Chapter 37

The next week on Raw A.J. was more prepared than ever. She had spent the entire week training with Randy, honing her wrestling skills as well as bottling her anger for that very night. Randy had a match with Chris Masters and Coach was planning on putting him and Edge in the ring toward the end of the broadcast, just to push the storyline between the group forward as Wrestlemania loomed ever closer. John had even played his part, helping A.J. trim down and get in better shape.

"I can't guarantee Vince is going to let you just run out without a reason," Randy sighed as A.J. paced before him in his locker room. "I got an earful last week for your little stunt with Melina."

"I don't care if he lets me or not, I'm going and there's nothing he can do about it," A.J. frowned. "Melina is not going to win her match tonight and I'm going to be the reason."

Randy shook his head and stood up, grabbing his duffle bag and moving to the bathroom. A.J. watched him disappear behind the door before grabbing her own change of clothes and pulling them on. Jessie had picked out her outfit before she left St. Louis. She was clad in a black baby t-shirt and a red and black plaid skirt. On her hands she wore her handy black arm cuffs with metal studs on the knuckles. She also donned black fishnets and black biker boots.

"Well, I guess Jessie was right, it suites me," A.J. shrugged as she looked over her figure. "I'll have to thank Laura for the skirt again."

A whistle greeted her as Randy moved out of the bathroom in his ring attire and she flashed a small smile. "Look everyone, she smiles!" Randy laughed, hugging her.

"Shut up," A.J. pushed him playfully before glancing at her cell phone. "You better get moving, your match is soon."

"Shit, you're right. I'll see you in a bit," he kissed her quickly and left the room, leaving the door open as he left.

A.J. shook her head and sank onto the bench in the room. She buried her face in her hands, suddenly dizzy, and let out a long sigh. As she sat she heard someone move into the room and looked up just before Nitro slipped his hand over her mouth , his strong grip keeping her still.

"Well look who's vulnerable now?" Melina chuckled, moving slowly into the room, the sledgehammer A.J. had used the previous week in her hands.

A.J. fought against Nitro's grip, her eyes wide as Melina approached. She could see the slight coloring under her chin where she'd pressed the tool, a slight feeling of accomplishment hitting her. The feeling soon past, however, when Melina bent down in front of her, raising the hammer into her line of vision.

"Recognize this, hmm?" Melina grinned, pressing it under A.J.'s chin.

A.J. shook her head, her eyes moving around the room in search of any escape. She smirked when John paused just outside the door and narrowed his eyes at the sight. He rushed into the room, grabbing Melina by the shoulders and throwing her away from A.J. Nitro instantly let her go and grabbed his girlfriend, only to be thrown from the room forcefully by a fuming John.

"You touch her again and I'll get Randy on your ass you son of a bitch!" he growled as Nitro scampered away, Melina close behind.

John turned to A.J. seeing she was still shaken. He knelt down before her and looked up into her eyes, seeing the determination.

"Are you all right?" he asked quietly.

"I'm fine," she said flatly. "Thanks."

"Hey, that's what friends are for," John shrugged. "Randy's match just ended, he should be here soon."

A.J. nodded and got to her feet. She glanced around the hallway outside the locker room before leaving the room, John following close behind. He chased her all the way to the curtain where Randy was standing. His back was to them and A.J. could see he was calming down. His hands were shaking terribly and she rushed over to him, resting her hands on his forearms.

"Randy are okay?" she asked worriedly.

"Yeah, just a little pissed." He breathed. "Melina's out there now, you better kick her ass."

A.J. grinned and saluted, "You got it, mate."

Randy flashed a slight smile, kissing her forehead and moving off. A.J. watched him go, John glancing at her before leaving with Randy to see what was going on. Meanwhile, A.J. took a deep breath and turned to the curtain, her eyes on the monitor beside her. Mickie had just kicked the ref accidentally and he crumpled to the floor. Melina waved Nitro into the ring and A.J. took that as her cue, pushing the curtain aside and running down the ramp.

Nitro gaped at her as she slid into the ring, letting Mickie fall to the mat. A.J. smacked Nitro hard across the face, clothes lining him out of the ring. She then turned her attention to Melina, punching her full in the stomach. Melina doubled over and A.J. took the opportunity to hit her with an RKO. The crowd roared with approval as A. J. dragged Melina to her feet, yanking her hair roughly. Mickie laughed when A.J. yanked Melina's so hard she screamed out.

"Choke on it, bitch!" Mickie screamed as A.J. wrapped her extensions around her neck and pulled.

Melina struggled for air and A.J. grinned. She threw her to the mat roughly, letting Mickie pull her up and they hit her with a double clothesline. A.J. then slid from the ring as Mickie hit her Tornado DDT and covered her.

"Get up, man!" A.J. growled, yanking at the ref's shirt and doing her best to push him back into the ring.

She grinned happily when he counted the three and signaled for the bell, Mickie waving A.J. back into the ring as Lillian handed her the Women's Championship.

"Thanks for the help," Mickie muttered, holding her title in one hand and raising A.J.'s wrist with the other.

"No problem, I had to get my anger out on her somehow. I figured this would be the best way."

"Either way, it works," Mickie laughed and the two left the ring together, Mickie flaunting her title as they moved back behind the curtain. "Well, I'll catch ya later."

A.J. waved and made her way back to Randy's locker room. Just as she walked in her cell phone went off and she jumped, lunging across Randy's lap to grab it. She rested her elbows on his thigh and flipped it open.

"'ello?"

"You did not just mess with Melina like that," Laura's voice greeted her.

"Last time I checked, I did," A.J. replied. "Is Jessica behaving?"

"Yes, now back to Melina, she's going to tear your head off, you know," Laura interrupted.

A.J. rolled her eyes and shrugged, "Well obviously I can do the same to her, and I will gladly, so we're sorta even."

Laura scoffed, "But you can't do it unless you have a match. She can do it whenever she wants."

A.J. shrugged again, shivering when Randy placed a cold hand on her back, "I'm prepared, don't worry. Now, make sure Jessie wakes up on time tomorrow. She slept in last week and was late for school. We should be back around noon on Wednesday so make sure she stays focused until then, okay? She has a science test she needs to study for too."

She heard Laura sigh, "Okay, I got it, tell Jeff I said I love him and make sure he doesn't twist his ankle again. I'm running low on splints."

"I got it, see ya soon bud," A.J. said, wriggling as Randy ran his fingers under her shirt.

"Bye."

She flipped the phone shut and hopped of Randy's lap, her turquoise eyes narrowed. Both John and Randy laughed at her face but she kept serious, her mind wandering as she replayed her conversation with Laura in her head.

"I gotta go," she muttered distractedly, turning on her heel and running from the room.

Both Randy and John stopped in mid laugh, the smiles fading from their faces. John raised his eyebrows in curiosity and Randy frowned.

"What the hell?" John started but Randy cut him off.

"I have no idea, but I think it has to do with next week's Raw."

The two frowned, staring at the door in thought at why A.J. had just suddenly left the room. It seemed to dawn on Randy that she had left by herself and he jumped to his feet, jetting from the room after her.