Stephanie leaned against the wall of her and Hunter�s locker room in a pair of pleather pants and a white sleeveless sweater. She was watching him do jumping jacks for his match later tonight at Survivor Series. She was trying to concentrate on him but she couldn�t. Chris never showed up for Smackdown and there was an ultimatum on the line. He was to show up, as a member of the Alliance at Survivor series in a title match for the WWF championship belt or else it would be forfeited over to Stone Cold Steve Austin. They had no faith that Chris could beat The Rock on his own and with Stephanie aligned with her husband they knew that she wouldn�t help him.
They were wrong.
�Why aren�t you wearing my hat?� Hunter asked as he stopped doing jumping jacks. �I asked you to wear it to support my return to the ring tonight.�
�Because I don�t support it.� Stephanie said. �I�m going to be there at ring side but you and I both know that it�s too soon to get back in the ring especially when you�re fighting the Undertaker. That should�ve been Steve�s match.�
�Well Steve wanted to fight R.V.D. to show that bastard who runs the show.�
�Yes, me!� Stephanie said. �Shane and I run the Alliance and the two of you are getting it into your��
Stephanie felt herself being pressed against the wall by Hunter�s massive body. �I thought everything was fifty-fifty with us?�
�It is.�
�Then I am also running the Alliance and I think that R.V.D. needs to be taught a lesson.� He said moving away from her and picking up a leather cap. �Wear it.� He said before heading into the bathroom.
�I hate leather.� She muttered.
�What was that?� He asked popping his head out of the door.
�You killed a cow for this.� Stephanie said.
�Fine, tomorrow night, I�ll get a pleather one just for you.� He then slammed the door behind him.
Stephanie was pacing in their dressing room, waiting for the shower to turn on after Hunter�s match. He was limping a little and she knew his thigh was hurting him. The Undertaker made sure that he concentrated on that during the match but Hunter didn�t give up. He gave him the Pedigree and won the match but he limped back to the locker room, telling Stephanie he was alright. He wasn�t alright but she kept that to herself, hoping he got the lesson that he deserved.
She sighed gratefully when she heard the water running and slipped out the door, heading down the back hallway and towards the locker room of the other wrestlers. The Hardy�s fought and kept their belts tonight as well as Lita. She wanted to congratulate them but mostly she wanted to know if they heard from Chris. She knocked on the door quietly and quickly and a rainbow hair Jeff opened it.
She smiled and walked in. �I like the new dye job.�
�Thank you.� Jeff said glaring at his brother. �Someone does.�
�I didn�t say I didn�t like it.� Matt said. �I said your hair was going to fall out if you kept putting that shit in it.�
Stephanie laughed softly as Lita approached her. �Don�t mind them, what�s up?�
�I came to congratulate you guys on your wins tonight. I�m glad that you were able to keep your belts.�
�And she wants to know how Chris is.� Jeff smiled as he slid his arm around her shoulders. �We haven�t heard a word from him Steph.�
Stephanie frowned. �I�m getting worried.� She said quietly. �This isn�t like him. I know that I don�t know him that well but��
�You know him like we do.� Matt said softly. �And we�re just as worried. We�re going to get in contact with Chris Benoit tonight see if he�s heard anything from��
Stephanie gasped as The Rock�s music started to play and he made his way down the ring. �He�s due here. He�s going to lose his belt. He probably isn�t even watching this. This isn�t fair!�
�I know.� Lita said. �But Chris can easily win the title back. He�ll show up at Raw and ask for a title��
She stopped when she heard the countdown for Chris� music. They all turned to face the television and sure enough after a small explosion Chris Jericho stood at the top of the ramp with his belt proudly around his waist.
�He came.� Matt said.
�And he�ll win.� Stephanie said as she sat down on the bench. �You don�t mind if I stay and watch do you?�
�Nope, get comfortable.� Jeff smiled as he tuned in.
Chris turned to face the crowd as he always did before a match. His energy was all focused on The Rock and the battle to keep his belt. This was a rematch of No Mercy, one that should�ve happened long ago but he was so preoccupied with Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley that he didn�t think about offering one. Now, he was going to win the title, all on his own, because no one was in his corner.
He should�ve been proud of that, but he wasn�t.
He heard the bell and the match began. The Rock came at him with fist after fist and Chris took it, letting The Rock use all his energy on him. He wasn�t up for much of a fight anyway. He was still depressed and his heart was elsewhere. Somewhere in the back he mused, probably in Hunter�s dressing room.
Forcing himself to concentrate he barely got his arm up in time before The Rock got the three count. He decided that he should at least look like he was fighting for the belt. He did a Springboard drop kick, landing them both outside the ring with The Rock getting up and walking him towards the stairs. Chris elbowed him in his gut and then tossed him in the ring. This match was going to be fair.
He climbed up on the ropes and dove down on top of The Rock�s body. Lifting his leg he heard the one, two, and then a kick out from The Rock.
With sweat pouring down from his face Chris got up on his feet and continued the match.
�Lita, tell her to stop that.� Matt said as he reached over and took some popcorn out of Jeff�s bowl.
�Get your own!� Jeff said as he slapped Matt�s hand on the way out of the bowl.
�Shut up.� Matt scowled as they two intently watched the match on the screen. Chris was good at holding his own but The Rock was getting a good lead on him and they were beginning to doubt their friend�s ability to keep the belt.
�I can�t watch.� Stephanie said running her fingers through her crimped hair.
�You aren�t, you�re pacing, and you�re making me sick.�
�Shut up.� Lita said. �Ignore them. Chris will be ok. Rock�s careful with his opponents.�
�Not with Chris.� Stephanie said. �I helped Chris take the belt from him. I should be out there.� She said making a move for the door.
�No.� Lita said grabbing her arm. �No, that will cause trouble for both you and Chris.�
�But��
�Stephanie.� Matt said turning around. �Why don�t you sit down and watch the match? It�ll show you that Chris is capable of doing this.� He wasn�t so sure of it himself but anything to get this girl calm down.
�Uh, go for a walk.� Jeff suggested. �Lita, air will help.�
�What�s going on?� Stephanie asked as she walked over to the television and saw Stone Cold emerge from the crowd. �No.� She whispered.
Chris stood up and shook the cobwebs from his head. He just had to get back into this match. If he could just get The Rock down and give him the Lionsault or even the Walls of Jericho. That, he would go for that. He stumbled over towards him and stopped when he saw the figure jump into the ring, chair in hand. He backed away and was ready to duck when he realized that the chair wasn�t meant for him. Stone Cold nailed The Rock in the back of the head with a chair. Once he fell down he hit him again in the ribs, and again, and again.
Chris looked up when the referee called for the bell and he had won the match due to a disqualification. He wanted to win this on his own but once again he was screwed because of interference from the Alliance. He saw Steve still going after The Rock with the chair. This time the shots were directed at his head and Rock�s face was busted open pretty badly. He was ready to interfere and stop him when he was nailed in the stomach with a chair.
He fell to the ground gasping for air and saw Hunter standing over him.
�Stay the hell out of my way Jericho.� He said as he moved over to The Rock and helped Stone Cold with the beating.
�They went after Chris.� Stephanie said.
�Stephanie, you can�t go out there.� Lita said moving to stop her.
�Watch me.� Stephanie said defiantly and ran out of the room and down the hall.
�You two couldn�t help me?� Lita asked. �I�m going after her.�
�No.� Matt said jumping up and taking her arm. �It�s ok if you want to help Stephanie and Chris. It�s fine that you want to play matchmaker but you aren�t getting involved in things where Hunter is concerned. He will break you.�
�So it�s ok to let him break her? Or Chris?� Lita said. �You still don�t trust him do you?�
�Lita�� Matt sighed.
She pulled away from him and grabbed her stuff. �I�ll be in the car.�
�We are waiting for some type of referee�s out here.� Jim said. �We need help for the carnage in the ring. Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H are repeatedly beating at The Rock, looking to put him out of action. What is�it looks like Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley is on her way down here. She�s heading right for the ring!�
Stephanie slid in the ring and went right to Chris, bending over him. �Where does it hurt?�
�What the hell are you doing out here?� Chris groaned. �Hunter will kill you.�
�You�re ribs?� She asked pulling his arms away from his body and touching them. When he cried out she knew she found the spot. �I got the paramedics. They�re on their way.�
�Rock��
�I know.� Stephanie said and stood up. �Hunter!�
Hunter turned around with a bloody chair in his hand. �What are you doing?�
�Stop it.� Stephanie said grabbing the chair and throwing it across the ring. �You�ve done enough damage. Let the paramedics do their job now.�
�Whose side are you on?� Hunter asked advancing towards her.
�Yours.� Stephanie said. �But you�re going to kill him. Steve!�
Stone Cold tossed the chair aside and laid down on his stomach, screaming into The Rock�s bloody ear about who was the champ.
�You should�ve stayed in the back.� Hunter said grabbing her arm. �Do you know how dangerous this is?�
�You�re about to learn how dangerous I can be if you don�t let go of her.� Chris said quietly as he stood up holding his injured ribs. �You might have Stone Cold on your side but no one will be able to hold me back, Game, if you really piss me off.�
A cold look appeared in Hunter�s eye and he moved closer to Chris. �You want to start something with me you piece of�.�
�No!� Stephanie screamed standing in front of Chris. She took the chair in his hand and threw it out of the ring. �We are going to the hospital. I will meet you at the hotel, Hunter.�
�Stephanie�� Hunter said in a warning voice.
�I will meet you at the hotel.� Stephanie said. �And leave Rocky alone.�
She practically pushed Chris out of the ring and then slid out after him, with her arm around his shoulder she helped him up the ramp.
