Chapter 27:

It wasn't often that Hunter Helmsley found himself involved in other people's battles. He knew his good friend Shawn Michaels was more than capable of handling himself and even the now retired Ric Flair could still throw down with the best of them. But Chris Jericho had put his hands on Haley and that was one thing Hunter would not let slide.

He couldn't explain what he felt for the petite Diva. He had originally gone into that dressing room because he had heard Stephanie was in the building and he had grown tired of living his life without her in it. Well, not only did he get his wife back, but he had received something else, something just as wonderful, Haley.

In the beginning, he had let her forge her own path with little to no interference from him. She had to get her feet wet and with the way her cell phone always blew up after a match, he figured Dwayne was doing enough hovering. Then the little world she had created for herself had fallen apart and she had seemed so lost. He couldn't stand by anymore and do nothing.

So he trained her, molded her, encouraged her to be the best she could be and along the way, he found that he loved her. He loved her the way the way a father would his daughter. While Dwayne had taken the role of older brother, Hunter felt his bond with the current Women's Champion went deeper than that. He had trained guys like Randy Orton and Dave Batista, but he had never felt such pride in their accomplishments the way he did with Haley's. He never hurt for them the way he hurt for her when things went wrong in her life.

And he never froze over like an Iceman in rage, when someone harmed either of them. Like a bear would his cub, Hunter felt a heady urge to defend her.

If doing so also protected his own mentor from Chris Jericho that was just a bonus.

"Don't you think, you've caused enough problems in the last few weeks, Chris?" His voice was like frost, as he held a stare down with the Intercontinental Champion. "Shawn Michaels is pulling glass out of his eye, Haley's recovering from your assault and now you want to jump on the Naitch?"

"I don't think that's any of your business." Chris snapped.

"Along the lines of Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair, maybe it's not. But you hurt my girl, Chris. I held Haley as she cried from your betrayal that night. I rubbed salve on the cuts she suffered from your attack." Hunter's glare intensified from the memories. "Ever since you came back to save us, Chris, I've been looking for a reason to make you my business!" He said fiercely.

"Okay." Chris chuckled sardonically. "So now you're going to be the Knight in Shining armor and fight everyone's battles for them? Huh?"

"No, no, no." Hunter shook his head and smirked in a way that predicted horrible things to come. "You got it all wrong. I'm not here for Ric or Shawn. Just Haley, I just want to fight you!"

Not having a response, Chris stepped back, holding Triple H's gaze for another moment, before turning and walking away.

Hunter crossed his arms over his chest, pleased with himself. "Mess with Haley and you play the Game." He muttered. "Hurt her and you're guaranteed to lose."

Time to play the Game!

TIME TO PLAY THE GAME!

As Motorhead wailed through the speakers out into the arena, the sold out crowd in Salt Lake City, Utah roared to its feet. Green strobe lights flashed across the stage and two silhouettes could be made out, each toting gold.

It's all about the Game

And how you play it

It's all about control

And if you can take

It's all about your debt

And if you can pay

It's all about the pain

And who's gonna make it

The stage lights lit up to reveal Haley Mariano and Triple H at the top of the ramp. While the Game was dressed in his standard ring gear, Haley wore black skinny jeans, black heeled boots and her modified King of Kings t-shirt. Her belt lay draped over her shoulder, as she followed her mentor down the ramp to the ring.

"The following contest is scheduled for one fall, making his way to the ring, being accompanied by the WWE Women's Champion, Haley Mariano, from Greenwich, Connecticut, weighing in at two hundred and fifty-five pounds; he is the WWE Champion, Triple H!"

I am the Game, you don't wanna play me

I am control, there's no way you can shake me

I am your debt, and you know you can't pay me

I am the pain, and you know you can't take me

Look over your shoulder, ready to run

Like a Cleveland pitch, from a smoking gun

I am the Game, and I make the rules

So move on out or you can die like a fool

Try to figure out what my move's gonna be

Come on over sucker, why don't you ask me

Don't you forget there's a place you can pray

Cause I am the Game, and I want to play

As the guitar solo ripped through the arena and Triple H did his traditional water spewing entrance into the ring, Haley stood motionless in the center. It wasn't often she accompanied Hunter to the ring. Actually, she never accompanied him to the ring. But, he had chosen this particular battle for her and she felt it was only right she be down here for it.

She and Kennedy had won their match tonight. She could only pray that Triple H won his without killing Jericho in the process.

Hunter handed his belt off to Haley, squeezing her shoulder in acknowledgment. "Just let me handle this, Haley." He warned her softly. "I've dealt with Jericho when he's like this in the past. I know what I'm doing, don't pay him any attention."

Jericho's countdown began, signaling the arrival of the Intercontinental Champion. Haley's jaw tightened with tension, but other than that, she didn't let her expression change. She wouldn't give Jericho the satisfaction of knowing he had rattled her with his actions last week.

"Well Ladies and Gentleman, this match is not one of titles." JR explained to those watching at home. "This is about a woman and these two men's dislike for one another. Earlier tonight we saw the return of the Nature Boy Ric Flair, who challenged Jericho to a brawl in the parking lot. Jericho was intercepted by Triple H; however. Triple H told Jericho that he was looking for an excuse to make Jericho his business and last week, not only did Jericho attack Shawn Michaels, but he threw Haley into a pile of broken glass."

"He hurt the puppies, JR!" King complained. "I'm just happy her injuries weren't bad enough to keep her from competing tonight and now out here to cheer on the Game!"

"Well we all know how close the WWE Champion is with the WWE Women's Champion. Triple H trained with Haley, helping her overcome Beth Phoenix at Wrestlemania. She is his protégé and you have to know that Triple H did not take kindly to Jericho's assault on his former partner and friend, Shawn Michaels, nor his girl, as he called her, Haley."

Jericho entered the ring nonchalantly, arrogance practically dripping from him. He was no longer the man, Haley had befriended on his return to the WWE. Jericho was once again the evil man who she had only seen on the screen a few times in the past.

Another squeeze on her shoulder was a reminder that she didn't have to be scared or upset about Jericho's betrayal. Triple H was there, for her, just like he promised. He wouldn't let Jericho touch her again. She was completely safe as she stood behind the King of Kings, ready to watch the Cerebral Assassin take the Ayatollah of Rock'N'Rolla apart.