** I do not own any of the following characters. They are owned by or affiliated with WWE.**
"Have you spoken to him?" Adam asked, leaning against the wall in Kurt's dressing room.
"No, I keep getting his voicemail." Kurt replied, frustrated. Kurt shook his head. "I wonder what happened?"
"Jay called me earlier and said that he hasn't shown up for the house show yet."
"Are you serious?" Kurt shot Adam a look of concern.
"Yeah, very. No one has seen him or heard from since he left RAW last night."
* * *
"It's been three days now." Vince McMahon said to Stephanie over the phone. "I've got meetings all day and since you are closer, I need you to take the jet and find out what's going on."
"Daddy, have you called the hotel?" Stephanie asked as she laced up her boots.
"Yeah. He hasn't checked out yet. He's in room 412."
"Okay, I should be there by six or so."
"Great honey. I really appreciate this. Oh, and see if you can get Kurt or someone close to him to go with you."
"Ok. I'll call you when I get there." Stephanie hung up the bedroom phone.
"What was that about?" Paul asked, lying in bed with his arms behind his head.
Stephanie sighed aloud as she stood up. "I have to fly back to Detroit and get to the bottom of this thing with Chris."
"What's going on?" Paul sat up, intrigued. "He still hasn't contacted anyone?"
"Nope. My dad found him, but he can't fly out there right now. So, I have to go talk some sense into him."
Paul didn't like the idea that she was flying somewhere to see Chris. "Do you want me to go with you?"
Stephanie laughed sarcastically. "Yeah right, Paul. Like Chris would really want to talk to you." She finished getting her things together and sat down on the bed next to Paul.
Paul smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. "You hardly know each other, Steph. Why would he talk to you?"
"I know we hardly know each other, that's not the point. As a McMahon I have to do what's best for the company!" She proclaimed, giving in to innocent laughter. "Besides, daddy said I have to go."
* * *
It was 6:25 when Stephanie knocked on the door of room 412. No one answered.
"Chris?" She asked through the door, "It's Stephanie." Silence. "Please open the door, I need to speak with you."
She stood there, impatiently tapping her foot on the carpet outside of room 412. She knocked again, louder than the last time and still no answer. Placing her head against the door, she listened and could hear absolutely nothing. Next, she tried the doorknob. There was a "do not disturb" sign hanging from it.
"CHRIS!" Stephanie said through gritted teeth. "Plee-" the door opened slightly. She stood there for a moment, expecting Chris to open the door all the way. When he didn't she pushed the door open and walked into the room.
The bed was a mess and there were clothes everywhere. Chris was sitting on the edge of the bed with his back to her.
"Thanks for finally getting the door." She said politely as she closed the door behind her. The silence was awkward between them. She walked around the bed to wear Chris was sitting. His face was unshaven and his hair looked like it hadn't been washed in days. She was surprised that the room didn't smell bad.
Chris looked up at Stephanie; his eyes were cold and distant. "What brings you here, eh?"
"Vince sent me." She stated honestly. She hesitated for a moment before sitting on the couch across from him.
"You want to know what happened, right?" Chris asked, turning on the television set.
"That's why I'm here." Stephanie leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees.
"In all honesty, I didn't wake up until 2 o'clock on Tuesday. There wasn't enough time to drive to the arena, so I went back to sleep."
Stephanie made a face. "You could have called someone. Anyone."
"I know, but I didn't feel like talking to anybody. I just had to be alone for a while." Chris flipped to another station, his eyes fixed on the television screen.
"You know you can't just decide not to show up to an event, Chris. You have contractual obligations with us."
"Don't you think I know that?" Chris snapped as he stood up from the bed. Stephanie stared at him in disbelief. "I don't need you or anybody else reminding me of my obligations! I needed a day off, gimme a fucking break!" He threw his arms up into the air with exasperation.
"There are certain ways we do things around here, Chris." Stephanie stood up and glared at him. How dare he burst out at her like that! "You've never had a problem with the rules until now. If we can't depend on you, you can't main event for us."
"What?" Chris laughed. "I was gone for one show, ONE SHOW!"
"Yeah that's right. You missed one show...and how many of the fans that paid to see Chris Jericho were disappointed and let down when you didn't show up?" Stephanie stuck her chin up at Chris, knowing that she made a good point.
"Since you and the writers keep holding me back, probably not that many." He growled and turned away from her. Stephanie grumbled to herself and grabbed him by the arm. He slowly turned to look at her, eyes boiling over. "Get off of me." He mumbled.
In a very deep and calm voice, Stephanie said, "I suggest you pack your shit and meet me in the lobby in a half an hour." She let him go and started walking towards the door.
"I'm not going anywhere." Chris snapped. "You tell your father I'll be at the show on Saturday and thank him for sending the Gestapo to check on his investment."
Stephanie was infuriated. She opened the door and turned to face him. "You don't want to piss me off, Chris."
"Why not? Do you think I care if I do? I'm tired of worrying about everyone else." Chris kicked some clothes away from his feet. "What the hell can YOU do anyway?"
"Just be downstairs by 7:15." Stephanie said, "You don't want to find out."
Stephanie closed the door and stood outside in the hallway, stunned at Chris' attitude. He had never acted like this in the three years he had worked with the company. On screen they used to fight and verbally abuse each other, but most of it had been scripted. He had always been quite the professional backstage, generally polite and easy to work with. She knew him well enough to know that this was not his usual behavior. She made her way to the elevator and went downstairs to the lobby.
Chris was downstairs with his bags at 7:10 that evening. Stephanie knew that he would show up. He was freshly showered and cleanly shaven , except for his extremely long goatee. Other than the coldness in his eyes, he looked normal.
"I suppose I'm leaving with you?" Chris asked in a snotty manner.
"Indeed you are." Stephanie walked with Chris to limo outside and they rode to the airport in silence.
Chris felt bad for not going to the show on Tuesday, but he had been too distraught. He hadn't even realized what time or what day it was when he awoke that afternoon. He realized that he couldn't let his break-up with Jesse consume him otherwise he'd jeopardize his career. He hadn't called anyone because he needed to get a grip on his feelings. If he had spoken to anyone right away, he would have had to explain what was going on and would've broken down again. He couldn't let that happen.
Stephanie sat next to him, making entries in her palm pilot. Chris was angry with her because she acted so cold and businesslike with him. What was he expecting her to do, comfort him? Maybe he thought she'd be girlier and less businesslike. Girly in the sense that she would ask him how he was feeling and want to know what happened with Jessica on Monday night. But she hadn't even asked. It's not like they were good friends or anything. They had good chemistry and worked well together. Nothing more nothing less. The only reason he had told Stephanie the truth about his break-up with Jessica was so that Stephanie would have the storyline involving Trish re-written, which she did. He didn't regret telling her, but he wasn't sure he was comfortable with her having that knowledge now.
"There's a bad storm coming in according to the forecast." Stephanie said, showing Chris the image on her palm pilot. "Lemme call the airport and make sure we can fly out of here tonight."
"Have you spoken to him?" Adam asked, leaning against the wall in Kurt's dressing room.
"No, I keep getting his voicemail." Kurt replied, frustrated. Kurt shook his head. "I wonder what happened?"
"Jay called me earlier and said that he hasn't shown up for the house show yet."
"Are you serious?" Kurt shot Adam a look of concern.
"Yeah, very. No one has seen him or heard from since he left RAW last night."
* * *
"It's been three days now." Vince McMahon said to Stephanie over the phone. "I've got meetings all day and since you are closer, I need you to take the jet and find out what's going on."
"Daddy, have you called the hotel?" Stephanie asked as she laced up her boots.
"Yeah. He hasn't checked out yet. He's in room 412."
"Okay, I should be there by six or so."
"Great honey. I really appreciate this. Oh, and see if you can get Kurt or someone close to him to go with you."
"Ok. I'll call you when I get there." Stephanie hung up the bedroom phone.
"What was that about?" Paul asked, lying in bed with his arms behind his head.
Stephanie sighed aloud as she stood up. "I have to fly back to Detroit and get to the bottom of this thing with Chris."
"What's going on?" Paul sat up, intrigued. "He still hasn't contacted anyone?"
"Nope. My dad found him, but he can't fly out there right now. So, I have to go talk some sense into him."
Paul didn't like the idea that she was flying somewhere to see Chris. "Do you want me to go with you?"
Stephanie laughed sarcastically. "Yeah right, Paul. Like Chris would really want to talk to you." She finished getting her things together and sat down on the bed next to Paul.
Paul smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. "You hardly know each other, Steph. Why would he talk to you?"
"I know we hardly know each other, that's not the point. As a McMahon I have to do what's best for the company!" She proclaimed, giving in to innocent laughter. "Besides, daddy said I have to go."
* * *
It was 6:25 when Stephanie knocked on the door of room 412. No one answered.
"Chris?" She asked through the door, "It's Stephanie." Silence. "Please open the door, I need to speak with you."
She stood there, impatiently tapping her foot on the carpet outside of room 412. She knocked again, louder than the last time and still no answer. Placing her head against the door, she listened and could hear absolutely nothing. Next, she tried the doorknob. There was a "do not disturb" sign hanging from it.
"CHRIS!" Stephanie said through gritted teeth. "Plee-" the door opened slightly. She stood there for a moment, expecting Chris to open the door all the way. When he didn't she pushed the door open and walked into the room.
The bed was a mess and there were clothes everywhere. Chris was sitting on the edge of the bed with his back to her.
"Thanks for finally getting the door." She said politely as she closed the door behind her. The silence was awkward between them. She walked around the bed to wear Chris was sitting. His face was unshaven and his hair looked like it hadn't been washed in days. She was surprised that the room didn't smell bad.
Chris looked up at Stephanie; his eyes were cold and distant. "What brings you here, eh?"
"Vince sent me." She stated honestly. She hesitated for a moment before sitting on the couch across from him.
"You want to know what happened, right?" Chris asked, turning on the television set.
"That's why I'm here." Stephanie leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees.
"In all honesty, I didn't wake up until 2 o'clock on Tuesday. There wasn't enough time to drive to the arena, so I went back to sleep."
Stephanie made a face. "You could have called someone. Anyone."
"I know, but I didn't feel like talking to anybody. I just had to be alone for a while." Chris flipped to another station, his eyes fixed on the television screen.
"You know you can't just decide not to show up to an event, Chris. You have contractual obligations with us."
"Don't you think I know that?" Chris snapped as he stood up from the bed. Stephanie stared at him in disbelief. "I don't need you or anybody else reminding me of my obligations! I needed a day off, gimme a fucking break!" He threw his arms up into the air with exasperation.
"There are certain ways we do things around here, Chris." Stephanie stood up and glared at him. How dare he burst out at her like that! "You've never had a problem with the rules until now. If we can't depend on you, you can't main event for us."
"What?" Chris laughed. "I was gone for one show, ONE SHOW!"
"Yeah that's right. You missed one show...and how many of the fans that paid to see Chris Jericho were disappointed and let down when you didn't show up?" Stephanie stuck her chin up at Chris, knowing that she made a good point.
"Since you and the writers keep holding me back, probably not that many." He growled and turned away from her. Stephanie grumbled to herself and grabbed him by the arm. He slowly turned to look at her, eyes boiling over. "Get off of me." He mumbled.
In a very deep and calm voice, Stephanie said, "I suggest you pack your shit and meet me in the lobby in a half an hour." She let him go and started walking towards the door.
"I'm not going anywhere." Chris snapped. "You tell your father I'll be at the show on Saturday and thank him for sending the Gestapo to check on his investment."
Stephanie was infuriated. She opened the door and turned to face him. "You don't want to piss me off, Chris."
"Why not? Do you think I care if I do? I'm tired of worrying about everyone else." Chris kicked some clothes away from his feet. "What the hell can YOU do anyway?"
"Just be downstairs by 7:15." Stephanie said, "You don't want to find out."
Stephanie closed the door and stood outside in the hallway, stunned at Chris' attitude. He had never acted like this in the three years he had worked with the company. On screen they used to fight and verbally abuse each other, but most of it had been scripted. He had always been quite the professional backstage, generally polite and easy to work with. She knew him well enough to know that this was not his usual behavior. She made her way to the elevator and went downstairs to the lobby.
Chris was downstairs with his bags at 7:10 that evening. Stephanie knew that he would show up. He was freshly showered and cleanly shaven , except for his extremely long goatee. Other than the coldness in his eyes, he looked normal.
"I suppose I'm leaving with you?" Chris asked in a snotty manner.
"Indeed you are." Stephanie walked with Chris to limo outside and they rode to the airport in silence.
Chris felt bad for not going to the show on Tuesday, but he had been too distraught. He hadn't even realized what time or what day it was when he awoke that afternoon. He realized that he couldn't let his break-up with Jesse consume him otherwise he'd jeopardize his career. He hadn't called anyone because he needed to get a grip on his feelings. If he had spoken to anyone right away, he would have had to explain what was going on and would've broken down again. He couldn't let that happen.
Stephanie sat next to him, making entries in her palm pilot. Chris was angry with her because she acted so cold and businesslike with him. What was he expecting her to do, comfort him? Maybe he thought she'd be girlier and less businesslike. Girly in the sense that she would ask him how he was feeling and want to know what happened with Jessica on Monday night. But she hadn't even asked. It's not like they were good friends or anything. They had good chemistry and worked well together. Nothing more nothing less. The only reason he had told Stephanie the truth about his break-up with Jessica was so that Stephanie would have the storyline involving Trish re-written, which she did. He didn't regret telling her, but he wasn't sure he was comfortable with her having that knowledge now.
"There's a bad storm coming in according to the forecast." Stephanie said, showing Chris the image on her palm pilot. "Lemme call the airport and make sure we can fly out of here tonight."