steve's arms, wrapping her arms around herself tightly. "I-I want to go back to the hotel. I want to go back to the hotel NOW." She ordered, both angry and frightened beyond reason. "Daddy, come with me. You can stay in my room tonight." When he hesitated, Grace just hugged him tightly, sniffling and sobbing harder. "Daddy please, I don't want to be alone tonight. I defended myself and probably angered him. I'm afraid he's going to try something else. Please. I want someone to stay with me."

"Um, no, he's not. He's in the county hospital with a dislocated shoulder." Larry spoke up. "Concussion and mild paralysis to the arms as well as a swollen..."

"Sac?"

"Yeah..."

Paul nodded when she asked him to come back with her. "Of course, honey, of course. Calm down. Did you file a sexual harassment claim against him?"

She nodded, sniffling, and turned to face Steve with guilt in her eyes. "I'm sorry about tonight." She whispered, feeling him draw her into his arms, and hugged him tightly before kissing his lips softly. "I'll call you tomorrow after I'm done with my father." She promised, tapping his nose. "We'll do something then." She smiled even through tears as he kissed her again before taking her dad's hand, letting him guide her out of Larry's office.

Paul drove back to the hotel, knowing his daughter was in no condition to be behind a wheel. He froze in pulling on his seat belt when he seen Kane sitting on top of his rental car, sitting Indian style on the hood. He glanced at Grace who was staring at him curiously before clearing his throat, hastily backing up and then out of the lot.

"Who was that?" She asked softly, turning around to stare back at the man that was on the hood, raising a slow eyebrow. When all her father said was Kane, Grace nodded before turning back around and leaned back against the seat, closing her eyes. She could still feel Undertaker's hands on her, his lips...she shuddered and rubbed her arms up and down, trying to get warm. She missed Steve already.

Paul didn't miss the shudder and turned on the heat, knowing it was a very stupid gesture, but...He couldn't think straight. He knew he was going to burn in Hell, oh yes he was and he deserved so much more. "Are you hungry?" He asked softly, having a feeling if she tried eating something it would come right back up. He had never thought the Undertaker would do this, but then again, he could see it a mile away.

"No, I'm not." She whispered, not looking over at him, and squeezed his hand as she stared out the window.

She inhaled the shirt she was wearing and closed her eyes, a smile crossing her lips at Steve's scent. She knew she was slowly falling for him, though Undertaker was going to be a problem. Grace could only hope he left her alone after all the damage she'd done to him tonight and somehow, she doubted it.

"I didn't think so." Paul murmured his mind on 'Taker.

Of course, he wouldn't learn his lesson and move on to his next victim. Grace defending herself would only make her that much more appealing. He inwardly groaned, wondering just what it would take to convince 'Taker to leave her alone. Next time, the Phenom would be expecting an attack and be prepared. Lord have mercy.

~!~

"Wait up!" Ten year old Grace shouted as she rushed from her father's car up to her best friend, Mark, who was currently popping a baseball up and down in the air. They'd been friends since her father started at the funeral home. Grace smiled, wearing a black skirt with a white dress top, her sandy blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail with a black ribbon, black shoes on her feet.

Mark snorted, rolling his green eyes as he waited for her, a baseball cap on his head as he studied her. "You're wearin' a skirt." He said with a sneer. "Girls can't play ball-" He groaned when she caught the ball mid air. "Fine, I take it back. You ready or what?" He turned and hocked a wad of spit, smirking. "Let's see ya try that."

"Eww that's gross!" She groaned, shaking her head with a smile on her face. She glanced to her left, seeing Mark's little seven year old brother, Glen, playing in the sandbox. Of course, he wasn't cool enough to hang with the big kids, though Grace felt bad for him nonetheless. "You are so gross, Mark. Why do I hang out with you again?"

"Because I'm interestin'." He said with a smug smile, glancing to the left as well, rolling his eyes. "Glenie boy's been cryin' again." He said in a loud whisper. "He seen somethin' he didn't like." His face lit up with an idea. "Hey Gracie, how brave are you feelin' today?" He asked, his tone challenging.

"What do you mean?" She asked, sighing as Glen glared at his big brother, shaking her head. "You really should be nicer to your brother, Marcus." She giggled when he growled, knowing how much he hated being called by his full name. "Marcus, Marcus!" She laughed and began running away from him, her ponytail bouncing with every move she made.

"C'mere!" Mark hollered, chasing her, his longer legs quickly catching up and tackled her into the grass, grunting as he landed on her. Mark pinned her down, arms at her sides. "Take it back, Grace, or else!" He threatened, trying not to grin. "Take it back or I'm gonna hock one right in yer mouth." To demonstrate his point, he made a rasping noise in the back of his throat, building a fresh wad of spit.

"No! Don't you dare!" Grace struggled against him, though for an eleven year old boy he was incredibly fast, strong and tall. "Okay, okay I'm sorry!" She was laughing though, staring back into his green eyes, and felt him release her, groaning when she seen the grass stains on her white shirt. "My daddy is gonna kill me when he sees this." She sighed, seeing the smirk on Mark's face, and tackled him to the grass, catching him by surprise. "Now what was that bout bein' brave?" She demanded, her amber eyes shining back at him.

"Marky and Gracie sittin' in a tree..."

"Glen, knock it off."

"K-I-S-S-I-N-G..."

"Glen, if ya don't shut your mouth I'm gonna kick your teeth down your throat." Mark called from his place under his friend, shooting his brother a deadly look. "What teeth ya got anyways, BABY." When Glen had burst into tears and run off, he smirked, looking back up at her with an innocent expression. "What?"

"You are so mean to him!" Grace shouted, standing up and began running after Glen, knowing he was going to tell his parents. She sighed when Mark stopped her and crossed her arms in front of her chest, her lips pursed tightly together. "You gonna tell me about this challenge or what?" She demanded, not believing how much Mark instigated his little brother. Though they were four years apart and Mark was playing the older brother part perfectly. "Don't make me call you Marcus again."

"Call me Marcus again and I'll knock ya down." He threatened, raising a fist before grinning. He whipped off his cap and raked a hand through his short auburn hair. "I want to show ya somethin', if you're not a chicken. Down in the…basement." He whispered that last word, just so nobody would overhear him.

The basement was off limits and Grace knew that, but she also refused to turn down a challenge from Mark. That's why they were best friends. They challenged each other and it made for some exciting times...though when they got caught was an entirely different situation.

"Umm...what exactly do ya wanna show me?" She asked softly, keeping her own voice down, chewing on her bottom lip nervously.

"Why? Scared already?" Mark snorted, taking her by the hand and began dragging her towards the cellar doors, knowing they'd get busted if they tried going through the house. "What do ya think I want to show ya? Glen, go away." He said crossly when he seen his baby brother poking around again.

"I want to come too!"

Mark growled. "This ain't for babies!"

"Mark..." She sighed when Glen stuck his tongue out before going back to play in the sandbox, shaking her head. "Mean big brother." She grumbled, rolling her eyes when he opened the cellar doors, looking down at the dark stairs and took a deep breath. She didn't let go of his hand as she began descending, hoping they didn't get caught, her heart pounding in her small chest.

Mark's own heart was pounding in his chest, though it was with the thrill of what they were about to do. He could feel Grace's hand gripping his tightly and squeezed gently, not looking back at her. Putting a hand to his lips, he halted at the bottom of the stairs. One dim light was on, casting eerie shadows about the room where it didn't reach. He could hear the adults upstairs and smiled at her.

"Ready?"

She smiled back at him, nodding. Grace was incredibly close to Mark, had been ever since she met him when they were younger. He was six and she was five.

"So where is it?" She whispered, hearing the adults as well, not wanting them to overhear them and felt him guide her further into the basement. Grace jumped when she heard something, smacking Mark when he began chuckling. "Not funny." She whispered harshly, seeing even through the darkness his green eyes roll again.

He had to clamp a hand to his mouth to stifle his snorts, guiding her into a small room off the larger one. In this room was a table and on it the adults prepared bodies of the dead for burial. Resting on the table was a sheet covered body. Mark caught Grace before she could back away.

"It's not like it's gonna attack ya." He muttered.

"T-That's a...dead body!" She gasped, shaking her head and began backing away when he pulled her against him, trembling slightly. She had to take a deep breath to calm down, knowing if she ran out of here Mark would never let her live it down. "What now?" She asked hesitantly, not liking the sparkle that suddenly came over the eyes of her best friend.

"Let's look at it." Mark said with a grin. He was a bit hesitant himself, but didn't let her see it, he'd never live it down if she seen he was nervous. Inhaling deeply, he stepped forward and pulled back the cloth, jumping back at the sight of a pair of dead eyes staring at the ceiling. "Holy shit." He cursed, swallowing hard and glanced at her. "Dare ya to touch it."

Amber eyes widened when he said that, shaking her head frantically. "No, are you insane?!" She whispered harshly, hearing footsteps above them. Her eyes suddenly narrowed when she seen that cocky smirk on his face and bit her bottom lip. "You first." She challenged, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "You touch it then I will."

Mark almost growled at her, rolling his eyes dramatically. "Maybe you should play with Glen in the sandbox." He snorted, reaching out and placed a trembling hand on the dead man's forehead, blinking. "He's pretty cold. C'mere." He reached out for her, green eyes amused at the expression on her face. "C'mon Grace, not like he's gonna yell at you."

Grace reluctantly let him guide her over to the dead body, swallowing hard, and felt him behind her as she seen the eyes, shivering. "They need to close those." She muttered. "They're freaky lookin'." When Mark gestured her forward a little, Grace had to take another deep breath so she didn't pass out and hesitantly reached her hand out. Mark did it, she had too, refusing to play with Glen in the sandbox. She was a big girl, she could handle this. She was fearless! Her eyes opened when she touched the forehead and immediately whipped her hand back, a chill running down her back. "There I touched it and it was cold."

"You chicken." He began softly squawking at her, folding his arms under himself and fanning her with his elbows, smirking when she turned red. "Bawk, bawk..." Mark's eyes widened when he heard the basement door open and hurriedly pulled the cloth back over the body, grabbing her hand. "C'mon!" He hissed, dragging her towards the cellar door.

"I am not chicken!" She hissed back at him, feeling him pulling her up the stairs and through the cellar doors, watching as Mark closed them, and turned to face her. "I touched it, I'm not chicken, Marcus." She watched as he turned red and took off, laughing when he lifted her up and spun her around in a circle, before beginning to tickle her. "Marcus stop it!" She broke away from him again and began running again, both of them stopping when her father walked out of the house, telling her it was time to go.

Mark frowned, looking at Paul with a raised eyebrow. "Can't she stay for supper?"

"Not tonight, Gracie, let's go." He said, gesturing for her to hurry up. "Come on, honey."

"I don't like your old man." Mark grumbled.

"Sometimes neither do I. We'll see each other tomorrow though." She smiled and hugged him around the neck, kissing his cheek and laughed when he groaned, wiping it away. "Bye Marcus." She grinned when he growled, taking her father's hand as he lead her away from the funeral home. Glancing back one last time at him, Grace smiled before getting in the car, Mark disappearing from sight.

Mark watched the car disappear from sight, stuffing his hands in his jean pockets, sighing and kicked a rock. He finally turned his attention to his brother, who happened to be playing with HIS baseball. "Hey Glenie...Wanna play a game?" He asked, slowly walking over to his baby brother, beginning to grin.