~ What Lies Beneath ~

Author's Note - I have some people to thank. I wish I could thank you all individually but I just didn't have time so I'm sorry. But rest assured I read all the reviews and they made me smile so much. Red Foxy, Kelzo85, Punk'sgirlforlifexxx, Foreverechelon, starsxhearts23, AngelsDestiny22, MarryTheNight25, xErikax, Jezebel Night, ConchaaRex, canadice, Buffy-Bella, Kimberly, ScanalousScavos, Tara770, housesbabe1, Kaiya's Watergarden, I'll miss you Edge, TrissKins, Stacey and Guest - thank you so much for sticking by me. And also to everyone following and reading. It means the world. Here we go…Money in the Bank.

Warnings - Strong language throughout and possible scenes of a sexual nature ;)

Disclaimer - I own no-one but Abbie in this story. This is merely a work of fiction; it all came from my brain. At no point do I suggest this story reflects reality, it's entirely made-up. Any other songs, cars or brands mentioned also belong to their respective owners.

~ What Lies Beneath ~

~ Chapter Fifty Four: ~

Having spent the remainder of the week staying out of Phil's way in a mix of both awkwardness and confusion, Abbie's stomach was riddled with butterflies as she pulled up to the arena and stepped out of her rental. Pushing her hair out of her face, she took in the enormous stadium. It was a far cry from where she was wrestling little more than a few years before. From barns and garages to this; it was mind-blowing.

She heard some car doors slam behind her and turned, spotting Cena, Sheamus and Wade Barrett. John sent a wink in her direction and she smiled. Sheamus sent her a cheeky smile, Wade waving cheerily. Taking one last contemplative look at the enormous building, she slammed the door, retrieved her bag and followed them into the back entrance.

The first thing she noticed was the buzz. She could feel the excitement vibrating in the air around her as crew members rushed around, preparing for the show that was to go live in no more than a few hours. Abbie found the board with locker room locations on it and was pleasantly surprised to find she was changing with the other Money in the Bank participants. She really couldn't stomach Rosa's face today. On the other hand, Phil would be there. She knew she had to see him, but the opportunity for some awkward alone time wasn't appealing right now. She let out a breath and headed off down the halls.

Looking around, she took in as much of her surroundings as she could. This was a HUGE night for her. She'd been waiting her whole life for this. Tonight she finally had the chance to prove herself. To show everyone just what she was made of. To inspire another little girl just like her to follow her dream too.

Passing by the cases of new ring gear, she had a rummage around. She hadn't requested anything new, but it was a special pay per view after all. Sure enough, bypassing the other divas outfits - her eyes fell upon a pair of gold shorts with red detailing. Smiling, she pulled them out. They had an intricate, winding pattern leading from the leg up to the waistband. Locating the matching top, she found the winding pattern continued, forming a rose at the top of her back.

"Is that yours? It's beautiful"

Abbie turned to see Kelly, looking a little forlorn.

"Yeah it is"

"Do you like it?" Kelly asked.

"…I love it"


Phil had already been at the arena for an hour, exploring the halls and catching up with some of the guys. He'd just been stretched out by the trainer and returned to the locker room. While it was quiet, he limbered up some more and changed into his gear - the Chicago flag colours. He was chatting to Daniel Bryan and Sheamus when he spotted Kelly and Abbie enter the room.

"I know I look good in a towel, but this isn't a strip show girls. What are you doing in here?" Mike asked, emerging from the shower.

"This is my assigned locker room thank you very much" Abbie raised her eyebrows, taking a seat on the nearest bench next to Kelly. Phil kept an eye on the pair who seemed to be engrossed in conversation. He excused himself from his own conversation and popped up behind the girls, putting his arms around them.

"Why the long face Miss Paintball extraordinaire?"

Kelly smiled at Phil's endearment and placed her hand over his own.

"Just upset at not being on the card I guess" she admitted.

"Aww don't be down about it. You're still getting paid"

She laughed and slapped his arm. "It's not about the money"

"But it buys bags and shoes" he mocked in a high-pitched voice.

"True that" Kelly giggled. "Nervous for tonight you two?"

Abbie chewed her bottom lip; Phil didn't miss the way she couldn't stay still.

"Batman doesn't get nervous" Phil quipped.

"Excited…apprehensive" Abbie released a breath, locating her gear and shooting Kelly a reassuring smile before heading to a more private section of the locker room to change.

She studied her reflection in the mirror, turning around to check out her new gear from every angle. It fit like a glove; the costume department did a great job. The gold complemented her skin tone perfectly, the red adding a hint of fire. Mussing her hair, she decided to leave it down for tonight. Applying a little make-up, she returned to the bench so she could lace up her boots.

"Jesus Christ"

She frowned as Mike wolf-whistled her.

"Nice gear" Sheamus nodded.

"Nice? You need to stray from wearing black more often. You look smokin'" Mike added.

She missed the warning look Phil sent Mike, letting Kelly twirl her.

"One word. Gorgeous" Kelly grinned.

"Thanks" she breathed, feeling the butterflies setting in. As she bent down to lace her boots, covering them with the matching gold kick pads, Phil tapped her shoulder.

"Can I talk to you for a sec?" he asked her.

"Err…yeah"

"Like, alone?" he added.

"Oh, I'll just go" Kelly said quickly.

"No you stay, we'll go outside" Phil insisted, taking Abbie by the hand and leading her out of the door.

"Where…?" she started to ask as he ushered her into an empty production room. The room was full of equipment, lights and sound boards. She frowned at the slight urgency of his movements and the tension in his shoulders. She watched him turn his back to her, rubbing the back of his head restlessly.

"Phil…what's going on?" she asked, getting impatient. She still had the rest of her pre-show routine to complete.

He turned to face her, eyes scanning her as she stood across the room. In the time it took to blink once, he was in front of her.

"I just…" he sighed. She could see the thoughts running through his mind at a million miles per hour. "Stay safe tonight okay?"

She nodded, meeting his concerned gaze. "You too"

"I'll be fine. I've been through it before" he told her.

"I think if I can deal with Lesnar I can deal with this" she mumbled.

"I don't ever want to see you in a state like that again Abbie, that match was a train wreck"

She looked down at the floor, the weight of his intense gaze making her stomach clench even more.

"Phil…"

"What?" he breathed, getting closer.

Her breath caught when he lifted her chin with a finger. She watched the decision dance in his eyes for a moment before he closed the distance between them and kissed her delicately.

"Don't…" she mumbled against his lips.

"Oh…you want me to stop?" he said, letting his nose rest beside hers as his question hung in the air. She could smell his shower gel fresh on his skin and it was invading her senses, bringing back all the memories.

"No…?" he breathed huskily when he received no reply.

He kissed a path back to her lips, teasing them with his teeth and slipping his fingers through her hair. Instinctively she allowed her hands to wander up his sides, all the way up to his neck. Running her blunt nails along his hairline, she felt the goosebumps on his skin as he backed her up to the wall behind. Needing to feel more of him, she pulled him closer and he took the initiative as he pressed the length of his body to hers. She whined into his mouth and felt the dominance flowing from him as the sound ignited a fire between them.

When he eventually pulled away, breathless, he studied her half-lidded eyes and lips shining with moisture.

"You look beautiful by the way"

She looked up at him, somewhat speechless.

"Why did you do that?" she tilted her head to the side and let it rest against the wall behind her.

"I couldn't stop myself…or I didn't want to stop myself"

Her body still sandwiched between his and the wall, she tried to gather her thoughts.

"I don't know about you...but my mind is all over the place right now" she murmured.

He nodded. Silence fell between them for a few moments as everything sunk in. "I know it doesn't seem like it, but I do have faith in you. I know you're gonna go out there and blow people away"

The corners of her lips upturned at that and she let her fingers brush across his shaven head.

"I miss this…just me and you" she whispered, playing with tufts of his hair.

"Me too" he sighed.

"I still love you…"

She swallowed hard as she heard the words spill from her own lips. This was it. She was laying her heart on the line again, giving him free will to smash it to pieces right before the most important match of her career.

"Abbie…" his face softened.

"You don't have to say anything, I just wanted you to know" she averted her gaze. She knew they were too far gone for words like that…why couldn't she let go?

He pressed his face into her neck, planting a soft kiss there before pulling back just enough that she could hear him. "I love you too…of course I still love you"

She didn't even try to will away the smile that took over her face as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into another, more urgent kiss. Abbie's phone ringing finally caused them to jump apart, laughing at their own reaction.

"Hello?" she answered.

"Abbie…" came the hesitant voice. She knew that accent. She only knew one other person with that accent and he stood opposite her now.

"Colt"

Phil's eyes widened when he realised who had called her.

"Don't hang up…I just wanted to apologise for being a massive tool"

Abbie laughed, her recent interaction having put her in a forgiving mood.

"You were a massive tool. Epic proportions" she joked.

"Yeah…sorry. I was out of line I know. I just hate seeing him broken. It's disturbing because he's the strongest guy I know" Colt explained.

"No I understand. It's good that you're willing to defend his honour like that. You're a good friend. I'm not the witch you think I am though - promise" she sent Phil a wink as he mimed at her to hang up.

"Listen, I gotta go, big match but thanks for calling" she told him.

"Am I forgiven?" Colt asked.

"Of course. Just give me another chance to prove I'm a good person alright?" she laughed.

She hung up and sent Phil a smile.

Immediately Abbie registered the cheeky glint that returned to Phil's eyes and the way the tension had melted from his body. She wound her arms around his neck and stood on her tip toes to peck his lips one last time.

"I need to go get my game face on"

"Me too" he sighed.


All eight competitors waited impatiently in their locker room for their curtain call.

"Ready to head to the gorilla fellas?"

Abbie cleared her throat.

"Fellas…and lasses" Sheamus corrected.

"It's clobberin' time" Abbie grinned.

"Hey. That's my line" Phil pouted as they headed out as a group, arriving at the gorilla as the match before them drew to a close. Each superstar had their own pre-match routine - Phil running and up and down, Dolph doing push ups and Abbie stretching to name a few. They formed a circle for a pep talk - Phil taking the honour as the most senior of the group.

"We go out there. We steal the show. No matter what, THIS is the main event. The others have to follow this. I feel bad for them. Some of the most talented wrestlers in the world right here, right now. We have the chance to make history" he winked at Abbie. "Be safe, let's give the fans a fucking roof-raiser" Phil shouted as everyone put their hands in the centre. "1…2…3…let's kill this motherfucker!"

As if on cue, Justin Robert's voice boomed around the arena and Abbie's nerves returned full-force.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! It is now time for the Money in the Bank ladder match! A briefcase containing a contract for a WWE or World Heavyweight championship match will be suspended high above the ring! The first competitor to unhook the briefcase is the winner!"

Daniel Bryan's music hit and the crowd roared. Abbie bounced on the spot, trying to work the nerves away.

"See you out there kids" Bryan saluted as he stormed his way onto the stage in full character. The curtain fell back into place as the flashing lights and screaming fans disappeared from view. Abbie hadn't seen the set yet, but she knew it was going to be huge. Phil placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder as they waited, seeing Cody, Sheamus, Del Rio, Mike and Zack all make their entrances.

Phil's music struck and he squeezed her shoulder before heading out onto the ramp.

"Phil…" she called. He turned to face her. "You worry about you out there okay?" she felt the need to remind him.

"Will do. May the force be with you" he said, not believing in wishing people luck.

Abbie rolled her eyes, laughing. Now she was alone. Her stomach was knotted up, hands trembling lightly as the crowd waited in anticipation for the final mystery competitor. She could see the monitor, Phil on the top rope screaming 'best in the world'. He jumped down, music fading out as the boys stood in the ring eyeing one another warily.

The production team left a suitable time to let the anticipation build before her stomach lurched - Hero by Skillet blasting out through the speakers. There was only one way to describe the crowd reaction and that was INSANE. The cheers were deafening as she took a deep breath and stepped through the curtain. The cheers doubled in volume as she appeared on the Tron, just taking in the atmosphere. Flashes of cameras, lights and hundreds of thousands of people. Throwing her arm up in acknowledgement of their support, she stormed her way to the ring, slapping the hands of fans on the way.

Jumping onto the apron and flicking her hair back, she sent an excited smile at the cameras before climbing between the first and second ropes as Zack and Punk held them open for her. High fiving the good guys of the group, she took her place among them as they were announced. She realised quickly that the nerves had turned into adrenaline and she was raring to go. She tuned her ears into the chanting from the crowd and grinned hearing 'Holy shit" chants as well as "Abbie Rose" and some scattered "CM Punk" and "We want Ryder" cheers. She blew a kiss at the crowd as the bell rang and her senses went into overdrive.

Her heart was pounding, blood rushing to her head as her body prepared itself - the 'fight or flight' response kicking in. She stayed in the corner, biding her time as several small brawls broke out. Sheamus and Punk went for Del Rio, Miz taking on Zack and Cody locking up with Daniel. Noticing Zack was getting into a bit of trouble, she joined him, knocking Miz off balance with a few punches to the gut. They double-teamed him, performing a textbook swinging neck-breaker as Abbie headed to the top. Zack kept Miz down as Abbie leapt, bringing her knee crashing into Miz's midsection.

As the match went on, Abbie got more and more confident. She was yet to miss a spot, diving through the ropes and feeling every bit a genuine contender for the briefcase. Standing in the centre of the ring with Daniel - the others outside the ring, they shared a look. She grinned before they ran, launching themselves onto the waiting superstars. She felt Punk, Zack and Sheamus catch her, breaking her fall before they group collapsed to the mats.

Twenty minutes in and the ladders were out in full force. Abbie was the first to drag one into the centre of the ring, hitting the mat as Cody grabbed her foot and dragged her back to the outside. She ducked as he went for a clothesline, hitting Del Rio instead. Scrambling back into the ring, she struggled with the weight of the ladder but managed to get it set up and climbed. The crowd were screaming and Abbie was well aware of how focussed she needed to be. Here comes the first big spot…

She swallowed hard as she balanced on the top rung, reaching for the case. She was shorter than the guys and at an immediate disadvantage but she fought on regardless. Seeing Daniel slide under the rope and begin climbing the other side, she took a deep breath. They stood facing one another, no one making any kind of move to knock the other off.

Abbie pulled her hand back and sent a stinging slap to Daniel's face. His mouth fell open, holding his cheek.

"What? Not gonna hit me cause I'm a girl?!" she screamed, slapping him again and again. Getting madder and madder, he grabbed her, trying to stop her from hitting him any more. The final straw was her fist catching his nose. He looped her arm over his head as she stepped onto the top of the ladder. The crowd covered their mouths as he judged their positioning in the ring perfectly and suplexed her off the ladder.

They landed with a massive thud, the ring threatening to collapse under the impact. All the breath was knocked from her lungs as Daniel writhed in pain next to her. The ref checked them for injury, declaring them both clear to continue as they rolled out of the ring to recover outside.

"Alright?" Daniel asked breathlessly. She nodded, clutching her ribs.

"You?" she asked.

"Yeah…listen to that" he said, pointing to the crowd.

"This is awesome" rang out around the arena. She smiled.

She felt Phil crash to the floor next to her, Cody standing smugly on the apron. No time to waste, she got back into the action, dropkicking and round-housing her way through them.

Miz had taken a nasty spill, Zack performing the rough Ryder onto a ladder that stretched precariously across the apron to the Spanish announce desk. Miz lay still on the ladder as it hovered dangerously off the ground. Del Rio was laid still on the outside after a furious brogue kick and Abbie took out Cody with a moonsault from the top rope to the outside. Daniel, Abbie, Zack and Sheamus squared up in the ring. Working together, they threw Daniel to the outside, his head bouncing off the barricades. Abbie stood back as Sheamus ploughed through Zack too.

Aware of the fact she had nothing against Sheamus strength-wise, she grabbed a chair and cracked him over the head from behind. Not one to feel guilty, she kicked his prone body out of the ring and set up another ladder. The crowd were yelling as she climbed, knowing how close she was to victory. Her back to the announce table, she reached for the case and missed, causing it to swing. She barely noticed Punk climbing the other side.

She watched him glance over her shoulder before his eyes locked onto hers. Time slowed down as they realised one of them was about to win. There was no one left to challenge them.

High above everything, Phil took a step down. Abbie frowned, the crowd cheering as he let her take the case. She looked around, confused.

"Take it" the crowd chanted.

Shrugging, she reached up to unhook the clasp.

She knew it was coming. But it didn't make it any less of a surreal moment.

Everything went into super slow motion as she watched the glint in Punk's eyes go feral. That was just it. He was Punk now.

Stepping up one more rung, he pushed her hard with the flat palms of his hands. The crowd gasped and she screamed as she was thrown backwards.

The next thing she heard was the clatter of the ladder as it broke beneath her and Miz's weight. Realising where she was - outside the ring having landed on top of Miz and snapping the ladder under them in half, she groaned at the aching in her midsection. Opening her eyes the tiniest bit, she saw Punk standing atop the ladder, the briefcase clutched tightly in his arms. The boos were deafening. It was over.


What state will Abbie be in after that fall? What does their production room encounter mean for Phil and Abbie? What will be the after-effects of such a dramatic match?

Wow. I worked hard to get this update out to say thank you to the lovely people who are still reading even though I made you wait. Every one of you that reviewed - it's thanks to you that this is up so thank you so much :) Love and hugs to all xoxo