TITLE: Sleeping With Ghosts
AUTHOR NAME: Marlena Snape
CATEGORY: Angst
RATING: R - For Adult Situations, Sexual Circumstances, Adult Content, Adult Language, Stalking, Etcetera.
PAIRING: Chris Sabin / Leigh Dominguez [OC]
DISTRIBUTION: Not unless you ask me.
GENRE: Wrestling - TNA/Indy
DISCLAIMER: Leigh Dominguez is credit souly to me. All TNA/Indy people, I don't own. I don't own TNA, I don't own RoH, I don't own any of that. The title, "Sleeping With Ghosts" is from a song, by Placebo. All created characters are credit to friends of mine, which as they show up, will get their props. For instance, now showing up is Candace Larsen-Ford, who is based on my best friend Candace. Lew Ford, owns himself, and well - he's a baseball player with the Minnesota Twins. I definitely don't own him. [But Candace wishes she did -wink-] The Twins own themselves, and such. This story is fiction, and that's it. A.J Styles is not really a stalker/psycho, I'm sure of it. Shazam. Enjoy.
Chapter Three: Perilous Asphyxiation
TNA's weekly pay-per-view went fine. Allen made it back for his match against Jeff Hardy, in which, he won by a cheap shot to Hardy with a steel chair unbeknownst to the then out cold referee. Chris Sabin, too, won his match - where he and his girlfriend Leigh Dominguez faced off against Tracy Brooks and Michael Shane. Leigh nailed Michael with a slap to the face, and when he turned around, he was hit with the Future Shock. Candace had her return match against Trinity, which was called in DQ for her favor, when Johnny Swinger got involved. Lucky for "Princess Candace", she got out of the ring quick enough, to escape further abuse.
Right after the event, Chris and Leigh left the asylum to go back to their Nashville home, to pack. They were going to be gone right up until next Wednesday, when they came back to Nashville for the pay-per-view. Neither had to show up on iMPACT, and Candace didn't have to show up either, so it was all well worth a week in Minnesota. Candace went to Chris and Leigh's, to help them get their things together. While Leigh was in the bathroom, grabbing a couple things, Sabin pulled Candace aside.
"Can I ask your opinion on something?"
"Of course." Candace said with a smile, "What's up, Chris?"
"Okay, well, I talked to Jeff at the asylum." He said, reaching into the pocket of his jeans. He still had the ring in there. "On this little, week away, I want to ask Leigh the question…"
"The question?" Candace inquired, as Chris pulled the ring box out. He showed Candace the ring, and she automatically gasped. "THAT question?!"
"Shhh…" Chris chuckled, "Yes, that question. I want to marry her… all this talk today had me wondering. I had the ring, I just wasn't sure if she'd say yes…"
"Of course she would! She loves you, Chris." Candace said, as she giggled. "This is going to be exciting!"
"Since we're going to the Twins game, I might do it there." He explained, "Maybe I can pay off the management of the Metrodome, and they'll let me do it at the pitchers mound…"
"You know what? Let me talk to Lew. Maybe I can get him to help us out…if that's really what you want…" Candace said, as Chris smiled.
"Thanks, C."
Allen sat in his car, outside of the Sabin/Dominguez home. The lights were out of his car, everything was pitch black, and in the passenger seat with him, was Michael Shane. Allen was incredibly angry with Michael, after all - all he had to do that night was embarrass Sabin, and expose him for the 'failure' Allen knew he was. Could he do that? No. Instead, Michael let the 'golden couple' expose him for being a loser!
"Allen, I'm sorry." Michael said, his head down, as Allen's attention shifted from where he was watching Leigh in her bedroom, to Michael.
"You'd better be more than sorry." Allen retorted coldly, as Michael looked at him.
"Look… I didn't expect Leigh to get in my face… I can't hit a woman!"
"Leigh's not a woman, Michael. Leigh is a bitch. You can hit bitches." He said, a smirk on his face as he turned back to watching Leigh. She was still packing things in a small black suitcase, which had Allen annoyed. "We need to stop Leigh and Sabin from getting on that plane tomorrow morning."
"What's the plan for doing that one, Allen?" Michael asked, as Allen looked over at him, smirking.
"The question should be, what is your plan for doing it?"
"M-Me?!" Michael stammered, shaking his head. "Allen, I can't…"
"The hell you can't. You failed me once today, don't think you have the right to fucking question me!" Allen snapped at him, "Do I make myself clear?!" Michael merely nodded, and Allen took a deep, calming breath. "So…how do you plan on doing that…?"
"I'll stall them, if they miss the flight, that'll be good." Michael said with a sure nod, as Allen just smiled.
"That's what I'm talkin' about. Maybe you're not a complete neanderthal…"
Allen started the car again, as he finally took his eyes off where Leigh was. She didn't even know she was being watched, and didn't care. Allen glared at the way she was smiling, it got under his skin more than anything. She was so happy with Chris. He needed to change that. He needed to think of something, or someone, that could stop this shit. In Allen's opinion, it had gone on for far too long, and had gone far too serious. He was finally sick of it to the point, he was now willing to do anything and everything in his power. He had the money to back him, it was just a matter of finding the right person for the job. If Michael failed him again, that was it for him….
What wasn't expected, was for Leigh, Chris, and Candace to all stay at Candace's place in Nashville. So that morning when Michael Shane went to their door, to stall them, there was no answer. Before Michael could think or do anything - the plane was already boarding for Minneapolis. Michael didn't want to face Allen now, no way in hell. He literally jumped a plane of his own, and headed to San Antonio, Texas…just to avoid him!
Allen was at the airport when they were leaving. Chris and Leigh were holding hands as they walked to their flight gate, no Michael in sight, with Candace trailing closely behind them on her cell phone. He wasn't able to just go out there and grab Leigh, but he had plans. Big plans. They'd be engaged when they came back, he reckoned, a private little rendezvous out with the Ford's, and that would be that. Little did he know Sabin's plans.
He went back to his house in Gainesville, livid. Not just angry, but absolutely beside himself with rage. He had only been this angry on occasions few and far between. Mostly, it involved Sabin and Dominguez. But now, it involved Michael Shane, too. That little bastard had skipped town without telling him, and now, he was going to look for him. He was going to get a hold of Shane, and when he did, that was going to be it. He knew all of Allen's plans, and Allen couldn't allow that…
That same afternoon, later on, Candace Larsen-Ford, Chris Sabin, and Leigh Dominguez arrived in Minneapolis. When they arrived, they were met by Lew Ford, and a couple of his friends waiting for them. Candace immediately ran up to Lew, hugging and kissing her husband. Leigh just smiled, as Chris smirked, watching on.
"Damn babe, I missed you." Lew said, as he held his arms around her. "It hasn't even been a week…"
"Anytime is too long without you, Lew-Lew." Candace said with a giggle, "Come on, you'll never guess who I brought along."
Candace led Lew over to where Chris and Leigh had picked up conversation. They were talking about what they were going to do in Minneapolis, until Candace came over, hand in hand with her husband. Leigh smiled a bit, as Lew too smiled.
"I'll be damned."
"Hey Jon." Leigh said, walking up to him. She gave him a hug, and Lew hugged her back.
"It's good to see you, girl."
"Leeeeewwww…." Chris said in a quiet, chanting tone, as Lew turned toward him with a smirk. Chris and Lew slapped a low five, and embraced in a light hug. "Good to see you man, how's everything? How's the kids?"
"Everything is going good here."
"Come on, we need to go get our hotel set up." Leigh said, as Lew looked confused.
"Hotel? Huh? I thought you two were stayin' with Candace and I?"
"They are, Leigh is just delusional!"
It was a the Sunday before Chris, Leigh, and Candace had to head back to Nashville for their job. The Twins were facing off against the Kansas City Royals. It took a couple days to get everything squared away, but Chris' plan to propose to Leigh at the pitchers mound before the game was allowed! And because of TNA iMPACT! (on FSN), people knew who 'Chris Sabin' was by household name now. So when it was announced that Chris Sabin was throwing the first pitch at the Metrodome that day, it helped draw the crowds.
The day of the game, Chris dressed in a pair of blue jeans, a navy blue beanie cap, and a specially made "00 - Sabin" home Minnesota Twins jersey. Before the game, he had got a few pointers from Johan Santana about how to throw a pitch, seeing as how throwing baseballs wasn't his deal. He didn't want to look like an absolute idiot.
Game time approached, and Sabin took the mound. Some of the crowd who came because of Sabin's appearance, was chanting his catchphrase 'HAIL SABIN', which caused Sabin to chuckle and raise the ball instead of his fist in response. The first pitch was thrown, and catcher Henry Blanco of the Twins nodded with a smile. He walked out to the pitcher's mound, shaking Sabin's hand afterward, but something was going on. The voice of Bob Casey, the voice of the Metrodome boomed over the speakers.
"At this time, would TNA diva and special guest of the Minnesota Twins, Leigh Dominguez, please come to the pitcher's mound?"
A confused Leigh Dominguez, who was dressed simply in a pair of blue jeans, and a white Twins baby tee, approached the pitchers mound. The crowd continued cheering as Leigh walked up. Chris smiled, taking her hand into his. He had a small microphone attached to his jersey. Sabin crouched down, falling to one knee in front of Leigh suddenly.
"Leigh…" Chris started, as Leigh looked a little shocked. "I've never been good with my words and stuff, to a woman I love. But here it goes. Leigh Amelia Dominguez, everything about you is beautiful to me. From the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew I was going to do whatever it took to make sure you were happy and I still vow to that." He smiled a bit, "When I gave you that promise ring," he ran his finger over it as he held her hand, "I promised then and there that I would stand beside you and be a shoulder for you to cry on, a hand for you to hold, and now more than ever I stand by that promise." He pulled out a dark green velvet ring box, and slowly opened it, revealing a 3 stone diamond cut princess engagement ring. Tears began forming in Leigh's eyes, hearing the crowd behind them cheering. "You are my everything, and you always will be no matter the outcome here today in Minnesota. Do me the honor, Leigh… will you marry me?"
Leigh just nodded her head as tears began falling, shouting 'Yes I'll marry you!'. Chris slid the ring onto her left ring finger, and stood back up. Leigh wrapped her arms around Chris as she jumped into his arms, and kissed him to a large ovation from both teams, The Royals and The Twins, and the fans cheering for them. Ironically enough, this was all showing on ESPN (as well as FSN-north as usual Twins games did), as the Twins/Royals game was playing on it. The voice of Twins television announcers Bert Blyleven and Dick Bremer were talking about this on ESPN.
"What a complete shocker!" Blyleven exclaimed, "We were expecting a special pitch and then the game, but we got that pitch, the start of the game, AND an engagement!"
"This is really peculiar, Bert. Let's send it to Marney Gellner, who is on the field with Total Non-Stop Action's wrestler Chris Sabin, and TNA Diva Leigh Dominguez, the recently engaged couple!" When the scene opened, Marney was standing by with Chris and Leigh, smiling a bit as she held her microphone.
"Thanks Dick, Bert, now Chris… what made you decide to do this here, at the Metrodome?"
"Well Marney," Chris said with a smile, as his arm was around Leigh. "We were invited out here by our fellow TNA co-worker Candace Larsen-Ford, your Twins player Lew Ford's wife. I had the idea, since I was asked to throw the first pitch to maybe ask my long time girlfriend, both in real life and in storylines for our federation, to become my wife. Thankfully she didn't say no to me in front of all these people here, and all of these people watching at home."
"Leigh," Marney said, turning toward the still, red-eyed newly engaged diva, "How do you feel about all of this?"
"Shock." Dominguez answered simply, but smiled. "But it's a good shock. I never in a million years would have expected to come here to the Metrodome, and leave here engaged to be married."
"Dick, Bert, back to you. Congratulations both of you, by the way." Marney said, as Chris and Leigh both smiled.
"Thanks, Marney." Chris said, as they shifted back to Dick Bremer and Bert Blyleven in the booth.
The Twins went on to win the game in an amazing 11 - 0 shutout against the royals, with Johan Santana pitching merely a 5 hit shut out, getting the win. First baseman Justin Morneau hit a whopping 2 run 435 foot homerun in the bottom of the 4rth inning (clearly smacking the Hrbek's poster, before falling straight down), and the game exploded from that point on. Including a grand slam hit by Candace's husband Lew in the bottom of the 8th inning, that only further solidified the obvious win. Chris and Leigh sat behind the dug out the entire game with Candace, who was admiring Leigh's ring, and watching the game as well. Flawless game if you're a Twins fan, miserable if you're a Royals shipper.
------------------------------
SportsCenter, ESPN's variety sports show extraordinaire, was showing previews of the games around the major leagues to start things off. Allen sat at home, enjoying a quiet evening of a few beers, pizza, hot wings, and relaxation. He was watching ESPN still, having watched the tail end of the Twins/Royals game, having watched one of his favorite movies before hand. Kicking off the show, was announcer Stuart Scott, and in the upper left hand corner a photo of Chris Sabin, the Twins logo, and a wedding ring in the graphic.
"Today in the Minnesota, the Royals at the Twins game had a slight pick me up before the game began," Stuart said. "Nashville's TNA wrestling alliance superstar Chris Sabin made his presence felt in the Twin Cities by sporting a Twins jersey, and throwing the first pitch of the first game of three series with the Kansas City Royals for the Twins. But Sabin came bearing gifts to his girlfriend, TNA diva Leigh Dominguez."
Footage showed of Chris proposing to Leigh, and they showed the couple in the seats after the game, celebrating the win the Twins had against the Royals. Allen's blood was set to boil as he forced himself to continue watching. But what came next enraged him further.
"It just so happens that Scott Van Pelt has Chris on the line right now, to get some questions answered by the wrestling up and comer." Stuart said, as turned things over to Scott.
"Chris are you there?"
"Yeah I'm here Scott," Chris Sabin's voice echoed out of Allen's TV, and Allen clenched his beer bottle in his hand, anger swelling in him.
"Chris, great to have you with us." Scott said with a smile, "So can I ask, what made you pick the Metrodome of all places to propose to Leigh Dominguez?"
"Well, it just so happened we were out visiting a couple friends of ours, one of which just so happens to be their fielder, designated hitter Lew Ford. I talked it over with Metrodome management, and Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, and things just went from there. I wanted to propose to Leigh in a fan-oriented atmosphere, and I know we had some Sabinites from TC up in the house down, hailing Sabin." Scott chuckled quietly.
"Those who don't know about that, it being your catchphrase with the TNA correct?"
"That's right, Scott." Sabin said with an amused chuckle. "You'll have to excuse me, I'm not used to talking to such an open ended crowd. It's pretty sweet."
"What are your feelings about how things turned out today?" Scott asked, and Sabin laughed.
"You mean the fact I didn't get turned down cold at the mound? It's a pretty good feeling, Scott. I mean, throwing the first pitch for the Twins was something I thought of as sweet. Johan "I'm Gonna Strike You Out, Bitch" Santana gave me a couple pointers on that curveball before the game, so I didn't look like an absolute moron at the mound. Then, when the engagement thing came up, I was shocked but thrilled Leigh said yes. It was a crowning moment for me. And for us as a couple."
"Has a date been set yet?" Scott asked, as Sabin chuckled.
"Not yet, but as soon as we know? We'll cue you in."
"Thanks for taking the time Chris, and many congratulations to both you and your fiancée, Leigh Dominguez."
"Many thanks, Scott, Stuart. Later."
The segment with Sabin moved on, as they started talking about pre-season football. Allen was still entranced, though. He felt like he was choking on every word he heard Chris speak. His anger was blinding him, as he was squeezing the neck of his beer bottle tight. The bottle cracked, before breaking, and beer spilled out over Allen's now, bloody hand. The glass was digging into his hand, yet he didn't even pay second mind. He was angry… too damned angry. Completely unsighted by the rage that pulsed through him.
Monday night, Leigh, Chris, and Candace left Minnesota to go back to Nashville for the weekly pay-per-view. It was going to be interesting, considering just how many people in Nashville, and TNA fans, watched SportsCenter, and saw just what Sabin had pulled off in the Twin Cities. Would that be incorporated to their job relationship? More or less, and more than likely, considering the phone call they received from Jerry Jarrett, of congratulations and of a meeting they had when they got back to Nashville
The meeting, as expected, was about putting the marriage angle right into the TNA programming. They figured, it would be a way to get some real publicity for their real wedding, which they would be having either in Richmond, or Detroit, later that year. The date was still unsure. But on screen it would be a lot sooner than their own. The night of the event, as irony would have it before going to his appointment with Doctor Shultz, Allen ran into Chris in the back parking lot. He had a smile on his face, as Chris looked a little uneasy by it.
"Hi, Allen." Chris said shortly, as Allen slapped Sabin on the back.
"Hey there, man. I heard your news, congratulations are in order."
"Oh, yeah… that…" Chris said, shrugging nonchalantly. "Thanks."
"No prob, no prob. You're gonna have to tell the soon-to-be Mrs. Sabin I said congratulations, too. This is big news."
"I guess." Sabin said, as Allen glanced at him, confusion. Whether it was real or not was the next thing.
"What's the matter? You seem a bit distant."
"Nothing. Nothing." Sabin said, pushing back his disbelieve that Allen could be genuinely happy about something like this. Especially considering Sabin knew some of Allen and Leigh's past. But not all. "I'm just stressing, is all. Not used to the publicity…"
"You should be, bro. You're The Future!" Allen said, chuckling to himself. "But then again, you did make national, televised sport TV. That's pretty huge. You didn't even have to be governor of Minnesota to do it." He said, in reference to Jesse "The Body" Ventura.
"Yeah." Sabin said, before glancing at his watch. "I need to go, though… sorry, but I need to pick up Leigh's gift at Light's." he said, referring to the jewelry store about 4 blocks down from the asylum. "It's for tonight's show, so I need to scat."
"No problem, I have a previous engagement myself." Allen said, smiling yet again. "You take it easy man, see ya later!"
Allen walked away, heading to his car. Chris was still incredibly leery about Allen's attitude toward it all, maybe he had finally gone mad? Sabin shrugged, walking down the street. It was a nice enough day that he just wanted to be outside and mingle with some of the fans if they came around. Sure enough as Allen was leaving the asylum, Sabin had been stopped by a pack of girls who were waiting to meet a superstar, or maybe him. Considering they all had "Hail Sabin!" tank tops, and one had a "Marry ME, Chris Sabin!" sign.
That didn't set Allen's mood any better. The truth being told, he really had gone mad with it all. He was starting to lose all composure he had left about this situation, and now breaking them apart wasn't enough to him. Over and over in his head, a line he drilled in played in loops and repeat.
'Till death do us part'
The thoughts in his head, were nothing shy of homicidal. He was losing it more and more by the day when it came to him. To Chris Sabin. He felt whenever his name was mentioned, his esophagus close up, his airways congested, and he felt himself choking on it. He felt asphyxiated by the entire situation, and his thoughts and plans only became more perverse. More frenzied and out of control.
I gotta stop this…I gotta end this…
Allen's mind continued to toy with him, a voice in his head kept telling him he needed to end this. Whether it was his own conscious, his own nagging self-righteousness, or something else. The only thing was, he had his appointment all planned out, he was going to tell Doctor Schultz he was starting to get over 'Amelia', that he was starting to realize she was happy without him, and happy with her new boyfriend.
But then another game plan played through his head. Maybe he could indirectly get his therapist to offer him advice, of how to get 'Amelia' to go back to him. If he did, and things went wrong, he could have Megan Shultz for accompaniment in a crime. Encouragement in unlawful acts. He'd have her license. He was now thinking of ways to bring down everyone who opposed him. Thoughts even shifted to Michael Shane, who he STILL hadn't heard from since he took a 'personal vacation' from the company. He had got wind of that earlier that day.
"I'm glad to see you, Chris. My boyfriend told me ALL about what you did. I'm so impressed!"
"I'm not exactly the romantic type, so why not take the girl out to a ballgame and get engaged eh?" Chris said with a modest chuckle, as Nina smiled at him. "I thought emeralds would work. Did the onyx work with the setting diamond and emeralds, too?"
"I worked it all in, don't worry. Probably one of the most impressive pieces of work I've done."
So Nina was a custom jewelry maker. She pulled out an impressive ring, that was platinum silver. The setting, was a large diamond, and around it and down the band, was onyx and emeralds. Sabin nodded his head a bit, as Nina pulled something else out.
"I made this special for you, as a gift for doing business with my family so long, Chris."
It was a matching diamond, onyx, and emerald bracelet. It was a gorgeous assessment and an incredibly accessory to the ring. Chris smiled, hugging Nina again. He was lost for words that she'd do that for him.
"That's awful swell of you, Ni." He told her, kissing her cheek. "You'll have to let me pay ya back somehow."
"Nope. That's a gift from me to you. Well, technically, me to Leigh." She giggled quietly, as she walked around the counter to the register. "Now let's get the ring tallied up, and you can be on your way."
"Appreciated."
The ring itself, a whopping $34,233.74 dollar piece, was almost as expensive as the ring he had bought her for their real engagement. This was just for the show! Or possibly, a gift to remind Leigh how serious he was about them.
Sabin made it back to the asylum, about 2 hours before show time. Leigh, Chris, Candace, and a few of the other superstars signed autographs for the 'inmates' of the asylum as they came in and relaxed before show time. It was a chance for them to get to know their fans a little better. Including the weekly "Sabin Fan Club", that seemed to show up and religiously chant his catchphrase 'Hail Sabin!' with no shame.
Leigh and Chris enjoyed the time before the show, which would see Leigh Dominguez and Princess Candace in action against Tracy Brooks and Trinity, while Sabin faced off against "Primetime" Elix Skipper.
[A/N: The next chapter will have Allen's 'shrink' visit, and the show breakdown. Oh, and some new twists and ploys and such.]