Alright, here's the next part.. I better see some reviews!!!!

PART 29

ROYAL RUMBLE- JANUARY 19, 2003

    Shane walked around the Fleet Center, on his way to his sister's office.  He knew that Britney and Charlene would be in there discussing their match.  Coming across the door that said "Smackdown GM," Shane opened the door and entered.  The three women looked up, smiling as they saw the brown haired man approach. 

"Hey Shane," they all said happily.

"Hey ladies, I know you're busy, but I have to talk to Britney.  Steph, Carly, can you guys excuse us?  It'll only be for a little bit," Shane insisted. 

"Sure," Stephanie said, glancing over at Carly.  "Come on, we'll go grab a cup of coffee."  The two women stood and exited the room.  After watching them leave, Britney turned to Shane.

"So… what's up?" she asked, sending him a knowing grin.

Sending her a matching grin, he replied, "Oh, nothing.  I just wanted to stop in and give early congratulations to the *new* women's champion."

"Thank you, Shane," she said, blushing slightly.

Shane was so happy for his baby cousin.  Call him biased, but he thought that her and Amy were the best women wrestlers that the company had seen, ever.  He felt that they were the hardest working and most dedicated… and both completely deserving of the title.  Britney, like Lita, had only held the title on one occasion.  Shane thought it odd that Britney held the title only once while Trish Stratus had already held it three times.  Not that Trish was a good wrestler… she had done a complete 180 from her days as the manager of T and A.  But she had only just learned everything around the summer of 2001.  Even though Britney was about three years younger than the other blonde bombshell, she was a McMahon.  Britney had been around the business since she was born, and had taken her first bump when she was only twelve.

Shane almost laughed as he recalled how that had come about.  In 1992, Mark Callaway asked her what she wanted from him for her birthday.  She looked him square in the eye and replied, "I wanna get my ass kicked by the Undertaker."  Now, most kids would have probably gotten in trouble for saying that to one of their uncle's employees, but this was the WWF.  Mark though it was the cutest damn thing he ever heard so, under Vince and Shane's supervision, he had a mini-match with her.  He even let her pin him, and after a few rough punches, he called her the Princess of Darkness.  He said she took after him perfectly with her "soup bones".  She loved that, and since her mom died soon after, it was the best birthday she had, excluding this past one.  Shaking his head and clearing his thoughts, Shane refocused on Britney. 

"You okay?" she asked.  Her tone was a little concerned, a little amused.  "I thought I lost you for a minute there."

"Nah, I'm still here, just drifting.  I got a lot on my mind."

While he was just thinking about that flashback he had, that wasn't what he was referring to in his statement.  He wasn't thinking of her birthday, he was thinking of his… and the card he had gotten from Brock Lesnar.  As much as he liked to play the big bad cousin, he was scared.  What was worse was that he couldn't warn Britney… she would definitely be a thousand times more scared, and he just didn't want to see her like that. 

"Are you okay?" Britney asked suddenly.

"Yeah… I, uh… I don't like that he's winning tonight," Shane answered. 

Britney immediately knew he was referring to Brock, who was scheduled to win the Rumble Match.  As much as she felt the same way, she knew there was nothing they could do about it.  Ratings were down, and people were beginning to like Lesnar as a face.  And she knew that the entire wrestling world was anxiously expecting Lesnar vs. Angle for Wrestle Mania.  Even though Vince wanted to punish Brock, he still had a business to run.

"I know, Shane.  I don't like it either… neither does Vince.  But we have to think of the best interest of the company," she said.

"Fuck the business," Shane grumbled, standing up to exit the room. 

Britney's eyes widened in surprise as she eyed her cousin incredulously.  She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.  Shane scrambled out the door in a huff.  What the hell was that all about?  The McMahon family ate, drank, slept, and BREATHED the business.  Did Shane just say to fuck that same business?  Something's up, Britney thought.  And I'm willing to bet it has something, if not a lot, to do with Brock Lesnar.

TWO WEEKS LATER

    Adam sat in his locker room, stretching for his upcoming match.  Suddenly, the door burst open, and Adam looked up to meet a pair of angry eyes.  What surprised him more than actually seeing the eyes was that they belonged to Shane McMahon. 

"Uh, hey Shane," he said tentatively, unsure of what was going on.

"Get in the chair, shut the fuck up, and LISTEN," Shane said sternly.  Adam's eyes widened, and he complied with Shane's orders.

"Okay.  I came into the building this morning, went into my office, and I found something of… particular interest.  It was from Brock Lesnar.  Now normally, I wouldn't even acknowledge something from him, but I couldn't help but notice the heading.  THIS is what I saw," Shane said, handing Adam a paper.  Adam scanned over the document.  At the top, it said "Tampa Bay Police Department."  As he read over it, his jaw dropped.

"Shane, I… I can explain this… it isn't what it sounds like," Adam said, recognizing the paper.  It was an old police report, from a couple years back… and it was filed against him. 

"Really Adam?  Then humor me.  Explain how a report that was filed against you for domestic abuse is not what it sounds like," Shane said, crossing his arms eagerly.  Adam felt his mouth go dry… of all the things Brock Lesnar could expose about him.  Damn it, he was really good at using every bit of Adam's life to destroy him. 

"I, well… Alanah and I had a big fight… a really big one.  I left, cause I didn't want to be around her.  Well, she called the cops and told them that I hit her because she was pissed that I walked out on her.  I swear nothing happened.  In fact, the charges were dropped the next day because they knew I *didn't* touch her.  She's just… vengeful like that when she's angry.  I'd never hit her, or anyone Shane, I swear," Adam insisted.

Shane nodded, eyeing the Canadian accusingly.  "Uh huh.  Well just so you know, I'm not so sure I believe you," he said firmly.  As much as he liked Adam, he wasn't so sure he could trust him anymore.  He wasn't so sure he could trust anyone anymore.  "And if you EVER try something like that with Britney…"

"What the fuck are you on?!  You KNOW I would NEVER touch Britney!  Seriously man, what the fuck is wrong with you lately?  I'm glad you've decided to be at all the shows to watch over everyone and all, but if you're gonna act like a little punk ass bitch maybe you should go back to your office!" Adam snapped suddenly. How the hell could Shane even believe that report knowing that Brock was the one who put it on his desk?  The blonde man was sick of playing nice… he was pissed.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that!  I'm Shane McMahon, damn it!"

"Christ Shane, you sound like your father… and I'll talk to you however the hell I want to.  You just ACCUSED me of ABUSING my girlfriend!  I thought you were on MY side of this.  Oh, and don't you dare use that 'I'm Shane McMahon' shit on me!  How can you use your position in the company to offend me when just a few weeks ago you were running around crying 'fuck the business' to everyone?" he cried. 

Shane stood up, glaring angrily at the other man.  He was shocked, almost frightened at the way he was acting… he knew he should be angry and Brock, not Adam.  Still, his blood was boiling. 

"Who the fuck do you think you are!?  Just because Britney TOLD you what I said, you can't go and use it against me!  You and I are gonna have some serious problems if…"

"Obviously we already do!  The question is whether or not YOU plan on doing anything about it!" Adam said, just as angrily.  The Canadian couldn't believe his ears.  He didn't know what was going on with the boss's son lately, but he wasn't going to put up with it. 

"Oh, I'll do something about it!" Shane said as Adam stood to get in his face.  The two men exchanged words, their voices gradually growing louder and louder.  Eventually they started to shove each other a little, yelling every expletive known to mankind. 

"What the hell is going on here?"

Shane and Adam looked up, eyes widening as they saw Britney glaring at them with her arms crossed in front of her chest.  Both men let go of each other immediately, backing off, embarrassed.  Moving her hands to her hips, she questioned them again.

"Well, what's going on?" she demanded.

"I…I…" both men started, turning slightly red. 

Shaking her head at them, she continued, "I don't know what the fuck is going on… but you two will have to settle it later.  Adam, we're up.  Shane, Vince wants to see you.  Both of you grow the fuck up and get where you're supposed to be."

Both men stared at her, wide-eyed and jaws dropped.  She watched Shane lower his head and sulk out the door.  She could tell by the way he was shuffling his feet that he felt like an ass.  Good, he's certainly made one of himself.  Next, she eyed Adam, who was sending her the same shameful look that her cousin did.  Opening the door and stepping out into the hall, she turned and looked up at her boyfriend.  Shaking her head at him, she said, "You have some explaining to do."

ONE MONTH LATER

    Chris was sitting in the catering room, not really doing much of anything.  He was thinking about the match he'd be having at Wrestle Mania 19 in a few weeks against Shawn Michaels.  He was so excited about facing Shawn… he'd wanted to do so for practically his whole career.  Still, his mood was somewhat gloomy.  Everything seemed to be changing.  Because of all the terrorizing Lesnar, Levesque, and Heyman were doing, all of his friends were slowly drifting.  Jay was constantly moody, Mark was constantly angry, Jeff was drifting from the business, and the divas were all scared to walk around the halls anymore.  Stephanie had seemed to bury herself into her work as an escape and, as a result, her relationship with Jay was suffering.  Adam and Britney hardly stuck around after matches anymore… they came in, had their matches, and left.  Matt and Amy were completely scarce.  Chris couldn't remember the last time he spoke to Amy outside of saying hi in a hallway or something like that.  Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder, and he looked up to see Amy.  Speak of the devil…  

"Hey Chris," she said, taking a seat next to him.

"Hi Amy," he said, upset that he was feeling a little uncomfortable.

"Hi Amy?  What, no, 'Hey Red, how goes it baby?' or anything like that?" she asked laughing.  She frowned when Chris gave an awkward laugh in reply.  "What's wrong?"

Turning to face her, Chris asked her, "Where have you been?"

Raising an eyebrow, Amy answered, "What do you mean?  I've been around all this time."

"Sure, you've been 'around' Ames, but you haven't really been around.  A lot of shit's been going on lately, and you've been nowhere to be found.  You're a really close friend, not only to me, but to Jay, Stephanie, and especially Adam and Britney… where were you… no, where ARE you when we need you?" the Canadian asked, unable to shield the hurt from his voice.  The redhead looked away, trying to come up with a response.

"I, uh… I'm sorry Chris.  I didn't think you guys needed me that badly.  I… I've just been… busy, I guess," she answered.  She didn't like the uneasiness that was suddenly washing over her.

"Busy?  Doing what?  There's not much you can do when you're on the road that is more important than supporting your best friends while they go through what is possibly the toughest time in their lives.  I doubt you were too busy Ames," Chris said, seriousness in his eyes chilling the diva. 

"Look, I'm sorry Chris.  I should have been here… I don't know what more I can say but that," she offered.  She certainly didn't like ditching out on everyone, but she did what she had to do to get by.

"I want to know why.  Why, when your so-called best friend is heard crying in the hallway, do you turn the other way?  Why, when you know that all you need to do to bring them out of that shell is TALK to Adam and Britney, do you become so busy?  Why, at a time when it's crucial for all of us to stick together, do you insist on drifting away?" Chris asked, staring at her with deep blue eyes.

Amy shifted uncomfortably in her chair.  She sighed, running her fingers through her long auburn hair.  "I… I… I'm scared," she finally answered, a little timidly. 

Scared?  Chris softened his gaze a little bit… did she just say was scared?  Amy Christine Dumas, the queen of Extreme, was scared?  "What the hell of?" Chris asked with great curiosity.

"Of… of everything.  I mean, I've seen what Brock's done to Britney.  He's completely terrorized her… and she was one of the strongest people I know.  And he's supposed to love her?  If that's the way he treats people he loves, how would he treat me, a woman he's certainly not fond of?  I know I'm usually the tough one, the one who's not afraid of anything… but the thought of him getting his hands on me scares me shitless.  I know what he's capable of," she explained.  As Chris nodded, she took a deep breath and continued.

"Um, I… one time, I heard him and Paul Levesque talking.  He said he'd have no problem 'axing the redheaded bitch' if I got in their way.  So, I decided to get out of his way.  I know it was stupid and incredibly selfish, but I have to look out for myself, too.  I had to do what I felt was necessary.  I'm sorry I've been so distant lately, but I've been so confused.  I've never been scared like this before… of someone who never even said more than three words to me.  I just didn't know what to do," she said.  She looked away again.  Chris knew how she felt.

"Hey, I understand.  Believe me, I've been getting that scared, helpless feeling a lot lately, I know what you're going through.  But still, you hurt everyone, especially Britney.  She feels like you kinda ditched out on us," he said.  Amy nodded… he was right.

"I guess I kind of did ditch you guys.  I… I need to fix this.  What do you think I could do to make it up to her?" she asked, hoping that Chris held that answer.  He eyed her for a moment, seemingly in thought.  Then, he met her hazel eyes, answering her question.

"Prove your loyalty to her."

Okay.. there's the next chapter.. hope you guys liked it.  You gotta let me know what you think!  If I don't know what you think, I can't put more stuff up!!!!!  So, I'll update this if I get like 4 or 5 reviews, I'll put the next chapter up.  LOL, so anyway, please review and tell me what yah think.. finals are almost over so if you guys review a lot, I'll be able to put a lot more up!  33