Forgive My Hesitation

Rating: M for language, violence

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing you recognize.. That should cover it properly.

Spoilers: From RAW, January 2nd.. A few on back and up to RAW, January 16th.. Something's will stay and others will change to fit my plot.

Eventual Pairings: Lita/John Cena, Stacy/Chris Masters, Lillian/Batista, Victoria/Tyson Tomko, Trish/Jeff, Candice?

Summary: When Lita takes a stand, she finds help from friends and from people that she never would have expected.

Notes: Hmm.. What should I say here.. The rosters are split for now, but if I take the story far enough, the rosters will join after Wrestle Mania.. This story starts on January 2nd though, but it will be altered and I'm sticking it at the end of the show…following the first blood match and disregarding the chaos that happened after the first blood match. I will be bringing in Jeff Hardy at some point, not sure when.. But I will be bringing him in. yes, I know.. He's with TNA, I'm aware of it, but it's my story and well.. I can't resist Jeff Hardy. Oh and yes, there will be some happy moments, I can't keep that out of my writing, some parts really aren't that happy and bright. Mild angst, a lot of drama. ..

-x-x-x-

Lita couldn't help but frown as she read over the script for that night. And it wasn't that she wasn't used to walking out there and acting like his slut….just that she had a major problem with what they were doing tonight The Diva had been uncomfortable enough filming the damn segment and now it was going to air during RAW that night. And while she wished she could prevent the tape from airing, Lita knew full well that she was in no position to do anything about it. She wasn't a part of management so, she couldn't ask for the changes.. all she could do, was walk down to the ring, plaster on that same self, satisfied smirk and listen to the crowd call her a slut.. And all because. she was aligned with the R rated Superstar.. Mr. Money in the Bank… the redhead rolled her eyes.. She had a few choice nicknames of her own for one blonde Canadian, but they'd never get put on a shirt. Of course, she could just take Jeff's suggestion and make her own t-shirt to wear.. But, Lita doubted that would go over very well with Edge or possibly Vince. Despite her hesitance to participate in the segment for tonight, thinking about Jeff brought a smile to her face. He had called her on Christmas Eve.. And at first, the redhead didn't know if she should laugh at herself or cry because it had been so long…by the end of the conversation, she had done both. Jeff had promised to call her three days later, and for once, his lazy ass had called.

"Lita?" Mickie James raised an eyebrow, "Lita.. They're about to start the pre-show meeting."

The redhead mustered a smile, rolling up the script in her hands. "Oh.. I'll be there before it starts.."

The blonde Diva nodded hesitantly, not sure if she should stick around or just go on ahead..

"I'm fine Mickie.. Honest." Lita stuffed the rolled up script into one of the pockets on her pants. "I'm just gonna grab a bottled water first."

Mickie nodded again, waving over her shoulder before she left for the meeting.

Trish Stratus soon appeared, two bottled waters in hand. "I figured you would want one of these.." she handed one bottle over to the redhead, "and like Mickie said.. The meeting is about to start."

Lita nodded absently, "Have you looked over the script for tonight?"

The Women's Champion twitched, "Yeah I've looked at it.. I can't say I'm too happy about it, but--"

"I'll trade with you any day," Lita interrupted softly, her tone taking a bitter edge. "Hell, I'd even take Maria's place at this point."

Trish offered her friend a smile, "I know Li…this whole storyline sucks and it looks like it won't be getting any better."

Lita nodded slowly, "I've tried reasoning with Vince about it…see if I can't get out of it and back to wrestling or something, ya know? I could give a shit less if I was still a heel I just. Want out."

"Why won't they let you?" Trish raised an eyebrow, the two pausing outside of the catering hall. "I mean, this happened what…a year ago now? Why won't they just let you out of it?"

The redhead shrugged, "Beats the hell out of me.. If Matt was still on RAW, I might be able to understand why they're keeping us together…but with him on Smackdown.."

Trish frowned, "So unless you can figure out something else…you're stuck until Vince sees fit."

"More or less," Lita swept her hair back from her face, the two Diva's walking through the catering hall until they found Mickie, Victoria, Candice and Lillian. "Tonight, he's supposed to be taking it up a step against Ric.. Whatever the hell that means."

"Hey you two," Victoria motioned to two free seats. "Ready for another exciting night ahead?"

Lita rolled her eyes as she seated herself, "Always.. But, at least I get to wear most of my own clothes.."

Candice raised an eyebrow, "Why does that really matter?"

Lita smiled thinly, "Because it's one thing I still have control over.. Everything else is either Vince's word or his."

"Speaking of clothes," Victoria made a face, the raven haired woman obviously bothered about something. "They're planning another mini-shoot…sugar and spice. Or the bad girls of the WWE and the good girls."

Candice rolled her eyes, "That shouldn't be too hard to figure out… there are more heels than faces right now.. I just don't see why we're doing another one, when we just had the lingerie one."

"Because, sex sells." Trish swept her hair over her shoulder, the title belt still in her locker room. "It's sad, but unfortunately, it's very true. This photo shoot will probably be turned into a mini-magazine."

Lita shook her head, "So long as it doesn't become a monthly thing… I'll live. I don't mind the photo shoots so much, but the themes they pick…other than the bikini shoots, because obviously we know what we'll be wearing."

Victoria nodded, "I think Torrie said something about leather and lace for this.. Or variations on Devil and Angel costumes."

"Sounds like loads of fun," Trish quipped sarcastically. "Honestly, I'm surprised that Vince hasn't tried to launch his own lingerie line yet.."

"Shhh.." Victoria hissed, "if he hears that, he might just go through with it.. Or try to get us all at the Playboy Mansion."

"Hey girls," Torrie dragged her chair over, Maria and Ashley not far behind. "I just overheard Edge talking about a special surprise for Ric tonight.."

Lita looked outright confused at that, "Excuse me? I thought it was only supposed to be him going out there, me taking the figure four while he watched."

Torrie shrugged, "I didn't overhear everything.. Just that he had a special surprise for Flair. Something about taking away the title or finishing what Triple H started."

Trish snorted, "Like he's even half the man to finish what Triple H started.. Sure, H might have had a little help with his trusty sledgehammer but Edge doesn't have the balls."

-x-x-x-

The Diva's laughed at that, earning them a few strange looks from their co-workers while Vince McMahon tried to gain control of the meeting. And while Vince rambled on and on about selling tonight's show, Lita couldn't help but think about what Torrie had mentioned. Of course, all the Boise native had said, was that Edge was planning a big surprise. And knowing how that warped, twisted, sick mind of his worked.. That could be anything. Like he usually did, Edge was sitting pretty much alone.. Lita figured that he might have a few friends…but if he did, she hadn't really paid that much attention. Aside from their on-screen appearances together, the redhead did her best to keep her distance from the tall blonde man. She had been doing that after everything had come to surface.. Granted, they had tried to make things work, but with all of the scrutiny and whispers backstage… it had been too much. It had taken a month or so after that…or maybe it had been longer, but Matt had spoken to her.. They had gone to lunch a few times, talked things out and now they were friends again. Not nearly as close as they had been before, but Lita wasn't expecting any miracle where that was concerned. They were at least friends again, and that had to count for something. Whatever the case, Lita couldn't help but frown when Edge grinned at the mention of his segment with Flair.. Nor could she shake the sinking feeling that something horribly wrong was going to happen. The night rolled on, the second half of RAW kicking off.. And Lita still didn't have a clue about what she was going to do.

"I've got to do something.." Lita bit down on her lower lip, the redhead currently in her own locker room. "But what can I do? I could try and warn Ric.. Tell him not to go down to the ring, but then he'd question why and.. I don't know why.."

A quick series of short knocks at the door, interrupted her from her thoughts. "Lita? It's just me.. I just saw dickhead take a walk so--"

The redhead rolled her eyes at the door, crossing the length of the locker room quickly. "Yeah well, that still doesn't mean it's safe for you to just drop by.." Lita yanked the door open shortly after, still not sure why her brother thought this man was of some use. Personally, she just thought her brother was being too paranoid. "What's up?"

Chris Masters waited until the door was fully opened, glancing down the hallway quickly before he stepped past her. "I overheard what Edge was planning."

An eyebrow lifted at that, "And? Care to fill me in on that?"

"You don't know?"

"I wouldn't be asking you if I did, would I?" Lita huffed, flopping down on the couch in her locker room. "Chris, you know as well as I do that he doesn't tell me shit. I read over the script, we occasionally talk about what's going to go down but never in depth."

"Which isn't fair to you," Chris pointed out, shaking his head when Lita rolled her eyes. "I know you two aren't together or anything, but that still doesn't mean he shouldn't tell you about what's going on."

Lita shrugged, "Yeah well.. He's an asshole who likes to have as much control over things as he possibly can. But at least I get my own locker room now, so I guess I can't complain too much."

Chris frowned, "It probably wouldn't get you anywhere if you did complain…except for stuck with him longer."

"I already know it wouldn't, because I've tried." Lita swept her hair back, "anyway.. You were saying something about dickhead planning something.."

Chris nodded sharply, "Carlito and I overheard him bragging about a one man conchairto before he snapped Ric's neck.."

Lita was on her feet the moment the words left his mouth. "What? Why the hell would he do that? Vince is planning on a title match for that piece of shit at Revolution!" She wrung her hands together, "I've got to warn Ric now, tell him what that ass is up to and--"

"And then what?" Chris interrupted, an eyebrow raised at the Diva. "Tell him not to go out there? Lita, you know that Ric is going down there anyway. Sure, you could tell him and then Ric'll bring his brass knucks to the ring."

"That won't stop him," she pointed out quickly. "That might just encourage him, but it sure as hell won't stop him. Damn it, why does he have to pull stupid shit like this? Unless I interfered and--"

"No," Chris cut her off shortly. "You are not interfering. Lita, I know you're cleared to wrestle, but what if he turns on you?"

Lita crossed her arms loosely over her chest. "Then it's a risk that I take. He knows we're pretty much stuck in this storyline until Vince deems it over. I doubt he'd turn on me. If anything, it could lead to a split."

Chris shook his head, "But you don't know that, Lita. Look at who you're dealing with and--"

"I know who I'm dealing with," she snapped quietly. "I'm dealing with a sleazy, asshole who will do anything to get to the top. I'm not about to stand by and watch him destroy Ric."

"You'll probably tell me it's none of my business, but why do you care about what happens to Ric?"

She shot him a look that clearly read 'duh'. "Have you seen what happens to someone when they're on the receiving end of a conchairto? Or when someone gets their neck caught in a steel chair? I've seen it twice, almost had it happen to me. I will not let it happen to Ric, he's too good for that."

"That doesn't answer my--"

"The first draft lottery.. Ric drafted me last. He's always been there, looking out for me since then." Lita stuffed her hands into the back pockets of her pants. "Even when he was with Suckolution, he still looked out for me."

Chris sighed. "Look, Lita, just because you feel like you owe Ric for that, doesn't mean--"

"You wouldn't understand, kid." Lita spoke softly, purposely using that term. "And don't try to stop me either.. I'm going to keep this from happening tonight if it's the last thing I do."

Chris frowned, leaning back against the wall. "You know he won't like this.."

"Chris, I'm not expecting for that asshole to--"

"I wasn't talking about him." Chris smirked slightly, "I was talking about--"

Lita shrugged, "Then he won't like it.. But I'm sure he'll understand, because he'd do the same thing if he was in my shoes. Besides, if dickhead does turn on me.. He'll have my brother to deal with." She sent a look to the door, "you should probably get out of here though, before he comes back."

Chris could only shake his head at the thoughtful look on her face. "I'd say be careful out there, but I have a feeling you won't be."

Lita rolled her eyes, "I'll try not to do anything too stupid.." Waving him off, she added: "Now go on, Masters.. Get out of here, your match is up next anyway."

After checking the hallway, Chris exited the locker room.. .leaving Lita alone again. And after she had locked the door behind him, she made her way back to the couch. At least now she knew what Edge was planning … but what could she really do to stop it? The redhead was thankful that it wasn't going to be a standard conchairto.. Because there was no way in hell she was about to participate in it. An occasional low blow, holding onto an opponents arms or legs…fine. But she drew the line at chair shots, having been on the receiving end of a few herself. Flicking a glance to the monitor in the locker room, the redhead knew she wouldn't have much time to formulate a plan. Once Chris' match was over, the segment would start and then… well then she'd either stand by and watch or she'd put an end to Edge's plan to decimate Ric Flair. Lita knew full well that she wasn't going to stand by and watch, but how could she stop Edge? As Chris pointed out, there was a possibility that Edge would turn on her…but that wasn't bothering her too much. Lately, she hadn't worried about herself as much as she used to, a fact that bothered her brother but didn't affect her. Rather, it just made her that much more determined to do something that night. Even if she did get hurt, she had to stop Edge.