And Then He Was Gone.....


Chapter Six


"Well?? Would ya tell me already?" Judy asked once they had finished with their dinner. Kaliegh's eyes sparkled happily. Taker had told her the news last night and she hoped Judy would accept the position.

"Well," Taker said. He paused to take a drink of his water, deliberately taking his time. "We'd like for you to be Kane's ring assistant."

"OH!" Judy exclaimed, very surprised at the request. "I don't know about that...." Judy looked over at Kane and saw the disappointment cross over his face. Kane had been with out a manager for a few months now and he missed the companionship that the relationship brought, and he genuinely liked Judy.

"Aw, come on Judy. Atleast say you'll think about it. It'll be a huge boost to your self confidence. And think about what it would do for your career."

"Kaliegh is right, Judy. Look how happy she is. You too can have all that happiness and even more if you so desire. Please give it some thought." Taker said as he sat back in his chair waiting for her to say something.

"Alright," Judy said. "Give me a few days to think about it."

"Okey, I'm happy with that answer...for now." Kane said, once again smiling.

-------------

The next night, Monday, was a live RAW from Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was also the night of Kaliegh's first appearance. She was nervous and excited at the same time. "Taker, what if I mess up? Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all." Kaliegh paced the dressing room. With a trembling hand she lit a cigarette. Taker watched her with an amused expression in his eyes.

"What are you looking at? Don't you ever get nervous before a match?" Kaliegh stopped shortly to ask him and then continued pacing.

"Kal, would you stop! You're gonna wear out that carpet. You'll do just fine." Taker said as he gently grabbed her arm. Turning her around to face him, he lowered his mouth to hers in a reassuring kiss. "That was for good luck...and this one..." Taker kissed her again. This time it was full of fire, passion, and hunger. "Alright, the gates are about to open. You better get out to your seat, and I'll see you later."

The main event that night was Undertaker versus the Big Bossman. Kaliegh was planted in the front row, right on the corner where the wrestlers walked in. She had been given a sign from one of the WWF crew that said ~Rest In Peace Bossman~ When the Bossman came down to the ring, he deliberately walked close by Kaliegh so she could shove that sign right in his face. When Taker threw the Bossman out of the ring during the match, it was by Kaliegh so once again she could taunt him. This time the Bossman "snapped" He jumped over the security railing and picked Kaliegh up by her throat. Then dropping her back down on the floor, he began to punch and kick her.

Jim Ross: "Good Lord!!! The Bossman has snapped! He's attacking that fan....a woman for God's sake!!"

The King: "What in the WORLD!!! What.....BOSSMAN!! Watch your back!!"

Jim Ross: "And here comes the Undertaker after the Bossman. But what about that poor woman. She's got to be badly injured."

The King: "OH MY GOD!!!! A Tombstone on the steel!! That move should be outlawed!! Bossman's neck has got to be broke!! Now what is the Undertaker doing?? He's picking up that woman and taking her back with him!!!"

Once back in the dressing room, Judy was waiting with Kane to congratulate Kaliegh on her performance. "Ya'll," Judy said, addressing the group. "I've decided to accept the position that was offered to me."

"Judy!! That's wonderful!" Kaliegh exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with happiness.

"I debut in three weeks at SummerSlam." Judy said, her excitement matching Kaliegh's.

"Alright!!!" Kaliegh and Judy hi-fived as Taker and Kane looked on. "This calls for a celebration!!! Let's go!!"

----------

The next night was a taped RAW in Loiusville, Kentucky. Once again, Kaliegh was placed in the front row, the same spot she'd been in the night before. As the Undertaker came down to the ring for his match, and rounded the corner in front of Kaliegh, she reached her hand out and touched his arm causing his head to snap around and meet her eyes. He paused for a split second, and then continued towards the ring. After stepping through the ropes, he turned in Kaliegh's direction as he took off his hellraiser coat. Their eyes locked...

The King: "What is up with the Undertaker?"

Jim Ross: "Well, that's that same woman that was attacked by the Big Bossman last week. And the Undertaker seems to be a bit...well...taken with her."

The King: "They haven't taken their eyes off each other."

After the Undertaker's opponent was beaten, he stepped out of the ring. Again pausing in front of Kaliegh, he gently touched her cheek, his fingers lingering for just a moment. Then he was gone.

Afterwards Kaliegh met Taker, Judy, and Kane back at the hotel. "Did ya'll hear the hush that fell over the crowd tonight? You two are weaving quite a mystery for the fans." Judy said as they walked down to the bar to have dinner and a drink.

"I know...It's the most amazing rush! What have you and Kane got in store for the fans?"

"Well, let me tell you..." Judy said and went on to explain the angle.

************

"We haven't got all the details worked out yet, but will soon. My costumes will consist of caftans and veils. Completely covered, head to toe. But that's the beauty of it. When I make my presence known, that's when the caftan get's lost. For the night anyway. Taker, it'll be in the match between you two." Judy said, her blue eyes sparkling. Taker merely lifted an eyebrow. That match was still four weeks away, the week after SummerSlam.

"Do I need to be worried?" He asked casually, remembering the whipping she gave him before.

With a seductive smile on her lips, her eyes never leaving his, she merely replied, "Of ME?"

Glancing at Kaliegh, then at Kane, Taker was surprised at the way Judy was looking at him and talking to him.

Kane burst out laughing. He had seen the look of "almost" alarm spread across Taker's features. Neither of the other two had seen the wink Judy had given him. This was going to be good. "What's the matter, brother. Has the little lady got you spooked?" Kane continued to chuckle even after Taker turned his frowning face in his direction.

"Man, you have NO IDEA, what this lady is capable of. She doesn't know HOW to pull a punch." Taker growled irritably, scowling at the man.

Kane threw back his head and laughed heartily. Kaliegh and Judy exchanged amused glances. Taker rolled his eyes back and growled in irritation. This sent them into gales of laughter.

The next week, Judy sat in the front row watching the matches. Kaliegh and Taker put on quite a show with their entrance. Kaliegh followed Taker down to the ring. He held the ropes while she entered the ring. She gave up the long, flowing robes she had originally worn, in favor of bodysuits. She still favored the black lace overlay, and the five bodysuits, she'd had made, were all lace over satin or velvet. Taker had gone back to wearing his leather attire again, so they complimented each other. Leather & Lace... Man & Woman... The Lord of Darkness & his Lady Fair.... The fans loved it. Her fair hair and complexion was the perfect contrast to his dark visage.

Later that night Kane and Judy were working out their moves, working on what exactly she was going to be doing. Judy began pacing back and forth, after about 45 minutes of gentle sparring. Kane had gone to take a phone call from his wife, leaving Judy alone in the hotel's gym. She tried working out with the weights, the stepper, then finally the bag. Nothing helped take the edge off. She knew what she needed. It had been a L O N G time since she had been with a man, in that way, and that was what she needed.

Kane had been watching her punching the bag and guessed at the reasons behind it. When he heard her soft curses, he knew he was right.

"I think that's it for tonight. You did good! Let's get something to eat, ok?" Kane asked as he approached her.

Judy kept her head down, breathing hard. Her brow glistened from her exertion."Sure, ok! Give me 30 minutes and I'll meet you in the lobby! How's your family?" She asked finally meeting his eyes.

"They're fine! My wife warned me not to get too attached to my new valet. Other than that, she said she would see me at SummerSlam next week." Kane said, shifting his weight, hands on his hips, head cocked to one side, as he studied his new valet.

Nervous energy radiated from her slight frame. Taking the towel, she blotted her brow, then smiled up at the big man. "If we're gonna eat, I better clean up. I'll meet you in a few." Judy turned away, making her way from the gym.

-------

Kane made his way to the ring. He had a match against Gangrel. Gangrel, along with the brood, would be jobbing tonight. The match was suppose to last 20 minutes. "Man, I'll be glad when this is over!" Kane thought as he made his way to the ring. He was tired, his body hurt, and he was ready for a few days off.

Judy was at ringside, and when he walked passed, she reached out and caressed his arm. What made her do it, she had no idea. All she knew was she wanted to touch him.

His mind on the match, his body hurting, Kane never noticed her there.... untill she caressed his arm. His head snapped around in her direction. Judy's eyes met and held his. The electricity between them was consuming, in it's intensity. Blushing, Judy dropped her eyes, breaking the contact.

"What the hell are you doing?" she berated herself."The man's married and loves his wife, for God's sake!" Judy looked up after a moment, to see Kane entering the ring.

Chad walked over to stand by her."None of my business, but that wasn't very smart." He said just loud enough for her to hear.

"I know. It was a dumb thing to do. Chad, I gotta get out of here.I'll see you later." Judy grabbed her purse and left the arena, unable to believe what she had done. Back at the hotel, she went straight to her room and packed. One more show, then they were off till SummerSlam. But she was leaving tonight! She WAS NOT going to get involved with another married man. She would go home, putting some distance between them.

Leaving a letter for Kane and one for Kaliegh, she took a taxi to the airport. Kane was pulling into the parking lot as her taxi was leaving. Knowing it was for the best, he didn't try to stop her.

---------

The mountains had never looked better. It was good to be home. She missed her mountains, had needed the comfort and serenity they had to offer. The sun was just beginning to rise, when Judy walked out on the deck carrying a cup of coffee. She sat down in a chair, taking a sip of coffee as she did. She loved this view. She loved watching as the "blue smoke" drifted down over the pond below her house. The ringing phone, broke into her thoughts. Reluctantly, she went in to answer it.

"Hello?" she said softly.

**********

The next morning at the very same time that Judy was answering the phone back at her cabin, Kaliegh was reading the letter that was left for her the night before.

"Damn!" Kaliegh said, loud enough to wake up the Taker. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to wake you." Kaliegh sat down next to him with a heavy sigh and handed him the letter so he could read it as well.

According to her letter, Judy said that she wanted something so bad but she knew she could never have it, so she needed to get away before things became any more complicated than they already were.

When Taker was done reading the letter, he tossed it aside, an irritated look on his face. " I don't know what the deal is this time, but I'm getting a little bit tired of her antics." Taker growled as he headed for the shower.

"Well, now what?" Kaliegh asked as she grabbed Judy's letter and followed him into the bathroom.

"I guess the whole angle that she was involved in will have to be rewritten if she's not planning on coming back."

"But in this letter she said that she had to leave because of something she wanted so bad, but could never have. What is that supposed to mean?"

"I don't know, Kal. But it's something that neither you or I can give her." Taker said as he leaned over and turned on the shower, ending the conversation. "Now, why don't you come here so you and I can find out what we can give one another." Judy's letter slipped from Kaliegh's hand onto the floor...forgotten.

---------

"Hello?" Judy said into the phone for the second time.

"Judy.." The voice on the other end said, barely above a whisper. "This is Kane."

"How are you, Kane?" Judy asked casually, not wanting to get her hopes up about this phone call.

"I haven't been able to stop thinking about you, and I think it's about high time I clear up a few things concerning myself." Kane admitted in a louder, but gentle still voice.

"What is it, Kane?" Judy asked, holding her breath in anticipation.

There was a long silence and Judy began to wonder if Kane was still on the other end of the line, or if he had hung up on her. Finally he spoke again.

"Well, like I said before, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you, but I haven't been totally honest with you either."

Judy felt her heart sink, and then she became angry...She had been lied to by yet another man. "Kane, just what in the hell do you want?"

"Judy, I'm not really married...My wife divorced me well over a year ago. I went on pretending to be married because of the fans, and I thought some of the guys would think me a failure if they knew that I wasn't able to keep a woman happy. The Undertaker, Paul Bearer, and now you are the only ones who know the truth. I'm sorry I wasn't honest with you from the beginning."

Judy quietly hung up the phone as tears threatened to fall. As much as she wanted to believe what Kane said was true, she just couldn't. She had been hurt to bad by one too many men. Little did she know, not only what Kane told her was indeed the truth, but he had called her from the cell phone in his car and was only a little more than an hour away from her.

---------

It was the final show before SummerSlam. They had done one live show and two tapings that week already, but it was worth it to have a few days off before the huge PPV. Taker was scheduled to do an interview immediately following the Owen Hart/Shamrock match. The interview would be interrupted by Paul Bearer who was returning to the WWF after a 6 month hiatus.

Jim Ross: "Here comes the Undertaker with that mysterious woman."

The King: "Yeah, what is up with her anyway?"

Jim Ross: "Well, as we have noted before, she is very mysterious. The only concrete thing we know about her is that her name is Jaden."

"This Sunday at SummerSlam, Mark Henry, you will feel the wrath which is the fury of the Undertaker." As the Undertaker finished the first part of his interview, Paul Bearer came bursting through the curtain, down the ramp, and into the ring.

"How dare you, Undertaker!!" Paul screamed in his trademark voice. "How dare you replace me, and replace me with a woman, no less!!" The Undertaker took a step towards Paul bearer with murder in his eyes. "Come this Sunday, Undertaker, I promise you....I promise you will know that that woman is nothing more than cheap wh*re, just like your momma was." Paul Bearer threatened as he got out of the ring as fast as his large body would allow him. The Undertaker continued to stare at Paul Bearer as he slowly made his way up the ramp. As the show went to commercial, the Undertaker turned to his lady, and knelt down on one knee, his hand extended towards her.

---------

Back in Tennessee, Judy had begun to prepare dinner when a black 4x4 drove into her drive way.....

***********

As was her custom, Judy had cooked too much food for her lonely, solitary supper. She was just setting her plate on the table when she heard a truck pull up in her driveway. Going over to the window and looking out, she saw Kane getting out of the truck. With a soft groan, Judy leaned against the wall next to the window, gently banging her head against the wall. "What does he want from me? What else must I endure?" she moaned. The knock at the door brought her upright. With a quivering sigh, Judy patted her hair, checked her reflection in the mirror, then answered the door. Kane stood on the threshold looking just a little bit worried, wondering what his reception would be.

"Hello Kane. Won't you come in?" She asked, stepping aside to allow the big man entry.

Kane ducked his head, stepping through the doorway. Judy couldn't help admiring the way his black jeans hugged his tight butt. Dropping her eyes and turning her back to close the door, Kane missed the look she gave him, and she missed the way he looked at her.

"Judy, we need to talk!" he started, but got cut off.

"Have you eaten? I have dinner ready and cooked enough for a small army. Come on, sit down and let's have something to eat." She walked nervously passed the huge man, not waiting for his reply.

Going into the kitchen, she piled a plate high with roast beef, real mashed potatoes and real gravy, sweet corn and green peas. Placing two warm yeast rolls on a separate plate, she carried these to the table and sat them down. Returning to the kitchen, Judy poured a glass of iced tea, and carried it in to the big man. Kane was still standing where she left him. An uncertain look on his handsome face.

"Come on, let's eat. We can talk afterwards. OK?" She smiled up at the huge man.

Slowly, he relaxed somewhat, came forward and sat down next to her. Tentatively, Kane took a bite of the roast beef, and found it not only delicious, but tender.

"This is good! This is VERY good!" Surprise evident in his tone.

Judy laughed softly."What! You thought me just another pretty face? Shame on you, Kane! I'm a fantastic cook!" Eyes twinkling merrily, she grinned at the big man beside her.

---------

"Taker, Kane called. He said he was bringing Judy back with him. Said he'd be back day after tomorrow, before SummerSlam." Kaliegh told the man as he entered their room.

"Good.... I thought as much. I suspected Kane was attracted to her! Since his divorce, Kane has avoided women like the plague. Until Judy came along. She put that spark back in his eyes." He smiled softly, looking down at Kaliegh tenderly.

Kaliegh stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his solid body. He folded his arms around her, holding her close.

---------

They washed up the few dirty dishes, then went into the living room. Judy stopped mid-way, turned around and went back into the kitchen. "Kane would you like a beer? I think I have some." Her head stuck in the refrigerator, she didn't see him come up behind her.

"No, I don't believe I do. There IS something I DO want. But you won't find it in there." His soft voice startled her with its nearness.

Spinning around, her eyes wide with surprise, her lips slightly parted, Kane could not resist, and tenderly took her in his arms. Their kiss, though uncertain at first, quickly became rather passionate. Their lips,..their bodies,..were molded together. With a huge effort, she pulled away from Kane's embrace, breathing heavily. Turning away, she walked into the living room, on legs not quite steady. Holding on to the back of a chair, she took deep breaths, attempting to calm herself.

Kane followed her, confused and a little hurt by her actions. Cocking his head to one side, he studied her, taking in the ragged breathing, the slight trembling, her swollen lips.

Turning to face him, she said "Kane we need to talk!" Her eyes glazed with lust. He remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"I've been hurt by too many men, Kane. I can't risk that again." Her lips spoke the words, but her eyes told another story all together.

Without saying a word, Kane came forward, picked her up in his arms, and carried her down the hall to her bedroom. Within seconds, their clothes were scattered all over the room. Their bodies locked tight in an embrace as old as time. Later... much later, they talked.

**************

With only two days left before SummerSlam, Taker and Kaliegh flew into St. Louis where the PPV was being held. From the airport they picked up a rental car, and then went to their hotel. They wanted to use the time to rest, and finalize the plans for the angle revolving around SummerSlam.

"So you must have been in about every city in the United States by now. Which is your favorite?" Kaliegh asked Taker as he unlocked the door to their room.

"Well, I really don't have a favorite. It seems as soon as we get to one city, we turn around and leave for another. But now, as long as you're beside me, every city is my favorite." Taker finished as he cradled her head in his hands and kissed her.

Taker headed for the shower as Kaliegh opened the french doors that led out onto the balcony. The soft breeze and full moon made for a beautiful night. As she looked up at the stars, Kaliegh thought about Judy and hoped she too felt this happy. Kaliegh sighed as she felt two strong arms wrap themselves around her.She turned around, looked into his intense green eyes and melted into him. In the light of the full moon, the two bodies became one.

---------

"Alright, Kal...." Taker said the next morning as they ate breakfast. This is what will happen at SummerSlam."

Kaliegh wasn't hearing a word he was saying. Her mind was a thousand miles away.

"Hey Kal!! You still with me??" Taker said as he waved a hand in front of her face.

"OH!! Sorry!...I was thinking about...um....stuff." Kaliegh looked down into her cup as a slight blush crept into her cheeks.

"Good thought, I hope." Taker said with a knowing smile.

"Yes, very nice thought. Now what were you saying?" Kaliegh asked, wanting to change the subject.

Taker continued to grin at her, making her blush even deeper. "Well, I was trying to tell you what's going to be going down at SummerSlam. Are you ready now?" Taker asked her, an amused expression crossing his handsome face. Kaliegh threw him a playful glare and nodded for him to continue.

"It will be a normal one on one match until the very end. Then Paul Bearer will show up with Kane and Judy in tow. While Paul is spewing his venom, I will be attacked by Kane and you will be attacked by Judy, thus causing me to lose the match. As the pay-per-view goes off the air, Kane will be shown throwing you and I into the ring and he'll do his magic and start the ring on fire. This will be the set up for the challenge I make the following night on RAW and the match against Kane the following week on RAW."

"God, aren't you getting sick of this whole angle? I mean, first you and Kane are enemies, and then allies, then enemies again and you go back with Paul Bearer and then he turns on you and now he's aligned with Kane again. Geez...How do they keep it all straight?"

"That's just it, the bookers are doing so many things that they are confusing themselves and screwing everything up. You'd think the WWF hired some of the WCW script writers the way things have been going lately. But, they are promising better things for us by Survivor Series. Better be or someone will have hell to pay."

"When do Kane and Judy get into town?"

"They should be in later on this evening." Taker said. Kaliegh was excited to see Judy. She had missed her having not seen her the last couple of days.

"Good, I can't wait to see her." Kaliegh said as they got up and headed out the door.


Chapter Seven of And Then He Was Gone>
© 1998 by Kaliegh McLoed and Judy Smith
**this story cannot be used in any way with out written permission