PART 19
The past week had flown by, but for Jericho and Christian, their match with Test and Scott Steiner couldn't come any slower. It was mere minutes before the match would begin, and the two men were itching to get in the ring as they stood at the gorilla position. Christian rose from the floor where he had been stretching, his gaze traveling over to Chris. The expression on his face was intense, to say the very least. From the corner of his eye, Chris could see Christian staring at him, and turned to face him, their eyes locking.
"I'm ready," he said with a fierce determination, his two short words ridding Christian of his worries that Chris would not be able to perform. A smile spread across Christian's lips and he patted his friend on the back.
Not a moment later, the beginning notes of Christian's entrance theme blared through the arena. Chris grabbed his friend's hand, shaking it firmly before watching him walk away, disappearing through the curtain and onto the ramp. He took a deep breath, jogging in place as he waited for his own music to hit.
"Chris!" a voice called, causing him to freeze.
He turned around, and a small smile crossed his face as he saw Stacy standing before him.
"Hey Stace," he said softly, leaning forward to press a kiss to her lips.
Despite the grin he wore on his face, Stacy was less than assured he was alright. Gently pushing him away, she rested her hands on his shoulders, concern filling her brown eyes.
"Chris, are you absolutely sure you want to go through with this?" she asked, unable to disguise the anxiety glistening in her eyes. Chris sighed, placing his hands on her waist.
"Stacy, we already talked about this. It's too late to turn back now, and besides… this is just something I…"
"Have to do," Stacy finished for him, her gaze slipping from his and finding the floor. "I know that, but Chris, I can't help but be worried about you. You don't know what Andrew is capable of, especially when he's got Scott on his side."
"I know he's capable of hurting you, and as far as I'm concerned, that's reason enough for me to tear him limb from limb," he replied, determination twinkling in his eye.
Stacy nodded, but remained silent. Her head dropped between her shoulders, and Chris took it as a sign that she was still wary of the match taking place. Removing his hands from her waist, he cupped her face in his hands, pressing his forehead to hers.
"Look, I know this is scary for you," he said understandingly. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little apprehensive myself, but trust me, it'll all be okay. As soon as Christian and I make those bastards pay for all they put you through, it'll all be over, and we can move on, okay?"
As Stacy drew her gaze back up to his, Christian's music faded to silence. She knew she didn't have much time, and that arguing with Chris now would do the situation no good. Sighing, she forced a supportive smile, nodding on his behalf.
"Okay," she replied, as the sounds of his music began.
Smiling, Chris kissed her once more, reaching for her hands and giving each a gentle squeeze. As he disappeared, Stacy sighed, silently wishing him luck as she turned and headed back towards the locker room.
* * * * *
"I don't like this."
Trish glanced over at the seat next to her, frowning as she saw the nervewracked expression on Stacy's face. The tall blonde chewed on her nail nervously as she stared almost blankly at the match progressing on the monitor before them.
At the moment, Christian was in the ring with Test, more or less getting his ass handied to him by the taller Canadian. Trish could just tell by the expressive look of guilt on her face that Stacy felt partially responsible for the pain Christian was being put through by her ex-boyfriend.
"I know you don't, Stace, but they'll be fine. They know what they're doing, they'll get the job done," Trish assured her, reaching over the arm of her chair to gently pat her best friend on the knee.
Stacy, though unconvinced by Trish's words, nodded silently. Her attention refocused on the screen, she noted that Trish seemed to be correct in her assumption that the boys could handle themselves. Almost immediately after her statement, Christian began to battle back, mustering up the strength to nail Test with a few hard right hands. He whipped the larger man off the ropes and then gave him a swift kick in the stomach, before taking him down and smashing his face into the mat with a solid DDT. He managed to block Test into one of the corners, kicking his opponent repeatedly in the stomach until he dropped to the mat.
Because his back - as well as the referee's - was turned, Scott Steiner slipped into the ring unnoticed. The first thing he did was race to the opposite corner, catching Chris with an elbow to the face and knocking him off the apron. Then, he exited the ring, much to the surprise and confusion of the fans in the arena. His intentions were made crystal clear when he viciously snatched the steel chair from underneath the terrified timekeeper who'd been sitting there.
He returned to the ring, and paused for a beat, and then he charged. A pained groan sounded through the arena as the chair was slammed into Christian's kidney, and he dropped to the ground.
"Oh my God!" Stacy cried as she jumped from her seat, cupping her hands over her mouth in horror.
Trish's eyes widened as Christian dropped to the mat, landing with a loud thud. The referee threw his arms in the air, signaling for the bell to be rung in a blatant and obvious disqualification. As soon as the bell sounded, Test got up and shoved him to the mat as well. The tall man laughed as his partner began to pull Christian up off the mat and out of the fetal position he had curled himself into.
An menacing, sadistic gleam sparkled in Test's cold eyes, and he stopped over to where Steiner and left the chair, leaning down to pick it up. The light reflecting off the steel flickered in his eyes as he rose the chair above his head, smashing it down heavily atop Christian's skull. A painfully loud crack was heard, and Christian dropped to the mat once more, only this time, he didn't move.
Before Test and Steiner could celebrate their actions, Chris was making the ring, attempting to make a late save for his already fallen friend. His efforts, though strong, were futile. His strength alone was no match for theirs combined, and soon enough, he too found himself staring up at the ceiling, sharp pains running through his body with each stiff kick he received. He tried time and time again to get back to his feet, but each time he did so he caught a boot from either Test, Steiner, or both, sending him right back down.
"I can't watch anymore," Stacy said, turning away from the screen, desperately fighting the tears that were threatening her eyes.
At this point, Trish was considering turning away as well, as watching two of her best friends get the living hell beat out of them was hardly bearable. She closed her eyes, silently praying that the two men double teaming Chris would have at least *some* mercy on him. She knew there wasn't much hope of either man, especially Christian escaping unscathed.
Then, she heard something she didn't expect... the people were cheering. Opening her eyes with interest, Trish glanced over at the screen to see what was going on, and her jaw dropped.
"Oh my God... Stacy, look!" she cried, gesturing wildly to the monitor.
Stacy inhaled shakily and turned back to the television, her eyes widening. Test and Scott Steiner were no longer beating on Chris, or Christian either for that matter. In fact, both men had been laid out in the ring...
And standing triumphantly between them, chair raised over his head in victory, was none other than John Cena.
The past week had flown by, but for Jericho and Christian, their match with Test and Scott Steiner couldn't come any slower. It was mere minutes before the match would begin, and the two men were itching to get in the ring as they stood at the gorilla position. Christian rose from the floor where he had been stretching, his gaze traveling over to Chris. The expression on his face was intense, to say the very least. From the corner of his eye, Chris could see Christian staring at him, and turned to face him, their eyes locking.
"I'm ready," he said with a fierce determination, his two short words ridding Christian of his worries that Chris would not be able to perform. A smile spread across Christian's lips and he patted his friend on the back.
Not a moment later, the beginning notes of Christian's entrance theme blared through the arena. Chris grabbed his friend's hand, shaking it firmly before watching him walk away, disappearing through the curtain and onto the ramp. He took a deep breath, jogging in place as he waited for his own music to hit.
"Chris!" a voice called, causing him to freeze.
He turned around, and a small smile crossed his face as he saw Stacy standing before him.
"Hey Stace," he said softly, leaning forward to press a kiss to her lips.
Despite the grin he wore on his face, Stacy was less than assured he was alright. Gently pushing him away, she rested her hands on his shoulders, concern filling her brown eyes.
"Chris, are you absolutely sure you want to go through with this?" she asked, unable to disguise the anxiety glistening in her eyes. Chris sighed, placing his hands on her waist.
"Stacy, we already talked about this. It's too late to turn back now, and besides… this is just something I…"
"Have to do," Stacy finished for him, her gaze slipping from his and finding the floor. "I know that, but Chris, I can't help but be worried about you. You don't know what Andrew is capable of, especially when he's got Scott on his side."
"I know he's capable of hurting you, and as far as I'm concerned, that's reason enough for me to tear him limb from limb," he replied, determination twinkling in his eye.
Stacy nodded, but remained silent. Her head dropped between her shoulders, and Chris took it as a sign that she was still wary of the match taking place. Removing his hands from her waist, he cupped her face in his hands, pressing his forehead to hers.
"Look, I know this is scary for you," he said understandingly. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little apprehensive myself, but trust me, it'll all be okay. As soon as Christian and I make those bastards pay for all they put you through, it'll all be over, and we can move on, okay?"
As Stacy drew her gaze back up to his, Christian's music faded to silence. She knew she didn't have much time, and that arguing with Chris now would do the situation no good. Sighing, she forced a supportive smile, nodding on his behalf.
"Okay," she replied, as the sounds of his music began.
Smiling, Chris kissed her once more, reaching for her hands and giving each a gentle squeeze. As he disappeared, Stacy sighed, silently wishing him luck as she turned and headed back towards the locker room.
* * * * *
"I don't like this."
Trish glanced over at the seat next to her, frowning as she saw the nervewracked expression on Stacy's face. The tall blonde chewed on her nail nervously as she stared almost blankly at the match progressing on the monitor before them.
At the moment, Christian was in the ring with Test, more or less getting his ass handied to him by the taller Canadian. Trish could just tell by the expressive look of guilt on her face that Stacy felt partially responsible for the pain Christian was being put through by her ex-boyfriend.
"I know you don't, Stace, but they'll be fine. They know what they're doing, they'll get the job done," Trish assured her, reaching over the arm of her chair to gently pat her best friend on the knee.
Stacy, though unconvinced by Trish's words, nodded silently. Her attention refocused on the screen, she noted that Trish seemed to be correct in her assumption that the boys could handle themselves. Almost immediately after her statement, Christian began to battle back, mustering up the strength to nail Test with a few hard right hands. He whipped the larger man off the ropes and then gave him a swift kick in the stomach, before taking him down and smashing his face into the mat with a solid DDT. He managed to block Test into one of the corners, kicking his opponent repeatedly in the stomach until he dropped to the mat.
Because his back - as well as the referee's - was turned, Scott Steiner slipped into the ring unnoticed. The first thing he did was race to the opposite corner, catching Chris with an elbow to the face and knocking him off the apron. Then, he exited the ring, much to the surprise and confusion of the fans in the arena. His intentions were made crystal clear when he viciously snatched the steel chair from underneath the terrified timekeeper who'd been sitting there.
He returned to the ring, and paused for a beat, and then he charged. A pained groan sounded through the arena as the chair was slammed into Christian's kidney, and he dropped to the ground.
"Oh my God!" Stacy cried as she jumped from her seat, cupping her hands over her mouth in horror.
Trish's eyes widened as Christian dropped to the mat, landing with a loud thud. The referee threw his arms in the air, signaling for the bell to be rung in a blatant and obvious disqualification. As soon as the bell sounded, Test got up and shoved him to the mat as well. The tall man laughed as his partner began to pull Christian up off the mat and out of the fetal position he had curled himself into.
An menacing, sadistic gleam sparkled in Test's cold eyes, and he stopped over to where Steiner and left the chair, leaning down to pick it up. The light reflecting off the steel flickered in his eyes as he rose the chair above his head, smashing it down heavily atop Christian's skull. A painfully loud crack was heard, and Christian dropped to the mat once more, only this time, he didn't move.
Before Test and Steiner could celebrate their actions, Chris was making the ring, attempting to make a late save for his already fallen friend. His efforts, though strong, were futile. His strength alone was no match for theirs combined, and soon enough, he too found himself staring up at the ceiling, sharp pains running through his body with each stiff kick he received. He tried time and time again to get back to his feet, but each time he did so he caught a boot from either Test, Steiner, or both, sending him right back down.
"I can't watch anymore," Stacy said, turning away from the screen, desperately fighting the tears that were threatening her eyes.
At this point, Trish was considering turning away as well, as watching two of her best friends get the living hell beat out of them was hardly bearable. She closed her eyes, silently praying that the two men double teaming Chris would have at least *some* mercy on him. She knew there wasn't much hope of either man, especially Christian escaping unscathed.
Then, she heard something she didn't expect... the people were cheering. Opening her eyes with interest, Trish glanced over at the screen to see what was going on, and her jaw dropped.
"Oh my God... Stacy, look!" she cried, gesturing wildly to the monitor.
Stacy inhaled shakily and turned back to the television, her eyes widening. Test and Scott Steiner were no longer beating on Chris, or Christian either for that matter. In fact, both men had been laid out in the ring...
And standing triumphantly between them, chair raised over his head in victory, was none other than John Cena.