I slip into the hotel room, shutting and locking the door behind me. I don't think he's expecting me, but I know that it's no big deal. No matter what happens, he's always made me feel welcome. I walk through to the bedroom, pausing in the doorway when I see he's on the phone. He looks up and beckons me over to the bed as he finishes the conversation.

"No that's fine. Yeah.. I wish I could be there too.. Just don't take any chances.. ok.. call me if there's any problems." He hangs up, looking worried. I sit on the edge of the bed. "Everything ok?"

"Just fine and dandy." He sighs, laying back on the pillows. He looks up at me with a grin and opens his arms. "Come here baby."

I curl up next to him, resting my head on his chest as he runs his fingertips up and down the back of my neck. Oh god that feels so relaxing. I can't remember the last time I relaxed like this with... just thinking about him, I tense up immediately. The fingers on the back of my neck stop. "Hey."

He can still read me like a book. I don't look up; I need a minute to compose myself.

"Hey." He repeats it a little louder. He cups my chin in his hand and tilts my face up. "I'm not him."

"You say it like it's a bad thing." I reply tartly. Effortlessly, he lifts me so that I am sitting on his huge thighs. I swear to god, his thighs are wider than my body. I draw my knees up to my chin. He takes my hand in his. "I mean it. I'm not him."

"I heard you the first time." I snap. He looks at me for a long moment, then lowers his eyes. I've hurt him. For someone who doesn't feel physical pain, it's easy to wound him emotionally. I squeeze his hand. "I'm sorry. I'm just... I'm just being a bitch."

He continues to stare off to the side. I squeeze his hand again. "Do you want me to go?"

"Do you want to go?"

"I'll leave if you want me to."

"Don't leave unless you want to go." He says sternly, finally looking up at me. "If you want to go back there, then go, but if you don't, then don't worry about me, just make yourself comfortable. You should know that by now."

I kiss the back of his hand. He smiles up at me and brushes some hair off his face. "Let it all out honey. It's what I'm here for."

Not tonight. Tonight I just want him to be close and reassure me that not all men are assholes. I get up and make myself a coffee. "Are you ok?"

"Just a little worried." He sits up, with his back against the headboard. I can feel his eyes on me. I turn around and look at him. "What?"

"Come here."

Grinning, I turn back to the coffee. Seconds later his arms slide around my waist and his head in resting on my shoulder. I place my hands over his and lean into him. He kisses my neck and I feel a shiver run through me. I'd nearly forgotten how good he felt. Down girl. Just because he's the first man to show you a little tenderness for a while, doesn't mean you've got to jump into bed with him. A large hand slowly slides under my shirt gently rubbing my bare skin. I close my eyes and bite my lip, willing myself not to react, not to let him know how good it feels and how much I want him.

After a second, he pulls away. "Not in the mood huh?"

"I didn't come here to get laid honey." I reply, still not turning to face him. "If sex was all I wanted, then I would've gone elsewhere. Of course, it wouldn't be as good as it would be here, but you get that."

"Yeah, sex with someone you're not in a relationship with is usually the best." He says dryly. "Sorry for assuming. I somehow got the impression you wanted me."

"I do!" Finally, I turn around and face him. "God, I want you. Sometimes it scares me. But the reason I came here tonight.." I hesitate. "I just.. I need comfort."

"Just need me to hold you and let you know that someone does care?" He says gently, sitting on the bed. I nod, unable to speak. He smiles at me. "Where's your other half tonight?"

"God only knows." I shrug. "He won't notice that I'm not where I'm supposed to be that's for sure. And if he does, then I can lie. I know who'll cover for me."

"In that case, you're sleeping over. See if you can find something to sleep in." He nods at his bag. I rummage through it until I find a sleeveless t-shirt. I head for the bathroom to change, but a quiet chuckle stops me. I turn around and raise an eyebrow. "What are you laughing at?"

"You." He grins at me. "You've got nothing I haven't seen before. And it's not like I've never seen what you have got before."

I give him a half-assed annoyed glare. He starts laughing, as I slip into the bathroom and get changed. When I emerge, he's already in bed, waiting for me to join him. Nervously, I slip in beside him - it's been a damned long time since we've shared a bed. I rest my head on his bare chest, listening to his heartbeat. It reminds me of our first time together like this and how the sound of his heart beating settled me. It has the same effect now. His heartbeat coupled with his fingers lightly stroking the back of my neck lulls me quickly into a deep sleep.

~~~~

The sound of a cell phone ringing wakes me around 4am.

"Can you see who it is, then hang up without answering babe?" He murmurs sleepily, pulling me against him. I reach over and pick the phone up off the nightstand. "I think you better take this call."

He grabs the phone off me. "What's happened?"

Unnoticed, I slip out of the bed and gather up my clothes, retreating into the bathroom to change. I come back out, fully dressed. He is sitting on the side of the bed, his head buried in his hand. I stand in front of him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Is everything ok?"

"Someone got into the house. Killed the dogs." He looks up at me. "I've gotta get back there, Sara's not safe there on her own. I can't.... I can't stay here and do nothing."

There's a note of desperation in his voice and his eyes are pleading with me to understand. I nod. "It's ok. I understand where you’re coming from."

"Thank you baby." He wraps his arms around my waist and presses his face against my stomach. I stroke his hair, amazed how such a big man can seem so fragile. He looks up at me, and even though I know now isn't the time I lean down and kiss him gently. He kisses me back, then stands up. "I have to go."

"I know." I smile gently and brush a lock of hair off his face. "Let me know how it goes."

"Will do Steph."

I leave and head back to my hotel room. Just as I expect, Steve's waiting for a progress report. "Well?"

I throw my jacket across the back of a chair and open the fridge. "Want a beer?"

"I'd like to know how successful tonight's little adventure was. " Steve snaps as I grab myself a can of coke. I raise an eyebrow at him and yawn widely. "Hmm... I'm soo tired."

"Don't pull that shit with me." He glares at me angrily. I smile sweetly. "Then stop treating me the way you treat your poor wife."

"Leave Debra out of this!"

"Then treat her with a little respect."

Steve scowls at me. "Well?"

"Success. Call Hunter and tell him that however he managed to do it, he did it well. Taker is freaking. Left as soon as he got off the phone to Sara." I hold up a hand as Steve starts to ask more questions. "Not now, I really am tired. When Hunter calls tomorrow I'll tell you both at the same time. Now go away and let me sleep."

Muttering angrily under his breath, Austin leaves. With a sigh of relief, I crawl into my bed, not bothering to change out of my clothes. Despite being exhausted, I can't sleep. I feel guilty about what the three of us are doing to the Undertaker and Sara. I really do care about the big man, he looked after me when I was kidnapped by the Ministry two years ago.

The Ministry. Thinking about them, I remember how Hunter & Steve managed to convince me to take part in this whole debacle. 'Revenge,' they said. 'You remember how scared you were when you were being stalked. Now it's your turn to get a little of your own back.'

It's a lot more fun being the stalker than the stalked, I can say that for certain. Thinking about how scared I was, brings me back to thinking about how Sara must be feeling.. and how terrified Taker is for her. I mentally shake my head and force myself to harden myself against the guilt. Five little words that Shane taught me years ago makes the job a bit easier. Just before I drift off to sleep, I mutter "What goes around comes around baby."

The words provide a little comfort – but only a little.

The End