Good Christ... Can't believe it's been almost a full five months since I last touched this story. IDK why I put it to the side. Maybe it's because there's been so much happening with the whole Authority line that my head's been spinning trying to keep up with it all (seriously, I think there're even parts of my brain that still have motion sickness...). BUT! After making sure to really keep track of a lot of the more key things (and still going my own route with this), I can safely say that I'm back in the groove of working on this. I'm going to try to update this as often as I can, so I hope you guys can forgive my seeming neglect with this fic. ^^, Now that the note's done, on to the fic. =)
Next Monday for the RAW tapings, the roster reported to the arena as usual. With talk of the pending roster gathering on the stage, the roster members tried to figure out what exactly it was that Triple H, Stephanie, and Vince could possibly have to announce tonight. The ideas all seemed to vary from person to person, but one thing they could all agree with was the fact that they were going to be in for a lengthy talk.
Making their way to their locker room, Alex and the others talked through their own ideas as to why they were having the gathering tonight.
"This is going to make the second one in two weeks," Alex moaned. "What could they possibly have to lecture us all about tonight?"
"It might have something to do with me, Jimmy, and Jey playing Superman and the Wonder Twins last week when we helped Phil," Dolph said. "Quite honestly, I don't see why that would be a problem since we were just doing the right thing."
"I'm starting to think that maybe 'the right thing' isn't what our bosses think it is. After all, these are the same people that felt the need to put Phil through the wringer making him compete against Brock two nights in a row and then let Randy attack him after their match was over," Kaitlyn said.
"You really think that, Kait?" Alex asked, looking up at one of her best friends.
"It's just a theory I have, Alex," Kaitlyn said. "Don't think too much about it."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Alex said while she thought 'I really hope this is just a theory you have, Kait. Because I'm getting a bad feeling about things looming on the horizon.'
...
As the cameras began rolling for the night's episode of RAW, the roster had taken to meeting on the stage as the show went live. No sooner had the commentary crew at ringside announced the start of the show did 'King of Kings' fill the arena and Triple H, Stephanie, and Vince all come out and make their way to the ring through the parted crowd of Superstars and Divas. As the trio made their way down to the ring, a loud chorus of boos filled the arena. Climbing the steps and letting Stephanie get in the ring first, Triple H and Vince followed behind as they all got in the ring and got microphones.
Triple H had brought his mic up to his lips and was on the verge of saying something when he was met with a shower of boos from the WWE Universe. Smirking as a laugh rumbled through his chest, Triple H said "Oh come on now. Is that any way to welcome one of your favorite people?"
Hearing the boos, Vince brought up his own mic and said "They know they love us. After all, we did give them a blockbuster SummerSlam rematch last week. And we've got something even better in store for them tonight."
"You're right, Vince," Triple H said. "But first, I believe we have some people to introduce to the fans. Some people that I'm sure some of our friends on the roster have already had the pleasure of meeting."
Not sure who Triple H was talking about, everyone shared a confused look until the familiar sounds of feedback followed by 'Sierra, Hotel, India, Echo, Lima, Delta, SHIELD' filled the arena as The Shield came down through the crowd, hopped the barricade, and took a stand at the side of the ring facing the roster.
"Everyone, allow me to introduce you all to our newest security measure. Although, I'm sure you all know them as The Shield," Triple H said.
"Now, don't take this hard, everyone," Stephanie said, looking up at the roster. "It's not like we have anything against you guys. We just needed the extra protection and enforcement of our policies. Surely you all understand."
Seeing the faces of the roster as they all let this new bit of information sink in, Vince said "Now, how about we get this show on the road with our first match of the night."
"Good idea," Triple H said. Looking up at the roster, Triple H pointed and, smirking, said "Oh Ms. Hardy. Looks like tonight's your lucky night. You get to start the show."
Caught off-guard by what Triple H just said, Alex could only blink as she tried to think through why it was that Triple H singled her out of everyone on the roster. Not feeling sure of herself, Alex grabbed hold of Cody's hand and squeezed his fingers to let him know not to leave her. Once the three in the ring finished up, they left as The Shield followed up the ramp behind them as Alex kept her hold on Cody's hand as she made her way down the ramp to the ring.
'I get first match of the show? What gives with this? Why is Trips giving me top match over another guy? Something about this doesn't seem quite right,' Alex thought, making it to the ring and hugging Cody before she climbed the steps and got in the ring. 'Well, no turning back now. Let's get this done with.'
...
Kaitlyn and the others were backstage watching Alex's match against Damien Sandow and the group could tell that Alex was off with her moves.
"I don't think I've ever seen Alex this off before," Dolph said. "Any other time, she can beat Damien, so this just seems weird that she's not at her usual level."
"I think it's yet to really sink in to her that she got the match to start the show," Kaitlyn said. "Haven't you ever noticed that when Alex does have a match it's somewhere mid-way through the shows?"
"Well, if that's the case, then why would Paul give her a match so early?" Jimmy asked.
"I don't know, Jimmy. Just seems weird that Paul would actually let Alex have her match so early in the show," Kaitlyn said.
"I don't think we're going to have to worry about that for much longer," Jey said. Pointing at the monitor screen, Jey said "Look."
Doing as Jey said, everyone watched as Alex hit Damien with a Twist of Fate and pinned the older Superstar, securing the win for herself.
Watching on as Cody slid into the ring and raised Alex's hand in victory, Dolph said "I guess us worrying about her wasn't needed that much. She managed to pull the win in typical Alex fashion."
"Yeah, you're right, Dolph," Kaitlyn said, keeping her gaze on the screen. As Dolph talked with Jimmy and Jey, Kaitlyn took note of the fact that Alex still seemed a bit panicked. 'I know she might've won, but I have never seen Alex look this weirded out before,' Kaitlyn thought. 'I just hope Cody can keep a handle on her so that she doesn't have a panic attack.'
...
Alex and Cody had just gotten backstage when Alex walked over and slumped against one of the walls. Sliding down to the floor, Alex sat with her back to the wall and, holding her head in her hands, moaned and said "Oh my fuck. That had to be one of the worst matches I've ever been in."
"It wasn't that bad," Cody said, resting a hand on Alex's head. "You still managed to win in the end."
"Yeah, but not before I pretty much made a royal mess of the match," Alex said. "I'm pretty sure Damien's wondering why it seemed like I was messing up so much."
"Don't worry about Damien too much," Cody said. "Just focus on your win.
Lifting her head to see the concern on her boyfriend's face, Alex said "I guess you're right. It's just, I've never been in the position of starting the show. Paul knows this all too damn well, so I don't get why he gave me first match."
"Now, Alexis. Is that really any way to act after getting the chance to kick off the show?" Stephanie asked, walking over to where Alex and Cody were. "Do you not know how many of your fellow roster members would jump at the chance to kick off RAW?"
"Then why not give one of the others first match next time? Why even give it to me tonight in the first place?" Alex asked, rising to her feet.
"Because it was a decision that my husband, my father, and myself felt would be best for business," Stephanie said. "And, besides, you've got nothing to be upset about. Fans seemed to enjoy watching you take on Damien, so I don't see what the big deal is."
Wanting to fire back at Stephanie, Alex almost opened her mouth to fire back at one of the principal owners of the WWE when Cody's hand on her shoulder gave her the vibe that she shouldn't. Taking a breath, Alex said "You're right, Steph. After all, fans paid to watch kickass wrestling, and that's what I feel I gave them."
"That's the spirit. Keep thinking like that and you'll go far in this company," Stephanie said, turning on her heel to walk off. Turning back to look at the couple one last time, Stephanie said "Oh, one more thing. Cody, I wish you the best of luck in your tag match later tonight with Kofi. I'm sure it'll be a good one" before walking off.
Once Steph walked off, Alex said, with a hint of sarcasm in her voice, "Well, that wasn't totally awkward in any way, shape, or form."
"She was just doing her job, Alex," Cody said. "We may not like it, but she is one of our bosses. So, it's not like there's much we can do about how things are run around here."
"If you're saying that we should just lay on our backs and just accept whatever it is that our bosses throw at us, I'd really rather not," Alex said. "Besides, if you ask me, I think Phil had the right idea when he called Paul and Steph out on screwing Daniel out of winning the WWE Championship."
"A lot of us think that, but we're just the employees," Cody said. "There's not really much we can do about all of this if we don't want to risk losing our jobs."
Hearing everything her boyfriend said, Alex sighed and said "I guess you're right. I just don't like this. It's making me feel weird and I can only tell that things are only going to get worse and crazier from here."
...
Daniel had just gotten finished getting checked over by the doctor and gotten the medical clearance to return to work next week. He had just gotten back home to Brie and was getting ready to tell her the good news when Daniel walked in on Brie in he middle of a phone call.
"Really?" "That's great. I'll make sure to tell Daniel when he comes back from his doctor's appointment." "OK. See you Monday, Steph," Brie said, ending her phone call with Stephanie. Looking up to see her boyfriend, Brie smiled and said "Just got off the phone with Stephanie."
"So I just heard," Daniel said, planting a kiss on Brie's forehead. "What'd she want?"
"She just called me and said that if you get cleared by the doctor, you can return to RAW next week," Brie said. "Apparently, it's some invitation that she and Paul are extending some kind of invitation to you to join them."
"An invitation?" Daniel asked, a look of thought crossing his face. "I wonder what for."
"Should it really matter? If you're cleared to go back, I say you go so that you can work your way back to reclaiming what's yours. And that's your WWE Championship," Brie said.
Hearing the determination in Brie's voice, Daniel said "You're right. I'm just not feeling so great about the fact that the guy that screwed me out of the belt I rightfully earned and his wife are personally inviting me back to RAW. Call it my charming paranoia, but I don't trust this. I don't trust it at all."
Probably not the best chapter I've posted, but I feel that this was a good way to get back on track with the fic. Now, to recap what happened: The Authority has hired The Shield as their new security team (something no one on the roster was comfortable with at all), Alex got chosen to have the first match on RAW (something that she was not comfortable with), Stephanie came along with niceness for Alex and Cody (something neither of the two were really comfortable with), and, after getting medically cleared, Daniel gears up for his return to the ring only to be told by Brie that Stephanie and Triple H have personally extended an invitation to him to join them (something Daniel feels uneasy about). Lots of uncomfortable and uneasy feelings around. Will anyone's paranoia be warranted enough for what's in store? You'll just have to wait to find out. Until next time, don't forget to R&R please. =)