Haunting Me

Rating: M.. for some harsh language, violence and content in later chapters.
Disclaimer:I don't own, I borrow. Any OC's that appear, are of course, mere figments of my imagination.
Summary: When one of the RAW Diva's is attacked, it brings the unlikeliest group of people together.
Pairings: Lillian/Chris Benoit, Ivory/HBK, Nidia/Rey, Victoria/Chris Jericho, Dawn/Eddie, Lita/Unsure, Stacy/Unsure
Notes: I'm very unsure as to how police stuff would be handled, so please have some patience with me. I'm also aware that Paul Heyman was GM at this time, but, obviously, I've made the GM Stephanie.

-x-x-x-

Chapter 31

April 18, 2004

For Lita and Nidia, the night was almost a repeat of San Antonio, ten nights ago. Only this time around, it was worse for the two since the attack had been worse. With her injured ribs not helping her any, Nidia had tossed and turned.. her eyes fluttering open, the brunette muttering in Spanish throughout the night. That had resulted in Eddie, Rey and Dawn being awake most of the night; the Woodbridge native holding Nidia's hand while Rey attempted to decipher Nidia's mumbling. At one point, the young Diva had started screaming, Eddie stumbling over to answer the door before Dave inadvertantly knocked it down. Evolution's Enforcer had then parked himself in the hotel room, he and Dawn sharing the space between the beds to keep vigil over a still restless Nidia. Eddie, eventually fell asleep in one of the chairs, Rey slumping against the wall, his head in his hands as he stared helplessly at the crying brunette. Across the hallway, John wasn't faring much better.. the Dr. of Thuganomics narrowly avoiding a cast to the face more times then he cared to count. The diva had managed to keep her grip on his shirt, though it had shifted from an iron grip, to having the hem between her fingertips. At one point, he had been kicked away from the redhead, Lita then whispering her previous statements of 'why', 'not safe' and 'still there'. But it wasn't like he could just leave her there to her nightmare.. But he really didn't know what else he could do. At some point during the restless night, he had left her alone to use the bathroom.. Only to hear her screaming for help. It hadn't helped matters any, when Randy decided to start knocking on the door that connected the two hotel rooms; John exiting the bathroom to see Lita curled up against the pillows. After yelling to Randy the damn door was unlocked; the U.S Champion had returned to the redhead's side. Lita had stopped screaming, but she was shaking and on the verge of tears. Randy looked to be half awake, the third generation wrestler managing to ask if there was anything he could do. John had just started to tell him he didn't know, when the redhead started asking for Jeff. Of course, they couldn't very well fly out to Cameron at this hour, but it didn't look like Lita was going to stop asking anytime soon. At a loss for what to do, John stood by the bed, urging the redhead to take a sip of the water that Dawn had left on the nightstand. The redhead then started muttering about pain.. John eventually realizing she was referring to her wrist. And it would figure that the asprin had somehow fallen off the nighstand.. and that Randy had fallen asleep on the floor.

Before he did anything else, John re-adjusted the pillow under her cast. "Now, listen.. I gotta get the asprin from the bathroom, alright? I'm gonna be right back, won't even take me a minute."

Lita shook her head, hazel eyes wide with fright. "Don't leave me.. please.."

John almost frowned. "Lita.. I'm only goin' over to the bathroom, see?" He nodded towards the bathroom door, "right over there.. I'll leave the door open an' everything."

The diva shook her head, her voice never raising above a whisper. "I don't want to be alone."

"But you ain't alone, look.." He nudged Randy in the ribs with his foot. "He's right here." This time, John did frown when Randy only muttered under his breath. "Man, wake your lazy ass up an' sit with her or go get the damn asprin from the bathroom."

Randy scowled at the older man, "You didn't have to kick me, moron."

John rolled his eyes as he finally sat down on the bed. "Wimp, shut up 'cos I didn' even kick ya.. Stop actin' like a baby an' get the asprin for her or I wil kick ya."

Randy muttered under his breath once more, slowly picking himself up and off the floor to retrieve the asprin.

The West Newbury native yawned broadly, glancing idly to the alarm clock. "Damn, it's only 7 in the mornin'." An eyebrow raised slightly at the diva, noting that she had finally stopped shaking. "Randy's goin' to get the asprin for ya."

"John?" Lita blinked, her good hand releasing his shirt long enough to sweep her hair from her eyes. "I'm hungry."

He chuckled softly when her stomach growled. "I guess ya are.. Tell ya what then, you take that asprin.. I'll send Randy out to pick up some food or we can order us some room service."

"Room service sounds good," she whispered, half into his shirt. "Why's Randy in here?"

John almost smirked at that, "Well.. ya woke up an hour or two ago, screamin' from one of them nightmares.. I guess that was enough to wake his ass up."

Her hand fisted tightly in his shirt. "I saw them... every time I closed my eyes.. I just can't--"

"They ain't here Lita.."

The redhead shivered, "But I can still see them... and hear them."

"I promise ya, them assholes ain't here." He brushed a few strands of hair away from her face, frowning when he saw the cut on her cheek. "It's jus' me an' Randy."

Randy finally emerged from the bathroom, asprin bottle in hand. "Here's the asprin.." He uncapped the bottle, shaking out two of the pills. "Is there anything else you need while I'm up?"

John rolled his eyes, "Actually.. You can make yourself useful, walk over here an' give me the pills.. An' after ya done that, check the menu for room service.. We're hungry." He waited until Randy had handed over the pills, "oh yeah.. an' I need ya to head over to the store... pick up some bandages an' some of that antiseptic shit.. Better yet, get a first aid kit."

Randy made a face, snapping shortly. "Why can't you do it?"

"Dude, ya blind?" John nodded down to the redhead, "she's got a handful of my shirt. I ain't about to make her move."

Randy shook his head, making his way to the dresser where the room service menu was settled. He had just opened the menu, preparing to ask what he should order when a voice interrupted him.

"Can you bring over the remote?"

Reminding himself that it was Lita asking, Randy complied without a complaint. "Okay.." the third generation wrestler plopped down on the other bed, menu in his lap. "What do you two want from room service?"

John took a moment to help the redhead swallow down the asprin. "I dunno.. food is fine wit me."

Randy's eye twitched, the lack of sleep really starting to get to him. "I understand that much, Cena.. But, it would help if you could be a little more specific here."

"Look, grumpy, I ain't had that much sleep either, 'prolly less than you, but that really don't matter right now." John held out a hand, "give me the damn menu, bring that phone closer an' I'll order. You go get that shit from the store 'cos this cut on her cheek is startin' to bleed."

While Randy made his way back to his own hotel room, John and Lita perused the room service menu. Lita quietly asked about who was going to pay for this, John informing her that the room was on Randy's credit card. And when the redhead seemed hesitant about ordering a plate of fruit, he assured her that it really wasn't a big deal. It wasn't like they couldn't pay Randy back anyway... so they might as well order away. The two had just made up their minds on what to order, when there was a knock on the door; John eventually letting Dawn Marie in. And while he placed the order for room service, Dawn helped Lita use the bathroom.. Questioning how the two had slept. She could plainly see Lita's tear stained face, the brunette frowning at both of their reflections when she noticed the bags under her eyes. Dawn was soon invited over for breakfast, the brunette making a short exit.. and returning with Rey, Eddie, Dave and Nidia in tow. Of course, that resulted in John ordering more room service.. the West Newbury native placing a second call while Dave settled Nidia in the other bed. Rey settled on the edge of the bed that Nidia was in; Dawn, Dave and Eddie slumping down in chairs and on the carpet. Through a yawn, Dave enquired about Randy's whereabouts.. John soon informing him that he had sent Randy to the store to get some first aid shit for Lita. And it was then, that Dawn finally got a good look at the cuts on Lita's face and arm, the bandages from the hospital laying on the carpet.

-x-x-x-

Randy arrived before the room service did, the third generation wrestler blinking at the sight he was met with. Dave was asleep in one chair, Eddie asleep in another while Dawn was asleep, half on the floor, with her back resting against one of the beds. Lita and Nidia were also asleep, but their makeshift pillows were watching television. Randy tossed his jacket in one corner, a first aid kit set on the table before he settled on the floor between the two beds. And while he did want to know why everyone was now gathered in this hotel room, it just wasn't the time to ask. That was partly because Rey was too engrossed in making sure that Nidia was comfortable while John looked to be asleep with his eyes open. Somehow though, everyone started waking up when the room service arrived... either from the smell of food or from Randy yelling about the bill. The self proclaimed Legend Killer shut up soon enough, however, as both Dave and John threatened to kick his ass if he yelled like that again. An additional threat from Dawn, one that promised to kick him where it counted, got Randy to set out the food. But, before they could settle in for breakfast, the cuts on Lita's face and arm had to be taken care of.. Dawn heading to the bathroom to get a washcloth, while John rummaged through the first aid kit for the right size bandages and antiseptic. And while they took care of Lita, Rey and Dave took turns cutting food into small enough pieces for Nidia.. both men figuring that it would be easier for her to eat that way.

Dawn sent a look over to the redhead, "I'm going to call Stephanie after I finish eating, I'm guessing you won't have to go to Backlash because of your wrist.. Maybe you can just travel with us to the Smackdown house show or head home and--"

"I'm not going home," Lita interrupted quietly. "They were there before.."

The brunette Diva pursed her lips, "Then I'll call Jeff.. See if you can't stay with him for a day or something.. I'm also going to call Victoria, let her know what's going on." She held up a hand when Lita looked ready to argue, "I won't tell her everything, Li, but they should at least know you're hurt."

Lita could only nod at that, using most of her energy to focus on eating the food that was balanced on the pillow next to her.

"I'll keep a close eye on her.." Dave spoke up next, the big man nodding over to Nidia. "I don't have a match, so I might be able to skip out on the pay per view."

Randy raised an eyebrow at that, "Triple H--"

"I don't give a fuck." Dave ground out shortly. "Evolution can wait, because my family comes first. And if he can't understand that? He can take it up with me."

Randy knew better to argue with that, the young wrestler seemingly forgetting that he had his own match to worry about. "Fucking shit.. I have a match with Foley."

"So?" Dave raised an eyebrow, "you knew you had a match."

"I'm just saying.. I didn't get that much sleep and--"

"Do you think anyone of us did, Randy?" Dave gestured between them all with his fork. "Take a good look around.. Do you see anyone here who even looks like they got a good nights sleep?"

Randy inwardly sighed, "I understand that Dave, I was just saying.. I have a hardcore match, with Mick Foley... an experianced hardcore wrestler and--"

Dave nodded, "Yeah, I know.. Your title's on the line. So what if you lose? Big fucking deal. You challenge him, you get it back." The big man shook his head, "though I really don't see why you're so damn worried about a match right now."

Dawn glanced between the two, "I really don't think now is the time to be discussing this.. Or arguing about it, for that matter."

"Who's arguing?" Randy rolled his shoulders, "I was just stating that I have a match.."

"An'? You ain't the only who's got a match comin' up." John almost looked disgusted. "We all got matches an' shit to worry 'bout, but like Dawn said.. Now really ain't the time to be talkin' 'bout it."

Dawn set down her fork, "I'm calling Stephanie.. then Victoria before I call Jeff." She dabbed at the corners of her mouth, "I'll be back."

"Dawn?" Lita spoke up quietly, "when you call Jeff... I--"

The Woodbridge native nodded, "I'll call him on my cell, so you can talk to him, Li."

While the others continued eating in silence, Dawn made her way across the hallway.. the first order of business, informing Stephanie about what had happened. And while she was searching for her cell phone, the thought occured that Nidia and Lita may have had their purses stolen.

"Hello?" An obviously sleepy Stephanie picked up her cell, "Dawn? What's--"

"We ran into some trouble last night.." Dawn began, as calmly as she could. "We... myself, Li and 'Dia, went off to use the bathroom and.. Just a lot happened.. 'Dia has three bruised ribs, Li broke her wrist and hand and--"

Stephanie raised an eyebrow, "Wait.. Slow down, Dawn.. What happened?"

"I.." Dawn bit her lower lip, the events from last night slowly replaying in her mind. "I.. I should let Lita or 'Dia tell you.. Steph, I just.. I--"

"Look, tell Nidia and Lita, that if they're able to travel.. They're going with you, Rey, Eddie and John. Screw Backlash.. if they're hurt, I don't want them traveling anymore than they have to." Stephanie pursed her lips, a hand running through her long hair. "I'll deal with Bischoff... Or I'll have my dad deal with Bischoff. We'll figure something out, but just have them report to Kelowna with you. If that's too much for them, then I'll think of something else."

Dawn nodded, though Stephanie couldn't see it. "What else should I do?"

"Don't worry about anything else for now, I'll take care of it." Stephanie let out an audbile sigh. "I'll talk to creative as well, alter the storylines or something to explain the absences of Lita and Nidia."

"Okay Stephanie.."

Stephanie sighed again, "Just give me a call after you've talked to Nidia and Lita. Either way, I'll be seeing you."

The call that Dawn made to Victoria didn't go much better.. the Woodbridge native finally breaking down mid-call. Through her tears, the brunette did her best to explain what had happened.. Pulling it together enough, to tell Victoria that Nidia and Lita would not be at Backlash. That, had somehow lead to Chris Benoit taking the cell phone from Victoria; Dawn too out of at that point to tell him anything. So, rather then try to explain, Dawn made up a quick excuse about her cell phone battery dying before she hung up. She was wiping away her tears when she called Jeff, speaking to him long enough to let him know who it was before she made her way back to the other hotel room. And while Lita talked to Jeff, Dawn released the rest of her tears.. the brunette angry at the situation, angry at herself for not being able to do anything.. Eddie and Rey had done their best to try and console her, but Dawn would hear nothing of it. Eventually, she managed to let them know that Stephanie wanted Nidia and Lita traveling with the Smackdown crew and that they weren't allowed to be at Backlash. Of course, the Smackdown GM hadn't used those exact words, but it was close enough for Dawn's sake. Once Lita was done talking to Jeff, Dawn called Stephanie again.. The Smackdown GM letting her know that everything was being taken care of. If Nidia and Lita couldn't travel out to British Columbia, they could head over to Stephanie's house.. Stephanie intended on meeting them in New York City that afternoon, the brunette already packing her things while she talked to Dawn.

-x-x-x-

After their breakfast had been finished; Rey, Eddie, Nidia and Dawn made their way back over to their hotel room.. Dawn taking a quick shower, in hopes that it would calm her nerves. Randy and Dave also went to their own hotel room, the third generation wrestler taking a shower while Dave packed up his things. Granted, they wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon.. Or at least Dave wouldn't be, because he intended on sticking close to Nidia until Stephanie arrived... if not longer. Lita, meanwhile, had fallen asleep after she had finished eating.. the West Newbury native falling asleep not long after she did. Lita was woken up gently by Dawn, so the redhead could get dressed... and so John could take a shower. Carefully so, Dawn reminded Lita that they needed to file a police report about the incident.. the Woodbridge native asking if the redhead still had her purse with her. Afterwards, Dawn deeply regretted asking... as Lita started panicking. The brunette had nearly had a panic attack of her own trying to calm the redhead down; John just exiting the bathroom when Lita burst into a fresh fit of tears. And when Lita started asking for Jeff again, John settled on the bed beside her. After Dawn had assured herself that Lita was going to calm down.. And seeing it for herself as the redhead started to calm.. She let out a breath, settling heavily on the other bed.

"John.." the Woodbridge native spoke quietly, "all I did was ask about her purse and she started freaking out.. I didn't mean--"

"I know," he replied almost absently, his attention focused mostly on the woman that was using jersey as a tissue. "An' I'm sure she knows that too."

Dawn brought her knees to her chest. "All I could do last night was watch... two of my best friends and I couldn't do a damn thing."

John raised an eyebrow, one arm wrapped protectively around the calming redhead. "Look, Dawn.. don' even think this was your fault, because it wasn't. You got to us, we found them before anything else could happen."

The brunette Diva shook her head, "I should've stopped them... I should've done something, but I didn't."

Somewhere, in the back of his mind, John wondered what he had done to be stuck with two hysterical women.. he didn't know what else he was supposed to do or say. "Dawn.. Listen to me.. You got to us, didn' ya? Now, this might not be the best thing to say, but I ain't always been known for sayin' the right shit... " He paused, thankful that Lita had somehow fallen back asleep. "If you hadn't gotten to us.. If we hadn't found them.. Think 'bout what might have happened."

"I know that but--"

"But nothin'.. You did what you could, Dawn an' thats all there is to it." He let out an uncharacteristic sigh, the brown haired man looking all but defeated. "If you had tried to fight back.. Somethin' woulda happened to you."

Dawn wrapped her arms around her legs, "But that didn't stop something from happening to Lita and Nidia.. They got hurt and--"

"They would've gotten more hurt, possibly..." he trailed off, fingers threading absently through the red locks fanned on his chest. "It coulda been a hell of a lot worse... Dawn, I saw her face when we got there.. Saw the outright fear in her eyes an'.. I ain't ever seen that before. I've seen people afraid but.."

"I know John.." Dawn turned her attention to the redhead, "I just wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if something else had happened."

John mustered a smirk at that, "I don' think any one of us woulda been able to."

Dawn nodded slightly, "Look.. I really don't want to do this without asking her, but.. I don't want to set her off.. I'm going to check for her purse.. If it's not here, then it's either back at that alley or those assholes have it. If they have it... maybe we can find out who's after them."

John nodded, "I ain't gonna stop ya then.. I'd help ya but--"

"You're doing enough," she cut him off, sending him a small smile before she removed herself from the bed.

While Dawn searched the hotel room for Lita's purse, blue eyes never left the silent form that was resting on him. Sure, he never really hung around Lita that much, but...the look he had seen in her eyes last night..

"Damn it," Dawn frowned as she held up Lita's purse. "I forgot.. this stupid thing was with her jacket.. And her jacket never left the Copacabana." Heaving another sigh, she tossed the purse on the floor. "What do we do now?"

"Wait.." John tore his gaze away from the sleeping redhead. "She didn' get that much sleep last night.. Tossed and turned something fierce. You said Stephanie's heading here though so.. I guess we just wait for her to get here."

The Woodbridge native nodded, "I know Randy is leaving...his match or whatever tonight.. Dave's staying until Stephanie gets here though." She glanced up, expecting to receive a reponse or something.. But instead, she heard a soft snore. "Sleep well.." she spoke, mostly to herself.

"Hey Dawn.."

The brunette Diva paused mid-movement. "Yes?"

"Is Jeff comin' up here or what?"

"I'm not sure actually but.. I have a feeling he will be." Dawn's gaze shifted to Lita. "She needs him right now."

John half nodded, his eyes starting to grow heavy from lack of sleep. "I got that, s'why I asked.. She's been askin' for him an.."

"Then, I'm pretty sure he'll be here." Dawn raised an eyebrow when John just nodded. "Get some sleep while she's sleeping.. We probably have another long day ahead of us."

At that, John could only let out a yawn.. his eyes closing as Dawn left the hotel room. What she had said, was true... Lita needed Jeff to be there. Jeff was like a lifeline to Lita and the brunette Diva had a feeling that went both ways. There was just an undescribable connection between the two, that no one had ever been able to put a finger on. But, even without Jeff there, Lita seemed to be coping as best she could.. Given the recent circumstances. If not for John being there, Dawn really didn't know if Lita would be.. Well she wouldn't say the redhead was okay, but it was plain to see that she wasn't. Everyone was bent out of shape about it, Dawn knew that.. The one exception, perhaps, was Randy. And at first that puzzled the brunette Diva, but when she actually put some thought into it.. It made perfect sense. Of everyone who was there right now, Randy had the least connection to them all. Sure, he had been there one or two teims when Lita had gotten followed.. But as far as friendships and family ties went, Randy really had none.. Save for Dave and John. But, if she thought like that, John really had no connections either. Whatever the case, Dawn put no further thought into it.. the brunette Diva utterly exhausted from last night's lack of sleep.