Title: The Road Less Traveled (15/?)
Author: Esquirella
Rating: R (for violence in some chapters.)
Disclaimer: I own the Rio character and have written other stories with her. I own all non WWE characters. But I do not own the wrestlers. (Unfortunately. They are so cute!)
Synopsis: Shannon schedules a match without telling Jeff, and Rio finds this out from Andrew. Jeff and Rio rush to reformulate their plan to save Shannon. Distribution: Just in case anyone's interested in it, please ask me first. More than likely, I will agree.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: I have received a review and several email messages asking for more chapters on Rio's background. There will be a chapter (coming soon) where Rio will explain a little about her past to one of her new friends. BUT, it won't have a lot of information, as Rio's not the trusting type right now. However, I have written other stories on Rio and these include the life-changing event that brought her to Justin and Sven, as well as her training time with them. These do not include any WWE characters, other than a passing mention of watching wrestling on TV. I could post these in the original fiction section if you like. (First I'd have to work them into chapters, but it probably wouldn't take me long to do so.) Please let me know, either through a review of this story or by email to esquirella@yahoo.com, if you'd like to see Rio's complete story.
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Andrew was waiting in the airport lounge when his cell phone went off. He picked it up hoping it wasn't his ex-girlfriend Kim again. Her last relationship had gone sour and she was trying to get back together with him. At least until her next "distraction" came along. He was tired of the repeating scenario.
"Hello?" he asked hesitantly.
"Andrew?" Rio's soft voice came through the line. "What is wrong?"
"Rio," he sighed with relief. "Nothing. I just thought it might be someone else."
"Not someone you wish to speak with, I assume."
Andrew tried not to sound as surprised as he was. He didn't understand how she was able to read his mind like that. It should annoy him, but somehow it didn't. He was too concerned with how to keep her talking to him to worry about it.
"Not really," he said smoothly. "Anyway, how're you doing?"
"I am fine," she said. "I saw your match last night. Pretty big bump you took there."
"Yeah," he chuckled. "That's what happens when you have a few beers two hours before the show."
"It wasn't scripted?"
"Nope."
"That's very dangerous," she said quietly.
Andrew could sense a tension. "Is something wrong?"
Rio sighed as if she wanted to say something but knew it wasn't her place to do so. There was a silent heartbeat or two, and finally Andrew couldn't take it.
"Rio, you can say anything you like to me. I kind of thought we were friends."
There was another second or so of silence from her as she apparently weighed words carefully.
"In my area, imbibing in anything that dulls the senses is a deadly error," she said. "I would not have any alcohol whatsoever before a match. In fact, I do not drink at all."
"Never?"
"Not ever. I cannot afford the risks."
Andrew mulled that over for a bit. "When do you have fun, honey?"
"Whenever I take out a beast like Beelz," she replied, rather coldly.
"Oookaaay," Andrew said slowly.
"I am sorry, Andrew. I am just very different from you."
"In some ways."
"In every way."
Andrew let that comment slide for now. "You coming to the states again any time soon, Rio?"
"As a matter of fact, we haven't left yet."
"I'd like to see you again," Andrew said tentatively. "Outside of the arena atmosphere. There's this Indy event coming up in a few days that some of my Smackdown coworkers are in."
Rio didn't answer. He wasn't sure if he was crossing any lines or not. He'd only just met her a little over a week ago.
"An Indy event this week?" she asked curiously. "I thought they were going to do one next week."
"There is one then, too. How'd you know about it?"
"Jeff mentioned it."
Andrew stopped breathing for a minute. WHAT!? Jeff? She's talking to HIM, too?
"Stop thinking what I know you are thinking," Rio said, seeming to sense what was wrong. "He is also a friend."
"Why do you need so many friends, Rio? I thought you liked me."
"I do like you," she said softly. "Why can I not be friends with both of you? I do not see the problem."
Andrew fumbled with the strap to his carry-on bag while he tried to think of an appropriate answer. He knew he had no more legitimate a claim on her than Jeff did, and so he would have to play his hand carefully lest he drive her away from him completely. He decided on the aloof approach for now.
"I'm sorry, honey. You're right."
"I am?" she asked, seemingly confused.
"Yeah," he said, grudgingly. "Now tell me why you and Jeff were talking about Indy shows. Is he taking you to next week's?"
"In a manner of speaking, I was taking him."
"You're taking him?" Andrew asked quizzically. "Why's that?"
"His friend Shannon is being stalked by a couple of idiots from my company. The ones at the club that night."
"Excuse me?" Andrew demanded in a somewhat elevated tone of voice, dropping the strap from his bag and sitting forward in his seat. "Why is this the first I'm hearing about it?"
"It just came up a couple of days ago," she said. "Why are you annoyed? It's not like I haven't faced both of them before."
This was true, he thought ruefully. He wasn't sure exactly why he was worried, but he couldn't shake the protective feeling he was developing for the little silver fighter.
"Maybe you'd better start from the beginning," he suggested.
Rio told him about the conversation she'd overheard, which had led to her first call to Jeff. Hearing the reason behind the call put Andrew a little more at ease, though he would still prefer she not talk to the high flyer with multicolored hair. He had nothing against Jeff, but he still kind of thought of Rio as his. His what, was another question.
As Rio finished telling him the saga, he sat back in his chair to think carefully. Sure this was an opportunity to see her again, he thought, but that wasn't the only reason he'd decided he was going to get involved. Oh, who was he trying to kid? Yes, it was!
"You know," he began, "now that you mention it, I think Moore's scheduled for this one, too."
"Damn it!"
Andrew was startled. He'd never heard Rio lose her temper before. Okay, so he'd only had a handful of conversations with her, but still, she'd never shown much emotion at all.
"You think they'll attack again?"
"Attack him?" she all but hissed. "They want to end his career and quite possibly disable him forever."
"Rio, I'm definitely going now, too," he said quietly, hearing his flight being called for boarding. "You must already know that."
"Yes," she sighed. "I figured you would."
"My plane's here. Call me later?"
"Count on it."
Andrew hung up with a small grin growing on his face.
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Rio threw the cell phone down on the bed. What to do now? She had to find out if Grendel and Sinbad were aware of this Indy event Shannon was scheduled to be in. Finally deciding to seek them out, Rio put on a heavy layer of eye shadow and lipstick, brushed her shoulder length dark blonde hair into a ponytail and grabbed her keys. She knew they wouldn't recognize her if they happened to spot her.
She left the motel where she was staying and began walking toward the busy street where the pool hall was located. Most of the Warrior Series fighters hung out at the hall's bar mingling with the local folk, looking for a bit of action to pass the time. Rio knew she'd be mistaken for a local "bar fly" by any of the fighters. She could even call up the appropriate Midwest accent if she had to.
She found the small but dignified establishment on corner of the next block and entered quietly so as not to draw too much attention to herself. She scanned the room, looking around for her quarries. There they stood in a the corner. Rio smiled to herself as she sidled up to the bar, a few seats from where they were and quietly ordered a ginger ale.
"I guess we'll have to take the kid out without Menace's help," Sinbad said.
"One less person to take a cut of the bonus," Grendel answered, shrugging his shoulder nonchalantly. "He wasn't much help the last time anyway."
"I can't believe we're getting a chance so soon! Henry's gotta put us in main events now."
"Careful," Grendel warned his friend. "The last thing you want is a match with that little bitch."
Rio raised a derisive eyebrow at that comment, but kept away from them.
"I don't think she'll gun for me as long as she's after the title match," Sinbad said. "You know how single minded she is."
"I used ta think that until she took out Menace."
"I told the moron to steer clear of her. He probably got tired of waiting for his chance and pushed her too far."
"Well, as long as we don't have to worry about her this weekend, we should be okay without him."
Rio decided that she had heard enough and finished her ginger ale quickly, slapping a five on the bar, making sure she tipped generously. She slid off the barstool and backtracked the way she entered, the two men none-the- wiser.
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"Shanny, when were ya fixin' t' tell me 'bout yo' Indy match THIS WEEK?" Jeff practically shrieked into the hotel phone.
He'd found out about the match from Shane, who'd just jumped to RAW this past week, and now he was freaking out because he couldn't get in touch with Rio. She was going to be pissed if anything happened to Shannon. For some reason, anything that happened to Jeff or any of his friends was something she took very personally.
"I was gonna mention it when I called ya tonight," Shannon said warily. "Why're ya so mad a' me?"
"Because I kno' yo' tryin' t' stop me from comin'!"
"I am NOT," Shannon yelled back. "Anyways, Matt's gonna be there, so why're ya goin'?"
Jeff held the phone in a death grip. "WHY AM I GOIN'?!?!?! Yo' like a brotha t' me, THAT'S why I'm goin'!" He wanted to add that he was fairly certain Shannon would be attacked again, but Rio wouldn't be happy if he told of her plan. "If it was me, ya'd NEVA let me go without ya."
He heard Shannon sigh and knew he'd hit the nail on the head with that one.
"I'm sorry, Jeff," Shannon finally said. "Yo' right 'bout that."
Jeff was about to chew Shannon out further when his cell phone rang. "Hold on, Shanny."
He set the receiver of the hotel phone down, reached into his travel bag and pulled out his phone.
"'Lo?"
"Jeff," Rio said, almost breathlessly. "We really have to talk!"
"I kno'," he answered. "I have Shanny on th' otha line. Can ya hold on for a sec?"
"Of course."
Jeff smiled a little and put his cell phone down beside him, reaching for the hotel phone receiver with his other hand.
"Who is that?" Shannon asked without preamble.
"A good frien' o' mine," Jeff answered evasively. "Now 'bout this weekend . . ."
"A frien' I kno'?" Shannon demanded, ignoring Jeff's attempt to change the subject.
"No, ya don' kno' 'er."
"O' i's a 'her' then?"
"Git off it," Jeff growled. "I wanna kno' mo' 'bout the match this weekend."
"Ya eva gonna lemme meet 'er?"
"Dammit, Shanny!" Jeff huffed. "Yes, I'll letcha meet 'er sometime, now git back t' th' subject!"
"Awright already!" Shannon laughed. "I'm gonna face off 'gainst a rookie from OVW. The show's in Atlanta. I s'pose yo' in?"
"Ya kno' it," Jeff replied firmly. He knew Rio had probably surmised most of what was going on from his end of the conversation and was thinking the same thing.
"I'll letcha git backta yo' lady FRIEN'," Shannon teased.
"Call me lata," Jeff ordered before hanging up with him and retrieving his cell phone. "Sorry, Ri, I was jus' tryin' t' git info from tha' pain-in th'- ass when ya called."
"So I gathered," she said. "I just found out myself what was going on."
"Lurkin' again?"
"Some, but I found out from Andrew."
Jeff sighed in exasperation. Apparently she was still calling Drew and it was bugging the hell out Jeff. Why did she need to talk to that arrogant Canadian anyway? He knew from before, though, that she wouldn't welcome an outburst on the subject, so he wisely held his tongue.
"Ha'd 'e kno' 'bout it?" Jeff asked flatly.
"I do not know for sure, but he was inviting me to go with him."
"Invitin ya? Like a date?"
"I guess," she said. "I asked him about the show and he told me that Shannon was scheduled to be in it."
"I woulda tol' ya but I can' reach ya."
"I will give you my email address so that we can keep that from happening again."
"Ya have email?"
"My 'family' keeps in touch with me that way."
"I didn' kno' ya had family," Jeff said, the surprise evident in his voice.
"I do not have any biological relations left," Rio said sadly. "But the two men who trained me have become my family."
"Two men?"
"Someday I will tell you about them," Rio said quickly. "But now we must talk about this problem."
"Matt's gonna be at this one, too."
"So is Andrew."
"WHAT?!"
"Do not be upset," Rio said. "I could only get the information from him by telling him what was going on."
"O', but I can' tell anyone," Jeff muttered.
"Jeff, if Shannon knew what was going to happen, what do you think he would do?"
Not really knowing where Rio was going with this, Jeff angrily thought for a minute.
"I s'pose he'd be watchin' out fo' somethin'."
"Exactly. And he would not be able to concentrate on his match. He could make mistakes, miss moves and get seriously injured."
"Tha' maybe true," Jeff answered. "But he's gonna be mad as hell when he fin's out."
"Probably," Rio conceded. "In which case, I will explain to him that it was my call."
"Oh yeah," Jeff said. "Tha' oughtta work out well."
"Jeff, what is bothering you?" Rio asked softly. "Is it the same thing that is bothering Andrew?"
"Mo' than likely."
"Why can I not have both of you for friends?" she asked. "I have not had friends in a very long time."
Jeff was instantly contrite. He hadn't meant to make her feel bad at all. In fact, he was trying to help her feel better about herself. Then he was going to try to talk her out of fighting for that organization. He wanted to be the one she turned to.
"I'm sorry I'm makin' ya feel bad."
"I am sorry I am making YOU feel bad," she replied. "Look, I do speak with him sometimes, and I think he is a very nice person. But I tell you more personal things than I tell him."
"Why's tha'?" he asked hopefully.
"You ask me about those things. You are interested in my life outside of the ring."
Jeff thought about that. It made him smile to hear her say that she only opened up (well, what little she did divulge anyway) with him. Yeah, he decided, he could handle her friendship with Drew . . . as long as he continued to be her only real confidant.
"So, we gonna see each otha this weekend then?"
"I would not miss it . . . partner."
"Now THA'S what I like t' hear," Jeff grinned unabashedly. "I have a pen 'nd papah. Wha's yo' email addy?"
Rio rattled it off and Jeff read it back to make sure he had it right. He then gave her the information he had on the small arena where the show would be held.
"One thing about the email, though," she said. "The men I spoke of . . . my 'family.'"
"Yeah?"
"They probably look at any email I get through there."
"Overprotective, huh," Jeff whistled. "I won't write anything too . . . intimate."
Rio giggled and he knew he would never tire of hearing her do that. It's probably been quite sometime since she let anyone make her giggle.
"They can be. I do not know what I would do without them, though," she said. "Now, I will meet you some time before the event."
"Where?"
"I will find you, Jeff, do not worry."
"Ri? Be careful, okay?"
I will try," she said, then clicked off the line.
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Rio laid the phone down on the table next to the bed and curled up into a fetal position. She knew she should try not to let Jeff's concern seep so far into her, but she did anyway. It had been a long time since she'd heard that from anyone besides Justin and Sven. And they showed concern in a much different way.
Mostly, one would distract her while the other took care of whatever problem they perceived threatened her. Rio remembered what it was like living with them and missed it for the most part. But one thing she didn't miss was the feeling of being useless. No matter how many times she told them she was able to handle the trouble, they always took the problem out of her hands.
Jeff didn't do that. In fact, he was letting her help him. It made her feel needed, and that was something she also hadn't felt in a very long time.
Rio sighed and closed her eyes for a short nap. She hoped the dreams would give her a break this time. For some reason, she was in a pleasant mood and didn't want it ruined so soon.
Author: Esquirella
Rating: R (for violence in some chapters.)
Disclaimer: I own the Rio character and have written other stories with her. I own all non WWE characters. But I do not own the wrestlers. (Unfortunately. They are so cute!)
Synopsis: Shannon schedules a match without telling Jeff, and Rio finds this out from Andrew. Jeff and Rio rush to reformulate their plan to save Shannon. Distribution: Just in case anyone's interested in it, please ask me first. More than likely, I will agree.
--------------------------------------
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I have received a review and several email messages asking for more chapters on Rio's background. There will be a chapter (coming soon) where Rio will explain a little about her past to one of her new friends. BUT, it won't have a lot of information, as Rio's not the trusting type right now. However, I have written other stories on Rio and these include the life-changing event that brought her to Justin and Sven, as well as her training time with them. These do not include any WWE characters, other than a passing mention of watching wrestling on TV. I could post these in the original fiction section if you like. (First I'd have to work them into chapters, but it probably wouldn't take me long to do so.) Please let me know, either through a review of this story or by email to esquirella@yahoo.com, if you'd like to see Rio's complete story.
--------------------------------------
Andrew was waiting in the airport lounge when his cell phone went off. He picked it up hoping it wasn't his ex-girlfriend Kim again. Her last relationship had gone sour and she was trying to get back together with him. At least until her next "distraction" came along. He was tired of the repeating scenario.
"Hello?" he asked hesitantly.
"Andrew?" Rio's soft voice came through the line. "What is wrong?"
"Rio," he sighed with relief. "Nothing. I just thought it might be someone else."
"Not someone you wish to speak with, I assume."
Andrew tried not to sound as surprised as he was. He didn't understand how she was able to read his mind like that. It should annoy him, but somehow it didn't. He was too concerned with how to keep her talking to him to worry about it.
"Not really," he said smoothly. "Anyway, how're you doing?"
"I am fine," she said. "I saw your match last night. Pretty big bump you took there."
"Yeah," he chuckled. "That's what happens when you have a few beers two hours before the show."
"It wasn't scripted?"
"Nope."
"That's very dangerous," she said quietly.
Andrew could sense a tension. "Is something wrong?"
Rio sighed as if she wanted to say something but knew it wasn't her place to do so. There was a silent heartbeat or two, and finally Andrew couldn't take it.
"Rio, you can say anything you like to me. I kind of thought we were friends."
There was another second or so of silence from her as she apparently weighed words carefully.
"In my area, imbibing in anything that dulls the senses is a deadly error," she said. "I would not have any alcohol whatsoever before a match. In fact, I do not drink at all."
"Never?"
"Not ever. I cannot afford the risks."
Andrew mulled that over for a bit. "When do you have fun, honey?"
"Whenever I take out a beast like Beelz," she replied, rather coldly.
"Oookaaay," Andrew said slowly.
"I am sorry, Andrew. I am just very different from you."
"In some ways."
"In every way."
Andrew let that comment slide for now. "You coming to the states again any time soon, Rio?"
"As a matter of fact, we haven't left yet."
"I'd like to see you again," Andrew said tentatively. "Outside of the arena atmosphere. There's this Indy event coming up in a few days that some of my Smackdown coworkers are in."
Rio didn't answer. He wasn't sure if he was crossing any lines or not. He'd only just met her a little over a week ago.
"An Indy event this week?" she asked curiously. "I thought they were going to do one next week."
"There is one then, too. How'd you know about it?"
"Jeff mentioned it."
Andrew stopped breathing for a minute. WHAT!? Jeff? She's talking to HIM, too?
"Stop thinking what I know you are thinking," Rio said, seeming to sense what was wrong. "He is also a friend."
"Why do you need so many friends, Rio? I thought you liked me."
"I do like you," she said softly. "Why can I not be friends with both of you? I do not see the problem."
Andrew fumbled with the strap to his carry-on bag while he tried to think of an appropriate answer. He knew he had no more legitimate a claim on her than Jeff did, and so he would have to play his hand carefully lest he drive her away from him completely. He decided on the aloof approach for now.
"I'm sorry, honey. You're right."
"I am?" she asked, seemingly confused.
"Yeah," he said, grudgingly. "Now tell me why you and Jeff were talking about Indy shows. Is he taking you to next week's?"
"In a manner of speaking, I was taking him."
"You're taking him?" Andrew asked quizzically. "Why's that?"
"His friend Shannon is being stalked by a couple of idiots from my company. The ones at the club that night."
"Excuse me?" Andrew demanded in a somewhat elevated tone of voice, dropping the strap from his bag and sitting forward in his seat. "Why is this the first I'm hearing about it?"
"It just came up a couple of days ago," she said. "Why are you annoyed? It's not like I haven't faced both of them before."
This was true, he thought ruefully. He wasn't sure exactly why he was worried, but he couldn't shake the protective feeling he was developing for the little silver fighter.
"Maybe you'd better start from the beginning," he suggested.
Rio told him about the conversation she'd overheard, which had led to her first call to Jeff. Hearing the reason behind the call put Andrew a little more at ease, though he would still prefer she not talk to the high flyer with multicolored hair. He had nothing against Jeff, but he still kind of thought of Rio as his. His what, was another question.
As Rio finished telling him the saga, he sat back in his chair to think carefully. Sure this was an opportunity to see her again, he thought, but that wasn't the only reason he'd decided he was going to get involved. Oh, who was he trying to kid? Yes, it was!
"You know," he began, "now that you mention it, I think Moore's scheduled for this one, too."
"Damn it!"
Andrew was startled. He'd never heard Rio lose her temper before. Okay, so he'd only had a handful of conversations with her, but still, she'd never shown much emotion at all.
"You think they'll attack again?"
"Attack him?" she all but hissed. "They want to end his career and quite possibly disable him forever."
"Rio, I'm definitely going now, too," he said quietly, hearing his flight being called for boarding. "You must already know that."
"Yes," she sighed. "I figured you would."
"My plane's here. Call me later?"
"Count on it."
Andrew hung up with a small grin growing on his face.
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Rio threw the cell phone down on the bed. What to do now? She had to find out if Grendel and Sinbad were aware of this Indy event Shannon was scheduled to be in. Finally deciding to seek them out, Rio put on a heavy layer of eye shadow and lipstick, brushed her shoulder length dark blonde hair into a ponytail and grabbed her keys. She knew they wouldn't recognize her if they happened to spot her.
She left the motel where she was staying and began walking toward the busy street where the pool hall was located. Most of the Warrior Series fighters hung out at the hall's bar mingling with the local folk, looking for a bit of action to pass the time. Rio knew she'd be mistaken for a local "bar fly" by any of the fighters. She could even call up the appropriate Midwest accent if she had to.
She found the small but dignified establishment on corner of the next block and entered quietly so as not to draw too much attention to herself. She scanned the room, looking around for her quarries. There they stood in a the corner. Rio smiled to herself as she sidled up to the bar, a few seats from where they were and quietly ordered a ginger ale.
"I guess we'll have to take the kid out without Menace's help," Sinbad said.
"One less person to take a cut of the bonus," Grendel answered, shrugging his shoulder nonchalantly. "He wasn't much help the last time anyway."
"I can't believe we're getting a chance so soon! Henry's gotta put us in main events now."
"Careful," Grendel warned his friend. "The last thing you want is a match with that little bitch."
Rio raised a derisive eyebrow at that comment, but kept away from them.
"I don't think she'll gun for me as long as she's after the title match," Sinbad said. "You know how single minded she is."
"I used ta think that until she took out Menace."
"I told the moron to steer clear of her. He probably got tired of waiting for his chance and pushed her too far."
"Well, as long as we don't have to worry about her this weekend, we should be okay without him."
Rio decided that she had heard enough and finished her ginger ale quickly, slapping a five on the bar, making sure she tipped generously. She slid off the barstool and backtracked the way she entered, the two men none-the- wiser.
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"Shanny, when were ya fixin' t' tell me 'bout yo' Indy match THIS WEEK?" Jeff practically shrieked into the hotel phone.
He'd found out about the match from Shane, who'd just jumped to RAW this past week, and now he was freaking out because he couldn't get in touch with Rio. She was going to be pissed if anything happened to Shannon. For some reason, anything that happened to Jeff or any of his friends was something she took very personally.
"I was gonna mention it when I called ya tonight," Shannon said warily. "Why're ya so mad a' me?"
"Because I kno' yo' tryin' t' stop me from comin'!"
"I am NOT," Shannon yelled back. "Anyways, Matt's gonna be there, so why're ya goin'?"
Jeff held the phone in a death grip. "WHY AM I GOIN'?!?!?! Yo' like a brotha t' me, THAT'S why I'm goin'!" He wanted to add that he was fairly certain Shannon would be attacked again, but Rio wouldn't be happy if he told of her plan. "If it was me, ya'd NEVA let me go without ya."
He heard Shannon sigh and knew he'd hit the nail on the head with that one.
"I'm sorry, Jeff," Shannon finally said. "Yo' right 'bout that."
Jeff was about to chew Shannon out further when his cell phone rang. "Hold on, Shanny."
He set the receiver of the hotel phone down, reached into his travel bag and pulled out his phone.
"'Lo?"
"Jeff," Rio said, almost breathlessly. "We really have to talk!"
"I kno'," he answered. "I have Shanny on th' otha line. Can ya hold on for a sec?"
"Of course."
Jeff smiled a little and put his cell phone down beside him, reaching for the hotel phone receiver with his other hand.
"Who is that?" Shannon asked without preamble.
"A good frien' o' mine," Jeff answered evasively. "Now 'bout this weekend . . ."
"A frien' I kno'?" Shannon demanded, ignoring Jeff's attempt to change the subject.
"No, ya don' kno' 'er."
"O' i's a 'her' then?"
"Git off it," Jeff growled. "I wanna kno' mo' 'bout the match this weekend."
"Ya eva gonna lemme meet 'er?"
"Dammit, Shanny!" Jeff huffed. "Yes, I'll letcha meet 'er sometime, now git back t' th' subject!"
"Awright already!" Shannon laughed. "I'm gonna face off 'gainst a rookie from OVW. The show's in Atlanta. I s'pose yo' in?"
"Ya kno' it," Jeff replied firmly. He knew Rio had probably surmised most of what was going on from his end of the conversation and was thinking the same thing.
"I'll letcha git backta yo' lady FRIEN'," Shannon teased.
"Call me lata," Jeff ordered before hanging up with him and retrieving his cell phone. "Sorry, Ri, I was jus' tryin' t' git info from tha' pain-in th'- ass when ya called."
"So I gathered," she said. "I just found out myself what was going on."
"Lurkin' again?"
"Some, but I found out from Andrew."
Jeff sighed in exasperation. Apparently she was still calling Drew and it was bugging the hell out Jeff. Why did she need to talk to that arrogant Canadian anyway? He knew from before, though, that she wouldn't welcome an outburst on the subject, so he wisely held his tongue.
"Ha'd 'e kno' 'bout it?" Jeff asked flatly.
"I do not know for sure, but he was inviting me to go with him."
"Invitin ya? Like a date?"
"I guess," she said. "I asked him about the show and he told me that Shannon was scheduled to be in it."
"I woulda tol' ya but I can' reach ya."
"I will give you my email address so that we can keep that from happening again."
"Ya have email?"
"My 'family' keeps in touch with me that way."
"I didn' kno' ya had family," Jeff said, the surprise evident in his voice.
"I do not have any biological relations left," Rio said sadly. "But the two men who trained me have become my family."
"Two men?"
"Someday I will tell you about them," Rio said quickly. "But now we must talk about this problem."
"Matt's gonna be at this one, too."
"So is Andrew."
"WHAT?!"
"Do not be upset," Rio said. "I could only get the information from him by telling him what was going on."
"O', but I can' tell anyone," Jeff muttered.
"Jeff, if Shannon knew what was going to happen, what do you think he would do?"
Not really knowing where Rio was going with this, Jeff angrily thought for a minute.
"I s'pose he'd be watchin' out fo' somethin'."
"Exactly. And he would not be able to concentrate on his match. He could make mistakes, miss moves and get seriously injured."
"Tha' maybe true," Jeff answered. "But he's gonna be mad as hell when he fin's out."
"Probably," Rio conceded. "In which case, I will explain to him that it was my call."
"Oh yeah," Jeff said. "Tha' oughtta work out well."
"Jeff, what is bothering you?" Rio asked softly. "Is it the same thing that is bothering Andrew?"
"Mo' than likely."
"Why can I not have both of you for friends?" she asked. "I have not had friends in a very long time."
Jeff was instantly contrite. He hadn't meant to make her feel bad at all. In fact, he was trying to help her feel better about herself. Then he was going to try to talk her out of fighting for that organization. He wanted to be the one she turned to.
"I'm sorry I'm makin' ya feel bad."
"I am sorry I am making YOU feel bad," she replied. "Look, I do speak with him sometimes, and I think he is a very nice person. But I tell you more personal things than I tell him."
"Why's tha'?" he asked hopefully.
"You ask me about those things. You are interested in my life outside of the ring."
Jeff thought about that. It made him smile to hear her say that she only opened up (well, what little she did divulge anyway) with him. Yeah, he decided, he could handle her friendship with Drew . . . as long as he continued to be her only real confidant.
"So, we gonna see each otha this weekend then?"
"I would not miss it . . . partner."
"Now THA'S what I like t' hear," Jeff grinned unabashedly. "I have a pen 'nd papah. Wha's yo' email addy?"
Rio rattled it off and Jeff read it back to make sure he had it right. He then gave her the information he had on the small arena where the show would be held.
"One thing about the email, though," she said. "The men I spoke of . . . my 'family.'"
"Yeah?"
"They probably look at any email I get through there."
"Overprotective, huh," Jeff whistled. "I won't write anything too . . . intimate."
Rio giggled and he knew he would never tire of hearing her do that. It's probably been quite sometime since she let anyone make her giggle.
"They can be. I do not know what I would do without them, though," she said. "Now, I will meet you some time before the event."
"Where?"
"I will find you, Jeff, do not worry."
"Ri? Be careful, okay?"
I will try," she said, then clicked off the line.
-------------------------------------
Rio laid the phone down on the table next to the bed and curled up into a fetal position. She knew she should try not to let Jeff's concern seep so far into her, but she did anyway. It had been a long time since she'd heard that from anyone besides Justin and Sven. And they showed concern in a much different way.
Mostly, one would distract her while the other took care of whatever problem they perceived threatened her. Rio remembered what it was like living with them and missed it for the most part. But one thing she didn't miss was the feeling of being useless. No matter how many times she told them she was able to handle the trouble, they always took the problem out of her hands.
Jeff didn't do that. In fact, he was letting her help him. It made her feel needed, and that was something she also hadn't felt in a very long time.
Rio sighed and closed her eyes for a short nap. She hoped the dreams would give her a break this time. For some reason, she was in a pleasant mood and didn't want it ruined so soon.