Chapter 26

A small smile lit her face when Rajani's eyes locked on Taker, looking at him like he was her favorite person in the world. Truthfully, he was. Rajani could talk to him about anything and he never judged her, just gave his thoughts and advice. She didn't smile at her brother, Stephanie, not even John, but Taker she did, not even realizing it.

"Hey Deadman." She whispered, moving her hand to sit up a little on the bed and leaned back after putting another pillow behind her head.

Stephanie blinked at that and whirled around, her eyes widening at the sight of Taker just filling the doorway with his imposing presence. He looked...calm, very calm, and she knew that that was always a bad sign. The man was pissed and just hiding it for Rajani's sake. Quietly, she stepped out of his way. Both Dwayne and John noticed immediately that she was reacting more to Taker's presence then theirs, both men quietly disgruntled by that fact. It was John who had to move out of the damn way so Taker could have his spot.

"Hey darlin', you look like shit." Taker said, managing a tight smile as he bent down to help her adjust herself.

Rajani shrugged, wincing a little at her throat and knew he wanted to know what everyone else did. Who attacked her? She looked up into his green eyes, glad he wasn't drilling her right away unlike Dwayne tried to. This man had become her protector and a great friend, her best friend, in the short span of three weeks.

"I thought you said-"

Rajani shook her head, cutting her brother off and took the pad of paper before scrawling something else on it. Long story short, traveling with Taker, dating John. Taker is my friend. John is my boyfriend. After Dwayne read it, she handed it over to Taker, but not before scrawling another note on it. I tried telling you earlier outside, sorry. Don't be mad.

All three men were now staring at her like she had lost her mind while Stephanie just looked between them all, chewing her bottom lip nervously. This was definitely not the best time, place or way to be springing this information. She only hoped none of them wanted to talk about it because, in her experience, men wanted to talk about things at the most inopportune times. Taker simply shrugged, it was none of her business, though...if Cena ever stepped a toe out of line, grinning at the thought, he would squish the little bastard like the piss ant he was. John and Dwayne were staring at each other, both men wearing repulsed expressions. Dwayne wondered why his little sister was rooming with Taker, raising a slow black eyebrow. He'd known the man for years, there was reasoning behind it and Dwayne had a sinking feeling that reasoning would lead him to what happened to Rajani.

"Taker..."

"He's protecting me." She whispered, ignoring Stephanie's warning look and swallowed hard, cracking a smile when Taker handed her a glass of water. "Thanks." How was she supposed to tell her brother everything that happened lately in this current condition? "Go ahead, tell him." Rajani permitted, looking up at Taker, knowing he would be able to say it bluntly.

Dwayne looked at Taker expectantly, him and John giving the Deadman their undivided attention.

"Kane's been fucking with her."

That was about as blunt as Taker ever got, but even Stephanie shook her head and turned to facepalm herself.

John arched an eyebrow. "Kane's gone though." He already knew about Kane.

"Jacobs has been doing WHAT exactly?"

"Something very similar to this." Taker gestured at her, the bruises on her throat. "Sending flowers to her hotel rooms, threatening messages and bruised her throat once before, which he got his ass kicked for it by me."

'No he's not.' Rajani wanted to say, but only thought it, tears forming in her eyes as she looked away from both Dwayne and John.

"He is." As far as Stephanie knew anyway. "You were found in John's dressing room, Rajani. Do you remember?"

She nodded, closing her eyes as more tears fell.

"Did you do this, you little punk?" Dwayne couldn't contain himself any longer, glaring hatefully at John.

Stephanie groaned. "No Dwayne, he didn't. He was with Larry the whole time..." John probably didn't want Dwayne knowing that information, but that was the man's only alibi. "Did John attack you, Raja?"

"No." Rajani whispered, almost mouthing it.

This was getting very frustrating. "Raja, who did then? Who attacked you?"

She didn't say a word, never releasing Taker's hand.

"Darlin', you don't have to answer if you don't want to, but you also know what I'm going to say about it. If you don't say who did it, then they're going to do it again. That and, if you don't tell me, how the hell can I kill the bastard?"

Taker was now planning on doing, his green eyes made that very clear. Someone was about to get a visit from the Reaper. Rajani didn't want Taker to get hurt because of her again, but Rajani also didn't want this happening anymore. She was torn on what to do. If she told Taker, he would end up going after Kane again...along with John and Dwayne...3 men against one. Rajani wondered if the monster could take all three of them at once, highly doubting it.

"You already know." Was all she whispered, not even needing to say the name and felt Taker tense, squeezing his hand again. "D-Don't leave yet..." He could wait until she fell asleep, Rajani felt safe when Taker was around. Selfish as that sounded, she didn't care at the moment, trying to calm down.

"What does she mean by that?" Then it dawned on Dwayne, his eyes narrowing to slits. "That son of a-Cena, where the hell are you going, Fruity Pebble?"

Stephanie cringed as John stalked out of Rajani's hospital room, blue eyes wide. "I thought he was gone though..."

"You were wrong apparently."

Pretty much confirming what he already knew, it had been a suspicion until now. Kane wasn't due back yet and no one had even heard or seen him in weeks, let alone tonight. Taker still had known. Not that hearing it made him feel vindicated, it just made him feel horrible for not taking out his ex-best-friend properly the first time. Well, he wouldn't be making that same mistake twice. Kane was officially a dead man walking.

"I'll stay." Taker promised, ignoring Dwayne's demands to know what the hell was going on and the fact that John had taken off.

Rajani was kept overnight for observation and released the following day, Taker being the one to pick her up. John had an autograph signing and Dwayne had a meeting with the current director he was working with on his new movie in Hollywood. Taker had stayed with her the whole night, sleeping on an uncomfortable cot that was three sizes too small for him, keeping Rajani company. Dwayne had stayed until she fell out for the night before heading back to his hotel room. There was only one person allowed to stay with her and Rajani had made her decision obviously.

"I'm fine." Rajani murmured, the swelling having gone down overnight, but she still had to take it easy for the next several days. She could talk, just not as much as normal until some more of the swelling diminished. "Is a wheelchair really necessary?"

Technically, it wasn't. Hospitals loved using the excuse regulation policy, but he had yet to encounter a hospital that enforced it, especially when he was around. Coincidence? Probably not. Taker plucked her right out of the wheel chair and set her on her own two feet, arching an eyebrow down at the nurse who began sputtering about policies.

"Nah darlin', it's not." His eyes narrowed at the nurse. "It's her throat that's injured, not her feet."

"But if something should happen-"

His response was to sweep Rajani right off her feet, one arm under the knees, the other supporting her back. "I think I can handle it, crone."

Rajani giggled very softly, waving three fingers at the bewildered nurse and rested her head against Taker's shoulder. "My hero." She murmured, grinning when he just rolled his eyes down at her.

She wore her Hello Kitty pajamas that Dwayne was kind enough to bring her from their hotel room. Taker had given him the keycard to do it, refusing to leave her side. They arrived outside of the hospital and Taker slowly set her down on her feet in front of their rental car. Taker put their bags in the back while Rajani slid in the passenger seat, buckling up and leaned back, thankful to be out of the hospital.

"First stop is food, I am starving. That hospital food was disgusting."

"Hospital food generally is." Taker snorted, sounding amused. "That's why you sweet-talk the nurses into runnin' down the street to a diner or something for some real sustenance." He smirked at her, shifting the truck into drive. "Of course, sweet-talkin' usually works better when you're me." He was arrogant and didn't hide it, but also used when he was being humorous, like now. "Where to, darlin'? And if you list off a fast food joint, I'm throwin' you out of this truck and you'll wish we brought that wheelchair."

"No you wouldn't." Rajani challenged, merely rolling her eyes when he raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm in the mood for a roast beef sandwich for some reason. So any place that has that, besides Arby's, since you don't want fast food."

They bantered like this back and forth all the time, Rajani found it refreshing. She also found it interesting how she hadn't thought about John in the past twenty-four hours. Though that was due to nearly having her throat crushed, Rajani had been a bit preoccupied.

"Only thing I ask is that we get it to go, don't feel much like being out in public right now."

"Arby's it is then..." Did Arby's count as traditional fast food? "And the ONLY reason..." Taker added in a growl when she got a self-satisfied expression on her face, which was HIS thing. "Is because I want a Jamocha shake." He was secure enough in his manhood to admit that. When she snorted at him, Taker reached across the seat and unfastened her, ignoring Rajani's questioning expression. "Woman, you're going to wind up...pinned to me." He grinned, trapping her in the middle and held her there while she buckled back up, his arm draped around her. "This way I can tickle you every time you decide to get mouthy. I'mma start callin' you Lips."

"This is illegal." She pointed out, looking up at him and wasn't surprised when he just shrugged. Taker was never one to follow authority, he did what he wanted when he wanted. "And Lips, seriously? You can't think of something better to call me?"

Granted, Taker was the only one who called her Jani, which she didn't mind. She groaned when he shook his head and knew she wasn't moving anytime soon, simply snuggling up against him yawning. Her cell phone started going off and Rajani merely took it out, turned it off and tossed it right back in her purse, thankful it was close enough for her to reach.

"You and the damn cell phone..."

That thing never shut off. Taker had already informed her on numerous occasions that she was way too popular for her own good. He lapsed into silence as they located the nearest Arby's, getting their respective food and shakes.

"We're stayin' one more night at the hotel before headin' out in the morning." Taker informed her, not having to do house shows since he wasn't technically a full-time superstar anymore. "Give you a chance to rest up a bit more." Along with more time to plot out the details of what was going to be a brutal, bloody murder.

"Is Stephanie okay with that?" Rajani asked, knowing she still had a job to do and wasn't surprised when Taker informed her it was Stephanie who insisted she rest another day.

As long as it was alright with her boss, Rajani would relax and practically inhaled her first beef and cheddar roast beef sandwich. Her thoughts turned to John, wondering what was going through his mind and Rajani knew eventually she would have to talk to him. Then she wondered what Taker thought about her dating John, chomping on some of her curly fries while they headed back to the hotel. She was almost afraid to even bring it up, almost feeling as though she was cheating on Taker, even though they were just friends. It was still weird.

If she would have asked him outright, Taker would have given her an outright answer. John Cena was an idiot and she could do a hell of a lot better. The man had pursued her for HOW long and with the most horrible lines of all time before she finally caved in. Which brought to mind...what the hell did she see in him? If Taker didn't like Rajani so well, his opinion of her might've lowered. Well, truth in terms of picking guys, he didn't have a high opinion of her taste at all.

Rajani made a mental note to herself never to go to John's dressing room again. Now that they were 'out', there was no reason for the sneaking around. Throughout the night, Rajani told Taker what happened...including what she did to Kane to make him attack her. She hoped she jostled some of the asshole's teeth for what he said to her. Always having a great memory, Rajani made sure not to miss anything, though she didn't remember passing out.

Her last image was of Kane staring into her eyes and mumbling something to her that Rajani honestly hadn't heard. John had texted and called her several times, but Rajani didn't want to be bothered, resting mostly while Taker watched over her like a hawk. Everything she told him, Taker stored away, intending on using it as fuel in the event that he might actually find himself sickened while in the process of ripping Kane apart, piece by bloody piece. He'd just remember all this, remember seeing her on that locker room floor, in the hospital, her bruised throat, the hotel rooms full of flowers...everything she told him about what Kane had done to her, he was going to remember. That would be his incentive to see the murder of Kane through.

"Okay, stop talkin' and rest your throat." Taker ordered finally, settling himself on the bed next to her, laying on his side and propped his elbow on the bed, heading resting in his hand as he looked at her.

Nodding, Rajani simply snuggled up to him while he ordered a movie on pay-per-view, The Expendables, which had one of his best friends in it: Steve Austin. It was a great movie and Taker made her eat popsicles during it like the doctor ordered. Any kind of slushy or ice is what her diet was until her throat healed. She could eat regular food, but it had to be easy to swallow like roast beef. Tiny bites, nothing strenuous. Rajani snuggled up against Taker, refusing to sleep in her own bed right now and didn't say a word, doing as he ordered.

Taker would keep glancing down at her, taking note of the way she was nestled against him, and knew she trusted him completely. He had never cared for someone, in the literal sense of care, like he did her. He protected her, made sure she took care of herself, hell, he was even trying to look out for her emotional well-being! Oh shit, was all he could think, already knowing what his issue was and pushed it away. Younger than him. Brother would definitely hate the very idea. Dating John Cena.

"Darlin', if you want, I'll get you your towel to sleep in." Taker drawled by her ear when he noticed she was beginning to shut her eyes, glad for the distraction.

"I'm not moving." She mumbled, already knowing what he was trying to do and had gotten used to him messing with her. Tonight was no different. "Don't make me move, just for tonight please." Rajani was scared to sleep by herself right now, not ashamed to admit it and rested her hand on top of his chest. "Just tonight." She whispered softly, already falling asleep from exhaustion and the pain killers she'd taken for her throat.

Sighing softly, Taker wiggled his feet together until he had worked off his socks before carefully adjusting their position. Drawing her up against him until her head was resting in the crook of his arm and shoulder, his fingers curled around her shoulder. Because she had some bad days, he would refrain from nipping her anywhere in the morning. Resting his head gently against hers, Taker closed his eyes and let her scent envelope him, eventually lulling him to sleep.