(For Story Info, please see Chapter 1)
Chapter 4: Hot Flashes
"Doubt fucks everything. Take a foundation, no matter how strong, sprinkle generously with doubt, and watch it crumble."--CM Punk
"It's hard to stand out, but it's easy to fit in."--Jeff Hardy
Nothing is said. Things are gathered. Rush of feet. Nothing is said. Things are tossed into the back seat. Car doors are opened and then slammed shut. Nothing is said. Red tail lights and screeching tires into the night. And still, nothing is said.
Flashback: Punk's Story
Straight Edge us not just a gimmick. It's a way of life.
"What part of no are you not gettin', Rhodes?"
"Tell Randy I said kiss my ass."
Punk continues to pack his things away. Ever since he became the #1 contender, Randy has been like his shadow. He's tired of it! For one thing, he's not intimidated by him. And two? It's downright disturbing.
Punk hears Cody leave. Finally! He thought that runt would never go away. He lets out a sigh of relief as he lifts up his rollaway and backpack. He turns to leave, but his exit is being blocked by Ted Dibiase Jr., aka Randy's ball scratching hand. His ass scratching hand, better known as Cody Rhodes, had returned with him.
"I know you guys like me," Punk says. "and I'm really flattered. But," Punk picks up the snarkiness a notch. "I'm not that type of guy. Sorry. How about you go back to Randy, rent 'The Notebook', and cry about it okay?"
While Cody and Ted are left dumbfounded, Punk tries to sidestep them. However, he is grabbed by the arm.
"I don't think you get it, CM Punk." Dibiase tells him in an authoritative tone. "Randy wants to see you now."
"I don't think you get it." An annoyed Punk snarls back, in the process yanks his arm out of Dibiase's grip. "I got nothin' to say to him. I'll do my talking in the ring when I take his title."
This time he pushes passed Ted and nearly walks over Cody on his way out. As soon as he makes it into the hallway, he's shoved to the floor hard! He loses the grip on his things and his head thumps against the grey linoleum. Stars dance behind his eyes as he is dragged to his feet. He's so disoriented that he doesn't put up a fight as he is pulled through the hallway and out to the underground parking deck. The destination is a black stretch limo. He is thrown inside, but ends up landing awkwardly on the floor.
"CM Punk! Glad you could make it."
"Orton." Punk hisses as he rights himself onto the seat.
The pain in his head is throbbing and his anger is moving from simmering to boiling. Orton really has some nerve!
While flashing a smile, Randy offers Punk an alcoholic beverage. Punk clenches his jaw. Either Randy's screwing with him or he's stupid. Punk thinks it's both and neither are cooling off his annoyance.
"Oh I'm sorry. I forgot that you don't drink. That…Straight Edge….lifestyle right?"
"What do you want?"
Randy is still smiling as his blue eyes scan over the hostile profile of his guest.
"I just wanted to say congrats on your victory in becoming #1 contender for my WWE title."
It's not lost on Punk the emphasizing on possession, but he says nothing about it. Randy continues.
"I just wanted to go over a few things with you."
"Like?"
"For one, you may be #1 contender, but the title isn't going anywhere."
"What makes you so damn sure of that?"
Without taking his eyes off of his guest, Randy leans forward. His face is now a mask of unsettling coolness.
"Your first title run was a fluke. I'm not so easy to push over like Edge. You don't deserve it because you're nothing but indy trash. Your novelty will soon wear off and you'll be tossed back into the gutter from which you came."
The former World Champion laughs at the audacity of the current WWE Champion.
"My first title run was no where near a fluke. And are you seriously trying to insult me because I'm more real that you? What? You think you deserve being champion because you roll around in a limo? Or is it because you cruised in on your dad's and granddad's work? Since we're pulling rank, let's get real okay!"
The throbbing in Punk's head is starting ebb past annoyance, but he doesn't care. Randy's not going to get away with disrespecting him.
"You're right." He continues. "I came from the independents. I actually worked my ass off to get where I am now. I didn't choose it because I couldn't hack it in the Marines."
"Hey!" Randy snarls. "Don't go there…"
"Can dish shit out but can't take it?" Punk taunts. "That's the beauty of being trash. The only rules I have to follow are my own. I can do whatever the fuck I want. And that's what got me here, with out any help from my daddy."
The veins in Randy's neck are corded in fury. Punk lifts his arms up then puts his two fists together, pointing them right at Randy's face.
"What do my knuckles say?"
Randy slaps them away, "Get that shit out of my face."
Punk repeats his actions. "What do my knuckles day, Randall?" he asks again, this time a little louder.
Randy hesitated before looking down.
"Drug…free…" he growls out.
"That's right. That's another thing you can't claim. And that makes me, what? Better than you."
Before the Legacy leader can retaliate, CM Punk steps out of the limo. Without missing a beat, he grabs Cody and hurls him into Ted, causing them both to crash to the floor.
"…and somehow I'm caught up n between…"
Rain beats against the motel window. It blurs the dingy glow of the street amp outside. Punk watches Jeff sleep from across the room. As he shuffles in his sleep, he has an arm protecting his stomach. Punk's expression turns dark as he thinks back to what Randy and Edge said. He can't believe they would even hint at harming Jeff and his baby! His baby. Yeah, Punk is admitting it. His kid, not some accident. Maybe it's supposed to happen this way. Maybe, and as crazy as it sounds, he's supposed to be with Jeff.
Flashback: Jeff's story
What if you were that patient laying in a hospital bed not knowing if you were going to live or die?
"I can't take this anymore, Matty. Every time I look around, Edge and his fuckbuddies are right there in my face."
Matt watches his brother pace furiously in front of him.
"He's going to do that. You're one of the contenders for his title." He tells him.
"I don't see him going after Trips and Koz like this!" Jeff snaps back.
Matt lets the snap slide because he knows Jeff's upset. He would be upset too if the blonde jackass brought up something personal. Actually, he has been that upset before because the same blonde jackass did the same thing to him a few years back.
"I'm gonna fix his ass real good!" Jeff angrily pledges. "If he ever brings up-"
At that moment, the door to the locker room opens and in walks Edge, Hawkins and Ryder. Matt gets to his feet just as Jeff spots the blonde trio. The animosity is etched into Jeff's face as he makes a determined beeline to the one that caused his distress.
"What the fuck was that out there?" Jeff growls right into Edge's face. "What did Beth leaving have to do with me going for your belt?"
"It got you riled up didn't it?" Edge says with a smug look. 'I'm the heel, remember? I'm supposed to dig at you any way I can."
"There's plenty of other shit you could have got at me about!" Jeff continues to argue. "You don't here me bringing up the fact that you stabbed my brother in the back by fucking with his girl."
"Jeff," Matt warns him. "That's enough."
"No! Since this pussy motherfucker wants to put my personal life out there, I'm gonna put his out."
Green steel stares into flaming emerald. Edge tightens his jaw angrily.
"I don't think you deserve this. Every opportunity you get, you screw up. You're nothing but a spot monkey and you botch almost every match you're in. You're a danger to not just yourself, but to anyone that gets in the ring with you! You rather be in your 'Imagi-Nation' than here in the Real World. It's a joke that you get cheered every week!"
"Leave him alone!" Matt has heard enough! He isn't going to stand there at let Edge rip his brother apart! He takes a step forward but, is grabbed by Hawkins and Ryder.
"Don't you get tired of making the save for him, Matt?" Edge turns to his former friend. "Every time Jeff falls down, you're there to help him up. I bet that's getting a little old. He messes up, he gets praise. You bust your ass, you get nothing!"
"Shut up!" Matt yells at him. He struggles against the grips. Edge just smirks at him as he goes back to Jeff. "Big Bro couldn't come to your rescue last year could he? Oh no. You botched up real bad. You couldn't stay clean enough to go to Wrestlemania. Do you know how many people would have killed to be in your spot? All that work Vince put into you and you snorted it all away!"
Every word chips away at Jeff's psyche. Every jab hurt worse that the one before it. He screwed up bad and he's still paying for it. However, he couldn't let his rival see what he's doing to him.
Edge grabs Jeff's chin and gently tilts it up to look him. "You girlfriend got tired of you and left. And karma's bitch came back for your house and dog." He chuckles as he pats Jeff's cheek. "Face it Hardy, you're a goddamn disgrace."
Jeff's fist connects with Edge's chin. It takes the entire locker room to pull them apart.
Stating the obvious
In a backstage room, set up for a conference, the GM of Raw Stephanie McMahon, her husband Triple H and WWE Champion Randy Orton sit across the table from the GM of Smackdown Vickie Guerrero and her husband World Heavyweight Champion Edge.
"Excuse me, but why is he here?" Vickie asks while throwing an indignant glance in Triple H's direction.
"Why my husband is here should be the least of your troubles. " Stephanie states matter-of-factly.
"The least of my troubles?" Vickie practically sneers. "Your #1 contender ruined my show!"
"Calm down." Triple H warns her.
"How about you stay out of this, Hunter?" Edge warns him back.
"I have no problem putting my fist through your face, so don't tempt me." Triple H replies, with cracking his knuckles as emphasis.
"Alright, enough!" Stephanie says to get the meeting back in order.
"Sorry, sweetie.' Trips mumbles.
Edge cracks an imaginary whip while smiling. A wince erases the smile when Vickie smacks his knee under the table.
"Vickie, my father is upset with the both of us. Neither show went according to plan." She turns to Randy. "Whatever you said to CM Punk disturbed him enough to take an unplanned trip to Smackdown. What did you say to him?"
Randy glances over at Edge; Edge returns the glance.
"I got some info on Punk that I thought would help me keep him on a short leash. He was proving to be difficult." He answers.
The glance between champions did not go unnoticed by Stephanie or Triple H.
"Could you two share it with the class?" Triple H says.
Neither man says a word.
"Someone better start talking." Stephanie cautions. "I have no problem with recommending suspensions for both of you."
"Suspension for what?" Vickie screeches out. "They're champions. They are supposed to psyche out their challengers. That's how the game is played."
"Not when personal issues are taken out in my ring." Stephanie shoots back. "I don't care what the issues are with Punk or Hardy. They're not going to disguise it as doing their job." She looks at her notes in blackberry. "Now, what is this about Jeff's doctor not clearing him to wrestle and you forcing him to go to the ring?"
"I didn't force him. He went out there on his own."
"And you threatening to fire him didn't have anything to do with it?"
Vickie divulges nothing. She glances sideways at her husband and back at Stephanie. Stephanie, while still looking at her blackberry, turns her attention to Randy and Edge. "Gentlemen, I'm still waiting on that answer."
Edge stays silent, but Randy blurts out, "Edge told me that he heard that Jeff Hardy is pregnant and that CM Punk is the father."
Edge curses under his breath as Vickie groans. Stephanie stops typing and turns to look at Randy incredulously. Triple H chuckles.
"I've heard some whoppers in my time," He says. "but really Orton? A pregnant man?"
"I'm not making it up!" Randy pleads. If he's going down in flames, then the big teeth egomaniac is going with him. He knew Edge was bullshitting, but he went along so he could get something to hang over Punk's head. Punk did get spooked when he told him, so maybe there is some truth to it.
"You'll say anything to save your own skin, Randy." Vickie says. "Baby, tell him the truth. You didn't tell Randy that. You know it's not possible." When Edge doesn't say anything, she looks at him confused. "Baby?"
"Yeah, I told him that." Edge finally answers. He glowers at Randy while still talking. "Hawkins and Ryder told me they overheard Maria and Helms talking about it."
"Okay…" Stephanie says as she tries to wrap her mind around what she had been told. "I'm going to talk to Maria and Shane-"
"I'll talk to them. They're on my show, remember?" Vickie cuts off the Raw GM.
"As I was saying, I will talk to them." Stephanie gives Vickie a look that dares her to disagree. "I'm also going to talk to Jeff's doctor. If you ignored his recommendations, you're going to be in big trouble. We could get sued if he got hurt, not to mention the other legal ramifications. "
Vickie's jaw clenches tight as she holds back the verbal barrage she wants to unleash. How dare she tell her how to do her job! Just because she's a McMahon, it doesn't give her the right to tell her what to do. Smackdown is Vickie's show to do with what she pleases. Not Stephanie's! Hers!
"Randy and Edge, I suggest you stick to the plan for now on. Anymore unplanned events and fines up to suspensions will be handed out. You two can leave now. I need to talk to Vickie."
While Randy walks out smoothly, Edge hurries out as quickly as he can. Stephanie turns her attention to her counterpart. The forbidding look in her eyes shows that she is not happy right now.
"Ms. Guererro, I have nothing but the upmost respect for you. However, if you try to out power me in front of my employees ever again, respect or not, I will have you fired." She puts on a smile when she sees how flustered Vickie is. "Now you may leave."
Like Edge before her, Vickie gets up and quickly leaves the room.
"I love it when you get all bitchy like that." Triple H says once they are alone. He leans over and places a kiss on her cheek. It causes her to blush and smile.
"I need you to be my eyes and ears over on Smackdown." She tells him.
His blonde eyebrow rises in curiosity. "You don't believe that stuff they said, do you?"
"It's not that. It's just I don't trust Orton or Edge, especially Vickie. Something's going on. I just need to know what."
Flashback: You can find me in da club, bottle full of Bud…
Miz plunks a crystal tumbler of a brownish liquid in front of CM Punk.
"What is this?" Punk inquires. He picks it up to inspect the contents.
"It's your damn soda!" Miz snorts as he slides into his seat next to Morrison. "You owe me big time. The guy at the bar was looking at me like I was crazy. Who orders a soda in a club?"
"I do." Punk says as he continues looking at it.
"Look," Morrison says. "I know Orton pissed you off. He's full of himself and thinks the world owes him something so don't let him screw you out of having a good time."
"Yeah!" Miz boisterously adds. "Don't let that prick get to you. Let loose! Have some fun. And stop looking at your drink like it's going to bite you!"
Punk playfully flips off his friend as he downs the drink without a pause.
"You fucker." He snickers as he puts down the glass. "That tasted like a damn Coke product."
"Coke and Pepsi taste the same." Miz expresses to him.
"No they don't. Pepsi tastes like freakin' heaven and that tasted like sweetened battery acid aka Coke."
"Okay, Okay." Miz holds his hands up in defeat. "It's Coke. It's all they had! Besides it's that or water."
Is he really having a discussion on soda with Miz, Punk thinks. Maybe he does need to relax. Randy's got him so wound up. And for what? Randy's the one that insecure, not him.
"Alright, next round's on me."
Flashback: A little later in the same club…
Matt reaches over to take the glass away. "Enough Jeff."
Jeff slaps at Matt's hand. His words are a little slurry, not to mention his North Carolinian accent has become a little thicker. "I's thougt Gillwass bck in Camern."
Matt sighs in disappointment. He wanted his brother to relax, not get plastered. Dammit Edge! Those wounds are still fresh and he just had to dig deep and hard.
"I…I cahn tak curh of myssef, Matt. Idon't needa…a babeesiter."
Just then Matt feels his cell phone vibrate. He grabs it then looks at the caller ID.
"Hey, I gotta take his. I gotta go outside." When he sees Jeff's attention go back to his drink, he grabs his shoulder to get it back. "Don't go anywhere, okay?"
Jeff's response is to nod his head. Not even a minute after Matt leaves that Jeff weaves his way though the crowd. He's a grown man. He doesn't need his brother watching him.
Flashback: Let me break the ice…Allow me to get you right
"I'm done."
Miz start to protest when Punk pushes away his glass.
"Come on." Punk groans.
"Come on." Miz mocks. "You only had, what, two drinks!"
Actually, Punk thinks, he had more than two. Every time Miz plunked one down, he tasted the coke less and less. He's so buzzed right now that his brain can barely keep up with his body.
"Yeahhhh, dude." he hums. "I gotta…I gotta go."
He stands up to leave. Just as he turns to walk away, he barely gets his hands up in time to catch the person that stumbles into him.
"M'bad"
"It's all-hey Jeff." Punk says when he recognizes who bumped into him. He laughs softly. "Looks like you had s'fun . Did Miz give you some tainted coke too?"
"Whatever! You liked it." Miz calls out.
Jeff's response is a slow smile. He drops his arm around Punk's shoulders.
"I'm tryn-"He pauses to let out an audible hiccup. "to get outta this fukin' place." He pauses for a second. His mind's so foggy he can barely remember what he wants to say. "Ah don't need my bruder. Ah'ma grown as man….fuck Edge…hedon't know what he alkn bout…willis"
"Okay…" Punk tries not to laugh, so he covers it up with a cough. It still comes out like a snort though. "I'm leaving now. I'll help you out. "
"…good…"Jeff pats Punk's chest. "good man…"
After saying bye to Miz, Punk and Jeff snake their way though the crowd and out of the club.
"Okay, we're out." Punk announces. "Where's your car?"
"Matt drovf."
"Oh. Well…"Punk looks around. His brown eyes fall onto a bright cheese wagon yellow car. "Cab." He half drags Jeff with him as he walks/stumbles across the street. Once at the car, he opens the door, pushes Jeff in first then he falls in afterwards.
"Where you guys headin'" the cabbie asks.
"The Claritin." Jeff broadcasts loudly.
Punk snorts. "Clayton, dude. Clayton." He turns back to the cab driver. "And it'll really help us out if ya know…pull up to the side entrance. I'll pay for it." He glance back Jeff.
"Yeah, sure buddy. No problem." The cabbie says as he pulls the car onto the street.
"You're gonna be okay, Hardy." Punk asks Jeff.
"Pfttt….Fine…" , his rainbow haired companion responds.
Punk shrugs then grabs his head. He rolls his tongue around the inside of his mouth. Those drinks are really working him over. Once he helps Jeff to his room, he's going to his own and calling it a night. He'll deal with Miz later.
Soon they are at the hotel. After paying for the cab, the two wrestlers try to quickly enter through the door. They only succeed in tripping over the other's foot and stumbling in. Jeff snorts as he gets to his feet. Punk follows. When he catches up with Jeff, he sees that he's weaving so bad that he can't push the up button for the elevator.
"Stop movin' ya fucker." Jeff drawls out.
"I'll catch it." Punk offers as he reaches around. It takes him a couple of times to press the button. A few seconds later, a ding is heard as the elevator reaches the floor, followed by the "swoosh" of the sliding doors. This time, they carefully step in. Punk knows that some of the wrestlers and divas are on the 4th and 5th floors. He himself is on the 5th floor, but he didn't know what floor Jeff and his brother were on. He looks at the button panel then asks Jeff what floor he is on. He gets a snort for a response. He tries again and this time Jeff reaches into his pocket. A cell phone and a card key fall to the floor.
"Shhhhh!" Jeff says loudly to the objects on the floor. "Shut up!"
"I'll get it." Punk tries to help by reaching down to pick up the keys. However the change in his stance makes him dizzy and he ends up falling over.
"4th floor!" Jeff mumbles as he steps unsteadily over Punk to get to the button panel. He leans in really close then after a few seconds, presses the number 4 button. The doors swoosh close and the car moves up. He stumbles slightly as Punk gets to his feet. The only thing heard is the ding of each floor. Finally they get to the fourth floor. Jeff is the first to step out. Punk silently follows. They arrive at the door of room 410.
"K, did my civil duty. " Punk holds out Jeff's phone and card key.
"Do ya really… gotta… go?"
The pleading in Jeff's voice catches Punk off guard. Even though his back is to him, he notices Jeff's bowed head and slumped shoulders.
"Hey man…"
"I think Edge is right."
"Right about what?"
"Me screwin' up."
Uh oh. Punk recognizes this kind of talk. He's heard it a few times from buddies when they have a few too many. Punk would usually lend an ear because he knows they would eventually talk themselves to sleep. This time, since he's the one that's drunk, he just wants to go to his room and sleep.
"Uh, what about your brother?"
"Matt's got his own lif." Jeff's voice starts to crack. "He can't take carea me forever. I don't want him to."
A sigh escapes through Punk's lips. He knows now that he can't just walk away from this. It's common knowledge that Edge is a prick. It's also common knowledge that this is Jeff's last chance. He's fighting demons on the inside and out. Maybe lending an ear won't be so bad.
"Jeff," Punk places his hand on his shoulder then steps closer. "I'll stay as long as you need me."
"Thanks." Jeff says softly. He takes the card key from Punk. "This means a lot to me."
"Yeah."
The door is opened then both step into the room. The hallway is empty again.
Rated R-K-Oh no you didn't!
"What the hell was that?!?!"
Edge grabs Randy's arm, pulling it hard enough to cause the young man to stop and spin around. Immediately Cody and Ted step up.
"Back off!!" Ted warns the World Champion.
"How about you back off!" Hawkins snarls back as he and Ryder step up to the Legacy members.
"Cody. Ted. Relax." Randy tells his group.
"Guys, I got this." Edge tells his.
The four men back off but don't take their eyes off the other.
"I'm not taking the fall for you." Randy announces, the cold and calculating look in his eyes never leaving his equal.
"Nobody said you had to!" Edge growls at him. "I don't appreciate looking like a fool!"
"Says the guy that hides behind a mu-mu when the going gets rough."
The Rated R Superstar clenches his jaw, but fumes internally. Randy smirks at him and dares him to make a comeback. After a few forced silent moments, Edge speaks again.
"We have something to hold over CM Punk and Jeff Hardy."
"Who says it's true? Your boys? They're not known for their brains, you know."
Edge's hand quickly goes up to stop Hawkins and Ryder from doing or saying anything stupid. Ted and Cody laugh loudly. A death glare from their leader cuts the laughter short.
"Anyway," Randy continues. "Men don't have babies. It's impossible."
"Yeah, but Jeff's such a freak a nature, it could be." Edge says. "Besides did you see how they reacted? Something is up with those two."
"Good Point."
Randy crosses his arm and goes into deep thought. CM Punk is a problem that needs to go away. "Maybe we can help each other out. You know…get rid of our 'problems' "
A blonde eyebrow is raised. "Like partners?"
"Yeah."
It's now Edge's time to contemplate. Jeff is a flake, but he's getting bothersome. He's gotta go. Soon.
"Alright. You're on."
All hail! The gang's all here!
Members of Raw, ECW and Smackdown start back at one another. No, this isn't an inter-promotional tag team match, just groups of people looking for missing friends.
"He better not hurt him, that's all I'm saying."
"Oh come on! You act as if the guy is made outta glass! And don't worry, he won't. I mean, let's face it, it's not like you're boy's a saint."
"Guys?" Maria's voice floats through the testosterone monopolizing disagreement.
"And Punk is?" Helms shoots back. "After what he did, he'll look like a hypocrite if he keeps talking that straight edge noise. He's a hypocrite anyway 'cause it didn't take much to do him in."
"Guys??" Maria says a little louder this time.
"Fuck you!" Miz shouts as he takes a charge at Helms.
Kofi and Morrison grab him as Jimmy Wang Yang and R-Truth grab Helms, who is about to charge at Miz.
"GUYS!" This time Maria yells to get them to stop. "This isn't getting us anywhere."
"Mahria's right." Kofi says. 'We need to find out Punk and Hardy went to."
"Thanks Kofi. " Maria turns her attention back to the group. "Stephanie McMahon called me looking for them. Did anyone else get a call?"
"Yeah, I did." Helms tells her. Jimmy and R-Truth let him go.
However, the others tell Maria they did not get similar calls.
"That's weird." Morrison ponders. "Why would she just call you two?"
"Don't know." Helms responds. "She was asking had I talk to them recently and did I know about Jeff's condition. If I didn't know any better, it sounded like she already knew about his condition."
"Somebody here don't know how to keep their mouth shut then." Jimmy says. He crosses his arms as he looks over the group. "Looks like we may got ourselves a snitch. "
"I didn't tell nobody!" R-Truth is quick to say.
"I didn't' say nothin' either." Jimmy adds. "Matt and Jeff swore me to secrecy."
"And I know I didn't say squat to anyone." Helms says.
The three men look over to Miz, Morrison, Maria and Kofi.
"Well?"
"Well, I didn't say anything." Maria is a little put off that she is being accused of snitching.
"I didn't say anything either." Miz announces. "I promised Punk that I wouldn't tell."
"You told me, mahn." Kofi says to him.
"Okay, I didn't tell anyone besides Kofi."
"Dude, you told me the same time you told Kofi." Morrison pipes in.
'Okay! I told Kofi and Morrison, but no one else.
"A'ite , if none of us ain't say nothin', then who did?" asks R-Truth.
A slow smirk appears on Helms' face. "I know how we can find out."
A big brother's gotta do what a big brother's gotta do…
"You're sure about this, Matt?"
"I'm damn sure."
Christian can see the determination on Matt's face. He can also see the anger. According to Matt, he's only heard form Jeff once since CM Punk saved him from a potential beatdown. He can hear the contempt in his friend's voice whenever he mentions Punk's name.
"I know you're upset, but maybe-"
"Maybe what?" Matt spins around to face Christian. Annoyance is etched into his features. "Jeff has enough crap going on and then this guy comes in and adds even more!" He sighs in frustration as he runs his fingers over his hair. "Dad and Jeff are all I got left of my family. I ain't gonna lose them."
Before Christian can respond, Matt turns and walks away. He sees him knock on the GM's door then disappear inside a few minutes later.
Reunions, sort of…
A remix of "Metalingus" and "Voices" blares through the arena's sound system. A few cheers are heard from the Raw audience, but for the most part, boos dominate. The two most hated people in the WWE are about to make an appearance.
Soon Randy Orton and Edge do just that. Each is carrying his championship title over his shoulder. As they walk toward the ring, they are followed by members of their respective stables. When they get to the ring, Randy and Edge are the only ones that enter it; the others surround it. The stage hand on the outside hands them each a mic.
Randy is the first to speak, "You're probably wondering why Edge and I are out here. I'll tell you why. Last week we found out some disturbing news about our #1 contenders."
"Yeah!" Edge pipes in. "It seems that CM Punk and Jeff Hardy decided to get together and conspire against us. " He chuckles at his statement. "They got together alright."
"Morons in the truck! Run the footage from last week's Raw." Randy commands.
The closing minutes of the match between Punk and Cody appear on the screen. You can clearly hear Randy say that he knows about Punk's secret on Smackdown. The scene freezes on the expression on Punk's face.
"What is that secret you ask? What was CM Punk trying to hide?"
The footage starts again, but this time it's of Smackdown. It shows Jeff being held by the Edgeheads while Edge growls something to him. Just as his hand slides to Jeff's abdomen, a disguised CM Punk jumps over the barricade and into the ring to make the save.
"There!" Edge and points to the screen. "You see that?!? His secret is Jeff Hardy!"
Now the audience is confused. What's going on here?
"Look at how he's protecting him!" Edge continues. "It's like he's protecting his most valuable asset!"
Randy agrees. "Yes, Edge, it does look that way. And how unusual that neither one has been seen since that night. It's rumored that even Jeff's own brother doesn't know where he is."
"Let's be honest here. We know what they are doing and it's sick! It's disgusting. It's-"
The first notes of "This Fire Burns" by Killswitch Engage send the crowd into a ruckus. Orton and Edge look toward the stage as Cody, Ted, Hawkins and Ryder gather in front of the ring. A few moments later and CM Punk and Jeff Hardy appear on the stage. While both men are wearing jeans and sneakers, Punk is wearing one of his t-shirts while Jeff is wearing a plain white tee with an over sized black and white Fox Racing hoodie over it. Punk's unkempt black hair is matched by Jeff's rainbow mop that's pulled back into a messy bun. Jeff decides to hang back near the entrance while his partner, with mic in hand, walks toward the top of the ramp. Punk's eyes become two points of flaming amber fixed on the two men in the ring.
"You might want to think real hard about finishing that sentence, Edge."
TBC…