Chapter 9 – A funny thing happened on the way to the 'Rumble…

As if Edge's words weren't rattling around in her head, the voice mail she had to leave her mother sent her over the cliff. What was she really doing? Everyone she ever cared about was getting hurt because of her. Hunter hasn't been seen or heard from since Nexus's beat down, Dee is also a bit M.I.A. Her mother hasn't called to check up on her, like she did at least three times a week. Delinda warned her daughter that something like this could happen, especially after she fell head over heels for her own half-sister's ex-husband. But she couldn't help it, she really couldn't. He wasn't like the other boys she dated, none of them got her. They wanted to change her, mold her into the girl they wanted to date. She wasn't like other girls and he understood that. Embraced it, even.

And now he was gone. The only one in her corner now was the guy that blackmailed her into joining his group. Sure, Brooks was being a perfect gentleman last night; he listened to her blubber over something as stupid as a dream. It made her feel worse that she was even crying the way she was, it wasn't in her nature. But anything that had to do with her father brought out the scared little girl in her and she didn't know why. Abandonment issues? Maybe. Whatever it was, she was going to have to take a stand. It was one thing when she was the only one getting hurt, but now it was affecting those closest to her and it was going to have to stop.

But how?

With the Main Event of Edge and Kofi Kingston teaming up against the likes of Jack "The All-American American" Swagger and Alberto Del Rio underway, the noise level in the Nexus locker room was growing into a fever pitch. It seemed without the presence of their female member, the boys of Nexus took to treating their locker room with the respect usually given to a frat house. CM Punk, who usually was all for the rowdiness that being with the boys causes, sat back in his seat and let his mind wonder.

He should be happy. He was the leader of the Nexus. Megan Gratton was slowly but surely coming over to his side. But something was missing…something was off. He couldn't quite put his finger on it. Maybe it was the fact that all of this was too easy. If it was always going to be this easy, why didn't it happen sooner? Vicki just so happened to come across the very information he would need to gain Megan's trust…Vicki of all people. She wasn't exactly the brightest bulb in the tanning bed. How could she have possibly come across information like this? Granted, he was glad it was her that came across it, and not someone with the smarts to use it for their own personal gain. He knew enough to know when something was fishy in fishville. Yet, part of him didn't care. Actually, if he was going to be honest with himself, he almost completely didn't care. With the exception of not having a Championship title, he had everything needed to be one of the most powerful people in the biz today.

"Hey boss, where's the broad?" Husky Harris's statement snapped Brooks back to the land or reality. "She's been gone for a while now."

Megan.

"Why don't you guys finish up here and I'll see if I can find her."

She was going to try to bolt. He knew it. But where to? It wasn't as if she had somewhere to go, the only friends she had in the business were no longer on speaking terms with her, he made damn sure of that. Who else was she close to that would take her in now that she was tainted by the Nexus?

"Edge…"

Once upon a time, a little known girl found herself under the wing of the former Rated R superstar. This, of course, was before she caught the eye of one Triple H. Rumors swirled that they were more than just a Jedi master/Patawan relationship, something both parties have always passed off as nothing more than utter and complete garbage. However, they still remained friends when their paths crossed. Would he help her out now? Would she trust anyone from her past, even someone unconnected to these recent events? He couldn't take a lead like this too lightly, but until he was done in his match, Brooks would have to keep searching. He had worked too hard and too long to get his hands on The Supreme Diva….he wasn't going to let something like her "thinking for herself" get in the way.

"Well, well, if it isn't my partner in crime?"

He turned to find himself face to face with Dolph Ziggler and his…life-partner of sorts, Vicki Guerrero.

"By any chance, you haven't come across Miss Gratton, have you?" He tried not to look too concerned, less he give them the upper hand later on. "She stepped outside to clear her head and I just wanted to make sure nothing came of her."

Vicki scoffed. "I thought the 'information' I gave you was enough to get her the hell out of his federation, along with her hose beast of a friend, Dee!"

"Dee is all but done in this industry, my men saw to that. Megan is a different story."

"Why is that, Mr. Straight-Edge? Did someone fall for the little 'Daddy's Girl'?" She laughed at her own joke. "Come on, Brooks. It isn't like she's Stephanie McMahon or anything…you aren't going to get ahead just by giving that little fire crotch the business."

If anything could or would make CM Punk of all people lose his cool, it would be something like this: assuming you know what he wants. "Don't you EVER speak a single derogatory word about her…she is EVERYTHING-" He quickly composed himself. "Listen; just don't talk about her like that. She isn't like the rest of these ring rats."

"Whatever you say, lover boy. Just heed my advice…banging her isn't going to move you up in this company. Go for Stephanie…you know her, right? The daughter Vince actually gives a shit about!"

"Unlike you, Vicki, I don't feel the need to marry into this business. Without her, I am still on top. Without a title, I am still on top. I wanted Megan for very different reasons…something you would never comprehend."

"Lie to yourself all you want, I see you for what you are Brooks."

CM Punk snickered. "It is you that is transparent, Victoria."

Nothing was said as the couple made their way past Punk and walked down the hall; however, her cackle of a laugh echoed beyond her. He watched her walk in complete silence, unable to even give the situation he was just in the justification of vocalization. As he turned to continue his quest for Megan, he came face to face with the red-head herself.

"Did you mean that? You aren't doing this because of my father's influence?" Her blue eyes widened.

He pulled her close and hugged her, his body trembling. This was it; this was everything he worked so hard for. "Of course. Don't you think I would have just outted you or gone right to your father with my findings? I am sorry I was so cruel to you in the beginning…I just had to save face in front of my men. The slightest bit of weakness and…"

She raised her finger to his lips. "I understand. It'll be our little secret."

Maybe she was wrong about him. Maybe he had her best interests at heart. Vicki came to him, plotted against her and Dee, but this was the best way he saw to save her. Maybe, just maybe, we all had him pegged as this horrible person that he actually hadn't been. Maybe he was misunderstood.

Maybe…

As they made their way back to the locker room suite, the smile of pure victory never left CM Punk's face…