Dedicated to the memory of Christopher Reeve 1952 - 2004.
This shouldn't be that long. Then we'll get things in high gear with 100. :-) - Juliet
Dana's comments Dana is too tired to do anything but type in 3rd person. Enjoy the chapter!
Athena's POV
I'm not exactly sure how I ended up getting into a car with Ric Flair, Tammy, and Eric Bischoff riding to Gold's Gym to confront Steve Borden over the tape I heard in the hotel room a couple of hours earlier. All I really remember was that Ric and Bischoff, came in, separately but at the same time, and were told about what happened earlier with Borden and Pfohl. Ric looked like he was quietly seething and Bischoff looked like he was about ready to outwardly explode. I think they both had a similar look of betrayal on their faces. Both resolved to confront Borden and Tammy wanted to go along and somewhere along that line it was decided that I should tag along as well.
So there I was, in a car with Tammy, and two men who hated each other but for once had a common ground about something. I heard Dad muttering something as we were leaving about Hell freezing over. I know Ric and Eric really don't like each other, but I guess agreeing about something was something nobody that knew them expected. Eric was the one who drove, with Tammy in the front while I sat in the back with Ric Flair. The atmosphere in the car was extremely tense.
We arrived at Gold's Gym at least fifteen minutes after we'd left the hotel room. I'm sure some speeding and breaking of traffic laws were involved in getting us there that fast. We followed Eric and Ric into Gold's Gym and right to a back room, were I presume was Steve Borden's office. The door was shut and locked so Ric knocked on it. That Larry guy answered it. Eric and Ric shoved past him and right towards Steve Borden.
"You lousy son of a BITCH!" Ric Flair roared, causing Larry to shut the door behind us. "How could you do this?! You knew Vince was a murderer for over 20 years and you did nothing?! NOTHING!?"
"Look Ric," Borden started to explain, "I - "
"NO!" Flair interrupted, "there is no 'look.' There is not explaining or talking your way out of this! That tape - " he pointed at the tape on Borden's desk. "Could've saved a lot of people a lot of pain. It could've allowed Steve Austin, Chris Benoit, and Owen Hart to see their children grow up. It could've saved Curt Hennig's life! And you kept it!"
Borden looked down at his feet. Then he turned and looked at Bischoff. "You have anything to say?"
"Yeah," he said, "you're an insensitive excuse for a human being."
Borden laughed. "Oh please, you - "
"IF YOU HAD HANDED OVER THAT TAPE IN 1997, I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO WATCH THE LIFE GO OUT IN BRET'S EYES AS I TOLD HIM HIS BROTHER DIED!" Bischoff shouted, startling all of us.
"You robbed a lot of people of their lives Steve." Tammy said quietly
"Look, I intended to tell the truth about the tape years ago, really, but then....... I didn't. I guess over the years the guilt just built up and I just.... Couldn't."
Ric shook his head. "That's the problem, Stinger. You didn't. In the process you threw away a lot of people's faith in you. I may not like the man, but at least Bischoff did something to help," Ric turned to leave and the rest of us followed.
Tammy looked back. "You know, just for the record: I wish there had been some way for you to be a man and for me to have still met my current husband. I agree with Ric; like him or not, at least Bischoff didn't stand on the sidelines doing nothing. He did something. You didn't. That makes him more of a man in my eyes than you'll ever be now."
And with that she shut the door and we left Gold's Gym. I don't think any of us will ever be back there again.
As we returned to the hotel, I saw Chris Benoit fuming and Eddie not far from it. Apparently something must be wrong with Danny's brain. Not only did Danny sneak out without telling anybody, but now he has the bright idea to see Goldberg! The guy not only ended my Uncle Bret's career, but he tried to kill Danny's father? Why would Danny want to see him? Of course to make matters worse Uncle Bret's starting to talk about seeing Goldberg himself. Has everybody gone nuts? That was just for Monday in addition to that tape Borden had coming out in court, and Danny's father testifying.
This was going to be one strange, terrifying week.
Okay onward to 100. :-D