Chapter 59:

Monday Night's just weren't the same without Haley. A fact that had Randy Orton determining the next two months were going to suck. He already bored out of his mind and the show wasn't even halfway through yet. He wasn't quite sure how he was going to stomach Jericho as World Champion and the Canadian wrestler had only been Champion for less than twenty-four hours. And, Jericho was currently running around using Randy's old song and dance.

"Tell me something?" Randy quirked his head in the direction of Charlie Haas, who was getting ready for his match later while keeping an eye on the monitor as well. "Was I ever that obnoxious when I the WWE Champion?"

Charlie laughed appreciatively at the question. "No." He said. "I mean, you did like to proclaim how great you were all the time and give us the list of those you beat. But, no one could really fault you for it because it was true. You won your matches cleanly and backed up everything you said. The difference is that Jericho snuck in the last three seconds of the match and stole that title from Batista. That pisses people off. You can respect the guys you dislike if they win cleanly. This Jericho thing, not so much."

"You know, if I liked Dave, I'd feel sympathy for him. The title got stolen from him on the same night his girlfriend gets injured." Randy shrugged. "But it's hard to like and feel bad for the guy who has the one thing I want more than any title."

Charlie clapped Randy on the back. "Yeah, but unlike John Cena, you're the only other person who she'd consider leaving him for." He headed for the door. "I'll catch you later Orton."

"Yeah, see you Charlie. Good luck out there." Randy smirked and waved him off.

He turned back to disinterestedly watch the monitor. He'd already competed in his match for the night, a quick squash match against ECW's the Miz. He'd never been more annoyed with his opponent before. The self-titled Chick Magnet loved to talk, but once he got in the ring, he had absolutely no coordination.

I'm here without you, baby

But you're still on my lonely mind

I think about you, baby

And I dream about you all the time

I'm here without you, baby

But you're still with me in my dreams

And tonight girl, it's only you and me

Randy's smirked morphed into a full-blown grin as he dug out his ringing cell phone. He knew that ring tone better than any other on his phone. He'd set it specifically for a certain caller and was always happy to hear it come from his phone. In fact, one could say he was in love with it.

"Hey Beautiful." He flipped the phone open. "I was just thinking about you. I'm really glad you decided to call."

"Uh…hey Randy." By the unsteady tone of her voice, she was still uncomfortable with his confession, he surmised. "Nice match."

"Thanks Hales." He replied easily to convey camaraderie. "How's your shoulder? Feeling any better?"

"Sitff." She admitted honestly, seeming to relax. "Sometimes sore, but not altogether unbearable. I'll live." She promised, spoken like a true martyr.

"It'll feel back to normal soon enough." He said to reassure her, having plenty of experience with his own shoulder injuries. He had not only broken his recently, but he suffered from hyper-mobile shoulders on a regular basis.

"That's what Dwayne keeps telling me." She quipped easily. "I'm just trying to rest it up as much as possible. Don't want to over-exert myself during the healing process."

"It's the best thing you can do." He agreed. "So did you call me just to chit-chat, or do you have ulterior motives? Like for instance, you've finally come to your senses and realize you love me instead of the big oaf, you want to elope and have my love children."

He heard her sarcastic snort through the receiver and would put money on her rolling her eyes on the other end. "If you can be serious, and not pressure me about that," She replied. "I've got a favor to ask of you, that is, if you can keep a secret…a big one."

"Babe," He said as seriously as possible, testing her patience, though he wanted to laugh. "For you, I can do anything. You make me want to be a better man! You complete me! You had me at 'Hey Randy!'"

"Ugh! Randy! Stop treating this like a joke! I've got this bomb you dropped on me weighing on the back of my mind and I don't need you acting like a four year old on top of it!" She snapped irritably.

"All right, Haley, all joking aside. I'm sorry, you're just fun to tease." He sobered up. "I'm being serious now, what's up?"

"Randy, this is big, beyond big. This is the largest thing to ever hit the WWE!" She told him. "I need you to really commit to me here."

"Oh come on, Haley, Big Show returned last February." He chuckled. "Sorry, reflex. I'm done, I swear. As for committing to you, Haley, I told you I'm in love with you that I want to be with you. How much more committed do you need me to be?"

"Not that kind of commitment, Randy, damn it!" She sighed heavily. "I'd say forget it, but I really need your help."

"Haley," He turned serious. "You don't even have to ask. What's going on? I'm right here. I'm always going to be right here, talk to me. It'll stay between you and me."

"This is the Holy Grail of secrets, Randy, if this leaks, our entire plan will blow up in our faces." She told him. "We're going to take Monday Night RAW back from Adamle, but in order to do that, we need your help to get there."

Randy smirked, liking the sound of this already. "Well, you've got my interest piqued Hales, what's are you up to?"

"Eve, not now!" Dave growled, storming back into his locker room. "My match is over, which means I no longer require your valet services, get lost!"

"Dave, come on," Eve Torres rolled her eyes. "You can't hate me that much already? We work together now. In fact, I did a pretty good job out there if I do say so myself."

"Yes, you earned yourself plenty of 'Eve's a Slut' chants out there, that's something to be proud of. If this was 2006 and Lita was here with Edge, you two could have a competition as to who gets jeered at more." He said sarcastically, pulling on a t-shirt. "Besides, after the atrocity of last night, I can hate you all I want! It's your fault my girlfriend is at home on the injured list. And newsflash, she's the one I want, always will!"

Eve placed her hands on her hips and glared at him in annoyance. "Hey, technically her injury was at the hands of Mickie James and Katie Lea! All I did was pin Candice."

"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO CONVINCED ADAMLE OF THE MATCH IN THE FIRST PLACE!" Dave roared. "I could have told you from the beginning that I'm not interested, but you had to insist on playing insipid little games, so yes, it is your fault! I'm not interested in you Eve, personally or professionally. I LOVE HALEY! Accept it and move on!"

"But," She raised her eyebrows at him inquisitively. "Are you so certain it's you she loves? After all, Randy's feelings for her are now out in the open?"

"Of course she does!" Dave bit off an oath before continuing. "She fought for me! She picked me over every other male in this company that would gladly be in my place. She loves me! Just as I love her, she's it for me."

"Really?" Eve argued, looking skeptical. "If you guys are made for each other, then how come while you're doing autograph signings and other appearances this week, Randy's making plans to fly out to Boston?"

He frowned at the new information, not entirely sure he should trust her. "And how do you know anything about Orton's plans? He hates you just as much as I do."

"I overheard him on the phone." She answered simply. "Funny, how he makes plans to go to Boston, on the days you're tied up doing public appearances." She smirked, planting a seed of doubt and feeling triumphant.

"Oh yeah?" Dave's face remained impassive, but internally he felt a little uneasy. "And how do you know he's going to see Haley?"

"Because that's who he was talking to on the phone." Eve's smirked broadened when she saw the flicker in his eyes. "I mean, calling her Hales was a dead giveaway. Sounds fishy to me, Dave." She said before finally leaving him to stew on the bomb she's dropped.

Dave groaned and ran a hand over his face in exasperation. He didn't want to be an untrusting boyfriend, but it didn't sound all that promising to him either.

A/N: Thank you everyone for your well wishes and support. It means so much to me. I'm going to try and bang some chapters out over the next week and half. I seem to be stuck in a rut with Haley. I know where it is I want to go, but no idea how to get there just yet. But I'll figure it out, I always do. Anyway, thanks again and enjoy.

Up next, Dave talks to Haley on the phone and we get the reactions to her injury from Mr. Kennedy and by request…Chris Jericho.