Chapter 96:
Following the match, Haley and Dave returned backstage to chaos as the roadies and technicians readied for the match scheduled after Batista vs. Randy Orton. Kelly Kelly, Maria, Michelle McCool and Candice Michelle called out congratulations to the couple while they waited to make their entrances for the eight Diva Santa's Little Helper Tag Team matched that was on next. Haley waved to her friends, wishing them luck before following Dave away from the Gorilla position.
As they neared his locker room, the only sound in the hallway became the click of her heels on concrete floors. The tension eased out of Dave's muscles as he pushed open the door and held it for Haley to enter first. The Animal was exhausted, but satisfied and the only thing he wanted was a moment alone with his girlfriend following a hard won victory.
Haley sighed in contentment, dropping down onto the leather couch and closing her eyes in relief. "Man, it was so touch and go out there, my nerves have never been wound so tight. I'm so glad you pulled it out. So, so glad."
"You and me both, I know you were worried I wouldn't when things looked bad for me out there. I'm glad you didn't give up on me." Dave told her, reaching for his gym bag at the base of the couch.
"Never." She opened her eyes and smiled at him. "I always have faith in you."
"I know. It means everything to me that you do." He leaned down and kissed her lightly. "I'm going to shower and change, then we can get out of her."
"Take your time." She assured him, smiling sleepily at him. "I'm going to power nap while you're in there. I didn't even wrestle and that match drained me."
"You were a Champ out there." He chuckled, straightened. "Go ahead and nap, I'll wake you when I'm set to get out of here."
"Sounds good. Love you."
"I love you too." He said, entering the bathroom. He kept the door partially open in case Haley needed him and turned the spray on as hot as he could stand. His neck and shoulder were killing him from the match, but it had been well worth it.
He had proved he was the better man tonight, not just in the ring, though that had been fairly satisfying, but once again, Haley had chosen him over the Viper in a very deft manner. If he had been having any doubts about proposing to Haley, they were well thwarted at this point. There would never be another woman like her and he knew there was no one out there better for him.
He stripped himself of his pads, his boots and his trunks before stepping into the shower. He just stood under the water for a minute, letting it pound out the aches and fatigue in his muscles. After another moment, he reached for the soap and began to wash away the sweat and ring dust.
In his head, he began to make plans for tomorrow. Initially he was going to make an elaborate display for his proposal to Haley, but after tonight he had changed his mind. He knew what he wanted to do and how he wanted to do it. If luck was on his side he could get it done before Raw aired tomorrow night. He'd have a busy morning ahead of him, but if he could pull it all off it would be well worth it. He would just need Hunter to keep Haley occupied for the morning so he could get it done.
Meanwhile…
"Randy? Randy, are you okay?" The voice of Cody Rhodes was the first thing to break though the blackness he had disappeared into after the Batista Bomb.
He slowly opened his eyes, trying to ignore the pain surging through his limbs. His head and neck in particular were throbbing. He reached up to massage his temples, trying to piece together what had happened to cause him to black out.
Then he remembered.
"Randy, you awake?" Again, the sound of Cody Rhode's lisp made him aware that he was not alone and he looked over to see the son of Dusty Rhodes staring down at him in concern.
"Think he's concussed?" Manu asked the former Tag Team Champion.
"I'm not concussed you idiot." Randy muttered. "I've got a headache."
"Well, if my head hit the canvas as hard as yours did I would have a concussion." Manu said uncomfortably. "Reason for the headache too."
"You're in the trainer's room, Randy." Cody informed him. "You were really out of it after the match."
"Fucking Dave…" Randy groaned.
Cody exchanged an uneasy look with Manu before looking back down at Randy. "Do you want some aspirin or something?"
"I told you I have a headache, Rhodes, what do you think the answer to that stupid question is?" Randy wanted to smack him. No, choke him, yes choke the life out of him, then find Haley and make her pay for costing him the match, the ungrateful bitch. After everything he had done for her, she chose that piece of garbage Batista again, and helped him win tonight.
"Get him some aspirin!" Cody shoved Manu in the direction of the medicine cabinet where several trainers were processing reports. Manu shuffled to do as Cody ordered.
"Where's Haley?" Randy asked.
"She went backstage with Batista. I don't know if they've left the arena yet, I came here when they brought you back." Cody told him. "Do you want us to jump him or something? 'Cause Haley pissed me off out there and I'd have no problem attacking her boyfriend to pay her back."
"No, you'll leave it alone for tonight." Randy told him firmly. "You won't touch him or her, especially not her."
"Randy, you can't seriously want to protect that bitch?" Cody asked him incredulously. "Not after everything you've done for her and how she screwed you not just at Survivor Series, but tonight as well?"
"You will not lay a hand on her, Cody." Randy sat up, getting his bearings. "She is off limits…to you. I will deal with Haley in my own time, in my own way."
Understanding dawned in Cody's eyes.
"Make no mistake, she will pay," Orton said coldly. "She will pay dearly."
Later that night…
"I'm really sorry Hunter didn't regain his title tonight," Haley admitted, leaning into Dave's shoulder as he drove them back to the hotel. "But I'm really, really happy that Jeff Hardy won tonight. He deserves to be World Champion."
Dave chuckled. "I'll keep your secret from Hunter. I can't help but agree with you. That kid has had a hell of mountain to climb to get to the top. He deserves his moment and his title reign."
"I've watched him, admired him long before I knew him." She nodded. "I saw his debut and watched him become a fan favorite. I saw him struggle and was pained for his release from the company. I was surprised and proud when he got back in the ring in TNA and of course elated when he came home to WWE. Then I arrived and I got know the man behind the enigma. He became my friend. I can't help but be happy for him and proud of his accomplishment."
"That's because you're a good friend. I don't think Hunter would even hold it against you to be honest. He's probably proud of Jeff himself. He pushed Jeff to be his absolute best of the past couple months. In a way he prepared Jeff for his first title reign, the way he prepared you and me."
"Triple H, molding the Champions of today, for a better tomorrow." Haley joked.
"Smartass." Dave chuckled. "Go say that to his face, I dare you."
"Do I look stupid?" Haley giggled. "You know just as well as I do how intense that man's ego can get. He's still at the top of this business. I'm not going to poke holes in his ego by pointing out that he is getting older."
"Smart woman." Dave stopped at a red light and kissed the top of her head. "Knew there were reasons I was so madly in love with you, besides you being hot and all."
She laughed at that. "Thanks, you're pretty darn sexy yourself."
"That's what my fan girls tell me. They're always asking if I'm an Animal in the bedroom as well as inside the ring?" He teased, glancing sideways at her. "I tell them to ask you."
"I'd knock 'em out if they did." She shook her head in amusement. "That's for me to know and them to wonder about."
"Look at my girl, being all possessive and secretive about her man." Dave chuckled.
"Damn straight." Haley nodded. "I don't even tell Candice that much about our sex life and I tell her pretty much everything. That stuff is between you and me."
"I couldn't agree more, Baby." The light turned green and he stepped on the gas. "We're almost there. I know how tired you are, you can sleep soon."
"You're more tired than I am." Haley pointed out. "You had the match tonight. But you're right I cannot wait to change into my pajamas and crash on that nice big bed."
"You and me both, Sweetheart, you and me both."