NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Whew! These past few weeks have been insane! I've had barely enough time to update this story! But...I'll have an ENTIRE WEEK off from work at the end of March (it's usually vacation time for me, but $ is a bit tight, so it's a stay-cation this year:).
I'll use that time to update my stories using my brand new (to me) netbook with Windows 7...which I upgraded from Starter to Home Premium edition! It took the better part of two days because I bought my netbook at a pawn shop, and it wasn't updated for months. I'll be disabling the Auto Update feature, because all it's done is update-update-update!
Anyway...I'm dead serious about no longer accepting Guest reviews. On some of the stories I've been following, guests will leave anonymous reviews requesting disturbing smut, spouting off profanity, calling the author rude names, or complaining that they hate the story and don't want to read it. Sometimes, it's combinations of those items. I don't have to put up with that, so I won't.
If anyone wants to critique my work, please make sure you have an FFDN account. It only takes a few minutes to set up, and I want to be able to respond (privately, of course) if you've got issue with my work.
DISCLAIMERS: Please see the previous chapters.
Chapter Five
The relationship between Daniel and the others changed following the disagreement on Old School RAW.
I didn't need words to know that Erick and Luke now had misgivings about Daniel joining us. Sure, they agreed that they needed to adjust and adapt to a new addition to the family, but I suspected that they were merely paying it lip service. They subtly kept their distance from their new "brother" and spoke to him only when necessary, a detail I picked up on when they went to the gym to work out. Their interactions gave me the impression that Erick and Luke were going to work out on their own, and Daniel had invited himself along.
Even Jay, who had made an effort to be kind to Daniel the night he joined, was suspicious. It wasn't anything overt that Daniel did that left him questioning things. It was everything else going on around him that made Jay raise an eyebrow. Of course, Jay was accommodating and polite as could be when Daniel was around. After all, no sense being rude and inconsiderate unless you know for certain that someone you trust is up to no good, right?
As Jay voiced his concerns to me over lunch while we were in Philadelphia for the Smackdown taping, it suddenly dawned on me. The man sitting across from me radiated a quiet strength. A fiery intelligence. A fierce sense of loyalty. A willingness to put my best interests, and the interests of the family, ahead of his own.
Who would have thought this was the same man who, six months ago, was planning to jump to his death from a hotel balcony?
And as we spoke, I began to ask myself. Was Daniel undergoing a full transformation? Or was it merely a fabrication? I decided that the outcome of Monday night would be the answer. It would be a true test of Daniel's loyalty. And if he showed that he was truly loyal to the cause, then all my suspicions, and the suspicions of others, would be laid to rest.
~~~ANGEL~~~
"The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't being said. The art of reading between the lines is a lifelong quest of the wise."
― Shannon L. Alder
"It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them."
― Confucius
January 7, 2014
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jay brought two plates to the table. On each was a sandwich, turkey and cheddar cheese on sourdough, with mustard, red onion, sprouts and lettuce. Two dill pickle spears and a bag of potato chips completed the lunch ensemble on each plate. He took a seat across from Bray, and the two of them ate in comfortable silence.
"There are things about Daniel being part of our family that don't pass the smell test," Jay announced, after he was finished eating his sandwich.
"What are you talking about, Jay? You've seen him studying with us. He's got all sorts of questions about the Seven Diamonds Plus One. He's become more aggressive in the ring. He's eager to learn more. He even tried to help Luke and Erick work as a team. Granted, that didn't quite work, but his heart was in the right place-"
"That should be MY territory, Bray, not his!" Jay hissed, keeping his voice down so as not to disturb the other superstars in catering trying to enjoy lunch. It was bad enough that they gave the Wyatts odd looks; they didn't need to hear the superstars talking about them behind their backs. "I've been in this company longer than he has! I've been a nine-time tag team champ! I should be the one coaching them, NOT Daniel. It's like Daniel joins the fold, and suddenly you can't see past the end of your nose!" Bray fell silent, and Jay knew he'd made a good point. He continued. "And it's not just that. He seemed a little too eager to join the fold when you finally broke him down."
"I broke you down just as hard, Jay," Bray fired back. "It was just a little more spread out over time. And you were just as eager as he was when I finished with you."
Jay flinched. That comeback, true as it was, brought up a few memories that he didn't want to revisit. "Touché, Bray. But it's not only how Daniel's been acting that raises my hackles. It's what his fiancée is doing, or rather, what his fiancée is not doing."
"You're talking about Brie?"
"Yes. You'd think that if her fiancé has joined a family like ours, then she'd be flipping out, worrying her pretty little head, trying to move heaven and earth to get him back. She couldn't call the police because Daniel joined us of his own free will. But she could try to get help from Triple H, or Stephanie, or Vince, right? Or even the Board of Directors?" Bray didn't answer, so Jay pressed on. "You'd think she'd be doing something to try and get him back, wouldn't she? Instead, she's just going about her business like nothing's wrong."
"Well, how would you know that?"
"I heard her interview with Phillips last night. She looked and sounded way too relaxed, when you consider that her husband-to-be is in a quote-unquote cult."
"Really?" Bray cocked his head and stared quizzically at the blonde convert. "How so?"
"Well," Jay began, opening up his bag of potato chips, "After my little meeting with Vince, I went looking for you guys. I got myself turned around and almost wound up where they were doing interviews. How I managed to stay off camera is anyone's guess. But anyway, Phillips was interviewing Brie, and the answers she gave him were pretty suspicious..."
"I can understand where you may be a little torn, a lot on your mind, as we take a look at what happened last week on Monday Night RAW. Your future husband, your fiancé, Daniel Bryan finally gives in and becomes a member of the Wyatt family. How is this affecting you?"
"Well, you know, I'm worried of course, but it's just...hard 'cause you know, Daniel Bryan is gonna be my husband. He IS my family, and he's joined the Wyatts. And it's been so hard on me just to watch what Bray's been doing to Daniel the past couple weeks, it's just so nasty! But I know Daniel's gonna do what he needs to do. And as his fiancée, I'll stand by him and support him, no matter what."
"Jay, you're forgetting something," Bray finally answered back. "The Authority is petty and callous. They wouldn't help her, even though they have endless resources at their disposal. They don't like Daniel, and by extension, they don't like Brie." After a pause, Bray locked eyes with his blonde "son." His voice was soft but firm. "And you of all people should know that. You were screaming for help, and they didn't do anything. Luke and Erick and I were the only ones willing to take the time."
Jay pressed his lips together in a tight line before he spoke. "That's true, and I'm forever grateful for that. But it's just that...I think Daniel's playing us all for fools, and I don't wanna see you guys get hurt."
"Well, Jay...if it's any reassurance to you, Daniel won't be at ringside until the very end of the match tonight. You and me and Daniel will be engaged in some study time. I figure that the more time I keep him under my watch, the less of a chance for any...shenanigans."
~~~ANGEL~~~
Smackdown Taping
January 7, 2014
Backstage, Daniel, flanked by a sheep-masked Erick and Luke stood in a dark corner, while the cameras rolled for a promo that would be shown later that night.
Bray paced the floor, his voice soft. "Fate, she is a strange beast. She warms your heart with her eyes...right before she tears you apart with her teeth. Ask me—are her virtues worth this gamble?" He paused, deep in thought, and then continued. "Usos? If I was to break one of your bones, would the other one feel it? If I cut one of you...would the other one bleed?"
Bray paused, and then he raised his voice. "Aren't you tired of playing hero?! Don't you realize that you're living this giant lie?"
Bryan blinked, and then unleashed. "LIE!" he shrieked in front of the camera, his eyes fiery, his movements twitchy. "Everything we've ever been told is a lie!" he exclaimed, glancing around. "And it makes you wanna ram your head into a wall until you destroy...something!"
Wyatt gazed into the camera and whispered one word; "Run."
Everything we've ever been told was a lie, Daniel thought bitterly, once the promo wrapped up. Ha! Pot, kettle, black, you? Hellooo, Bray? He thought of the devotional he'd heard that morning and wondered how stalking, kidnapping and assault fit in with bringing someone to the Lord.
"...Following the Lord is not all hearts and flowers. It's not a slide across the ice. On your paths to righteousness, you're gonna be deceived and knocked down, beat up, stepped on, laughed at, whatever. The trick is to be able to get back up and discern the truth from the lies, the good from the bad, the wheat from the chaff. It takes a lot of work. It takes a lot of change. It takes a lot of discernment. It takes a lot of courage in your convictions. But, in the end, your eternal reward will be worth the fight."
Was kidnapping an example of discernment? Did assault demonstrate courage of one's convictions? Would the Lord give Bray a set of wings and a halo, pat him on the back and say, You kidnapped a man and beat him to a pulp in My name. Well done, good and faithful servant, when he received his final judgement?
It doesn't matter, Daniel thought, hopefully. Just a few more days of this, and Brie and I will be back together.
~~~ANGEL~~~
Bray made good on his assurance and stayed backstage with Daniel and Jay. Luke started the match against Jimmy Uso. Luke quickly grabbed Jimmy and powered him to the corner before clubbing him down. Harper hit a European Uppercut before sending him into the ropes. Luke's momentum was cut short when he lowered his head and ate a kick. Jimmy ducked a clothesline from Luke and tagged in his brother. Jey punched Harper in the face and climbed in the ring. Jimmy kicked Harper in the midsection, and Jey dropkicked him in the face. Jimmy was tagged back in, and he hit an axe handle to Harper's shoulder blade.
Backstage, Bray, Daniel and Jay gave up on Bible study for the moment and watched the action on a TV monitor. Jay flinched at the abuse Luke was receiving, but then he breathed an audible sigh of relief as Jimmy charged into an uppercut.
Back at ringside, Luke tagged Erick in. "Spell me," he gasped, before he ducked through the ropes.
Erick wasted no time as he clubbed Jimmy down. Erick elbowed him in the head before going for a powerslam, but Jimmy slid off his shoulder and punched Erick in the face. Erick retaliated by reversing an Irish whip. Jimmy attempted a sunset flip, but Erick refused to go down. The big man attempted a leg drop, but Jimmy moved out of the way. Jimmy kicked him in the chest before hitting the ropes. Rowan countered him with a flapjack.
Erick propped Jimmy up on the top rope and clubbed away at the chest. Luke tagged back in, and he pummeled Jimmy down to the mat before picking Jimmy back and delivering a few chops. Erick was tagged back in, and he punched Jimmy in the ribs and delivered a headbutt, which was countered with a few chops and punches. The big man blocked a kick and spun him around, but Jimmy countered with an enzuigiri. Erick stumbled to his corner, and tagged Luke back in. Luke elbowed Jey off the apron and delivered a big boot to Jimmy for a near fall.
Luke climbed to his feet and stared menacingly down at the fallen Uso before he picked him up and powered him into his and Erick's corner. The two of them manhandled Jimmy, and Erick planted him into the mat with a hard fallaway slam before Luke tagged back in.
"You guys want more?" Luke taunted before he and Jimmy exchanged blows. A hard uppercut by Luke snapped Jimmy to the canvas. A knee drop, a hook to the leg, and a two-count. The Wyatts continued to dominate as Luke applied a gator roll to Jimmy, and then a grounded side headlock.
Jimmy fought his way up, but Luke shoved him into the ropes and clotheslined him down. Erick was tagged back in, and he body slammed Jimmy down before digging his fists into Jimmy's temples, a near carbon-copy of the move he'd applied to Cody Rhodes the week before.
Jimmy was not Cody Rhodes. He fought up and escaped the hold with a jawbreaker, and then escaped into a corner. Erick charged him, and Jimmy lifted his boot to fend off his opponent. Like a cat, Jimmy climbed to the top rope and lay Erick out with a corkscrew plancha that left both men dazed.
Jey Uso and Luke were tagged in to spell their respective teammates. Jey clotheslined Luke and knocked Rowan off the apron. Jey clotheslined Luke again before Luke reversed a whip to the corner. Luke ran into a back elbow, and Jey kicked him in the solar plexus before punching him to the corner. Jey hit him with a running forearm before ducking a clothesline and hitting a Samoan Drop. Jey got the crowd into it before hitting Luke with a running butt bump to the face (a move taught to them by their dad, Rikishi) and dragging him to the middle of the ring. Erick tried to intervene but was kicked in the face for his troubles. Luke then caught him with a sit-out body slam, but Jimmy broke up the pinfall. Harper shoved Jimmy out of the ring, and Jey schoolboyed him for a near fall. Luke punched Jey in the face, but he soon received a back body drop that spilled him out of the ring. The referee began his count, and Jey then took Luke out with a running plancha.
Jey lifted Luke up to put him back in the ring, but Erick quickly mowed him over with an avalanche. The referee continued his count. Rowan looked menacingly at the crowd before being taken out by a diving shoulder block off the apron from Jimmy. Jimmy managed to stagger to his feet, and Luke took him down with a spinning clothesline. Jey tried to send Luke into the steps, but Luke reversed it as the referee counted both men out.
Stunned and angry, Luke helped Erick to his feet. "We lost," he snarled.
"So did they," Erick shrugged. "Let's dismantle these guys."
Erick and Luke stalked Jey like wolves on an injured deer, and they easily tossed the Uso back into the ring. They ducked through the ropes in preparation to attack Jey when Jimmy rushed in to make the save. Jimmy superkicked Luke and ducked a clothesline from Erick before pulling his brother out of the ring. The Usos attempted an escape up the ramp as Bray's embarassed "sons" glared at them.
~~~ANGEL~~~
Backstage, Bray charged out of the Wyatt's locker room and down the hall to the gorilla, with Daniel right behind him.
"Don't do anything stupid!" Jay shouted after them.
~~~ANGEL~~~
All of a sudden, the lights went out.
A grin creased Luke's face as the lights turned back on, "Looky here, Erick. Reinforcements." Bray and Daniel were all over the Usos like fleas on a mutt, and gleefully, Erick and Luke joined in on the beatdown..
"I'm sorry," Daniel mouthed, before he sent one of the Usos into the barricade.
Bray looked on pensively as his boys tossed Jimmy into the ring like he was a child's toy. Daniel took him down with a Running Knee and then knelt on the canvas. He locked a twisted looking gaze onto the ring announcers and stuck his tongue out, looking like he completely belonged with the family he'd forcibly joined.
"Stand him up!" Bray ordered Erick and Luke. The two of them propped an exhausted Jey up between them. Wyatt bent backwards to look at him. As his followers looked on, Wyatt hit the Uso with Sister Abigail, and just like that, Jey became the sacrificial lamb of the Wyatts.
Bray pointed to Jimmy, who was barely conscious from Daniel's assault. "Bring him here," he instructed, and Daniel dutifully piled the Usos up in front of the Wyatt patriarch before he dropped to his knees alongside Bray. As the crowd shouted NO! NO! NO! it looked like the transformation from perennial underdog to crazed cult follower was complete.
But Bray couldn't help but ask himself, Transformation? Or fabrication?
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Hmmm...what a difference six months makes, huh? Six months ago, Jay wanted to escape the Wyatts and kill himself. Now he's enjoying lunch with Bray and warning him to be careful! Depending on how you look at it, it's either Stockholm Syndrome or gratitude. Maybe a little of both.
Now...if you followed the Daniel-Bryan-joins-the-Wyatts storyline when it came out last year, you'll know that Bray is headed for a big fall. Geez, all Bray wants to do is change the world, and Daniel's about to spit on his message. Daniel's gonna get served a big karma sandwich in the next couple of chapters, and deservedly so!
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