A/N:  Hey everyone!  I just wanted to say, thank you for all of the reviews!  Starting in April, I'll be doing track, along with dance every Thursday until the end of May.  I won't be able to update as much, and nada on Thursdays.  Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter.  I'm at a plot loss here, so it may take awhile!  Please review!

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Dangerous Business

Chapter 5

Title Shot

~Smackdown

~8:25 PM

            Liz sighed as she looked down at the bandage that encircled her wrist, staring at the circular bruises on her arms.  She frowned, remembering her encounter with Jericho.  What had he hit her with anyway?  A chair?  Oh well, she thought, at least Jeff found him just after I passed out…

            Sighing, she stared at her attire in the mirror.  She wore a black, belly-revealing tank top with the team X-treme symbol in silver across it.  A silver cross hung just above the shirt's neckline.  She took a moment thinking that time had flown since RAW.  

            "Elizabeth, it's time for your match!" a voice called from the hall.  Liz nodded to the messenger and walked to the door, her black pants swishing against each other, her boots padding across the floor.  She squeezed her hands together nervously, continuing her warm-up as she walked to the curtains, throwing punches to an invisible opponent.

            She took a moment to clear her head.  The one nagging question at her mind – Why had McMahon given her a title shot? – was shoved ruthlessly to the back of her head.     

            Liz watched the reigning champion and her boyfriend walk into the curtains.  Confusedly, she felt a pang in the pit of her stomach.  Jealously?  She shook the thought out of her head as her song played.  She walked out down the ramp confidently and this time looked around at the various signs.  

            "TEAM X-TREME", "R-V-D + LIZ FOREVER", and "AUSTIN KICKS ASS" with a picture of Austin stunning her flashed out from the crowd.  Liz scowled and was ready to beat the person holding the sign with her and Austin, but forced herself to take her attention away from the crowd.  She smiled at the cheers as she posed on the turnbuckle.  

            As soon as the bell rang, Victoria lunged toward Liz, who met her head on.  Victoria took the brunette into a headlock, but Liz shoved her off her and into the ropes.  As Victoria bounced back, Liz leant down and flipped her over her back.  Victoria leapt to her feet and they traded right hooks – Liz getting control with a swift uppercut.  She whipped the champion into the corner, went to the ropes near the turnbuckle, putting her foot on the second one, and slammed her foot into the champ's face.  As Liz landed, her opponent stumbled forward.  Liz bounced off the ropes, grabbing Victoria's head, and delivered a bulldog.  She lifted Victoria's leg and the ref slapped his hand against the mat.

            1…2…Victoria kicked out.  Liz grabbed Victoria by the hair and pulled her up and suspended her in the air for a few seconds, and then let them fall to the mat.  She stood up quickly and bounced off the ropes and gave Victoria a dropkick.  Once Victoria was down, Liz leapt to the turnbuckle.  She leapt off it, gaining a lot of height, and flipped backwards twice in the air, landing perfectly on Victoria.  Once again, Liz went for the pin.

            "Liz is trying to get this done as quickly as possible, King," observed JR, "and after the first three shows of her career, I can understand why!"

            1…2…Almost 3!  Liz looked down at Victoria.  She had to end this thing soon, or Victoria would start to gain an advantage as the pain in her head and back returned.  The brunette picked Victoria up, but she slammed her shoulder into Liz's gut.  Victoria picked her up and chopped her against the ropes, and then pushed her to the other side, giving her a backbreaker when she returned.

            1…2…Liz kicked out.  Victoria picked her up and tossed her over the ropes.  She distracted the ref easily as Liz landed roughly on the mat.  The brunette looked up at Steven Richards and her temper flared.  She kicked the title away and tried to kick him.  Steven ran into the ring as Victoria slid out and picked up the title, ramming it into Liz's back.  Wincing in pain, Liz felt her eyes blurring with anger as she was rolled into the ring.

            1…2…Liz shoved Victoria off roughly and clambered to her feet.  She shoved Victoria into the turnbuckle and picked her on top of it.  From there, she lifted Victoria – so much lighter than Austin! – up onto her shoulders and power bombed her onto the mat.  The announcers voiced their awe.  Liz considered going for the pin, but then she felt a pang of pain run through her back.  She jerked the champ onto her feet and picked her up, this time so her head was between her legs.  Liz pushed her knees onto the ground, along with Victoria's head.  Victoria went limp, her body falling to the mat.  The brunette blew a wisp of hair out of her face as she covered the champ.  She had tried to lighten the move considerably – as not to break her neck. 

            1…2…Richards ran into the ring.  Liz growled and let go of the pin.  She stood up and side-kicked him, sending him rolling onto the floor outside the ring.  Turning back to Victoria, Liz noticed that she was on the verge of getting up.  The brunette jumped on top of the turnbuckle as Victoria stood up, clenching her neck, and Liz delivered the Hurricarana once again.  This time, she rolled Victoria up.       

            1…2…3!  Liz whooped with joy, along with the crowd. 

            "The winner, and new Women's Champion, Liz Smith!"

            Liz held the title above her head in triumph.  As she turned, a fist collided with her face.  She growled as it came again, but Liz blocked it and got a good look at her attacker.

            It was Chris Jericho. 

            "No cousin to help you out now," he growled at her, tossing her at the ropes.  She tried to get around it, but Jericho whipped her into a backbreaker, quickly grabbing her legs once she was down.  Liz struggled, but in no time the Walls of Jericho were locked.  "TAP OUT!" screamed Jericho.  Liz clenched her fists.  Her back hurt more than she'd imagined.  But she refused to tap.  That would be giving this asshole pleasure, and she wouldn't, not even when Jericho pushed harder.  "TAP!" he repeated.  The brunette tried to turn, but at this angle she couldn't gather any strength – let enough alone to take down Jericho.  He pulled back further.  She tried to withhold it, but she had to let out a yelp of pain.  Jericho smiled to himself, until Liz said to him, in a low voice, devoid of any feeling – pain, joy, or anything.

            "I won't tap," she hissed.  Jericho pulled his hold even harder.  How could she stand it?  He gripped harder on her legs and pulled back even further.  One more yelp of pain came from his victim, and a wide smile spread across his face.  Liz thrashed, pulling every once of strength left to struggle out of it while Jericho strived to hold on to her.  She wiggled her body, trying to squirm out of it, but there was no way out.  She wouldn't tap…she wouldn't tap…  Feeling her will start to diminish, she repeated it to herself again, and again.  She felt blackness biting at the edges of her vision.  Better to pass out than to tap, she thought vaguely. 

            Suddenly, it was gone.  The pressure, the pain, everything.  Liz pressed her cheek against the mat, willing her back to dull.  She felt the mat rocking lightly as two men fought.  Soon, a concerned face loomed over hers.

            "You okay?" Rob Van Dam asked her, extending her hand.

            "One day, I'm going to kick his ass," she hissed in reply, grasping his hand and pulling up.  "…Thanks," she said as she hugged him tightly.  As she pulled away, their gazes locked.  As if in a trance, they leant forward, touching their lips gently.

            "Oh my god JR!" cried King.  "I can't believe it!" 

            Meanwhile, Jericho retreated to the back, glaring at the two as he walked back, cursing.  Suddenly, a smile lit up his face, and he jogged to Mr. McMahon's office.  As he entered, the man looked at him strangely.

            "What brings you here, Jericho?" he asked.

            "I want to suggest a match for Armageddon next Sunday," replied a breathless Jericho, "With Elizabeth."

            McMahon frowned.  Calculations were invisible on his face as he said slowly, "What kind of match?"

            Jericho thought a moment, and then said, slowly, "No DQ."

            "I'm sorry, Jericho," said McMahon briskly, "You have a match with Chris, and I'm not changing that.  Plus, Elizabeth is already booked for a match."

            "Versus who?" growled Jericho.

            "Stone Cold Steve Austin," replied McMahon smugly.

            "Type?" grunted Jericho.

            "You'll see, Jericho, along with the rest of the world…" replied McMahon, an evil glitter in his eye.  "And its much, much better than No DQ."

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A/N:  Kind of short (I think) but I hope you guys like it!  Please review, and I'll see you next time!