Mickie James was lost in a world of her own as she walked down the corridor of this weeks Raw location in San Francisco. She was trying to get ready for her title match against Beth Phoenix. Being the champion had its perks, she could get disqualified or counted out and she would still be the champion, but she never thought of herself as that type of competitor that was more the style of Randy Orton. Even though Mickie had had few dealings with the legend killer the thought him to be ruthless in his methods and would do anything to get what he wanted. She shuddered as a cold wind swept thought the corridor and she turned round to see where the draft had come from. Turning herself a full 360 degrees she found nothing, putting the incident aside she decided it was time to get ready for her match.
Randy Orton sat in his locker room he shared with his Legacy team mates, they seemed to be glue to the TV as Lillian Garcia announced the next match. "Diva's Randy come on man I'm sure that will cheer you up." Ted Debiase said throwing the former WWE champion a smile. "You know as well as I do that Diva's don't interest me." Randy said letting a small smirk play on his lips. "Oh yeah I think this match might interest you." Cody Rhodes joined in just as the familiar music of Beth Phoenix came on. Randy knew who would be coming out next this was a title match, he had never really had much to do with the woman's champion, but something about her made him curious. She was beautiful yes but weren't they all that was why Vince hired them, but she was a good wrestler, she had courage and heart and even though she was never the biggest dog in the fight she still seemed to prevail. Randy got up and pretended not to be interested in the TV but came to sit on the sofa opposite his team mates. "Oh there she is." Ted said looking like a school boy jumping up and down in his seat. "Ted you know Mickie is never going to go out with you." Cody said as Mickie James bounced her way into the arena. "How do you know I have not even asked her out?" Pouted Ted as he turned to Randy for some support. "Don't look at me." Randy said offering Ted a small smile. As the bell went all three men settled in to watch the match.
Mickie didn't want to get into a power game with the Glamazon, she knew she had to hit and move. Tanking a run at the ropes Mickie didn't see the clothes line coming and suddenly she was flat on her back. ' that one knocked the wind out' she thought before Beth pick her up and slammed her back down again going for the early pin. Mickie kicked out and gave Beth an upper cut for her troubles. She saw the Glamazon's eyes roll back and she knew she had hit her mark. Running bull dog next as Beth's face bounced off the matt. Mickie signalled to the crowd that she was going up top. As she climbed she felt a hand on her leg. "Dam it" she hissed out as Beth slammed her back first on to the matt once more. Mickie was stunned and couldn't get up, she knew when Beth made the cover she would have to use all of her energy to kick out. Mickie felt like a year had passed but it had only been a few moments, suddenly she noticed the crowd had gone silent and the EMT's were running into the ring. Mickie got up quickly showing them that she was ok. They didn't come to her they went for Beth who was lying motionless on the matt where she had fallen. Mickie clutched her arms tightly round her body as she made her way to where Beth was lying. "is she ok?" Mickie said to an EMT who was looking apprehensive. "we need to get her out of here now." Someone else yelled, Mickie swung round at the voice but she was moved away by a strong pair of hands. She was shocked when she looked up and saw Vince McMahon. "What's going on?" She whispered to him. "Beth's dead Mickie we need to get everyone out. Please come back with me." Mickie's face turned pale, she heard the words but she couldn't quite believe it, Beth superplexed her. "No!" she cried wiggling out of Vince's arms and running over to the gurney where Beth was lying. "You can't die like this." Mickie shouted. She didn't realise that the crowd were unaware of the tragedy that had just unfolded in front of their eyes. People in the front row were shocked then they began to yell. Mickie was oblivious to this until she was lifted away by two strong arms and a firm chest. "shush Mickie it's ok lets get you backstage. Mickie recognised the voice but could not believe the gentle tone with witch he spoke. "no Randy it won't Beth is dead."
Ted Randy and Cody watched in horror as Beth landed on the matt motionless her eyes staring up at the bright lights. Before anyone could say anything Randy was running out of the room. Ted watched as Mickie finally got to her feet and realised what was going on. Vince was there trying to take her away but she slipped him and screamed for Beth. The crown now knew what had happened and just as the TV went to commercials Randy made it to Mickie. Cody turned to Ted his face ash white and Ted couldn't say anything. They had seen people get seriously injured before, but nothing like this. "I…" Cody began but he couldn't complete his sentence. There were no words for what had happened tonight, and for what had happened out there in the squared circle no explanation either. Just as Ted was about to get up Randy came in carrying a very distressed Mickie James. Cody got up letting Randy place the Diva on the sofa. "oh god." She sobbed into her hands as she folded on to her knees and Randy just place a hand on her back and rubbed gently. "I killed her." Mickie finally said lifting her eyes to the Legend killer. "No you didn't, something else happened out there, I'm not sure what but it is nothing to do with you." He said offering the brunette a small smile of reassurance. "I can't believe she is gone, one minute she is kicking my arse and the next. Oh god." She said placing her hands across her face to wipe at the tears. Just then Vince walked in and looked down at the sad faces before him. "Thank you Randy, obviously the rest of the show is cancelled tonight, there will be an autopsy Mickie, they know it was no injury sustained during the match, so please don't feel bad about that, but something was definitely wrong with this." Vince paused trying to find the right way to describe what happened. "Tragedy." He finally said looking at the Diva one last time he turned for the door. "I will leave you in these boy's capable hands." He said as he made his way back to his office this was going to be a very long night.
Mickie had cried herself to sleep on the Legacy sofa. The boys didn't mind they were trying to keep everyone away so she could get some rest. The whole Raw roster was in turmoil, lots of Diva's kept dropping by to ask how Mickie was, some of them had been crying themselves, some were just quite withdrawn, but all were sad to have lost such a great colleague. Randy was exhausted when he finally got rid of an emotional Kelly Kelly, Ted and Cody had left to be with some of the others to report that Mickie was fine she just needed some rest. Randy sat on the sofa opposite Mickie and just watched as she slept. She looked troubled in her sleep. A frown covered her usually beautiful face and beads of sweat began to form across her brow. "Beth no you can't leave now we had so much more to do." She cried out. Randy knelt down beside her and began stroking her arm and hushing her. "Its ok Mickie I am here." Randy said as the Diva's face fell back to calm. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked into the blue eyes before her. "Thank you. Was all she said before falling back to sleep.
Mickie had been walking around the Raw stadium in a daze for the past few days. She had realised that nothing she could have done would have prevented the tragic night one of her best friend died. The autopsy had come back, Beth had been poisoned. She had probably been feeling a little unwell at the start of the match but had said nothing. Mickie was not sure how to react to the knowledge that someone had murdered her friend. Randy had been great, so had Ted and Cody, she couldn't deal with the other Diva's at the moment, they were all to emotional and squeaky. They kept talking about who might be next and Mickie in her most annoyed moments wished it was all of them. The Legacy boys offered her the quite solace she needed. Often she would find herself outside their door, one of them would open when she knocked and they would just let her in no questions. Sometimes they would just sit there in silence, other times they would talk about inane stuff, and sometimes about Beth, about the good times, but now Mickie was not in the mood for polite conversation. Stopping in front of the door she inhaled deeply and knocked. "Come in." A woman's voice said, "Mickie, please come in how are you." Stephanie said a small smile gracing her lips. "To be honest I have been better, but I need to know what is being done about the investigation into Beth's death." Stephanie nodded she had been expecting this conversation. "all we know is the arsenic was in her water bottle. It could have been put there by any number of people, from stage hands to one of the wrestlers, the police did not find any prints other than Beth's. I think they are going to see if anyone she knew had it in for her, but at the moment they had hit a brick wall, I am sorry." Stephanie said offering the petite Diva her hand. "ok I guess I am going to have to live with that for now." Mickie said taking Stephanie's hand and offering her a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "My dad will be making a statement this afternoon to the press, the fans will know the truth, then Monday we will be holding a tribute evening to Beth, I hope you will want to take part." Stephanie said standing up and walking Mickie to the door. "of course just let me know what you need me to do." Mickie said turning to leave. "I will, and Mickie please know this was one of the saddest things to have happened in my life, I liked Beth and I will miss her to." Stephanie said, Mickie felt the tears coming and she swallowed hard to prevent then from falling. "Thank you." Mickie said walking down the corridor, not know where she was headed, but not really bothered either.
Randy was worried he had not seen Mickie all day and Ted and Cody have even been out looking for her. "No luck?" He asked as the boys got back. "No, no one has seen her." Cody said flopping down on the chair. "I have tried rigging her but she is not answering. I am getting really worried now. "Ted said sitting next to Cody. "your not the only one." Randy said getting out his phone and trying Mickie once more. "Hello?" He heard her small voice answer. "Oh thank god." Randy said signalling to the boys that he had reached her. "Where are you, why haven't you been answering your phone?" Randy said trying to keep the anxious tone out of his voice. "Oh my phone is on silent, I have just been walking, I am headed back now, I am sorry if you were worried I just needed to get some things clear in my head." She said, Randy could here her voice seemed stronger now more like her old self. "Ok well when you get back come over me and the guys were going to have a game of cards." He said shrugging to his friends who just put their thumbs up at him. "Ok will do, I am less than five minutes away." With that they said their good byes. "Thank god" Randy said placing his phone backing his jacket pocket. "Whatever she did she seems some how better." Randy said getting the card table out. "Good hopefully she is starting to heal." Ted said getting the cards. "Hopefully we all are." Randy said looking at the floor and then back at the eyes of his friends.
Monday night Raw was emotional to say the least, Mickie gave a speech that had them all standing. There were video tributes, vocal ones from the McMahon family and one from her sister. Not a dry eye was left in the arena, and a special hall of fame member was added way before her time. A special match had been arranged in her honour. Mickie James had put her championship on the line to the entire Diva's roster in a Royal Rumble type match. Every Diva and superstar was in the arena, the Diva's in the ring and the stars outside ready to escort the loosing women out. Mickie knew she could easily loose the title here, brute strength was not her strong point. As the bell went a huge cheer rose up from the crowd, Mickie dodged Kelly Kelly's first punch and pushed the Diva over the ropes using her own momentum to finish the job. One down she thought as Victoria came at her with boot raised. As the match continued Mickie was lying next to a ring post trying to catch her breath. It was down to just three of them. Herself, Michelle McCool and Victoria. Mickie was happy to let them slug it out for now, she had been slammed by Victoria and was trying to catch her breath. Just as she was about to stand up Victoria came at her arm up ready for a clothes line. Mickie grabbed the top rope with both hands and flipped backwards taking the imposing Diva with her. Mickie held on for dear life as she heard Victoria thud to the ground with an oomph. Crawling back under the ring she looked at Victoria's motionless body, 'no not again' she thought but Victoria was starting to stir. The crowd were going wild and as Mickie turned she knew why, Michelle was coming at her with her famous kick. Getting out of the way just in time Mickie saw Michelle lad awkwardly on the middle rope. Mickie smiled to the crowd and got hold of Michelle raising her arm high she leapt into the air doing her famous Mick DT. Michelle was planted and winded. Now to get her out Mickie thought. Smiling she hauled Michelle up on her shoulder just like Beth used to do. "For a skinny lady you are heavy. Mickie said running at the ropes and with a last grunt threw Michelle over the top rope. Collapsing on the matt to her music she looked up at the lights. "Are you proud of me Beth, all that weight lifting finally paid off." Mickie felt herself being pulled and her hand held high by none other than Randy Orton, but the crowd didn't seem to mind the were going wild. The crowd was so noisy no one heard the scream until it was too late, far to late.