A/N: Hey guys, it's Mikaela again! Mel and I just want to say thanks for the reviews, and we're glad to see that you're all liking this fic of ours. Here's the next chapter for all of you, and keep the reviews coming! :)
Chapter 9
"What the hell makes you think that I'll join Legacy?" Zack Ryder demanded, his hands curled into fists by his sides. He was pissed beyond belief. Cody Rhodes and CM Punk had shown up at his hotel room, assaulted him, and dragged him here, and the worst part was that Mel had been left all by herself. He had no doubt that she was frantic and probably out looking for him at this very minute. The thought made him even angrier. Mel had been through so much shit, and now he'd been taken away from her as well. And Randy Orton had the balls to stand there and tell him that he was now on the opposite team? Screw that.
Randy's steely-gray eyes met his, and Zack couldn't help the chill that ran down his spine at the coldness in the Viper's gaze. "I don't think you'll join Legacy," Randy said, his voice a low growl. "I know you will."
"Oh yeah? And why is that?" Zack asked, spitting the words out through clenched teeth.
"Because if you don't," Randy said, smirking, "then I'll be paying your girlfriend a visit."
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Mel Brooks stood in the hallway, staring at the retreating back of her brother. Punk was walking away, but she was too afraid to go up to him and ask him where Zack was. She didn't think she could handle more harsh words from him right now, especially with Zack missing.
So instead she turned around and headed the opposite direction, feeling a deep sadness come over her. There was a point in time where she wouldn't have hesitated to go to her brother with a problem, and he would've soothed her and told her they'd fix it. And they would. Together. But now she'd lost him, just like she'd lost Zack.
Mel was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she wasn't paying attention, and she suddenly ran head-on into something large and hard. One of her hands shot out and landed on the wall, and she barely managed to stop herself from falling. "I'm sor–" Her apology died in her throat when she looked up and saw who she'd run into.
The Big Show glowered down at her, his blue eyes filled with irritation and slight anger. "Watch where you're going," he growled. Then he noticed her green Cenation T-shirt, and his expression changed from one of annoyance to one of interest. "Well, well, well," he said, smirking and taking a few steps toward her. "What do we have here? One of Cena's little teammates? How interesting."
Mel looked up at him, her hazel eyes wide with fear. Her heart began to pound against her ribs, and she felt sick with dread. Of all the people to run into in the hallway, it had to be Big Show. And this time, there would be no Zack to save her.
"Please," she whispered, beginning to back up, "don't."
Show just shook his head and made a disapproving noise. "You know you shouldn't be in Legacy's territory. Now you'll have to pay the price."
He raised one of his large fists, and to Mel it seemed as though the world stood still. Then the Big Show's hand descended, she squeezed her eyes shut, and...
...and the blow never came.
Mel opened her eyes and gasped in amazement. A large, gloved hand had caught the Big Show's fist mere inches from her face. A shadow fell over the young Diva, and she looked up. Her jaw dropped in shock.
Kane stood behind her, his large frame towering over her small one. He glanced down at her once, his strange eyes meeting hers. Then he looked back at the Big Show and pushed his fist roughly away from Mel.
"Don't you know you're not supposed to hit a lady?" Kane asked in a deep, growly voice.
Big Show opened his mouth to reply, but one look in Kane's cold eyes made him think twice. "This isn't over," he spat at Mel, who flinched.
Kane's huge hand landed on her shoulder, steadying her. "Yes," he snarled at Big Show, "it is. Now get out of here."
Show glared at him one more time before turning around and shambling off down the hallway. Mel waited until he had disappeared around the corner before spinning around and staring up at Kane.
"Thank you," she whispered, still a little stunned.
Kane just shrugged. "Do you know where I can find Cena's locker room?" he asked. "I'd like to join his team."
"Down there," Mel said, pointing down a side hallway. She was delighted at the news that she'd just heard. Kane wanted to join the Cenation? That would give the team a big morale boost.
Kane nodded to her and started off down the hallway, but before he got too far Mel remembered why she'd been wandering around in the first place and called after him, "Hey, Kane!"
Kane turned to look back at her.
"Have you seen Zack?" Mel asked, her voice trembling at the thought of her missing boyfriend.
Kane gazed at her for a couple of seconds before shaking his head, and then he turned and continued walking, leaving Mel standing hopelessly in the hallway.
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Mikaela Mizanin ran her fingers through Cody Rhodes' hair. His head was resting on her shoulder and his arms were wrapped tightly around her. Her other arm was around his waist and she had her head resting on his shoulder as well. She could feel him shaking against her, and she pressed a soft kiss to the side of his neck. "It's okay," she murmured to him. "We'll find a way to make this right."
"I didn't want to do it," he whispered, his voice shaky. "But I couldn't risk Randy finding out about you and me. Who knows what he'd do."
"I know, baby," Mikaela said, still running her fingers comfortingly through his short black hair. And she did know. She could feel the pain radiating off of Cody, and his pain made her feel horrible. "Things would be so much easier if there was no war," she sighed. "Then Zack would still be with Mel, and our brothers wouldn't hate us. And we could be together..."
"I guess life doesn't work that way," Cody whispered. He pulled her closer to him and closed his eyes. "But I wish it did," he added quietly.
If only they were on the same team...
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Meanwhile, Mel was still wandering around the backstage area, desperate to find Zack. Being away from him for this long was making her anxious, and she knew that if she didn't find him soon then she was going to have a nervous breakdown.
"Mel?"
Mel spun around at the sound of her name, thinking it was Zack. Her hope died, however, when she spotted Mike "The Miz" Mizanin, Mikaela's older brother and a Legacy member. Her heart began to beat faster, but not from fear; she knew that Mike would never hurt her. No, her hurt was speeding up for an entirely different reason. Unbeknownst to Mikaela, Mel had had a crush on Mike ever since they were kids. Just one look into his sky blue eyes made her a little weak in the knees.
"Mike..." she said, letting his name trail off.
"Mel, what are you doing here?" Mike hissed, hurrying toward her. "This is Legacy territory! You can't be here."
"But I'm looking for Zack," she said, reminding herself why she was there. "He went missing and I can't find him anywhere."
Mike's blue eyes darkened, and she felt a feeling of dread settle in her stomach like a rock. "What is it?" Mel whispered, almost afraid to hear his answer.
"He was kidnapped," Mike murmured gently.
Mel gasped and her eyes filled with tears. Her Zack? Kidnapped? "By who?" she whimpered, again afraid to hear his answer.
Mike hesitated, obviously reluctant to tell her. But she had the right to know, so he admitted, "It was Cody Rhodes and CM Punk."
A/N: Well there it is! I hope you enjoyed! The next chapter will be posted by Mel, so keep an eye out! :D
