Chapter 80: Retribution
Dave looked to see Lauren's head moving, and heard her groaning softly. "Lauren?" he asked quietly, leaning closer to her.
She finally turned in his direction and slowly opened her eyes, "Hey." was all she managed to say. Dave kissed her hand and smiled sweetly at her.
"Hey kid. How ya feeling?" he asked her, tears still in his eyes.
"I'm pretty sore." she replied. As soon as she saw his face clear enough, she started crying. "I'm so sorry, I couldn't fight him, I tried but I couldn't. If I had never gone out with the girls I..." Lauren couldn't say anymore and started sobbing.
Dave didn't waste another second and gathered her into his arms. "Don't you do it, don't you dare even think that this was your fault." he growled. Lauren held him as tight as she could, despite the pain. When he let her go he wiped her tears away and kissed her lightly on the lips.
"I must look horrible," she whimpered.
"You know that's not possible." he smiled weakly, brushing a stray hair behind her ear. "You need to tell me...was it Brad that did this?"
Lauren stayed quiet a minute before nodding, seeing Dave bow his head. "Dave..." she started.
"I'm gonna kill him." he growled.
"Dave, I don't want to talk about it, please? Just...stay here with me. I don't want to be alone." she begged him, squeezing his hand in hers.
Dave looked at her and softly cupped her bruised cheek. "I'm not going anywhere." Lauren smiled and laid her hand over his, mouthing a 'thank you.'
After telling him what had happened, and using several pauses to calm him down, Lita and the others walked in. Chris's phone went off, so he took it out in the hall. After a moment, he tapped Dave on the shoulder and motioned his head out into the hall. The girls were too distracted with Lauren's retelling of what happened that they didn't notice.
"What's up?" Dave asked Chris.
"Kane just called me," he replied. "Apparently he's got something we need to take care of...right now."
"Chris I can't leave Lauren," Dave told him.
"Trust me, you'll want to come." Chris said and motioned for him to follow. Dave looked back at Lauren's room for a moment before following Chris. They walked out of the hospital, across the street and down two blocks.
"Where the hell are we going? I don't have time for this," Dave stated.
"We're almost there just keep quiet." Chris replied. They turned into a dark alleyway, where they slowly came upon two dark figures. Dave's eyes widened as they got closer, seeing that it was Kane, and a little friend.
"Thought you might like to meet him," Kane smirked, as he held a shaking Brad by his shirt collar.
"Let me go you fuckers!" Brad yelled, trying to fight his way out of Kane's grip.
Dave was speechless while Chris was laughing, "Not so tough now are you when you're fighting men?"
"I swear you better let me go!" Brad retorted.
"How did you get him?" Dave asked Kane, who was still smirking.
"I saw him earlier in the hotel when I was about to walk in, but some fans asked for an autograph. He only went across the street and watched the door the entire time, and he didn't realize I was watching him. Once the girls had left for the club he started walking towards where they had gone. I kept following him, but once he got there I got even more fans asking me for pictures and stuff. By the time I was finished he was running away. I thought maybe he was leaving the girls alone, until I got a call from Lita. So I figured you'd like to blow off a little steam and here he is." Kane explained.
Dave looked at Kane, grateful for what he did, but that didn't distract him from the little punk wriggling in front of him. "So...Brad. You've decided that today is going to be worst day of your entire life." Dave seethed as he started rolling up his sleeves.
"Psh, you're not gonna do anything to me," Brad scoffed, trying to seem tough.
Dave just gave him a dark chuckle before sending a look to Chris. "Hey Chris?" he asked.
"Yeah Dave?" Chris replied, rolling up his own sleeves and cracking his neck.
"This guy seems to think I'm not going to do anything to him for beating my future wife. You and Kane haven't hit him upside the head before I got here have you?" Dave questioned. Chris, playing along, told him that they left Brad completely up to him. "So he's just mentally challenged. Okay, I can deal with that." Now his attention was completely on Brad as he walked up to him. "Let me tell you something you little prick...I have a system that concerns my friends and family. You see, whenever they get hurt or hit, I count how many cuts and bruises they have. Then I find the person responsible give them ten-times the number of bruises I counted. Or say if they sprain a wrist, I break their arm. If they bruise a rib, I crack them. Do you understand what I'm saying Brad?" Brad just rolled his eyes, as Dave slapped him in the face. "I don't think you do. So how about this, I'm going to give you a free shot right on my chin. Go ahead," Dave egged him on, showing out his chin for Brad to hit.
Kane let go of him as Brad did as Dave dared him to. Dave just laughed, "That was it? Well no wonder you beat defenseless women, you'd just be somebody's bitch if you tried it on a guy. Your mistake this time though, was that you beat my woman, and their friend," Dave said pointing to Chris and Kane. "Now it's time for you to understand, what a big mistake you made tonight."
Without another word Dave punched Brad right in the face, sending him to the ground. Kane and Chris watched as Dave did his work, picking up Brad just to punch him again. "You bastard!" Brad coughed when Dave sent a kick to his ribs.
"You ain't seen nothin yet," he snarled as he punched him again. Brad tried to fight back, but Dave simply dodged it each time. Kane and Chris continued to watch, until Brad curled up into a little ball on the ground. Each guy grabbed him by the arm and hauled him to his feet. "When you can finally get up on your own again, you're going to get on a bus and go back to whatever sack of shit you came out of. Don't bother telling the police what happened tonight, because they won't believe a woman-beater like you. If I ever see you again, I will kill you." Dave sent one last hard punch to Brad's stomach and face. "Have a nice night."
Kane and Chris followed as Dave walked out of the alley, leaving a bloody and well beaten prick on the ground. "A job well done," Kane smirked, Chris agreeing.
"I'm sure now you feel much better," Chris added. Dave didn't say anything as they continued walking to the hospital.
Before they walked into the room Dave turned to the other two, "No matter what, don't tell Lauren or the girls what just happened." Both men nodded as they all walked into the room, all three women turning to face them.
"Where were you guys?" Lauren asked.
"Just getting some air," Dave told her, sitting back in the chair. "Feeling any better?" he asked her.
"Yeah. The doctor is giving me pain killers and says I can get out of here tomorrow. But I won't be able to wrestle for the next few weeks. How can I be the women's champion when I can't even wrestle?" she said dejectedly.
"Don't worry sweetheart, we'll figure something out. Right now you need to rest, and I'll be here when you wake up." Dave said petting her head.
Lauren smiled at him, "You know visitors can't stay here overnight."
"Well lucky for me I'm not a visitor, I'm your fiancé," he winked kissing her hand. Lauren chuckled, only to groan at the pain in her rib cage.
"You okay?" Dave asked quickly. Lauren nodded, letting the pain subside.
"Yeah, the painkillers haven't kicked in yet that's all." Lauren told him. "You guys don't have to stay here tonight, you should go get some rest."
"But sweetie..." Lita started.
"Don't worry, with Dave here I'll be fine." Lauren said.
"Okay, if you're sure. But we're coming back first thing in the morning. Okay?" Stacy asked, while giving Lauren a light hug.
"Thank you guys...for everything." Lauren told them as they all hugged her and left with a final wave. Once they were gone, Lauren gave Dave a stern look, "Now would you mind explaining the blood on your knuckles?"
Dave thought about lying, but he knew he couldn't do that to her and let out a heavy sigh. "He won't be bothering you anymore."
Lauren's eyes widened, "You didn't..."
"No, nothing that extreme." Dave assured her.
Lauren laid back against her pillows, a small smile on her face. "I'll bet he started crying."
"Like a damn baby," Dave replied. "Maybe at some point you can get details."
"I already know that my man took care of business." Lauren smiled, taking his hand in hers. "You really don't have to stay here all night. I'll be fine."
Dave only raised a brow, "You really think I'm leaving you tonight?"
"I was just sayin'," she told him. After a few minutes of silence, Dave asked her if she was really okay. Lauren let out a sigh and looked away, "I hate to say it, but after dealing with it for two years, I kinda got used to it. I just...I thought it had ended when I left."
Dave didn't know what to say to that and simply bowed his head. "I'm so sorry babe. I...I never should've let this happen."
"You can't be everywhere Dave, and in this life I've learned more than once that I'm bound to get some bruises. All I ask from you is to love me, and be a real man to me like you have been. That and marry me as soon as possible." Lauren said turning to face him.
Dave brought her hand to his lips, "I'd do it now if I could."
"I know. But there's no way in hell I'm getting wedding pictures taken with me looking like I got hit by a bus." Lauren told him, trying to lighten the mood.
"You look beautiful," Dave whispered.
"You can't get away with that this time. But thank you anyways." Lauren looked at the time, and saw that Dave needed sleep as much as she did. "You should go to sleep Dave, you look exhausted. I'm sure cleaning up trash like that takes a lot out of you."
"Didn't even break a sweat." Dave winked. "Besides, I'm not going to sleep until I know you're okay."
"I'm fine Dave, really. You being here makes me feel 100," Lauren stated.
"You can't get away with that this time, but thanks anyways," he smirked, as Lauren chuckled weakly. Without a word, he slowly and easily laid on the hospital bed beside her, wrapping an arm around the back of her head, kissing her forehead. "Get some sleep."
"Okay." Lauren replied and closed her eyes, falling asleep quicker than she expected. When he heard her steady breathing, Dave released the heavy sigh he had been holding for a while. He placed his head against hers, wanting her in touch with him in any way possible.
"I love you so much." he whispered, kissing her again. A smile appeared on her face while she slept. Dave fell asleep a little while later, his hand still holding Lauren's.
A/N: Teehee, told you I couldn't kill him, it'd be too merciful lol. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Though I have to admit...I'm a wee bit stuck as to where I should go from here. Lauren's not gonna be wrestling for a while, so what can she do?! Gah! Lol. I'd love to hear from you guys, and you know how to reach me! :)