Chapter 14

Jeff and Matt came out of Stephanie's office around the same time Jessica and Amy had finished their workout. Jeff was anxious to get back to Jess and make sure everything was okay, but Matt kept delaying them. I guess he was hoping Amy would be gone by then. He had seemed okay, when Stephanie had told him that she brought Amy in to work with Jessica for a day. But when it was time for them to leave, Matt kept coming up with more and more questions, dragging on their conversation.

"I'm pretty sure they're done by now. We should grab a bite to eat before everyone starts showing up." Jeff said. "Do you want me to go in and get Jess?"

"No. I'll go in with you." They walked in to find the two girls walking up the entrance ramp, laughing.

"Hey guys." Jessica said.

"All set for tonight?"

"Yup. You'll never guess who I fight tonight." She said excitedly. Jeff was happy to see her face light up with joy again.

"Amy?" He said already knowing.

"No fair! Who told you?"

"Stephanie did."

"So what were you up to?"

"You know, not much."

"Really?" She looked at him skeptically.

"Well, other than holding Shane in a headlock till he passed out, it's been pretty low key." He smiled and she smiled back.

"Look, I know Shane can be an ass, but he's still like a brother to me. I'm not asking you to like him, just tolerate him a little more. Please?" She said as he started to look away. She reached up to touch his face and their eyes met. For a moment, neither of them could breathe.

"Hey are you guys coming or what?" Matt called out. He and Amy had gotten all the way to the door before they noticed that Jess and Jeff were still on the ramp. "HEY!" Matt shouted again breaking their moment.

"What?" Jeff looked to his brother.

"Are we eating or what?"

"Yea, we're coming." Jeff looked back at Jessica, her face was flushed. He reached out for her, "Shall we?"

"Yea." She said taking her hand. "Let's go." They walked up the entrance ramp hand in hand, both smiling like they haven't in years. The looks on their faces did not go unnoticed by Matt and Amy.

"Oh yea, they're taking it slow." Matt said sarcastically.

"Let's go." Amy said. "You can buy me lunch." They got into Matt's car and headed to a restaurant down the road from the arena.

"So Ames, how the music going?" Jeff asked after they had placed their orders.

"Really good. We've been getting steady gigs for a while now."

"That's good. It's good to see you again."

"Well, when Stephanie called and told me what was up I knew I couldn't say no." She said and smiled at Jessica. "I'm just glad I got my friend back."

"We all are." Matt said. "So is she ready for tonight?"

"I'll say. I've been gone for a year, and I'm more out of shape." Amy said.

"Please I did nothing for three years, but therapy and work outs. I better be in good shape." The waiter came over and placed their food down. They talked throughout their meal; laughing about old times, and the tricks they used to play on one another. While they were eating a group of teens walked into the restaurant.

"Oh my god!" One of the girls in the group said. "It's the Hardy Boyz!"

"Hey how ya doing?" Matt nodded. They group came over and where all talking at once. They were going to the show tonight and were so excited to see them there.

"Are you guys wrestling tonight?" One of the guys asked.

"Sorry dude, we're just here for the show. Jessica's wrestling tonight." Jeff told them.

"Wow, it was so cool the way you returned on Smackdown. I was shocked." One of the guys said.

"I'm glad you liked it." She said.

"So, how come you left?" He asked her. She paused, thinking of something to say.

"Just needed some rest." She told him.

"This is so cool." He said to her. "I was like your biggest fan."

"Well then I'm happy you coming to the show tonight." She smiled at him. They spoke to them a little longer while signing autographs and posing for pictures. Eventually the waiter came over and showed the teens to their table.

"There you go. Your first fan encounter since your return." Jeff said to Jessica.

"How'd I do?"

"You were fabulous." He said glancing around. "You know guys, I think they're about to get a lot of people coming in here." They all looked to the table of teens. Each one was on their cell phone telling everyone they knew that the Hardys were there.

"That's our cue to leave." Matt said. He gestured to the waiter for the check. After paying to leave, they got up to leave as more people came in.

"Maybe we should have chosen a restaurant further away." Jeff joked as they were asked for more autographs and pictures. The crowds were beginning to build surrounding the superstars. Jessica was amazed that there were so many people there. After posing for her what felt like her 100th picture, she realized that she had gotten separated from the group. Looking through the crowd, she tried to find Jeff but couldn't see him.

"Jeff?" She called out for him but got no response. A couple of people were starting to push to get closer to see her.

"All right guys, calm down. Everyone will get their chance, I promise." She said trying to control the situation. It didn't work. As the crowd moved forward, Jessica got pushed against a car. She started to panic as she had nowhere to move.

"Guys, please calm down." She yelled. People were pushing against her snapping photos. Her anxiety was starting to build. "Jeff! Matt!"She yelled. She couldn't breathe. She felt like the world was spinning.

"Move out of the way!" She heard a voice yell. As she looked up she saw Jeff and Matt fighting their way through the crowd. Jeff saw the fear in her face and he started to push people out of his way to reach her. "Back off!" He yelled to the crowd. Finally he reached her a wrapped his arms around her. He could feel her shaking as she turned into him.

"Okay guys that's enough." He said to the crowd. Matt came up to them.

"Let's get her out of here." Matt said. The two brothers pushed a path through the crowd, while Jessica held onto Jeff with dear life. Finally they made it to the car; Amy had already gotten it started. Jeff hurried Jessica into the back seat and got in, while Amy climbed over to the passenger seat so that Matt could get them out of the chaos. Honking his horn, Matt pulled the car out of the parking lot and headed back to the arena.

"Well let's not do that again." Amy said when they were safely away.

"Yea, that was unreal." Matt added. Jeff didn't say anything; he just looked down at Jessica who was still shaking in his arms, her head buried against his chest.

"It's all right." He whispered to her and stroked her hair. Jeff was pissed at himself for losing sight of her at the restaurant. He hadn't expected the crowd to get so out of control. "Jess look at me." She finally looked up.

"I'm sorry." She softly said. Jeff felt an aching feeling as she let him go.

"You okay?" He asked her.

"Yea, it just got a little hectic. I kind of panicked."

"It's all right. I'm just glad I found you."

"So am I." She smiled at him.

When they got out of the car, Amy and Jessica headed directly to the locker room to get ready. Their match was going to be first and they were already running late because of what happened. Matt and Jeff hung out backstage waiting for them to come out. When the girls came out they went over to them.

"Ready?" Jeff asked her.

"Absolutely." She hugged him.

"What was that for?"

"For being my hero." She said and Jeff laughed.

"Anytime." They headed down towards the entrance ramp. As they made their way, she was stopped several times by wrestlers welcoming her back or giving her a hug. A few of the Divas just glared.

"What's their deal?" She asked to Amy.

"They're probably just worried you're going to steal their air time."

"Oh well screw them, I've earned this." Jessica said as they got to the waiting area.

"Good luck guys." Matt said to them. Jessica went out first, her old music blasting through the arena. She slid into the ring and saluted the crowd then went for the mike. She waited for the crowd to die down about before she spoke.

"Now, I know you're all wondering why I'm back." She paused allowing them to cheer. "It's pretty simple, I just wanted to..." She was cut off by Amy coming out. The crowd went berserk at the sight of the two former friends standing in the ring.

"You know" Amy said. "All I've heard about this week is the return of Jessica. They even say there's a possibility of the return of Team Extreme." Again the crowd went crazy. "But I think everyone here should know this: Team Extreme is dead." The crowd boo'd her. "And it's entirely your fault!"

"Me? May I remind you that you are the slut-" Jessica never got a chance to finish as Amy clocked her in the face.

"Everyone keeps talking about how great you were, but they forgot I trained you. You'd be nothing without me! You are nothing!" Amy yelled at her.

"You know what Lita? Let's do this. Right here, right now!"

"Fine!" She said and a referee came out. The bell rang and the two girls were off.

Jeff watched backstage as the girls competed. The crowd was really behind Jessica, and cheered when she pinned Amy for the win. Jessica walked the crowd, high fiving the fans and posing for pictures while Amy pretended to sulk off. Jessica walked up the ramp, saluted the crowd and walked off. Amy was waiting for her and they hugged excitably back stage.

"You were great!" Amy said to her. In their celebrating, they didn't see the McMahons' come in. They did not look happy. Everyone back stage got quiet, as the girls looked to them.

"I want to see you two and you guys," Vince gestured to Matt and Jeff, "in my office, now." He turned and walked away, with Shane and Stephanie following him.

"What we do?" Jessica asked.

"I think it has something to do with a situation at a local restaurant." Some Diva told them.

"Man, he looked pissed." Matt said. "I think we just got busted."

"Well, let's get it over with." Jeff said and they headed to Vince's office.