CHAPTER NINE

Shawn hesitated, taking in his wife's scared expression and let out a shaky breath. Burying his face in her neck, he held her tightly. "I love you, River. I love you so much. God, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…" He whispered, knowing he was only confusing her even more. Every time Mark's name was mentioned, it made his blood boil; thinking that at any second River was going to be ripped away from him. He had worked too hard and come too far with her and Hope to lose them now.

He wasn't going to lose them.

"I love, I'm sorry." He repeated, over and over again.

River wrapped her arms around him, rubbing his back, his shoulders; touching everywhere she could; trying to calm him down. "Shawn…" She whispered, kissing his head. "Honey, what is going on with you lately?" She sighed when he just repeated he loved her, gently taking his head in her hands and made him look at her; frowning at the pain she seen in those eyes she loved to stare into. "Shawn, talk to me." She pleaded. "Tell me what's wrong."

But he couldn't. He couldn't tell her the heinous things he had done. No, he wouldn't. he would lose her for sure then and that wasn't happening. "I'm just afraid of losing you." He whispered, brushing his lips against her; deepening the kiss when she responded to him. "No more talking. Let me make love you, River." He smiled when her eyes sparkled, not believing how easy it was to please her. "I love you."

All thoughts of what had just happened were gone.

***

'Stephanie, I really appreciate you watching her, you don't have too."

"Mom, hush, Stephanie is awesome." Hope said, having taken an instant shine to the woman, staring up at her adoringly.

"I don't mind, River. I need some practice before mine get that age anyway."

***

Mark was pacing like a caged animal out in the parking lot. The Michaels clan were already inside, good. This was it. Tonight they would find out if this was truly River. Their River. His breath nearly left him when a familiar truck pulled into the lot, hurrying across the pavement; nodding as his friend stepped down from the cab. "You ready to do this, man?'

"Yeah." Steve breathed, tugging nervously on his black tee shirt. He knew without a shadow of a doubt once he seen this woman he would know if it was River or not. There were just certain things you didn't forget about your own blood. "Her kid too?" He didn't dare say 'niece' just yet, wanting to make sure her mom was his sister first.

"Yeah, Hope." Mark reminded him, having told Steve everything about the little girl. Both of the men instantly had agreed it wasn't Shawn's kids. Steve's parents didn't have green eyes and, to their knowledge, neither did Shawn's. "You go see her first, then come by my dressing room. If it's her, we'll go on with it."

Steve waited until Mark had disappeared inside, timing their entrances so it didn't look like they'd arrived at the same time. He chatted with a few co-workers, then Chris when the other man apologized for the stupid storyline; assuring him it was all right before finally bracing himself to see River, or her lookalike.

He found her room with no problem, seeing she was with one of the newer Divas and just stood in the doorway; fighting back the tears that were stinging his eyes. Even after eleven years he could still see his baby sister. The same beautiful hair and smile, the same sweet; rolling drawl. When she looked up, he seen his own eyes staring back at him.

Then came the heartbreak.

"Yes? Can I help you, sir?

Steve shook his head, clearing his throat. "No, I can you're busy, Riv- honey." He smiled once before walking away.

Mark had been right.

***

"Shawn!" Paul was panting, having been looking all over for his friend. "Shawn, there's-"

"Hello, boys." Mark greeted from behind the pair, a grin on his face; holding a happy Hope in his arms. "I do believe you lost your little girl, again, Shawn."

Shawn immediately went to take Hope, growling when Mark stepped backwards. "Give me my daughter, Callaway."

"Hope, do you want to go with your daddy or stay with me for awhile?"

Paul could only stare, wondering why his wife had agreed to let Mark take the kid to the cafeteria. Was Stephanie out of her mind?

"Actually, daddy, if you don't mind, I wanna hang out with Mark for awhile." Hope said with a pleading smile. "Please? Stephanie said he could watch me since she got busy with Cena." She obviously didn't have a clue what was going on around her.

Mark groaned when Hope squealed it was Stone Cold Steve Austin, setting her down so she could rush over to another of her idols. He seen the look in Steve's eyes, could literally feel the anger radiating off the other man. Snorting, he looked back at Paul and Shawn, both men looking paler then pale. "What's the matter, boys? It's only Austin." He chided, knowing exactly what their problem was. "Come on, Steve, let's go talk."

Hope glanced back at her dad, waving. "I'll see you tonight, daddy!" She called, squirming when Mark tried scooping her up once more. "I wanna talk to Stone Cold, Mark!"

Steve instantly took her in his arms, smiling awkwardly when she wrapped her arms around his neck and began prattling away. He couldn't believe it. This girl was a replica of River, except for her eyes. They were a shade of green he knew only too well. "Oh shit."

"What?"

"Mark… we need to get this done and get it done fast."

"Huh?" Hope's head was swinging back and forth between the two.

Raising an eyebrow, Mark just nodded; wondering what had come over Steve. "Hope, darlin', I'm going to go get your momma. You just stay here with Steve and be good, alright?" He smiled when she nodded, ushering the two into his dressing room. "Just keep the door locked, I'll call when… it's done."

Steve nodded grimly, closing the door in his friend's face.

Cracking his knuckles, Mark headed for River's room. It was crunch time. River was here and she didn't have a damn clue who he was. Something was up and they were going to find out. Mark wanted nothing more than to break Shawn's neck but knew that wouldn't solve anything.

Even if it would make him feel better.

***

River smiled when Mark walked into the room, busy washing her vanilla oil coated hands at the sink. "Give me a second and we can start." She said, frowning when she realized he was standing directly behind her. Calmly, she dried her hands and slowly turned around; craning her head back to stare up at him, trying not to panic. "Mark?"

"I'm so sorry about this, Rivvie." He whispered before placing a damp cloth that had been soaked in chloroform over her mouth and nose. When she slumped against him, he tenderly brushed a curl of her hair from her face, sighing heavily.

This was the only way.

***

Steve stared down at River, memorizing every new line on her face. Eleven years, he had thought she was dead and… He inhaled deeply, vowing Shawn Michaels was going to pay for this. He couldn't understand for the life of him why she didn't seem to know who he or Mark were. What had happened to her? What had that bastard done? He flinched when she moaned softly, knowing she was beginning to come around.

Mark was outside with Hope when he heard the screaming begin, sighing.

"Calm down, Riv, calm down!" Steve ordered, catching her before she could fly off the bed. He felt her slump in his arms, apparently still hazy from the chloroform. "Rivvie, it's me, it's Steve." He whispered, his heart breaking that she didn't recognize him. What had he expected? That she would wake up and everything would be alright?

"I don't know you!" She screamed, pushing away from him and fell back onto the bed, blue eyes wide. "Where's Shawn? Where's Hope?"

"Hope's outside with Mark, honey, calm down." He pleaded.

She just sat on the bed, tears streaming down her face; listening as Steve began speaking to her. Inside her mind all she could was mentally scream for Shawn. Finally, she stood up. "Oh Steve, I'm sorry!" She cried, tossing her arms around his neck.

"It's okay, Rivvie." He soothed, holding her tightly. "Whatever he did to you-" Steve groaned, feeling her knee connecting with his nuts and dropped; hands flying to cup himself, eyes crossing.

River was flying out the door.

***

Mark seen River run out of the house and groaned, getting up to catch her by her waist. Ignoring her screaming, he tossed her over his shoulder. "You're going to listen to us. You know us." He said flatly, watching as Steve appeared next and set her down at a picnic table. He pulled a folded picture out of his back pocket and slammed it down in front of her. "Look at it." He ordered.

River stared down at the picture, frowning. It was of Mark and Steve, in between them a woman who looked identical to her. Pushing it away, she got up and went back inside the house.

"River…" Steve began.

"Stop it! I don't know you!" She screamed, pushing him away from her. "Hope!"

Hope reigned in on the horse she was riding, her head turning to stare at Mark. "I hear my momma."

"Yeah, she's up angel. Come on." He lifted her off the horse and set her down, turning to see River flying back outside, running towards them. The woman was going to scare her daughter if she didn't cut the hysterics. "Back inside." He ordered gravely. "We have a lot to talk about. Like why the hell you ran out on me and your family eleven years ago."

"Ma, what's he talking about?" Hope demanded, beginning to get a little worried herself. Seeing her mom panicking told her this wasn't something that had been agreed upon. "I want my daddy."

"I know honey, I do too." God, where was Shawn? River bit her lower lip nervously, stood up and held Hope firmly by the hand; staring at Mark and Steve. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I didn't run out on you. I don't even KNOW you."

"Yes, you do." Mark sighed heavily, watching as Steve just walked out. "This is ridiculous!" He finally exploded, shaking from head to toe. "You worked for the WWF over ten years ago, River! Back in 1998 was when you left, you were dating ME! We were together, happy and in love, River! Then one night you left out of the fucking blue and now you're playing this fucking game with me, trying to say you don't remember! Let me tell you something little girl, if you didn't want me, then why the hell didn't you just tell me?" Mark was livid, all his emotions finally coming to a head and had erupted. "You HATED Shawn back then, what the hell changed, River?"

River and Hope were both staring at him like he was crazy.

"In 1998 I was in the hospital." River said finally, catching Hope nodding her head; this was a story she was familiar with. "I was in a plane crash and wound up in a coma. So you have the WRONG woman."

"And mom doesn't hate dad. She loves him!"

"Very much."

"A plane crash…" Mark was really pissed now, his entire body trembling. "Come with me." He didn't give either of them time to say anything, just grabbed River by the arm and dragged her through the house, finally pushing her down onto the couch. "Steve, where's the album?" He demanded, snatching it as soon as his friend produced it. Slamming it down onto the coffee table, he pointed a shaking finger at it, tears in his eyes. "LOOK! That's you, River! And Steve is your brother! You two have the same damn eyes and you're feeding us this bullshit bout how you were in a plane crash? Where the hell have you been all this time and who told you that fucking story?"

River refused to look at the pictures, staring at him; obviously terrified. "My doctors! I woke up in a hospital bed after almost dying! I have pictures of the bruises and the documents to prove it!"

"Uh mom…" Hope was looking at the pictures. "Lemme see your birthmark."

"What?" River was momentarily thrown for a loop.

"That red spot on your arm that dad calls a wine stain." Hope rolled up her mom's shirt sleeve, frowning. Then she tapped a picture of the other woman who was showing off the same mark with 'Mark was Here' scribbled over it in ink with an arrow pointing down.

Mark stared down at the picture, smiling as he remembered that. He had been showing off a new tattoo when she had made a smartass comment. So he had snatched up a pen and began 'inking' her. "God… I remember that, Rivvie." He murmured, coughing to clear his throat. "How long have you and Shawn been married, darlin'?"

"Ten years. Look, this isn't-"

"Where's your parents?" Steve asked.

"Dead. Look-"

"DEAD? I'm going to KILL that son of a bitch!"

"Calm down! Mom… these do look like you."

"Hope, it CAN'T be."

"Do you remember anything before your accident?"

River frowned, not answering. "I want to talk to Shawn." She said finally, looking at Mark.

"I'm going to kill him." Mark said now, exchanging angry looks with Steve. "No, you're never going near him again, River." He snarled, seeing the fright in her eyes and pushed it aside. "You need to answer us. How long have you been married to him? Was it right after your accident or before? You don't remember, do you? Did you wake up already married with Shawn by your side?"

Steve snorted, remembering how Shawn had conveniently taken a leave of absence shortly after River's disappearance.

"I told you before, I met him during a trying time in my life." She said crossly, holding out a hand to shut up Hope. "I met him after my accident. He was having some problems with his back we met in the hallway at the hospital." River's blue eyes shot to Steve's for a moment, frowning slightly. "Look, even if I was this woman, I obviously don't remember anything before the accident. Sorry for your loss, move on."

"Oh I'm going to move on alright," Steve said slowly, cold fury written on his face. "Right over that sonbitch's head with my truck."

"How long after?" Mark was ignored Steve at the moment, though he agreed wholeheartedly with the idea. "River, did he tell you your parents were dead?"

"Doctors did." She replied stiffly.

"Shawn left right after you vanished, Rivvie. He took off the night of our… THAT SON OF A BITCH IS DEAD!"

Hope began crying now. Regardless of how she acted, she was only ten years old and she hadn't been around much violence. Her dad smashing that glass was the only time she could remember him really losing his temper.

"Mark, calm down." Steve ordered, wanting to blow up too but controlled himself. "Hope, why don't we go play on the PS3?" He suggested, taking her hand and gently guided her away.

Tears were stinging Mark's eyes, unable to fathom how sick Shawn really was. He knew Shawn must've taken River, that was a given. It was simply to coincidental how she had been married to him for a decade, a year sigh of how long she had been gone.

Mark was going to kill him. There would be nothing left of the Heartbreak Kid. He would dismember that bastard into tiny pieces and bury the pieces all over the earth. A born again Christian! Mark snorted, shaking his head. "I suppose he warned you away from me because I'M the psycho." He grunted. "He's the fucking lunatic."

"No… you're the one who kidnapped me and my daughter. In my book, that makes YOU the psychotic. Whatever Shawn did in his past is just that, the past. He is my HUSBAND and I love him, regardless for who he was." River said firmly, pushing herself up off the couch. She stared at Mark intently, blue eyes filled with barely subdued anger.