DISCLAIMER - I DON'T OWN WWE CHARACTERS.
A/N - HERE'S THE NEWEST CHAPTER, THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT WITH THIS STORY AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS UPDATE. I LOVE READING YOUR REVIEWS SO READ AND REVIEW AS ALWAYS :-)
It was the day of SummerSlam, The Rock had returned as rightful leader of Team WWE and had started a feud with Alliance member Booker T for the WCW championship. Jeff Hardy and RVD continued their feud for the Hardcore championship, interfering in each others matches swapping ownership of the title back and forth but ultimately Jeff was walking into summerslam with the Hardcore Championship Belt around his waist, they were scheduled to face each other in a ladder match to settle the feud once and for all. Trish, Lita and Jacqueline were scheduled to face Torrie Wilson, Stacy Keibler and WWE defect Ivory. Kurt Angle was preparing to fight the Alliance leader and WWE defect Stone Cold Steve Austin while Lance Storm of the Alliance was preparing to fight Edge to defend the WWE intercontinental championship.
It was a big night for the WWE who were slowly regaining momentum since Rock had returned and he was definitely the man of the hour. Backstage in the Compaq Centre in San Jose, the atmosphere was electrifying, WWE were ready to bring home some gold.
"I can't believe that bitch Ivory has turned her back on the WWE." Lita hissed.
"I can…" Trish rolled her eyes, her and Ivory had never seen eye to eye. Ivory was once part of Right To Censor and they had it out from Trish from the start. "...but it doesn't matter we have a strong team, they won't know what hits them!"
"So…" Lita smirked as she attempted to change the subject.
"Don't even ask it…" Trish raised an eyebrow, already knowing what to expect.
"Well have you spoke to him?" Lita pouted.
Trish shook her head.
"Why not!" Lita let out a frustrated sigh. "You're both as bad as each other I swear!"
"We're just friends Lita…" Trish replied defeatedly.
"No you're both stubborn idiots who like each other but none of you have the balls to say anything…" Lita stated. "What are you so afraid off?"
"Nothing!" Trish response was defensive as she furrowed her brow. "I'm not having this conversation with you again!"
"Fine!" Lita huffed as she rolled her eyes. "I'm going to find Matt… I'll see you for the match later…"
Lita strutted off to find her boyfriend as Trish frowned. She knew that Lita was right but she had felt the distance grow between herself and Jeff in recent weeks, it seems he had began to focus on the Hardcore championship and hadn't much time for Trish - she believed he would be better off without him constantly worrying about the blonde, she had witnessed how she made him lose focus at Invasion and she didn't want to be the distraction that prevented him from doing great things with his career.
-x-x-x-x-
"We need to show these bitches who the real divas of sports entertainment are!" Ivory shrieked as she stormed through the backstage of the arena with Stacy and Torrie following behind. "You girls have been letting the side down but I'm here to step in and show you the way!"
Torrie and Stacy looked at each other with side eyes and screwed their faces at each other, rolling their eyes at the same time. They weren't a massive fan of Ivory, she was bossy and egotistical, sure she was a great asset to the alliance but she was total bitch.
"How you let sluts like Trish Stratus…" Ivory shudder when she said the blonde's name as her eyes darted in Torrie's direction. "...defeat you is beyond me…"
Stacy started laughing mockingly at Torrie, sticking her tongue at her fellow blonde WCW diva.
"... I don't see what is funny about this…." Ivory turned her gaze to Stacy's direction. "You are not much better, you may have long legs but you also have a long history of losing to the WWE divas…"
Torrie began to mock laugh at Stacy as the two began to pull faces at each other.
"This is what I'm talking about you girls need to start taking this serious!" Ivory hissed as she slapped them both at the back of their head to get their attention, the brunette noticed a certain WWE diva walking without a care in the world. Ivory tapped the two blonde WCW divas to grab their attention as she pulled them down and began whispering. "This is our chance, why wait until the match, let's break the bitches arm!"
"I don't know… why don't we just wait until the match?" Torrie bit her lip as she couldn't hide the fact she felt bad on the poor girl. "It's kind of sneaky right?"
"Sneaky is good!" Ivory snapped.
"Yeah since when do you care about what happens to the slut?" Stacy hissed, a devilish look in her eyes as the idea of putting the diva out of work for a few months gave her thrills.
"I don't but-" Torrie tried to speak before getting cut off.
"Do you want to send a message!" Ivory began to lose her temper with Torrie. "Or do you just want to be the laughing stock that you already are!"
Torrie frowned at the comment as Ivory knew how to influence her. "Fine!"
The two girls lead by Ivory ran up to the WWE diva, Ivory hit the diva from behind which caused her to fly across the hall as Stacy followed eagerly and began stamping on her. Torrie hesitated behind them - she felt wrong, it wasn't fair.
As Stacy and Ivory demolished the girl by laying hard kicks into her body, Torrie had seen enough.
"Stop it! That's enough!" Torrie shrieked.
Stacy frowned in disbelief. "Who's side are you on!"
"Your side!" Torrie threw her arms in her air as she made her point. "Now let's get ready for our match you've done enough damage!"
Ivory appeared from nowhere with a metal chair as she started violently hitting the WWE diva's arm repeatedly as the girl moved her arm to try and defend herself, the violent newly defected brunette twisted her arm back as the injured diva yelled in agony and passed out from the pain.
"Now that's enough damage…" Ivory smiled evilly.
"Bye Trish…" Stacy mocked the diva. "
Torrie looked at Trish who lay passed out on the floor from the viscous attack she had received, she wanted to help her somehow but didn't know how she would be able too.
"Torrie!" Stacy called angrily as she noticed her friend hovering around the injured superstar.
Torrie reluctantly followed after her teammates leaving Trish passed out in the hallway.
-x-x-x-x-
Jeff was preparing for the ladder match with RVD, their rivalry had heated up in the previous weeks from Invasion and after the hardcore title had swapped ownership numerous times and Jeff planned to end the debate once and for all.
As he was warming up for his match, he was watching the pay-per-view and had watched as Edge beat Lance Storm to become the intercontinental champion. His brother Christian had tried to get involved but it seemed he did more harm than good.
He heard commotion in the hall outside which caught the enigma's attention, Jeff opened the door to find Edge and Christian having a shoving competition.
"I tried to help you!" Christian frowned as he received a harsh push from his brother.
"In case you haven't realised brother… I don't need your help!" Edge snarled as he pushed his brother back, tensions running high between the siblings as they stepped up to each other.
"Woah woah… guys calm down…" Jeff said intervening between the disputing brothers. "You're brothers and you won Edge… that's the main thing… c'mon we're on the same team!"
"Lately it seems my brother is on a team of his own!" Edge hissed.
"I'm sick of your attitude lately brother!" Christian exclaimed. "I feel like you're taking me for granted!"
"You're just mad because I'm the better solo wrestler and you know it!" Edge hissed. "That's why you walk around with my king of the ring trophy, when will you realise I don't need your help, I'm awesome with or without you!"
"I didn't know you felt that way…" Christian frowned. "Fuck you!"
Christian stormed off from Edge who was still furious about his brother's interference and believed he was trying to sabotage him which wasn't the truth.
"C'mon Christian!" Jeff sighed as he tried to keep the peace. "You're brothers man!"
"Let him have his temper tantrum he'll come back when he realises nobody else is going to let him leech of their success.." Edge replied bitterly as he place the belt on his shoulder before sighing.
-x-x-x-x-
The Rock was walking down the corridor - he was set to face Booker T and bring the WCW championship to the WWE. After having several months out of action after being suspended by Vince, he was ready to taste gold. He didn't come back to the WWE for Vince or because the superstars were in trouble, he was a man of the people and he wasn't going to let the fans down - he never had before he wasn't going to start now.
Since the Rock was one of the last matches to take place but he was raring to go - as he stormed down the corridor, he noticed a certain blonde WWE diva laid out cold on the abandoned hall. The tanned, muscular man kneeled down to her as he picked her up in his arms.
"I need some help!" Rock bellowed through the hall as he pointed to Michael Cole who was interviewing Lance Storm about losing his intercontinental championship to Edge. "Jabroni! I need medical assistance now!"
Michael stopped interviewing Lance as he rushed to The Rock's aid - which didn't please Lance too much. Trish was finally opening her eyes slowly as she winced in pain.
"Owww!" She cried. "My arm!"
"The EMT is here!" Michael reassured the blonde.
As The EMT came and helped Trish on a stretcher, more forcefully than intended which caused her to scream in pain as her shoulder hit the stretcher, The Rock raised his eyebrow at the EMT.
"Woah woah woah woah woah woah woah woah… WOAH!" The Rock bellowed in the face of the EMT. "This pretty blonde mama could have a broken shoulder and you're throwing her around like she's a bag of fruity pebbles! Be careful!"
Trish looked at the Rock, her face went red through embarrassment. The blonde was embarrassed at the fact The Rock had found her unconscious after her ass got kicked and also felt embarrassed at the fact she had just been called a pretty blonde mama by the great one himself. As she looked at her saviour with gratitude in her eyes, she managed to throw a weak smile at the people's champ although it was clear she was in great discomfort.
"Thank you for helping me…" Trish smiled.
The Rock nodded at the blonde who was laid up on a stretcher before returning his attention to the EMT. "Well what are you waiting for chico?"
The EMT nodded enthusiastically, the intimidation he felt from the Rock was evident as he continued to push Trish away from the arena and to the ambulance which was parked in the parking lot. As Trish and the EMT disappeared from view, Michael Cole turned to face the Rock, pushing his microphone in the face of the great one.
"Rock!" Michael Cole said. "What the hell just happened!?"
"Well Michael Cole it's simple… The Rock was preparing for his match against Mr T's long lost love child when I saw Trish Stratus laid out on the middle of the corridor, the gentleman that I am I couldn't just leave her there-" Rock replied to Michael.
"Excuse me?" Lance frowned. "I was being interviewed before you rudely interrupted as I was saying Michael… I will get my revenge on Edge-"
"Who in the blue hell are you?" Rock exclaimed.
"I'm Lance S-"
"It doesn't matter who you are!" Rock cut off the alliance member. "You lost the intercontinental championship boo-hoo, you wanna bitch and moan that Rock cut off your interview time, you wanna bitch and moan that you lost your match?"
"Well-"
"The Rock doesn't care what you bitch and moan about!" Rock exclaimed. "The people don't care about what you bitch and moan about!"
As Lance went to throw a punch to the Rock, The Rock dodged automatically and started to lay into the canadian with forceful slaps as Lance fell to the floor.
"You see what I just did there Michael Cole?" The Rock chirped coolly, unaffected by the attempt of Lance's punch. "I just laid the smackdown on his candy ass and Booker T is next!"
-x-x-x-x-
"So for the folks who are just joining us now, Michael Cole was just interviewing former intercontinental champion Lance Storm who lost his intercontinental championship…" JR comentated.
"Before he was rudely interrupted by the people's chump The Rock!" Paul Hayman added.
"I wouldn't say he was rudely interrupted, he was trying to get help for Trish Stratus who had been left unconscious after a viscous attack… we have no idea who it was… but my bet's on those jezabels from the alliance!" JR replied as he defending his WWE team.
"You have no proof!" Paul scoffed.
"We don't need proof… who else would go out there way to attack Trish when she's scheduled to face Torrie Wilson and Stacy Kiebler and that traitor Ivory in a 6-person tag!" JR replied.
"Well maybe she tripped and fell…" Paul replied sarcastically.
"Of course she did!" JR replied just as sarcastic as his commentating partner before returning to informing the fans that had just tuned in to the Pay-Per-View Event. "Now folks… Trish has been taken to a hospital and we're yet to hear on her condition, we are informed however that Molly Holly will be replacing Trish in the 6-person tag team match… which is up next… followed by Jeff Hardy who is facing Rob Van Dam and defending his Hardcore Title in a Ladder Match!"
"We all know Rob Van Dam is going to retain the hardcore championship, he proved it at Invasion he is the better man!" Paul replied biased.
"Well I don't know about that Paul… Jeff Hardy is a fine wrestler, he's a risk taker that's for sure but he is the hardcore champion and he has had a fine reign" JR scoffed.
"Yes but RVD will win it back!" Paul chuckled. "He is the whole damn show and Jeff Hardy is just angry because he's got competition… RVD has everything that Jeff Hardy has and more… and he will win this match… you know… I know it… even the fans know it…"
"Well I think the young Hardy has every chance to win the match and he has more experience with Ladder matches…" JR continued to bicker with Paul.
-x-x-x-x-
Jeff paced up and down in his locker room as he watched the event, he was about to face RVD in a ladder match which needed all of his attention but with the news about Trish, he couldn't focus, he wanted to go straight to the hospital and see if she was okay, he knew if he even thought about leaving the arena before performing in his match - he could kiss his wrestling career goodbye.
"Wow that sucks about Trish…" Edge frowned as he kept Jeff company, he had been chilling with the enigma since his argument with his brother Christian. "...she could be really hurt."
Jeff raised an eyebrow at Edge as he threw him a 'thanks for the reminder' look.
As Jeff continued to pace, the locker room swung open as Lita and Matt stormed through the room.
"Before you even think about it! Stop!" Matt warned his brother - Matt knew his brother, probably more than anybody. He knew the news about Trish would throw Jeff of his game, he knew Jeff was probably considering throwing the match to go and visit the blonde. He was about to put any ideas to rest. "You have been wanting this match for weeks, your rivalry with RVD is at it's peak… it's now or never… you need to focus on the match and nothing else!"
Jeff frowned as his brother continued to rant.
"I know you will be worried about that vixen…. God knows why you are even bothered about her anyway-" Matt continued.
"Shut your fucking mouth!" Jeff warned his brother as they sized each other up.
"Guys stop!" Lita demanded as she broke the brother's up. "Jeff, I'm worried about Trish myself but me, Jacqueline and Molly just whipped the alliance sluts asses… now all you need to do is retain your hardcore title and we can all go and visit Trish together"
Lita looked at her boyfriend with a serious expression "All of us… as a team…"
Matt rolled his eyes. "Fine… but Jeff just don't screw up your match because of Trish… we don't need a repeat of Invasion…"
"Ahhhh it makes sense…." Edge piped up after watching Team Xtreme's bickering. "I knew there was something going on between you and Trish… Christian owes me 10 bucks… that reminds me… after watching your brotherly argument… I need to find my brother and apologise… we can't be arguing like you Hardy Boyz… that would totally decrease our awesomeness level…"
Lita rolled her eyes at Edge who swaggered out the locker room as she turned her attention to Matt and Jeff. "Jeff go out there and get your hardcore championship back… then we can all go and visit Trish at the hospital…"
"Don't screw this up!" Matt warned Jeff.
-x-x-x-x-
"Jeff Hardy is doing everything to retain his title!" JR commentates as he watches the match go on. It was a back and forth match, one Jeff or Rob would gain the momentum, the other would put a stop to it .
As Rob began to climb the ladders after Hardy was left on the mat lifeless, he shocked the arena by jumping up on his feet and the two battled on the ladders.
As the two battled at the top of the shaking ladders, Jeff surprised the challenger with a power bomb off of the ladders.
"Oh my god the impact!" JR exclaimed.
Jeff picked himself up as he began to climb the ladder, he had the title belt within his reach but his adrenaline had kicked in - he was a risk taker and tonight wouldn't be different.
Thoughts of the blonde entered his brain as he couldn't help but worry about her.
'Stop thinking about her… focus'
Jeff shook the thoughts of the injured blonde out of his head as he signalled for the Swanson bomb on the top of the ladder. If he was going to win this match, he was going to embarrass the alliance - the same way they embarrassed Trish.
As Jeff threw himself in the air, flying as he tried to perform the Swanton Bomb, RVD moved seconds before the impact leaving nothing but canvas for the enigma to collide with.
RVD began climbing the ladders, he had the same idea as Jeff - he wasn't going to win by grabbing the title because that wasn't enough, he wanted to prove who the best high flyer in the business really was.
As the challenger stood on the top of the ladders, the crowd erupted as he inflicted the five star frog splash fifteen feet in the air and executed his finishing move perfectly.
Although he performed the move, it took just as much energy and conflicted just as much damage to Rob. The two lay lifeless in the ring.
All Jeff could think about was the pain the blonde was in as she sat all alone in the hospital.
Rob got himself up off of the mat, he climbed the ladders while Jeff just lay there, consumed with his thoughts on the blonde.
Rob reached for the hardcore championship, in clipping it from above as he held it in the air; victorious.
-x-x-x-x-
As Jeff Jeff hobbled backstage, his waist empty and his head hung low, his name being called snapped him back to reality.
"Jeff!" Matt's voice echoed through the arena. "What the hell was that you had every opportunity to win that match!"
"Matt can you just shut up for once in your life…" Jeff rolled his eyes not raising to his argumentative brothers tone.
"Your head is so far up Trish's ass you're losing sight of everything else!" Matt snarled. "Will you get it into your head that girl is bad news!"
"Why do you bust on her so much! What has she ever done to you? Lita has gave her a chance and they get on like a house on fire why can't you!" Jeff snapped back at Matt.
"It's not her I thought it was at first but it's you Jeff, you're completely reckless with your future and your willing to throw it all away over that blonde bimbo!" Matt exclaimed.
"Don't talk about her like that!" Jeff hissed. "You would do the same for Lita!"
"Lita is my girlfriend! There's a difference!" Matt scoffed. "You take so many risks in the ring I don't get why you'd risk your heart in the hands of Trish…"
Jeff began to lose his patience with his brother, he clenched his first and forcefully punched his older brother in the face as Lita appeared from nowhere, as Matt and Jeff were about to erupt into a brawl, Lita pushed in between the brothers.
"Stop!" Lita screamed. "You need to stop this bickering and fighting, Matt I know you're trying to look out for Jeff but he's a big boy and you can't tell him who he can and can't hang around with!"
"You're picking his side?!" Matt exclaimed. "He just fucking punched me!"
"Jeff you shouldn't be punching Matt…" Lita scolded her best friend.
"He shouldn't be trying to control every aspect of my life from what to do in the ring to who I hang out with!" Jeff fumed as he tried to push past Lita and get to his brother.
"I'm looking out for you!" Matt frowned.
"I don't need you looking out for me… focus on your own life!" Jeff shouted as he stormed away from his brother and his brother's girlfriend.
"Jeffrey Nero Hardy come back here!" Matt called out to his brother.
"Matt let him go…" Lita sighed.
"You stay out of this!" Matt hissed. "You're not helping!"
"What is that supposed to mean…" Lita frowned.
"You hanging around with Trish makes him think that it's okay to do the same!" Matt snapped.
"It is okay Matt… they like each other and will probably end up together… sooner or later… you're going to have to get used to that… maybe even one day you'll be happy your brother is finally opening up to somebody!" Lita exclaimed. "Now let's go…"
"Where are we going!" Matt huffed.
"I know exactly where Jeff is going to be." Lita announced.
-x-x-x-x-
As the blue haired enigma walked through the hospital, he found himself in Trish's private room, her arm was in a sling as she watched the PPV on the tv screen in front of her.
"Hardy, what are you doing here?" Trish's eyes widened at the shock of Jeff turning up.
"I've come to see how you are… I had my own match or I'd be here sooner…" Jeff replied softly as he walked in the room and sat himself next to the blonde.
"I know I seen… sorry about your hardcore title… I know how much it mean to you…" Trish sighed - deep down she knew she was the reason he lost his match once again.
"It's just a belt… I'll get it back one day… besides I wanted to make sure you're okay… what's the verdict?" Jeff replied as he looked at the sling.
"It's a dislocated shoulder… they managed to pop it back into place… but I'll be out of action for a minimum of 12 weeks…" Trish sighed. "...stupid alliance bitches, they think they're so tough attacking me from behind, it took a steel chair to do some real damage…"
"You're tougher than you look aint ya Stratus?" Jeff smirked. "It sucks… 12 weeks huh?"
The dread fell into Jeff and Trish's stomachs - were they really not going to see each other for 12 weeks?
"Yeah…" Trish frowned.
The silence took over the room as they both avoided eye contact, both lost in their own thoughts yet both thinking the same thing.
A knock on the door interrupted their silence as Matt and Lita walked through the room.
"Hey Trish… just so you know I totally whipped their skinny butts all over the ring!" Lita smiled as she walked into the room, Matt following behind her with a sulking face.
"I seen… I just wish I was there to help…" Trish frowned.
"You'll be back in no time!" Lita reassured.
"She won't be back for 12 weeks… minimum…" Jeff sighed.
Matt looked at the expression on his younger brother and felt bad for him, maybe he was being to hard on him, Trish was the first girl that had caught the young enigma's attention in the whole time they had been in the WWE, perhaps even since high school. Jeff was so shut off - especially when it came to women.
"Jeff… can I have a word?" Matt asked, his tone was less aggressive as Jeff looked at him and sighed. "Oh and I'm sorry about your injury Trish… I hope you make a speedy recovery..."
Jeff noticed Matt making a slight effort with Trish which encouraged his decision to go out and speak to his brother, as they stood in the corridor, Jeff stood straight with his arms crossed defensively not making eye contact with his brother.
"I'm sorry man… you're right… I've been on your case recently and I was wrong… I just know you're letting your feelings for Trish become a problem in your wrestling and I don't want you throwing away your dream over some girl…" Matt sighed. "...then I realised if you care about her well being more than your wrestling career… she must be pretty special."
"I'm not throwing away my career, I love wrestling, I loved being hardcore champion but I also love-" Jeff stopped as he realised what he was about to say.
"Trish…" Matt nodded. "yeah … I kinda thought you might say that… you should tell her man…"
"How?" Jeff sighed. "She's going to be out of action for at least three months…"
"She's here right now?" Matt shrugged.
-x-x-x-x-
"You need to tell Jeff how you feel…" Lita blurted out.
"My shoulders dislocated, it's going to take 12 weeks minimum to heal, it could take even longer to actually get back in the ring… face it Lita… we're just not meant to be…" Trish sighed.
"Do you really think that or are you just trying to find another reason why you shouldn't tell him…" Lita replied back bluntly. "Trish if you never tell him you'll never know…"
Jeff knocked back on the door as Lita looked between the two, Jeff stood at the door as Lita stood up from her chair.
"I'll give you two a moment…" Lita smiled as she walked out of the room.
"What was Matt talking to you about?" Trish asked.
"I think the same thing you and Lita were discussing…" Jeff chuckled as the two blushed at each other, Trish bit her lip anxiously as Jeff began to speak again. "...look Trish… I…"
"I know…" Trish nodded. "I… do too…"
Jeff and Trish couldn't help but grin at each other and began laughing.
"Why didn't you say anything? You should've told me when you were pissed at Torrie flirting with me, you're the one who said it wouldn't ever happen…" Jeff frowned.
"I don't know Hardy… I was nervous…" Trish chuckled.
"Yeah I know what you mean.. I wanted to say it a few times… but…" Jeff chuckled back nervously as he rubbed the back of his neck. "So… what now?"
"It's not exactly ideal is it… I mean I'm not going to see you for the next few months… I'm going home to rest up…" Trish sighed.
"Well I could come with you, I could do with the time off and you need somebody to look after you…" Jeff wiggled his eyebrows jokingly.
Trish chuckled. "I can't let you do that Hardy… you love wrestling."
"I know but I also love… you." Jeff gulped nervously as he stood next to her hospital bed.
Trish couldn't help but grin as she pulled him to her height and engulfed him into a long awaited kiss, the kiss was sweet and passionate. It was everything she had dreamed it would be and more, the taste of his lips, the tender touch, it was special. She had never felt anything like it.
As the two pulled away, the smiles still etched into their faces.
"I think I love you too…" Trish blushed. "But this isn't going to work… not now I'm sidelined… I can't let you take the time off… not for me… you're destined to be one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of this industry and you can't take time off every time I hurt myself or get distracted by me… I won't allow it…"
"Trish…." Jeff tried to argue as she placed a finger on his lips.
"No more talking… just lie with me… for a while." Trish smiled as Jeff jumped on the hospital bed next to her, she placed her blonde head on his shoulder as they both realized this would be the last they seen each other for three months.
