Book 2

Lady Takersangel's Domain | home

I take Mark's advice, and spend the next two weeks visiting with my foster parents. Seeing them again after so long is such a delight, both to them and me. When I first step into their house, they immediately notice the bruises and such, and I have no choice but to tell them of what had been happening. They are shocked, and my foster father nearly goes to get his shotgun, and hunt Kevin down. Luckily, my foster mom and myself are able to stop him.

The two weeks fly by fast, and before I know it, I'm heading off to meet up with Amy Dumas(Lita), Joanie, and Paul at the airport. The plane lands in Raleigh sooner than I thought it would, and as I step through into the airport, I see an impromptu autograph session occurring in the waiting area. Fans have surrounded the three of my friends, and I smile in enjoyment, an idea hitting me.

I fish through my shoulder bag to pull out a piece of paper, a pen, and head toward the crowd. Waiting patiently until it thinned down a bit, I hand the paper and pen to Paul, noticing he doesn't look up. "Who should I sign it to?" he asks, somewhat tired.

"'Kit Kat'," I answer, and smile as he snaps his head up, and a huge grin comes to his face when he realizes that it's me.

He pulls me into a big hug, and says, "Kit Kat's back!" Joanie and Amy let out their held in laughs; they had known I was standing there. The crowd of autograph seekers breaks up quickly, and we three head out to the parking lot. "Have a good vaca?" Paul asks as we walk to the car, him toting my suitcase.

I nod, and reply, "A very good one. Although visiting my foster parents was great, I missed all my friends greatly."

"Speaking of which," Amy states with a smirk. "Not to sound selfish, but we're so glad that you're back."

I return her smirk. "Why's that?" I ask, then laugh. "Kevin tearing up the arenas while I'm gone?"

Joanie laughs as we reach the car, and answers, "No, it's to do with your other boy. Mark's gone crazy these past few weeks, and all that seems to come from his mouth lately is 'Kit this' or 'Kit that'. I think he's got a thing for you."

"Yeah right," I return, getting in the back, and wait as the others get in. "I mean, look at who we're talking about, you guys. It's Mark...the one guy that all these women in the world want-"

"And the one that no one can have because his heart is set on you," Amy comments from beside me.

Paul looks back at me through the rearview mirror. "Face it, Kit Kat," he states with a smirk, "the Deadman's got the hots for you." He starts the car, and we head off toward the hotel.

I smile slightly as I think, 'The feeling goes mutual.' I mentally shake myself. `What am I saying? This is Mark I'm talking about. He wouldn't waste his time.' I sigh silently as I watch the scenery pass by quickly. `Okay, that one time in the hotel a few weeks ago...that was just pure loneliness. I'm sure if one of the other girls was in my place, he would've done the same.' I mentally slap myself. `Wait a sec... this is Mark! He's not that way...is he?' Great... now that I'm arguing with myself, I discover I don't know Mark as well as I had always thought.

We stop at the hotel to drop my stuff off in Amy's suite before heading to the arena. On the way, I keep myself pretty quiet, wondering what I'd have to do when I run into Mark...or Kevin for that matter. "Kit, you all right?" Amy asks as Paul drives into the parking garage at the arena.

Her words bring me out of my thoughts. I nod slightly, and reply, "Sure, I'm fine. Why?"

She shrugs, and returns, "You just seem too quiet over there."

Joanie hits Paul in the arm with the back of her hand. "Now, see what you've gone and done, Paul?" she says in a joking tone. "You just had to tell her that Mark had his eye on her, and now she's gone shy so she'll never talk to him again, and then Mark's gonna have our asses because it was our fault."

Amy and I begin to laugh. "Hey, chill out," I state. "I was just thinking about something."

"It better not be something that hardens every time you come into sight," Paul comments with a grin. He parks the car.

"Funny, Paul, really funny," I return dryly, and get out of the car with my friends. "Actually, I was deciding what I'd be doing tonight, my first day back and all." It's a half-truth, so it isn't that bad of a lie.

Amy smiles. "Hey, a few of us are going out to a dance club later," she suggests. "Tag along. I promise to keep Matt and Jeff from stomping on your feet."

I laugh with her. "Sure, I'm up for that," I respond, and follow my friends into the arena.

The first person that sees our little group is Shane McMahon, and his eyes crinkle up with a smirk plastered on his lips. "Man, Paul!" he calls out. "You got three of `em! How the hell do you do it?"

Paul returns the smirk, and replies while holding his arms outward, "Hey, I'm `the Game'! They just follow me wherever I go!" Joanie, Amy, and I each punch Paul's arm.

Shane laughs for a bit, then takes my arm gently. "There's someone that wants to see you, Kit," he tells me, loud enough as the other three hear him.

"Ooo!" comes their little chorus. "Not even back an hour, and already makin' the guy wait for you," Joanie jokes. "That's woman power."

I smile at them, and reply, "I'll catch up with you later, all right?" They nod, and continue their way to the locker rooms. I follow Shane to Vince's office. "Who's waiting on me, anyway?" I ask as we walk to the office.

Shane smiles. "It's supposed to be a secret or something," he replies. "I don't want to spoil it if it is."

I roll my eyes with a smirk as Shane holds open the door to his father's office for me. Immediately, I step into the large room, my hopes riding high, and a smile on my face. The smile falls quickly when I see Vince...with Kevin. "Kit, welcome back!" Vince says, coming from behind his desk to embrace me.

I return the hug. "Thanks," I reply as we pull apart.

"Aw, Kit, I missed you so much," Kevin says next, pulling my body into his arms quickly so I can't back away. He kisses the top of my head, then brings his lips to mine almost tenderly. I hear Vince tell his son that they should leave us alone, and hear the unmistakable sound of the door closing tightly.

As soon as the door is closed, Kevin yanks me away from his body by pulling my hair harshly. "Where did you disappear to?" he demands to know.

"N-none of your concern," I reply, trying my hardest to twist away from him, but to no avail. "Kevin, let me go."

Kevin smirks menacingly. "Ah, now you're spouting out some confidence, Kit," he sneers. "That's not a good thing to have around me, your dear boyfriend."

I narrow my eyes at him. "You're not fit to carry the term `boyfriend', Kevin," I evenly state, although my nerves are jumping just about everywhere. "I heard about you and Trish."

"No doubt a lie from your dear pimp," Kevin returns. "He's a liar, you know. Just wants you to turn against me."

I smirk as I reply, "If that's his plan, then it's working."

Frustrated, Kevin releases my hair, and tosses me back a few feet. I manage to keep my balance as I stumble back, and look up in time to see Kevin's hand swipe my face hard. "Don't ever, ever think about leaving me, Kitrina," he threatens with a low growl. "I will make sure no one finds the body if you do." He turns away. "Now, get out of my sight until I so desire to see you again." As carefully and quickly as possible, I backtrack to the door, and run for my life.

I manage to get to Paul and Joanie's locker room without crying first. I knock on the closed door loudly, and watch as it opens. Joanie smiles at me. "Hey Kit," she says, stepping back a bit. "Come in."

I enter, and quickly sit down on one of the chairs, taking a huge breath. "Man," I mutter to myself.

"So Kit Kat, was it a happy reunion, or what?" Paul comments with a grin. I look up at Paul and Joanie, seriously thinking of telling my friends off, and running for a dark corner to hide in. The grin on Paul's face drops at a super speed; at the same rate, Joanie's eyes open widely, her mouth falling open. Paul is the first to speak. "Kit, did you know you have a red mark in the shape of a hand on your face?"

Tentively, I touch the cheek I had been slapped on. "Oh, that..." I state.

"Mark didn't...he didn't hit you, did he?" Joanie asks.

Quickly, I answer, "No, Mark wasn't the one waiting for me." I sigh deeply. "It was Kevin." I tell them the entire event in detail, trying to not zoom through my fears at the time he had me in his grasp.

"Kit, why?" Joanie asks, pacing around the room slowly. "Why do you let him treat you like that?"

I shrug, and reply, "I haven't able to completely figure that out myself, you guys." I sigh again. "I mean, you remember when we first got here, and he treated me so kindly, and everything." They nod. "Well, it just went real bad, and I think it's `cause Kevin's so jealous of my friendship with Mark." I lower my gaze from my friends to my clasped hands in my lap. "All because of me, a friendship is ruined."

"It is not your fault," Paul calmly returns, and stands. "If you ask me, with the way Kevin's treated you, he doesn't deserve friends."

"Paul's right," Joanie adds. "He doesn't really deserve to live, period." I nod in agreement.

Paul walks toward the door, saying, "I've got a few segments to do. I'll be right back." After Joanie and I both nod, he leaves the room.

Joanie sits in a chair in front of me. "You want me to go get Mark?" she asks softly.

I shake my head. "No, don't do that," I tell her. "I don't want the first words out of his mouth when he sees me to be `Where's the bastard right now'."

"I'll go get you some ice for your face then," she responds, and leaves to do just that.

A few minutes later, Joanie returns with a small plastic bag of ice. I take it from her, and place it on my cheek. "Thanks, Joanie," I tell her.

"Anytime, Kit," she replies, and sits down beside me to watch the show as it begins.

The two hours pass by slowly before the show finally ends with a stare-down between Mark and Paul. I finally bring down the melted ice pack from my face. "Joanie, I practically ruined Mark's and Kevin's friendship one-handedly," I state softly, not sure where that came from, as it seemed to come from thin air. "Are you sure he really wants to see me again?"

Joanie takes the water-filled bag from my hands. "Kit, I don't know why you blame yourself for what's happened between those two," she says with a sigh, throwing the bag away. "I mean, if you ask me, they were already heading separate ways way before you two developed feelings for each other." I roll my eyes at her, silently asking for an answer to my original question. She rolls her eyes back at me. "You know he does, Kit. You two are best friends, and I think he'd want to check up on you. Why do you doubt it?"

"Because..." I start, ready with an argument, but trail off as it begins to sound very childish.

Joanie put his hands on her hips. "Because what?" she pokes. "Because you think he's like a lot of these guys, the kind that fuck and leave? Because you think what you two are feeling is just a lust thing? You thinking he's just using you to get at Kevin?"

"No!" I return sharply; in truth, those same wonderings were spinning through my head. I take a deep breath. "I wanted to know because...I want to see him again, and I just wasn't sure how he felt."

Joanie's stern face breaks into a smile slowly. "Kit, you had me worried there!" she laughs out. "Sometimes I wonder about you two. One minute, you're so confident about how you feel toward each other, and the next, it's `I don't know'." I sigh heavily, and lean forward, placing my elbows on my knees. She had my jumbled emotions all figured out before I can even begin to think.

I want to say something, but Paul comes back into the room, a huge grin on his face. "Guess who I talked to recently, and said he couldn't wait to see Miss Kit Kat soon?" he says.

I smirk as he just continues to grin. "I swear, if I didn't know you better, I would say you two are trying to set us up real bad," I state. "But considering I do know you, I know that you two aren't the type to go and do that sort of thing, because if you did, I'd be on your asses big time."

Paul holds his arms up in self-defense. "I wasn't planning anything, honest!" he replies with a laugh. "Let me get cleaned up and changed, and we'll head off then." He grabs a few things, and heads into the shower.

Within the next half-hour, Joanie, Paul, Amy, the Hardy Boys, and I head off to the dance club. The place isn't packed, but man, it's awesome! Laser lights are everywhere, great music is played loud and continuously, and the food is excellent. "What a way to celebrate a return!" Jeff announces, his eyes glinting with true happiness as he looks out to the floor.

"Now there just needs to be one more element to make it truly great," Amy teases.

I smirk at her, and reply, "If you weren't my friend, I'd be pulling out your red hair right now."

Amy returns the smirk, responding, "I'd like to see you try." She laughs, then heads off to the dance floor with Matt and Jeff.

I roll my eyes while sporting a smile, and sit down at the table, chewing on a few fries while watching my friends dancing again. Paul, who's sitting across the table from me, smirks, and taps the table to get my attention. When I look in his direction, he points toward the entrance, saying, "Look who's here, Kit Kat."

I turn around in my chair to see a crowd of people passing by. Not understanding who he's pointing at, I'm about to turn back around, but the crowd passes by completely, and a tall figure advances further into the club. When his face comes into the light again, a grin breaks out onto my face. "Mark," I say to myself, squirming a bit with joy at him being here.

I leave my seat, and start toward him, wondering if Mark saw me. My answer comes when he stops walking, and smiles in my direction. "Angel," he calls out in recognition. I run to him, finding myself caught up in his arms about a foot and a half off of the floor. He holds me tightly against his body, then lets me slide down him a bit before his mouth covers mine with a passion-filled hunger. I can do nothing but put my arms around his neck, tilt my head to allow further access for his tongue, and return the kiss, softly moaning at the wave of need hitting my body suddenly. My thoughts are far away from the scene we're making.

After a few moments, Mark sets me back down lightly, never releasing my mouth from his, a moan escaping his own throat now. A loud chorus of throat clearing brings my mind back to the club, and I pull away from Mark's lips slightly. "Welcome home, angel," he whispers against my lips before kissing them softly.

"Thank you," I whisper back.

Mark smiles down at me, slips his arm down my back to settle his hand on my hip, and we return to the table. Everyone is grinning at us. "Now, THAT'S the way to welcome someone back!" Paul teases.

I smirk at him, and return, "At least Mark wasn't signing autographs while doing it."

Joanie smiles, and states, "Now, if anyone could kiss and sign at the same time, that'd be true talent!" Everyone laughs at that, then Amy and the Hardy's head back off to the floor. Joanie grabs Paul's arm, and they head out in that direction as well.

Mark sits down in the chair I had vacated, and pulls me down to sit on his lap, his arms holding me to him. He kisses my temple lightly, and brushes his lips over my ear as he whispers, "I missed you"

Closing my eyes in contentment at his touch, I whisper back, "I missed you, too, Mark" I can feel his lips smile against my cheek.

Suddenly, he pulls back, and I turn to look into his concerned green eyes. "I heard what Kevin did to you," he states softly, causing me to look away from his gaze. "Are you all right" He didn't-"

'No," I interrupt, "he didn't do anything but slap me hard. I'm fine." I can feel the doubt in his tensed-up body. I look back up at him, and smile. 'Really, I am."

Mark returns the smile finally, gently traces my cheek, and kisses me deeply, his tongue searching my mouth hungrily. While returning the kiss with the same amount of hunger, I rest my hands on his chest, clenching his T-shirt into my fists, not ever wanting to let go. His hands move down my shoulders and arms slowly. He lets his fingers go under my shirt, his smooth fingertips lightly skimming over my skin, stopping suddenly at my navel. He pulls back from my lips, asking, "What's this ?"

I smirk slightly as I stand up in front of him, pull up my shirt above my navel, and say, "What does it look like?"

Mark smiles, reaching his hand out to brush his fingertips over the metallic blue-gray navel ring that stands out on my stomach. "When?d you get this done?"

''When I went to visit my foster parents in Jersey," I answer, watching his hand gently play with the piercing.

Mark looks back up at me. "You didn't have to do it just because I said it'd look good on you,he states, then slyly smirks. "And believe me, it looks even better than I first thought."

I nod, and reply, "I know, but I wanted to do something I wouldn't normally do."

Mark's smirk grows into a grin. "Now, I have to coerce you into getting a tattoo," he comments with a laugh.

I shake my head as I laugh with him. "No, Mark," I tell him, "tatts are your area of expertise."

Mark smirks back up at me, then softly kisses my stomach before pulling my standing form between his knees. "And I hope to get you addicted as well," he states.

I roll my eyes, and step out of the little prison he made from his legs surrounding mine. "Mark, you ain't catching me nowhere near a tattooing needle," I respond with a smile. "You should know I hate needles, and getting my navel pierced was freaky enough for me."

Mark stands, and steps to stand just barely an inch away from me. "Not even with me there to soothe you" he asks jokingly.

"As tempting as the offer sounds, Mark, I'm afraid not even your soothing would do much good when I've got a needle in my skin," I reply, trying to keep myself in check.

The group from the floor comes back to sit around the table. "Hey, Mark," Jeff calls out, taking the chair Mark was sitting in before, and smirks. "Gonna join in on the dancin fun"

"Not in a long shot, boy," Mark replies with a laugh. "I don't think I'm that coordinated"

Paul laughs, and returns, "Who needs coordination when you've got the Dancing Queen hanging off your arm"

"Hey, I don't hang off of any arms, all right" I respond with a smirk, then take a sip of my soda. "I don't need to when they hang on my every word'

'Uh-oh," Matt comments, crossing his arms as he leans back in his own chair. "Sounds like we guys ought to get out of the Diva's way."

I smile at Matt, and return, "It'd be a wise choice, boys"

We continue talking and laughing like this for a while until the topic somehow turns to sex. "You know, I think it's the guys that have it the hardest when it comes to sex," Paul states with a huge smirk. As soon as the words left his mouth, Amy, Joanie, and I all roll our eyes. "I'm serious! Think about it this way: we've got to face performance anxiety, ?cause if we ain?t any good, the women will bitch at us the next morning. You girls get the easy part of enjoying yourselves." He looks at the guys. "Am I right?" All nod with tight smirks.

Again, I roll my eyes, replying, 'Please! It's more work for the women than you guys." I lean against Mark, stroking his arm. "I mean, we're the ones that have to make sure you do get up to your... potential, and if not, we bitch at you because it just looks stupid bitching at ourselves." Slowly, I move my hand from his arm to his stomach, and begin to rub little circles with my fingertips on his skin. "If not for us women, there wouldn't be a reason for sex." Sliding my body to lean back against his, smiling as I hear the soft groan from him, I add, "And besides, while all you have to remember is where you are when you wake up, we've got to wonder whether or not we'll be in a hospital within nine months, and try to come up with ways to bury the guys bodies. Am I right, ladies" Nods and smiles come from Joanie and Amy.

A strong arm encircles my shoulders as I'm about to pull another chair up to the table. "Just for those snide comments, you owe me a slow dance," Mark whispers against my ear with a slight chuckle.

I smile, and let him lead me toward the floor as a slow tune begins to play. He stops to turn to face me, pulling my front against his as his arms slip around my body. I place my own arms around his waist, letting my head lean against his chest, swaying with him to the song, also noticing Paul and Joanie, and Matt and Amy coming out as well.

If I Was the One-Ruff Endz

I see the way he treats you

I feel the tears you cry

And it makes sad, and it makes mad

There's nothing I can do baby

Cause your lover is my best friend,

And I guess that's where the story ends

So I've gotta try to keep it inside

You will never be, never be mine but

If I was the one who was loving you, baby

The only tears you'd cry would be tears of joy

And if I was by your side,

You'll never know one lonely night

And if it was my arms you were running to

I'd give you love in these arms of mine

If I was the one in your life.

If I could have just one wish

I'd wish that you were mine

I would hold you near

Kiss away those tears

I'd be so good to you baby

You're the one I want next to me,

But I guess that's just not meant to be

He's there in your life

And he's sharing your nights

It'll never be, never be right

If I was the one who was loving you, baby

The only tears you'd cry would be tears of joy

And if I was by your side

You'll never know one lonely night

And if it was my arms you were running to

I'd give you love in these arms of mine

If I was the one in your life

I wanna reach out and feel you beside me,

Right here beside me, babe

Take you in my arms right now

Scream 'I love you' right out loud

Some day I pray that I'll find the strength

To turn to you and say

If I was the one who was loving you, baby

The only tears you'd cry would be tears of joy

If I was by your side

You'll never know one lonely night

And if it was my arms you were running to

I'd give you love in these arms of mine

If I was the one, babe, if I was the one, if I was the one in your life

If I was the one who was loving you, baby

The only tears you'd cry would be tears of joy

You'll never know one lonely night

And if it was my arms you were running to

I'd give you love in these arms of mine

If I was the one in your life

During the song, I can feel Mark's arms tighten around me in a protectful embrace, and hearing his heart speed up, I look up at him. He looks somewhat worried. "Mark" I call gently as the song continues to play. "Mark, what's wrong?"

Lowly, he whispers, "Kevin's here" I turn my head toward where he is staring intently. Indeed, there Kevin stands, talking a bit to Jeff.

Knowing what would happen should Mark head over there, I wrap my arms tighter around his waist, and lay my head back on him. "Mark, I don't stop in the middle of a dance I owe," I mention against his shirt.

A chuckling comes from within him, and he rests his chin on the top of my head. "Aren't you enjoying this a bit too much for a punishment" he replies softly.

"This is punishment?" I return with a smile. "Pleasure should be an exceptional experience."

"You'd like to know, wouldn't you," he responds, and pulls me against him even more tightly. Closing my eyes slowly, I sigh in contentment, enjoying the feel of his body next to mine, the muscles rippling under his clothing. 'Oh, to be this close without worry,' I think to myself. 'It's a shame I am worrying, though. With Kevin in such close proximity, God only knows what'll happen when the song finally ends.

A minute or so later, it comes time to find out. The song quietly drifts away, and we disentangle from each other. "I needed that, Mark," I tell him softly. "Thank you."

Mark smiles, and leans down to touch my forehead with his lips. "Anytime, angel," he replies. I watch as his body quickly grows stern, and he walks toward Kevin and Jeff. "Kevin," he curtly greets.

Kevin plainly ignores Mark, and heads toward me. "C'mon, Kit," he somewhat commands, taking my hand roughly and tightly. "Time to go. You've had your fun for the night."

Pulling back on him slightly, I reply, "How would you know...you've only been here two minutes."

"I've seen enough," Kevin returns with slight anger, "and Jeff filled me in on what I missed." He drags me toward my friends. "Say good-night to Kit."

Eyes cast downward before glaring at Kevin; Mark's especially are burning deep with hatred. "What if she doesn't want to leave?" he asks, a lot more calmly than his body projects of his anger.

Kevin just stares back at Mark. "It's time for her to leave," he replies simply. "She and I have a bit to catch up on."

"And if she doesn't want to...`catch up'?" Mark asks, raising an eyebrow slightly, standing to stare him right in the eyes.

Kevin sneers, and responds, "She's my girlfriend, Mark. Of course she wants to catch up. Don't ya, Kit?"

"No," I flatly state, pulling myself away as I feel his grip loosen.

Kevin grows red a bit as some of my friends start laughing. "Of course you do, Kit," he returns, and makes to grab my arm again.

I manage to back away from him further to keep from being grabbed, and move more toward Jeff and Matt. "Kevin, when are you gonna realize I don't want anything more to do with you?" I ask.

Kevin growls then, and glares at Mark. "This is all your fault," he states evenly. "If it weren't for you brainwashing her, she'd still be my loving Kit. You're gonna pay now, you bastard."

Mark spreads his arms outward at waist-level. "Want to take this outside?" he asks.

"No witnesses to me dismembering you?" Kevin returns. "Hell yeah...let's go."

"Don't!" I shout somewhat loudly, but neither heed it. They both head toward the door, barely outside before Kevin throws the first punch. I quickly head outside, followed by my friends, and am witness to a major brawl already occurring within five seconds. Kevin and Mark are both rolling on the ground, punching, kicking, swearing at each other. At one point, when Mark has Kevin's back on the ground, Kevin grabs a trash can lid, and slams it across Mark's head. Mark falls to the side from the impact, and Kevin immediately gets on his knees to beat the lid into Mark's forehead numerous times.

"Stop it!" I shout at him. He ignores me, and keeps hitting Mark. Mark grabs the trash can lid finally, slamming it back to Kevin's head hard. Kevin falls onto his back, and Mark mounts him again to slam his fist into Kevin's face. Quickly, he grabs a chain from nearby, wraps it around his fist, and sends it back into Kevin's face. The chain and the force of the punches begin to tear at Kevin's skin, making him bleed.

Kevin suddenly gains a second wind, and flips Mark over to his back, grabbing another loose chain. Wrapping that around his hand, he sends it at Mark's own head, bringing a huge, bloody cut to his forehead after the first few punches. `This is ridiculous!' I think, and before I can stop myself, I storm toward the two, and yank back hard on Kevin's hair. Kevin screams slightly, and moves enough to let Mark roll away while holding his cut.

I release the hold on Kevin's hair, and go to kneel beside Mark, who's starting to sit up. The blood is flowing heavily down his features. Tenderly, I touch his cheek, wishing things had just stayed the way they were before Kevin decided to show up. Thinking of Kevin, I turnt to glare at him to see him glaring right back. "You're worthless, Kit," he says now. "There's never gonna be a day in your life that passes by without you worrying about what's waiting around the corner for you." He pushes past the small group of people now assembled by the door, and leaves quickly.

A groan from beside me brings my attention back to Mark. The red substance coming down his face lets my concern grow. "Mark, I think we should get that looked at," I state softly.

"I'm fine, angel," he replies, slowly getting to his feet, then helps me up. "The question is, are you all right?" He taps my wrist lightly. I look down at it to see a multicolored handprint around it.

"I'm good, Mark," I tell him, and slip my smaller hand into his larger one tenderly. "Come on, we should get you cleaned up. Let's see if they've got a first aid kit." Mark nods, and allows me to lead him inside, the rest of the little group following after us.

The owner of the club quickly bandages up Mark's cut hand, and puts a white gauze bandage over the deep gash on his forehead before telling us, "I'm no doctor, but I suggest you get him to the ER, and have that gash stitched up."

Nodding in agreement, I wipe some of the blood off of Mark's face with a damp towel. "No," Mark grumbles back. "I don't need stitches."

"Stop being so damn stubborn, Mark," I reply, then gently pull him up from the chair he sits in. "You're going, and that's that." I shove him toward the door. "Now, move!"

Mumbling, he responds, "Yes, ma'am." He starts shuffling slowly to the door, with me pushing him gently along the way.

Matt, Jeff, Amy, Joanie, and Paul follow after us. "This I gotta see," Paul comments when we get outside. "Mark, afraid of a few stitches."

"I ain't afraid!" Mark shouts in return. "I just don't need them."

A cab pulls up in front of us. "We'll follow you guys," Joanie tells me, then punches Paul gently. "Long as Paul doesn't get sidetracked." Paul is about to protest until she drags him toward the car, with the Hardy's and Amy following them.

Mark opens the back door of the cab, and lets me slide in first, then sits down beside me while closing the door. "Where to?" the driver asks.

"County Hospital," I tell him. "And could you drop us off at the ER entrance?"

The driver nods as he replies, "Sure thing, little lady." He pulls away from the club, and heads toward the street.

All the way to the hospital, Mark continues to argue that he doesn't need stitches. "C'mon, angel," he says as we enter the ER lot, "I've survived without having stitches to bigger, deeper wounds."

"And if I remember the last time you did so, you got an infection that wouldn't go away for a week," I return, giving him a `I'm not letting you be stupid' look. Mark rolls his eyes as the cab stops. I get out, making sure that Mark does so as well, and pay the fare. "Thanks." The cab driver nods, and drives off as I turn back to Mark. I take his hand, and smile up at him.

"Don't smile at me like that," he grumbles, which sounds more like whining. "I don't need stitches. You're being overprotective."

I shake my head in amusement as I lead him toward the automatic doors. "Just like you just had to beat the shit outta Kevin just because he showed up?" I reply with a side-glance. "Mark, you know you don't need to defend me."

Mark stops me before we reach the doors, and I look up at him. "You damn well know that I will," he states sternly, looking down into my eyes. "You may not believe I have the right, but I do. You are my best friend, angel, and I will hurt Kevin as much as I possibly can for all he's done to you."

I can't break our gaze from one another. `God, why does he have to be so damn heroic like this?' I ask myself. It takes all my strength to not let the tears that threaten my eyes fall at his words. I think he sees this, as he next pulls me against him, wrapping his arms tightly around my body. With a quiet sigh, I let my arms wrap around his waist. "Cry, angel," he tells me in a hushed whisper. "I know you need to."

I shake my head against him, and pull out of his warm embrace. "I don't need to," I return, and smirk. "You're just trying to get out of going inside." Mark returns the smirk, chuckling at the sudden change of subject. I take his hand again, and continue to lead him inside.