Storm Stories
On The Road Again
"I think the show will work out fine today," Shannon smiles. "You've got a pretty big following for the company."
Ravyn nods, "And we have some big names on the card tonight too."
"Maybe we can start running a show on a Sunday afternoon every other month," he suggests.
"Yeah, like a Pay Per View," she grins.
He wraps his arms around her waist as they look over the card. She sighs happily and leans into him as they edit it together. By noon the warehouse is completely set up and the crowd outside is ready to start filling the seats.
"Are you two goofs ready for doors?" Kanyon calls from behind the curtain.
Ravyn grins and takes Shannon by the hand as she leads him to the back. Doors open shortly after and the seats fill quickly. The show was going really well. The first two matches had been some of the students of the school working with each other. All of them had put on a really good show. The crowd was on their feet as Spike Dudley, whom had worked with Ravyn in ECW, made his way to the ring. He was wildly over, popping the crowd huge every time he looked out at them. Ravyn came out next to a chorus of boos. She ate up the reaction and really heeled it up.
She and Spike started out with a really technical match, using lots of submissions and other wear down holds. Shortly after they started zipping around on the ropes. Ravyn manages to knock Spike to the mat and heads for the ropes. She climbs the turnbuckles swiftly but as she goes to hit a corkscrew moonsault the ropes buckle, sending her crashing to the mat landing mostly on her neck and back. Spike instantly breaks kayfabe and rushes to her side. She's absolutely still as the referee comes over and motions for the medic. Shannon runs down the aisle and stays with her while the EMT puts her in a c-collar and onto a backboard. He's nearly shaking in fear as he walks next to the stretcher. Her eyes flutter open a few moments later.
"Did I get a 'You fucked up' chant?" she asks seriously.
He smirks, "No babes. The ropes buckled. Everyone knew it wasn't your fault."
"How the hell did that happen?" she asks as she raises her arm to tell the crowd that she's not dead.
"I don't know," he admits. "But you're going to the hospital. No arguing either."
She sticks her tongue out at him to try and make him relax. "I'm okay, really," she promises. "But if you and the EMT say I have to go, then I will. Just make sure Kanyon knows that he's in charge until we get back."
"Don't worry about the show," Shannon tells her. "I'm more worried about you."
The EMT does insist that Ravyn go to the hospital, so Shannon follows the ambulance in her car. The doctors insist on running tons of tests and multiple x-rays just to make absolutely sure that nothing is seriously wrong. It's almost midnight when Lodi comes into Ravyn's hospital room where Shannon is nearly asleep sitting in a chair with his head on her lap. She looks up as he comes into the room, absentmindedly playing with Shannon's hair.
"How are you feeling?" he asks.
"Bored," she frowns. "They're making me stay for observation"
Shannon looks up and nods a greeting. "I brought your cell phone," Brad tells him. "It's been blowing up since about half an hour ago."
"Thanks," Shannon says as he looks down at the phone. "It's Jeff. Let me go call him back."
He leaves the room and Brad informs Ravyn about how the rest of the show had gone. He also tells her that she was really lucky to be mostly unharmed from the fall. After the accident they had found that all of the top turnbuckles had been rigged to give way as soon as someone went to jump off of them.
"Who would do something so stupid?" she asks in amazement.
"Don't know," Brad admits. "Someone that really wanted someone else to get hurt."
Shannon walks back into the room with a look of rage on his face, "That fucking bastard did this!"
"Hun, what are you talking about?" Ravyn asks carefully.
"Joe," Shannon fumes. "J and Jeff were sent a picture of us from earlier today, from that asshole."
"You think he did this?" Brad asks.
"I wouldn't put it past him," Ravyn sighs. "That means he was here, in my building, and I didn't even know it."
Shannon stomps around the room angrily, "And he did something that could have easily killed you. If I get my hands on that piece of shit. I'm gonna..."
Ravyn cuts him off, "Babes, I'm okay. Right now there's nothing we can do. We have no proof."
"She's right," Brad concurs. "Besides if J got a picture, then he must be back to following her."
"I told Jeff you would call first thing in the morning," Shannon explained. "I think you should get some rest now though."
Shannon manages to get her discharged early the next morning. As soon as they get into the car Ravyn calls Jenn.
"Hello?" Jenn answers almost before the phone can even ring.
"Hi friend," Ravyn sighs.
"I'm so glad to hear your voice!" Jenn exclaims. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I promise. You can stop worrying now," Ravyn laughs. "Just an accident. Went for a high spot, ropes gave way. Down I went. Maybe it's a sign that I could stand to lose a few."
"Doubt it," Jenn gets serious. "Joe has been giving me pictures pretty frequently. And last night when we got to the hotel there was a picture of you and Shannon. It was time stamped yesterday morning. Listen friend, I really think that you and Shan should come travel with us for a while... strength in numbers and all that jazz."
Ravyn consults with Shannon before responding, "Okay, I can't be in the ring for a while anyway. And I can leave Brad and Kanyon in charge of the school for a bit. Where are you going to be tomorrow? I'll see about flights."
The girls finish their conversation as Shannon pulls into their driveway. Ravyn makes a few phone calls to get things squared away with the school before checking plane tickets. When everything is booked she and Shannon pack then hang out with each other before heading to the airport. Their flight lands only an hour before Jenn's so they don't bother leaving the terminal. There's much squealing and excitement when the other plane lands and everyone is reunited.
Over the next few days the madness of everyone traveling together grows. Matt decides to buy a handheld camcorder. Everyone is riding together in one huge van and the nonsense never ends. One day Brian pulls into a gas station while Matt is filming and all sorts of insanity endues. While Brian and Billy take care of pumping gas the rest of the group heads into the convenience store, Matt rolling film the whole time.
"What kind of bullshit is this?" Shannon exclaims.
"What's wrong?" Jenn asks.
"Look at all these slushie flavors," he points.
"Okay," Jenn says expecting more.
"He's pissed that there's no lime," Ravyn informs her.
"Seriously?" Jenn snickers.
Shannon crosses his arms angrily, "Don't you mock the amazingness that is Lime slushie!"
"Lime, really?" Jeff scoffs. "Is New York fucking with your taste buds? Blue raspberry is the best."
"I disagree," Ravyn chimes in. "While blue raspberry is a delicious flavor, raspberry lemonade is obviously the superior option!"
Jenn's eyes get wide, "Friend, that just can't be. Strawberry Kiwi is just the tastiest!"
"Cherry is the tastiest," Matt says from behind the camera with a cheesy grin.
"Oh Matthew," Ravyn smirks. "That, is just filthy."
She and Shannon nearly collapse in a fit of giggles while Matt stops filming. They all finish getting their snacks and head back out on the road for more adventures. One night while the group is goofing off and cooking in their super hotel suite there's a knock at the door. Shannon, being the closest, gets up to look through the peep hole only to find no one there. As he goes to open the door the rest of the guys step up behind him to have his back if he needs them. Instead he kneels down to pick up a vase of flowers with a card nestled in them. He doesn't take his eyes off of Jenn as he brings them over to her. She takes a deep breath before pulling off the card and tearing open the envelope. She reveals a sympathy card with the words "Sorry for your hard times" on the front. She opens it and reads to herself before flipping her phone open.
A moment later she asks, "Do we know where we're booked at the end of September for RAW?"
Matt glances through his phone calendar, "Looks like we're scheduled to be in Vegas, why?"
She hands him the card and everyone gathers around him to read the inside. "But they're about to get harder. 9/30"
"Looks like Joe is finally making his move," she says.
"What's so special about September 30th?" Matt asks.
Billy answers first, "It's her birthday."
"We should try to get off of the card that night," Jeff suggests. "We can use your birthday as an excuse."
Jenn shakes her head, "No, I'm sick of all the games. I want this to be over. We go through with the show and finally get the bastard caught."
They all eventually accept this plan, after much debate about safety. Everyone settles down for the night to watch TV. They end up watching an episode of South Park where the boys decide to become wrestlers.
"Holy shit," Jeff starts to giggle. "Shannon, Butters stole your gimmick!"
Everyone starts to laugh as they realize that Butter's blonde mohawk looks suspiciously like Shannon's. The jokes continue well past the length of the episode.