Title: By My Side
Author: Crimson Coin
Disclaimer: I do not own the WWE or any mentioned wrestlers. They are merely used/borrowed for the purpose of this fictional story.
Rating: PG 13 – R, depending on the chapter
Summery: Continuing from Unstoppable and Endless Love. Will friends and love still flourish?
Timeline: October 2004 – present
November 8, 2004
Chris Jericho smirked, watching up the ramp as Hunter and his goons stepped behind the curtain. He glanced around the ring, noting how his team members celebrated and played up to the audience. Though he wasn't in the mood for such things, he followed suit and taunted to the crowd. Flexing his muscles a few times, he rolled out of the ring, slapping the hands of some of the fans before starting to head up the ramp.
Benoit followed closely behind him as Maven and Randy stayed in the ring a few more moments. Jogging, Benoit caught up to his friend. "What do you think?"
"I don't know," Jericho answered, turning at the top of the ramp to smile at the crowd. "But we are gonna get an ass kicking on Sunday. That, I do know."
Benoit nodded, raising his hands in the air as the crowd cheered and then he followed his friend behind the curtain. "Do you think we can stand a chance?"
Jericho shrugged, his pace slowing as he walked cautiously down the hall. He was in no condition to be attacked again. "I really don't know. Our team is young. And those two guys out there, they have spunk and they have passion."
"Yeah," Benoit agreed, keeping pace with his friend, his eyes searching around them. "But with Edge, Hunter, and Batista ... we are gonna be in trouble."
Jericho nodded. "Yeah, this is really gonna hurt. Do you think they can hold their own?"
"I don't know," Benoit answered with a slow shake of the head. "Randy can. And he's too stubborn to quit easily. I'm worried about Maven."
"Me too," Jericho responded. "He hasn't had a lot of experience. Especially with opponents of this level."
"That doesn't matter," Benoit said. "Even if he does get pinned early. The three of us can still do it."
Jericho chuckled. "You have a lot of confidence."
"Confidence is all I got left," Benoit said then eyed his friend curiously. "You gonna be ok?"
"Yeah," Jericho answered with a nod, his arm protectively wrapping around his waist. "I'm really fucking sore. And my back is killing me."
"You should just head back to your room. Lay down and ice it. We need you in top form come Sunday."
"I will be," Jericho said, stopping at his locker room. "Don't you worry about me. You bring the Benoit I know, and I'll bring the Jericho you know."
A wide toothless grin spread across Benoit's face. "Great. So it's the greatest technical wrestler in the world today and the biggest assclown in the world today."
"Hey, Jerky," Jericho said, raising a single finger. "If I recall correctly, I beat you a number of times so you're second best ... oh no, didn't Lita slap you around a bit, so that means you're third."
Benoit scowled. "Your lies hurt me."
Jericho laughed. "You know it. Oh, can you do me a favor?"
"Name it."
"Make sure Lita is ok. She didn't seem right earlier after Snitsky punted that baby doll and I'm worried about the girl."
"Can do." Benoit responded then turned from his friend to walk down the hall.
Jericho turned to his locker room door, releasing a sigh as he readied himself to walk inside. He was prepared for another ass kicking.
He opened the door.
His brow furrowed as he noticed the empty room. "Trish?"
There was no response. He walked to his bag. His belongings were scattered on the floor and over the bench. He didn't remember doing that.
His eyes widened. "Keys." He knelt down, looking hurriedly through his clothes and the bag. The car keys were gone.
He swore silently to himself as he quickly gathered his things and shoved them into the bag. He didn't have time to fold or situate. He stuffed everything inside and then zipped it hurriedly.
Shouldering his bag, he raced from the locker room and charged down the hallway. Hopefully he didn't miss her. Hopefully, she hadn't left yet.
Banging through the door to the parking garage, he scanned quickly. And spotted her. She wasn't too far ahead. Almost to the car, that was parked next to a giant cement pillar. "Trish!"
She didn't slow her rhythm, her eyes intensely focused on the car and she approached the trunk, opening it and tossing her bag inside. Slamming the trunk shut, she gasped. How did he get so close, so fast.
"Trish," he sighed, outstretching his hands to calm her. "Trish, Honey. Easy."
Angered, infuriated at his tone, she glared up at him, ice prominent in her eyes. "You son of a bitch," she snarled, her body shaking from the controlled rage. "You son of a bitch," she recoiled her hand.
Chris's head whipped to the side with her harsh slap and he quickly returned his eyes to hers, fuming with passion and anger. He reached out, grabbing her arms and spinning her, slamming her against that cement pillar.
Her eyes widened at his violent outburst and she scowled angrily up at him.
Chris ducked down, his lips crashing to hers. His kiss harsh and hard, his mouth pressed powerfully to hers. He didn't kiss her deep, just held her mouth with his. Breathless, his mouth snapped off of hers and he looked down on her face with heated eyes.
She gasped at first, regaining her breath and then her eyes flew to his, deep brown and blazing with anger. She recoiled again.
Jericho's head whipped with her slap again. And for the second time, he immediately let his icy eyes lock on hers before ducking down, kissing her again. This kiss more intense, more passionate then the last. He pushed his tongue against her lips, forcing inside her sweet mouth. He dared her to bite him. But she didn't. She didn't kiss him back, but she didn't push him away.
He broke the kiss again, staring down at her, panting onto her sweet face. She swallowed hard, her eyes opening to look up at him again and still her eyes blazed with passionate anger. She recoiled.
But Chris was fast. He caught her wrist before she could slap him and he roughly pinned both her wrists over her head. Trish swallowed hard again, the slightest bit of fear entering his eyes at the look of him. His body so close, the tip of his nose to hers as he stared into her eyes.
She choked when he suddenly kissed her again, his mouth even more demanding. His tongue wrapped and tangled, urging her for a response and against her will, she began to kiss him back. He growled at the realization of her response and he gripped her wrists a bit more tightly when she started to squirm. He had no intention of releasing her yet.
He pressed even closer to her, making sure he pinned her against the pillar and he tilted his head a little further, trying desperately to kiss her deeper and more passionately. His body surged at the victorious notion when her body went limp against him. He squeezed her wrists, moving her hands and wrapping her arms around his neck and head. His hands abandoned her wrists then so he could band his arms around her tiny body, his hands gripping her back and shoulders to pull her right into him.
Trish tightened her own arms, returning his kiss with equal passion, her fingers tangling in his hair then tickling to the side of his face.
Finally, breathless and far too excited, Chris broke the kiss, pulling back and then pressed his forehead to hers.
She didn't say anything, her breath coming in short pants as she held him close, her hands refusing to leave him.
Chris tightened his arms, pulling her and embracing her closer to him, trying to engulf her into his body.
"You're such a fucking bastard," she sneered, her usually warm honey brown eyes darkened with the still fuming anger within her. "Better sluts and Gardens. You ... you are a fucking lying bastard. I said nothing against you. I didn't go out there and attack you. I attacked that bitch, Lita."
Jericho tilted his face, pressing his lips to hers in a soft tender kiss, affectionate and pure in this kiss.
Trish shook her head when he pulled back again and she sighed on his mouth, noting the way he shivered at the feel of her breath. "And after calling me a slut, you kiss me like that. What signals are you trying to give me? What do you want from me? I don't ..."
Again, he cut her off, his mouth covering hers as he pressed her flush against that pillar, his body not leaving a single inch between them. His hands traced up to her face, raking through and playing with her hair before cupping his face. As the kiss managed to deepen, his hands traced down her body then back around her, clutching at the muscles of her back.
Trish caved against him, unable to fight this man and she moaned as his hot wet tongue touched and tangled with hers.
Chris growled as she kissed him back, her tongue so soft and velvety, almost shy in her kiss and he couldn't help but want her more. His stomach hurt with the emotions she stirred within him and he wanted nothing more than to hold her and kiss her just like this.
Again, the kiss ended and she was beginning to get frustrated. Did he want to kiss or not? He'd break the embrace and then stop. What was he trying to prove?
Before she could speak, Chris's lips silenced hers once and then one last time. "Listen to me," he mumbled against her lips. "Lita is still my friend. I'm worried about her because Snitsky won't leave her alone. And I really took a beating for defending her."
"My God," Trish's eyes widened and she brought her hands to his abdomen. "I forgot. Are you ..."
Chris hissed, his eyes fluttering in pain. "Oh God. Ok that hurts, Baby."
"Oh my God, Chris," she breathed, her earlier anger forgotten as her worry for him took over. "Are you ok? Come on, we have to get out of here."
"Wait," he said, quickly, reaching out to cup her pretty face in his hands. "Look, I didn't mean anything I said to you out there. I saw ... it was bad. You came out there and the way you looked at me and the way we looked at each other. God, I just wanted to have my way with you right there."
She chuckled at that recollection. "You were so cute, Chris. And you had this look in your eye and I just played it up."
"That you did," he answered with a smile. "And you just had this sexy glint in your eyes, I had to introduce Lita as soon as possible."
"But better sluts and gardens?"
Chris chuckled, pressing his lips to hers once and then again. "It came to my mind and was kinda funny. And you had a great come back, Baby. 'Whatever'. Fantastic."
She glared at him, her lips frowned in a pout. "I wasn't expecting you to say something so mean. Maybe next time, I won't be so generous. I have a mean streak too, Chris. You know that."
"I know," he answered, holding her a bit more tightly. "But remember, I don't want you hurt. I don't want Hunter to think there's anything between us because then he'll go after you to get to me. And I couldn't live with myself. God, if something happened to you, I don't know what I'd do. Plus, we've been around each other so much. And people have been questioning us being so close lately."
A smile pulled at her lips. "We're kinda close now."
He chuckled. "That's cuz as long as I have you pinned and restrained like this, you can't hurt me. And I am so fragile. Snitsky really kicked my ass."
The smile fell from her face and she reached up to touch his cheek with her hand, her fingers tickling along his chin and jaw. "I wish there was something I could do."
"Well ... you know what today is?"
Trish sucked her lower lip into her mouth, chewing on it slightly. "It's the Monday before Survivor Series."
He shook his head.
"It's one month and six days until Christmas?"
He shook his head, a frown on his face and his eyes displayed the most pitiful hurt.
"Aw, Sweetie," she cooed, cupping his face. "I know. Tomorrow is your birthday. I remembered, Sweets."
The biggest brightest smile spread across his face and he leaned down, placing a harsh needy kiss on her mouth.
She whimpered when he pulled back and she only shook her head up at him. "You're very affectionate today. Can't stop kissing me."
"Why would I want to?"
When he would lean down again, she reached up, pushing him back by the chest. "Wait, I want to show you my gift."
He released her as she slipped under his arms and to the trunk of the car. She popped the trunk and then opened her bag, gathering something into her arms and holding it against her chest. He furrowed his brow. That looked familiar. Red and white ... it looked like a ... like a hockey jersey.
Trish ducked her head. "I ... I got this for you a long time ago. And I ... I wanted to just ... just burn it on so many occasions but ... but I couldn't. And ... and sometimes when I was alone and I missed you ... I ... I'd wear it to sleep and even though you never touched it or anything it ... it made me feel better. I ..."
She trailed off when he approached her, reaching out to touch her hands and the jersey she clamped tightly to. Her eyes glanced up, meeting his and she watched worried as he took the jersey from her.
He shook it out, holding it up to look at it and she swallowed hard, licking her lips in nervousness. "You don't have to ..."
"Shhh," he hushed, silencing her and without hesitation, he put the hockey jersey on, wiggling slightly and then looking down at his chest as he wore it. He smiled. "It matches my tights. The red and red."
Trish smiled for him.
"It's wonderful," he breathed, leaning in for a quick kiss then another and one more that lasted longer, the last kiss he held as long as he could. "I love ..." he swallowed hard. "I love it. Thank you, Trish."
"You're welcome," she mumbled, her head bowed in embarrassment.
He stepped closer, tilting her chin up so she could look in his eyes. "If you ever want to wear this to sleep in, just take it." Then he smiled, cocking his head. "What do you say we had back to my room, order some room service and ..." he flushed. "Well, and you give me one hell of a birthday massage."
She flashed him a beautiful smile but there was still worry in her eyes. "I ... I'm not really ready for ..."
"I mean totally innocent." He said before she could finish. "Well, as innocent as massages could get. But just my back and maybe my chest. Just a nice massage before we turn in for the night. And then your company for supper. I don't wanna move fast at all. I am perfectly content just kissing you for the next dozen years."
"You mean that?"
He gave a slow nod, his smile so warm and tender. "Yeah. We ... technically, we haven't even officially gotten back together. And when that happens then we just take our time and do what feels right."
Trish sniffed, moving closer to him as she gazed up on his beautiful face. "Do you want to be back together? Because frankly, I don't know how pleased I'll be you calling me a slut if we're supposed to be together."
"I never mean what I say out there for that stuff," he clarified, his hands resting gently on her hips. "It's all for the show and you have to admit, it was funny. Plus, it was the only thing I could say so I didn't lay a long wet passionate kiss on your mouth. God just thinking about that kinda kiss makes me want to do it." He shook his head clear. "Anyway, I think it may have been awkward to be ravaging you in front of millions of people like that. Especially for our budding relationship."
Trish smiled, softly. "I'm willing to 'officially' try, as you say. But we can go slow, we have to. Because I ... that's the way we should have done it from the start. And we didn't and look where it got us."
He nodded, agreeing with her.
Her smile brightened, hopeful and beautiful. "Let's get back to your room then. I'm hungry and I ... I want to get started on your massage."
"Ooo," he coaxed, playfully then shivered. "I am looking forward to this."
"Happy Birthday, Baby," she hushed, leaning up to kiss him again.
When she pulled back, he licked his lips. "Mmm, that's got to be the twentieth kiss in the last ten minutes."
"And you're complaining?"
"Never," he sighed then squeezed her hand.
Trish smiled. "And I don't think it was that many. But ... we can catch up if you want."
"Oh, I do. But back at the hotel. That way I can kiss you the way you should be kissed. Come on, let's get out of here." He couldn't wait to get back to his room. He couldn't wait to feel her massage, he couldn't wait to kiss her continuously ... he couldn't wait to spend time with the woman he loved. The smile fell from his face as she slipped into the driver's seat and he put his bag in the trunk. Now, if only he could muster the courage to tell her how he felt.
(Another chapter down and aren't they getting sweet. Don't you love them. LOVE THEM! LOVE CHRIS/TRISH! Let's see what happens next week. And I want reviews because without reviews, I don't write.)