Summary: Steve Fox is on the run again from the Mafia, and this time Christie runs along side with him. Will Steve stay as a fugitive or will he fight back?

Chapter Twelve-Surprise, Surprise

The hearing of a door slamming shut caused the British boxer to awake from his slumber in a heartbeat. He shot up from the bed and his blue eyes narrowing at the direction of the door. Then they soften when he realized it was only his Brazilian companion coming in the room.

She had a sheepishly grinned formed on her face and scratching the back of her neck. "Sorry, Steve, it was the wind that caused the door to slam shut."

Steve nodded and laid his head down back on the pillow. He then noticed a small white bag Christie was carrying. "What's in the bag?" He asked.

"Just some burger and fries I brought from a nearby restaurant. I already ate mine while I was there and here is yours," Christie said taking out the wrapped up burger and fries, and giving it to Steve. The blond unwrapped the burger and took a bite of it.

"There's no cheese in here."

"Oh, I didn't know whether you liked a cheeseburger or not, so I just got you a regular hamburger. I also didn't know if you were lactose intolerant," Christie explained.

"It's okay Chris. There's one thing you need to know about me Chris, I love cheeseburgers and especially cheese fries." Steve licked his lips. "However, American food has fat and I did gain a few pounds because of it. But you can't resist the temptation of American food," Steve said as he took another bite of his burger, and then his fries.

"Hey Steve, the hotel manager told me there is a gym not too far from here."

"Really?" Steve eyes widened and Christie nodded. "Well that's a good thing. I need to train and probably shed of some pounds punching the bag. I think I might go now since it's still sunny outside." Steve looked out the window and then back at the Brazilian. "Are you coming with me? I might need a partner to spar with."

"I as much as I want to get my rematch from the last tournament, I'm still kinda tired and need as much rest as I can," she denied his offer with a smile and a yawned.

Steve smirked and said, "Sure, you just don't want me to kick your ass again."

"Steve, you and I both know that I'm not scared to fight you. However, I would fight you, but not now. Remember, we're still being chase and they can strike us at any moment."

"Yeah your right, Christie. How about next time?" He winked.

Christie smiled and nodded. "Next time, now go on. I have to rest."

Steve did as he was told and walked out the room before he gathered up his gear. He went to the lobby of the motel where the hotel manager was reading another newspaper.

"Hey mate, my friend back there told me that there is a gym around here. Do you know where it is?"

The man put down the newspaper and pointed outside the hotel. "It's called the World Gym and it's not far from here, just about a five minute walk. Once you walk out of here, make a left and just keeping walking till you see a white medium size building."

"Thanks a lot."

"No problem and when are you getting back into the ring?"

The boxer raised an eyebrow at the man's sudden question. "Come again?"

The man chuckled and pointed to a picture in the newspaper. "It's you isn't Fox?" Steve nodded and the man laughed some more. "One minute your on top of the world, next minute your here. Between me and you kid, I think you should really get back into the ring. They're talking about you in this paper and thinking that you're the only hope to save boxing." The man then handed over the paper to him. "Take it kid. It might motivate you to get back."

"Um, t-thanks...I guess." Steve grabbed the paper and walked out of the motel heading towards the gym.

"With the boxing world in shambles and in low ratings, how can possibly a great fighter like Steve Fox return to boxing? Is he the answer to saving the sport of boxing? No one knows but only Fox himself..." Steve said as he finished reading the article.

He sighed as he sat the newspaper on the bench. He was inside the gym and he just finished punching the bags and not long ago finishing the article.

Taking off his gloves, Steve thought about boxing again. He never thought that the sport he loves was slowly coming to an end. The article he read was about how boxing was doing without him and it wasn't doing a very good job. In the article it read how the fans would react to fight that wasn't living up to its hype. They would leave during the rounds, boo the competitors and cause riots throughout the arena.

Then the article talked about how Steve transitions from boxing to the King of the Iron Fist tournament resurrected his career and how it making him a global icon.

Yeah Steve does enjoy fighting in the tournament and likes the attention his getting from around the world, however, he never thought his sudden departure from boxing would cause them to fail fights. He was planning on going back to boxing, but promoters told him he had to wait even longer.

Is he really the only hope to save his sport?

Steve didn't think so. If the fans and boxing promoters think so, then has to try even harder to get back in.

If I do go back to boxing, then I'll have to leave the tournament behind. Steve thought. First thing first, I have to end this madness with the mafia and then decide from there. Boxing was my first love and I can't abandoned it.

"I will be back in boxing soon," Steve said as he rose up his fist.

"Haha, I've never seen that pose in a long time, Fox," A voice said.

Steve glanced to his right and saw a person wearing a white tank top, black shorts and black sneakers. His hair was cut short and it was dark brown. His eyes were also dark brown and he had a scar on his cheek that reminded Steve about a fight he had with this guy.

Steve smiled and stood up to greet the person. "Ricky Fury? I knew I recognized that scar. How you been man?"

"Pretty good," Ricky said as he shook hands with Steve.

"Even after the scar I gave you from that championship fight?"

"Yeah, man, you beat me and left me a scar alright. Get over it Fox!"

The blond couldn't help but laugh. He fought Ricky a year ago in a championship fight and retained his title as world champion. But it also the same night where the mafia put a price on his after he won the fight. "Okay, I'm sorry Rick, but it was a good fight, don't you agree?"

Rick smiled and nodded. "Yeah, it was a good fight. It kind of boosted my career. So, what brings you here, Fox?"

Steve shrugged. "Just done training and what about you?"

"Same but also doing some charity event for the kids."

"Cool. So, um have you heard about what's going on in boxing lately?" Steve asked him. He wasn't sure why he brought up to Rick, but he figured he might have some clues about as well, since his also a boxer.

"Yeah, I have heard what's going on. Some scandal stuff about the boxers. I just don't get why some boxers would fault for it." Rick shook his head.

"Yeah, I know. It's getting out of hand to where the point boxing is about to shutdown. Those mafia guys are behind it because they're after me."

Ricky eyes widened. "What? They're after you too?"

Steve brows furrowed. "Wait? You're being chased as well Rick?"

Fury frowned with a slight nod. "I thought that extra money would help me since I'm doing my boxing for charity. Then one day, they came to me and told me to forfeit a match, but I refuse to because if I did, I wouldn't be in the championship fight. So, just like you, I'm being chase. You gotta help me Fox!" Ricky pleaded.

Steve thought about it. Since he learned that Ricky is also being chase, he can stay with him and Christie. But that will also have more mafia members on them. Ricky is a friend and a fellow boxer. Steve wanted to save boxing and best way to is to protect his fellow boxer.

"Alright Ricky," he said after giving it a thought. "Meet me outside in few minutes and I'll lead you to the place I'm staying out temporarily."

"Thanks Fox. I'll see you in few a moments." Ricky grabbed his gear and headed to back of the gym to the locker room.

Back in the hotel room, Christie was sitting on the bed, legs crossed, watching T.V. As she was watching the T.V, her cellphone distracted her as it rung. She rolled over on the bed and reached for her phone and answered it.

"Hello."

"C-Chr-Chris-tie," A raspy voice stuttered on the other line.

The Brazilian recognized that voice belongs to her grandfather. "Grandpa? Are you okay?" She was worried something was wrong with her grandfather. His voice didn't sound the same. Next thing she heard on the other line was footsteps and a gunshot.

Hey brown eyes widened in horror. She couldn't believe what she thought she just heard. "Grandpa..."

"He's dead..."

Christie covered her mouth as tears began streaming from her eyes. "No, no, who are you?!"

The voice laughed and replied. "I warned you didn't I Christie. I gave you a chance to stay out of this but you stayed and now you paid your consequences." Then the phone clicked and there only a dial tone left.

Christie trembled and starting crying silently. She couldn't believe that she just lost her grandfather and heard it herself. He died because of her. First, she lost her dearest mother and now lost her only family member she had left. That she know of.

Steve waited for Ricky to come out of the gym so they can go to the motel. As he waited for him, Steve saw a black car in the distance. Usually when he sees a black car, he assumes it's the mafia, but it didn't look like the mafia to him. Just then he saw Ricky came out of the gym with a blue duffel bag on his shoulder. "Rick, over here."

Just then the black car that Steve saw in the distance stopped in the middle of the road in front of the gym. Steve's suspiciously narrowed his eyes at the car, then suddenly his widened and he looked towards Rick, who was walking to him. "Ricky! Get back in the gym now!" Steve shouted.

Ricky stopped in his tracks and turned towards the black sports car. Suddenly the window of the black sports car rolled down and a sound of a gun went off. Ricky Fury was the targeted and was gun down.

Steve watched the black sports car pulled off as it speeds down the road, fleeing the scene. The boxer didn't bother to check if Rick was alive, he knew he was dead because of the blood leaking from wound, forming a puddle of blood.

The boxer quickly ran to the motel and hope that the mafia didn't get to Christie. When he arrived moments later, he opened the door and found Christie in the corner sobbing. "Christie we have to go now."

Christie shook her head and she continued to cry. "He's dead Steve."

"Who's dead?" Steve asked her with a confused look. He didn't know why she was crying in the first place.

"They killed him...those bastards killed my grandfather..."Christie cried.

"What?! When?!" Steve kneel down to her and sighed. He knew something like this would happen if Christie kept staying with him. The mafia didn't want her involve, but since she is, they wanted to make a clear statement and they killed her grandfather. "I'm sorry Christie It's my fault. I should of have never gotten you into this. If you want to stay here the-"

"No Steve," she cut him off. "I told you I'll help you no matter what happens. Even though my grandfather is now dead because of me, he probably still wants me to help you. They killed my grandfather and they must pay for it."

Steve smiled seeing Christie isn't giving up on him. He knows it hurts her that she just lost someone who was important to her life, but she strong, and Steve admires that from her. "They will pay and we will get them back for it. Moments ago they just killed a fellow boxer I knew and I'm afraid they're after us now. Let's get going Christie." He helped Christie up to her feet and wiped the tears away for her.

Next chapter gets even more interesting and that's all I have to say. Please read and review. I know I'm late…what do you want me to do about it?