PART 41

BACKSTAGE

Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman sat in their locker room, both men staring at the monitor in total disbelief.  The two of them watched in a shocked silence as Britney and Adam went down to the ring to make an announcement.  "I'm pregnant."  The words coming from the television sunk right into Lesnar's brain. 

"She's WHAT?!" Brock screamed, jumping up out of his chair.  His sudden outburst also caused Heyman to jump right out of his seat.  The look forming on Brock's face was one of pure evil… enough to scare the living hell out of Heyman.  He could feel himself shaking as he spoke.

"I… I-I think she said that she's preg-"

"I HEARD what she said Paul!  This… this is bullshit!" Brock interrupted, looking back at him.

He walked over to the TV, pressing the power button and shutting it off.  Britney was pregnant with Adam Copeland's baby?  How could that be possible?  She can't… she can't do that.  She can't have someone else's kid… she's supposed to have MINE!  Brock couldn't comprehend how Britney could possibly be carrying a baby that didn't belong to him.  Brock could feel his blood quickly coming to a boil.  This wasn't right… she should be carrying *his* baby, not Adam Copeland's!  Paul could see the rage growing in Lesnar's eyes.  He looked like he was about to explode, and Heyman didn't want to be in the same country, let alone the same room when that happened.

"That stupid whore," Brock muttered angrily, beginning to pace back and forth.  Then, out of nowhere, he screamed, letting out an animal-like roar.  He yanked the TV cord out of the electrical socket on the wall, picked up the TV and hurled it across the room.  Heyman had to duck as it flew right by his head, crashing into the wall and then hitting the ground with a loud smash.  Heyman gasped, looking at the television, which was now in pieces on the floor.

"Uh… Brock?  Maybe you should calm down a little," Paul suggested fearfully.  If Brock left the locker room like this, he could very well kill somebody.  Brock snorted at Heyman's words, turning and walking towards him.  Paul flinched as Brock grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.

"Calm down?" Lesnar repeated seemingly in disbelief.  "You want me to calm down?  I gave that slut five *years* of my life!  And what is this?  This… this is the thanks I get for all the work I put into that damn relationship?  This is fucking thanks I get for all the shit I've done for her?!  I saw her first, I fell in love with her first… and what do I get?  NOTHING!  You know, I talked to her before about having a baby, and you know what that bitch said?  She told me she wasn't ready.  I'm not ready Brock… can't we just wait till we're older?  Then, good old Adam Copeland shows up and she's all of a sudden ready?  I don't fucking think so!"  Paul's eyes widened as he saw Brock heading in the direction of the door. 

"W-where are you going?" he asked worriedly.  Brock turned back to look at him.

"I'm going to find Britney and set her straight," he replied pointedly.  Just as he was about to turn the handle on the door, Heyman jumped up and grabbed him by the wrist.

"No!  You… you don't want to do that Brock.  It would not be a very smart move.  Maybe we should just sit back, take some time to collect our thoughts, and wait…"

"Wait for WHAT?  The baby to pop out eight months from now?  And just so you know, this isn't about *you*… it's about me and Britney!  You know Paul, you've been nothing but an annoyance to me lately," Brock said.  He sent Paul an angry glare, but he did back away from the door, so Heyman was satisfied.

"Now Brock," he said in an attempt to calm the younger man down, "you don't mean that.  I'm just trying to prevent you from doing something that I guarantee you will regret.  I'm just pointing you in the right direction… I just want to help."

"Well maybe I don't WANT your damn help!  You know, you've fucked things up more than you've helped them around here!  And you have *NO* idea what Britney just said.  Did you not hear her say she was pregnant… with another man's baby?  She can't do this to me… I won't let her," Lesnar growled, throwing himself onto the couch.

Paul eyed Brock with a funny look… almost one of concern.  He's fucking insane.  "What do you plan on doing?" he asked shakily.

He wasn't sure what kind of idea Brock had in mind, but he really hoped it didn't have anything to do with him.  He had already lost his spot as head of the creative team for slashing Adam Copeland's tires, receiving a huge demotion to mere consultant.  Brock's "plans" got more and more devious… not to mention illegal… as time went on.  Heyman knew Brock was a short fuse away from snapping on him, and he sure wasn't ready for that.  He had already gotten black eyes from both Adam and Chris, not to mention a load of death threats from Jay Reso and Mark Callaway.  Hell, even Kurt Angle, who some people considered the nicest guy in the company, threatened violence on him while he was his on screen agent.  Heyman locked eyes with Brock, and he couldn't help but shudder.  The intensity, the evil in his eyes… it was just downright scary.  He looked like a madman. 

"What… are you planning… on doing about it?" Heyman asked again, fighting to keep his voice steady and firm.  Brock smirked, laughing loudly.

"I don't know man, I really don't.  But if you ask me, three's a crowd… and one of them has to go."

LATER THAT NIGHT

Bad Blood was over, and now Stephanie, Jay, Britney, Adam, and Shane were sitting with Vince in the Chairman's hotel suite.  Stephanie fumbled with her hands nervously as Vince and Shane eyed her expectantly.

"Well honey?  What do you have to tell us?" Vince asked softly.  The people in the room watched the pained expression overcome the brunette's pretty face.  Jay put his arm around her, silently trying to comfort her.

"I-I, um… well, I wanted to tell you that I…"  She trailed off suddenly.  She looked around the room, seeing the sympathetic gazes she was getting from her family and from Adam and Jay.  Stephanie suddenly got the feeling that they felt sorry for her… and pity was the last thing she needed them to feel. 

"I… I… can't do this," she said, standing and hurrying out of the room.  The remaining five people sat for a moment, unsure of how to react.  After a few seconds though, Jay was up after her. 

"I'll be right back," he mumbled, rushing after her.  He exited the room, looking both left and right in search of his fleeing girlfriend.  He saw her about halfway down the hall, and he ran to catch up with her. 

"Hey," he said, grabbing her arm and spinning her to face him.  "What's going on?"  She looked away for a moment, then brought her gaze back to his.

"I just… I don't think I can tell them," she said sheepishly.

"Yes you can.  Steph, you have to tell them, they're waiting.  Come on now, honey… you promised me you'd tell Shane and your dad if Adam, Britney and I went with you," Jay reminded her.  Stephanie gripped his forearms tightly, as though she needed to hold on to him in order to stand up.

"I know Jay, it's just… it's really hard.  Even harder than I thought it would be," she admitted.  Jay eyed her with concern, running his hand through his recently shorn locks.

"I know it's hard baby, but you just have to do it.  I'll be right by your side, just like I promised," he assured her.  "Now come on, let's go."  He made a move in the direction of Vince's room, but Stephanie didn't budge. 

"I-I… I don't know.  I… I want to, but I'm just not sure I can.  Maybe I should just give up on this," she said dejectedly, lowering her head in shame.  God, she so doesn't deserve this.  Jay couldn't believe what he'd heard from her mouth.

"Stephanie Marie McMahon, I am really shocked.  All your life you've been a strong person… you've never backed down from anything.  That's what drew me to you, and that's why I fell in love with you in the first place.  I love that fiery, take no bullshit attitude… what's happened to it?  Do you honestly mean to tell me that you, Stephanie McMahon, are going to give up on this?  You're going to just not tell your father and brother something they deserve to know?" he asked her.  The Canadian hoped he didn't come across as degrading, because he certainly wasn't trying to be.  He just wanted her to see that she wasn't giving herself enough credit for all the strength she had buried inside her.

"I… I guess not.  I mean, I guess I can't just give up," she said, giving him a teary laugh.  "You're right Jay… I can do this.  I need your support, but I really can do this."  Jay's face broke into a grin.

"That's my girl," he replied with satisfaction, pulling her into a warm embrace.  She wrapped her arms around him as well, enjoying the simple pleasure of him holding her.

"Thank you Jay… for being so good to me.  I, uh… I owe you a lot.  I love you," she said, grinning up at him as she pushed away slightly.

"That is just music to my ears babe… I love you too," he replied, pulling her up to him for a kiss.  Stephanie leaned back against the wall as Jay slid his tongue tentatively into her awaiting mouth.  The kiss actually lasted awhile, until Jay broke it off, a little surprised.  They hadn't had a real, passionate kiss like that since… well, since she was raped.  Jay couldn't be happier about that, but he knew they had business to attend to.  He took her hand in his, leading her back in the direction of Vince's suite.

"Come on," he said.  "You've got a lot of explaining to do."

ABOUT AN HOUR LATER

Stephanie and Jay were now gone, leaving Vince, Shane, Adam, and Britney in the suite.  The two had come back after Jay had gone after Stephanie and caught up to her before she could get too far.  Stephanie finally got up the nerve to retell the entire story, telling her father and brother exactly what had happened.  Surprisingly, Vince and Shane kept their emotions pretty much in check while listening to her.  However, Stephanie knew that that wasn't going to last long, and she didn't want to be around when her words sunk in and they went nuts.  She said what she came to say, then she and Jay excused themselves and went back to their room.  Back in Vince's suite, the boss and his son were just realizing what Stephanie had said.  The initial shock had worn off, and they were just now beginning to realize and understand what it was Stephanie told them.

"Oh my God," Vince said, looking at Adam and Britney in disbelief as he recalled what his daughter had just told him.  "Daddy, Shane… Paul raped me."   Adam glanced at his girlfriend for a moment.  He wanted Vince to know that not only had Paul raped Stephanie, he tried to do the same to Britney.  He didn't think that she would be particularly interested in telling him about it though, so he kept his mouth shut. 

"I… I don't believe it," Vince said, shaking his head in shock. 

"Believe it," Adam said.  "You heard what she said.  He followed her to Jay's parents' house and he attacked her there… she came to my mom's in the middle of the night the day it happened.  I would have told you sooner, but I wanted her to…"

"I understand.  Did… did you at least get her to a hospital or clinic or some place to get her checked out?" Vince asked hopefully.  Adam shamefully shook his head.

"No.  I know I should have, but she refused.  She said she wasn't in very much pain… and she," he said, gesturing to Britney, "said to respect her wishes."  Britney sent Adam an odd gaze after his comment.  Sure, make me look like the bad guy. 

Adam and Vince continued talking about the events that had transpired following Stephanie's rape, including the incident where Paul slashed Adam's tires, which Heyman got demoted for.  While they continued on, Britney stopped paying attention, her mind drifting to other things… specifically to Shane.  She eyed her cousin with both concern and confusion.  As much as she tried, she just couldn't read his expression.  There was something about his face that was unreadable.  It wasn't shock, it wasn't hurt, it wasn't anger… Britney could plainly see those things in his eyes.  He almost… he almost looked as though he was going to cry.  Britney couldn't recall a time in her life where she'd ever seen Shane succumb to tears.  He just didn't do it.  All of a sudden, he jumped off the couch, muttering a string of curses as he left the room.  The three remaining people exchanged glances, but then Britney stood, calling after him as she exited the room as well.  Vince eyed Adam, the only other person left in the room. 

"Since I'm about to make a very important decision as to what I'm going to do with Levesque, now would be a good time to tell me anything else I need to know before I make up my mind," Vince instructed.  Adam sighed loudly… Britney was no longer in the room, so he decided to tell Vince what he knew. 

"Actually, there is something else.  He… Paul I mean… the night Heyman slashed my tires, that was his idea.  He… he had him do that so he could get Britney alone in the arena. He got her in Eric Bischoff's office while he was in the ring.  H-he… he tried to do the same to her, but Chris found out somehow and caught him," he explained.  The Canadian looked over at his boss… he wasn't sure what you could call the expression on his face.  He was almost confused, as Vince seemed unusually calm… he didn't even look mad.

"Vince, not to be rude or anything, but you don't look too mad.  Aren't you upset at all?" Adam asked in disbelief.  Vince returned his glance.

"My baby girl was raped by a guy I thought would marry her one day.  How do you think I feel?  Of course I'm upset!  I've never been so pissed off in my life!  But somebody has to be the strong one.  Someone has got to take control of the situation, and I figured that it should be me.  So, I'm doing my best to push my emotions, which are currently telling me to hunt Paul down and skin him alive, aside for my daughter's sake.  Now with what you told me, that only makes me angrier.  Not only did he hurt Stephanie, he tried to do the same to Britney.  I think that with all of the information I've received, I've made my decision," he said.

"Well what are you going to do?" Adam asked curiously. 

Vince almost smiled.  He finally had a legitimate excuse to get rid of the bastard, and maybe even lock him up too.  "Game's over.  As of tomorrow morning, he won't be around to hurt my girls or anyone around here.  Not only will I be notifying the police, I am going to officially fire Paul Levesque."

Here's the next part… I've managed to yet again stay away from anything *too* sad.  This part wasn't exactly happy, but it wasn't too sad either.  I'm keeping you in suspense by putting off these sad parts, LOL.  Thanks for all the reviews so far, keep em coming!!!