In This Together

Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognize.. Title inspired by the song, We're In This Together by Nine Inch Nails

Rating: M, for language and violence

Spoilers: Vengeance 2006, specifically Edge vs. RVD

Pairings: Lita/Cena, Victoria/Hunter, possible Lilian/Shawn

Summary: She never expected to need someone who was supposed to hate her..

Notes: nothing new to add at this time.

Warning: this chapter contains a reference to rape, if you are easily offended by this, don't say I didn't warn you. I tend not to use the subject in my stories as I worry about how I will handle it.

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- Flashback -

Lita could feel harsh hands holding her down, could hear his voice ringing in her ears.. The blond man ignoring her pleas for him to stop. Her nose was still bleeding, her ribs hurt, but that didn't seem to matter to him. She had to bite her lip to keep herself from crying out when he slapped her, full well knowing it would only get worse.. And then his hands were at her hips, pulling down her jeans, Lita reaching down to stop the action despite the consequences…Edge backhanding her sharply. Tonight had been the first time he had hit her in any place that it would show.. The Canadian had always been meticulous about the placement of whatever injuries he inflicted, Lita able to cover it with clothing or makeup. But, tonight, she was fairly certain she was going to have some bruising on her face, the diva making a startled noise when he yanked her up by the hair.. Edge ordering for her to strip. The redhead's hands started to shake as she started to unbutton her shirt, the man yelling at her, telling her to go faster before he lost his patience.. Lita's eyes going wide with fright when she realized that he was now looming over her before ripping at her shirt. Out of instinct, she tried to cover up, the blond man hitting her again sending the diva to the floor. And then, she was on her feet again, Lita flung back to the bed, Edge tugging her pants and panties down just enough.. The diva closing her eyes as he entered her, forcing herself not to think about what was happening. The redhead desperately trying to think of other things.. An image of herself appearing in her mind.

And the more she focused on that image, Lita recalled the chain of events that had lead to this.

It had been one of the few times that he actually let her out of his sight, the redhead going to find a vending machine so she could get something to snack on at the house show. And while she had made it to the vending machine without running into anyone, she had run into someone when she was heading back to the locker room.. A hand gently grabbing her wrist when she tried to sidestep them, Lita finding herself face to face with Shawn Michaels and Lilian Garcia. Hunter seemingly appeared out of nowhere when she tried to walk away…concern evident on their faces.. Lita pleading with them to let her go, that she couldn't be seen talking to them. Quite reluctantly, Shawn had let her go.. The redhead leaving quickly, the sound of Lilian crying echoing in her ears as she left. Later that night, after the show was over, Edge had been in the shower.. Lita taking her things and his to the parking lot when she ran into John Cena.. The man confronting her about the obvious pain she had been after last night's house show. She had told him to fuck off, the then current champion leaving the area just as Edge was approaching..

- End Flashback -

John was at her side before she even started screaming, the man having watched as her nightmare started. . Lita trying to push him away when he sat down next to her. "Hey.. Red," he frowned a bit when she wouldn't open her eyes, Cena trying to keep his voice quiet, "Lita.. It's me, John Cena.. He ain't 'ere."

The diva's eyes flew open, wide with fright, tears threatening to spill. "I…where…how.."

"You left the arena wit' me," John informed her calmly, keeping his distance as best he could given the small space they were sharing. "He was hurtin' you, so I hurt him."

"I can still see him," Lita whispered fearfully, tears starting to fall from her eyes, "he's in my head.. And I can't get away from him."

Cautiously, he reached out a hand, wiping some of the tears away, thankful when she wasn't trying to push him away from her again. "If he even thinks 'bout coming after you? Then he's gotta get through me first."

The diva winced as she sat up, her knees drawing slowly to her chest. "he'll come after me tomorrow…he won't stop and.." Lita trailed off, burying her face in her hands.

John carefully pried her hands away from her face, "an' it's like I told ya earlier, you ain't doing this alone no more.. I won't walk away from ya an' now that Lilian and Victoria know? They ain't gonna leave you alone."

"I shouldn't have pushed them away before," she said ruefully.

"All in the past, Lita.. All in the past."

Lita nodded slowly, vaguely aware of the fact that Cena was holding her hands in his…the man's thumbs brushing gently over the backs of her hands. The diva stiffened when he let go, relaxing slightly as he reached over to the nightstand, turning on the small lamp there…both of them wincing a bit at the sudden brightness. And before she could blink, John was holding her face in his hands, eyeing the bruise on her cheek critically.. Lita averting her gaze when their eyes momentarily locked, Cena letting go of her face but not entirely…one hand cupping her chin gently.

"Ain't as swollen as it was," he announced after a long moment of silence, "but, it still looks pretty nasty.." He frowned a touch when she looked away again, "just put some ice on it in the morning, alright? 'Cos I don't think you'd appreciate it too much if ya woke up with an icepack on your face."

Lita managed a tiny smile at that, "Hunter did that to me once…trying to wake me up. I kicked him and he never tried it again."

John couldn't help but flinch at that, a curious expression in his eyes. "Until tonight, I never would've thought that you and Helmsley was friends."

The redhead hesitated a moment, resting her chin gently on her knees. "He's like an older brother to me and Lilian.. Always trying to look out for us, keep us safe.." Lita trailed off with a yawn, "I.. Could you get me some water?"

Cena nodded easily, "I can do that for ya.. You need some aspirin or something while I'm up?"

Lita shook her head, "just the water, please."

The diva idly watched as he went over to the bathroom, running the sink a little to fill one of the small cups in there before heading back out…handing the cup to her, waiting until she had drained the cup before setting it on the nightstand.

"Thank you," she told him quietly, the diva easing herself back, curling carefully onto her side.

John merely shrugged, sitting beside her for a moment. "You gonna be alright enough to sleep now?"

Lita nodded tentatively, "I think so," one hand reached up to sweep a few strands of hair from her face. "John?"

He raised an eyebrow, his expression unsure. "What is it?"

She bit her lower lip, worrying the soft flesh before she glanced upwards. "Would you stay with me?"

John hesitated, "I ain't sure that's such a good idea after you just had that nightmare of yours.."

"Please," she asked quietly, hazel eyes imploring, "I'd ….feel safer. And besides, it's your hotel room, you shouldn't have to sleep on the floor or in that chair and--"

Sighing a bit, he nodded, "alright.. I'll stay wit' ya.." John swung his legs up carefully, not wanting to inadvertently kick her, the man laying parallel to the diva, unable to keep the smile from forming as she sent him a sleepy smile.

"Thank you," she whispered, her eyes starting to grow heavy again, "for everything.."

"There ain't no need to thank me," he told her softly, Cena's hand reaching out to tuck a few strands of fiery hair behind her ear, "good night, Lita."

The diva yawned again, her eyes finally closing.. John watching her for a moment, waiting until he saw the soft rise and fall of her chest, her breathing even.. The man reaching back to turn off the light before his eyes closed, Cena finally giving into his body's demand for rest.