CHAPTER 14: No Words Spoken…

Meanwhile…

Upon leaving Steph's room, the McMahon's proceeded to the elevator, preparing to go back to the hotel now, and finally getting some rest. It has been a long day for all of them, with the events of the pay-per-view and the aftermath of that.

From Steph's room, to the elevator, up to the parking lot, nobody spoke a word. Noone really felt like saying anything, and a reason could also probably because they were all afraid. Honestly, though they have somewhat already comprehended and understood what has happened to Steph, they have not yet accepted it fully. This was their princess that we're talking about here… the youngest and the most vulnerable. Despite what the fans saw on WWE television, with them chanting "Slut!" everytime she made her way out… and the superstars mocking her and making fun of her because she is supposedly a manipulative bitch, behind the scenes, she was just a simple, sweet normal woman, who lived with maybe a little more privilege, but she worked hard for that. She wasn't simply fed with all the riches in the world. Like everyone else, she had to work to help give her child a better future, she had to pay taxes to the government, she, at times didn't like her job and co-workers, but decided to accept them anyway. For the McMahon family, Stephanie will always be their baby. The sweet, innocent Stephie…

Finally upon reaching their car, Shane decided to break the silence. Who would have thought that that moment would be the first and last conversation they would have in the next minutes. "Uh, dad? Who's driving? You want me to do it?"

"Yes please… I don't think I'll be in the right state of mind and body to drive anyway…"

Worried by her husband's reply, Linda asked, "Vince? Is there something wrong?"

Opening the door of the backseat, Vince replied, "No, no… just… just tired that's all. Let's go, shall we?"

Not fully believing what he had just heard, Shane sent his wife a look that expressed his worry for his father, of which Rissa reached her hand out and squeezed Shane's as a sign of comfort. She didn't actually know whether it was gonna be her or Shane who's gonna stand strong as a source of strength for the other in this entire ordeal, but at this moment, she felt that she was the one who had to.

Rubbing her hand as an expression of gratitude, Shane opened the door of the passenger seat allowing Rissa to enter, after which he also made his way to the driver's seat and made their way back to the hotel.

During the whole ride, again, nobody uttered even a single word. The only sound that could be heard was probably that of the engine and car running, but nothing more. Vince was just staring at his hands, in deep thought. Why was this happening to his daughter? Why was this happening to his precious Stephie? Why??? He never really understood why life was so unfair, but he believed in that saying, to the point of even instilling that in his kids. With everything he has encountered in his 61 years of existence, this, what's happening to his precious little girl, was by far the cruelest. He couldn't take it if something happens to her. He isn't ready to lose her yet, and thinks that he never will be. How could he lose her? Never, as in never in his whole life has he imagined that that will happen… and, if it does, how about her family? How about them? Him? Her daughter? Paul?

Linda, on the other hand was simply staring at Vince, trying to decipher what he was thinking about, because he was obviously in deep thought. Usually, Linda could have guessed right away that it was something related to the business—some new superstar he's thinking to hire or someone he has to send back to OVW for re-training, or some new storyline he's trying to cook up in his brain, or about the increase in the ratings recently. But no, this time, she was sure that it was more than the business. And knowing how much he loved Stephie, she was sure that her thoughts were on her now. She looked at his eyes; they were dull and had no life, which broke her heart. Without saying a word, Linda hugged Vince, which he in some way, returned, and they just stayed that way, holding onto each other the whole time.

In front, Marissa was busy staring out the window, also in deep thoughts. The streets at that time looked lively. Lights were lit everywhere, and there's a street party somewhere. There's a lot of dancing and flirting in the bar one block away from the hospital, and a group of teenagers were just hanging around in one corner, chatting away, letting time pass by. But the happenings outside were the exact opposite of what was going on inside the car, and how she was feeling. She has not totally expressed her emotions with the happenings today, and it was hard on her. The dream she had last night and its realization tonight still freaked her out, and that was something she has not understood completely. The thought of having her favorite superstar of all time being in a hospital because of that dream didn't help her situation and the thought that it might have been her husband who would be the one in the hospital made things worse. And… the one about Steph… don't even get started with her on that. She was the one who was personally with Steph during the time that she was diagnosed with c-ca… that. She was the one right beside Steph when she collapsed. She was the one who broke the news to Steph's whole family about it. The person being discussed here just happens to be her best friend of 20 years… a person whom she has shared almost everything with, that's it's just sometimes crazy already to the point of Shane getting jealous of his own sister, because the girls spent more time together compared to the time he had with Rissa. This was the person to whom she confided almost everything to: from the first time she had her first period up until the almost separation and divorce of her parents just last year. This was the same person whom she made a thousand pinky swears with, with promises that ranged from the silliest ones like not "stealing" Brad Pitt away from her, to the most serious ones that she would take care of Steph's brother forever. Steph was there for her every step of the way, and Marissa would like to think that she too, had been there for Steph all throughout. And today, now, with all of these, that would not change. Tears slowly formed in her brown eyes, something that has not happened at all after the pay-per-view, and she just allowed them to fall. Crying was seemingly something healthy to do now, to finally release all the emotions that has been locked and mixed up inside her.

With his constant glances to his wife beside her and to the rear-view mirror to check up on his parents, Shane saw that at least, his parents were holding up pretty well, considering what was going on. His wife surely wasn't taking things well anymore. He reached for her hands, squeezed it lightly, while trying to focus on the road. Driving the car was actually hard on him… it's not easy to concentrate and to keep the car from crashing when you have a million things in mind. But he had no choice but to volunteer himself to drive, knowing that that act would mean a lot to his dad, who as he has said earlier, was in no shape or condition to drive.

Stopping because of a red light, Shane let go of his wife's hands and reached for her chin, turning it towards him, to make her look at him. What he saw broke his heart. He hated seeing his wife cry, and he hated it when she was in pain. That was rule number one when it comes to relationships, which he got from his dad: Never hurt a woman, especially your wife. Sure, this was not his fault, but he felt helpless not knowing how to make the situation better for her. Not only for her, but for all of them.

With his right hand, Shane wiped the tears off Rissa's face, and made sure to give her a reassuring kiss, that he hoped would be of help to her, even in the slightest form.

When the light turned back to green, Shane let go of her face, and went back to reaching for her hands, which he held throughout that time forward. Every now and then, he would look back at his wife to make sure she's okay and would occasionally flash a small smile, telling her that everything would be okay. It's just that the more he did that, the more that he became uncertain whether he was doing that to reassure Marissa or himself that everything would indeed be fine.

A few minutes after, they already reached the hotel. With everyone stepping out of the car, and getting ready to check-in to finally get some rest, they all had one thought in mind. They surely wouldn't be able to get some shut-eye tonight.

Though no words were spoken, it was sure that tonight, with constant hugs and squeezing of hands, the McMahons have proven that actions indeed speak louder than words. That kind of love and support would surely not waver, especially at a time like this. Not now, not ever.