Twisted Deceptions- 14
By Any Other Name

A/N: As much as I hate to say anything about Chris Benoit on this site I must. With that, Chris Benoit will forever remain innocent in my eyes. The evidence does not stack up nor make any sense. I could go on and on but I won't. Just know that Chris Benoit has not lost any of my love, admiration or respect. And may the Benoit Legacy live forever.

"I knew you would come." Brock stepped aside allowing her to enter the room. "Why didn't you use the key?"

She handed it to him, her hands trembling. "It just seemed too personal."

"Are you ok? Here have a seat." He motioned her toward the sofa. "You want something to drink?"

She folded her hands in her lap and fiddled with her wedding ring. "Yes, please, a diet soda if you have it."

Mel watched as he disappeared into the kitchenette and came back with her soda, a glass of ice and a beer for himself. Awkward silence settled over them as he took a seat across from her. "I'm glad you're here Mel. I've really missed you."

She took a sip of her soda and set it on the table. Her eyes met his for the first time since she arrived there. Instantly she knew being there was a mistake. His boyish charm had a way of making her forget the past, or it use to. Right now her mind was fighting off thoughts of how Chris would feel if he knew she was there with him. And she knew it would mean lying yet again. A wave of sickness came over her and she bit her lip. It was sad when you literally made yourself sick.

"Look Brock, I came here for answers, nothing more. Let's start with, after all this time why are you back?"

He took a swig from his bottle of beer and leaned forward. "Well, since you say you never received my letter I suppose I should start from the beginning. I owe you an apology for walking out on you. I was young and stupid. I wanted to concentrate on my football career with the NFL and I didn't want the strain of a relationship looming over me. I just didn't think being tied down, so to speak, would be in either of our best interest. You were just beginning to get title shots and storylines with WWE and I got fired. I didn't want to stand in the way so I felt it would be better if I just left. It wasn't until one day after a particularly grueling practice that I came back to an empty apartment and faced my demon. At that exact moment a feeling came over me and I felt just how you must have felt when you came home to an empty house to find me gone. I'd been spending every day and night alone with only my memories of us to keep me going and it was eating me up inside. It hit me that I had made a huge mistake. Every successful man needs a great woman by his side to share it all with."

She stared at him in astonishment. So he was here to win her back. If she wasn't so surprised, she might laugh. "You think you know how I feel? Brock you don't have the first clue. You could have left a note, called me a day later, whatever. But you took the cowards way out and just left without a word. You'll never know how that feels."

"I'm sorry."

She looked at the floor unable to make sense of this all. "It's a little late for this Brock."

He moved to the couch and sat next to her. "Mel, I know it's late but I need you. I can't make it without you. You know how good we are together."

She smiled at his last sentiment. Oh there was no denying they had been good together for whatever that amounted too. But that was all a lifetime ago, so it seemed.

"I'm not saying we have to pick up where we left off. I know I have a lot to make up to you."

"I can't Brock."

He dropped to one knee in front of her. "Mel please don't shut me out. I'm laying my heart on the line."

"As I did some two years ago when I asked you to move in with me. I can't do this Brock. I'm married."

Another round of awkward silence filled the room. Slowly he got up and took his seat opposite her. Inwardly he was praying that he had heard her wrong. "Married?"

"Yes I'm married."

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "How long?"

"Almost three weeks now."

"Fuck!" Brock stood up and paced the length of the room before grabbing another beer from the fridge. She watched him carefully in all the years that she had known him she had never seen him show his pain. But before her now his face displayed a world of hurt. Deep down a small part of her hurt too. It had taken this long for him to come around and she couldn't help but wonder how it would have changed things if he came forward sooner.

"I'm sorry Brock. But I couldn't sit and wait for you forever."

"I didn't expect you too but you're married!" His face turned red. "Fucking shit!"

"You walked away from me Brock, from us. Without a word, no reason, nothing. You just up and left. What the fuck was I supposed to do?"

"I did what I thought was best." He sat down in the chair.

Mel studied his face and felt worse. It was going to be like a low blow to him when he found out that she had married Chris Benoit. "You never considered what I thought. You just left. You didn't bother talking to me or anything. It was if I didn't matter at all."

Brock was evidently in shock and trying to process all that he was taking in. Mel took a sip from her glass and checked her watch. It was almost two a.m. And if Chris was back at the hotel he was sure to be worried. For the most part she had done what she set out to do when she came to see Brock. "I really have to go now. I'm glad I came tonight at least now I can safely say that it wasn't my fault that you left." Not sure of what else to say, she stood up to leave.

"Who is he?"

Her features etched in confusion but deep down she knew what 'he' Brock was referring to. With a sigh she figured she might as well get it over with. "Chris." She paused. Knowing Brock knew at least ten guys named Chris.

"What the fuck! You married Jericho?"

Mel shook her head. "No, not Jericho."

"Then who? Just fucking tell me."

She sighed. "Benoit. I married Chris Benoit."

Brock laughed. "You've got to be fucking kidding me. There is no way you married his old ass. You really had me going."

"I'm not joking Brock. Chris and I got married on June 3 in Cabo."

Brock went to the fridge for another beer. "I might have believed you had you said Jericho or even Masters but Benoit, come on."

Mel sat back on the sofa and rummaged through her purse until she found her drivers license and she handed it to Brock. And as if it isn't enough she flipped open her wallet and laid it on the table revealing a picture of her and Chris together. "Now do you believe me?"

Brock studied the license and glanced at the picture before handing them back. "I don't know what to say. Fuck! I came here for you. I laid it all on the table. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

Mel tucked the items back into her purse and stood. "I'm sorry, but you had to know that I would move on."

Brock walked her to the door. She turned to face him one last time. "Take care of yourself brock."

He leaned down and hugged her close. "You know I won't give up this easily."

She smiled. "You don't have a choice. I'm a happily married woman now."

With that Brock shut the door and let his head fall heavily against it. "We'll see about that."