Chapter 21: The Handicap

The following day on Monday Night Raw, Natalya walked into the arena with Justin and went straight for the match board. She was shocked to learn that she was scheduled to team up with Justin against Kelly Kelly and Heath later that night. She handed Justin her bags to take to their locker room and went to hunt down John Laurinaitis. Finally locating him in his office, she knocked and walked right on in.

"John, I need to speak with you."

"Hold on just one minute."

He continued typing on his cell phone. After a few minutes, Natalya started tapping her foot, yet he continued to text. Losing her patience with him, she snapped.

"How could you put me in a match with that dumb blonde when I haven't been medically cleared?" she yelled.

Finally putting away his phone, he turned to face the pink haired Diva standing before him.

"How do I know that you just aren't faking this injury? You can talk a pretty good game, no doubt something that you learned from your father and your uncle, but can you walk the walk?"

Natalya balled her hand into a fist, but restrained from striking the man standing before her.

"And why exactly would I be faking a dislocated shoulder and a torn rotator cuff?"

"Because you were afraid that Kelly could make you look like a fool." He said in a monotone voice.

She was taken aback by this comment.

"Her make a fool out of me? Ha! Fine, I'll go out there tonight and kick ass just like I always do, and I will show you what exactly I'm made of. I'm a Neidhart, we never back down."

With that, Natalya turned on her heel and stormed to her locker room. Opening the door, she was immediately met with questions being thrown at her by Beth and Justin.

"What did he say?" Beth asked.

"Why the hell did he put you in a match?" Justin drawled.

"Guys, calm down and I'll tell you."

She recounted in detail her encounter with the Vice President of Talent Relations and the Interim General Manager of Monday Night Raw. As she spoke, Justin and Beth's mouth hung open in shock.

"What an asshole! I cannot believe that he thinks you are faking!" Beth hollered.

"Well at least we know who he will be rooting for!" Natalya said sarcastically.

"So what are you going to do?" Justin asked worried about what her answer would be.

"What else can I do? I'm going to go out there and wrestle. I just may have to rely on you more that I have in the past."

Justin's heart sank. That was what he was afraid she would say.

"Natalya, can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?"

"Beth, do you mind?"

Beth shook her head and walked out of the room.

"What's up?"

"I don't feel right about you doing this tonight."

"Justin, I've got this under control."

Justin sighed, thinking that no matter what he said, she would still walk down that ramp and get in the ring. Natalya could see the worry in Justin's eyes and felt bad.

"Hey, it'll be okay. I promise you that it will be."

"And I trust you." Justin said as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.

"Good! Because I'm going to need your help getting into my gear since I can't lift my arm."

"I suppose I can do that." He said with a sheepish grin spreading across his face as he bent down to kiss Natalya.

"I knew you couldn't say no to that!" she replied with a smile of her own.

Half an hour later, Kelly and Heath were waiting for them in the ring. Justin and Natalya made their entrance to Justin's theme song and slapped hands with fans along the way. Gingerly climbing into the ring because of her arm sling, Natalya was all smiles.

"I'll go first." Justin said as he walked to the center of the ring, ready for face off with Heath.

Natalya climbed back out on to the ring apron and waited in their corner. The bell rang and Heath started smack talking.

"What are you gonna do with that broken blonde bimbo? What good is she going to do you?"

"No matter what, she is still better with one arm than you are with two." Justin spat back at Heath.

"Is that so? If that's how you wanna play it, then take this."

Heath back tracked to his corner and tagged in Kelly. She entered the ring with a cocky grin on her face and threw up her arms, challenging Natalya. Without waiting for Justin to tag her in, Natalya climbed in and ran at Kelly, hitting a Thesz press. Kelly fell with a hard thud to the canvas. As Natalya swung away at Kelly's face, Kelly tried to protect herself and screamed the whole time. The referee got his count up to four before Natalya finally stood up. Kelly rolled over to her hands and knees, but was met with a hard kick to the ribs. She rolled out of the ring, but Natalya was right behind her.

Before Natalya could continue her attack on Kelly, Heath stepped in between them and started berating his ex-girlfriend. Hearing enough, Natalya swung her hand and connected with a large slap to Heath's face that echoed throughout the arena. Cheers erupted from the crowd and the Justin dove through the ropes and shoved Heath into the barricade. Justin jumped back up and started to engage the crowd. Natalya turned her attention back to Kelly, but it was away for far too long, as Kelly regained her being and did a drop toe hold and slammed Natalya's injured shoulder into the barricade. She screamed out in pain as Kelly grabbed a handful of her hair and threw her back into the ring.

Kelly went for the cover, but Natalya was able to get her shoulder up off the mat before the referee counted to three. Kelly then screamed out in frustration as she started hitting the Canadian with stiff forearms to the face. Backing off, she tagged in Heath, who had made his way back up onto the ring apron. He strode into the ring and stood over Natalya.

"How do you feel down there slut? It sucks to feel that low doesn't it?" Heath yelled.

The crowd instantly started booing him. He turned his attention to the crowd and with Justin distracting the referee; Natalya kicked up her right leg with all of her might and connected. Heath's voice raised three octaves as he yelled in pain. As he fell to the ground, Natalya was able to scoot across the ring and tagged in Justin. He vaulted himself over the top rope and moved Heath into position. He did a lion-sault flip and then headed up onto the top turnbuckle. The crowd was really behind him as he executed the four-fifty splash flawlessly.

"One. Two. Three. Ring the bell."

The match was over. Natalya climbed back into the ring to celebrate with Justin. He raised her hand and then scooped her up for a kiss right in the middle of the ring. Several wolf whistles came from the crowd. The posed in victory and then exited the ring, walking back up the entrance ramp hand in hand.

"You were amazing out there Natalya, and with only one good arm!" Justin said.

"You sound so surprised! I told you that I had it all under control." Natalya laughed as she jumped onto Justin's back for a piggy-back ride.

"I have to admit, I was worried. I know that you can take care of yourself, but still."

"It's okay; I think that I can forgive you just this once."

"Thanks, I don't know what I would have done if you didn't"

"You probably would be lying awake at night wondering what you could do to make it up to me."

Natalya climbed off of his back as they walked into their locker room.

"How about if I did this?" Justin asked as he scooped her back up and laid her down on the floor.

He climbed on top of her and pinned her down. He gently kissed her on the lips, but was still able to muster up a lot of passion.

"I think that may work. But can you do one thing before we do anything?"

"What's that?" Justin asked.

"Will you lock the door? There's nothing more that kills the mood than someone walking in." Natalya said as she bit her lip, making it hard for Justin to get up and walk away from her.

With one final sigh, he climbed off of her and jogged to the door. Reaching for the lock, the knob turned at the last second and Beth barged.

"Beth! What the hell?" Natalya asked as she scrambled to her feet.

It wasn't until she was standing up that she noticed that Beth had tears streaming down her face. Beth went straight to Natalya and buried her head in her shoulder. Natalya looked at Justin, confused, and he just shrugged.

"Beth, what happened?"

Beth pulled away and wiped her tears away.

"It's Randy."

"What about him? Is he okay?"

"Yeah, he's fine."

"Then what happened then?" Natalya pressed again.

"He broke up with me."

"Oh my god! Did he say why?"

"He said that our fun had run its course and that he wanted to try and work things out with Sam."

"He's going back to Sam? Didn't they get a divorce?" Justin asked finally chiming in.

Beth jumped at the sound of his voice. She had forgotten that he was there.

"No, they were just separated, even though it has been almost two years."

"Wow! How long were you two together?"

"They were together for a year and a half." Natalya answered for Beth.

"That's not even right." Justin said, shaking his head.

"I know right. How about we all go out to the bar and you can just vent tonight."

"Yeah, I'd like that. Let me go get changed and I'll meet you both in the parking lot in, say twenty minutes." Beth said, sniffling.

With that, Beth hugged Natalya, slapped Justin on the shoulder and walked out. Justin closed the door behind her and looked at Natalya with sadness in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, but Beth needs me, she needs us right now."

"But…" Justin stuttered.

"When we get back to the hotel from the bar. I promise."

Justin smiled as he walked over and planted a huge kiss on Natalya.

"I think I can live with that."

They kissed one more time and then started to get changed.