Disclaimer: own nothing except the OCs. All will be revealed later
She'd forgotten how hard ring work-outs could be when you just started. It was like being in Mexico all over again, only there bumping hurt like hell while some crazy instructor yelled at you in incomprehensible Spanish and expected you to do exactly what he said at that moment. No wonder people told she was fast, flashy and spontaneous. It was the way she'd been taught
But that was then, this was now. Now she had to make that long climb back to expert ring-worker from neck-braced invalid. It was going to be a hard climb but she'd yearned for it ever since she'd had the surgery and been forced into her house like a hostage. She'd been waiting to work in the ring again after so long out of it and the chance to perform to sell out crowds again. It was proving to be tougher than she thought
Her limbs knew what they were doing. They'd always reacted immediately and usually in the way she planned for them but now as she began light in-ring training at OVW, one of the WWE's developmental leagues, her limbs didn't want to play. They were sludgy and slow, not responding in the way she wanted them to. She'd been working in OVW for just over a couple of weeks but felt like she was getting nowhere. She wanted to be back on TV but had a while to go yet. A few months to be precise but it seemed like an eternity.
She sighed as sat in the locker room, lacing up her sneakers that she always wrestled in. Who'd have thought it, Lita the WWE's resident high- flying daredevil diva unable to even perform a hip-toss? It would shock a lot of fans, she knew that much. She'd cried with frustration early on because she wasn't responding in the way she was used to. The trainers here had been amazing and coaxed her back out when she'd wanted to pack it all in while she came to terms with her body's dysfunctions. They'd managed to get her to continue working. Sure it was getting a little easier but not even as half as good as the redhead who'd fought at Wrestlemania X8 last year for the Women's Championship. It was going to take a lot more work.
Amy sighed and propped her elbow up on her knee, thinking. She hated to admit it but there was some definite fear going on in her head right now. All the WWE knew how ruthless the fans were, especially the on-line critics who seemed to relish ripping apart any small defect they could pick out in the wrestlers' work. What would everyone think if she came back not as good as before? She could hear the criticisms now. She didn't want to deal with that, not when she was trying to return. She'd had enough of their comments when she'd been commentating for Heat and had to put up with comments like 'Lita - the worst announcer in the West' being posted everywhere and printed in magazines. All her career, at everything she did, she tried hard; she did the best she could for the work that she loved. When she was in the glaring media spotlight, you had to perform the best you could and sometimes that wasn't enough for the perfection seeking internet critics. She was sick and tired of trying to reach their standards. Matt had told her that she could do anything she wanted to and that he'd support her with whatever she did. It brought a smile to her face to think about him. Matt, her caring boyfriend who'd done so much for her since she'd been injured, looking after her. Her smile faded as she thought about Jeff, Matt's brother who'd left only recently to seek challenges new with his band. She'd spoken to him only a few days ago. He had so much to offer but she'd told him that whatever he did, he must do it to keep himself happy.
She carefully began stretching herself, remembering to adapt for her neck. She didn't want to go all the way back to square one, mindless rehab. She'd walked up 50 steps soon after her surgery to prove how serious she was about making a quick hard recovery. She'd helped out at an animal shelter during her recovery to keep herself active and now she could start ring training. She should feel excited but all she felt was despair. She wanted to be in the ring so badly, the women's division was full of excellent in- ring talent right now; Trish, Jazz, Victoria, Jackie, Ivory, Molly even the Smackdown divas like Nidia and Dawn were training hard. There was so much to do. But that was for the old Lita, the new Amy felt like she could even hit a clothesline sometimes. Now was one of those times.
"Someone's lost hope" an amused voice sounded suddenly
Amy whirled around so fast at the voice that she fell backwards, falling over the bench behind her and went sprawling onto the floor.
"Well that was graceful" the voice said wryly
Amy heard a splatter of footsteps and then a pair of arms began lifting her to her feet. She more than a little embarrassed at someone seeing her sudden pratfall.
"There you go" the voice said
Amy lifted her head to look as she dusted her clothes off. She expected to see one of the trainers or wrestlers come to find her to start the day's practice. She was very surprised to see someone she didn't know. He was a tall thin guy; about nineteen she guessed, dressed in a white button down shirt with a short sleeved black shirt all undone over the top and black jeans. He was smiling at her. He was probably a new talent.
"I am so embarrassed" she blurted out "sorry you had to witness that"
"Oh no it was very entertaining" the guy laughed "you off to practice?"
"Will be soon" Amy answered
"There was so much enthusiasm in that answer" teased the guy "I thought you were supposed to be the daredevil of the WWE's women's division?"
"Well I was until some stuntman dropped me on my head and wrecked my neck"
"So you're here to re-train then?"
"That's the idea"
"Which is just thrilling you"
Amy glared at him. He was really getting on her nerves now but he just stood there and smiled, waiting for her to speak
"Look, I can't even throw a hip-toss right now! I used to be able to do moonsaults and hurricanranas, now I can't do a lousy hip-toss" she exclaimed, the pain pouring into her words
"Those terms mean nothing to me I hope you realise"
"But you get the idea, I'm not me anymore, I'm this weak trapped woman who can't live up her own expectations, let alone the crowds and internet freaks, I can't do it anymore"
As soon as Amy said that, she felt something break inside her. She hadn't admitted that to herself or anyone else for that matter before. Tears filled her eyes and she turned from the guy to blink them away. Everything seemed hopeless now she'd said that. She heard him murmur
"Sounds like she has no faith in yourself....I guess you can come down now....I can't do this one on my own, it's not all my area"
"Are you talking to yourself?" Amy said suddenly as she turned around, eyes narrowed
"Oh no, at a friend"
Amy gaped in confusion at him as he walked to the door and opened it with a flourish. In stormed a female, all wild long hair and flashing eyes. She wore navy blue jeans and a blue and white striped strap belly top, a stretchy black undone shirt over the top. Her hair was long and brown flying everywhere while her eyes were hidden behind glasses.
"Finally! Do you know how long I've had to stay up there? It's been a long wait just watching" she exclaimed
She grinned suddenly and briefly kissed the guy before turning her attentions to Amy who wasn't really sure what to make of the scene before her.
"Amy Dumas, it's a great honour to meet you, I'm a huge fan of yours" the girl said
"Oh so you're fans" realised Amy, relief flooding through her, that explained a lot
"I'm the fan, he isn't" the girl answered, jerking her thumb over her shoulder at the guy "but seriously, you're like my favourite wrestler, the stuff you do is wild"
"It was until this happened" Amy replied glumly, gesturing to her neck
"That? You're here aren't you? Ready to re-train, you've been doing ok for the past couple of weeks" the guy said cheerfully "your in-ring return's scheduled for July so it's not that long to go"
"Have you finished with the fan thing now?" the guy asked suddenly
The girl turned around and mock-glared at him before laughing and grabbing one of his hands, pulling him to her side. Amy noticed that she wore a silver cross around her neck on a fine silver chain.
"You're gonna get through this Amy, I know you will, you've just gotta have some faith and some hope and a lot of hard word" the girl said
"It isn't that easy" Amy started
"Yes it is" the guy cut in "just do what you always do, live for the moment"
"And don't give up, when things get frustrating, it means a breakthrough is coming" the girl added
Amy smiled slightly, it seemed like a glow came from them. For some reason, she felt lighter. It was going to be hard work but since when had anything been easy for her? She wasn't conventional or traditional, things always came twisted out of shape for her to untangle. Matt had always told her that she thrived on the difficult in life. He was right, she wasn't used to easy; she was used to fighting for what she wanted.
The girl nodded satisfied
"And we're done, let's move" she said beginning to move towards the door
It was then that Amy noticed something. The door was the only way in, how was it that the guy got in in the first place? A shiver coursed through her, were they real? Something stirred in her mind, something Jeff had said about being visited by someone who made him see straight. As they reached the door, she ran and stood in front of them and the door. They both stopped surprised.
"How did he get in? The door was shut, I made sure of that when I came in to change" she said, her eyes darting from one form to the other, her heartbeat pounding
The two looked at each other; the guy raised his eyebrow, the girl shrugged. They evidently went in for non-verbal communication. Amy could feel sweat start to prickle her skin. She knew that the door was shut. For some reason, she had to know. They'd appeared and were about to disappear
"She is the last one so we could tell her" the guy offered
"Yeah why not?" the girl answered
Amy let out a huge breath and relaxed from her position of being pressed up against the door so that they couldn't go out without answering her questions. The girl smiled at her kindly, feeling her distress
"You didn't tell me your names" Amy said at last her voice breathless "what are they?"
"And so it begins" the guy muttered before the girl nudged him sharply "fine, my name's Hope"
"And mine's Faith" the girl chirped
"Were your parents' hippies or something?" laughed Amy
"Oh no, our parent is a lot more than some free-love believing sixties- bound revolutionary" Faith replied, her eyes shining "He's the greatest thing ever, a Spirit that cannot be measured, infinite love"
"Wait, you have the same parent but...." Amy gestured to their intertwined hands puzzled
"Oh we're not brother and sister; we're part of the name person" Hope answered "made of the same matter"
"The same but different" Faith added "our necklaces show that much"
Amy looked at the pair; they did look vaguely alike but different. It was odd; they seemed to shimmer round the edges. She moved closer trembling slightly to look at their necklaces. Faith wore a cross but Hope wore some sort of star on a black cord.
"It's a pentacle" Faith filled in for her "opposites see?"
"In fact, we're not really here at all and when we're gone you'll think you imagined us" Hope said
"But we touch your life every day, just not in such a physical way"
"But we're there, all the time; we just decided to make a personal appearance"
"That's not strictly true, we were told to come down here"
"Yes well, we said we would and we have and now we're finished, you're the last one"
Amy looked at them, taking in their rapid fire banter, her breaths shortening. They weren't really here, ghosts then? Apparitions to haunt her for all she'd done wrong?
"So you're ghosts?" she croaked out
"Ghosts? No such thing, we're spirits, very different" Faith replied
"Elements really, elements of..well our names really" Hope offered
"You said I was the last one, what for?" Amy said
"For needing help, in this company there's a severe drought of hope and faith so we were told to come down and change it because He heard it" Faith answered patiently
"Heard what?" Amy asked
"The silent cry, the one that everyone makes when they're miserable and without hope and faith, so many in this company needed us but it's been a pleasant trip" Hope said with a smile
"Oh for you maybe but I've been stuck upstairs while you've been living it up down here" Faith retorted, squeezing his hand
"And to answer your first question, I got in by thinking where I was needed most" Hope said with a wink
"Which I can't do pity me and will really give you something to think about" Faith laughed
Amy stared at them for a second. They were glowing in front of her eyes again, so much it hurt her to look. She closed them to stop the heartbeat in her head from exploding. She heard a laugh then a hand touched her face lightly. The heat in her head stopped. When she opened her eyes, no one was there. She could smell something though, a bittersweet smell that lingered for a long time.
"Amy? You ready for practice?" a voice suddenly asked
The trainer was stood in the doorway, looking expectantly. Amy started and turned slowly to look at him
"Sure I guess" she replied "I'll be right there"
Her body felt taught and cold. Something happened. Jeff had told her that he felt right about his decision that the visitor had helped him see straight and give him hope. Maybe it was true, maybe she imagined it. But then Faith had said she'd think that. Amy smiled slightly. Who knew what had happened? She had a practice to go to and a hip-toss to perfect before she moved onto crossbodies. With a last look, she disappeared from the room, the bittersweet smile trailing after her and the laughter stuck in her head. A memory that wouldn't go away. Ever.
*
Thank you Jadedvixen and FallenAngel for their reviews and love. This story meant a lot to me. Faith and Hope are based on real people. May you all find people in your lives who do the same for you. Thank you for reading and may you all have a little hope and faith in your lives.
She'd forgotten how hard ring work-outs could be when you just started. It was like being in Mexico all over again, only there bumping hurt like hell while some crazy instructor yelled at you in incomprehensible Spanish and expected you to do exactly what he said at that moment. No wonder people told she was fast, flashy and spontaneous. It was the way she'd been taught
But that was then, this was now. Now she had to make that long climb back to expert ring-worker from neck-braced invalid. It was going to be a hard climb but she'd yearned for it ever since she'd had the surgery and been forced into her house like a hostage. She'd been waiting to work in the ring again after so long out of it and the chance to perform to sell out crowds again. It was proving to be tougher than she thought
Her limbs knew what they were doing. They'd always reacted immediately and usually in the way she planned for them but now as she began light in-ring training at OVW, one of the WWE's developmental leagues, her limbs didn't want to play. They were sludgy and slow, not responding in the way she wanted them to. She'd been working in OVW for just over a couple of weeks but felt like she was getting nowhere. She wanted to be back on TV but had a while to go yet. A few months to be precise but it seemed like an eternity.
She sighed as sat in the locker room, lacing up her sneakers that she always wrestled in. Who'd have thought it, Lita the WWE's resident high- flying daredevil diva unable to even perform a hip-toss? It would shock a lot of fans, she knew that much. She'd cried with frustration early on because she wasn't responding in the way she was used to. The trainers here had been amazing and coaxed her back out when she'd wanted to pack it all in while she came to terms with her body's dysfunctions. They'd managed to get her to continue working. Sure it was getting a little easier but not even as half as good as the redhead who'd fought at Wrestlemania X8 last year for the Women's Championship. It was going to take a lot more work.
Amy sighed and propped her elbow up on her knee, thinking. She hated to admit it but there was some definite fear going on in her head right now. All the WWE knew how ruthless the fans were, especially the on-line critics who seemed to relish ripping apart any small defect they could pick out in the wrestlers' work. What would everyone think if she came back not as good as before? She could hear the criticisms now. She didn't want to deal with that, not when she was trying to return. She'd had enough of their comments when she'd been commentating for Heat and had to put up with comments like 'Lita - the worst announcer in the West' being posted everywhere and printed in magazines. All her career, at everything she did, she tried hard; she did the best she could for the work that she loved. When she was in the glaring media spotlight, you had to perform the best you could and sometimes that wasn't enough for the perfection seeking internet critics. She was sick and tired of trying to reach their standards. Matt had told her that she could do anything she wanted to and that he'd support her with whatever she did. It brought a smile to her face to think about him. Matt, her caring boyfriend who'd done so much for her since she'd been injured, looking after her. Her smile faded as she thought about Jeff, Matt's brother who'd left only recently to seek challenges new with his band. She'd spoken to him only a few days ago. He had so much to offer but she'd told him that whatever he did, he must do it to keep himself happy.
She carefully began stretching herself, remembering to adapt for her neck. She didn't want to go all the way back to square one, mindless rehab. She'd walked up 50 steps soon after her surgery to prove how serious she was about making a quick hard recovery. She'd helped out at an animal shelter during her recovery to keep herself active and now she could start ring training. She should feel excited but all she felt was despair. She wanted to be in the ring so badly, the women's division was full of excellent in- ring talent right now; Trish, Jazz, Victoria, Jackie, Ivory, Molly even the Smackdown divas like Nidia and Dawn were training hard. There was so much to do. But that was for the old Lita, the new Amy felt like she could even hit a clothesline sometimes. Now was one of those times.
"Someone's lost hope" an amused voice sounded suddenly
Amy whirled around so fast at the voice that she fell backwards, falling over the bench behind her and went sprawling onto the floor.
"Well that was graceful" the voice said wryly
Amy heard a splatter of footsteps and then a pair of arms began lifting her to her feet. She more than a little embarrassed at someone seeing her sudden pratfall.
"There you go" the voice said
Amy lifted her head to look as she dusted her clothes off. She expected to see one of the trainers or wrestlers come to find her to start the day's practice. She was very surprised to see someone she didn't know. He was a tall thin guy; about nineteen she guessed, dressed in a white button down shirt with a short sleeved black shirt all undone over the top and black jeans. He was smiling at her. He was probably a new talent.
"I am so embarrassed" she blurted out "sorry you had to witness that"
"Oh no it was very entertaining" the guy laughed "you off to practice?"
"Will be soon" Amy answered
"There was so much enthusiasm in that answer" teased the guy "I thought you were supposed to be the daredevil of the WWE's women's division?"
"Well I was until some stuntman dropped me on my head and wrecked my neck"
"So you're here to re-train then?"
"That's the idea"
"Which is just thrilling you"
Amy glared at him. He was really getting on her nerves now but he just stood there and smiled, waiting for her to speak
"Look, I can't even throw a hip-toss right now! I used to be able to do moonsaults and hurricanranas, now I can't do a lousy hip-toss" she exclaimed, the pain pouring into her words
"Those terms mean nothing to me I hope you realise"
"But you get the idea, I'm not me anymore, I'm this weak trapped woman who can't live up her own expectations, let alone the crowds and internet freaks, I can't do it anymore"
As soon as Amy said that, she felt something break inside her. She hadn't admitted that to herself or anyone else for that matter before. Tears filled her eyes and she turned from the guy to blink them away. Everything seemed hopeless now she'd said that. She heard him murmur
"Sounds like she has no faith in yourself....I guess you can come down now....I can't do this one on my own, it's not all my area"
"Are you talking to yourself?" Amy said suddenly as she turned around, eyes narrowed
"Oh no, at a friend"
Amy gaped in confusion at him as he walked to the door and opened it with a flourish. In stormed a female, all wild long hair and flashing eyes. She wore navy blue jeans and a blue and white striped strap belly top, a stretchy black undone shirt over the top. Her hair was long and brown flying everywhere while her eyes were hidden behind glasses.
"Finally! Do you know how long I've had to stay up there? It's been a long wait just watching" she exclaimed
She grinned suddenly and briefly kissed the guy before turning her attentions to Amy who wasn't really sure what to make of the scene before her.
"Amy Dumas, it's a great honour to meet you, I'm a huge fan of yours" the girl said
"Oh so you're fans" realised Amy, relief flooding through her, that explained a lot
"I'm the fan, he isn't" the girl answered, jerking her thumb over her shoulder at the guy "but seriously, you're like my favourite wrestler, the stuff you do is wild"
"It was until this happened" Amy replied glumly, gesturing to her neck
"That? You're here aren't you? Ready to re-train, you've been doing ok for the past couple of weeks" the guy said cheerfully "your in-ring return's scheduled for July so it's not that long to go"
"Have you finished with the fan thing now?" the guy asked suddenly
The girl turned around and mock-glared at him before laughing and grabbing one of his hands, pulling him to her side. Amy noticed that she wore a silver cross around her neck on a fine silver chain.
"You're gonna get through this Amy, I know you will, you've just gotta have some faith and some hope and a lot of hard word" the girl said
"It isn't that easy" Amy started
"Yes it is" the guy cut in "just do what you always do, live for the moment"
"And don't give up, when things get frustrating, it means a breakthrough is coming" the girl added
Amy smiled slightly, it seemed like a glow came from them. For some reason, she felt lighter. It was going to be hard work but since when had anything been easy for her? She wasn't conventional or traditional, things always came twisted out of shape for her to untangle. Matt had always told her that she thrived on the difficult in life. He was right, she wasn't used to easy; she was used to fighting for what she wanted.
The girl nodded satisfied
"And we're done, let's move" she said beginning to move towards the door
It was then that Amy noticed something. The door was the only way in, how was it that the guy got in in the first place? A shiver coursed through her, were they real? Something stirred in her mind, something Jeff had said about being visited by someone who made him see straight. As they reached the door, she ran and stood in front of them and the door. They both stopped surprised.
"How did he get in? The door was shut, I made sure of that when I came in to change" she said, her eyes darting from one form to the other, her heartbeat pounding
The two looked at each other; the guy raised his eyebrow, the girl shrugged. They evidently went in for non-verbal communication. Amy could feel sweat start to prickle her skin. She knew that the door was shut. For some reason, she had to know. They'd appeared and were about to disappear
"She is the last one so we could tell her" the guy offered
"Yeah why not?" the girl answered
Amy let out a huge breath and relaxed from her position of being pressed up against the door so that they couldn't go out without answering her questions. The girl smiled at her kindly, feeling her distress
"You didn't tell me your names" Amy said at last her voice breathless "what are they?"
"And so it begins" the guy muttered before the girl nudged him sharply "fine, my name's Hope"
"And mine's Faith" the girl chirped
"Were your parents' hippies or something?" laughed Amy
"Oh no, our parent is a lot more than some free-love believing sixties- bound revolutionary" Faith replied, her eyes shining "He's the greatest thing ever, a Spirit that cannot be measured, infinite love"
"Wait, you have the same parent but...." Amy gestured to their intertwined hands puzzled
"Oh we're not brother and sister; we're part of the name person" Hope answered "made of the same matter"
"The same but different" Faith added "our necklaces show that much"
Amy looked at the pair; they did look vaguely alike but different. It was odd; they seemed to shimmer round the edges. She moved closer trembling slightly to look at their necklaces. Faith wore a cross but Hope wore some sort of star on a black cord.
"It's a pentacle" Faith filled in for her "opposites see?"
"In fact, we're not really here at all and when we're gone you'll think you imagined us" Hope said
"But we touch your life every day, just not in such a physical way"
"But we're there, all the time; we just decided to make a personal appearance"
"That's not strictly true, we were told to come down here"
"Yes well, we said we would and we have and now we're finished, you're the last one"
Amy looked at them, taking in their rapid fire banter, her breaths shortening. They weren't really here, ghosts then? Apparitions to haunt her for all she'd done wrong?
"So you're ghosts?" she croaked out
"Ghosts? No such thing, we're spirits, very different" Faith replied
"Elements really, elements of..well our names really" Hope offered
"You said I was the last one, what for?" Amy said
"For needing help, in this company there's a severe drought of hope and faith so we were told to come down and change it because He heard it" Faith answered patiently
"Heard what?" Amy asked
"The silent cry, the one that everyone makes when they're miserable and without hope and faith, so many in this company needed us but it's been a pleasant trip" Hope said with a smile
"Oh for you maybe but I've been stuck upstairs while you've been living it up down here" Faith retorted, squeezing his hand
"And to answer your first question, I got in by thinking where I was needed most" Hope said with a wink
"Which I can't do pity me and will really give you something to think about" Faith laughed
Amy stared at them for a second. They were glowing in front of her eyes again, so much it hurt her to look. She closed them to stop the heartbeat in her head from exploding. She heard a laugh then a hand touched her face lightly. The heat in her head stopped. When she opened her eyes, no one was there. She could smell something though, a bittersweet smell that lingered for a long time.
"Amy? You ready for practice?" a voice suddenly asked
The trainer was stood in the doorway, looking expectantly. Amy started and turned slowly to look at him
"Sure I guess" she replied "I'll be right there"
Her body felt taught and cold. Something happened. Jeff had told her that he felt right about his decision that the visitor had helped him see straight and give him hope. Maybe it was true, maybe she imagined it. But then Faith had said she'd think that. Amy smiled slightly. Who knew what had happened? She had a practice to go to and a hip-toss to perfect before she moved onto crossbodies. With a last look, she disappeared from the room, the bittersweet smile trailing after her and the laughter stuck in her head. A memory that wouldn't go away. Ever.
*
Thank you Jadedvixen and FallenAngel for their reviews and love. This story meant a lot to me. Faith and Hope are based on real people. May you all find people in your lives who do the same for you. Thank you for reading and may you all have a little hope and faith in your lives.