tyrf SPECIAL DEDICATION:

Grace the ending is for you... you'll know what I'm talking about when you read it :)

[ Stephanie's locker-room ]

"Here we are." Shane said quietly, as they approached Stephanie's locker-room, Shane pushed the locker-room door open and carried Stephanie into the room, he walked over to the couch and put Stephanie down on the couch. "Stephanie, you got to let me go okay? I won't leave you."

"Okay," Stephanie said softly, letting her grasp on Shane.

Shane smiled, he walked over to the little refrigerator and grabbed an ice pack from the freezer, he shut the refrigerator and walked back over to Stephanie with the ice pack in his hands. "Here let me see."

Stephanie shook her head. "Leave me alone Shane."

Shane shook his head and knelt down in front of Stephanie. "Let me see Stephanie. Don't start acting like this, you held onto me the whole limo ride home, and now you won't let me look at your face? How am I going to tend to the cut on your lip if you won't let me put this ice on your face, now come on."

Stephanie slapped Shane's hand away. "Don't touch me!"

Shane frowned. "What the hell is your problem? I'm just trying to help you, trying to make that pain in your face go away and you treat me like I'm the damn enemy!"

"I'm sorry!" Stephanie screamed.

Shane's face softened. "Oh, look Steph I'm sorry..."

"Make it go away Shane, please just make him go away, he won't stop until he has me dead..." Stephanie looked down at Shane, tears forming in her eyes.

Shane reached up and brushed the strands of hair out of Stephanie's eyes. "Sshh, he's not going to kill you, or hurt you, or violate you okay? I'm your big brother and our job is to protect our little sisters and that is what I'm going to do, I'm going to protect you, protect you with my life. You think you're scared? God Steph, I'm scared of my mind, you should have seen my face when I saw him hovering over you with that glint in his eyes, I didn't know what he did, but I could feel it in my heart that he was going to do something else. And when I looked down at you and saw what he did, I couldn't see straight, all I could see was my anger, and all I could feel was how I wanted him dead, DEAD Steph! Dead for even thinking about hurting you, dead for all the pain he put you through, dead for taking you away from me in the first place. When you get hurt Steph, it's not just hurting you... it's hurting me, so will you please just let me see your face? Please Stephanie?"

Stephanie nodded slowly and removed her hand from her face, allowing Shane to see it. "How bad does it look?"

Shane knitted his eyebrows, when he saw the black and blue bruise already forming on Stephanie's cheek, Shane brought up the ice pack and put it on Stephanie's lip. "Not that bad Steph."

Stephanie raised her eyebrow. "If it doesn't look that bad why does it feel like I received another big boot by Kane?" Stephanie watched Shane examine her face with an unreadable look in his eyes.

Shane sighed. "There's going to be a bruise, a big bruise Stephanie. I can't hide that from Andrew, we got to tell him." Shane got up and sat down next to Stephanie.

Stephanie shook her head. "You promised."

Shane nodded. "I know but I can't keep this from him, the minute he walks through that door or you two bump into each other he is going to see the bruise on your face and then what am I supposed to tell him? She walked into a door?"

Stephanie nodded. "That works."

Shane shook his head. "No it doesn't. Why don't we just tell him the truth, that Hunter went insane and hit you? It's the truth Stephanie, and he's going to find it out, because telling him you walked into the door is like the main excuse a person who has been abused uses, that and I fell."

Stephanie glared at Shane. "I'm not being abused."

Shane sighed. "What do you call what Hunter did to you?"

Stephanie narrowed her eyes. "You are acting like he hit me all the time."

Shane turned his whole body, so he was facing Stephanie, he was going to feel foolish for asking this question, but a part, no all of him needed to know this. "Did he? I mean you two were together?"

Stephanie stared at Shane with an incredible look in her eyes. "What would make you ask a question like that Shane?"

Shane bit down on his bottom lip. "I would call you, when Marissa would be sleeping or something and I wouldn't have anything to do, I would pick up the phone and call you, and whenever we talked I swore you were crying but when I asked you what was wrong and you got all defensive and said nothing, and I had always let it go at that, but now I can't. Steph, did Hunter hit you two when you were together?"

Stephanie snorted. "I am not answering that question Shane."

Shane crossed his arms. "Why not? It's a simple question Stephanie, did Hunter hit you when you two were together?"

Stephanie shook her head. "No Shane, he didn't hit me when we were together. Right outside the office was the first time he hit me, okay? I was always crying on the phone because, well because I was miserable okay Shane? I was miserable and the only way I could let it all out was to cry, and it always happened to happen right before you called, you always had a knack of calling when I was alone."

Shane let a sad frown come upon his face. "You know if you ever called me or came to me and told me what was going on in your life, I would have been more than willingly to take you out of that shit hole of a marriage with that bastard. But you never came to me, I never knew, maybe I was just too oblivious or you were too good at the lies."

"As you know Shane we weren't always the closest. And what would you have done if dad or Hunter tried to stop you? If dad had threatened you, you would have forgotten how to be the triumphant big brother in a second, but things changed, you grew up and realized what you were about to turn into, another dad. I grew up loving that man my whole life, I just don't know anymore." Stephanie said, looking down.

Shane shook his head. "But despite everything, you did not deserve to be slapped by Hunter today, he was out of line, and I won't let you think otherwise."

Andrew narrowed his eyes in anger as he waited for Stephanie's reply which was just a sniffle, Andrew couldn't control the anger in his body anymore. He had walked in about 5 minutes ago, to see how Stephanie was doing since today had been the finalization of the divorce between her and Hunter, and he walked in and seen Shane putting the ice pack on Stephanie's lip and decided to be quiet and hear about what happened, and now he knew, Hunter had slapped Stephanie, Hunter had dared to put his hands on Stephanie, Hunter had no right to even look at Stephanie sideways in Andrew's opinion.

"He did what?" Andrew asked, finally talking, indicating he was in the room.

Shane jumped up when he heard Andrew's voice, how long had Andrew been in here? Obviously long enough to hear what Hunter did, by the look on Andrew's face Shane knew Andrew knew. "Calm down Andrew." Shane said bringing out his hands.

Andrew pushed Shane's hands out of the way and walked over to Stephanie, who was frozen on the couch. Andrew kneeled down in front of Stephanie, he stared at Stephanie, who was holding onto the ice pack for dear life, like that was the only thing that mattered to her, obviously she was startled by the realization that Andrew was in the room. "Stephanie? What did he do to you?" Andrew needed to hear the words out of Stephanie's mouth.

Stephanie avoided eye contact with Andrew. "Nothing."

Andrew reached his hands up and took the ice pack away from Stephanie's face, he dropped it to the floor, and frowned as he saw the cut lip Stephanie had; Andrew brought his hand up to Stephanie's face and merely brushed his fingers softly across the forming bruise. "This isn't nothing." Andrew let his hand rest on the bruise, but softly, not wanting to hurt Stephanie further. "This is something Steph, please tell me."

Stephanie closed her eyes when she felt the warmth of Andrew's touch against her face, the left side of her face was pounding with so much pain, but she didn't dare ask Andrew to remove his hand, afraid that she would never feel this warm again, she felt so cold right now, she needed Andrew's touch. "I, Andrew please don't."

Andrew removed his hand and let it venture down to the curve of Stephanie's chin, he tilted her head up and stared into Stephanie's blue eyes. He noticed that eyes were red from what he guessed had been crying, Andrew brought his hand up to Stephanie's eyes and wiped away the tears. "What did he do to you Stephanie?"

Stephanie looked past Andrew and stared at Shane who was watching her intently, Stephanie sighed and turned her attention back to Andrew. The look in his eyes made every intention of lying to Andrew fly out the window, she knew that one glance into Andrew's eyes that she wouldn't be able to lie to him, lie to him about what happened.

"Steph?" Andrew asked, still staring at her face, despite the bruise, the cut lip and the red eyes, he could see that she was his Stephanie; his incredible, funny, smart, devious at times Stephanie.

"I," Stephanie stopped for a second, she gathered her courage, despite that the events of what happened today were still raw in her mind, she need to tell Andrew this. "We all showed up at the office of Abagail Johnson, the lawyer who was dealing with our divorce, we went in there signed the papers, Abagail said we could go, so I left but Shane stayed behind, once I got outside Hunter came up to me. He started saying that we could have made it work, I told him we couldn't because there was no love in our marriage and then he grabbed me by the wrist and pushed me against the wall and said I was provoking him, he wouldn't let me go so I kneed him in the groins, but he still had a hold of me, he called me a b-bitch and then he slapped me, real hard, and then Shane came out and pushed Hunter away from and then Hunter left."

Andrew stared at Stephanie, his eyes soft. "Is that all that happened?"

Stephanie nodded. "It is, I swear Andrew!"

Andrew nodded. "I believe you Stephanie, calm down, I don't think you're lying to me." Andrew pulled Stephanie into a hug, he rubbed her back softly, one of his hands tangled up in Stephanie's hair.

[ Outside of the locker-room ]

Andrew looked in the locker-room real quick, he eyed Stephanie crawled up on the couch asleep, he smiled softly, shutting the door behind him quietly, once the door was shut, he shot a look to Shane. "We got to do something."

Shane crossed his arms across his chest and shook his head. "And do what Andrew? We are only two people, and remember I have a street fight to do in like 10 minutes? What are you going to do, you're going to be the big bad boyfriend and kick Hunter's ass?"

Andrew nodded. "Yeah, for what he did to Stephanie, yeah. Hunter had no right even raising a finger, or glancing at Stephanie, and I think it's about time he realizes that, I am going to teach him a lesson."

Shane rolled his eyes. "Oh, that's going to work. You kick his ass and then he takes it out on Stephanie, everything we do he takes it out on her. And what if you get hurt, REAL bad? How do you think that is going to do to Stephanie? She needs both of us here Andrew, and if you go getting yourself killed then you're abandoning her. We've gotten this far being a team, now don't go breaking up this team because of what that bastard did to her. You think I didn't feel the exact way you did? I wanted him to bleed for what he did to her, but then I looked at her, and looked into her eyes and saw that need, that need she has for both of us, we're a family here Andrew, so I calmed down and decided to *not* attack Hunter, and I need you to do that."

Andrew shook his head. "I can't possibly do that! I won't! He caused that bruise on her face, and I am going to cause a bruise on his ass when I kick his ass all the way to hell, where he deserves to rot."

Shane groaned and pushed Andrew against the wall slightly. "Damn it Andrew, don't make me cancel this street fight to baby sit you to make sure you don't do something totally stupid. You say you love her, stay by her side to prove that."

Andrew finally nodded. "Fine Shane, fine. I'll go in there and stay by Stephanie's side, but I will eventually get Hunter."

Shane nodded. "You will, now tell Stephanie if she wakes up before the match is over, that I went to kick DDP's ass." Shane walked off towards the ring.

Andrew watched Shane walk off, Andrew opened the locker-room door and peeked his head in the room, and stared at Stephanie's still sleeping form, he sighed. "Be right back Steph." Andrew shut the door behind him, going to find Hunter and make Hunter pay.

[ Crash's locker-room ]

Crash dropped his gym bag in the middle of the locker-room floor, Crash cracked his neck and walked over to his locker and grabbed his ring attire, and started to get ready for his match tonight. He was going to fight X-Pac for the light heavyweight championship belt. Crash walked over to the tv in his locker-room and flipped it on once he got changed into his ring gear, he crossed his arms across his chest as he watched Shane McMahon walk down the titantron to his theme song; Crash watched Shane and DDP duke it out the minute Shane finished walking down the titantron.

"My money is on Shane McMahon." Molly Holly said, walking into the locker-room flashing Crash a big grin.

Crash turned away from the television set and smiled at Molly. "You never know what DDP has up his sleeve."

Molly nodded. "As long as Shane stays away from the diamond cutter, he'll be fine. What about you? Are you ready for your title match with X-Pac after Shane's match?" Molly asked, looking at Crash.

Crash nodded. "As ready as can be."

Molly Holly frowned. "I don't want to be a party pooper, but look at you Crash! You still got the cuts and bruises all over your face, and you heard what the doctors said, they said you should be taking a rest, instead the minute you get here you challenge X-Pac to a title match. No offense Crash, but you are not ready for this match, you are still injured and you know it! I saw how you limped into the locker-room, you are going to put yourself into further damage then your body is already in."

"Stop being all motherish on him Molly, he's older then you, stop acting like his mom." Hardcore said, walking into the locker-room throwing Crash a knowing look. "He knows what he's doing. He's a Holly, we don't lie down for nobody, and by challenging X-Pac to a title match the minute he walked into the arena proves how tough us Hollys are."

Crash nodded. "Yeah Molly, lighten up, I'll be fine, if it makes you feel better, why don't you accompany me to the ring, for safety reasons?"

Hardcore laughed. "Yeah why don't you?"

Molly Holly glared at Hardcore, and then nodded to Crash. "You bet your injured butt I'm going to accompany you to the ring, see you out there." Molly stomped out of the locker-room and headed towards her own.

Hardcore turned to Crash and rolled his eyes. "Just to be on the safe side, are you ready for this match?"

Crash nodded. "Sure am Hardcore, what's a few bumps? Nothing to keep a Holly down, especially this Holly."

[ Hunter's locker-room ]

Andrew kicked the door open to Hunter's locker-room, and went to attack Hunter, but stopped when he found Hunter wasn't in his locker-room; Andrew went to leave but before he could he was grabbed by the arm and thrown out of the locker-room and into the wall outside of the locker-room.

"Aww, Stephanie's loyal boyfriend decided to pay me a visit." Hunter kicked Andrew in the stomach and grabbed Andrew by his hair and threw him down to the ground. "Didn't you think I was waiting for you? I knew you were going to come after me after what I did to Stephanie. Liked it did you? That slap had to leave a bruise."

Andrew growled and gave Hunter a kick to the face when Hunter tried to give Andrew a kick to the groin; Andrew pushed himself up and kicked Hunter in the chest once Hunter hit the ground. Andrew pushed his hair back and grabbed Hunter by the collar of his shirt and threw him against the wall as with much force as he could. "Look asshole, don't you ever touch Stephanie again, you hear me? Don't you look at her, don't you think about her, don't you dare to breathe the same air as her, because if you do I'm coming back and next time I will kill you. You might have been able to slap around Trish or what other sluts you went out with but Stephanie is different you hear me? She is my girlfriend, but most of all she is a human being and you can't treat people like that, I don't know what happened to you to make you such a complete asshole, but stay away from Stephanie." Andrew kneed Hunter the chest, Andrew watched Hunter slide down to the ground with a groan before walking off.

Hunter pushed himself up, he shook his head and ran after Andrew, spearing him from the behind; Hunter groaned, holding his ribs as he watched Andrew fall to the ground, he then set Andrew up for the pedigree but Andrew countered the move by kicking Hunter away. Hunter shook his head and kicked Andrew in the ribs. "You should have never came here, why don't you just give her up? She's not worth this all, in the end Steph is mine."

Hunter smirked, and walked off leaving Andrew in the hall-way. "Asshole." Hunter muttered, still holding on to his ribs.

[ Stephanie's locker-room ]

Stephanie pushed herself up from the couch, once she was sure Andrew and Shane were gone, Stephanie had pretended to fall asleep so she wouldn't have to see the worried looks on Shane and Andrew's faces. Stephanie let out a sigh, as she walked over to the television set, she turned it on and turned it to the right channel and sat down as she watched the street match going on between Shane and DDP. Stephanie stifled a scream, a soft, small scream, when she saw Shane get hit in the ribs with the sledgehammer, Stephanie watched Shane fall to the ground holding his ribs, Stephanie jumped up when she watched DDP hit Shane again.

"Oh my god..." Stephanie said underneath her breath, her blue eyes wide with shock.

How much longer was Shane going to be able to handle this? Stephanie watched the screen and flinched when she saw DDP hit Shane with a kendo stick, Stephanie couldn't handle watching her brother get attacked like that, it hurt more then anything she had ever felt, even the slap Hunter had given her today. Stephanie finally understood what Shane had been telling her earlier, his pain was hers and vice-versa, it made sense afterall, Stephanie could always know when Shane was in pain, and it was fitting that he would call her whenever she was crying, they knew when the other was in pain or discomfort. It had been a bond between Stephanie and Shane that they had ever since they could talk, ever since they were 3 they had always been able to feel the pain the other one was feeling, it had irked Stephanie at times but then at other times it made her feel at ease, knowing that if anyone would know what she was going through, it would be Shane.

Stephanie brought her hand up to the television screen, she couldn't just sit back here and watch Shane get destroy Shane like that, no she wouldn't sit back here and let it happen, she wouldn't stand for it. Sure she was no match for DDP or possibly whoever else showed up, but Stephanie wouldn't sit back and not be there for her big brother, who had always been there for her.

"I'm coming Shane." Stephanie turned the tv off and ran out of her locker-room.

Andrew limped into the locker-room, holding his ribs. "Steph?" Andrew looked over to the couch that had once occupied Stephanie's sleeping form, but was now empty. Andrew frowned, where was she? Andrew walked over to the tv and turned it on, and froze in place when he saw Stephanie running down the titantron, much to Shane's dismay and DDP's excitement. "Oh shit." Andrew hissed out.

[ Shane/DDP street fight ]

"If this night hasn't had enough action, here comes Stephanie McMahon running down the ring, not that I don't like to see Stephanie McMahon help her brother, but this is a street fight, she shouldn't be out here, anything can happen." Paul Heyman said, watching Stephanie finishing running down the titantron.

JR shook his head. "You're right Paul, Stephanie McMahon should not be down here! Look at the sick look on DDP's face, he's actually excited to see Stephanie down here, god knows what is going in that sick head of his."

"Stephanie, what the hell are you doing here?" Shane asked, managing to spear DDP, throwing him down to the ground, to keep the heat off of Stephanie, Shane pushed himself up and ran over to Stephanie.

"I, I came to help, I didn't want you to get hurt anymore." Stephanie said, a little out of breath, she had ran all the way down the hall and hadn't stopped running until she was down the titantron.

Shane smiled a bit. "That's sweet Steph, but you shouldn't be out ---" Shane's voice was cut off as he was grabbed by DDP and thrown into the announcer table.

"Shane McMahon was trying to talk his sister into leaving before she got hurt but DDP threw Shane into the announcer table, our table!! Hi Shane!" Paul said, looking down at Shane.

JR watched DDP approaching Stephanie. "Oh god this don't --- oh my god what is this? Triple H is making his way down the titantron, DDP and Triple H have Stephanie trapped, oh come on, this is crossing the line!"

"Triple H and DDP working together? This doesn't look good for the youngest McMahon! Shane is still by the announcer table trying to get up, hurry Shane! Your sister isn't in the best place!" Paul screamed, pointing over to Stephanie, when Shane looked up.

Shane followed Paul's finger, and his eyes widened when he saw Triple H on one side of Stephanie and DDP on the other side of her, trapping her in. Shane ran into the ring and climbed on the turnbuckle, he took in a deep breath and went flying towards DDP.

"Shane McMahon just gave DDP a drop-kick from the turnbuckle, getting DDP away from Stephanie, go Shane!" Paul said, watching the action.

"But that took a lot out of Shane McMahon, that still leaves Stephanie alone with Triple H! Oh ... Triple H grabs Stephanie by the hair, he's carrying her up the titantron, oh god he wouldn't would he?" JR asked turning to Paul Heyman.

Paul looked at the scene, with disgust in his eyes. "He's going to throw Stephanie through the glass, Shane McMahon is struggling to get up, to reach his little sister, but DDP just threw Shane down to the ground. This is completely uncalled for!" Paul screamed.

"Wait! It's Booker T! Booker T is here!" JR said.

Paul pointed. "Triple H just threw Stephanie, I can't watch."

"Booker T caught Stephanie! He caught Stephanie before she could go throw the glass! Booker T just the scissors kick on Triple H, sending him off the titantron, but Triple H pulled Stephanie down with him!" JR screamed.

Paul straightened his body up. "Now Chyna is here! Who else is coming!? Chyna jumped off the titantron, she's trying to help Stephanie, oh Chyna don't go down there, Triple H is down there!"

"Stephanie, come on." Chyna kicked Hunter off of Stephanie and reached down to help Stephanie up but stopped when Hunter grabbed her arm and made her face him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? Don't touch her!" Hunter screamed, glaring at Chyna.

Chyna put her hand up. "I'm taking Stephanie with me, and there is nothing you can do to stop me Hunter, it's over, stop this! She divorced you, she's in love with Andrew and you can't stop that, all you are doing is hurting her, a woman you say you love."

"I do love her!" Hunter raised his voice even louder. "So get the hell out, and leave her here!"

Chyna shook her head and pushed Hunter when he tried to grab Stephanie. "Don't touch her Hunter! I'm warning you."

Hunter grabbed Chyna by the hair. "What did you say?"

"Benoit ... Benoit is here! With Jericho by his side!" JR said loudly as he watched Benoit jumped off the titantron.

"Hunter..." Benoit said, grabbing Hunter's attention, Benoit looked at Chyna. "Duck." When Chyna kicked Hunter and ducked Benoit punched Hunter in the face, and then kneed him in the stomach. Benoit kicked the back of Hunter's head and then performed the crippler crossface, he looked up when he saw Jericho jump down to where they were.

"Chy..." Jericho ran over to her and before she could say a word, he pulled her into a hug.

"I can't believe this! What a night! Jericho is hugging Chyna!" Paul said.

Booker T looked over when he heard the bell ring, indicating that Shane had won the match; Booker T shook his head and jumped off the titantron and glanced at Chyna and Jericho, then he looked over to where Benoit and Hunter were, shaking his head once more he walked over to where Stephanie was, he bent down next to her. "Hey there." Booker T, watched Stephanie push herself up to a sitting position.

Stephanie held onto her head and stared at Booker T, Stephanie looked him in the face, he had saved her. Although her head hurt like hell, she remembered Booker T saving her. Hunter had tried to throw her through the glass and Booker T had caught her, and when Hunter had pulled her down with him when he fell of the titantron Stephanie had felt the mere touch of his hand as he tried to grab her before she fell.

"Your head hurt?" Booker T asked when he saw Stephanie holding her head; When Stephanie nodded, Booker T smiled sadly and reached out his hand and rested it softly on Stephanie's head. "You took quite a fall, come on." Booker T stood up and reach out his hand out to help Stephanie up.

Stephanie stared at Booker T's hand for a few seconds before taking it, she pulled Booker T in a hug. "Thank you."

Booker T nodded, a little shocked by the hug. "Uh, no problem."

Chyna pulled away from Jericho and smiled at him. "What was that for?"

Jericho opened his mouth to say something, but not knowing how to describe the way fear had entered his body when he had seen Hunter grabbing Chyna, he pulled Chyna in for a kiss, a long, passionate kiss.

JR shook his head. "This is one night no one will forget! Benoit has returned to the WWF! Stephanie McMahon is hugging Booker T, and a kiss is shared between Chris Jericho and Chyna, what else do we have in store for us?"