"We're going to have to take him to the hospital," Steve told her softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Randy, can you hear me?"
The wrestler gritted his teeth as he tried to nod, aggravating the cuts on his head. "Yeah. I'm not unconscious. Just bloody."
Steve snorted in amusement and then flipped open his cell phone. "Sarcasm… that's a good sign. I'm still calling an ambulance though."
"Come on, man…" Randy groaned, but it was hard to determine whether it was out of pain or defiance. "Can't I just get in a car or something?"
"Sure, you can get in a car." Steve nodded, but continued to dial anyway. "It's called an ambulance."
About twenty minutes later, a pair of EMT's burst through the metal doors pushing a stretcher towards Randy, Jessica, and Steve.
"How long has he been bleeding for?" one of them asked in a deep voice, approaching him cautiously. The young man didn't look a day over twenty-five.
Jessica chewed on her lower lip as she thought it over. "About thirty five minutes."
The other man nodded and then headed for Dwayne, while the young one stayed. He crouched down in front of them, glancing Randy over. He was coated in his own blood from midway down his abdomen upward.
"Did you see where it started?" he asked Jessica, who was equally soaked with crimson.
She shook her ponytailed-head. "No. It all was happening too fast… but I think he has a few cuts on his head, at least one on his face. He started gushing pretty quickly, too fast for it to be his neck or upper body."
The EMT nodded again and opened up his bag, removing a pair of gloves and gauze. "Can he sit up?"
"I'm right here," Randy sniped at him, pushing himself upward off of his friend's lap. "Don't talk about me like I'm invisible."
The EMT looked Randy over for about five minutes and finally discovered two cuts on the back of his head, one just over his ear, and another one on his right temple. Almost immediately, he decided that Randy needed to be brought to the emergency room to be stitched up. As it were, he was lucky didn't lose much more blood once on the way there.
Dwayne, on the other hand, did not require an ambulance or any stitches at all. Most of the cuts had occurred when he and Randy had rolled out of the ring and landed on the concrete below. He had a bloody nose, a busted lip, and a black eye, but he was a lot less worse for wear than his sparring partner.
And while he had tried to talk to Jess before she had fled the training facility, her main focus was Randy and getting into the ambulance with him.
On the ride to the hospital, Jessica managed to get a hold of Samantha over the phone. After minor hysterics on her end, the blonde Diva managed to put Randy on speakerphone long enough that he could assure his fiancée that he was alright.
Upon entering the hospital, Randy was taken straight into the ER and Jessica was forced to wait in the lobby because she was not an immediate member of his family.
So for the last hour, Jessica had been sitting in the waiting area of the hospital, caked in rapidly-drying blood, looking as though she had been the one surviving victim of a chain saw massacre.
"You look like you've been forced to watch an axe murderer hack numerous people to pieces," a voice interred her thoughts, causing her to look up.
But when she locked eyes on the half-Samoan standing in front of her, she wished she hadn't. "What are you doing here?"
"I didn't get the chance before, so I came to apologize," he replied sincerely, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "Face to face."
She scoffed at him and shook her head. "Did you ever stop to think that there might have been a reason you didn't?"
A wry smile crossed his perfect features. "I did, but I didn't care."
But Jessica was clearly not amused.
"I'm so glad that you decided to pick today to determine you didn't care… the day I didn't need anymore stress on my head."
Dwayne rolled his eyes. "Orton is going to be fine…"
"What about me, Dwayne?" Jessica shot back at him angrily, rising from her chair to make her presence known, despite being diminutive in his shadow. "Do you even know what I've had to deal with today, let alone since you decided to drop your little bombshell on me? Do you know how badly I've been dragged through the press, as a result, save Perez Hilton who seems to think I'm the next Victoria Beckham?"
"Jessica, I hate to break it to you, but… while you're an excellent singer, but you're no Spice Girl…"
She threw her hands up in the air in frustration. "See? This is what I'm talking about! While you claim to be in love with me, you seem to have no regard for my feelings or my well-being!"
Dwayne's head dropped dangerously low as he whispered harshly to her, "Jessica, there are people around."
"Oh, so now you care whether or not our little secret gets out. Newsflash, Johnson," Jessica snapped at him, pulling her blackberry out of her pocket book and shoving it in his face. "It doesn't matter anymore."
Breaking News: Culprit Revealed – Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson came between John Cena and Jessica McMahon
A bloody fight occurred today between Dwayne Johnson, better known to the world by his alter-ego, The Rock, and Randy Orton, Jessica's once-rumored paramour, at the World Wrestling Entertainment training facility known as Florida Championship Wrestling.
Eye-witnesses heard some of the trash talk occurring in the ring and were able to deduce that Dwayne was the one who drove the wedge between Jessica and John Cena.
One of our moles in World Wrestling Entertainment has confirmed to us exclusively that he/she had recently learned of Johnson's advances towards McMahon and that they had begun as early as August of this year.
Check back for more updates as People Magazine continues to investigate the story.
When he had finished reading the article, Dwayne's chocolate brown eyes shot up from the screen.
"I had to spend six hours this morning on the phone with my staff at headquarters, filing lawsuits against media outlets who were harassing Randy's fiancée. Stories were being published that he had broken up John and me and there were paparazzi camping out on her lawn," the Diva began sourly. "And then I had to call the police department in St. Louis to arrange protection for her because they were harassing her and becoming unruly. And you know what else I had to do today?" she challenged him, to which he remained silent. "I had to call Cody Runnels to dress up as a rich playboy, while I dressed up as a red-headed, tattooed rocker and Randy hid in the back of his rented Mustang, as part of an elaborate scheme to escape the paparazzi ourselves… and why? Because they had followed me to the hotel too!"
"Jess…"
"And just when I had managed to catch a break when those rumors were put to rest and I could go to FCW and teach those kids there about the business that I love, prolong the legacy my father, my grandfather, my mother, my siblings, and I had worked so hard for, you just have to show up!" she hissed at him.
Now it was his turn to become slightly annoyed. "What was I supposed to do, tell Dusty no?"
"YES!" Jessica exclaimed in exasperation. "You were supposed to tell him that you had better things to do in Hollywood than to return to wrestling in any capacity, even if for a mere day."
He shook his head. "No, I couldn't."
Her hazel eyes narrowed at him. "You certainly had no problem telling me or my father that before.""
"That's not fair, Jess," Dwayne replied, his eyes never leaving hers.
"You want to know what's not fair?" Jessica snapped at him. "The fact that I was in the middle of one of the happiest moments in my entire life. The love… of my LIFE had just asked me to spend the rest of our lives together and I had said yes, without even thinking twice. I had just asked Trish and Amy to be bridesmaids, we had hired one of the best wedding planners in the world, and after a year of suffering, I was happy again, I was myself again. It was pre-marital bliss… and you snatched that away from me. So don't you dare try to tell me what's fair and what isn't."
"Ms. McMahon?" a light, feminine voice interrupted the conversation, causing both Dwayne and Jessica to turn their heads in the woman's direction. "Mr. Orton is asking for you, he won't let them finish stitching him up unless he gets to see you."
Jessica nodded graciously and relief washed over her. "Thank you."
The nurse nodded and returned to her station.
"I don't have time for this anymore, Dwayne," she sighed heavily, retrieving her purse from the seat behind her.
He nodded. "I understand. You have to go see Orton."
"No…" Jessica shook her head as she slung the bag over her left arm. "I mean this, between you and me and John. I can't spend the rest of my life alone, being indecisive."
"Then go back to him."
She sighed once again. "I don't know if I can."
"Because you don't think he'll take you back?"
"Because I don't know if I'd be making a mistake if he did," the blonde answered him quickly, rubbing a blood-stained hand over her tired face. "And I don't want to make a decision that will affect me for the rest of my life based on uncertainty."
Dwayne removed the hand from her face and rubbed the back of it with his thumb. "Then come spend some time with me."
"Right now, I can't." She shook him off and pulled her hand away. "I just can't."
The muscular former-wrestler bobbed his head in understanding and returned his hand to his pocket. "If you change your mind, I'm not leaving until tomorrow morning."
"I have to get going…"
"I know… and I'm sorry. Not just that you have to go…" he quickly covered. "But because of Randy, because of how difficult I've made your life."
Jessica nodded and began to back away from him towards the exam rooms. "I know."
And with two parting words finally free from her lips, Jessica McMahon turned around and walked away, something she wished she could do permanently.
"I cannot believe you're ACTUALLY going!" the deep voice on the other side of the phone grumbled at her.
"I'm a big girl, Randy," Jessica retorted as she placed another tee shirt into her black suitcase. "Contrary to what you might believe, I was full capable of living on my own and dealing with my own problems before you came around."
Randy sighed in frustration, "You know that's not what I mean.
She readjusted the cell phone in the crook of her neck. "Yes, I do. But how the hell am I supposed to make my decision if I only spend time with John?"
"Easy," he replied quickly. "You pick John."
"That hardly seems fair," she remarked, miffed by his comment.
Randy snorted, "To who? Dwayne? Ha. He'll get over it."
"No, " Jessica clarified. "To me, Randy."
The muscular wrestler sighed again over the phone. "I just don't know what you see in him, Jess."
"I'd be a little worried if you did," she managed to laugh and then turned serious. "I know that John is one of your best friends and that you want what's best for the both of us, for each of us. But what if we're not really soulmates? What if there's someone out there that he's supposed to be with instead of me? And I'm supposed to be with Dwayne?"
For once, her best friend for the last few years of her life was silent.
"I know it's a reality that you don't want to face, Randy," she admitted with a sigh and zipped her suitcase shut. "But I need to do what's best for me. And you're going to have to trust that I'll make the right decision."
"I'm not going to stop you," he informed her, taking a drink of orange juice from his glass. "I know that when I come back from breakfast, you're not going to be there. Just be careful and don't do anything that you'll regret."
A feeling of relief washed over her and she managed to smile for the first time in nearly twenty-four hours. "Thanks. I won't."
From: Dwayne Johnson
I'm outside. And I'm surrounded.
From: Jessica McMahon
Do you want me to call the front desk and ask them to bring the car around the back?
From: Dwayne Johnson
I'll talk to the valet about bringing it around the back myself. Just go to the back entrance if you can. I'll text you when I get there.
From: Jessica McMahon
Okay.
Ten minutes passed by slowly as she waited with one of the bellhops by the back exit. Finally, her phone vibrated within her right palm and she looked up anxiously at the cocoa-skinned man before her.
He smiled at her assuringly. "You probably will want to answer that."
From: Dwayne Johnson
I'm out back. Whenever you're ready.
Her words were barely a whisper. "He's here."
The bell-hop, whose name she managed to make out on the name tag which read 'Thomas," rushed out the door with her bags.
Moments later, Thomas returned for her.
"Ms. McMahon?" he studied her face intently. "Are you okay?"
Snapping out of her trance, she nodded and reached into her bag. "Thomas, I really appreciate what you've done for me… you're one of few good people I have met in this town."
"It's my pleasure, Ms. McMahon," Thomas replied with a broad smile. "My older son loves watching you and the WWE on TV."
A slow smile spread across her face as she scribbled on a piece of paper. "How old is he?"
"He's seven. You and Rey Mysterio are his favorite wrestlers. The younger one is three, but he's still a little young to understand it all."
"I'm flattered." She grinned at him and handed him the piece of paper, along with a few $100 bills. "On that piece of paper is the phone number of a member of my staff in Stamford. Give her your address so that I can send your son something for the holidays. "
"Thank you, Ms. McMahon! I-I don't know what to say…"
Jessica smiled at him half-heartedly. "Just say you won't change. There are too many people in this world who are out for blood at the cost of others' happiness. Stay one of the good guys, Thomas."
Every now and then, I get an email from Thomas and the boys. His younger son just started kindergarten and the older one still loves watching the WWE, but enjoys it more now that his brother watches it too. About six months before I began writing this, Thomas lost his job, but World Wrestling Entertainment is proud to say that we've got a great new employee like him working for us.
I know that talking about Thomas and his family kind of seems irrelevant to you, but it made me realize that my problems were kind of petty compared to a lot of other people's. In front of me was an incredibly sweet guy who was working in a hotel as a bellhop to support his wife and two kids.
And I was complaining about having feelings for two men?
So as Dwayne and I rolled out of the parking lot, and were subsequently swarmed by photographers, I wasn't as upset about it as I had been the day before…
Because I was successful, had a great family, and would eventually have a husband who loved me unconditionally.
I just had to find out who he was.
"… and then you tripped and fell back against the turnbuckle," Jessica laughed, clapping a hand to her mouth as she could barely manage to finish the sentence.
"Which knocked you off of the apron and onto your ass on the steps," Dwayne finished for her, chuckling, as well.
"Don't you laugh! I had a bruise the size of a baseball for a week!" she retorted, smacking him playfully on the arm beside her on the couch.
He shook his head and flashed her his 1000-watt smile. "You know… it's times like this where I miss those days."
Jessica folded her legs underneath her and took a swig of coffee from her mug. "You could still come back. God knows my dad would sign the contract in his own blood."
His chocolate brown eyes dropped to the dark liquid in his own cup. "Nah, it's not the same. Everyone's gone. Well, everyone except you, the Hardys, Shawn, and Paul."
"Steve comes around sometimes too."
"But only when he feels like it," Dwayne countered with a shrug. "That works for him, though. It doesn't work for me."
Her head tilted to the side. "Why do you say that?"
"Because it's in my blood," he explained to her, taking a sip of coffee for a moment. "And if I go back, I can never leave."
"What's so bad about that?" the blonde asked him, a hint of an edge in her voice.
"Simone's getting older, Jess," Dwayne replied with a sigh. "And right now, Dany and I are sharing custody, which is what we intend it to be for a long time. Being an actor lets me come and go as I please. I can come home to Miami for a weekend, take Simone with me to L.A. for a while and let her hang out with me at home and on-set, and then take her back to Dany. I go back to that ring and…" he trailed off, looking back up at Jess. "It'll get back in my system again, just like it's in my blood. I don't want to wake up one morning to find that my daughter's eighteen years old, heading off to college, and I haven't been around for any of it."
Jessica nodded and instantly felt a pang of guilt for being so quick to judge him. "What does she think is going on right now?"
"She knows that right now, Dany and I are splitting. We didn't get into the details of being separated, but we felt that if we just explained to her that we're getting a divorce, she would better be able to comprehend it. We figured that we already had to explain to her why my mom and dad are divorced and why Uncle Curtis and Aunt Wanda don't have the same mom as her dad does, so it'd be a little easier to explain it with Dany and I."
"How's she taking it?"
He exhaled deeply. "As well as could be expected, I guess. We had to explain to her that we still were each other's best friends, but that we loved her very much too and it had nothing to do with her. It's getting better by the day."
Jessica chewed on her bottom lip. "Does she know about me?"
He shook his head. "No, she doesn't. I figured it's a hard enough situation to wrap her head around. I'll tell her when I have to."
The Diva nodded slowly and then placed her mug down on the coffee table with a loud clink. "Dany must hate me."
"She's wasn't very happy with you for a very long time," he replied seriously, placing his mug down, as well. "But in time, Dany understood that you weren't leading me on and that I came to the decision on my own. She told me that there was a part of her that always knew that our bond was a little more one-sided in certain ways."
"Do you regret marrying her?"
"Never," he stated with conviction. "Some of the years we were married were the best years of my life and together, we created Simone, the light of my life." Dwayne leaned back against the couch. "Do you regret anything about your personal life?"
The McMahon heiress took a moment to think it over. "I think the biggest thing I regret as far as family goes is that I spent too much time villainizing my father for doing what he thought was right."
"You were young, Jess," Dwayne assured her. "And while you were always wise beyond your years, it was normal for you to feel that way. I would have felt that way myself."
"It worked out, though. I got to spend a lot of time with my grandmother, which basically shaped my entire life."
Dwayne picked up his mug and held it out for her to toast with. "She was one hell of a woman."
"Yes," Jessica agreed and did the same, their glasses meeting with a loud clang. "She was."
Both of them drank from the black ceramics, then placed them down on the table.
Dwayne spoke up first. "And what about your love life?"
The coffee in her mouth was nearly spewed all over. "What about it?"
"You told me about your family life," he explained, facing her as she sat, legs folded, scooched up against the arm of the couch. Dwayne turned so he was positioned in the same manner. "You didn't tell me about the one regret of your love life."
"Oh," Jessica squeaked out as her eyes fell to her legs. "I think the there were two regrets I have in that aspect," she added, her hazel eyes flickering back up to meet him. "The first is that I tried to ignore my feelings for people I cared about and succeeded, somewhere in my subconscious. Obviously, I did that with you…" her eyes traveled back downwards. "And I did that with John."
Dwayne's eyebrows raised. "And what was the second?"
Jessica sighed audibly, flicking some of her blonde locks over her shoulder, "I wish that when John came to me at my grandmother's funeral, I would have let him back in my life. I wasted so much time being so angry that I let one of the most important parts of my life slip away. I was so miserable without my best friend in my life, but because I had to hold a grudge, I prolonged that misery much longer than I had to."
"You're prolonging your misery much longer than you have to now, you know," Dwayne stated softly, waiting for her to look him in the eye.
"I know, Dwayne," the blonde whispered sadly. "I think about it all of the time. I just wish I knew what to do."
"Look, you know what I think… so let's get your mind off of it for a little while!" Dwayne smiled and jumped to his feet then pulled her up to him. "Let's go out and do something."
She arched an eyebrow at him in annoyance. "Did you not see us being followed here?"
He rolled his chocolate colored eyes. "We're going to hell as it is. The jig is up, Jess. Let's go out in a blaze of glory."
Jessica eyed him suspiciously. "What do you have in mind?"
One of the greatest things about Dwayne's house was the fact that it that the two guest rooms faced the front of the house and the street. Now that it was nighttime, you couldn't see anything unless it was light out.
Jessica was alone in her guestroom and had propped herself up on her knees, the one that had been operated on less than a year ago resting on a pillow.
Grasping a small black object in her hand, she clicked a button on its side and it crackled. "Are you there?"
The box crackled back, "Yeah, do you think I gave you enough ammo?"
Jessica looked down at the box near the wall and smiled. "Yes, I think so. This is going to be fun."
"That it will be," the voice replied. "I cracked the window about four inches. Since the lights are off, no one has seemed to notice. Did you open yours yet?"
"About the same. It'll give me enough wiggle room."
"Good. Do you have your goggles on?" he asked, his voice filled with as much static as ever.
The blonde rolled her eyes and clicked on her own walkie-talkie. "Dwayne, you ask me as though I've never shot one of these before."
A hearty laugh could be heard over the speaker. "Okay, okay. You ready?"
The Diva laughed and slipped the goggles over her blonde hair and onto the bridge of her nose. "Yes. Switch to Bluetooth?"
"Switching," he stated monotonously and soon enough, her cell phone rang.
Jessica pressed her hand to her ear and clicked on the Bluetooth. "You do know that as your guest, I automatically get first shot, right?"
"Yes," the half-Samoan chuckled again. "I knew you'd say that, too. I'm watching for your first shot. Let's take 'em down like snipers."
"I'll pick off the first one. You get the second. Then rapid fire?"
"Sounds like a plan. After you, Rebel," he replied wryly, and then was silent.
Jessica grinned like a Cheshire Cat. I love that name.
She lifted the gun with relative ease, placing the black barrel onto the window sill and steadying it. Closing her right eye, the blonde peered into the scope and looked for a target.
Instantly, she ID-ed a man who had prevented the EMTs from closing the ambulance doors in order to get the exclusive shot of Randy on the stretcher and Jessica bloodied.
If she hadn't been so preoccupied, she would have hopped out of the vehicle and knocked him out herself.
But now she had her chance.
With her sights set on the obnoxious photographer, she took aim…
And fired.
He was hit square in the chest and the ammunition exploded red all over his camera.
From the surprise impact, his body flew backward, causing a multitude of other people to crowd around him.
"What happened?" one man asked from the back of the pack.
Another man, slightly in front of him, replied, "He was shot."
"Is that blood?!?" a woman in her mid-thirties gasped, taking note of the red all over him.
"No," the dark-skinned man hovering over him replied and crouched down to swipe the substance with his fingers, the shot photographer looking up at him stunned. "It's paint."
All of a sudden, the woman in the back screamed and fell forward. "I've been shot too!"
The dark-skinned man looked over at her and her pellet had exploded on her, staining her white blouse purple. "Paintball guns."
"Shot two fired," Dwayne spoke into his headset and then smirked. "Commence rapid fire."
"Commencing on three, two, one…" Jessica counted off and then smirked as well. "Fire."
And then she pulled the trigger.
So after we shot at them with paintball guns, I got into a little hot water with my father, but we managed to stop it from hitting the press by agreeing to drop the lawsuit if they stopped trespassing on any private property. Those properties included those belonging to World Wrestling Entertainment, Randy Orton, Dwayne Johnson, John Cena, and myself. After that, they did not step on my property for a little under a year. Well, that is until I had a family emergency in October 2007, but I knew it wouldn't last too long. I was just happy to have my privacy back.
Taking out my aggression on the paparazzi was definitely something that I needed. Was it the smartest thing I've ever done? No. Was it the stupidest? Definitely not. But I needed to blow off some steam and technically speaking, they were trespassing.
In addition, I hadn't had that much fun in so long. Spending time with Dwayne was something I enjoyed and it became clear that neither of us were any less mischievous than we had been eight years earlier when I first started in the WWE.
In the moment, I was on an adrenaline rush. But as I lay in the bed of the guest room that night, all I could do was wonder if my enjoyment of our antics was some sort of sign. And it was… but later on, I realized… it wasn't the one I was looking for.
A/N: Phew. Sorry this took so long. This chapter was the last of my writer's block chapters. Just to let you know… chapter 17 is the last chapter before Jessica makes her decision. In 18, thanks to some creative thinking, she does finally come to a decision. I know!
MAJOR EDIT (Feb 19th): This is the last chapter before Jessica makes her decision. As I sat down to write Chapter 17, I realized that I need two chapters to explain her decision. Therefore, EIGHTEEN WILL REVEAL JESSICA's HUSBAND!
And what am I going to do with the last three chapters after that? Well, you're just going to have to wait and see!
By the way, this chapter was extra long as a result of reaching review 300! I'm so flattered, everyone! You have NO idea! Chapter 18 should come quicker, I promise.
Shout-outs:
Wrestlenascargirl – Thank you! And yeah, it's Dwayne. Being Dwayne.
Dreamin'BIG – I think the problem was that Jessica and Randy didn't see it coming either. And yes, there is going to be a fourth She's a Rebel.
Aaron W – Thanks for the compliments! Haha. Randy. Must be the IED… idiot that he is.
Da-Real-Mrz-Cena1021000 – No, you're right. Dwayne didn't try to get her pink glove back. BUT he was there for her when no one else was backstage because they were treating her as though she was just like her sister, handed everything on a silver platter, without even knowing her.
AlexiaCalaway – Thank you!
Purplefeather21 – See? You DID have words for this! And thank you for the compliments on the story, compliments like these REALLY keep me going! I love writing Jessica when she kicks the crap out of guys.
Enigmatic Lotus Leaf – At least he won the Royal Rumble! No John this time, but we'll see what Chapter 17 holds. I promise you that John will be discussed in Chapter 18 and there will be a final conversation between him and Jessica.
ThatGirl54 – Aww, thank you! I love Cody a lot. I think John, as a result of Trish's letter, is just trying to give her some space. And yeah… it's McRock vs. McCena!
Hotpocketbandit – It was definitely meant to be intense. I know that the next two chapters are going to be emotionally intense, as well. And big surprise concerning Jess and becoming a triple threat next chapter.
StarSixtyNine – You haven't. But it's okay.
Cena-holic8 – Thank you! Mostly emotional struggle from here on out, I must say.
Sambolina – He still got to win the RR… as a consolation from getting his ass kicked by the Rock.
Goddessofthenight – Yeah, yeah. So do three other people BESIDES you. Bitch, what?
Westfan – I miss you and hope all is well with you! Randy is amazing, though. Both of our boys know that, haha. Send my love back home.
Nic-002001 – Yeah, crazy, right?
iNdy MiLk – It's okay. I'm just glad you reviewed!
Chain Gang Princess – He's okay! I swear! See?
FrequentlyDazzled619 – I know. It's insane!
WinchesterAngel3389 – Ahhh… Dean. Sorry, your icon distracted me. Glad you liked it! And I'm so impressed you finished the whole thing!
RatedRCouture – It's because I have a crazy, weird-ass mind, lol. But thanks.