"I don't like this any more than you do pixChaya." Andrew corrected himself quickly when Chaya stopped pacing to glare at him. They were both waiting behind the black curtain for Test's music to cue. Tonight was her first show as his valet. She was debuting on a special live taping of Smackdown. "You know what you're doing tonight right?" Andrew asked.
"Of course I know what I'm doing. I'm starting a feud with Ivory." She continued pacing and Andrew almost smiled. His little pixie was nervous, and trying desperately not to let it show. His music started up and he took his position behind the opening. Chaya stood beside him, taking several deep breaths. Just before he walked out he leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Don't faint on me little one." That got just the reaction he was hoping for. Chaya stalked down the ramp beside him, so furious that she never even noticed the capacity crowd watching her every move. He climbed into the ring and then reached over the top rope to lift her inside. It wasn't the entrance they'd discussed but Chaya calmly smiled at him. "Touch me again and I'll kill you." She whispered as he set her down. Andrew merely grinned and winked at her.
"I love it when you talk dirty." He held up her arm beside him, showing her off to the crowd. The fans already knew who she was from the vignettes that had been taped for the last televised show. "I hope Bull dislocates your jaw." Chaya smiled sweetly, blowing him a kiss as she jumped down from the ring.
The match was progressing smoothly, with Bull getting the upper hand. He worked Test into a corner and was beating him down until Athena began to rally the crowd behind her man. Test then exploded from the corner and fought back with impressive intensity. Ivory, not liking what she saw, pulled down on the ropes, creating a low bridge so that Test fell from the ring onto the concrete floor. She was so busy taking her cheap shots that she seemingly didn't hear the roar of the crowd as Athena came up behind her. In less than a second she had whipped the other woman around and delivered a solid right hook. Ivory went sprawling to the mat, holding her jaw and scowling up at Athena. But even as Athena gloated, Bull picked her up from behind and tossed her into the ring. Athena landed with a thud and her face became a mask of pain. The crowd then cheered as Test sprang up to rescue her.
As Chaya rolled out of the ring it became quite clear that her apparent act of pain was not an act at all. She truly was in pain. Andrew kept an eye on her even as he went through his moves with Bull. He noticed that she hadn't moved from her spot and that she was leaning on the apron, wincing. Something was wrong. He tried to catch her eye, to tell her not to continue with the plan but she refused to look at him. A determined look came into her eyes and she pulled herself up. She nodded to Ivory and the other woman gave her an evil smile before jumping on the ropes to interrupt the match once more. The crowd cheered as Athena jumped up into the ring, to the top rope and sprung at Ivory, sending both woman flying down to the mat. While distracted, Bull became an easy target. One big boot to the face and it was all over. Test got the pin. An easy, one, two, three.
As soon as the ref's hand came down for the three, Andrew rolled to his feet and frantically looked around for Chaya. He finally found her struggling to her feet outside the ring. Without even thinking he jumped down from the ring and promptly picked her up in his arms, ignoring the huge cheer that came from the crowd. "Put me down!" Chaya hissed at him as he began to walk up the ramp. "Not on your life, you little fool! Now put your arms around me and smile dammit." Chaya had no choice but to follow his orders as he turned at the top of the ramp to face the crowd. They cheered loudly as Ivory and Bull scowled. After a few moments he turned away and headed for the curtain.
As soon as they were safely behind the black curtain, Chaya all but jumped from his arms. Tears sprung to her eyes as she landed on her feet and much to her displeasure she felt her legs give way. But she never hit the ground. Two pairs of arms caught her. She looked up to see Andrew and Scott glaring at each other, each with a possessive grip on her arms. "Knock it off and let go of me!" She snapped at both of them before wrenching her arms away. She all but crawled over to a nearby stage crate and sat down, hard.
"Chay baby you don't look okay. Maybe you should see the trainer." Scott suggested gently.
"Maybe nothing. She's going, even if I hafta drag her." Andrew informed her harshly. Chaya's amber eyes blazed through her pain.
"Chay, honey are you okay?" Lisa Moretti asked as she and Bull finally came through the curtain.
"Yeah Lise. I'm just peachy." She attempted to smile up at the older woman, but it came out as more of a grimace.
"I didn't mean to drop you that hard darlin." Barry told her, guilt all over his face.
"It's nothing Buchanan. I just landed on my injured ankle the wrong way. Don't worry about me."
"You're going to the trainer." Andrew told her again.
Chaya glared up at him."Yes bossy, I am going to the trainer. But not with you. I can manage just fine on my own!"
"The hell you can, you can barely walk!" Andrew yelled. Sensing a pending argument Lisa and Barry made their excuses and exited quickly. Scott remained, standing silently and observing the pair. The tension between them was causing more sparks than Kane's entrance.
"If I wanted your help Samson, I'd bloody well ask for it. And it'll be a damn cold winter in hell when I do!" Chaya replied hotly. Andrew jerked back as if he'd been struck. He'd never thought to hear that name from her lips again.
"Hey there pixie, I thought I'd find you out here." He smiled looking down at the young woman lying flat on her back in the sprawling back field, staring up at the afternoon clouds. "I'm surprised you're still talking to me." She told him quietly, shading her eyes against the bright sunshine. Andrew sighed and hunkered down beside her on the cool grass. They'd only been training for a couple of months, but after only a few weeks he'd realized how much her skill exceeded his own. They'd called a truce, but he had broken it today. They had been sparring and Chaya had made him submit, fair and square. He'd been furious, and had lashed out at her before stalking off. He never even saw the wounded look on the face of the pixie he was falling for. That made him even more furious. He was falling for a fourteen year old child. "All I can say is I'm sorry Chay. I'm not used to losing a brawl."
"Was it just losing, or was it losing to me?" She asked softly. Andrew shook his head and sighed. "That too. I've never met a girl like you Chay. Sometimes you make me feel like I can do anything, and then in the next instant you send me sprawling to the mat."
"I'm only trying to"
"I know pixie. I know. You're just doing your job. You're training me, and I totally respect that. Now." He added when her eyebrows shot up. "You're a better wrestler than me. There I said it. Happy?"
"No. I want you to train properly. I want you to be better than me. None of the other guys have a problem sparring with me, why do you?" Because I'm falling in love with you, Andrew thought, staring at sun glinting off the red highlights in her hair. "I don't know Chay. I guess I just have trouble concentrating around you."
"Why?"
"Just cause." He replied, reaching out to brush a lock of her hair from her face. "Anyone ever tell you, you bear a striking resemblance to Samson?" She asked nervously. His touch was turning her thoughts to mush. "Who?"
"Samson, from the Bible, book of Judges. You've never heard the story?"
"Can't say that I have. Would you tell it to me?" His shy grin sent shivers up her spine. She began to tell him the ancient story about the beautiful warrior Samson who's mighty strength came from his long golden hair, and who's wife Delilah had betrayed his secret of strength to his enemy. By the time she had finished, Andrew was lying comfortably with his head in her lap. The sunshine warmed their skin, and Andrew had his eyes closed in ecstasy as Chaya absently ran her fingers through his hair. They remained silent for a long time, until Andrew told her he had to get back to work. Chaya nodded her agreement and they both stood up. Before they returned to the dungeon, Chaya stopped him by laying a hand on his arm. "Andrew, I want you to know that I would never betray you as Delilah betrayed Samson. Your strength and pride are great assets, I would never steal them from you." She turned and ran the rest of the way, before Andrew could tell her how he felt.
As soon as the words were out of her mouth Chaya longed to take them back. The wounded look in Andrew's eyes burned straight through her soul. "Andrew I didn't mean"
"No Chay. I know what you meant. Message received." He replied quietly before turning away. "Scott, make sure she goes to the trainer." He called over his shoulder.
"Sure thing." Scott called out before coming to kneel before Chaya. Tears were flowing freely down her cheeks. Whether they were from physical pain, or emotional pain, he didn't know. Nor did he think he should ask."Chay baby, you okay?"
"No!" She spat through her tears.
"C'mon hun, time to go see the trainer. Are we gonna do this the easy way or the hard way?" Scott asked quietly.
"What's the easy way?"
"You lean on me and we walk."
"And the hard way?"
"I carry you over my shoulder."
"Easy way." Chaya answered with a huff.
"Good girl."
The show was nearly over by the time the trainer was finished binding Chaya's sprained ankle. She was told she could walk around, but no wrestling until it healed. Vince wasn't pleased, but he said he'd figure something out for ringside. Chaya felt completely miserable, not even Scott could cheer her up as they drove back to the hotel. "Some of us are going out tonight, you wanna come along Chay?"
"I'm not up for partying right now Scotty. I just want to go to bed and forget this day ever happened."
"Oh c'mon babygirl. Everyone gets injured and everyone makes mistakes."
"Not me Scotty. I should have landed properly in that ring. I was stupid!"
"Lighten up on yourself babe. It was your first night. You were bound to be nervous, besides Bull threw you like a sack of flour. He shoulda known better."
"It was a simple bump Levy. I shoulda been able to land it blindfolded with both hands tied behind my back. Look, can we just drop it?"
Scott shrugged his agreement. "Whatever you want."
Chaya turned to look out the window. She watched the city lights pass with a blur, not even remembering, or caring, what city they were in. Tomorrow she would be on the bus heading to a new show, and today would be forgotten. Or would it? Chaya bit her lip and closed her eyes. Samson. No matter what he had done to her in the past, she never, ever thought she would hurt him that way. My Samson. Whoever said 'time heals all wounds' had obviously never been in love, Chaya thought bitterly.
When they got to the hotel, Scott dropped her off outside her door and after failing to persuade Chaya to join him, he went upon his merry way. Chaya fumbled with the key-card and finally wrenched the door open. Her roommate met her with a grin and held out a box of chocolate chip cookies. "You look how I feel." Amy told her with half a laugh.
"Hmm, what's your miserable excuse?" Chaya asked dumping her stuff at the door and collapsing on her bed, one cookie in her mouth and another in her hand.
"Matt and I had a fight."
Chaya groaned and rolled her eyes. "Man what I wouldn't give for a huge glass of"
"Milk?" Amy smiled, handing her a half litre jug from the plastic shopping bag on the floor.
"You are a goddess!" Chaya exclaimed laughing.
"Well hey, misery loves company right? I figured after watching your match tonight that you'd be in the mood for a little comfort food."
"That bad huh?" Chaya asked around a mouthful of cookie.
Amy shook her head emphatically. "Heck no! You and Drew were amazing! But I kinda noticed you wincing during your spots. Hunter told me later that you'd been injured again."
"Oh peachy. He's gonna kick my ass in training this week!"
"Nah. He seemed kinda pissed at Bull. The way he threw you was really stiff."
"Really? I didn't notice. So what happened with you and Matt?"
"Something utterly stupid! We got into an argument about his finishing move, you know the 'Twist of Fate'? Well he wants me to start using the same move, but I told him no way. I want to be original. He doesn't think I can come up with a new finisher cause I haven't been wrestling as long as he and Jeff have."
"Gawd, is it just me or do all the guys in the WWF have an inferiority complex?" Chaya yelled before chugging back on her milk.
"I don't think it's just you." Amy replied wryly before taking a swig of her own milk.
They were both quiet until Chaya spoke. "Well, screw Matt and his 'Twist of Fate', I'll help you develop a good finisher."
"Really?"
"Damn right. I've been wrestling almost as long as that boy has been alive. I spent my entire life in the dungeon and I've been wrestling all over the world since I was sixteen. There hasn't been a move invented yet that I can't do or can't teach. We'll just find out what you're really good at and we'll modify a move. It's as easy as that."
"Awesome girl! Thanks." Amy reached over and gave her an enthusiastic hug, until Chaya began to scream. "OWWW! My ANKLE!"
"Oh geez! Sorry!"
"I think we'll have to wait for the training until this heals." Chaya grimaced, rubbing around her bandaged ankle. "In the meantime, don't stay mad at Matt or your working and personal relationships will both go to hell. If he can't appreciate your talent for what it is then I'd leave the romance stuff to the big screen."
"I know. But I don't know if I could leave him now. I'm in love with him."
"Trust me Ames, you never know if you can leave them until they leave you first." Amy wanted to ask what she meant by that, but Chaya immediately announced that they weren't going to brood anymore. Instead she turned on the TV and flicked through the channels until they found an old eighties film. They both fell asleep watching 'Pretty in Pink'.