Later backstage…
Chris was coughing and gasping violently trying to get air into his lungs, spating occasional spots of blood, he had refused medical assistance backstage, the ref and Kari stood on each side, arm in arm to help him walk back to the trainer's room where the doctors were waiting, but still Chris struggled to resist until his body couldn't last anymore and they got him to lay back on the table.
"My body feels all torn up, I can't move… I can barely breathe. I feel kinda cold…" Chris thought to himself, his mind was blank and he felt as if he were in darkness.
"Chris, Chris!" Kari cried, in reality in the trainer's room Chris was struggling to breathe, gasping and panting desperately for air, his face covered in sweat.
"Chris just open your mouth." The doctor pleaded, holding a light ready but he didn't open his eyes. "You need medical aid, you are in serious condition."
"Chris, I'm here with you…!" Kari held onto his hand tightly, and she knew he could hear because then he squeezed back. "Come on Chris, go aaahhhh, Chris, aaahhhh." Chris painfully opened his mouth.
"This is very bad, his throat is almost completely swollen shut, his tonsils have flared up to an incredible size, he has severe internal bleeding, and an injured larynx. I can't do anything, he needs to get to a hospital now and seek medical attention to prevent hemereging in his neck, he will pass out without air if the flesh continues to grow more and more inflamed."
"Chris, if you can hear me, we have to get up and go now, you need to go to the hospital!" Kari pulled on his arm, but Chris resisted again, yanking it away, hating hospitals.
"No." Chris whispered hoarsely, cringing with every struggled breath.
Kari bit her lip, no surprise in his response, and looked up, "Look guys, I know you're worried and you're doing your job, but just leave him to me. I'm the only one who can help him here."
The trainer paused but then nodded as he remembered past medical experiences with the stubborn patient, "That's true… alright, I agree to leave him to you, just please do what's best and be very careful."
"I know, trust me I will." Kari gave an assuring smile and they left the room. She sighed and looked down at Chris who struggled to breathe and was in obvious pain despite the medicine they had forced into him. "Chris…"
"I'll…" He opened his eyes a bit. "I'll be alright…"
"Yeah." Kari nodded down at him. "I know you will be." She sighed, you can't force a Chris Jericho, they are stubborn, so she sat down. "I'll wait until you're ready." Chris smiled, shut his eyes, and tried to get some rest as he felt the medicine they had given him starting to kick in and work.
About an hour and a half later, the show had already long since ended, people had left and very few were still backstage in the arena but without warning, all of a sudden the power went out, the lights blacking in the late night.
"Oh no." Ivory gasped as she froze in the hall.
"Don't worry, I've got a light." Ric pulled out a small flashlight to light the way.
"Ah, whew." Ivory smiled and let out a sigh of relief. "You rock Ric!"
"I know." He scoffed proudly. "Now let's hurry up and find Triple H, I don't know why he's still here so late. He's making me worry!"
"I know." Ivory began to think to herself. 'I wonder if it's because he feels bad about Chris. Triple H knows the injury and now he and Chris have a different relationship.'
"Well, at least the injury role plaid out well, real or not, whatever happens it happens for a reason."
"It's not kind to wish anyone ill." Ivory replied, Charlie Brown style.
"Please, he is our enemy. Of course we can."
"Who is that, whose there! I can't see!"
"Oh, I know that voice!" Ivory rushed towards the sound to see a door open and Kari step out. "Kari!"
"Ivory! Oh you're here too? I'm glad you're alright. What happened?"
"I don't know. Why are you still here? We're looking for Triple H."
"I'm watching Chris, he's hurt very badly and I'm getting worried, now that the power is out I don't know what to do. The others have already left, I know they're waiting for us back at the hotel. I don't have my cell, our stuff is back in our locker room. But… we can't leave now." Kari frowned sadly.
Ivory felt bad, "We'll stay here with you, we can't leave either, not without Triple H. Right Ric?" She turned.
"Oh, ugh… fine." He folded his arms.
"Thanks." Kari nodded, smiling warmly. She felt happy with Ivory there. They went so well together, something about the presence of the other. Maybe it was because they were so much alike.
Just then another light came from around the corner, it was small, from a cell phone and Triple H appeared, "So, this is where you ran off to."
"Triple H!" Ric cried happily.
"We were so worried!" Ivory chimed in.
"It took forever to find you, don't ever do that again." He growled.
"Uh…" Ric gulped.
Triple H turned to Ivory, "I hope you are well."
"Yes, I am fairing just fine sir." Ivory smiled.
"Hmm?" Triple H turned to see Kari as well.
"Oh, um…" She gulped.
Triple H sighed and went inside, "Might as well join you, I'm the only one who can keep you all safe."
"Ah, thanks." Kari blinked.
A little bit lost and unsure of what to do, the arena doors were automatic and so ran on electricity. Unless they could find a manual door in the garage or service basement they were stuck until the lights came back on. Chris was doing worse for wears, it hadn't been long but he wasn't improving in his condition. He was still unconscious lying down, his breathing very short and struggled, and he had caught a slight fever from the loss of blood and oxygen. Kari put a damp cloth on his head and got a hot cup of water to make some green tea for him when he wakes up.
"He's not sick you know, it's an injury. That won't help him." Ric snorted.
Kari frowned, "I know, but it might help soothe the muscles in his neck if he drinks something warm. You know, like an icy hot or something."
"Clueless…" Triple H scoffed to himself, he had been quiet the whole time, a trademark of his character but he was lost in thought himself, a bit confused of what to do with what had gone on.
"Don't worry, you're doing all that you can. Chris knows you're doing your best." Ivory smiled.
"Thanks." Kari grinned back, it was hard, she needed to hear that. Chris began to cough again, it happened when his throat got dry and the swollen flesh touched, making it harder for him to breathe. "Oh, come on Chris." She grabbed a bottle of water and helped him drink it in his sleep. "Damn, I wish there was something I could do." She opened his mouth and used the second flashlight. "It looks so bad, like he's got tonsillitis or something."
"Ew, let me see." Ivory looked over her shoulder.
"Look, we don't have to keep you company. I'm going to do something useful." Ric stood up, they had found two more spare flashlights in the room and he still had his. "I'm going to look for a way out."
"Great idea! I'll go with you." Ivory jumped up and stood beside him.
"I don't need you to tag along and baby sit."
"But you could get scared of the dark." Ivory snickered.
"Please, I'm not afraid." Ric folded his arms, looking around a bit when it was safe.
"Ric and Ivory, go together." Triple H spoke up, they all turned to him.
"Two heads are better than one, be careful and come back soon. Hopefully the lights will come on. If you look out for one another maybe you can find out what tripped them and fix it too." Kari encouraged.
"Yeah, then I'll be the hero." Ric thought.
"Then it's settled, come on, let's go!" Ivory grabbed him by the arm and dragged him off.
"Whoa! Hey wait!" He stumbled and the door shut behind them.
Kari sighed and glanced over at Triple H, "Thanks."
"I didn't need your help."
"I wasn't, I was just being nice. Ivory is my friend." Kari blinked, but then again it wasn't uncommon for Triple H to say something uncanny or ruin a good moment. "If anything I should thank you." Triple H turned to her and she smiled as she stared at the floor. "I don't know what I would do in this situation, alone with Chris in the condition that he's in. It's Ric and Ivory that are going to be the heroes here and save the day. I guess now I know why you keep them around all the time, huh." She giggled and smiled up at him.
Triple H paused, in the flash of that moment, she looked exactly like Ivory, he turned away, "You talk too much. I don't need help or sympathy from anyone."
"Huh?" Her smiled faded as she opened her eyes.
"However, I will agree with you on one thing." He paused. "It is nice, sometimes…." He glanced back at her. "To not be so alone."
Kari smiled warmly with a slight chuckle, "You know, it's funny…"
"What."
She giggled behind her grin, "I've never ever seen you, this talkative. "She began to laugh behind her hand.
Triple H turned up his nose and looked away, "What an odd remark." Not that THAT was such a nice thing to say.
CRASH!
Kari gasped and jumped up, dropping the light, "What was that…!"
Triple H's body tensed and he growled, "Something is wrong."
"Ivory and Ric!" She cried. "They could be hurt!"
Triple H jumped up, "I'm going. You stay here and wait for us to come back." He ran to the door.
"Wait! Take this, you'll need a light." Kari handed him the last spare.
He looked down at it and then accepted it, "Thanks." He rushed off.
She sighed, "Good luck." But she couldn't help but smile. Triple H had said 'thanks'!
"EEEK!" Ivory was screaming, she and Ric were hiding in a closet with a large window in the door.
"Just hold on!" Ric cried, he was pushing against the door, kneeling on a chair propped up under the locked handle.
"Just do what I tell you and you won't get hurt!" A man in black was beating on the door with a blunt object, they couldn't tell if it was wood or metal. He had been the one who cut the power, he was a burglar and with not many left in the building to put up a fight, he didn't have many live pray to rob upon. Especially not wealthy wrestlers like Ric Flair. "Come out, now!"
"Ric I'm scared!" Ivory was trying not to start sobbing.
"Don't worry, I'll save you. You're safe in here." Ric growled back, but the flashlight was starting to flicker.
"Just give it up, you can't protect her." The man laughed.
"And what are you going to do about it?" Ric snarled.
"Oh you want to see?" He raised the weapon to break the glass. "No more games, no more mister nice fan!" He went to swing but stopped. "Huh…?" He looked up as he couldn't move the object. A hand was holding onto it. He turned slightly and gasped at who he saw.
"Triple H!" Ric and Ivory cried, pushing up against the window.
"For your information, I CAN protect her. So do you want to see what I'm going to do about it?" Triple H growled quietly.
The robber shook back to normal and leered at him, "I'm not afraid of you. I'm a body builder, I can take you down easily!" He clenched the object and swung it, knocking him off guard as the flashlight flew down the hall and Triple H was thrown head against the wall, causing him to slide down to the floor.
"Oh no!" Ric and Ivory gasped.
The man laughed, "See, you stunt men actors can't fight in the real world. I don't know why people love you phonies." He turned back to the victims. "Now where were we…"
"Uh…" Ric and Ivory shivered.
"Ugh…" Triple H groaned.
"Triple H, help!" Ric screamed.
"Huh?" He opened his eyes, it was hard to see in the dark, his head was spinning from the blow.
"Triple H!" Ivory cried.
'Ric… Ivory…' Triple H's eyes fluttered as his head felt heavier. He couldn't move.
"Do you have someone to protect?"
"What…?" Triple H looked around at the strange voice, it echoed in the distance. "Protect…?" He shook his head and squinted, in his mind he could see a memory in the darkness. "John? Father…?" It was John, Triple H was remembering a memory of his step-father from when he was still alive and Triple H was younger and they were having one last talk before he left to go become a wrestler.
"I hope we can always see each other as father and son, I know family has never been very big with you with your childhood. You're very lucky to come from money, but now you will learn that the world is a very different place than your home. As you go on your journey, you'll have to make the decision to follow your dream or to be involved with such things as friendship and love. Over time your views may change and you may even find somebody you care for and want to protect."
"To protect…" The young Triple H squinted.
John wore a serious expression, "Do you have someone to protect?"
"Protect…" Triple H repeated to himself.
"Triple H! Triple H help!" Ivory and Ric were crying out for him.
"Ivory. Ric." Triple H snapped out of the memory and returned to the darkness, but his mind was still not alone. "Protect…"
"Help us Triple H!" Ivory was calling out his name, and in that moment her time with Triple H seemed to flash before his eyes. Remembering every day, every emotion, every event, and he could see her face each time, whether she was happy, sad, excited, afraid, she was always there with him. "Triple H!"
"Save me Triple H!" Ric was crying out for him too, and in that moment it was the same thing, all of the years, all the time they were together, he was by his side, always defending him. He could be annoying sometimes, but no matter what, Triple H could always count on him. "Triple H!"
"Hah!" The robber was laughing, he was seeming to move in slow motion in the darkness.
"Triple H!" They cried.
"Protect…" He closed his eyes. He could see John standing in the shadows.
"Do you have somebody to protect…?"
"Protect…!" His eyes snapped open and in that flash he could see the world again. "I, protect only MYSELF!" He stood up in a rage, his voice a booming roar in the empty arena.
"Huh?" Ivory and Ric saw him, his eyes flashed with a demonic red light.
"Uh oh." The robber froze and turned around to see Triple H upon him with great speed. "Whoa!" The fight began.
"Ah!" Ivory opened the door and jumped out. "Come on Triple H!"
"You can do it, get him!" Ric cheered next to her.
"Ugh, not so fast." The robber wiped his mouth and whistled.
"Uh oh." Ivory didn't like the feeling she was getting.
"Triple H…?" Ric grew nervous as well, looking around.
"It's an ambush." Triple H growled as the rest of the gang appeared in black around them.
"I'll take some insurance!" The robber jumped over and grabbed Ivory.
"AH let me go!" She thrashed but he just laughed and rushed off.
"Ivory, no!" Ric cried, but he was helping Triple H, who was getting bombarded.
"Oh no you don't!" A fierce, raspy voice snarled and a dark figure jumped out of nowhere, causing the gang to back away as he stood next to Triple H. "Looks like you can't even handle this match without me. Feh."
"Some help you will be, tonsil boy." Triple H scrunched his nose.
"Oh lay off it." Chris barked back, his face a bit flush as he clenched his neck as he coughed to catch his breath. "No sore throat will keep me from a fight."
"This doesn't concern you."
"Oh, but you're wrong." Chris turned to face the gang who surrounded them, they stood for once back to back as allies, and yet still continued to insult each other. "I'm here for myself, I'm helping my friends."
"Strange." He smiled slyly. "Am I included in the 'friends' you speak of?"
"Oh just shut up and fight."
"I told you, I don't need help from you, or your swollen larynx." He jumped away through the crowd and rushed off, grabbing the flashlight on the ground.
"Hey…!" Chris whirled around. "Come back here!"
"I have my own business." He was gone along with Ric with his own vendetta.
"Damn him." Chris snarled and began to cough, growling as he held his chest. "This isn't going to be fun…"
"AH, help me!" Ivory was screaming as the robber carried her down the hall.
"Shut up, nobody can save you now."
"Don't be so sure."
"What…!" He stopped as somebody stood in his way.
Kari stood tall and smirked, "I think you didn't count on this cat crossing your path." She got ready to fight.
"Please." He threw Ivory down, she cried out in pain, causing Kari to gasp and loose focus for a moment. "I'm not afraid of a girl!" He raised his weapon.
"Uh…" Kari hadn't realized in the dark how big he was. "Stay back, I am a wrestler…!" She picked up things around her and began to throw them but he swung them away or she missed but either way nothing had effect. "Oh no… oh man…!"
"You picked a golden time to be a klutz!"
"Huh?" Kari turned to see a black blur rush by and tackle the robber down. "Ah…!" She gasped as the victor stood tall over the unconscious assailant. "Chris! You're okay!"
"Heh." He gave a thumbs up with a smirk. "You know it. Those robbers were just young punks, I didn't need any help and I licked them all, even with an injured throat."
"I was so worried, why didn't you come sooner!" She yelled.
"Huh…!" Chris was taken back.
"I could've been hurt, Ivory could've been killed!"
"How was I supposed to know he took her, you're the one who needs saving you klutzy idiot!"
"You're the idiot!"
Ivory watched in shock as they quarreled but smiled and couldn't help but giggled, "They really do, care for each other." She was happy, she hoped one day to have that kind of relationship with the man she loved.
"Ivory!"
"Ah, Ric!" Ivory stood up gingerly.
"You've been hurt, Chris you are an idiot." Ric growled.
"See." Kari scoffed.
"Hey." He growled and turned to Ric. "You should thank me, I beat up all of those guys AND did your job for you."
"That's right." Kari stood next to him. "He saved her without anybody asking. Shows how much Triple H cares for her."
"Huh." Ivory gasped, what if she was right.
Just then, the world became lit up, "Ah." A sigh of relief.
"He did it, he must've found the problem and fixed it. We can see again! Wooo!" Ric cheered.
"So what, that's where he went? He cared more about the lights then helping this girl that cares for him?" Chris frowned.
"He knew Ivory could handle herself, without help from you guys."
"He did?" Ivory looked up with hope for what Ric said. She smiled as her eyes shook, he had to be right. She must be getting stronger for him to believe in her like that.
"Now come on, I can't stand hanging around with the likes of you anymore. We don't need you and we didn't ever. If anything you needed us." Ric turned to go.
Ivory smiled and turned to Kari, "I don't care what he says, I'm glad and I thank you." She hugged Kari and ran after Ric. "Good bye guys!"
"Bye Ivory!" Kari waved, smiling happily just like Ivory.
"Feh, I don't know what she sees in them." Chris turned away and his body cringed as he clenched his neck again.
"I'm sure they could say the same about us." Kari approached him, grinning.
"Hey…" Chris made a long face but then started to cough and clenched his neck. "Oh damn it all…"
"Come on, take it easy now. Stop talking! We can leave and you can get some rest at the hotel." Kari led him back to get their stuff out of the room and then leave.
"Yeah, alright…" Chris grumbled, walking with her. "Guh, if I remember this injury right from Triple H's, I'm gonna be sick like strep for at least two weeks. Ugh, no talking or eating solids for a half month won't be fun…"
"Yeah, well maybe it will teach you to take better care of yourself. Oh wait." She stopped. "Here, I have a present for you, maybe this will help your neck feel better."
"Hmm." Chris smiled and closed his eyes.
"Okay, there you go!"
"Ah… huh?" Chris opened and looked around, then felt on his chest, picking up his rings on the chains. "Oh, I forgot about these… all this time, just being with you it all felt like it was business as usual. Even my neck felt normal."
Kari smiled, "I guess it was just a case of mind over matter."
"No ring could ever replace you, I cherish my friends and family more than anything in the world. I wouldn't ever sell out the ones I love for a business proposition or title."
"I guess that's where you and Triple H are different."
"Yeah. But still, I can't help but wonder now, what could've been…"
"Yeah, who knows…" Who knows, you can't change the past, but you can still always dream. And if you dream hard enough, and want it bad enough, a dream can come true. I know Ivory sure hopes so…!
And so in the end everything went back to normal, the robbers were arrested, Ivory and Ric and Triple H went on as if nothing had happened, though Ivory did have a new best friend in Kari. Chris and Kari returned to their group of friends. Chris and Triple H never did pick up where they left off, the storyline ended as soon as it had begun and Linda created new plots for everyone. Chris's throat took a few weeks to recover but he was soon complaining and growling like normal, thanks to the help of his own personal nurse Kari. The world continued to turn. The only difference was that Chris and Triple H knew the past. But would they learn from it, would this knowledge change the future? Kari sure hopes so… hmm, I guess Ivory and Kari sure are more alike than they realize! Will they ever? I sure hope so…! …gotcha.
A/N: I do realize that Triple H's parents are Paul and Patricia, and Lynn is his sister. But I didn't want to make things any more complicated or confusing than they already may be, so rather I named Lynn his mother and made up John as the name of his dad, and didn't include any sister because then Chris would have another cousin he didn't know about and then things would become even more messy with another character getting involved in all of this. This is all purely fanfiction. Either way I hope you enjoyed my story, something different, but I enjoyed writing it. I wish it lasted longer and I wanted to make it really good, so I know it can be better, but as long as somebody enjoyed it, I'm happy.