Title: The Road Less Traveled (17/?)
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 interrogates Rio and Matt snaps. Jeff and Andrew begin to worry about her as she returns to her fight club.
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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When they got back to the locker room, Shannon found a secluded area in the back and dragged the less-than-willing Rio into it. She yanked herself out of his grasp and crossed her arms defiantly. Jeff and Andrew moved in to stand near her, while Matt leaned back against the wall near the entranceway. He kept glancing over his shoulder every now and again to make sure they remained undisturbed.
Shannon gazed at the small woman before him, unable to reconcile her slight size with her lethal fighting prowess. She was very slender and petite, almost frail actually. How could she have taken down those two animals so quickly and easily? And why? He shook himself out of his thoughts and concentrated on getting answers. Matt had told him she was mysterious, so he knew he'd have a hard time getting her to talk.
"Awright," he said in a low tone, watching Rio carefully. "Wha's goin' on?"
"She jus' wan'ed t' save ya," Jeff snarled.
"I was askin' HER, not you."
Rio stood silently in front Shannon. He couldn't see her eyes behind those mirrored glasses and that bothered him. He liked to look people in the eye when he had heated conversations such as these. The mouth can say anything it wanted, but the eyes never lied. They may not reveal much depending upon the individual's ability to hide feelings, but they did not lie. Shannon learned from Matt how to read into a person through the eyes, but the ability would not help him now.
"Well?"
"Well what?" Rio asked, her Russian accent soft but dangerous. "What can I say that will not anger you further?"
"Don' worry 'bout angerin' me," Shannon drawled. "Jus' tell me what ya kno'."
Rio remained quiet for a time, apparently assessing her position. Shannon stood between her and the door and watched as Jeff reached a hand out from behind her to touch her shoulder. She flinched slightly before deliberately relaxing her muscles. Shannon knew this was a clue to the woman, but he still wasn't sure what it was saying about her. He heard Matt mutter under his breath behind him and knew the older Hardy was getting more agitated by the minute. He saw Rio square her shoulders, with Jeff still touching her, and collect herself.
"I found out that some people I work with were responsible for your attack and wanted to stop them from ending your career," she said simply. "Should I have allowed them to finish what they had started?"
At last, Shannon thought, somewhere to begin. "I can take care o' myself, li'l girl," he replied coolly.
Rio's mouth turned up at one corner. "Can you now?" she taunted. "You looked like a sitting duck to me in that ring."
Shannon felt his cheeks redden but he was determined not to let this degenerate into a childish squabble. He refused to take his eyes off the little silver woman in front of him instinctively knowing she would view that as a small victory.
"Why'dja call Jeff when ya foun' out?"
"Why would I not tell him?" she shot back. "He is your friend and I thought he should know."
"Why dintcha call me?"
That stopped her cold. She appeared to be at a loss for words at the moment so Shannon took advantage of his upper hand and pressed on.
"I woulda been jus' as easy ta reach, an' it was about ME, wasn' it?"
"Shanny . . ."
"Shut up, Jeff!" Matt interrupted. Shannon felt Matt's eyes bearing into Rio as intently as his own though he was sure Matt's reasons differed from everyone else's. Shannon could feel his irritation with the woman radiating against his own back.
Rio spared Matt a quick look and returned her gaze to Shannon. "I do not know what you would like me to say."
"So ya 'ave no answa fo' why ya didn' call me 'stead o' Jeff? Ya jus' decided ta take the matta outta my hands?"
Rio stared at him unmoving, but he somehow knew he'd just struck a nerve.
"I did not mean to make you feel that way," she finally said. "I just thought you might lose your concentration in the match and get hurt."
"I'm a professional," Shannon shot back. "I can handle that."
Rio nodded silently and looked at the floor.
"I wantcha t' tell me what else ya kno' 'bout these men," Shannon returned.
"What else do you need to know?" she asked, surprise evident in her tone. "They are out of action. They will likely never return to the Warrior Series, and therefore they have no more business with you."
"So tha's it!" Matt hissed. "Ya wan'ed 'em outta yo' way." Shannon turned slightly to look at him. The older man's face was a mask of barely contained rage.
"No, tha's NOT it!" Jeff exploded.
"They weren't even in her way," Andrew bit out. "She's at a much higher fighting level than they are."
"So she didn' wan' th' competition movin' up, then."
"Matt, yo' not listenin' at all!" Jeff insisted. "She wan'ed t' help me save my BEST FRIEND. That's ALL!"
"Why should she care?" Matt asked.
"I wanted to keep my world from infecting Jeff's," Rio answered for herself.
"Well, ya failed," Matt said, glaring at her as if she were made of trash. "An' I don' 'ppreciate ya usin' my brotha fo' yo' schemes."
"Matt!"
"Shut it, Jeff!"
"So I guess this is what 'Mattitude' is about, then?" Rio queried softly.
Matt narrowed his eyes in revulsion. "Ya say ya wanna keep yo' world from infectin' ours?"
Shannon looked back at Rio, who nodded slightly at Matt's question. Jeff's hand was no longer on her shoulder but balled into a fist at his side.
"YAW th' infection!" Matt shouted.
Shannon saw Rio recoil, but it was almost imperceptible. She shivered once and looked down at the floor for a moment. When she raised her head again, Shannon noted a slight twitch.
"Matt," he said over his shoulder. "This is MY 'terrogation."
"I have a right t' protect m' brotha."
"I don' NEED yo' protection 'gainst 'er."
"Rio," Andrew said softly. "You okay?"
Rio looked over her shoulder at him and nodded, attempting a wry smile to convince him, but Shannon could tell by the look on Andrew's face that it wasn't working. She looked back at Shannon solemnly and sighed.
"The interrogation is over now," she said firmly. "I have to go."
"I'm no' done," Shannon answered. He wasn't sure why he felt so uneasy about allowing her to leave things like this, but he knew they probably couldn't stop her if she really wanted to go. Not that Jeff and Andrew would help him and Matt, anyway.
"It is over," she said with finality and moved toward the door.
"Ri . . .," Jeff implored.
She turned when she reached Shannon and looked at Jeff a little sadly. "Your brother is right," was all she said then she turned again and walked out, Matt following on her heels.
Shannon looked at Jeff apologetically, but his friend didn't spare him a glance as he strode past him.
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Matt grabbed Rio's arm as she reached the locker room door. She had sensed his intent and tensed herself not to react to his brutal touch.
"Ya gonna leave m' brotha alone," Matt seethed. It was more a statement than a question.
Rio said nothing. She was still reeling internally over his last comment. He shook her arm roughly to get a response from her.
"Matt, leave 'er alone!" Jeff said, grabbing his brother and prying Rio from his grasp. Rio stilled herself from rubbing her throbbing arm, not wanting Matt to see her discomfort. She had a feeling he would enjoy that.
"She's a big fighta, Jeff," Matt snarled at his brother. "Why d'ya need ta protect 'er from me?"
"I said LEAVE 'ER ALONE!" Jeff screamed at his brother.
Andrew and Shannon caught up to them but kept their distance from the fighting Hardys. Rio was stuck in the middle of them with Matt blocking her exit. She looked at a spot on the wall beside him.
Matt turned his blazing stare onto her, willing her to meet his eyes. She did so reluctantly.
"I wanna talk t' ya, but it appears as if I cain't do that here," he drawled malevolently. "Seein' as ya like talkin' on th' phone, why dontcha call me sometime this week?"
Rio didn't answer, quivering inside herself. It was taking all of her energy to keep from showing signs outwardly, so she merely crossed her arms again and stood still.
"I assume," he went on, "ya 'ave my numba, too?"
She inclined her head once in answer.
"I'll 'xpect yo' call."
"Ri," Jeff entreated. "Ya don' hafta call 'im."
Rio's eyes were fixed on Matt's furious brown orbs. She did not answer Jeff, not trusting her voice to remain even.
"I'll hear from ya, right, Ri?" Matt sneered, stepping away from the door.
Rio winced at the use of Jeff's nickname for her when it came out of his brother's mouth. She inclined her head again, looked over at Jeff for a second and left the four wrestlers standing in the locker room.
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Matt watched the little woman stalk off as if she had not a care in the world. She was a cold-blooded bitch, that one, he mused. He intended to tell her just that if she had the spine to actually call him.
"Ya didn' hafta DO that, Matt!" Jeff yelled at him.
"Jeff, I tol' ya t' shut it," he grunted at his little brother.
He should have known Jeff was up to something after that incident in the club. His brother would not let go of something once he'd set his sights on it. Matt had tried to talk Jeff out of this fascination with her and thought he'd succeeded. But when he saw her tonight, he knew he was wrong. Not only was Jeff hung up on the woman, she was calling him and keeping him on the hook. For what purpose, Matt didn't know. He just knew he was going to put an abrupt stop to it.
Granted, he was thankful she'd been there at the club. The other wrestlers were to far to get to them in time that night and he knew that he and Jeff would probably have sustained serious injuries and Amy couldn't afford to let anything happen to her healing neck. And he couldn't deny that he enjoyed seeing the attackers lying in the middle of that ring. But she wasn't a normal individual and Matt wanted her to stay away from Jeff.
"Matt," Andrew said quietly behind him. Matt turned to face the large Canadian. "I suggest you listen to Jeff and leave her alone."
"What's she ta you, Drew?"
"Just leave her."
Matt and Andrew stared each other down for a few long moments with Shannon looking from one to the other. Jeff just glowered at Matt like he was the enemy. Matt hated that. He only wanted to protect his brother and knew Rio was too dangerous for Jeff to be talking to. Finally, Matt shot Jeff and Andrew a final glare and stalked over to Shannon.
"C'mon, Blue," Andrew said to Jeff, clapping him on the shoulder. "Let's bail for the plane."
Jeff looked from Matt to Andrew and nodded. They left without another word.
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Rio waited for the women's locker room to clear before she snuck in and changed from her gear. The silver paint was a bitch to get off, but she knew she had to be out of costume before she could leave the arena. As the spray of water washed over her, she tried to block out Matt's angry words. They'd cut deeply, though and she knew the nightmares would be back tonight without doubt.
She turned off the water, got out of the stall and toweled herself off, looking into the mirror at the arm Matt had grabbed earlier. Sure enough, there was a bruise on the upper bicep. She was glad she'd brought a jacket to wear outside as she was sure Sven and Justin would be nearby somewhere and would know immediately that she hadn't acquired the bruise in the ring. She pulled her clothes out and dressed quickly, shoving her fight gear into the bag.
As she left the hall, the security guard she'd met earlier greeted her.
"How'd it go?" he asked hopefully. "Did you win?"
"No," she answered sadly, seeing Matt and Shannon walking towards the exit - where she was standing.
"Betta luck next time," the guard laughed good-naturedly, as he walked away.
"Yeah," she said, hurrying away from the arena. The last thing she needed right now was another conversation with Matt, whether he knew who she was or not.
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Shannon was lost in thought as he and Matt left the arena. He couldn't shake the sadness he felt from the small silver girl he'd met that night. At least now he could understand Jeff's admiration. She really did fight like nobody he'd ever seen.
He knew Matt was plotting what he would say when she called him and worried that it would hurt her further. There was no doubt in Shannon's mind but that she would call Matt. Even he knew she was a woman of her word, and he'd only met her a little more than an hour ago.
He felt very sorry for how he'd treated her earlier, knowing he'd helped put her in a confrontational position that Matt just couldn't pass up. He loved Matt like a brother, almost as much as Jeff, but he didn't agree with the older man's initial assessment of the fighter. She may be dangerous, but not to Jeff or any of them. She'd taken a considerable risk to help him today and he just hoped she didn't pay too high a price for it.
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"Drew, I kno' we don' always see eye to eye," Jeff said from his seat next to Andrew on the airplane. "An' I kno' ya don' really like me much . . ."
"Who says I don't like you?"
"Well, we neva really talk," Jeff said uncertainly.
"We've never really worked together," Andrew countered. "I never said I don't like you, Jeff. I do. I admire your abilities, too."
"Thanks," Jeff smiled. "I admire yo's, too."
"You know we're pretty much all she's got in the way of friends, right?" Andrew asked quietly.
"Yeah," Jeff said. "'Sides th' guys who train'd 'er, but I dunno if they count since they train'd 'er ta hurt people."
Andrew regarded Jeff with renewed interest. Rio rarely talked about anything so personal with him, so this bit of information was new. He was gradually seeing just how solitary her life was.
"She told you about her trainers?"
"Yeah," Jeff answered. "Don' be mad. I as'ed 'er one night is why she tol' me."
"I'm not mad, Jeff. I'm actually pleased."
"Y'are?"
"Yeah," Andrew said. "It sounds like she needs all the friends she can get."
"I guess."
They sat in silence for a while considering the little friend they had in common.
"D'ya think she'll call 'im?"
"Definitely."
"Whatdya think they'll say t' each otha?"
"I don't know," Andrew said. "But I hope for our sake he doesn't upset her any further."
"You felt that too, huh?"
"Oh yeah," Andrew confirmed. "Let's just hope she calls one of us later."
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 interrogates Rio and Matt snaps. Jeff and Andrew begin to worry about her as she returns to her fight club.
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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When they got back to the locker room, Shannon found a secluded area in the back and dragged the less-than-willing Rio into it. She yanked herself out of his grasp and crossed her arms defiantly. Jeff and Andrew moved in to stand near her, while Matt leaned back against the wall near the entranceway. He kept glancing over his shoulder every now and again to make sure they remained undisturbed.
Shannon gazed at the small woman before him, unable to reconcile her slight size with her lethal fighting prowess. She was very slender and petite, almost frail actually. How could she have taken down those two animals so quickly and easily? And why? He shook himself out of his thoughts and concentrated on getting answers. Matt had told him she was mysterious, so he knew he'd have a hard time getting her to talk.
"Awright," he said in a low tone, watching Rio carefully. "Wha's goin' on?"
"She jus' wan'ed t' save ya," Jeff snarled.
"I was askin' HER, not you."
Rio stood silently in front Shannon. He couldn't see her eyes behind those mirrored glasses and that bothered him. He liked to look people in the eye when he had heated conversations such as these. The mouth can say anything it wanted, but the eyes never lied. They may not reveal much depending upon the individual's ability to hide feelings, but they did not lie. Shannon learned from Matt how to read into a person through the eyes, but the ability would not help him now.
"Well?"
"Well what?" Rio asked, her Russian accent soft but dangerous. "What can I say that will not anger you further?"
"Don' worry 'bout angerin' me," Shannon drawled. "Jus' tell me what ya kno'."
Rio remained quiet for a time, apparently assessing her position. Shannon stood between her and the door and watched as Jeff reached a hand out from behind her to touch her shoulder. She flinched slightly before deliberately relaxing her muscles. Shannon knew this was a clue to the woman, but he still wasn't sure what it was saying about her. He heard Matt mutter under his breath behind him and knew the older Hardy was getting more agitated by the minute. He saw Rio square her shoulders, with Jeff still touching her, and collect herself.
"I found out that some people I work with were responsible for your attack and wanted to stop them from ending your career," she said simply. "Should I have allowed them to finish what they had started?"
At last, Shannon thought, somewhere to begin. "I can take care o' myself, li'l girl," he replied coolly.
Rio's mouth turned up at one corner. "Can you now?" she taunted. "You looked like a sitting duck to me in that ring."
Shannon felt his cheeks redden but he was determined not to let this degenerate into a childish squabble. He refused to take his eyes off the little silver woman in front of him instinctively knowing she would view that as a small victory.
"Why'dja call Jeff when ya foun' out?"
"Why would I not tell him?" she shot back. "He is your friend and I thought he should know."
"Why dintcha call me?"
That stopped her cold. She appeared to be at a loss for words at the moment so Shannon took advantage of his upper hand and pressed on.
"I woulda been jus' as easy ta reach, an' it was about ME, wasn' it?"
"Shanny . . ."
"Shut up, Jeff!" Matt interrupted. Shannon felt Matt's eyes bearing into Rio as intently as his own though he was sure Matt's reasons differed from everyone else's. Shannon could feel his irritation with the woman radiating against his own back.
Rio spared Matt a quick look and returned her gaze to Shannon. "I do not know what you would like me to say."
"So ya 'ave no answa fo' why ya didn' call me 'stead o' Jeff? Ya jus' decided ta take the matta outta my hands?"
Rio stared at him unmoving, but he somehow knew he'd just struck a nerve.
"I did not mean to make you feel that way," she finally said. "I just thought you might lose your concentration in the match and get hurt."
"I'm a professional," Shannon shot back. "I can handle that."
Rio nodded silently and looked at the floor.
"I wantcha t' tell me what else ya kno' 'bout these men," Shannon returned.
"What else do you need to know?" she asked, surprise evident in her tone. "They are out of action. They will likely never return to the Warrior Series, and therefore they have no more business with you."
"So tha's it!" Matt hissed. "Ya wan'ed 'em outta yo' way." Shannon turned slightly to look at him. The older man's face was a mask of barely contained rage.
"No, tha's NOT it!" Jeff exploded.
"They weren't even in her way," Andrew bit out. "She's at a much higher fighting level than they are."
"So she didn' wan' th' competition movin' up, then."
"Matt, yo' not listenin' at all!" Jeff insisted. "She wan'ed t' help me save my BEST FRIEND. That's ALL!"
"Why should she care?" Matt asked.
"I wanted to keep my world from infecting Jeff's," Rio answered for herself.
"Well, ya failed," Matt said, glaring at her as if she were made of trash. "An' I don' 'ppreciate ya usin' my brotha fo' yo' schemes."
"Matt!"
"Shut it, Jeff!"
"So I guess this is what 'Mattitude' is about, then?" Rio queried softly.
Matt narrowed his eyes in revulsion. "Ya say ya wanna keep yo' world from infectin' ours?"
Shannon looked back at Rio, who nodded slightly at Matt's question. Jeff's hand was no longer on her shoulder but balled into a fist at his side.
"YAW th' infection!" Matt shouted.
Shannon saw Rio recoil, but it was almost imperceptible. She shivered once and looked down at the floor for a moment. When she raised her head again, Shannon noted a slight twitch.
"Matt," he said over his shoulder. "This is MY 'terrogation."
"I have a right t' protect m' brotha."
"I don' NEED yo' protection 'gainst 'er."
"Rio," Andrew said softly. "You okay?"
Rio looked over her shoulder at him and nodded, attempting a wry smile to convince him, but Shannon could tell by the look on Andrew's face that it wasn't working. She looked back at Shannon solemnly and sighed.
"The interrogation is over now," she said firmly. "I have to go."
"I'm no' done," Shannon answered. He wasn't sure why he felt so uneasy about allowing her to leave things like this, but he knew they probably couldn't stop her if she really wanted to go. Not that Jeff and Andrew would help him and Matt, anyway.
"It is over," she said with finality and moved toward the door.
"Ri . . .," Jeff implored.
She turned when she reached Shannon and looked at Jeff a little sadly. "Your brother is right," was all she said then she turned again and walked out, Matt following on her heels.
Shannon looked at Jeff apologetically, but his friend didn't spare him a glance as he strode past him.
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Matt grabbed Rio's arm as she reached the locker room door. She had sensed his intent and tensed herself not to react to his brutal touch.
"Ya gonna leave m' brotha alone," Matt seethed. It was more a statement than a question.
Rio said nothing. She was still reeling internally over his last comment. He shook her arm roughly to get a response from her.
"Matt, leave 'er alone!" Jeff said, grabbing his brother and prying Rio from his grasp. Rio stilled herself from rubbing her throbbing arm, not wanting Matt to see her discomfort. She had a feeling he would enjoy that.
"She's a big fighta, Jeff," Matt snarled at his brother. "Why d'ya need ta protect 'er from me?"
"I said LEAVE 'ER ALONE!" Jeff screamed at his brother.
Andrew and Shannon caught up to them but kept their distance from the fighting Hardys. Rio was stuck in the middle of them with Matt blocking her exit. She looked at a spot on the wall beside him.
Matt turned his blazing stare onto her, willing her to meet his eyes. She did so reluctantly.
"I wanna talk t' ya, but it appears as if I cain't do that here," he drawled malevolently. "Seein' as ya like talkin' on th' phone, why dontcha call me sometime this week?"
Rio didn't answer, quivering inside herself. It was taking all of her energy to keep from showing signs outwardly, so she merely crossed her arms again and stood still.
"I assume," he went on, "ya 'ave my numba, too?"
She inclined her head once in answer.
"I'll 'xpect yo' call."
"Ri," Jeff entreated. "Ya don' hafta call 'im."
Rio's eyes were fixed on Matt's furious brown orbs. She did not answer Jeff, not trusting her voice to remain even.
"I'll hear from ya, right, Ri?" Matt sneered, stepping away from the door.
Rio winced at the use of Jeff's nickname for her when it came out of his brother's mouth. She inclined her head again, looked over at Jeff for a second and left the four wrestlers standing in the locker room.
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Matt watched the little woman stalk off as if she had not a care in the world. She was a cold-blooded bitch, that one, he mused. He intended to tell her just that if she had the spine to actually call him.
"Ya didn' hafta DO that, Matt!" Jeff yelled at him.
"Jeff, I tol' ya t' shut it," he grunted at his little brother.
He should have known Jeff was up to something after that incident in the club. His brother would not let go of something once he'd set his sights on it. Matt had tried to talk Jeff out of this fascination with her and thought he'd succeeded. But when he saw her tonight, he knew he was wrong. Not only was Jeff hung up on the woman, she was calling him and keeping him on the hook. For what purpose, Matt didn't know. He just knew he was going to put an abrupt stop to it.
Granted, he was thankful she'd been there at the club. The other wrestlers were to far to get to them in time that night and he knew that he and Jeff would probably have sustained serious injuries and Amy couldn't afford to let anything happen to her healing neck. And he couldn't deny that he enjoyed seeing the attackers lying in the middle of that ring. But she wasn't a normal individual and Matt wanted her to stay away from Jeff.
"Matt," Andrew said quietly behind him. Matt turned to face the large Canadian. "I suggest you listen to Jeff and leave her alone."
"What's she ta you, Drew?"
"Just leave her."
Matt and Andrew stared each other down for a few long moments with Shannon looking from one to the other. Jeff just glowered at Matt like he was the enemy. Matt hated that. He only wanted to protect his brother and knew Rio was too dangerous for Jeff to be talking to. Finally, Matt shot Jeff and Andrew a final glare and stalked over to Shannon.
"C'mon, Blue," Andrew said to Jeff, clapping him on the shoulder. "Let's bail for the plane."
Jeff looked from Matt to Andrew and nodded. They left without another word.
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Rio waited for the women's locker room to clear before she snuck in and changed from her gear. The silver paint was a bitch to get off, but she knew she had to be out of costume before she could leave the arena. As the spray of water washed over her, she tried to block out Matt's angry words. They'd cut deeply, though and she knew the nightmares would be back tonight without doubt.
She turned off the water, got out of the stall and toweled herself off, looking into the mirror at the arm Matt had grabbed earlier. Sure enough, there was a bruise on the upper bicep. She was glad she'd brought a jacket to wear outside as she was sure Sven and Justin would be nearby somewhere and would know immediately that she hadn't acquired the bruise in the ring. She pulled her clothes out and dressed quickly, shoving her fight gear into the bag.
As she left the hall, the security guard she'd met earlier greeted her.
"How'd it go?" he asked hopefully. "Did you win?"
"No," she answered sadly, seeing Matt and Shannon walking towards the exit - where she was standing.
"Betta luck next time," the guard laughed good-naturedly, as he walked away.
"Yeah," she said, hurrying away from the arena. The last thing she needed right now was another conversation with Matt, whether he knew who she was or not.
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Shannon was lost in thought as he and Matt left the arena. He couldn't shake the sadness he felt from the small silver girl he'd met that night. At least now he could understand Jeff's admiration. She really did fight like nobody he'd ever seen.
He knew Matt was plotting what he would say when she called him and worried that it would hurt her further. There was no doubt in Shannon's mind but that she would call Matt. Even he knew she was a woman of her word, and he'd only met her a little more than an hour ago.
He felt very sorry for how he'd treated her earlier, knowing he'd helped put her in a confrontational position that Matt just couldn't pass up. He loved Matt like a brother, almost as much as Jeff, but he didn't agree with the older man's initial assessment of the fighter. She may be dangerous, but not to Jeff or any of them. She'd taken a considerable risk to help him today and he just hoped she didn't pay too high a price for it.
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"Drew, I kno' we don' always see eye to eye," Jeff said from his seat next to Andrew on the airplane. "An' I kno' ya don' really like me much . . ."
"Who says I don't like you?"
"Well, we neva really talk," Jeff said uncertainly.
"We've never really worked together," Andrew countered. "I never said I don't like you, Jeff. I do. I admire your abilities, too."
"Thanks," Jeff smiled. "I admire yo's, too."
"You know we're pretty much all she's got in the way of friends, right?" Andrew asked quietly.
"Yeah," Jeff said. "'Sides th' guys who train'd 'er, but I dunno if they count since they train'd 'er ta hurt people."
Andrew regarded Jeff with renewed interest. Rio rarely talked about anything so personal with him, so this bit of information was new. He was gradually seeing just how solitary her life was.
"She told you about her trainers?"
"Yeah," Jeff answered. "Don' be mad. I as'ed 'er one night is why she tol' me."
"I'm not mad, Jeff. I'm actually pleased."
"Y'are?"
"Yeah," Andrew said. "It sounds like she needs all the friends she can get."
"I guess."
They sat in silence for a while considering the little friend they had in common.
"D'ya think she'll call 'im?"
"Definitely."
"Whatdya think they'll say t' each otha?"
"I don't know," Andrew said. "But I hope for our sake he doesn't upset her any further."
"You felt that too, huh?"
"Oh yeah," Andrew confirmed. "Let's just hope she calls one of us later."