Resurrection of the Druidess

 


    "Help! Help me, please- someone help?!" The force of the blow brought tears to my eyes and blood from my mouth.
    "Now look here, girl. I wasn't plannin' on hurtin' you. That don't mean I won't. So stop yer screamin' and hold still."
    I closed my eyes as I felt his hands rip my clothes from my body. My voice was silent, but my mind howled as the rough hands pulled on my hips, my body being violated by a man I'd never before known. I couldn't ignore his grunts and groans and lewd comments, his calloused, dirty hands, or the heavy scent of alcohol on his breath. His brutal, intrusive kisses made me want to vomit, and when I wouldn't return them, he'd thrust harder and strike me across the face.
    "Aren't you enjoying yourself, sweetheart? You better be... this is as good as you'll ever have, baby. You better enjoy it while you can, 'cause ain't no one gonna want you now, darlin'." His intoxicated laughter echoed in the evening air. 
    Every movement brought a fresh wave of pain as the blood from my mouth and nose mixed with the silent tears flowing from my eyes. I heard him cry out in pleasure, felt him release. I closed my eyes and waited for him to leave me to my misery. His footsteps grew softer, then louder again. As I tried to brace myself for another violation, he gave me a swift kick to the stomach. 
    He grabbed hold of my matted hair, pulling my face close to his. "Now you don't need to worry your pretty little head about bein' pregnant." My head hit the ground with a sickening thud as the footsteps receded again. 
    I curled into fetal position, afraid to move, afraid to breathe, afraid he still wasn't done. Time passed, and evening gave way to the black of night. Surely he's forgotten about me by now. I tried to block out the pain as I forced myself up onto my knees. I saw something moving on my right side... it was him, walking toward me. In one final cry of defeat, I gave in to the horror and the pain, collapsing on the cold grass.

* * * * *

    "I'm sorry, sir, but if you're not family, you'll have to wait outside."
    Mark scowled at the doctor. I was almost family once. "You mean to tell me that despite the fact I saved her life, I can't stay and make sure she's alright?" His figure loomed over the doctor's, but the shorter man held firm.
    "She's been brutally attacked and raped, sir. I doubt she would welcome the sight of a large man beside her when she wakes." At the obvious pain in Mark's eyes, he sighed. "We'll tell you as soon as we know anything."
    Mark collapsed heavily into a cramped lobby chair. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket, dialing. "Glenn? It's Mark. You busy? ... Would you come down to Northern Hospital? I'm in the lobby of ICU.... Yeah. And bring something to eat, would you? ... It's a long story, Glenn. I'll tell you when you get here. ... Yeah. Bye." 
    He returned the phone to the pocket of his leather jacket and wondered what the hell he was doing waiting for her.

* * * * *

    Glenn arrived in another twenty minutes with a bag of Chinese takeout. "So, you've got some 'splainin' to do."
    Mark chuckled softly. If anyone could make him smile right now, it was Glenn. "Yes Ricky. But first..." He snatched the bag from Glenn and set the meal before them. Mark hoped the food would pacify the butterflies in his stomach. 
    "Somebody's hungry." Glenn smiled, hoping to ease his friend's mind. He watched Mark take a troubled bite of his rice. "Mark... what happened tonight?"
    "I was riding by the river, and I saw something move nearby. I cut the engine, walked toward it. I saw a naked woman try to get up, look at me, scream, and collapse back to the ground. It wasn't until I got to her that I saw the blood." Mark let out a broken sigh. "God, Glenn... it was horrible." He put his head in his hands.
    Glenn tilted his head. Mark had been in some pretty brutal fights. Hell, he'd been in a match so bloody that his opponent almost had to be carried out on a stretcher- twice. If he was horrified at the sight, it must have been truly brutal. Glenn reached out his hand, placing it on his friend's shoulder.
    At Glenn's touch, Mark raised his head. The tears in his eyes threatened to spill, and he blinked hard to force them back. "She was covered in blood, and still bleeding. Her eye was swollen shut, and some bastard had his way with her." He spat the words angrily.
    "Mark... lower your voice. People are staring."
    "He clothes were just rags, strewn everywhere. I found her wallet in her jeans...." Mark's voice broke, his head dropping to his chest.
    Glenn's mind was racing. Mark obviously knew the woman, and cared a great deal about her. He wasn't sure he wanted to know, but he had to ask. "Mark... who is she?" Glenn had to strain to hear Mark's voice as he said her name. 
    "Antoinette Drew." 
    Glenn swallowed hard. Antoinette Drew had been a valet of Mark's a couple years ago. A romantic relationship developed- hell, Mark had mentioned marrying her more than once. When Mark needed time off to heal from an injury, Vince decided to change his gimmick- and release his valet. Mark had been furious, and it was Toni who had gotten him through it. It was a long time after that before he was back to his normal self. He still made an effort to contact her when he could. Mark had barely looked at another woman since then, and Glenn knew that he still cared deeply for Toni. 
    Mark forced himself to finish his meal, trying desperately to chase the image of a beaten and bloodied Toni from his mind. Glenn sat beside him in silence, watching his friend try to brave his emotions. He walked over to the nurses' station, and asked her where Toni was staying. At least then he'll know where she is... The nurse was more than willing to help the handsome man before her, and when he asked her to explain the situation to the doctor, she hurried off to find him. 
    Mark sat in silence, wondering why Glenn was talking with the nurse, and just what she'd run off to get for him. He'd had little interest in women since Toni had moved back to Minnesota, focusing his attention instead on his career. To see his friend flirting with some random girl when he was in pain irritated him, and when Glenn returned, smiling, Mark decided to let him have it. I called him for support, damn it, not so he could pick up the nurse. 
    Glenn saw the storm brewing across Mark's visage. "Mark, let me explain..."
    Mark stood to meet him. "Explain what? You know how much she means to me... and you're too busy with a two-bit nurse to care!" 
    "Mark..."
    "Excuse me, Mr. Callaway?" The doctor tapped him on the shoulder. 
    Mark turned, and his anger died at the sight of the doctor. "How is she?"
    "Well, she's still unconscious, but you can see her."
    "I thought you said only family could see her."
    Glenn put his hand on Mark's back, urging him towards Toni's room. "I explained your circumstances to the nurse, and they're making an exception." 
    Mark's guilt overwhelmed him. "Glenn, I'm..."
    "It's okay, Mark. Go be with her."

* * * * *

    I tried opening my eyes, slowly, hoping I was just dreaming. When only one would open, I tested my arms, and pain ripped through me. That answers that question, I thought bitterly. I looked around... industrial white, monitors, an IV drip... a hospital room. I saw the man in the corner, sleeping in a chair for someone half his size. I bit my lip, trying to suppress my fear. They wouldn't let him into the room. No. I looked again at the man, and he stirred, opening his eyes. 
    "Mark?" A smile tried to spread across my bruised face. 
    His eyes lit up like a kid's at Christmas. "Toni." He crossed the room in two steps, taking my hand in his. "I thought I'd never see you again."
    I laughed softly, wincing at the pain it brought. "Nah. Takes more than that to keep me down. Besides, now I know how to get you to see me...."
    The doctor walked in, and seeing me, smiled warmly. "Good morning, Antoinette. Good to see you awake. How do you feel?"
    "To be honest, I've felt better." Mark's soft chuckle brought a smile to my face. "But having him here helps." I squeezed Mark's hand, smiling. 
    "Actually, if you're up to it, there's someone else who'd like to see you."
    I looked from Mark to the doctor to the door as it opened, revealing a rather disheveled looking Glenn. "Well, well. Look who decided to wake up."
    "Hey, Glenn. Wait. Glenn...how did you know I was here?" I looked back to Mark. I had been so happy to see him I never gave a thought to why he knew I was here. "Who called you guys?"
    Mark cleared his throat, looking over at Glenn. 
    "Well... Mark called me...."
    I looked at Mark. 
    "And I'm the one that brought you here, Toni."
    "You? But he was coming back to..." I started to tremble, remembering what I thought the man was returning for. 
    Mark's hand brushed my hair from my forehead. "Shhh... it's okay, Toni. He's gone. Nothing is going to happen to you. It's okay. It's okay." 
    Glenn marveled at us as I calmed under Mark's touch. They still love each other, after all this time. Vince should put her back on the roster as soon as she's healed.  They need each other. Speaking of Vince... "Mark? You either need to leave or call Vince... the line starts in less than an hour." 
    Mark's face fell, but he knew his friend was right. "I better go. He won't take kindly to the champion missing."
    I squeezed his hand again. "And I had tickets to see it, too..." I looked from Mark to Glenn and back. "Can you stay, then?"
    The two men exchanged glances. "I'd be honored."
    Mark looked from Glenn to me, and gently kissed the back of my hand. "I'll be back as soon as I can, Toni. Miss me."
    I smiled. "Have for years. Good luck tonight, Champion."
    "I have you. I don't need luck. Take care of her, Glenn." He closed the door quietly behind him. 
    I beamed as that familiar tingly feeling spread through my body.
    "Wow. Looks like you two haven't skipped a beat." Glenn laughed softly. "I haven't seen him that happy in months. Can't imagine what he'll be like when you've recovered."
    I looked at Glenn, a smirk upon my face. "I can." Suddenly, questions I didn't have time to ask Mark about finding me came to mind.   "Glenn, did he tell you about last night?"
    "Yes, he did. Why?"
    "How did he find me?"
    "He said he was riding by the river, and he saw something moving nearby. When he approached, you screamed and fainted. He called an ambulance."
    "Riding by the river? But that park is over 50 miles from the Target Center... what was he doing so far from the arena?"
    Glenn tilted his head. "I never thought to ask him that. Probably just out riding. You know Mark."
    "Yeah... he'd go riding if he lost... but he won. He should have been living it up with you guys."
    "I honestly don't know, Toni. Thought never crossed my mind." 
    "Glenn?"
    "Yes?"
    "Would you do me a huge favor?"
    He smiled. "Certainly." 
    "Will you stay here with me while I sleep?"
    He looked over to the chair where I'd seen Mark less than a half hour ago, then back to me. "Of course." He brushed the hair from my face, and patted my hand. "Good night, Toni." 
    "Night, Glenn."

* * * * *

    The dreams I had were a jumble of pain and love. Luckily, I managed to keep the images from the attacks separate from the images of my rescue. I would hate myself if I had mixed the two, projecting my pain and fear at Mark. I sighed contently. Mark. It felt so nice to see him when I woke up, so natural for his hand to cover mine, so right for him to be there. 
    I opened my good eye and looked around for him. He and Glenn were sitting in the corner, talking softly. I laid there, watching them in silence for a few moments, just remembering all the good times together. 
    "Hey there, sleepyhead." Mark smiled. 
    "Morning, boys. How long have you been there?"
    "Not too long. You feeling better?" He crossed the room, taking my hand in his. 
    Glenn stood. "I'll go then. You two have some catching up to do."
    "Glenn?" I gestured for him to come closer, then still closer as I gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for staying with me. I feel a lot safer with you guys around. Tell everyone in the Fed. I say hi, okay?" 
    He nodded. "Any time, Toni. And if you ever want to see us... you can always just call, instead." We all chuckled as the door clicked shut. 
    "He's right, you know."
    "Hmm?"
    "You could just call."
    "I was going to do better, and come to the show, but..." my voice trailed off. 
    "I know, Toni. It's okay."
    "Mark, can I ask you something?" He nodded. "Glenn said you found me because you were riding down by the river.... That's over 50 miles from the arena. If you won the belt, why did you take off? Shouldn't you have stayed and celebrated with the guys?"
    Mark smiled. "Actually, Toni, I was on my way to celebrate."
    "But the hotel is..."
    "I know. But your house is in the other direction."
    My eyes widened at his statement. He was leaving them to see me? A feeling of warmth coursed through my body, and a tear trickled down my cheek. He still cared.
    "When Jim couldn't find you at the show, I figured you hadn't been able to get a ticket, so I thought I'd drop by, and maybe we could celebrate." The desire in his last few words sent shivers down my spine. 
    "Oh, Mark... that would have been..." 
    "It still can be, you know." His lips graced my hand, and he watched my reaction as he kissed each of my fingertips.
    My hand started to tremble beneath his lips and I pinched my lower lip between my teeth. Despite all the horror of the last two days, I wanted nothing more than to feel us together once again. But that couldn't happen. I know us... if we start, we'll never stop. So we better not start. "Mark..." I was shocked at how needy I sounded.
    He looked into my face, his eyes languid with desire. It brought tears to my eyes to know that even this broken, he still wanted me. Still loved me. But he was leaving tonight for the road. We'd had this conversation years ago. I didn't want to have it again now. "Mark, stop.  Please."
    He set my hand on his thigh, covered by his own. "I would never do anything to hurt you, Toni. You know that."
    "Yes. I know. But I'm afraid if we start, we won't be able to stop... and as much as I want you, need you, my body can't handle it right now.   And it would make tomorrow morning so much harder with you back on the road... I don't want to be a one time thing."
    "I understand. I've always respected you. That wouldn't change now. Although, something else might...." 
    "What would change?"
    Mark walked back over to his coat and pulled out his cell phone, dialing. I hope Glenn's had enough time to convince him... "Yeah. It's Mark. So, what do you say?"
    I tilted my head, staring at him. Say about what? What is he changing? 
    "Good. Run it up and fax it over. I'll tell them to wait for it. Sure. Here she is." Mark handed me the phone. 
    I took it from him cautiously. "Who is it?" I whispered. He said nothing. "Hello?" 
    "Toni? This is Vince McMahon."
    "Hi, Vince. How's the Fed?"
    Vince chuckled. He knew damn well she watched every show, and probably knew most of the inside information as well. She was sharp, especially for only having been a valet. When Glenn and Mark had approached him about making her a manager, it made sense. He just hoped she healed well. He hated to be so shallow, but the market demanded a pretty face. "It's fine. Has Mark or Glenn told you why I would be talking to you?"
    "No."
    Great. Thanks, guys. "I'd like to ask you to come back to us. I'm faxing over a tentative contract in about an hour that I'd like you to look over. You won't start until you're completely healed, of course, but I would appreciate it if you made a decision by Friday so I could get some projected storylines started."
    I looked at Mark, who was in the corner, staring intently at his jacket. "What do you want me to do?"
    "Well, now that Mark is WWF champion, he's going to be hunted... he'll need help. He'll need someone to watch out for him."
    "Would I still just be his valet?"
    "No. I want you to be my manager." Mark voice's echoed across the room.
    "Is that true, Vince? I'd be his manager?"
    "Yes. That's what the contract is for."
    "I'll think about it. What if I don't heal well?" I hated to think about it, but after Monday night, I might not look like I used to.
    "We'll take that as it comes, okay, Toni?" If she didn't heal well, he'd find something else for her to do. Mark and Glenn were very specific. She needed help right now, and it was help Vince could give her. It was the least he could do... she'd done wonders for the ratings when she was around before. 
    "Fine. Anything else?"
    "No. Is Mark still there?"
    "Yeah. Here." I held out the phone to him.
    "Yeah?"
    "Can she be moved right now? I'd like for her to come with us when we leave Minneapolis."
    "I don't know. I'll check. If not?"
    "You can stay with her until Monday. But you have to be back for RAW. And if she can go by then, take her with. I'll deal with the expenses."
    "Fine. I'll be waiting on that contract."
    "Fine. Give me an hour to get it drawn up. Wish her luck for me."
    Mark smiled. "I will. Bye." He closed the phone.


 To Be Continued...

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