AN: Hey guys! Thank you to everyone who gave me constructive criticism. I went back and read over the last chapter and I can understand how there was some Derek left out of that one, but I needed it to set up the story.

We're trying something a little different today. Halfway through this chapter I lost my muse, and rather than leave the world hangin, I decided to change things up a little to help me figure out where the story's going. The chapter's divided up into sections, each either being third person point of view, or one of the main characters point of view. It might seem weird, but it really helped me decided who felt which way about who. I'm sure it's really hard to understand if you're not me =p

Enjoy!

A week later, Derek was still nursing a broken nose. The doctors had to re-break his nose to set it, but he would still have a crooked bridge when it finally healed. His eyes were bruised a sickly shade of green, and his forehead had 8 stitches from his encounter with the business end of Batista's chair.

"I thought I told you how to change your ring gear," Randy said when he saw Derek, Derek looked down at the outfit he was wearing. He had on dark blue jeans, black and white Converse, a black tee with his signature gold star on the front, his favorite gold beanie, and sunglasses resting on his head. He gave Randy a funny look.

"I'm not wearing my ring gear," he said.

"Why not?" Derek looked at him like he was stupid.

"I'm off tonight because of your…" He faded the sentence out as he tried to find the right words. Randy got in Derek's tic-tac zone.

"My what?" Derek swallowed several cuss words he felt would have been appropriate.

"Your antics." Vince McMahon's voice came over the intercom.

"Would Daniel Bryan, Derek Storm, and their pros pleas report to my office. Immediately." Randy gave a smug grin to Derek. Derek rolled his eyes when Randy turned around, then followed his pro to Vince's office.

Once they made it, Daniel and Derek stood on one side of the room facing their mentors.

"You two," Vince told Derek and Daniel. "You two need to learn to respect your pros. Especially YOU," he said, pointing at Derek.

"Me?" Derek asked, slightly insulted. He gestured at Daniel. "No offence Danny, but what about him?"

"Yeah!" Daniel exclaimed. "I was just as 'disrespectful' last week," he said, using air quotes around disrespectful. "If you've got some punishment planned for Derek, you'd better do the same for me." Vince laughed.

"Don't pretend to be noble. We don't buy it back here." He stood up and examined his bookshelf. "I was thinking about the best way to drive the idea of respect into your thick skull. So, you've got a new rule, Derek. And if you DON'T obey it, you can be sure it'll affect the final vote." Daniel and Derek glanced at each other. There was that mysterious vote again.

"I can handle anything," Derek said with a shrug."

"Yeah, we'll see about THAT," Randy snickered. Vince cleared his throat as Derek was about to smart off, and everyone turned their attention back to the Chairman.

"From now on, Derek, you will have to do anything and everything Randy tells you to." Derek's jaw dropped.

"You can't make him do that!" Daniel said. "Am I gonna have to obey Mike's every command?"

"I'm willing to show you a little leniency because you've been in the business so long," Vince explained. "And yes, I CAN do that because I'm the boss. And you can bet that if a rookie like YOU ignores a direct order from ME, the other wrestlers won't take it too kindly."

"Derek's been wrestling just as long as Randy!" Daniel objected. Derek was speechless. He just stared at the floor trying to figure a witty way out of this one.

"Looks like he already gave up," Randy commented with a laugh as he watched Derek. The rookie's eyes blazed.

"I do NOT give up," he said dangerously.

"Sure, Randy said. "We'll see. C'mon, you have a match to get ready for."

"He can't wrestle tonight!" Daniel said. "Look at him! His nose is broken!" Derek shot a look at Daniel.

"And YOU'VE got broken ribs. If you can refuse a night off, I think I can, too," he said quietly.

"I'll fight two matches tonight," Daniel begged. "Please Vince."

"I can take care of myself, Daniel," Derek said. The American Dragon could tell his young friend was getting angry.

"Didn't I tell you to come on?" Randy asked. Derek muttered something and punched the door as he exited. The three remaining men were silent for a moment.

"As for you two," Vince said after he was sure Randy and Derek were gone. "Daniel, you'd better learn to give Mike a little more respect, or you're gonna have trouble."

"Yessir," Daniel said as he followed Derek out the room.

"Hey!" Mike said. "You come back here!" He ran after Daniel. Vince rolled his eyes and got on his weight bench.

Derek's POV

"Here ya go," Randy said. He tossed me some material. I held it out and revealed…

"Ring trunks?!" I exclaimed. "Absolutely not. I'd rather wrestle in gym shorts!"

"I'll allow you to walk out in gym shorts," Randy said with a smirk. "You have to wrestle in the trunks, though." I shook my head.

"I refuse. Uh-uh. No way." I folded my arms and shut my eyes for emphasis. Next thing I knew, pain exploded from the left side of my face and I was laying on the floor.

"Did I mention one of my new rules is you're gonna be punished when I feel you're being disrespectful?" Randy asked innocently.

"You don't have the authority to do that!" I roared as I hopped up.

"That's not what Vince said."

"HE SAID I HAD TO LISTEN TO YOU!"

"Last week he specifically told me to make your life hell until you whip into shape."

"You're my pro to teach me how to be a better wrestler out there!" I said, [pointing in the general direction of the ring.

"Being a wrestler isn't just about 'out there'," Randy said. "Back here is just as important. You can't just waltz in and demand respect. Respect is something you have to earn." I was taken aback by the truth in Randy's words. "Now put on the trunks."

"No!" I said, getting angry again. "Don't I have a right to wear what I want?" Randy got dangerously close.

"Not while I'M in charge. Now put them on." I let out an angry roar and stormed into the bathroom.

Randy's POV

Stupid kid. I didn't like him, there was no arguing that. But it's my job to make sure he knows everything he needs to get the contract. I couldn't care less if he got the contract or not, but…

I couldn't help but see a little of myself in him. When I got here, I had nowhere else to go. Kicked out of the marines, no college education. Wrestling was all I had left, and it's all I ever really wanted. I worked so hard to get here. Part of me felt like I owed it to the business. So many of the older guys had helped me through my volatile rookie years that I sorta felt obligated to helping him. But, after all, I'm not really a bad guy. So I decided to help the kid.

But that did NOT mean I have to like him.

Who ever said tough love ever hurt anybody?

"Put your boots on. People might find out your sexual preference if you walk around like that." He glared at me as he pulled a pair of gold shorts on.

"I will KILL you," he warned. He laced up his boots.

"C'mon man, just take off the shorts," I said. "You look even more like an idiot now." He shot me a look that could kill, and then examined himself in a mirror. He growled when he realized I was right and took off the shorts. "I knew you'd see it my way," I said with a smirk. Derek threw the shorts into his bag, took a deep breath and looked to heaven.

Daniel's POV

I couldn't believe Randy was gonna make Derek wrestle tonight. Especially after he had beaten the kid senseless just a week earlier. I sighed as I bumped my gym bag higher on my shoulder. I was crazy for wrestling with my ribs banged up like this. Even now they were taped up tightly to prevent even more damage. I refused the x-ray, but I knew they were at least fractured.

"Hey, kiddo." I looked up and saw Christian Cage.

"Hey man!" I exclaimed. Christian and I had been friends for a long time. I worked with him for a while in TNA. He shook my hand and pulled me into a man-hug.

"How're things?" he asked. I grabbed my bag and walked with him.

"Huh," I said with a face. "Vince just informed us of a new rule he's only applying to Derek." Christian cocked his head. He had known Derek's parents before they passed away.

"What's he gotten himself into this time?" he asked with a grin.

"By official decree of the Chairman, he has to listen to Randy's every command," I explained. "On the basis that if he doesn't it'll affect the mysterious vote." Christian nodded.

"Hmmm… I could see how that would…"

"Why, do you know how it works? Cuz we haven't been told yet."
"Yeah. The Superstar Pros are gonna vote at the end of the season. And you can bet we're gonna take respect backstage as a major factor." Now it was my turn to 'hmmm…'. If respect was a big factor in the voting, it would probably be in my best interest just to take it in stride and show Mike the respect he deserves as my mentor.

"I shoulda just got in the old fashioned way," I said with a sigh.

"This could be really good for you, though," Christian pointed out. "If you get the contract, you can be the fans are gonna love you 'cause they'll already know you, see?" Yeah, I saw. And if the fans loved you, you became a main eventer. Isn't that every wrestler's dream?

"Well well well…" Wade Barret interrupted in his heavy accent. "If it isn't my opponent for tonight. How are your ribs doing?" I instinctively rubbed the spot where Jericho had thrown me into the announce table last week.

"Fine…" I muttered. "I've been through worse." Wade laughed.

"I hope you know what you're getting into. Chris isn't very pleased with the way you disrespected your Pro last week and decided to punish you for it." I rolled my eyes.

"He can try." I continued my walk with Christian. "So, who're you fighting tonight?"

"I think they're gonna put Heath in a match with Derek. You know how they were rivals at FCW." We finally reached the locker room. As I opened the door, I was met with the biggest surprise of my life.

"Derek Storm, are you wearing RING TRUNKS?" I couldn't help but laugh at this one. Derek had always sworn that he would, and I quote, 'never ever ever never ever never never ever never NEVER… EVER wear ring trunks.'

"Shut. Up," he growled. The poor kid must have been furious.

"I didn't like his ring gear," Randy said simply with a hint of mirth in his eyes. "So I changed it."

"I DIDN'T EVEN TAN FOR THIS!" Derek roared at Randy. The mischievous light in the Legend Killer's eyes instantly vanished. He got up and slowly strode over to Derek.

"Did you just yell at ME?" he asked.

"Yeah, I did," Derek sneered. Something was MAJORLY wrong. Derek was never this mad. Randy slapped him hard across the face. Derek didn't even flinch, just stood and got in Randy's face.

"Hit me back," Randy goaded. "Go on. How in the world do you expect to win the contract if you can't show me respect? You think the other Pros are gonna vote for you if you're like this?" Something clicked while I was watching this exchange. Randy was honestly equipping Derek for Superstardom the best way he knew how. Sure, his ways might be underhanded, disgusting, detestable, and just downright mean, but he was pushing Derek nonetheless.

"Hey kid," Christian said quietly. "Back off." He grabbed Derek's shoulders and gently pulled him away. The rookie gave one more good glare to Randy before averting his gaze. Randy smirked at him.

"I'll always be better than you," he told his rookie. "Why don't you just save yourself the trouble and accept it now."

"OR WHAT?" Derek asked. I prepared to grab him if he lunged at Randy. Out the corner of my eye I could see Christian bracing himself, too." Randy slapped Derek again, and we grabbed him as he launched himself at his mentor.

"Or I'm gonna MAKE you get down on your knees and beg me to forgive you for all this." Randy left the room.

"LET ME GO!" Derek yelled as Randy turned his back. He tried his hardest to get out of our grasp, but we barely managed to hold him back. "I'M GONNA KILL HIM!"

"Derek!" I yelled. We threw him against the lockers. "Listen to yourself! Is getting back at Randy worth losing your shot at the contract? Especially when he DESERVES your respect. GET YOUR PRIORITES STRAIGHT!" Derek looked betrayed.

"I thought you had my back, man," he said quietly. "And why don't you take your own advice? Are you a hypocrite now?"

"I've decided that it's best if I do respect Mike."

"Are you wearing RING TRUNKS?" We looked to the door and watched Heath Slater enter.

"Shut up, Heath," Christian warned. He nodded respectfully to his pro.

"You got it, sir. We've got a match tonight, Derek, and the One Man Rock Band is gonna rock yo mind!" Derek rolled his eyes and muttered some profanity. He yelped in pain after he punched a locker, then stormed out.

My list of things I absolutely hat was growing by the minute it seemed. Ring trunks, Heath Slater, Randy Orton, Vince McMahon, and when Daniel makes a good point. If I wanted that contract, I'd just have to learn to live with the Legend Killer. Even if it meant wearing ring trunks.

But what about your pride? that angry little voice in my head whispered. He's walking all over you and you're just gonna let him? I pondered this thought. What about my pride? I'm Derek Storm for goodness sake! I'm the Next Big Thing! I don't give up, and there's NOBODY better than me! My deflated ego swelled again. I didn't care WHAT Randy said. Maybe HE hasn't earned MY respect?!

Yeah, THAT'S all fine and dandy, the wise voice said. But do you honestly think that everyone else feels that way? I heaved a defeated sigh. No, nobody else felt that way. But I'll be darned if Derek Storm ever gets on his knees for anyone by the Lord Almighty!

I decided to bide my time. There would come a day when not even Vince McMahon would protect Randy. And THEN we'd see who's better.

But until then… Honor and old promises drive me. Before Dad died, we talked about my dream of becoming a wrestler. I wasn't sure, and Mom thoroughly disapproved. Dad told me that he'd always back me, no matter what my decision.

***"To tell you the truth…" he said with a wistful grin. "I always dreamed of wrestling, too."

"Why didn't you?" I asked. He shrugged.

"I let people convince me to follow their dreams instead of mine." We sat in silence for a moment. "I don't wanna make you feel the way… But if you did make it in the big times, it would be just as good as MY dream coming true." I grinned wildly at him.

"I'll make it," I said. "Pinky Promise."***

Mom and Dad both died two weeks later. I had been 12.

I was pulled back into the present by an obnoxious British voice yelling my name.

"DEREK! Are you listening to me?" I looked up and saw William Regal.

"William!" I said when I saw him. Regal had trained me for a few years when I was a kid.

"Well, let's see then." I grinned as I remembered my first day of training with him.

***"Well, let's see then," Regal told the 17 year old me. We locked up. "Try and throw me!" William commanded. I tried my best to knock the older man off balance, but couldn't. With one swift move, William put me on my back. He stood up and dusted himself off. "I've got a lot of work to do," he sighed.***

We tensed up, then locked up. I saw him grin as we fought each other. We were equally matched. I planted my right foot in front of my left, then put all my weight into turning my hip. It knocked him off balance and I took advantage of the moment and threw him on his back.

"Looks like you've got a lot of work to do," I said with a grin. He offered his hand and I helped him up. He dusted himself off and patted my shoulder.

"You've come a long way," he said. "I'm very proud of you." I turned a little red.

"Naw shucks," I said, falling into an exaggerated version of my native Louisiana accent. "You don't gotta-"

"Derek," Derek said, almost sounding in pain. "Remember your proper English." I grinned.

"Yes sir, mister Regal," I said, copying his thick accent. Regal nodded.

"Much better." He put a hand on my shoulder and pushed me into walking with him. "I've heard about your predicament." I groaned.

"Regal, I don't wanna talk about it," I said.

"You need to talk about it," he said sternly. "You have to understand that Randy does deserve respect."

"I know," I sighed. "I'm just trying to convince myself I can do it." Regal stopped and looked at me seriously.

"I was never one to spoil you with praise," he said.

"Yeah, I can agree with that one," I said flatly.

"But you're one of the most driven and resilient young men I've ever met. If anyone can swallow their pride and make it through this, it's you. So do you want to know what I think you should do?" I nodded. "Go apologize. See where it gets you. Then try your best to make things ok." He motioned for me to lean in, so I did. "You'll always have my vote," he said with a grin. I was speechless. Regal had never been so open with stuff like this before. "What are you gawking at, don't you have a match?" he demanded.

"Oh, yeah!" I said. "I'll see you later!"

Did you like? Please rate and review! I don't wanna start on the next chapter until I find out what y'all think about the changing viewpoint thing.

(JesusFREAKs)