A/N: As always, this story would be nothing without your support. You guys are the best! I know there's a lot of things going on in this story right now, but trust me, it'll all tie together. Thanks again for the reviews, keep them coming!
Part 13
The smirk he had long since perfected was boasted proudly on the face of Triple H. It ook him but a matter of days to figure it all out. He had done some detective work, and was positive he knew just how to deal with his problem with Batista.
From the moment Dave had come to defend Trish Stratus, he knew that there was more to the situation than met the eye. He distinctly recalled him questionining about her, and that alone prompted him to dig for information. When he asked several WWE employees if they had ever seen Dave and Trish together, he was genuinely surprised to receive a yes from all of them. In fact, some even went as far as to comment on how into each other the pair seemed while talking.
The news almost made him angry... the man who was supposed to be his protégé had been lying about his whereabouts for weeks. Nobody lied to Triple H. However, finding out only made him smile. Though he was still unsure of the exact nature of their relationship, it was clear enough that Dave cared enough about Trish to keep it a secret from himself and Ric. That meant she was a weakness, and he was definitely going to capitalize.
He finally reached his destination, chuckling softly to himself as he pounded on the door. It swung open only moments later, and he grinned.
"Christy Hemme," he commented as he glanced down at the redhead. "Just the woman I wanted to see."
The Raw Diva Search winner smiled brilliantly, nodding hello to the champion.
"Hey there, Hunter," she drawled, waving her fingers at him. "What can I do for you?"
"We need to talk," he explained, leaning on the door frame. "Is it okay if I come in?"
Christy nodded, stepping out of the way and gesturing for him to enter. Hunter gladly accepted the invitation, waltzing over to the couch and making himself comfortable.
"I wouldn't normally go behind my good friend's back like this, but in this case, I feel like you have to know," he said, his expression growing serious.
Nothing the sincere look on his face, Christy did the same, frowning as she took a seat beside him.
"What is it?" she asked fearfully.
She wasn't certain of what he was going to say, but she was certain it had to do with Dave. She hadn't been able to track him down since the night she slept with him.
"It's about Dave," he said, confirming her belief. "I know why he's been avoiding you, and I'm afraid it's not good."
Christy could see the concern Hunter displayed for his friend, and worry filled her eyes.
"Okay..." she voiced nervously. "What about Dave?"
Triple H heaved a dramatic sigh, but on the inside he was laughing. She was going to eat this right out of his hands.
"Well, apparently he's been seeing Trish Stratus, behind our backs," he told her, watching her eyes widen. "I guess he knew we wouldn't approve... Trish isn't exactly his type. But anyway, she found out about you two, and lets jjust say she wasn't thrilled."
Christy placed a hand over her mouth, muffling a quiet gasp. Dave never mentioned Trish once when they had talked that night. She didn't know the blonde woman well at all, but she didn't leave the nicest impression.
"What did she say?" she questioned, dropping her hand to her lap.
Hunter frowned, "She went nuts... said she couldn't believe Dave would stoop so low as to sleep with a Diva Search slut. She forbid him to ever speak to you again, or she said she'd make him pay."
He could tell by the fury in her expressive orbs that he hit just the spot. Christy wrinkled her nose in disgust, her fists clenching together. Who the hell did Trish Stratus think she was? The thought of her controlling Batista that way made her blood boil.
"That... bitch," she scowled, disdain dripping from her tone. She was absolutely fed up with people disrespecting her. A determined look filled her eyes as she returned her gaze to Hunter. "I'm sick of this. I'm going to make her pay."
It was all Hunter could do to hold back a smile.
"Now Christy..." he said evenly, switching gears to play the voice of reason.
"No," she said fiercely. "I'm sick of being mistreated and talked about. This is the last straw. When I'm through with Trish, she going to wish she never met me."
Giving her a soft pat on the thigh, Hunter rose from the couch and headed for the door. Halfway there, he stopped and turned to glance over his shoulder.
"Christy..." he called. "Don't say anything about this to Dave, okay? He's already embarrassed as it is."
The young woman nodded, giving a wave as he stepped out the door.
The second he heard the door click shut, Triple H erupted in laughter. That was way too easy. He ignited a fire in Christy that would no doubt inspire the redhead to drive a wedge between Dave and Trish. He'd let her handle Trish... the rest would be all his own.
Dave couldn't help but laugh as he watched Trish dancing - as best she could while sitting seatbelted into the passenger seat of his rental car. He had bumped into her on his way out of the hotel, and offered to give her a lift to the arena. She sang along with the radio, her upper body moving along to the beat. He hadn't seen much of this playful side of her, but he had to admit he found it very attractive.
After giving her an amused smile, Dave turned his attention back to the road. He didn't glance back at Trish till her voice faded. He watched as a serious gaze filled her eyes, and she reached for the radio dial, turning it off.
"What's up?" he asked, tilting his head forward to peek over the rims of his sunglasses.
"I was just thinking..." she said slowly.
Dave sighed, "I knew that much, Trish. What are you thinking about?"
"Stacy asked me if I wanted to hang out with her and Randy tonight," she explained. "Funny thing is, I think I want to."
"So then, go," Dave replied pointedly. A smile crossed his face. "It's okay to have friends, you know."
Trish bit her lip thoughtfully as she eyed the man beside her. Now that she knew he was open to the idea of her hanging out with the couple, she felt slightly more comfortable asking him her question.
"Will you come with me?" she asked hopefully, turning her body towards him.
The car came to a halt as Dave slammed his foot down on the brake, and he was silently thankful no one was behind him. He took his sunglasses off and threw them down beside him, sending her a look.
"Are you crazy?" he asked her incredulously. "It's bad enough that I hang around with you, but if work got out that I was with Orton, Hunter would have my head."
"Screw Hunter, I don't care about him," she voiced boldly. "And I know you don't either, otherwise you wouldn't dare drive into an arena with me."
Dave groaned, shaking his head. Trish he could get away with, but Randy? That was a deadly sin in Hunter's book.
"Trish, I just can't," he said firmly. "It's not like Randy would want to be around me anyway."
"Stacy already talked to him about it and he said it was fine," she responded quickly.
Dave smirked, "Well, you just think of everything, don't you?"
She nodded proudly, sending him a cheeky grin.
"I... I don't know..."
"C'mon Dave, please?" Trish said, pouting her lips. "I need you to go with me."
Dave's expression softened when he noticed how adorable she looked. The pouting lips, the pleading eyes... it was too much for him to resist. How could he say no to that face? She widened her eyes just a bit, and he cracked.
"Fine," he gave in, sending her a very unpleasant look. "But I'm not going to like it one bit."
Her pout was quickly replaced by a giddy smile as Trish let out an excited squeal. She unhooked her seatbelt and slid over to him, throwing her arms around his neck and planting a kiss on his cheek. Dave's stomach fluttered when her lips met with his skin and a small smile crept onto his face. She moved her arms to his waist, and he suddenly found it extremely hard to concentrate on the road. The hold she had on him was getting more intense by the day.
"The things I do for you, woman," he muttered, earning a giggle from Trish.
"I'll pay you back someday," she promised.
"Oh yeah?" he asked as he glanced down at her. "Good, make all checks payable to Dave Batista, thank you very much..."
She released her grip on him so that she could smack him on the arm.
"Very funny," she said in a most unamused tone. Then, she burst into laughter, sliding back into her seat.
For what seemed like the millionth time since they pulled out of the hotel parking lot, Dave shook his head. Using his free hand to steer the wheel, he grabbed his sunglasses again, holding them up to his mouth like a microphone.
"There you have it, ladies and gentlemen," he said in a very announcer-like voice. "Trish Stratus has officially lost her mind."
As he pulled the car into the arena parking lot, Trish's cell phone began to ring. She reached for it, glancing at the screen, and her jaw dropped.
"What's the matter?" Dave frowned as he noted how pale she had become in a matter of seconds.
"It... it's Molly," Trish told him in a hushed tone.
She sent Dave a distraught look, shoving the phone in his direction. He shook his head, shoving it right back to her.
"Answer it," he demanded, pointing to the phone as he pulled into a spot.
With a shaky sigh, Trish pressed the call button and placed the phone to her ear. Dave shifted the car into park and turned to watch Trish as she answered Molly's call. Her brief, often one-word lines were not enough to give him even the slightest clue as to what Molly was saying. Trish ended the call only a minute later, looking up at him.
"She wants to talk," she explained, a confused look in her dark eyes.
"Go," Dave instructed.
He had seen Trish worry herself sick over Molly too many times. It was about time one of them swallowed their pride and tried to get a discussion going.
"But Dave," she began uneasily.
"But nothing, Trish," he said firmly. "This is what you've wanted, a chance to talk. Go talk to her."
"...Okay..." she said, bowing her head slightly.
She grabbed the handle, pushing the door open. She placed a foot out on the asphalt, but Dave caught her arm before she got out of the car.
"You'll be fine," he assured her. "If you need me at all, just call me."
Offering him as genuine of a smile as she could manage, Trish nodded a thank you. She stepped out of the car and headed into the building, unsure of what was to come."
