Fading Memories

Disclaimer: I don't own, I borrow.

Rating: T for mild violence and language, may go up in later chapters

Spoilers: ECW 6/20/06- Edge & Orton vs. RVD & Angle

Pairings: Lita/Randy (eventually), others to be determined

Summary: Just when she thought all was lost, Lita gets a reminder that she has never been truly alone.

Notes: wow.. Thanks for the feedback…I admit, I wasn't sure how this would be received so…thank you all so much.. I truly can say I'm floored. I am going to try and update this twice a week (same as Forgive My Hesitation and At the Beginning) but I do have other stories to work on so.. If I don't get my two updates out, don't worry….it's normal…oh, and I'm making Lita three years younger than she really is.. Not that it'll make too much of a difference but…I'm doing it anyway because I can.

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While they would have liked to have left the arena immediately, they ran into a slight problem as they were heading to the parking lot. Of course they only noticed that after Beulah had pointed it out…informing both Rob and Randy that they probably wouldn't be able to set one foot in the hospital dressed the way they were. Added to that, they needed Lita's things, but since she was in no apparent condition to walk, someone would have to get her stuff. And since none of them really expected for Edge to bring the redhead's belongings to them, either Randy, Rob or Tommy would have to go. Unfortunately, as Rob was passing Lita over to Tommy, the redhead winced…her face contorting in pain, one hand clutching tightly at Tommy's shirt. That action created a new sense of urgency to get Lita to the hospital, ECW's Innovator of Violence informing them that he would call en-route or have Beulah call en-route so Randy and Rob would know where to go. And when they separated, Randy and Rob agreeing to meet in the parking lot, the third generation wrestler found himself thinking back to his prior conversation with the redheaded diva. Brief as it had been, what she had said to him and what he had seen when they had reached the locker room.. Now, it made Randy wonder if Lita was in more pain than she was really letting on to.. In all truth, he already knew the answer to that…knowing how stubborn she could be and how much of a damn front she could put up. But, this time, he hoped he was wrong and that her injuries were only because of tonight, the young wrestler unable to fully convince himself as he haphazardly got dressed then gathered his things,. And. looking back on it, that stubborn streak of hers had been one of the reasons why he had found himself attracted to her. Of course, he would easily admit that she was beautiful, but she was more than that…she was more than just another pretty face. He had seen that up close the night that Evolution decided to target her and she had stood up to them, held her ground to a point.. Which had made for one very awkward situation when he tried to talk to her a month or two later. Eventually, after a one profuse apology and a bouquet of daisies, he had managed to convince her that he wasn't as much of an asshole as he seemed to be. Randy shook himself out of his thoughts, glancing around the locker room to make sure he had everything before heading down to the locker room that had been assigned to Edge, finding Van Dam already there…the older man in the process of packing up Lita's bags.

Randy leaned against the door, "I take it that asshole already left.."

Rob tossed a glance over his shoulder, shrugging after a moment. "Coward probably took off right after the match ended…or after we did. I can't really say I care." The older man smirked then, "not that it'd be too hard to find him though.. Just search the area for fresh traces of jackass."

Orton smirked, setting his bags down momentarily. "That's if Kurt left anything of him to find.. If they finished the match anyway."

"We'll find out later, you know?" Rob stood, shouldering Lita's bags with his. "Right now, I just want to get to Lita.. Make sure she's okay."

Randy nodded his agreement, holding the door open for Van Dam. "I can't really say I care about what happened after.."

Rob gave a slight nod, smirking before he replied. "People are going to talk.. About why you left with her…why you left with an ECW wrestler."

Randy rolled his eyes, "then let them talk. I don't care what people say about me because I prove them wrong. If they want to think I'm defecting, let them think it."

The smirk on Rob's face widened, "you really have changed, kid.. Last I knew, you were always out for The Big Nosed Buffoon's approval."

Orton smiled dryly, "yeah well.. That changes when the same big nosed buffoon kicks you out and steals your title…all within a months time."

"True enough," the older man agreed with a nod, falling silent as they walked towards the exit.. "But, I do have to wonder…why do you care?"

Randy raised an eyebrow, "why does it really matter? I mean, do I really need a reason for wanting to be there?"

The older man smirked again, "look man, you can get mad at me or whatever but. I've never really pictured you as the type to care about anyone except yourself. Even when you were running with Suckolution, you just didn't seem--"

"Like the type to actually give a damn about someone else?" And when Rob nodded, Randy shrugged. "I really don't think it's any of your business as to why I care or why I want to help her.. That's between me and Li."

"Alright," Rob seemingly conceded, the man still curious as to why he was helping.. "then I'll ask you this.. When I'm out for Edge's blood, what are you going to do?"

Randy smiled dangerously, the two pausing in the parking lot for a moment so the younger man could find his rental car. "Who says you're going to find him first?"

At that, Rob fell silent…the two men making their way to the hospital in that same silence until Beulah called, letting them know that Lita was currently being seen by a doctor…and not too happy about it. But, that didn't surprise Rob in the slightest, the ECW Champion quickly getting the directions from Beulah so they could see the redhead for themselves.

Beulah threaded her hands through her long hair, her eyes on the floor as she made her way back to the waiting room area. "Any news yet?"

Tommy shook his head, "still being seen.. Which is what bothers me.. I mean, yeah, she got speared from behind, fell into the steps but…why is it taking so long?"

The pretty brunette sighed, starting to sit down only to have Tommy reach out. "I don't know," she rested her head on his shoulder. "Unless there's something going on that Li isn't telling us about.."

"Do you think Dawn would know? Or Jazz maybe?"

Beulah bit her lower lip, "Jazzie doesn't know…I talked to her earlier and she's just as confused about this as I am. But Dawn…she always made it a point to be in everyone else's business.." Planting a quick kiss to her husband's cheek, she stood. "I'll be outside.. Dawn's on speed dial in my cell."

Tommy blinked, watching as Beulah quickly made her way out of the hospital…the man soon on his feet, pacing a bit in front of the chairs. Dreamer soon stopping when the sound of approaching footsteps hit his ears..

Rob dropped his bags and Lita's on the floor, "well? Have they told you anything yet?"

Tommy shook his head, "no.. and I've been waiting to hear something since we got here." He tossed a glance towards the pile of bags, "I hope you have her purse in there somewhere."

Randy knelt down, going for her gym bag, the young wrestler soon digging through it. "She doesn't keep her wallet in her purse at the arena's.. it's always in this bag, inner pocket."

Van Dam arched an eyebrow, "and you would know this how?"

Shrugging, the Legend Killer stood, Lita's wallet in hand. "I've spent enough time around her and that's all you need to know."

Rob made a face, "you know something.. It bothers me that you know exactly where to find her wallet. So either you've stolen money from her, which…judging by your clothes, I doubt that's a possibility or you had something going on with her."

Orton rolled his eyes, "and like I said. .it's really not your business. Why should it matter if I want to help her?"

The blond man opened his mouth to reply to that, only to shut it quickly when a doctor approached them.. "Excuse me.. I'm looking for a Mr. Tommy Dreamer?"

Tommy stepped forward, shooting a quick glance over to Rob before he spoke: "Do you have any news on my sister?"

The attending doctor motioned for Tommy to step aside, scanning over clipboard in her hands. "Your sister received stitches to close the wound above her eye, no stitches were needed for the cut on her chin and her back checked out fine--"

"Can she leave tonight then? I'm sorry for interrupting miss, it's just that.. My sister doesn't like hospitals."

She nodded abruptly, "once she's had her x-rays have been examined of course, then we'll determine if Ms. Dumas is fit to leave."

Tommy blinked, "why did she need x-rays?"

The doctor removed her reading glasses, "Mr. Dreamer, you are aware that your sister arrived to this hospital with visible swelling on her right wrist, are you not? In addition to bruises on her left thigh, bruising near her ribcage.." She pursed her lips, "it would appear, from my initial assessment, that your sister reports with signs typical of those associated with abuse."

He could only nod numbly in response, frowning heavily before he spoke again. "Can I see her?"

The doctor smiled warmly, "of course you may.. I'm expecting for those x-rays to arrive in ten minutes or so.." Smiling apologetically, she added: "We're a bit backed up tonight, short of staff but... She's right down that hallway in room 317."

As Tommy watched the doctor walk away, he caught Rob's expectant look, sighing slightly before he went over. "First off, if anyone asks? Lita's my little sister."

"I kinda figured that already, Tommy." Rob made an open gesture with his hands, "so? How is she and when can we leave?"

"She had to get stitches for the cut above her eye, the one on her chin is okay and her back is fine." Clearing his throat, the man continued: "she can't leave until she's had her x-rays examined.."

Rob frowned, "why does she need x-rays? You said she was fine.."

Tommy ran his hands through his hair, taking a seat then, forearms resting on his thighs. "That doc is worried about her wrist…says that it's swollen." Pressing his lips together in a thin line, he met Rob's confused gaze, "look man, I'm not really sure how else to say this, but, that doc said Li's showing signs of abuse."

Randy's jaw clenched, "you're joking right? I mean, are you sure she didn't hurt her wrist when she fell into the steps?"

"Kid, I wish I was joking.. And maybe she re-aggravated the injury tonight or something tonight but, that's not it.." Tommy bridged his hands together, "she's got bruises, quite a few of them apparently.. And I don't think they can do a damn thing about that but--"

"Can we see her?"

Tommy gave a nod to that, "she's in room 317, right down the hallway."

The Legend Killer nodded shortly, hands jamming into the pockets of his track pants as he made his way down to the room…and when he got there, he paused in the doorway, shaking his head slightly at the sight of her.. Lita was currently sitting up on the bed, her legs dangling over the side…dressed in a pair of oversized sweatpants and an ECW t-shirt, her arms crossed…and even with her back to him, Randy had a feeling there was scowl on that face.

"If you take a picture.."

"It'll last longer, I know," Randy finished as he stepped inside the room, "you've said that to me enough and we've watched the movie enough." He paused, waiting until he was standing in front of her, frowning a bit when he saw her wiping hastily at her eyes.. "I can already see that you just want to get out of here.."

Lita nodded, her jaw set defiantly, "and they can't make me stay either.. I just need to sign the waiver, get any after-care instructions and then I'm leaving."

Randy sent her a pointed look, "but you aren't going back to him.. You know you can't."

"Then where do I go…I was rooming with him tonight and--"

"You can stay with Rob, Tommy…me." Randy shrugged, setting his hands on either side of her, his expression serious. "Why haven't you said anything.."

"Randy--"

"No, Lita.." Randy hooked a finger under her chin, "you've shut me out before and I'll be damned if you do it again."

After a moment she nodded tentatively, resting her forehead briefly against his. "I have a lot to tell.."

Randy offered a small smile, "then that's one long night that I'll be listening."

Lita sniffled, the tears that had stopped earlier starting again.. The Legend Killer reaching out to her, encasing her in his arms…easing her gently into his lap as he sat down on the bed. His arms tightened around her as she buried her face against his shoulder, one hand clutching tightly at the material of his shirt. That was how Rob, Tommy and Beulah found them.. Beulah approaching without hesitation, seating herself next to the pair…one hand reaching out to rub small circles on the redhead's back. And for their parts, Rob and Tommy seated themselves in front of the bed, the two men watching their friend first.. Then sending a questioning look up to Randy. They already knew that Dawn was on her way, but they didn't know why she was in such a hurry to get there. According to Beulah, the former diva had instantly gotten angry, then concerned, then worried about Lita…stating that she would be there as soon as she could. And perhaps, with Dawn Marie there, they might be able to get some more answers to their many questions. But for now, only one thing was for certain.. Lita had gone through hell and for that, Edge was going to pay and pay dearly.