Disclaimer: You've heard it before.
Hiya! Here we all are again, sorry it took so long, even the best of us get writers block from time to time. Anywho, last time Jason almost had a breakdown and revealed why he can't fight John, then he received an offer from Paul Heyman to join the new ECW, will he take the offer? Will anything happen to make him break the promise? Let's find out!
Here We Go!
Brotherly Hate-Chapter Fifty Four-Bar Brawl
A few days after the phone call from Heyman, Jason and Shawn were in the gym of Shawn's house, Jason had lightened up a little, he was starting to get his smile back, and had suggested a challenge, every day the two would get up, go to the gym, work out for a while then turn the running machines on and see who could last longer, so far Shawn was winning three to nothing and Jason was beginning to regret making the challenge.
"So, still considering the offer from Heyman?"
"Yeah".
"I ain't gonna try and push ya into coming back but you can do much better than ECW".
"Yeah, but I'm not going to RAW, and I've already said I ain't coming back to Smackdown".
"Fair enough, like I said I ain't gonna push ya".
"Cool".
They slipped into silence for a few minutes before Shawn spoke again.
"What is it about ECW anyway? I never understood the hype".
"Me neither".
"So why are ya joining them then?"
"Told you, not going to RAW, you can thank Hunter for that…" Shawn laughed. "… I'm not going back to Smackdown, Vince won't let me out of my contract to go to the Indies or TNA, ECW's the only choice".
"Is Teddy gonna let you?"
"That's the clincher, Vince is so desperate for HIS ECW to succeed that he's said that anyone who wants to jump can break contract and go".
"I see, is there anything that appeals to ya?"
"Not really, I mean, I seventeen, I've got my life ahead of me, bleeding week in week out isn't gonna help me that much, I don't really see myself as a hardcore wrestler".
"ECW's the wrong place then".
"I dunno, when I talked to Heyman he said that he was focusing on the 'Wrestling' just as much as the 'Extreme' apparently I fit under the first category".
"Waddya know, Paul Heyman wants talented people on his roster".
"I dunno, you hear who just signed with him?"
"No, who?"
"Andrew Martin".
"Test? Ouch! Kid you're good but I don't think you'll be getting any two-star matches out of him, let alone five".
"There are some guys I'm looking forward to facing though".
"Like who?"
"RVD, he's been announced as the champion, Sabu, I wouldn't mind facing him, Al Snow and Steven Richards, both have good matches in them, my old friend Hardcore Holly and according to Heyman, he's bringing in a top name from the Indies and someone who's already a top superstar from WWE".
"Yeah, well I wouldn't take anything Paul Heyman says at face value".
"You don't like him do you?"
"Let's just say his ideas never appealed to me".
Jason laughed. "Not a kool-aid drinker then?"
"No, but chances are you're gonna be".
Jason laughed and took a swipe at Shawn; he missed, lost his balance and dropped off the running machine.
"And the old guy wins again!" Said Shawn almost doubled up from laughing so hard. "What is that now? Four to zero?"
"Shut up".
Shawn laughed again. "Wanna start over?"
"Nah, I'll hit the showers".
The teen walked off muttering to himself, Shawn's smile disappeared, Jason had been in a good mood for the past few days but he doubted it would last much longer considering the bombshell Mara was about to drop. The day before Mara had come to Shawn asking for advice, she had seemed on edge since the phone call from Heyman and explained that even if Jason took the offer she wasn't, she had heard stories about what the working conditions were like in the old ECW and wasn't to keen on going through them, she had asked Shawn the best way to break it to Jason. Shawn's advice… don't, the kid had only just started to pull himself out of the pit he had fallen in, he didn't need to know that his girlfriend wasn't gonna help him out when he needed it. Mars had gone off to think while Shawn hoped against hope that if she did break it to Jason he wouldn't take it badly.
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Meanwhile Mara was trying to figure out just that, she had already made up her mind that she was not going to ECW, that was certain, but she had also decided to move back to California with her parents, not because of Jason but because she felt she needed time alone to think and a little parental support. She walked into the room she shared with Jason; he was in the shower singing to himself.
"Jason?"
"Yup?"
"Can we talk?"
Jason paused, he didn't like the tone of voice Mara was using. "Just let me get dressed".
A few minutes later Jason walked out of the shower, Mara was sitting on the end of the bed, Jason took a deep breath. "So… Wassup?"
"I need to ask you something".
"Go ahead".
"Are you definitely going to take the ECW offer?"
"Dunno, probably, it's the only place Vinnie Mac is gonna let me go, why?"
She sighed and took a deep breath. "I'm not going to go there with you".
She studied his expression, his face stayed the same, but his eyes showed that he wasn't happy about it.
"Is it because of what I…"
"No, no it's not because of you, it's just that I've heard about what it was like in the old ECW, I don't want to go through that".
"But I'll be there as well".
"I know, that's what makes this hard for me, I want to be with you but I can't face working there, even with you".
Jason sighed and sat down next to her. "So what are you gonna do?"
"I've talked to Shawn, he says I can manage him on Smackdown for a while…"
"Wait, when did you talk to Shawn?"
"Yesterday".
"How come he never told me?"
"I asked him not to".
"So, you're telling me that you've been pushing me to accept the offer but you've had no intentions of doing the same?"
"I know, I'm sorry, I've tried to convince myself to take it as well but I can't do it Jason".
Jason sighed into his hands, then he put on a smile that was obviously forced.
"Hey, if you don't want to go I can't force you, besides you're managing Shawn so you'll still be staying here right?" Mara didn't meet his eyes. "Right?"
"I need to go stay with my parents for a while".
"When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow".
"Tomorrow?"
"Yeah, it's nothing to do with you or how you've been acting, but I need some time with my family".
Jason nodded. "Well don't let me keep you from packing".
"Jason…"
"No, no, you got a long flight to L.A. coming up so you better get started, I'll get out of your way".
Before she could say anything Jason turned and walked out of the room, Shawn met him on the stairs and tried to speak but Jason just pushed past him and headed out into the back yard, Mara came out to go after him but Shawn stopped her.
"Something tells me he didn't take it too well".
"Nope".
Jason was sitting in a chair outside when Mara came over, he looked up then stood and started to walk away.
"Jason, c'mon just talk to me".
"About what? How I'm mentally unstable? How little people seem to care about me? Or how yet another person in my life is turning on me?"
"Oh would you get over yourself! It's always about you isn't it? Everything's gotta be about how crappy YOUR life is or how everyone is turning against YOU! And you wonder why no-one likes being around you at times".
"Yeah? Well excuse me for being upset when the last member of my family turns on me! I would've thought that I'd have a right to be upset!"
"You do, but that doesn't mean you have to go on and on about it! You're not the only person who's had that done to him!"
Jason turned his back on her. "You said you were going, so go ahead, get outta here".
Mara sighed. "Fine, but you're going to have to grow up and deal with it someday".
She walked away, Jason slumped down on the ground, deep down he knew Mara was right but in his current state of mind he saw it as yet another person betraying him when he needed them. His cell phone rang, another thing he didn't need.
"Hello?"
"Jason! How are you kid?"
"What do you want Heyman?"
"Bad time to call?"
"Very, what do you want?" He repeated.
"I was wondering if you had put any thought into my offer".
"It 's been on my mind a little".
"And?"
"I don't know".
"Fair enough, are you still down in San Antonio?"
"Yup".
"Good, I'm coming down there for a… 'business matter' once I've cleared that up maybe we could talk".
"Sure, where and when?"
"There's a bar about a mile away from the arena, most of the guys drink there after shows, what time are you free?"
"Whenever".
"Alright, I'll see you there at seven, don't be late Jason because I've got some news that you will find very interesting".
"Whatever, see ya then".
He hung up without waiting for Heyman to reply, he had six hours to kill before he met Heyman, he wasn't spending them here, he hopped the fence at the back of the yard and headed down the street in search of something to do.
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Hours later Paul Heyman sat in a corner of the bar, he wasn't in the best of moods, his 'business matter' hadn't gone the way he wanted and now Jason Cena was late. Had he not made himself clear? He said seven o'clock, it was now seven thirty and the teen hadn't shown up, he had just pulled out his phone to call when the man himself slumped into the bar, he beckoned the teen over but didn't stand to shake the offered hand.
"You're late".
"I was busy".
"Alright, sit down".
The teen slumped down in the seat. "So what's this interesting offer you have?"
"We'll get to that" replied Heyman, starting to lighten up. "Can I get you a drink? Beer? Kool-aid perhaps?"
Jason smirked. "Cola, I don't drink".
"You're not the first guy I've seen lately who's said that, hang on a minute". He walked off and returned a few minutes later with the drinks, he handed Jason his, the teen put it down without drinking, he laughed. "I haven't spiked it".
"Well you said it yourself, 'The Kool-aid came in many forms'".
Heyman laughed. "Relax kid, you're too tense, anyway, I asked you to come here to talk to you about my offer".
"Look, I'm still thinking on that".
"I know, I just want to sell my offer a bit more, give you more reasons to sign".
"Such as?"
"Firstly there's the fans, the ECW fans are a lot different o the ones who cheered you merely because you were a cute little boy living the dream, the ECW fans cheer for a select breed, you will fit into that breed because, while you aren't the most 'extreme' kid out there, you do have a hell of a lot of talent and that will endear yourself to them".
Jason smirked. "So I'll have new fans cheering me, why should that make me sign?"
"I'm not done yet, another reason you should come to ECW is the range of talent you will face, for the past few weeks I have been trying to bring back as many ECW 'originals' as I can along with some of the best wrestling talent from around the world…"
"Andrew Martin? The Blue Meanie?"
Heyman paused for a moment then grinned. "I see you follow the internet, yes I've signed them, while they may not be the best wrestlers around Test has a certain edge of aggression to him and Meanie is a great comedy act".
"So I'll be wrestling a stiff and a comedy act?"
"That's not all, let me tell you some of the talent I've acquired, Rob Van Damn, Sabu, Tommy Dreamer, The Sandman, Balls Mahoney, all three members of the BWO, Justin Credible, Al Snow, the FBI, Tazz and I've even brought in some new faces like Shannon Moore, Mike Knox, Kevin Thorne and this girl called Trinity…"
"Trinity?"
"You know her?"
"Mara had a few matches with her on the Indies, she's pretty vicious".
"I'll take your word for it, anyway I've also managed to talk some RAW and Smackdown superstars into joining, Matt Striker, Hardcore Holly, my good friend Big Show and, my personal favourite, the wrestling machine Kurt Angle".
"Angle? How the hell did you talk him into joining, last I heard he swore never to set foot in an ECW ring".
"I think you'll find that I am a very persuasive person, anyway there is one last person I've signed and this is something I think you'll like".
"Yeah? What?"
"Do you remember an interview you did when you first started wrestling?"
"What about it?"
"You were asked what you're dream match was, your answer was, and I quote. 'If I could choose one it would be Shawn Michaels but other than that I would love to wrestle AJ Styles or CM Punk' now AJ Styles turned me down but the other one of those two decided to accept my offer".
"How on Gods green earth did you sign CM Punk?"
"It was easy really, he wanted to wrestle for a major promotion, I was looking for talent, after I convinced him that ECW was the way to go he was only too happy to sign".
"So your big sales pitch is CM Punk?" Jason frowned. "That's all you can offer?"
"That's all? CM Punk is one of the best young wrestlers out there! I'd even say he's better than Kurt Angle!"
"Yeah, so I get one match with CM Punk, then what? I squash Shannon Moore for a few weeks, maybe try to wrestle Test, if I'm lucky get caned by Sandman? Heyman, why should I sign?"
"Kid, if I was only going to give you one match with CM Punk then I'd only give you a one night deal, no, you see, with ECW coming back that means the titles are coming back and not just the World title either. I am also bringing back the ECW Television title, I figured that a promotion with so many up and comers needs a secondary title for said up and comers to compete for, THAT'S what I'm offering, in three weeks we have a show in New York City at the Hammerstein Ballroom, that's when I plan to unveil you and CM Punk as the future of ECW and let you loose on the crowd".
"So we have a title match?"
Yes, think about it, if you beat him, he's gonna want another chance right? And I assume it's the same for you, think about it kid, a series of high profile matches with CM Punk? Just imagine the levels of success that could get you".
"So I get to boost my image and get a dream match while you gain exposure by having all these great matches on your show?"
"Exactly, look I understand if you need to think so I'll tell ya what, take the three weeks then come to New York and give your answer there".
"What if I turn it down?"
"Then I'll have a backup plan in place, but let's face it kid, where else can you go if not ECW?"
Jason didn't answer, Heyman stood up.
"Well kid I better go, I got a long flight ahead of me, want a lift?"
"Nah, I'm gonna stay here a while, I've had a pretty bad day".
"Really? Why don't you get your girlfriend to help?" Jason fixed him with a look. "…Oh, well see ya in NYC kid".
"So long Heyman" replied Jason before returning to his drink.
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Shawn continued to drive through the streets of San Antonio looking for Jason, the kid had been gone for hours, he hadn't called or anything, it was quite unsettling to say the least. Mara had told him about the argument, to be honest he had little sympathy for her, Jason was in a pretty bad state of mind right now, the last thing he had needed was another person he cared about turning away from him, he slowed down the car as he passed a couple of guys.
"Excuse me, have you seen this kid anywhere?" He asked showing a picture of Jason.
"Yeah" one of them replied. I seen him the bar I just left, just round the corner there".
"A bar?" Thought Shawn. "Great!" "Thanks" he muttered before driving off, he parked right outside the bar, he pulled a baseball cap out of the glove compartment, he put it on and pulled it down to cover part of his face before going in, he noticed Jason right away, the teen was sitting in a corner by himself, that made it a little easier, he headed over to Jason and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Hey, kid, it's me".
"What do you want Shawn?"
"You've been out for ages and didn't call, I'm just making sure you're alright".
"Well I'm fine, now you can go away".
"Sorry kid, I gotta bring you with me, how many have you had?" He said noticing the glass.
"A couple".
"Only a couple?"
"Yes only a couple! Anyway it's only cola so you can relax, I haven't reached the stage where I drink myself into a coma… not yet".
"C'mon kid, I gotta get ya back, Mara's worried about ya".
"Should of thought of that before she turned on me" said Jason a little louder than he meant to, a big guy at the bar turned round.
"Hey! Keep it down, we're trying to enjoy a drink here!"
"Sorry" said Shawn not looking up. "C'mon kid, let's get outta here before you make a scene".
"I ain't going anywhere with you" said Jason. "You knew what she was going to do and you didn't tell me!"
Shawn knew he had to calm Jason down, that big guy at the bar had just shot them another annoyed glance. "Look kid you gotta calm down, yes I knew she wasn't going to take the ECW offer, but I swear I never knew about her going back to L.A.".
"Don't lie!" Said Jason, standing up. "You knew! You knew and you never told me!"
Shawn tried to think up a comeback but before he could he heard someone behind him mutter. "That's it" and turned to see the big guy coming over.
"Look kid, I don't know if you're deaf or not but I told you to keep it down!"
"I know" said Shawn. "We're sorry, the kid's a little ups…"
"I don't remember talking to you" said the guy before stepping up to Jason. "So I'm gonna say it one more time. Keep. It. Down".
He turned to leave but froze.
"Wait a minute, you're Jason Cena!"
Jason sighed and didn't reply, the guy took it as confirmation.
"You are! Hey guys!" He called over his shoulder. "Come see this, it's Jason Cena!"
The guy's two friends came over, they were almost as big as he was, the three formed a little semicircle around Jason, Shawn moved a little closer as well.
"Jason Cena" the big guy smirked. "Not so tough now are ya?"
"If by tough you mean can I kick your ass then nope, I'm still tough".
The guy and his friends laughed. "Funny guy" he suddenly became aggressive. "Look kid, we don't like posers round here, so I suggest you get the hell out of my bar".
"Your bar? Do you own the place? If not then get the hell out of my face!"
"You gonna make me?" The guy growled, Shawn made one last attempt at mediating the situation.
"C'mon man, just let me get the kid out of here and…" Before he could get anymore words out the big guy slammed his fist into Shawn's jaw sending him to the floor.
"Shawn!" Jason looked away from the big guy to his friend, the big guy tried to get him as well but Jason leant away from the punch before hitting one of his own, the big guy went flying back across a table knocking bottles and glasses crashing down to the floor, Jason smirked as he stood over him.
"Guess I'm tougher than you thought" he smirked before feeling a pair of arms grab him from behind, one of the guy's friends had grabbed him, he spun the teen round and the other one started forward, Jason kicked him away, broke the grip of the other one and threw him into his friend. He quickly went to Shawn's aid.
"You alright?"
"Yeah I… lookout!"
Jason spun round just in time to feel something shatter across his forehead followed by a lot of pain, he felt someone pick him up and slam him back against the bar, he looked up to see the big guy holding the jagged remains of a glass bottle to the side of his face.
"Now I'm gonna show you what happened to the last guy who pissed me off" he hissed, he pulled back the fist with the bottle but before he could swing there was the sound of wood splintering and the guy dropped to the ground, Jason looked surprised then grinned as Shawn stood over the guy holding the remains of a bar stool, he dropped it and helped Jason up.
"You're bleeding kid".
"I am?" Jason raised a hand to his head. "Shit".
The guy's two friends suddenly charged them but they both sidestepped them and threw them over the bar, Jason felt a hand on his shoulder and instinctively threw a punch, he smirked when he felt it connect but then realised that he had just punched a huge and not too happy bouncer.
"Uh oh".
The next thing Jason knew he was being bodily dragged across the bar before being thrown hard to the floor outside, he lay there for a moment, then…
"Oh hell no".
He jumped up and went to go after the bouncer but ran straight into Shawn.
"Enough! Get in the damn car!"
Jason climbed in the back, Shawn jumped in and started the engine, there was silence for a while before Jason spoke again.
"You know your house is the other way right?"
"We're not going back there, I ain't letting my family see you in the state you are right now, we're staying at a hotel".
"We?"
"You think I'm letting you be alone so you can run off again? Oh no".
They pulled up outside a hotel, Jason let Shawn do the talking.
"Yeah, a room for two please, do you have a first aid kit?"
"There's one in the room sir".
"Thank you".
Shawn took the key and the two headed for the elevator, Jason stopped.
"What's wrong kid?"
"I'm just wondering" Jason's face broke into a grin. "Where the hell did you learn to fight like that?"
Shawn's face broke into a grin as well. "Kid, let me tell you a story about Marty Jannety".
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Paul Heyman sat in the airport departure lounge, the meeting with Jason had gone quite well, he thought it had anyway, the kid seemed interested in joining ECW and Paul wanted him there, the kid would grow into quite a wrestler given time, his phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Did he sign?"
"Not yet".
"Not yet? Are you even trying?"
"Yes I'm trying! I want this deal to go through, not just because you don't want the kid on your show".
"Then why hasn't he signed".
"He's still thinking, but I'm close to getting it".
"You better be Paul, because if that kid comes back to Smackdown there will be hell to pay, for him and for you".
"Do I detect fear John?"
"No! I just want that kid away from me, and you want a new star for your Extremely Crappy Wrestling, so I'd have thought you'd pull out all the stops".
"Subtlety is the key John, I can't put too much pressure on him or he'll turn it down, then again I might just let him, just to see the look on your face when he comes back".
"You won't do that".
"How do you know?"
"Because you're desperate for the new ECW to succeed, and you need all the talent you can get, you won't let Jason Cena just walk away if you can help it".
"For someone who isn't afraid you are pretty desperate for this deal to happen".
"Look Heyman! Just get the deal done, I want Jason Cena gone from my show, I never want to see him again!"
"Alright, alright relax, I'll take care of it, see ya later" he hung up the phone and sighed. "No wonder the kid's so screwed up, if I had a brother like that…"
End of Chapter
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Well better late than never right? … Right? Anywho, will Jason become an Extremely Crappy Wrestler? Will he ever snap out of his pity party? Will CM Punk appear in my story? All will be revealed soon.
R&R!
HOO-RAH!