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: one quick note about the pairings.. Lilian/Batista, Victoria/Tomko are the one's established.. The others listed will take happen in progress…and, where it concerns Hunter.. He is not married nor is he in a relationship. For sake of my plot, I'll say that he and Stephanie can tolerate each other but that's about it…

-x-x-x-

As the sun began to peak through the blinds on the window, the occupants of the hospital room started to stir.. Or at least a few of them did. Hunter, having the pure misfortune of being opposite the window started to wake first.. The blonde man opening an eye to glare at the two bodies still sleeping quite peacefully near the window. But, it wasn't like he could wake either man up without taking the risk of waking up the still sleeping Diva…so, instead, he turned to his other side.. Only to be met with the sight of Dave picking up the nearest object to throw at the two younger men sleeping in the chairs. Chris and Randy woke up with a start…both men starting to say something before they were silenced with a pointed look from Dave.. The man then making a gesture for one of them to shut the blinds before the redhead woke up. And with Chris and Randy starting to wake up, that left two sleeping…one of them being John Cena, who had one arm on the hospital bed to cushion his head. The other, of course, was Lita.. .the redhead starting to mumble in her sleep about something…though it was too soft for any of them to make any sense of it. Absently, Dave noted that his sister had somehow managed to keep the grip on John's hand.. The man known as the Animal still somewhat perplexed as to why John was there. Somehow, Dave's scrutinizing gaze caused a chain reaction from the other men.. But none of them commented on it, either because they didn't care or they didn't want to wake up Lita. Whatever the case, that was how John woke up…or rather, that was the sight he woke up to…four sets of eyes focused on him or in his general direction. Clearly confused, John blinked…asking why they were looking at him like he had committed some kind of crime…before Dave nodded to the joined hands on the bed. But, when John tried to extract his hand from the Diva's grasp.. She refused to give…even in her sleep, it seemed that the gesture brought her some form of comfort…or perhaps she thought it was a teddy bear or something similar.

Holding up his free hand, John sent a look to Dave. "It ain't my fault, alright? I tried to--"

Dave shrugged, his legs hanging down from the side of the hospital bed he was on…feet nearly touching the floor. "I'm aware it's not your fault.. And it's not a big deal.. I'm just a But that's not an issue.." Slanting a look to Hunter, Dave rolled his shoulders.. "I'm just wondering how long you're sticking around.. I know Li wants to check herself out of here, but, her 'younger' brother won't let her do that…will he?"

Chris blinked, momentarily confused before he nodded. "I'll make sure she stays here.."

Dave nodded sharply before his attention shifted back to John, "I just want to know how long you plan on staying here.. When me and Orton leave with Rey and Benoit, it's gonna be H and Masters staying behind…Vicki, Lil, Ty, Ric.. They're more than likely coming to visit her and--"

John raised an eyebrow, "so is my bein' here that big of an issue or something? If that's the case, I'll jus' leave now.."

The older man shook his head, "it's not an issue.. If it was an issue I would've asked you to leave last night.. Friend or not, your ass would've been kicked out."

"So--"

Dave paused, settling back on the bed a bit, a frown on his features as he studied his sister's sleeping form…hoping she'd stay asleep just a little while longer. "When all of this shit with Edge started.. She pushed everyone away.. It didn't matter how close they were to her, it didn't matter if they wanted to help her… it was like she didn't give a damn anymore." Cracking his knuckles, the big man continued: "So, the fact that she's letting you touch her.. Someone she doesn't really know? I don't get it…it just doesn't make sense given the way she's been acting."

John made a face at that, the wrestler clearly confused but.. "I ain't really sure what you're tryin' to say here.. I mean, I wouldn't do nothing to piss you off, I can assure ya that.. I ain't that stupid."

"I wasn't implying that," Dave assured first, pausing when his sister started to stir a little…but thankfully, remained sleeping. "What I'm trying to say…she doesn't let people in to begin with.. And then she started pushing everyone who was close to her away." An eyebrow raised then, "if she lets you get close to her…there's a good chance she will try to push you away."

Cena blinked, "so are you sayin' I shouldn't get close to her or something? That's gonna be kinda hard if the two of us are working together for a little while…or however long you want this contract to go on for."

He shook his head, "what I'm trying to say is this.. If she lets you get close to her, consider yourself lucky because it's not something that she does often.. And if she lets you get close to her? Don't let her push you away…and don't hurt her. Because I will say this once…if you hurt her, you will have me on your ass like white on rice.. And I can guarantee that extends to every other person sitting in this room."

Cautiously, John glanced over to Chris and Randy then to Hunter.. Noting that they all seemed to be in agreement.. "I take it that ain't a threat…not that I was intendin' on puttin' her in harms way or something like that anyway.. Look, I get what you're sayin' and you ain't got nothing to worry 'bout.. I ain't gonna hurt her."

Dave opened his mouth to reply to that, only to shut it when his sister started to stir again…a look sent over to Triple H. "You had said you wanted to talk to her?"

The Game nodded shortly, "just for a minute…make sure she knows that I'm here and that I'm not here to hurt her, like someone seems to think."

Randy rolled his eyes, "I don't think, I know.. You don't care about other people, Helmsley, unless it's going to benefit you in some way or another."

Dave shook his head, hopping down from the bed then.. "why don't we get some coffee.. And call the girls, Benoit and Rey…let them know they should be able to see her later this morning."

Chris was on his feet first, the young wrestler casting Randy a pointed look when the Legend Killer seemed to be staying put.. And where John was concerned, it was just a matter of Hunter switching spots with him, taking the Diva's hand in both of his as the room cleared.

Blinking, Lita glanced first to the wall…hazel eyes eventually falling on the man sitting at her side. "Hunter?" She winced as she tried to sit up further on the pillows, "where's D…and Chris and--"

He smiled slightly, "they're just grabbing a cup of coffee downstairs." Hunter removed one hand to tuck a few errant strands of hair from her face, "how are you feeling Li?"

"Like shit," she stated honestly, the redhead's voice noticeably raspy. "I don't remember anything past a certain point.. I can't remember the match ending.."

Hunter frowned just slightly, "you…he speared you into a ladder, Li.."

There was something pleading in her hazel eyes, "help me remember…please. I know D won't, I don't think Chris will but--"

"Red, it was pretty brutal.."

"Hunter please.." Lita shut her eyes, either from the pain or…well, the blonde man didn't really know what else. "I need to know."

He hesitated a moment before nodding, reaching out to touch her cheek. "Just let me talk to Dave first…I'm sure he'd want to know something like this.. And we both know how much of a temper he can have.."

"Okay.." Letting out a sigh, the redhead opened her eyes, but avoided any direct eye contact with the man.. "you can leave…if you want."

Hunter shook his head, "I'll stay with you.."

The Diva managed a tiny nod, her eyes starting to close, her next words echoing in Hunter's ears.. "I want this to end…all of it…to be free again.."

-x-x-x-

While Lita fell back asleep, Hunter stayed at her side.. Not really sure if she should be left alone…and not entirely sure if he wanted to leave her alone. By his estimates, the redheaded Diva had been left alone for far too long.. And sure, part of that was at her own doing but.. That didn't mean that she had to go through this alone for this long. It was clear to him and to anyone who cared enough to notice…she just wasn't herself anymore. She was a shell of what she used to be…even if some of that spark had come back, she was still a far cry from the Lita he knew. A spitfire who didn't take shit from anyone, man or woman.. And that was how he wanted to remember her, that was how he wanted to see her. It was paining him to see her like this…and if it was bothering him this much, he didn't even want to know how much it was bothering Dave. And speaking of Dave…the man known as the Animal was currently having one hell of a time trying to keep Randy at the table. The young wrestler still didn't trust Hunter, didn't like the fact that Hunter was in the room alone with the redhead…and generally just didn't trust the blonde man in the slightest. Even though Hunter's being there was accepted pretty easily by Chris, Randy was still trying to reason with Dave…trying to convince him that they didn't need the Game's help. But, despite his protests, Dave remained firm on Hunter helping them…trying to remain as calm as he possibly could when speaking with the Legend Killer. And while they argued, Chris took care of calling the Diva's.. John placing the call to Rey to inform those at the hotel that they could come see Lita when they wanted to. Aside from that, however, the two had remained pretty much silent since leaving the hospital room, though for separate reasons. In Chris's case…the young wrestler was just tired from sleeping in a very awkward position and from being elbowed more times than he cared to count by the wrestler that had been sleeping in the chair next to his. And in John's case…well, the former champion was thinking about what Dave had said earlier and what that really had to do with any present matter..

Dave crushed the empty Styrofoam coffee cup in his hand, "Randy.. If you don't shut up, your head is next." An eyebrow raised, "I don't give a shit if you don't like Hunter, I don't give a shit if you don't trust him.. Like it or not, we need his help. We don't know how much we're going to be on RAW, we won't be around at the house shows.. .and sure, there's Masters here and Cena, but with H? We can also keep that little mealy mouth slime, Bitchoff, in line."

Randy made a face, "and how are you so sure you can trust him, huh? He turned his back on me, there's no saying he won't turn his back on you and that he won't turn his back on Li."

Dave shook his head, "if you'd stop acting like a little brat and look at the facts.. If H was going to attack her, he would've done it last night. On top of that? I asked him for help.. He's been willing to help me since I joined Evolution.. He cares about her and he cares about what happens to her."

"But that doesn't mean that he couldn't change his mind, that doesn't mean that he might turn on her to get his hands on the title." Randy raised an eyebrow when Dave snorted, "you know it as well as I do, man.. His biggest obsession is becoming champion again. Do you honestly think friendship is going to mean anything to him?"

Dave pushed back from the table, counting backwards in his head to keep himself from harming his friend. "You don't know him, Orton…he's helped her before so there's no saying he won't help her again." Holding up a hand, he added: "this conversation is over. I want to see my sister."

Randy crossed his arms, a frown marring his handsome features. "I don't like this…Triple H is the type of person to stab anyone in the back, friend or not."

"I'm not asking you to like it Randy, I'm not even going to ask you to deal with it." Dave shrugged, jamming his hands in the pockets of his jeans. "All you need to do is face the facts.. We need his help." The older man raised an eyebrow, sending a pointed look at the Legend Killer, "and keep your mouth shut about this when we're back in that hospital room. The last thing Li needs to hear or see is you having one of your temper tantrums."

Chris Benoit paused in the doorway of the redhead's hospital room…not sure if he should really interrupt but.. "Is it alright if I come in?"

Hunter gave a slight nod, "she fell asleep about five minutes ago.. She was awake before that for about the same time, didn't say too much.."

Benoit nodded, seating himself in one of the chairs near the hospital bed. "Cena told us that she had another concussion."

"Among other mild injuries, yeah.." The blonde man shook his head, "if I had just gotten down there faster.."

"You did what you could which was more than anyone else, Helmsley." Benoit frowned, leaning forwards to rest his elbows on his thighs. "We were banned to the parking lot, Cena and Masters were banned from ringside.. Everyone else that we asked to help was locked up."

Hunter sent him a questioning look, "do you know how long this has been going on? How long he's been treating her like this? I mean.. I've seen bits and pieces here and there but…if I knew it was that bad, I would have gone after that little shit a long time ago."

Benoit shook his head, "she won't tell us anything so we only see what she'll let us see or whatever we can catch on television. Sometimes Vicki or Lil will tell us something but, for the most part, we're pretty much in the dark."

"She's hurting," a new voice chimed in from the doorway.. Victoria stepping inside, followed shortly by Lilian and Trish. "We see it a little, the few times she's able to escape to the Diva's locker room…I've heard her cry herself to sleep I don't know how many times in the past few weeks."

Trish wrapped her arms around her middle, "but no matter how many times we offer her our help? She won't take it.. She won't talk to us about anything anymore. And at first, I thought it was because of our past, you know? But we worked past that and now, I just don't know..."

Lilian sighed, squeezing the Women's champion's shoulder. "She's been doing it to all of us Trish…no matter how close we are to her." The ring announcer bit her lower lip, "she won't even talk to Dave. It's like, the closer you are to her? The more she tires to isolate you."

Dave cleared his throat before he stepped inside the room, "I ran into Rey on my way up.. He's in the gift shop right now with Masters, Orton and Cena…after that I got held up by one of those doctors.."

Hunter stood as the Animal got closer to the bed, "she fell back asleep not too long after she woke up.. And she wants to see the match."

The Animal shook his head, "I can't say I'm too surprised by that, though I wish she didn't want to see it." He frowned slightly, "she has to stay overnight again…and I know she won't be too happy about that either, but.. It does mean that after I'm done in Philadelphia, I can just head back here and take her home."

Victoria slanted a glance over, "we can take turns staying with her.. I wouldn't mind staying overnight if you need me to.."

"Thanks Vic.." Dave took one of his sister's hands in his. "Masters will stay with her overnight, make sure she doesn't try to sneak out of here or something.."

Victoria nodded, blinking after a moment. "Did you say that Rey was in the gift shop with Chris Masters, Randy and Cena?"

"Yeah.. To get some flowers for this dull room." Rolling his eyes, Dave added: "Rey's words, not mine.. He figured Li would like it better if it wasn't so…bright."

Trish blinked, "I can understand why Chris and Randy would be here but.."

Dave shook his head, "I don't get it either.. But, he's here. I doubt he'd attack her…or at least I don't think he would." Smirking slightly at Hunter, the big man rolled his eyes. "Though, Randy seems pretty convinced that you're up to no good."

Hunter shrugged it off without a care, "I can handle that… he and I just don't get along and I doubt we ever will. But, whether that little snot nosed brat likes it or not, I'm here to help her."

Before Dave could reply to that, a tired voice spoke up: "he's not that much of a brat anymore, Hunter.."

The blonde man raised an eyebrow, an amused smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "When he's acting like this? Trust me, yes he is Li."

The Diva gave a smirk of her own, "you just don't like him because he has just as much of an ego as you.."

Hunter shot her a mock look of hurt, "you wound me, Red.. But, I earned my ego.. He was born with his."

"Same difference Hunter.." Lita turned her gaze away from the blonde man, glancing around slowly. "Where's Chris, Randy and John?"

Dave gave her hand a light squeeze, "at the gift shop.. Rey's getting flowers, Randy's probably stocking up on chocolate since he seems to think that no one else remembers that you like to snack on those candy bars."

Lita nodded slightly, moving to sit up a bit on the pillows. "I can't go home yet, can I.."

"Afraid not, baby girl, but.." Dave nodded between Hunter and the RAW Diva's, "they'll be here.. Masters is sticking around overnight and I'm not sure what Cena intends on doing."

At that, the redhead nodded… chit chatting quietly with Trish, Victoria and Lilian until Rey, Chris Masters, Randy and Cena appeared.. Hunter opting to take a trip to the cafeteria at that moment. And while the Smackdown wrestlers did have to leave before lunch, the RAW superstars stuck around for the better part of the day.. With Chris Masters, Cena and Hunter staying the longest. Ric and Shawn stopped by briefly, along with Stephanie and Shane…Maria sending her regards with Shawn, while Candice stopped in when the RAW Diva's were leaving. All in all, the stream of visitors, while not too many.. Seemed to tire the redhead to a point.. Hunter suggesting that she try to take a nap at some point. But, instead of taking a nap like he had suggested.. The redhead was awake most of the day…dwelling on things but not speaking to anyone about them. It wasn't until Hunter and Chris left the hospital to get dinner that she finally allowed herself to cry…not aware of the fact that John was still in the hospital room until the man sat in one of the chairs next to her hospital bed. And that had been an accident on John's part, the former champion ready to leave when Chris and Hunter returned. Cena still wasn't sure why he had stuck around most of the day, nor was he sure why he was sitting next to her…but.. Something was telling him to stick around a little bit longer. Perhaps it was because she might be in pain, perhaps it was because he didn't want to leave her alone…or perhaps, it was because of the fact that when he sat down…Lita turned a teary gaze towards him, something pleading in those hazel eyes. For reasons unknown to them both, the redhead was silently asking for his help.. John taking one of her hands in his, using his free hand to wipe away some of the tears that were falling freely down her cheeks.