Four days later
//One thing, I don't know why,
It doesn't even matter how hard you try,
Keep that in mind,
I designed this ride to remind myself,
How I tried so hard//
"In the End" by Linkin Park
Stephanie sat in the hard plastic chair and tried to pretend she was somewhere, anywhere else. She wished she could have had someone in the room with her. She wished she wasn't shaking. She wished she wasn't in some rehab center, awaiting her first appointment with the resident psychologist.
"The shaking is from withdrawal," a man in his early thirties said, coming into the room said.
"Oh," Stephanie said.
"I'm Dr. Greg Foster," he said, extending his hand to shake hers.
"Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley," she answered. "Although the you probably know that already."
"I've only heard about Stephanie McMahon," Greg replied, "Am I with the wrong patient?"
"No," Stephanie said. "I guess I will be dropping the Helmsley pretty soon."
"Getting divorced then?" Greg asked.
Stephanie was about to tell him it was none of his business, then she remembered it was his job to make sure she wasn't crazy or trying to hurt herself or something. "Yeah," Stephanie nodded. She pulled a pack of gum out of the pocket of her workout pants. Jericho had packed a bunch of comfort clothes for her.
"And why are you getting divorced?" Greg asked.
"You want the simple reason or the complex one?" Stephanie asked.
"Lets start with the simple one and work our way to the tougher stuff," Greg said. "We do have time, you're going to be here for a little over a month."
"I know," Stephanie said.
"So?" Greg asked.
"Oh yeah," Stephanie said. "I cheated on Hunter."
"That is pretty simple," Greg said. "And was the man you were sleeping with a friend of your husband's?"
"Hell no," Stephanie answered. "It wasn't a friend of mine until I started sleeping with him."
"And how long were you sleeping with him?" Greg asked.
"Nearly six months," Stephanie replied.
"Why did you start sleeping with this man?" Greg asked.
"Well, Hunter was stuck at home recovering from an operation," Stephanie said. "I couldn't sleep with Hunter anyways."
"Why's that?" Greg asked.
"Because I didn't deserve anyone as perfect as Hunter," Stephanie said.
"Why don't you deserve Hunter?" Greg asked.
"I lost our baby," Stephanie said, a tear slipping down her cheek. "I really murdered our baby."
"I don't understand," Greg said.
"I'm in the WWF you see," Stephanie nodded. Greg nodded. "This guy, Steve, called Hunter selfish after they lost tag team titles. But Hunter had been hurt during that match. I came back to get revenge I guess, so I backed Jericho and Jericho won. But that pissed Steve off, so he went after me with a chair. The baby died and it was all my fault."
"It sounds to me like Steve is the one who should be here," Greg said. "I don't see how you are to blame for your baby dying."
"I shouldn't have tried to get even with Austin, I mean Steve," Stephanie said.
"You may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time," Greg said, "but you didn't ask for the child to die did you?"
"No!" Stephanie exclaimed.
"Now, one more question for this session," Greg said. "Who is Jericho?"
"Dr. Foster, that could take multiple sessions to answer," Stephanie said. "I guess right now he's my best friend."
"Is that all?" Greg asked.
"I used to think he was the love of my life," Stephanie said.
"I see," Greg said. "I'll see you tomorrow Stephanie."
***Three weeks later***
"Did you have any visitors yesterday?" Greg asked.
"My mom," Stephanie said. "Her and Dad worked it out so they are never here at the same times. It's probably for the best. They would be at each other's throats."
"How do you feel about your parents relationship?" Greg asked.
"It's kind of depressing," Stephanie said. "I know that deep down they still love each other, but they refuse to admit it."
"Does it remind you of any relationship in your own life?" Greg asked.
"Not really," Stephanie said.
"You sure?" Greg asked.
"I know I love Hunter," Stephanie said. "I've told you that I do about a hundred times."
"Yes, I know that Stephanie," Greg said.
"I don't love Jeff," Stephanie said. "I was just using him to feel something. Right?"
"Right," Greg said. "Who else is a part of your life?"
Stephanie thought for a moment. "I don't love Jericho. I don't anymore. Too much has happened between us for me to feel anything like that for him ever again."
"Maybe you never really stopped," Greg said.
"He called me roadkill," Stephanie said. "Among other things."
"And he was also the first one to protect you when you came back to the WWF," Greg said. "You don't have any feelings about that?"
"I'm grateful to him," Stephanie said.
"That's all?" Greg said.
"I don't know," Stephanie admitted. "I know he doesn't trust me. I really permanently murdered any trust he had in me after he found out about Jeff and I. I've hurt him too many times."
"So you're convinced he can't love you?" Greg asked.
"Absolutely certain," Stephanie said.
"Just like you were certain you didn't deserve to have Hunter in your life?" Greg asked.
"That might have been stupid," Stephanie said. "It might also have been stupid for me to have believed I had murdered my baby...but I've actually done some horrible things to Chris."
"You never called him Chris," Greg commented.
"Sure I have," Stephanie said, "It's his name."
"Has he come to see you?" Greg asked.
"He's come twice," Stephanie said.
"And does he call?" Greg asked.
"At least every other day," Stephanie said.
"And he hates you?" Greg asked.
"No, but he doesn't love me," Stephanie said. "He just promised to be there for me."
"You could at least admit to yourself that you need him to be there for you," Greg pointed out.
"I need him," Stephanie admitted. "And I guess I love him a little still. But it's different."
"How?" Greg said.
"Before it was all heady and exciting," Stephanie said. "Now whatever I feel for him is softer, gentler. It seems more grown up and less like a girl rebelling."
"Alright," Greg said. "You have one more week here Stephanie."
"I know," Stephanie said.
"Normally I wouldn't recommend for recovering addicts to jump right back into the fray," Greg said. "But I have a feeling you won't have a choice."
"You're probably right," Stephanie said.
"Well I'll give you a couple of numbers next week," Greg said. "And you know you can always call me."
"Okay," Stephanie said.
***One week later***
Stephanie grabbed her duffel bag and slung it over her shoulder. She had already said good-bye to all of her new friends and the doctors.
"Here I go," Stephanie said, leaving her room.
She left the rehab compound and put on dark sunglasses on as she stepped into the sun.
"Man are you a sight for sore eyes," Stephanie said.
"I get that a lot," Jericho replied. "I convinced your mom and dad you didn't need them to fight over who would get to pick you up."
"Thanks," Stephanie said gratefully.
"No big deal," Chris said.
"Thanks for coming too," Stephanie said. He opened his arms and she stepped into a tight embrace. "Thanks for saving me too."
"I guess it's my life's work," Jericho teased.
"I could be the Big Show," Stephanie pointed out.
Jericho shuddered. "Speaking of the Big Show..."
"What?" Stephanie asked.
"I brought someone who wanted to see you," Jericho said, pointing to the limo he had come in. "The limo was Vince's idea."
"I'm sure it was," Stephanie said.
The door of the limo opened and the surprise guest stepped out. Stephanie's breath caught. She dropped her bag and ran to him.
"Oh Steph," he said, hugging her tightly.
"I'm so glad you're here," Stephanie said. "I kept hoping you didn't hate me."
"I don't hate you," he said. "I don't know too many people that do."
"Lets end this little lovefest," Jericho said, toting Stephanie's bag. "I won't listen if you two want privacy in the car."
"No, I want to spend all the time I can with my two favorite guys," Stephanie said, grabbing each man's hand. "You guys have no idea how much I care about you."
"Really?" Jericho asked. "Are you going to know how to show it now?"
"I'm going to try," Stephanie nodded.
"Good," Jericho said. "Lets get this show on the road."
"Agreed," Stephanie said, letting go of Jericho's hand as she stepped into the limo. Jericho followed.
"Come on Shane-O-Mac," Stephanie said.
"Sure Stephy," Shane said, glad to have his sister back in his life.
//One thing, I don't know why,
It doesn't even matter how hard you try,
Keep that in mind,
I designed this ride to remind myself,
How I tried so hard//
"In the End" by Linkin Park
Stephanie sat in the hard plastic chair and tried to pretend she was somewhere, anywhere else. She wished she could have had someone in the room with her. She wished she wasn't shaking. She wished she wasn't in some rehab center, awaiting her first appointment with the resident psychologist.
"The shaking is from withdrawal," a man in his early thirties said, coming into the room said.
"Oh," Stephanie said.
"I'm Dr. Greg Foster," he said, extending his hand to shake hers.
"Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley," she answered. "Although the you probably know that already."
"I've only heard about Stephanie McMahon," Greg replied, "Am I with the wrong patient?"
"No," Stephanie said. "I guess I will be dropping the Helmsley pretty soon."
"Getting divorced then?" Greg asked.
Stephanie was about to tell him it was none of his business, then she remembered it was his job to make sure she wasn't crazy or trying to hurt herself or something. "Yeah," Stephanie nodded. She pulled a pack of gum out of the pocket of her workout pants. Jericho had packed a bunch of comfort clothes for her.
"And why are you getting divorced?" Greg asked.
"You want the simple reason or the complex one?" Stephanie asked.
"Lets start with the simple one and work our way to the tougher stuff," Greg said. "We do have time, you're going to be here for a little over a month."
"I know," Stephanie said.
"So?" Greg asked.
"Oh yeah," Stephanie said. "I cheated on Hunter."
"That is pretty simple," Greg said. "And was the man you were sleeping with a friend of your husband's?"
"Hell no," Stephanie answered. "It wasn't a friend of mine until I started sleeping with him."
"And how long were you sleeping with him?" Greg asked.
"Nearly six months," Stephanie replied.
"Why did you start sleeping with this man?" Greg asked.
"Well, Hunter was stuck at home recovering from an operation," Stephanie said. "I couldn't sleep with Hunter anyways."
"Why's that?" Greg asked.
"Because I didn't deserve anyone as perfect as Hunter," Stephanie said.
"Why don't you deserve Hunter?" Greg asked.
"I lost our baby," Stephanie said, a tear slipping down her cheek. "I really murdered our baby."
"I don't understand," Greg said.
"I'm in the WWF you see," Stephanie nodded. Greg nodded. "This guy, Steve, called Hunter selfish after they lost tag team titles. But Hunter had been hurt during that match. I came back to get revenge I guess, so I backed Jericho and Jericho won. But that pissed Steve off, so he went after me with a chair. The baby died and it was all my fault."
"It sounds to me like Steve is the one who should be here," Greg said. "I don't see how you are to blame for your baby dying."
"I shouldn't have tried to get even with Austin, I mean Steve," Stephanie said.
"You may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time," Greg said, "but you didn't ask for the child to die did you?"
"No!" Stephanie exclaimed.
"Now, one more question for this session," Greg said. "Who is Jericho?"
"Dr. Foster, that could take multiple sessions to answer," Stephanie said. "I guess right now he's my best friend."
"Is that all?" Greg asked.
"I used to think he was the love of my life," Stephanie said.
"I see," Greg said. "I'll see you tomorrow Stephanie."
***Three weeks later***
"Did you have any visitors yesterday?" Greg asked.
"My mom," Stephanie said. "Her and Dad worked it out so they are never here at the same times. It's probably for the best. They would be at each other's throats."
"How do you feel about your parents relationship?" Greg asked.
"It's kind of depressing," Stephanie said. "I know that deep down they still love each other, but they refuse to admit it."
"Does it remind you of any relationship in your own life?" Greg asked.
"Not really," Stephanie said.
"You sure?" Greg asked.
"I know I love Hunter," Stephanie said. "I've told you that I do about a hundred times."
"Yes, I know that Stephanie," Greg said.
"I don't love Jeff," Stephanie said. "I was just using him to feel something. Right?"
"Right," Greg said. "Who else is a part of your life?"
Stephanie thought for a moment. "I don't love Jericho. I don't anymore. Too much has happened between us for me to feel anything like that for him ever again."
"Maybe you never really stopped," Greg said.
"He called me roadkill," Stephanie said. "Among other things."
"And he was also the first one to protect you when you came back to the WWF," Greg said. "You don't have any feelings about that?"
"I'm grateful to him," Stephanie said.
"That's all?" Greg said.
"I don't know," Stephanie admitted. "I know he doesn't trust me. I really permanently murdered any trust he had in me after he found out about Jeff and I. I've hurt him too many times."
"So you're convinced he can't love you?" Greg asked.
"Absolutely certain," Stephanie said.
"Just like you were certain you didn't deserve to have Hunter in your life?" Greg asked.
"That might have been stupid," Stephanie said. "It might also have been stupid for me to have believed I had murdered my baby...but I've actually done some horrible things to Chris."
"You never called him Chris," Greg commented.
"Sure I have," Stephanie said, "It's his name."
"Has he come to see you?" Greg asked.
"He's come twice," Stephanie said.
"And does he call?" Greg asked.
"At least every other day," Stephanie said.
"And he hates you?" Greg asked.
"No, but he doesn't love me," Stephanie said. "He just promised to be there for me."
"You could at least admit to yourself that you need him to be there for you," Greg pointed out.
"I need him," Stephanie admitted. "And I guess I love him a little still. But it's different."
"How?" Greg said.
"Before it was all heady and exciting," Stephanie said. "Now whatever I feel for him is softer, gentler. It seems more grown up and less like a girl rebelling."
"Alright," Greg said. "You have one more week here Stephanie."
"I know," Stephanie said.
"Normally I wouldn't recommend for recovering addicts to jump right back into the fray," Greg said. "But I have a feeling you won't have a choice."
"You're probably right," Stephanie said.
"Well I'll give you a couple of numbers next week," Greg said. "And you know you can always call me."
"Okay," Stephanie said.
***One week later***
Stephanie grabbed her duffel bag and slung it over her shoulder. She had already said good-bye to all of her new friends and the doctors.
"Here I go," Stephanie said, leaving her room.
She left the rehab compound and put on dark sunglasses on as she stepped into the sun.
"Man are you a sight for sore eyes," Stephanie said.
"I get that a lot," Jericho replied. "I convinced your mom and dad you didn't need them to fight over who would get to pick you up."
"Thanks," Stephanie said gratefully.
"No big deal," Chris said.
"Thanks for coming too," Stephanie said. He opened his arms and she stepped into a tight embrace. "Thanks for saving me too."
"I guess it's my life's work," Jericho teased.
"I could be the Big Show," Stephanie pointed out.
Jericho shuddered. "Speaking of the Big Show..."
"What?" Stephanie asked.
"I brought someone who wanted to see you," Jericho said, pointing to the limo he had come in. "The limo was Vince's idea."
"I'm sure it was," Stephanie said.
The door of the limo opened and the surprise guest stepped out. Stephanie's breath caught. She dropped her bag and ran to him.
"Oh Steph," he said, hugging her tightly.
"I'm so glad you're here," Stephanie said. "I kept hoping you didn't hate me."
"I don't hate you," he said. "I don't know too many people that do."
"Lets end this little lovefest," Jericho said, toting Stephanie's bag. "I won't listen if you two want privacy in the car."
"No, I want to spend all the time I can with my two favorite guys," Stephanie said, grabbing each man's hand. "You guys have no idea how much I care about you."
"Really?" Jericho asked. "Are you going to know how to show it now?"
"I'm going to try," Stephanie nodded.
"Good," Jericho said. "Lets get this show on the road."
"Agreed," Stephanie said, letting go of Jericho's hand as she stepped into the limo. Jericho followed.
"Come on Shane-O-Mac," Stephanie said.
"Sure Stephy," Shane said, glad to have his sister back in his life.