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: If I haven't said this yet.. I will not be putting in the 2004 Diva search...the funding for that will go to my reality show for the plot.

-x-x-x-

Chapter 34

April 18, 2004

After the group had eaten.. and this time around, both Nidia and Lita actually ate instead of picking at their food...the younger Diva decided that she wanted to take a shower. Of course, that was easier said than done, given her injuries, Stephanie suggesting she take a bath instead. That resulted in Dawn going with her to the bathroom.. But only after Stephanie had pointed out where she could find the necessary items and where the towels were located. While they did that, the rest of the group convened in the living room.. debating on if they should order the pay per view or watch a movie. Naturally, Stephanie had her reservations about ordering the pay per view given the present company. And it wasn't just the redhead that was curled up on the couch.. Dave Batista had also been scheduled to appear at Backlash that night, though he had been the only member of Evolution not on the card. His role would have been a supportive one, so to speak, since Randy was in a hardcore match with a hardcore legend.. and well, Triple H was taking on Benoit for the World Heavyweight Title. And speaking of Triple H, the blonde man had been none too pleased when Stephanie had called to inform him of Dave's whereabouts. Granted, she didn't go into many details, but she did tell him that Dave would not be there. Dave had nearly ripped the phone out of her hands when they all heard Hunter screaming.. Stephanie just managing to give him the slip. The brunette knew that her ex-husband wouldn't be very happy about Dave not being there and she also knew that he was liable to take it out on the nearest people to him. For that reason, Stephanie had also spoken to Randy.. both to let him know that they had made it out of the City safely...and that if Hunter put his hands on him, the blonde man would be fined. And it wasn't that she doubted Randy's abilities to take care of himself, rather she knew that the young wrestler really couldn't afford the distraction. And an angry Triple H was quite the distraction. Stephanie had also called Victoria, the raven haired woman informing those who needed to know, that Lita was safe...and that they might be able to see her after the Smackdown tapings depending. Of course, Stephanie didn't know where Lita would go for the brief time in between.. One option was for Lita to come with the Smackdown crew until the reality show thing...and another was to send her home. But, since Stephanie didn't know about the events from Sanford...she didn't know that sending her home was really a safe option. Realistically, that left the redheaded Diva with one option...and that was to send her with the Smackdown crew for a few days. After that, well, she could always go home with Dawn. But, they could figure that out later.. Right now, they needed to figure out what to watch...or rather, what not to watch.. Stephanie leaving that decision up to Lita and Dave. Currently, the redhead was sharing the couch with John and Jeff, Eddie occupying a chair to the left of the couch while Rey was occupying a chair to the right of the couch. Dave was lounging on the loveseat, with Stephanie taking the recliner opposite him.

Stephanie glanced between Dave and Lita, the remote resting on the arm of the recliner. "I can't say I really care about what we watch.. I know Backlash is starting in half an hour so.."

Dave shrugged his shoulders marginally, "I wasn't scheduled for Backlash tonight.. Come to think of it, all I was going to do was help Randy to the back after his match."

The Smackdown G.M. nodded shortly, her attention shifting to Lita. "I think they turned it into a tag match.. or it might be a triple threat, I'm not really sure.."

Hazel eyes, that weren't as distant as before, met Stephanie's questioning gaze. "A part of me doesn't want to watch it...I should be there tonight.. I was supposed to be wrestling tonight." The tiniest hint of anger flashed in her eyes, the redhead smoothing back a few loose tendrils of hair. "But.. I don't want to isolate myself anymore than I already am."

Jeff raised an eyebrow at that, "how are you isolating yourself now? Li.. You aren't really cleared to be doing a lot of traveling and--"

"I know that Jeff, but.." Lita let out a sigh, frustration evident in her voice when she spoke. "I should be there, I would want to be there.. I was there for two weeks, walking around with a broken neck.. and now? I'm letting a cast keep me away?"

The Cameron native frowned slightly, "it's two different situations, baby girl.. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to see some of that fire in ya, but.. You've been through a lot...and I think the time away will do ya some good."

Lita slumped back against the couch, hazel eyes fluttering shut. "I just hate feeling so damn weak."

"Mamacita.. Tu no está siendo débil." Eddie gestured to the room in general, "éste es el lugar más seguro ahora." He raised an eyebrow when she looked ready to argue, "realmente no pienso que tu sería sentada justa feliz alrededor entre bastidores." (You aren't being weak. This is the safest place to be right now. I really don't think you'd be happy just sitting around backstage.)

The redhead's mouth pressed into a thin line, the Diva hesitating before she replied. "Desearía competir, como me suponen ser." Lita shook her head, "but that doesn't mean I want to be here.."(I'd want to be competing, like I'm supposed to be.)

Rey sent her a concerned look, "Li? ¿Cuál es incorrecto?" At her incredulous look, he shook his head. "Dígame honesto.." (What's wrong? Tell me honestly.)

Lita hesitated a moment, hazel eyes focusing on a distant spot on the wall. "Soy enojado y frustrado y confundido y.." She trailed off at that, her good hand clutching at the throw pillow near her waist. "Me asustan. Me siento que asustado y yo odie sentirse asustado. Odio la sensación asustada. (I'm angry and frustrated and confused and..I'm scared. I feel afraid and I hate feeling afraid. I hate feeling scared.)

Jeff glanced between the three...and Dave, who seemed to understand it all. "Could someone please tell me what's going on?"

Eddie locked eyes with the redhead, silently asking for her permission; and when she nodded, he glanced to Jeff. "She said she's angry, frustrated and confused and that she's--"

"Scared," Lita interrupted quietly, "and afraid...I hate it... it's like I lost control and I feel lost." Her lower jaw trembled momentairly, the redhead sucking in a sharp breath. "I feel so damn helpless, like I've got this bulls-eye or something on my back."

Hesitantly, Jeff placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm not going to ask ya to talk to me 'bout this anymore, 'cos I don't want ya getting anymore upset than ya already are but.. Li.. maybe ya should talk to someone."

Lita shot him a disbeliving look, "are you suggesting I see a shrink or something like that? I already know what they'll tell me.. I already know what my problem is."

"Li, I'm not saying you should seek professional help.. I do think it would be the best thing to do, but I know you ain't gonna do that." His tone was firm, or as firm as it could be for him. "I'm just saying that you should find someone to talk to about all of this...find yourself a rock, give it a name and talk to that.. Whatever. I just think you should talk to someone."

"A rock," she echoed in disbelief, her tone laced with anger and a sense of loss. "Or someone.. Who Jeff? Who the hell am I going to talk to? Everyone sitting in this room knows what happened. They were there or they heard about it."

The green eyed man raked his hands through his hair, "Lita.. I--"

Stephanie cleared her throat, glancing cautiously between the two. "Li.. I think what Jeff's trying to say, is that you should talk to someone about how you feel.. I mean, tonight, that was a start but--"

Lita shut her eyes, a heavy sigh escaping her. "There are only so many ways that you can tell someone you feel vulernable.. There are only so many ways you can tell someone that you feel afraid." She opened her eyes then, hazel orbs shining with unshed tears. "I hate feeling this way, so why would I want to tell someone about it?"

John caught the box of tissue that Dave tossed over, removing a few before setting the box on the rug. "You do realize that, ya just told us.." He handed the tissues to her, "that reverse psychology or whateva.."

Lita snorted softly, dabbing at the corners of her eyes. "And I'm supposed to feel better?"

"No," he told her honestly, "I really ain't sure what would make ya feel better, 'cos I ain't you. I ain't no psychology major, so no.. I can't really tell ya a damn thing where that's concerned." John shifted so he was facing her, one arm draping over the back of the couch. "I can tell ya, that I'll be here for ya.. If you wanna bitch an' whine at someone, hell I'll listen to it."

Lita blinked, briefly scrutinizing his unwavering gaze for any signs of falsehood. "You're kidding me right?"

John shrugged, "why would I be? I mean, ya've already cried all over me, not that I minded that too much, but I'm just saying.. I am gonna be here for ya until you tell me to get the hell away from you."

Lita almost smirked at that, "I don't know if I should be relieved or if I should be scared." The tissues in her hand were balled up, "but.. for now, I'll go with relieved." She turned her attention back to Stephanie, "is it too late to order Backlash?"

Stephanie still seemed hesitant, "are you sure you want to watch it?"

Lita half shrugged, the throw pillow placed on her lap so she could prop her cast. "I'm pissed off that I can't be there, but at the very least... I can see Chris kick Hunter's ass."

"Point," Stephanie conceded with a smile, "we'll watch the pay per veiw.. I'll go make us some popcorn and then I can tell you all about who I've picked for the reality show."

Just as she stated, the brunette ordered the pay per view.. the group in the living room catching the last five minutes of the pre-show while Stephanie retreated to the kitchen to put the popcorn in the microwave. No sooner had she left the living room, did Dawn and Nidia come downstairs. The trio on the couch shifted so the two could sit down.. Dave relinquishing his spot to Rey and Nidia, while Dawn opted for Eddie's lap over sharing the couch. Dave eventually made his way into the kitchen to give Stephanie a hand with the popcorn.. and to get the requested sodas and water for the group in the living room. Just as the actual pay per view was starting, Stephanie and Dave returned to the living room... one bowl of popcorn handed to Rey and Nidia, another handed to Eddie and Dawn, while two were set on the coffee table. Bottles of soda, plastic cups and a few water bottles were also placed on the couch and one bottled water was set near Rey and Nidia. The occupants of the couch found themselves joined by Dave.. Stephanie returning to her spot on the recliner with the last bowl of popcorn. And save for a few questions from Dawn as to why they were watching Backlash.. the atmosphere was relatively silent...almost peaceful, but not quite, just given the recent events. Nidia, at least, looked more relaxed.. though there were still some obvious signs of pain whenever she had to breathe. Lita was also looking more at peace, though, they didn't know if that was just an act or if she really was feeling a little bit better. Dawn was also looking more relaxed...to the point where she actually fell asleep during the opening match. But, given the lack of sleep over the past twenty four hours...and the possibility of not getting much sleep over the next twenty four hours, it wasn't that much of a surprise.

-x-x-x-

By the time Backlash ended; Rey and Nidia had also fallen asleep, while Lita had been on the brink of it. And while she hadn't been cheering at all for Hunter, she was cheering somewhat for Randy. Granted, she did favor Mick in this type of match, but really.. Randy wasn't that bad when he wasn't under Hunter's direct influence. Come to think of it, he was a completely different person when he was away from Hunter.. Not that the redhead felt that it was a bad thing, ratherit was a good thing. A very good thing, in fact, because if he had been a complete prick over the weekend...well, that would've made things a lot harder to deal with. And honestly, Lita wasn't sure if the change in attitude was due to Randy being away from Hunter, or if it was because the third generation wrestler had been there. While he hadn't experianced things quite like herself or Nidia.. Randy hadn't escaped completely unscathed. This weekend aside, he had been followed and there was also the incident with the rental car in San Antonio. Despite the tough exterior that all men wanted to present, Lita knew that he wasn't without his weaknesses. That held true for everyone...and she also knew that she was no exception. In some ways, where she felt helpless and vulernable, she also felt like her limits were being tested.. That, whomever was behind all of this, was just trying to see how much she could take before she reached the point that she just couldn't take it anymore. Not that she would call this a game...or at least not a game that she wanted to participate in willingly. In simplest terms, it was a game.. A sick and twisted game and one that was testing her emotionally, psychologically and physically. It was also a puzzle...and when she thought about it in that sense, the redhead figured there had to be a solution to that puzzle. It was only a matter of finding all of the pieces, making sense of it all.. She just hoped they could figure out this puzzle before it was too late.

Once the living room had been cleared, Stephanie turned her attention to the group. "I suppose we should figure out sleeping arrangements and whatever.."

Jeff smiled wryly, "so long as I'm not sleeping with my legs beneath this coffee table? It's all good."

The brunette raised an eyebrow, "when did this happen?"

Lita yawned, reaching back to rub awkwardly at the crick in her neck. "When we were in L.A... Chris Benoit, Lillian had their own room; Dawn, Stacy, Vicki and 'Dia took one room while Chris Jericho, Edge, Eddie and Rey took the third bedroom.. Bubba had claimed one couch, Spike had the chair, I had the other couch."

"Rob slept on the floor, Devon was on the floor, Jeff was on the floor.." John smirked slightly, "an' I was on the floor, with my back against the couch.. Got kicked three times, at least, by this one 'ere."

Lita rolled her eyes, "and that was an accident.. I didn't know you were using the couch cushion as your pillow."

Jeff made a face, "at least he had a pillow. Bubba wouldn't share the pillows on the couch he was on.. And you were hogging all of 'em."

Stephanie couldn't help but laugh, "so you mean to tell me.. that sixteen of you shared this one house?"

John half shrugged, his attention mostly on helping the redhead. "Well it wasn't like we could sleep outside.. An' we switched off the second night."

Stephanie nodded, "so I see.. I can tell you that the house for the show wouldn't be that small. I'm not sure how many people it would be per bedroom, but it wouldn't be that crowded."

Lita's eyes twinkled with mild curiousity. "Who else do you have in mind for this crazy show?"

"Yourself, Nidia, Kane and the Undertaker of course.." Stephanie pursed her lips in thought, glancing over to Dave. "I was also thinking of you and Randy.. Partly to piss of Hunter, but mostly so you can be around Nidia."

Dave nodded shortly, "I appreciate that.. I know Hunter won't, but I do."

Stephanie waved it off nonchalantly, "Hunter is the least of my concerns...which is why he won't be in the house.. But, for the rest of the Diva's.. I was thinking Dawn, Victoria, Stacy and possibly Lillian." The brunette nodded over to Eddie, "he's another candidate, along with Rey and Rob. And if my dad wants an uneven number, the last guy will be John...if he wants an even number, than Lillian is in."

The U.S. Champion raised an eyebrow, "can you give us any details about this show? I mean, I know you're plannin' on tossin' all of us in this house but uh.."

"It'll take place on a ranch.. a working ranch, so you all will more than likely be required to do a little work." She sent Lita a re-assuring smile when the redhead looked skeptical. "I promise, it won't be too much, just simple things like feeding the animals. If we can't get the ranch, then I'll let you all know."

Dave inclined his chin, "are you putting cameras in this house or are you just going to have a film crew there?"

"Both," Stephanie admitted easily, the Smackdown G.M. sweeping her hair over her shoulders before she continued. "There will be a few challenges, but it's mostly just seeing if you all can co-exist."

"Plus deal with the usual hustle of bein' in the WWE?" John shook his head, "this ought ta be one helluva experience." His hands paused briefly on the redhead's shoulders. "How long are we gonna be doin' this?"

Stephanie shrugged, "as I said earlier, that all depends.. Dad thinks until Summer Slam, mom is pushing for early July, Shane said mid June and I think it should be until late May." She sent Lita a questioning look, "how long does that cast stay on?"

"Three months," the redhead made a face. "Would've been a month if it was only my hand, though."

Stephanie frowned in thought, "well.. if we go with Mom's idea, you all would be in the house for about three months. I know that's asking for a lot, giving up your own homes for that long and what have you."

Lita nodded slowly, "but it's not a bad idea.. I can't speak for everyone else and I don't know if I would last that long but, it's not a bad idea."

"I'll talk to my dad first thing in the morning, start working out the details for this." Stephanie stretched her arms overhead, "now.. about sleeping arrangements for tonight. The couch doesn't fold out, but it's comfortable enough, I just need to bring some extra bed sheets down."

Dave nodded to the recliner she was moving from, "I just need a pillow and a blanket.. I'll sleep there."

Stephanie looked like she was going to argue, Dave tossing her a pointed look. "Alright.. Once Eddie and Rey wake up, one of the guest rooms has two beds in it.. That should be fine for them and the other guest room only has one bed, but--"

Jeff motioned to the loveseat, "that'll fit me fine.. or I can just sleep on the floor. Stephanie, don't look at me like I'm crazy, I already know I am. It's your house an' Li'll be fine on her own."

The redhead nodded, "so long as I'm not too far from the bathroom.. I just need to be able to get some water... stupid pills."

Stephanie nodded in confirmation, "it's right across the hall from the bathroom.. But are you sure you'll be okay on your own?"

"I'm a big girl Stephanie and besides.." Lita shrugged, loose red locks swept back from her face. "In the event that I do wake up screaming.. I doubt y'all would be able to sleep through it."

John opened his mouth to comment on that, but changed his mind at the last second. "Floor is fine with me too.. Ain't like I haven't slept on the floor before."

"Okay," Stephanie glanced over to Lita, "I'll show you the guest room and by the time I get back down here with all of those sheets and stuff, hopefully Eddie, Rey, Nidia and Dawn will be awake."

While Stephanie and Lita made their exit; the sleeping four started to stir.. Jeff informing them that Stephanie was upstairs...and that they would be sharing one of the guest rooms. The Smackdown G.M. ran into the four on the stairs, showing them where the second guest room was before she returned to the living room. Jeff made himself comfortable on the loveseat, Dave taking the couch while John took the recliner.. Stephanie returning upstairs to give Lita some needed assistance. And once their respective sleeping areas were situated, one line formed outside of the guest bathroom while another line formed outside of Stephanie's private bathroom. Stephanie and Jeff asked Lita if she wanted any company, Jeff stating that if she wanted him too, he could sleep on the floor. Lita, of course, waved off the idea...informing them all that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. Granted, simple tasks were taking her longer than usual since she wasn't left handed.. But, they also knew that it was one thing that she could control. And given her previous statement from before about having no control...they all figured they'd at least indulge her where tonight was concerned. Before they could all completely turn in for the night, Stephanie questioned the redhead about what she wanted to do until the reality show began. Lita would be needed for Smackdown in one week, but until then, her options were pretty much open. A still sleepy Dawn let them know that Lita could stay with her until that time.. Lita agreeing to that and deciding that she'd travel with the Smackdown roster, to get a better feel for everything. And it was on that note, that they finally turned in.. Jeff, John and Dave heading back downstairs while those upstairs retired to their respective rooms. As she started to settle in, still fighting to stay awake, Lita hoped that both herself, Nidia and Dawn wouldn't be plauged by their recent nightmares.. Even though, deep down she knew, that thought was pretty much futile.