Chapter 60:
Dave Batista couldn't help but feel a little disheartened as he entered his hotel room. He hadn't slept alone in months, and didn't look forward to doing so again either. He'd happily grown used to sleeping with Haley's compact little body curled against his larger one. She may have only left this morning, but the little things he had grown used to made him miss her terribly already.
If he was honest, he was also worried and uncharacteristically jealous at the idea of Randy Orton flying out to see Haley when he could not. He did not want to be the overbearing, untrusting boyfriend, it wasn't a fun role and that's how John Cena had royally screwed things up with her. But, since Haley told him Randy had confessed his feelings for her, the thought of the Legend Killer and his girlfriend alone together made him a little uneasy.
Making himself comfortable by flopping backwards on the bed, he dug his cellphone out to call her. If he couldn't have her next to him, he at least wanted to hear her voice.
The phone rang three times, before she picked the phone, Her voice soft and slightly drowsy with fatigue. "Dave!" She murmured with growing excitement. "I was afraid you had forgotten about me already."
He relaxed and chuckled, feeling peaceful just at the sound of her voice. "That would never happen, and you know it. Especially, when I have to come back to a hotel room with an empty bed at the end of the night."
"Tell me about it." She complained. "My bed feels way too big without you, plus I'm cold now that I can't steal your body heat."
He grinned at her words. "Two months suddenly feels like an impossibly long time." Dave agreed. "The visits in between aren't going to feel like enough."
"No, but it's all we've got." He heard her shift her position on the other line. "And unfortunately, we can't afford for me to travel with you during my injury anyway."
"I hate the thought you home alone." He told her sadly. "I can at least go hang out with Rey for company, What about you? And , what if you need help? Maybe you should consider your family…"
"Dave, I'm not alone." She laughed, "And I do have family with me, Baby."
He frowned in his confusion. "Wait, I don't get it. Are you staying with your parents after all?"
"No." She giggled. "But not only will I see Hunter frequently on his days off since we live fairly close to one another, but Dwayne's currently taken over one of my guest rooms. He's not doing any movies right now and claims he's with me for the duration. So see, I've got family here with me."
He suddenly felt better than he had since she left that morning. Staying with Haley was a man who was virtually her older brother. So, even if Randy was going to visit her, they wouldn't be alone all the time. He hated his insecurity, but with Randy's confession and the knowledge that Haley had slept with him once before made him doubtful. Plus, there were ways that Randy understood Haley that Dave never would.
"Well that's good." He said honestly. "That means I don't have to worry about you getting lonely, or pushing yourself faster than necessary,"
She giggled. "I wouldn't do that anyway."
"Hey Baby?" He sighed, hating to bring down the mood, but it was going to eat at him if he didn't talk to her about it. Their relationship had always been honest, almost brutally so, and there was no reason for that to change now. "I'm trying not to pry because I don't want you to think I don't trust you, but I need to know for peace of mind. Are you having Randy come visit you this week?"
There was silence on the other end of the line. It last long enough for Dave to pull his phone away from his ear and check to make sure he hadn't dropped the call. Assured he hadn't he placed it back to it's original position.
"Hales?" He pressed, growing concerned. "Are you there?"
"Yes." She responded quietly. "I'm here. And yes, Randy is coming to visit me this week."
Ken Kennedy was furious. No, furious was too tame a word. Livid, yes, livid was better. Ken Kennedy was livid. He had double, triple checked the WWE website to be sure of the information before letting his emotions rage. After all, being on the injured list himself, meant that he missed a lot of the backstage gossip and news. But once he had verified this particular rumor, he'd grown more than just a little angry.
"PAUL BURCHILL IS THE BIGGEST PIECE OF SHIT TO EVER ENTER THE WWE!" He yelled, slamming his lap top closed. "Batista better beat the ever-loving shit out of that spineless coward!"
"What's that, Baby?" Ken's latest girlfriend, Mallory Price, an art director at a local museum, asked as she entered the room.
"Paul Burchill helped screw Haley over once again!" He shook his head in distaste. "And not only that, but Mickie James and Katie Lea put her out of action with a dislocated shoulder!"
"Oh no." Mallory's voice was full of sympathy. She knew enough about Haley from Ken explaining his feud with Paul and felt sorry for her injury.
"Now now that stupid bimbo is Batista's valet!" Ken snorted, his expression showing just how he felt about Raw's latest Latina. "I actually feel bad for Dave having to put up with her!"
"What a lousy situation." Mallory agreed.
"All I know is if Dave cheats on her…He's got a Mike Check coming his way! This crap has gone on long enough." He swore, wishing that he was uninjured and back on RAW.
While Kennedy was ready to go up in arms for Haley, the man he seemingly replaced as her witty best guyfriend, wasn't sure how to feel about her injury. After all, he had sworn to her that he was through saving the WWE, and in doing so; he was through saving her as well. But, that didn't mean he lacked a reaction to the news.
There was a part of him, a larger part than Chris Jericho's pride would ever allow him to admit, that felt awful for her. He knew more than most how much Haley loved to wrestle, how much she enjoyed her job. He knew that sitting on the sidelines for two months time would be torture for her. That part of him, no matter what he did to squash it, still cared about Haley. And what's worse, that part still cared about the people in the audience every time he went out to the ring. That part of him, still cared very much, for the WWE Universe.
It had been weird not seeing her backstage. It was even weirder not seeing her as Candice's tag team partner against Mickie James and Beth Phoenix that night. But it was the weirdest, when he stood in the ring tonight, waiting on Batista's entrance, and seeing the Animal come out for their match with Eve by his side, instead of Haley.
That part of him that still cared about her, about the WWE, about the WWE Universe, had been angry seeing Eve Torres traipse down the ramp like she belonged at the Animal's side. He'd graduated to furious when she pounded on the mat to motivate Batista and cheered him on. He had been highly amused when the crowd had started an "Eve's A Slut" a chant. He'd even entertained the idea of joining in. Because that part of him that couldn't be squashed, was still Haley's best guyfriend, no matter whom she tried to replace him with. He was still loyal, and he still knew her best.
A/N: I know this chapter is short, but hey, you got two didn't yo? Lol. Thanks again for your support guys. Survivor updates tomorrow. Up next, Randy's trip to Boston and the reactions of Jeff Hardy, Maria and an interlude…with the Game.
BTW, can I just say…ORTON'S GOING DOWN! LONG LIVE THE KING OF KINGS! You messed with Steph…big mistake. THANK GOD FOR THE REVIVAL OF THE MCMAHON-HELMSLEY ERA! RAW JUST GOT KICK ASS!