CHAPTER ELEVEN

"Steph?" Paul called, walking inside her office. He hesitated, watching as she finished with paperwork, meeting her eyes when she looked at him. He didn't know why he was doing this, but… "Sweetheart, can I talk to you for a minute?"

Stephanie stared intently at her husband; seeing the pain in his eyes and instantly stopped what she was doing. "Paul, what's wrong?" She was startled to find tears in his eyes, getting up to walk over to him. "Paul, honey, what is it?"

"I'm going to come clean to you… about everything." He couldn't hide this from her any longer and then had to sit down. Locking the door, he pulled her to the couch, dropping down, never taking his eyes from her. He glanced at the door reluctantly, he didn't need Shawn trying to barge in here for the umpteenth time.

Stephanie waited patiently, having a sneaking feeling she wasn't going to like anything he was about to say. She also had a feeling it had to do with Shawn. Inwardly, she braced her for hopefully anything he could throw at her and gestured for him to begin.

Paul had to take a few deeps breaths; his heart pounding in his ears. All he could was hope she didn't divorce him after what he was about to tell her. He began the story. About how Shawn had been obsessed with River when she began back in 1996 after her brother got her into the company; about how River and Mark had immediately started seeing each other.

He seen Stephanie's eyes widen then narrowed as he admitted to being a coconspirator in the whole ordeal with River's kidnapping, tears in his eyes the whole time. By the time he had finished, Paul couldn't even look at his wife; shame rolling off of him in waves.

Stephanie could only stare at him. If it hadn't been for the tears in his eyes, she would have laughed; called him a liar and kicked his ass out for wasting her time. "Let me get this straight… You helped Shawn kidnap a woman; drugged her into amnesia and… and… Oh my god…" She stood up, staring down at him, not knowing what to do or say.

"It was a long time ago." Paul said, getting to his feet and immediately stepped back when his wife started crying. "Steph, I was young and stupid. He's my best friend. He asked for my help and… at the time, I hated Callaway with a passion. I know that's no excuse though… nothing is…" His head dropped, knowing he was going to be divorced for this. "River and Hope are with Mark and Steve. I know they are… and I know they've probably told her everything…"

"That doesn't fix anything, Paul. Almost eleven years of this woman's life were taken from her." Stephanie said shakily, staring at him still. "And River is here tonight with Mark and Steve. Mark called to let me know they were returning. If you tell Shawn, so help me God, we are THROUGH. Understood?" She loved him and she wasn't divorcing him. She had more cruel punishments in mind.

"I won't." He whispered, guilt etched in his features. "But I am going to tell River." When Stephanie opened her mouth, he shook his head, holding up a hand. "No. This is something I have to do, Steph. This has been eating away at me for almost eleven years. I need to tell her." He walked out before she could stop him, heading straight for River's therapy room. It wasn't that big a shock to find Mark and Steve there. "Good, you're all here. I need to tell you something, all of you."

River frowned, staring at him out of narrowed blue eyes. "What, Paul?" She was more then aware he was her husband's best friend.

"You came to spill, didn't ya? So spill." Steve snorted impatiently.

"You know, don't you?" Mark wanted to rip Paul's throat out when the other man nodded, somehow restraining himself. "Talk. Now."

Swallowing hard, Paul knew he was going to get pounded to dust for this but he also had no choice. He launched into the story again, not leaving anything out. "Shawn was… obsessed with you, River. To the point where Chyna and I considered having him committed. He came up with this idea… to kidnap you. Royal Rumble was the night, he had that casket match with Mark. That was when Joanie and I did it. We took you while Mark was in the ring. We took you to a motel and… and injected you with a drug that erased your memory."

His head lowered, unable to see the pain in River's blue eyes anymore. "Shawn took you to a hospital, paid people off to tell you were in a plane crash. He took you away from everything. Your family, mark…" He didn't outwardly flinch when Mark snarled. "He gave you a whole new identity and married you, knowing you were pregnant with Mark's baby."

Paul knew about that too. Shawn had overheard River in the bathroom that night at the arena, telling Terri Runnels about it. Maybe that had been the deciding factor in Shawn's decision to take her that very night.

Steve looked at his sister, seen the hand over her mouth; tears spilling down her cheeks and pulled her into his arms. If she hurt this badly from hearing this, he could only imagine what she'd be like when she did remember, if she ever did. "How do we trigger her memories?" He demanded, staring at Paul.

"I don't know. I know what the stuff was though. I'll do some research and see if I can find something." Paul said solemnly, watching as Mark stepped forward. "Now Dead man, I know you want to kill me and you have every reason too, but you need to deal with Shawn first. He's in the building right now and probably on his way to see River. I've already told Stephanie everything."

"You best hope and pray to Shawn's 'God' that I don't kill him at Mania. You can tell Stephanie that too." He snarled through gritted teeth. Before Paul could vacate; he grabbed his shoulder. "Just one more thing, BOY. After Shawn, you're next. Remember that." He then shoved the shaking Paul out the door, slamming it shut behind him.

"I want to talk to Shawn." River said, clearing her throat. "I need to talk to him."

"With us." Steve said flatly.

"You two can stand outside the door, with it closed."

"But-"

"Steve, you already said I could do things how I wanted, don't make me hurt you because I can."

"We'll be RIGHT outside this door."

"River!" Shawn's voice reached them, a second later the door flying open. His hazel eyes widened at the deadly looks he was receiving from Mark and Steve, swallowing hard. "Thank God, you're here. Did they hurt you, sweetheart?"

Steve had to drag Mark out before his friend went postal.

"It was a mistake bringing you on the road. I'm taking you home first thing in the morning."

River moved when he tried taking her in his arms. "DON'T touch me!" Seeing him broke her heart and she had to fight down the love that threatened to overwhelm her. She couldn't hate him, not yet but she was sure with time she'd be only too happy to spit on his grave. "I KNOW, Shawn. I know what you did to me!" She seen the expression on his face and that confirmed it. "It was all a lie, everything! You took my life from me and Mark's daughter from me!"

Shawn's mouth suddenly went dry, having not expected this and was ready to fight back. He wasn't going to lose her. "You're going to believe THEM over your own HUSBAND?" He demanded angrily. "I told you about Mark's issue with that girl, River. You're honestly going to believe him and that Steve Austin over ME?"

"Yes, I will believe my BROTHER over." She said calmly. "I'll also believe all the pictures and home videos they've shown me. I'll ALSO believe Paul's confession." River pulled her wedding ring from her finger, tossing it at his feet. "Consider this your notice, we're getting a divorce and I want to know how to get my memories back, Shawn. I want to know who I REALLY am."

Paul had betrayed him? Now that threw Shawn for a loop and he was suddenly very angry. "I'll contest it." He snarled, his face dark. Stooping, he swiped the ring from the floor, fingering it and smirked wickedly at her. "You know, it wasn't that hard, River." He chuckled. "You were so damn easy to fool. Thought I must say it was worth it; having you all to myself for the past decade, keeping you from the love of your life. And now you're linked to me. Hope is Mark's, but she will ALWAYS call me daddy. Funny how life turns out. All I had to do was pay off a few hospital employees, a few doctors, got some phony paperwork drawn up. It was like taking candy from a baby, sweetheart."

"You'll never see Hope again!" River said, beginning to smirk; looking up into a camera that was blinking in the upper right corner of the room. "Steve and Mark had this brilliant idea to film this, and it's feeding into a computer where it's recorded." She seen Shawn's cocky expression slide off of his face, struggling to keep herself from crying. This was the man she had lived, laughed and loved with for ten years.

"You stupid bitch…" Shawn said softly, a sneer on his lips. A second later he was moving towards her, only to find himself being pulled back by Mark and Steve. "You think you're going to keep me from seeing MY daughter? Think again! I'm not divorcing you, you belong to me, River! You're MINE!"

"I don't think so." Mark had wanted to do this since he found out what had happened and drove his fist as hard as he could into Shawn' gut; watching Shawn drop to his knees. The rage he had been bottling up exploded and Mark attacked, not caring that he was probably on his way to jail for assault. "YOU TOOK HER AWAY FROM HER LIFE AND EVERYONE WHO CARED ABOUT HER! YOU TOOK MY DAUGHTER AWAY FROM ME!" Every word was accented with a punch.

"Mark, no!" River got in his way; stopping him, her eyes pleading with him. "You're on camera, he's not worth it." She whispered, cupping his face in her hands; trying to soothe him. "He is not worth anything, not even your anger." She glanced down at her husband, biting her lower lip.

Truthfully, her first instinct had been to save Shawn's ass and then care for him.

"She don't need your permission for a divorce, jackass." Steve spat at the broken man. "You EVER come near my sister or my niece and I'mma finish what Mark started."

Mark knew he had to calm down and the feel of River's soft hands on his face did it instantly. Shaking his head, he pulled away and backed off.

"This isn't over," Shawn rasped from the floor. "River belongs to me and NOBODY is taking her from me."

"You're wrong. Thank Paul for us by the way."

Shawn was going to kill his best friend.

River took Steve and Mark firmly by the hands and pulled them from the room, shaking from head to toe. She had seen the rage and madness is Shawn's eyes; remembering the night Hope had joined them on the road. He had repeatedly said she was his and nothing would part them, tearing her clothes…

A second later, River had run into a restroom to vomit.

Mark and Steve waited for her, knowing this was a lot to take in. Both men's eyes narrowed as Stephanie appeared.

"Princess, you might soon be a widow." Mark informed her angrily, wanting to kill Paul simply because the man had been apart in River's kidnapping. Then again, the man was still useful since he knew what the drug.

Stephanie let out a soft scream when Mark suddenly drove his fist into a wall.

Steve just winced at the sound of bones breaking.

River walked out a few minutes later looking pale. She frowned when she seen Stephanie.

"I feel like shit because I knew there was something wrong." Stephanie whispered. "I knew it."

"Not your fault." She murmured, glancing at Mark then his hand. "Let me set that for you."

Sighing heavily, Mark just nodded, letting her guide him over to a table. A second later, he was inwardly cursing as she set the broken finger.

"Sorry."

Steve and Stephanie both watched with wide eyes as Mark suddenly pulled River into him, capturing her lips in a heated, passionate kiss that left them both squirming.

Slowly, Mark pulled away; both of them breathless and could feel River's body still leaning into his. "Darlin', I'm-"

"Sorry, I know." She murmured, looking distant for a moment.

"You remembering something?" Steve asked hesitantly.

"Just déjà vous." She sighed, looking up at Mark, then to Steve. "This isn't over."

"If anything, it's just beginning." Stephanie raked both hands through her hair. "I've got to go write Shawn's dismissal papers."

"What?" Mark stopped Stephanie, shaking his head. "Oh no, no. I want that bastard at Mania." When Stephanie opened her mouth to argue, he fixed her with a piercing stare. "Don't even think about it, Princess. I want that son of a bitch in a Hell in a Cell match at Mania." He ordered, green eyes flashing. Shawn wasn't getting away that easily or off for that matter. "Make it happen."

"Mark, River cannot work here if Shawn does. I won't risk it." Stephanie said firmly, looking at River. "He's already proved he's deranged when it comes to her. If you think he wouldn't-"

"Fire him AFTER Mania, I can protect her till then."

"Or I can just go- Oh yeah, I don't have a home anymore." River sighed.

"Yes you do, Rivvie. With Steve." Mark wasn't about to say with him, knowing he would have to be patient considering all she had been through. Hell, she would never be his River again. "I want him, Stephanie. I don't care what it takes, you make sure he's at Mania. I'll even sign a waiver because I'm snapping that fucker's neck."

"You'd still be charged with manslaughter, so no, you won't. River… I don't really feel comfortable with you on the road so long as Shawn's here." Stephanie said with a soft sigh, feeling a migraine coming on.

"I don't either. If Steve don't mind, I'll be going back to his house."

"Our house." Steve corrected with a smile. "Um… I have an angle with Jericho."

"We'll keep Shawn so busy he won't want to leave his damn bed." Steph promised.

"I'll go off road and rest my knee until Mania." Mark said after a minute. "I'll stay with River and Hope." This would also be the perfect opportunity to get to know his daughter.

"Just don't destroy my house, Mark. You're the biggest slob I know."

"He is?" River asked curiously, feeling lost.

"You used to bitch about it all the time, Riv."

"I did?"

No longer amused, Mark shook his head. "Screw you, Steve."

"Ew, no."

Stephanie watched as Mark and River finally walked away, shaking her head. "Steve, be straight with me, is Shawn going to stay on the road when she finds out she's gone or is he going to say fuck it and take off?"

"Like you said, we'll keep his ass so busy he won't have time for anything else." Steve replied, though he was doubting his own words. "Mark will keep them safe." He said finally, forcing himself to believe what he was saying. His blue eyes narrowed when Paul joined them. "What?"

"The drug was PDMT. I don't know what it stands for but the only way to regain memories is time and triggers." Paul said quietly, knowing Steve wanted nothing more than to beat his ass into oblivion and honestly didn't blame the man. He chanced a look at his wife, not surprised to see the disgusted expression on her face.

"You best hope she gets her memories back Paul or you're going to wish you could forget what'll happen to you." Stephanie threatened, blue eyes flashing, still not believing how heinous her husband had been back in the day.

Steve loved the sight of Paul turning white underneath his tan.