Title: Floating Up

Chapter 15: Reasons

Author: Kora

E-mail: KrazyKora@aol.com or WinterViolet24@aol.com

Rating: R

Disclaimer: The following characters belong to WWE and all the people and companies who deal with all that legal stuff. I am simply using the characters for my own twisted enjoyment. All warnings featured on Part 1.

Author's note: WARNING! This chapter is graphic and VERY disturbing! You have been warned.

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Last time I talked to you

You were lonely and out of place

You were looking down on me

Lost out in space

Laid underneath the stars

Strung out and feeling brave

Watch the riddles glow

Watch them float away

You're falling back to me

The star that I can't see

I know you're out there

Somewhere out there

You're falling out of reach

Defying gravity

I know you're out there

Somewhere out there

-Our Lady Peace, 'Somewhere Out There'

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"You don't have to go in there naturally but if we want to get this guy-really-get him, we need all the facts we can squeeze out of him. He's all ready passed on protection of an attorney; he's refused to speak to anyone but you. Now, we have more than enough to convict him, what with the attack you witnessed and Mr. McMahon's connections alone, not to mention Ms. McMahon's own testimony but we just thought-"

"I'll do it," Shawn Michaels said flatly, cutting off the McMahon's fast talking lawyer. He didn't need anyone to twist his arm; the lawyer didn't even need to go on for as long as he did. Once Shawn had heard that Stephanie's attacker wanted to talk to him and him alone he had been hooked. How could he not have been?

The lawyer started up again, blabbing about two way mirrors and trying to get what he could out of the man but Shawn didn't hear a word of it. He didn't care. All he wanted was to be face to face with the man who had ruined Stephanie's life. He had had to go through a bit more bullshit first. People all around him talking about how unethical and illegal this was and not to go ballistic and all the other expected jargon but in the end all the red tape and discussions were wrapped up and Shawn was taken to the interrogation room.

Shane, Hunter, and Vince wished him luck, patted his back and told him to get all he could, that they'd be watching from the other side and the cops and lawyers continued their inane ramblings and warnings as he was thrust inside. It was a small room, the walls painted all white and one long mirror in the corner. There was only one light in the room and it hung over a small table that rested in the center of the room, two chairs on either end. In one of those chairs sat the man who was responsible for this whole thing.

Mitch Carlson.

Such a normal name.

For a monster.

Mitch looked normal enough as well. Just like anyone else you would see on the street. His hair was a short, spiky brown and he had a very strong, muscular build. He had a cigarette he was casually smoking and when he saw Shawn he smiled like the devil, "Have a seat, my man. Glad to see you made it."

Shawn took his seat across from Mitch, his face never changing its grim expression as he stared at him. He didn't say a word and for a while they sat in silence, Mitch's grin growing wider with each passing second until at last he spoke, his voice husky, "This is my last cigarette for a while, I think. I was surprised they gave it to me…all things considered but you know what? I'm not surprised they sent you. I wanted them to and there was every possibility they wouldn't but somehow, deep inside, I knew they would. Want to know why?"

Shawn was still motionless, his eyes merely fixated on Mitch and his cigarette.

Mitch sighed and rolled the glowing tip of his cigarette along a nearby ashtray that rested on the table between them before continuing, "I knew they'd want to dig the screws in. Cover all the bases. I know that they're on the other side of that mirror right now biting their lips in anticipation of what I'm going to say. And don't lie, Michaels, you want to know too, don't you? Otherwise you wouldn't have agreed to come in here. You want my reasons. And hell, I don't mind giving them to you, and once again you must be wondering why?"

Mitch took another puff, "Why, why, why would I do such a thing? Why you of all of 'em? Why tell you, why'd I fuck Steph, the whole nine yards and don't worry I'm gonna tell ya. I guess the best place to start would be you. Lucky, lucky you. You know, I wondered who'd find her after I was done with her. Never imagined it'd be you. Must have knocked you for a loop, huh?"

He paused, looking at Shawn intently as if hoping for an answer but once he realized he wasn't going to receive one he continued, "I wondered what it would be like for the poor shmuck that fell upon her. I always imagined when someone'd find her she'd be dead by then but I guess I can't ask the Lord for favors. Besides, it certainly was more fun this way.

"Maybe that's why I sent you out there the way I did, you know? That's where you remember me from isn't it? What was it you asked me after the show in Chicago? You asked if everyone had left and I told you they had, including Stephanie naturally, as I had helped her leave and then you asked about the weather."

Mitch laughed then, "I added in that it was cold and that you should wear a coat, isn't that a trip? You caught up with me not but I'd say half an hour after I'd finished my business in the parking garage with her. I'd worn all this rain gear so I didn't get a drop on me, came back inside, disposed of the clothing changed back into my Smackdown staff gear and then-well, you know the rest. Still, it is so ironic that I was the one who was responsible for sending you out there, for you finding her and helping her and everything. It all came full circle in a way. Funny how fate works."

He ran a hand through his hair before taking another puff of his cigarette, "But that's only one point down. Now the big picture. Why Steph? Well, like most of these things, it started in high school. I met her there. I was the school photographer, total poser and geek and she was like-every boy's fantasy. The most popular girl in school, bright, funny, beautiful-total prom queen material.

"And she was just so sweet. To everyone. Even to me. I was helping take pictures for the school yearbook and I took her photo. I remember she said, 'make sure my nose doesn't look too big, Mitch'. I didn't even know she knew my name. I was just in complete awe of her."

His voice died off then as he looked off into space in wonder, a small smile on his face as he spoke gently, "I couldn't believe she had noticed me. No one ever noticed me. I was just so…unnoticeable. But when she'd said that I'd felt like I was a somebody. I watched her as she went from brainless jock to brainless jock. They used her, abused her and yet she always ended up on a new one's arm. At that time, I couldn't blame her, she was the popular girl, it was expected for her to date a gorgeous but brainless athlete.

"We graduated, moved on but I could never quite forget her. And then, when I was in college, I saw her on television. She was still just as sweet as I'd remembered and I wanted to see her again, be with her again and be noticed.

"But I knew then that if I ever wanted a shot with her I'd have to make myself a somebody. Exercise, build a body, become a wrestler. So I dropped out of pre-med and started training. I took steroids, I cut corners, did what I had to do but I showed little to no success at ever becoming one of the big shots. But I did get a step in, I became a member of the staff, I became a referee. I was big enough for that and with my medical training I could help in more than one field, the company was happy to have me.

"So finally I had my ticket in and I knew it as just a matter of time until I ran into her. Until she saw me and noticed me again. Remembered me. But you can guess what happened."

The gentleness in his voice died then, turning hard and ugly, "That stuck-up, silver-spooned little snob didn't even recognize me! She walked right past me when I saw her in the hallway. I said 'hi' and she just ignored me, went on her way swaying her hips and being Miss Thang.

"I thought maybe she hadn't heard me but then time after time came when I'd run into her and not a word. Not a goddamn word!"

He pounded a fist on the table then, his face scarlet as he set his cigarette on the ashtray, "All that work! All I sacrificed, the wasted hours, and shit I went through for her and I didn't get a goddamn thing! Didn't she realize how she'd changed my life that day when I'd taken her picture? No one had breathed a word to me all year but she spoke up and brought light into my life and then she stomped it out again!

"She just had no idea what she had done, what her one little action had caused and it just tore me apart. And that's when I realized the sweet girl I had been dreaming about had been a lie. I started to look back at it, you know, those high school years and I realized she had been then what she is now, what she's always been and always will be.

A slut.

"A selfish, dirty slut who doesn't give a damn about anyone but herself. I mean, shit, have you ever watched her? Have you ever thought about it? Every time she's on she's in love with someone else, that's all her life revolves around! Everyone just loves her. You never see the other divas date that much! Not even Torrie Wilson, the self reputed most gorgeous women in the WW-whatever the fuck we're calling it these days.

"It's always Steph with a new love interest, with love problems. First there was Test and then there was Hunter, and hell, even he wasn't good enough, because then it was Jericho and Angle! Even her and Bischoff had a thing and now you! Everyone gets drawn into that little web of hers.

"They think they see something, see what I saw and then they come to the same conclusion I did but I'm the only one man enough to do something about it. I saw what she did, what she was and decided to put a stop to it. Bitch goes through men like napkins and I said enough was enough! If I couldn't have her no one'd have her!"

Mitch had risen from the table, his fists rested on the table, his shadow looming over Shawn who had still had yet to move a muscle. Mitch's face was an ugly mask of dark triumph as he continued smugly, "I knew she'd never suspect me. She didn't even remember me. I knew she'd think it was someone more glamorous. One of the men she'd been with in the past considering there were so many of them who had fallen in love with her on television. It makes me sick to my stomach when I think of it.

"Still, I knew I'd be safe when I came up with my decision to…well, handle her. Put her in the gutter where she belonged. Besides, everything considered, I think she owed me a little something-something for the mental anguish she'd put me through.

"I didn't count on you though. Certainly didn't count on that, hell, you were the only thing I didn't plan on. She was supposed to stay there. She was supposed to die and they were supposed to find her dead and see her as she was: a broken piece of gutter trash. A whore who'd finally gotten her just desserts. But no, you stepped in and had to be the savior.

"You have no idea how angry I was when I found out. I hated you and wanted you dead but I tried to keep my hopes up. I started to think it was actually better she had lived. She'd have to live with knowing what a fucking slut she was. She'd feel like shit for the rest of her days and that brought a smile to my face, I felt like justice had been served but then, you had to go a step further didn't you, Michaels? You had to help her even more.

"And why? Because you fell for her trap like they all do. You fell in love with her."

The last sentence was filled with embittered mirth as he lowered himself back to his seat and took hold of his cigarette again, smoking it idly to calm himself before continuing, "So there you go, off to be the knight in shining-fucking-armor. You patched her up and made her feel all kinds of good about herself. You have no idea how that made me feel. To see her traipsing back into the office in full swing, happy spirits like nothing had happened. All my hard work for not.

"Being in the company I heard thorough the grapevine it was you. Vince and Shane aren't as good at keeping secrets as they think, especially when they can't look past their noses to see a member of the staff walking by their office while they're talking too loudly on their goddamn cell phones.

"I heard how you got her to go to the cops and go the shrink and the whole rape-victim bullshit that' s expected and that's when I knew stronger measures had to be taken. I realized how foolish I was.

"Mere death and degradation wasn't enough for the woman. She's too thick skulled to comprehend simple actions. She hadn't figured it out yet and what more I realized that in a way, this was all the better because I wanted her to remember.

"Don't you see? I wanted you all to find out. I wanted you to know it was me. I wanted credit for what I had done and I wanted that FUCKING BITCH TO REMEMBER WHO THE FUCK I WAS!"

The shout tore out of him viciously, spit flying with it as he clutched to his cigarette. Shawn remained unmoved. Eventually Mitch went on, "So I came up with my plan. My swan song. I had it all detailed and underlined and put all the pieces into place. I knew what I was doing from the beginning and it started with the pictures. Now, naturally, I needed an assistant for this and moreover, I needed an assistant from RAW. Someone to spread the flyers around.

"It didn't take me long to find someone who hated Stephanie about as much as I do. A lot of people back stage aren't her biggest fans but this girl took the cake. Becky Graves was her name. I ran into her at the main office, I was doing some filing work and she was talking to a group of her girlfriends. Seems she harbored a mad crush on Jericho but knew she didn't have a chance because he was still secretly hung up on Steph, which, she noted as being irrelevant, considering how much she looked like Steph.

"And I must admit, Becky was a ringer for her in some ways. Same long brown hair, blue eyes, but different faces and as for bodies, well, Becky was a bit too hippy if you catch my drift. Still, her disdain for Stephanie was my selling point so I took her under my wing. She was more than eager to humiliate Stephanie and she didn't quite understand the full implications of my plan so she agreed to help.

"See, I told her the picture was of Stephanie after she'd taken a beating, you know, leaving out the …'sexual mishandling'. After all, I know how girls get about that sort of thing. Even though she hated Stephanie I got the inkling she'd defend her virtue so I had to lie and Becky, not being the brightest bulb in the pack or maybe just wanting to believe it, did as I asked and posted the pictures up at the RAW offices. Phase one complete."

Mitch wiped at his mouth, finding a drop of spit there from his earlier outburst, he wiped it away and hissed as he brushed over his busted lip. Shawn finally seemed to have a small reaction, one corner of his mouth picking slightly as if wanting to smile and Mitch noticed it, immediately pouncing on it, "Think it's funny, huh? How Stephanie and that damn mutt tore into me before the cops came. I got stitches in my shoulder you know. Nuts got better though and this lip'll heal soon enough, don't you worry none. She may have gotten in a good shot or two but it's nothing compared to what I did to her," Mitch looked at Shawn and laughed, "Or better yet, what I did to you."

Shawn's moment of levity was gone and he was back to a blank slate as he went on gloating, "You're lucky you have as thick of a skull as people have been saying, Michaels, or I would have popped your head wide open like a goddamn pimple. You wonder why I did that? It was phase two in a manner of speaking.

"I wanted Stephanie to see how because of her other people suffer, how she ruins everything she touches. You became the top candidate. I was originally gunning for Shane but as you know, you just weaseled your way so deeply into her life, became her best friend, her lap dog, and that just bumped you up the charts.

"Like before, I heard how you comforted her over the flyers. I also heard about her numerous 'dates' and that just set me off. I show everyone what a broken slut she is and she starts fucking dating?! Everyone suddenly all attracted all over again and it just made me sick and in a sense, hell, I felt sorry for you buddy, 'cause she was passing you by without a thought.

"Seemed only natural that out of all of them Hunter'd be the top choice. I watched he, you know. I guess 'stalked' is the best word. She and Hunter were close, so very close and I knew if you saw it'd tear your insides out and I sympathized with you. She's a hell of a thing. Makes you care then tap dances on your heart and I thought it'd best if I did you a favor and put you out of your misery.

"Not to mention I DID owe you for making her so goddamn happy despite all my hard work. She was supposed to suffer and then you waltz in there and make her feel like she's on cloud nine, despite the twister she was playing with your heart so, bam! Hit you up side the head with the crowbar.

"I figured you'd die but, much like Stephanie, fate intervened and stepped in to save your ass, this time it was Nash who played the role of the hero and you survived. Whoopee-fucking-doo."

He shook his head, "Which led to the final phase. I was sick of waiting. Watching from the shadows and not jumping in. I had tossed in the picture and Stephanie was finally unhappy, especially with you tossing her because you saw her kiss Hunter, yes, I did know about that, so don't be shocked, remember, I was watching you all. Always watching. You all just couldn't look past yourselves to see me. I might as well have been invisible for all it mattered.

"Anyway, I saw it all and was pleased enough but I just-wanted to end it. I wanted her to suffer. To suffer as I had suffered and I wanted to destroy her personally with my own two, bare hands. I wanted to crush her and watch her die and most of all, I wanted her to know it was me and fucking remember.

"And Becky had become a problem. She had figured out the truth naturally and confronted me about it and she just wouldn't shut her fat mouth so I did it for her."

Mitch leaned back then, turning to look at the mirror, seeing past it to the men he knew were standing there, "She's dead. I killed her. I dumped her body and burned it just so you know. She wasn't worth the trouble of a funeral anyway, fat loser she was. No one'd come anyway.

"I had never actually killed someone before. I mean with you and Stephanie and your attempted deaths I didn't put forth much effort. Steph was supposed to die in the gutter from hypothermia or whatever and you were supposed to die of blood loss but Becky-well, I actually hands-on'd her. I shot her. Dropped her like a bad habit. Oddly, it wasn't as bad as I thought really, killing her I mean, it was so much easier than I thought'd be. But before I burned her I noticed something on her of value. The only thing of value. Something I could use."

The smile on his face was almost eerie in its sincerity, "Her scalp. It was strange doing that. Scalping her like some goddamn Indian but I just saw it and remembered what I'd done with Steph and it was just too priceless to pass up, especially considering how similar their hair was. And once again, the fitting irony. Becky had hated Stephanie because she was jealous of her and their similarities and now that very fact was going to be used to torment Steph. Honestly, I'm sure where ever she is. Becky'd at least be happy about that. 'Causing Stephanie that much pain personally, even if her life was forfeit.

"Thus the final phase. I packed the scalp to make sure Stephanie remembered. I heard about her having trouble remembering the 'incident' as you fucks kept putting it and I knew if anything'd jog her it was that. Don't ask me why, just knew, intuition I guess.

"And I knew you were coming, Michaels. I had gotten your messages at the office and retained them. Made sure Stephanie didn't get them and of course then you'd sent through the wire to disregard those messages anyway because you wanted to 'surprise' her, you didn't want her to know you were coming, you dumb romantic fuck.

"Still, it was too perfect to pass up. I attacked her and had you catch us red handed because I just wanted to fuck with you again. Get you for having found her, for having escaped the death I had planned for you, I wanted you find us but sadly I had hoped it would be after I was done fucking her a second time.

"Might I add, the dog was a nice touch. Heard you two were in a fight and what do you do? You bring her a dog so you guys can just be the perfect fucking picture of the modern couple. A man, a woman, and their dog, love and happiness for all."

There was nothing but disdain in his voice even as he said it in a sticky, sweet manner. His loathing was evident as he spoke with more dry sarcasm, "I really wanted you to suffer, you know. Find her broken a second time in my arms after I was done. 'Cause frankly by that point, I didn't care if I got caught. Like I said, I wanted you all to catch me, because I wanted you to know I did it and why I did it and understand that the stupid whore got everything she deserved. To see it from my point of view, for you to understand the favor I did you all, did everyone who ever has and whoever will get fucked over by that bitch."

He had a satisfied look on his face obviously feeling justified, "I don't regret a single thing I did. I'll admit it, it's sort of over the top, how much work I put into everything. I bet you all had figured it was just some passing crazy-ass dick who raped her and left her, no big plot behind it all. I mean, better that then to think someone actually sat down and thought out how to crush her.

"Or, like I said earlier, one of her past beaus but as I've said, sorry to disappoint you all but it was just little 'ol me. Me with the big plans who managed to outsmart all you. Me, a lowly, unnoticeable loser member of your staff. A fucking nobody. Hey, is it a day for the little man or what? I guess every now and then, the underdog gets his due."

Mitch sat up straighter then and looked directly into Shawn's eyes. Ice blue eyes meeting warm bluegreen eyes as he said firmly, "I wonder…when you think of the rain. Do you have nightmares? Do you tense up? I did Stephanie in the rain, struck you in the rain, odd I know but what can I say? I'm an atmospheric kind of guy as much as I am one for irony. So I wonder, when you think of the rain," his voice dropped an octave, "What do you think of? How do you feel?"

Mitch wasn't expecting an answer, instead changing subjects dryly, "You know, just between you and me, you're not missing out on much. I mean, I always thought Stepahnie'd be a bit hotter than she was, if you catch my drift. Started off good enough, all that fire and energy, she put up a hell of a fight and damn if she wasn't hot but then she just lay there like a cold fish.

"Nothing to write the boys about. You'd think being who she was she'd be better in the sack but I assure you she isn't. Which brings me to a question I've been dying to ask you, Michaels, I mean, considering I've probably filled in all the holes for you, the least you could do is fill in some for me."

Mitch leaned in close to Shawn, "When you think about it, I mean, really think about it, who's the bigger villain in this piece? Me, for raping her," he paused as if to add affect, "or you, for putting the moves on her afterwards?"

Shawn didn't answer and Mitch pulled back, merely shaking his head, "Well, whatever, It doesn't matter now, does it? You can have her if you want. I'm finished with her. You can have the leftovers. But I promise you, she really isn't worth the trouble. She's a terrible fuck."

In that instant, Shawn leapt over the table and knocked Mitch to the ground. His hands wrapped around Mitch's throat and he was choking him. Mitch struggled but Shawn merely roared, pulling him to his feet, his fingers tightening with bruising power, literally choking the life out of him, his breath leaving in tiny wheezing gasps.

He slammed Mitch against a nearby wall and released him long enough pulled back a fist to slam it across his jaw, the air cracking under the sound of bone meeting flesh. Shawn took a fist full of his hair and slamming his face roughly against the bricks, Mitch wailed as his nose burst open, blood flying freely into the air

Shawn drew him back around to face him again as he began to punch him furiously across the face then pulling back to hit everywhere he could with a massive amount of force, his strength suddenly inhuman. The sounds of his knuckles pounding into Mitch's skin deafening as the blood from Mitch's broken nose liberally splattered them both.

Mitch tried to fight back but to no avail as they struggled, Shawn's fists continuing to hail down on him. He brought up his knee repeatedly into Mitch's sides, then started kicking him sharply with his steel-toed boots. He alternated his hits until there was a sickening wet snap and Mitch howled. Shawn knew he'd broken one of his ribs but he didn't care. He didn't care about anything, all he could see was red. He went back at him like an animal, tearing away at him. The room suddenly exploded, flooding with people as the cops tried to pry Shawn off of Mitch.

Mitch was moaning in agony, blood all over him but Shawn was insatiable, his adrenaline driving him mad with blood lust as he continued to lunge at him. Hunter ended up grabbing him around the waist and dragging him away but not before getting one good punch in on Mitch himself, shouting, "YOU'RE LUCKY HE DIDN'T KILLYOU! LUCKY I DIDN'T FUCKING KILL YOU!"

Hunter continued to drag Shawn away while the cops dealt with Mitch. Vince was shaking his head, veins standing out on his neck while his jaw worked, his voice tight as he asked, "Why?"

Shane looked at his father, his face neutral as Vince continued, "Why did that son of a bitch chose Michaels out of all people to talk to? He never really explained that."

Shane sighed and reached out to touch Vince's shoulder, saying stiffly, "He did it for the same reason he did everything else. He knew if it was you, me, or Hunter, we'd just jump right in to beating him, we wouldn't have given him a chance to explain why he did what he did. And god knows, the man was egotistical enough that he wanted his swan song explained.

"He wanted his moment in the sun and for someone to understand why he did what he did but even more than that, he also knew out of all of us that if anyone snapped to the point of killing him, it'd be Shawn. He wanted Shawn to attack him after he was done talking. That way he wouldn't face a trial and even better, he would get to continue torturing both Shawn and Stephanie. But we got our reasons and that's good enough…for now."

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