Two weeks later
//In spite of the way you were mocking me,
Acting like I was part of your property,
Remembering all the times you fucked with me,
I'm surprised it got so far//
Stephanie sat at the table, tapping her fingers against the glass of ice water that the waiter had sat on her table ten minutes earlier. Her eyes darted around, trying to find a familiar face in the people that passed the restaurant. She checked her watch again. It was 2:07. Whoever she was supposed to meet was supposed was seven minutes late.
Stephanie had received a letter the day before. It had been typed so she didn't know whom it was from. She pulled the sheet of paper out of her purse again.
Stephanie,
It's time to discuss the future. Yours, mine, and a certain boyfriend of yours. If you value your relationship with Chris Jericho it would be in your best interest to meet me at WWF New York tomorrow at two. I'll find you. This is no game.
Stephanie shuddered as she folded the note. "Steph?" a familiar voice said. Stephanie looked up and smiled.
"Hey Lita," Stephanie said, feeling relieved.
"What are you doing here?" Lita asked.
"You mean you didn't ask me to meet you here?" Stephanie asked.
"No I didn't," Lita said.
Stephanie slumped in defeat. "I'm supposed to meet someone here. I don't know who it is and whoever they are, they aren't prompt."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Lita said. "Matt and I are in the VIP lounge. Come say hi if you get a chance."
"I will," Stephanie promised. "How's Jeff?"
"Better," Lita said. "How about you?"
"I'm pretty good," Stephanie said. "You take care."
"You too," Lita said.
Stephanie was ready to leave the restaurant until a shadow passed over her table. She looked up and gasped. "What do you want?"
"We had an appointment," he replied, sitting in the chair across from her.
"What are you talking about?" Stephanie asked.
He picked up the letter that was lying on the table. "Don't tell me I forgot to sign my name?"
"Okay, enough of the games," Stephanie said. "What the hell do you want?"
"I thought we agreed to be friends," he said.
"No Test," Stephanie said, "we agreed to stay out of each other's lives."
"That's right," Test said, leaning back in his chair, "I'm forgetful as hell these days."
"I'm leaving," Stephanie said, grabbing her purse.
"Not if you don't want Jericho to suffer," Test said coldly.
"So there is a threat behind the ominous letter?" Stephanie asked, loosening her hold on her purse.
"Something like that," Test said.
"What do you want?" Stephanie asked.
"In order or just what comes to mind?" Test asked.
"Whichever suits you," Stephanie answered.
"Alright Princess," Test said. "I want the WCW championship. I want power and money, at least more than I have now."
"Still obsessed with power?" Stephanie asked.
"Well, there is something else I want," Test said, raising his hand to run it against Stephanie's cheek. She flinched away from his touch. "You."
"Never," Stephanie said.
"You forget that I've had you before," Test said.
"Never again," Stephanie said.
"I wonder how Jericho would like it when he's being beaten to a pulp to hear that his girlfriend could have stopped it all?" Test asked.
"I'd find a way to stop you," Stephanie said.
"But you don't know who I'm friends with in the WWF anymore," Test said. "You wouldn't know who would be taking care of your boyfriend."
"Please," Stephanie snorted. "You don't have that kind of pull in the WWF."
"Well, you can believe that and watch tomorrow night as Jericho becomes a bloody mess," Test said. "Or you could just trust me."
"Trust you?" Stephanie asked sarcastically. "Are you high?"
"No," Test said, "I leave getting high to you."
Stephanie gasped. "You bastard."
"You can help me win the title easily enough," Test said. "Probably at the next pay-per-view would be the best shot."
"And you'd stay away from Chris?" Stephanie asked.
"Well, I'd get power from having the belt," Test said. "Do you think you could arrange some kind of bonus or some endorsements I could get? That would help in the money area."
"Yeah," Stephanie said. "I'd just ask Marissa the best way to do it."
"Good," Test said.
"That's it?" Stephanie asked.
"Well, there is one more problem," Test said. "I still want you."
"No," Stephanie said.
"Your choice," Test said. "I don't think I would enjoy raping you. I want you to come to me willingly."
"By threatening the man I love?" Stephanie asked. "You're crazy."
"You don't know the meaning of the word," Test said coolly. "You 'loved' me, Hunter, Jeff, and who knows how many other people, and you 'love' Jericho."
"I admit I used you," Stephanie said. "I never loved you."
"Well, just to let you know how serious I am right now," Test said. "Why don't you watch Raw tomorrow? We'll talk business afterwards."
"When did you become a sick, sadistic ass?" Stephanie asked, standing.
"When you became a slut," Test replied, grinning.
Stephanie turned on her heel and left the restaurant as quickly as she could. Her stomach was in knots and her hands were clammy. She hailed a cab outside of the restaurant.
She sighed in relief as she stepped into her apartment. She set down her purse and walked to the kitchen to get a glass of water. The light on the answering machine was flashing.
"Baby, I love you. I hope you get a chance to watch tomorrow. Talk to you later."
Stephanie sat in a barstool and laid her head on the table. She had no idea what was going to happen the next day. All she knew was that she had to protect Chris.
She picked up the phone and called her brother, "Shane?"
"What's up sweetie?" Shane asked.
"I need to be at the Raw taping tomorrow," Stephanie said.
"What does Dad want?" Shane asked.
"It's not Dad," Stephanie said. "I'll be back on Tuesday. I promise."
"Alright," Shane said. "Talk to you later."
*** The next night ***
Stephanie walked down to the ring with Jericho the next night. She stood in his corner as he defeated Kurt Angle in a great match. After the match, Stephanie slid into the ring to celebrate with Jericho.
Five people, dressed in head-to-toe black, rushed down the ramp. Two of the smaller ones grabbed ahold of Stephanie as the other three attacked Jericho. They kicked him and hit him until he was on the ground, bleeding from his mouth.
They let go of Stephanie and she rushed to Jericho. She gathered his head in her arms. "What the hell was that all about?"
"I don't know sweetie," Stephanie said, tears falling from her eyes. She stood up and called for a stretcher.
"They didn't touch you,' Jericho mumbled. "I wonder what I did."
"You are perfect," Stephanie said, as EMTs took care of him. "They were psychos or something."
"Ride with me?" Jericho asked.
"Of course," Stephanie said.
Stephanie climbed into the ambulance next to Jericho. Test had kept his promise. And she still didn't know who the hell was helping him.
Stephanie was pacing the waiting room of the emergency room when her cell phone rang. "Hello?"
"So, did you like the show?" Test asked.
"You're sick you son of a bitch," Stephanie said in disgust.
"I take that as a yes," Test said.
"Take it however you want," Stephanie said.
"Now you have a taste of how I can hurt Chris," Test said. "And after I'm finished, I can just tell Jericho you could have prevented it all."
"But at what cost?" Stephanie asked. "I'm not big on selling my soul."
"Don't flatter yourself Steph," Test said. "You sold your soul long ago. And the last I heard, your father is Satan. I guess you're Satan's spawn."
"You're so clever," Stephanie said sarcastically.
"So are you going to cooperate Stephanie?" Test asked.
"Do I really have a choice?" Stephanie asked.
"Of course you do," Test said.
"How do I know you won't turn Chris against me if I comply with you?" Stephanie asked.
"You don't," Test said.
"You're such a sick bastard," Stephanie said.
"Yes or no?" Test asked.
"Yes," Stephanie said miserably. "But I swear to God you will live to regret this."
"I'm sure I will," Test said. "I mean, I just invited you into my bed. Who knows what kind of STDs you have? I'll be sure to invest in condoms."
"We'll talk when I get back," Stephanie said. "My boyfriend is lying in the emergency room, so I'm sure you'll understand when I..."
Stephanie hung up her cell phone. She turned off the power so she wouldn't receive any incoming calls. She moved to the glass that looked into the room where Chris was. The doctors were trying to make him comfortable.
He opened his eyes and smiled weakly at her. She put her hand up against the glass and smiled sadly at him. "I swear to protect you."
//In spite of the way you were mocking me,
Acting like I was part of your property,
Remembering all the times you fucked with me,
I'm surprised it got so far//
Stephanie sat at the table, tapping her fingers against the glass of ice water that the waiter had sat on her table ten minutes earlier. Her eyes darted around, trying to find a familiar face in the people that passed the restaurant. She checked her watch again. It was 2:07. Whoever she was supposed to meet was supposed was seven minutes late.
Stephanie had received a letter the day before. It had been typed so she didn't know whom it was from. She pulled the sheet of paper out of her purse again.
Stephanie,
It's time to discuss the future. Yours, mine, and a certain boyfriend of yours. If you value your relationship with Chris Jericho it would be in your best interest to meet me at WWF New York tomorrow at two. I'll find you. This is no game.
Stephanie shuddered as she folded the note. "Steph?" a familiar voice said. Stephanie looked up and smiled.
"Hey Lita," Stephanie said, feeling relieved.
"What are you doing here?" Lita asked.
"You mean you didn't ask me to meet you here?" Stephanie asked.
"No I didn't," Lita said.
Stephanie slumped in defeat. "I'm supposed to meet someone here. I don't know who it is and whoever they are, they aren't prompt."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Lita said. "Matt and I are in the VIP lounge. Come say hi if you get a chance."
"I will," Stephanie promised. "How's Jeff?"
"Better," Lita said. "How about you?"
"I'm pretty good," Stephanie said. "You take care."
"You too," Lita said.
Stephanie was ready to leave the restaurant until a shadow passed over her table. She looked up and gasped. "What do you want?"
"We had an appointment," he replied, sitting in the chair across from her.
"What are you talking about?" Stephanie asked.
He picked up the letter that was lying on the table. "Don't tell me I forgot to sign my name?"
"Okay, enough of the games," Stephanie said. "What the hell do you want?"
"I thought we agreed to be friends," he said.
"No Test," Stephanie said, "we agreed to stay out of each other's lives."
"That's right," Test said, leaning back in his chair, "I'm forgetful as hell these days."
"I'm leaving," Stephanie said, grabbing her purse.
"Not if you don't want Jericho to suffer," Test said coldly.
"So there is a threat behind the ominous letter?" Stephanie asked, loosening her hold on her purse.
"Something like that," Test said.
"What do you want?" Stephanie asked.
"In order or just what comes to mind?" Test asked.
"Whichever suits you," Stephanie answered.
"Alright Princess," Test said. "I want the WCW championship. I want power and money, at least more than I have now."
"Still obsessed with power?" Stephanie asked.
"Well, there is something else I want," Test said, raising his hand to run it against Stephanie's cheek. She flinched away from his touch. "You."
"Never," Stephanie said.
"You forget that I've had you before," Test said.
"Never again," Stephanie said.
"I wonder how Jericho would like it when he's being beaten to a pulp to hear that his girlfriend could have stopped it all?" Test asked.
"I'd find a way to stop you," Stephanie said.
"But you don't know who I'm friends with in the WWF anymore," Test said. "You wouldn't know who would be taking care of your boyfriend."
"Please," Stephanie snorted. "You don't have that kind of pull in the WWF."
"Well, you can believe that and watch tomorrow night as Jericho becomes a bloody mess," Test said. "Or you could just trust me."
"Trust you?" Stephanie asked sarcastically. "Are you high?"
"No," Test said, "I leave getting high to you."
Stephanie gasped. "You bastard."
"You can help me win the title easily enough," Test said. "Probably at the next pay-per-view would be the best shot."
"And you'd stay away from Chris?" Stephanie asked.
"Well, I'd get power from having the belt," Test said. "Do you think you could arrange some kind of bonus or some endorsements I could get? That would help in the money area."
"Yeah," Stephanie said. "I'd just ask Marissa the best way to do it."
"Good," Test said.
"That's it?" Stephanie asked.
"Well, there is one more problem," Test said. "I still want you."
"No," Stephanie said.
"Your choice," Test said. "I don't think I would enjoy raping you. I want you to come to me willingly."
"By threatening the man I love?" Stephanie asked. "You're crazy."
"You don't know the meaning of the word," Test said coolly. "You 'loved' me, Hunter, Jeff, and who knows how many other people, and you 'love' Jericho."
"I admit I used you," Stephanie said. "I never loved you."
"Well, just to let you know how serious I am right now," Test said. "Why don't you watch Raw tomorrow? We'll talk business afterwards."
"When did you become a sick, sadistic ass?" Stephanie asked, standing.
"When you became a slut," Test replied, grinning.
Stephanie turned on her heel and left the restaurant as quickly as she could. Her stomach was in knots and her hands were clammy. She hailed a cab outside of the restaurant.
She sighed in relief as she stepped into her apartment. She set down her purse and walked to the kitchen to get a glass of water. The light on the answering machine was flashing.
"Baby, I love you. I hope you get a chance to watch tomorrow. Talk to you later."
Stephanie sat in a barstool and laid her head on the table. She had no idea what was going to happen the next day. All she knew was that she had to protect Chris.
She picked up the phone and called her brother, "Shane?"
"What's up sweetie?" Shane asked.
"I need to be at the Raw taping tomorrow," Stephanie said.
"What does Dad want?" Shane asked.
"It's not Dad," Stephanie said. "I'll be back on Tuesday. I promise."
"Alright," Shane said. "Talk to you later."
*** The next night ***
Stephanie walked down to the ring with Jericho the next night. She stood in his corner as he defeated Kurt Angle in a great match. After the match, Stephanie slid into the ring to celebrate with Jericho.
Five people, dressed in head-to-toe black, rushed down the ramp. Two of the smaller ones grabbed ahold of Stephanie as the other three attacked Jericho. They kicked him and hit him until he was on the ground, bleeding from his mouth.
They let go of Stephanie and she rushed to Jericho. She gathered his head in her arms. "What the hell was that all about?"
"I don't know sweetie," Stephanie said, tears falling from her eyes. She stood up and called for a stretcher.
"They didn't touch you,' Jericho mumbled. "I wonder what I did."
"You are perfect," Stephanie said, as EMTs took care of him. "They were psychos or something."
"Ride with me?" Jericho asked.
"Of course," Stephanie said.
Stephanie climbed into the ambulance next to Jericho. Test had kept his promise. And she still didn't know who the hell was helping him.
Stephanie was pacing the waiting room of the emergency room when her cell phone rang. "Hello?"
"So, did you like the show?" Test asked.
"You're sick you son of a bitch," Stephanie said in disgust.
"I take that as a yes," Test said.
"Take it however you want," Stephanie said.
"Now you have a taste of how I can hurt Chris," Test said. "And after I'm finished, I can just tell Jericho you could have prevented it all."
"But at what cost?" Stephanie asked. "I'm not big on selling my soul."
"Don't flatter yourself Steph," Test said. "You sold your soul long ago. And the last I heard, your father is Satan. I guess you're Satan's spawn."
"You're so clever," Stephanie said sarcastically.
"So are you going to cooperate Stephanie?" Test asked.
"Do I really have a choice?" Stephanie asked.
"Of course you do," Test said.
"How do I know you won't turn Chris against me if I comply with you?" Stephanie asked.
"You don't," Test said.
"You're such a sick bastard," Stephanie said.
"Yes or no?" Test asked.
"Yes," Stephanie said miserably. "But I swear to God you will live to regret this."
"I'm sure I will," Test said. "I mean, I just invited you into my bed. Who knows what kind of STDs you have? I'll be sure to invest in condoms."
"We'll talk when I get back," Stephanie said. "My boyfriend is lying in the emergency room, so I'm sure you'll understand when I..."
Stephanie hung up her cell phone. She turned off the power so she wouldn't receive any incoming calls. She moved to the glass that looked into the room where Chris was. The doctors were trying to make him comfortable.
He opened his eyes and smiled weakly at her. She put her hand up against the glass and smiled sadly at him. "I swear to protect you."