Chapter 5
Jake and Kenny met each other halfway through the tunnel. They both charge and wind up in a dirty boxing match both holding onto the other's head while throwing punches with the free hand. "Its a hockey fight guys," Tony yells. Jake gets free and slams Kenny into the wall. Round house kick by Riley and than he tosses Kenny out of the tunnel back to the arena area. Kenny gets up and backpedals to the ring. Kenny puts his hands up pleading for mercy. "Oh here come the troops from the back," Tony yells as the Good Brothers attack with Gallows hitting Jake in the head. "Gun Stun," Excalibur calls as Anderson hits his move on Jake. "Get him up!" Kenny yells as he exits the ring to get a chair. Kenny sets up the chair back in the ring than goes to pick up Jake in the One Winged Angel position. Kenny gets Jake up on his shoulders but Jake falls back and does a poison rana. Before the Good Brothers can react the lights go out and music starts to play.
"Its Darby Allin," Jim Ross yells as the Darby hits the ring and goes right after Gallows. Anderson is about to go after Darby but Jake is up and take out The Machine Gun with a leaping lariat. Meanwhile Darby hits a stunner like move on Gallows. With that Jake hits a super kick knocking Gallows over the top rope. Jake turns back to find Omega but Callis has comes out to once again pull Kenny to safety. The Good Brothers are also going to help carry Kenny to the back, but Jake climbs to the top rope and dives off taking all three up. Jake pounds on Kenny. "You want a match you got it be at Impact Wrestling on Tuesday!" Jake yells before getting up and walking off. "What did he say?" Tony asks. "Tony he just laid out the AEW champion and laid down the challenge," Excalibur says.
The next day
"Dad's home," I yell coming through the front door. "Hey welcome back," Madison says coming up to me. We kiss. "Where are the kids?" I ask. "JJ is at Gage's house he will be home for dinner. Hope is in her room... there was an incident at school," Madison says. "That doesn't sound good. What happened?" I ask. "Some little boy who happened to be watching Dynamite the night before told her that Kenny Omega broke her daddy's neck," Madison says. "Oh great," I say annoyed at this kid. "And than she hit him with a book and got in trouble," Madison says. "I'll go talk to her," I say. "Jake I'm not happy she hit the kid... but she is just scared her dad got hurt," Madison tells me. Now I am remembering one of the reason I stayed retired for so long. I didn't want my kids scared.
I head to Hope's room and find her sitting on her bed. "Hey kiddo," I say. She just looks at me. "Can I come in?" I ask. She nods. "So mom told about what happened. I get you were upset but we have talked about this. You can't hit people who make you mad," I say. "You do," she says with a lot of attitude for a young child. "Young lady," I warn. "Its true. Kenny Omega upset you and you hit him. Why can you do that and I can't?" I take a very deep breath. "Its hard to explain but its a very different thing when I do it and you do it," I claim. "So it's okay for you to lie and scare us," Hope says. I sit down on her bed and pull her into a hug. "I never want to scare you or mom or JJ. But Hope look at me. I'm fine okay," I say.
"This time. But you are going to keep wrestling," Hope says. "This is a one time thing I promise," I say. "You said that last time. And you said you were retired back when you and Mom were yelling," She says. "When mom and I were yelling?... Oh do you mean back at the old house?" I ask. When I first found out my back was shot I didn't take the advice of the doctor to well. Madison wanted me to retire I wanted to press on. Hope over heard us yelling. As I struggled to carry her back to bed that is when it hit me I needed to retire. "Mom said you could wind up in a wheel chair. I don't want to be in a wheel chair," Hope says getting upset. I hug her again. "Hope listen to me please. And this is kind of hard for me to explain. But I need you to listen to me okay?" I ask. She nods.
"I shouldn't be wrestling. But my back has healed pretty well. I'm not at that much more of a risk than when mom wrestles. And I promise after this one and I stress one match I am done," I tell her. "Why do you have to wrestle once?" That is a good question. "You know how I told you not to hit people because its not nice? I also told you that you wouldn't like to get hit yourself," I try to explain. "I know," Hope says. "There is more. See when you hit someone it can lead to more. Well see now its more me," I say. "I don't understand dad," Hope tells me. "Its not easy to really understand. But because I started this fight with Kenny Omega I can't just stop. Because he won't. I've got to have this one match," I say. "What if he beats you?" She asks. "The beats me and I walk away. And I beat him I still walk away and tell him to worry about other things," I say. "Is this one of those a man's got to do what a man's got to do things they talk about on old TV shows?" Hope asks. "Yeah I guess it is."
Meanwhile
Tony Khan sat in his office having a meeting that was several weeks overdue. "Okay what do you want?" Tony asks. Don Callis spoke on behalf of the champion. "Well Tony when are you booking the match with Jake Reed?" "Jake Reed doesn't work for this company. Hell from I understand he doesn't have a contract anymore to wrestle for the company he does work for. Of course Don you know know given you are supposed to be helping to run Impact Wresting," Tony points out. "He doesn't he is simply supposed to be an announcer. But come Tony this is wrestling," Don says. "Why don't you just book it for Impact?" Tony asks. "Because I want to beat him in my house. Here in AEW," Kenny says.
Don pulls out a card and places it on Tony's desk. "That is his contact info. Go ahead give him a call I'm sure he's back home by now," Don claims. Tony picks up the card. "I think I'll wait till I'm alone," Tony says. "Likely for the best. Give him some time to unwind kiss the wife see the kids," Kenny taunts standing up to leave. Don follows him. "Sooner or later Kenny someone is going to make you pay for this, It might be Moxley, it might be Hangman, it might be one of the Impact guys," Tony Khan claims. "Ah ha ha ha ha," Kenny laughs before closing the office door.
Jake and Madison's Home the next day
I'm due to leave to pick up the kids from school in a few minutes. If I can just find my keys. "Okay I dropped off the kids, went to the store, than the gym. Came home and some how don't have my keys. Where the hell did I put them," I say to myself. "Again Jake?" Madison asks coming into the kitchen. "Yes again," I say annoyed with myself. "Did you check your jacket pocket?" Madison asks. "They wouldn't be in my jacket pocket I only put my keys in my jeans," I say. She goes to the chair I hung my old leather jacket on and pulls them out. "The one time I do it," I say as she laughs. "You better hurry you know bad the line gets," Madison says still laughing. I put on my jacket and head for car. I have this feeling I'm forgetting something. "nah I couldn't," I think.
With Madison five minutes later
Madison was in the middle of going over notes for her the next Impact broadcast. Just as she heard a phone ringing. Reaching for hers she saw it wasn't ringing. "Forgot his cell phone," She thinks getting up and finding Jake's on the counter. Caller id read Unknown Number. She ignored it and went back to her notes and than the land line rang. Same message on the caller id of Unknown Number. She debates picking it up and finally does. "Hello." "Hello… this is Tony Khan can I speak to Jake Reed," the very familiar voice says. "Is this a rib," Madison winds up saying out loud. "I can assure you it's not. Is Jake there?" Khan asks. "Ah no he's picking the kids up from school," Madison admits. "I understand. If you could get him to give me a call I would really appreciate it," Tony says. Madison's protective instincts flared.
"What do you wish to speak to him about?" "Well Madison I will be honest. Its time to book the match with Jake and Kenny. That is why I am calling," Tony admits. "Well sir I'll let Jake know and he will get back to you," Madison says wanting to end the call quickly. Tony Khan gives her his private line and lets her know Jake can call at any time. Madison puts the phone back in its cradle. "Well I knew this was coming," She thinks.
Later that night
Madison was putting the kids to bed. I had a surprise planned for her. As she comes down the steps I walk up to her and give her a kiss. "What was that for?" She asks smiling. "For being the best wife a guy could ask for. And I feel I don't tell I love you enough," I say. "I love you too Jake. And there is something I need to tell you," Madison says. "Forget about it let's just relax," I tell her. "Jake it's kind of important," Madison tells me. "Wait are you pregnant again?" I ask smiling. "No," She replies. "Okay than it can wait. Lets just relax," I say moving toward the sofa. "Its about Omega," Madison says. "Unless Omega is about to break down the door it can wait until tomorrow," I say.
"Tony Khan..." "What ever it is I'm sure I'll hear about it on his next paid ad. For now let's worry about this," I say pulling a box out of jeans pocket. I hand it to her. "What is this for?" "Our anniversary," I say. "Our anniversary isn't for months," She says. "Its the anniversary of the day you moved in with me," I remind her. "Oh right I remember. I was pregnant with Hope couldn't wrestle and the land lord was raising my rent. And you had that house," Mandy says. "That house you decided to move into with out asking me first," I remind her. "You had a reasonability to take care of me after getting me pregnant," She jokes.
"Hey it kicked off the best time of my life," I tell her. "Its been pretty good for me as well. I love you Jake," She says. "I love you too baby. Some cone on open the box," I urge. She pulls the ribbon off untying the bow. She opens the box. "Jake what a beautiful neckless," Madison says. I put it on her and kiss her neck. "She turned to kiss me for a one night we are just two happy people focused on each other. "I don't want lose you," Madison says. "No worries there," I say.
