She knocked on the changing room, and then let herself in. Jeff was sitting on the bench, still in his wrestling attire, watching (or at least Tora thought he was watching) Kane and Jericho's match against WCW.
She walked in and sat down behind him. He didn't moved, just stared at the screen.
"Jeff, hun, you okay?" she asked. Taking a strand of his multicolored hair in her hand and twirling it around her finger. "Jeff? Earth to Jeff!" she said gently.
"mmmm, yea?" he said. And turned to look at her. He blinked, and breathed in. "Trish kissed me" he said.
"yeah, I know, I was watching that at the hospital. Disgusting eh?" she said, hoping he'd agree.
"Actually..." He started, and then looked up to see her hopeful eyes. "Never mind... please tell me that's Canadian gratitude" he semi laughed, semi smiled.
"Not that I know of. Then again. Its been a while since I've lived in Canada, kinda been staying with Taker the past three years, remember that Jeffy-boy?" she said. "but I still seem to carry around Canadian moolah with me. Which reminds me, I owe Raven"
Jeff smiled. "How's Sara?" he asked, with every bit of concern she knew he had in his body.
"I don't know. I haven't been told yet. I was kinda wondering if we could swing by the hospital before we head home" she said.
"Sure. what's this about Raven though?" he asked. "You owe him money. I told you not to be betting on me" he smiled, both trying to cheer him up and clear his foggy mind, and to cheer up Tora.
"He came to the hospital, and helped me pay for Taker's coffee. That's all, no betting." she said. As Raven walked into the room.
"Tor. I'm on in three, better watch!" he said. "Unless of course you want to be part of ECW with me?" he said, kinda hopeful, but knew the answer.
"As much as I like to, I'm staying WWF" she said. "Good luck, I'll be watching". Raven smiled, and turned to leave.
"ECW?" Jeff said. Kinda confused.
"Just watch" she said. And they turned to the TV. "Forget about Trish
please, I mean, I don't want ya going on about her all night" she laughed.
"Trish kissed me!" he joked. And she playfully hit his arm. She
then unraveled his hair from around her fingers. He put his arms around
her and gave her a gentle squeeze, but not wanting to let go. "mmm, WCW
and ECW on the TV" he said, and eased his way hesitantly out of the embrace,
just as Test walked into the room.
Test gasped loudly, and Tora turned around to see his startled face.
She jumped up. And asserted herself in front of him.
"not what it looks like" she said, giving him a gentle kiss on his
beaten lips. He pulled himself away and frowned.
"You spent tonight with Raven" he said, "and ECW boy, not just that..."
he sighed.
"Yeah, but, I thought you liked ECW, WCW, Shane" she said. "besides..."
"NOT just that!" he yelled. She reared back, and signed heavily, a
little scared. "Not only did you spend the evening with another guy, and
rode here with another guy, that other guy, beat the SHIT out of me!" she
stepped back, fear rising up in her. You don't piss of a 6 foot seven
giant. Jeff stood up and came to her side.
"Relax man, she didn't mean anything" Jeff said, taking Tora's hand
to steady her.
"AND this guy?!" Test said, ignoring Jeff completely and yelling at
Tora.
"no! Test! He's just a friend, nothing more!" She said, sternly. Test
extended a hand and slapped her. Realizing what he'd done he fell to the
floor. Tora put her hand to her throbbing face. And sat heavily down on
the bench behind her, Jeff sat next to her.
"no, no, I didn't mean to" he said. "I didn't mean to, Im not like
that, I'd never do that." he stood up and ran from the room.
Tora knew he wasn't like that, just the stress and pressure from the
last couple of weeks and what was going on tonight, just pushed him over
the edge. Tora cried softly, an emotion she hadn't done in a while. She
cried though, partly from the pain in her face, partly from the pain in
her heart, and mostly from the fear Test instilled in her. Another emotion
she hadn't felt in a while. Fear.
Jeff's cell phone rang in his bag, and he dug through it fast to answer.
He opened it up.
"yeah" he said. And listened. "yeah, right there"
Jeff put his arm around her and pulled her into his chest.
"Shhh" he said, as he gentle and subtle tears rolled down her face
to his shirt. "C'mon. Time to go. That was Taker. He wants you down at
the hospital" he brushed her hair back from her face and cradled her in
his arms. Rocking her back and forth. "Ready?"
She nodded, and reached up wipeing the tears from her face with her
hand. Jeff took a jacket from his bag and put it around her. Then took
an elastic band from his bag, and tied her hair back out of her face, free
of tears.
He rubbed her shoulders, to comfort her. He picked up his bag and flung
it over his shoulder, then took her hand, leading her from the room to
the hall.
The walked hand in hand down the hall, she snuggled deeply into his
jacket for comfort, Then leaned against his shoulder. He let go of her
hand, and put his arm around her.
Kane stood in the hallway a few feet away from Tora and Jeff, icing
bumps and bruises from the huge fight with ECW. He nodded in question to
Jeff and Tora.
"Test hit her" Jeff said. Kane growled beneath his mask. "Relax, he
just kinda exploded, as long as she's no wheres near him for awhile, she's
fine." he said. Kane still looked angry, he through down the ice
and started walking away, looking for Test.
"No" she said, mumbling through Jeff's coat that was now rapped tightly
around her neck for the warmth, and comfort. Kane turned back.
"We're going to the hospital, Taker called. Coming?" Jeff asked Kane.
Kane nodded and followed Tora and Jeff from the Arena to Jeff's car.
Jeff opened the door for Tora, and helped her in. Kane jumping in the
back. Jeff closed Tora's door, and walked over to the other side of the
car, and stepped in.
"Trish kissed him" Kane said. Tora ignored him and sat wrapped tightly
in Jeff's coat, staring out the window at the city lights.
"Don't remind her" Jeff said to Kane. "Don't remind me"