A new girl in town Chapter 79

Taker/Kayla

"Kayla hun you were almost there. Open your eyes for me." Taker said.

But it hurts. Kayla thought.

It hurts and I can't...

"I know you must be thirsty Kayla. I have some nice cool water all you have to do is open your eyes." Taker said pouring her some water.

No fair. Kayla thought, wishing she had the strength to tell him what she thought of his deal.

That has to be 'Taker. She realized. And I'm so thirsty...

I'm sitting up I wonder if I open my mouth if I'll still get the water. Kayla thought opening her mouth.

"You never could follow orders properly could you girl." Taker said giving in and giving her the water anyway.

At least it's a start. Taker thought.

Taker stayed with Kayla for a while holding her hand and giving her sips of water even though she wouldn't open her eyes.

"Sir." The nurse said walking up to Taker.

"Yes." Taker replied.

"There is a guy out there who says you need to change places with him 'If you know what's good for you'" she said.

Taker laughed a minute.

"Kayla, Hunter wants to come back shall we let him?" Taker asked.

Hunter? Kayla wondered. Why would he care?

She sighed and nodded slightly, then promptly regretted moving her head at all as the slight movement caused more pain.

"I have to leave first. But he'll be right in." Taker said.

Taker walked to the outer door.

"I left when you wanted you better return the favor." Taker said to Hunter as they exchanged places. "She's in twelve get her to drink."

"Fine." Hunter said, hurrying to room twelve.

Is he coming to finish me off? She wondered. but if he was, 'Taker wouldn't sound like that, would he?

She looks thin. Hunter thought. But she couldn't have lost that much weight in just three days. No it's gotta be the light or something.

Walking over to her he took her hand.

That can't be Hunter touching me. Kayla thought as she felt someone take her hand.

Why would he? He's made it clear he can't stand me. So why is he... wherever here is? She wondered, realizing that she was probably in a hospital.

"Kayla, are you awake?" Hunter asked. "Can you hear me?"

I can't be awake. Kayla thought.

If I were awake, this wouldn't be happening so I must be dreaming. Because there's no way this is real life.

But the beeping couldn't be part of her dream, could it?

She sighed and forced her eyes Open.

"I must be dreaming," she whispered hoarsely.

"'cause you wouldn't be here saying my name like that in real life."

"I wish we'd found you the first time we were looking. Me, Ron and John were looking hard but Cena was practically tapping on walls looking for secret passages and still we didn't find you." Hunter said. "I had to go back."

"Why did you bother?" Kayla asked.

"I thought you wanted me gone."

"Gone from the fed maybe… it was a game see how far I could push." Hunter said. "Gone as in maybe dead was something else entirely."

"I thought was you stalking me," Kayla whispered, as she fought not to cry.

"How do I know it wasn't?" she asked.

"Aside from the fact that I found you? That the evidence the guy left behind will prove it wasn't me? I don't know." Hunter said. "I'm sure there were times when I was alone when things happened and you could say it was me that did them. I can't prove it wasn't."

If they catch this guy and he tells them what I did I won't deny doing the things he says but I never expected those things to lead to a kidnapping. Never in a million years. Hunter thought.

Kayla sighed.

"Honestly, I don't even care any more," she said.

"When whoever it was finds out I survived, they'll try again. That's how this works. Play to win," she added cynically.

"Which is fine," she said after a moment's pause.

"I've fought for my life before; I can do it again."

She wanted to say more but a fit of coughing stopped her before she could start.

Hunter got the glass of water and gave her some.

"That's not how this works." Hunter said. "You have some seriously big people backing you and now they will be watching even more closely than before until this jackass is caught. I just hope for his sake Taker ain't left alone with him. Taker is looking for serious bloodshed."

"If you make me laugh, I'll kill you," Kayla said once she'd had more water.

Then she sobered.

"I hate not having answers. And I hate feeling so... exposed," she admitted, not sure why she was telling him any of this.

"Feel free to laugh any time," she added, wishing that she could take the words back.

If I'm on any drugs, that must be why I'm oversharing. She thought. Drugs and feeling like shit.

"I'm not trying to make you laugh. I really think he means to rip the guy up." Hunter said. "After all you've been through of course you feel exposed. I'm not gonna laugh at you."

Why would I laugh she's been through hell. I helped put her through that hell. Hunter thought.

"Have some more water. Taker said I was supposed to make you drink." Hunter said.

"Thanks," Kayla said once she'd drank a bit more.

"I figured you'd be reveling in the ongoing shit show that's my life," She said.

"The pain and misfortune of others and all that. I didn't think you'd bother sticking around. Figured I'd be a good joke for you and your friends 'cause I can't make sense of why you're really here," she finished, feeling her head start to pound again.

"Not everything is funny. Most stuff. But not everything." Hunter said.

"So going after Kane and J.J. is funny." Kayla said.

"Kane is business." Hunter said.

"What about me?" Kayla asked.

Just then Hunter's phone went off and he pulled it out.

"How the hell did Taker get my number." He said.

I wonder how long he's had my number? Hunter thought.

"Taker wants to switch." Hunter said, not answering Kayla's question. "I'll send him in."

You are something else entirely. Hunter thought answering her question in his head as he left.

Why does he always do that? Kayla thought as Hunter left.

How can someone say so much without really answering a single question, or giving anything away? She wondered feeling frustrated.

I must just be off my game. She decided.

I can normally read him better than that. If he comes back, I'll be more ready for the game. She thought.

Why can't I make sense of him? She wondered.

It's like someone gave him a personality transplant. She thought feeling disconcerted.

He didn't insult me once, either. She realized in shock.

And he touched me... voluntarily.

How did I get out of there? She wondered, trying to put the pieces together.

If 'Taker was there too, did he get me out? I can't see Hunter doing that. She thought, trying to make herself remember the details of her rescue.

If I wait for Hunter to tell me anything he doesn't want to, I'll probably be waiting 'till next Christmas. She thought.

She felt herself drifting off again but didn't fight it. Talking with Hunter and trying to figure out the things he'd mentioned but hadn't fully explained had taken all of her energy. She didn't fight the need to sleep this time. she figured 'Taker would understand.

Taker

"Did she wake up at all?" Taker asked Hunter as they passed.

"Yeah we talked a bit." Hunter said.

"Good." Taker said.

I'm glad she's awake. Maybe I can get her to tell me a bit about what happened. Taker thought.

Guess not. Taker thought seeing her asleep when he walked into room twelve.

Just then the Doctor walked in.

"We'll be taking her up to a room soon." The doctor said.

"A regular room?" Taker asked.

"Yes." The doctor replied.

"Good." Taker said relieved.

Shit I didn't call Cassie and her friends. Or even Cena. Taker realized.

She's asleep and in good hands. I'd better go back to the lobby and make the calls. Taker decided.

Hunter/Taker

"You left her already?" Hunter said as Taker reentered the lobby.

"Yeah, she's asleep and they are about to take her up to a room." Taker said. "There are some calls that need to be made. I can't make them back there."

"I'll go back." Hunter said.

"You have at least one call yourself." Taker said. "Vince."

"Oh yeah." Hunter said. "We missed our flights."

Taker took out his phone and dialed Wade's number and waited for Wade to pickup.

"Hang on, guys," Wade said as he felt his phone going off.

"We can't pause mid-recording, dude!" KYLE protested as Wade hurriedly pulled off his headset and headed for the door of the recording studio.

"Don't worry about it. We'll fix it after," Wade said which the door slammed.

"Hello?" Wade said as he tried to answer before the call went to voice mail.

"Hey Wade we found her. She's gonna be ok." Taker said.

"What? Found who?" Wade asked sounding confused.

"Kayla? Who else?" Taker said sounding confused.

"Kayla... What?" Wade asked, starting to sound pissed off.

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Shit no one called you? Kayla was kidnapped. She was missing for like three days. We found her this morning. She's going to be ok." Taker said then he gave the name of the hospital where they were.

"Fuck!" Wade yelled.

"I'll... Shit, my boss is gonna kill me," Wade said. Then without saying goodbye, he hung up.

What the hell was that. Taker thought. What does his boss have to do with anything.

"Vince I make you plenty of money stop screaming at me. It's one event." Taker heard Hunter growl into the phone.

I think I'll give Vince a few minutes to calm down before I call him. Taker decided. I'll call Cena and the APA instead.

"Cena it's Taker." He said when Cena answered.

"Yeah Taker what can I do for you." Cena said.

"We found Kayla."

"WHAT OH MY GOD THAT IS AWESOME!" Cena screamed into Taker's ear.

Taker pulled the phone away from his ear for a minute till Cena stopped shouting.

"She's going to be ok." He told the younger man.

"Thank God." Cena said in a much more sedate tone.

"Do me a favor Cena and go tell the APA" Taker said.

"Taker you said We found her. You and the cops?" Cena asked.

"NO Me and Hunter." Taker said.

"HUNTER?" Cena asked incredulously.

"Yes Hunter." Taker said before hanging up the phone.

One last call and I'm not looking forward to it. Taker thought.

"Vince it's Taker." He said.

"What Taker." Vince said, thought he was pretty sure he knew what was coming.

"I missed my flight." Taker said. "I won't make the event."

"Let me guess it has something to do with Kayla?" Vince said.

"As a matter of fact it does. I went looking for her." Taker said. "And luckily Hunter and I found her."

"I knew she was bad news but Linda just had to hire her. She's been nothing but trouble from day one. I'm so going to fire her." Vince said maliciously.

"You're going to fire her for getting kidnapped. Oh that will look good if the media get a hold of it." Taker said.

"You had a match scheduled." Vince said.

"Not that I was aware of." Taker said.

"You better be here for the event after it or else." Vince shouted. "You've missed too many events already."

"I'll be there Vince." Taker said then he hung up before Vince could say anything else.

No way Bryan's letting me take time off. Wade thought as he glimpsed his boss coming down the hall.

If I can't go, maybe one of the girls can. He thought as he sped outside and to his car.

I just need ten minutes. Fucker can't fire me for taking an early break. He thought as he tried Cassie's number.

"Hello?" Cassie said on the third ring.

"OCD much?" Wade said, trying to lighten the mood before he gave her the news.

"What are you talking about?" Cassie asked sounding distracted.

"Third ring every time, babe," Wade said, dreading what he was about to tell her.

"Only you would notice that," Cassie said sounding annoyed.

There was a moment's pause.

"I'm glad you called because there's -"

"Listen, I called because -"

"You first," Cassie said, hoping he hadn't called her for no reason like he sometimes did or just because he was bored.

"Taker just called. Kayla went missing or something. I didn't get the details. They just-"

"Oh my god. Is she okay?" Cassie asked before he could finish.

"She's in the hospital," Wade said.

"Sounds like 'Taker's with her," Wade said.

"Oh god," Cassie said, her voice breaking.

"Wade, can you... You know this week is... Shit. Karena being off sick..." Cassie said frantically.

"Cass, you know how Bryan is," Wade said sounding aggravated.

"So neither of us can... Jesus, Wade. You know my hands are tied here. Can't you just..." Cassie said, sounding like she was about to burst into tears.

"I'll let Vanessa know and we'll go from there," Wade said, trying to keep his composure.

"She's in meetings all day, remember?" Cassie said blowing her nose.

"Fine. Call me back when you know what the fuck you want me to do, alright?" Wade snapped. Then without another word, he hung up.

"She could have fucking offered to call V's office and left a message..." Wade muttered as he fought the impulse to throw his phone out the window and run it over with the car.

With an exhausted sigh, he got out of the car, made sure the doors were locked and trudged wearily back to the studio.