Sorry, it's been a while. Life has been manic.

As usual, Lisa kept to her small group of friends backstage, seeking Natalya out as soon as Justin and Wade had gone to the men's locker room. She still felt nervous, still felt like the rumour mill wheels had been turning and everyone was talking about her and looking at her, still felt like Drew had some control, a voice in her head reinforcing everything she had always secretly believed about herself.

"So you spent the week with Wade?" Natalya asked.

Lisa sighed. "Is it that obvious?"

"What, that he makes you happy? Hell yes. When you're together he can't take his eyes off you and you just seem so contented, it's good to see Lise."

"You don't think I'm wrong for moving from Drew to him so quickly then?"

Natalya stared at Lisa like she had three heads, "you're kidding me, right? You and Wade have been a dream couple waiting to happen for as long as I've known you. I don't know what happened with Drew but you two clearly weren't good together. Don't think I didn't hear the screaming rows from your hotel rooms at times. And don't think I didn't see the bruises on your wrists, or the scratches on his neck," she added.

Lisa looked up in shock, "you saw all that?"

"I know we weren't so close then, but yeah, I saw. I've been in that kind of relationship Lise, and I wanted to say something but I didn't. I don't know why. I wish I had. I'm just glad you're out of it now."

"I gave as good as I got, you know. Those rows, yeah they got physical but we always ended up having sex, which would be phenomenal. It was just so screwed up. I see that now, but I still look at myself and think maybe that's the kind of relationship I deserve."

"Thinking like that shows he's still in your head Lisa."

"How do I end it?"

"I wish I knew."

"How did you get away from something like that?" Lisa had known that Natalya had hidden depths, but she was proving to be a loyal and honest friend, someone that Lisa could trust. She'd never had a female friend like that before, and it meant a lot. A few weeks ago she'd never have been so brutally honest with another woman, she'd never really considered that she had someone who she could call a friend. Acquaintance, yes, but never crossing the line to friendship. Now, that had changed.

"Time. Tyson helped me a lot, but I struggled with telling him exactly how things were. I guess I had to confront things in my own head, and with the guy in question. When he acknowledged how fucked up we were that really clicked in my head and made sense. I'd say for you to talk to Drew but I can tell by the look on your face that's not really an option right now." Natalya knew that Lisa wasn't really one for shows of affection with her female colleagues, but she reached out a hand and touched her friend's knee.

"I'm scared of Drew." Lisa found the words tumbling from her mouth. "After I ended the relationship, he touched me up in the locker room and told me I'd always be his. The next day, he forced me to have sex with him in my hotel room. After that, Wade found out and I don't know what he did but Drew hasn't looked at me since. I know he's said something to Wade though and I'm so scared that he'll either do something to me and Wade will kill him, or he'll do something and make me want it like he did before and then Wade will hate me. Or maybe he won't do anything and I'll just end up messing up things in my own head and ruining things anyway. I don't know if I'm more scared of what Drew might do, or losing Wade."

"Oh Lisa." Natayla couldn't think of any reassuring words, she knew Wade well enough to know that what Lisa said was right. He would easily kill anyone who harmed a hair on her head.

"What do I do Nat?"

"Honey does Wade know that you're feeling like this?"

"No, yes, I don't know. He knows I'm scared that he'll do something stupid to Drew, he knows that mine and Drew's relationship was fiery, I can tell him so much but I'm so scared he'll lose it."

"He would move heaven and earth for you. He knows it'll take time."

"Do you think I should talk to Drew?" The question came out of nowhere, but it was one that had been running through Lisa's mind right from the beginning of their conversation.

"If it will let you close things off in your mind, then maybe. Just... don't do it behind Wade's back. That's a recipe for disaster, believe me I know. Be honest with him."

"Thanks for talking to me Nat. I know we've not been close over the years but you're the nearest thing I have to a female friend and I really do appreciate it."

"Any time." The blonde smiled, "you're the best opponent I've had, we have to stick together, right?"

"Absolutely. Now shall we go train and get ready to kick some ass tonight?"

"Hell yes." There was nothing like a good work out to clear the mind, and Lisa and Natalya were in the mood to steal the show.

Wade had been pleased to see Lisa and Natalya getting on. He was glad that Lisa had a female friend to confide in; as much as he wanted to help her, he had only ever solved problems with his fists in the past and that wouldn't be the answer by any stretch of the imagination. When she'd walked out of the locker room with the Canadian she'd looked a lot happier, and for that, he was grateful.

He'd taken out some aggression on a punchbag while avoiding his ever-charming colleagues, who thought it was highly amusing that the tough man Wade Barrett was the subject of gossip and speculation around his love life. Wade had a lot of good friends but he really wasn't in the mood for their good-natured ribbing.

Justin kept an eye out for Drew and aimed to keep Wade well away from him. There was unfinished business, and he wanted to have his say and ensure that Drew kept out of Wade's way as much as possible. When he saw his opportunity, he took it.

"Drew, a word." Justin nodded to an empty locker room and followed the other man inside.

The Scotsman looked at him expectantly, the nonchalance he'd displayed the last time Justin had seen him somewhat dissipated.

"How long are you going to do this to Lisa?" Justin asked bluntly.

"What do you mean?" He looked almost surprised by the question.

"Man, she's fucked up emotionally because of you. Your relationship, I don't even want to know what happened but she's so hurt and I hate to see it." Justin paused slightly to think about what he was going to say, "Drew, if you ever felt anything for her, you'll stop this. I can't stand to see her the way she is at the moment and I know Wade's warned you off and I'm sure you want to wind him up but seriously, do not use her to do it."

"What do you mean she's fucked up emotionally?" Drew seemed preoccupied by that comment. "Lisa's a strong girl, she always has been. She always gave as good as she got. Yeah things got heated but I never did anything she didn't want."

"Are you sure about that? Man, did you ever know her at all? Yes, she's strong, but she's vulnerable, and you took advantage of that. Look, I'm not here to sort things out, I'm just saying, you need to watch your back because Wade will come after you if you hurt her again."

The Scotsman rolled his eyes. "you think I'm scared of him?"

"You should be." Justin instinctively flexed his knuckles. "Think about what I said." He walked out of the room, leaving Drew alone.