"Judy, please, come down to the bar with us for a while." Kaliegh said, practically begging the woman. "Beside, that security guard....What's his name, might be down there."
"Chad...." Judy said softly, blushing at the mention of him. "Do you really think he likes me, Kal?"
"Yes, I do...and if you'd look into his eyes once, you'd see it for yourself. Now, let's get going." Kaliegh said as she started towards the door.
"Wait!!" Judy said, grabbing Kaliegh's arm and dragging her back into the room. "My hair....I have to fix my hair!" Judy rushed into the bathroom and began to plug in her curling iron, then started fussing with her make-up.
"Your hair is fine, Judy. As a matter of fact, it looks wonderful...You look wonderful." Kaliegh said, putting a reassuring hand on Judy's shoulder.
"Well, then...What the Hell are we waiting for?" Judy said, grabbing her purse and cigarettes and the two of them headed out he door.
When the two women finally arrived at the hotel's restaurant and bar, Taker was already seated and waiting patiently. Judy looked in his direction, her eyes narrowed in anger...she was still good and pissed at him. As Kaliegh sat down beside him, and Judy across from him, Taker brought his hand out from under the table, revealing that he held one yellow rose in his hand. "Judy, please forgive me for the way I acted earlier. I had no right to yell at you that way." Taker said as he handed her the flower. Judy looked at him with raised eyebrows, and serious eyes. "Alright, this time you are forgiven...Next time...Well, let's just say you better hope there is no next time." Taker hoped there would be no next time. If the hurtin' she gave him was anything like the first one, he PRAYED there would not be a next time.
Kaliegh lit a cigarette and glanced over Judy's shoulder. Chad sat behind Judy, up by the bar, watching the drama between Judy and Taker with an amused expression on his face. Kaliegh caught Chad's attention and he pointed to Judy and then to the empty seat beside him. Kaliegh took the hint and said, "Hey look, Judy. There's that good lookin' security guard." At the mention of the man, Judy quickly turned around in her seat and saw him approaching. Judy turned back around and looked at Kaliegh, her eyes gleaming and wide with excitement. Kaliegh smiled at her and gave her a thumbs up sign. Taking a deep breath, Judy got up from her chair and went to meet Chad half way. Kaliegh smiled again...So far this had not been any where near the mistake she thought it would be.
Kaliegh watched as Chad led Judy to a table in the far corner of the bar, then turned her attention back to Taker.
"Have you thought about the next pay-per-view, Kal?" Taker asked.
"I want to...I really do. But I'm....not sure. I'm a little scared I guess you could say." Kaliegh said with a sigh.
"Scared?" Taker asked as he gently touched her cheek. "Why?"
"Well, it's no secret that you have thousands of female fans around the world. When they see me coming to the ring with you, they're gonna wonder what the Hell you're doing with someone that looks like me."
"Kal, if my fans were to judge my decision to have you with me, then they are not really my fans. Besides, you have nothing to worry about. You are a beautiful person inside as well as outside."
Kaliegh considered what he had said for a moment and decided that he was right. "Okey! I'll do it!"
"That's great." Taker said with genuine happiness in his voice and eyes. "We'll go over the angle and everything tomorrow. Right now, let's get outta here." Kaliegh saw the look in his eyes and needed not be asked again. As they got up from the table, Kaliegh glanced over to where Judy and Chad had been. They too had gone.
****************
Chad asked if Judy wanted to leave the bar. "Maybe take a walk and get some fresh air. Or something."
"Sure, I don't care much for bars. Not much for drinking really." She said shyly. A faint blush colored her cheeks whenever she looked at him, and she felt uncomfortable being this close to him. She liked it though, she liked his closeness.
Grinning with pleasure, Chad smiled warmly at her, his hand riding the small of her back as they left the bar. "Mind going up to my room with me for a sec?" At her look, he rushed on to add "It's not what you think, I just want to change shirts. Thought we might take a walk then, if that's alright." He said, watching her reaction to his words.
Her suspicion was slow to leave, but she agreed to accompany him upstairs. Once in the elevator, she felt compelled to apoligize and to try explaining again.
"I really am sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you!" Mortified as memory rushed back.
Flashing his brilliant grin, he said "Yes ya did! But I understand, now! I know Taker, and know how he can be when he sets his mind to something." The warm reguard she read in his brown eyes, and with his easy smile, made her feel worlds better.Unable to resist his charm, she smiled back, at ease with him for the first time. "Now that that's settled." and startled her further, by leaning down and kissing her gently on her half-opened mouth.
Judy found herself beginning to respond when he pulled back, looking at her aware of her response and his own. The kiss was meant to calm her, but it had the other effect completely. Wanting nothing more than to take her in his arms and kiss her some more, Chad found himself more bothered than she had been earlier.
Chad had mixed emotions about this woman. She had literally whipped his ass, albeit she had taken him by surprise, but she had a gentle side that was made obvious by her blushing. Or maybe insecurity would be a better word. Jokes came readily to her, yet there were times he'd see her gazing off, her mind a million miles away. Those times, he could only wonder what she was thinking of. There would be a sadness about her then, that wasn't present ordinarily. At those times he caught himself wanting to hold her and love her till her troubles passed.
They stepped off the elevator and walked down the hall to his room. Judy hesitated before going in. She was not comfortable going into a man's room. "But what the hell, it was just for a minute, right?" Taking a deep breath, she walked on in and sat down, making herself at home.
Clothes were strewn all about the room. He was rummaging through an open suitcase, looking for something. Judy moved some towels and shirts aside on the sofa, intending to sit down, but found a set of weights there instead.
"Oh sorry. Here sit on the bed there." He motioned to the foot of the king-sized bed, then turned back to looking through the suitcase.
Judy sat down on the bed, drawing a foot up under her. Leaning back on her elbow, she couldn't help glancing around the room. Curious about this man, and his motives, she returned her gaze to him, finding his eyes on her. Embarassed at being caught looking, she dropped her head and laughed softly.
Lifting her eyes to his again, she said."Did a tornado hit your room? " She said with a teasing grin.
"I should have picked up.If I'd known I was going to be entertaining a lovely lady, I would have." Grinning back at her, somewhat ashamed of the mess.
"No bother." Grinning impishly, blue eyes twinkling merrily, she got up from the bed and started picking up. "Come on, I'll help." He watched as she bent over to pick up a small pile of dirty clothes. He enjoyed the view, grinning even bigger. Shaking his head, he helped the woman pick up his clothes.
----------
The next morning, Kaliegh was dying to know what happened, but Judy wasn't saying. Finally, unable to stand it anymore, she confronted her friend.
"Well, what the hell happened? Aren't you going to tell?" Kaliegh stood with her hands on her hips, waiting to hear the details.
Judy turned a wide-eyed innocent gaze on her friend and asked "What? When?"
Rolling her eyes in exasperation, Kaliegh groaned in sheer frustration. "Will you tell me?"
Judy laughed softly. "Nothing happened. Well something did, but nothing earth shattering."
"Will you stop!!!!!! WHAT HAPPENED?" Kaliegh shook her friends shoulder, and grinned good-naturedly.
Judy laughed, having had her fun at Kaliegh's expense. "Well, we left the bar and went up to his room."
Kaliegh waited for her to continue. "Well, what happened then?" Kaliegh grinned wickedly.
"We did his laundry!" Judy said simply.
Kaliegh looked almost disappointed. "You two did laundry?"
"Yeah! It was nice. We loaded his clothes up in a pillowcase, went to a laundramat bout a mile from here, after stopping to pick up a small bottle of Wisk. It was nice. He's nice! I like him." Judy's eyes glowed warmly when they met Kaliegh's.
Kaliegh studied Judy momentarily, then smiled warmly. "I'm glad you two hit it off. I hope it works out for you." She said sincerly, giving her friend a hug.
"I'll not hold my breath on it. I don't have good luck when it comes to men." That far-away look was there again.
Kaliegh wondered what had happened to her friend. Who was it that had broken her friends heart?
***********
Judy suddenly became aware of Kaliegh's burning gaze and shook her head slightly to clear the thoughts that ran through her mind.
"Look," Kaliegh said, once again confused by her friend's actions. "I have a meeting with Taker and the bookers in about two seconds. Will you be here when I get back?"
"Well, Yes....I should be." Judy said as she turned her eyes back to the open window, her mind once again miles away.
Kaliegh watched her friend, somewhat disappointed. They had been on the road for about a month now and it seemed that she and Judy were going to be alright after the horrible events that had taken place. ~Well, I guess you can't judge a book by it's cover.~ Kaliegh thought as she turned and went out the door.
--------
Taker immediately noticed the distracted look on her face when Kaliegh walked into the conference room for their meeting. Her eyes were dark, almost thunderous, and her face lined with worry. Taker nodded to the people around the table, excusing himself for a moment. Putting his hand on the small of her back, he led her out of the room and down the hallway a ways.
"What is it, Kal?" He asked as he gently ran fingers down her cheek, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"It's Judy...." Kaliegh said softly. "I thought she seemed to be doing okey after everything that happened. But lately, she is a million miles away...she looks so sad." Kaliegh became silent, not knowing what else to say.
"I'll finish up here. You have plenty of time to learn the angle. What's really important now, is finding out what's eating Judy."
"Thanks, Taker." Kaliegh said as she took his hand in hers.
"Anytime...." He said as he brought his head down, kissing her softly.
-----------
Kaliegh lit a cigarette as she tried to find the right words to say to her friend.
"Judy, it's pretty obvious to me that you have been hurt more than you have let us know. You are my friend and I care about you....I want to help you with whatever is troubling you. But until you tell what or who has hurt you, I can not help you, and that hurts me. Now, please, tell me about it."
Judy continued to stare out the window for several minutes. Then she took a deep breath and began to speak.
*************
"Well, after I left Iowa, I moved to Tennessee. To a little town not far from Memphis. I lived there about two years. I met a man named Josh. I fell in love with him, then later, found out he was married. We'd been seeing each other for about six months. He was wonderful, very sexy, very loving. I got pregnant. That's when I found out he was married. That night, I tried to break it off. I don't believe in going with a married man. Anyway, we ended up having a big fight. I ran out of the house, tripped and fell. That's how I found out I was pregnant. I miscarried laying there on the ground in the pouring rain. Three weeks later, I packed up and moved to East Tennessee. I never spoke to or saw Josh after that night." All the color had drained out of her face, becomming tight and pinched with remembered pain. Her eyes looking back at things only she could see.
Kaliegh didn't know what to say. This was more than she had bargained for. "Well... I'm sorry, Judy. You poor thing! Maybe Chad..."
"No, don't! Chad is not what I need or want. He'll do in a pinch, as the saying goes, but something's missing. I like Chad well enough as a friend, but that magical something is missing."
Kaliegh listened, not knowing what to say. This explained a lot about her friend's moods, but not all.
"It'll be the 3rd anniversary next week. Three years since I lost my little girl. I was far enough along, so they could tell the baby's sex. I had been having problems for a couple of years, then I had the miscarriage. After that happened, the doctor had to do a hysterectomy. So I'll never be able to have children. Jessica was the only one I'll ever have, and I lost her before she was even born." Judy was standing by the window, arms wrapped around herself.
Tears ran down Kaliegh's face. She hurt for her friend. No wonder she was lost in thought so much lately. Going over to her, Kaliegh hugged Judy tight, and together they had a good cry. Later that night Judy packed a small bag, left Kaliegh a note, and caught a flight out.
Several days later, Judy caught up with the tour right outside of Memphis. Taker had questioned Kaliegh about Judy's leaving, but Kaliegh had told him it was personal.
"When and IF she wants you to know, it's her place to tell you, not mine." She touched the side of his face and kissed him gently.
Taker pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "Well, whatever took her away, I hope he was worth it!" He said carelessly.
Kaliegh pulled away, stung by his callousness. "It's not that. She's been hurt about as bad as a woman can be, I guess. And don't use that tone with her or about her ever again."
"Alright! I'm sorry! I just thought her and Chad had a fight and she went off to sulk!"
"They had nothing to fight about. Nothing happened between them."
"Yeah, right!" Taker scoffed at the idea! He knew Chad had a way with women, and had no trouble getting the one he set his sights on. "You told me yourself, she didn't come back to her room till after 2:00 a.m. Now you say nothing happened!" Taker smirked at the very idea.
"Exactly! Just because a man and a woman spend time together doesn't mean they were having sex. It just means they were in each others company." Kaliegh was getting pissed by Taker's attitude. Taker laughed by way of reply.
"I'll see you later, MAYBE!" She left before her temper got the best of her.
Judy was unpacking when Kaliegh came in, bursting through the door actually, in a complete snit. She stopped what she was doing and turned to look at her friend, Kaliegh muttered and paced around the room. An amused look covered Judy's face. She had purchased a plot and tombstone for her lost baby, and every year she went to lay flowers on the tiny gravesite. This Kaliegh did not know. No one did.
"Kaliegh, I feel the need for a drink. You want to go with me?" Judy had a wild-eyed look that Kaliegh didn't care for.
"I think you need to talk to Taker. He was asking me why you disappeared." Kaliegh tried to change the subject.
"Forget him. I want a drink or three or four! Come on, keep me company at least!" Judy pulled Kaliegh out the door and down the hall to the elevator.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Kaliegh asked worriedly. She didn't like this one bit.
"YOU DAMN SKIPPY!" Her tone dangerous and reckless.
As they made their way through the crowded bad, Judy stopped and spoke to several of the wrestlers and members of security, along the way. They headed toward a table near the back where Taker and severaal others were already seated. Half way to the table, a man caught Judy's attention, stopping her in her tracks. It was Josh!
"What's wrong, sweetie?" Kaliegh asked, noticing the sickly palor on her friend's face. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I have. A ghost from the past. Come on, let's sit down!" That haunted look had returned to her friend's eyes, but something else had too.
Judy sat down at the far end of the table with her back against the wall. The chairs on either side of her were empty. When the waitress came around, Judy ordered a double 7-7. As soon as the waitress brought it back, she ordered another one. As she gulped down the first drink, she saw Josh making his way back to her groups table. Walking behind Taker and the rest, he stopped beside her."Judy, it's good to see you again! How have you been?" He asked as he squatted down beside her.
"I'm great! Never better! How's the wife?" Judy said coldly. She may as well been turned to stone, so unyielding was she.
"Same as always! You're looking good!" His warm green eyes, and lopsided grin would be her undoing. As the waitress sat her drink down in front of her, Judy ordered another one and paid for them both.
"It's been about three years, hasn't it? I can't get over how great you look!" He said smoothly.
At his casual remark, Judy's head snapped around in his direction, her eyes hard and cold, her body suddenly very tense. "Yes, it has been three years. Three years, two weeks, 6 days and 18 hours to be exact." With each word spoken Judy left her seat and tried to go passed the man at her side, but he wouldn't let her go by.
Kaliegh knew what was about to happen, and finally got Taker's attention. Taker looked to the far end of the table in time to see Judy kick the shit out of some poor slob.
"We've got to get her out of here now." He said to Kaliegh.
Tears ran freely down Judy's face as she beat the crap out of the man she once loved. It was all Taker could do to pull her away from the prone body laying in the floor at their feet. From the looks of him she had broken his nose and probably some ribs.
"Chad see to that guy. Kaliegh and me will take care of Judy. You handle this then come upstairs." Taker said over his shoulder. He had slung Judy over his other shoulder, with her kicking and screaming the whole time. All around them people moved out of their way.
Minutes later, Taker threw her still tense body down on his bed.
"Mind telling me what that was all about?" Taker asked calmly, his anger simmering just below the surface. Kaliegh had gone to the bathroom and returned with a glass of water and a cool wet wash cloth. Judy had become hysterical. Very calmly, Taker slapped her hard. "Sorry, but that's what I've always heard to do with hysterical females. Now, do you want to tell me what that was all about?"
Judy was shocked into silence by Taker's actions. With wide eyes, she stared at him for a few minutes, then the tears started again. Slowly, painfully, she re-told the tale of her and Josh.
************
When Judy was about half way through her story, Kaliegh went into the bathroom, refilled the water glass and dropped a tiny white pill into her hand. Walking back into the room, she handed Judy the water and the sleeping pill. Even though Taker gave her her a questioning look, there was no doubt in Kaliegh's mind that Judy would need the sedative tonight.
As Judy finished telling her story, her eyes grew heavy as the sleeping pill started to have an effect on her. Judy laid down on the bed, and instantly fell into a dead sleep. The Undertaker looked out to the balcony where Kaliegh had been for the last few minutes. He saw that she had her head resting on her hand, her shoulders shaking slightly, indicating that she was crying.
"She's sleeping..." Taker said as he pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. "I'm sorry for the things I said to you earlier concerning Judy. I had no right..."
"No you didn't." Kaliegh said as she lifted her eyes to his to make sure he was sincere in his apology.....He was. Taker wiped a lingering tear from her cheek, and had leaned over to kiss her when there was a knock on the door. Kaliegh sighed and went to answer it. She opened the door to see Chad standing before her.
"The police are on their way up here. The man she attacked is pressing charges." Chad said as Kaliegh opened the door and stepped aside to let him in.
"You mean Judy is going to be arrested?" Kaliegh asked even though she already knew the answer. "You have to do something about this, Taker. We can't let her go to jail. That's not what she needs. She needs help. Judy needs to learn how to deal with her anger. She would have killed that guy tonight had you not pulled her away." Kaliegh sat down in the near chair with a miserable sigh. She felt so bad for Judy, but didn't have the slightest clue as to where to begin in helping her.
"Don't worry about it, Kal." Taker said as he came over to her and put an arm around her trembling shoulders. "I'll post bail for her first thing in the morning."
Chad, who had been quiet since arriving at the room finally spoke. "Look, I can see that you both are exhausted, and I also know that you both have an early flight tomorrow morning. So, why don't you two go get some sleep. I'll take care of things here in the morning. My flight doesn't go until 3:00pm."
"Chad, we appreciate your concern, but I don't think...." Kaliegh started to say, but was stopped.
"No...No...It's not what you're thinking. I just want to be here for her and be her friend. Nothing more, nothing less."
Kaliegh looked over at Taker to see what he thought of Chad's offer. Finally after considering it for several minutes, Taker nodded that it was okey. Just as they were beginning to relax again, there was another knock on the door. It was the police....
**********
The past two weeks had been pure hell, starting with her arrest. She'd had to see a therapist, and would have to go back to court in a couple of weeks. Taker and Kaliegh had been in touch with her almost daily. Taker told her she had a new job if she wanted it when she came back.
"What kind of job? " She asked, curious about the secretive smile on his handsome face. Kaliegh and him had paid a surprise visit to her.
"In time! In time!" The smile widened slightly. Kaliegh was as much in the dark as Judy was.
She pondered Taker's actions, his smile, the way he continued to watch her. "To Hell with it!" She thought irritably.
Reading her correctly, Taker threw his head back and laughed heartliy.
One week later, Kaliegh was gone to a fitting for her "costumes". She was going to be Taker's valet. In a couple of weeks, she would become actively involved with his matches. She would be a plant in the front row, when she would be "attacked" by Taker's opponent. Taker would come to her defense. She would be his "partner in crime" so to speak.
Her costumes were beautiful. They were made in the eastern tradition. The underdress of one was done in varying shades of purple, while another was a deep forest green. The outer garment was a rich, black lace in a floral pattern. Kali loved the outer garment. The lace was very rich, very soft. What she called the shawl, covered her head, then one end was used to cover the lower half of her face. Her eye make-up, would give her a rather exotic look. She was delighted with the whole thing. She couldn't wait to wear it.
--------
Judy was finished with her sessions. Her therapist was amazed at the way she responded to her sessions. Once the reasons for her anger were discovered, the course of treatment was quickly acted upon. Judy needed physical activity when she felt stressed. She could not wait till the court date was over.
Taker had talked with his bosses about giving Judy a position as ring assistant to Kane. They agreed to give her a try. Now if he could talk her into it. Kane had been delighted with the idea, wishing he'd thought of it first. Taker would bring it up at dinner. Kane was going to join them and add his incouragement to the cause. This would be a huge boost to her career. And whether she wanted it or not, she did have a career. Judy and Kaliegh both did. He had made a wise decision when he brought these two women with him, on tour, when he hired them.
Kaliegh and Taker were the first to arrive. She was dressed in a deep hunter green sweater and black levi's. The warm earthy color of the sweater complimented her fair complexion. Taker was wearing his customary black. Tonight, however, he was wearing a silk shirt which only served to accentuate his body, clinging in all the right places. Kane joined them a few minutes later. He looked fit in his denim shirt and jeans. They sat talking quietly, till Kaliegh glanced up and saw Judy approaching their table.
"Hello all." She said as she sat down. "Ok, Taker! What is this new job you have in mind for me? Are you dissatisfied with my services as your masuese?" She asked curiously, eyeing the three people before her.
"We'll talk business later! For now, let's eat!" Taker said grinning like the Cheshire Cat.