Chapter 18
A little gift
It was time for Impact. Jake was booked for a non title match against Jay Lethal. His body was healed up finally after the tag match against Homicide and Senshi followed by the title match against Christian. Jake walked into the Impact Zone alone. Traci parents were in town and Jake had though some miracle had talked them into not coming. The truth was Jake didn't like the stress that being at the tapings caused Traci. The day she had collapsed had been the most fighting of his life.
Jake looked around and saw Rhino talking to Chris Sabin. "Hey champ what's up?" Rhino asks. "Ah nothing much," Jake says. "Hey Jake do us all a favor and don't just beat Jarrett make sure he can't even come back as a manager," Chris says. "That's the plan," Jake says. "Ah man I wish someone would have thought of this idea sooner," Rhino says.
"Yeah well the honest truth is that my dad called me and said "you know you only agreed to give him a match you never said anything about the title," Jake says. "Smart dad," Rhino says. "Yeah well than why did I always get an F when he helped me with my homework," Jake says making a joke.
Jeff Jarrett was in his locker room with all the heels. "Look guys this is what I have been telling you all. This is the start of them getting rid of us. Anybody that TNA management doesn't like is gone. They want to bum rush us out of here," Jeff says. "So what do you want to do?" Chris Harris asked. "We need to take Reed out tonight," Scott D'Amore says walking in.
Jake walked out into a hallway. He had just wrapped doing an interview that would be cut up into video package later on. Out of no where some jumped him from behind. Jake was face down on the ground. The person started to put the boots to him. "Hey," AJ yelled as he and Steve Corino came upon the scene. The guy that jumped Jake runs off.
"Jake are you alright," Steve asks as he helps Jake to his feet. "Yeah I'll be fine," Jake says. AJ returns from chasing the guy. "I lost him. I couldn't even tell who it was," AJ says. "It's alright. It was either Heman's new client or someone working with Jarrett," Jake says. "Or Danielson," Steve says. "Or Christian," AJ says. "Yeah well I don't have time for this I have to get ready for my match," Jake says but he collapse to the ground clutching his leg in pain after taking a step. "AJ get a trainer," Steve yells.
"I'm fine," Jake yells but he is clearly not. "Oh year right," Steve says. AJ runs off to get help. "I'll just tighten my leg brace," Jake says trying to stand. "Jake don't be an idiot. I know you don't like anyone knowing you're hurt. I also know you don't want to worry Traci but you need to get that looked at. I mean you know how bad your leg has been over the years," Steve says.
Jake stops trying to get up. "Your right. I am just really sick and tired of this crap," Jake says. "Life as a world champion," Steve says. AJ returns with a trainer who starts to check Jake's leg.
The trainer said Jake's leg was fine he just needed some time to rest it. Jake stayed off the leg until his match witch was up. Jay Lethal's music hit. "This non title match up is set for one fall with a twenty minute time limit. Introducing first from Elizabeth NJ, Jay Lethal," David Penzar says. "Don this is a huge opportunity for Jay Lethal. If he can pull of the upset and beat Jake Reed it would be the biggest win of his TNA career and would earn him a title shot," Mike Tenay says. "This would be the time to do it. Jake Reed attacked early tonight and he may be looking ahead to his match with Jeff Jarrett," Don West says.
Jake's music hits and he comes out of the tunnel and heads for the ring. "And now he is the NWA world champion, From Omaha NE, he is the "Omaha Outlaw," Jake Reed," David announces as Jake enters the ring. Jake takes off the NWA title and his leather jacket. Rudy Charles signals for the bell when Jeff Jarrett, Chris Harris, Monty Brown, and Abyss attack. They quickly dispose of Charles and Lethal.
Harris clips Jake's bad leg. AJ and Steve run out but Monty hits AJ with the pounce and Abyss hits AJ with a big boot. Jeff meanwhile puts Jake in a figure four while Chris chokes him. Rhino charges down and takes Monty out with a gore but Abyss is able to give him the shock treatment. The lights go out when the come back on Sting is in the ring he takes out Abyss and then Harris. Jeff breaks the figure four and runs away.
Sting helps Jake to his feet when the lights go out again. This time when they come back on Sting is down. But Jake is tied to a big X. Paul Heyman appears on the jumbotron. "Oh Jake that's a little gift from my new client," Paul says before the screen goes black.