Can I Ask You Something?

Summary: Zack Tyler a.k.a. Machetti has been brought in from OVW to compete on Raw. But what happens when he starts to have special feelings for a certain backstage announcer? Story goes parallel to WWE programming, starts at the June 9th addition of Smackdown.

Pairings: OCxMaria

Disclaimer: I don't own the WWE or any of its superstars' trademarks, names or slogans; it all belongs to a great man named Vincent Kennedy McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment. But any characters you don't recognize (Zack Tyler) are mine!

Rating: T, please not that anything the Sandman says may have some explicit language.

---x---

Chapter 7: Part of the Family

Zack sletp relatively late the next morning but found himself rudely awaken by Tommy at noon.

"Oi kid! Wake up!" Tommy shouted in Zack's ear.

Zack awoke with a start and promptly fell out of his bed.

"We've got to drive down to Roanoke," said Tommy.

"Who's we?" asked Zack as he pulled himself to his feet.

"You, me, and Jim," said Tommy, "so get your goofy ass up it's a three hour drive there not including traffic."

"Alright, alright, I'm up, I'm up," said Zack, "I just need to take a quick shower and get changed give me a half an hour."

"You'd better hurry up," said Tommy, "Otherwise you're driving, 'cause I hate driving in traffic."

So a half an hour later, Zack was showered and changed and in the back seat of Tommy's rent a car. Tommy was driving, and Jim was in the passenger seat.

"That bastard just fucking cut you off!" shouted Jim as a car swerved in front of them, "let's teach that fucker a lesson. Get in front of him Tommy."

Tommy quickly changed lanes and sped up in front of the car who had cut them off, then pulled in front of him.

"Zack moon that bastard!" shouted Jim.

"What the hell," said Zack.

"Just fucking do it," said Jim.

While mumbling something about aggressive people Zack got up and pulled his shorts down and pressed his ass to the back window to moon the car behind them. In response the guy beeped his horn and flipped Zack the bird, while Tommy and Jim roared in laughter.

"That'll teach the bastard not to cut people off," said Jim.

"Sure, but next time you moon them," said Zack.

The next hour was pretty uneventful until Zack got a call on his cell phone from Paul London.

"Hey man, what's up?" said Paul from the other end.

"We're in the car on our way," answered Zack.

"Yeah we're still driving too," said Paul, "Did you want to meet up before the show?"

"What did you have in mind?"asked Zack.

"I just figured that you, me, and Brian could go and get something to eat before the show," answered Paul.

"Where?"asked Zack.

"I'm not sure," confessed Paul, "let's meet up at the arena and go some place from there."

"Sounds good to me," said Zack, "by the way you wouldn't believe what Tommy and Jim just made me do."

"What did they make you do?" asked Paul.

"They made me moon this guy who cut us off," explained Zack.

"Oh my god, that is pure genius!" said Paul, "I definitely need to do that next time."

"Well I'd hate to be driving behind you," said Zack, "alright I'll see you later."

"See you dude."

About an hour and a half later Tommy pulled the car into the arena parking lot. Zack, Jim, and Tommy, grabbed their stuff and headed inside. It was only four thirty so no fans had gathered yet. Zack put his stuff down in the ECW locker room and then went back out to the parking lot and called Brian to see where he and Paul were.

But Brian never answered his phone due to the fact that he and Paul came out of nowhere and tackled Zack to the ground.

"Hey dude," said Brian as he offered his hand to Zack to help him up.

"Hey," said Zack as he took Brian's offered hand and was pulled to his feet.

"Let's get out of here and get something to eat," said Paul, "we need to be back by six."

"Just remember no cheese," said Zack, "you remember what happened last time."

"Will you stop bringing that up!" shouted Brian, as both Zack and Paul started laughing hysterically, "it was not my fault I puked all over the ring."

"You were the one who ate four slices of pizza," said Paul through his fit of laughter.

"Oh sure take his side," joked Brian, "some tag team partner you are."

Brian, Paul, and Zack, piled in the car and went to a nearby diner and had dinner. Once the three of them received their food they raced as usual, with Paul coming out on top, and Zack finishing in a close second.

"That's not fair," said Brian, "you two got burgers while I got an entire plate of pasta."

"Well next time you should order something you can eat faster," taunted Zack.

"Well you're the one who lost to Paul, I mean you ordered the same thing as him slow poke," said Brian.

"You two are both losers so stop bickering and shut up," said Paul as he fought back laughter.

(A/N: I just figured I'd note that Paul, Brian, and Zack have a relationship where they always make fun of each other. When ever they call each other names their just joking and all three of them know it.)

When the bill came the three of them split the bill before leaving and getting back in the car.

"Look all I'm saying is when you two order burgers and I order the pasta, you're both picking my pocket," said Brian from his spot in the back.

"Well then maybe you should order something else," said Paul from the driver's seat.

"Why can't you two order something else," said Brian, "you always get burgers, but I'm the one who mixes things up and orders new things."

"In other words you pick the cheapest thing on the menu," said Zack, "and then you complain when you have to pay your third of the bill."

"Well maybe you should…" stammered Brian, who could not think of an insult at the moment, "shut up!"

"Oh that was really creative," said Paul, as he mocked Brian's lame insult, "Shut up!"

Then all three of them, even Brian were over come by a fit of laughter and they continued to make fun of Brian's insult until they arrived that the arena at a quarter to six.

"And would you look at that," said Brian, "my fans await."

"Yeah right," said Paul, "more like my fans."

"How 'bout we settle this by saying they're all my fans," said Zack.

"Oh please," said Brian, "they didn't even know you'd be here when they bought their tickets."

"You're right they all bought their tickets to see Brian Kendrick the fifty seventh wonder of the world," said Zack.

"Fifty seven?" asked Brian.

"Well you'd have been fifty sixth but they discovered that tree over there," said Zack as he pointed to a random tree that was planted in the path.

"Oh yeah that makes me feel great," said Brian, "losing out to a tree."

Paul, Brian, and Zack stopped and talked with the fans for a few minutes. After shaking a few hands and signing a few autographs the three of them broke away and entered the arena.

The three of them then split up and went to their separate locker rooms. Smackdown was supposed to be taped first, and then ECW would be played live on Sci-Fi.

During Smackdown Zack cheered when Paul and Brian went out with their tag-team titles, and watched the steel cage match between King Booker and Lashley with interest while Zack admired Lashley's dedication and how he worked in the ring there was still the matter that the two of them had entirely different wrestling styles. Lashley was a combination of power and speed where as Machetti used speed and high risk. But Zack gave credit where credit was due and Lashley did do a good match.

Smackdown! finally ended and ECW started. I was ten o' clock and ECW was live. Zack was sitting in the ECW locker room with the guys, he had a segment later tonight where he would be welcomed to the ECW family. Then as a present he was given a match against Balls Mahoney, with ECW rules.

Eventually Tommy Dreamer's music hit and he and Sandman made their way to the ring through the crowd. Tommy Dreamer was holding a package wrapped in black that had ECW written on it in red letters. Both Dreamer and Sandman stopped to down a beer before climbing over the barricade and into the ring.

"Ladies and gentlemen," said Dreamer when he was given a microphone, "we are here tonight to welcome a new member to our ECW family."

"Machetti get you ass down here!" shouted Sandman.

Machetti's music hit as he made his way down to the ring, with his pipe in hand and dressed in his orange shorts and bandana, and his black knee pads. Machetti had foolishly thrown his only black vest into the crowd at Vengeance so he was wearing a plain black tee-shirt now.

"Now in order for you to properly be inducted into our family," said Dreamer, "you need to be inducted by the man himself… Paul Heyman."

With that Heyman's music hit and he made his way down to the ring, and got in it. Dreamer then handed Heyman the microphone.

"Machetti," said Heyman, "we'd like to welcome you to our ECW family. Now you can still compete on Raw, if that is what you want, but our doors are always open to you. But before you are officially welcomed we need to give you not one but two gifts."

Dreamer handed Machetti the black wrapped package, which turned out to be a new vest made out of black chain mesh.

"Wow," said Machetti as he took of his tee-shirt and put on the vest, "thank you."

"Now our second present is your initiation," said Tommy when he took the microphone from Heyman.

"What he means is," said Sandman who had impatiently taken the microphone from Dreamer, "you're going to be fighting… Balls Mahoney, in an Extreme Rules match. Clear the 'F'ing ring!"

The Heyman, Sandman, and Dreamer left the ring as Balls' music hit and he made his way down to the ring with his signature chair. An ECW referee got in the ring, and the bell rang and the match was underway. Balls quickly swung his chair at Machetti, but Machetti swung his pipe and the sound of metal on metal echoed through the arena when Machetti blocked the chair shot.

Machetti then swung his pipe and brought it down hard on Balls, or he would have had Balls not gotten his chair up at the last second. Machetti saw that the match was going no where and threw his pipe up in the air, and while Balls looked up at the pipe, Machetti nailed him with a running corkscrew dropkick. Balls got back up to his feet, but Machetti was ready, Machetti jumped on to the second rope, spring boarded off of it, and grabbed Balls all in one motion, then drove his head down to the mat for a spring board tornado DDT.

Machetti then went to a corner and climbed up onto the top rope, then jumped and did a flip before landing on Balls with a split legged leg drop. Machetti then ran to the ropes and came back with a split legged summersault. Machetti went for a pin but Balls kicked out at two and a half.

Machetti lifted Balls to his feet and irish whipped him into the corner, Machetti then ran at Balls and attempted to hit the thunder and lightning combo, but Balls moved at the last second, causing Machetti to hit the top turnbuckle. Balls then stuck his head between Machetti's legs, while Machetti was still hung up on the top turnbuckle, and fell backwards for an electric chair drop.

Balls climbed up to the top rope and jumped off looking for the New Jersey Jam, but Machetti rolled out of the way at the last second. Machetti got back to his feet, but Balls got up right after him and whipped Machetti across the ring. Machetti jumped up onto the second rope and spring boarded across the ring, and nailed the Over Castle Take Over.

Machetti got up and placed the discarded chair on Balls' stomach before climbing up to the top rope. Machetti jumped off lunged at Balls, and drove his feet into the chair on his chest as he landed. Machetti then picked up the chair and stood ready to bash Balls' head in when he got up, but as soon as Balls got to his feet he rolled out of the ring, and leaned against the barricade to catch his breath. Machetti, while still holding the chair, ran to the other side of the ring, bounced off the ropes, ran clear across the ring, jumped up on to the top rope, before spring boarding off of it at Balls, Balls didn't know what to think when he saw Machetti soaring out of the ring at him with the chair in his hands, and ended up having the chair driven into his head as Machetti landed.

Machetti whipped Balls into the ring apron and ran at him and hit a shoulder thrust. Then Machetti whipped Balls into the steel ring steps, causing a sickening crash when Balls' shoulder made contact. Machetti climbed up onto the ring apron, jumped off of it, while extending his leg and driving it into Balls' back for a leg drop. Machetti then once again climbed up onto ring apron but this time he turned around, jumped onto the second rope and spring boarded off of it for a spring board moonsault, right onto Balls.

Machetti then got up and lifted Balls to his feet and rolled him into the ring. But as Machetti was getting back in the ring, Balls grabbed his chair and brought it down on Machetti's back, driving him down to the mat. Balls then lifted the chair above his head and nailed Machetti with two consecutive chair shots to the back. Balls lifted Machetti to his feet and in front of him and lifted him up and hit him with the Nutcracker Suite. Balls hooked Machetti's leg and applied a pin, but Machetti quickly thought of a certain Raw backstage interview and managed to kick out as the referee's hand was coming down for the three. Balls couldn't believe it and applied another pin, but once again Machetti kicked out.

Balls got up and grabbed the chair, but Machetti quickly got up to his feet and ducked the chair as Balls swung it. Machetti then ran and slid between Balls; legs and whipped him into the corner, Machetti then ran to the corner and hit a crossbody, but instead of doing the usually hurricurana, Machetti lifted Balls up onto the top rope, and then climbed up after him. Machetti then jumped and wrapped his legs around Balls' neck and fell back for a top rope hurricurana.

Balls was now lying motionless on his back, and Machetti climbed out of the ring and onto the apron, hoisted himself up onto the top rope and nailed Balls with the spring board body splash. But instead of going for the pin Machetti grabbed his discarded pipe, and lifted Balls to his feet, then pressed it to Balls' neck while standing behind him. Machetti went under Balls/ arm and nailed the Amputator.

But Machetti wasn't done, he quickly rolled Balls onto his stomach and got onto Balls' back. Machetti then hooked the pipe under Balls' chin and pulled back, wrenching Balls' neck at a sickening angle. Balls writhed in agony for a few seconds before tapping out.

Machetti's music hit and he removed his pipe from Balls' neck and got to his feet and received a fairly large ovation from the crowd. But Machetti's music was interrupted by the Paul Heyman's music as he Sandman, and Dreamer made their way back to the ring..

"Machetti," said Heyman, when he received a microphone, "on behalf of all of the ECW wrestlers I welcome you to our ECW family."

Sandman signaled for some beer and the four of them had a beer bash in the ring. But then Dreamer took the microphone and looked serious.

"Now I hate to interrupt this initiation but I have some business with a certain giant who kicked my ass last week!" said Dreamer as ECW went to a commercial break.

Heyman, and Zack left the ring and went back into the entrance as Sandman went back to his seat in the crowd.

Zack hung out in the ECW locker room for the rest of the show, upon arriving there he was congratulated and welcomed by the ECW locker room. After the show ended and Edge speared RVD, Zack changed back into his street clothes and went to the Smackdown locker room to find Brian and Paul.

"Dude that match was great," said Brian as he shook Zack's hand.

"Yeah man," said Paul, "there were some awesome extreme spots in there and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Of course I thought for a second that you wouldn't survive, and hoped that you left me you CD's, but when I saw you wrestle out there I was like, Holy Crap!"

"Thanks guys," said Zack, "now let's am-scray (pig Latin for scram), I'm tired."

Paul, Brian, and Zack went out to the parking lot and drove to a nearby hotel. Upon making it to the room Zack quickly changed and laid down on his bed. He thought about ECW, and his match that night, then his thoughts drifted back to Raw, he guessed that he'd continue to wrestle on Raw until told otherwise. Zack then thought of Maria and hope she had seen his match. Zack then drifted off to sleep with a big smile on his face.

---x---

That's chapter 7!

'Till next time…

Peace!