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: Nothing new to add at this time… the butchered French is just a joking reference to Canadian French.. No offense is meant to Canadians or to Canada.. I happen to like the country very much.

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Part Three: Small Price to Pay

As they made their way through the hallways, Dawn Marie was pre-occupying herself by coming up with names to call Edge.. So far she had gone through every derogatory male insult and now…she was running through the Spanish counterparts. Smiling slightly, she realized that if she consulted Chris Benoit she could also add butchered French to the list, but.. Chris wasn't here so she couldn't do that just yet. But, she could at least get the list started and consult with Benoit later.. The brunette's primary concern was her friend.. Lita still being carried despite her protests and numerous threats to Cena's anatomy. While they didn't know the extent of her injures right now, it was plain to see that Lita hadn't lost consciousness nor was she in danger of losing it. But, that didn't mean that she wasn't hurt, considering that she had been hit in the back with a steel chair and kicked twice…once in the ribs and once in the head by a man that obviously didn't give a damn about her. Dawn's nose wrinkled slightly at that…calling Edge a 'man' was an insult to Randy and John.. The former diva deciding that Edge belonged on a much lower level than that, but unable to properly place him yet.. And then they were stopping, Dawn and Randy sending questioning looks over to John, the man looking a little annoyed before he stopped a stagehand…wanting to know where the trainers room was. Once he had the directions, they were moving again, the redhead still protesting about being carried…slapping at Cena's arms a bit so he would put her down, but to no avail.. Dawn rolling her eyes when Lita actually tried to bite the man.

John stopped again, the trainers room right down the hallway, "damn it woman.. Do you want me to drop ya or something?"

"Actually, I'd rather you just put me down," Lita said sharply, hazel eyes sparking with anger. "I already told you, I don't need your help and that includes walking through the hallways to get to my locker room--"

Cena snorted, "you ain't going to your locker room right now, Lita. You're going to the trainers room to get your back and ribs checked out. Not to mention the fact that your face is bleeding, or was you too busy trying to fucking bite me to notice?"

Lita managed to cross her arms over her chest, "I don't want and I don't need your help, damn it. What part of that don't you understand?"

"Look, I ain't arguing wit' you all damn night.. You're going to the trainers room and you're going now. Just be a little bit grateful that I ain't carrying you over my shoulder--"

"Oh that really makes me feel better," the redhead scowled, her arms uncrossing so she could reach out scratching at his arms this time. "Put me down!"

Dawn shook her head, "children stop.. We're almost at the trainers room, so Li, if you could please refrain from causing bodily harm? If he does drop you, you're going to be in even more pain than you already are."

The redhead scoffed, "and just what makes you think I'm in pain?"

The brunette shot her an incredulous look, "don't even start with me Lita. You got hit with a steel chair, kicked in the ribs and kicked in the head. And you could have other injuries that you--"

"That's enough, Dawn," she tossed a pointed look to Cena, "he doesn't need to know everything."

The ECW diva let out a patient sigh, "then please…stop fighting with him so we can get to the trainers room. Then we'll leave, okay?"

When they reached the trainers room, John set the redhead on her feet, Lita instantly jerking away from him…her face contorting with pain as she did so.

"Ain't hurt, my ass."

Lita shot him a dirty look, "if I wanted your opinion, jackass, I would've asked for it. Just because you decided to help me tonight, doesn't mean a damn thing--"

"What is it wit' you and judging me, huh?" John crossed his arms, "I'm trying to be nice to you--"

"For a change. And don't even get me started about judging people. You're a damn fine example of that."

The trainer in the room put a stop to this argument, requesting that the diva please move to one of the exam tables in the room so they could take a look at whatever injuries she had.. And while they did that, Dawn ushered the two men into the hallway…her gaze turning towards Cena once they were out.

"I know she isn't exactly making this easy, but, you haven't either." Dawn held up a hand when John opened his mouth to argue, "it's not anything you've done tonight, but it what's you've done before. Specifically, what you've said before. Lita doesn't trust people very easily to begin with, John.. So you've just made it worse for her to trust you."

Cena let out a short sigh, "yeah I know that now.. What I said 'bout her ain't been much different than what that asshole says." He waited a beat before adding: "but that still don't mean she had to act like that… trying to bite me and shit."

Dawn nodded slightly, "yes well, she's hurt.. And I don't mean physically, John.. It's bad enough that she has to hear it from him…worse when she hears it from someone who doesn't know anything about her."

"I know that now," John started to say, cutting himself off when a hand connected sharply with his bare arm. "Why'd you hit me for?"

The brunette crossed her arms over her chest, "that's for everything you've said. And if you even think about saying shit like that again? I will castrate you."

Cena backed away from the angered woman, tossing a look at Orton. "What are you laughing at?"

"Not a damn thing," Randy said with a straight face, "I just find it interesting that you're getting beaten up by two chicks when you claim that…Ow!"

Dawn sent him a look, "and who are you calling just chicks, huh?"

Randy took a step back, standing at what he hoped was a safe distance…starting to say something when the door to the trainers room opened.

The brunette's expression softened instantly, "well? What did they say, honey?"

Lita made a face, "I have ice packs strapped to my back, one for my ribs and as you can see.." She swept her hair back, "I have a bandage here."

Dawn let out a soft sigh of relief, "good…nothing is broken or bruised but.. Lita.." She set her hands on her friend's shoulders. "Why didn't you--"

"Because you're my best friend and I couldn't let anything happen to you." Lita rolled her eyes when Dawn shook her head, "look.. I might've missed that chance, but that doesn't mean I won't have another, okay? I've put up with it for this long, there's no saying that--"

"You will not go through this anymore," Dawn told her firmly, "we'll think of something else, but you are not going back to him." Smiling a little, the brunette put an arm over her friend's shoulders. "Now come on.. Let's get your stuff and get out of here and find a place to eat."

Lita nodded, the two walking slowly due to the redhead's injuries. "It won't be that easy now.. He's going to come after me more and I'm potentially out of a job."

Dawn arched an eyebrow, "why would you be out of a job? Just because you turned on that asshole tonight doesn't mean that--"

"I was his manager, Dawn. Without someone to manage--"

"Then we find someone that needs a manager, problem solved," Dawn replied breezily. "Li.. Don't worry.. I'm already thinking of something."

Lita smiled wryly, "and that's exactly what I'm worried about."

Dawn rolled her eyes in response, tossing a look back to the guys. "I know the two of you have got to be hungry.. So get a move on." Smirking, she added: "John, you're paying."

While John and Randy complained, Lita and Dawn continued their slow walk to Randy's locker room to retrieve the redhead's things.. In fact, they were walking slow enough for Rob and Tommy to catch up with them.. Beulah and Jazz meeting them right before they got to the locker room. And much to John's chagrin, Tommy, Rob and Beulah ended up going with them for a late dinner.. Dawn starting to think about a new plan for Lita. Realistically, she could manage anyone in ECW or the WWE… her turning on Edge tonight had opened up a door to numerous opportunities…the problem was figuring out where she would be safest. The brunette realized that ECW might be a far-fetched option, but, it could work given Lita's past ties to ECW. Or she could manage someone else in the WWE, especially since the rosters had just joined up again, there was bound to be a number of people.. Dawn deciding that she'd bring it up with Stephanie.. In hopes that the woman would come up something logical and with something that would keep the redhead safe.