Sweet Talkin' Woman

Taking a moment to sit down on one of the packing crates, Tania let out a small sigh. She still could not find the energy to get her though an entire day despite the fact she had flown out to the last four set ups. She was almost certain that Jake had picked up on it as well. Hell, maybe he was right in the fact that she needed to take a break from things.
Letting out a little sigh, she wondered if Randy was at the arena yet. Sure, she hadn't spoken to him since they had met, but it was worth a shot. Even if her suspicions were right in the fact it was only a one time thing. In an odd way, she felt relaxed around him. For once, she wasn't having to worry about twenty million other things when she was with him. Just making sure he was insulted enought. Getting everything that he dished out right back. "You're getting fucking delusional, Tania."

---

"Don't worry about it Lil, they'll find someone else." Dave assured, wrapping his arm around Lilian Garcia's neck and dropping a quick kiss against her cheek. "There are other announcers, and someone else around here has to be able to sing well enough to pull of the anthem."

"I'm sorry Shane, I really hate the fact that I've lost my voice." Lillian rasped, the tears clearly forming in her eyes. Everyone in the room felt bad for Lilian. She always liked to put 100 into her work, and with her losing her voice it wasn't going to happen. At least not tonight. But on the same token, the girl worked just as much as the rest of them and put her vocal chords through hell. It would be nice for once to have someone else sing the the National Anthem.

"I told you not to worry about it Lil. I'm sure someone around here will be able to point us in the direction of another vocally giften person. Hell, I'll send Irvine out there if I have to." Lilian chuckled at the thought of that. She would pay Shane to see that one happen.

"I know someone who can sing." Randy suddenly piped up. The attention of Lilian, Shane, Dave and Vince was completely focused on Randy, and Randy alone. "If she's still here, of course." Randy was quick to elaborate. One thing he knew for sure, there was no backing out of it now. All he hoped was that he didn't get his ass kicked over it.

"Who?"

"An employee, working with the construction team. She was singing the other day when Dave and I overheard her. He can vouch for me. She's a pretty little thing too." Unfolding his arms from his chest, Randy moved up away from the wall and closer to where everyone was grouped around. Usually he hated to do things like this, it wasn't his problem or his business. But he knew that it was the fourth of July, and that this meant something to the company.

"Is she here now?"

"I'm not sure. She might be doing clean up right about now if we are still lucky." Randy shrugged, the last few days that he had caught glimpse of her she didn't really seem to be following any schedule. It just depended on what was going on for the night. "They did have that steel cage to put together."

Shane glanced for a moment between his Dad and Randy before seeing the glint of hope in Lillian's eyes. "How long would it take you to find her?"

"I'll be back in five." Randy grinned, grabbing his water and heading on out the locker room door. He knew that it was his green light to try and find Tania. Now all he hoped was that she would be as understanding about the whole situation. At least he had a decent enough excuse to talk to her this time.

---

"Have you given any thought into that vacation?" Jake questioned as he handed over a cup of coffee to Tania. As she tried to stifle a yawn, Tania found herself becoming a little irritated with how often she was being asked that question by him. It seemed almost every hour they were going through the exact same thing.

"Yes."

"And...?"

"No."

"Damn it Tania, just take the condo and get a way for a week. Before you burn out." Jake pleaded. He had seen people do it far too often for his liking. He didn't want to see Tania added to the list. Though it was one of the side effects of being on the road, Jake would try to do his best to stop it from happening to his staff. "Please?"

"Nope. And you won't win."

"Win what?" Turning around, Tania found herself coming face to face with a confused Randy Orton. Suprised, Tania really hadn't expected to see him again. At least not freely like this. Maybe she had the situation all wrong.

Shaking her head, she realized that there was still a question to answer. "Argument."

"Yeah, man." Randy started, peering around Tania to look at Jake. "She's a women. Everyone knows that women are always right...even when they are wrong. Any man who wants to procreate would be best to know that little bit of information." Randy chuckled with a pointed glance in Jake's direction. "You're a wanted lady by the way."

"Me?" Tania was definately more than suprised now. Barely anyone knew who she was, let alone had to hunt her down for something. "Why? What did I do?"

Randy laughed, trying to keep himself from another smart remark. He and Tania would be there all day if he even bothered to start. "It's more a case of what you can do, actually."

"And what exactly would that be?"

"Sing."

Frowning, Tania knew she was definately in over her head now. And that something just wasn't adding up in the equation. "What does that have to do with anything?"

Resting an arm on Tania's shoulder, Randy sighed. He hoped that she wasn't about to explode in his face when he revealed the big news. "Ever sang the National Anthem before?"

"Yes...why?" Tania was now cautious more than anything. Choosing her words carefully, she knew that one slip could have her agreeing to almost anything. And with it being Randy, she was sure that everything was possible with that boy. "What have you got me into?"

"Shane McMahon wants to see you."

"Randy, what did you do?" All of her senses were now up and focused. Whatever Randy had done now had her dealing with the boss, and that wasn't good for her situation. Any screw up could have her heading back to the unemployment line...if that wasn't where she was heading at the end of the day. Tania wasn't even sure what was stopping her from strangling Randy right then.

"Lilian has strained her voice and we need someone who can sing. I mentioned it to them that you were really good." Randy defended, not seeing it as that big of deal. It wasn't as though he volunteered Tania to do it wihtout actually asking her first. He was a little smarter then that. "He wants to meet you. Let's not make a big commotion out of it. Like I said, if you don't want to do it then don't. All I did was mention the fact that you could sing. Lil can't do it tonight, and she's pretty upset about that fact."

Suddenly that hint of anger on Tania's face turned into fear. "I've never sang in front of a crowd before Randy..."

"You'd do fine. Look, just go talk to Shane. That's all I'm asking." Randy assured, offering his hand out to Tania. "I wouldn't have suggested it to Shane if I didn't think you would be able to do it."

"You don't know me though."

"I know a star when I see one." Randy assured. "And you, whether you know it or not, you have that quality in you."

Shaking her head in disagreement Tania took his hand. "You better be right Randy. If something happens and I embarass myself out there it will be your head on the pike not mine." Her warning was stern, and though Randy could detect the tone of amusement in her voice he could also hear the seriousness.

"Have a little faith in yourself, would you?"

"I think you're going to have to fill that job for me tonight...if I end up agreeing of course. Randy, I'm just a techy. I can't sing in front of thousands of people."

Shaking his head, Randy was starting to regret every bringing it up. It was obvious that Tania wasn't going to be so easily swayed to do it for them, all he could hope was that talking to Shane and Lilian would knock a little sense into her. "Just tell them that yourself then. Please."

"Fine. I'll talk to them. But I'm telling you now, I probably won't agree to this. I'm a chicken shit Randy, why the hell do you think I'm doing this job. I don't have to socialize, or be in front of large crowds or be heavily depended on as a leader. I just do what I'm told. That way if I fuck things up I'm not going to get the third degree about it."

"I'd like to see that theory work if the steel cage fell from the ceiling during a match." He knew she was being too hard on herself. He also knew that everyone wasn't as comfortable in front of an audience as he was. But this was one of those opportunities that you couldn't pass up so easily...you'd regret it later on. All he had to do was get Tania to see it that way. "I'm not so sure it would go over quite that well."

"Yeah, but more than one person sets up that cage. And it is the supervisor's job to make sure that it will be safe in the end. Not mine. If I screw up singing in front of all those people, or I freeze up...well then it all comes back to little ol' me." Tania rationalized. She refused to let herself be tricked or guilted into doing it. Not this time.

"If you say so. Just talk to them."

With a huff, Tania succumed to defeat. "As you wish."