I wanna run away
Never say goodbye
I wanna know the truth
Instead of wondering why
I wanna know the answers
No more lies
I wanna shut the door
And open up my mind



"So? How are you feeling?"

Rock sighed slightly as Triple H and Mick walked behind him and he 'walked' out of the hospital using the crutches that they had given him. Three months had passed since Neil had been killed and Ralph had been left paralized completely and sentenced in jail for life. Everything that Vince had done to keep the press out of his business had been 'left out of the bag', and everyone found out of the businesses that Vince had once had with those men. In three months, a lot of things happened in the company that no one would have thought would happen. Vince let Shane take over, so by then Vince was 'retired'.Steve Austin had also 'retired', in a way; except it was in a different way. Austin had walked out on the company one day, and now he wasn't even talking to any of his 'friends'. Sure, this came as a shocker to everyone, but it came more as a slap on the face. Austin had walked out of the company just when everyone needed him to stay the most; but the show had to go on. They had pulled it off once, why not again? But it had also hurt, somewhat, to know that Austin had just...walked out. Rock, on the other hand, had had a surgery so he'd be able to, at least, walk. He had to stay in the hospital for yet another month, with grueling and exhausting physical therapy that always left him tired but feeling better. And now, it was obvious. He was able to walk out on his own without having to wheel himself out of there; just using crutches. "Better, I can tell you that. Where are you guys going to after this?"

Mick and Triple H shared a look, not knowing if they should tell him. Everytime they told him about something in the company, it was obvious that he got slightly depressed because of it. Mick cleared his throat slightly as he opened the door to the backseat for him. "To Chicago... You know, just for a while. Are you sure you'll be ok? You should have home nurse that the doctor recommended."

Scoffing, Rock got in the car. "No, thank you. I can take care of myself; I've done so for all these years, I am not going to let this stop me. Besides, I've had enough with nurses already..."

Kurt Angle laughed lightly as he started the car. "So you think you'll be ready soon? You know... For work?"

"Well... The doctor said that it could take a year until I can walk completely on my own, but ::nods:: yeah. No doubt about me wanting to go back to work and, one way or another, I'll be back soon. So you guys better watch out."

Triple H smirked, knowing what was coming. "Oh yeah? Why's that, 'Rocky'?"

"So The Rock can lay the smackethdown on your candy asses!" He smirked at them. But with all this happening, none of them knew if they could hate each other again. They had actually become friends in all these months, the thought of forming a team had actually crossed in many conversations; even if nothing had been set yet.

Laughing, Mick shook his head. "Boys, boys..."

Triple H smirked at Rock. "Oh yeah? Well, I don't think that you should get your hopes up because you, Rocky, can't play the game."

Angle, stealing one of Triple H's lines, chimed in. "And *I'm* that damn good. Oh it's true, it's true!"

Now, it was Kane's turn to steal a catchphrase. "If you smell...what we're cookin'!"

All of them turned to look at Kane in surprise, not thinking that he would have said that, but they all bursted out laughing when Kane just shrugged and looked out the window. Mick shook his head, still laughing. "Damn, Kane! *I'm* the one allowed to 'steal' The Rock's catchphrases..."

Shaking his head, Rock looked out the window still smiling.

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The cheers of the fans was almost deafening as Triple H, Kurt Angle and Kane paced around the ring; Mick Foley, the new General Manager of both Raw and SmackDown, standing in the middle of the ring. A year and a half had passed since Rock had first gotten shot and some fans were still shaken up and even scared to go to some shows anymore. The true fans, however, kept going and showing their support for the company in which they had grown to love.

J.R turned to the King as the show was going on live. "What do you think Mick has up his sleeve this time? And Triple H, Angle and Kane?"

King shook his head. "I don't know, JR! Foley has a mind that you can't even-"

Before he could finish, however, a familiar entrance blasted through the speakers.

"IF YOU SMELL! WHAT THE ROCK...IS COOKIN'!"

"Oh my God!! It's The Rock, King!"

If the fans had been on their feet, cheering, at the entrance they jumped in a frenzy; a "Rocky!" chant starting already in parts of the arena. When no one came out, however, a silence surrounded the place.

"But where is he? His music is here, and his fans are here, but... Where's The Rock?"

Rock, behind the curtain, was watching the fans and his friends in the ring. Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the curtains and walked down the ramp; looking around at the fans as they started going crazy again. So what if he couldn't wrestle yet? He was close. Or at least closer than a year ago... He climbed the steel steps and walked in the ring as they all clapped on their feet; greeting him back and a new sense of respect for him and for what he had gone through. He had had one hell of a year in therapy, almost passing out from the pain at time, but he was back. He could walk again. He could run, even. In the middle of the ring, he fixed his shades as he looked around, tears burning in the back of his eyes but refusing to let them fall. With another deep breath, he looked up at the roof of the arena, pointing at the sky before going every turnbuckle, raising his arm in victory. The flashes from the cameras were blinding and they poured from every corner of the arena as 'Rocky!' chants grew louder and louder within the minute. No one had known he was going to be there, it had been a last minute thing when they determined the team of The Rock, Triple H, Kurt Angle, Mick Foley and Kane was going to be formed. Once down from the turnbuckles, he took a microphone and got ready to talk; just like old times.

Afterall, the show must go on...

And points of authority must be earned...

"FINALLY..."