In the weeks following the attack by Triple H and Austin, Hazel unfortunately was required to have surgery on her neck to repair damage. She stood in the locker room sadly holding her title on her shoulder. Jeff, Matt, and Lita watched her as she wiped the tears from her cheeks and attempted to erase the sadness from her face.
"Hazel, Vince said you don't have to rush into any decisions until after you see the doctor again." Lita said softly.
She nodded her head, "I know, I know."
Jeff stood up and tried to put his arm around her, but she shrugged him off. "I'm fine. I know what I am going to do."
"Hazel, please let me help you," Jeff began.
She stared at him and shrugged her shoulders. "I'll be fine." she offered a forced smile before leaving the locker room.
Matt sighed. "She'll be ok. Let her do what she needs to do then we'll focus on getting her back to herself."
Jeff shook his head. "The injury was bad enough but her being sidelined is killing her. She's a shell of herself right now and she won't let me in."
Lita looked sad. Hazel was her friend and she'd witnessed the change in her since the injury. "She'll be fine in a few weeks once she's cleared to wrestle again."
Jeff sighed. "I hope so."
As Hazel walked towards the ramp with her title on her shoulder, she could feel the tears brimming in her eyes once again. Austin and Triple H had ruined her career and she knew if she ever was cleared to wrestle again, she'd never be the same. She was angry and wanted them to feel as bad as she did. Edge and Christian were standing in the hallway as she passed.
"Hey buddy!" Christian cried as he ran over towards her.
She smiled. "Hey Christian." she said as she hugged him.
Edge laid back and said nothing. Christian smiled at her. "How'd the surgery go?"
Hazel shrugged. "I get this cool accessory for a while." she said pointing to her neck brace.
Christian gave her a reassuring smile. "It's only a minor setback. You'll be back to kicking people's asses soon enough."
"Hopefully." she said sadly.
"Hey Jeff," Christian greeted as Jeff approached.
Jeff gave a nod and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"By the way, congratulations on everything. Hazel is a fantastic person. I'm happy for you both." Christian said genuinely.
Hazel smiled. "Thanks Chris. I have business to handle but it's great to see you back."
As Hazel and Jeff walked away, Edge watched them and his eyes narrowed. Christian could feel the coldness in Edge's eyes. "You know you gotta let her go. She's happy with Jeff and you lost your chances with her years ago."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Edge lied.
Christian laughed as he patted his friend's shoulder. "Sure you don't."
Edge looked irate. "I don't love Hazel. I never did!"
Christian smiled. "Sure. I know you better than anyone and I see how you look at her. I see how much you hate Jeff for no other reason then he has her. Don't do anything stupid to hurt that girl because you can't deal with how you feel."
Edge pushed his hair away from his face and nodded at Christian. "I never do anything stupid."
Hazel stood in the ring with Jeff by her side. She had the microphone in her hands. The crowd was cheering as she spoke. "As you all know, I had to have surgery on my neck because of the attack by Austin and Hunter a few weeks ago. Isn't this necklace beautiful?!" she laughed as she pointed to her brace. Jeff smiled at her. He knew her humor was an attempt to calm the pain she felt. "But being serious, I don't know how long I will be out of action while I heal myself." She said patting her title. "So it's only fair that I vacate the title until I can be a defending champion." she said softly as she looked at the title before handing it to the referee. The crowd was in awe as she did this. She could feel the tears in her eyes slipping down her cheeks. Jeff instinctively pulled her into a tight hug as she openly sobbed into his chest. The crowd chanted her name as the two exited the ring. She wiped the tears from her eyes and tried to smile at the crowd before they returned to the back of the arena.
"Hazel, I will do anything I can to help you threw this. It's a temporary setback. You will heal and you will win that title back in no time." Jeff said looking into her eyes. They once glittered but now they had all the life sucked from them. She stared at him and tried to smile. "I know," she said softly. "I just want to be alone right now. Can I find you guys later?" she asked softly.
Jeff sadly nodded his head. He kissed her cheek as he released her hand. "I love you Hazel. I hate seeing you hurting like this and I can't fix it."
"I love you and I will be ok." she said softly as she grabbed her bag and headed towards the parking garage.
Jeff watched her walk away and felt a pain in the pit of his stomach. His girlfriend was broken inside and there was nothing he could do to help except give her space and time. He knew Hazel would be posted up on the ledge with her music and sketch pad. He'd have his match then go find her he told himself. Edge walked up behind Jeff.
"Hazel's a little broken isn't she?"
Jeff turned around and shot him a nasty look. "Don't talk about Hazel to me."
"Hey man I get it. She's your girlfriend but I know Hazel. I have known Hazel for years and I know she's hurting inside. You can't fix her? She won't let you or it's just another thing that you fail at?" Edge spat.
Jeff's anger was boiling over. "Get out of here!"
Edge laughed. "I must be right. You fail at everything. Have you even been with her yet? You probably failed with that also."
Jeff's eyes narrowed. "Why are you so concerned about Hazel and my personal business? You told me that she was the best and come to find out that she never let you close to her. You failed to use her years ago and now you are jealous because someone got what you wanted?! Hazel is my girlfriend and she is very much taken care of!"
Edge laughed. "So you have slept with the Undead Princess?"
"Of course I have! She's my girlfriend!" Jeff's temper was rising. "I did what you failed to do and you can't stand the thought of it!"
"Well, I didn't know taking my virginity was a contest between you two!" Hazel screamed.
Jeff turned slowly to face his irate girlfriend. She stood there glaring at both men. Edge was covering his mouth as he laughed. He'd seen Hazel approaching while Jeff spoke and knew that Hazel wouldn't appreciate their conversation. Hazel had her hands on her hips and was ready to erupt with anger.
"Haze..." Jeff began.
She held her hand up. "So I was just part of your little pissing contest between you two? Well, congratulations, Jeff. I guess you won. Now Edge pay up so I can see what I'm worth!"
"Hazel, no! It was never a contest." Jeff yelled.
She turned towards Edge. "You couldn't get me so you had Jeff do your dirty work? Is that it?" she screamed slapping him hard in the mouth. "I never loved you! I hate you! You selfish, arrogant self absorbed asshole! That's why I left you alone!"
Edge smiled as he held his cheek. "Mmmhmm, you know I like it rough. Hit me again baby!"
Hazel's nostrils flared as she began to punch and kick him. "I hate you!"
Jeff grabbed Hazel's waist and pulled her back. "Get the hell off of me!" she screamed pushing him away. "You both make me sick!"
Edge laughed as Hazel stormed away. Jeff shot Edge a nasty look then ran after Hazel. Christian approached Edge and shook his head. "I really can't believe you. Why would you do that?"
Edge laughed as he held his cheek. "I don't want Hardy to be happy and he got himself in trouble with her. I didn't say anything wrong."
"You got Jeff to lose his temper and you saw her standing there. That is cold hearted and you know it! I'm going to go talk to her because you have no clue the damage you've done."
Jeff was trailing behind Hazel screaming her name but she refused to stop or acknowledge his calls. "Hazel stop!" he screamed as he lunged forward and caught her arm.
"Let me go!" she screamed pushing his arm from her. "Get off me! How much was I worth? Was it always a game or did you ever care?!"
Jeff looked stunned. "Hazel! It was never a game! I fell in love with you on my own! I never had an arrangement with that idiot!"
Tears were streaming down her cheeks, "Get away from me!" she screamed covering her face and backing against the wall.
Jeff fell to his knees. "Hazel Harper! I am in love with you because of who you are! Edge never sent me to get close to you! Edge is just instigating because he can't stand that you're with me and not him! He can't stand the fact that your brothers accepted us but not him. PLEASE look at me!" he screamed. "I'm begging you!"
Hazel looked at Jeff and she knew in her heart that what he said was true but she was hurt and embarrassed that Edge still could get under her skin to the point of violence. She looked at him kneeling on the ground at her feet. She saw Christian running towards them.
"What now?!" she screamed.
"Haze, please calm down! Edge is starting trouble! Jeff never had a bet with him. I know for a fact that Jeff and you found each other on your own and no one had a role in it. Look, I get you're confused and mad but Jeff isn't working against you!" Christian panted. Hazel looked unmoved by his words. "Hazel! Jeff loves you because of who you are and you love him! Don't let Edge get in your head and play a game in there with your emotions!"
Jeff looked at Hazel then to Christian. "Hazel, I wouldn't ever do anything to hurt you! You know that! Edge is messing with your head because he's bored with his life."
She looked at Jeff. she covered her eyes and sobbed. Jeff quickly rose to his feet and pulled her close to him. This time she didn't fight him. Christian slowly backed away hoping that he had served as a voice of reason and had ended any further fight between the two. Jeff held Hazel and felt a small sign of relief as she was in his arms.
"Hazel, I'm sorry. I swear to you, there's nothing going on with Edge."
"I know. I just can't stand Edge and the thought of him playing a hand in my life is sickening."
Jeff pulled away from her and looked into her eyes. "I love you and I'm sorry."
Hazel nodded her head and softly kissed his cheek. "I love you too..."
"Isn't that sweet?" Edge laughed.
Hazel jumped from Jeff's arms and lunged for Edge. She was swinging as Jeff pulled her back and gentle shoved her out of the way. Edge taunted Jeff as he stood facing him. "Get out of here!" Jeff screamed.
Edge laughed as he kicked Jeff in the middle of his stomach and sent him crashing to the floor.
Hazel lunged at Edge once more but Edge caught her arm and pulled her close to him. He kissed her as she faught him off and screamed. She slapped him in the face and he released her. Jeff charged Edge after seeing him kiss Hazel with rage in his eyes. He toppled Edge and began brawling on the floor. Hazel screamed for help. Christian and Matt appeared and jumped in to separate the two men.
"I'll kill you! Let me go! Touch her again and I will break every bone in your body! Get off me!" Jeff screamed attempting to free himself from Matt and get back to Edge.
"Bring it! Anytime you loser! You don't deserve her! Hazel really? You want this piece of trash?!" Edge screamed.
Lita was at Hazel's side. Hazel looked at Edge and her eyes narrowed. "I'd rather die then be with you!"
"Stop! Stop this!" Christian screamed as Edge tried to get towards Jeff once more. Matt was struggling to control Jeff as well.
"Good job! Always the under achiever huh Hazel? Scared to be the best you can be so you settle? Settle again because it's easier?! Just like when you left me because you were afraid to fight for what you wanted?" Edge screamed.
Hazel turned once more to face Edge. She lunged once more and began pulling his hair and slapping him. Christian tried his best to avoid her hits but she slapped both men multiple times. Lita was trying to pull Hazel away from the two blonde men. Matt couldn't stop Jeff once Hazel was fighting Edge. Jeff lunged into the mix and began punching Edge. Matt, Lita, and Christian grabbed Hazel from the mix as she was kicking and hitting anything that moved wildly. Christian grabbed her forcefully and shoved her into the wall. "Enough! Stop! You'll hurt yourself worse if you don't stop!"
Hazel looked at Christian and felt herself calm down. She put her head into her hands and let her hair fall over her face. She began to sob. She felt Lita pull her into a hug. Christian and Matt finally separated the two men with the help of a few other superstars who'd come to see what the commotion was about.
"You're done! Both of you!" Edge screamed as he wiped blood from his nose pointing at both Jeff and Hazel.
"Get him out of here!" Matt screamed before Jeff lunged forward again.