This is so long over due, that I perfusily apologize to anyone who is still following this story, I promise you that this is still something worth reading, and thank you for doing so. Here is the third chapter. Thanks again!

Every Superstar and Diva knows that it's not exactly easy to work your way up in the WWE universe. After you go through years of extensive and complicated training just to get into TOUGH ENOUGH, and then even more extensive and complicated training to get from a small time gig like ECW to a huge gala like RAW, you still have to work your way up to a huge brand named superstar like John Cena, The Rock, Stone Cold, and so many more huge names. The rise to fame is not an easy road to travel. For some people the way is paved in money and gold, but still for others getting to the top is a daunting task.

Somewhere in a RAW arena, in Sante Fe, New Mexico. Superstars John Cena and Randy Orton are walking around after post show. This is the time where all the superstars and divas are either suppose to be at a hotel, or on their way to their next venue in a different state. Where they weren't suppose to be was anywhere near the very place these two were at. It's a sure thing that the two had been seen by security and it was a known fact that they were wondering around the arena, but really... if you were a security guard getting paid far too little to care if two guys were walking around the arena, especially these two guys, would you stop them?

As they were walking around the arena, it became apparent to anyone who happened to be watching, which no one was, but it became apparent that the two ginormous men were actually looking for something. This should be the point in time where it is realized that their constant companion and surrogate 'little brother' was no where to be seen. Ever since the start of Evan Bourne's career it had become well known throughout the locker room that Bourne was always trailing Cena and Orton. It wasn't a problem for the two veteran superstars, but it was common knowledge that Evan was protected by the two and that on a regular basis he was with them, but not now.

"Okay, how are you not freaking out right now?" John Cena asks his longtime friend and co-worker.

"What makes you think I'm not freaking out?" Orton asks as they check through yet another locker room.

"Gee, I don't know Randy. The cool composure, the non-panicky presence that is radiating off of you, or maybe it's- no that can't be it... well maybe it's because you look utterly disconcerted about this whole situation! MAYBE THAT'S IT! Yeah that must be it." John yells battling with himself for control of his emotions. He knows that underneath Randy's calm exterior that he's freaking the Hell out that they can't find their charge.

It wasn't often that John Cena lost his cool in the midst of something that had nothing to do with a story line. This told Randy of just how worried that John was. And if that wasn't a clear sign, there was also the fact that he was wringing his hands against his shirt, and whenever they would stop to look through a door John would pace frantically until Randy shook his head signifying that Evan wasn't in that room.

"Okay, It's official. When we find the little twerp, first he's getting an Attitude Adjustment for leaving without telling anyone, and then he's getting RKO'd because it's taking so freakin' long to find him!" Cena says pacing behind Randy as he opens yet another door.

"Amen to that. Who knew watching out for one person was such a painstakingly, worrisome task?" Randy asks as they come to another door and still don't find their friend.

"Do you think we're taking this too far? I mean, Evan's not five. He's practically an adult." Cena says looking slightly disturbed at the realization.

"He is an adult." Randy says matter-a-factually. "But this is Evan we're talking about. The kid who likes to jump off of tall things, and risk his life all the time just because it's fun."

Randy opens yet another door, but seeing that no one is inside, he keeps walking. "I mean, if someone isn't there to watch his back, he might actually get himself killed." Randy says glancing over at John.

"True. But he has been acting weird lately. I mean, I went to talk to him after his last match yesterday, and I found him sitting at his locker staring at it." John says as he opens a door and then closes it.

Orton stops and looks at Cena with a confused glare. "Why is that weird?"

Cena stops also and replies, "Morrison said he'd been sitting there close to twenty minutes. And for all twenty of them... he didn't blink once."

"He didn't blink? I'm still not seeing it." Orton continues to open and close doors looking for his friend.

"They said he didn't blink, didn't move, and worst of all... he didn't talk." John says hearing the anxiety creep into his own voice when he opened yet another door, but was unsuccessful at finding Evan.

Again Randy stops walking all together and stares at Cena with raised eyebrows, "He didn't talk? Like, at all?"

"It's what I'm saying." John says as they continue to walk and check almost every room in the arena.

They walk through about eighty-two percent of the large building looking for their young friend. With each passing door that does not reveal Evan sitting there doing something dangerous, or innocent, or stupid, the more worried the two Superstars got.

As they reach yet another door, Randy stops Cena by placing a hand on his shoulder. John turns to him with a questioning look. "Has it ever occurred to you that maybe he's not here?"

Cena raised his eyebrow in confusion and then shakes his head while saying, "He wasn't at the hotel, he didn't leave for the airport, he would have told us if he was going out to run some errands... where else would he be?"

Randy gives a contemplative look and then shrugs his shoulders. He decides that Cena had a point, and continues on to the next door.

"Do you ever wonder why we always do shows in such ginormous venues?" John asks after five minutes of silence.

"We have to, don't we? I mean we have like a hundred people that make up just the cast of RAW." Randy says opening another door. "If we didn't work in such huge places, there wouldn't be enough room for everyone, right?"

"Ninety-three actually."

"Ninety-three, what?" Randy responds looking over to where Cena is standing by another unopened door.

"What?" Cena asks turning toward Randy.

"Ninety-three, what?" Randy asks again.

"What are you talking about?" Cena asks as he opens another door and then closes it again.

"We were just talking about the size of the venues, and you said, 'ninety-three, actually.' Ninety-three, what?" Orton asks walking up to where John was and looking him in the eye.

"Dude, you are hearing things. I didn't say ninety-three anything. I didn't say ninety-three at all." Cena says with a look that just screams, ' what drugs are you on?'.

"Whatever, man. Look, we've been through the whole building. We've looked everywhere. I say we just go back to the hotel and wait for him to show up. That way when he gets back, we can be in the comfort of others as we beat his ass to a bloody pulp for running off." Randy says as he opens yet another door in search of their young friend.

"We have checked just about everywhere..." Cena replies as he checks another door.

"Didn't check the main arena."

"True, but what are the odds that-" Cena stops himself as he glances over at Randy who was watching him open another door.

"You didn't say that did you?" Randy shakes his head 'no'. They both simultaneously whip their heads around and find none other then Evan 'Air' Bourne, standing behind them leaning against the wall.

Randy and John both look at each other, and then back at Evan. He looked okay, and didn't have any distinguishing marks on him to suggest that he had gotten into any danger in the past few hours that they had been searching for him. He was leaning up against the wall, with his headphones in, and his eyes drawn to the screen of his I-pod touch.

John blinks rapidly trying to decide if the kid was really there or not, but Randy just sets his face in a glare and walks back to where Evan is standing.

"And just where the Hell have you been?" Randy asks. John can see all of the pent up worry that he had addressed Randy with earlier was now showing through the 'Viper'.

Evan didn't look up from whatever he was doing and answered, "I've just been chilling in the main arena. I didn't realize that you guys were here. I think I may have gotten a bit lost in this game."

Randy glances back at John with an exasperated look. Since he now knew that Evan was safe and right in front of them, John just rolled his eyes and shrugged at the 'Viper'.

Evan had this interesting look on his face, it was something John and Randy hadn't ever seen on their young companion. It was almost status quo that the kid was perpetually happy, but now, he look... upset? No, frustrated? No, it was just something that was different, something that was totally unexpected; but what was it?

John finally pushed out of the temporary nonchalant attitude that he had adapted and stepped toward his 'little brother'. "What's up kid? Why didn't you tell us you were going out?" John says as he watches Evan give an exasperated sigh and then press another button on the touch screen. John has a distinct feeling that the sigh is more toward the device, and less toward his question.

Evan doesn't respond to Cena at first, but he says in a voice that neither John nor Randy had never heard him use before.

"I don't know, I was just feeling kinda pent up in the hotel, I figured I'd get out for a little while and get some fresh air." Evan has yet to look up at either of them, but John and Randy don't let that detour them from asking the kid questions.

"Okay, that still doesn't explain why you didn't tell us you were leaving in the first place, or why for that matter that you didn't pick up your phone that we have been calling for the last few hours."

Despite not looking up to see the expression on Randy's face, Evan could tell that 'The Viper' was thoroughly pissed off at him, and that no matter what explanation he gave for not telling them that he was going out, nothing would be a good enough excuse.

"Yeah, well... I just needed some time to... I don't know, think I guess." Evan's voice hadn't changed from that unrecognizable tone, and John and Randy were actually starting to seriously wonder if there wasn't something wrong with their young companion.

"Evan-" John starts but is abruptly cut off by Evan who had suddenly started walking away from the two superstars, and back in the direction of the main arena.

Instead of questioning each other about the oddities that they were seeing in the high-flier, John Cena and Randy Orton turn and follow Bourne, but say nothing.

Once in the main arena the two superstars quickly realize that while they had been following Evan at a close pace, they seemed to have lost him when he had entered the arena and again they were at a lose as to where he had gone.

That is, until they heard a noise that could only be described as extremely annoyed coming from the other side of the rather large roped off mat. The two superstars walk over to the other side, just in time to see a i-pod being thrown rather forcefully somewhere in the bleachers.

Randy looks over at John with a questioning look on his face. When they reach the other side of the mat, they see Evan with his knees drawn up to his chest, his arms wrapped around his knees, and his head resting on top of his bent legs. All in all the kid looked... he looked...

'Defeated.'

That was it. The looks that couldn't be identified earlier were looks of absolute defeat. It was such a foreign emotion on the face of the death-defying youngster that neither superstars had thought of it, originally.

Now that they knew what they were up against the only question that John Cena and Randy Orton had left was: Why?

John took the initiative first and walked silently over to the young superstar. Randy followed suit only seconds later and then they both sat on either side of their young friend.

"Tough game?" Cena asks, hoping to lighten the mood a little.

"Angry Birds..." Evan says as if that explained everything. In a way, it did, the game could be damn hard and both veteran superstars knew it.

"So... please tell me this is about something other than that stupid game." Randy says as he glances over Evan's bowed head and meets Cena's eyes. He asked a silent question: 'What's wrong with him?'

John knew the unasked question that Randy had for him, but he had no idea what was wrong with the kid. John shrugged but then set his sights on getting to the bottom of what ever was distressing Evan.

Evan shrugs his shoulders as well, but tried to tell his friends the problem. "I... well- I mean, it's not... it's not that important..." Evan stutters as he feels the heated stares of both over-protective 'big brothers'.

"What happened? Was someone mean to you? Did you get into a fight, or something?" Randy asks. At any other time, it would have been almost laughable that the 'Viper' was asking questions such as these, but now with the distress clear in Evan's voice, he knew that now was not the time to joke.

"No... no, nothing like that. I- I just got called into McMahon's office... It was..." Evan finally looks up and just stares into the darkness of the arena.

"You got... What? When? I didn't hear anything about-" John says suddenly very anxious. It was never really a good thing when one of the staff got called into McMahon's office, for any reason really. John looks at Orton and realizes that the 'Viper' was just as worried and anxious as he was.

"You weren't suppose to, it was early this morning, I wouldn't have even been there if it wasn't my meeting. They pulled me out of weight training and took me to see him while you guys were still in with the trainers." Evan says turning to John and then Randy in turn.

Their previously anxious features turned from worried to angry. McMahon knew that the three superstars didn't like to be messed with, separated, or talked to without having the support that they had grown accustomed to between the three of them.

"What... um, what did he want?" John asks almost afraid of the answer. He knew without looking that both him and Randy were utterly terrified of the thought of McMahon either releasing Evan, or worse trading him to Smackdown, or some overseas wrestling corp.

Before either of the superstars could voice their fears Evan took a deep breath and then says, "He wanted me to know... that, I'm getting a push..." Evan says breathlessly. All at once, Cena and Randy's angry exteriors turn from angry to excited.

"What? Evan that's great... that is great isn't it?" Randy asks as he sees that Evan's face looked anything but excited.

Evan stands up abruptly and turns to the two people that he values most in the world. "Yes, that is great, but he also told me that if for any reason this push doesn't work out... Well, let's just say that he made it clear that any other organization is just a phone call away..." Evan says sullenly.

"This is a last chance push?" Randy says as he feels the residual anger come back. He couldn't believe this, and by the look on Cena's face he wasn't the only one.

"Well what with the whole ' You were only really hired to job' thing. He said it wasn't likely that I could take this career to a place where I could be... big. He said that this was... um.. well, the proverbial 'it'." Evan says.

And that's all it took. Evan's face adapted into that impossibly young look that he usually got whenever he was feeling particularly, Evan-y. Whenever he was happy, or sad, or lonely, or apparently just plain defeated, this look was something that John and Randy were pretty sure they would never get used to.

"OK... Okay, well then, we'll just have to make sure that you get the push." John says after a few moments of silence.

Evan looks up at the two superstars questioningly. He sees the determination in both their eyes and is blown away by the unbridled loyalty he sees. He's speechless and a little embarrassed to think that if he shared his problem with his two best friends that they would laugh it off and not care, was kind of... well, laughable right now.

For the first time all night Evan's face began to take the usual happy, and exuberant likeness that everyone had grown accustomed to.

"Okay... Okay.. I- thanks guys." Evan says as a rosy colored blush starts to make its way up his neck and across his cheeks. He has that impossibly young look on his face again, but this time for a completely different reason.

Randy holds out his hand and Evan grabs it in an attempt to help the 'Viper' up. In one quick motion Randy has Evan in a loose head lock and is berating him for leaving without telling them, once again. Only this time, Randy doesn't sound mad at all, only amused, and slightly relieved.

John watches from his seat on the floor as Evan wrestles his way out of Randy's hold and starts to go on the offense. John couldn't believe it. He was actually a little too close for comfort to losing his 'little brother'. It was hard to take in that the next few months could be detrimental to everything that he had worked so hard to preserve. He couldn't let that happen though, and he wouldn't, he decided. He would help Evan to his fullest extent and then help him some more no matter what.

All of the sudden Evan stops his impromptu match with Randy and looks out into the abyss that is the arena. He sighs and shakes his head.

Randy misinterprets it as a sign of defeat again and puts his arm around Evan's shoulders. "Don't worry kid. Cenation over there and I would never let ya go that easy. You're gonna do fine. Remember that, alright?"

Evan blinks in confusion, but then smiles and shakes his head again. "Nah, I know you guys got my back, and I can't describe the gratitude. I was just thinking... 'Crap... I threw my I-pod out there'." You can hear a face-palm in the background and Randy and Evan don't have to turn around to see what kind of looks that John is making.

Randy turns around and holds out his hand to help John up, as Evan runs out into the darkened arena to where he thinks his I-pod might have landed. Orton can see the distress clearly written all over Cena's face.

"Don't worry. He's gonna be fine. In what universe would we let him go anywhere without us?" Orton asks as he watches Cena's features go from worried and anxious to calm and determined.

All of the sudden his face turns back to anxious when he hears a yelp of pain, and a crash that sounds oddly like someone tripping over several seats.

"Ow... that hurt." Is all that they hear.

'Yeah, it's gonna be tough, but they'll make it.' They think to themselves.

"I'll go get the maintenance men, they probably know where the lights are." Randy says as he turns to the arena exit.

"And I'll help boy wonder..." John says he plays a ridiculous game of Marco-Polo in an attempt to find the death-defying, young superstar.

Every Superstar and Diva knows that it's not exactly easy to work your way up in the WWE universe. After you go through years of extensive and complicated training just to get into TOUGH ENOUGH, and then even more extensive and complicated training to get from a small time gig like ECW to a huge gala like RAW, you still have to work your way up to a huge brand named superstars like John Cena, The Rock, Stone Cold, and so many other huge names. The rise to fame is not an easy road to travel. For some people the way is paved in money and gold, but still for others getting to the top is a daunting task.

Somewhere in a RAW arena, in Sante Fe, New Mexico. Superstars John Cena, Randy Orton, Evan Bourne, and the entire maintenance crew of the building look for an I-pod that was thrown away to a dark and unforgiving arena. It was a hard task, just like other hard tasks that the boys would have to face in the near future that were already hard, and therefore just getting harder. But luckily they had each other and the ninety-three other staff members of the RAW universe to fall back on. Now all they had to do was master Angry Birds and they'd be all set...

-fin-

(TBC)