Chapter 16

As John held Lita up their stares held for a second. The rage in Lita was now turning to hope as she lost herself in John's eyes. Although to any outsider this brief connection lasted maybe a tenth of a second, to them it lasted a lifetime.

Lita pulled her arm away from John's touch when she quickly realized what had just happened.

"John, I'm sorry, are you okay?" She asked.

"I feel like I was just hit by a bus, but other than that, I'm fine." John's attempt to break the ice helped both of them to settle into the moment.

Lita couldn't stand the lingering awkwardness though. So many things were running through her mind. She wasn't prepared for this chance meeting in the slightest.

"Well, I really need to get going. Edge and I have to run through our lines." She told John, the nerves in her voice overcoming her words.

There was so much more she wanted to say. She wanted John to know that she hated the way things were between them. She wanted to give him another chance. She knew better than anyone that a guy like Shane could get under anyone's skin. For John to take it out on Lita was wrong, but at the same time, Lita could understand that anger. Especially now.

"Well, wouldn't want to hold you up. I'd like to say it was nice running into you, but then again." John said rubbing his neck as if seriously injured. He couldn't help but to make light of the situation, especially since he wasn't sure where Lita would be coming from.

Lita looked around. Her time was running short. She really did need to get going but there were things inside of her that needed to get out. For one, she wanted John to know that she was no longer angry for the way he acted at the hotel and second, she wanted desperately to tell him about Shane. For John to hear it from someone else would be devastating to both of them, and Lita knew that if she didn't tell John, Shane probably would. She was certain that was all part of his plan. To sleep with Lita and then go running to John about it as soon as he could.

"John, before I leave, there's something I need to say." Lita said touching his hand.

John looked down. He had always been known to wear his heart on his sleeve, but because of the still burning image of Shane's black SUV in his mind, he kept his heart protected. No matter how hard he tried to be the 'good guy', he just couldn't shake the underlying jealousy within him. Why could he not trust that Lita would tell him what really happened that night when she was ready? Maybe it was all innocent, but in John's mind it was just too damn easy to jump to conclusions. Shane had seduced Lita with flowers, charm and lies. Lita was at her most vulnerable. How could John not draw his own conclusions? He wanted answers and he wanted them now. More importantly, he wanted to hear it from Lita.

Just as Lita was about to speak, Shane came around the corner, still holding his chin from the slap he received earlier.

Shane had decided long ago that after sleeping with Lita he would 'leave her alone' for the most part. He had gotten the ammo he needed against John and his issue had always been with him, not Lita. Lita just happened to be conveniently available to help him get what he wanted. BUT, after Lita decided to get a little physical with him, Shane decided all bets were off. He wanted Lita to pay for embarrassing him in front of the other wrestler's just moments ago. Upon seeing Lita and John together, he couldn't have asked for a better opportunity.

"So Lita, have you broken the news to John yet?" Shane asked as he came up behind Lita and wrapped his arms around her waist.

As soon as the words spilled from Shane's mouth Lita knew what was coming. Her faced cringed as once again she felt her soul dying, just as it did the night Shane had her beneath him in her own bed.

"Get your hands off of me Shane." Lita demanded as she pushed Shane's hands off of her waist.

Shane backed away and folded his arms across his chest. He was sure to keep a good distance away from both Lita and John. He didn't want to be on the receiving end of another punch to the face from either one of them.

"That's funny. That's not what you were saying the other night. But John should know how wild you can be in the bedroom right John? Or haven't you had the pleasure yet?" Shane said with a smile stretched across his face.

The smile though soon disappeared as he saw the anger in John's face. Shane accomplished what he needed to accomplish and now it was time to get the hell out of there. All that was left to do was watch as John slowly began to self destruct. Vince would notice the change in John right away and before he knew it, John would soon be finding himself in mid card hell. Just like Matt Hardy, just like Paul London, Shelton Benjamin and so many other talented wrestlers.

Like being buried alive, all of John's worse fears were now confirmed. Why didn't Lita just tell him? Why did she sleep with Shane McMahon in the first place? In John's mind there was no excuse for it. He couldn't help but to think at that moment that Lita was no better than Shane.

As Shane walked away, Lita held her eyes closed. She couldn't look at John, but she could feel his anger. Shane had made it sound so simple. As if Lita simply fucked Shane for kicks without any regard to John's feelings at all. What John needed to know was that Lita was seduced by Shane at her lowest moment. She needed to tell him that not only were her senses weakened from the alcohol, but her mind had been weakened as well. How she hated herself more than anything and how she needed John to simply hold her.

"John, please." Lita reached for John's hand again.

John simply pulled away and turned his back to her.

"Is what he said true? Did you fuck him Lita?" John asked point blank.

Lita looked to the ground. What could she say? Regardless of how or why it happened, it happened.

"Yes." Lita replied. A tear now streaming through her makeup.

John felt his whole body explode. As hard as he could he punched the wall next to him. The impact left his knuckles bright red. If he didn't break his hand it would be due only to dumb luck.

Lita raised a hand to her mouth. John was hurting and it was all her fault. It was obvious that John didn't want to be near her right now and pointless for Lita to even try to calm him down. Her presence would only make things worse.

So as John stood with his back held to Lita and his fists clenched, Lita slowly walked away to join Edge for their segment. She paused for one second to take another look at the man she loved. She watched him as he studied his throbbing hand. In the back of her mind she was determined to make things right again no matter what the cost.

ooOOOooooOOOOOOOOOooooOOOOOO

While Shane watched Lita and Edge's spot from a monitor in the back he could see the anguish in Lita's face and smiled. It felt good when a plan came together he thought to himself.

"Hey Shane-O!" Triple H called out as he approached him. "Candice was looking for you."

"Oh yeah?" Shane responded nonchalantly.

"Yeah, she said it had something to do with her trip down under." Triple H responded, barely able to hold back his laughter.

"Down under huh?" Shane said with a smirk.

Beyond getting bitch slapped by a woman, Shane figured this night was going pretty well. What better way to cap it off than to meet with Candice for what always proved to be no work and all play.

"Yeah, I imagine she was referring to the trip to Australia we've got coming up." Triple H clarified trying hard to act oblivious to the obvious sexual innuendo of his words.

"Yeah, right, Australia. I'm sure that's what she meant. So where is she?" Shane asked anxiously.

"Last I saw her she was waiting in that office down there to the right." Triple H said as he pointed in the direction of where Shane needed to go.

"Alright, thanks man." Shane responded as he gave Triple H a pat on the shoulder, his smile wide.

Wasting no time at all, Shane left to meet Candice. He certainly didn't want to keep her or himself waiting. As Shane dashed down the hallway Triple H watched. An evil grin stretching across his face.

A/N: Hi all! Just wanted to mention if you feel inclined, please visit the WWE Fan Fiction Library Awards website at http/www.libraryawards. and vote for me, Beth. I think nominations have just begun and there are a lot of great stories on that site. So, if you don't want to nominate me, nominate someone else. I'm okay with that (sobs), really I am. Anyway, hope you like the update. Please let me know. Another update will be following soon.