Dark Reflections

Chapter 10

Deal Made

Vince, Shane and Paul went to their locker room before the show. Paul was a bit more at ease then he was the previous week over the situation with Shawn and Austin Payne. Officer Vasquez charged into the room, scaring the crap out of the McMahon/Levesque men.

"You're late, Vasquez!" Vince barked.

Vasquez looked at him and smiled.

"I know, Mr. McMahon. I was actually over by the parking lot. There's a woman outside that said she has information about Shawn," Vasquez saw he now had all 3 men's' attention. "She said she alerted her local precinct and would like to talk with you in person. And she even has a message from Shawn for Mr. Levesque."

"Oh? Really? Well, send her in with an armed escort." Vince stated and turned to look at Shane and Paul.

Paul looked a bit hopeful about the situation.

"You bet I will, sir. We checked her for weapons, and she's clean. I'll be right back with her." Officer Vasquez stated and left the room as quickly as he came in.

"You think she's serious about talking to Shawn and all? You think she was really with him and knows the bastard who took him? Think she's gonna help us bring his ass down!" Paul asked.

Vince and Shane exchanged concerned looks, and then looked at Paul.

"It could be possible, Paul... But... Do us and yourself a favor... Don't get your hopes up..." Shane told him, just as Vasquez and Robin entered the room.

"Mr. McMahon, this is Robin Ford, fiancée of our suspect, Austin Payne... I'll leave you alone so you can talk." Officer Vasquez stated, tipped his hat at Robin and left the room, closing the door tightly behind him.

Robin turned to look at the McMahons and Paul.

"Hello... Um... I guess I have a lot of explaining to do..."

Vince nodded his head.

"Yes... But first... I am Vince McMahon, owner of the World Wrestling Entertainment. This is my son, Shane... Vice President of Global Media... And... This is my son in law, Paul "Triple H" Levesque... He is Shawn's best friend, tag team partner and fellow D-X member... Now... Um... How did you..?" Vince asked, but Robin knew what he was going to say.

She raised her hand to hush him.

"Mr. McMahon... I met this 'Austin Payne' character last year. He introduced himself to me as Jamie Jones. And... I noticed around February he started to keep things to himself more. He would always be on the computer or studying tapes of Raw... Until... Of course... That one Monday night about a month ago... He seemed to be obsessed with only one thing: destroying D-X. And... Also... Safe ways to abuse people without automatically killing them... You know…" Robin paused to look at Paul.

"Torture..." He flatly stated.

Robin nodded her head.

"Right. I found Shawn in there a few days after Raw. He had a cut on his forehead... Literally stretching from ear to ear. His right eye was partially swollen shut... I should say his situation hasn't improved one bit. The abuse keeps getting worse... I mean... Shawn's whole right arm is broken... Collarbone-down. He asked me to give this to you, Paul..," Robin paused and handed Paul a somewhat blood stained envelope with his name on it.

He stared at it, then nodded his head in appreciation.

"I don't really know what else to say... I mean... I have a camera set up in the room and it's on 24/7. When I get a tape, you'll be the first to see it."

"So... Um... Can you confirm this man," Shane pulled out a picture of Austin Payne.

"Is your fiancé, Jamie Jones?" He asked.

Robin glanced at the picture briefly, then nodded her head yes.

"Um... You said... That... He tortures Shawn... What do you... Uh... Mean by that?" Vince asked her.

"Whatever weapon Jamie gets his hands on is what he uses. The other day he bashed Shawn in the head with a 4 x 4... Ah..," Robin covered her mouth with the 'shouldn't have said that' face.

The 3 men stared at her in shock.

"Uh... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to frighten you..."

"The truth is just frightening itself, Robin. It's not your fault... You're only telling us the truth. We don't blame you for it." Shane stated, putting his arm around Robin's shoulders as he spoke to her.

Robin looked at Shane and nodded her head.

"Yes... But I wish it didn't have to be me... I'm very sorry for having to be the bearer of bad news... Shawn... He said... Not to worry about him so much... His heart beats from your love for him... He said he'll be back soon and he loves you with all his heart..."

"Where do you guys live?" Vince asked.

Robin looked at him, tears visible in his eyes and dripping down his face.

"Fremont, Ohio... Um... Big white and blue house surrounded by farmland... So you can't miss it... Listen... I have to go now... I have to get back to Shawn... I have to make sure he's ... Ya know... Ok... I'll see you again next week... You'll be in Cleveland. I'll have footage for you by then. Good night." Robin stated.

She shook everyone's hand, and then turned to leave. Once Robin left the room, Vince turned to look at Paul.

"Paul! Did you hear a single word Robin said?" Vince yelled.

Paul tore his eyes away from the envelope to look at Vince. He picked up the envelope to show it to his father and brother in law.

"It... It reeks of blood..." Was all the 37 year old wrestler was about to say.

He let silent tears fall from his eyes. Shane put his arm around Paul.

"Relax, bro... You heard Robin... He was conscious enough to write you that letter... Why don't you read it?" Shane asked him.

"It might make you feel better." Vince pushed a little further.

Paul nodded his head no.

"No. I'm going to wait until we find him... And then I'll read it..." Paul stated.

Vince and Shane once again exchanged concerned looks before looking back at Paul.

"But... Paul... Technically we did find him... We're just waiting until we're in Ohio... Paul... We know he's alive! Isn't that good enough? You've been losing hope since the beginning... You thought he was dead. And don't think I don't know what you've been planning," Vince paused and glared at Paul.

Paul lowered his head in embarrassment.

"If you don't read that letter... I will." Vince finished yelling at Paul and crossed his arms over his chest.

"So... If I read it... It'll remain private?" Paul asked.

Vince nodded his head yes.

"If I were you, I would read it." Shane whispered to Paul and winked at him as well.

Paul looked at Vince, then back down at the letter.

"I'm waiting..." Vince barked and began to tap his foot impatiently.

"I'll read it, dammit! I'll read it..." Paul stated and walked to the other side of the room.

He grabbed a leather chair and dragged it with him, then sat in it. Shane and Vince watched as he ripped open the envelope, then looked at each other and left.

Dear Paul,

You know how lousy I am with starting off letters...

If you got this then you know Robin Ford is Jamie's fiancée. You probably know him as Austin Payne or something like that... Anyway...

Check up on Becky, Cam and Cheyenne for me. And don't let them know too much...Especially the kids. Becky can handle some of it, but not all. Just tell her that I'm ok and I'll be home soon.

If I know you as good as I think I do... You better not be planning anything to harm yourself. I love you, Paul, and you know that. I've done stupid things in the past... And I don't know what I would've done if I was in your situation... Waiting to hear news on my kidnapped best friend...I think I'd go crazy... I don't want to sound off-color, but promise to keep loving me. Your love for me keeps me alive, Paul... It keeps me going.

How are things looking on the outside? I'm sure it's not that great... But things are bound to get better... I can feel it. I'm sure Bret Hart is enjoying this, (Paul smiled at the statement). He's probably been doing the 'Cha-Cha' 24/7 since he found out... Oh! Speaking of which, I remember hearing there was a security camera in the D-X locker room... If it was on... Don't let the footage leak out! Please, Paul... I'm begging you here... Don't let it out, (Paul winced at reading the statement and once again let silent tears fall from his eyes).

Anyways... Hope all is well on that end... Be strong, Paul... I know you can find the strength within you. I know it's there. You have to remember that you're not the only one going through this. There are other people going through this as well, and, sometimes the situations are much worse.

If anything... Happens... Be there for Becky and the kids. I trust you with them.

I love you guys... And... I miss you... Tell that to Vinnie Mac and Shane-O, too... But... Remember this... I'm with you in spirit and in your heart. I always will be.

Forever your friend,

Shawn Michaels

Paul lowered the note and stared at the wall. That was so like Shawn... He would be hurt but worrying about everything and everyone else. Typical Shawn... Paul heard the door open and close. He turned to see who it was, but before he knew it, he was caught in a hug.

"Hey son... I just heard... I'm glad to hear Shawn's alive, but I'm sorry to hear about all the shit he's going through..." Came the thick Texas accent.

It could only belong to one person... The very same person Paul stopped to talk to in the hallway the night Shawn was kidnapped.

"Steve..." Paul sighed and wrapped his arms around him.

The man who didn't trust anybody was on his knees hugging Paul Levesque.

A/N: Hehe... Enjoy? Figured we needed some emotional moments in here... Help settle the mood from violent to calm, but sad. LOLZ... So... Review!

Edit: 'Deal Made' is from the song 'Curb' by Nickelback.