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Edge winced as he tried to straighten up a bit in the crammed locker, his head hitting the ceiling. He'd lost track of the time, and although he knew he'd only been hiding in here for maybe twenty minutes, it felt a lot more like an hour - hours, even.
Instinctively, he started to raise his left arm to touch his head, but he couldn't even manage that. Damn it...
He suddenly became aware of the distinct sound of someone approaching the locker in which he was hiding and tensed even more. Moments ago, he'd heard the voices of divas other than Lita, but they seemed to disperse. And then, he could hear the breathing right outside the locker and held his own breath.
"Listen..." It was Lita's voice, and for that he was grateful. "... everyone's gone," she announced in a semi-soft tone. "I stalled in here to make sure everyone left first." He heard the distinct sound of the handle on the other side of the door being lifted. Then, she had the door open and he squinted out at her, a wince again coming to his face.
"Oh, baby... I'm so sorry," the redhead said, sympathy written all over her lovely face. She held a hand out to him and he gingerly stepped out. In seconds, she was in front of him, her small hands up on his shoulders as she massaged his aching, stiff muscles. "I'm the only diva still here at the arena," she explained. "I waited for all the others to leave."
Edge groaned, his eyes closing as he rolled his head to the side. His neck was sure feeling stiff, and he raised a hand and pressed it to the back of his head.
"That was not... fun," he admitted, opening his eyes to take in the wince she gave. "Especially after taking a chokeslam from 'Taker earlier."
"I'm sorry, Edge," Lita said softly. She recalled what had happened earlier when he'd accompanied Christian to the ring for his triple-threat match against the Undertaker and D'Von Dudley. He'd been at the announcer's table but had gotten physically involved when the Dead Man had pie-shoved him in the face on the outside. And later on, the poor thing had received a chokeslam when he'd run in to try to help his tag team partner. He *had* to be hurting after that, plus hiding in her cramped locker. "I'll make it up to you, I promise," she purred, a small smile touching her lips as she stood up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Despite his stiffness and pain, a grin came to the tall blond man's face. Wrapping his own arms around the diva's waist, he held her close.
"I'm gonna hold you to that, you know."
She laughed softly.
"Well, aren't you just the horniest thing? And after what we did right here earlier..."
"For you," he said huskily, a smirk adorning his handsome face, "I can go all night."
She was beaming, then she bit her lip, her hazel eyes shining with adoration.
"I can't wait... But you let *me* take care of *you* after what you've been through tonight, okay?"
"Hey," Edge said, raising his hands and holding them palms-up toward her, "you won't get any argument from *me*."
She laughed, giving him a soft but lingering kiss on the lips, and he responded eagerly. After a moment, she pulled away and crossed back to her bag.
"Listen - I'm gonna catch a shower, then meet you back at the hotel. Give me a couple minutes head start before you get out of here."
He nodded and lifted a hand to try to work out a crick in his neck.
A moment later, Lita slipped from the room and headed out into the hallway with her clothing, shampoo and soap. Despite herself, there was still a tiny smile present on her lips - until she turned a corner and damn near bumped into someone. She scowled as she saw who it was.
"Not so fast, honey..." The man reached out to grasp her arm, which she quickly yanked away.
"Get away from me, Dean..."
Malenko let out a derisive laugh, his dark eyes cold as he fixed them on her face.
"You're really full of fire, aren't you, girl?" Before she could speak again, he cut her off. "I just wanted to let you know that this-" He gestured with a stubby finger, pointing from himself to her and back again. "-isn't over between us."
"Oh, yes it *is*," the redhead snapped, her eye reducing to furious slits.
The man laughed again, but there was really no trace of humor in it.
"You think just because that lovesick puppy cheated to help you win, I'm gonna forget all about you?" Dean shook his head. "Trust me, this is a *long* way from being over. You'll be hearing from me again." His gaze shifted ever so briefly to a person standing a ways down the hall, and the smirk-grin returned to his smug face. How obvious could they be? Not to mention that he'd overheard Terri telling Perry Saturn that Lita had been acting very strangely and had had the locker room, door locked. Malenko knew exactly why that was, and he vowed he would act on what he knew soon enough.
"Whatever, Dean," Lita snapped. "Now, if you'll *excuse* me, I have better things to do than stand here and gab with you all night." With that, she briskly walked away from him.
Rather than turn to watch her storm away, Dean shifted his gaze back to the form of Edge disappearing
down the hallway in the opposite direction.