A/N: Longer post this time. Thanks to the three people who reviewed so
quickly, I really appreciate it.
The way to understand this story fully is to see Goldberg in the way that I've chosen to show him, and that's as someone who will do anything to protect the people he cares about, but who is a lot more caring and gentle than he appears in the ring.
Same for Lita, she's a bit softer, funny, smart, but fiercely independent and fiercely protective of her friends and family.
Anyway, read enjoy, and if you like it (or think it's really bad) drop me a line.
Part 2.
Still in the preliminary stages of waking up, Lita felt a gentle hand resting on her stomach. Sleepily she turned her head to look over at the other side of the bed.
A flood of memory interrupted her grogginess. Bill Goldberg. Her hotel room. Morning. Not bothering to comprehend any of the thoughts, or not wanting to, she laid her head back down on her pillow and closed her eyes, trying to comprehend what she was feeling, and why.
In his sleep Bill repositioned his hand on her belly, moving closer to her, and deep sense of calm washed over her. This was it. This was safety. Bill stirred again, this time waking, moving to kiss her neck, as though he was trying to wake her gently.
"I'm awake." She said softly, twisting around in bed so that she was facing him.
"How long have you been up?" He asked, matching her quiet tones.
"Not long. I was just thinking."
"Are you... okay? I'll leave if you want." Bill moved slightly, like he was going to sit up.
"Don't." She told him. "Don't go."
"I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable."
She curled up against him, feeling his skin smooth and warm against her own. "I don't want you to go. I want you to stay."
"But do you want me here for the right reasons?"
"I want you here because I feel safe when you're here. I want you here because... because I think I'm falling in love with you." She answered, her voice small, as though she was afraid of rejection.
"That is a very good answer." He smiled, wrapping his arms around her, and kissing her mouth. "It almost means that I can't leave at all."
"Then I think you should stay." She told him, her words broken in between kisses.
"We really have to get up." Bill lay on his back, Lita half on top of him.
"I know. I think I was supposed to meet Trish an hour ago." She smiled, comfortable on his chest.
"What do you say we go out tonight? I'll make dinner reservations somewhere, and then we can see a movie or something." He suggested.
"Sounds nice." She agreed, nodding her head.
They were interrupted by a series of loud thumps on the door, and a voice calling out, "Lita, open this door right now!"
The pair broke off their last kiss. Lita smiled. "That's Trish. I'd better go and talk to her. It'll only take a minute. Stay here."
The thumps on the door began again as Lita pulled her robe on and walked over to it, tying the sash as she walked. "All right!" She shouted, opening the door.
"What happened to meeting me?" Trish fired at her.
"I got a little caught up. Give me twenty minutes to have a shower, and I'll be there." She explained quietly.
"Oh." Trish nodded in a knowing way, taking in her friend's appearance. "Twenty minutes, and I want to know everything."
"Promise. Keep it quiet 'til then?"
"You don't even have to ask." The Canadian blonde reminded her.
"You're a legend." Lita hugged her, then closed the door.
"How did you get rid of her?" Bill asked as she dropped back down onto the bed.
"I'm meeting her in twenty minutes." Lita told him.
"We'd both better get up."
She kissed him once more before he left for his own room, then turned to go into the bathroom and take a shower. With the hot water beating down on her skin, soaking her to the bone, sending spires of steam into the air, Lita smiled. She really had a lot to tell her best friend.
*********
Once she was showered and changed, Lita found Trish in the dining room, absently stirring a cup of coffee with a spoon. "Morning." She sat down opposite the blonde, brushing her damp hair back from her face with her fingers, freeing the tendrils that had stuck to her neck.
"That's all you have to say? You ditch me for some guy and all you can say is 'morning'." Trish said to her.
"I'm sorry." Lita apologised. "I didn't set my alarm clock, and I..."
"It's fine really, I was joking." Trish interrupted her. "God, you look so happy. You know that you're bordering on glowy, right?"
Lita beamed at her friend. "I have so much to tell you."
"So start talking."
"Not here, not where..." She made a small gesture, indicating the room, where quite a few other RAW personnel, as well as Superstars and Divas were having late breakfasts or morning tea.
"Oh." Trish seemed to understand. "Why don't we head out for a while then, hit some stores, get some coffee."
"Sounds good to me." Lita agreed. "We just have to find one of our co-GM's and clear it with them."
"Are you ladies looking for me?" Stone Cold appeared at their side, as though he'd sprung out of thin air.
"We were thinking about heading into the city, going shopping for a couple of hours." Trish told him. "Is that okay?"
"That sounds all right. I'll get someone to give you a call if we need you." He agreed. "Have fun."
"I know who I prefer as GM." Lita said in a clear voice, her comment heard not only by half the RAW roster, but also by most of the staff, and Eric Bischoff.
"That's not a nice thing to say Lita." Triple H stood up from his table.
"Yeah well, forgive me for preferring the boss who doesn't feel the need to have my naked body plastered all over America in some sleazy magazine." She shot back.
"What makes you think people would pay to see it?" He sneered.
"What makes you believe they wouldn't?" She shot back, standing up herself, not feeling intimidated at all by his sheer size. "See I'm not like you, Hunter. I don't need to pay anyone to sleep with me. Lots of people would rather pay me for my time, but again, I'm not like you because I've never taken up on an offer."
The dining room fell eerily silent at her words, with people looking at one another, not game to say a word.
From across the room Goldberg watched as Lita stood up to Triple H, one of the most feared people in the industry.
It was like looking at David versus Goliath, except this David was a whole lot more self assured. Still, ignoring his companions Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash and Scott Steiner, Goldberg got up, making his way silently across the room, wanting to be on hand in case something happened, and Triple H cracked.
Triple H looked her up and down, then sneered. "I know I wouldn't. I'd want that view for free."
To his utmost horror, she laughed at him. Lita laughed in his face, looking completely unthreatened, while he stood there for a moment, shocked that she wasn't cowering on the floor in front of him, as he gave her the look that had brought superstars to their knees before him. And she was laughing.
Unconsciously he moved his right hand, as though he was about to hit her, then followed through with the motion, his hand connecting with her cheek making a sickening sound. Moving her feet slightly to brace herself, Lita managed to stay on her feet, bringing her right hand up to slap him in the face, freezing the taller, bulkier man where he stood.
Goldberg could see that Stone Cold Steve Austin and a lot of other superstar were furious that Hunter had hit her.
"What was that supposed to do?" Lita asked him "Was it supposed to make you feel like a big man? Was it supposed to make me cry?" She looked up into his face, showing him that she was not afraid, not under any circumstances.
"Shut up and get the hell outta here." Hunter told her.
"Why? You don't like being told the truth about yourself? Or are you just too afraid to hear it?" She shot back, waiting for his next blow, standing firm, not moving an inch.
In front of her, the taller man seemed to grow taller for a moment, and wince in pain.
"Apologize." A voice spoke calmly, pulling up on Triple H's twisted arm.
"Someone do something." Triple H said, wincing as he spoke.
Bischoff looked at the cold fury on Goldberg's face, staying put at his table, unwilling to face the enraged Goldberg.
"Austin, do something." Triple H said again, imploring the co-GM to help.
"I think you should apologize." Austin told him, enjoying the show.
"Let me go, and I'll apologize." He whimpered.
Reluctantly, Goldberg let go, allowing Triple H to straighten up.
"Now apologise." Stone Cold demanded.
"Sorry." Triple H said begrudgingly, not even looking at her.
"Say it, and mean it." Austin said to him, looking Triple H in the eyes.
"What do you want me to say?"
"How about something along the lines of 'I'm sorry that I'm a disgusting perverted son of a bitch, who doesn't deserve any woman because you're too much of a self centered, ego-maniacal jerk, whose sole existence in this world is an insult to people everywhere.'" Trish suggested, standing next to Lita, hands on her hips.
Stone Cold nodded and smiled grimly. "That sounds about right."
"Lita I'm sorry if I upset you. I'll try not to do it again." Triple H improvised.
"Try?" Shawn Michaels asked Kevin Nash quietly, both standing next to Goldberg and Austin. "If he upsets her again I think he'll have his shoulder dislocated."
"I'm sorry too." Lita told Triple H, her calm, clear voice became icy and unforgiving. "I'm sorry you didn't learn better manners, and get beat up more often at school. Maybe if you had been you'd be a nicer person."
"I don't ever want to see you lay a hand on one of the divas again." Austin told him, getting in Hunter's face. "If you do, I will make sure it costs you your job."
"Let's get out of here." Trish said to Lita, picking up their wallets, and passing Lita's to her.
"Aren't you going to sit down and drink your coffee?" Bischoff asked, finally speaking.
"I don't think I could." Lita snapped at him, her voice barely containing the revulsion she felt. "There's too many people here who make me sick."
She shot a parting glance at both Triple H and Goldberg before following Trish out of the room.
"Maybe you should get some ice on your cheek!" Randy Orton called after the two women.
At once Lita pivoted on her heel. "Do you need ice whenever you get bitch- slapped?"
"No." He answered.
"Then shut up before I bitch slap you so hard you'll be putting ice on your cheek for a week!" She turned and disappeared around the corner of the hotel lobby with Trish, clear to everyone that both divas were furious.
The way to understand this story fully is to see Goldberg in the way that I've chosen to show him, and that's as someone who will do anything to protect the people he cares about, but who is a lot more caring and gentle than he appears in the ring.
Same for Lita, she's a bit softer, funny, smart, but fiercely independent and fiercely protective of her friends and family.
Anyway, read enjoy, and if you like it (or think it's really bad) drop me a line.
Part 2.
Still in the preliminary stages of waking up, Lita felt a gentle hand resting on her stomach. Sleepily she turned her head to look over at the other side of the bed.
A flood of memory interrupted her grogginess. Bill Goldberg. Her hotel room. Morning. Not bothering to comprehend any of the thoughts, or not wanting to, she laid her head back down on her pillow and closed her eyes, trying to comprehend what she was feeling, and why.
In his sleep Bill repositioned his hand on her belly, moving closer to her, and deep sense of calm washed over her. This was it. This was safety. Bill stirred again, this time waking, moving to kiss her neck, as though he was trying to wake her gently.
"I'm awake." She said softly, twisting around in bed so that she was facing him.
"How long have you been up?" He asked, matching her quiet tones.
"Not long. I was just thinking."
"Are you... okay? I'll leave if you want." Bill moved slightly, like he was going to sit up.
"Don't." She told him. "Don't go."
"I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable."
She curled up against him, feeling his skin smooth and warm against her own. "I don't want you to go. I want you to stay."
"But do you want me here for the right reasons?"
"I want you here because I feel safe when you're here. I want you here because... because I think I'm falling in love with you." She answered, her voice small, as though she was afraid of rejection.
"That is a very good answer." He smiled, wrapping his arms around her, and kissing her mouth. "It almost means that I can't leave at all."
"Then I think you should stay." She told him, her words broken in between kisses.
"We really have to get up." Bill lay on his back, Lita half on top of him.
"I know. I think I was supposed to meet Trish an hour ago." She smiled, comfortable on his chest.
"What do you say we go out tonight? I'll make dinner reservations somewhere, and then we can see a movie or something." He suggested.
"Sounds nice." She agreed, nodding her head.
They were interrupted by a series of loud thumps on the door, and a voice calling out, "Lita, open this door right now!"
The pair broke off their last kiss. Lita smiled. "That's Trish. I'd better go and talk to her. It'll only take a minute. Stay here."
The thumps on the door began again as Lita pulled her robe on and walked over to it, tying the sash as she walked. "All right!" She shouted, opening the door.
"What happened to meeting me?" Trish fired at her.
"I got a little caught up. Give me twenty minutes to have a shower, and I'll be there." She explained quietly.
"Oh." Trish nodded in a knowing way, taking in her friend's appearance. "Twenty minutes, and I want to know everything."
"Promise. Keep it quiet 'til then?"
"You don't even have to ask." The Canadian blonde reminded her.
"You're a legend." Lita hugged her, then closed the door.
"How did you get rid of her?" Bill asked as she dropped back down onto the bed.
"I'm meeting her in twenty minutes." Lita told him.
"We'd both better get up."
She kissed him once more before he left for his own room, then turned to go into the bathroom and take a shower. With the hot water beating down on her skin, soaking her to the bone, sending spires of steam into the air, Lita smiled. She really had a lot to tell her best friend.
*********
Once she was showered and changed, Lita found Trish in the dining room, absently stirring a cup of coffee with a spoon. "Morning." She sat down opposite the blonde, brushing her damp hair back from her face with her fingers, freeing the tendrils that had stuck to her neck.
"That's all you have to say? You ditch me for some guy and all you can say is 'morning'." Trish said to her.
"I'm sorry." Lita apologised. "I didn't set my alarm clock, and I..."
"It's fine really, I was joking." Trish interrupted her. "God, you look so happy. You know that you're bordering on glowy, right?"
Lita beamed at her friend. "I have so much to tell you."
"So start talking."
"Not here, not where..." She made a small gesture, indicating the room, where quite a few other RAW personnel, as well as Superstars and Divas were having late breakfasts or morning tea.
"Oh." Trish seemed to understand. "Why don't we head out for a while then, hit some stores, get some coffee."
"Sounds good to me." Lita agreed. "We just have to find one of our co-GM's and clear it with them."
"Are you ladies looking for me?" Stone Cold appeared at their side, as though he'd sprung out of thin air.
"We were thinking about heading into the city, going shopping for a couple of hours." Trish told him. "Is that okay?"
"That sounds all right. I'll get someone to give you a call if we need you." He agreed. "Have fun."
"I know who I prefer as GM." Lita said in a clear voice, her comment heard not only by half the RAW roster, but also by most of the staff, and Eric Bischoff.
"That's not a nice thing to say Lita." Triple H stood up from his table.
"Yeah well, forgive me for preferring the boss who doesn't feel the need to have my naked body plastered all over America in some sleazy magazine." She shot back.
"What makes you think people would pay to see it?" He sneered.
"What makes you believe they wouldn't?" She shot back, standing up herself, not feeling intimidated at all by his sheer size. "See I'm not like you, Hunter. I don't need to pay anyone to sleep with me. Lots of people would rather pay me for my time, but again, I'm not like you because I've never taken up on an offer."
The dining room fell eerily silent at her words, with people looking at one another, not game to say a word.
From across the room Goldberg watched as Lita stood up to Triple H, one of the most feared people in the industry.
It was like looking at David versus Goliath, except this David was a whole lot more self assured. Still, ignoring his companions Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash and Scott Steiner, Goldberg got up, making his way silently across the room, wanting to be on hand in case something happened, and Triple H cracked.
Triple H looked her up and down, then sneered. "I know I wouldn't. I'd want that view for free."
To his utmost horror, she laughed at him. Lita laughed in his face, looking completely unthreatened, while he stood there for a moment, shocked that she wasn't cowering on the floor in front of him, as he gave her the look that had brought superstars to their knees before him. And she was laughing.
Unconsciously he moved his right hand, as though he was about to hit her, then followed through with the motion, his hand connecting with her cheek making a sickening sound. Moving her feet slightly to brace herself, Lita managed to stay on her feet, bringing her right hand up to slap him in the face, freezing the taller, bulkier man where he stood.
Goldberg could see that Stone Cold Steve Austin and a lot of other superstar were furious that Hunter had hit her.
"What was that supposed to do?" Lita asked him "Was it supposed to make you feel like a big man? Was it supposed to make me cry?" She looked up into his face, showing him that she was not afraid, not under any circumstances.
"Shut up and get the hell outta here." Hunter told her.
"Why? You don't like being told the truth about yourself? Or are you just too afraid to hear it?" She shot back, waiting for his next blow, standing firm, not moving an inch.
In front of her, the taller man seemed to grow taller for a moment, and wince in pain.
"Apologize." A voice spoke calmly, pulling up on Triple H's twisted arm.
"Someone do something." Triple H said, wincing as he spoke.
Bischoff looked at the cold fury on Goldberg's face, staying put at his table, unwilling to face the enraged Goldberg.
"Austin, do something." Triple H said again, imploring the co-GM to help.
"I think you should apologize." Austin told him, enjoying the show.
"Let me go, and I'll apologize." He whimpered.
Reluctantly, Goldberg let go, allowing Triple H to straighten up.
"Now apologise." Stone Cold demanded.
"Sorry." Triple H said begrudgingly, not even looking at her.
"Say it, and mean it." Austin said to him, looking Triple H in the eyes.
"What do you want me to say?"
"How about something along the lines of 'I'm sorry that I'm a disgusting perverted son of a bitch, who doesn't deserve any woman because you're too much of a self centered, ego-maniacal jerk, whose sole existence in this world is an insult to people everywhere.'" Trish suggested, standing next to Lita, hands on her hips.
Stone Cold nodded and smiled grimly. "That sounds about right."
"Lita I'm sorry if I upset you. I'll try not to do it again." Triple H improvised.
"Try?" Shawn Michaels asked Kevin Nash quietly, both standing next to Goldberg and Austin. "If he upsets her again I think he'll have his shoulder dislocated."
"I'm sorry too." Lita told Triple H, her calm, clear voice became icy and unforgiving. "I'm sorry you didn't learn better manners, and get beat up more often at school. Maybe if you had been you'd be a nicer person."
"I don't ever want to see you lay a hand on one of the divas again." Austin told him, getting in Hunter's face. "If you do, I will make sure it costs you your job."
"Let's get out of here." Trish said to Lita, picking up their wallets, and passing Lita's to her.
"Aren't you going to sit down and drink your coffee?" Bischoff asked, finally speaking.
"I don't think I could." Lita snapped at him, her voice barely containing the revulsion she felt. "There's too many people here who make me sick."
She shot a parting glance at both Triple H and Goldberg before following Trish out of the room.
"Maybe you should get some ice on your cheek!" Randy Orton called after the two women.
At once Lita pivoted on her heel. "Do you need ice whenever you get bitch- slapped?"
"No." He answered.
"Then shut up before I bitch slap you so hard you'll be putting ice on your cheek for a week!" She turned and disappeared around the corner of the hotel lobby with Trish, clear to everyone that both divas were furious.
