Ashley took a deep breath as she pulled into the arena's backstage parking lot. It was Monday again, and after a week of house shows she was glad to be back on live TV. Ashley had arrived early so there weren't as many fans as usual. Once inside Ashley headed straight for the locker room to get ready. Afterwards she wondered over to catering to see who was around. Of course, Evolution was there, they always made it a point to get to shows early. That was one of the few things Ashley liked about Triple H. Dave saw her and gave her a wink, but it didn't look like he'd be able to come over and say hi. So, Ashley grabbed a bottle of water and headed for the ring. She spent the rest of the time sitting on the bleachers clearing her head out, and getting ready for the show. A few minutes before the doors opened Ashley went back to catering.
"Hey Ashley".
"What's up Randy"?
"I don't have the greatest news".
"What is it"?
"Bischoff wants to see you pronto, and he didn't look happy".
"Oh on, I'm so scared. Its alright, I figured he'd be in the mood to yell at me tonight".
"Okay, well, I've done my job. Good luck".
"Thanks a lot".
A few minutes later Ashley had reached Bischoff's door. Here goes nothing. She readied herself and knocked.
"Come in"!
Ashley opened the door, shutting it behind her.
"So, Ashley you do know how to knock"?
"Of course I do. Randy said you wanted to see me…"
"He's damn right I do"!
"Okay…"
"Shut your mouth! I'm the one talking, and your going to listen! I come in to work today to find out you took it upon yourself to kick Trish's ass. Do you realize you could have ruined your match at Wrestle Mania"?
"Yeah, but…"
"Silence! What I want to know is what could she possibly have said to make you think you had the right to have your own impromptu match"!
"I warned her but…"
"Quiet! Now as general manager I expect to be treated with respect, and what you did was nothing short to a slap in my face"!
"I…"
"I don't want to hear it! Now I've come up with a little solution to this problem. You are not to lay one hand on Trish Stratus until your match at Wrestle Mania. Unless you are physically provoked, and by physically provoked I mean she better be beating your head in with a chair! If you break this rule you will not only loose your match and any chance of ever being the Women's champion, YOU WILL LOOSE YOUR JOB! So I make myself clear"?
"Crystal… clear".
"It better be. Now that that's taken care of I…"
Before Bischoff could finish there was a knock at the door.
"Come in"!
In walked Trish Stratus. Ashley couldn't believe she actually had the balls to show up tonight, but then it was apparent why; so she could get what she wanted. She had her arm in a sling and an over exaggerated limp. Ashley simply rolled her eyes.
"You wanted to see me Eric"?
"Yes I did. How are you feeling Trish"?
"Well, it hurts, but I can handle it. (winces) I should be fine by Wrestle Mania so I can get my revenge".
"Oh and about that. I've taken care of it. You wont have to worry about anything".
Great! The Head Asshole and the Hell Bitch are in cahoots. Just what I need.
"Oh Ashley I forgot you were there. Um, I need to talk to Christian, so if you could tell him, thanks".
"Oh darn, I just saw him. He said he had to go to the parking lot for something. So, you might want to start there".
"Wow, thanks Trish. That helps so much".
"Don't mention it sweetie".
After leaving Bischoff's office Ashley punched a wall to vent some frustration. Great! Now I'm his little messenger girl, and I don't even get a match tonight! As she turned the last corner she met Triple H. He stood there, blocking the door to the parking lot.
"Hello Ashley".
"Hi Triple H, do you mind moving"?
"Yes, as a matter of fact I do".
"Okay, well how about you move anyway"?
"I don't think so. You and I need to have a little talk".
"Alright, yeah, you don't like me… I get that, but I'm Dave's friend. Just his friend, and to be honest I couldn't care less about Evolution. Infact, if you guys go on for years and years all the more power to ya. I'm not a spy, I'm not trying to get in Dave's head and screw him up, and the last time I checked I wasn't a dirty ass whore. So, if we're done here…"
"We're not even close to being done here"!
"Well what the hell do you want"!
"Stay away from Batista. Do you hear me"?
"Why? Are you afraid he might actually have a real friend"?
"We are his friends, his only friends! I know what you're trying to do! Your trying to get between us, you're trying to split Evolution apart! But its not going to work! I will have you taken out before you have a chance"!
"Easy Trip, we don't want that blood vessel to pop, now do we? Oh, and just between you and me, you might want to invest in a box of tic-tacs cuz woo"!
"You listen to me you little smart ass bitch…"
"You know, I'm getting real tired of people telling me to listen to their problems! 'You listen to me'! 'You do this'! 'You do that'! Oh, suck my ass! I don't fucking CARE! Okay, threaten me all your sorry ass desires! I've had it! Now the Hell Out of my Damn Way"!
Ashley pushed her way past Triple H, and slammed the door behind her. She stomped a few feet into the parking lot before realizing she was the only one outside. The last thing Ashley remembered was a sharp painful blow to the back of her head, and then everything went black.
20 minutes later Kane and Lita had just arrived and were heading into the arena.
"Kane"?
"Yeah"?
"What's that"?
"What"?
"Oh my God"!
"What"?
"ASHLEY"!
They had found Ashley lying across the dented hood of a car with its windshield bashed in.
"Ashley! Oh God, there's blood everywhere! Ashley? Can you hear me"?
"HEY! Get an ambiance down here now"!
"Oh, Ashley. Wake Up"!
"She'll be okay. Hey! I know you heard me! Get EMS Down here Now"!
Soon after that EMS was about to load Ashley onto the truck, Lita was crying at this point while Kane tried to comfort her. Then Batista showed up.
"Ashley! What happened"?
A sobbing Lita turned to Dave.
"I don't know. She… was just lying there on the hood of … the car"!
"I'm going to the hospital with her".
Bischoff, who had been silent up until that point, jumped in.
"Whoa whoa! Batista, as much as we're all upset about this, we have to remember there's a show to finish".
"I don't care about the damn show Eric"!
"Well, maybe you care about your job! You have a tag match with Triple H tonight. After that I really don't care what you do".
Calming down a little Lita reached over and touched Batista's arm.
"Dave, I'll go with her".
"So will I. Of course, if you don't have a problem with- that-ERIC"!
"No, no! Kane, go ahead".
All right. Lita call me the second you know anything. I'll head over as soon as my match is done".
"Yeah, sure".
They loaded Ashley in the back and Lita and Kane jumped in. As the EMS truck pulled off Batista turned around and grabbed Bischoff by the collar.
"When I find out who did this I'm going to kill them"!
"Dave, I give you my word. I will do everything in my power to find out who did this".
"Yes you will, and I'll take it from there"!
With that Batista walked off to go get ready leaving a stunned and somewhat scared Bischoff in his wake. As Batista entered Evolution's locker room Triple H was waiting for him.
"Hey Dave, what happened? Ric said you ran out of here yelling and hollering".
"Like you give a rat's ass"!
"Whoa, Dave! Come on now, we're all friends here. Look, I know we've been having problems, but we're still Evolution. We have each other's backs. Now what's going on"?
"Somebody attacked Ashley in the parking lot. She was beaten to a bloody pulp! Know anything about it"?
"Ashley attacked? No, I don't know anything about it! I know I didn't like the girl, but damn, I didn't want her sent to the hospital"!
"How'd you know she was sent to the hospital"?
"Well, I figured sense she was beaten to a bloody pulp, she'd have to be treated somewhere".
"You know, this reminds me of something you said last week. 'Someone should take her behind a shed, beat her, and leave her to bleed'. Looks like you got your wish"!
"Dave! Come on man, I was kidding! Okay, bad joke, but I was pissed. Look, I'm sorry okay. I didn't mean it. So, who did it"?
"No one knows, but when I find out I'm going to kill them"!
"Now Dave, this is what I was talking about. Its good to want revenge, but you better get your head on this match. Stop worrying about your girlfriend".
"She's not… Oh never mind. Look, if will get you off my back, I'm in the mood to beat anyone's ass right now. So, I'll take Shawn Michaels and you worry about Randy".
"Whatever man, just make sure you get the job done".
After the match Dave ran up the ramp and left Triple H and Flair to celebrate by themselves. Once he reached the locker room he threw on a pair of sweats and a muscle tank, grabbed his bag, and headed for the parking lot.
"Hey, Dave, buddy, where'd you go? We…"
"Not now Ric. I got to go".
Once outside, Dave ignored the fans and sprinted the last few feet to his car. As he pulled out he made a right and headed to the hospital.