Notes: This chapter mentions a few things that happened in WCW back in the mid to late 90s that involved four of the characters.

Past Pain

"Someone want to tell me who this is?" Michael demanded not releasing his hold.

"That would be my first husband." Mom said standing next to the table. "He's harmless."

"After what happened to Athena I'm not taking any chances." Michael said letting go. "Why did he punch him?"

"Because they hate each other." Mom said. "I'm surprised he didn't do more."

"If I hadn't been tackled maybe I would have." Dave said folding his arms. "Now would someone explain how Chris is alive?"

"First let me take Misha out of here." Tatem said. That's a good idea. She is definitely too young to be hearing any of this.

Melanie Pillman also joined us. "I'd like to hear this too."

This could be very interesting if dad and Dave don't kill each other first. I noticed Michael made sure he was between dad and Dave. I guess he didn't have to be told twice that they hated each other.

"Let's set up some ground rules here first." Michael said. "I don't want you two going after each other." He said looking at Dave and dad. "I have enough to worry about between what's been happening to Danny and Athena and the trial. Two what is said in this room stays in this room. If you can't handle that then the conversation will not take place. You got it?"

"Got it." Everyone answered.

Eddy came back into the room with a bag of ice and handed it to dad who put it right on his jaw. I can guess what happened. Dave probably punched dad in the jaw as soon as he saw him. I guess what I've heard over the years is true. They certainly hadn't exaggerated.

"What I want to know is what happened fourteen years ago. I heard about Chris' death and have to find out the same way that he was actually alive, one of my kids told me. I may not like you Chris but you don't seem to be the kind of guy to abandon your family. Twice." Twice?

Dad looked at me before he said anything to Dave. I'm not, Dave. Believe me it wasn't my idea but I wanted to keep my family safe. There was a real chance that Vince could go after my family and I couldn't do that to them."

"Uh huh." Dave looked like he wanted to say something more but didn't. "How did you survive the powerbomb? I saw the match. Your neck looked broken to me. How?"

"Eddy found out what was going to happen to me and talked Goldberg into just making it look real and keep me alive. I was lucky he agreed to that. I'm lucky I can be with my family again. I wish I hadn't lost those fourteen years. I never saw my children grow up, graduate high school, David get married and have two children of his own." Dad sighed. "You could never begin to understand what it was like. It's not as simple as it sounds. I had wanted so much to call my family and tell them that I was alive but I couldn't. After what's been happening to Danny I realize just how far they would go."

Melanie sighed. "I wish you'd tell me that Brian was in hiding somewhere. Debra was telling me that they had two places. I wish Brian would just walk through the door. I miss him so much."

"I wish I could Melanie but he's not." Dad answered her. "I had wondered the same thing when I went into hiding."

"Wait a minute." Dave said. "Why would you need two places? Are there others in hiding?"

I saw dad, Eddy, and Michael look at each other as if unsure whether or not to tell Dave everything. I think I understand their reluctance. I mean Dave did just punch dad. Can we trust him not to flip out again?

"Wait a minute. Cassidy Austin's here. So is Steve alive?"

Dad sighed. "Yes he is."

Dave sat down in a chair almost looking speechless. "I can see how you survived a powerbomb now Chris but I can't imagine how someone could fall that far onto cement so you must be pulling my leg."

"No we're not." Eddy said rubbing his nose.

"So I guess you really are a druggy huh Eddy?" Dave asked. "I'm not surprised."

Eddy was out of his chair. "I don't do drugs Dave. I haven't for 15 years. I let the rumor slide because it gave me some cover for when I'd leave. I even had my family convinced. You are not one to question people Sullivan."

"I'm not the bad guy here Eddy. I'm the one that got Brian out of WCW remember? It's not my fault you all turned chicken and went to WWF."

Melanie looked up with fire in her eyes. "If it wasn't for your Brian wouldn't have been killed! You and your 'I respect you booker man'. If it wasn't for that Brian wouldn't have gotten hurt in a car accident and went to WWF where they killed him."

"So I made a mistake. It's not like I left my wife who just had a baby for another woman who was also married at the time."

Dad was up and in Dave's face. "Wasn't it you who booked your own divorce?"

I really wish I had some clue what they were talking about. Was that what I had imagined happened between my parents? Is that why they hated each other so much? Maybe I was finally finding out what no one would tell me. Megan had a look of confusion on her face too. Did Melissa ever tell her why they broke up?

"Maybe you two should take this in another room." Mom said. "There are two people who shouldn't be hearing this."

Now I know she was talking about Megan and me. "Mom I'm eighteen. Don't you think I should know by now about the affair you and dad had?"

The room was actually silent. Okay maybe that wasn't the most tactful way to ask that. Mom looked hurt.

"How did you know?" Dad asked. "Did you tell him?" He asked Dave.

"I didn't tell him anything."

"You think I never figured out why I couldn't stay at Melissa's when I was in Canada? Or why you and Dave hate each other? I'm not stupid."

"Oh Daniel. No one ever thought you were I just didn't want to tell you. I thought your father was dead so it didn't seem right to tell you about what happened between us. That and I didn't think you were old enough."

The room sort of sobered up though that's not to say Dave and dad didn't look like they were going to kill each other at any moment.

"Anyway." Dad said with a sigh after the whole story was finished. "We came to pick up Danny and Megan. Everything's settled down finally at the hotel. I didn't expect to run into you Dave. It was good seeing you again Levi. I'm going to go meet Misha." He said leaving the room.

That means we are leaving soon. I had really wanted to talk to the Pillman children. I wanted to know their take on everything.

"Hey isn't that Chris' necklace?" Someone asked. I looked up to see Melanie pointing at me. Oh yeah I was still wearing the necklace dad had given me.

"Yeah. Dad gave it to me."

"I gave Brian's to Brittany." Melanie explained. "I thought she'd want that."

"I've been looking for Chris' for years. Are you telling me Chris had his the whole time?" Mom asked.

Eddy nodded. "I pulled it out of Chris' bag. I thought he might want it. Didn't think anyone would notice. And I completely forgot Chris had it until Dean and Perry saw Danny wearing it in my office. I didn't even know they knew the story behind it. With everything that was happening why wasn't I surprised?"

I fingered the necklace. So it was sort of important. Maybe I'd find out the story on it.