JULY 2001
Time flies when you're working toward fame, and on a busy schedule, and trying to finished high school, and trying to break a habit you've had since you were sixteen. But, Danielle conquered all... for then. A lot changed from 1999 to 2000. Danielle's popularity as The Wildcat had slowly started to skyrocket, and she had actually listened to Shane. She barely had one drink at Stephanie's Millennium bash, and Shane and her had steadily gotten closer. When 2001 happened, things changed more than Danielle could've believed in her 25 years.
~~~~~
Danielle stood in the ring, tall and proud in her usual ring attire. Red leather pants and a cheetah patterned crop top, and her hair pulled into many tiny braids. She grinned as her eyes scanned over the fans, it definitely got better every time. They quieted down, and it was showtime.
"It seems like every time I look at what's going on- in this very ring- Stephanie McMahon is always out here. But, she's not getting her ass kicked like she should. Instead, Daddy's Little Girl is parading around and flaunting power that she doesn't have." Danielle paused and listened to the fans cheer- they agreed. "And I'm sick of it!" she added, waiting for Stephanie's big arrival.
The music started, and Stephanie walked out onto the platform- spoiled brat sneer firmly in place. She gave the crowd a dirty look, they'd already started chanting "slut! slut!", and leaned onto one hip. "What are you going to do about it- if you find me so irritating? I'm Stephanie McMahon, and there's nothing a lowly wrestler like YOU could do to me!"
Danielle grinned and leaned back against the ropes. "Nothing I can do, huh?" She gave Stephanie a challenging look and started pacing around the ring. "Well, I think I could do a number of things. One: I could have a lot of fun pissing you off tonight. Two: I can challenge you to a match tonight, right here." The fans started cheering even louder, and she gave Stephanie a crooked grin. "And three: I could just walk up there and kick your ass right now!"
Stephanie gave her a shocked look and started to back away as Danielle exited the ring. She started waling up the ramp, but stopped when Vince McMahon's music hit. He came out in a suit- as usual- and stood by his blue eyed brunette of a daughter.
He was looking at her bitterly, and Danielle sighed and rolled her eyes. What did he want? She left her microphone back in the ring- she probably should have it.
"Don't you dare threaten by little girl, Wildcat!" Vince said angrily, giving Stephanie shoulder a squeeze. "If you want a match, dammit, you'll get it- but it won't be against her." He paused, let the fans "boo" him, and grinned. "Tonight, you will be in a match. Tonight, you're going to be in a... tag team match. You will be partners with Chris Jericho- your fellow Canadian- and you will both be BEATEN by... The Dudley Boyz." He laughed and turned to leave, but then paused and looked back down at Danielle. "Oh, and one more thing. It's no disqualification."
Danielle laughed, nodded, and showed no fear. "Sounds good!" she yelled, but she doubted if he could hear. The people around her did, and they started to chant her on. That was really all she needed to hear anyway.
~~~~~
The match that night started so well. Danielle came out to thunderous applause, as did Jericho. The two of them were the best Canadian favorites in the WWF, and that was mostly due to their realistic personas. Chris' attitude and fantastic sense of humour, Danielle's determination and charm, it was no surprise that the fans loved them.
There was only one monitor backstage showing the match, and at least ten people were standing around it to watch. At the forefront was most of the McMahon family. Vince McMahon, talking animatedly on his cellphone to someone about his plans for the feud between the Wildcat and Stephanie. Stephanie McMahon, watching the match and clapping for the Canadian duo she was supposed to hate. And, Shane McMahon, also watching- but much quieter.
Shane knew who was going to win this match- he couldn't stand watching when he had to see the end to know who won. Especially when Danielle was involved, he hated to watch her matches anyway. The only thing he hated worse was not watching- and then seeing her with cuts and bruises and not knowing what had happened to her. It wasn't much of a choice, especially when she was against a tag team famous for putting people through tables.
That tag team, The Dudley Boyz, got into the ring- and the match began. Jericho started first, and Shane was silently grateful. He didn't like to admit it, but he worried about Danielle sometimes when she wrestled. Sure she was strong and wouldn't give up, but she wanted every match to be too hardcore. The Wildcat could fight for herself, but still- she fought against men who were a foot taller than her. She had stopped competing against women a long time ago, and she did put up a challenge for any size or age wrestler.
Danielle was in the ring before long, and she easily gained the upper hand against Bubba Ray. Shane wished he didn't known what was about to happen. The Dudley boyz cheated and both got into the ring, and proceeded to lay a beating on Danielle. Jericho tried to get into the ring and help, but the referee detained him- giving the opponents even more opportunities.
When the match was fair again, Danielle was lying in the middle of the ring. Her forehead had been cut by one too many chair shots- Shane had left the monitor when that happened- and she was clutching her beaten knee.
Shane had just came back to see if the match was over- making some excuse about a phone call- when one of The Dudley Boyz brought a table into the ring. He set it up next to her and they both picked her up, preparing to throw her down through it from the top of the turnbuckle. Shane watched Jericho try to interfere, and he wondered if Chris could ever do a good job of assisting. One of The Dudley boyz beat up Jericho and then threw him out of the ring, while the other jumped from the turnbuckle with Danielle.
Jerry "The King" Lawler yelled when Danielle was slammed through the table, and all Shane could hear was his commentary. "Ahhh! That's it, they've killed The Wildcat! She's dead!" Shane sighed and watched the monitor intently- a little bit of over reacting?- and his eyes never left Danielle's crumpled form. She was in the midst of the broken table, and Shane knew he shouldn't have watched the match- she had to be hurt.
The Dudley Boyz won the match easily, and both Jericho and Danielle had to be helped backstage and taken to the doctor. Shane waited outside the door for a minute, but when it became ten- he went inside regardless.
Danielle was getting stitches around her forehead, by her hairline, and she had an ice pack on her wrist. She still looked up at him and grinned. "Was it as good for you as it was for me?"
Shane had to laugh as he knelt down in front of her, getting a closer look at her and the few injuries. He took her hand and looked at it, giving her a raised eyebrow. "You were holding your knee in the ring, now it's your wrist?"
"Hurt knee's sell better, and I only hurt my wrist going through the table," Danielle said, watching him examine her hand. "And you got your doctor's degree when...?"
"I was just checking it out," he replied, letting her go and standing up. "I honestly don't know how you can take punishment in silence, Dani. Especially things like these." He shook his head and left without another word, leaving Danielle with the doctor and her stitches. He really felt the need to get back to the hotel, have a shower, and relax.
~~~~~
Danielle had went back to the hotel late that night, and she immediately fell into bed. I can take a shower tomorrow, she thought. I'm too tired to do it now, I'd probably fall asleep in the bathroom and drown. It was possible- she barely had the energy to strip off her show outfit, let alone put on something to sleep in.
She fell into bed gratefully, but she couldn't fall asleep. Shane's words kept replaying in her head, reminding her of things in her past that she wished would stay there. 'I don't know how you can take punishment in silence,' did he purposely say that to make her re-think her life? Whether he did or not, it still set her mind spinning back.
She was born in Canada- exactly where had been a bit fuzzy- and she had been put up for adoption immediately. Danielle was only one week old when she saw her parents for the last time. They'd left her in a rundown orphanage on the outskirts of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with nothing more than a name and a date of birth. And not even a full name at that.
They were cowards who never wanted her to find them. Cassidy Danielle was the only name she knew was her own, her parents had never told the owner her true last name. So, she was given one. Smith, the plainest, most common, name in North America. Danielle didn't complain though, she was only a few weeks old.
As Danielle grew up, she had to rely on her attitude to get by. She kept others laughing to keep herself safe and without teasing- she was a chubby kid for a while- but it made the staff at the orphanage hate her. And so did everyone who came to pick out a child. She did have beautiful eyes, but she had a bratty attitude, took no direction, wasn't very pretty, and looked like nobody's child with bright orange hair. It took her a long time to grow into her looks.
She was never adopted, and her bad-ass attitude grew with age. She lived for trouble, and she could always find it. When Danielle started smoking at age 16, she got expelled from the orphanage and from school.
Somehow, Danielle managed to survive. She made her way from place to place, doing any odd job she could get. She slimmed as she got older, and landed a good aerobics job when she was 20. That led to her own place to live, a tiny apartment in a horrible neighbourhood.
And then, she had the biggest stroke of luck in her life. She applied for an interview at Titan Sports Inc, and got the job in the WWF that had started it all. She made it as Wildcat, and now made a great salary while doing something she loved. She had a habit of getting injuries, but they hadn't caught up to her yet. After all, she was only 25.
Those thoughts finally got her away from her past. She had a birthday in two weeks, she was about to turn 26 on July 23rd. Birthday's didn't matter much to her, but she was glad for the mental topic change- even if it didn't last long.
Her mind was drawn back to Shane and that comment. She didn't trust many people, but she did trust him. he'd never let her down, and he was like a big brother or best friend that she never had... even if he still had the persistent desire to be so much more.
Shane knew more about her past than anyone- except her, of course- but he still didn't know it all. There were still some things that Danielle had to keep secret, she was a natural loner no matter what. But, Shane knew her fears, her wants, and her disbeliefs and he'd even seen her cry. That was enough, Danielle thought, because she couldn't give any more without it hurting.
In the end, though, Danielle always took her punishment without a word. She wouldn't blame it on anyone else, and she'd never give up. That was her best quality... and her biggest fault. She wouldn't accept help, that needed an amount of trust she didn't have; she wouldn't work well with others in a long term situation, that involved too much commitment- and possible abandonment; and she wouldn't let many people know her real self. It was no wonder why she pushed her body to the limits to be able to do things on her own.
Danielle pulled and all-nighter, just thinking about things she wanted to forget and things she didn't want to admit.
~~~~~
Shane lay on his back, hands folded behind his head. He couldn't sleep and he'd given up watching the alarm clock ages ago. It seemed like it had been 2:17AM for hours now. I have to go to work tomorrow, he thought bleakly. Go to sleep. You stupid, lovesick fool, just go to sleep and stop agonizing over that damn match.
But he couldn't. He couldn't forget the feeling when he'd seen Danielle's body being dropped through a table. It had hurt, but she had practiced it many times and wouldn't give it up- she wanted it to be a show-stopper. It was, Shane knew it could be nothing less with Danielle. She strove for perfection, and attained it- no matter what the costs.
Sometimes he hated knowing her so well. He knew her dreams- and she was the woman of his- and her past. A past that she didn't like talking about, and Danielle had willing told him every word. That must account for something, he thought hopefully, she's trusted me with everything she hates. Things that Stephanie didn't know, and she must be Danielle's best friend. It killed him too, to be so close to someone and never be close enough at the same time.
Shane remembered the first time Danielle had told him about her life. He had, until then, known nothing about her- like the rest of the WWF. Vince knew nothing but the basics about her, and the actual public knew even less.
It was the night of Danielle's first big injury. She'd broken her arm in a hardcore match- and gained the title too. Shane had driven her to the emergency room while she nursed her arm, and a busted lip, and a sprained wrist... Somehow, she didn't let it get to her. She chattered constantly about winning, how good it felt, how proud she was. And she managed to do it all without sounding conceited. How could you get angry at someone who worked that hard to be the champion?
Danielle had to stay late that night, and things caught up with her when the sun went down. The two of them had started talking, and he had casually asked her about her past. He knew what she'd been through- to some extent- and she had started to tell him about it. Only a few details, but he probed for more by telling her stories about his old life. Shane had been adopted, where Danielle hadn't been so lucky. He could still remember the fear of these new people, 'his parents', and she could still feel the disappointment when she wasn't chosen.
It was the first time she'd ever revealed herself to him, and he could see her vulnerability, determination, and the amount of trust it took for her to tell him all of her secrets. Or, at least, the first of them. Danielle had told him the earliest memory she had- and she had been honest and emotional.
"I remember one night, we were supposed to be asleep, but I snuck out with a bunch of the other kids. We must've only been seven or eight then, but we just decided to go to the movies. Of course, we knew they wouldn't let us in, so we just broke the back door and went in.
"They found us before ten minutes were up, and the old lady in charge of the orphanage was so pissed... she just, I think, snapped. She started hitting a bunch of kids, and then I hit her... really bad idea. She threw a mirror at me, shredded my hand... then she took the pieces and threw them..."
Danielle had shown him the scar then, rough and pale across her thumb and palm. White against her light skin, he was glad it didn't show. He hadn't noticed it before, but he could feel anger build in him quickly. That woman had attacked her, a seven year old! With a mirror! He hadn't said a word though, just hugged her tight to him. They both needed that comfort.
~~~~~
"Someone call the Wildlife Police- Canadian Division. We've got a wild bear here."
Danielle raised one eyebrow, locking tired eyes with perky blue ones. She couldn't think of anything to say, that is, beside the initial thought of 'bite me.' Nothing fancy, what could one expect after a whole night of nothingness?
Stephanie sighed and slid into the seat across from Danielle. "You didn't even grace me with a remark, must've been a rough night. Anyone I know?" She gave a teasing smile, trying to cheer her up. Danielle had many moods, and no one could ever decode them... or cure them.
"Ha... Ha... You're hilarious. I couldn't sleep." Danielle sighed and looked at her cup of coffee. I've given up one habit for another, but which is worse? "I should be awake in, oh... an hour. You can talk to me then."
"Yeah, thanks. Why couldn't you sleep?" She met Danielle's gaze again, her eyes were now thoughtful. "You can tell me," she added, giving her a hopeful grin.
"I... I was just thinking," Danielle sad. Her smile was forced, and they both knew it. "So, is there anything important you have to tell me? I'm going to kick your ass later for the bear comment, by the way."
A smile spread across Stephanie's face. It mustn't be a lot bothering her, she was just grouchy after spending all night thinking about some match or idea. Probably nothing to worry about. "Well... as you know, it's the big 2- 6 in two weeks," she could see Danielle roll her eyes then, "And I know that you don't want a party or anything, so I want to take you shopping."
"No," was Danielle's quick reply. She saw Stephanie's determined, narrowed eyes and couldn't help but laugh. "I said 'no' and I meant it. I don't like birthday's, and I don't want any presents."
"Grouch," she replied instantly. Then Stephanie sighed, thought, and suddenly perked up. She had an idea. "It's not a present, it's a... say of shopping, at my expense, to celebrate a day like any other in the year. See? Nothing to do with days of a particular birth, or certain gifts to celebrate that kind of normal day." Stephanie laughed and relaxed in her seat. "C'mon! You never take a full day off just to have fun! The only time you take off is when you break your leg or something!"
A slow sigh, and Danielle rolled her eyes again. "I hate when you do that..." She paused, and glanced into her coffee. Taking a long sip, she then nodded. "Fine, but I'm paying for anything I get."
"Great! See you on Friday!" Grinning even wider, Stephanie gave her a quick hug and stood up. "Happy birthday!" she said as she walked away. I guess I'll just have to buy myself extra, and I can't be blamed if they're things that Dani likes and I have an excuse not to keep. And the party... now, how can we get her to go to that?...
~~~~~
Time flies when you're working toward fame, and on a busy schedule, and trying to finished high school, and trying to break a habit you've had since you were sixteen. But, Danielle conquered all... for then. A lot changed from 1999 to 2000. Danielle's popularity as The Wildcat had slowly started to skyrocket, and she had actually listened to Shane. She barely had one drink at Stephanie's Millennium bash, and Shane and her had steadily gotten closer. When 2001 happened, things changed more than Danielle could've believed in her 25 years.
~~~~~
Danielle stood in the ring, tall and proud in her usual ring attire. Red leather pants and a cheetah patterned crop top, and her hair pulled into many tiny braids. She grinned as her eyes scanned over the fans, it definitely got better every time. They quieted down, and it was showtime.
"It seems like every time I look at what's going on- in this very ring- Stephanie McMahon is always out here. But, she's not getting her ass kicked like she should. Instead, Daddy's Little Girl is parading around and flaunting power that she doesn't have." Danielle paused and listened to the fans cheer- they agreed. "And I'm sick of it!" she added, waiting for Stephanie's big arrival.
The music started, and Stephanie walked out onto the platform- spoiled brat sneer firmly in place. She gave the crowd a dirty look, they'd already started chanting "slut! slut!", and leaned onto one hip. "What are you going to do about it- if you find me so irritating? I'm Stephanie McMahon, and there's nothing a lowly wrestler like YOU could do to me!"
Danielle grinned and leaned back against the ropes. "Nothing I can do, huh?" She gave Stephanie a challenging look and started pacing around the ring. "Well, I think I could do a number of things. One: I could have a lot of fun pissing you off tonight. Two: I can challenge you to a match tonight, right here." The fans started cheering even louder, and she gave Stephanie a crooked grin. "And three: I could just walk up there and kick your ass right now!"
Stephanie gave her a shocked look and started to back away as Danielle exited the ring. She started waling up the ramp, but stopped when Vince McMahon's music hit. He came out in a suit- as usual- and stood by his blue eyed brunette of a daughter.
He was looking at her bitterly, and Danielle sighed and rolled her eyes. What did he want? She left her microphone back in the ring- she probably should have it.
"Don't you dare threaten by little girl, Wildcat!" Vince said angrily, giving Stephanie shoulder a squeeze. "If you want a match, dammit, you'll get it- but it won't be against her." He paused, let the fans "boo" him, and grinned. "Tonight, you will be in a match. Tonight, you're going to be in a... tag team match. You will be partners with Chris Jericho- your fellow Canadian- and you will both be BEATEN by... The Dudley Boyz." He laughed and turned to leave, but then paused and looked back down at Danielle. "Oh, and one more thing. It's no disqualification."
Danielle laughed, nodded, and showed no fear. "Sounds good!" she yelled, but she doubted if he could hear. The people around her did, and they started to chant her on. That was really all she needed to hear anyway.
~~~~~
The match that night started so well. Danielle came out to thunderous applause, as did Jericho. The two of them were the best Canadian favorites in the WWF, and that was mostly due to their realistic personas. Chris' attitude and fantastic sense of humour, Danielle's determination and charm, it was no surprise that the fans loved them.
There was only one monitor backstage showing the match, and at least ten people were standing around it to watch. At the forefront was most of the McMahon family. Vince McMahon, talking animatedly on his cellphone to someone about his plans for the feud between the Wildcat and Stephanie. Stephanie McMahon, watching the match and clapping for the Canadian duo she was supposed to hate. And, Shane McMahon, also watching- but much quieter.
Shane knew who was going to win this match- he couldn't stand watching when he had to see the end to know who won. Especially when Danielle was involved, he hated to watch her matches anyway. The only thing he hated worse was not watching- and then seeing her with cuts and bruises and not knowing what had happened to her. It wasn't much of a choice, especially when she was against a tag team famous for putting people through tables.
That tag team, The Dudley Boyz, got into the ring- and the match began. Jericho started first, and Shane was silently grateful. He didn't like to admit it, but he worried about Danielle sometimes when she wrestled. Sure she was strong and wouldn't give up, but she wanted every match to be too hardcore. The Wildcat could fight for herself, but still- she fought against men who were a foot taller than her. She had stopped competing against women a long time ago, and she did put up a challenge for any size or age wrestler.
Danielle was in the ring before long, and she easily gained the upper hand against Bubba Ray. Shane wished he didn't known what was about to happen. The Dudley boyz cheated and both got into the ring, and proceeded to lay a beating on Danielle. Jericho tried to get into the ring and help, but the referee detained him- giving the opponents even more opportunities.
When the match was fair again, Danielle was lying in the middle of the ring. Her forehead had been cut by one too many chair shots- Shane had left the monitor when that happened- and she was clutching her beaten knee.
Shane had just came back to see if the match was over- making some excuse about a phone call- when one of The Dudley Boyz brought a table into the ring. He set it up next to her and they both picked her up, preparing to throw her down through it from the top of the turnbuckle. Shane watched Jericho try to interfere, and he wondered if Chris could ever do a good job of assisting. One of The Dudley boyz beat up Jericho and then threw him out of the ring, while the other jumped from the turnbuckle with Danielle.
Jerry "The King" Lawler yelled when Danielle was slammed through the table, and all Shane could hear was his commentary. "Ahhh! That's it, they've killed The Wildcat! She's dead!" Shane sighed and watched the monitor intently- a little bit of over reacting?- and his eyes never left Danielle's crumpled form. She was in the midst of the broken table, and Shane knew he shouldn't have watched the match- she had to be hurt.
The Dudley Boyz won the match easily, and both Jericho and Danielle had to be helped backstage and taken to the doctor. Shane waited outside the door for a minute, but when it became ten- he went inside regardless.
Danielle was getting stitches around her forehead, by her hairline, and she had an ice pack on her wrist. She still looked up at him and grinned. "Was it as good for you as it was for me?"
Shane had to laugh as he knelt down in front of her, getting a closer look at her and the few injuries. He took her hand and looked at it, giving her a raised eyebrow. "You were holding your knee in the ring, now it's your wrist?"
"Hurt knee's sell better, and I only hurt my wrist going through the table," Danielle said, watching him examine her hand. "And you got your doctor's degree when...?"
"I was just checking it out," he replied, letting her go and standing up. "I honestly don't know how you can take punishment in silence, Dani. Especially things like these." He shook his head and left without another word, leaving Danielle with the doctor and her stitches. He really felt the need to get back to the hotel, have a shower, and relax.
~~~~~
Danielle had went back to the hotel late that night, and she immediately fell into bed. I can take a shower tomorrow, she thought. I'm too tired to do it now, I'd probably fall asleep in the bathroom and drown. It was possible- she barely had the energy to strip off her show outfit, let alone put on something to sleep in.
She fell into bed gratefully, but she couldn't fall asleep. Shane's words kept replaying in her head, reminding her of things in her past that she wished would stay there. 'I don't know how you can take punishment in silence,' did he purposely say that to make her re-think her life? Whether he did or not, it still set her mind spinning back.
She was born in Canada- exactly where had been a bit fuzzy- and she had been put up for adoption immediately. Danielle was only one week old when she saw her parents for the last time. They'd left her in a rundown orphanage on the outskirts of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with nothing more than a name and a date of birth. And not even a full name at that.
They were cowards who never wanted her to find them. Cassidy Danielle was the only name she knew was her own, her parents had never told the owner her true last name. So, she was given one. Smith, the plainest, most common, name in North America. Danielle didn't complain though, she was only a few weeks old.
As Danielle grew up, she had to rely on her attitude to get by. She kept others laughing to keep herself safe and without teasing- she was a chubby kid for a while- but it made the staff at the orphanage hate her. And so did everyone who came to pick out a child. She did have beautiful eyes, but she had a bratty attitude, took no direction, wasn't very pretty, and looked like nobody's child with bright orange hair. It took her a long time to grow into her looks.
She was never adopted, and her bad-ass attitude grew with age. She lived for trouble, and she could always find it. When Danielle started smoking at age 16, she got expelled from the orphanage and from school.
Somehow, Danielle managed to survive. She made her way from place to place, doing any odd job she could get. She slimmed as she got older, and landed a good aerobics job when she was 20. That led to her own place to live, a tiny apartment in a horrible neighbourhood.
And then, she had the biggest stroke of luck in her life. She applied for an interview at Titan Sports Inc, and got the job in the WWF that had started it all. She made it as Wildcat, and now made a great salary while doing something she loved. She had a habit of getting injuries, but they hadn't caught up to her yet. After all, she was only 25.
Those thoughts finally got her away from her past. She had a birthday in two weeks, she was about to turn 26 on July 23rd. Birthday's didn't matter much to her, but she was glad for the mental topic change- even if it didn't last long.
Her mind was drawn back to Shane and that comment. She didn't trust many people, but she did trust him. he'd never let her down, and he was like a big brother or best friend that she never had... even if he still had the persistent desire to be so much more.
Shane knew more about her past than anyone- except her, of course- but he still didn't know it all. There were still some things that Danielle had to keep secret, she was a natural loner no matter what. But, Shane knew her fears, her wants, and her disbeliefs and he'd even seen her cry. That was enough, Danielle thought, because she couldn't give any more without it hurting.
In the end, though, Danielle always took her punishment without a word. She wouldn't blame it on anyone else, and she'd never give up. That was her best quality... and her biggest fault. She wouldn't accept help, that needed an amount of trust she didn't have; she wouldn't work well with others in a long term situation, that involved too much commitment- and possible abandonment; and she wouldn't let many people know her real self. It was no wonder why she pushed her body to the limits to be able to do things on her own.
Danielle pulled and all-nighter, just thinking about things she wanted to forget and things she didn't want to admit.
~~~~~
Shane lay on his back, hands folded behind his head. He couldn't sleep and he'd given up watching the alarm clock ages ago. It seemed like it had been 2:17AM for hours now. I have to go to work tomorrow, he thought bleakly. Go to sleep. You stupid, lovesick fool, just go to sleep and stop agonizing over that damn match.
But he couldn't. He couldn't forget the feeling when he'd seen Danielle's body being dropped through a table. It had hurt, but she had practiced it many times and wouldn't give it up- she wanted it to be a show-stopper. It was, Shane knew it could be nothing less with Danielle. She strove for perfection, and attained it- no matter what the costs.
Sometimes he hated knowing her so well. He knew her dreams- and she was the woman of his- and her past. A past that she didn't like talking about, and Danielle had willing told him every word. That must account for something, he thought hopefully, she's trusted me with everything she hates. Things that Stephanie didn't know, and she must be Danielle's best friend. It killed him too, to be so close to someone and never be close enough at the same time.
Shane remembered the first time Danielle had told him about her life. He had, until then, known nothing about her- like the rest of the WWF. Vince knew nothing but the basics about her, and the actual public knew even less.
It was the night of Danielle's first big injury. She'd broken her arm in a hardcore match- and gained the title too. Shane had driven her to the emergency room while she nursed her arm, and a busted lip, and a sprained wrist... Somehow, she didn't let it get to her. She chattered constantly about winning, how good it felt, how proud she was. And she managed to do it all without sounding conceited. How could you get angry at someone who worked that hard to be the champion?
Danielle had to stay late that night, and things caught up with her when the sun went down. The two of them had started talking, and he had casually asked her about her past. He knew what she'd been through- to some extent- and she had started to tell him about it. Only a few details, but he probed for more by telling her stories about his old life. Shane had been adopted, where Danielle hadn't been so lucky. He could still remember the fear of these new people, 'his parents', and she could still feel the disappointment when she wasn't chosen.
It was the first time she'd ever revealed herself to him, and he could see her vulnerability, determination, and the amount of trust it took for her to tell him all of her secrets. Or, at least, the first of them. Danielle had told him the earliest memory she had- and she had been honest and emotional.
"I remember one night, we were supposed to be asleep, but I snuck out with a bunch of the other kids. We must've only been seven or eight then, but we just decided to go to the movies. Of course, we knew they wouldn't let us in, so we just broke the back door and went in.
"They found us before ten minutes were up, and the old lady in charge of the orphanage was so pissed... she just, I think, snapped. She started hitting a bunch of kids, and then I hit her... really bad idea. She threw a mirror at me, shredded my hand... then she took the pieces and threw them..."
Danielle had shown him the scar then, rough and pale across her thumb and palm. White against her light skin, he was glad it didn't show. He hadn't noticed it before, but he could feel anger build in him quickly. That woman had attacked her, a seven year old! With a mirror! He hadn't said a word though, just hugged her tight to him. They both needed that comfort.
~~~~~
"Someone call the Wildlife Police- Canadian Division. We've got a wild bear here."
Danielle raised one eyebrow, locking tired eyes with perky blue ones. She couldn't think of anything to say, that is, beside the initial thought of 'bite me.' Nothing fancy, what could one expect after a whole night of nothingness?
Stephanie sighed and slid into the seat across from Danielle. "You didn't even grace me with a remark, must've been a rough night. Anyone I know?" She gave a teasing smile, trying to cheer her up. Danielle had many moods, and no one could ever decode them... or cure them.
"Ha... Ha... You're hilarious. I couldn't sleep." Danielle sighed and looked at her cup of coffee. I've given up one habit for another, but which is worse? "I should be awake in, oh... an hour. You can talk to me then."
"Yeah, thanks. Why couldn't you sleep?" She met Danielle's gaze again, her eyes were now thoughtful. "You can tell me," she added, giving her a hopeful grin.
"I... I was just thinking," Danielle sad. Her smile was forced, and they both knew it. "So, is there anything important you have to tell me? I'm going to kick your ass later for the bear comment, by the way."
A smile spread across Stephanie's face. It mustn't be a lot bothering her, she was just grouchy after spending all night thinking about some match or idea. Probably nothing to worry about. "Well... as you know, it's the big 2- 6 in two weeks," she could see Danielle roll her eyes then, "And I know that you don't want a party or anything, so I want to take you shopping."
"No," was Danielle's quick reply. She saw Stephanie's determined, narrowed eyes and couldn't help but laugh. "I said 'no' and I meant it. I don't like birthday's, and I don't want any presents."
"Grouch," she replied instantly. Then Stephanie sighed, thought, and suddenly perked up. She had an idea. "It's not a present, it's a... say of shopping, at my expense, to celebrate a day like any other in the year. See? Nothing to do with days of a particular birth, or certain gifts to celebrate that kind of normal day." Stephanie laughed and relaxed in her seat. "C'mon! You never take a full day off just to have fun! The only time you take off is when you break your leg or something!"
A slow sigh, and Danielle rolled her eyes again. "I hate when you do that..." She paused, and glanced into her coffee. Taking a long sip, she then nodded. "Fine, but I'm paying for anything I get."
"Great! See you on Friday!" Grinning even wider, Stephanie gave her a quick hug and stood up. "Happy birthday!" she said as she walked away. I guess I'll just have to buy myself extra, and I can't be blamed if they're things that Dani likes and I have an excuse not to keep. And the party... now, how can we get her to go to that?...
~~~~~
