Changing Sides
CHANGING SIDES
Part Fourteen

By: Elektra

VINCE McMAHON'S OFFICE - Monday

"Three weeks?" Vince asked Jericho as the blonde man sat before the boss.

"Yeah, the doctor said I didn't give my ribs a proper chance to heal after Rhyno's attack, so Trip's attack is going to take a bit longer," Jericho replied.

McMahon didn't look pleased, "So, you're going back home for the next three weeks then?"

"I was going to go to my parent's place, but if you want me to stick around here--"

"No," McMahon said, "Go home..." Vince paused, then looked over at his daughter - who was sitting a few feet away, "And take Stephanie with you,"

Jericho and Stephanie's jaws dropped, "EXCUSE ME?!" the two shouted at the same time.

"You heard me," Vince said, and turned to Stephanie, "Once Triple H gets the contents of that envelope," he indicated the large manila envelope sitting in Stephanie's lap, "He's going to be looking for you. No man likes to be served with divorce papers. I have a feeling things are going to get a little messy. I don't want you here when that happens,"

"Then I'll stay home!" Stephanie said.

"Home?" McMahon asked, "You mean, the house you share with Triple H?"

"Fine. Then I'll stay with you and mom!" Stephanie replied

Vince shook his head, "I don't want you anywhere Hunter can get a hold of you! I saw how rough he was with you in the ring! Once he gets these papers, do you think he'll be any gentler? He's dangerous, honey!"

"Get the APA to protect her then!" Jericho replied.

"No! The APA are needed HERE," Vince answered, "But if she goes with you, then Triple H can't find her... unless he plans to tear apart all of Winnipeg looking for your house!" He turned to his daughter, his voice soft, "This is the safest thing for you right now,"

"Not if we kill each other first," Chris muttered.

"Do you value your job?" Vince asked, voice full of warning.

"You're putting my JOB on the line here?!" Jericho asked increduously, "That's hardly fair, Vance!"

"Daddy, I am NOT spending three weeks in Nowhereville, Canada with HIM!" Stephanie protested.

"You want your inheritance?" Vince asked his daughter.

"DADDY!"

"My decision stands! You two are not to be seen for three weeks! No explanation will be made about your disappearance, and Triple H can sweat it out when my lawyer presents him with the divorce documents!" McMahon declared. Stephanie and Chris stared at the man before them, unsure how to respond. "Don't you two have a plane to catch?" Vince asked.

"But---" Stephanie started.

"GO! NOW!"

Jericho and Stephanie reluctantly got to their feet. Vince's mind was made up, and there would be no debate.

The two quickly headed out of the office, muttering unpleasantries to one another under their breaths.

***

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA

Stephanie reluctantly stepped off the WWFE private jet. Daddy had offered the jet to make sure Jericho and Stephanie ended up where they were supposed to. There would be no 'accidentally getting on the wrong plane' mishaps on this trip.

Stephanie looked up at the clear blue sky, and smiled, "Hey! No snow!"

"I know, eh?" Jericho replied, "Now I'll have a chance to patch up that hole in my igloo before winter comes!"

"You don't have to be so sarcastic," Stephanie snapped.

Jericho sighed, "We have a while before it starts snowing here... "

"Listen, Jericho, when I travel to Canada it's mostly to our Canadian office in Toronto for business! I know they don't get snow there until late December. I just wasn't sure about HERE, ok?"

"Well, with my luck lately, it'll probably snow tomorrow!" he replied as they entered the baggage claim. Jericho waited for his bag at the carousel.

When Chris saw his luggage, he quickly grabbed it... then winced as a sharp pain shot through his midsection, causing him to drop the bag to the floor.

Stephanie eyed Jericho's ribs, "I'm ok!" he insisted, "The bag just slipped!"

"Uh-huh," Stephanie replied, unconvinced. She grabbed her own bag as it came around and placed it beside Chris's. "Stay here," she commanded, then headed off.

Stephanie returned a few moments later with a luggage trolly, and began to lift Jericho's bag onto it.

"I got it!" he said, trying to take the bag from her.

Stephanie looked down at their entwined hands, "Let GO!" she replied coldly.

Jericho raised his eyebrows, and removed his hand from hers, "Fine! All yours!" he replied.

Stephanie nodded curtly, then placed both bags on the trolly and headed out to the cabs.

***

"Mom? Dad? I'm home!" Jericho called out as he threw open the door to his parents small but cozy house.

Stephanie followed behind, weighed down by both her and Chris's bags, "You COULD help me here you know!" she muttered.

"Me?" Jericho asked innocently, "But I'm injured!" he made a show of clutching his ribs, "Ow! See?"

"Jerk," Stephanie replied, "Daddy should just fire you!"

"On what basis?!" Chris asked.

"On the basis of being an annoying pain in the---"

"Honey!" A cheery voice interrupted. An attractive woman with shoulder-length bonde hair and blue eyes threw her arms around Jericho.

"Hey, mom!" Chris replied, hugging the woman back. Only Stephanie seemed to notice him wince painfully at the movement.

"Geez... he really IS hurt," she thought, and realized Jericho was putting on a brave face for his mother.

"Son! Good to see you back!" a tall, stocky man started as he came up to Chris and clapped him on the back happily. Stephanie noticed another wince, and another brave face to quickly cover it up.

"Oh honey, when we saw what that man did to you on Sunday, we got so scared!" Chris's mother began.

"Irene, he's a strong boy! He's used to being knocked around!" His father replied.

"I don't think all his training prepared him for a sledgehammer, Ted!" Irene shot back.

"Mom, dad, I'll be ok with a bit of rest!" Jericho answered with a smile.

"Good then!" Ted said, then noticed Stephanie, who had yet to leave her place by the door, "You must be the McMahon girl," Ted stated as he went up to her.

"Yeah, Stephanie," Stephanie replied, and held out her hand.

Ted nodded politely and picked up the bags at Stephanie's feet, "I'll take your things to the guest room. It's just down the hall from Chris's room in the basement apartment. There's a bathroom, kitchen, and shower down there too," he said, then headed off.

Stephanie brought her hand back down to her side, somewhat embarrased that she had held it out for so long.

"Well of course he wouldn't want to shake your hand!" Stephanie thought, "Jericho's parents watch WWF programming! They've seen time and again how you've screwed their son out of win after win! They've seen how you've orchestrated attack after attack on their baby boy!" Stephanie sighed. To think Chris's parents would be anything more then politely civil to her was just foolish! "And why do I even care?" she found herself wondering.

"Chris, honey, you go sit down and take it easy," Irene began, then turned to Stephanie, "Would you help me in the kitchen, Stephanie? I'm trying to prepare supper,"

"Help with SUPPER?" Stephanie asked, surprised at the request. She glanced at Jericho, who was watching her, waiting for just ONE reason to kick her out of his parents' house. Stephanie quickly smiled. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction, "I'd LOVE to, Mrs--"

"Before you say it," Irene interrupted with a smile, "My name is Irene. Don't call me Mrs-anything," she winked, "It makes me feel old!" she clapped her hands together loudly, "Now come on. We have things to do!"

Stephanie reluctantly followed Irene into the kitchen, ignoring Jericho's amused smirk. Daddy's little girl could already tell the next few weeks would be an experience she would never ... eeeeeeeeeeever... forget.