Disclaimer: I absolutely positively own none of the characters used in this story. They belong to Vince McMahon, the WWE, or themselves. No profit is made from this story; it is strictly fictional and strictly for fun!
Chapter 20
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Highlight Reel," Chris yelled out to his Jerichoholics. The crowd roaring its approval only seemed to make the cocky smile on his face get cockier. Then again, he had a lot to feel cocky about. "Tonight, I have two very special guests. They are actually good friends of mine or rather, they were good friends of mine."
Chris walked over to the corner of the ring listening to the crowd. He smirked as he recalled Trish turning on him at Wrestlemania XX. He knew that fans hadn't forgotten it either as they indicated with the loud boos and hisses. "It's okay. I'm okay with it. To be truthful," he said leaning on the turnbuckles and setting his chin on his fist, "she didn't really mean that much to me anyway."
The crowd chuckled as Chris began walking around the ring. "You know, it never fails to amaze me how women can be so fickle sometimes and let me tell you," he said stopping in the middle of the ring and arching his eyebrow, "you have no idea how fickle that woman can be. I should be thanking him for taking her off of my hands."
Chris nodded his head at the crowd. They seemed to agree with him. He smiled and continued. "So without further adieu, ladies and gentlemen, Christian and Trish Stratus."
Christian and Trish strutted out to the top of the ramp. Christian smirked at Trish before grabbing her by the hair of the head. She smiled at him as he brutally brought his mouth down to ravish hers. Sucking face for a few seconds, he quickly jerked her head back by her hair and smiled, while watching her rub her lips with her fingers. She then rubbed his Intercontinental belt for a few seconds, with the same hand as if kissing it with her fingers. Smiling evil wicked smiles at each other, they began to strut down to the ring, taunting the crowd along the way.
Chris stood there watching two of his closest friends making complete and total asses of themselves. It was okay though. He did it quite a bit himself. In the world of wrestling, there wasn't much that a wrestler wouldn't do to get a crowd's reaction. Besides, they were getting ready to give the performance of a lifetime; only thing was Christian and Trish didn't know it yet.
Trish entered the ring and waited for Christian while smirking at Chris. She loved being a bad girl and she was so good it. She picked up the microphone and smirked. "You know Chris, I think you are just a little bit jealous of Christian. I mean, look at me." She held her hands out and slowly lowered them around her body. "Everybody would understand if you were. I mean; I am hot."
Trish said looking at Christian and watching him shake his head in agreement. She looked out to the crowd saying, "I am hot," noting that most of the men were nodding their heads in agreement. She continued to turn saying that same thing to all the sides of the ring.
Chris had leaned against his chair with his hand covering his mouth. He tapped his fingers there quietly watching Trish do her thing. Christian held up his hand, moved his head from side to side, and took the microphone out of her hands. With a cocky smirk, he asked, "So tell me something Chris, what is this all about?"
"What is this all about?" Chris asked with a smirk on his face. "In case you haven't noticed, that's my Intercontinental Title that you are wearing there Junior. I've got my rematch clause and I am going to use it," he said with a heated look on his face. Just as fast as he put it his face, he quickly wiped it with an almost bored look. "I just wanted to let you know that I'm coming after what's mine. No big deal."
"Dude, it's not yours anymore, it's my Intercontinental Title," Christian said with an almost scared look on his face. He loved working with Chris. He was just so much fun. "Besides, I already have a match tonight and it's not with you," he said with a nod of his head. Trish quickly walked over and patted him on the back, reassuring him that everything was okay. Taking a bit of confidence from his girlfriend, he smiled. "It doesn't matter. You aren't going to beat me. You can't beat me."
"Oh really?" Chris asked with an amused look on his face. He quickly got up nose to nose with him pushing him around the ring. "I can and I will!" He pulled back and slapped Christian so hard that he fell flat on his ass. Christian looked up at him with a dumbfounded look on his face.
Chris winked at him before he jumped him and started punching him. Trish quickly jumped on Jericho's back trying to pull him off of her boyfriend. This was not part of the plan, or at least, the plan that they were told about. "What in the hell are you doing?" she whispered in his ear. "Have you lost your freaking mind?"
"No, I'm perfectly sane," Chris said while continuing to pound on Christian's head. He knew that he had thrown them for a loop and as mean as that was he meant to do it. He wanted it to look as real as possible. There was too much at stake. It wasn't that he didn't trust Trish and Christian; he trusted them with his life. He just had to do this his way.
"I don't know about that," Christian muttered between blows. He didn't know what the hell was going on. All he knew was that Chris was beating the crap out of his head. This wasn't part of the plan at all and he couldn't help but wonder if his best friend had lost his ever-freaking loving mind.
Quickly the referees in the locker room came out and broke it up. Chaos was amuck backstage as for some odd reason the sheets that were passed out were not correct. Everybody had been running around trying to figure out what was going on while Shane just sat back with a small smile on his face.
He stood up quickly as he watched Chris, Christian, and Trish walk thru the curtain. It was time for the sweetest revenge ever. He had talked to Randy and everything was going according to plan. With a nod of his head, he turned and motioned for them to follow him. Chris looked at Trish and grinned. "It's time to play the game."
Stephanie paced back and forth in the dressing room so fast and so frantic that Randy was getting a swimmy head just from watching her. To say that she was nervous would have been an understatement. "Uh Stephanie, maybe you should sit down or something."
"Sorry, nervous habit," Stephanie said with a slight smile. She sat down on the couch and leaned forward. She put her elbows on her knees and placed her chin on her fists. "I just wish this was over with."
"Don't worry, we've got everything covered," Randy said with small smile. He didn't know how he knew it but he knew in his gut that everything was going to be just fine. Friendships had been made and alliances formed; everything would be fine when the smoke cleared.
"I hope you are right," Stephanie said with small smile. She tried not being nervous; she really and truly did but it just wasn't working. Suddenly, with one knock on the door, nervous wasn't the word for it. An almost sick feeling seemed to attack her stomach and turn it into knots.
She looked up at Randy and he looked at her. It was time, time for this whole mess to end. Even though it had only been a few days since they had found out, it had seemed like a lot longer to her. She was tired of this game her father was playing with her. It was time to stop him. She quietly stood up and walked over to the door. Randy walked behind her quietly. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.
"Hey Stephanie, how are you doing?" Ric asked with a nervous look on his face. His forehead was covered with a bit of sweat. He quickly wiped it with his handkerchief and quickly put it in his pocket. He then turned around to look at Dave. "I'm going in with her for a minute. You stay right here."
"No problem Ric. Whatever you want," Dave said quietly. He had a feeling that everything was getting ready to change in the next few moments. One of two things would happen. One, Ric could tell Stephanie what was going on or two; there was a secret plan that nobody else knew. He was banking on one but he could hand two, as long it was their secret plan and not Hunter's.
"Good," Ric said turning around to face Stephanie. Looking into her blue eyes, he couldn't believe that he had actually thought about kidnapping her. She was so young yet her eyes showed her wise beyond her years. Maybe he could get out of this mess before things went any further. "I need to speak to you privately."
"By all means, come in," Stephanie said with a small smile. Randy was behind the door so he couldn't be seen until she shut the door. She looked out at Dave. He smiled at her and winked before giving her a stony look. With a small wink of her own, she slowly shut the door.
Ric had walked in and sat down with his back to the door. He knew he couldn't go thru with it. He knew it the second he knocked on the door. He couldn't do this to her. It was time to stop the madness. "Look, I don't know how to tell you this but your father,"
"Is trying to kidnap me," Stephanie said interrupting Ric. She sat down across from him noting the look of surprise on his face. She smiled a sad smile at him. "I am a McMahon remember? I think I've been in the family long enough to know just how dangerous he can be."
Ric looked at her and felt like it was all over. With a look of relief, he grabbed her hand and squeezed it. He couldn't help but be proud of the young woman in front of him. He had known her almost all of life. "Man, I'm so glad that you know that. You don't know how glad I am that you know that."
"She isn't the only one that knows that," Randy said walking up beside of the group. He had been watching from the corner quietly glad to see Ric come to his senses. He noticed the shocked look on Ric's face and smirked. "Hey Ric, you look surprised to see me."
"Well Randy, I have to say that I am," Ric said with a shocked look on his face. He turned back to look at Stephanie but she was at the door letting Dave in. He noted the calm look on Dave's face. Suddenly everything seemed so clear. "You couldn't do it either."
"No, I couldn't," Dave said walking in front of him. "Look, Hunter is a selfish bastard who doesn't care about anything or anybody other than the World Championship and himself. Nothing else matters to him and it never will." His face took a hard look. He still couldn't believe that he helped Hunter on his quest for power. That was in past, this was the present. "I'm done helping him. You should be too."
"But Dave, he's the #1 contender for the World Title," Ric said quietly. He turned to look at him with sad eyes. He knew that Dave wouldn't understand but he had to at least try to explain it to him. "You've never held that belt in your hands. You've never had that belt around your waist. You don't know what it feels like to be the champ. I've always been known as a winner."
"Damn it Ric, you are a winner," Dave said pacing the floor in frustration. As much as he loved Ric, he would love to pop him upside the head one good time. Hunter had evidently done some mental damage to Ric as well. "You are a 16 time World Champion and some say, the greatest wrestler ever. You've proven yourself worthy. You don't need to make somebody else worthy, especially when they don't respect or deserve it."
Ric looked at Dave with a smile. He always had a feeling that Dave was a good guy. Never could explain it but he always knew. He also understood exactly what Dave was saying. "You really are one of the good guys, aren't you?"
"It's hard but I try to be," Dave said with a small smile on his own. He could see the real happiness shining in Ric's eyes. It was time to finish playing the game once and for all. "What do you say? Are you with us?"
Ric looked the pleading eyes of Stephanie. He then turned and looked into Randy's eyes, seeing the steely determination there. He turned back to Dave noting the gleam in his eyes. "Yeah, I'm with you."
Hunter paced back and forth, waiting impatiently for Ric to bring Stephanie. He had the night off, which was all part of the plan. Nobody had seen him enter the closet. All he had to do was be patient, Dave and Ric would do their part. Tonight was the night that all of his dreams came true. Tonight was the night when he would finally own the wrestling world in palm of his hands.
He heard footsteps coming up the hall and grinned. "Right on time," he said smiling as he looked in his watch. "Damn, almost to the second. Damn shame I've got to get rid of you Dave. You were the best lapdog yet."
The doorknob turned and Hunter was rubbing his hands together in anticipation. Finally everything that he had worked so hard for was finally coming together as his smile indicated. A smile on his face that quickly became a look of confusion when someone other than Dave or Ric walked in the door.
"Hello Hunter, long time no see," Benoit said with a smirk on his face. He walked in with the title around his waist, dressed ready for the ring. This had to be one of the best nights of his life. He was finally going to watch Hunter get paid back for every selfish deed that he had ever done. Tonight, the game was over. "I understand that you are waiting for somebody. I figured I would come and keep you company."
"Benoit, get the hell out of here. I'm meeting some very important business people," Hunter said quickly trying to get out of the mess he found himself in. The nervousness showed on his face. How in the hell Benoit knew he was in there was beyond him but if he could just get him to get out, he could still save what was left of the plan. "I'm serious, beat it."
"No, I don't think so," Benoit said noting the footsteps coming up the hall. He nodded his head at the door with a smirk. "I guess that would be who you are waiting for."
"You son of a bitch," Hunter said quickly rushing towards Benoit. The dumb son of a bitch was going to ruin everything. He pulled his hand back to punch him when the door flew open. He pulled his fist back, quickly smiling, until he noticed who was standing at the door. All the color in his face had quickly drained out.
"Hello Hunter, long time no see," Shawn Michaels said with a smirk. He walked over in front of him and smiled. He could see that he was totally dumfounded. He was glad that Shane had talked to him when he arrived at the arena. After hearing everything Hunter was planning, he knew he had to help them and he was going to enjoy it.
"What in the hell are you doing here Shawn?" Hunter asked once he got his bearings back. He had been expecting Stephanie, not Shawn. He didn't know what in the hell was going on. Something was not right with this picture. Nothing was going right and he couldn't understand it. Everything had been planned down to every last single detail.
"Oh, I don't know," Shawn said with a childlike expression on his face. He smirked and in a singsong voice replied, "I wanted to play the game." He stood in front of him staring him straight in the eyes. Hunter always hated the fact that he couldn't intimidate Shawn. Tonight he was going to use that to his advantage.
Hunter's eyes quickly showed his fear before anger showed in his eyes. Shawn was tough; there was no way he could deny that. But Shawn's back was shot all to hell. He didn't have what it took any more. "Don't blame me when you get hurt."
"You know, it's funny that you should say that," Shawn said with a slight smirk. He quickly pulled his right fist back and punched Hunter square on the jaw. Nickels fell on the ground out his feet. Shawn had taken no chances and had a roll of nickels in his hand when he hit him. He couldn't help but be satisfied that he had knocked him out cold.
"Damn it Shawn, you were supposed to save some of him for me," Benoit said with a slight whine to his voice. He walked over and looked down at Hunter who was lying on his back with his eyes shut and a nice goose bump showing in his jaw and lip. Grimacing, he said, "Ouch that's going to hurt for a while."
"Good, that's exactly what I wanted it to do," Shawn said with a grin on his face. He shook Benoit's hand and noted the scraps. "I've got to tell you man, that felt good. It hurts right now, but it felt damn good to hit him."
Vince sat his drink down on his desk trying to figure out what was going on. The schedules were not right, the crew had set up the cameras at the wrong places, and Linda had just called to him that she was on her way. He shook his head. Everything seemed to be coming apart at the seams. He never planned on Linda coming and was trying to think of something to continue with his plan while keeping a lid on everything.
He stood up quickly and walked towards the door. He needed to find out what in the hell was taking so long. They should have already been back with Stephanie. He opened the door to find his daughter standing there by herself.
"You wanted to see me daddy?" Stephanie asked quietly. She stood there quietly looking into the eyes of her father, the man that was her hero when she was a child. Looking at him now, she realized just how pathetic of a man he really was.
"Yes, yes I did," Vince said with a smile. He knew it was time to teach his daughter a very valuable lesson. He opened the door and held out his arm. "Come on in."
Stephanie walked in quickly noting that he looked down the hall both ways before shutting the door. She smiled to herself wishing she could tell him exactly what she wanted do. Her mind whispered, "Patience Steph, you're almost there." She quickly made sure that she didn't turn her back towards him.
"Why are you so jumpy Stephanie?" Vince asked with a sly look on his face. He took his hands and rubbed them slowly together, enjoying the feel of them as the blood was pulsing thru them with excitement. He could hardly wait to make Stephanie pay for all she had done. "Are you nervous?"
"You know dad, I'm not stupid," Stephanie said with a slight smirk on her face. Suddenly she felt as though Chris was watching her. Her slight smirk quickly became her bitch smirk. "You just don't get it, do you?"
"No, you don't get it," Vince said stalking slowly up to his youngest noting that she wasn't backing away from him. He felt a bit of pride at that but knew she was weak just like Shane. It wouldn't take long to break her spirit. "You betrayed your own father, you have to pay."
"You know, it really sucks that it has come down to this," Stephanie said walking over to her father's desk. She took her finger and slowly walked around the desk touching the desk the whole time. "You know, I really loved you daddy."
"I've always loved you Princess, still do," Vince said with an innocent look on his face. He held out his hands and said, "Come here and give your daddy a hug."
Stephanie couldn't hide the look of disgust on her face. She knew that he was cold and manipulative but she had no idea how far gone he really was. "Dad, you've got to be kidding me, right? You want to kidnap me and I'm expected to hug you for that?"
"Why no, of course not," Vince said with a small smile. His baby girl had finally started showing some smarts. Too bad she couldn't have done it sooner. Maybe then he wouldn't have to teach her a lesson. "At least, not at first. Eventually you will understand everything and thank me for it."
"No daddy," Stephanie said with a smile. She stood there watching the puzzled look on his face. She decided to clarify her answer. "I'm not going any where."
"Sorry Stephanie but it's for your own good," Vince said with a grin. He quickly walked up to her and grabbed her arm. He pulled her in close and looked into her eyes noting once again that she wasn't afraid of him. "What's gotten into you?"
Suddenly the door opened and Vince turned to see his son and wife walking towards him. He quickly put his arm around Stephanie and grinned. "Look at this, my entire family together."
"Cut the crap dad," Shane said with a bored look on his face. He held out his hand for Stephanie. She looked up at her dad, with a smirk on her face, and grabbed Shane's hand. Shane pulled his sister to his side and then grabbed his mother's hand with the other. "You are done here dad. I'm taking over."
"You? You're taking over?" Vince asked with an incredulous look on his face. He suddenly started laughing. He had never heard anything as hilarious as that. Wiping his eyes, he smiled at his son. "That was a good joke son."
"It's not a joke dad. I'm dead serious. You are done in the wrestling business or at least, this one," Shane said with a smile. "Then again, there is a no compete clause in your contract that I just might have to make you honor it."
"Look son, I don't know what in the hell you are thinking but it's not going to happen. I bled for this company. I put everything I owned up for this company. I am this company," Vince said with an evil look on his face. He had fought too long and too hard to get where he was and he would be damned before he would just roll over and let them have it. Oh no, if they wanted a fight, they just got one.
"No dad, you are the company's past. I am the company's present and future," Shane said with a grin. He squeezed his mother and Stephanie's hands before turning back to his father. "You are so done and you just don't even know it yet. That is sad, really sad. It's okay though. I've got a big announcement to make," Shane said looking down at his watch, "in about five minutes. Ladies, if you will accompany me. Dad, you just sit down."
The door opened and Dave walked in. With an evil grin, he walked right in front of Vince. The plan was coming together so smooth it was as if it was meant to happen. Dave couldn't help but feel a little giddy with excitement. "I suggest you have a seat Mr. McMahon, the show is just about to begin."
Shane held out his arm, indicating for Linda and Stephanie to go ahead, smiling as his mother and sister walked out the door. He turned back to his father. "You are going to be so proud of me dad. Maybe not right now, but you will one day." He winked at him and walked out the door.
Vince turned his attention back to Dave. He smiled an evil smile. He held this man's future in the palm of his hand. He was still the boss around here. By damn, he would have his respect. "Dave, I need to get out there."
Dave quickly grabbed Vince by the shoulders. He lifted him up off of his feet noting the shocked look on Vince's face. He quickly dumped him in the chair. He bent down and placed his hand one each side of the chair. He couldn't help but smile at the terrified look on his face. "You're not going anywhere."