Kane and Taker smiled and shook their head as the three of us, in renewed fits of laughter collapsed on the floor together. "Girls, we need to go get ready. Do you think you can stay out of trouble for a little while?" We just continued laughing, nodding our heads and waving them off. We caught our breath and headed into the dressing room we had been given to watch the show on Monitors.
"So, Lashana, what did Vince say about your job?" Storm asked, and Jakx echoed her question.
"Well, he actually hired me to coordinate Austin's schedule."
They both groaned and wished me good luck. About that time, the show started and we watched the show, enjoying all the matches, however we watched very intently as both Kane and Taker competed. Kane took on BA Billy Gunn after a relatively long and grueling match, managed to flip him upside down and drop him in a tombstone pile driver. We all screamed and jumped up and down, thrilled that he had won. Shortly after, the lights went down and Takers music started up, as he made his way to the ring, I wondered who he was competing against. Then, with a sinking feeling, I heard the breaking glass and knew that Taker was taking on Austin. "Great, I thought if Taker wins this match, Austin is going to be really difficult to deal with, especially when he finds out that I'm here because of Kane and Taker. Oh well, you told Vince you could handle it, I guess you'll just have to figure it out."
I watched quietly, wanting Taker to win, but at the same time knowing that my life would be much easier if he lost. Austin managed to get a stunner in on Taker, and I figured it was over about that time, but since the ref had been knocked out earlier, it took him too long to get the count in. A few minutes later, I groaned inwardly when Taker grabbed Austin around the throat and lifted him for a patented choke slam. The ref counted 1-2-3 and Taker was announced the Winner. He headed up the ramp and I joined my sisters in cheering for him, although I knew I was now going to have an unbelievable task ahead of me.
Twenty minutes later, Taker and Kane met us in the empty dressing room and we were getting ready to head out for dinner. Vince stopped me on the way out, handed me a laptop in a carrying case and said he needed me to go with him to meet Austin.
"Can't this wait till tomorrow?" Taker was looking a little concerned at my meeting Austin after the beating he had just given him.
"Nope, sorry guys, but I need to get them together as soon as possible. I'm heading out tomorrow morning and won't be back on set for a week." He looked at me, "That laptop contains Austin's schedule and the files in the bag contain all of his travel information and preferences. You'll be making all those arrangements for him, as well as yourself. My secretary has been handling it up to now, since his last coordinator left and I had her download it all for you during the show."
I looked at Kane and Taker and said "Well, guys, give me just a couple of minutes, and if he wants to talk longer than that, then he can just come with us to dinner."
"If he gives you any trouble, let me know and I'll be right there. With the pounding he took this evening, there's no telling what mood he's in."
"I'll be fine, and I'll be back in a few minutes. Just hang here and wait for me."
As we headed to the dressing room, I asked Vince if Austin had been told about me coordinating his schedule.
"Yes, he knows. And I told him to be on his best behavior."
"Well, Vince, tell you what, why don't you just point me in the direction of his dressing room and I'll take it from here."
"You sure about that? Sometimes my presence keeps them on the best behavior."
"Vince, you can't be there all the time, and he and I are going to have to work together. I do need one thing though…know where I can get my hands on a six-pack?"
Vince laughed, and pointed me to the vendor down the hall. I grabbed a six pack, headed to the dressing room that Vince had indicated and knocked on the door.
"Who the hell is it?" Was the greeting that came through the door.
I tried the handle and found it unlocked. I opened the door and said, "It's Lashana."
I heard him groan, and noticed that he was sitting with his back to the door, taking off his knee braces and unwrapping his wrists. "What do you want?"
"Well, first off, I thought you might like a beer." That got his attention, and he turned his head to look at me. I tossed him one of the six and popped one open for myself. "Mind if I have a seat?"
"Since you brought the beer, the least I can do is offer you a seat." I walked over and sat down across from him. He looked at me with those piercing, beautiful blue eyes and I couldn't help but smile at him.
"Damn, girl, your a whole lot prettier than the last couple of coordinators they stuck me with. They must be trying a new tactic."
"What do you mean, a new tactic?"
"Well, hell, I guess they figure that if they give me someone pretty enough I'll quit running them off as fast as they can hire them."
I laughed and said "Are you running them off on purpose? Or is it just that they haven't found anyone who can deal with your red neck country boy personality?"
His head snapped up from working on his wrists, and stared at me intently. I smiled and stared back, and after a few minutes, a smile crept across his face. "I have never had a woman actually stand up to one of my stare downs. This might actually prove interesting."
"Well, I'll tell you what, there are a bunch of us, including my ride that are going to dinner and for drinks. Care to join us?"
"Who's your ride?"
I cringed inwardly when he asked that, and thought "well, might as well get it over with now." I looked him straight in the eye and said "Kane and Taker" and waited for the impending explosion.
"Well, Sonofab*tch. You want me to go have dinner with those two monsters? After the stomping he gave me tonight?"
"Look Austin, Kane and Taker are my family, in a manner of speaking, and if you and I are going to work together, you are going to have to learn to get along with them. What better time than the present?"
He looked at me and I could see him thinking intently. "I'll have to shower first."
I laughed at that, "Well, I sure as hell hope so, we'll wait, just don't take forever. Kane's getting hungry and it's not a pretty site if he's denied food for too long. I'll wait for you here."
He headed to the showers to clean up and I sat down to wait for him.
"Kane?"
"Lashana, are you o.k.? He didn't hurt you did he?"
"No, he's in the shower getting cleaned up. He's going to dinner with us. You all need to behave tonight ok."
"Hey, we always behave ourselves!" Taker and Kane announced at the same time, causing all of the brides present to bust out in laughter.
"Lashana, this is Icewolf, how did you get that red neck to agree to come to dinner?"
I laughed and replied "I brought him beer and stood up to his stare down. Apparently that impressed the hell out of him. He's just coming through the door, we'll be right there."
Steve walked in and noticed the grin on my face. He looked really good in his jeans and black t-shirt. He pulled his ball cap on and grabbed his gym bag. "What are you grinning at anyway?"
I stood up, linked my arm through his and smiled even bigger. "Nothing much, ready to go?"
He looked at me, trying to figure out what was going on in my brain, mumbled something about women and said "yeah, lets get the show on the road."
We met up with the others in the lobby, and there was a brief moment of tension when Taker and Austin looked at each other. I sent Taker a "please be nice to him" message and Taker finally stuck his hand out to Austin and said, "Hey man, sorry about that slam in the ring earlier."
I could tell that Austin was shocked by the apology, and he shook Takers hand and said, "Yeah, man, I'm sorry about the stunner too."
The tension eased up, and I sent out a "thank you" and smiled at Taker. We were headed out the door, when my pendant started to feel warm where it lay at the base of my throat, I put my hand over the pendant, and glanced at the corner by the door. I saw the same man I had seen in my mirror last night. He was average height, had shoulder length blond hair and appeared to have fangs. I froze in place and looked at him. His eyes seemed to glow and he had the most evil smile I had ever seen on his face.
Kane and Taker felt the fear in my mind and turned around about the same time as Austin stopped and said "Lashana, what's the matter? You look like you just saw a ghost."
Kane looked at me intently. I looked at him, then glanced back to the corner that the man had been standing in, it was empty. I shook it off and smiled. "I'm fine, just thought I saw something over there in the corner for a minute."
Kane and Taker's heads both snapped in that direction, and Storm looked concerned. Austin offered me his hand and smiled, "Probably just a mouse. Old Steve'll take care of the furry little guy if he gets near you."
I smiled and took his hand. We all headed out the door, with Kane and Taker watching the area waiting for the underling to make his presence known. Kane, Taker, Storm, and Jakx rode in the rental car, Icewolf and Jim took his car, and I rode with Austin in the pickup he had rented. He opened the door for me and helped boost me up into the seat. I commented on how nice the truck was, and mentioned that I had one similar to it at home. We continued to have mundane chatter all the way to the restaurant, and thankfully dinner went well. We all headed across the street to a local bar and went inside for drinks. I excused myself and headed to the ladies room to freshen up, and on my way back to the table, I was detained by a couple of local red necks looking for some fun.
"Hey babe, you must be knew around here. Wouldn't likely forget a piece of Ass that looks like that." The bigger of the two, looking like he fell off a truck and smelling like he'd been without a shower for several days grabbed my arm and pulled me to him.
I struggled against him and was getting ready to send a message to Kane and Taker when I noticed Austin headed our way, with fire in his beautiful blue eyes, with Taker, Kane and Jim not far behind. "I think you need to rethink your actions real quick."
"Why's that darlin…we're just getting started with the fun."
"Get your hands off her, Asshole." Austin grabbed the shoulder of the man that held me and spun him around. He was surprised by the attack and when he released me, I stumbled back and indeed against Taker.. Austin knocked him to the floor with one punch and the fell on him and proceeded to trash talk and beat the man into near unconsciousness. Kane and Jim basically held the guys buddies at bay and let Austin deal with the man. Austin stood up and looked at me.
"You alright, Lashana?"
"Yeah, I'm ok, just a little shook up. I'll be fine."
I looked at Kane and noticed that the two men they had been detaining were sleeping peacefully with their heads on the bar. "What happened to them?"
Taker smiled and said, "They'll be out for most of the night, Kane knocked their heads together."
Austin found that highly comical, took my hand and headed to the table. A slow country song came on the Jukebox and Austin made a minor detour and dragged me out on the dance floor. Kane took Storm's hand and Taker grabbed Jakx, and Jim smiled and crooked a finger at Icey. While we were dancing, I noticed I kept getting knowing glances and smiles from the other women, and Kane and Taker were glaring at Austin. I sent them a "knock it off you two" thought and they had the decency to look sorry for the dirty looks. Austin leaned back and looked at me, and I smiled up at him.
"You have the most beautiful eyes, Lashana." I was so stunned at the compliment from Austin that I just stared at him for a few minutes.
"What? Did I grow a horn out of the top of my head or something?"
I laughed and said, "No, the only one's I see up there are the two that are holding up that crooked halo. You descend on those guys like a blue eyed guardian angel, and then you haul me out here on the dance floor to dance to this unbelievably romantic song, and now your complimenting me on my eyes? I'm starting to wonder if aliens didn't abduct Steve Austin while I was in the ladies room and replace him with some replica."
He smiled, "Nope, no aliens. But I am smart enough to realize that I've met my match, and a beautiful one at that."
"Why Mr. Austin, are you flirting with me?" I grinned from ear to ear when he blushed all the way to the top of his sexy bald head.
"That depends, how do you feel about a redneck wrestler flirting with you, and whether or not those two giant friends of yours going to take this out on me in the ring?"
"I have always had a fondness for red necked wrestlers, honey, so flirt as much as you like . As far as Kane and Taker go, I will make sure they know to behave themselves."
"We danced the rest of the night, well after Taker and Kane had taken the others and headed back to the hotel. It was close to four in the morning when Austin walked me to the room that I was sharing with Storm and Jakx and standing outside the doorway, lowered his head and kissed me good night. It was a sweet gentle kiss, and it sent electricity clear to my toes. He started to deepen the kiss and when I moaned in the back of my throat he pulled me closer to him. He pulled back, and after disentangling my arms from around his neck, he whispered that I needed to get inside before he lost all control right here in the hallway. I giggled and he placed ticklish little kisses down the side of my neck. I stepped back from him and stood on tiptoe to kiss him once more good night, then I slipped in the door and shut it behind me.
Storm and Jakx were sitting up in their beds, waiting expectantly for me to give them all of the details of the rest of the evening since they had left the bar. I just smiled and pretended not to notice as I went about getting ready for bed. I finally gave in when they started throwing pillows at me and I laughed and filled them in on the kiss we had just shared. We giggled like schoolgirls and talked for about 20 minutes, before I finally let exhaustion overcome me and I told them I needed to get some sleep.
I crawled into my rollaway cot, ( I had drawn the short straw for this weekend), and fell asleep like a log. I dreamt that night, but they were dreams of beautiful blue eyes and strong arms wrapped around me.
*********I heard the alarm clock going off, and groaned. Storm and Jakx shook me, trying to get me up, and I pulled the pillow over my head and said "Nooo, just a few more minutes, pleeeaaassee."
Storm laughed and said "All right, Lashana, but once I get out of the shower, you have to get up. We have a plane to catch in two hours and I want breakfast before we go."
Jakx headed out the door to find breakfast and make sure that the guys were up and moving. Storm headed to the shower and I, of course, fell immediately back to sleep. Unfortunately it was short lived and about 15 minutes later, Storm came out, flipped on every light in the room and ripped the pillow and blankets away from me, laughing the whole time. "Up and atem sleepyhead!"
I moaned, rolled off the cot and stumbled into the bathroom to jump in the shower, hoping that the cool water would help wake me up. By the time I was out of the shower, I was able to keep my eyes open, but I was bone tired and knew that I would not last very long. I got dressed and threw the few items that I had unpacked back into my bag and headed out the door, following behind Storm.
"Come on Lashana, Jakx already got the guys moving and we are suppose to meet them in the dining room for breakfast in about 2 minutes."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming. Three hours of sleep is just not gonna cut it."
Storm laughed, "Well, that's what you get for partying until all hours of the night with the Rattlesnake."
"I know, but I was having so much fun…I couldn't bring myself to end the night earlier. I'm just glad I didn't get blitzed in the process, or I would really be paying for it this morning."
We headed into the dining room, and I saw Steve sitting at the table with Taker, Kane, Jakx, Icey and Jim. He smiled at me when I walked in and I gave him a half smile back. I heard, or rather felt, that vibrational laugh coming from Kane and I noticed that he had a half cocked grin on his face under the mask.
"Lashana, you ok this morning? You look like death warmed over."
"I'm just FINE. Where's the Coffee?"
Taker laughed and Austin looked at him, and headed toward me to take my bag. "What's so funny Deadman?"
"Lashana looks like she could use a cup of coffee and quick." I glared at Taker and thanked Austin for taking the bag for me.
The waitress came over and asked if I wanted anything, and the entire group answered in unison. "COFFEE!"
She chuckled and headed off to bring it to me. I sat in the chair next to Austin, and sighed when she brought the coffee back for me. I took a deep drink and enjoyed the feeling of the hot liquid as it slid down my throat. I noticed toast sitting on the plate in front of Kane and, while he wasn't looking reached over and snatched it.
"Hey! That was mine."
"Yeah, well that's what you get for teasing me when I've had like no sleep! I don't think your gonna starve."
I heard Taker chuckle and snapped my head in his direction.
"Just what do you find so funny?"
"Oooh, somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, didn't she?" Taker was openly laughing at this point and I had just about lost my patience.
Austin reached a hand over and started rubbing the back of my neck, and I relaxed a little. Storm gave the boys a censuring look and said, "You all leave her alone. She's exhausted and I think we all know who to blame for that!"
All the heads turned in unison to Austin, who proceeded to flip all of them off, with a shit eating grin on his face. He leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Would have been up all night if I had any say in the matter." I looked at him and laughing, just shook my head and ate my toast.
It was just about time to head to the airport, and we paid the bill and stood to go. Austin grabbed both mine and his bags and put his free arm around my shoulder. "Come on honey, you lean on old Steve and we'll get you to the airport safe and sound." I leaned my head on his shoulder and let him lead me to the car.
Kane, watching the two of walk together said "He better behave himself, I'd hate to have to rip his head off. Vince wouldn't like that a whole lot."
I heard Storm's reply, "Big man, you leave them alone, you know as well as I do that he's not gonna hurt her. We need to get going to the airport, so lets get a move on y'all."
I walked out with Austin to the truck, the others followed and all headed to the airport. We rode in comfortable silence, Austin seeming to sense that I was too exhausted to talk about the previous evening. We pulled up at the rental return area in the airport and he grabbed out bags out of the back of the truck and took them to the luggage check in. He pulled me up against his side and we walked to the gate where we would board the private jet that had been charted for us, as well as the other wrestlers that were heading to Houston to perform at the upcoming PayPer view event. We boarded the plane, and took our seats. Not long after we were in the air and on our way.
I was sitting next to Austin in the Window seat. He reached into the overhead compartment and grabbed a blanket and a pillow. He raised the arm on the seat between us, put the pillow in his lap and patted the pillow with his hand, wrapping the other around my shoulder. I gave him a grateful smile, curled my feet up on the seat and lay my head down in his lap. He stroked my hair and I was asleep in a matter of minutes.
Lashana, darling daughter, its your mother…wake up and talk to me.
Mother? I looked around and realized that I was in another place, I assumed that it was some sort of dream plane where my mother had decided to meet with me.
Yes dear, it's me. I needed to talk to you, there are things that you need to know, and I wanted to prepare you for the next 24 hours. Things are going to get interesting.
More interesting than they have been lately? I doubt that's possible.
Trust me dear, you've yet to see how interesting your life can be. Have you been practicing your transformation?
Yes, when I have some time alone, I practice. I'm getting pretty good at it. Only takes a second or two for me to complete the change now.
That's good dear, you will need that ability in the next few days. The man you have seen, the one with the white hair and the evil smile…
Yea, what about him? Is he the underling that has been after me?
Yes he is. His name is Gangrel, and he works for Kordac'Nol. You will have to be very strong and use everything you know to defeat him, but you will not have to do it alone.
I know, Kane, Taker and the Brides will be there to help me if I need them.
Yes, they will, but they are not the only help you will have. You must put your trust in Austin as well. He will eventually know the truth about you and will serve as an irreplaceable aid in your battle with Gangrel.
What? Austin, how does he fit into all of this?
You will understand soon. Call me if you need me.
"Mother?" I sat bolt upright and looked around. Kane and Taker both looked at me, concerned by the tone of my voice. Austin wrapped his arms around me and held me tight against his chest.
"Lashana, darlin, you o.k.? You were getting a little restless there for a minute. Have a nightmare?"
"Yeah, just a little one though. I'll be alright."
The plane landed and we deplaned, gathered our luggage, and headed to the parking lot. Since we were in Austin's home state, he offered to let us stay with him at the house. An offer which we all gladly accepted. Another night in a hotel was not something any of us were interested in. Austin and I headed to the parking lot where he had left his truck parked a few weeks before and we headed to the house, followed by the SUV that Jim had rented for everyone to ride in.
We pulled up about 20 minutes later in front of a beautiful ranch house. It was huge and had a stone and wood porch on the front a swing and 2 rocking chairs on one end and a hammock stretched across the other. Austin smiled at the stunned look on my face.
"What's the matter girl, you think I lived in a shack?"
"No, I just never imagined…this is beautiful."
"Come on, lets get inside and I'll give you the ten cent tour."
We all headed inside, and Steve showed everyone to the rooms that they would be using for the next few days. We were scheduled to be in Texas until the following Sunday, which gave us a good three days. After we were all settled, we met back in the living room and he gave us a brief overview of the house and the surrounding area. Storm, Jakx and Icey headed out to the back in search of the herb garden they were told the housekeeper grew, Taker, Kane and Jim decided to drive into town, and I stayed, curled up on the couch with the laptop, hoping to get some idea of the schedule and requirements of my new job.
Austin walked into the living room and reached out ant took the laptop away.
"Hey, I was working on that." I laughed, trying my best to look irritated.
"You can work on it later, right now I have something else for you to work on."
"Is that right? You know, if I don't get something done on that schedule of yours, you likely won't make it to Raw on Monday night."
"Oh, we'll get there all right, you just relax and we'll deal with that later."
He sat on the couch and pulled me against him so that I was leaning with my back on his chest. He started massaging my shoulders and I sighed and relaxed against him. He ran his hand up the back of my neck and pushed my hair over to one side, exposing my ear and the side of my neck. I felt little chills run up and down my back when his goatee brushed along the curve of my neck and up toward my ear.
"I've wanted to do this all day. You drove me crazy sleeping in my lap on that plane. Wasn't sure I'd be able to walk right when the plane landed."
I chuckled, and tilted my head, giving him freer access to my neck and said "You offered, so don't blame that one on me. Mmmm…that feels soo nice."
I felt the rumble in his chest and he laughed. "Glad you like it." He shifted slightly and I was leaning back in his arms, across his lap, looking at him. He brushed my hair back out of my face and leaned down to kiss me. That electricity that I had felt the night before returned and I reached my arms up and wrapped them around his neck, deepening the kiss and pulling him closer toward me. His free hand started to roam down my body, caressing and setting fire to me everywhere he touched.
I heard the back door slam and the giggling of the girls as they came into the house. Steve pulled back and I sat up, both of us looking like we'd had our hands caught in the cookie jar just as they walked into the living room.
Icey looked at the two of us and grinned from ear to ear. "And just what have the two of you been up to?"
I blushed to the roots of my hair, and said "Just having a little business discussion."
Jakx laughed. "Ya know Lashana, when Vince said you needed to know his preferences, I think he was referring to his travel arrangements."
Austin smiled and leveled the three of them with a mock stare. "My girl wants to do her job to the best of her abilities…and as far as my preferences go, we were just getting started, and hopefully" he leaned and kissed me, "…the lesson will continue later." With that he stood to leave the room, leaving the three of us staring after him.
I sat there momentarily stunned and heard him whistling as he headed up the stairs. "Why that little sh*t! Oooh, he'll pay for that one. Of all the presumptive, egotistical, obnoxious things to say. His girl? The lesson will continue later? I think it will be a cold day in hell before that 'lesson' continues."
Storm just smiled, "Uh huh, look out ladies, the temperature in hell is likely to drop, and soon. He is a man, and they all inevitably put their foot in their mouth. Austin just seems to be better at it than most."
Icey and Jakx chuckled and nodded their agreement with Storm's assessment of the situation. They all sat on the couch and we chatted.
Icey, quick and straight to the point as always, looked over and said, "So, Lash, tell us what is up with you and the toughest SOB in the WWF."
I smiled, and looked at the three of them "You know, I really am not sure. I know that I'm attracted to him, and there is definitely electricity between us. I feel it every time he touches me, no, honestly, I feel it every time he's in the same room as me. I'm just afraid to trust that feeling. Three days ago, I would have sworn to all of you that Scotty was the only man for me, but to be honest, since I've met Steve, this is the first time he's even crossed my mind. And what I felt with him doesn't' even come close to the spark I feel with Steve."
Jakx looked at me and smiled. "Lashana, there is nothing wrong with you taking your time and figuring out what you need. Things have changed in your life so much in the past few weeks, and I am quite sure that you are all turned around and upside down. Just sit back and enjoy the attention, see where things go."
"Yeah," Icey chimed in, "nobody said you had to jump into anything with Austin. It's not like he's going to force himself on you, and if you tell him you need to slow down, I'm sure he'll be cool with that. If he's not, I know three men that will do their best to pound some sense into him."
I shook my head and laughed, "I don't really think that having him pounded on is the best way to go about starting a mutual and healthy relationship. Besides, the problem is, when I'm in his arms, I feel so safe and loved. I'm not sure I really want to slow down."