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, Lilian/Batista, Victoria/Tyson Tomko, Trish/Jeff, Candice/Not telling, Maria/Not Telling

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

Notes: skipping over a few days, so it's Saturday (the day before Revolution) that this chapter occurs. I'm aware that the title change was very last minute, but I'm pretending it wasn't.

-x-x-x-

While her time with Victoria and Tyson hadn't been entirely peaceful, things at her brother's house were far from peaceful. And it wasn't that Chris, Rey and Randy were purposely being obnoxious… far from it. Just with the mix of personalities, and the fact that she was the lone female, things were interesting. Lilian had said she would try to stop by, but so far, she hadn't.. Dave and Lita figuring that the blonde woman would either stop by the day they left or she'd just meet them in Albany for Revolution. And speaking of the pay per view, initially, the redhead had thought that only one of them would be staying until New Year's Revolution.. .and that one person, logically, would have been Randy. But, Lita soon learned that Chris and Rey would also be staying.. The couch in the living room serving for one bed, Randy occupying the guest room while Lita had her own room. That left Rey with sleeping on the floor in either the guest room or Lita's room.. Dave searching through the basement for a sleeping bag so Rey wouldn't be sleeping directly on the hardwood surface. But, the sleeping arrangements weren't the real problem.. Not that there were any true problems to speak of, just a few…mishaps. For starters, the toilet seat was always left up.. Lita pointedly reminding them that she was here too.. And could they please keep that in mind. Dishes were usually left to pile in the sink, Dave requesting that his house guests please clean up after themselves. The last problem had come when they had taken their showers.. Dave, once again, taking charge of the situation…going so far as to stand in front of the door when his sister was in the bathroom. Aside from that, it hadn't been that bad.. Up until the last day, anyway, when Chris decided to question Lita about the pills she was taking. He had at least waited until everyone else was asleep.. The native Canadian having traded sleeping spots with Rey for that night. Of course, Chris had the good sense to not give any reasons as to why he had traded spots with Rey.. Informing the curious redhead that he was getting tired of sleeping on the couch. And somewhere in the back of her mind, Lita was almost tempted to call the past few days at her brother's house a sleepover… one odd sleepover that now found Chris Benoit sitting on a sleeping bag on the floor in her room.

Chris cleared his throat, waiting until Lita had finished brushing out her hair before he spoke. "Are you going to participate at Revolution?"

Lita shrugged, setting the hairbrush on the nightstand next to the bed. "They really don't have much planned for me right now, but…I'm going to be there. Don't know what I'll end up doing though."

The Crippler raised an eyebrow, "I thought you were cleared?"

The redhead gave a sharp nod, "I am and I have been for awhile now. But," the Diva's lips pressed into a thin line, she taking a good moment to settle herself on the bed. "There are a few complications."

"Complications?" Chris' brow furrowed in obvious confusion. "Is there something else wrong with your knee? Did you re-injure your neck?" Blue eyes darkened slightly when she wouldn't answer. "Did he do something to you?"

Quickly she shook her head, "it's nothing alright? Chris Masters looks out for me enough."

Chris almost frowned, not believing her fully but.. "How did Chris Masters get involved anyway?"

Lita almost smirked, "simple really.. Dave wanted someone to keep an eye on me, look out for me, you know? And after Taboo Tuesday, he figured that Chris would be the perfect candidate." Carefully, she drew her knees to her chest, "that's all there is to it.. Dave asked him, Chris accepted…or he was pressured into it, but…that's how he's involved."

He nodded shortly, blue eyes eventually settling on the medicine bottles. "Have you taken those yet?"

"Yes, I took them right after dinner." Lita swept her hair from her face, the white bandage still present. "I also changed the bandage, just like the release forms said."

Chris smiled just slightly at that, "I'm surprised that you're actually following those directions.."

Lita rolled her eyes, "well if I didn't then Dave would make sure I did.. I figured I might as well save myself the trouble and the extra headache."

Chris gave a slight nod of agreement, "I suppose that is true.. Though, I'm doubtful that Rey or Randy would leave you alone about it.."

"Or you?" Lita suggested with the tiniest hint of a smile. "Vicki was pretty on top of it, Tyson was even getting on my case.." The redhead wrapped her arms around her knees, "Vicki went so far as to take me to the drugstore, put the prescription on the counter.."

Chris smiled at that, "well it's a good thing that she did. Even though you should have done that on your own, something tells me that you wouldn't have." He waited a moment, blue eyes glancing between the Diva and the bottles of pills. "One is for pain and the other is for your cut?"

Lita nodded hesitantly, "that's right.. To make sure the cut or the stitches…either or I guess… to make sure it doesn't get infected."

"May I see it?" Chris shrugged when she her gaze turned skeptical, "I'm just curious.. It's not often that doctors will prescribe an antibiotic for stitches."

The Diva's lips pressed into a thin line, Lita taking her time before she gave a small nod. "Knock yourself out."

He merely smiled, lifting himself off of the sleeping bag to examine the labels of the prescription bottles…and just to his assumptions, that supposed bottle of 'antibiotics' wasn't what it seemed. "Multivitamins?" Chris squinted slightly, holding the bottle closer to his face. "Pre-natal vitamins? Lita.. Why are you--"

"I'm not pregnant," she told him quietly, her hair falling into her face as she rested her chin on her knees. "But, the doctors at the hospital apparently thought I could use it."

An eyebrow raised, Chris taking the bottle with him as he settled carefully on the bed. "So why are you taking pre-natal vitamins if you aren't pregnant?"

Purposely so, she turned her face away. "Because, they think I'm not getting the recommended amount of nutrients for a woman of my age and size."

Chris frowned heavily, finally taking a good look at the Diva.. Her arms bared to him, she did look thinner…"I thought you said he wasn't doing anything to you."

"He's not hitting me, Chris." Lita's voice fell quiet, tears welling in her hazel eyes. "He yells a lot, but he hasn't hit me."

The frown remained on his face as he moved so he could see her face. "But he is hurting you.. By yelling at you, by telling you all of these lies. He doesn't have to be hitting you to hurt you."

The Diva turned her face away from him, "Ric says I've changed…that I'm not who I used to be anymore." A soft sigh escaped her, "and he's right Chris.. I'm not who I used to be…I don't even know who I am anymore.."

"Lita," Chris shook his head, wishing he knew what to say but…"you.."

"Please don't.." Lita turned a teary gaze towards him, "not now."

-x-x-x-

As the tears started to fall from Lita's eyes, Chris moved closer to her; an arm wrapping gently over her shoulders. So many questions were running through his mind, but he knew that now obviously wasn't the time to ask them… not with the state she was in. Gradually, her shoulders started to shake as her tears continued to flow, the redhead curling into him; her face pressed against his chest. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Chris wondered if Dave knew about this… or if anyone knew about this for that matter. But, knowing Lita, it was unlikely that anyone knew up until tonight. And certainly, that bastard wasn't hitting her, but he was hurting her.. To the point where he nearly had broken her. Edge hadn't broken her physically, not counting the recent attack from RAW, but he had was slowly breaking her inwardly. Cruel words were chipping away at her spirit, at the inner being that used to be. Lita had been a carefree, vibrant woman and now.. Well, the Lita he had known wouldn't be crying like this, she wouldn't be like this period. The Lita he had known wouldn't have allowed for this to happen to her. A frown formed on his face, the Crippler making up his mind that Edge would pay tenfold for the damage he had caused to the redheaded Diva.. His attention turned to the door when it was nudged open, Dave's eyes falling solely on the sobbing form. Chris could only offer a shrug of his shoulders, knowing that Lita had to be the one to tell her story. The bed sank under the added weight, the redheaded Diva transferred from her spot on the bed to her brother's lap.

Dave kept his eyes on Lita, but spoke to Chris none the less. "He's going to pay… for everything that he's done to her."

Chris nodded sharply, "damn right about that. I just don't know why she didn't tell anyone.."

The Animal managed a slight smirk, "you know her pretty well, Chris.. I think you know the answer to that already."

"True," the Crippler sat back a touch, "I'm not sure if you heard anything but--"

"I wasn't eavesdropping.. Kept Randy from doing it though." Dave paused, looking up a moment to shift his gaze towards the door. And just as he was opening his mouth to say something, a quiet voice cut him off.

"Chris?"

Dave sent his sister a smile, "guess again Little Red." Carefully, he smoothed her hair from her forehead. "Do you want to sleep?"

Lita shook her head a fraction, sniffling miserably as she rested her head on his shoulder. "I can't."

"Li.." Dave frowned when she wouldn't look at him, "baby girl.. He can't get you. Even if that stupid shit knew that you're my sister…he would need to find the address and even if he managed that? I doubt he'd get any farther than the front door before Orton threw him out."

Her head shook against his shoulder, "but Revolution…I still--"

"You don't have to walk out with him, you don't even have to be in the same locker room with him." The Animal kept his voice firm, but gentle enough.. "I'll be there, Rey will be there, Chris will be there and Randy will be there." He ran a hand through her hair, "you'll be with us all night, I promise."

"What about Monday?" She lifted her face from his shoulder, hazel eyes watery and wide with fright. "D.. I'm still … that contract…"

Dave lifted his free hand up, wiping away a few of the tears that trailed down her cheeks. "Stephanie is working on that. And you know Chris Masters will be there on Monday. He won't let anything happen to you.." Shrugging marginally he added: "Or I'll kick his ass."

Chris frowned, "it's too bad we can't be there on Monday as well.. Just to be on the safe side."

The World Heavyweight Champion rolled his eyes, "young and stupid wants to be there…I doubt we'll be able to be there though.. Unless Stephanie can think of something, give us a good reason."

"Or we just go with my suggestion and crash RAW." Randy spoke up from his spot in the doorway. "Stephanie did say that the RAW vs. Smackdown rivalry was starting again, right? And if we're showing up at Revolution, I think it would make perfect sense for us to be there the following night." He smirked as he stepped walked inside the room, "and I'm not young and stupid.. I prefer young and occasionally reckless."

Dave shook his head, "I'll stick with my original assessment, thanks. It suits you better."

Randy rolled his eyes, waiting until he had reached the bed, standing in front of the three. "So, what exactly are we doing at Revolution?"

Dave shrugged, "oh I don't know Randy.. I figured we'd bring flowers, hire a singing telegram or something like that.. Let that shit know we care." An eyebrow raised, "weren't you paying attention on Tuesday? We show up right after the title change…confront the newly crowned champion and--"

"He's losing?" Lita blinked slightly, her gaze locking with her brother's. "Or do you have a vendetta against Cena?"

Dave shook his head, "no problems with Cena…but yes, shit head is cashing in his money in the bank after the Chamber match."

The Diva frowned, "seems like something he would do.."

Randy nodded, "unfortunately yeah, but.. There's not much that can be done about that, you know?" He frowned then, "but it also means that we can't do any physical harm tomorrow… or not too much anyway."

Dave smiled grimly, "speak for yourself, kid.. I'm leading the charge. You, Chris and Rey are just there for show." His expression waxed serious, "I'm expecting for you and Chris Masters to keep an eye on her tomorrow."

Randy raised an eyebrow in question, "what about Rey and Chris?" He nodded to the Crippler, "they're supposed to be there too.."

"I know that Randy," Dave rolled his shoulders slightly, "they're coming with me… while I have a little talk with one walking piece of shit."

The Legend Killer gave a mock pout at that, "oh sure.. Leave me out of the fun stuff."

Dave smirked then, "you just consider yourself lucky that I trust you enough to keep an eye on her." His voice grew stern: "if anything happens to her, I am holding you personally responsible, understand?"

His trademark cocky smirk crossed his face, "like I'd let anything happen to her. Please, that asshole won't get anywhere near the locker room."

"I'm holding you to that," Dave told him seriously. "I don't want her walking around tomorrow without one of you."

"I'm sitting right here," an indignant, but quiet voice piped up. "I can take care of myself, D."

Randy feigned hurt, "and miss the opportunity to spend time with me? I see how it is.."

Lita rolled her eyes, "I'm only saying.. I don't need a babysitter. I can take care of myself."

Chris, Dave and Randy exchanged an incredulous look at that; her brother commenting first: "Are you so sure about that, Li?"

The redhead sniffled again, her face disappearing in Dave's shirt. Lita's resolve was crumbling, her walls were tumbling down and the muffled voice spoke volumes to the three listening. "No." Slim hands curled into the fabric, "I don't want to be there tomorrow, I don't want to be at RAW."

Dave rubbed small circles on her back, "Little Red.. We aren't going to let him hurt you anymore. But, if you want us to really help…we need to know what's going on."

Randy knelt down so he was more or less eye level, or he would be if Lita was looking at him. "Li.. We know we haven't been there as much as we'd like, trust me, that pisses me off and we didn't mean for that to happen." He rested a hand on her shoulder, "can you talk to us? Or have Chris Masters talk to us or something?"

She lifted her face long enough from her brother's shirt to shake her head. "Not tonight.." Hazel eyes shifted to Chris, "I…could you--"

Chris nodded, "I'll keep it to myself. I think your brother should hear it from you anyway, Li."

"Thanks Chris.." Her head tilted upwards so she was gazing at Dave. "I'm sorry.."

"Sorry for what Li?" He held her closer to his form, "you should know there is nothing you should ever have to apologize to me for…you're my sister."

Lita's breath caught in her throat, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry for being so weak.."

Dave smiled gently to her, "baby girl.. You aren't weak.." He held up a hand when her mouth started to open, "you're just lost. But you aren't weak.. If you were really weak? You wouldn't have stood up to that miserable bastard in the first place." Giving a slight nod to Randy and Chris, he continued: "we're going to help you, Li.. And Chris Masters, Rey, Vicki, Tyson, Trish, Stephanie, Rob, Stacy, Jeff.. We all care about you and we won't let you get away from us that easily."

The ghost of a smile made it's way to her face. "You forgot Ric.." Lita yawned suddenly, "I think I can sleep now."

Dave stood, cradling her to his chest, "do you want someone to stay with you?" A frown touched his lips as he tried to move the covers back with his foot. "I can stay if you want Li, Chris already has the sleeping bag set up in here and--"

"I'll just move my pillow and a few blankets in here," Randy offered as he tossed the covers back. "I'm thinking Dave really wouldn't appreciate me sharing the bed with you."

The Animal smirked, gently setting the Diva on the bed. "And I was beginning to think that you were still as oblivious as ever." He tugged the covers back over his sister, assuring himself that she was comfortable. "Well? It's up to you Li, if you want, we can even drag Rey in here."

Lita rested her head on the pillow, another yawn escaping her. "I'd like that…Rey can share the bed.."

Dave nodded his approval to that, "that sounds like a good plan to me.. I'll go get Rey, we'll figure out everything else. You get some sleep. Our flight isn't until the afternoon."

Randy approached the nearly sleeping Diva, dropping a quick kiss to her cheek. "Good night, Li." Glancing up, he just caught Dave's amused smirk. "What? I can't give her a kiss goodnight?"

Chris shook his head as the three exited the bedroom temporarily. And while Dave collected Rey and a few more pillows and blankets, Randy deposited the bedding from the bed he had been using on the floor. Just as Lita had decided, Rey was the lucky one out of the three, the Cruiserweight settling himself in the bed with the redheaded Diva. Chris, of course, had the sleeping bag which left Randy and Dave with pillows and blankets. But as tired as they all were, the four males stayed up most of the night discussing the sleeping redhead. Also included in their late night conversation, the many ways they were going to make Edge pay for what he had done. Granted, only Chris knew about one of the bigger things, but the physical attack that had occurred earlier this week was already reason enough. Added to that, Dave could plainly see that his sister had changed at the hands of that blonde bastard. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that things weren't exactly kosher…but, unfortunately or perhaps fortunately, the Animal didn't know the extent of the situation. Not that it would matter too much anyway, since he already intended to harm Edge in as many ways as legally possible.