A/N: Those of you that read the first two chapters in the past, I had originally used a different member of Evolution but I changed it up and considering I posted the fic back in December, I didn't think anyone would remember it so I started fresh. Anyway, so for those that think it sounds familiar, that is why.

Disclaimer: I do not own anyone, only the storyline ideas are mine.

Chapter 2

Ric walked up to Trish's dressing room door tentatively. He wanted to help the blonde diva out but at the same time, he had no idea where to begin. They weren't exactly the best of friends but they weren't exactly enemies either. Trish always treated him with the utmost respect and admiration.

After thinking it over for a few moments, he decided to knock on the door. He didn't have a speech prepared or even had the slightest idea as to what he was going to say to her. He figured that once he got her in front of him, that something would come to mind. After all, he was the smoothest player in the game or was that the dirtiest player. Nevertheless, he was great with the ladies.

Trish was in the middle of washing her tear stained face when she heard a knock on the door. After the scene that had just unfolded a few minutes earlier, she had a pretty good idea of who it was. She walked over to the door, leaning her head against it. Should she open it or just pretend like she wasn't in the room? Christian didn't like it very much when she talked to other men, no matter what their age was. Other than Christian she was allowed to talk to Tomko, Bischoff and Vince. That was it.

Ric was starting to wonder if Trish was even there. He placed his ear to the door listening for even the slightest sound to indicate whether or not someone was inside. He knocked one more time and called out her name. "Trish honey, it's Ric. If you are in there will you please open up the door?"

Trish went against her better judgment and opened it. She grabbed Ric by the arm and pulled him inside quickly. She shut the door and locked it to prevent anyone else from coming inside. Ric was taken aback by Trish's actions. He had never seen anyone act so frightened in all of his life. He just wished he knew what she was frightened from. She was like a scared little rabbit. He watched as she glanced around the room as if she had thought that someone was going to jump out at her. Did someone have a death threat out on her? Something had her petrified.

Trish motioned for Ric to have a seat on the couch while she sat in the chair directly across from him. "So what can I do for you Mr. Flair?" She had a pretty good idea what he wanted but asked just the same.

"Well Trish, I umm…." Ric's mind went blank. What was he supposed to say?

"You want to what," she questioned.

Ric ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "I want to…I want to help you Trish," was all that he could muster.

At first she didn't know what to say. Had Christian put him up to this as a test? Trish eyed him carefully as she played with a piece of hair on her head, twirling it around her finger as she tried to figure out what he was up to. He seemed sincere enough but just incase, she wasn't going to give him anything that he could use to go back to Christian with.

"Ric, I can assure you that I do not need anyone's help. If you are referring to what happened earlier, I was just having a bad day, that's it, end of story. Like Hunter said, no harm, no foul. Now if you will excuse me, I need to get ready to accompany Tomko to the ring for his match tonight."

This was going to be harder than he had thought. She was not offering up anything at all. It didn't matter though. Ric was bound and determined to help her. He knew that there was something wrong and he was going to get to the bottom of it if it killed him.

"Trish, you are full of shit and you know it. Now you can try and push me away and that is fine for now but mark my word woman, I will not stop until I find out the truth. There is something seriously wrong with you and I am going to make it my duty to find out exactly what that something is."

Trish's eyes grew wide with fear. What did he mean he was going to find out everything? Was he going to dig into her past like Christian did? Her body began to tremble as the realization of the situation washed over her. Soon enough everyone would know the truth. That was exactly what she didn't want. Her career would be over just like that.

Ric got up from the couch and headed over to the door. "Come on Trish, look at you. You look like you are going to have a nervous breakdown. I know I am not one of your lady friends but I know that I can help you." "Please honey," he pleaded. "Just consider my offer. That is all that I am asking." He searched her eyes trying to read her but her gaze was stone cold.

Trish opened up the door without a word and motioned for him to leave. She did want his help but was too scared to accept it. However, she knew that he was not a person that would give up easily. Sooner or later she would have to break down and tell him everything. After all she DID need a friend. At the moment she was fresh out.

Ric exited the door, turning around one last time to get a good look at her, the same unreadable expression on her face. "You won't regret it Trish," he guaranteed. With that, he headed off down the hall leaving Trish to think about what he had said.

Trish leaned against the cold steel door, sliding her body down it until she landed on the floor. She held her head in her hands and began to sob uncontrollably. She wanted to accept Ric's offer but she was hesitant in doing so. It could be a trap. However, someone to tell all of her problems to, without judgment being passed, was exactly what she needed. But what if Christian found out? He would surely have her head.

Trish felt the door moving behind her, sliding her body across the floor. She looked up to see Tomko entering the room. Tomko looked down at her tiny form, an ache forming deep inside. Nobody, especially Christian, knew just how much he hated what was happening to Trish. He was good at hiding it. That was why he left the room when Christian hit her. If he didn't see it, then it wasn't happening. At least that is what he tried to tell himself. He really did want to help her but he needed the job more.

Christian had talked Vince into hiring him on as his personal bodyguard. He owed it to him to remain loyal but it still pained him to watch Trish wither away into nothing. He knew that he was a coward for doing so. He might as well be hitting her himself. Yet, that didn't stop him from doing absolutely nothing.

Trish got up from her place on the floor and stood in front of Tomko. She was thankful that it was Tyson and not Christian that walked in. At least he didn't hit her. Tomko always seemed to have the same exact expression on his face. She had not seen him smile once since she had known him. As big as he was though, he didn't seem to intimidate her like Christian did. She knew that somewhere deep down inside that there was a good man waiting to get out. She hoped and prayed that that good man inside of him would come out some day and help her get away from Christian.

"I still need to get changed for your match," she explained. Tomko wasn't much of the conversationalist. He simply nodded his head in agreement and headed off in the other direction so Trish could finish up.

Trish let out the breath that she didn't know she was holding once Tomko was out of sight. That was definitely too close for comfort. She was glad that the conversation that she had with Ric was as brief as it was. Otherwise, Tomko would have walked in on them. Although Tomko wouldn't hit her, he would definitely rat her out to Christian out of loyalty to him.

Trish headed to the bathroom to finish getting ready for his match. She put on a sexy little number per Christian's instructions. She gave herself a once over to insure that all of the bruises on her body were covered up and then headed out the door.

Meanwhile back in the Evolution locker room, Dave sat on the leather sofa, a look of concern on his face. He didn't want to seem anxious but that is exactly what he was. The truth was he had been worried about Trish for quite some time now even though he hadn't mentioned it to anyone. He didn't want the other members of Evolution thinking that he was going soft on them.

However,Dave had caught the look of disdain in Trish's eyes on more than one occasion. It couldn't be seen at first glance because Trish always had that smug look on her face but he noticed how she looked at Christian and knew there was more that meets the eye as far as their relationship was concerned.

If he had mentioned his concerns for Trish to Hunter or Randy, they would just shrug him off anyway, telling him that he was being ridiculous and that he just wanted to sleep with her. The truth was, Dave never really felt like he belonged in the group to begin with. Yes he owed Evolution his life. They believed in him when nobody else would.

However, at the same time, they treated him like he was a big idiot, like some dumb animal. Well Hunter and Randy did but Ric had always been good to him. The constant partying each and every night was really getting to him though. Sure he enjoyed himself but deep down inside he knew that it wasn't for him. He was a guy that would be happier sitting at home cuddling up on the couch with his girlfriend and watching some good horror flicks or even a chick flick, not out each night waking up next to some random whore that he couldn't even recall what their name was.

As soon as Ric entered the dressing room, Dave rose from the couch, his eyes laced with concern. This was something that Ric didn't see too often but it pleased him to know that he wasn't the only one that was worried about the beautiful, blonde Canadian.

"So? Did she tell you anything at all?"

"Not much big guy," Ric stated matter-of-factly. "She didn't say much of anything. She practically threw me out saying that she had to get ready for her match. I did manage to get her attention though. I know that I got her thinking. It is just a matter of time before she actually accepts my offer and comes to me for help."

"Well it's good to know that you made some progress. She is a stubborn one, I can tell you that much. It is going to take more than one conversation for her to open up to you."

Ric let out a small chuckle. "Your telling me buddy. That woman has a bite worse than her bark. I thought she was going to take me out with a chick kick. If looks could kill, I would be buried six feet under."

Both men began to laugh at the thought of Ric being taken out by a woman. It wouldn't be the first time that Ric got knocked upside the head and it certainly wouldn't be the last. However, none of them were as tough as Trish was and seeing her in the predicament that she is in, knowing that she is miserable yet she is not leaving, made Dave's concern grow even more.

"In all seriousness Ric, I am seriously afraid for that girl. She is not looking good and normally I couldn't give two shits but I am telling you, what I saw in her eyes today when she looked at me, it literally broke my heart. She is dying inside and if we can't help her, I am afraid she is going to wither away into nothing."