Title: Haunting Me
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Anything that is recognizable, does not belong to me. I'm debating if I'll use all wrestling people or toss in some OC's.
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.
More downtime here and possibly the next.. but of course with a few plot seeds sprinkled in for fun..or information. Oh yes.. and if my Spanish translations are crap.. blame Google.. Slightly shorter chapter, but the next will pick up the pace a bit.

-x-x-x-

Chapter 28

April 17, 2004

While both Lita and Nidia had their hesitations about going out later that night, they reassured Dawn that they would be fine. Neither Diva had sounded very sure when they had told Dawn that they would be fine.. But, Dawn seemed to accept it for what it was worth. It went without saying that, Lita and Nidia weren't the only ones who were wary about heading out that night.. Dave seemed edgy and Rey wanted to call in for room service. And on the other hand, Randy, Eddie and John seemed to be indifferent on the issue.. The three understanding why Lita and Nidia didn't want to go anywhere, but also thinking that it would be okay. The redhead pointed out that, the creeps had already made their prescence known and in the past.. They only made one appearance. Going by that, they should be okay tonight. Of course, when she said that, Lita wasn't sure if she was trying to convince everyone else or if she was trying to convince herself. But they were in New York City to enjoy their time off and so the RAW superstars could have a little breather before Backlash. True, the aforementioned pay per view would also be the last RAW sponsored for Lita and Dave.. But no one else needed to know that. The letter and it's contents, hadn't been brought up since breakfast, subsequently leaving both Randy and John in the dark. And while it didn't make too much of a difference in John's case, it certainly affected Randy in one way or another. True to his word, Dave wasn't saying anything to his Evolution cohort, while Eddie, Rey, Nidia and Dawn were also keeping quiet on the issue. Granted, Lita was pretty certain that Randy was somewhat curious about the letter, but that didn't mean she had to say anything to the self proclaimed Legend Killer. The same could possibly said where it concerned John, but Lita wasn't about to ask.. Nor was she about to volunteer any of the information from the letter without a good reason behind it. Added to that, Lita wasn't sure if she could trust Randy.. Or if she could trust John.

Dawn turned questioning eyes to Nidia and Lita. "Are you two sure you don't want to stay in? I mean, I'll understand if you don't and--"

Lita held up a hand, "Dawn.. Trust me, I'm fine with going out tonight. This weekend was about enjoying our time off and--"

"But, what about what happened before?" Dawn interrupted, an eyebrow raising as the three lagged behind the lobby. "I'm freaking out about it so I can't even imagine what you two are--"

"Dawn.." Lita interrupted again. "Like Nidia and I have been telling since we left the zoo, we're both fine.. Sure, what happened earlier scared me, but we're fine. Nothing happened to either one of us." An eyebrow raised when Dawn opened her mouth, "and think of it this way.. This is one of the few nights where I'm actually willing to get dressed up in clothes that I normally wouldn't wear and go out."

The Woodbridge native frowned, "I know that but.. I just don't want you to think that I'm forcing you to go out tonight, because I'm not.. I'm giving you the chance to say no and--"

"Mamacita," Eddie interrupted this time around, "I know you're worried.. I'm worried, Dave is worried, Rey is worried.." Gently, he put his arms around Dawn's waist. "But, if Nidia and Li-Li say they're fine.. Just take their word for it."

Dawn bit her lip, "Alright.. I'll take their word for it." She glanced between Lita and Nidia, "but if either of you change your mind--"

"We'll let you know," Nidia promised with a smile. "Trust me, we'll let you know."

Seemingly satisfied, the brunette nodded.. The four catching up with Dave, Rey, Randy and John at the elevators.

Rey sent the four a questioning look, "Is everything alright?"

Eddie nodded, pressing the button for the fifth floor of the hotel. "Si, everything's cool, mi amigo."

Dave glanced between the three silent Diva's. "You sure about that?"

"Everything's fine," Lita tugged a few strands of hair behind her ear. "Just the usual argument between myself and Dawn about going out later.. Only this time around, I'm going willingly."

Dawn nodded quickly, "Yeah.. She probably won't argue until she remembers which dress I bought for her yesterday."

"More than likely," Lita rolled her eyes, "you bought a few dresses yesterday dearie, so which one were you planning on?"

The New Jersey native smiled sweetly, "It's a surprise."

Eddie smirked at the now frowning Lita. "And that's never a good thing for you, Red."

"I know," Lita eyed the brunette Diva wairly, "how low cut is this dress?"

"It's not too bad," Dawn replied vaguely. "Honestly Li, I think you'll really like this one. And if you have any complaints? That's too bad.. You should've stuck around to actually try on the dresses."

Lita made a face, "Well if you hadn't insisted on dragging the three of us into every damn store.." She sent a pointed glance to John and Randy. "Y'all agree with me, don't you?"

John held up his hands in mock defense, "I learned a long time ago, not to get on her bad side."

"Wimp," Lita shook her head before turning her attention back to Dawn. "The point is, even if those two don't have the.. Testicular Fortitude to back it up.. You dragged us everywhere, we we were getting tired."

"And it looks like our elevator is here," Randy stepped in once the doors opened, "so why don't we all just go upstairs, shower and change so we can eat."

Dave sent a questioning look to Eddie, Rey, Dawn and Nidia. "Where are we going anyway?"

The four under question exchanged a look; three looking confused before Eddie shrugged. "Wherever we can get in, essa.. And of course wherever will get us two free meals."

Lita and John rolled their eyes in unison, the redhead raising an eyebrow as she, Dave, John and Rey stepped into the elevator. "You're trying that again, huh?"

Eddie merely grinned in response; Rey, Nidia, John and Lita shaking their heads at Latino Heat. And while they wanted to laugh, they also didn't want to take part in another one of his schemes. In his defense, Eddie had stated that it hadn't been his idea.. and that if they wanted to blame someone, they should blame Dawn. Granted, she had used the idea in the first place, but Eddie was planning on elaborting on it. He was just about to ask if Dave had an April birthday, when Randy spoke up about his birthday being on April 1st. Randy soon learned that his birthday was now the 19th, Lita's soon became the 18th while John's was being celebrated today. To make the story a little more believable, Eddie then suggested that they hand over their respective ID's to him so none of the staff could check their real birthdays. The group parted in the hallway; Nidia and Lita soon finding themselves in one hotel room with Dawn while Rey and Eddie appeared long enough to collect their clothing. The two displaced males found themselves changing in John's hotel room while the Diva's got ready.

-x-x-x-

Even though they were just three of them to wait for this time around, the guys found themselves standing in the hallway long before the door opened. All five were wearing suits, four with ties while one held the supposedly offending object in his hand. Randy joked that Dawn should've gotten the U.S. Champion a clip on tie.. John, in turn, threatening to choke him with it. Not thinking he was serious about the threat, Randy teased him again.. the younger man soon finding out that John was serious.. The tie in his hands wrapping around Randy's neck. And while Dave decided to intervene before the situation got out of hand; Rey and Eddie debated on barging in on the Diva's. Granted, they both knew that wouldn't be the smartest decision on their parts.. But the five grumbling stomachs outwieghed whatever consequences the Diva's could dish out. Eddie was just raising his hand to knock on the door, when it was flung backwards.. Nidia quickly exiting the hotel room. The young Diva soon found herself under the scrutiny of three sets of eyes, Rey and Dave both raising an eyebrow at the dark brown dress she was wearing. And it wasn't that it was too revealing, but it just happened to fit in all of the right places. The skirt was asymetrical, stopping below the left knee and just above the right knee.

Rey took her hands in his as she stepped forwards, "Chica.. mira muy, muy hermoso." (You look very, very beautiful.)

Eddie let out a whistle, "Mamacita, you are lookin' sexy." He paused, perparing to say more when they all heard the tell tale signs of Lita and Dawn aruging from within the hotel room.

Dave nodded slightly to his sister, an eyebrow raising at the door. "Does it always start like this?"

"More often then not, yeah.." Eddie leaned back against the wall, "Lita always protests what Dawn picks out for her.. And Dawn argues back that Lita looks fine in it." Shrugging slightly he added: "And it's true.. Li-Li looks more then fine."

At that, Dave merely nodded.. all of their attention shifting back to the door when they heard a muffled 'put the damn shoes on so we can go.'

The door to the hotel room opened shortly after, Lita pushed out first while Dawn slipped out quickly behind her.

"I hate you," Lita muttered under her breath. "You know I prefer wearing pants, but did you pick pants? Nooo.. You just had to pick this stupid dress."

Dawn rolled her eyes, tucking the keycard securely into her purse. "Lighten up, you look fine."

Lita let out a huffy breath, her attention shifting down to the form fitting, halter top style dress.. The redhead's nose wrinkling in distaste at the plunging neckline. "I still don't like it."

"And like I told you, Li.. You look fine." Dawn flicked her loose locks over her shoulder. "Trust me and if you don't want my opinion anymore.. Ask one of them." The brunette's attention shifted the five males, an eyebrow raising at one in particular. "Care to explain why you don't have your tie on?"

John shrugged, "I really don' feel like wearin' no tie. I think I look fine without it anyway so--"

The Woodbridge native snatched the tie from his hand. "You're wearing it. If Li is wearing that dress, you are wearing a tie."

John scowled, taking the tie reluctantly. "Fine, I'll wear the damn tie. But I can't put on no tie without a mirror so.. I'll just meet y'all in the lobby."

"I don't think so," Lita walked over to him, the tie soon in her hands. "Jeff used to use that same excuse.. Now hold still, or I'll find a way to castrate you with my high heels."

Three minutes later and the tie was on, there were now eight grumbling stomachs and they were soon heading back to the elevators.

"Alright," Eddie turned his attention to John, Lita and Randy. "Don't forget what you three are supposed to do.. If it works, and it will, then we don't have to pay for three meals."

"We'll keep that in mind," Lita quipped dryly. "And I think I'll hold on to my own wallet, Eddie."

He gave her an innocent look, "You think I'd steal from my own friends, mamacita?"

Rey scoffed, "I know you would.. because you've done it to me.. What's to stop you from doing that to Randy, John or Red?"

Latino Heat glanced to his side, indicating without words that Dawn would prevent that behavior.

"Just make sure that you three are paying attention when we get to the Copacabana." Dawn shifted her attention to John, Lita and Randy. "You'll need to keep some of this stuff in mind for your lessons."

Dave smirked, "You're still going through with that? Bro, that's your suffering not mine."

"Speaking of that," Dawn raised an eyebrow in question at Dave. "Would you like to help?"

The big man eyed her wairly, "How so?"

"Simple.. In order for them to get to some of the lessons, they'll need a cover story." She gestured idly with her hand, "you wouldn't have to participate or anything.. That would be me and those three."

Dave glanced between the three in question and the brunette, "What's in it for me?"

Lita shrugged, "Only a perfect opportunity to collect a ton of blackmail on Orton."

A smirk crossed Dave's face. "That's good enough for me then.. So long as I'm not partaking in any of these 'lessons'.. and if I get to bring a camera."

"Deal," Dawn stated with a grin, the brunette preparing to say more when two taxi's pulled up.

The eight soon found themselves split between the two yellow taxi cabs; Dawn, Nidia, Rey and Eddie taking the first vehicle while Dave claimed the seat with the driver in the second. The four in that taxi soon found themselves discussing Dawn's crazy plan.. Dave laughing it up all the while. Granted, neither John or Lita were still looking forward to it.. But if someone else could be more miserable then them.. It might not be so bad. Or it could be and they could just take out their misery on Randy. Whatever the case, the conversation shifted between the crazy plan and Backlash.. Shifting again to music as the taxi's stopped near the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. That resulted in all passengers exiting the respective taxi's and once the driver's had been paid.. They set off to find a suitable place to eat.. And one that would offer up free meals for people celebrating birthdays.