At the Beginning
Disclaimer: Vince owns the personas, people own themselves.. I own the story idea.
Spoilers: RAW 6-12-06
Rating: M for language and violence.
Summary: With revenge on his mind, the last thing John Cena expected to do was help someone he was supposed to hate.
Pairings: Lita/Cena (eventually), others to be determined.
Notes: Alright, here's the deal… ignore whatever the WWE is using as storylines (both in RAW, Smackdown and ECW)…except the D-X reunion because I rather like that…though it won't factor into the story too much. The rosters will be joining in this part and it will be ECW vs. WWE from this point onward. Having said that, ECW will have it's own television time, but I will be ignoring what happens on the show.. It's for another story anyway so… if you have questions, ask.
-x-x-x-
Part One: Ugly Confrontations
While Lita did have some doubts about the tentative game plan, she had no doubts in Dawn's ability to scheme…and to pull even the seemingly impossible together. Toss the newly formed Tribe of Extreme into the mix and the redhead's doubts about Dawn's plan lessened slightly, but not to the point where she was entirely comfortable with the situation. Somewhat comfortable yes, but the redhead had to admit that until the night was over…she wouldn't be entirely comfortable with it. And even after the night was over, she would still have her doubts because something like this couldn't be pulled off without consequences.. Especially where Edge was concerned. Speaking of the blond man, he hadn't been in the room when Lita and Dawn had gone in to retrieve the redhead's things…something that they were entirely grateful for since neither woman wanted to deal with the Canadian. The pair had made it back to Dawn's room unscathed, taking the stairs over the elevator since no one was really supposed to know about the brunette being back.. And Dawn wanted to keep it that way until the main event for RAW.. Or at least the main event that was planned for RAW…the brunette hoping that Paul Heyman would be able to persuade Vince into putting on the proposed match after the pay per view last night. Whatever the case with tonight, Dawn and Lita were currently camped out in the locker room that had been assigned to Tommy and Rob. Beulah was also with them and so was Jazz.. The two women hoping to have a match of their own tonight, depending on how Heyman's meeting went with Vince.
Beulah bit down on her lower lip, "what in the hell is taking them so long?" She flicked a worried glance to the door, "you don't think Vince said no…do you?"
Lita shook her head, "I doubt it B.. but, last night right before the show went off air.. I overheard some of the guys from RAW talking about the rosters joining up tonight.. Strengthen the defenses or something like that."
Jazz arched an eyebrow, "strengthen the defenses? You make it sound like there's a war going on."
"Close enough," the redhead stated with a slight smirk, "though I'm not entirely sure if the WWE really knows what they're in for."
"You make it sound like you've already defected," Dawn suggested with a playful nudge, sobering after a moment. "And I wish you were.. But, I don't think there are any plans for a women's division--"
Lita snorted, "it's not like they have much of one right now anyway…and if this war is supposedly true, then it really wouldn't matter what side I was on."
Jazz tossed her a curious look, "how do you figure that?"
"Simple really," Lita smoothed her hair back from her face, "if it's a war then ECW will invade the WWE.. That should set up matches and if there are women in ECW, which obviously there are, why should they be excluded?"
Before anyone could reply to that there was a knock at the door.. Tommy and Rob entering shortly afterwards, Sabu not far behind them.
"We have our match," Rob said first, his expression somewhat annoyed despite that good part. "But, not how Paul E. wanted it."
Dawn arched an eyebrow, "what got changed? I'd think that McMahon would jump at the opportunity to have a six person tag team match."
Tommy shook his head, "there was no problem with that.. The problem was with someone else…that little bastard." He sent a look over to Lita and Dawn, "he proposed an eight person, mixed tag team match. With us three and the Sandman.. Paul nixed that idea and put Angle in Sabu's place."
"But, Paul didn't like the part with the mixed tag team match though, which almost blew our spot.." Rob ran a hand over his hair, "but he did it get it altered to an eight person, mixed tag team match without the Sandman."
Dawn sent a cautious look between Rob and Tommy, "and who are we taking on?"
Rob grimaced, "Paul left that option open to McMahon but, with how things went last night? We're thinking Edge, Cena and possibly Orton."
"And me," Lita piped up then, "if it's a mixed tag team match and they're using last night as a jumping point.. I would be the fourth person for team WWE."
The WWE Champion nodded, "you got it Red.. But, if you don't want to do it, they'll ask someone else.. Possibly Victoria or--"
Lita shook her head, a resolved look on her face. "No they won't. this is my match and I'm not backing down…even if I can only trust one of my tag team partners for this match, I am not backing out."
Van Dam gave a short nod, his gaze flicking to Jazz and Beulah, "you two are taking on Mickie and Candice and I think that's it for ECW involvement tonight. They've gotta save some for Smackdown." Frowning, he glanced back over to Lita, "you know…with the match going down tonight, it may not be the end."
The redhead smirked, "don't count on that Rob. I don't care how it ends, but it all ends tonight." Sighing slightly, the Diva moved from the bench, "I should probably get out of here though.. Wouldn't make too much sense for a WWE Diva to walk into the pre-show meeting with ECW."
Tommy put his hands on her shoulders, "just be careful tonight alright? Paul E will kill us if something happens to you during that mach. He already yelled at me for last night."
Lita rolled her eyes, "yeah well.. He's always been like that Tommy and I doubt he'll change any time soon. He just about hated that whole thing with Lesnar a few years back." Shaking her head, she added: "I'll probably stick around the Diva's locker room or maybe find Orton and bug him for a bit."
Dawn shot her a look, "are you still hanging around with him?"
"Cut him some slack, alright? He's not that bad of a guy," Lita shrugged at her friend's incredulous look, "sure, he might not be the most humble superstar backstage but.. He is a nice guy."
Having said that, Lita finally left the locker room, the strap of her gym bag clutched in one hand, the other jammed into a pocket on her pants…her eyes focused on the floor, causing her to run into a body as she turned the corner.
John Cena arched an eyebrow, "last I knew.. All the WWE locker rooms are over that way."
"Thank you Captain Obvious for pointing that out," Lita took a step back, "so why the hell are you over here? Defecting?"
Cena snorted, "not on your life.. I'm over 'ere because I heard that Dawn Marie was back.. Thought I'd see if it was true or not."
Lita shrugged indifferently, "well if that's the case then don't let me stop you." Shouldering her bag, she started to take a step forwards, only to be stopped in her tracks. "I'm not Dawn Marie, you know, which means your hand shouldn't be on my arm."
"I also heard that there's gonna be an eight person, mixed tag team match for the main event tonight." Smirking a little, John added: "heard it right from the asshole's mouth."
"And? What does that have to do with anything?"
John shrugged, "seeing as how you was just walking out of the ECW locker room, I gotta wonder--"
Hazel eyes darkened, "if you're worried about me defecting or turning during this match? Trust me, you're wrong. My reasons for being in that locker room are just that, mine. It's none of your concern and if you wouldn't mind? I have places I need to be and people I need to find."
Not giving him the chance to reply, Lita wrenched her arm free, walking away in a hurry so she could find Randy.. And what she had said to the former WWE Champion was true…to some extent anyway. While she had no plans of defecting or turning against the WWE during the match.. She wasn't about to just stand by and watch. Lita was determined to get involved in that match tonight, both against her friend in a calm way…and against Edge in a not so calm way. The problem there was…if she turned against Edge tonight, she could very well cost her team the match. That could possibly lead to problems with Vince and maybe even Cena, but if she explained the situation to Randy, well.. Maybe Randy would understand.. The redhead hoping that he would understand, otherwise this situation, while already being dangerous, could just get that much worse.
