DISCLAIMER: As much as it breaks my heart to admit it, I do not own anyone or anything connected to Vince McMahon and his awesomeness. I can only claim property rights of OC.
Claire waited impatiently as Hannah walked around to the front of the building. They had arrived 30 minutes early to meet her so-called friend, Gabe. He was willing to let them borrow his studio for a photo session. Claire hadn't had the heart to ask Hannah what kind of favor they now owed. She wasn't sure how far Hannah would go to get what she wanted. She didn't seem like the kind of girl who would take no for an answer.
"Are you sure we're in the right place?" Ted asked as he looked up at the building. The place looked like it had seen better days. It had that deserted warehouse, serial killer movie feel.
Randy shook his head slowly as he looked down at Claire, "Care to answer that one?"
Claire sighed impatiently and glanced down at her watch. It was just after 5:30 A.M. She was so cold she couldn't feel her toes any more, "She said he's on the way."
Ted exchanged a quick glance with Cody before shaking his head. He still wasn't quite sure why he and Cody had gotten out of bed on such a god-forsaken freezing morning to tag along. It's not like anybody was writing their biography. Which was really a shame considering how amazing their rise to fame had been. Claire peeked around the edge of the building and down the long alley, hoping to see the mysterious Gabe appear out of the early morning darkness.
Randy leaned down as he adjusted the collar of Claire's jacket. He spoke softly so that only she could hear, "If he doesn't show in the next ten minutes, we're outta here."
Claire nodded in agreement as she took another look down the alley. Hannah's small frame came to stand beside Claire, "He's always late."
Cody made a noise under his breath that sounded a lot like "bullshit." Randy turned and nailed him with a cold look. Cody glanced at Hannah before turning his attention to the concrete wall of the building. The quiet of the morning was utterly shattered by the throaty purr of a motorcycle. Hannah hopped up in down in place as she watched the dark figure on the motorcycle drew closer. Before the stranger came to a complete stop, Hannah ran over to him and excitedly threw herself at him. He easily swept her into a bear hug. He held her a moment before dropping her back on her feet. Pulling Gabe along behind her, Hannah returned to stand beside Claire.
"Guys, this is Gabe. Gabe, these are the guys."
Randy took a protective step in front of Claire and crossed his arms over his chest, "I'm Randy, that's Ted and this is Cody." He looked the man over with a critical eye, then he added, "This is my Claire."
Claire sucked in a breath as Gabe stepped into the pale yellow light hanging over the door. He was big enough to be on the WWE roster. He was at least as tall as Randy and just as wide. His head was clean shaven and he wore a gauge in his left ear. Gabe nodded and offered his hand to Randy. After a tense moment, Randy shook it. Gabe opened the roll-up door and motioned for them to enter. With a slight jerk of his chin, Randy motioned for Ted and Cody to go ahead before he glanced down at Claire. No way in hell was he letting Claire get more than arm's length away. Randy wasn't impressed by the interior of the building. The walls had been painted a stark white and thick black material hung from rods suspended from the ceiling. He thought it looked like some kind of fabric torture chamber. He kept Claire in his line of vision as he watched Gabe move over to a work table. He pulled off a heavy leather jacket and let it drop onto the table with a thud. Randy wondered if Gabe happened to be packing heat. His narrowed eyes moved over Gabe, noting that the other man had a half-sleeve tattoo on his left arm. Running thru the center of the tattoo were two rows of five stars. Randy noted that only six of the stars were filled in. The remaining four were simple, dark outlines.
Randy's attention was drawn to Hannah as she moved around the room, turning on lights,
"I know it doesn't look like much but it works for what we need."
"What I need is to be back in my bed." If Hannah heard Cody's comment, she didn't show it.
Hannah turned on the last light and moved to Gabe's side. They made an odd couple, Gabe's tall form next to Hannah's petite frame. Randy wondered how they knew each other. He got the sense that they shared a common history. Hannah smiled up at Gabe as he silently handed over a camera. She leaned her shoulder against him as she took the camera. Holding the camera against her shoulder, Hannah turned to Claire, "You're first."
"Me? I thought we were here for Randy."
Hannah laughed and pulled Claire across the room. She lead her over to a stool and motioned for her to sit. Hannah smiled a rather patient smile and waited for Claire to take a seat. After a moment Claire heaved a sigh and hoisted herself onto the stool. Randy leaned back against the work table. His eyes flicked over to Gabe, watching as he loaded film into a camera. Odd that in this age of technology he still used traditional film. Randy had the impression that Gabe was a man who respected his craft. They did have something in common after all.
"Have you known Hannah long?"
Gabe nodded as he closed the film cover, "A while."
Randy arched a brow. Apparently Gabe was a private man of few words. Amazing that they should have so much in common. Gabe turned and leaned against the work table, arms crossed over his chest. He studied Randy with unreadable eyes. After a long moment he motioned towards Randy's arms, "Nice work."
Randy's gaze flicked to Gabe then back to Claire, "You too."
They settled into an uneasy silence. Randy was curious about the stars tattooed on Gabe's arm. He couldn't bring himself to ask about them. If Gabe wanted him to know, he would tell him. Randy knew all too well that sometimes the meaning behind the ink was too personal to put into words. It had been that way when Claire asked about his. Randy let his gaze travel over Claire once again. She was dressed in black slacks and a red cable knit sweater. She looked professional and calm while he, on the other hand, was thinking completely unprofessional thoughts. All he could think about was getting her somewhere private to strip away the layers of clothes. His eyes traveled back up the length of her body and finally settled on her long, graceful fingers which were digging into the red leather seat. He could tell she was uncomfortably perched on the nearly waist high stool. How fitting Randy thought. Claire was finally getting a taste of his world. It was hard to hide any imperfections under the hot glare of studio lights. Every blemish, no matter how small, was magnified. Remarkably, from where Randy stood, Claire's flaws must have been comparatively minor. He watched as Hannah moved around the stool, looking for the best angle.
"Relax, doll, I'm going to make you look like a million bucks." Hannah frowned as she snapped a few quick shots.
"I don't even know why you think I need to do this." Clair grumbled.
"Don't be that way, Claire. The whole world wants to see the face of the most talented writer on the planet."
Randy forced himself to keep a straight face when he heard Claire say, "I look like crap."
From where he stood, Claire had never looked better. She had to glow of a woman that had recently been well loved. It suited her.
"Gabe, Claire doesn't look like crap, does she? Tell her she's hot."
Randy tensed as Gabe stepped away from the table and moved to stand beside Hannah. He would gladly beat Gabe to an unrecognizable pulp if he so much as opened his mouth. Nobody, absolutely, nobody was going to say his woman was hot and live to tell about it. Gabe silently took the camera from Hannah. He backed up a few feet before aiming the lens at Claire.
"The light's wrong. Her skin is too pale for heavy lighting." He gave the camera back to her and moved to the light closest to Claire. He turned the intensity down until it was barely more than a glow. Gabe stepped off to the side as Hannah started snapping photos.
She paused after ten shots and glared.
"Smile."
Claire forced a smile and returned Hannah's glare, "I am smiling."
Exasperated, Hannah turned to Randy, "Randy, make her smile."
Claire's face instantly flushed a light shade of pink as Randy crossed the room to stand in front of Claire. He crossed his arms over his chest so he wouldn't give in to the urge to caress her. His voice was low, full of promise, "If you do what she wants so we can get the hell out of here, I'll get you a present."
Claire looked up into Randy's eyes and knew he was promising so much more. She was impressed, the man was not above bribery to get what he wanted. A slow smile crossed her face, "What kind of present?"
Claire didn't miss the flash of heat in his eyes, "What ever you want."
"She wants diamonds, just like every other woman." Cody's answer came from the far corner of the room where he was sprawled in a bean bag chair, playing a game on his iPhone.
Randy glared at Cody before looking back at Claire. They stared at each other, the pulse of desire moving along her skin. Hannah stepped behind Claire and rested the camera on her shoulder. She looked between the two of them with amusement, "Ask for something you really, REALLY want."
Randy's eyes narrowed as he looked at Hannah, who just flashed him a smile. It took all of his self-control not to laugh. Between the two women in front of him, he didn't stand a chance. Hannah leaned close to Claire and whispered something in her ear. Claire's sudden laughter made Randy suspicious. As soon as they were alone, Claire had some explaining to do. He didn't trust the pair of them as far as he could throw them. Hannah winked at Claire before helping her down from the stool.
She turned to Randy with a smile, "Your turn. You too, Thing 1 and Thing 2." Hannah motioned to where Cody and Ted had settled. Ted smoothed a hand over his jaw as he stood. He was trying so hard not to laugh at Cody's outraged expression.
Cody remained sprawled exactly where he was, "Bite me."
Randy watched with a mix of amusement and dread as Hannah moved to stand in front Cody. She leaned down and snatched his Atlanta Braves baseball cap off. She looked him in the eyes as she settled the cap on her short, dark hair, "As thrilling as it would be to have rabies, I'll pass."
Ted's bark of laughter drew everyone's attention. He was thoroughly enjoying his friend's torture.
"Give it back." Cody reached for his cap only to suddenly unseat himself as the bean bag chair shifted. He landed face first on the floor.
"Cody, quit being an ass. Get over here." Randy forced himself to keep calm as he watched Cody pull himself up from the floor. The boy was pissed. He paused in front of Hannah, something unreadable flashing in his gray eyes, before he moved to stand beside Randy. He continued to glare daggers at Hannah as she grabbed a different camera. Randy stepped in front of the back drop and waited for Ted and Cody to join him. This was already the longest day of his life, and it was just getting started.
***A/N -- What do you think so far? Please review! ***
