Thank you Phenoix for the great review. I was almost afraid nobody liked it. This chapter cracked me up so I hope you like it. Happy reading.
John slowly opened his eyes and groaned as the sunlight sent pain slamming around in his head. Sitting up he tried to figure out where he was. Holding his head in his hands he went through the events of the night before. Dinner, parents, fight with Monica, going to the bar, meeting up the Tyrone, drinking and more drinking. Squinting his eyes against the evil sunlight he glanced around the room, recognizing the beat up furniture and piles of clothes lying around. Tyrone must have brought him home with him. John shrugged and glanced down at the wrinkled clothes he wore, his eyes landing on his watch, which read eleven oh five.
"Shit" He yelled, then had to grab his head as the pain almost made him fall off the couch. Garbing his phone he noticed he had three messages. Pushing the button he went in search of aspirin as his sister's voice came over the line.
"John, its eight thirty. We've missed out flight. I thought you had to get back to work. Anyway I called the airport. They have one more flight that had seats available today. It leaves at eleven. I hope you get this message in time. Call me back."
Groaning John deleted the message and listened to the next one.
"John, maybe you can't tell time but its ten thirty. If you are not here in the next couple of minutes we are not going to make our flight. And since you have my car I can't meet you there. Maybe you didn't here me earlier but this was the last flight we could get."
Swallowing four aspirin and a glass of water John prepared to listen to the last message, expecting his sister again. He almost fell over when Vince McMahon's voice came over the line.
"John, I hope you were able to make arrangements to get back in time. I would like to talk to you before the show about your performance the last couple of weeks. I would really hate to have to add missing shows to that list. Be at my office at 8pm."
"Damn, Damn, Damn." Grabbing his keys John walked outside to find his sister's car parked on the street in front of the building. "I really hope I didn't drive that here last night." He said to himself as he opened the door.
Pulling out into traffic he dialed his sister's number. "Nikki, I am in deep shit. I have to be in Atlanta by eight." He said when she answered.
"Where have you been? I have been trying to get a hold of you all morning."
"I'll explain later. I will be there in 10 minutes. Call Medford Airport. We can drive there in two hours. If they have a plane leaving at around two I night be able to make it." John instructed her.
"Wishful thinking." She told him before hanging up and looking up the number to the closest airport.
She was waiting outside when John screeched to a halt in front of his parent's house. Stowing her bag and her laptop in the trunk she climb in the passenger seat.
"Well?" John asked impatient.
"They had seats, but the flight isn't till four." She told him warily. She jumped when he smacked the steering wheel.
"That's not early enough. I'm screwed, royally screwed. I'm probably going to lose my job." He told her, breathing heavily.
"They wouldn't be that extreme would they?" She asked surprised.
"They might. I haven't been up to their standards lately and this is probably the nail in the coffin. At the least I will lose my US title." He sighed. "Do we have any other options?"
"No. It's too far to drive and we are headed to the only other airport we can get to in the time frame." She said turning to look at him.
"Damn." He said again reaching for his phone. After thinking about it for a couple of minutes he dialed a number.
"Hello" Mark Calloway answered.
"Mark man, I'm up shit creek without a paddle. I don't know what to do."
"Where are you?" Mark asked recognizing the voice.
"Boston, with no way to get to Atlanta by eight or nine even." John said hurriedly, then held the phone out as Marks voice exploded over the line.
"Boy, what the hell have you been doing?" He yelled.
"You don't want to know." John told him, not wanting to admit that he was hung-over and had slept in.
"No, I do want to know. And when you get here tonight you are going to sit down and talk to me, even if I have to tie you down. Understand me boy?" Mark threatened, tired of the young man's behavior.
"Yea" John answered, already trying to figure how to get out of that. He had no intention of telling anyone anything, at least till he figured out how to finish it once and for all. "What can I do about tonight?"
"What time do you think you are going to get here?" The older man asked.
"About ten." John answered after consulting with his sister.
"My spot is early so I'll be there to pick you up. And I'll talk to McMahon, let him know. But don't expect any miracles."
"Yea, I know, thanks Mark." He said hanging up.
Down in Atlanta Mark growled as he hung up his phone. Paul and Randy looked at him questioningly, having just walked in the room.
"What is it with you damn kids. Can't stay out of trouble for one damn minute." He griped, looking at Randy.
The young man opened his eyes wide and glanced between Paul and Mark. "I swear I have not done anything."
"Not you dumb ass. Your friend has just hung himself by his toenails." Mark answered.
Paul grinned at Randy's obvious relief. "John's been teetering on the edge for a while."
"He keeps saying he has family problems." Randy put in.
"Its way more complicated than that. And tonight I am going to find out what's going on." Mark promised grimily.
It was full dark and the airport was almost deserted when John and his sister stepped off the plane. They were met by a stern faced Mark. Nikki looked up at the large man she knew as the Undertaker. "Oh shit." She said stepping back.
John grinned for the first time all day. "Mark this is my sister Nikki. Nikki this is Mark Calloway."
Mark mumbled a greeting to the slender blonde while taking in the state of John's clothes and the smell of alcohol that still remained on him. "Please tell me that you are not late and did not miss an important meeting with Vince because you were hung over!" He growled in a low voice.
John just looked at him and walked off towards the parking lot. Mark started to go after him when a small hand touched his arm.
"He had a really bad night last night." She tried to explain.
Mark didn't say a word, just escorted her to the car. The ride to the arena was silent.
Pulling up to the front entrance Mark turned to John. "I would suggest that you clean up before going to see Vince. You go in there like that he is going to fire you on the spot. When you are done in there come to the hotel and we'll talk."
John didn't respond, just motioned for Nikki to get out. Before she could unbuckle her seat belt Mark's big hand stopped her. "There is no reason for you to go in there. Why not come back to the hotel with me and hang out with the guys. That way I know John will show up." He added.
John shook his head and slammed the door, not looking at either of them. Nikki frowned at Mark but stayed where she was.
Driving to the hotel where the wrestlers were staying he walked with her into the lobby. "John's rooming with Randy. Do you want to go up there or get a room of your own?"
"I have no problem being in the same room with Randy. Decisions can wait until John gets back." She answered smiling prettly up at him.
Mark just shook his head and led her to Randy's room. Randy answered the knock on the door wearing a pair of loose jeans and nothing else, having just got out of the shower. Beads of water glittered on his chest. "I am really going to enjoy this." Nikki muttered shutting the door on Mark's laughter.
Randy stared at her in confusion. When she appeared to be staying he became concerned. "Not that I don't love seeing you, but what are you doing here?"
"Well until John gets back from the arena and tells me what we're doing I'm taking his place as your roomy. That cool?" She asked settling on the couch with her laptop, her mind already centered on how to add his glorious body to her story.
Randy thought for a moment. "I have no problem with it." He said, deciding that since he was technically rooming with her he was not violating the rules of his punishment. He laid down on the bed, content to watch her work.
John had taken Mark's advice and soon stood in front of Vince's door freshly showered. Raising his hand he knocked on the door. Hearing Vince's greeting he walked in and sat down without a word. Vince regarded him for a minute before stating coldly.
"I have a business to run and in order to do that I have to depend on my wrestlers. If I can't depend on you I don't want you with this company. Now I don't want to hear excuses. I don't care what is going on in your life. If you need time to work things out I am willing to give you the time off. But I am warning you that I will not tolerate much more. Next week you are going to lose your title to Carilto. It depends on you whether you will get it back or not. Tomorrow you have a signing in Knoxville Tennessee. I suggest you be there. If you miss it don't bother coming back. Now get out of my office."
John walked out, closely the door behind him. Finding a chair he sat down contemplating his next move. He couldn't take going to the hotel and listening to Mark. He had disappointed enough people lately. Knoxville was four hours away. He could rent a car and drive there tonight. Nikki would understand and was capable of making her way to Connecticut. She had a key to his house there.
Making up his mind he headed outside to catch a cab.