Not Knowing What You Got Till Its Gone

Author: PaulenaK

Rating: PG

Pairing: Stephanie/Jericho

Summary: Stephanie’s had enough.

Disclaimers: Everything WWE belongs to Vince McMahon. Matt and Jeff Hardy belong to Matt and Jeff Hardy.

Feedback: Is much appreciated

**

Part One

**

Tonight had to be the worst of them all, would she never get use to

this? Of the feeling of rejection his insults brought forth? She

could never let anyone know what these little episodes (for that’s what she called them) just exactly what those few minutes of camera time did to her.

It was like every session he had something knew he'd thought up the

night before, something just as hurtful and degrading as the prior

one. She didn't know how this had all started it was like one day he

woke up and said to himself `I think I'll make Stephanie McMahon

Helmsley's life a misery.'

And he had, but the misery was what she kept behind her well built up

mask of what they all knew as "The Billion Dollar Princess"

"Pfft!"

She sniffed again wiping at the last of the tears that trailed down

her cheeks before getting up off the pavement where she had sought

refuge after another bout of being called a dirty, disgusting, bottom

feeding trash bag ho and smoothing down the creases in her shirt and

brushing at the dust on her jeans, her resolve in place she made her way back into the arena.

**

Team X-treme stood outside Chris Jericho’s locker room waiting on him

while he still gathered his gear together, not in uncommon thing, his tendency to ‘take his time’ after a match earning him the nickname ‘old man’ in there little circle of friends.

Hearing a door open down the hall they saw Stephanie McMahon enter one of the many backstage doors that served as emergency exits.

"Wonder where she takes off to all the time?" Lita asked watching as

Stephanie made her way down to the end of the hallway before opening

another door and stepping quietly behind it, not giving any

indication that she had seen them standing there.

"What do you mean all the time? You keeping tabs on the billion

dollar princess?" Jeff replied quirking an eyebrow in her

direction. "I thought that was Jericho’s job."

Lita's brow creased in thought.

"Watching…. No…" Then she smiled as Jericho himself opened the door and stepped through to stand in front of them. "Humiliating her is more in his job description."

"Talking about me again Lita?" He leaned towards Matt. "You

need to get your girl a hobby." He teased elbowing the elder Hardy in the side.

"Ha! He tried that, Lita out knitted him two scarfs and three pairs of baby booties later!" Jeff scoffed as matt sent his brother a glare.

"Knitting? Baby booties?" Jericho repeated with raised brows.

"Well we had to start off with something easy." Matt stated picking

up his bag before making his way down the hallway not even stopping

to see if they were following.

Just then Stephanie chose that moment to come out of the room she had only just a few minutes ago entered and immediately came to a stop when Jericho halted in front of her.

"Looking for your next customer?" He remarked.

"Shut up Jericho." She replied pulling the strap of her bag higher up on her shoulder and pushing passed him before he could say

anymore.

"Hey, you dropped…" He began as a white envelope fell to the ground

in her haste to leave, but he stopped short when he realised the door

was already swinging shut after her.

Shrugging he shoved the envelope in the side pocket of his bag and

made his way out to the car park.

**

"Insufferable man!" She shrieked wiping a lone tear that ran down her

cheek. `Why do I let him do this to me? Who ever made up that

saying `sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never

hurt me' needs to be shot!'

She stood at the elevator door digging around inside her purse for the key card to her hotel room. All she wanted to do was have a long hot bath and go to bed. She could already feel the beginnings of a

migraine coming on.

"Hey Princess," She looked up to see Kurt Angle standing beside her

not even noticing that the elevator had arrived and that he had gotten off.

"Hey Kurt," She managed a weak smile.

"You okay?" He asked a concerned look in his eyes.

"I just have a tiny head ache I'll be fine after a good nights sleep."

"Can I get you anything while I'm out?" He asked holding the

automatic doors open with his hand while she entered.

"No, I'll be fine really. Congratulations on your win tonight." She

waved once more before walking down the corridor towards her room.

Once inside her room she breathed a sigh of relief to be finally

alone, she could let down her defences now, remove the `Billion

Dollar Princess' mask and just be Stephanie. Throwing her bag on a

nearby chair she headed into the bathroom, turning on the faucet she

stripped down and sank into the water, praying the heat and the steam

would help her forget tonight's set of insults and prepare her mind

for the onslaught of next time because there was always a next time.

Sighing, thoughts of a normal life filtered through her mind, thoughts of freedom, which soon turned into thoughts of escape. Could she really go ahead with what had been looping through her mind these

past few weeks? Could she leave the WWE? Could she leave her family?

Right now it seemed the only way to escape the title everyone at the

WWE had deemed her. The only way to escape Chris Jericho. Thanks to

him no one saw her as just Stephanie. To everyone she was a spoilt

brat, daddy's little girl, Vince McMahon's youngest… the Billion Dollar Princess. When they looked at her that's what they saw, no one

bothered to look behind the character, no one bothered to see the real her.

Even Kurt, although he had always been civil to her, he stilled

followed everyone's role in calling her `Princess.'

She stilled remembered the conversation she had with her father about

the role she was to play. She had hated it on the spot! "It’s what the fans want.” Her father had argued. “The fans love this hate/hate relationship between you and Jericho. It's the WWE's very own Cinderella story. It’s good business."

Stephanie saw then that the man sitting behind the desk wasn't her

father, he was the shrewd businessman devoted to doing anything and

everything within his power for the sake of his business. Even if

that meant playing on the emotions of his only daughter who's only

wish was to please her dad.

`When had her wish changed?' she wondered. In her short time in the

WWE she had seen what she hadn't seen growing up. She had seen her

father for what he really was… a conniving, two faced, back stabbing,

uncaring womaniser who she could only look on with contempt as she

remembered everything he had done not only to her but to everyone he

came in contact with.

Shane had the good sense to get out and start on his own selling all

his shares in the WWE and using the profit to buy into WCW who were top contenders with the WWE. Oh, her father hadn't been too happy bout that but it was agreed and sealed… the dotted line had been signed, and now Shane was free.

He had wanted her to go with him but she had selfishly declined

thinking her father would dote on her now with Shane gone… but how

wrong she was. Instead he had used her to start a feud between Test

and Triple H, which lasted two long years… and ending with her

getting beaten at ringside by her on screen husband Triple H.

She thought that would be it but her bruises hadn't even healed when

Jericho started his lewd taunts towards her. Her father had sworn

black and blue that he hadn't put Jericho up to it, but if he hadn't

then why was Jericho gunning for her? Her futile efforts to get her

father to intervene on her behalf fell on deaf ears as her father

said what he always said… "It’s good business."

That was it for her. That was when she realised… she hated her father.

**

Part Two

**

Team X-treme sat in the hotel bar relaxing after their night at the

arena, Lita had tried to stimulate a conversation but bruised and

sore their replies consisted of mostly grunts and groans as each of

her friends nursed there own individual injuries from their matches.

In the end she gave up with sigh and sat back to quietly sip her

drink.

She shot up though when she saw there three Canadian friends and Kurt Angle enter the bar and quickly waved them over. "Hey guys join us."

"Greeting and salutations." Edge said pulling a chair up, his brother

Christian, Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle following in his wake. "How

goes the celebration?"

"Aawww… not a happy table I see." Christian teased taking a drink of

his beer before setting it on front of him on the table.

"We're happy," Matt defended forcing and achieving a smile. "We're

just sore."

"Yeah," Jeff agreed poking his tongue out at Christian.

"Real mature Jeff," Kurt chuckled.

"Well, I am the youngest sitting at this table so I don't have to be

mature." He stated and then proceeded to poke his tongue out to Kurt

as well, which brought forth a chuckle from Lita.

"I'm so glad I called you guys over," She said to the four men still

smiling at Jeff's childish antics.

"Well Li," Edge piped up puffing his chest out. "If a way to

conquer boredom is what you're looking for I'd be happy to oblige."

He waggled his eyebrows at her and then grinned when Matt sent him a

glare.

Lita winked playfully back at him before turning to the man who had seated himself next to her. "Your quiet, which I have to admit, is a great feat in itself."

"Ha ha." Jericho replied dryly. "I have a promo session tomorrow

night at the end of Raw. Vince wants me to play hard ball with

Stephanie."

"Isn't that what you're been doing all along?"

"You would think so hey, but apparently it's not enough. Vince wants

me to focus on a certain female anatomy, well two certain parts to be

exact."

"Her breasts!" Jeff shrieked smiling when other patrons looked their

way.

"Attention seeker." Lita teased smiling when he sent her a wink.

"It's not fair, Chris gets all the good touchy feely storylines and I

get all the weird looks and stares from restaurant patrons."

"Sounds fair enough to me," She replied and laughed when Jeff’s bottom lip jutted out in a most adorable pout.

"So what exactly is the storyline… or is it on a need to know basis."

Christian asked voicing what everyone else seated around the table

was thinking.

"She has a boob enhancement… I just basically in my own personal

tactful way bring it to the crowd’s attention via photographs." He shrugged in reply.

"She had a boob job!" Lita shrieked amazed that the Billion Dollar

Princess would agree to a storyline like that.

"No, she didn't." Chris replied then added. "But that's what makes us

living in the technical age so much more appealing."

"So she knows about your photos then?" Kurt asked a frown marring

his brow.

"I'm not sure… and they are not my photo's, I haven't even seen

them." Chris admitted. "Why do you ask?"

"I saw her in the elevator she looked kind of spaced out about

something."

"Maybe daddy told his little girl about his plans." Chris shrugged

getting to his feet. "Either way we will all see the photo's

tomorrow, curtesy of Vince."

"She must know, Vince wouldn't embarrass his own daughter like that

would he?" Lita suddenly felt sorry for the spoilt brat.

"Who knows," Chris replied. "But we all know he'd do anything for the

sake of his business." And with that he left the group with a little

wave and a mumbled explanation of an early night.

**

Stephanie watched Austin battled it out with Jericho for the

undisputed championship from the curtain, she was supposed to go down

soon to interfere causing Austin to get the pin and remain the

undisputed champion of the WWE, once again keeping Jericho from

holding any title at all.

But that was going to all change tonight. All she had to do was wait

for her cue and then go down to ring side and throw a spanner in daddy's precious little business.

Smiling when she got the thumbs up from the stagehand, Stephanie

pulled the curtain back and made her way down the ramp to the ring.

"I sure hope your watching dad." She mumbled to herself casting a

dazzling smile out towards the crowd.

When she got to ringside she immediately headed straight for Austin's

corner and began cheering him on which earned a round of boo's from

the crowd. Sending a smirk Jericho's way she grabbed the chair Austin had called out for after conveniently knocking Jericho into the

official, rendering him unconscious and pushing it into the ring before sliding into the ring herself. She waited till Austin had his back to her, his bald head nodding from one side to the other and spittle flying as he talked trash before he leaned over Jericho and gave him the Stone Cold Steve Austin salute.

Looking down at the two men her eyes focused only on Jericho. All the torment and humiliation he had caused her flashing before her eyes, yet the only thing she thought of when she swung the steel chair was that her father had caused her more.

**

Part Three

**

Jericho knew he wasn't meant to win this match, there was no way in

hell Vince McMahon would allow him of all people to beat his

champion. He saw Stephanie out the corner of his eye shove a steel

chair into the ring then there gazes locked as she stood behind

Austin and he couldn't look away. He wanted to cause he knew that

chair was aimed for him. A few good shots with it and Vince will

still have his kiss ass champion.

He didn't know what happened next, one minute he was laying on the

mat holding his ribs as Austin leaned over him yelling profanities and the next Austin had fallen across him unconscious. Then as Austin's weight began to subside he felt his arm being lifted and placed across Austin's chest.

`What the hell was going on?' He thought craning his head a little to

see Stephanie rousing the official who quickly scrambled to there

side to begin the count.

"ONE! TWO!! THREEEEEEEE!" The roar of the crowd was deafening to

his ears but all he focused on was Stephanie making her way back up the ramp and disappear behind the curtain.

Getting to his knee's Chris accepted the belt the official handed to him and then let the man raise his arm in victory before he rolled out of the ring and made his way to the back saluting the crowd once more before stepping behind the curtain.

His co-workers all wanting to congratulate him on his win immediately flanked him, but Matt, Jeff and Edge were there to quickly usher him to his locker room.

"Man if I were you I would just high tail it out of here, Austin

isn't going to be happy when he comes to." Jeff said shutting the

door behind them and locking it before turning to the rest of the

group who had gotten Jericho to the locker room before all hell broke

loose.

"Yeah, I will." Chris said still stunned by the actions of

Stephanie. "But I have to check on Stephanie, she's the one they'll

be gunning for."

"I still can't believe she did that," Edge piped up. "She hates you.

You hate her. The last thing she would want is for you to be the

champion."

There was a knock at the door and Jeff opened it allowing Kurt Angle

to step inside before shutting it and clicking the lock once more.

"I know it doesn't add up, but Stephanie helped me out tonight. If

Austin found her-"

"There's going to be no chance of that," Kurt cut in, "I just came

from McMahon's office. She's gone."

"Well thank god for small mercy's" Lita said moving closer to Matt

whom sensing her unease wrapped his arm around her waist. "But they

could still get her at the hotel."

"No, you don't understand," Kurt, said shaking his head. "She's gone, left her resignation and everything."

"What? She's left the WWE?"

"Yep, that much I got before Vince ordered us all out. Only thing

was…"

"What?" Chris needled glaring at the man to continue.

"I think Vince was more pissed at his only daughter screwing with

Austin's win then her departure."

"I always knew he was an animal." Lita mumbled into Matt's shoulder.

"All the more reason for us to get out of here, I can shower at the

hotel." Chris said grabbing his bag. `And then I can find Stephanie

and get some answers.' He added quietly to himself.

**

Head down, one foot stepping in front of the other Stephanie made it

back to her room ignoring all the comments of shock and some abuse

that others flung at her for her actions. Reaching her office she

closed the door behind her locking it and only then did she finally allow herself to breath.

Removing an envelope with her fathers name scrawled on the front she

placed it conveniently on top of her desk knowing someone would be

arriving soon to find it before she quickly checked her bags for the

papers she would need once she left here.

Soon after her car was seen screeching out of the car park and into the night.

Later that night…

`She had done it' Stephanie thought a sense of sadness filled her

tinged with utter relief and finally freedom.

Staring out at the darkened sky Stephanie bid a quiet goodbye to the

place she had called home as the plane taxied down the runway.

**

Part Four

**

Chris glared at the door of Stephanie McMahon Helmsley's suite. He’d been standing in front of it for the passed half hour and all his knocking seemed to have achieved was upsetting her neighbours who now were yelling obscenities at him. He lifted his hand to knock once more but was halted in mid air as a man approached. Chris recognised the man as the manager of the hotel. One of Stephanie's neighbours must have called him to complain.

"Can I help you sir?"

"I'm looking for Stephanie McMahon Helmsley." Chris stated lifting

his arm to knock again daring the man to object.

"Chris come on, it’s after one in the morning." Lita spoke for the

first time grabbing onto his arm to pull him away. "We can return

later."

"I just want to check that she's okay." Chris protested glaring at a

nosy neighbour who had poked her head out of her doorway only to

immediately shut pull it back in and slam the door shut when her gaze locked with Chris's.

"I'm sorry sir Mrs McMahon Helmsley checked out."

"What?" He asked confused.

"Um… she checked out first thing this morning sir." The hotel manager

looked decidedly uneasy as if he had betrayed a confidence.

"We're so sorry for the disturbance," Lita began when it became

apparent Chris wasn't about to reply pulling on his arm and sighing

thankfully when he allowed her to lead him back to his room.

"She obviously had this planned in advance." Chris muttered once they

were back in his room.

"What's going on?" Kurt asked rubbing his eyes and yawning.

"Sorry Kurt didn't mean to wake you." He apologized to his friend.

"Chris here decided to make an after hours visit to the youngest

McMahon's hotel room." Lita piped up shrugging when Chris sent her a

glare.

"Everybody's going to know about it sooner or later, I wasn't the

only one who witnessed it," She said dryly turning to head back to

the door.

"Did you get any answers?" Kurt asked getting into a sitting position

on his bed.

"She's checked out." Chris replied his brow creased as he thought of

where she would go.

"Chris, I know what your thinking but you have to let this drop. She

knew the consequences of her actions. If she didn't she wouldn't have

fled. You said yourself she must have had this all planned." Lita

tried to reason with him.

"That doesn't stop me from worrying about her."

"But why are you worried Chris, this morning you were planning on

insulting her boobs on nationwide television."

"You’re not helping." Lita said rolling her eyes at Kurt's comment.

"You have to worry about yourself because Vince and Austin are going to be coming after you to get the title back." Lita said leaning against the open door frame. "Let it drop please."

He looked at the woman who had been his best friend for nearly two years and whispered. "I can’t."

"Why?"

He got up to go stand by the balcony drawing back the curtain so he

could stare out into the early morning.

"Because her whole life changed tonight, I saw her eyes when she was down ringside. I didn't see the confident Billion-Dollar Princess… I saw a scared and desperate Stephanie McMahon… and she's out there somewhere… alone."

For the first time Lita saw how scared Chris was for Stephanie, he

had his face turned away from them and he stared straight ahead but

there was something in the way his shoulders slumped and how his

voice broke that spoke volumes. It was like he had lost his best

friend. `Not only Stephanie's life had changed tonight.' She thought and walking towards him she placed her arms around his waist and planted a kiss on his cheek before turning back to the door and quietly closing it behind her.

**

Part Five

**

Lita looked at her friend as he stepped out of the bathroom, a towel

wrapped haphazardly around his waist as he searched through his

his locker for clean clothes. He looked weary and withdrawn and badly in

need of a shave. As predicted Vince and Austin had indeed come after

him and by illegal means in the ring had gotten the title back in

Austin's hand.

Stephanie had been gone three months now and Chris's worry for

Stephanie had turned into an obsession. He had focused all his spare

time and energy into finding the youngest McMahon even going so far

as to align himself with Shane McMahon, the estranged son of Vince

McMahon. Shane had been devastated, you'd think in a time of crisis a

family would bond together… but not the McMahon's. Chris's call to

Shane three weeks into her leaving was the first he had heard of it.

But between the two of them they had bonded all there efforts

together in the hopes of bringing her home.

Lita had never liked any of the McMahon family but she could see the

love Shane had for his sister reflected in everything he did to aid

Chris's efforts without alarming Vince to there happenings.

During this time they had all learnt about the relationship both

McMahon children had had with their father, how it had all changed

once Vince became CEO. He had literally become a different man. The

power of owning his own federation filling his head with a `You'll

all bow down to me complex' until it was all he thought about

until it had became his life, his family having been pushed to the side. All the stress this had entailed had caused their mother and former CEO of the WWE to have a nervous breakdown, which enabled Vince to have his wife committed therefore giving him full reign over the business.

Shane had gotten out from under Vince's thumb not long after and had

tried to get Stephanie out as well but she doted on their father and

always sought to please him, always seeing the father she knew before

she went away to college. And Vince had preyed on it, using her love

and naivety for his own gains. He had to admit she would've done

anything for their father as she proved when she married Triple H.

They had all been shocked to here this version of Stephanie, the

Stephanie they knew was a pretentious, stuck up, snobby, spoiled

rotten daddy's girl. Which was a far from the Stephanie that Shane

spoke of, and he always spoke fondly of his sibling.

"We never saw that side of Stephanie," Chris had voiced speaking for

all of them.

Shane looked down for a moment sighing, and then when he raised his

head he replied. "Maybe you didn't want to see."

That one reply had them all speechless and every single one of them

had to admit they had never taken the time to get to know Stephanie.

They had judged her solely on her being a McMahon, which in their

eyes put her in the same category as her father.

They all felt the shame of Shane's comment, but none more so then

Chris.

**

"Earth to Lita, come in Lita."

"Uh… what?"

"Do you mind looking through my bag over there for some clothes

otherwise I'm going to be wearing this towel back to the hotel,"

Chris piped up bringing her out of her thoughts. "You okay?"

"Yeah fine, was just off in my own little world." She smiled at him

as she pulled his bag up onto the bench next to her finding a pair of

track pants she tossed them to him before rummaging through it again

and pulling out a t-shirt.

Moving the bag back to the floor she noticed an envelope sticking out

of the side pocket with the letters ‘SM’ printed in bold type on the

front. Curiosity getting the better of her she pulled it out.

"What's this?" she asked looking up at him to see he had already

donned the clothes and was now tying the laces up on his shoes.

He looked at her confused for a minute and then a look of realisation

came to his face as he remembered Stephanie dropping it the night

before she helped him win the undisputed championship.

"I had forgotten all about that!" He exclaimed moving forward and

practically snatching it out of Lita's hand. "She dropped this

outside her office a couple nights before she left. I was planning on

giving it to her back at the hotel."

"I guess with all that’s happened it kinda slipped your mind." Lita

said her brow creasing in a frown when he just continued to stare at

it. "Well open it you big lug!"

Lita watched as he slowly tore at the envelope pulling out a nicely

folded sheet of paper. Carefully laying the envelope next to him he

unfolded the paper to read its contents. The suspense was killing her

and pretty soon she would kill him if he didn't hurry up and tell

her its contents!

"Well?"

"It's an airline schedule and a rental lease." He replied his brow

still drawn together as he read more.

"And?" She needled.

"And…" Chris looked up and for the first time in three months Lita saw his eyes sparkle. "I know where she is."

**

Part Six

**

Team X-Treme, Shane, Edge, Christian and Kurt all crowded around the

small coffee table in Chris's hotel room trying to drum up reasons

for Chris NOT to go after Stephanie. So far they hadn't made any

head way, Chris was a stubborn ass when he wanted to be. He had even

silenced their claim that Shane be the one to go see Stephanie by

stating that she had fled to get away from her family, the last thing

she wanted was one of them coming after her. She would just flee

again when she got the chance.

Even Shane had to agree to that even though it killed him to admit

it. How could he have not seen what was happening to his little

sister? That’s an easy one, his mind answered. He had been too absorbed in his own problems with his father, that's why he never saw what was happening to Stephanie. She had come straight out of college and planted right into the business by their father, their mother had argued with her husband over that pleading with him to let her have her own life but all arguments fell on deaf ears. In the end his mother had given up trying and lapsed into her first bout of depression.

Standing to his feet he walked over to Chris who already had his

carry bag packed and was at that moment checking through his travel

documents making sure he had everything.

"Need a ride to the airport?"

"We got that covered," Kurt piped up from behind the two men, Lita

echoing Kurt's words.

Nodding to the others Shane turned back to Chris stretching out his

hand.

"Bring her home."

Chris looked up and their eyes locked in mutual understanding,

Shane's eyes mirroring the guilt and anguish he held in his eyes and

nodded accepting Chris's out stretched hand before he bid them all a

goodnight and left.

"You sure you don't want one of us to come with you?" Lita asked

moving forward to take Shane's place at Chris's side.

"No. I have to do this."

"I know." She whispered leaning up to kiss him lightly on the cheek.

Matt came up behind her and she quickly turned to bury her head in

his shoulder, sending Chris a look of encouragement before leading

his girlfriend back to there room.

"Hurry back okay," Jeff said giving him a friendly pat on the back

before following Matt and Lita out.

"Well, we better go if you're going to make that flight." Kurt said

grabbing the keys to his SVU.

Tucking the slip of paper that held Stephanie's itinerary on its page

safely into the top breast pocket of his denim jacket he grabbed his

carry bag off the bed and followed Kurt, Edge and Christian out the

door.

**

Part Seven

**

"Order up!" Came a voice from over the counter, Stephanie glanced

behind her into the eyes of a very large, grease stained owner of the

Steak Bar and Grill. She could feel his eyes boring into her back as

she turned to place orders down on the table mumbling a quick `enjoy

your food'.

"You gotta be quick here if'n you wanna keep ya job girlie!" He

growled as she made her way back behind the counter to pick up the

next orders.

"I know Enrique, I'm sorry." She apologised for the forth time that

morning lowering her eyes from his stare. She was thankful when he

moved off to man his station at the grill heaving a sigh of relief

placing the ready orders on her tray.

"Don't worry bout it honey," Ginny spoke softly at her side when

she'd returned to the counter. "He gives all the new ones a hard

time."

"Thank you." She offered the older waitress a small smile. "I'm still

not doing good considering I've been here nearly two months. I don't

know why Enrique hasn't fired me yet."

"You don't hey?" Ginny smirked giving her a wink. "You haven't

noticed the amount of customers we're been getting since you started

work here?"

"No." Stephanie replied honestly confused.

"Before you came we'd be lucky to get a dozen customers in one day.

Now we're getting three times as many. And I can tell you now they sure aren't coming here to see me!" Ginny chuckled heartily then sobered at the downtrodden look on Stephanie's face.

"Last thing I want is to attract attention and I really can't lose

this job."

Feeling sorry for the girl Ginny draped an arm around her shoulder.

"Don't worry I'll protect you from the big bad customers," She laughed leaning forward to whisper conspiratorially. "And if you

turn that frown upside down I'll let you in on a little secret."

Stephanie laughed at that oblivious to the fact that her laughter

caused a lot of curious eyes to stare in their general direction.

Covering her mouth with her hand Ginny turned her head to look back

into the kitchen at Enrique still standing at the grill before

whispering, "The only time you need to worry bout Enrique… is when

he's not yelling at you."

"Really?"

"Yep, that's when he's at his most dangerous."

"What do you mean?"

"When he's not yelling at you he's trying to cop a feel."

"Oh," Stephanie brows were creased in a frown, and then her eyes went

as big as saucers. "OH!"

**

Walking back to her apartment after work was bliss. Australia

certainly is a beautiful country, full of sun, surf and anonymity.

She could walk down the street and not have to worry bout any irate

’Jericoholic’ fans dishing out the usual ‘Billion Dollar Princess’ tripe.

But best of all had to be the beach, every morning and every night

she walked to and from the steak bar and grill to her tiny one

bedroom apartment on this little strip of beach and it felt like

heaven.

She'd leave work tired and weary but as soon as she smelt the salty

air and felt the sand between her toes all thoughts of tiredness left

her, instead she'd be filled with a sense of calmness and beauty and

she'd enter her apartment with a smile on her face… but that's where

the smile ended. For when she was alone that's when thoughts of her

past and her family caught up with her and although sleep came easy

thanks to her keeping herself busy at the diner, they were always

filled with dreams.

Dreams of her on the outside looking in, dreams of her running, but

never getting anywhere and dreams of a saviour. The latter were the ones that baffled her most. She didn't need saving, if anything she needed to keep her job. Maybe the faceless saviour her dream spoke of would be a tall, handsome stranger who’d enter her life and knock her socks off!

"I could always live in hope." She smiled to herself giggling a

little as she ran up the sandy embankment and across the street to

her apartment building smiling brightly to the desk clerk as she

passed him forgoing the elevator and clambering up the stairs humming

softly to her self.

Her smile died on her face when she reached the top of the stairs and

saw who was casually sitting on the floor outside her doorway.

Chris Jericho.

**

Part Eight

**

Chris didn't know how long he sat in the hall outside her doorway, he

was tired from the long flight, sweaty from the humidity which was

Melbourne's substitute for a fine day and he hadn't given any

consideration to what he was actually going to do once he gotten

here. He hadn't thought about what Stephanie might think upon seeing

him and it finally dawned on him that she might not want to see him

at all! Or worse, she mightn't be here alone. The latter of that

statement drew forth a scowl and he hurriedly pushed the feeling to

the back of his mind as he heard someone coming up the stairway.

And there she was.

Well at least it looked like her.

He stared at her as she stood no more then 5ft away from him taking

in the comfortable trainers she wore on her feet, his gaze moving up

to the simple pink cotton dress she wore. Her hair gathered up in a

pony tail on top of her head, not a trace of make up on her face and

her eyes, deep blue pools that had haunted his dreams for the last 4

months now had dark circles beneath them.

She was beautiful.

"What… How?" She began before she crumpled to the floor sobbing.

She felt arms come around her and gently lift her against him swaying

to and fro as he whispered soothing words in her ear.

Pulling her away from him just enough to lock his eyes with hers she

was amazed to see his own tears glistening there.

"Why?"

"Let’s take this inside, okay?"

Looking around at the empty hallway she nodded bringing forth her

keys with shaky fingers. Taking them from her he unlocked the door

and ushered her inside not letting go of her hand the whole time.

They sat side by side at the foot of the bed not looking at each

other, not touching. He wasn't even sure he knew where to start. He

had gone over this part over and over in his mind but now that he had

Stephanie in front of him his mind was blank. By the look on her face

and the way she kept twisting and untwisting the material of her

dress in her hands he knew she was pretty much lost in this situation

as well.

`Well of course nimrod, YOU would have been the last one to come

after her.' He thought reaching out again for her hand. This time

however she flinched at his touch and stood up walking to stare out

the window which was on the other side of the room.

"How did you find me?"

`Great.' He thought dryly, `Her defences were up.'

"I found a flight schedule and rental lease."

"I suppose HE sent you." She said not trying to hide the malice in

her voice.

"He?"

"My father."

"No. He didn't send me Stephanie." He admitted honestly.

"Then why are you here?" She still hadn't turned from the window her

back was straight and her head held high. Far from the sobbing girl

he had first encountered in the hallway. She had once again fallen

into the role of the `Billion Dollar Princess.'

"I don't really know where to start Stephanie except to say nothing

has been the same since you left." He got up to slowly join her at

the window.

"Couldn't find anyone as dirty and disgusting as me to pick on hey?"

"No. I mean, can we forget all that?"

She snorted uttering a small laugh.

"Cant do that I'm afraid, especially since you're called me it so many times people find it hard to distinguish between HO and Stephanie."

"I…" There was nothing he could say, she was right.

"If you're here to clear your conscience Jericho you needn't bother.

You weren't the reason I left."

"Maybe not but I sure helped." He returned dryly. "I looked in your

eyes when you hit Austin with the steel chair and what I saw there

has haunted me for the past 3 months. I can’t explain it but… I saw

pain."

He turned to face her then but she still refused to meet his gaze. "I

am so sorry I judged you before I got to know you-"

"You still don't know me." She cut in turning to walk away from him

again.

"Steph-"

"No. You can't just come here and be all nice and explanatory. We

hate each other. I'm the enemy." She pointed at herself turning back

to face him.

"No steph," He gently placed his hands on here shoulders rubbing his

thumbs in small slow circles at the base of her neck. "You were never

my enemy. I think we were both just pawns in a sick game." He didn't

want to mention her father’s name. He wasn't sure what kind of

reaction she would have to it.

Tears filled her eyes again and he felt her back straighten as she

forced them back.

"I can't go back… not now."

"Maybe not, but… I don't think I can `NOT' go back without you… I

don't have the strength."

Her brows drew together as he tipped her chin with his finger and his

lips lightly touched hers.

After a few moments he pulled away to look into her eyes but she kept

them closed for a moment longer before opening them only to lower

them again to the floor.

"I… I'm sorry." He mumbled apologetically shoving his hands in his

pocket to keep from pulling her to him again.

"Why did you do that?"

He could only shrug. He wasn't sure how to answer that. He didn't

know if he had an answer for that. It just seemed liked the thing to

do at the time. It seemed right. The fact that he had been dreaming

about kissing her for the past three months had nothing to do with it, nothing at all.

**

Part Nine

**

Stephanie woke at 5am, which had been her usual waking time for the

past two months and hurriedly readied her self for work, stepping

over Jericho's sleeping form on the floor trying not to wake him as

she made her way to the bathroom.

She hadn't had the heart to turn him away last night so he had stayed

and they had talked, well he had talked. Chris filled her in on the

happenings in the WWE and her family. She missed Shane and welcomed

all Chris's news of her brother. He spoke of how much her presence in

the WWE was missed which she found hard to believe. He had told her

that she wouldn't be alone anymore; he'd be there for her every step

of the way.

She came out of the bathroom stepping over his sleeping form once

more grabbing her purse she paused at the door to look once more at

him. She still couldn't believe he was here… but here he was,

sleeping on her floor. And the more she thought about it, a part of

her welcomed his presence and she closed her eyes quietly thanking

whoever had brought him to find her.

Jogging lightly down the stairs she waved to the desk clerk voicing

friendly hello before racing out the door heading in the direction of

the steak bar and grill, for the first time in three months she

walked with a spring in her step.

**

"Stephanie?" Jericho mumbled straining to open his eyes. Man jet lag

was a bitch! Opening one eye and then the next he looked around the

room for Stephanie. Finding himself alone was like someone flinging a

bucket of cold water on him and he bolted off the floor hitting his

head against the bedpost at the foot of the bed.

"Ow!"

Ignoring the pain the first thing he thought of was that she had

taken off again whilst he slept but a quick look around the room and

that thought soon left his mind. She was still here. All her things

were still here. He felt a wave of relief flood through him.

"Where would she go?" he said quietly to the empty room walking over

to stare out the sunlit window. "Well it is morning maybe she went to

get breakfast' he thought then looked down at his watch. "No. Make

that afternoon."

Picking up his carry bag he walked to the bathroom to shower and

change before he went in search of Stephanie and food.

**

Part Ten

**

"Order up!"

Flashing Enrique a nervous look Stephanie walked to pick up the order

walking away just as quickly when his gaze stayed on her. Silently

mumbling all the wrestling moves she could do on him before he even

got a chance to try to cop a feel off her!

"Will there be anything else?" she said placing the order down on the

table.

"Shouldn't you be having a break soon?"

"Huh?" she arched a brow looking up from her note pad and Chris

Jericho smiled back at her.

"I said shouldn't you be having a break soon?"

"Please don't make a scene here I really need this job." She pleaded

turning back to look at Enrique who still had his eyes on her.

Chris followed her line of sight raising his own eyebrow at the over

weight Latino behind the counter.

"You don't need this job period." He said not caring that some of the

other patrons had turned to watch.

"I need it if I want a place to sleep tonight!" she hissed back at

him managing a small smile before adding, "Of course sir, more

coffee coming right up." loud enough for Enrique to hear.

"You okay girlie?" Ginny asked quietly when Enrique had moved back to

the kitchen.

"I just need a minute Ginny," she smiled at her friend as she rounded

the counter to stand beside her, "Can you do me a favour and serve

that guy at table four?"

Ginny looked over at the young man to find him staring right

back.

"Friend of yours?"

"You could say that." Stephanie replied dryly refusing to look in his

direction.

"He sure is a cutie," She said as she walked towards him holding a

cup of coffee.

Chris had Stephanie's train of thought so out of focus she didn't

realise Enrique come up behind till she felt his smelly breath at the

side of her face and his hand on her ass. Before she realised what

she was doing she had spun around and brought the full force of her

hand across his face.

"Why you little…" He raised his hand and she recoiled closing her

eyes awaiting the brunt of his blow but it never came.

Opening her eyes she found Ginny beside her with a comforting arm

around her shoulders and Chris standing over an unconscious Enrique.

`Chris…"

He turned to her then, his eyes dark with rage as he strode toward

her.

"There is no way in hell you are working here!" He said grabbing

her arm and yanking her towards the door.

"But-"

"No way in hell!" He repeated practically pulling her down the street

towards her apartment building.

"I can't believe you did that!" She shrieked rubbing at the wrist

Chris relinquished only when they got back to her apartment.

Paying her no heed he went to the wardrobe grabbed her small suitcase

and started throwing her things in it.

"What the hell are you doing?"

He looked at her then some of the rage had gone from his eyes but in

its place there was a hard determination. "I should have done this

when I first got here." He closed her suitcase and grabbed his bag

which was all ready packed considering he had only been there one

night. "I'm taking you back with me wether you like it or not."

Stephanie felt outraged.

"You most definitely are not!"

"Don't argue with me Stephanie, I was prepared to wait until you were

ready but…" His eyes locked with hers and she saw desperation

reflected there. "You don't belong here Steph, working as a waitress

in a sleazy diner run by an equally sleazy owner."

"No different to where I was before." She said defiantly planting her

hands on her hips.

"At least before you had people there to protect you, you had family

and friends." He yelled back.

"Pfft! I had no one."

"What are you talking about? You had Shane and your father and all

your friends. Here what do you have?"

"You really don't know me at all do you?" She said shaking her head

as he stared down at her. "I haven't seen Shane since he got out from

under my fathers thumb! Friends you say? Name one person from the WWE

who has ever invited me out after the show for friendly get

togethers, name one person who has even spoken to me in a friendly

manner… or for that matter name one person who wasn't a family member

who actually called me by my first name!"

His brows creased as he continued to stare at her. She was right. He

couldn't name one person off the top of his head for any of the

things she mentioned. And most he admitted especially the latter, was

because he had dubbed her `the Billion Dollar Princess' and `dirty

filthy bottle feeding trash bag ho'.

"And lastly my father," She continued. "The man who was my world as a

child, my foundation as a teenager, the envy of all dads, the one man

I thought would be the one person I could depend on." Her eyes

clouded over then like she wasn't talking to him anymore. "That

person was an image I had dreamed up while locked away in boarding

schools, when I came back I thought my image would finally be a

reality. But what I was faced with was something more sinister and

cruel."

Chris watched as the tears rolled down her face her eyes unmoving as

if she were reliving every moment. `God, she had been out of school

for over two years' he thought.

"My father wasn't at all what I believed him to be. He couldn't even

tell when his little girl was hurting. He couldn't see that instead

of the nice clothes and fancy cars all I wanted was for him to hold

me and tell me everything would be okay or stroke back my hair like

he use to when I was little and scared, he couldn't see that all I

wanted was for him to say he loved me. But he couldn't. He couldn't

tell me Chris," Her voice broke on a sob and she openly cried

now. "Why couldn't he tell me?"

"Baby," Moving forward Chris wrapped her up in his arms holding her

up when her knees gave way and she leaned into him. "Baby I'm so

sorry." He whispered in her ear lighting brushing his lips against

her hair.

He picked her up and walked to the bed gently settling back against

the headboard with her in his lap, wrapping her up in his arms as she

cried against his chest.

**

Part Eleven

**

Stephanie's eyes felt sore and her body stiff as she tried to stretch

out her muscles, she remembered Chris and her heart felt outburst

about her dad. Pushing those thoughts to the back of her mind as

fresh tears welled up behind her eyes. Chris was probably gone and

she wouldn't of blamed him for leaving, who would want to stick

around with fickle Stephanie who ran away from her problems to wallow

and dwell in self pity and remorse. Opening her eyes she saw a mass

of blonde hair in her line of sight and then realised that her firm

comfy pillow had a heart beat. He was still here!

"Hey beautiful," He smiled down at her, had he been watching her this

whole time? "Feeling better?"

She blushed at his endearment.

"You stayed."

"Of course I stayed, I didn't sit in a cramped airplane for fifteen hours and fly half way around the world for nothing you know," He teased touching the tip of her nose with his fore finger.

She smiled then wrapping her arms around his neck.

"You stayed!"

Chris hugged her back for a moment before pulling her back so he

could look into her eyes. "Come back with me."

She stilled for a moment as he watched the emotions run across her

face.

"Please Steph." He whispered his eyes boring into hers.

"My father… Hunter…"

"Wouldn't need to know until you were ready," He could still see the

doubt and worry etched into her features. Hooking his thumb beneath

her chin he lifted her head so she would have no choice but to look

him in the eye. "I promise you, Stephanie. I will take care of you."

"Okay." She whispered back so softly Chris thought maybe he had

imagined it before seeing one corner of her mouth lift in a half

hearted smile. Bringing her back into his embrace he smiled happily

into her shoulder and sighed a feeling of utter relief and happiness

befalling him.

He'd stayed, she thought again. No one had ever stayed, but he had.

It was in that moment that she realised she could trust him, he had

been there for her, seen her at her lowest… and he had stayed.

**

Part Twelve

**

"Chris your back!" Lita bounded in his locker room and threw her arms

around her friend. "I've missed you so much!"

"Really? And just how much is so much?" He teased swinging her up in

his arms.

"About this much," She teased back holding up her hand to indicate

the space between her thumb and pointer finger.

"Wow, she miss's you more then she miss's Matt… and he didn't even go

anywhere!" Jeff exclaimed slapping his friend on the back whilst

trying to dodge Lita's tickling fingers.

"Things have been happening at full speed while you've been gone."

Edge added walking into the room followed by Christian and Kurt.

"How so?" Jericho raised his eyebrows at the three men before taking

a seat on one of the benches.

"Vince has been playing the ‘my-only-daughter-has-gone-and-I-cant-find-her’ routine which has everybody human and animal... up chuck reflexes in full swing."

"Thank you very much for that very descriptive analogy, Egde." Lita

piped up from her position in Matt's lap.

"It was the least I could do." He returned with a smile only to have

her flip him off.

"Let's not forget Hunter," Christian added, "He may be her ex-husband

now but he's using her leaving to gain the fans trust again, although

that in itself will be a mission considering he assaulted her on

nationwide TV, but he's using the old `getting-back-together' angle."

He shrugged before turning to Kurt. "No pun intended.”

"How'd it go with you?" Matt asked over the top of Lita's head as she

tried to grab Jeff as he bounced around behind his older brother

using him to shield off Lita's attack.

Chris's face took on a solemn look as he thought on Matt's

question. "She's back," he replied looking down at the floor deep in

his own thoughts totally missing the look shared between team extreme

and the others.

"For someone who was hell bent on moving heaven and earth to bring

her home… you don't seem too happy about it." Lita said immediately

reaching out to her friend as she slipped into her motherly role.

"I'm happy," He tried to plaster a smile to his noggin for her

benefit but as per usual she saw right through him.

"Okay out with it Y2Jerk, what aren't you telling us."

**

Stephanie stood by the window in Jericho's darkened hotel room and

stared down at the traffic. She hadn't moved from that spot since he

had left for the arena.

What in the world was she doing here? And in Chris Jericho's hotel

room to boot! If she were to call someone and tell them where exactly

she was no one would believe her. She had to stifle a laugh at that…

firstly she needed someone to call, her list of contacts had dwindled

somewhat to… none.

She had to wonder if they had even cared that she had gone, Jericho

hadn't said too much to her about how everyone had taken her leaving.

In fact all he had said on the matter was that `he' had felt

responsible and in that for gone on many of his commitments to race

half way around the world to bring her home.

And then there was that kiss. Sure he had kissed her before but those

other times his mouth had been hard and hurtful crushing her lips to

a point where they bled, those kisses had been for humiliation

purposes only. But that kiss back in her tiny apartment had been

light and tender… almost savouring… as if he thought she was made of

glass and would shatter at his slightest touch.

`Okay now you can get those thoughts out of your head, Stephanie,'

she thought to herself, `there is no we where Jericho is concerned

there is only me. If there is one thing I learnt from you daddy

it’s to look out for number one.'

Bringing her hand up to brush her hair away from her face and back

behind her ears she heaved a big sigh before turning away from the

window making her way towards the empty bed and slipping beneath the

covers, closing her eyes not wanting to be awake for Jericho's return

but knowing very well she would be.

**

Part Thirteen

**

"Steph? Is everything okay?"

Chris looked up from his bed to find Stephanie standing over him.

Glancing to the digital alarm clock on the night stand he saw that it

was early morning.

"I…" She trailed off looking down at her hands and he smiled

knowingly up at her reaching out with one hand while opening the

sheet beside him with the other.

She accepted his out stretched and slipped in beside him although she

never once met his gaze. Lying back down he smiled as she laid her

head on his chest and her arm came up to encircle his middle. Not

realizing he had been holding his breath he exhaled turning his face

to the side to plant a kiss on the top of her head, his arm stroking

her warm flesh at the small of her back.

He closed his eyes feeling her shiver at his touch too scared to even

breath least she scamper away from him, his free hand coming up of

its own accord to gently cup her chin bringing her face up to meet

his, her lips to meet his.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

"What? Huh?" Chris rose groggily from his bed picking up the digital

alarm clock and hurling it at the wall before flopping back down into

his pillows.

"A dream… a god forsaken dream," He mumbled into the pillows trying

to slow his heavy breathing as well as the heat he felt a little

lower, `Great way to start the morning Jericho. At this rate you'll

never get out of bed.'

After mentally counting to ten he raised his head enough to glance

over at the other bed to find he had no reason at all to be worried.

Stephanie was gone.

**

"We need to talk."

Vince looked up from his desk as Triple H burst into his office. His

manner and stance all were depicting that of a man on a mission.

"Then talk." The owner of the WWE replied looking behind him

adding, "And shut the damn door."

Hunter snarled at the older man shutting the door with a swift kick

coming back to pace the floor space in front of Vince's desk.

"Well?"

"She's back."

"And you know this how?" Vince asked not looking up from whatever

file he was glancing over.

"I have my ways," Hunter replied with a shrug.

"Meaning that little street corner slapper you've been seeing?" Vince

asked finally closing the file he was looking at and placing it to

the side before raising his eyes to the meet the other mans.

"Meaning… I have my ways…"

"I'm sure." Vince said getting up from his chair to walk around his

desk perching himself on its corner. "So… she's back. I wondered

how long it would take her to realise she couldn't cut it in this

world without daddy and his money."

Triple H had to smirk at that knowing his wife as he did. By leaving

she had opened herself up to the woes of the real world… `Hell, he

still couldn't believe she had lasted this long!'

"So…" He held his hands up in front of him, "What should I do?"

"What do you mean what should you do? Bring her to me. It's time

Triple H reunited with his runaway wife… its payback time." Vince

sneered back, "Now get out."

Hunter merely shrugged at the other man walking towards the door

pausing as he opened it. "Oh and Vince… about that little street

corner slapper you mentioned," He smiled when the owner of the WWE

met his gaze. "Lets not forget she was yours first."

**

Part Fourteen

**

Matt Hardy grumbled having been woken up before the big hand had even

had a chance to reach the double digits on the clock by a persistent

knocking at the door. He was going to kill whoever it was on the

other side then crawl back into bed… `Yep, sounds like a plan.' He

thought reaching for the door handle, pulling it open as a massive

yawn escaped his lips while his free hand scratched at his belly.

"She's gone!" Jericho burst into the room and looked around as if he

almost expected her to be there.

"Huh? What?" Matt began as Chris walked through to the

bathroom. "Come on man you know my physic ability don't kick in until

well into the pm hours, what's the what bro?"

"Stephanie. I woke and she wasn't there." Chris explained a look of

pure terror on his face. "She's taken off again, I know it."

"Now hold on, you don't know that. Maybe she stepped out for a

newspaper or something." Matt suggested, "or she may have gone down

to the hotel restaurant or for a walk… god knows what rooming with

you is doing to her mental state."

"Ha ha… this is serious. What if she runs into Vince or Hunter?"

Matt saw the worry etched on his friend's brow and he caved, "Fine…

just let me chuck on some pants and we'll both go looking."

**

"May I join you?"

Stephanie looked up from where she was seated and gestured to the

other chair across from her.

"Please."

Lita sat down and smiled at the waitress as she approached with a

menu. "Pancakes, syrup and a glass of pepsi, thanks."

"Wow, that's quite a breakfast," Stephanie remarked when the waitress

had left. Looking down at her own breakfast that consisted of dry

toast and a pot of tea.

"Well you only live once right?" Lita smiled back warmly. She was

looking at the woman her best friend was in love with, even if he

wasn't ready to admit it and she had gone to sleep last night vowing

that she would make sure to befriend the other women… right after she

made sure Stephanie didn't hurt Chris.

Stephanie smiled sheepishly back in response as the waitress brought

out Lita's order. She had wondered why Lita was here. The red headed

diva had never sought her out before… `But then again I am the only

other person here, maybe she just didn't want to eat alone.'

"I wanted a word with you about Chris," Lita said as she poured syrup

over the stack pancakes in front of her, drenching them in the sweet

liquid.

"Oh," She should have known. Stephanie could only look on mesmerized

by the syrup running over the sides of the buttery treat.

"He's a good guy Steph,"

"I know,"

"He's also very committed…"

"Yes, I'm finding that out…"

"Don't hurt him."

That comment snapped her out of her fixation with Lita's breakfast.

"I wouldn't… Chris… He… I…" She lowered her eyes again not sure what to say.

"Its okay, Steph… I know…" She winked at the girl across from her before adding, "But it had to be said."

"I don't know what I'm doing here," She said staring down into her

cup.

"Hey, it’s all good. Chris is my best friend and he never does

anything in halves. He saw something in you that night you hit Austin

with that steel chair… something none of us even took the time to see

and for that I am sorry. I took your face value literally without

getting to know the real you-"

"But I did a lot of bad things to you…" She cut in only to be

silenced by Lita reaching forth her hand to grip her own.

"Chris took the time Steph, I'm willing to do the same." Lita swore

she saw a tear roll down the other girls cheek but Stephanie quickly

turned away swiping her hand across her face. "Here help me finish

the rest of these," Lita pushed her plate to the centre of the table

adding more syrup wanting to make the other girl feel at ease in her

presence.

"Oh, no… I'm full…" She replied although she looked longingly at the

pancakes.

"I don't got kooties," Lita joked pushing the plate closer to her

still.

"It's not that… it's just… I was never allowed to eat pancakes.

Especially pancakes so lavishly dripping in syrup."

Lita had to smile at Steph's description of the contents of her plate.

"Hunter always said he didn't want a fat wife-"

"Well Hunter can go sit on a pool cue!" Lita exclaimed her anger

teetering on over flow at the thought of what Stephanie must have had

to endure at the hands of her husband and father. "You’re not with

Hunter anymore, Steph… right?"

Stephanie nodded.

"Then eat the pancakes."

**

Part Fifteen

**

Chris and Matt entered the hotel restaurant to find both Lita and

Stephanie laughing at the top of their lungs.

"Case solved." Matt said slapping Chris on the back as he made his

way over to the two women.

Chris was livid! He had been worried sick about her, about her father

or one of his other goons getting their filthy hands on her… and here

she was laughing the morning away over a pot of tea!

Without even realising it he had marched over to their table, hauled

a very surprised Stephanie McMahon up by the elbow and was now in the

process of pulling her along after him as he made his way back to the

elevators.

"What the hell is wrong with you!" She demanded turning on him once

the elevator doors had closed.

"With me! ME!" He barked back at her, "What the hell were you doing

down there!"

"I was…!" She trailed off as the elevator doors opened and an elderly

couple stepped on. "I was having breakfast. What did it look like I

was doing?" She hissed silently through her teeth.

Chris waited until the doors opened again and the elderly couple got

off before turning back to Stephanie, getting in her face although

she was trying her damnedest to ignore him. "And what if you had been

seen, hmmm? What if one of daddy dearest henchmen had of seen you and went running back to him… OR WORSE!"

The colour drained from her face and Chris knew he had scored home

with his point, his own anger leaving him as he watched the emotions

play over her face. First confusion, then realization and ending

with `I'm an idiot'.

"I'm sorry."

Chris pulled her to him enveloping her in his arms. "I'm sorry too, I

was just so worried…"

He released her as the doors opened again, Chris stepping out to

check the hallway before grabbing on to Stephanie's hand pulling her

out of the elevator. Just then the elevator across from them dinged

and the doors slid open.

"Stephanie?"

"Shane!"

**

Chris swiped his room card through the slot turning the handle when

he was given the green light allowing the siblings entrance before

closing the door behind them.

"I was so worried," Shane said as he clung to his sister.

Stephanie smiled as she pushed her head into his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry Shane…"

"No, Steph. I shouldn't have left you alone… I was too caught up in

getting away I didn't even give a thought as to what that would mean

for you…"

Chris knew he should've left the room and allowed the two some

privacy but for some reason he sat down on the bed and watched. This

was a side he had never seen from either McMahon children, hell from

either McMahon! And that was love as a family.

"Chris?"

Looking up Chris found Stephanie standing in front of him her eyes

shining and a smile that turned his heart to mush.

Leaning forward she kissed him lightly on the cheek wrapping her arms

around his shoulders. "Thankyou," she breathed into his ear. "For

seeing me when no one else did."

It was at that moment he knew he was in love with Stephanie McMahon.

**

Part Sixteen

**

"Hunter close the door and come back to bed,"

The woman sidled up behind him wrapping her arms around his torso

slipping her hands inside his shirt running her hands up his bare

chest, Hunter roughly pushed her aside not caring when she landed on

her backside with a muffled yelp. All his attention was focused on

what he had just seen.

Stephanie.

`So, the tart hadn't been lying when she had come to tell him his

wife was back.' He thought glancing down at the now pouting Trish

Stratus.

He was about to leave Trish's room where he had spent a good part of

the night when he had seen Shane McMahon himself waiting outside a

door down the hall. Instinct told him to wait and less than fifteen

minutes later he had been rewarded.

He had been surprised to see Jericho with her of all people, `a minor

obstacle.' He thought with a shrug.

Turning from the door he grabbed his jacket off the back of a chair

pulling a few bills out of the pocket and tossing them at the woman

on the floor.

"I believe you have reached your expiry date."

He grinned as he closed the door hearing the sound of smashing glass

against it.

**

"I think we should check on them,"

"Li, honey. Trust me… the best thing we can do is stay out of it."

"Come on Matt, you saw how he was… what he did…" Lita persisted

tugging on his arm.

Matt laid down his fork and placed both his hands on either side of

her face. "Li, I love you… but it's time to let Jericho go." He

quickly raised his hand to silence her when she made to protest. "Ah!

I know it will be hard for you… letting one of your own leave the

nest, but believe me you'll be thanking me later."

"I do not mother him-"

"Oh you do too!" He teased winking at her.

"Hmmmpf!" She sat back in her chair and glared at him.

"Well… well… well… look who's getting off the elevator." Matt said

motioning with a nod for Lita to turn.

"Hunter,"

"Guess it's lucky Chris got Steph back up to the room before he came

down."

"Hmmm…"

Matt looked curiously at his girlfriend, his brows drawn together at

her confused expression.

"What is it?"

"Hunter isn't booked into this hotel."

**

Part Seventeen

**

"You sure Hunter's not booked in at this hotel?" Stephanie sat across

from Lita and Matt while Chris paced the room his hands balled into

fists.

"I don't know wether you've noticed or not Steph… but this hotel

isn't exactly five star,"

"Maybe he's here to see someone… he may have had a meeting-"

"Steph," Chris finally stepped forward crouching down in front of

Stephanie grasping both her hands in one of his while the other one

brushed her long hair back behind her ears.

"He can't know I'm here, Chris. I was careful…"

"I know you were baby," Chris cooed comfortingly pulling her into his

embrace.

Lita and Matt shared a look Matt bringing a comforting arm around her

shoulders. `She was such a softie' he thought kissing the top of her

head. But even he couldn't deny the fear he saw reflected in

Stephanie's gaze.

Slowly he rose from the sofa gently pulling Lita up with him and

towards the door. Pausing to look once more at the couple still

locked in their embrace he quietly shut the door behind him.

**

"We have to find out what Hunter was doing here."

"Easily said then done bro," Jeff opened up the cooler grabbing 2

bottles of water handing one each to Matt and Lita as he sat down on

one of the empty beds in their hotel room.

"We could start by asking around… we couldn't have been the only ones

to see Hunter this morning." Lita said leaning back against Matt's

chest as they sat on the other bed in the room.

"That's not a bad idea," Matt agreed inhaling deeply to surround

himself in the scent of Lita's perfume.

"Actually…" Jeff trailed off a thoughtful expression on his face.

Lita quirked her eyebrow in Jeff's direction,

"What is it?"

"Remember how I told you both about seeing Trish coming out of

Hunter's Dressing room a few weeks ago?"

"Yeah… so?" Matt said sitting up a bit straighter on the bed.

Jeff rolled his eyes, "Well think about it bro, Hunter may not be

booked into this hotel… but Trish is."

"He's right," Lita said sitting up so fast the top of her head

knocking Matt in the chin. "Oh baby I'm sorry…"

"It's okay Li, I'm fine…" He smiled back at her waiting till she

turned back to Jeff before he winced and rubbed at his jaw.

Lita got to her feet the old look of determination set in her

features as she turned to face the two brothers. "I got a plan."

**

`Vince is going to be so pleased with him' Hunter thought to himself

as he made his way through the various hallways towards his boss's

office. He could definitely see the zero's popping up on his pay

check!

"Enter." Came the gruff voice of Vince McMahon through the door.

The door opened to reveal the old man seated behind his desk. "What

are you doing here... alone…" He barked no bothering to look up from

the monitor he was watching.

"She's with Jericho."

`That got the old mans attention' Hunter smirked as he took a seat in

the chair opposite Vince McMahon. "Saw them with my own eyes and-"

"Your news tire's me Hunter… got anything I don't know?"

Hunter frowned.

"How could you… I only just…"

"Maybe I should answer that,"

Hunter turned in his seat only now noticing the other man in the room

as he lounged leisurely on a settee in the back.

"Shane."

**

Part Eighteen

**

"Trish! Hey Trish! Wait up!"

Jeff jogged lightly up to the retreating figure of one Trish Stratus

inwardly cringing but with the knowledge of a bigger picture in his

mind he persevered.

"Hey, didn't you hear me… I called like three times."

"Ah… no… sorry…" She seemed afraid and Jeff couldn't think what she'd

be afraid of… everyone knew he was always respectful to the diva's…

even the tarty blonde ones.

"Are you okay?" He asked his eyebrows drawing together as he noticed

her lowered head and she seemed to keep looking over her shoulder as

if expecting someone to come bounding down the hall after her.

Jeff watched as she brought her hand up to brush her hair back behind

her ears noticing a dark bruise on her wrist.

"I'm fine… I ah… it’s just been a long night." She replied smiling half-heartedly up at him.

"You going back to the hotel?"

"Yeah-"

"Good, you don't mind if I tag along do yah? Matt and Lita got plans

and Chris has already left so… here I am without a ride."

Not waiting for her to answer he grabbed a hold of her bag slinging it over his shoulder as he walked a few steps ahead of her.

"You coming?" He asked turning back to face her when she didn't

follow him.

Shaking her head a little she sighed, her expression one of

resignation. "Sure…"

Matt and Lita stood watching from down the hall, operation Kick Butt

had began.

**

Chris returned from the arena to find Stephanie asleep on top of her

bed with the covers tangled up around her feet. She looked so

peaceful in her dream state and he hated that as soon as her eyes

opened the reality of her situation would come flooding back to her

full force.

He reached down and retrieved the tangled covers bringing them back

up to her chin covering her still form from his gaze only allowing

his hand to brush over her cheek before turning to go into the

bathroom grabbing a pair of shorts to sleep in from his bag along the

way.

He rea merged a few minutes later after needling to have a cold

shower to find her still in the same position as when he had entered

the bathroom. He knew he should have gone to bed, he was dead tired

but for some reason he pulled an armchair up beside her bed and just

sat and watched her as she slept.

He awoke with a start nearing falling out of the chair he was seated

in as he made a grab for the phone stilling its shrill ringing before

it woke Stephanie.

"Yeah… Hello?"

"Chris, its Shane,"

"Shane… what ups?" he yawned into the mouthpiece glancing over to the

side table rolling his eyes as he saw the time. "It's four in the

morning."

"I need to see to you… can you meet me?"

"Now?"

"Yeah, it’s really important and I don't want to talk about it over

the phone."

Chris looked over towards the bed where a sleeping Stephanie lay so

peacefully. He didn't have to think twice.

"Ok, where are you?"

**

Hunter chuckled to himself as he kicked the door to the stairway open

descending the stairs while balancing the load he was carrying as he

did so. Bending slightly when he got to the bottom he reached for the

door handle that would lead him into the underground car park of the

hotel to where a car waited with the engine running.

The back door to the car immediately opened as he approached and he

bundled his cargo quickly inside, his body following suit just as the

wheels screeched against the asphalt taking off out of the car park.

When it seemed they were a safe distance away from the hotel Hunter

pulled the blanket that had been used to wrap around the cargo to

reveal the scared, tear stained eyes of his wife.

**

Part Nineteen

**

"Shane?" Chris called as he walked through the car park towards the

lone figure leaning against the hood of a car.

"Hey Chris," the other man replied in greeting. "How's Steph?"

"Sleeping like a baby."

Shane noticed how the other man's eyes brightened at the question a

tiny smile pulling at his lips.

"So… what was so important you couldn't tell me over the phone?"

"Oh… just this…" Shane straightened walking a few steps away from the

car.

Hearing the car doors open behind him, Chris turned to see Show, Boss

Man, Raven and Vampiro step out and surround him. Turning murderous

eyes on Shane the choice names to describe what he thought of the man

didn't make it passed his lips as he was continually hit, the last

thought going through his head was that he had left Stephanie alone

before he passed out.

**

Jeff and Trish arrived back at the hotel in silence; they had stopped

at an all night diner for something to eat and ended up talking the

night away.

Jeff found Trish to be a far cry from the tarty, conniving blonde she

portrayed on screen while Trish who always knew Jeff to be the

quieter of the two Hardy brother's found Jeff to be quite rampant and

expressive verbally as well as physically. It seemed the two had more

then good looks in common.

"I had a great time tonight, Jeff," Trish said to the man seated next

to her in the car. "It's been along time since a man has taken me out

without the obvious ulterior motive."

Jeff squirmed in his seat at her comment feeling all the more like

the heel he never got to play. `If only she knew,' He thought. In

just a few hours he had found her to be a delight to be around in

more ways then one and maybe if circumstances were different…

Taking his silence as his way of telling her the night had come to an

end she leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Goodnight Jeff."

She turned to open the door but his hand on her arm stilled her.

Looking back at him she saw his eyes were cast downwards and not only

did he look like he had been caught with his arm in the cookie jar

he looked like his hand had been loped off in the process.

Not wanting to divulge Chris's secret but also not wanting her to go

just yet he did the only thing he could do. He kissed her.

"Wow." Was all she said when he broke the kiss.

He opened his eyes and looked straight into hers.

"I'm sorry… Trish…"

"It's okay, Jeff… we'll just chalk it up to tiredness."

She tried again to open the car door but he stopped her again

reaching up to turn on the interior light with one hand and turning

her face back to his with the other.

"How did you get that bruise?"

Surprise entered her eyes for a minute before she lowered them.

"Oh… it's nothing… clumsy me… doors… we don't mesh…" she tried to laugh it off but Jeff's face stayed focused on the side of her face.

`Damn!' She thought, `That stupid bruise is over a week old but still

noticeable."

He stared hard at her and physically saw her shrink back into the

seat. The bruise was well covered with make up but up close as he was

now it stuck out a mile.

"That bruise did not come from a door."

"Jeff…"

"He did it… didn't he?"

Her face changed at his words first getting fearful as thoughts of

her own little secrets being brought out of the closet then turning

to anger as she realised that she hadn't once mentioned anything

about a `he' in their conversations tonight, and then finally hate at

the duplicity of tonight.

"You did have an ulterior motive, didn't you?"

"Trish…"

"Save it. I'm not proud of what I have done… been doing… and yes `he'

did do this," she said pointing to her face. "But you know what? I

always knew where I stood with him, always knew I would be discarded

when he didn't need me anymore. He didn't befriend me first with idle

chitchat over dinner and make me feel like we could be friends. He is

a bastard I admit that… but what does that make you?"

Jeff didn't try to stop her this time when she reached for the door

handle, he could only watch as she ran from the car. The last thing

he saw was her hand covering her mouth from the sobs he knew he had

caused.

**

Jeff slowly got out of the car not bothering to lock it as he made

his way towards the elevator his guard immediately coming up as heard

someone groan making the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

Moving towards the noise he peered over a work in progress sign to

see the still body of Chris Jericho.

**

Part Twenty

**

The door opened and Jeff nearly fell into the room from the dead

weight of the man leaning on him, the only thing stopping the floor

from rushing up to meet his face were the arms of Lita as they

encircled him, Matt taking on most of Chris's weight on his other

side.

"Oh my god, what happened? Where's Stephanie?" she stammered

directing the three men to the empty bed.

"I don't know… and I don't know." Jeff replied as they eased Chris

down on the bed. "I found him in the car park and brought him

straight here."

"Some one should go check his room to see if Stephanie is okay." Lita

said looking at Matt.

"On it," He said already at the door.

"And what are you doing in the car park at this time of the morning

may I ask?"

"Returning from my dinner with Trish," He replied sourly.

"Yeah?" She raised her eyebrow. "How'd it go?"

"Don't ask." He said sinking down onto the couch. "I think it's safe

to say that she thoroughly hates me."

"Did you get anything from her?"

Jeff lowered his eyes as he remembered the bruise on the side of

Trish's face. "No." Not meeting Lita's eyes he got up to walk over to

the French doors that led to the balcony. "She's just as innocent as

Stephanie in all this."

Lita stepped into the bathroom returning a moment later with the

first aid kit, a bowl of clean water and a washcloth. Settling it

down on the bedside table as the door opened again and Matt stepped

through. Lita sat down next to Chris not needing to know where

Stephanie was… the look in Matt's eyes said it all.

They had Stephanie.

**

"Chris, will you keep still, you've got a few cracked ribs there that

need mending." Lita admonished pushing him back down on to the bed

and he tried unsuccessfully to get up… again. It had been three days

and Lita was still playing Mother Hubbard to his wounds.

"I have to find her."

"You won’t be doing yourself or her any good, not in the condition

your in. Now please keep still."

Being the true unco-operating patient that she knew him to be, he lay

back and pouted.

"Meanie."

That's how Matt found him an hour later… in bed with his pout firmly

in place.

"Take yah medicine like a man," He chuckled pulling a chair up beside

Chris's bed.

Chris rolled his eyes choosing to ignore his wise cracks… it was

plain to see where his thoughts were.

"Any news?"

"No." Matt replied sighing heavily. "But that's to be expected seeing

as no one even knew she was back. Well except Shane…"

Chris's face darkened at the mention of Shane and for the thousandth

time cursed himself for ever trusting in him.

"We'll find her," Matt said leaning forward. "I know you’re worried

Chris… if anything ever happened to Lita…"

"I know mate… I know…" Chris replied with a nod lost in his own

thoughts.

"Guy's!" Jeff said as he burst into the room walking straight to the

TV and switching it on.

"What is it?" Chris asked propping himself up against the headboard.

"Just watch…" Jeff moved allowing this all to see the screen. "This

was filmed last night, the night Vince conveniently gave us off."

Vince stood in the middle of the ring flanked by Shane, Triple H and

The Big Show.

"This has been a joyous day for the McMahon family indeed," He began once the boo's from the crowd had died down. "I'm very pleased to announce that after being missing for over four months now… god's will has brought our Stephanie back home to us."

Chants of Stephanie rose from the crowd but soon died as Vince handed

the mic over to Triple H turning their chant into `asshole'.

The camera zoomed in on a close up of Hunter's face showing the

moisture that shone in his eyes. "Yes after four months, with the help of Shane we found Stephanie but…" his voice broke and Shane stepped forward taking the mic from Hunter's hand.

"I'm afraid my sister, Stephanie, was involved in an accident and

admitted to the Saint Bernadette wing at Memorial Hospital and now

lays still in a coma. I believe we have some footage to show you." He

looked to his father for confirmation and at the older man's nod

everyone's focused turned to the big screen.

"Oh my god." Lita raised a hand to her mouth in shock at the picture

of Stephanie lying still on the hospital bed. She looked over to

Chris to see his hands clenched into fists the knuckles turned white.

Her face was unrecognisable, one side of her face bruised and swollen.

"She's so still… and pale…" Jeff said uncaring of the tears that sprung up in his eyes, thoughts of the bruise Trish had at the hands of Hunter running through his mind. "I'm gonna kill him."

Chris's expression didn't falter as he met Jeff's eyes across the

bed.

"Get in line."

**

Part Twenty-One

**

Chris sat in a chair in team extreme's locker room his eyes glued to

the monitor having been barred from ringside for a week due to the

cracked ribs he had gotten curtesy of Shane and his pal's. His ire

rose every time he thought of the other man and his time would come,

that was a certainty. His main focus though was Stephanie, she was

still in hospital, still in a coma and it killed him a little bit

more the longer she stayed like that but a part of him knew that

while she was there she was safe from her father, brother and ex

husband.

He had to come up with a plan and soon, he had to get Stephanie back.

He needed her back.

The door opening brought him out of his thoughts as Jeff, Matt and

Lita walked in having just finished a promo with Lilian.

"Hey," He greeted them with a wave from his position on the chair.

Lita grinned at him bending down to his level and planting a kiss on

his cheek.

"Hey back,"

"How are the ribs?" Matt asked as he lay back on a wooden bench using

his gym back as a pillow.

"In dire need of re-bandaging I think." Chris replied winching as he

rose from the chair.

Lita frowned walking back towards him.

"Give me a look." She ordered already yanking his t-shirt up.

He had a teasing look in his eyes as he grinned at Matt but thought

it wise given his condition not to rile the spitfire who gently

unrolled the bandage from around his torso. Sore ribs or not Lita

wouldn't think twice about poking him there if the need arose or

heaven forbid somewhere a little lower.

They all looked up when I light tapping sounded at their door, Jeff

and Matt immediately moving to stand on either side of it.

"Who is it?"

There was a moment of silence before they heard a reply.

"Trish."

Hearing her voice Jeff immediately reached for the door handle, Matts

own arm snaking out to stall him.

"She's one of them remember,"

"I trust her."

The two brothers faced off neither of them backing down, Lita having

to physically stand between the two men to break there eye contact.

"Matt, I'm inclined to agree with Jeff on this one. You guys haven't

seen Trish in the diva's locker room… something's changed, she's…

different… mouse like, scared even." Her hands reached up to gently

squeeze at his upper arms.

"Fine… fine…" He agreed holding his hands up as they both backed away

leaving Jeff to open the door.

"Hey Trish," He smiled down at the blonde diva before motioning for

her to come in.

"Thanks," She said hastily looking behind her before she entered. She

looked around the room before her eyes settled on that of Chris

Jericho. "I… I'd… like to help. I need to help."

"With what?" He said not bothering to hide the distrust in his voice

and had to admire her when she straightened she shoulders,

determination set in her features her eyes not leaving his.

"With Stephanie."

"Stephanie is back where she belongs-"

"Oh come on!" She exclaimed cutting him off. "You don't believe that

as much as I do."

Chris lowered his eyes. `She had him there.'

"How do we know we can trust you? That this isn't just another one of Hunter's schemes?" Lita spoke up stepping towards the other woman.

Trish lowered her eyes as if in shame as she began to remove her

jacket winching slightly, Jeff's eyes zoomed in on her right arm

which they all now realised she had been supporting with her left arm

all this time.

Unbuttoning the top three buttons on her shirt she exposed her

shoulder and upper arm showing the deep purple almost black bruise

that began at her collarbone and ended at the elbow.

"Is this proof enough?"

When she raised her eyes again they were glistening with tears and

the small group knew it had taken a lot of courage for her to come to

them. Not only had she come to offer her help… but she was asking for

help in return.

**

22

**

"Its okay, Trish… we believe you." Jeff said moving forward gently

helping her slip back into her jacket being careful not to hurt her

as he led her towards the bench. She allowed it but once she was

seated she made sure that's where there bodily contact ended instead

opting to once again focus on Chris.

"I don't think Stephanie is in a coma."

"What do you mean?"

She lowered her head her fingers playing with the hem of her

jacket.

"I'm not proud of this…"

"It's okay, Trish," Lita came forward to crouch down beside the other

woman taking hold of both Trish's hands in hers. "We're starting out

on a clean slate okay…" Lita saw pain replaced by relief in the other

diva's eyes and her heart broke, how could one human being treat

another so pitilessly with no regard for anything but that of their

own gain?

"When I was nursemaid to Linda McMahon I found out that Vince would

drug her to keep her in her catatonic state, no one knew that I knew

and I didn't let on because I believed Hunter when he said he loved

me and I didn’t want to mess that up."

"Your dealings with Hunter have nothing to do with what's happening

to Stephanie now." Chris looked right into her eyes as he said it his

look showing her exactly what he thought of her then and her `dealings' with Hunter, but she didn't flinch once.

"It does, Chris. I went to see Stephanie in hospital-"

Chris shot up in his seat.

"How is she? Trish-"

"She's stable." Trish replied quietly.

"Why did you go see her?" Jeff said prompting her to continue; he

noticed that she still wouldn't look at him.

"I saw the taping of Stephanie in hospital…" Her eyes filled with

tears again. "…And I couldn't stop thinking, that could be me lying

there one day or…" Her voice broke and her tears flowed freely

now. "… That by my `dealings' with Hunter I had had a hand in putting

her there…"

Lita absently squeezed Trish's fingers as if willing her own strength

into the now shaking diva beside her. A tiny smile tugging at the

corners of her lips when she felt the other girl squeeze back in

response.

"While I was at the hospital a nurse came in to tend to Stephanie's

medication but was called away at the last minute some emergency in

the next room… but she left in a hurry leaving Stephanie's medical

chart on the bed."

"You got a look at her chart didn't you…" Chris said a light coming

into his eyes that had been gone for as long as Stephanie had.

Trish nodded. "The medication they are giving to Stephanie is the

same medication they gave to Linda… only in stronger doses."

"Hence full on comatose." Chris said leaning back into his chair the

light that flickered in his eyes now burning brightly as he smiled at

his friends.

"What's going on in the head of yours?" Matt asked knowing exactly

what Chris was thinking because the same thing was going through his

mind.

"We're going to get my girl."

**

23

**

His face was a mask of sorrow as he sat at her bedside holding her limp hand in his own. His shoulders hunched over and his tears flowing freely.

“Come back to me, Steph, come back to me…”

“And cut!”

Her hand fell back to her side where he dropped it turning to face the man that stood behind him.

“Think they’ll but it?”

Vince grinned back at him.

“The fans are going to be eating out of your hand, the tears were a nice touch.”

“Yeah, have to thank Shane for those eye drops.”

The older man turned to the WWE cameraman in the room with them leaving Hunter to stare back at the woman in the hospital bed.

“You thought you were so smart didn’t you… thought you could get away from me…” His eyes hardened as he whispered harshly into her ear. “You’re not going to be a thorn in my side anymore, Stephanie… you see, I’m taking you out.” He leaned in closer to her, to the men behind him it looked like he was the doting husband whispering sweet words into the ears of his wife.

Feeling her hand try to grab at his sleeve he quickly grasped it in his before anyone else saw… squeezing it so hard that when he removed his hand hers was stark white from where he had cut off the circulation.

“Not even your precious Jericho can save you now.” He snarled before turning back to the other men in the room all traces of malevolence had left his features to be replaced once again with that of deep concern and worry. He moved towards the door not seeing the single tear that escaped her closed eye.

As they made there way out of the room Hunter paused by a man dressed in a doctor’s gown at the nurse’s station.

“She moved, if you can’t do your job properly I’ll find someone who can.”

The man merely nodded as Hunter slapped him none to friendly like on the back, winking at the nurse who batted her eyelashes his way before following Vince towards the elevator.

**

“Get her back? Chris she’s in a hospital.”

“So.”

“Are you outta your mind?”

“No, since Hunter got his filthy hands on Stephanie this is the first time I have been in a right frame of mind.”

“Matt does have a point,” The little blonde piped up from her perch on the tabletop beside Lita where they watched the men argue it out. “You can’t just walk in and expect to leave with her without someone noticing.”

“Actually I can,” Chris smiled not saying anymore as he moved to the door. “Be right back.”

“Wait, where are you going?” Lita jumped off the table to follow him but the door swung shut before her feet even touched the floor. “What do you all make of that?” Lita said more to herself then to anyone else her eyes still on the closed door.

“I don’t know…” Jeff replied, “But I like it… the old Chris is back.”

They didn’t have to wait long as the door burst open Lita erupting into giggles at the sight of Chris dressed in a doctor’s gown with a black wig and dark frame reading glasses.

“What do you all think?” He asked modelling the outfit for them a teasing light entering his eyes as he slung the stethoscope he had around his neck over Lita’s head pulling her to him.

“Now its official, you are nuts.” She poked him in the ribs playfully her hand immediately covering her mouth when he winched in pain. “Oh god, Chris I forgot about your ribs…”

He waved off her apology instead turning his amusement towards the other people in the room.

“Well?”

“Where’d you get all this stuff?” Matt asked reaching out a hand to ruffle the wig a top Chris’s head.

“All props curtesy of the WWE Prop room.” He replied sending them all a cunning smile. “We are going to beat the owner of the WWE and his side kick with their own props and a lot of bullshit.”

Jeff stepped forward to high five his friend. “Dude, you are the master jedi bull shitter.”

“So you’re in?”

At Jeff’s nod Chris turned to the others. “Matt? Lita?”

“Till the end,” Matt replied pulling a smiling Lita towards him.

“Trish?” Jeff asked. The others looked towards the little blonde who still remained seated on top of the table.

Trish studied her hands before looking up to meet Chris’s eyes.

“I’m sorry, I can’t.”

**

24

**

“What do you mean you can’t? I thought you wanted to help!”

There was nothing Trish could say. Moving forward she slipped off the edge of the table to stand before the four of them. “I don’t expect you all to understand… but there’s another demon in me that I have to appease before I can even begin to start liking myself again.”

“What do you mean?” Lita asked moving forward, “We wont let Hunter hurt you again-“

“I don’t mean Hunter,” She replied moving out of Lita’s arms to stand in the open doorway. “Believe it or not I am way over him and all he and Vince stand for. But there is someone who needs my help… and I’m going to make sure she gets it.”

Jeff moved to stand in front of her as she turned to leave.

“Trish…”

“Please, let me go.” Her voice was a notch above a whisper and she still wouldn’t look up at him.

“Jeff…” Lita moved forward grabbing his arm to gently pull him out of the doorway. No one said a word as Trish left closing the door behind her.

“You know what she’s up to don’t you?” Chris asked curiously from where he leaned against the wall.

“I’m not sure,” Lita replied, “But given everything she has told us tonight and my reactions if I were in her place… she’s going to help Linda.”

**

He stood beside his patient guilt and self reproach lining his brow as he watched the steady rise and fall of his chest, knowing what he was doing was wrong in everyway imaginable but bound by one silly mistake three years ago... and now the past had not only caught up with him but was making him pay big time.

Lifting the syringe from its holder he carefully injected its contents into his patients IV line watching as the fluid trailed through the tube and into her arm before removing the needle and returning it back to its holder.

“Doctor, they are ready for you in room fourteen.” A young and rather thin nurse said from the doorway.

“Thank you nurse.”

“Do you need me to finish up in here?” She asked motioning to the used medical aids on a tray.

“No, I got it…” He was amazed at how calm his voice sounded even though his hands were shaking.

“Is everything alright doctor?”

“Yes… I… I’ve just upped Miss McMahon’s medication,” He said handing the nurse his patient’s medical chart. “See she gets another dose in an hour and then every two hours after that.”

“Yes doctor,” The nurse replied when he had left the room. “What ever you say doctor,” She mentally counted to ten before opening the door to peek outside into the foyer her eyes on the doctor as he disappeared around a corner.

Another door opened across from her three figures emerging as she motioned for them to quickly step inside the room shutting the door and locking it after them.

“That was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life.” Lita

whispered as she leaned back on the closed door. “I thought for sure he would ask who I was.”

“You did great, Li.” Matt said pulling her away from the door and into his arms leaning in to whisper something for her ears only making her blush.

“You sure you should be doing that-“ Jeff began as he watched Chris remove Stephanie’s IV line. “And… ahh… where did you learn to do that?”

Chris pressed down on the tiny puncture wound with a piece of cotton before securing it with a bandaid before turning to give his friend a wink.

“I’ve watched ER long enough to learn the basic’s.”

“Okay, who are you and what have you done with Chris?”

“Will you two stop mucking around… anyone could come in.” Lita said pressing her ear against the closed door to listen for any signs that they would be found out. "And Chris... that doctor gave her something as I came in, he said they were doubling her medication."

The only sign Chris made that he had heard was the hatred that flared up in his eyes momentarily before softening again as they were once again lowered to the girl lying on the bed.

"Chris did you hear-"

"I heard, Li." He said not looking up from Stephanie's face. 'They were going to make her sleep... permanently.' He thought... and all because she had dared to do what any woman in her situation would do and that was to get out of more than one abusive relationship.

Lifting Stephanie gently in his arms Chris placed her on top of a gurney before covering her still form with a sheet nodding to Matt to open the door as he and Jeff stationed themselves at either ends of the gurney.

“We’re halfway there Steph…” Chris whispered dropping a kiss on her forehead as they wheeled the gurney out of the room.

**

~~denotes phone conversation~~

Part Twenty-Five

**

~~"It's done… she'll be out of our hair for good… no complications,

no loose ends that might lead back to us… you deal with how to work

it into tonight's script, I want this over and done with."~~

Snapping his mobile phone shut Hunter threw his head back and laughed

leaning back into the warm embrace of the blonde woman seated behind

him.

"You sound very pleased…" she cooed bringing the sponge up to

leisurely trail the warm soapy water over his chest and arms, "What

has my baby so happy this evening hmmm?"

"Ah Stacey… now that would be telling," He teased catching her hand

as it moved over his chest to bring her fingers to his lips. "And I

can think of more amusing things you could be doing with that mouth

of yours."

"Mmmm… your wish is my command," She whispered as he pulled her

around so that she was straddling his lap.

"Just as long as you remember that," Stacey let out a squeal of pain

as he grasped her hair at the back of her head to yank her lips down

to his.

**

"How's she doing?"

Chris looked up from his seat beside Stephanie's bed as Lita entered

tossing her jacket over the back of a chair as she made her way over

to him, bending down to kiss the top of his head.

"No change… I'm beginning to think we shouldn't have moved her or…

that maybe we were… to late…"

"Christopher that is not the way to think!" she admonished planting

her hands on her hips. "And if I ever here you talking like that

again I will beat the living daylights out of you, do you hear me!"

He actually smiled at the way she stood there all mother hen like

with her feathers ruffled, it was times like these he thanked god he

had friends like her… made the downsides in life more bearable.

"I hear you, Li." He smiled up at her.

"Has anyone heard from Trish?" Jeff asked as he strode in his gaze

focused on the mobile phone in his hand. "I've called everyone I

know… no one's seen her."

"Try not to worry, Jeff… Trish knows what she's capable of. She won’t

do anything drastic."

"Doesn't stop me from worrying though…" He mumbled as he slumped down

into the nearest chair. "How's Steph- Hey!" he cried when Lita's hand

connected with his head but his sour look soon changed when he caught

sight of Chris's expression. "Shit, Chris…"

"It's okay, bro…" He smiled half heartedly before turning his gaze

back to the woman lying in the bed gently reaching up to brush the

hair back from her face. "Keep trying to find Trish… I don't want

Hunter to get another chance to hurt another woman."

"I'm on it… believe me I'll kill him if he ever touches Trish again."

"Does she know that?" Lita asked playfully trailing her fingers

through the younger Hardy's hair.

Jeff shrugged.

"I doubt it… she wont let me close enough to tell her."

Chris looked at him then an odd expression on his face.

"Don't wait, Jeff… don't waste time… I keep thinking of all the time I wasted with Steph… and now…"

"She'll pull through this Chris… how can she not when she's got you

here waiting for her. Just need to let her body recuperate after all

those drugs they pumped into her."

Chris reached out to gasp the younger man's hand although his eyes

never left Stephanie's form.

"Thanks."

**

Part Twenty-Six

**

Dr Wilkins walked out of room 204 and down to the nurse's station.

"Excuse me nurse… what happened to my patient in room 204?"

"You discharged her doctor."

"What?"

"It's all here on the computer…" She brought up the discharge

schedule and turned the screen of her computer towards him letting

him view the screen more clearly. She watched as the doctor visibly

paled before turning on his heel… "I'm ruined…" being the last thing

she heard as he left.

**

Stephanie was having the most wonderful dream, it had to be a dream

because if this were real life she would be hurting… not happy, which

is what she felt now. There was someone there, a man… Chris… he was

telling her he loved her. Now this definitely had to be a dream her

mind told her.

She could hear him as clear as day… "I love you Stephanie McMahon…

come back to me…"

`I did come back Chris… and he still got me… hurt me…'

Chris looked up from where he had rested his head on the bed in front

of him where Stephanie lay. Her eyes though they remained closed her

dream state had her rapid eye movement on overdrive behind her closed

lids, he hated seeing her like this… like she was fighting with

herself, thing was he didn't know wether she was fighting to come

back to him or fighting to end it all together.

His hand absently moved to her forehead, his fingers tangling

themselves within her tresses, closing his eyes he leaned forward

till his forehead was touching hers. "Come back to me Steph… I love

you… I need you…"

She tried to move her hand to reach out to him but she couldn't…

Hunter was there, as was her father… both holding her arms at her

sides, the sadistic smile on Hunter's face telling her she would

never get away from him… he belonged to her…

Her mind screamed for Chris but he just got farther and farther away

from her finally turning his back on her altogether. `He's leaving

me… Chris, Chris wait… don't leave me here… please…'

Stephanie knew as long as she let her fear for her ex husband and her

father control her she would never be free.

`Chris had seen the girl trapped within the body, Chris had stayed

and held her while she cried, Chris had came after her when she left…

promised to protect her if she came back… and now it was Chris's

voice she could hear confessing his love for her…' She could see the

images of Hunter and her Father disappearing their groping hands

frantically trying to keep hold of her but a light shone in her eyes

now… a light formed of trust and love and it was that light now that

was ripping at the binds that her father and Hunter bound her with.

Chris couldn't keep the tears that formed behind his eyes from

spilling forth as he gave into his emotions unleashing the sobs that

he had been holding in for so long. "I love you… I love you… I love

you…" He barely felt the hand that wiped at the tears that trailed

from his face to hers, not wanting to lift his head from where it

rested against hers.

"I love you too, Chris."

**

Part twenty Seven

**

“Monday night RAW, JR, what a night it promises to be with Rock meeting Mrs Foley’s baby boy as well as the women’s champ Trish Stratus meeting her old Indy pal Victoria!”

“You’ll get no arguments from me, King… tonight Vince McMahon has promised a hell of a night with champion against champion, friend against friend… let me just say it aint gonna be pretty folks.”

“And lets not forget Chris Jericho is making his come back tonight after a month off and he promises it’s going to be his most memorable come back ever.”

“And looks like things are kicking off right about now,” JR piped in as music began blaring through the speakers. “Take it away Lilian!”

**

“Making his way down to the ring, weighing in at 220 pounds being

accompanied by…”

Matt got up to turn the volume down on the monitor as Chris entered the locker room closing the door behind him then locking it. “Where is she?”

“Here.”

Stephanie all but flew to him, her arms wrapping around his neck as she buried her face in his neck.

“I was so worried…”

“Hey… come on Steph… there’s nothing they can do to me and the only way they would is if they knew we took you from the hospital… and don’t worry Jeff and I already took care of the doctor. He won’t be calling Hunter anytime soon.”

“Not if he wants his reputation and his practice still intact.” Matt added from behind them.

“Where are Jeff and Lita?” Chris asked his eyes glancing around the room.

“Jeff couldn’t settle he was too worried about Trish so he and Lita went to go see if they could find her.” Matt replied as he picked up his bag and headed for the shower area. “I’m gonna go get ready for our match, Jeff and I are up against Edge and Christian again so it’s gonna be pretty intense.” Not waiting for a reply he slipped into the other room giving the couple some privacy.

Chris sat down on a bench pulling Stephanie down into his lap.

“I love you.”

She smiled leaning towards him so her lips were centimetres from his.

“I love you too.” She whispered back as he leaned up closing the gap between their lips.

**

Jeff and Lita stood by the drink machine watching as Hunter chatted away to the newest diva, Molly Holly. Her blush giving away the topic of their conversation only to be confirmed when they saw her slip him a key card. ‘Probably to her hotel room,’ Lita thought with disgust, Jeff’s expression reflecting her own as they watched the girl flutter off down the hallway.

“He makes me sick.” Lita sneered turning her gaze from Hunter to look up at Jeff who stood beside her.

“Your not alone there, Li.” Jeff replied as he grabbed hold of her hand to lead her back down the way they had come his steps faltering as he saw Trish walking up the hallway. She had her head down so she didn’t see them standing there until she was almost upon them.

It was obvious she was about to approach the drink machine her hand already fishing around in her bag for a coin but when she looked up and her eyes met Jeff’s her paced slowed coming to a halt a few feet away from them.

Lita looked from one to the other and sighed… ‘Someone really needed to stick a fire cracker under these too.’ She thought waving her hand in front of Jeff’s face to draw his attention back to her but to no avail, she laughed then… her friend was well and truly whipped!

His expression changed from one of intense scrutiny to total deflation and she turned her head to see that without a word Trish had turned and walked back the way she had come.

**

28

**

"Okay, so you know what to do?"

"Yes already… now go out there and make me proud." Stephanie had to

practically push Chris towards the door only scooting back at the

last minute when he turned to open it in case someone saw her. He

nodded once more to Matt and Jeff before closing the door behind him.

"Well… this is it," she said expelling a deep breath.

"Yep," Lita agreed throwing her arm over Stephanie's shoulders. "You

can mark this day down on your calendar as `the end of the McMahon

era.'"

"The McMahon-Helmsley era." Matt said sitting forward in his chair.

Stephanie's brow creased in thought.

"The day I found my freedom."

"I like it." Lita smiled.

"Yeah, it has a likable ring to it." Matt agreed.

"Guy's, Chris is on his way to the ring." Jeff who was avidly

watching the monitor turned the screen around so they could all have

a better view. "Not long now… you sure you’re ready for this?"

Stephanie looked up at the youngest Hardy and gave him a wink.

"I'm a McMahon… it's in my genes."

**

"Making his way to the ring weighing in at 231 pounds… from Winnipeg

Manitoba… Chris Jericho!" the cheer from the crowd was deafening as

the welcomed the return of their first ever-undisputed heavy weight

champion. He walked down to the ring and slipped through the ropes a

confident spark in his eyes as he stared out at the crowd, grinning

like he had just won the lottery and then some.

"And his opponent, weighing in at 246 pounds, from Greenwich

Connecticut - The Game, Triple H!"

Chris watched at Hunter made his way through the curtain to stand at

the top of the ramp, his ever present water bottle in his hand and a

glower on his face. `Oh he was so going to enjoy this match' he

thought not letting his eyes move from Hunters as the other man made

he way down the ramp towards the squared circle.

Hunter, to the surprise of the crowd and everyone else ringside

forwent on his traditional spitting of water instead slipping through

the ropes to stand nose to nose with Chris Jericho. His eyes baited

the shorter man but Chris didn't back down instead yawning his

indifference to Hunter's tactic's drawing laughter from the crowd.

The two men circled each other as the bell sounded Chris flexing his

fingers as they itched to get their grasp around the other man's

throat.

"I'm gonna so enjoy kicking your ass Jericho…"

"Not am much as I'm gonna enjoy kicking yours big fella…"

Chris was ready for the other man as he charged forward with the

intention of locking up in the centre of the ring. What he was met

with was the Jericho's fist and he staggered back, "didn't expect

that did you?" Jericho laughed as Hunter charged him again this time

taking the other man down easily with a drop toe hold, smiling when

he heard the sound of teeth connecting with the ring floor.

He leaned back into the turn buckle allowing Hunter to get to his

feet. He wanted this to last as long as possible.

The sound of the crowd booing brought Jericho's head up, he didn't

think Vince would make his appearance this early in the match,

obviously he wasn't pleased in the way this match was going.

"What the hell are you doing?" he yelled up at Hunter once he had

made it to the ring. "Make him pay and get it over with!"

More boo's sounded as Shane also made his way down to the ring. `Oh

they were making this so easy for him.'

He shrugged easily and stepped away from the turnbuckle motioning

with his hands for Hunter to come give it his best shot. He was so

focused on Hunter that he didn't see the figure come through the

crowd and jump over the security wall until the man was upon him, he

turned just in time to see a steel chair descending towards him and

he managed to duck to the side wincing as the chair connected with

his shoulder.

Jericho looked up to see Stone Cold Steve Austin standing over

him. "Ain't payback a bitch." He grinned down at him.

"The biggest…" Jericho replied before the chair descended again.

Chris could hear Vince, Shane and Hunter as they laughed and yelled

down at him, their shoed feet connecting with his back and sides

where ever they could get but Jericho smiled through his pain, a

knowing smile that very, very soon their time would come.

**

29

**

Chris barely registered when the chair shots had stopped only knowing that they had, out of the corner of his eye he could see Matt and Jeff going at it at ringside with Shane and Austin which only left Hunter… he turned looking for the man instead finding the official out cold on the ring floor.

Then he saw Hunter slide back into the ring and approach him sledgehammer in hand. He could still hear the voice of Vince somewhere in the background but his focus right now was on the man standing over him. All he could do was watch as Hunter smiled down at him before raising the sledgehammer up over his head.

Hunter laughed not noticing that Vince’s yelling had stopped or that the old man was no longer standing beside him, all his concentration trained in on the man lying on the ring floor. He saw Jericho smile up at him and he frowned wondering what he had to smile about… ‘He’ was the one with the sledgehammer… ‘Or at least he was’ he thought as the sledgehammer was yanked from his fingers.

Turning around he wasn’t prepared for what he saw and staggered back into the ropes his face a mask of surprise and fury at who he saw, Stephanie.

“You… you…”

“Close your mouth Hunter… not a pretty sight.” She stood there swinging the sledgehammer in her hand finally realising why he had favoured the tool in the first place. The power it exuded in you was intoxicating, running through your body to mix and swirl in your blood stream.

“Stephanie…” Chris whispered seeing the crazed expression that came to her face as she held the sledgehammer in her hands. “Baby, he’s not worth it… don’t let him bring you down to his level… you’re better than that… ‘We’ are better than that.”

Everyone seemed to have stopped what they were doing and were all looking at her, waiting for her next move. She lifted her eyes to her father and then to Shane… finally coming back to rest on that of her husband’s.

“Yes… yes we are…” She said reaching for Chris’s hand as he leaned heavily on the ropes using them to pull himself to his feet.

“Stephanie…”

Stephanie turned to her father who had entered the ring and now stood in front of them, Shane following his example, ‘always the follower’ she thought as she looked at the three of them and shook her head.

“I don’t know you…” She whispered tightening her grip on Chris’s hand. “I don’t know any of you.”

The speakers blared again and had everyone’s heads turned to the curtain as the McMahon Family music was played.

“What the…” Vince began but his words died on his mouth as none other than Trish Stratus and Mick Foley wheeled Linda McMahon down the ramp.

Jeff smiled as the little blonde passed him and his delight at her returning his smile radiated through his entire being as he stepped forward to help Trish and her ward up the steel steps and into the ring.

The crowd cheered the woman into the ring the cheering getting louder when mother and daughter embraced before turning to stare with cold eyes towards the three men in their family.

“Hello Vince.” Linda said her face showing that although she hadn’t quite gotten all of her mobility back, her mind was definitely back one hundred percent.

“L-Linda.”

Chris looked behind him from where he was standing beside Stephanie to see that all the wrestlers and officials had come down the ramp and were now surrounding the ring and he protectively moved his arm up around Stephanie’s shoulders.

“Don’t worry Vince, I know you’re a busy man so I’ll make this brief.”

“Mom-“

“Not now Shane… but don’t you worry either, your next.” There was muffled laughter around the ring as Shane stepped back sheepishly.

“Mick?” she said turning to the man at her side who opened a folder he had been carrying handing her a document, which she glanced over before turning to face her husband. “I hold in my hand the deed to everything I own… emphasis on the ‘I’” she added smiling for the first time since she had been wheeled out. “Thanks to this young lady here,” she continued nodding her head in Trish’s direction. “I found out what you had not only been doing to me, but to our daughter… and it sickened me, it brought bile to my throat every time I thought about what you had allowed to happen to our sweet little girl at the hands of her husband. Now I know all about you drugging me up and proclaiming me insane but Vince… I don’t care about that, never have. But you crossed the line once you allowed that poor excuse of a husband you chose for her to lay his stinking hands on her in anger!”

Vince’s face fell right there and then, wether it be from the heavy scolding aimed at him by his wife or by the knowledge of knowing he had been exposed to the world, Chris would never know.

“I also hold in my hands divorce papers and my lawyer tells me with

everything I have on you… there’s no judge alive that wouldn’t grant me my divorce and any amount of settlement I choose.”

“Y-You can’t…”

“I can and I have… its all right here in black and white.”

“W-What is it you want?”

She smiled up at him confidently from her wheel chair.

“To end your reign.”

**

30

**

Did her father just chuckle? Stephanie looked on as her father,

brother and ex-husband towered over the fragile form of her mother

still seated in her wheel chair, she felt Chris's arm at the small of

her back his fingers running in small circles letting her know he was

there.

Trish and Mick hadn't left her mother's side and from the look on her

mothers face there was no hint of fear or intimidation in her gaze.

"You think you can over throw me, the king of the wrestling world?

You haven't got what it take's… you're a little mouse in the body of

a woman, why do you think I married you!" He strutted back and forth

in front of her as the crowd as well as most of the wrestlers who had

made their way down to ringside booing his words.

Stephanie watched as her mother lowered her eyes for a moment, could

see her chest rise as she inhaled and then fall as she exhaled, some

would think in defeat but when her mother raised her eyes to meet the

eyes of her father their was nothing but determination and courage

that emanated from within their depths.

Her father seemed shocked at the smile that came to his wife's face,

his eyes widening before he turned to look at the two men standing

behind him.

"I'm taking everything Vince… from this business, which may I add I

have been accepted back as CEO…" Her voiced trailed off and she

waited patiently as the crowd roared back to life. "From this

business to the last table cloth in our linen closet at home."

More cheers erupted around the arena as Vince's face physically

paled.

"Try and fight me in court if you will Vince, but trust me I

have a very solid case. Although I am not that heartless a person as

to leave you with nothing…" Her voice trailed off again and a look of

relief seemed to flicker in her fathers eyes. "You may leave with the

clothes on your back. –ah!" She held up her hand when he began to

protest and he stilled at once. "After what you did to me… to our

daughter… be thankful I am letting you go at all."

The crowd cheered as Vince made his way to the ropes not liking the

looks he was receiving from the other wrestlers and officials

standing outside the ring, men and women who he had at some stage or

other forced them to do his bidding. Cowering close to the edge of

the ring as made he his way around it only when he was close enough

to the ramp did he make a run for it only to be chased up it by a

posse of wrestlers lead by head referee, Earl Hebner.

"And now you Shane…" Linda continued when the crowd had quietened

from cheering Vince up the ramp.

"Mom…"

"Its okay, Shane… you like many others were just a pawn in your

father’s sick game."

Shane seemed to let out a deep breath and he walked towards his

mother kneeling down in front of her to wrap his arms around her. A

lone tear slipped down Stephanie's cheek as she watched them

together.

"I love you Shane, you're my only son…" Linda continued, "But what

you did to Stephanie cannot go without penance."

He raised his eyes then and Stephanie saw the tears glistening from

his as their gazes met, in his eyes she saw the shame and dishonour

there… her own gaze sending out a message of forgiveness and love

even as her mother continued to speak.

"What you did was wrong Shane, but I am not going to deal with you as

severely as I dealt with your father. You Shane… because of your

actions not only towards Stephanie but towards Chris Jericho as well,

will face him in a one on one street fight right here in this arena

in three days time."

Stephanie turned to Chris to see him flexing and un-flexing his

knuckles as he stared down at the crouched figure of Shane McMahon

knowing this was something he had been waiting for.

"After which…" Linda continued, "You will be exiled from ever

entering another arena hosting the WWE."

Tears shone in her mother’s eyes now and she knew how much this had to

be breaking her mothers heart, she watched as her mother leaned

forward in her chair taking her brothers face between her hands and

lovingly kiss his cheek.

Shane stood smiling down at his mother before walking over to

Stephanie. "I'm… Steph…"

"I love you Shane." Stephanie stepped forward and wrapped her arms

around her big brother and Chris swore he saw the big Texan Bradshaw

wipe at his eyes before leading Shane up the ramp, him and Farooq

being given the task of watching over Shane till his match against

Jericho.

"And then there was one." Linda said now focusing on Triple H.

Hunter smirked. "There's nothing you have on me old woman."

"Yes, that's very true Hunter… there is nothing `I' have on you… so

I'm going to leave this one for Trish." She said motioning for Trish

to step forward.

Hunter rolled his eyes.

"Oh I'm so scared I'm shaking in my boots…"

"You should…" Trish said raising her eyes to meet those of the man

who stood confidently before her. "You should be very scared…" Hunter

watched as she turned to Stephanie. "I'm so, so sorry for my part in

all this…" she saw that Trish's hand was shaking and she smiled as

her mother reached out clasping the blonde diva's hand in her own

willing her to continue.

"It was no secret that I was sleeping with Hunter, I thought I was in

love and that he was in love with me… and for that I am truly sorry,

Stephanie."

Stephanie nodded to the other woman in response realising how hard

that would have been for her in front of everyone here… not to

mention everyone nationwide.

"There was a secret though that I was keeping during my little tryst

with The Game, Triple H… and that secret was that he used to abuse me

physically. And you can’t believe how good I got at hiding all the

bruises… I can’t imagine what Stephanie had to put up with as his wife but as the other woman physical abuse with no way out is what I was subjected too."

The cold hard eyes of Jeff Hardy fell on the form of Triple H anger

radiating from every fibre of his being.

"I hold in my hand a restraining order for myself against Triple H…

and…" she paused and waited for Hunter to meet her eyes as he looked

out over the crowd and laughed, "And with my restraining order I

also hold an identical one for any other woman who has been

physically abused by Hunter Hurst Helmsley and willing to press

charges to make sure this sick maniacal man never lays a hand on

another woman again."

The crowd cheered and clapped and Jeff couldn't help himself he went

over and scooped Trish up in his arms his expression telling her how

proud he was of her.

Hunter grinned as his gaze roved the others who stood outside the

ring.

"I wouldn't go celebrating just yet… I don't see anyone willing

to accept what you have to-"

"I'll have one."

Hunter's eyes closed as he recognised the voice and he turned to see

Chyna slip through the ropes to stand beside Trish and Jeff.

More wrestlers parted to allow someone else to step up the steel

steps and into the ring, her long blonde hair swaying behind her as

Stacey joined the others.

"Steph?" Trish and the other girls who had stepped forward all turned

to face her, their arms linked. "Will you join us?"

Stephanie looked at these three women who were willing to do what she

had being too scared to do for two long years. No words needed to be

spoken as Stephanie stepped forward and joined them.

"Well… I think it's pretty clear that you indeed have every right to

be scared Hunter I mean from what I've read the inmates of the GCS

Correctional facility don't take kindly to men who abuse women."

Hunter's eyes widened as four armed guards stepped into the ring and

positioned themselves on either side of him.

"You can walk out of your own accord or they can use force…

personally I prefer the latter but I guess blondes really don't get

everything they want…" Trish winked at Hunter before focusing on the

four guards around him. "He's all yours boys."

"You haven't seen the last of me you little bitch!" He sneered at

Trish before his eyes latched onto Stephanie. "And you! Keep looking

over your shoulder little girl… cause one of these days I'm going to

be there."

Stephanie shivered as she watched Hunter being lead up the ramp

something in the back of her mind telling her that yes, one day they

would meet again.

The crowd gave them a standing ovation as wrestlers and officials

lined the walkway up the ramp showing there approval of what had just

happened by joining in with the crowd's cheers of encouragement.

Mick Foley stood behind his old friend Linda McMahon and wheeled her

up the walkway, Stephanie and Trish on either side of her with Chris

and Jeff coming up behind. JR and Jerry Lawler looked at each other

with astonished faces as the group disappeared behind the curtain.

"Well…' JR said shrugging his shoulders at his long time compadre

sitting beside him. "Vince did say it would be one hell of a show

tonight."

**

Epilogue

**

"Penny for your thoughts."

Linda looked up from where she was lounging beside the pool to see

her good friend Mick Foley standing there and she smiled motioning

with her hand for him to join her, which he did seating himself in

the lounge chair beside her.

"I was just thinking of how everything has changed over the past few

years."

"Yeah…" he agreed as he too watched Chris cooking at the barbeque

while Stephanie stood off to the side holding their eight-month-old

boy as Chris explained to the little tyke the do's and the don'ts of

cooking a barbeque. "…I still remember when those two hated each

other…"

Linda chuckled. "So do I… and now they're each other's world."

"And the WWE has never been as popular since Chris and Stephanie took

over, they make a great team."

"The best," she smiled looking over to the other group who sat

chatting along the poolside. "I just wish Trish would find someone

after…"

"After Jeff left?" Mick finished for her when her voice trailed off.

"I thought those two were made for each other… just goes to show that

even the strongest of love aren't meant to be."

Mick watched his friend as her eyes clouded over, he knew all too

well that she had not been talking about the love between Jeff and

Trish. "You ever wonder where he is?" he asked conversationally

keeping his eyes on the small group gathered around the pool.

"Everyday."

"He's out there somewhere you know…"

Linda smiled her gaze coming back into focus as she turned to him. "I

know."

**

*Somewhere out there*

"Get on with it you mongrel! This is my bench!" he yelled at the bum

who had dared to lay down on `his' bench swatting at him with a

rolled up newspaper he had found and planned to use to guard himself

from the wind's chill.

The unlucky bum stumbling to his feet at the vicious sneer the other

man sent his way. "You think your so better then us… but your not!"

The bum called out bringing a few other bums out of hiding as the

first twinkling of evening stars could be seen through the tree tops.

"Careful of that one, Roger," Another man piped up as he came a

little closer. "That one there has dreams of grandeur, he does."

"They're not dreams I tell you! I speak the truth!"

"You speak a pack of lies… you wouldn't be here if what you go around

telling everyone were true."

"I'm one of the richest men in America."

"Yeah… well welcome to the real world." With the night bringing in

the cold autumn winds the other men moved off to find shelter for the

night.

The old man lay down on his bench, wearily closing his eyes allowing

sleep to take over his tired limbs, the last words to leave his lips

as he slipped into slumber being... "I'm Vince McMahon… the most

powerful man in the WWE."

**

END

**

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