Chapter 10

Chase sat in the living room, staring at the television. She always watched her dad wrestle, but tonight, she had a different agenda.

Her younger sister, Maddy, sat beside her watching her watch the screen. "What's his name?" Maddy asked causally flipping through Hello! magazine.

"What are you talking about?" Chase snapped irritably.

"You've been smiling since you came home. Unless Daddy bought you a house or a yacht, the only other explanation is that you met a guy. Does he go to your school?" She asked as Alli walked into the room and sat between them.

"Dad bought you a yacht?" Alli asked, dogging the wad of paper Maddy had thrown at her.

Chase looked at her sisters. They couldn't be more opposite. To start, Madison like Allin had dark hair and dark eyes. They both looked like little female versions of her dad. Madison had dimples like hers; a trait they got from their mom, but that was about the only thing they had in common. Besides the physical difference, they were as different as night and day. Chase was the smart one. She was always studying and she really played up to that Daddy's little girl thing. Madison was the boy crazy one. She was the child that snuck out of the house and partied like there was no tomorrow. She didn't really care about anything, except being popular. Then there was Allin. She was the tomboy. Out of the three of them, she was the most likely to become a WWE Diva. She was certainly pretty and rough enough. If there was any sport, Allin could play it. She lived on the basket ball court, track, soccer field; you name it, she did it.

"I can't wait to move out." Chase said turning back to the TV.

"I'm getting your room when you go." Maddy smiled looking back down at her magazine.

"The hell you are. Where am I going to sleep when I come home on break?" Chase asked.

"You can get Alli's room. She's moving into mine." Maddy said.

"Nobody's moving." Emily, their mom chimed in from the kitchen.

Maddy poked out her tongue at her mom's voice. "So, what's his name?" Maddy asked again. Chase had been dying to tell her all about Jeff, but she couldn't with Alli in the room. She covered Alli's ears pulling her head into her lap. Jeff Hardy Chase mouthed; causing both girls to scream and kick their feet on the floor.

"Oh my God. Tell me everything." Maddy said throwing her magazine on the table.

"Get off me!" Alli yelled pulling Chase's hands off her head. "I don't wanna hear about your stupid boyfriend anyway." She stomped into the kitchen with her mom.

Just as Chase was about to tell Maddy all about Jeff, he came on the screen. Chase couldn't control her grin. He looked so good. He wore a black mess shirt and baggy black pants. He had his hair pulled back in a ponytail, letting the blue in the front of his hair stand out. He had strange designs shaped into his beard. He definitely looked like Jeff Hardy the wrestler, not like Jeff that she had hung out with the past few days.

Both girls watched in silence as Jeff walked down the ramp, waving at the fans cheering for him. Chase made detailed notes about every movement he made as he wrestled Rob Conway. He moved gracefully, jumping off ropes, spring boarding his body into the air. His cat like movements as he crawled across the ring to pin Rob made her heart pound.

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Dave Batista pulled his shirt down over his head. The match had gone well. As planned, he ended up in a DQ against his Bobby Lashley. The two big men were merciless at throwing each other around the ring. But wrestling Bobby took a lot out of him. He was exhausted. All he wanted to do was to get back to the hotel and get some sleep. They had to be in San Francisco by one the next day and he knew it would be a long trip. He stretched and started to pack his duffel bag.

"Hey Rainbow," Dave heard Hunter yell from the other side of the locker room. He immediately looked up. "Have fun with Chase yesterday?" Hunter looked at Dave, who was now looking at a stunned Jeff Hardy.

How the fuck he find out I was with her? Jeff asked himself.

"Hunt man, leave him alone." Randy said stepping in front of him. John had told Randy how Hunter had treated Britain and that he had gotten Chase in trouble. The last thing he wanted was for Hunter to make Dave kill Jeff. He liked Jeff. He had only met him a few times, but seemed like was alright.

"No, Randy, I won't leave him alone. I saw you drop her off at the corner, just before you pulled into the lot. You even got a kiss. Way to sneak around." He said approaching Jeff holding up two thumbs up.

"What I do and who I do it with is none of your fuckin' business." Jeff said approaching Hunter.

"But it's his business. Especially since you're doing it with his daughter." Hunter said smiling at Dave.

One part of Dave's brain tried to be rational, it really did. But the rest of his body wasn't listening. Before he knew what he was doing, he had grabbed Jeff and pinned him up against the lockers. He hardly felt Matt, Randy and John trying to pull him off of Jeff. "I'll tell you this one time and one time only. Stay the fuck away from my daughter." He said with is face inches from Jeff's, his voice firm and unwavering.

"You're daughter's old enough to make her own decisions." Jeff said his voice just as firm. He didn't back down from Dave's gaze, he held his ground and Dave's arm as it pressed against his chest. "Get your fuckin' hands off me."

"You touch her and I'll fucking kill you!" Dave yelled slamming Jeff against the lockers again. The door handle of one locker made contact with Jeff's lower back, sending a sharp pain throughout.

Jeff didn't flinch at the pain; he remained calm and kept his gaze firmly focused on Dave.

Hunter stood back laughing as John and Randy pulled Dave off of him. "Let him go, bro. Get your shit and go." Randy said into Dave's ear.

Dave grabbed his bag and shot a disgusted look at Hunter who was still laughing. He turned to Jeff and pointed his index finger. "One time..." He said before bursting through the door.

Britain had been standing in the hall outside the locker-room talking to Kristal when Dave came out and grabbed her by the arm. "Let's go." He said, practically dragging her down the hall.

Kristal stood by shocked. Dave was always so calm, even when he was in a bad mood he was calm. She watched as Britain wrenched her arm free and yelled at him. "What the fuck is your problem?" Britain asked stopping in the middle of the hall.

"I'm ready to go." He snapped. She almost jumped back. He had only ever raised his voice at her one time before. That was not supposed to happen again.

"Ok, I don't know what just happened in there, but you're not taking it out on me. You don't grab me, like some Neanderthal." She said placing her hands on her hips.

I'm not in the mood for this shit, right now.. He knew if he said it, he would have to listen to her bitch at him all night. "Look, I'm sorry. Can we go now?" He asked, trying to soften his voice, but his face was growing more impatient.

She raised her eyebrows. "Are you taking a tone with me?" She took a step back to look him up and down. What was the hell was his problem? Maybe he had forgotten who he was or something; she was definitely going to remind him.

He had to admit, that was one of the things he loved about her. She didn't back down from anything, no matter who or what it was. She demanded respect and he either going to give it her, or he would be without her. He noticed, Ric, John and Hunter standing outside the locker room looking at them. That's all he needed, an audience. Ric and John had actually come out to make sure he had left, while Hunter was just there to enjoy his handy work.

"You know. Maybe you should go back to the hotel by yourself. I'll get a ride with someone else. I think you need time to calm down." She said walking away from him.

"Britain...I'm tired. I'm not in the mood for this shit right now. Can we just leave, please?" He called out as he watched her walk back toward the locker room throwing up her hand to dismiss him. "FUCK!" He yelled throwing down his bag. "Britain...Britain!" He called after her, but she walked into the Diva's locker room. "Son of a bitch!" He picked up his bag and barged through the double doors.

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"You don't listen do you? I told you to leave that girl alone. Now you got Evolution plus one on your ass! Damn, Jeff, what the fuck did you do to that girl?" Matt turned and looked down at his brother who was holding an icepack against the bruise on his back. Jeff shrugged. "You can have any girl you want. And you had to go screw with Dave Batista's daughter. What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"Calm down, Matt. I didn't do nothin' to her. I just spent some time with her. Why is this such a big deal to everybody?" Jeff asked shaking his head.

"Dave's not a bad guy. It's Hunter you gotta watch out for. He's a real asshole. He'll pump Dave's head so full of shit that he'll come after you." Matt paced the floor. "You gotta leave her alone."

It was that simple. All Jeff had to do was not ever speak to Chase again, problem solved. Only, Jeff wanted to talk to Chase, he wanted to get to know her better. That may have been a problem to everyone else, but it wasn't for him. "No. I'm not gonna leave her alone. I like her Matt; it's that simple. We're both adults and anythin' we do or don't do is between us. There's nothin' you, Hunter or Dave himself can do about it." Jeff said shifting his position on the bed.

"I can't protect you Jeff. After tonight, you go back on the road with those assholes from Raw. At least I'll be able to watch Dave, but like I said...Hunter's the problem. Just promise me, you'll leave her alone." Matt looked over at Jeff who was smiling. "You don't think do you? Jesus Jeff..."

Jeff reached in his pocket to grab his phone. He smiled at the number, completely ignoring Matt. "Hey Chase. How was your flight?" He said into his phone.

Matt shook his head in anger and walked through the adjoining doors, slamming it behind him. He looked at Ashley who was sitting on the bed. "He's gonna get himself killed."

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Britain rode back to the hotel with John and Randy. They filled her in on what happened in the locker-room. She couldn't help but to feel like it was partly her fault. If she hadn't covered for Chase, Hunter would have never seen them together. "Why do you hang out with him?" She asked turning to look at John.

John shrugged. "Hunter's not a bad guy; he just has this side of him...he gets in these moods..." He couldn't figure out what exactly he was trying to say. He really didn't know why he hung out with him anyway.

"He's a bully. Only he gets other people to do his dirty work..." She said, "And I don't believe Dave. That's so not cool."

"He was just mad." John smiled. "I'm sure Jeff's ok."

"So that makes it better. Because he was mad he can just take it out on Jeff, he can just embarrass me like that? Fuck that." She said getting mad all over again. She was trying to ignore her cell phone that was ringing for the third time. Each time, she knew it was him.

"Are you going to answer that?" Randy asked pointing to her phone from the back seat.

Britain huffed, then opened her phone. "What?...I don't want to talk to you right now...yeah...well you know I didn't come here to spend time with you, when you're acting like a child...whatever..." She paused listening to him talk. John and Randy could hear him through her phone. "You need to lower your voice...I'm not one of your kids, you will not talk to me like that...yeah... well, maybe I don't want to stay with you tonight...I don't threaten David, you know me better than that...look, I'm not having this conversation right now...call me back when you get yourself together." Ultimately tired of his the sound of his voice, she snapped the phone shut.

"Damn, you ain't no joke." John said laughing. It was funny; this 5'8" 120 pound woman had Dave Batista on a leash. She was definitely the one that wore the pants in their relationship; he couldn't stop laughing.

"It's not funny John. I don't like him like this. He just makes me so angry sometimes." She said clinching her phone. She remained silent for the rest of the ride, wondering what was in store when and if she went back to the suite.

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Jeff hardly felt the bruise on his back anymore. He was so happy that he talked to Chase; he could have just had surgery and wouldn't have felt it. He walked toward the door and opened it. He was surprised to see Britain standing in the hallway and he moved to the side to let her in. He listened to her as she apologized for being the reason Dave zapped out on him.

"It's not your fault. I knew what I was doin'." He said sitting on his bed. He told her that he talked to Chase and how pissed she was to hear what her father had done. Then he listened to Britain apologize some more. Just as she started to leave, he stopped her. "Are you gonna see Chase for her birthday?" he asked.

She nodded. "Can you give her this for me and tell her happy birthday?" He handed her a poster mailing tube which was carefully sealed on both ends.

Britain took the tube and told him she would.

"Thanks." He said as he closed the door behind her. He laid in his bed and smiled, imaging Chase's face when she opened his gift.

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Britain sat the mailing tube down by their bags that were packed and sitting at the door. She made her way to the bedroom, where Dave was sitting in the chair facing the balcony. He turned around when she turned on the light. Without saying a word, she walked over to the dresser and took off her earrings and watch.

He walked over to her, with his head down and his hands in his pockets. "Babe..."

She ignored him and walked into the bathroom. She watched him through the mirror as he leaned against the doorway watching her brush her teeth. All this hovering was making her angry. She rinsed her mouth and turned around to face him.

"What?" She snapped.

"Babe...Britain… I'm sorry." He said walking toward her.

"You're sorry for what?" She asked folding her arms, leaning against the sink.

"I'm sorry I grabbed you, I'm sorry I yelled at you, I'm sorry I embarrassed you..." He lowered his head and softened his voice, "I'm sorry."

"And are you sorry for what you did to Jeff?" She refused to give into those big brown puppy dog eyes.

When he didn't answer, she knew his response. She walked passed him and back into the bedroom.

"What do you want me to say?" He stood with his hands down by his sides. "I over reacted? She lied to me; she snuck out and saw him anyway, after I strictly told her not to."

"What did you expect her to do? You're trying to run her life. She's a grown woman!" This conversation was going nowhere, and she was tired of having it. She took off her clothes and put on a t-shirt before angrily pulling back the covers and getting in the bed.

He started to say something but stopped. He knew that she wouldn't listen anyway.

"Can you turn off the light?" She asked turning her back to him.

Reluctantly, he clicked the light and retreated to the room that was Chase's. He knew that tonight, he would be sleeping by himself.

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The drive from LA to San Francisco had been a quiet one. Britain had watched the uncomfortable way Dave laid on the small bed that was the room he took. She knew he didn't sleep well. She, on the other hand, enjoyed the entire king size bed, making sure to spread out across his side.

After he had put their bags in the truck, she had taken the keys without asking him and made her way to the driver's seat. She waited while he shook hands with Ric, Randy and John; she watched as he nodded toward Hunter. She knew that he missed being on Raw, because he wasn't around them. But they saw each other at least once a month a Pay-Per-Views so that was better than nothing.

To her surprise Randy, Ric and John walked with him to the truck. She heard Ric talking to him. "You need to apologize." Ric said pulling Dave aside.

"I did, she won't listen." He was frustrated. Although they didn't argue much, when Britain got mad she was stubborn. He remembered the time that they fought because she had waited up all night for him to get to her house, only for him to call the next day and say he was still with Hunter and wasn't coming. She didn't talk to him for two weeks. Her resolve was unstoppable.

"You need to make her listen. She's a good woman and you fucked up. You got to tell her you understand what you did was wrong and make it right." Dave looked at Ric in shock. Here was this man that couldn't keep a relationship with a woman if his life depended on it. But what he said made sense.

"It was an argument. It's not like we're gonna break up or anything." Dave said fully understanding the severity of Britain's temper.

"Yeah, but it was an argument about your kid and Hardy. You were young once; did you do what your parents told you to?" Ric patted Dave's shoulder, "All I'm saying is, be prepared to have more arguments over this same subject. Hardy didn't look like he was ready to throw in the towel. You don't want to have another fight with this one not resolved."

Dave watched as Ric walked away and over to the truck. Britain climbed out of the seat and hugged her. "He loves you, you know that?"

She nodded. She knew full well how he felt; she felt the same way. But he just made her so angry sometime. She was always taught that you don't say things in anger, because you can't take them back.

John hugged her next and kissed her on her cheek, "Take it easy champ. Don't hurt him too bad." He laughed tightening his grip. She kissed Randy on the cheek.

"You coming to Tampa?" Randy asked holding her hand. She shrugged and hugged him.

Dave said goodbye again and got in the passenger's seat.

She was content listening to his slight snore as she drove. Her mind ran over a million things. I came here to spend time with him. We hardly see each other as it is, and I'll be damned if we don't end up fighting. We get a week a month together, if that much and he has to screw it up. But he just looked so cute sleeping there. She decided during that drive that she would talk to him when they got to the hotel.

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Jeff text messaged Chase once he got to the hotel. The flight from LA to Sacramento was short, an hour and twenty minutes, but he still felt like it was an eternity since he had talked to her just before he got on the plane.

What r u doing 4 ur b-day? He typed. He smiled when she replied almost instantly.

Dinner. Mayb Universal Studios.

Can u come to Miami he wrote back.

Y? she asked.

Gonna b there 12. Raw on 14 days off. He typed walking up to his hotel room door.

Britain's there. Mayb I sta w/ her. Gotta c. She answered.

Call later; nap. He finished and closed his phone.

He really hoped that she could make it to Miami to see him. Even if they just went to the movies or to lunch, he would be happy. He just didn't want it to end.

It couldn't.