Like Old Times
Columbus, Ohio
11/1/04
Shawn, Paul, Vince, Shane and Christian were standing in one of the side hallways to the arena. The hallway was dubbed the 'McMahon' hallway, for it was that spot the McMahon's met before or during a show to review everything to make sure everything ran according to plan. "So let me get this straight..," Shane whirled around to glare at Vince. "Dad… If you ask Jay about that scenario ONE MORE time, I'm going to hurt you! How many times do you need him to explain everything? I'm sick and tired of hearing the same thing over and over again. It's driving me insane." Shane shouted. Vince half-pouted at his son. "I just want to make sure I have the story straight…"
The look on Shane's face was enough to say he didn't care. "Damn, Vin Man. If looks could kill, you'd be deader than dead right now. I haven't seen that kind of look from Shane-O in years," Paul stated and patted his brother in law on the back. "Ooooosa, Shane. Ooooosa. I understand you're sick of hearing the damn story. But you know how your old man is. He forgets everything as fast as he learns it… Because it's just that… He's old." Shane glared at Paul, so he slowly backed away from the younger man. "I'm relatively sick of hearing it, so I really don't care. If you're going to continue to ask to hear the same damn thing over and over, tell me and I'll find somewhere else to hang out."
"That's not really a good idea, Shane. You know what Travis is capable of. I don't want to risk you getting hurt again thanks to him. He'll try anything at this point," Christian explained to Shane and put a hand on his shoulder. "I don't trust him." Shane sighed and rubbed his head. "I know you don't trust him. I understand why you don't trust him. I'm just sick of hearing about it. I'm gonna go walk around a little," Shane went to walk away, but realized Christian's grip on his shoulder hadn't loosened. He turned to face him again. "I suggest you let me go." Christian looked at Vince, who nodded his head yes, so he sighed and let Shane go.
Shane turned to glare at Vince with an irritated look on his face, then spun on his heels and left. "Ok, now I think we should start talking some strategy… We can take Tyson down… And we're going to do it," Paul started. He looked over at Christian. "Is there any way he would believe that you're still on his side? I mean… Even though you hit him over the head last week?" He asked. Christian shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Maybe… I mean, if I'm lucky…"
"Good. Try talking to him tonight to see if you can get him to believe you did it on purpose so you could get close to us to see what we were thinking and planning on doing. Convince him that you're acting as an insider and give him bogus tips to go by… That should buy us some time." Paul stated. Shawn nodded his head. "I'll put in a few calls to my brothers to see if they can get anything going. They should be able to get some guys to grab your wife and get her away from Tyson. And your parents, if necessary," Shawn noticed a look of doubt on Christian's face. He put a concerned hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. We'll get them out of this."
Shane walked down the hall towards the cafeteria. He had to admit, after everything that happened he was never afraid of walking around by himself. He had been roaming arenas since he was old enough to walk and talk. The concern on the face of Jay "Christian" Reso was just about as real as Shawn's medical condition. He sighed and wondered how things got so bad between everyone. Christian used to be really close to the two members of D-Generation X. It was a little weird that he allowed himself to be easily swayed by a man like Travis "Tyson" Tomko. Sure, Christian gave them the story about Tyson threatening the lives of his wife and parents, but something didn't feel right. And that feeling made Shane uneasy about trusting Christian all of a sudden. It didn't make sense. And he knew nobody would listen to him.
A strong hand grabbed hold of his shoulder, making him whirl around to face the person. He received a fist to the eye. The same hand covered his mouth and dragged him into a locker room. "What did he tell you," Tyson's booming voice shouted. Shane put a hand to his eye and winced away the pain. "What the hell are you talking about," He asked. Tyson growled and backhanded Shane across the face. "You know damn well what I'm talking about, McMahon. Don't screw with me. Tell me what Reso told you!" Tyson shouted back. Shane moved his hand from his rapidly swelling eye to his now bleeding nose. "He said you're an asshole. That just about sums it up."
Whack! The force of the backhand was enough to send Shane to the floor. "You think you're cute and smug, McMahon. But in this room, you're not as cocky as you think you are. You're just as pathetic as Reso's wife. Wanna know why, Shane? Because you don't have the balls to hit me back. You know I'll beat you to death. Not even your father will be able to recognize you," Tyson watched as Shane glared up at him from the floor. "Now… You're going to tell me what I want to know," Tyson bent down and pulled a pocket knife from his back pocket. He opened it and put the blade to Shane's throat. "Or you're a dead man… Got it," He asked. Shane spit blood on Tyson's face. "Fuck off, Tomko. I'm not as stupid as everyone likes to think I am." Shane retorted. Tyson smirked as he wiped the blood from his face. "Prove it."
Shane stared at him for several moments. "I would. But you're taking the easy way out by pointing a knife at my throat," Tyson looked down at the blade and chuckled. He put it back in his pocket. "Anything else, Prince Mishkin," He asked sarcastically. Shane glared at him. "I want to know who else is involved in this. I know it's not just you and Jay. This goes high up. Maybe as high as…" Shane's voice trailed off when he came to a sickening realization. There's only one person who could have a hand in this… It's the same person that agrees to accommodate every single person he knows… The same person that makes his enemies suffer for not choosing his side… And that person is Vincent Kennedy McMahon… His eyes widened as he looked from the floor back to Tyson, who smirked. "Your dad?"
"Oh shit," Shane whispered. "Who else do you think had the power to give the green light for Jacobs to tombstone Shawn onto the steel steps? Who could possibly give the green light for two wrestlers to continually pound on an already severely concussed wrestler's skull with hopes that it'll make him step down? Think about it, Shane. Who has the power to give the thumbs up to pretty much attempting to kill a wrestler? How do you think we were able to find everything out? Where he was staying and at what times he would be there? And who would give the go ahead to pounding the shit out of both his son and son in law?" Tyson smirked. Shane's eyes once again widened. "Oh my God…"
"Oh, Shane. It's ok that you didn't figure it out for yourself… Everyone knows you're not smart enough," Tomko watched as Shane went to stand up, but grabbed a hold of his face and pushed it together. "Where do you think you're going, kid? You're not leaving this room… Not unless the boss says so." Shane once again narrowed his eyes angrily. He wrapped his hands around Tyson's throat and pushed himself forward, knocking Tyson flat on his back on the floor. Tyson moved his hands from Shane's face to his throat to try and get him off, but soon lost the strength to continue fighting back. He never really realized how strong of a grip Shane had. Once Tyson blacked out, Shane stood up and stumbled out of the room.
Once Shane turned around, he crashed head first into the chest of Dave Batista. "Whoa! Have a little too much to drink, Shane-O," Dave joked around. Shane looked up at him, making his smile fade. "Holy shit, what the hell happened?" He asked. "Tyson Tomko is what happened," Shane gestured towards the room he just came from. "He's in there. I need you and Orton to take care of him… I need to get back to Paul and Shawn." Dave nodded his head and walked into the room, allowing Shane the chance to run back the way he came.
"So it's decided… You're gonna go to Tomko before the show and apologize and whatnot. Pour your damn heart out. Get him to forgive you… That way you can still be privy to certain information… Then you can come back and tell us. Make sure to find out everything from where your wife lives to his friends and his family. We need to know everything." Paul stated. Christian sighed. "I don't think it's going to work… You guys don't know him like I do." He replied. "Exactly, that's why it's most likely going to work… You need to get on top of this as soon as possible. Act so pathetic that he won't be able to say no." Shawn stated. Vince chuckled. "What makes you guys think this is going to work?" He asked.
Paul glared at his father in law. "Well… It has to. Christian is the only one Tomko trusts enough to associate himself with. Cause he knows a lot of the guys won't cross the boss." Paul turned around just as Shane made it back over to the group. "HOLY SHIT," Shawn shouted when he laid his eyes on the younger McMahon. "Are you alright?" He asked. Shane nodded his head and gently pushed passed Shawn and Paul. "Shane! What on Earth happened to you? Are you…" Vince was cut off by a fist to the mouth which sent him to the floor. Paul and Shawn grabbed a hold of Shane and pulled him back. "You're fucking dead to me, do you hear that?! I'm never going to forgive you for what you've done! And so help me God, I'm going to make sure this goes back to bite you in the ass!" Shane shouted as he struggled against the members of D-X. Christian knelt down to check on Vince. "What is he talking about?" He asked.
"I wish I knew," Vince replied as he sat up and put a hand to his jaw. "You know damn well what I'm talking about. I just had a run in with Tomko and he told me some things I wish I never found out," Shawn and Paul looked at one another, then slowly let Shane go and turned to look at him. "What are you talking about, Shane-O?" Paul asked. "You wouldn't believe me if I tried to explain it, now would you?! All I'm telling you is that that man," Shane pointed at Vince. "Can't, nor should he, be trusted!" Shane shouted. "What are you talking about? You're just confused, Shane… Why don't you let the trainer look you over to make sure you're alright?" Vince asked.
"Shut up. I don't need your sympathy. What I need is for you to tell the truth. Don't make me blow your damn cover. Tell Shawn and Paul all about your involvement in this situation," Shane demanded. Vince smirked and stood up. "Oh Shane… So you're going to play it like this, huh? Ok… I guess I'll play along," Vince glared at his son, making Paul and Shawn gently push Shane behind them. "What is he talking about?" Paul calmly asked. "Say it." Shane once again demanded. "Alright, I confess. Tomko is working for me, in more ways than one. And right now, that's all any of you deserve to hear," Vince looked at Shane. "You are definitely no longer what I consider my family. I will never ever forgive your mother for giving birth to you. Fucking little bastard." He growled through gritted teeth and stormed off.
Christian stood up and looked back at Shane, making Paul and Shawn turn to look at him as well. "I think you have some explaining to do, kiddo," Shawn stated. Shane narrowed his eyes angrily and turned to look at Shawn. "Alright. What do you want to know now," He asked. Shawn shrugged his shoulders. "You obviously know something we don't. Spill it." Shane ran a hand through his hair. "I ran into Tomko before. He said my dad was the one in charge of everything that's been going on. This whole thing is his fault – apparently he gave Jacobs the green light to Tombstone Shawn onto the steel stairs at Unforgiven a few months back. He's known what's been going on since the beginning… And he's been lying to us about it since day one."
Paul and Shawn looked at one another in shock. "Are you serious, Shane," Paul asked, making the young McMahon narrow his eyes at him again. "Would I seriously have come over here and blew up at my father if I wasn't serious!? I can't believe he would do such a thing to Shawn, after all he gave up for my father over the years…" Shane's voice trailed off as his eyes settled on the wall. Christian felt extremely out of place, so he put a strong, assuring hand on Shane's shoulder. Paul turned to face Shawn again. "What are we gonna do, man? Vince is the friggin boss. We can't cross him for long and continue to do what we do. I seriously can't believe he's behind everything… Man, he fucked us over good." Paul stated. Shawn put a hand to his chin and began tapping absentmindedly. "Vince started this whole thing by allowing Glenn to Tombstone me… He brings back D-X to boost ratings… But he has Tomko and Jay attempt to destroy us every chance he gets. I don't understand why he did everything in the first place, unless he's trying to get me to retire."
Shane and Paul made eye contact at the realization that Shawn probably figured out the thing Vince wanted most.
A/N: Bet you didn't see that one coming, eh?! It's the first time I've ever had Vince as the main heel in a fanfiction I posted on this website. I'm quite proud of myself for writing it.