Chapter 79:

"YOU KNEW?" Haley's incredulous shout echoed through her townhouse. "YOU KNEW THIS WHOLE TIME?"

John Cena, who normally stared unflinchingly in the face of his foes, grimaced at the sound. While he was just as surprised and angry as the petite Diva, he couldn't help but feel a stirring of sympathy for the man she was currently glaring at.

"Haley Baby, before you fly off the handle you need to listen to me." Dwayne Johnson held his hands up to slightly ward her off. "I did what I felt was best for you at the time?"

"How is lying to me what's best for me? How is destroying a relationship with a man I love and who loves me what's best for me?" Haley demanded. "Have you lost your mind? You might as well have been a part of their stupid plan because you knew all along and kept it from me!"

"Haley, I truly believe Randy is the man for you. I did not agree with how he went about it, but I thought he would be better for you than Dave, so I didn't say anything when he told me." Dwayne glanced at Cena for help, but the West Newbury native only stared stoically back at him.

"You lied to me!" Haley accused. "Dwayne how could you? I trust you more than I've ever trusted anyone my entire life and you lied to me! You let me be miserable. You held me when I cried over a betrayal that never actually happened. You could have fixed this long before now and you didn't!"

Dwayne closed his eyes and flinched as though she had physically struck him. Everything she said was true. He couldn't deny it.

"You know what." She shoved both hands through her hair irritably. "Just go Dwayne. I can't look at you right now."

"Haley, don't…" Dwayne looked panicked.

"No. I can't deal with your betrayal right now on top of everything else." Haley cut him off. "Just go, we'll discuss this another time."

John stood up at that point, ready to physically force Dwayne out if necessary. He could see the toll all this was taking on his former girlfriend and knew she was only seconds away from officially losing it.

Not knowing what else to do, Dwayne sighed sadly and nodded. "You know how to reach me, Haley. When you're ready I'll be here. I love you, remember that. I never meant to hurt you."

"But you did." Haley looked away from him, blinking back tears that threatened to spill.

Dwayne looked at John, his face pinched with his own internal pain. "Take care of her."

John nodded, but didn't say anything.

Resigned, Dwayne could only give Haley one last apologetic look before walking out of the house and back to his car.

The moment the front door closed, Haley collapsed against John and let her internal turmoil spill out of her in heart wrenching sobs. John could only hold her tightly against him and let her cry it all out.

The following morning…

John Cena, who had been snoring loud enough to wake the dead, was woken abruptly from where he had fallen asleep on the couch by the slamming of the front door. He jumped into a sitting position just as Hunter appeared in the entryway.

"Upstairs." His voice was scratchy with sleep. "She finally stopped crying long enough to sleep a couple hours ago." He pointed toward the staircase.

Hunter gave him a short nod and headed up the stairs two at a time. John lay back down and scrubbed a hand over his face. He hadn't gotten much sleep himself, having been up with Haley most of the night. But now that Hunter was here he knew she was in capable hands while he caught up on his rest.

Meanwhile the man known around the world as the Game slipped into Haley's bed room. He paused long enough to study her sleeping form. She was thin, thinner than she should be. And he could still see the tear stains on her face, but otherwise she didn't look too worse for wear. He had spent the last six weeks away from her and while he knew he'd missed looking out for her, he didn't realize how much until now.

He sat down on the edge of her bed and smoothed the hair out of her face. "Oh baby," He said quietly. "What have they done to you?"

She stirred underneath his touch. Her eyes began to flutter open and he waited for them to clear and focus on him before he smiled at her. "Hey Punkin."

"Hunter." She breathed, moisture building behind her eyelids again. "You're here?"

"Where else would I be? Someone hurt my girl. I've got to fix it." He chuckled softly. "You know whenever you need me I'll be here."

"Why?" She half sobbed. "Hunter I didn't believe you. You were right and I got mad at you. I should have believed you."

"When all the evidence was making it look like I was crazy?" Hunter stroked her hair again. "Haley, I'm not sure I would have believed me if I was in your shoes. I don't blame you Baby. And I'm here to fix it now, which is all that matters."

She sat up and hugged him tightly. "I missed you."

"I missed you too. It was killing me to stay away. Only thing that let me sleep at night was knowing John was looking out for you." Hunter crushed her against him.

She pulled back enough to look at him. "You asked him to, didn't you?" She said with a hint of a smile.

"Well yeah, but he went above and beyond the call of duty because he cares about you too." Hunter shrugged.

"I should have known. You never would have completely walked away from me. Maybe that's why I let him be here." Haley chuckled, surprised she was feeling better already.

"It would be impossible for me to completely abandon you." Hunter admitted with a grin. "We're going to fix this Haley, you and me."

"I believe you."

Meanwhile…

"Dave!" Candice Michelle chased after the hulking figure of the Animal through the hallway of the hotel. "Wait up a second!"

Dave stopped and turned to face the pretty brunette. "Candice? What's up?"

She smiled sheepishly at him. "I want to apologize for all my imminent threats of castration and for jumping on the 'Dave's a Douchebag' band wagon."

He let out a bark of a laugh. "Candice, you were being protective of your friend. I can't fault you for that. In fact I'm actually grateful you're so loyal to her. I knew you were looking out for her the last couple weeks."

"Still, you've always been a good guy. It should have seemed a little suspicious when suddenly you looked bad." Candice shrugged.

"I haven't always been a good guy. I've done things I'm not proud of just like anyone else. But I would never intentionally hurt Haley. I love her." He squeezed her shoulder. "Don't feel bad about loving her too."

"Well I will never doubt you or your love for her again." Candice promised. "Have you heard from Haley since the news broke? I told her to call you. That you wouldn't hold it against her."

"Of course I wouldn't. This is Orton's fault. And Eve's." Dave shook his head. "But no, she didn't call."

"I'm sure she will. John and Dwayne were at the house when she hung up with me. So she's probably dealing with them. She'll call you first chance she gets." She assured him. "She never stopped loving you Dave. She kept asking me about you when Eve turned on you and Jericho got the title back."

"Really?" Dave asked hopefully.

"Really." Candice nodded. "Now that she knows you didn't cheat on her, I'm sure she's going to run right back to you. You're her one Dave, always have been."

"Thanks Candice." He smiled at her words.

"Any time." Candice hugged him briefly. "It's good to have you back. I've got to go meet Kelly, but I'll see you later. I'll let you know if I hear from Haley before you do."

"I'd appreciate that." Dave returned her hug. "Thanks for looking out for her."

"Any time." Candice laughed, pulling back. "See you later Dave."

"See you." He waved her off. He felt lighter than he had in days. Even when she thought he betrayed her, Haley had asked after him. Now that she knew the truth it was only a matter of time before he got her back. He could feel it.

That Afternoon…

"I'm doing okay actually." Haley said reassuring Ken as she packed a suitcase full of her clothing and other travel essentials. "I'm going to Connecticut actually. I'll stay with Steph while Hunter's on the SmackDown tour and then spend some time with him when he's home."

"Well that's all right then." Ken grumbled on the other end of the line. "You can come to Wisconsin too if you want. I'm still out injured, same as you." He offered.

"Thanks I might take you up on that." Haley chuckled. "But right now, I need to spend some time with Hunter to make up for being such an uber bitch."

"Haley, trust me, this is coming from the King of Assholes, you are not a bitch. You were set up to believe what you saw. Hell I even believed it and I don't trust anyone. Orton's a dick, Eve is a hoe and you are the good girl. Don't worry about it." Ken said firmly.

"Thanks for the pep talk, Coach." She laughed. "I feel much better now."

"Don't be a sarcastic ass, that role is mine." Ken snapped, but without malice.

"Sorry didn't realize being sarcastic was a luxury only allowed to you." Haley rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.

"Well now you know, so knock it off." Ken said teasingly.

"Hales?" Hunter's voice carried up the stairs. "Cab's here!"

"That's my cue. I'll call you when I'm in Connecticut." Haley promised.

"You do that. I'll talk to you soon." He said before hanging up.

Haley pocketed her cell phone and zipped her suitcase closed. ""Coming." She called back down to Hunter and began her trek downstairs.

"Let me get that!" Hunter laughed, meeting her halfway to grab her suitcase. "You have an injured wing."

"Not that injured. I've been in physical therapy." Haley flexed her still stiff shoulder. "I'm due to make my return any day now."

"Survivor Series." Hunter smirked at her surprised look. "What? Just because Steph keeps secrets doesn't mean she keeps them from me."

"Right, Survivor Series." She laughed again. "Two more weeks and I'm back in the Game."

"That's not a lot of time to get you ready. Tell me you've been training." He frowned curiously at her.

"With John and Michelle McCool." She nodded. "Lots of practice matches with Michelle."

"That's something." He sighed. "We'll have to kick it up a notch. Cram a months worth of training into two weeks." He said before heading out the front door.

"Are you serious? You're going to kill me? I know what your training entails!" Haley chased after him. "John, lock up when you leave!"

Her answer was an extra loud snore from the living room before she closed the front door behind her.