Dangerous Business

          Chapter XXXV

          Liz looked up helplessly into Brock's eyes, feeling every bit of helplessness that she could bear.  Her heart beat ferociously against her chest, her mind trying meekly to digest the information laid out before her.

            Brock moved his grip from her hair to her throat, pulling her upward in a quick motion.  A strangled cry escaped her lips as she was moved in the air, into the position for a spinebuster.  A spilt second later, her body crashed against the ground, bouncing upward slightly.  She let out a small yelp of pain, grabbing at her back.  Her eyes squeezed shut, and when she opened them, she felt Brock grabbing her up. 

            Liz felt her head spin as Brock picked her up again, trying to complete an F5.  She shifted slightly in his arms, taking a deep breath.  Her body ached in protest as she spun out of his grip, landing awkwardly behind Brock.  When he turned, she ran headlong into his left leg, knocking him down.  She laid where she'd landed, her vision blurring and focusing, taking breaths.  Her head lolled to the side, her vision traveling along her extended arm to where Rob Van Dam and the Big Show were fighting.

            If her muscles felt anything but the aching, painful buzz, she would've cringed.  A steel chair was discarded in the middle of the ring, nearly bent in half, blood spattering the bluish steel like graffiti.  The Big Show stood near a turnbuckle, listening as Paul yelled to him from the outside of the ring.  Rob lay near the far side of the ropes, the blood pouring from his skull forming a crimson halo around his head. 

            "You little bitch," her jade eyes flickered to Brock, who was standing up, fury darkening his face.  She shifted, pressing her body tighter to the mat as if to escape his reach.  Liz masked the fear that started to root inside of her.  She kept her eyes on Brock's, her hand reaching out for something—anything!—that would help her.

            Her fingers brushed against the steel chair.

            Liz scooted over the slightest bit, enough to get a grip around a bar of the chair.  Brock leaned down, not noticing the chair.  She tightened her hand, and brought the chair swinging sideways into Brock's head.  The stroke was weak, but disorientated Brock on his feet for a spilt second.  Liz gathered the chair into both hands, and cracked it against his skull, letting out a large breath when he fell. 

            The Big Show barely spared Brock and Liz a look-Paul had told him that Brock knew what do to.  Not that Big Show would ever trust a rookie.  His large hands reached out, grabbing Rob by the hair and pulling him to his feet.  He let go of Rob, who swayed on his feet.  His hand covered Rob's face and, with a powerful shove, he slammed Rob's head downward. 

            Liz hissed inwardly, rolling onto her stomach.  She had get up; had to gain some offensive.  Her body recoiled inwardly, her left arm, back, and ribs throbbing.  Once again, her eyes strayed to the other side of the ring, only to see Rob being thrown to the ground, his head slamming into the mat, bouncing up, and hitting the mat once more, blood spattering across the mat.

            She swallowed tightly, closing her eyes briefly.  This wasn't a match, this wasn't a brawl, this was a slaughter. 

            And she was letting it happen.  Her insides boiled at the thought.  Anger stemmed from her mind-at Brock, at Paul, at the Big Show…        

            She found the strength to crawl to her hands and knees, looking over at Brock, who was dragging himself up by the ropes, still feeling the effects of the chair shot.  He caught her gaze, his eyes flaring with sudden anger. 

            Brock pulled himself to his feet, pushing away his fury for a brief second, walking around Liz in a tight circle, regaining his cockiness.  What could she do to him?  He was the Next Big Thing!  He was unstoppable!  His eyes glittered maliciously, his hand reaching out for her. 

            Liz bided her time, her newfound anger coursing through her.  Brock had forgotten the chair that she was clutching to her front, lying down again on the mat.  As he reached down, she gripped the top and flung it upwards, the bottom smacking against his chin.  She sprung to her feet, tossing the chair at him, and right after leaping in a dropkick.  He stumbled backward into the ropes.  Liz ran forward, clotheslining Brock to the outside.             The brunette stumbled back, victory shining in her eyes.  She whirled to Paul Heyman, leaping to the second rope as she glared at him, leaning over the top rope.  He smiled at her, and a brief glimpse of confusion broke through her features.  She whirled around, and her eyes widened.

            The Big Show leapt toward her in a spear-an unblock able and unorthodox spear. 

            And a spear that could very well shatter all of her ribs.

            ~                      ~                      ~

            Shawn Michaels drummed his fingers on the handle of the car door as he waited in the traffic.  'Damn it!' he cursed inwardly, glancing at the clock.  Sighing heavily, he looked ahead.  The turn into the arena was up close, at least.  He couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something; that something was off…

            'It's probably nothing,' he told himself, slowly pulling up as the cars began to move once more.  After a minute, he finally pulled into the middle lane, going faster this time.  The car ahead of him turned, and he made to do so do, when out of the corner of his eye, he saw another car speeding toward him.  Shawn stepped onto the brakes, annoyed at the longer wait. 

            Nothing happened.

            The wheels on the car continued to spin, as the traffic light for the two lanes he was hoping to cross turned green.  Shawn slammed on the brakes, harder this time. 

            The car rolled into the first lane.   Fear jutted up his spine, and Shawn went for the accelerator.  His car rolled slower now, and he pressed both of the pedals, fear clenching around him.  His heart pounding, he turned to the left, and completely froze when he was met with the blinding headlights of a pick-up truck. 

            A moment later, the driver of the pick-up slammed on the brakes.  The truck continued onward with startling force.  Shawn squeezed his eyes, the crunching of metal and glass ringing through his ears for a spilt second before he felt himself and the car being propelled forward.

            Exactly one minute later, Shawn, bleeding from every crevice in his body, his limbs twisted unnaturally, fell into the darkness of unconsciousness.

            ~                      ~                      ~

A/N:  I'm so evil.  Anyway, please review!!  I don't know when the next chapter will be up.  This weekend or the next.  Either way.  REVIEW!