Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Note: Well, this is a story for Casey, better known as Freakin' Yoda on here. I told her I'd write her an Alex Shelley story, and its been pretty fun to write so far. It not only includes Alex, it includes Sabin, James Storm, GenMe, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Robert Roode, and Kaz as well as SoCalVal and a few others. Pretty much all the awesome people at TNA, lol. Enjoy!


"Well, I'll probably call you later, anyway, Amy. I really should hang up now, I'm almost inside the building and you know how dealing with James can be." She chuckled. "Yeah, right? Well, okay. Later." As she put her phone in her bag, Delilah looked up at the large building that was Universal Studios and smiled. She had many good memories of this place, running around there when she was a teenager almost five years ago now. Wild memories of playing hide and seek in the dark during a storm came to mind. Another memory included chasing after the infamous AJ Styles with a water gun outside one summer while amused fans watched, and watching her brother do what he loved in the ring included countless others.

Her arrival went unnoticed this time, as she wasn't here for a good reason. Her smile faded into a frown as she neared security. Allowed in, she searched for a familiar face. Hogan and Bischoff's arrival earlier that year brought for many new faces and talents, and the ones she knew so well weren't around it seemed. Even the atmosphere felt different backstage.

TNA was always a fun loving company and a chill down her spine made her wonder if it still was. While Dixie was a 'newbie' went it came to owning a wrestling company, backstage company members and Jeff Jarrett helped her bring the company that the latter founded off the ground.

Suddenly feeling very out of place, Delilah took a deep breath.

Well, that was until she heard that familiar Southern drawl from behind. "Delilah!"

"AJ!" she cried, running into his arms as the relief filled her. His warm hug brought a smile to her face, and the kiss on her cheek from his lips warmed her already fragile heart. "It's been so long now!"

"I know." He stood a little back and stared at her. She followed his eyes with curiosity. "You look just great, DJ."

"I told you not to call me that," she muttered pitifully, folding her arms over her chest. If it was one nickname she hated, it was DJ. AJ always insisted it fit her because he was AJ and they were destined to be a tag team or something like that. As if just one j made a tag team. "You know I hate that nickname more than anything."

"Relax." He rolled his eyes, as he probably expected that answer. "What brings you here? Storm didn't say you were coming or anything…"

"Well, that would be because he doesn't know." Delilah unfolded her arms. "I hear his antics aren't just on screen anymore."

AJ's smile faded. "Well, yes, I'm afraid… I don't know if it's his drinking, or his ego, but he's gotten very… rude. More than I expected."

"Fill me in."

"He's giving Jeff trouble, and even Dixie has talked with him a few times. He's fighting with other wrestlers here, people we consider friends… and well…" AJ made a face. "Countless ring rats."

Delilah pretended as if she was gagging and AJ smiled weakly at her.

"You know I don't live my character off screen. Frankie and Bobby don't either. I can't explain what's up with him."

"I guess I'll talk to him."

"I think you'll need to do more than talking, DJ… I mean it, really."

She ignored his nickname and nodded. "Well, I do know your tapings start soon, and I don't want him to know I'm here yet. So, I'm just gonna lay low and find some other faces… don't tell him I'm here, okay?"

"Okay."

"I love you," she whispered into his ear. "It's great seeing you."

"Yeah, you as well."

Delilah grinned. "And hey, Styles. You keep your gimmick of yours on screen, okay?"

"Deal." A wide and loving smile was another answer for her, and she chuckled. Only AJ Styles could give her that look and she would know it wasn't usually for reasons that meant trouble around.

Delilah found it wasn't that hard to find places she used to know around the place. More unfamiliar faces and names passed her as she walked, and she felt a pang of guilt inside for not visiting more often. While she didn't wrestle, she was always a big part of James's life and it seemed more and more that was slipping away from her. Pryo went off suddenly and Delilah jumped into the air, cursing as she forgot how loud it could be. A few people giggled at her, but she ignored them and continued until she found the Knockouts locker room at the end of the hallway.

Peeking inside, Delilah's heart dropped. It was filled with unfamiliar faces, with the exception of Valerie, better known as SoCalVal to the fans. Politely knocking, only she looked up as Delilah entered the room. "Delilah!" she cried. "I didn't realize you were here visiting!"

Explaining her story once more, darkened eyes confirmed what AJ had said. "James has… well, he worries me, Delilah."

"So I've apparently heard." She sighed, realizing the dirt sheet reports were true. It was one of the few ways she kept up with her brother now a days considering they didn't talk often. When several sites were reporting his off behavior, she wanted to ignore it. Seeing now all the faces of his friends with worry, something told her something was seriously wrong with James.

"Listen, I've really got to get to ringside, but if you wait after the show, maybe we can catch up at a restaurant or something. I'm gonna assume you still don't drink?"

Delilah blushed. "I'm the apparently good one in the family."

Val laughed. "Okay! Well, we'll definitely figure something out, right?"

"Definitely. I'll see you later!"

Once alone again, Delilah looked around. What was she supposed to do when she didn't want James to know she was here yet? If he was distracted during a match, it would result in injury, and no one ever wanted to cause real injury in wrestling, she realized. Still, one very familiar face was missing and it caused some pain inside of her heart. A dear and loving friend of hers didn't seem to be with the company anymore, and it killed her. He was such a staple in the building of TNA, and realizing all that he gave in the last few years washed away, made her tear up.

CD… CD… why aren't you here?

A few minutes later, a reply came. Just where am I supposed to be, love?

TNA, CD.

Released, he reminded her. Why are you there? I thought you and your bro got into a fight.

We did. I heard some pretty messed up things and decided to see what was going on.

Careful, CD warned. You know what your brother is like when he's angry…

Delilah laughed. James's temper was a wild one, definitely. Just as she went to continue her walk, she fell into someone, almost knocking her down to the hard and unforgiving floor.

"Damn!" Delilah looked up in time to see one of the tag champions, Alex Shelley standing next to her, his eyebrows creased in worry. "You okay, sweetie?"

Delilah swallowed. He didn't remember her. "I'm fine." Well, not really that he should. He barely saw her last time she was around, and she spent most of her time with AJ and Chris Daniels so it wasn't as if he was supposed to really know who she was. "Thanks," she added.

Alex gave her a crooked smile. "I guess I'll see you around."

It definitely seemed like he was still the flirt like she remembered, though. All she could do was laugh shakily and wave, as if she was some starstuck fan who just met her idol. Continuing to walk around until she reached catering, it seemed there was a PPV in two weeks. No Surrender and these were the last tapings before the show; so many tensions were high to perform the best every wrestler could. From what she saw, the Motorcity Machine Guns had a segment with London Brawling, the team considering of Magnus and Desmond Wolfe. And they were facing off for the titles on Sunday, leaving Beer Money to stay with Fourtune yet off the card. More and more was the focus on EV2 vs. Fourtune under the leader of Ric Flair.

Cutting off what would be a commercial break on Thursday; Delilah looked up on the monitor to see Fourtune standing with Ric Flair, talking about taking out the group of EV2. AJ did most of the talking other than Flair, and even she was surprised at how good of a heel her friend could be. And then she saw James in the background, that bottle of beer in his hand. Her eyes locked on him, trying to pull some kind of information from just his posture. All she could see was his character's smug smile. … If it was his character's.

"Woo!" Flair yelled and Delilah rolled her eyes. Flair was still a character after all these years. Flair took James's beer bottle and they were cut off camera.

Would this considerably be a good time to find her brother? She considered her options. It was still just the beginning of the tapings and she had no clue what was happening anymore. Without AJ around, or Chris, all she knew was pretty much from a fan's perspective. What she did know however was that if someone else saw her first and mentioned it to James she was here, it was going to be bad.

Find James was suddenly number one on her to do list.

James was almost fourteen years older than her, but sometimes she felt as if he was the younger one in the family. His constant drinking and attitude weren't easy to put up with, and it was one of the reasons they currently weren't talking but she still worried for her brother and knew someone had to step in.

Delilah neared his locker room, but stopped short when she heard a loud voice she knew all too well. "What the fuck do you mean my sister is here?"

Crap.

"Where is she? Where the fuck is she?"

Delilah backed herself against the wall as he stormed, no pun intended, out of the locker room and almost into her. "Lilly Jude," he growled.

Well, this was bad. He just used her childhood nickname. "… hi, James."

His eyes scared her. When James was angry, you could always see it in his eyes first. It was like they glowed a red or they pulsated heat. He looked at Frankie Kazarian who was standing next to him, and growled once more. "Leave, Frankie."

"James, don't do anything stupid," Kaz warned.

"Fuck off."

"It's okay," Delilah managed to say. "I'll be okay. You go, Frankie."

He frowned and then slowly walked away, leaving her in front of her seething brother. Delilah didn't say a word, but let him tower over her like the man he wanted to be.

"Lilly Jude."

"You might act all tough around the boys, but I'm not stupid," she said before he could continue. "So quit your I'm furious look. If you don't, I'm not listening to a word you say."

"What… what are you doing here?" he whispered in a soft voice.

"I've heard a few things."

"Listening to fucking scum dirt sheets, are we?"

"I've got my sources," Delilah said in retort and smiled. "And no, I'm not just talking about dirt sheets, James."

"AJ?" he growled. "I'll kill him…"

"You put one hand on him, and I swear you'll regret it." Delilah took a brave step forward, hoping her determination showed through instead of fear. "I came, James, because I'm worried about you. I know we haven't had the best of … times lately, but you're my older brother, and I love you."

James stared at her for a minute and she wondered if somehow she had gotten through to him faster than she expected and then, he slammed a hand into the wall, making her jump. "I'm not dealing with this right now, fuck!"

"James!"

"I've got a match," he snapped, and stormed off before she could stop him.

Delilah sighed and leaned against the wall.


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