CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Michelle ran into Stephanie's office, eyes wide. "Raine's in the medic's room!" She announced, breathless from having run from the other side of the massive building. "Jeff found her unconscious in one of the rooms, somebody broke one of her ribs."

Shawn was up already from the table he'd been playing cards at, face darkening. "Who did it?"

"I- I don't know."

Shane was the first one out the door, flying down the hallway, heart pounding in his chest. He skidded to a halt at the exam room door, causing Shawn to collide into him, followed by Paul and Glenn. They all went down, cursing and snapping at each other until they were all vertical.

"Jesus…" Shawn whispered, getting a good look at his daughter. "Baby, are you alright?"

"Hell no, I'm fuckin' pissed!" Raine snapped, wincing as the trainer did the only thing that could be done, wrapped her ribs. "David is fuckin' trying to blackmail me again!" She growled, closing her eyes and gritting her teeth against the pain.

"Raine…" Shane had to forcibly restrain her when she hauled herself off the bed. "Come on, we'll handle it."

Paul and Glenn both nodded, cracking their knuckles at the same time.

"I'm going to rip off his balls and feed them to him." She wasn't making this easy.

"Raine Marie, sit yer ass down right now." Shawn ordered, trying to calm her down, her temper rapidly was going from bad to worse.

"Baby, you have to calm down." Shane pleaded, staring down at her. He exhaled in relief when she just nodded, watching as she sat down. "We'll deal with this, okay? Just… calm down."

"Doc, does she need to go to the ER?"

Larry began to talk until Raine shot him a glare, immediately shaking his head. "No."

"He wants me to stop harassing him. Since when do I ever harass him?" Raine snarled angrily. "Then a fuck, yeah… like I'd go to his ass willingly. Wait, I would… with a goddamn crowbar."

Shawn was trying not to smile. "You know somethin', her temper reminds me of Mark. Maybe they're related."

"All things considered, pops. That is not even remotely funny right now."

"You gotta point, Shawn." Glenn chipped in, blowing a kiss at Raine when she flipped him off. "Love you too, honey."

"No, she's nothing like Mark. NOTHING." Shane emphasized that word, not wanting to hear anything about the Dead Man. Here he was worrying about Raine while these morons were making jokes.

Even in her pain, she couldn't help but hear the anger in his tone. "Look, I'm going to be fine, okay?"

"You'll need bed rest for a minimum of six weeks for that rib to heal properly. Eight would be better." Larry interjected.

"Okay, I lied. I am PISSED."

"She'll do it." Shane suddenly smirked, running a hand down her arm. "I know the perfect place to take you and it's not going to be your father's either." When her eyes widened, he kissed her to shut her up before the words came out. "I'm taking you to my house."

Paul cringed when Shawn turned bright red in the face.

"Now Shawn, don't say something you'll regret later on." Glenn cautioned.

"Is your WIFE moved out?" Shawn exploded.

Shane just rolled his eyes.

***

Four weeks later Shawn was both enjoying not having to keep Raine out of trouble and pissed because every time he tried calling her, he got some bullshit excuse from Shane about her being busy. He was going to beat that snot's ass when they came back, which would be another four weeks instead of the two Raine had been aiming for. He knew by now she would be up and back to normal activity for the most part, just needing the extra time to let everything be a hundred percent.

***

"So, you still have feelings for Rai?"

"No."

Glenn arched an eyebrow. "You sure? It doesn't bother you she's dating Vince's snot nosed son?"

"No."

"Man, come on! We both know you still love her!"

"Glenn," Mark began as he stood up, glaring at his friend. "I'm back with Michelle, alright?"

Glenn's jaw dropped, wondering when in the hell THAT had happened.

***

Raine sat uncomfortably on the couch feeling like if she moved, she would destroy the dress Shane had managed to coax her in. She did not do dresses, just wasn't her. It had been a long eight weeks and she had found out he could be an arrogant, demanding man not used to being denied his way. Of course he was still her sweet Shane, she just discovered pissing him off wasn't a good thing. Tonight was their first night back in eight weeks, thank god, but he had insisted she dress up for it.

Not so cool.

"You look gorgeous in that." Shane beamed proudly, leaning down to kiss her lips. The past eight weeks had been pure bliss. He could honestly see Raine as his wife someday, sighing wistfully just as Stephanie walked in.

"Raine, what are you wearing?" She asked hesitantly.

"Looks like a dress." Paul snorted from behind his wife. "Rai hates dresses."

"Not anymore she doesn't, right baby?"

"Sure." Raine agreed amicably, tugging on the black hem which went a few inches above her knees, the top hugging her curves. "So Steph, do I get to finally get back to work?" She asked, changing the subject as quick as she could, already knowing she would be the receiving end of a lot of comments tonight.

"Shane didn't tell you?" She demanded, looking at her brother who simply waved her off. "He thinks you shouldn't wrestle anymore."

Paul blinked, seeing the anguish filling Raine's eyes and glared at his brother-in-law. "What the hell are you trying to pull, Shane?"

"Look, I love Raine." He said, shooting them both a back off look. "But my image doesn't exactly look good by dating a female wrestler. She belongs by side, nothing more." His tone was final as he looked back down at the paperwork before him. "Isn't that right baby?"

Raine couldn't hide her startled green eyes, looking at Shane like he was crazy. She got up to go tap the desk, getting his attention. "I really don't think so, Shane." She said slowly. "I like wrestling. What's wrong with you dating a wrestler?"

Paul decided now would be a good time to pull Stephanie from the room. "Does Shawn know about this?" He demanded, ready to go let the man know so he could knock some sense into both Shane and Raine.

"Paul, stay out of this." She said softly, sighing when he walked off. "You two better figure this out, Shawn's coming."

Shane nodded at his sister though his attention was on Raine. "You're too beautiful to be getting knocked around out there. Look what happened to you with David, Raine. Do you honestly want that to keep happening?" Hew demanded softly, taking her by the hand and frowned when she ripped it away. "If you love me as much as you say you do, you'll give it up. You can't have both, Raine. It's me or your career."

Considering that, Raine knew she had to make a choice. "You know I love you." She murmured, she loved wrestling too but she would give it up for him and their future. She smiled when he smiled, returning the kisses he gave her and sighed. "I better go do damage control with my dad before Paul runs his mouth."

Shane grinned, glad she was agreeing with him on this. "Do you want me to go with you?" He offered gently, knowing Shawn wasn't going to take this well. When she shook her head, he nodded. "Okay."

***

"This is absolutely fucking ridiculous!" Paul was livid, rubbing his temples as he paced back and forth. "How could he ask Rai to give up her dream? She's been busting her ass for this!" He had to stop pacing in order to restrain Shawn when Raine walked in. "Let her talk."

Raine stared at her adopted father out of narrowed eyes, knowing he was ready to jump down her throat. Hell, she wasn't in the best of moods herself, not thrilled with the idea of no longer wrestling. If that's what it took however to strengthen her relationship with Shane, then she would do it. "Shawn, there's nothing you can say that's going to change my mind."

"You have to finish out the month. You can end your career at the PPV if yer set on being a damn fool." Shawn said sternly. "Steph can write you out but you're finishing the month Raine."

"Fine."

"Your quitting?" Mark asked from the doorway, his own eyes wide.

"Yeah, cause she's a moron." Paul snapped, ignoring Stephanie when she stood up. He shook her away from him. "What Steph? It's the damn truth and we all know it!"

"Paul, you have to calm down."

"The hell I do!"

"Paul, no offense, but if Raine doesn't wanna wrestle anymore than who are you to tell her otherwise?"

Raine blinked, wondering if she actually heard Mark supporting her.

"Because SHANE doesn't want her to be a wrestler any fucking more." Shawn snapped. "It's not her deciding, it's Shane deciding for her!"

"Shawn, calm down man, calm down." Mark was trying to be the voice of reason, glancing at Raine. He raised a slow eyebrow, realizing for the first time that she was in a dress, that wasn't normal. "This is her decision, with or without him. Ain't nobody gonna change it. Hell, she wants to be by Shane's side, then fuck it. Maybe she's just not cut out to be a wrestler."

Paul cringed along with his wife at that, both ready for Raine to lash out.

Raine stared at Mark for a long hard moment, finally just nodding, knowing this would be the best way to end this conversation. "You're probably right, Mark." She said flatly. "I'm so bad at it I wind up bringing drama to both sides of the screen."

Shawn couldn't even deny the drama bit, though he did balk at the rest. "Not cut out? How many women do you know that can roll up Batista?"

"None anymore." She said quietly, walking from the room.

Mark sighed heavily. He hadn't really meant it but he wasn't going to let Shawn or Paul badger her into sticking with something she obviously didn't want anymore. "It takes a certain kind of person to have the passion and dedication for this job and you know it, Shawn." Mark refused to feel bad for what he said, especially when Shawn looked at him with anger filled eyes. "I thought sayin' that might light a fire under her ass, but she's got her mind made up. Steph, I want to talk to ya about my script, darlin'."

"Certainly. Everyone out." She said softly, ushering everyone but him from the room. "Mark, you didn't mean what you said."

"Of course not, but I'm not fighting for her to change her mind either. She hates me enough as it is."

***

Raine headed back to Shane's makeshift office, finally halting to sit on a table alongside a hallway wall. She had to take off the black high heels she wore, unable to walk in them anymore, she was going to sprain something. Running her fingers through her short hair, she sighed. It was hard to believe Mark had just said that to her but then again, he was probably right.

"Rai?"

She looked up to find Shane coming down the hallway, a frown on his face as he stared at her bare feet.

"Why aren't you wearing shoes, babe?"

"Because they're uncomfortable."

Paul appeared at her side, flashing her a quick smile before reaching out to grab Shane by the front of his shirt. "Let's chat." He tossed his in-law into the nearest empty room, slamming the door behind him. 'SHUT UP!" He roared when Shane opened his mouth. "It's my turn now." Paul cracked his knuckles dangerously, hazel eyes filled with anger. "What the fuck do you think you're pulling with Raine?"

"I don't want to date a wrestler, I want a woman." Shane stated simply, shrugging it off as if it wasn't a big deal.

"You're destroying her you piece of shit!"

She could hear Paul bellowing and groaned, tempted to go in and give him a piece of her mind but Shane was a big boy after all. If he didn't want to date a wrestler then he sure wouldn't appreciate that wrestler coming to save his ass.

Almost smirking at the thought, she hopped off the table, leaving the shoes there and headed for the cafeteria. Some first night back this was turning out to be.

***

Mark was now sitting at a table with his sister, listening as she filled him in all about her relationship with Matt, really not wanting to hear all this. "Kaleigh, please, I don't need to know about yer damn sex life." He groaned, burying his face in his hands.

"Oh please, you're just jealous that I HAVE one!" She replied with a wicked smirk. "Hey, how bout-" Kaleigh rolled her eyes when he stood up, spotting Raine walking by. "Yeah, you don't care anymore my ass." She snorted.

"Don't make me hurt you." Mark muttered, walking up behind the woman who had turned him down, repeatedly. "Darlin', I'm sorry bout what I said in Steph's office, I was outta line."

She took her time in getting a bottle of water, slowly turning to look up at him, twisting off the cap. "Don't be, it's probably true." Raine said quietly, taking a quick sip. "But at the same time… Shane was right. I was out for eight weeks because David punched me ONCE. Maybe I'm not good enough to be a wrestler." Shrugging, Raine toyed with a fold of her dress, looking down at the floor for a long moment. "It's good to see you're back." It was a blatant change of subject.

He stared down at her head, wishing she would look up but then afraid if she did. Would that fire he had grown to love still be there? "Thanks. Listen," Obviously she wasn't going to meet his eyes. "I was outta line the last time we saw each other. I don't want you hatin' me, Raine. You weren't ever interested in me and you did make it clear, repeatedly." He was admitting this and only the one time, never again. "If you ever need someone to talk to Raine, you already know you can come to me. And darlin', you do have what it takes to make it in that ring, but you have to make this-" He reached out to tap directly over her heart, watching as she finally looked up. "believe it or it's not even worth it."