A/N: First of all , WOW, on Chris Harris and Gail Kim getting together and second I hope everything goes okay with Storm ' s surgery .
Disclaimer : I do not own Fortune , Traci Brooks , Chris Harris , the X - Division , the Motorcity Machine Guns or any other TNA wrestler . I do own Autumn Wilder , the nickname Dark Angel for Autumn , the name of Autumn ' s wrestling moves , and the story . I do not own Bret Hart who will be making an appearance in this story .
Chapter 39 : Unknown Fate
Early Next Morning - Local Diner
Early the following morning the whole group going against Immortal met at the local diner , all of Fortune were there , the X-Division Army was there , Petey and Eric , Autumn , Traci , Jacqueline , Kurt and Chyna , Sting , Bret , Scott D' Amore , Wildcat now joined by Gail Kim , Christian Cage , Raven , Rhyno , Devon Dudley , and surprisingly Jeff Hardy even showed up for the occasion . Autumn and Gail were currently looking at Roode and Harris because both of them had been very quiet since talking with the Cowboy the previous night , so , the girls felt like they knew what was going on when everyone else didn ' t .
" It ' s too early for wrestlers to be getting up . " Daniels yawned .
" No kidding , " Kazarian said sleepy .
" I didn ' t even get half way through my dream . " Traci said .
Amazing Red and Petey Williams both had their heads down on the table and their eyes closed trying to get a few more minutes of sleep .
Autumn on the other hand was looking at Roode and Harris who looked depressed and worried about whatever the meeting was about , she could also see Cowboy trying to form words to say what was going on .
The next moment Cowboy whistled loud enough to wake up Red and Petey and to get the others alert , everyone looked at him .
" Storm , " Petey looked at him .
" Quiet , Petey , let Storm say what he has too . " Harris stopping everyone from making a fuss before Storm told them his news .
" What ' s up ? " Gail looked at Chris and then James .
" I ' m heading back to Tennessee today after breakfast . " Storm said making them look at him especially AJ , Daniels , and Kazarian .
" What ?! " The X-Division Army looked at him shocked .
" You are bailing on us before Immortal is terminiated ? " Chyna asked .
But , the ones who had known Storm for years knew that wasn ' t the truth , the Cowboy was more loyal to TNA than most people understood . Being apart of the very first days and early years of TNA was a big deal to him , he had help build the tag team division and the foundation that still stood in TNA , so , he wouldn ' t just abandon Impact Wrestling or his family in the locker room .
" Storm wouldn ' t leave with TNA being threatened without a good reason . " AJ said looking at the Cowboy .
" Then why is he leaving ? " Generation Me asked .
" Cowboy , what ' s going on ? " Autumn looking at him realizing he was upset .
" First of all , before anybody else starts shooting off at the mouth who doesn ' t know me , know one thing I would never ever abandon my brothers and sisters in Impact Wrestling . And I would never ever let TNA fall to guys like Bischoff and Flair , TNA is my home and has been since the very first Impact show and if you want proof ask anyone who is sitting here who was there the first day . Ask AJ , Harris , and Daniels they were there or ask one of the other that were there in the early years of TNA like Roode , Eric , Petey , Kazarian , Sabin , Scott , Traci , Gail , or Raven , ask anybody who really knows me and you will realize that I will make sure that TNA exists for years to come , so don ' t question my loyalty to this company . " Storm glared at Chyna especially .
" Storm , " Roode and Harris looked at him knowing how he felt .
" We know , " AJ , Daniels , and Kazarian said .
" We also know that you would come to one of our aid if we needed you to be there without question Storm . " Petey said .
" Exactly , " Eric , Jackie , and Gail said .
" Motorcity Machine Guns wouldn ' t exist without you and Harris building the tag team division or without you and Bobby giving us all of those great matches we had against each other including the Best of Five Series . " Sabin said .
" Best days of my career for sure . " Shelley agreed .
" Come on big brother , forget about the doubters and tell us what you need to . " Autumn said making Storm look at her and smile .
" You ' re right Autumn , the reason I am leaving is not because I want to , its because I have to at the moment and hopefully its not anything serious and won ' t take to long . If everything goes according to plan it maybe three weeks max before I am able to get back in the ring , so , its up to you to deal with Immortal until then . But , I am having exploratory surgery next week which is pulling me from TNA for a little while . " Storm said .
Roode and Harris looked at each taking a deep breath and hoping Storm ' s surgery wouldn ' t turn up something seriously wrong .
" I take it , Bobby and Wildcat already knew about it ? " Gail looking at the two .
" Yeah , I told them last night , as my tag partners and the ones who have been on the road and by my side the most in TNA I felt they needed to know first . So , I apologise first of all to AJ , Daniels , and Kaz from keeping this from you until today , guys . " Storm said looking at the other three members of Fortune .
" We understand , " AJ , Daniels , and Kazarian said .
" You three have always been my friends and brothers even before Fortune began we shared the bond of family behind the scenes , but its been great having this ride with you guys as a whole team for everyone else to witness the brotherhood between you guys and Beer Money . " Storm said .
" Agreed , " AJ , Daniels , and Kazarian looking at the Cowboy .
" Gail , Jackie , you two were my managers at two different points in my career both of which I am very fond of and trust me when I tell you I haven ' t worked with two ladies tougher than both of you . " James looked at the girls .
" Would do it again if I had to , Storm . " Jackie said .
" Just remember Cowboy , they ' re three members of AMW not just two . " Gail said to him making Storm and Harris both chuckle .
" Yeah , and Gail do me a favor and take care of the big Wildcat there while I ' m gone and even though he doesn ' t admit it he needs a lot of TLC . " Storm said .
" Tables , Ladders , and Chairs ? " Devon , Jeff , and Christian asked confused as to why Harris needed a very dangerous match in his life .
" No , you three , I was referring to tender , love , and care ? " James shook his head at the three .
" Oh , I was about to say if you need him put through a table , I would only be to happy to oblige you Cowboy . " Devon said .
" Of course you would Devon , " Harris said .
" Don ' t worry Storm , I will take care of the Wildcat and anyone else who wants to hurt him . " Gail glared at Devon making him shiver .
" Autumn , you are one hell of Knockouts Champion and one hell of a wrestler who takes a lot of risks that some of the guys wouldn ' t take , but at that same time you have shown that you are not willing to back down from anyone to prove a point or to make sure those you care about are happy and safe . You also have a great and forgiving heart that most people don ' t have , they ' re some who would do well to learn from you and what do for others . Dark Angel don ' t let anyone tell you that a path you truly believe in isn ' t the right one for you and don ' t let people discourage you or doubt you either . Also , take of Bobby , he truly loves and cares about you like no one else , little sis . " Storm said .
" Thanks Cowboy and I will make sure the Enforcer is well taken care of brother , " Autumn said .
" Harris , my longtime friend , brother , partner , we ' ve been through so much together haven ' t we ? " Storm looked at the Wildcat .
" Most definitely , " Chris said .
" And you know me better than anyone ? " James questioned .
" Just as well as you know me , Storm . " Harris agreed .
" Then listen to what I have to say , bro . " Storm looking him in the eye .
" I ' m all ears , " Chris said as their eyes met .
" Don ' t let all of the bullshit you went through in WWE cloud your mind anymore , because they don ' t know who you really or what you are really capable of bro . You are possible one of the best wrestlers I have ever stood in ring with both as partners and opponents , we spent years before on the independent circuit as rivals before TNA even began and I knew what you could as a wrestler before we became partners bro . Then as we both walked into TNA being put together as AMW by the second pay-per-view of TNA we agreed to making it work between and becoming one of the best tag teams in TNA and look at where our hardwork did for Impact . There ' s a strong foundation not just in TNA , but in TNA ' s tag team division that we helped put on the map and gave others the opportunity to do what we did the first years of TNA which is prove that tag team wrestling is not a lost art , but one that still flourishes in wrestling . I was also so there when Curt Henning and Dusty Rhoded looked you in the eye and said you were one of the best to compete and would become one of the premier athletes in the wrestling world and I believed them now as much as I did then . I don ' t care what everyone says about you and says about how you turned your back on TNA , because its a bunch of bull , you were used without realizing it and suckered into something because people lead you on to believe that it was the only way to get back what you lost to those clowns in the other company . So , forget about what they say and do what you know in your heart and head to be true and right , Wildcat . " James telling Wildcat what he needed to hear .
" I hear you , Cowboy , " Harris said tears were actually coming down his face .
" Roode , " Storm said .
" Yes , Storm ? " Roode asked .
" Dude , how much fun have we had as Beer Money ? " James asked .
" So much that it spreads all across the United States , Canada , Mexico , Europe , Japan , and even down in the Caribbean Islands . " Bobby laughed .
" Yeah , that ' s true and now I get to see you happier than I have ever saw you before . You have become a great wrestlers and you are now beginning to build a family and you have already shown how much you care about that family in the way you take care of Autumn . I am happy for you and proud of you as my Beer Money partner , as my brother , and as my friend , keep up what you are doing and you will truly reach what you ' ve dreamt of for so long . " Storm said .
" Thanks James , just promise me that you will let us know the outcome of the surgery bro . " Roode said now also in tears just like Harris .
Storm stood up and walked to where Roode and Harris were at , he hugged both of them and whispered in their ears .
" I love you my brothers . " Storm said making both of them crying harder .
Gail and Autumn looked at each other and then looked at their boys knowing they would have to take care of them while Storm was gone .
" To the rest of you , continue to help Sting , Fortune , and anyone else who stands against Immortal deal with Bischoff , Hogan , and Flair until I can return . If the worst should happen Sting will be the first to know as I known none of us wants the World Heavyweight Championship falling into the wrong hands . So , with that said Sting expect a call from me next week after the surgery as well . " James looked at the Icon .
" Sure Cowboy , " Sting said .
" But , if all goes okay , like I said earlier I should be back in three weeks before Slammiversary . " Storm said .
" We will all pull double duty until you get back , Cowboy . " AJ said .
" Immortal won ' t have a chance to pull any stunts until you return . " Kazarian said .
" We will make sure the Hogan , Bischoff , and Flair situation is dealt with while you are gone . " Daniels agreed .
" Storm , rest assured that we will hold down the fort . " Roode said .
" Good , " James said .
Then all of them finished their breakfast and one by one they said their goodbyes to the Cowboy wishing him luck and hoping he would be back in three weeks as Impact wouldn ' t be the same without James Storm . Then the Cowboy headed to Tennessee where an unknown fate possibly awaited him as the others went back to their homes wondering if the following week would bring good news or bad for all of them .