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000

"So tell me about this plan…" Vince McMahon leaned back in his chair and waited for the Undertaker to voice is idea for the Great American Bash match.

"It's an eight man Tag-Team match," Undertaker stated. "Rated RKO, with John Cena and Batista vs. the Hardys teaming with the Brothers of Destruction."

McMahon's eyebrows shot up with interest, but then he frowned. "An interesting idea, but why team with Hardys?"

The phenom shrugged. "They are the Tag-Team Champions and I want the best in my corner. Not to mention there will be the underlying tension between Kane and Matt Hardy."

McMahon nodded, but he still frowned. "Fair enough, but there's still one problem. Usually at the Great American Bash we have championship matches, but four of said champions will be in a Tag team match already."

"So make it a championship match," Taker said simply.

McMahon's eyebrows shot up again, and Taker could almost see the blazing light bulb glowing over his head. "A mega Championship Tag Team match, that's something they've never seen before. The guys will have to work together to win and yet, they'll all have their own ambitions to get a championship. Now how to set it up…"

"I have a plan."

"Go on."

"Start off with a match between Batista and Kane," Taker began. "Since Batista couldn't defeat me, he gets to face my little brother instead. Then towards the middle of the fight or towards the end, Rated RKO'll come out of nowhere, maybe from the audience, and hit both Batista and Kane with chairs. They push Batista out of the ring and then focus Kane. "

"I like it, but I want to know why Edge and Orton would risk coming out and gaining the anger of both Kane and Batista," Vince questioned, making sure the reasoning behind the storyline was straight.

"Because Edge is still furious over Kane costing him his Money in the Bank opportunity," Taker stated.

"Of course…" Mr. McMahon grinned, remembering the incident.

After a brutal match with Batista, which Taker won, Mark Henry came out and beat up the Phenom even more. After Mark Henry departed, Edge picked his moment to challenge the already bloodied Undertaker to a title match. As the dazed Undertaker rose to his feet, Edge set himself up in the other corner for a spear. What the Rated-R Superstar hadn't counted on was Kane outside the ring. The Undertaker's brother had gotten there too late to help his brother against Mark Henry, but he did have the chance to save his older brother's title. Kane had grabbed Edge from behind and banged his head into the turnbuckle, leaving the blonde Canadian in a daze as well. By this time, Taker had recovered enough of his senses to fight and he charged Edge, clotheslining him into the turnbuckle. He dragged the Rated-R Superstar out of the corner and chokeslammed him, making the pin for a win. Unfortunately for Edge, the ref had not seen the interference by Kane, so it was a legal match, which meant Edge had just lost his shot.

"Tell me more… How do the Hardys and Cena get involved?" the chairman urged the phemon to continue like a child listening to an exciting bedtime story.

"I'm getting there. Edge and Orton set Kane up for a 'con-chair-to' and I come out to back Kane up. I kick both Orton and Edge out of the ring. And then I follow Orton thinking he and Edge are making an escape through the audience, unfortunately Edge is still by the ring and gets back in with a chair complete the 'con-chair-to'. And then…"

"Jeff Hardy comes in!" McMahon guessed.

Taker nodded.

"And naturally Matt comes in to help his brother and get a few hits on Edge." The chairman grinned.

"Not just yet," the phenom corrected. "John Cena comes out first."

Vince frowned again. "What?"

"You can say Cena wants a little payback for Jeff swanton bombing him in the back during that match with Umaga,"

McMahon pondered that for a moment. "It's a stretch, but I think it could work."

Taker nodded. "Cena then sets Jeff up for the FU, and naturally Matt comes out to help his brother. At the same time Kane sits up and is so pissed, he just goes after the first person he sees, which is Cena. Batista finally recovers, and come back in the ring in time to see Kane chokeslam Cena. Batista and Cena are friends, and Kane was Batista's opponent to begin with, so the Animal starts attacking Kane. Finally, I come back dragging a dazed Randy Orton with me. I throw Orton into the turnbuckle or something and then get back into the ring to help Kane. Meanwhile, Edge has recovered and the Hardys go after him. Some more stuff happens, and then at one point, Kane, the Hardys and I are in one corner of the ring, while Batista, Cena and Rated-RKO are in the other corner. We're all staring each other down, ready to attack."

Vince McMahon's grin was very broad by this time. "And I come out and say…"

000

By strange choice and even stranger fortune, the Hardys found themselves in the same corner as the Brothers of Destruction. They were trying to stare down the four men in the other corner which included, Batista, John Cena, Edge and Randy Orton. The two groups were waiting to see who would make the first move. However, it was decided for them when Vince McMahon's theme played and the WWE Chairman came out.

"Hold on boys!" The chairman called out over the mic. "I know you all want to get your hands on each other for one reason or another. And you'll have it! At the Great American Bash, John Cena and Batista will team with Rated-RKO against the Brothers of Destruction and the Hardys! In an eight man tag-team elimination match!"

Every jaw of every man standing in that ring, except for the Undertaker, dropped in shock. At the same time there was a surprised hush, followed immediately by a loud roar of approval from the audience.

"And to sweeten the deal!" Vince continued. "At every Great American Bash there are always major titles on the line. This match will be no exception! If you pin and eliminate one of the Champions you get his belt!"

Now smiles replaced the shocked looks on the faces of the non-title holders and it was easy to see they were starting to like the idea of this match a lot more.

"And with the way the teams are set up," McMahon pointed out. "At least one title WILL change hands! Now get away from each other!"

And with that the chairman's theme came on and he stalked off stage. He was soon fallowed by a beat-up, but smirking, Edge and Randy Orton who both had high ambitions of attaining a world title. They were followed by Cena and Batista, the latter of whom had a smug smile of his own at getting the chance to claim the Undertaker's Heavyweight Championship.

Meanwhile, the Brothers of Destruction glared over at the Hardys, who in turn looked apprehensive, but still stood their ground. This little moment was all for the sake of the audience and the storyline. Taker had already told the Hardys what he had discussed with McMahon. That it was all for the purpose of being able to be at Jeff's side, to guard him on the night of the Great American Bash, which was the last night of Chiron's window of opportunity to open the Seventh Gate. Because of this it would be the most likely night that Chiron's minions would come to "collect" Jeff.

However, the fans did not know this, so the Hardys and the Brothers of Destruction acted the part of uneasy teammates. The silent staring lasted for about a minute or two before The Undertaker turned his icy gaze away and stepped out of the ring, followed soon after by Kane, leaving two slightly shaken Hardy boys.

000

Jeff looked up from his meal and across the table at Maria. He smiled a little; she was cute even when she was eating. He was grateful for her presence; her sweet face seemed to put all fears of Chiron on the back burner whenever he was with her.

"I gotta admit I'm glad we came here, the food's good," Jeff said off-handedly.

Maria beamed at him. "I know! It's been awhile since I've had anything this good. Thanks for taking me here, Jeff."

Jeff smiled back and winced a little as he adjusted his sitting position. His back was still really sore and the Ibuprofen was starting to wear off.

"Is your back acting up again?" Maria looked at him, eyes filled with concern.

"Yeah…" Jeff winced again.

"Maybe, when we get back to the hotel, I could message it for you…" Maria smiled again.

"You would?" Jeff quirked an eyebrow at her.

"Of course… I know you liked it the last time," she said, thinking to herself, You're my boyfriend, why wouldn't I give you a back rub if you needed it?

"Yeah…um…about that…" Jeff stuttered, looking puzzled at her. "Maria...umm, about this relationship, uh don't take this the wrong way but..."

"What?" Maria looked back at him equally confused and a little worried. Does he want to break up with me?

"Well, I'm just kind of confused about where I stand," Jeff articulated his thoughts as best he could. "Is this a relationship? Or am I just in the position of "guy friend"?"

"Guy friend? I thought we were past that, Jeff. Sure we started out friends, but I thought we had something more..." She grew more and more upset as she spoke. "I guess I was mistaken…"

Jeff mentally kicked himself for upsetting her. "I only meant that I wasn't sure where things were going. I was getting a lot of mixed signals."

"I'm sorry about that…" she said, still looking distressed. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Oh I wasn't hurt," Jeff insisted, hoping to calm her down. "I was just a little confused that's all…"

Maria sighed in relief. "Really? I was upset… I thought I hurt you and that was the last thing I wanted to do..."

Jeff sighed a little in relief too. "I think all the mixed signals came from a lack of straight forward communication, so plain and simple, how far do we want to go with this?"

Maria shrugged. "How far you want to go?"

"Well, what are your boundaries here, Maria? Kissing? Touching? Sex?" Jeff just listed off the extremes to see where she would fall.

"I like kissing you... and I'd love to touch you..." She reached across the table and put her hand on his. "But Sex...?" She looked somewhat unsure about it. "CM always said that couples often rely too much on sex in a relationship..."

Jeff nodded. "As nice as it is, I've seen some pretty nasty break-ups over it. I mean what is sex in a relationship anyway?"

Maria shrugged. "Just two klunky old bodys thrashing around together," Her breathing became a little more heavy and husky at the thought of it. "Like animals…"

"You get all sweaty and flushed…" Jeff said slowly, his breathing growing huskier as well.

"Your hair gets mussed up in that strangely becoming way…" she murmured.

"Your blood races…" His breathing became more ragged.

"Your heart races…" she rasped.

"Maria!"

"Jeff!"

Just then the waiter walked by, and both lovers knew exactly what to say.

"Check please!"

000

Hehe! Looks like Jeff is going to get some action! And McMahon seems to be unknowningly going along with Undertaker's plan to protect Jeff Hardy, disguised as a main event match for the Great American Bash. And when is Chiron going to make his next move?

NOTE: I reread rules and it states I cannot reply to reviews in the chapter. So I promise I will it reply to reviews sent to me by email or through the reply system they have setup.