Disclaimer: Yeah, I own the WWE..and some flying pigs, a dragon and a castle.
Notes: Let me say, this is all in fun .. I realize it's highly unrealistic but that's why it's in fun. I'm pushing for a short-ish long series (maybe 20 or so parts but we'll see) Oh, there is slight Joy bashing in this chapter.
My thanks to everyone who reviewed!
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Part Four: Reaching Higher Ground
Though this trip through the vents was grumbling free, the pair found themselves hindered slightly by the steel chair that was with them. At one point, John questioned if it was really necessary to drag a steel chair.. to which Lita had replied rather crossly. The redhead stated that unless they wanted to risk breaking a limb when they found their way out of the vents- yes the chair was necessary. He glared at her back, the two crawling gingerly through the vents none the less.
"Alright," Lita began as they reached a dead end. "I'm gonna guess this is where we get out and see what's what."
"No really?" John shook his head, "I mean, I jus' figured we'd slip right through the vents and voila."
She rolled her eyes, peering through the grate at the floor below. "Good news is, I don't see the tell tale walls of a storage room."
He joined her near the grate, "Well that's a good sign.. but what else is down there?"
The redhead shrugged, brushing her hair from her face. "We'll just hafta find out, now won't we." She knealt back a bit, yanking the grate out in one fluid motion.
John took a moment to gauge the distance between them and the floor. "Um, I could be wrong here.. but uh, we ain't gonna reach that floor so easily."
Lita raised an eyebrow, "Which is why we have the chair, genuis."
He made a face, "An' this chair is jus' gonna set itself up? Okay.. whateva."
She scowled, sitting back on her heels. "Then what would you suggest, hmm? Do you have a rope ladder in your pockets?"
"Ha ha," he retorted with a glare. "How 'bout you lower the chair down, set it up an' then we get out of the vents."
"Me?" She regarded him skeptically, "Why don't you?"
"Unless you think you can hold on to my ankles, so I can lower the chair-"
"Fine, fine.." She rolled her eyes wordlessly reaching for the chair. "But if you drop me, so help me God I will-"
"I ain't gonna drop you." He rolled his eyes right back, waiting until she had the chair ready. "Let's jus' get outta this vent."
Lita smiled thinly as she started to inch out of the vent, the chair appearing first followed by her arms. She continued to inch out of the vent until she was about halfway through; and at that point she set the chair up. Once the chair was ready she stretched her arms out, her body lowered a bit more so she could place the chair on the floor.
"Alright," John stated as she re-settled in the vent. "Me first or you first."
"Whatever," Lita wiped her palms on her pants, "I just wanna get out of this stupid vent an' out of the basement."
"Agreed." He nodded absently to the grate, "You go first then, I'll take care of the grate when I'm out."
She simply nodded in response, swinging her legs over the edge. Using John for leverage, she stretched out her legs until the tips of her shoes landed on the chair.
In turn, he exited the vent; standing on the chair to slide the grate back in place. "So, where to now?"
Lita chewed thoughtfully on her lower lip. "We find a way out of the basement, that's where."
John gestured to either side of them, "Well.. we head back that way, we find the stairs and prolly a locked door. We head that way," he nodded towards the boiler room. "Well, I dunno what we'll find."
The redhead nodded absently, "Guess we head for the boiler room then." A frown creased at the corners of hre mouth, "I just wish we had a freakin' flashlight or something."
He merely nodded in response, the two taking off for the boiler room in contemplative silence. On the way there they passed by a laminated plaque listing the emergency exit route; the bit of information leading them to the ladders past the boiler room. It took but another moment of silence before the two were climbing upwards, not knowing entirely where the ladders would lead except for up and out of the basement.
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While John and Lita started the long climb up, Chris and Randy were exploring the seating area. It was funny how large the arena looked without the stage set up and the ring. And it also reminded the two that, John and Lita could be anywhere in the arena. Never the less, the two started searching the stands of the arena first. The two figuring that, they'd check the upper level afterwards and if that search turned up null, they'd head down to the basement of the arena if Victoria and Stacy didn't have any luck.
"So.." Chris sent the St. Louis resident a look, "Do I want to know why Stace was so pissy?"
Randy made a face, "It has to do with Joy."
Chris rolled his eyes, "I know that already.. I talked to Stace after that happened." An eyebrow raised then, "What did happen?"
The Legend Killer shrugged, "Nothing happened. I was getting out of the shower when Joy knocks on my locker room door-"
"So it makes sense to answer the door in a towel.."
"I thought it was Stacy." Randy raked a hand over his hair, "Joy wanted to know what the upcoming schedule was-"
"When Bischoff went over it earlier.."
"And she wanted John's phone number."
The blonde man blinked, "I thought she wanted to give John her phone number.. But, if she wanted John's..Why didn't she just ask one of the other guys, Stacy or Dawn?"
"Dude, I don't know." Randy rolled his shoulders, kicking absently at the floor. "But I had just finished giving her John's phone number when Stacy walked in."
Chris nodded slowly, "Which was why she thought you were giving Joy your phone number."
Randy half shrugged, "I guess so.. I mean, I tried to explain but she ran off."
Chris fell silent for a moment before he gave Randy an accusing look. "Then why do you have Joy's phone number?" His look darkend, "And for that matter why does she have yours?"
Randy held up his hands in defense, "Like I already said-Joy gave me her phone number so I could give it to John." He shook his head a fraction, "I gave her my phone number because she started babling about a double date."
Chris scratched his forearm in thought, "But that still doesn't make sense.. I mean, why couldn't she just talk to Stacy in the first place?"
"Do I look like I know what Joy's thinking?"
"Point," Chris conceded with a slight frown, "But it was still rather stupid of you to just answer the door wearing a towel."
Randy expelled a frustrated sigh, "I got that alright? I know it was stupid. But, like I said- I thought it was Stacy."
The blonde man made a face, "So why didn't you just tell Joy to get out?" His eyes narrowed with suspicion, "Look, Junior- you pissed off one of my close friends and ruined one of my favorite shirts in the process because she used it for a tissue."
"Well.. I.."
Chris raised an eyebrow, the two coming to a stop at the top of the stairs. "Well?"
"I was caught off guard," Randy rolled his shoulders, leaning against the railing. "I mean, think about it- she just barges into my locker room and-"
"But you could've just told her to get out." Chris shook his head, "I wouldn't have had a problem doing that."
Randy raked his hands through his hair, frustration evident on his features. "Look, despite what you and Stacy might think? Nothing happened in that locker room."
Chris frowned in response, the blonde man still skeptical on the whole situation. But rather than comment further, the two made their way to the upper level seats.
xxx
Victoria and Stacy navigated the hallway in silence, the two Diva's keeping an eye out for any electrical boxes or doors that would lead to them. Of course, the raven haired Diva reasoned that the logical location would be the basement of the arena, but maybe- just maybe there was another location. At this point it didn't really matter where the damn boxes were, just as long as they found them. The lights were still flickering above as they turned the corner, Victoria stopping the golf cart in front of a closed door.
"Might as well check here," the raven haired Diva suggested as she exited the golf cart. "If the door's open anyway."
Stacy nodded in turn, exiting the golf cart shortly after. "I'm guessing the emergency lights are on right now.. Just by how dim the lights are."
Victoria nodded, "Well if we can at least find some flashlights, that should help a little."
"Right," Stacy smootbed down her skirt as the two stood outside of the door. "Or if we can find master keys or something."
"Yeah," Victoria reached for the doorknob expecting resistence. "Chris picked the lock earlier with a bobby pin.. I wonder if we can pick this one."
"It's worth a shot, right?" Stacy swept her hair from her face as Victoria brought out the necessary hair accessory. "I just want to get out of here."
The raven haired woman knealt before the lock, "And find Li and John.. they have to be around here somewhere."
The blonde woman nodded, "Yeah.. that way Randy can give John, Joy's phone number."
Victoria rolled her eyes, "She's still going after him, huh? I thought she would've taken a hint by now."
Stacy smiled thinly, "Apparently she's more dense than we thought."
The raven haired Diva snorted, "Apparently so.. But geeze, he practically ignores her to begin with, Dawn has dropped not so subtle hints.. I mean, she should just give up."
Stacy snorted, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Yeah well, it's better John than someone else."
"I suppose," Victoria conceded with a thoughtful shrug, "But she still needs to take a hint and back off."
The blonde eyed her curiously, "Are you interested in John or something?"
"No," Victoria shook her head, "I mean Dawn set us up once and he's a nice guy and all. Great sense of humor, really laid back but.. We're better off as friends."
Stacy nodded slowly, "So, are you interested in anyone?"
Victoria shrugged nonchalantly, "Can't say really.. I mean, I'm not really looking to settle down with anyone at the moment. I'd rather focus on my career than on a relationship."
The blonde chuckled wryly, "You sound just like Li."
"Well, it's true." Victoria reasoned as she concentrated on the lock. "I'm in this business to wrestle, not use it as a dating service."
"I guess so," Stacy leaned back against the wall, "But there's no saying you can't have fun once in awhile."
"I know that," the raven haired woman pursed her lips in thought, "And I do have fun, remember? You, Dawn, Trish and Torrie see to it every week."
Stacy giggled, "Yeah well.. Dawn was actually trying to set up John and Li tonight, but well.. we got stuck here."
Victoria chuckled, "In a sense they did get set up.. just not on a date."
The two continued to chit chat as Victoria worked on the lock. And after several more minutes had passed, the raven haired Diva opened the door with a flourish. Their search in the room lead to them discovering several flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, and a several sets of keys. Which doors those keys would unlock they really didn't know, but something was better than nothing at that point. Supplies in hand, the two made their way back to the golf cart, Victoria pausing to lock the door to the room they had just exited. And once the door was locked, they set off back to the point where they had left Chris and Randy.