Well, it looks like that break is what I needed. Because here I am, back with chapter 7. I'm loving the reviews. Makes a girl feel good. As I hinted to, Hunter's about to see firsthand what Stephanie's gone through because of "The Greater Power."
December 12, 1999
"Armageddon changed everything for you." The doctor said as we started our session. In the short time I'd been going, I felt calmness with her; like she was truly listening to me.
"Yeah. It meant no going back. Sitting there, watching Hunter do all that stuff do Dad…I kept saying to myself "It didn't have to be this way! Dad brought this on himself!". And when Hunter and I came together…This huge weight was off my shoulders. No more hiding who I was or who I was trying to be…I could finally be me…And it felt great."
"What happened when you got back to your hotel?"
"…It was a whirlwind. Every five minutes, I was getting call after call after call…Shane, Marissa, Mom… Andrew…All saying "How could you do this? What the hell's wrong with you?"…They all didn't get that they brought this on themselves."
The doctor got really quiet. I knew where her questioning was going. "You said everything was perfect until Hunter saw what you meant by nightmares?"
"…Hunter and I had sex later on that night; it was the first time since the night in Chicago. We were not the same people that slept together four months prior. Everything had been leading up to that moment…And it didn't disappoint. Hunter knew how to do stuff to me without me even saying a word. Even though we were still "Business Partners."…I couldn't have felt more loved at that moment. Afterward…We laid there, taking in the situation. Ever since Hunter and I had joined forces…Things had been good mentally. I mean…I hadn't had to take my medication in months and I had been sleeping through the night consistently. I thought that the worse was over. As I laid there asleep later that night, little did I know what was waiting for me…"
I'm alone in a cemetery. It's dark and rainy and cold. I'm in the dress I was wearing at the unholy wedding. Suddenly, someone pushes me into an open grave. I fall down, but I'm still alive. I look and it's my father and brother standing there.
"Daddy! Shane! Save me!" I scream.
"That's not possible!" My father and brother say, as if I mean nothing to them.
"Why not? I'm scared…I want to go home!" I said, almost begging. Suddenly two dark figures appear behind them.
"Because you're ours now!" It was Undertaker and…Andrew…And they have shovels in their hands!
All of sudden, Dad and Shane have shovels in their hands. I try to climb out of the grave as they begin to pick up the dirt and throw it in. Every time I would get closer and closer, more and more dirt would be thrown on me. Just as I'm about to get out of the grave, Undertaker grabs me by the throat, hoisting me up in the air. I'm trying to get away, but Undertaker grabs my throat tighter and tighter. I can hardly breathe…Everything around me is going black.
"No one can save you!" He said sinisterly as he chokeslamed me into the grave.
"No!" I screamed as I shot straight up from my sleep. I sat there and began to sob. Hunter shot right up next to me at the sound of my screams.
"Steph? Steph!" Hunter screamed, grabbing my shoulders.
I slapped Hunter as hard as I could. "Leave me alone!" I yelled as I ran into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I leaned my back against the wall, continuing to sob. "Why here? Why now?" I whispered as I brought my legs to my chest. Suddenly, an equal whisper came from the other side of the door.
"Steph…It's Hunter. Look…I don't know what just happened…But…Maybe you could talk to me and I can help."
"Nobody can help." I said softly, my sobbing reduced to quiet tears.
"I can try. Please."
I got up and unlocked the door, opening it slowly. Hunter was standing there in his boxers, holding his cheek. "I'm sorry." I said, apologizing for the slap.
"I'll live." Hunter said softly, offering his hand, "Now…You wanna tell me what that was all about."
I declined Hunter's hand, instead walking past him and towards the bed. I sat down at the foot while Hunter knelt down in front of me. "That is what six months of mental…Emotional…Psychological torment will do. Picked a hell of a time to show up, huh?" I said, wiping my eyes of any remaining tears.
"The nightmares?"Hunter asked, already knowing the answer.
I nodded. "It's always the same scenario: I'm being buried alive by the Undertaker…And no one saves me. Only now…It's not just Undertaker. It's Dad…And Shane…And now Andrew."
Hunter I could see didn't really know what he was dealing with. Still, he tried. "What about your medication? You said you were on sleeping pills?"
I once again nodded. "I was…Until everyone started telling me I didn't need them. That Mcmahon's were strong! Yeah…The people that put me through this were the ones telling me I didn't need medication! Andrew wouldn't even come check on me when I had a nightmare! He would just lay there in bed and asked "Are you alright?"! Meanwhile, I would be in the tub, crunched like a ball, praying that the next night…I'd be able to sleep!" I spit out with anger in my voice.
I looked at Hunter. He somehow managed to keep up with my rambling. I could tell though that what I told him made him angrier then I had seen in our short time together. "I want you to listen to me…Okay?" He said as I nodded, choosing his words carefully, "You and I may not be a normal married couple…But you're still my wife…Which believe or not means I care. Now…Tomorrow, you are gonna get your prescription filled, you're going back on your medication, and I'm gonna make damn sure your family pays for this!"
I tried to interrupt, but Hunter put a finger to my lips as he continued. "As far as the nightmares go…I don't care if it's the middle of the night…You wake me up and I will be there…I'm not going anywhere. I will not let anything happen to you…Do you understand me?"
For the first time since Hunter and I got together, I saw a glimmer of the man I deep down knew Hunter could be. I nodded softly, agreeing to Hunter's demands. Something inside me told me to do what I did next. I put my hand on Hunter's cheek, where I had slapped him, and I kissed him softly
"What was that for?" He asked with a whisper.
I stood up so Hunter and I were face to face. "For being the first person in a long time who has actually given a damn." I said with a small smile.
"We never talked about that night again. Hunter always made sure I was okay, even when I said was a hundred times. DX never asked about what happened; I just assumed Hunter explained the situation to them. The next morning, the guys took me shopping; they figured "Stephanie Mcmahon Helmsley." could use a full blown makeover. Raw was that night…And after what happened at the hotel…I had plenty of reason to put the final nail in the coffin!"
There you go guys! Trust me, if I had gone through all the stuff Steph's gone through on TV (Fake or not!)…I would've wanted revenge too! Next chapter's a doosey…the famous speech Stephanie gives on Raw to her Dad. Hopefully, my memory is as good as it used to be! This was twelve years ago, after all! Reviewers…Review!
