Dark Saviour
Chapter 40 - When Destiny Knocks . . .
...
A/N: All right, people. Here is the next chapter finally. Sorry for the long wait.
I also have some news for all my loyal readers (and all those reading this story for the first time). We are now on the road to finishing this story. This is the first of the last couple of chapters to be posted. I hope that this chapter (as well as the next couple) keep up to the standards you have all set and that you enjoy reading them as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
Now on to the chapter . . .
...
Rey tossed and turned as his mind went over all the possible scenarios on how the night could have turned out for the Rainbow Haired Warrior and the Deadman. He couldn't help but imagine Jeff sitting alone in his hotel room or in the VIP room at the Toyota Center, crying after Undertaker rejected him. Even though Rey knew that the Deadman was better than that, that he cared more than that, his mind would not allow him to even consider the positive outcomes for the night. He could only hear Taker's evil laughter, the one usually reserved for his promos when he was torturing his victims with mind games, echoing in the room after Jeff's declaration and admission.
"What the hell am I thinking?" Rey chided himself as he stared up at the ceiling. "Mark would never do a thing like that. If anything, he just wouldn't have listened and simply walked away."
However, that thought wasn't comforting to him either. The idea of Taker simply walking away from everything was just as bad as if he did laugh at Jeff for his love. Moving quietly so as not to wake the sleeping Shawn beside him, Rey crept from the bed and out of the room, He desperately needed to put his mind at ease and there was only one way he was going to accomplish that. As he grabbed his phone off the coffee table, it started to ring on it's own. Confused, Rey answered it hesitantly.
"Hello?"
"Rey, is that you?"
"Jeff? Oh thank god you're not lying in a ditch somewhere!"
"Why would you think that I'd be laying in a ditch?" Jeff asked, confusion evident in his voice.
Rey shook his head. "Never mind, just my crazy nightmares."
"You sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
"Okay," Jeff said, not quite believing him.
"So?" Rey asked, trying to change the topic to the more pressing one on his mind.
"So?"
"What happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean," Rey answered, trying to remain calm.
"Oh, you mean what happened with Mark at the Hall of Fame."
"Yes," Rey sighed, happy that Jeff was finally, understanding him. "What happened? Is everything okay?"
"I don't kiss and tell," Jeff replied nonchalantly.
"What?" Rey exclaimed.
"I'm not going to tell you what all happened after the ceremony," Jeff repeated. "Some things are just too personal."
Rey gapped silently on his side of the line, not believing what he was hearing. "What?"
"Are you having a hard time hearing today, Rey? I said I am not going into details about it."
"But . . ." Rey stammered, worried something had gone wrong. "But what about what's happening later tonight?"
"Tonight?"
"Yes," Rey said, glancing quickly at the clock. "It's after 4:00 in the morning, so WrestleMania is tonight."
"What about WrestleMania?"
"What's happening with the show tonight?" Rey sighed, his frustration coming through his voice.
"What does that have to do with what happened after the ceremony?"
"Did you talk to him? Is everything a go? Do I go talk to my people?"
"Oh, that," Jeff said, finally understanding. Rey could just imagine the younger man rolling his eyes. "Yeah, you can talk them."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Really?"
"It's all good, Rey," Jeff chuckled. "So, go ahead, talk to your guy."
"And he doesn't want to kill me?" Rey asked.
"Considering you haven't talked to him yet, I wouldn't know the answer to that."
"I'm not talking about my contact," Rey sighed, rolling his eyes. "I'm talking about Mark."
"No, he doesn't want to kill you. I managed to calm him down afterward."
"What?"
Jeff laughed. "I'm sorry, I just had to bug you?"
"So, he doesn't want to kill me?"
"He's never wanted to kill you, Rey."
Rey sighed in relief.
"Stop that!"
"Stop what?" Rey asked, startled by the sudden exclamation.
"Not you," Jeff answered abruptly.
"What's going on, Jeff?" Rey said, looking at his phone as he heard some strange sounds.
"Will you . . ." Jeff scolded, seemingly distracted by whatever else was going on in his room. "Nothing's going on, Rey."
"You sure?" Rey questioned. "It doesn't sound like nothing."
"It's nothing . . . oh, that's it! Sorry, Rey. Got to go."
"But . . ."
...Click...
Rey stared at his phone, not quite sure of what to make of the conversation he just had. As he put the phone back down on the table, he felt a pair of strong arms circle his waist.
"Who were you talking to?" Shawn asked sleepily as he rested his head on Rey's shoulder.
"That was Jeff."
"What did he want?" Shawn yawned.
"He was just letting me know that everything's a go."
"What's a go?"
"Tonight. The show."
"Oh," Shawn replied, his eyes half closed as he nuzzled Rey's neck.
"Yeah."
"What?"
"I don't think he was alone."
"Why do you think that? Who would he be with?"
"I don't know," Rey shrugged. "But someone was definitely there with him."
"Maybe it was Mark," Shawn smiled mischievously.
"Why would Mark be with him?"
Shawn shrugged. "I'm only guessing. But since Jeff went to see him last night to talk about his feelings . . ."
Rey though about what Shawn was suggesting. It was a logical assumption . . . barring everything went right.
"Besides, who else would he be with? If Mark's back, I doubt Cena would be stupid enough to try anything."
"But he doesn't know yet."
"Trust me, if he was going after Jeff right now, I doubt he would have let Jeff call you."
"True enough," Rey admitted with a nod. "Also, Mark would need a place to stay tonight. So Jeff would have probably invited him over . . ."
"Exactly. There is absolutely nothing to worry about," Shawn smiled. "They were probably just having some fun."
"Shawn," Rey chided. "Get your head out of the gutter."
"What?"
"I can't believe you would think about them like that?"
Shawn shrugged. "You were the one wanting them to get together," he pointed out.
"But not like that," Rey said, looking up at Shawn. "At least, not right away."
"Why not?"
"I want their relationship to last," Rey answered. "I don't want it to be a quick fling."
"Hey, we started out quickly enough," Shawn reminded him.
"We didn't move that fast." Rey said hesitantly.
Shawn laughed. "You hadn't even asked me out yet when we had our first night of fun."
Rey blushed slightly as he leaned back into Shawn's arms, remembering that first night. "Damn it, you're right."
"Of course I am," Shawn smiled. "Now come back to bed."
"I can't sleep now."
Shawn pouted. "Why not?"
"There's too much to do and too much to think about. I couldn't possibly sleep now," Rey replied.
"Look," Shawn sighed, pointing at the clock. "It's just after 4:00 in the morning. There is still plenty of time to go back to bed and have everything ready in time for tonight."
"But . . ."
"No, no buts' mister," Shawn smiled playfully. "Unless its yours, naked, and in that bed."
"Oh, Shawn," Rey laughed.
"Well?" Shawn asked seriously, his brow rose slightly in expectation. "What's your answer?"
"I think I'm going to sleep."
"What?"
Rey smiled as he stepped out of Shawn's arms. "I just realized how tired I am. I think I'm going to go to bed."
Shawn stood in the middle of the room, watching Rey disappear into their room.
"Damn," Shawn muttered, shaking his head. "And here I thought that I was going to get something this morning," he said, shaking his head again as his continued to stand there.
After a few minutes, Rey called from the room, "You coming, Shawn? Or am I going to be here all by my lonesome."
"What?"
"I thought I'd have some company to keep me warm," Rey replied.
"Come to papa!" Shawn exclaimed as he ran into the room to make sure that Rey was kept warm well into the morning and into the afternoon if possible.
...
Shawn shivered slightly as he stood outside Teddy Long's office at the Reliant Stadium in Houston. Rey had kicked him out of the hotel room at 10:00 this morning on the excuse of needing help to get ready for the big night ahead, but Shawn knew the truth. He was only kicked out so that he would stop distracting Rey.
Although who could blame him, Shawn thought to himself. I only wanted to keep my promise by keeping him warm all day.
"And then he had to kick me out of that nice warm bed," Shawn muttered to himself as he continued to pout over that fact.
"Hey, Playa. What are you doing here so early?"
Shawn turned and smiled even though he was still miserable over the fact he wasn't with Rey right then. The one and only Theodore Long stood behind him in his usual cream coloured suit that set off his dark skin nicely. The General Manager for SmackDown was currently staring at him as if he were insane which, for most people, was a no brainer.
Losing his smile, Shawn took on a more serious expression. "We need to talk, Homie."
"We can talk," Teddy nodded. "But only if you stop talking like that."
"Okay," Shawn pouted slightly.
"So, what do you need?"
"Um," Shawn smiled nervously as he looked around them. "Can we talk inside?"
"We are inside."
"In your office, I mean," Shawn rectified, pointing at the door.
"Oh?"
"This is kind of a sensitive situation."
"Oh really?" Teddy said, his brow rose expectantly.
Shawn nodded. "Very. This is business from Vince McMahon himself."
"Vince?" Teddy asked in confusion. "Mr. McMahon sent you to talk to me for him?"
"Hard to believe isn't it?"
"You're telling me."
"But, it's true. Rey called in a favour from Vince. The Chairman owes him for something I'm not allowed to mention unless I want to die very slowly and very painfully. So, here I am, talking to you on behalf of them both."
"So, you're the messenger?"
Shawn nodded. "That's me. Don't shoot."
"All right," Teddy sighed, shaking his head. "Let's go into my office."
Shawn merely nodded before following Teddy into the room that would later become his office for the night's proceedings. The room already held the customary leather couch, plants and photos that would be shown off during one of the sketches between the matches.
Shawn whistled low as he looked at the decor. "Geez. They're going all out tonight, aren't they?"
"Why wouldn't they? It is the greatest night of them all, isn't it?" Teddy replied as he turned to face Shawn.
Shawn looked up at Teddy and cleared his throat as he noticed the expectant look on the GM's face. "Right, down to business."
"So, what's going on?" Teddy asked.
"Well, you see," Shawn paused, unsure of how to explain the situation.
"Well?" Teddy asked, waiting for an answer.
"Well," Shawn paused again, "We, uh, need your help."
"I gathered that much," Teddy sighed. "What do you need exactly?"
"See, the problem is that tonight's plans need to be changed slightly."
"You know I can't change the schedule now!" Teddy exclaimed. "It's set in stone."
"Vince says otherwise," Shawn replied calmly.
"Then why isn't he here to explain to the fans that they're not getting what they paid for?"
"You know as well as I do that the fans don't like Vince much," Shawn explained.
"And if I changed the plans, they're not going to like me either."
Shawn shook his head. "No, see, that's the beauty of it. You get to blame it all on Vince."
"You know that won't appease the fans."
"Trust me," Shawn smiled. "When you make the announcement, the fans will be extremely happy."
"I don't know about this . . ."
"Don't worry about it."
Teddy shook his head. "That's easy for you to say. You're not running the risk of losing your job over this."
"And neither are you."
Teddy looked at Shawn in confusion as the Heart-Break Kid pulled out a piece of paper. Smiling, Shawn handed it to Teddy.
"That is an official letter stating that you will not lose your job over tonight's schedule change," Shawn explained.
"It looks real," Teddy said hesitantly, examining the document closely.
"It is," Shawn smiled encouragingly. "It's all been taken care of. The only thing you need to do is help me fix the schedule and announce the changes at the beginning of the show."
"That's it?"
"That's it," Shawn replied.
"So,"
"So?"
"What exactly needs to be changed tonight?"
...
Kane walked down the currently empty hall at the Reliant Stadium, waiting for the other seven men competing against him in the Money in the Bank match that night to arrive. Even though the pay-per-view was still two hours away, he had already seen people arriving at the stadium, both wrestler and fans alike. Kane personally could never understand why the fans would arrive so early. They would all have their tickets already so it wasn't like there would be a line-up to get tickets. However, there was an increased chance of seeing the Superstars arriving at the arena, so Kane could slightly understand, but only slightly.
For him, on the other hand, Kane liked to arrive early so that he could scope out the layout of the arena. He refused to accidently get lost during the show. He really didn't want to relive the nightmare of that particular experience. Kane also liked to take this opportunity to freak out the newcomers. Nothing relaxed him more then scaring the shit out of the new set crew and wannabe stars.
As Kane drifted down the hallway, thinking about all the things he could do to scare people, he noticed that many of the ring staff were scurrying around him as though in a mad panic. Curious, but not curious enough to stop someone and ask, Kane made a mental note of the topic so that he could talk to Shawn about it when he arrived. If anyone new what was happening, Shawn would. On the plus side, Shawn was always willing to gossip about these kinds of things that Kane wouldn't really have to ask him about it.
Hoping to meet the smaller man in the locker room with Rey, The Big Red Machine headed down yet another hallway, hoping that the two men had also arrived early. As he came upon his favourite room, due to the fact that it held a weight set for when they got bored between appearances, he noticed that the punching bag currently suspended in the center of the room, was swinging slightly. Curiosity getting the better of him, Kane walked into the room, intent on finding out who was starting their workout early. What the Big Red Machine saw, however, left him even more confused; the room was completely empty.
"What the . . .?" Kane muttered, his brow furrowed in confusion.
Since Kane hadn't seen anyone leave the room, nor anyone walking away from it, he couldn't comprehend how the bag was still moving. Even a strong individual like himself didn't leave the bag swinging for extended periods of time. Convinced that someone was trying to play a prank on him, Kane continued to look around the room, hoping to catch the culprit before they had a chance to jump out at him in an attempt at some kind of retribution. When he continued to see nothing, Kane shook his head and moved back toward the door. It was only then that he noticed the object on the floor, lying directly under the punching bag.
Kane's jaw dropped as he inspected the object closer. He just couldn't believe his eyes, or luck, as a sense of fear washed over him. Though he knew his fear was useless, it was there nonetheless.
"Come on, Glen." Kane snapped at himself. "It's just a chicken and a rubber one at that."
But the fear wouldn't fade away with his rationality. He had seen, and felt first hand what the psychotic bird that Shawn called Bob could do. Kane honestly couldn't understand what Shawn saw in that thing.
"It's just an inanimate object. It wasn't working out right now on the punching bag. It's probably just the air conditioner on full blast because it isn't changing the temperature in the room," Kane repeated to himself under his breath as he backed out of the room slowly.
"Who are you talking to?"
Kane jumped in spite of himself at the unexpected voice coming from behind him. Turning quickly, he nearly let out a sigh of relief as his gaze met a friendly face.
"Oh, it's you, Jeff."
"Who were you expecting?" Jeff asked, tilting his head slightly in confusion.
"No one," Kane replied. "I honestly didn't think anyone else was here yet."
"Right," Jeff said, rolling his eyes. "You're not the only one who likes to be early."
"I know that," Kane retorted in his defense. "I just wasn't expecting people who were in later matches to arrive yet."
Jeff merely shook his head, not believing the bigger man one bit. "If you say so."
"I do."
"So, who were you talking to?"
"I told you, no one."
"And why don't I believe you?" Jeff retorted, his eyebrow rose slightly as he looked at Kane skeptically.
"It's the truth."
"Come on, Glen," Jeff sighed. "Tell me the real truth."
Kane shook his head. "No."
"Why?"
"You'll laugh at me."
"I won't laugh at you."
"Yes, you will."
"Try me," Jeff replied, crossing his arms over his chest.
Kane seemed to debate the issue internally before he sighed in defeat. "I was talking to myself about the rubber chicken on the floor."
Jeff looked past Kane to stare at the chicken on the floor before looking at Kane again. "Why?"
"Because it's evil."
"What?" Jeff asked, trying to hide his laughter.
"You heard me," Kane replied. "That chicken is evil! And I swear it was working out just now."
"I think you need your head examined," Jeff replied.
"I'm not crazy," Kane retorted.
Jeff looked at Kane, his eyebrow raised. "You believe that a rubber chicken is evil and working out in the locker room," he said.
"When you put it that way," Kane admitted coyly.
"Exactly."
"But I'm not crazy," Kane replied. "I swear."
"Have you been spending too much time with Shawn, Glen?"
"No."
"Then how else are you going to explain this?"
Kane thought about it briefly. "That the dark forces that used to control Mark a few years ago are back in the form of a rubber chicken?"
"You've got to be kidding me."
"No," Kane replied seriously. "I'm not."
Jeff merely shook his head at Kane's conviction. "I think you really need to get your head checked, seriously."
"You weren't there," Kane retorted. "You weren't there when Mark was taken by the dark side."
"That was just a gimmick like everything else around here."
"No," Kane insisted. "No, it wasn't. Mark wasn't himself during those days. He didn't speak to people."
"Glen, Mark doesn't speak to people now."
"It was different then. He didn't speak to anyone. Since then, he has allowed a select few to get close to him," Kane retorted. "He has Shawn, Rey, myself and now you. You don't know how amazing it is for him to let you into his tight circle when he used to be closed off from everyone."
"What do you mean by that?" Jeff asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"I mean that you've managed to become closer to the Deadman than even I am," Kane replied, his gaze softening a little.
"Yeah, I guess we're close, but I doubt anyone is closer than you two."
Kane smiled at Jeff's sudden nervousness. "There you're wrong. I'm not as close to my brother as we would have people believe. The only time we were really close was when we were a team, when we were the Brothers of Destruction."
"I find that hard to believe."
"It's the truth. There is only one person I can think of that would even come close to what is between you and my brother," Kane said with a sigh.
"Oh? Whose that?"
"Chris."
"Chris?" Jeff asked, his brow rose in confusion.
"Benoit," Kane replied. "He's the only person I can think of that might have stood a chance at rivaling what you two have."
"And what do we have?"
Kane shrugged. "I don't know exactly. All I do know is that, when you are around him . . . well, I haven't seen him like this since his dark days when . . ." he stopped.
"Are you implying that I'm bringing him back to the dark side?"
Kane shook his head slowly as he stared at Jeff. "No, you're not bringing him down to the dark side. You're bringing him back to the light."
...
WrestleMania
The crowd filled the Reliant Stadium to the point of overflowing. Their excited voices, cheers and cries could be heard throughout the arena, even so far as to reach the outside of the stadium. One would think the matches had already started by the sounds emanating from the building, but this was only the beginning. Things were just getting ready to start and every single Superstar in the back knew what that meant. It meant that they would have to be performing at their very best level or they were in trouble, but then again, that was a given considering how important tonight was. SummerSlam may be the biggest party of the summer, but WrestleMania was the biggest night of them all. As the music began to play, signaling that the show was finally on it's way, the crowd cheered even louder, though few would think it was even possible.
Over the intercom, the all to familiar announcement for the beginning of the show echoed, welcoming everyone to the 25th anniversary of WrestleMania. All the viewers in the arena, at home and at the theaters were waiting in anticipation of all the excitement that was to come from the upcoming matches. The lineup for the evening had everyone guessing at what would occur this year. However, not even the announcers were ready for what was about to happen.
"Welcome everyone to the 25th anniversary of WrestleMania," Jerry Lawlor greeted as the camera's finally turned to him.
"And what a night it's going to be, Jerry," Michael Cole stated. "We've got a greet lineup for tonight's show."
"That's right, Cole," Jerry agreed. "It's going to be an exciting night with both the WWE and World Heavy Weight Championships on the line."
"We are all waiting to see the outcome of these matches, but first . . ." Jerry paused as music began to play.
The cameras quickly shifted to the stage where the video and music of Theodore Long was playing.
"What the hell is going on here?" Jerry shouted over the noise.
"Looks like we're going to have a visit from the General Manager of SmackDown," Cole replied.
"I could have told you that, Cole," Jerry retorted. "But what is he doing here?"
"I guess we'll find out soon . . ."
Theodore Long stood at the top of the ramp, microphone in hand, waiting for the audience to calm down enough before he spoke.
"As Jerry 'The King' Lawlor and Michael Cole said before, welcome to WrestleMania 25," Teddy paused as the crowd cheered. "Unfortunately, I have been given the task of changing what is to occur tonight."
"What?" Jerry shouted as the crowd booed.
"Now, I know that all of you have come here expecting to see your favourite Superstars fight in their designated matches, however, some of those matches are going to be changed."
"Is he allowed to do that?" Cole asked.
"Do to certain circumstances, Mr. McMahon has decided that action needs to be taken to rectify the situation," Teddy stopped again as he waited for the resounding boo's to subside. "As such, the following changes have been made to tonight's lineup: John Cena will not be fighting in the triple threat match against Edge and Big Show, nor will Jeff Hardy be fighting his brother Matt."
The crowd booed louder and chanted the well known "What?"
"Instead, Shawn Michaels will join Rey Mysterio and John Bradshaw Layfield to make the Intercontinental Championship match a triple threat."
Some of the audience members cheered at the news.
"While John Cena will team up with Batista . . . "
The crowd cheered louder.
"To face Jeff Hardy and a partner of his own choosing in a Hell in a Cell match."
The crowd cheered even louder as Teddy finished speaking. Teddy smiled as he looked out at the audience before he disappeared through the gorilla position.
"Wow. Who would have thought that would happen," Cole muttered.
"Tonight is going to be a night full of surprises, isn't it?" Jerry replied, shaking his head.
"I guess we are going to find out. I wonder what happened backstage to cause such a change?" Cole said simply. "Must have been something big for the Chairmen to get involved?"
"I have to agree with you there, Cole," Jerry nodded. "I'd hate to be the one the Chairmen is angry with right now."
"Who do you think Jeff Hardy's partner will be tonight?"
"I don't know. There are so many people to choose from."
"Do you think that Matt Hardy will turn out to be his partner?"
"I don't know, Cole," Jerry admitted. "Since the older Hardy has been feuding the past few months with his brother, I don't know what to expect. Although, it would be interesting to know if the two brothers could put aside their differences long enough to combat against Cena and Batista tonight."
"Well, I hope you all stay tuned to find out as we ponder this latest development. But as we sit hear wondering what has happened, we go to our first match . . ."
...
"I don't believe this!" Cena shouted as he paced back and forth in his locker room.
Batista shrugged his shoulders. "What are you worried about?"
"What?" Cena snapped as he turned on Batista.
Batista shrugged his shoulders again, refusing to let the smaller man intimidate him. He was getting really tired of being the escape goat and punching bag. "What are you so worried about? You've taken Jeff on before . . ."
"But now he has help."
"So? Who would help him?" Batista asked as he met Cena's gaze. "You've alienated just about everyone who was ever close to him."
"Not everyone apparently," Cena responded, shaking his head. "I really don't know who he still has on his side, but he obviously has someone."
"And?"
"And?" Cena said, turning to face Batista again, his brow raised. "And? This is a big deal."
"How so?"
"We don't know who he has with him," Cena repeated. "It could be anyone."
"And it could easily be a vain attempt to get you to lay off," Batista suggested calmly.
Cena shook his head. "No, it won't be that simple."
"Why not?"
"Because nothing is ever that simple," Cena answered. "Why would he want to fight both of us? What could he achieve by fighting the both of us?"
"Maybe he's a masochist?"
Cena slapped Batista upside the head, the echo of the hit reverberating off the walls. "You know damn well that he isn't. That is why he is so fun to torture."
Batista rubbed the back of his head as he glared up at Cena. "Doesn't mean people don't change. That they don't like what is being done to them at first but that doesn't mean they don't grow to like it."
"Jeff doesn't like what I do."
"Maybe he knows you don't want him to. Maybe he's going along with your games. It wouldn't be the first time someone fell in love with the captor."
"And you know this how?"
"It's in all the psychology books."
"Like you read those," Cena tsked. "Besides, I think it's safe to say that Jeff Hardy hates me bitterly and no matter what the textbooks say, he will never love me."
"You never know."
"Oh, but I do and so does Layfield. Which is another curious thing? Why are you fighting with me and not John? We all know that he did way more than you to destroy Jeff."
"He's in a title match?" Batista shrugged.
"I was in a title match!" Cena snapped. "And they took me out of it."
"True," Batista nodded. "However, you were one of three competitors. John was one of two. If they took him out, then there would have been no intercontinental championship match."
"That's a bullshit excuse," Cena snapped as he moved to stand toe-to-toe with Batista. Though Batista was both bigger and taller than him, Cena knew that Batista wouldn't do anything to him.
The big oaf is just as scared of me as Jeff is. So, why is Jeff fighting back now when Dave still refuses to look me directly in the eye? Maybe they're working together. Maybe Dave has finally grown a pair and is working with Jeff to get back at me? Cena scoffed at the very thought as he continued to glare at Batista. We'll see how well their plan goes when I get through with them.
Batista's gaze dropped lower to the ground as he backed away from Cena. He had grown accustomed to that look and didn't like it one bit. There was a reason why Layfield did more of the dirty work for Cena than he did. Unlike Layfield, Batista didn't enjoy brutalizing others, no matter what the fans thought of him at times. When Cena had first brought his 'brilliant' plan to Layfield and him, Batista had nearly revolted at the thought. But then, when Cena holds the leash, there is no shirking from ones responsibilities, no matter how distasteful the responsibility was.
Even when . . .
Batista closed his eyes as he tried to suppress a shiver. He didn't want to begin to think about what would have happened if they had stumbled across Matt instead of Shannon that horrible night. After all, Matt had been the original target . . .
"Aw, what's the matter big guy? Getting cold feet?" Cena said mockingly, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.
Batista forced himself to stare directly at Cena, not bothering to hide his distaste for the smaller man. "You know I will do what you tell me to do."
"Good," Cena nodded. "Then you won't be hesitant to assist me while I find out what the hell is going on here, will you?"
Batista shook his head. "No," he sighed. "I won't."
Before Cena could reply, Shawn walked into the room, humming to himself. The smaller man seemed completely oblivious to the fact that there were other people in the room. Shawn moved to the opposite side of where Batista and Cena stood and began to rummage around in his locker.
Cena smiled knowingly at Batista before moving forward to stand behind the Heart-Break Kid. Masking the evil glint in his eyes, Cena tapped Shawn lightly on his shoulder.
"Yes?" Shawn asked, letting the word come out slowly as he looked at Cena over his shoulder.
So, he did know that we were in here, Cena thought to himself. "I was wondering if we could have a little chat with you?" he answered as he continued to smile.
Shawn raised a brow as he looked between Cena and Batista. "Aren't we 'chatting' now?"
"In a manner of speaking," Cena shrugged. "But I wanted to talk to you about something more specific."
"Then ask," Shawn replied as he turned fully to face Cena. "I don't have all day."
"What's the hurry?" Cena asked, shifting slightly to place himself directly in the path of Shawn's only way out.
Shawn looked at Cena as if he was dealing with a child. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's the fact that it is the biggest night of them all," he shrugged. "Or maybe, unlike you, I don't like sitting on my ass, bitching and complaining that nothing is ever done to my satisfaction."
Batista inwardly applauded as he winced slightly over Shawn's comment. He enjoyed the fact the Shawn wasn't falling for Cena's intimidation routine. However, in doing so, he was putting himself in jeopardy of falling into Cena's path of destruction. Batista only hoped that Cena would be too focused on the issue with Jeff to harm Shawn. He didn't want to hurt the man that his best friend cared for deeply.
Cena, however, laughed at Shawn, surprising both men as he took Shawn's words as a joke. "You were always one for the quick remarks, weren't you, Shawn?"
"I guess I'm just gifted."
"Or very foolish."
"That too," Shawn nodded. "But that's only to fool idiots like you."
Cena shook his head. "Poor, poor Shawn."
"Oh, I'm not that poor," Shawn replied. "Now will you please hurry and ask me your question so I can leave? I grow tired of attempting to entertain you."
"Oh, but I so enjoy your company," Cena smiled.
"Look, I'm flattered, okay," Shawn said, holding his hands up in a sympathetic gesture. "It's always nice to know that I've still got the old Heart-Break charm. But I would never hurt Rey, let alone with you. You're not my type."
"And how would you know?" Cena asked.
"I don't date idiots who push around and threaten those who are vulnerable," Shawn replied simply as he moved to pass Cena.
As Shawn tried to walk away, Cena grabbed hold of Shawn's wrist. "What do you know about that?" he growled.
Shawn looked up at Batista, sympathy in his eyes. "And you like this guy?"
Batista dropped his gaze to the floor, unable to reply to Shawn.
"You are talking to me, Shawn, not him," Cena snapped.
"I'm done talking to you. You're not worth my breath."
"Then I might as well stop that breath now, shouldn't I?"
"Try it," Shawn taunted. "I dare you to."
"Don't tempt me."
"Stronger and more worthy men have tried to take me out," Shawn retorted. "You wouldn't stand a chance."
"I've beaten you before," Cena said, reminding Shawn of the times they met in the ring.
"Oh, right, I forgot about those," Shawn said as he thought about it. "I'm sorry, I meant to say that you don't stand a chance when it isn't written in a script that you will win."
Cena growled in anger as he seriously thought about choking the life out of the smaller man, but doing that now would not help him get the answers he sought. "What do you know about the changes made tonight?" he asked.
"I know what you know. That there have been changes made."
"Bull shit," Cena snapped, tightening his grip on Shawn's arm. "You know exactly what's going on."
"And how would I know that?" Shawn asked as he gave Cena a droll stare.
"I know that you've been sheltering Jeff."
Shawn looked at Cena, his face blank. "And why would I have to shelter him? Is something going on with him that he needs protection?"
"You tell me?"
Shawn shrugged. "Jeff's business is his own. I don't pry."
"Bull."
"No, no bull," Shawn replied.
"What is he planning on tonight?"
"Who says he's planning anything?"
"The change in the line-up does."
"Maybe Vince wanted to do something different this year? Did you ever think of that?"
Cena shook his head. "That's not what Teddy Long said."
"And what did Teddy say?"
"You know damn well that he said this change was due to certain circumstances! Now what are those circumstances?" Cena yelled.
"I don't know if you've noticed the past couple of years or not, John, but Vince and I are not close buddies. He doesn't tell me his reasoning's for things."
"If you don't tell me now I will hurt you," Cena stated slowly, increasing the force of his grip on Shawn's wrist for effect.
Shawn looked down at Cena's hand before looking back at up to meet his gaze. "You do not want to go down that road, John," he stated simply, ignoring the pain that was slowly increasing in his wrist and crawling up his arm.
"And why not?"
"Because unlike your lackeys, I don't scare easily. I also have people that would willingly torture you for all eternity if you so much as look at me wrong and trust me, my people could destroy your people."
"You don't know who my people are," Cena retorted.
"No, but you also don't know who my people are," Shawn replied. "They could easily be some of your people."
"And?"
"Who do you think they'd be more loyal to if it came down to a fight between you and I?"
Cena's glare softened as he realized the truth behind Shawn's words. He ruled over people through intimidation and fear. Shawn held power in the locker room through his years of experience and friendship to all who walked into the arena. Even his feud with Jericho was short lived due to the way Shawn was around people. Though it lasted longer in the ring, in the locker room, they quickly became friends again.
"See, you know the truth," Shawn smiled as he saw the light bulb finally turn on in Cena's head. "Your 'people' would never side with you if they had another option."
"Is that what you did with Jeff?" Cena asked slowly.
"Jeff has his own people, trust me. He doesn't need my help to be rid of you."
Cena scoffed at Shawn's words. "Like you know anything."
Shawn moved back as he pried Cena's hand off his wrist. "All I know is that you picked the wrong guy to go after," he retorted before he picked up the bag he had been rummaging through and walked out of the locker room.
Batista watched as Shawn left, then turned his gaze back to Cena.
Cena looked over at Batista, anger flaring in his eyes. Before he knew what was happening, Batista felt the full force of Cena's anger as Cena struck him in the face. Falling backward slightly, Batista cupped his sore cheek as he looked at Cena, his eyes bright with confusion.
"We shall see who picked the wrong guy to mess with," he growled bitterly. "And believe me, Dave, you better hope that Jeff falls back into line or I will have to use a new punching bag to play with tonight."