Hands Down

Rating: PG

Characters: Lita, Christian, Trish Stratus, Jericho, Molly

Disclaimer: All characters are property of WWE and themselves

Summary: A short series, taking place in October of 2003. (This was actually written around then as well, I just never got around to posting it here). After Christian comes to Lita's aide, the redhead begins to experience some unexpected feelings...

PART 2

Christian looked down at Lita hopefully. He really wanted to talk to her about what happened, but he wasn't sure that she would be willing to hear it. She hadn't exactly had the most welcoming expression on her face when he had helped her up in the ring. In fact, she had pretty much sent him a 'what the hell are you doing?' look. After he left her in the ring, he had rushed back to his locker room, where Chris was waiting to him a replay. As he watched himself on the tape, Christian cringed. He looked so damn awkward out there. The way Chris had made his big save with Trish, it just looked so much better. And while Trish hadn't exactly given him the most thankful look in the world, she seemed much more warming than Lita did to his saving her. He really wanted to strangle Jericho... this was all his idea anyway. He knew he should have never told Chris that he had been thinking that he had feelings for Lita. Jericho didn't even really like Trish, he just thought that he would do his friend a favor by 'showing him a way to get a woman's attention.' The week before, he had instructed Christian to watch closely from the monitor as he ran down to the ring and saved Trish, and then to copy his actions the next week. Christian did it, but he didn't like it one bit. He felt so out of place rushing down and beating up Steve Richards, knowing full well that Jericho had planned everything out with him beforehand. The results were almost the opposite of what the two Canadians wanted. Trish was already being more friendly – at least she appeared to be – but the only time Lita even glanced his way was when she looked at him as though he had three heads.

"Um... you said you wanted to talk to me?" Lita's voice cut through the air, snapping Christian out of his thoughts.

"Yeah, I..." he began tentatively. "I just wanted to, uh, talk about what happened in the ring a few minutes ago." Lita nodded, sitting down on the curb.

"Yeah, I kind of figured that's what you wanted to talk about," she replied.

"Yeah," Christian added, laughing nervously.

Damn it, why did he always get this way around women? He was a grown man, yet he was psychologically stuck in the mind of a 13 year old boy, still being afraid to talk to girls. He shifted awkwardly on his feet, debating on whether or not he should sit down next to her. He didn't want to seem too forward. Breathing in deeply, he cautiously sat down, feeling the goose bumps rise on his skin as his forearm brushed against her bare leg. He glanced over at her, sending her a shy, tiny smile as his eyes met hers. She smiled back for a second, but then her apprehensiveness took over her, and her hazel eyes darted away quickly.

"So," she said, her gaze traveling out into the dark parking lot. Christian glanced over at her again.

"So..."

Breathe in for luck, breathe in so deep
The air is blessed, you share with me
This night is wild, so calm and dull
These hearts they race from self control
Your legs are smooth as they graze mine
We're doing fine, we're doing nothing at all

"Lita, I," Christian started again, staring out into the starry sky. He had to just say it – he couldn't afford to spend time thinking. If he ever wanted to say what he had to say, he would have to do it right now.

"You..." Lita encouraged.

"Lita, I like you a lot, okay? I never thought it would be that. I mean, all along, I knew that I some kind of feeling that I didn't have for anyone else, but I never would have imagined it being this," he blurted out, feeling the heat flood his cheeks. He didn't even want to know what most likely bright shade of purple his skin was at the moment.

Lita was stunned... Christian's response was exactly was she had hoped for, but that didn't mean it didn't totally shock her. She glanced over at him, her hazel eyes widening slightly. Then, her expression switched to one of a more questioning manner. If what Christian said was true, then Lita had a few questions to ask.

"But, I don't understand. If you liked me, why were you always such an... well, for lack of a better term, an asshole?" she asked.

"I... I don't know really," Christian shrugged. "I guess I just felt like I had to. By the time I finally felt like I had the nerves to say something to you, you were with Matt. I felt like I lost my chance. Besides, you weren't exactly the nicest person in the world to me either you know." Lita lowered her head in shame. He was right... even if he was an ass, she was no Miss Congeniality towards him.

"Okay, so we're both at fault a little. So, I understand about not wanting to interfere with my relationship with Matt, but we haven't been together for awhile. Why did you wait so long to tell me?" she asked, turning to face him. He shrugged again, looking down at his feet. He kept telling himself to look over at her, that making eye contact with her wasn't going to kill him, but for some reason he head seemed to be glued in the position it was in.

"I don't know," he said. "I didn't even want to tell you know... to be honest, it was Chris's idea to do this whole thing." Lita's heart sunk at his words. If he really liked her, wouldn't he be happy or at least relieved to get that off of his chest?

"What? What were you going to do, keep in inside for the rest of your life?" she asked, her tone a mix of hurt and disbelief.

"I don't know Lita!" he cried, making her jump. "I just... I have this thing with rejection. I don't think I could handle pouring my heart out to you only to find that you don't even feel remotely the same way. You know what, just forget it. Forget that I came out and helped you tonight, forget that I said everything I just said... just forget it. It's not a big deal."

"But Christian, you don't know that I don't feel the same," she said softly, keeping her eyes trained on him. "Don't you at least want to know how I feel?"

"I... I'm not sure. I guess that all depends on how," he said, pausing when he finally managed to turn and look at her. He eyed her closely, noticing how she was shivering and hugging herself. It was then that he realized how cold it was outside, and how freezing she must be sitting there in her ring attire, which was a tee shirt and shorts. "Hey, are you okay? You have to be freezing?" he asked suddenly, his mind shifting away from what they were talking about.

"Kinda," she said, sending him a tiny smile. Christian continued to look at her, all of a sudden wishing that he had brought a jacket with him that he could give to her.

"We could, um... go back in if you want. I don't want you to freeze to death on my account," Christian said, laughing quietly. Lita laughed as well, looking down at the paved street before looking back up at him.

"Yeah... it might be best," she agreed, watching him stand. Once he was up on his feet, he extended his hand to her and she accepted it, using his help to stand up.

"Thanks," she said, somewhat timidly. Christian smiled at the near-shyness in her tone. They stood like that for a moment, their fingers still entwined together, Lita suddenly feeling a little less chilly as the heat coming from Christian's body warmed her. Then, she broke away from him, heading to the door. Before she could walk away, Christian grabbed her by the arm.

"Hey, do you think... do you think maybe we could talk again soon?" he asked hopefully. Lita looked up into his brown eyes, and a small smile broke out on her face.

"I think I'd like that," she said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze before heading to the door again.

As he watched her disappear into the arena, Christian let out a huge sigh. He wasn't sure whether it was in relief, or in nervousness. Things were going to be even more difficult than they were a few minutes ago. At least then all he had done was helped Lita out in the ring... now she knew exactly how he felt about her. He began to feel slightly hopeful as he recalled her saying that he didn't know how she felt about him. Maybe she did feel the same as he did. Then again, she never out and out said it like he did, so maybe she didn't. Sighing again, Christian slowly headed for the door. He was going to have to carefully plan what he was going to say to her the next time they spoke. He couldn't afford to make himself look as dumb as he had tonight. He just couldn't afford to mess up...

His mind – not to mention his heart – depended on it.