Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Anything that is recognizable, does not belong to me.
Summary: When one of the RAW Diva's is attacked, it brings the unlikeliest group of people together.
Pairings: All worked out for plot purposes.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed, review responses follow the chapter content.
Chapter 12
April 11, 2004
When the group had returned to the hotel after the house show, Lita had all intent of just calling it an early night so she could get a good night's rest. But, no sooner had she settled on a movie playing on television, did Stacy, Lillian, Ivory and Victoria come knocking. And much to Lita's chagrin, they were already dressed up and ready to hit the town. Of course, Lita tried to argue that they had to be on the bus the next day..and Victoria argued back that the bus wasn't leaving until late morning. That prompted the redhead to argue with the raven haired Diva while Stacy, Lillian and Ivory rummaged through Lita's suitcase. By the time Lita turned around from her arguement, the three Diva's had not only set out an outfit for her..but also one for Nidia. The redheaded Diva let out a sigh, opening her mouth to say something about the most recent pictures..but then she realized that would just sound suspicious. After all, she had said that she had met with Shane Helms, when in truth she had met with Randy. But it wasn't until Victoria assured her that it was just a girls night, did Lita give in. At any rate, the six left the hotel room shortly after 9:15, agreeing that they should be back at the hotel no later than 1:00.
"So.." Victoria raised a brow at the redhead, the six making their way down the sidewalk. "How was your date with Rob?"
Lita rolled her eyes, "I wouldn't exactly call it a date Vi, more like dinner with a friend. We went out to eat and that was it."
Victoria nodded, "Then why couldn't the two of you just join us?"
The redheaded Diva shrugged, teasing easily. "Is it so wrong that we may have wanted some peace and quiet?"
Victoria feigned hurt, "How was your day off anyway..since we didn't really get the chance to talk to ya since.."
Lita stiffened momentairly, "I would've called actually..an' I'm kinda surprised that Chris didn't tell you." The redhead sent a look over her shoulder, making sure that Nidia, Lillian, Ivory and Stacy were in their own world. "Or did Chris tell you?"
The raven haired Diva's face contorted in confusion, "Chris didn't tell me anything..I remember him calling Jeff but--"
"Alright," Lita let out a short sigh, "Just don't say anything to Lil, Stace, Ivory or Nidia..or Dawn." The redhead raised a brow, "Especially not Dawn."
Victoria nodded solemnly, "I promise Li."
The redhead sucked in a sharp breath, her hands jamming into her pockets as she re-told the tale of two nights prior.
"Li.." Victoria reached out a hand, squeezing her friends shoulder. "I know this might sound odd..but do you think it's really best if we all go back with you Tuesday?"
"No," Lita admitted easily. "But what if this creep follows us? Vi..I don't know when I've been this.."
Victoria raised a brow, linking arms with the redhead. "Afraid? Given what's happened..it's perfectly understandable."
Lita nodded shortly, "It's just..lately, I can't sleep, having trouble eating and just..everywhere I go I feel like I'm being watched."
The raven haired Diva offered a wry smile. "That's usually the intent of a stalker Li."
The redhead rolled her eyes in spite of it all, "I know that Vi, it's just I wonder..that night Nidia ended up staying with me and Stace..she said she was just a message to be sent."
"I remember you saying that.."
"How are Nidia and I connected?" Confusion etched on Lita's features. "I mean, aside from the obvious that we're both Diva's on the RAW roster, but if that was the case then why--"
"Why hasn't it happened to anyone else?" Victoria offered quietly. "Who's to say.."
The redhead hesitated for a moment, she knew that someone had followed the others..but they didn't.
"Li?" Victoria lightly nudged her friend. "Li..what's wrong?"
Lita let out a soft sigh, "I'll tell you later Vi..can we just pretend for one night that none of this has ever happened?"
Victoria smiled gently, "Of course we can..that's why me, Stace, Lil and Ivory showed up in the first place."
Lita offered a genuine smile, "I appreciate that..and I'm sure Nidia does too."
"Hey you two!" Ivory called from a few steps behind. "There's a club on the next block up, should we go there or.."
Lita turned her face, "Better than just walking around doing nothing."
Ivory rolled her eyes good naturedly, "Alright smart ass, we'll go there then."
Lita shook her head, she and Victoria falling into silence as they made their way to the club in question. And while Lita knew that Victoria, Stacy, Lillian, Chris, Chris and Edge had every right to know they had been followed; she didn't know exactly how to explain it. Given, Victoria did know that she was helping Randy to an extent, but the raven haired Diva didn't know she had met with Randy. Twice none the less, and on both occasions she had lied about it. At any rate, by the time the six reached the club, a look of disdain crossed the redhead's features. Granted, it may have been better than just sitting around in her hotel room feeling paranoid, but the last place she wanted to be was at a bar that was holding karaoke night.
xxx
While Lita may have been more than apprehensive about entering this particular club, she relaxed somewhat as they trickled inside. Apparently they weren't the only ones on the roster looking to have a night out. In fact, over at one the pool tables she could already see two familiar blonde manes in the forms of Chris Jericho and Edge. Also at the pool tables, Shane Helms, Rosey, Val Venis and Steven Richards. Involved in a heated game of darts, she saw Chris Benoit, Shelton Benjamin and Shawn Michaels. Not entirely to her surprise, the redhead also spotted Christian and former friend, now enemy, Trish Stratus huddled in a booth. All the same, the redhead followed after Lillian and Ivory, the two heading towards a large table not too far from the pool tables.
Chris Jericho gave a glance from the pool table, "Hey girls."
"Hello Ladies." Val Venis grinned from another pool table, "Wanna rack 'em up with the Big Valboski?"
Lita, Ivory, Stacy and Victoria rolled their eyes, the redhead stating easily. "Tempting..but no."
Lillian glanced to the game of darts, "Who's winning?"
Chris Benoit frowned in thought, "Shelton."
Victoria nodded, asking no one in particular. "How long have you guys been here?"
"About an hour." Edge responded as he and Chris set up for another game. "Pool?"
Victoria pushed back from the table. "Count me in."
"Li? Stace? Ivory? Nidia? Vivian?" Chris Jericho gestured to the pool table. "Are any of you game?"
"I'll watch thanks." Lita nodded solemnly, "But I'll play next game."
Nidia shook her head, "Next game for me."
"Same here." Stacy put in then, "Thanks though."
Ivory rolled her eyes, "Well we didn't come here to be sticks in the mud." She pushed back from the table then, joining Victoria, Edge and Chris Jericho.
"Looks like I win again." Shelton stated with a proud smile. "Who's buying?"
Shawn grumbled good naturedly, "This rounds on me.."
"How generous of you Shawn." Lita's eyes twinkled mischeviously, "I'll take a daquiri."
"So.." Chris Jericho raised a brow, "How did you manage to talk Li into going out?"
"Well," Victoria pursed her lips in thought, leaning slightly over the pool table. "That's really not Lita..it's a clone of Lita because the real Lita would never leave her hotel room on a house show night."
Edge nodded solemnly, "I figured as much."
Chris Jericho smirked, "Well it's good to see you out and about Li."
The redhead rolled her eyes, accepting her daquiri with a charming smile. "Thank you ever so much."
Shawn merely shook his head, the Heartbreak Kid taking a seat with the Diva's. "That daquiri there will still cost ya."
Lita blinked, "How so?"
Shawn sat back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest as he nodded towards the stage. "You an' me..karaoke."
Lita snorted in disbelief, "I don't think so."
"Oh come on now Lita." Chris Benoit started as he also joined the Diva's. "You're here to have fun."
The redhead rolled her eyes, stating evenly to the Crippler. "My chances of going up there and making a fool out of myself are as likely as you joining me."
Benoit grinned, "Suit yourself then Li. It'll be me and you up there instead of you and Shawn."
Chris Jericho glanced over to the table, but as he looked..he noticed the enterence of a few more co-workers. "I'm shocked..Evolution has lowered themselves to mingle with the little people."
Lita, Stacy, Lillian, Shawn, Chris Benoit and Shelton all sent looks over, then back to Jericho.
"Aren't you going to say hi?"
Lita nodded shortly, "Of course Jerky, just as soon as you break into a song and dance routine of Macho Man with Edge."
Not entirely to their surprise, Evolution..sans Ric Flair..settled at the bar. But instead of facing the mirror behind the bar, Triple H turned so he was facing the crowd. Batista mimicked this action, but the self proclaimed Legend Killer did not.
Edge took this moment to bow out of the pool game, heading over to the table instead. "Stacy, would you be interested in a game of pool?"
"Well I.."
Edge grinned winningly, "How about karaoke?"
"Umm.." Stacy shrugged, pushing back from the table then. "Sure."
The tall blonde shot a look over to the bar before he offered a hand to the long legged Diva. "Shall we then?"
"This should be interesting," Shawn mused to no one in particular. "Li..you can still say yes to the Show Stopper."
Lita rolled her eyes, "I'll think about it Shawn..but only after I've--"
"Miss?" A waitress stopped at the table, her eyes set on the redhead as she set down a margarita. "The gentleman over at the bar, bought this for you."
Lita's forehead furrowed in confusion, "Who?"
The waitress nodded back over to the bar, gesturing to Triple H. "With his compliments."
Lita's lips pressed into a thin line, "Thank you."
The waitress offered a curt smile, turning on heel to return to the bar.
"Patronizing, condecending jerk." Lita grumbled as she pushed the margarita to the center of the table. "He makes me sick."
Chris Jericho stood behind the redhead's chair. "Looks like Edge and Stacy are about to become the next Sonny and Cher."
"Lovely.."
Shawn Michaels suddenly grinned, "Chris and Chris..how about a song with the Heartbreak Kid. How does Kokomo sound."
Lita raised a brow in interest, "You do that, and I'll willingly go up there and sing."
Chris and Chris exchanged a look, Chris Jericho nodding easily. "Deal..but only if we get to pick the song."
Lita shrugged, "Fine by me."
Chris Jericho smirked, taking a seat at the table. "So..Britney Spears, Christina or--"
"While you decide my fate," Lita rolled her eyes as she pushed back from the table. "I need to use the ladies room."
Nidia also pushed back, "I just need a breather."
"Always going in groups," Chris Jericho rolled his eyes as the two Diva's walked off.
xxx
While Lita had intended on going to the bathroom, she and Nidia ended up in the small alley behind the bar. Perhaps things were just starting to take their toll on the two Diva's, but all the same..they found themselves in some peace and quiet. Even if the dimly lit alley wasn't the best place for them to be given recent occurances. The redhead leaned back against the brick wall, hazel orbs staring upwards. And opposite her, Nidia mimicked the posture but her eyes were closed. They remained like that for a moment, the two enjoying this rare moment of peace. But, just as they were heading back, they stopped in their tracks.
"How convenient.." A voice murmered, "I couldn't have planned this better."
Both Diva's stiffened then, Lita's eyes falling sharply on the source of the voice as a man clad in all black emerged from the shadows.
"If I didn't know better.." A sinister smile crossed his face, his mouth the only part not covered by his ski mask. "I'd almost say you were expecting me."
Lita tossed her hair defiantly, standing in front of Nidia. "Leave us alone."
"We told you already," A voice started from behind Nidia. "We call the shots..not you."
Nidia gasped, "Wha--"
The man, also clad in black, clasped a gloved hand over the brunette's mouth. "We ask the questions, not you."
The other man advanced closer to the redhead, effectively trapping the two Diva's between their larger forms. "I hope you enjoyed your little..gift. There was so much effort put into that and--"
"Just leave me alone you creep." Lita hissed out then, her hands shaking at her sides. "I don't know who the hell you are, but when I find out--"
A gloved hand connected sharply with her cheek. "You won't find out.." His hand lingered on her cheek a moment, before it reached down grasping at her throat. "Not until it's too late."
"Not if I have anything to say about it." A new voice chimed in, Batista crossing his arms over his chest. "Now I'll admit, this type of thing does take guts..given that all of their friends are just inside..maybe a touch of brains, considering that you waited untl you thought they would be alone."
"This isn't over." The man in front of Lita promised menancingly to the redhead, his grip tightening briefly before it dropped all together. "And if you think he can save you? You're wrong."
The other man also dropped his hand, the two disappearing to the streets.
Batista turned sharp eyes to the two Diva's. "You shouldn't be here alone."
Lita gingerly rubbed at her throat, "What do you care?"
The Big Man raised a brow, "I care when my sister is one of the victims."
Lita's jaw dropped, "Your sister?!"
"Half sister.." Nidia spoke up finally, the brunette drawing her arms around herself.
"Oh.." Lita nodded slowly, the redhead sill rubbing her throat. "Look if this is supposed to be a secret or something I--"
Batista held up a hand, "Orton's the only other person who knows."
"I see.."
"I filled him in on what happened." The self proclaimed Legend Killer spoke up then, appearing behind Batista. "I know it was wrong of me to do that but--"
Lita shook her head, "I understand."
Batista looked between the two Diva's. "Are you two alright?"
Nidia nodded shakily, "I just want to go back to the hotel."
The redhead nodded slowly, wrapping her arms around herself. "You got here before anything else could happen.."
Randy raised a brow as the two Diva's moved further into the light. "You should put some ice on that."
"I was planning on it." Lita bit out shortly. "But like Nidia here said..I just want to go back to the hotel."
Batista sent a look to the self proclaimed Legend Killer. "We have our own hotel suite.."
"Are you sure that's such a wise idea?"
Randy rolled his eyes at the redhead, "Are you sure it's such a wise idea for you and Nidia to go back to the hotel alone?"
Lita glared, "I think we're perfectly--"
"We'll go with you," Nidia spoke up then, the brunette leaning into her brother's side. "We just have to tell the others we're leaving."
Lita hesitated a moment, but she finally nodded. "Just for tonight then.."
"H already went back, but he left the limo with us so.."
The redhead nodded, jamming her hands into her pockets. "Like Nidia said..we just have to go back and tell them all we're leaving."
Batista nodded shortly, "We'll be in the limo then."
Lita and Nidia nodded in turn, waiting until the two had exited the alley before they went back inside to bid their good nights. And while the others questioned the red mark on Lita's cheek, Lita and Nidia were able to leave without much suspicion. Fortunately for them both, none of their friends decided to follow as they exited, and as such..Lita and Nidia were able to slip into the limo without troubles. Granted, Lita did feel somewhat better not having to return to her own hotel room, but it still meant sharing a hotel suite with two of Evolution's members. She admitted eventually that, Batista and Orton weren't nearly as bad as Triple H, but that still didn't mean she had to like the situation. As it were, by the time the four got to the hotel, Nidia was on the verge of sleeping while Lita was wide awake. Batista relented his room for his sister, and once Nidia was settled; Lita, Batista and Orton settled in the sitting room of the suite.
Review Responses:
iaera: I know but I'm not telling..lol. Really I'm not evil, just..you'll find out eventually. Thank you for the review!
Sassy: lol, who indeed..it'll come to surface eventually. Not anytime soon, but eventually. Thank you for the review!
aussiewrestlingfan: Thank you Carolyn. I hoped you liked this chapter and thank you for the review!
Latisha C.: The Latin language has always fascinated me..I hope you liked this chapter and thank you for the review!
Losing Grip: Sorry for the delays between updates, but I hope this chapter didn't disappoint. Thank you for the review!
Evilution: lol, I've got my pairings set in my mind right now, but I won't give away any hints. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for the review!
Myth: lol, I can't tell you yet because that would just end the story way too soon. One thing you can count on, yes Lita will end up in Evolution..much to her dismay, but it's for the plot. Thank you for the review!