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 the last chapter! I am sorry for the time between updates, but I've finally got my direction back. .
Important note: I'm altering a few things concerning RAW, 4-12-04..and beyond. It'll still follow some stuff, but things will start changing to fit my plot. Also, alliances/friendships off-screen are just that, off screen. Consider this piece a mixture between scripted and non, and we'll get along just fine.
Chapter 17
April 13, 2004
Early the next morning, too early for the redheaded Diva's liking, there was a sharp knock at the hotel room door. Lita grumbled under her breath, burying her face in the pillow in defiance. In the other bed, she could hear Nidia mumbling a string of choice curse words .. in English and Spanish none the less. To say the two Diva's were annoyed, would have been a vast understatement. Unfortunately for the two, the caller was presistent, and as they continued to ignore whomever it was; the knocking at the door became more forecful. So much that, Lita was afraid the door would be knocked off the hinges. And as much as she didn't want to be disturbed at whatever hour it was, she didn't want to pay for damages to the hotel room. That thought, and that thought alone, finally motivated the redhead from her cocoon of bedsheets. But, seeing that her brain was still fully asleep and her body slowly waking up, the process of getting from the bed to the door turned out to be a little more complicated. As it were, the redhead ended up tripping over her own feet as she made her way to the door.
"Do you have any idea as to what time it is?" She called out first, not wanting to open the door just yet. "And just who the hell do you think you are?"
Chris Jericho snorted, "And you think I enjoy being woken up this early? Puhlease, Lita."
Lita rolled her eyes, un-doing the deadbolt before she opened the door a fraction. "Then what, pray tell, is so important that you nearly broke down the damn door?"
Chris cleared his throat, making a sweeping bow before he replied. "Your prescence has been requested for breakfast, madam."
The redhead raised an eyebrow, "I don't think so Chris..it's way too early for this crap."
Chris raised a finger, "On the contrary Li, it's never too early to have a healthy breakfast. Breakfast is the first meal of the day after all, and a healthy-"
"You have five seconds to tell me, who sent you here and why."
The blonde Canadian rolled his eyes, "It was Dawn okay? She called -my- cellphone at 6:00 a.m. this morning."
"Lucky you," Lita quipped in spite of it all, "So why did she call you and not me?"
"I don't know actually.." Chris scratched the back of his neck in thought, "But she wants to know if you and Nidia want to hang out with her at the Smackdown taping."
Lita's forehead etched in momentary confusion. "I don't see why we should .. I mean, where are they taping?"
"Do I look like I schedule these things?" Chris half shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine Li."
"Is Dawn on her way here or something?"
"Or something," Chris shrugged again, leaning against the doorframe. "All I know is that, I was supposed to wake you two up and get you to the hotel lobby for breakfast."
Lita bit her lower lip in thought, "Yeah .. I guess we can do that at least.."
"Do what?"
The redhead rolled her eyes, "Duh .. get down to the lobby for breakfast?"
Chris offered a sheepish smile, "Right .. that, so .."
"You can leave anytime now.." Lita prompted, "I'll see you later, okay?"
The blonde man touched a hand to his forehead in response, "See ya .. sorry about the whole door thing."
Lita merely smiled in response, shutting the door after Chris had left.
"Dawn had better have a really good excuse for this."
The redhead nodded in agreement, "I've never really known her to be a morning person either, so why-"
"Who knows," Nidia yawned, wiping the sleep from her eyes. "Dawn is just Dawn.."
Lita smirked, "True enough.."
"But I wonder why she'd want us at the tapings.." Nidia tossed the covers back from her body, "I thought we were just going to meet up tonight or something."
"That's what I had thought too," Lita shrugged, turning her attention over to finding clothes. "But, well .. this is Dawn."
The brunette nodded, "It'd be nice to hang out with them a little bit longer.."
Lita raised a questioning eyebrow, "All of them? Or just one of them?"
Nidia grinned, "Well, it will be nice to see Rey again.."
A good natured laugh escaped the redhead as she grasped her clothes. "After all that has happened this past weekend? Yeah, it'll be a nice change of scenery."
"Exactly," Nidia set her feet on the floor, stretching her arms overhead a moment. "Just one problem."
"And that is?"
"How are we going to get to wherever Smackdown is airing from?"
Lita shrugged in response, mentioning they'd find a way somehow. That in turn, lead to the two Diva's finishing up their morning routine. Somewhere in between that, Lita spared a glance to the alarm clock on the nightstand, realizing then that it was only 8:30 a.m. Her curiosity was now peaked, why the hell did Dawn think it was so necessary to wake them up this early? Whatever the case, Lita had shrugged it off to Dawn just being Dawn, and as such the two dressed and packed in silence. It was a coincendence perhaps that, once their respective bags were zippered; there was another knock at the hotel room door. The two Diva's exchanged a look, Nidia tucking her sunglasses in her breast pocket before she answered. She was met with the sight of a sleepy looking Eddie Guerrero, who in turn informed them that, he was their driver to Indianapolis. That bit of information garnered twin looks of surprise, the redhead questioning how long of a drive it was. With a yawn, Latino Heat told them it was 3 hours, give or take .. and that Dawn had insisted that the two Diva's come back with him. With a shrug, the two Diva's agreed, grasping their stuff as they gave their hotel room one last glance.
xxx
Getting to the car was no problem, packing the car was no problem. Getting to Indianapolis from Chicago however, there was a problem. While Eddie's trip to the Windy City had been uneventful, the return trip was not. Granted yes, they didn't have to deal with any slashed tires or cut lines .. but their problems started when the vehicle was on the interstate. Lita was sitting in the passenger seat, the headphones to her cd player laying across the base of her neck. And at first, the car trailing slightly behind them hadn't bothered her. After all, it was a weekday morning, surely they wouldn't be the only vehicle on an interstate .. Right? But, the sinking feeling in her stomach blossomed when the car behind them followed their every move. When Eddie switched lanes, the nondescrit car behind them mirrored the action. It wasn't until they reached the toll booth, however, did the redheaded Diva really start to worry. The black car behind them, was now fully behind them. And when Lita dared to glance over her shoulder; the driver of the other vehicle -sans the ski mask but with sunglasses- flashed her a sinister smile. Of course, she couldn't really see any dinstictive facial features, but it was a smile she had seen before. A smile in particular, that meant trouble. Fortunately not major trouble, just a small tap to Eddie's bumper when they had paid the toll. Eddie responded with a one fingered salute to the other driver, not giving it a second thought before they continued on their way.
"So, what does Dawn have planned?"
Latino Heat shrugged, one hand on the steering wheel. "Not sure Mamacita .. I just know that I was woken up early this morning so I could come get you two."
The redhead raised an eyebrow, "And why couldn't Dawn just come and get us, or wait for us to wake up?"
"I'm not really sure Li-Li," Eddie shrugged again, his free hand reaching to fiddle with the radio station. "Like I said, Dawn was the one who woke me up and told me to come and get you."
Lita snorted, "Well you're not the only one that she woke up early .. Dawn called Chris this morning at 6:00 a.m."
Eddie chuckled, "I feel his pain, mamacita. But at least he didn't have to drive anywhere."
"True," Lita let out a sigh, sweeping her hair back from her face. "I just hope Dawn didn't plan something big."
Latino Heat raised an eyebrow in concern, "Something wrong, mama?"
"Not really," Lita toyed with a strand of her hair. "It's not a big deal Eddie, honest."
Eddie shook his head, "No creo eso por un segundo." I don't believe that for a second.
A voice piped up from the backseat, "Eso es porque tu no debe." That's because you shouldn't.
Lita closed her eyes a moment, "Pensé que tu dormía." I thought you were sleeping.
Eddie blinked, "¿Rey sabe?" Does Rey know?
Lita sighed, "Realmente no me siento como hablar de esto ahora." I really don't feel like talking about this right now.
Latino Heat frowned, "Li .. Si hay algo mal.." If there is something wrong.
"Explicaré más adelante." Lita raked a hand through her hair, slipping the headphones on all the way. "Todo. Prometo." I'll explain later, everything. I promise.
Eddie let out a short sigh, thankful then that hotel wasn't too far off. Granted, he did know a little bit as Rey had told him something the other night. But aside from that, he was pretty much in the dark. It worried him .. Not just the fact that something had happened to Dawn, but to Nidia and Rey. And now, by the looks of things, that was only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. What could possibly be bothering the redheaded Diva that much? Given, when the New Jersey native had requested that he get Lita and Nidia, she had only said she wanted them there. When Eddie had questioned why this early, Dawn's response had been vague. The brunette Diva had merely mentioned something about getting Lita's mind off of things. And earlier, Eddie had thought it was her birthday. But, would her birthday, really be that much of a big deal to the redhead? Or was there something that Dawn wasn't saying? All the same, he didn't give much further thought to it as he finally veered the vehicle into the hotel parking lot. Sure enough; Rey, Dawn and Rob were awaiting their arrival and they were shortly joined by Devon, Bubba and Spike Dudley. The group in turn made their way inside the hotel, Dawn informing Lita and Nidia that she wanted to speak with them in private before they had lunch.
xxx
Author note: I'm sorry for the shortness of the chapter but most of my creative drive was drained on another story. I'll have a longer chapter up next update, and hopefully soon. Consider this a filler until the real chapter arrives.