Title: Knight in Shining Armor

Author: Katie

E-Mail: PugNTurtle@a...

Rating: R for language, violence

Pairing: Stephanie/?, Lilian/?

Spoilers: 8/14/03 SmackDown!

Summary: Someone is tired of Vince constantly putting Stephanie in danger.

Disclaimer: All characters and actual people in this fic belong to the WWE and

their respective counterparts.

Notes: Feedback is appreciated but not begged for. It's not in my character.

~/~

She gasped, trying to catch her breath. She could hear the

referee asking her if she was okay, but she couldn't seem to form the words.

After all, her ribs felt like they were on fire and her already injured sternum

was aching once again. She wouldn't be surprised if her ribs were broken. After

all, being crushed by someone 350 pounds might do that to someone.

Stephanie McMahon felt the anger rise as she heard Sable

announcing A-Train as the winner of the 'match'. Some match it was. It was a one

sided affair the whole time.

Stephanie felt tears come to her eyes as she saw her father

kissing Sable over her. She tried to stand up to fight them, to at least get

them apart, only to have her weak arms give out on her. Instead, she simply lay

on the mat, gripping her throbbing chest and waiting for her father to leave.

"Now, now, now, Stephanie," Vince said, standing over his

daughter. "Are you sure you don't want to quit?" Vince taunted.

"Never," Stephanie managed to choke out, drawing her eyes up to

meet her father's. She winced when she saw the anger in his face, but until he

actually fired her, Stephanie was going to be strong. Well, as strong as one can

be while lying on the floor of a wrestling ring writhing in pain.

"You know, Stephanie, you were always the pain in the ass. You

kids were a constant thorn in my side," Vince growled.

"Fuck you," Stephanie yelled, loud enough for the microphone to

pick up and carry so the crowd could hear it. They cheered, glad to see that

Stephanie wasn't taking anything from her father.

"You always had a smart mouth," Vince said, shaking his head.

"That got you into constant trouble." Stephanie didn't answer, rather she closed

her eyes, trying to shut out the pain coursing through her body. However, her

eyes shot open when Vince asked, "Where are you going?" She saw A-Train smile

and mouth, 'What?' "You're not done here," Vince said, gesturing to his

daughter. "Hit the Train Wreck!" Vince snarled.

Steph shuddered and tried to pull herself away from the ring.

Even with the delay it took for A-Train to toss the referee out of the ring he

still grabbed her easily, lifting her up to prepare her execution.

However, the crowd cheered and Stephanie was dropped to the

apron. From her vantage point she saw her father and Sable leap out of the ring.

A few seconds later the ring bounced, and Stephanie saw A-Train fall to the mat,

rolling out of the ring seconds later.

Stephanie's eyes widened as her hands gripped her aching ribs

again, relieved that someone had come to her rescue. As much as she hated to

admit it she was weak and there was no way she could have fought off three

people.

Bringing her eyes up, she intended to thank whoever had saved

her neck moments ago. She expected the Undertaker. However, the words froze on

her lips as she met the eyes of John Cena.

"Are you okay, Steph?" John asked, kneeling next to her and

placing an arm on her shoulder.

"I. don't know," Stephanie whimpered. "It hurts."

"I know it does," John said soothingly. "We need to get you some

medical help."

"Can't stand," Stephanie gasped.

John nodded sympathetically, not thinking twice as he leaned

down and pulled Stephanie into his arms easily, her head resting against his

chest, one arm under her knees and the other supporting her back. "Is that

okay?" he asked, his breath causing her hair to move slightly.

"Mm-hmm," Stephanie whispered, feeling oddly comfortable in his

arms.

"Let's get you some help then."