CHAPTER TWENTY: SECRET MISSION
After relaxing several more hours in Dee and Derek's home, the six of them - Eve, Jeff, Matt, Lita, Dee, and Derek (Eve had thought to arrange front row tickets for Dee and Derek a few weeks ago) - headed off the Smackdown in two vehicles. The wrestlers had to get to the arena early to prepare for the show while Dee and Derek planned on going to a restaurant first. Before Eve got into the car with Jeff, Matt, and Lita, she handed a sealed envelope to Dee and told her to open it later. Inside were two backstage passes for Smackdown. They weren't given out very often and Eve had had to use most of her influence and some of Jeff's to get them.
Jeff grabbed Houdini when they arrived while Eve headed off in search of the Rock, having an important question to ask him. She found him in the cafeteria.
"Hey, Rocky."
"Hello, Eve."
"Can I ask a favor."
"Sure."
"I've got some friends coming back stage tonight and I was wondering if you'd mind meeting them? They're big fans of yours," Eve pleaded sweetly.
"Sure, no problem. You can bring them by my dressing room after the show."
Eve's title shot that night was against Stacy Keibler, who'd managed to win the title from Trish at Vengeance by grabbing the back of her tights in the pin. Winning against this woman would be fairly easy as long as there was no outside interference. Considering her opponent, Eve was almost certain that would be the case. She asked Undertaker and Kane - whose tag team match against the Dudleys was first that night while her match was fourth - to guard the ramp during her match if they made it through theirs without receiving any serious injuries. They had her back.
Eve picked up an easy win that night and smirked at a stunned Stacy sitting on her ass inside the ring. Stacy was used to being beaten by Eve so she must've been expecting something to happen that obviously didn't.
When Eve went to Undertaker and Kane backstage, 'Taker told her that Rhyno had tried to get out to the ring during her match with Stacy. Geez, that woman sure got around.
Jeff and matt had their match right after hers, facing Test and Christian. Test gave Jeff a low blow when the ref's back was turned and Christian pinned Jeff just as the ref's attention returned to the match and got the win.
Eve caught the action on the small TV in her dressing room and ran to the ramp in time to see Jeff stumbling through the curtain after Matt, who was being helped along by Lita. Eve went to Jeff's side and rubbed his shoulder gently. "Hey," she said.
"Hey," Jeff replied, pulling her close for a hug.
"Need an ice pack?"
"Mmm, don't remind me." Jeff squeezed Eve a little tighter before releasing her.
"How're they doing?" Dee asked Eve when they and Derek got together backstage after the show.
"A little bruised and tender. Nothing some rest won't take care of."
Eve was having fun showing Dee and Derek around backstage, explaining with a little more detail the inner workings of things that kept the shows running smoothly.
They met a few wrestlers along the way to Rock's dressing room. Most of them were friends of Eve's and they ended up spending a few moments talking to each one. When they made it to Rocky's dressing room, the door opened before Eve could knock and out walked Trish Stratus looking slightly... mussed.
Trish's eyes widened when she saw the three people standing there. "Oh, Eve! I, uh, I was just, uh... I have to go now." Trish began to walk away - quickly - and soon disappeared around a corner.
Eve gave her impression of the 'People's Eyebrow' as she watched Trish walk away. *That's interesting. I wonder how long this has been going on.* When Trish was gone, Eve knocked on the door and called out, "Hey, Rocky, you decent?"
Late that night - or rather, very early the next morning - Jeff was snooping around Dee and Derek's house. Normally he'd be sleeping right now, staying in bed until at least noon, but thought of Eve were keeping him up. He was searching for her parent's address, hoping that it would be somewhere in this house since he didn't know either of their first names.
Jeff caught a break about an hour into the search when he entered an office room that had two desks in it - looked like Dee and Derek worked out of their home upon occasion. He went over to the closest one and started opening drawers. Not finding what he was looking for, Jeff moved on to the other desk. I the last drawer, he found an old address book. Flipping to the 'R's, he found an entry for Wade and Theresa Roberts. He grabbed a pen and piece of paper and copied down the address, then replaced things as he had found them, pocketed the piece of paper, and left the room. He was going to try to get some sleep before he tried to find the address tomorrow morning.
Jeff managed to get almost six hours of sleep before he got up. Everyone else was still asleep by the time he had showered, dressed, and choked down some breakfast. He wasn't sure he should be doing what he was about to do, but neither could he stop himself. He had said that he respected Eve's right to deal with her past on her own, but if she hadn't done anything in five and a half years, how much longer would it be before she tried? The longer she waited to try to heal the breach between herself and her parents, the harder it would get to approach them.
After an hour and a half of driving and stopping for directions, Jeff pulled up to a fair-sized house with white siding, dove grey trim, and a two-door garage. Not as grand as Dee and Derek's home, but very nice just the same. He parked on the street in front of the house and got out. Standing on the sidewalk in front of the van, Jeff suddenly had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that he should leave. Who was he, after all, to interfere in Eve's affairs.? He wasn't her husband, fiancée, or even her boyfriend rally. He was just a friend who happened to be in love with Eve.
While Jeff was standing there in indecision, the front door opened and out walked a blond, middle-aged woman in a blue dress. She looked as shocked to see him as surprised as he was to see her. The decision of whether to stay or to go now taken out of his hands, Jeff walked towards the woman, who stood perfectly still as he approached. "Theresa Roberts?" he asked when he reached her. She nodded and he extended his right hand. "I'm Jeff-"
"-Hardy. I know." She shook his hand. "You're here about Eve?" Jeff nodded. "I think you had better come inside."