Chapter XXVI: Evening Discussion on the Balcony
Samia had no idea how long she had been out when a cool washcloth was pressed to her cheeks. She opened stinging eyes to Kevin Nash crouching down over her. When her sight focused, he set the cloth aside and pulled her to him. "Are you okay?" he asked, stroking her hair. She tried to answer but only burst into tears. "I will kill him," he muttered. When her crying turned to sniffles, he started to push her away but she tightened her grip on him. Somehow he managed to reach a hand into his pocket and pull out his cell phone with her still in his arms. "Shawn, it's Kevin. I have a situation. Come to room…damn it, I don't know the room number. It's the last one on the right at the end of our hall. Hurry."
Within seconds, a knock sounded at the door and Kevin reached up to open it. "Oh my god, what happened?" a barefoot and shirtless Shawn asked, but then he glanced behind where Kevin was on his knees holding the woman to see Christian in his boxers, tied to a chair with the bedsheet and looking like he had just been through a meatgrinder. "He didn't…oh, Mia."
She looked up at him and hoarsely whispered, "He didn't." Shawn reached for her but she wouldn't be pried from Kevin.
"I'm taking her back to our room," Kevin stated and was barely able to stand with her still clinging to him. "Will you get the door?"
In their room, Kevin set her down on his bed and pulled the blanket up to cover her ripped blouse and skirt. "Water, please," she croaked through dry lips. Shawn disappeared into the bathroom.
"Samia," Nash started and cradled her face with his hands. "Can you tell me what happened?" he asked, smoothing away her long hair.
She licked her dry lips and sought for the right words to say. Shawn appeared with a glass of water and a washcloth. She struggled to sit up but the room began to spin. He put some pillows behind her, helped pull her up, and then washed away the blood from her mouth and cheek. She sipped the water while attempting to fight the sedative and fabricate a lie. Nothing was coming and she saw her only way out was to tell the truth. Christian could never be placated after this fiasco and she would rather they hear it from her instead of beating it out of him…or worse, him telling Evolution. She had been thinking about the Wolfpack a lot lately. Something in her had begun to make her feel a little guilty for the betrayal this time around. She had nothing against Scott Hall and only held admiration for him. Shawn had accepted her again eventually with open arms. And Kevin, well, he had saved her from Christian. She couldn't turn on him now.
"I have something I have to tell you. Please listen to all I have to say," Samia slowly said, trying to clear her head. Then she launched into her tale, starting with why she left WWE in the first place and about her return, including her plot. Several times, Kevin dropped his head, fought for control, and then lifted his eyes to continue listening. While she talked, Shawn fashioned an icepack for her face but he still almost mirrored Kevin at the same time, glancing down but immediately returning to watch her talk.
As she finished up with what happened in Christian's room, Shawn shot up and declared, "I'm gonna kill him."
"I called dibs," Kevin said, folding his arms across his massive chest.
"You're not gonna kill me?" she asked with a furrowed brow, looking back and forth between the two.
"No, Mia," Shawn said with a serious face. "Now, if you'll excuse us for a few minutes, we're gonna settle who gets first crack." The two men stepped out in the hall and immediately strode down to Christian's room. He was still out like a light. "Man, she took us," Shawn said, running a hand through his hair. "I'm surprised I didn't have to physically defend her from you."
"You asked me what was different last week. I'll tell you what's different. It was like what you said when she turned on us. We built her. If it wasn't for us, she wouldn't have the name she does. She would probably still be tagging along behind RVD," Kevin angrily stated but then quieted down. "But she took a piece of me with her. We got pretty close when we were traveling to SmackDown! together. I never would have expected her to turn on us. I thought our relationship was something beyond that." He stopped and then took a big breath. "It was kind of like she was my little sister."
"Why did you keep threatening her then?"
"To keep a distance," Kevin explained. "I wasn't about to let her drag me in again. But…I heard screaming when I came down the hall. When I figured out where it was coming from, I recognized her voice. I thought about how it was when she was with us and I couldn't let someone hurt her that bad…or at all…When she got the door open for me to get in, I just…that bastard was coming after her again. She was out by the time I tied him up. Looking at her, I couldn't hate her anymore. Now…well, looking at him and thinking about what drove her back, I still can't hate her. That doesn't mean I'm not bothered by it and I'm not upset about what she did…"
"Whether or not we like it," HBK said, heavily breathing out, "we have to do something. She told us the truth and I believe her when she apologized. Plus, someone needs to teach that CLB a lesson."
"I agree. Should we try to wake him up and do it now or wait 'til he wakes up on his own?" Nash asked, ready to get his hands on Christian.
"I'm gonna get Mia settled for the night. You stay here and, when I get back, we'll do it then, awake or not."
Kevin nodded his agreement but then asked, "What do we do about her now? I say she keeps playing advisor until we can get her out of Evolution." This time the other man nodded his agreement.
Samia seemed to be drifting off when Shawn returned. He found her the smallest t-shirt and shorts he owned so she wouldn't be flashing anyone in the hall or the elevator and explained their plans for her to remain in her current position. He offered to walk her back to her room, but she was adamant about going alone. "If anyone in Evolution was to see us again, I would be killed, especially after what happened tonight," she explained.
"I'm proud of what you did for Batista. I didn't have a clue that he had a soft bone in his body," he replied.
"He is an amazing guy. I'll miss him."
"Are you sure you can make it back?"
"I'm a little dizzy, that's all. I'll be fine," she replied and waved him off.
"You call me if you need to talk," he replied and opened the door for her. She nodded and stepped out into the hallway. In the elevator, she thought she was going to fall down asleep and could only imagine what would have happened if she had taken those two pills or worse, if Christian hadn't taken the one. She almost regretted now not trying to put three in his drink.
When Samia was out of sight, Shawn joined Kevin in the CLB's room after stopping by the ice machine. Shawn halved the ice between his and Christian's ice bucket and filled them brimming with water. The two poured one bucket and then the other over the sleeping man's head.
Christian sputtered awake with an angry face that quickly turned suppliant when he saw Kevin and Shawn looming over him. "Do you know what 'no' or 'stop' means?" Michaels asked with his hands on his hips.
"I've got dirt on Samia Carlsen to tell you two," he quickly said.
"Me and Kev, we don't know what 'no' or 'stop' means either," Shawn said, ignoring his comment. "Kev, take him out to the balcony."
"Guys, what are you doing?" Christian's worried voice asked as Kevin picked up the chair and hauled him out through the sliding glass door. "Samia Carlsen is really in league with Evolution," Christian continued as Shawn readjusted the sheet so that only his arms and legs were tied and, where he couldn't see, knotted the end of the sheet around the balcony railing.
"Ready?" Kevin asked.
"Yep," was Shawn's reply. The two picked him up from the chair and carefully dangled him by his legs over the railing.
"Don't, oh, god, please don't drop me," Christian whined. "Please stop."
"Kevin, I'm losing my grip on him," Shawn exclaimed and took one hand off of his ankle.
"Really?" Kevin mouthed and Shawn shook his head, grinning from ear to ear, while a howl rose from Christian. "I think we're getting some looks, pull him back up," Kevin said, barely loud enough for Shawn to hear. They hauled him back over and set him down in the chair.
"Fraternity prank," Kevin called over the balcony at the people staring at them.
Christian's wide eyes stared at the two while he tried to catch his breath. "Listen and listen good," Shawn carefully explained, cracking his knuckles. "Don't you so much as look at Samia Carlsen again. We let you off the hook tonight but she can still turn you in to the police. If you blackmail her or touch her again, you better hope they find your body for burial." When the speech was over, Kevin dragged the chair back into the room, dumped Christian on the bed, and untied the sheet. The man didn't move as the two let themselves out of his room.
The next afternoon, when Triple H had finally pulled himself out of bed, Samia was treated to the third degree. If the situation hadn't been completely false, she wouldn't have bawled like a baby, but the situation easily called for it. She continually professed her innocence and cried at the first mention of Batista's name. He demanded to know how she planned on getting him the money back. First, he wanted to sue Dave, but no judge would have ruled in favor of Hunter since there were no violations on Batista's part. She promised to find a way to make up for the money, but when Helmsley threatened her about betraying him ever, she wanted to walk away from the remainder of her plans and let Evolution's enemies finish them off…if they could be finished off.
In the process of wearing down the factions, she herself had grown weary. She was tired of the six-inch stilettos, the outfits that revealed skin that only lovers had ever seen, and the thick applications of make-up. She had caked it on in hopes of hiding the bruise sustained in last night's altercation. There was no excuse that could possibly be made without implicating herself. She was tired of constantly having to keep her lies straight and watching her back at every turn. Everything was so simple when she accompanied RVD and she wished that life could be that simple and fulfilling at the same time. She stared up into thundercloud filled sky and mentally shouted, "Why can't it be so simple? Why can't I just wrestle in the women's division and be there for Rob? Just how hard can it be?"
Thunderstorms had set in over the South that night and plagued them for the next week. She wrapped herself in blankets and stared out the balcony windows, watching the lightning streak the sky as she relived her wrestling life, especially the past few months. It wasn't worth it anymore to her. This striving to be on the top and the need for revenge on anyone who did her wrong wasn't worth the physical and mental aches and pains anymore. She wanted nothing more than to get drunk but Rob's words to her three months ago and Shawn's recent ones kept echoing in her head. She would have to weather out these problems without alcohol this time, even if she couldn't get the feel of Christian's hands off her skin.
Flipping the channels on Friday afternoon in Memphis brought her to an episode of TNA. Knowing no one and none of the feuds, the simplicity of the show made WWE seem so disgusting. WWE put up a façade with its fireworks and elaborate sets to mask the major errors of the show. Vince McMahon held the fate of everyone there in the palm of his hand. There were only those few brave enough to dare him otherwise. When she had tempted her fate, it was only to leave. X-Pac had stood up but was immediately fired. Kane had run rampant for a time but eventually succumbed to the broader rules of the business, McMahon's rules. Steve Austin thought he had one up on his contract but was then tossed away like a dirty kleenex. Sting was one of the lucky few to walk all over the man. Then there were the incompetent bookers who could be bought with Shawn Michaels' wallet and those people who couldn't wrestle their way out of paperbag being given a contract. Samia didn't know the inner workings of TNA but, for that hour, the presentation sent her into a depression that set a desire for her to get out of the situation she was in and bring her back to the beginning.
The phone startled her out her personal pity party and she reached out to answer it without looking at the callerID. "Hello?"
"Weather got you down?"
"Dave!" she almost shouted.
"How are you doing?" he asked, returning her enthusiastic greeting.
"I'm okay. How are you? Your family?"
"Everything's great," Dave explained. "I'm so glad to be home, my home, with my family."
"That's so awesome."
"Hunter giving you trouble?" he asked, his tone much more serious.
"Not much beyond the usual threats. Everything's gonna be fine on this end."
"You don't sound like you believe that. I have never heard you sound this down. What's going on?"
Samia debated on whether she should tell him the truth because, in an essence, he had been played the fool also. "Dave, I, uh, I have to tell you something." She related the abridged version of the story and glossed over his threats against Christian. "When you come back to wrestling, you can have him," she laughed to lighten the situation. "I wouldn't have said this six months ago, but I'm in capable hands with Shawn and Kevin. They're pissed at me but they understand and somehow they'll get me out of this."
The sun may not have been out over the city that afternoon but a little ray a light shown on Samia as she ended her call with Batista, one that was definitely not their last. He had taken the news better than anyone she had told yet. She laughed as he had confessed that he wasn't too keen on Hunter taking her in, thinking many unkind things about her. He had been so friendly at first because he didn't want to be on the bad side of the "nWo's bitch." They both considered themselves even now and too good of friends to let the past ruin their relationship now.
Monday night became the Vince McMahon show. First, he had tried to explain away his loss to Sting and still begrudgingly acknowledge the validity of his contract. He challenged Sting to another match that night with the outcome holding no bearing on the contract that was just earned. Apparently, McMahon was attempting to prove that he dominated the entirety of the business, Sting included. After that, he put Eric Bischoff on probation for signing the first match, brandishing a pink slip to tangibly remind Eric on how much trouble he was in. "One more screw-up," the chairman had muttered, "and you'll find yourself in the same place as WCW."
After that, Vince felt he needed to berate more people and barged into Evolution's dressing room to give Samia a piece of his mind for manipulating his show. She was quick to remind him that he had agreed to every one of the matches she had negotiated. That infuriated him even more and he wrote her a pink slip also. She signed the paper as any good employee would and he handed her the carbon copy. Not caring about the repercussions, she then ripped it into tiny pieces. "You see this," she said, taking one of the edges where her name was signed and stepping as close to him as possible without touching him, "this is what I think of your pink slip." She balled it up in front of his eyes and stuffed it up his nose. The diva quickly stepped back and assumed a defensive position because none of the guys seemed willing to help her. An irate McMahon stormed out of the room, the paper still stuck in his nostril. The trio in the room attempted to hold in their laughter and Samia pirouetted and bowed before them.
"You've got guts," Hunter muttered.
"Nah, I just know my contract and the worse he can do to me in the ring."
McMahon didn't stop there. He arranged for each of the champions to defend their belts, even though all five retained them. After that declaration, he made another announcement. Calling Samia to his office, he made her verify the contract for the series of matches between Evolution and the Wolfpack. A cameraperson was available to catch it all. She defiantly stood with her head up and agreed that the papers were indeed the same that had been signed after the negotiations. He then read the section regarding the last match and the Elimination Chamber. "Let me interpret for you, Miss Hick Lawyer. This paper says," he started in a fake hillbilly accent but then changed to his normal voice, "that four members of Evolution and three members of the Wolfpack must compete in the last match. A count-out does not qualify as participation. The match is still on."
"I beg to differ. Four members of Evolution are not available and therefore the match still cannot take place."
"I see a fourth member in front of me," Vince coolly replied, leaning over his desk and planting his hands on the surface.
"I am not a member, sir."
"Now, I beg to differ." He picked up the original pink slip she had signed. "I wrote this out as if you were a member of Evolution and then you signed it. That changes everything," he said.
"Yes, it does," she replied, her head not dropping whatsoever in defeat even though her stomach was swimming somewhere around her ankles.
"You will take Batista's place in the Elimination Chamber." She nodded with her poker face. "You're not gonna argue with me?" he asked with raised brows.
"No," she answered. "When will the match take place?"
"Next week."
"I will see you then." With a curt nod, she spun on her heel and left the office. When she returned to Evolution's dressing room, she almost wished she'd stayed with the lone viper instead of deal with the den of rattlesnakes. The three of them were livid.
"I'm gonna write you up," Hunter shouted.
"There was nothing I could do. Don't give me any bull because all three of you had a week to read that contract before you signed it. Not one of you brought that up," she declared, staring at three pairs on downcast eyes.
Hunter looked back up at her and stated, "Every time you sign your name on something, one of the two of us ends up getting the raw end of the deal. Don't sign another thing."
She almost laughed at his order, thinking about when Shawn had requested she not interfere in matches anymore. "No problem," she replied and drifted off into how she was going to get out of this new mess she had created for herself.
After RAW, the remaining members of Evolution chose to go out to a club. Samia was only invited as a courtesy and she declined. There was more business that had to be attended. When they were safely gone, she softly knocked on Shawn and Kevin's door. They had been expecting her and both Scott Hall and X-Pac were present. Before her arrival, they had been given the abridged version of the shortened version of the truth. Scott had no comment other than it was big of her to come forward and that they should put the past behind them. X-Pac was not so forgiving. He was ready to declare war on the diva but the others had been able to get him to agree to work with her after Shawn explained how it was better for her to be on their good side rather than any side.
Samia noticed that Sting was absent and asked if he was okay after his match. The painted warrior had once again shown McMahon what he thought of the old fart and enjoyed making him tap out more the second time around. Shawn explained that now there was no longer a bounty on their heads, Sting was on his own, which is the way Sting liked it anyhow. She had wanted to continue working with him as part of the Wolfpack but then saw the advantage of possibly lobbying for some protection from him when everything was said and done. Nothing was said of how X-Pac wanted to get rid of him sooner. He didn't trust him, knowing that things had not gone smooth when Sting had been part of the Wolfpack in WCW. Scott good naturedly accused him of just being jealous that in Sting's return his own almost went unnoticed and then needled him into admitting to it. The argument ended in an apology from Scott and a peptalk from Shawn about how important the Kid was to his fans and to not worry about Sting's fans.
The point of this meeting was for Samia to give her apologies to the other two members of the Wolfpack and also for them to kick around ideas for their next step. X-Pac made a few disparaging remarks about her participating in the Elimination Chamber when it should have been him. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore, even though, in her mind, he had the right to feel that way. "I don't want anything to do with this match. If it was possible, you could have my place, and that's a promise. I would love to give y'all the advantage that way."
"Wait, wait," Shawn said, his eyes showing that he was in deep thought, "we do have the advantage with you in there. Listen to this." He explained his plans for Samia and everyone agreed, even if there were a couple who reluctantly did so.
With everything in place, Shawn saw her to the door. "Are you really doing okay?"
"This rain has me so depressed. I usually love rain but—"
"No, I mean about what happened with Christian," Michaels interrupted. "Kevin's really been worried about you."
"Really?" she asked with surprise and Shawn nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. I still shudder thinking about it but, then again, I shudder thinking about when Kevin had me by the throat calling Triple H out. After all the crap I've been through with this business, I can handle it."
"I'm not satisfied with that answer, but what am I gonna do? Beat it out of ya?" he asked with a facetious grin. "There's something else I wanted to ask you. Have you talked to Lita and Rob yet? Told them the truth and all?"
"I can't look either one of them in the eye and tell them that I hurt both of them because I was so selfish. I'm still worried about someone trying to hurt Lita when it's all over with to get back at me. Rob can handle himself," she sighed, echoing what Shawn had said, "but Lita…well, I'm gonna worry about her. Will you…since I'm doing this Monday night, will you promise me to look after her? Come to her rescue, if need be?" she laughed at the last question but Shawn's face remained serious.
"Yeah, I promise to do my best to keep anything from happening to Lita."
"Thanks," Samia said and kissed him on the cheek. "I'll see you Monday in the ring."
TBC…