When the Smoke is Going Down

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Nora was a bundle of nerves the next evening as she and Amy made their way back to the women's locker room.

It felt strange to be walking around an arena for a show while he was running around loose somewhere out there. He could be *anywhere*, she guessed. It was damn creepy. Also, she knew the bastard had planned to go after Amy and Stephanie - the two of the four of them he'd not attacked and raped three years earlier. Likewise, the brunette knew Paul had planned on doing the exact same to them as he had Torrie and herself. And he'd come damn close with Stephanie that one night at that arena. Hell, he could very well have attacked Amy that one night at the hospital after he'd shot her. The sick bastard...

"Nor - you okay?"

The sound of the redhead's voice, her hand gently grasping her upper arm, brought the diva back to her senses.

"You're white as a sheet," Amy said softly. Still, there was understanding of a deep level in the taller diva's hazel eyes, and a shudder went through her. She knew all too well what was going through her friend's mind.

Nora nodded quickly.

"I'm just... Well, it just feels weird... Scary," she admitted.

"I know," Amy nodded. "I'm scared, too. Thank goodness Judy has Angelina, or I would have *totally* lost it by now."

The little brunette reached out for her best friend's hand and gave it a little squeeze. She knew how protective the redhead was of her baby daughter and knew that Adam's mother was the best choice of temporary guardian during this time.

"She'll be fine."

"I know..." Amy said, licking her lips as she pushed back some long red strands behind her ears. "But how are *you* holding up? You *and* Jay..."

"We're trying to keep level heads about the situation," the shorter woman said as they stepped through the locker room door. "Jay has been pretty calm about the entire thing, and he's keeping me sane."

"Same thing Adam's been doing for me," the redheaded diva spoke of her own husband. She was so fortunate to have him, that she hadn't *lost* him. First, he'd nearly died after being shot in the stomach by Levesque - and that was only days after *she* herself had been shot. And he *had* actually died on the operating table for a few seconds, but than God he'd come back. And of course, prior to all of that, Adam had broken up with her - his sole reason, of course, merely to protect her.

Nora glanced around the room as she made a beeline for her locker and street clothes. Torrie was nowhere to be seen, but that didn't alarm her, as she knew the tall blonde had finished early in the night, and she tended to go to Stephanie's office once she was done with a show. The platinum blonde diva always went to her best friend for support.

As she gathered her belongings, her gaze traveling briefly back to Amy, the strangest feeling came over her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but the fine hairs on the back of her neck were suddenly standing on end.
 
 
 
 

Part 7

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