Forgive My Hesitation

Rating: M for language, violence

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing you recognize.. That should cover it properly.

Spoilers: From RAW, January 2nd.. A few on back and up to RAW, January 16th… just not like you might expect.

Eventual Pairings: Lita/John Cena, Stacy/Chris Masters, Lillian/Batista, Victoria/Tyson Tomko, Trish/Jeff, Candice?

Summary: When Lita takes a stand, she finds help from friends and from people that she never would have expected.

Notes: okay… I have nothing new to add at this time.. Lita's brother will be revealed in this chapter.. Just not until the second half of it.

-x-x-x-

Victoria, Chris, Trish, Candice and Shawn sat around the waiting room at the hospital E.R. At some point they expected to see one of the McMahon's show up.. Considering that two of the RAW superstars were currently being treated for injuries. Of course, they didn't know the extent of those injuries quite yet… but the potential for a concussion was very high. And while the doctors hadn't told them anything yet, they had a feeling that Ric would walk away from this with less injuries than the redheaded Diva. That was mostly because Lita had taken a direct chair shot to the forehead and multiple chair shots to the back while Ric had taken a few kicks to the ribs and no chair shots. Granted, that didn't mean that Ric wasn't hurt, but…Lita had taken the brunt end of Edge's frustration. Whatever the case, the group in the waiting area had been silent since they had gotten there.. Seemingly at a loss as to what they should say or do at this point. Victoria had nearly flipped out when she had seen the blood on her hands; Trish and Candice hurriedly taking her to the nearest bathroom to calm her down. Torrie had called to let Candice know that she had persuaded the receptionist at the hotel to extend the room reservation for another day.. Just in case Victoria planned on staying.

For reasons unknown, Shane and Stephanie were the designated McMahon's sent to the hospital; the two walking into the waiting room, perplexed and tired. "Have they--"

Shawn turned his attention to the speaker, "No…we haven't been told anything yet, Stephanie.. I'm not sure if they'd release that information to us anyway because we aren't family."

Shane nodded, "Stephanie and I should be able to find out…sure, we aren't family either but.. I think dad had something put into the medical release forms."

Stephanie wrapped her arms loosely around her middle, "I just don't understand why Lita did it…"

"I don't think any of us do," Chris spoke up quietly, "except for her, of course, but it's not like we can ask her or anything."

Victoria glanced up, "does this mean she's out? That she doesn't have to walk down with him anymore?"

Stephanie frowned, "I… I'm not sure yet actually.. It was in her contract and I haven't read the fine print or anything so--"

Trish made a face, "You're kidding right? You mean after what he did, she's still stuck with him? He attacked her with a steel chair!"

"That's why I said, I'm not sure." Stephanie pushed back a few loose strands of hair. "I'll check the contract though and see if there are any loopholes. But, if there aren't.. then she's stuck until creative works on something else."

Victoria frowned, "No offense Stephanie, but that just sucks…and it doesn't make any sense. I thought it was only until a certain time that she was stuck with him and now…wouldn't him attacking her be a good reason to end that?"

Stephanie nodded shortly. "I'd think so, but… it all depends on the terms of the contract.. And since it's separate from the standard contract.."

"I'm going to see if I can get an update on Ric and Lita.." Shane sent a look around, "maybe we'll be able to see them tonight."

Victoria sighed, cupping her face in her hands. "I don't get it.. I mean, I do, but I don't.. why would there be another contract? Is it something that creative did or is something that he did?"

Stephanie pursed her lips in thought, "I'm guessing it's something that Edge did. And if that's the case, then there's probably one way to end it."

Trish raised an eyebrow, "And that would be?"

"Until the contract expires." Stephanie crossed her arms over her middle, settling between the two Diva's. "I'll take a look at that contract first thing in the morning, see if there is another option."

Candice inclined her head in curiously, "What if someone else took her place? Either for Revolution or until this contract is terminated."

Victoria shook her head, "Candy… the whole reason Lita went out there tonight was to protect Ric. If someone was to take her place? I don't think that'd go over very well with her and she'd just try got get that person out."

"I get that, but.." Candice frowned in thought, "it would at least get Lita away from Edge, right? I'd think that would be more important."

The raven haired Diva remained silent for a moment…there was so much that Candice didn't know. Chris probably knew, but… "I just don't think it would be a very good idea.. At the very least, we should find out if Stephanie can get the contract terminated first."

Trish sighed, "I just don't understand why there would be a separate contract in the first place. What purpose does that really serve?"

Victoria's lips pressed together in a thin line. "For that.. You'd have to ask one of two people.. One of them is getting treated in the E.R. and the other? I wouldn't want to go near him with a ten foot pole."

"But you do know something…don't you?" Candice sent her a questioning look, "I'm not asking you to tell us here, but--"

Victoria nodded slowly, "I have an idea of what's going on, but Lillian knows more than me. Of course, her brother also knows, but he's less likely to say anything than Li."

Chris glanced sideways to the raven haired Diva. "Is he coming?"

"As soon as he can…he has to wait until the Smackdown tapings are over, but once they are.. He'll be here." Victoria smiled grimly, "he's not happy at all about what happened. I'm not surprised by that, you know? It almost makes me feel sorry for Edge."

Trish snorted, "Well I don't.. that bastard could've broken her neck again."

"I think he was trying to.." Candice whispered then, "when he hit her.. It wasn't the lower back or mid back.. It was right around her shoulder blades. It was like he was aiming for her neck, but she managed to move and--"

Shane cleared his throat, his hands clasping before him as he entered the waiting area. "They're keeping them overnight…in Ric's case it's to be on the safe side…just some bruises on his face, bloody nose but nothing too major." He paused, taking a moment to seat himself before he continued: "Li hasn't woken up yet, but they think she'll wake up sometime in the morning…probably a third degree concussion since she hasn't woken up. She got stitches to close up the wound on her forehead and the doctor said, because of the repeated blows to her back… she's exhibiting whiplash syndromes.. Bruises, pain, but nothing is broken."

Victoria sighed heavily, "Can we go see her?"

Shane shook his head, "Only family members can see her now.. You can see her in the morning though…but you'll have to wait until they do their rounds or whatever." His attention shifted to Shawn. "You can see Ric if you'd like, but not for too long."

Shawn shook his head, "I'll wait until the mornin'… I'd like to check on the redhead too."

-x-x-x-

Since they couldn't see her tonight, the group of superstars waiting to see Lita, went back to the hotel. Victoria knew it would be one of those sleepless nights for her.. But there really wasn't much she could do about it. One of her closest friends was laying in one of those hospital rooms… and all because of one person. One person who had made Lita's life a living hell. Granted, Victoria didn't know how bad it really was… but she did have a good idea. The redhead often complained about how picky he was about her clothes, how much he insulted her and how much he isolated her. If there was one good thing, he had never hit her or harmed her physically…up until tonight anyway. Frowning heavily, the raven haired woman found herself thinking back.. Candice had pointed out that, Edge had been aiming for Lita's neck…and just as most everyone knew, Lita had suffered a serious neck injury before. But was Edge really that much of an asshole that he'd try to break her neck? Granted, she would never call the man a saint, but…certainly he couldn't be that cruel.. Could he? At this point, Victoria wasn't sure what to think…all she knew was that one of her closest friends was hurt…and that someone was in dire need of an ass kicking. Her mind clouded, Victoria gingerly settled in, eyes falling on the empty bed across from her…the empty space only serving as a reminder. Lita was supposed to be there.

The next morning, Chris Masters was woken up by the sound of someone pounding against the door. "Shit…" he moved slowly from his bed, knowing who was on the other side of the door. "Dude, you're going to break the door."

"Then you damn well better open it, Masters."

Quickly, he undid the deadbolt and the lock. "Before you explode, let me--"

"You were supposed to be protecting her," the man in the doorway growled. "I trusted you to keep her safe!"

"Dude!" Chris held up his hands in defense, "I did what I could, alright? You know I can't walk out there with her."

His eyes narrowed as he pushed his way past, "Where in the hell is that good for nothing bastard?" His hands clenched, "when I get my hands on him…"

Chris backed into his hotel room slowly, even if he wasn't pissed off at him…that still didn't mean he was safe. "If I knew, I'd tell you.." An eyebrow raised as another man entered the hotel room. "Why are you here?"

"Because, someone had to drive." Randy Orton tossed down his jacket, "make sure that he didn't get a speeding ticket."

Chris nodded slowly, the young wrestler finally glancing at the clock. "It's 6:30 in the morning…what did you two do, drive all night?"

Randy raised an eyebrow at the other bed, "Will he say anything?"

Chris shook his head, "He sleeps with earplugs in, so he can't hear a damn thing right now." He picked up his cell phone, pressing a few buttons to bring up the menu. "I'll call Victoria, she wrote down the room number so.."

Since his Smackdown co-worker really wasn't in the mood to talk yet; Randy sent Chris a questioning look. "How bad was it?"

Chris frowned slightly, flipping the phone shut with a flick of his wrist. "Possible grade three concussion, stitches for the gash on her forehead, whiplash symptoms from the blows to the back."

Randy grimaced, taking a seat on the windowsill. "That bad, huh?"

"It would've been worse, if me and Victoria hadn't gotten there.." Chris turned his attention to the door at the sound of light knocking. "Asshole was trying to snap her neck."

Randy frowned, "Why'd she do it…. I mean, get in the way like that."

"To protect Ric," Chris replied as he opened the door, "she had something about he would do the same."

"You're here early," Victoria commented quietly. "Lillian's meeting us in the lobby, possibly Trish too." Hesitantly, she made her way closer, "she'll be alright, Dave.."

The Animal shook his head, "It shouldn't have happened, Vicki.. She shouldn't have done something that stupid."

"I know that Dave, but.. She was looking out for Ric." Hesitantly, Victoria placed a hand on his tense shoulder. "You understand that, don't you?"

He nodded shortly…of course he understood why. Ric was like a father to them. "I just need to see her.. Make sure she's alright…let her know I'm here."

"We'll go now," Victoria jammed her hands in her pants pockets. "Are you two coming along or what?"

Chris nodded abruptly, "I'll meet you in the lobby, I gotta get dressed so.."

"I drove us here," Randy tossed the keys in the air. "And I'd like to see her…promise her that she'll get Edge's head on a silver platter."

Victoria arched an eyebrow, "A silver platter is too good… I was thinking a pole would be more suitable."

As intended; Dave, Victoria, Chris and Randy met up with Lillian in the lobby; Chris going with Dave and Randy to the hospital to see the redheaded Diva.

"Can I help you?" A bespectacled woman behind the desk asked as the group approached.

"We're here to see Amy Dumas please." Dave cleared his throat, forearms resting on the countertop. "I'm family."

The elderly woman nodded, "Dumas…ah yes, she was admitted last night.. Poor thing, woke up screaming early this morning." Glancing upwards, she offered them a warm smile. "She's down the hallway, room 234."

Dave sent a warning glare to Randy before they set off. "If you even think about--"

"I wasn't going to, chill.," Randy jammed his hands in his pockets. "I've grown up since then and besides… now I know that she's your sister."

With that out of the way, the group of superstars made their way down the hallway; Lillian, Victoria, Chris and Randy waiting in the hallway so Dave could see his sister first. Through the glass, they could see the I.V hooked up to their friend, along with another to monitor her heartbeat and another that was providing oxygen. Thanks to the nurse at the front, they at least knew that she had regained consciousness at some point during the early hours of the morning. And while that didn't take away all of their worry, it did help alleviate some of it. They continued to watch as Dave pulled a chair close to the bed, one of her small hands dwarfed in his larger ones. It was at that point that they turned away, not wanting to intrude too much on the scene playing out in the hospital room. Victoria did end up asking about what Dave was referring to earlier.. The Legend Killer informing them all that, when he had first met Lita, he had hit on her…repeatedly. That had come to an end when Dave had threatened to spoon feed his family jewels to him. Whatever the case, the four remained in the hallway until Dave stepped out briefly, letting them know that Lita was asking for Victoria and Chris. He also let Randy know that Ric was in the hospital room…and awake if he wanted to visit. And while they went inside, Dave and Lillian waited in the hallway.