Twisted Deceptions- 23

Brock sat in his car with the motor still running. He knew it was stupid to come here, to try to reason with Chris. But Batista had already confronted him about the whereabouts of Melony and he knew nothing. But he wanted to know, he had a right to didn't he? As he sat there in the Benoit driveway staring up at the two story colony house he was starting to doubt it all. He just couldn't help it he was an idiot to ever let her go. He should have fought for her. Maybe Chris was the better man, but then again maybe he wasn't because a real man would have never let Melony be taken from their own home. He banged his hand on the steering wheel in frustration. If only she would have left with him like he wanted, she would be safe and with him.

He turned off the engine and looked over the grounds. He knew Mel must be happy here. It's pretty much what she always wanted. In a way that made him happy and a little sad at the same time. Brock took his time walking up to the door. It wasn't that he was scared of Chris, because he knew he could take him. He just didn't like the idea of walking into a home that Mel shared with another man. Uneasily he pushed the doorbell and waited.

A moment later Batista opened the door and stepped outside. "Look man, I haven't seen Chris since I got back. He's upstairs and no one is going to bother him. I really think you should just leave."

"I told you I want to talk to Chris. I didn't come here to start no shit."

Dave braced himself in the doorway just in case Brock tried to brush past him. But Brock stepped back and rubbed his forehead. "You know I'm not leaving until I say my peace. Chris needs to know from me that I had nothing to do with this."

"I think you are already in the clear Brock." Molly's voice came from behind Dave as she made her way around his tall form. "After talking to Dave and going over my notes it looks like you were with Dave when the kidnapper called here."

Brock eyes her skeptically. "What are you the fucking CSI now?"

"Hey man, you can't talk to her like that." Dave stepped forward about ready to chuck Lesnar out on his ass.

"Sorry. What I meant to say is what are you talking about?"

Molly shoved the legal pad in Brock's hands. "See for yourself."

Dave and Molly watched as he read the page then flipped it over. "Ok, I admit that's pretty good detective skills, at least it clears me as a suspect."

"For now." Dave mumbled.

Brock ignored his comment and turned his attention to Molly. "So this is what they want?"

"Yeah, five million dollars broken down into installments."

"I can get part of it if that helps." Brock handed the note pad back to Molly.

"We've got it under control." Dave said as he leaned back against the door.

"Is that so, big man?"

Molly cleared her throat hoping to distract the two from going at it. She fidgeted nervously with the note pad there wasn't much else she could do. She and Dave thought Brock would be willing to give up once his name was cleared, at least they hoped he would. What they didn't count on was getting caught by Chris fraternizing with Lesnar.

-- -- --

Upon further inspection of the room, Melony found toiletries in the bathroom and fresh clothes in the dresser. And seeing as how she probably wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon she decided a hot shower might make her feel better. She inspected the bathroom carefully making sure there weren't any peep holes or cameras. After frequent visits to tanning beds, you just start to look for these types of things. Satisfied that the room was safe she carefully undressed. She caught her reflection in the full length mirror on the back of the door and her mind immediately went to the gifts she'd gotten for Chris. Without hesitation her hand came up to her stomach and rested there. She let her mind wander and she couldn't help but smile as she thought of having a baby with Chris. There was no doubt he would be ecstatic. It was so easy to picture him as a loving father. It was no secret that he wanted a family, but Mel had been hesitant, thinking only of her career and the impact getting pregnant would have on it. But none of that mattered now. She turned on the water in the shower and her tears started to flow. Her body shuddered from the sobs. Anger and shock left her and made way for the fear that she was now feeling. She stepped underneath the water and wrapped her arms protectively around herself. All she wanted was to be safe at home with Chris. She needed him, needed desperately to feel his arms around her. She needed to know that she was going to make it through this to get back home to him.

-- -- --

"Just what the fuck is going on here?" Chris asked as he stepped onto the porch and came face-to-face with Brock Lesnar.

Dave placed himself between the two turning his back to Lesnar. "He was just leaving Chris. It's under control."

"The hell it is!" Benoit pushed past Dave and stepped up to Lesnar. "Where's my wife Lesnar?"

"She was with me this afternoon."

That was all it took for Chris to pounce. He charged into Lesnar knocking him down the steps of the porch. Lesnar recovered and Chris landed a punch to Lesnar's jaw. Even though Lesnar was basically asking for it with that comment, Batista grabbed Chris by the arm and got pushed away for his efforts. He knew Chris well enough to just back off, this was his fight and he would handle it as he saw fit. Still Batista stood nearby just in case it got out of hand. He watched a smug Lesnar rub his jaw and Chris backed off.

"Get out of here Lesnar or I swear you will regret it." Chris seethed as his fists stayed clinched at his side.

Lesnar took a step back. "I didn't come here for this. I'm concerned about Mel and I have a right to know what's going on."

"You don't have any rights to my wife. I will make sure she's protected and returned safely to me."

Lesnar snickered. "Yeah, cause you've done such a stand-up job so far."

This time Dave beat Chris to the punch, his fist connecting with Lesnar's nose. Blood poured from his nostrils. "Fine. I'm going but I promise you if anything happens to Mel, it's on you Benoit."

Neither man said a word as they watched as Lesnar stormed off, got in his car and drove away. "You know he's right." Chris spoke up as he walked up the steps to the house.

"What do you mean?"

Chris leaned across the railing of the porch watching the fireflies dance across the late night sky. "I didn't protect Melony. I didn't keep her safe. I've failed her."

Batista followed suit and leaned against the railing. "Come on man, you can't blame yourself. No one could have predicted this."

"But I do blame myself. Someone came into our home and took my wife. Who else is there to blame?"

"The bastard that did this, that's who."

Chris swiped at the tears spilling from his eyes. "I won't rest until she's back here with me."

"I know man. I know." Batista squeezed Benoit's shoulder before returning inside the house leaving Chris to grieve in private.