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!
See any previous chapters for applicable notes.
Chapter 18
April 13, 2004
Lita and Nidia found themselves perched on the bed, with Dawn sitting on a chair opposite them. They had just gotten to the New Jersey native's hotel room, and both RAW Diva's were puzzled as to why they were there. Dawn had yet to offer any information as to why they were there in the first place, but she re-assured she would get to it later. At any rate, Lita and Nidia exchanged a look; the brunette indiciating for redheaded woman to start. And start she would have, if Dawn hadn't brought their attention back to her. She at least let them know that, the guys would be joining them for lunch .. and the reason that she had gotten them there early is so they would have enough time before Smackdown to hang out. That part made some sense, but still .. Lita was quick to question why their prescence was warranted in the first place. To that, Dawn had sighed.
"I found this in my bag," the New Jersey native plucked an envelope from the table. "It wasn't there yesterday, but when we got to the hotel.."
Lita raised an eyebrow, "Did you open it yet?"
"No," Dawn conceded then, "I don't want to either."
"Then I'll open it," Nidia extended her hand, "Come on Dawn, if you won't then I will."
Dawn hesitated, but eventually she handed the envelope over. "I just.."
"Have there been any others?" Lita queried then, the redheaded woman tucking her legs beneath her. "Dawn, please.. tell us the truth."
The Smackdown Diva quickly shook her head, "No, that's been it .. I just don't get it.."
Nidia sighed audibly as she removed four pictures from the envelope. "More pictures.." she stated as she laid them out on the bed. "Dawn? Since when did you start hanging out with Charlie Haas?"
Dawn blinked, "Umm, duh Nidia. I hang out with him and Jackie..why?"
Nidia frowned, "Because these aren't of you .. they're of Jackie and-"
"Torrie." Lita finished with a frown of her own. "What does Torrie have to do with this?"
"Nothing that I know of," Dawn bit her lower lip, her hands folding together in her lap. "I mean .. I can partly understandy, why Jackie. Jackie was with us that one night.."
"Yeah but," Lita trailed off, the redheaded woman raking a hand through her hair. "What else? I mean .. I've been trying to think of how me and 'Dia are connected-"
"Why?"
"Because," Nidia let out a short sigh, "I was the first one .. Li was supposed to be the 'target'. After that night, things got a little more.."
"Creepy," the redhead finished, "And more intense I guess .. like the times I got followed, Nidia got followed."
Dawn frowned, "So what have you come up with Li?"
Lita shrugged, "Aside from the fact that we're both RAW Diva's? That's all I can really think of."
"But, now with this.." Nidia gestured to the pictures. "What do those two have to do with it?"
"Has anything else happened?"
Nidia and Lita exchanged a look, "It's up to you.." the brunette woman offered first. "I mean, if you don't want to-"
"Nidia and I, yesterday we were chatting in the hallway." Lita paused then, sweeping her hair from her face. "Just when we were about to leave, these two guys approached us. Now, before you freak out Dawn .. nothing major happened. They left me a birthday 'gift' and that was that."
"Unless you count the fact that, he hit you." Nidia mentioned quietly, "But Dave, Randy and Hunter showed up .. and then those guys left."
The New Jersey native raised an eyebrow, "Wait a minute .. Triple H? Triple H as in, has always been out to make your life a living hell?"
"One and the same," Lita nodded solemnly. "I guess they were walking around or whatever, and they saw what happened.. honestly Dawn, if it hadn't been for them-"
"I get that," Dawn interrupted evenly. "I just don't get why."
"The other night, we all went out." Nidia sent a look to the Smackdown Diva. "Hunter, Dave and Randy were also there .. Hunter sent Li a drink. And when Li and I went out for some fresh air.. we were followed."
"By those same two creepy guys," Lita mentioned then, "Dave and Randy got there in time, while Hunter had already left."
Nidia nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Li and I ended up leaving with Dave and Randy .. we crashed in their hotel suite and left the next morning."
"But, that's not all." Lita sighed, "Hunter wants me in Evolution .. Vince already gave his approval for it all, so after Backlash.. I'm in."
"Well that's just bullshit," Dawn spat out, "Why can't you say no?"
The redhead made a face, "Because, apparently, Bischoff pulled some strings so I have no way out."
Dawn frowned, "So even if you talked to Linda, Shane or Stephanie? They can't help you at all?"
Lita shrugged, "I'm not really sure Dawn but .. even if I did talk to them, what can I do? I say no and move to Smackdown, give up my shot at the women's title belt and-"
"What if someone took your place?" Dawn raised an eyebrow, "I mean seriously Li, you in Evolution? I can't picture it."
"I know that Dawn, but .. honestly, it's one of the safest places for me." Lita half shrugged, "Dave and Randy aren't all that bad and-"
"And nothing Li." Dawn shook her head, "There has to be another way."
"Like what?" Nidia sat back, her palms sinking into the bed spread. "What else can she do?"
The Smackdown Diva frowned in thought, "Have someone take your place."
"And have someone else go through that?" Lita shook her head, "I don't think so Dawn.. that's a fate I wouldn't wish on anyone."
Dawn inclined her head, toying with a strand of loose hair. "Look, Stephanie's gonna be there tonight at the tapings. Come with me and talk to her with me. Li, there has got to be another way out of this."
"Whatever Dawn." Lita shrugged nonchalantly, an eyebrow raising then. "But now that you mention that, just why in the hell did you wake us all up this early?"
"Oh yeah, that." Dawn smiled sheepishly, "I just figured you might want a break or something, you know?"
"A break from what?"
The New Jersey native rolled her eyes, "From RAW that's what. You have friends on this show too, you know."
Lita rolled her eyes right back, "I know that.. and for the record? RAW isn't that bad."
"Never said it wasn't, I also wanted to talk to you about your birthday party tomorrow." Dawn confessed casually, "Rob's offered up his place, Devon and Bubba are working on 'convincing' Bradshaw to let us 'borrow' one of his vacation homes and-"
"About that," Lita cut her off with a wry smirk, "Dawn I don't want a big deal made out of it-"
"And it won't be."
"All things considered? I really don't think it's a good idea."
Dawn blinked, "Why not?"
"Have you been listening at all?" Lita shook her head, "With this pyscho following me around, to my home none the less. I mean Dawn, this is just asking for a disaster."
The brunette shrugged, "I don't see why.. I mean, what if we asked Stephanie to help or something?"
"And what good would that do?"
"Duh," Dawn smoothed down the front of her blouse. "You tell Stephanie everything that's been going on, we use the Tough Enough house for your party, and voila! Instant security."
"Dawn." Lita shook her head, the Queen of Extreme rubbing her temples. "That's just stupid."
"Well that's just too bad, because I already talked to Stephanie." Dawn smirked, her eyes sparkling with innocence. "And it's already set up. We have use of the Tough Enough house for two whole nights, just for your party."
Lita raised an eyebrow, "And just who's going?"
"Victoria, Chris Jericho, Edge, Stacy, Lillian, Chris Benoit, Ivory, possibly Shawn and you two of course.." The New Jersey native pursed her lips in thought, "And from here.. myself, Rey, Eddie, John, Bubba, Devon, Spike and Rob."
Lita sighed, "This smells like a recipe for disaster."
"Oh come off it," Dawn waved it off nonchalantly, "It'll be a ton of fun."
"One condition."
"Name it."
"I get to invite Jeff."
The Smackdown Diva beamed, "Already taken care of Li .. I called him yesterday after I talked to Stephanie. Jeff will be there."
"If anything goes wrong.."
Dawn snorted indifferently, "Nothing will go wrong. We'll have the security of the WWE around us, it'll be fine!" She sent a winning smile to the two Diva's perched on the bed. "So, now that it's all settled .. where do you want to go for lunch?"
Lita and Nidia shrugged in unison, the Smackdown Diva proclaiming that room service was just what they needed. And when Lita pointed out that the guys were kinda waiting for them; Dawn invited them to the room. The end result was; Rob, Devon, Bubba, Spike, Eddie, Rey and John joining the three Diva's in the hotel room for pizza. Needless to say, the impromptu pizza party proved to be just what the redheaded Diva needed. It at least got her mind off of more pressing issues for the moment, and for that moment- she felt at peace. Maybe a trip to visit the Smackdown crew was just what she needed.
xxx
Later that evening, found Lita and Nidia in the shared locker room of Jackie and Dawn Marie. Smackdown was set to start taping in two and a half hours, giving Dawn and Lita roughly one hour to speak with Stephanie. And for the remainder of the taping, the redhead and the brunette just had to stay off the camera. No problem really, the two RAW Diva's figuring they could just visit with the Smackdown crew when the aforementioned wrestlers weren't needed in the ring or for a promo. And as Lita, Dawn and Nidia set off to find Stephanie .. the redhead was feeling relaxed. For once, she wasn't looking back over her shoulder and for once, she didn't fear walking around freely in the hallways. Given all that had happened recently, it was a welcomed feeling for the Queen of Extreme. As it were, Nidia split from the two to find Rey just before they entered the office. Dawn and Lita shrugged it off easily, the Smackdown Diva knocking as they reached Stephanie's office.
"Lita, Dawn." Stephanie sent the duo a smile, "Come on in.."
"Thanks," Lita smiled warmly, "I'm sorry if we're intruding or something."
Stephanie waved it off, "No, not at all.. you two are more than welcome to visit."
Dawn grinned, "I was hoping you'd say that."
Stephanie rolled her eyes good naturedly, setting a stack of papers off to the side. "So, how can I help you?"
"Well, I'm sure you've heard." Lita's lips pressed into a thin line, "I'm supposed to be joining Evolution in two weeks."
"I have heard," Stephanie sat back in her chair, "Good luck with that.."
"We were wondering actually," Dawn cleared her throat then, "If you might be able to do something about it? Keep Li out of Evolution?"
Stephanie frowned in thought, the pen in her hand tapping idly against her cheek. "Realistically, the only thing I can do.. is move Lita over to Smackdown. Which would put her out of the running for the title belt-"
"But, not permanently, right?" Dawn asked hopefully, "I mean, say if you arranged a trade or something.. have Li 'injured' at Backlash, thus putting her out of the running."
The redheaded Diva arched an eyebrow, "You've been putting an awful lot of thought into this."
"That might work." Stephanie spoke up before Dawn had the chance. "But, then it would mean re-writing the upcoming storylines here, aligning Lita with someone here to make it all believable."
"I'll go." Dawn offered quickly, "I mean, to replace Li over on RAW .. I'll join Evolution in her place."
Stephanie blinked at the brunette, "Dawn, are you sure about that? I mean Smackdown is-"
"My show for now," Dawn shrugged casually, "But that doesn't mean I can't train, work my way into the women's division on RAW."
Stephanie pursed her lips in thought, "Actually .. you might not have to do that. Torrie was complaining earlier about Rene and the upcoming angle she's got. That and, she really wants to be on RAW.. since Stacy's over there and all. It'll mean some work for the creative team, but if we put our heads together.."
"Are you sure?" Lita questioned hesitantly, "I mean .. don't get me wrong, I would love to be here but at the same time .. the belt is on RAW."
"But, as Dawn pointed out.. you can always go after it again. You'll just be injured at Backlash, or we can work out a different angle .. get you over here and put Torrie over there."
"What about Bischoff?"
Stephanie smirked, "Just leave Bischoff to me and Kurt. I'll handle him and my dad. I know I'll have Shane and my mom on my side, so really there's nothing else to worry about."
Lita smiled easily "Thank you so much."
Stephanie waved it off easily, "Not a big deal honest. Besides, I owe Bischoff a little bit of payback." She grinned wickedly then, before it faded into a less intimidating smile. "Was there anything else you needed?"
"Nope," Dawn declared with a bright smile. "That was it Steph."
"Good." Stephanie rose from her chair then, walking around the desk to stand before the duo. "Li, I am looking forward to working with you again. I'm sure you'll liven up Smackdown only as you can."
Lita grinned, "You can count on that." She stood then, embracing the woman in a brief hug. "I better scoot though.. figure out who I'm hanging with and when so I'm not on camera."
Stephanie laughed, "Alright Li.. I'll call you on Friday, let you know what the creative team has come up with."
"Thank you so much Steph." Dawn beamed, wrapping the woman up for her own hug. "You're the best."
Stephanie waved it off, "Now go on.. both of you get out of here, I have phone calls to make and strings to pull."
The two Diva's exited the office feeling even better than they had before. For Lita, yes it meant a big change. Going from competing for the women's title belt to being .. well she really wasn't sure what she would be doing on Smackdown, but she had faith in Stephanie. And on the plus side, there was Dawn. Throughout it all, Lita knew she could count on Dawn and the same went for the New Jersey native. Plus, with Eddie, Rey, Rob, Bubba and Devon around- things would definately be lively. And while she wasn't really looking forward to leaving her friends on RAW, it didn't mean it would be the end of things. She'd still see them, she just wouldn't be traveling with them or at the arena's with them until the shows worked together. The prospect of switching shows certainly had it's ups and downs .. but if it meant she wouldn't be working with Bischoff? She would take the downs.