The creaking of the door caused Chris to jump up in bed. His eyes adjusted to the darkness and he noticed Matt Hardy poke his head in, a serious look on his face. Chris turned back to the bed and noticed that Stephanie was still sleeping, her face turned away from his, but nonetheless leaning up against his body. He carefully slid out of bed and tip toed towards the door, not wanting to wake her. He closed it silently behind him and faced Matt.
He knew his friend had a lot of questions he just didn�t know if he had any of the answers to them.
�Did you wanna go get a cup of coffee?� Chris whispered.
�I could use a beer right about now.�
Chris chuckled and led the way down into the kitchen where Jeff was slumped over in a bar stool, resting against the kitchen counter.
�Why is he even up?� Chris said as he circled the younger Hardy.
�Because he wants to pretend that he�s a big man.� Matt said poking his brother in both sides with his two hands.
�Hey, what?� Jeff mumbled as he jumped up. He saw Chris and gave him a lopsided grin. �Where�d you find him Matt?�
�Guess.� Matt said as he took the beer Chris found him. �We weren�t sure if she decided to take out her anger on you and threw you out a back window or something.�
Chris rolled his eyes as he took a sip of his beer. �We just fell asleep.�
�In each others arms.� Matt said to Jeff.
�Oohh.� Jeff said.
�Did you wake me up for a reason?� Chris asked. �I thought you wanted to talk about something.�
�I did.� Matt said. �Trish went home earlier this evening. Jeff and I decided that it�s time we get you out of this mess. We need to come up with a plan.�
�I decided to get myself into this mess.� Chris said. �But I�m up for suggestions.�
�Give Austin a title shot.� Jeff said. �The WCW title. That should keep him happy.�
�Are you suggesting I lose it?�
�Or win it, fairly.� Matt said. �No DQ�s, no one at ring side, no count outs; one on one, you and Austin. If you win it then��
�Then that�ll settle the score with Steph? I don�t think so.� Chris said. �He wants blood and I gotta figure out a way too�� A thoughtful look came over his features. �Do you two have a match on Raw?�
�Yeah.� Jeff said. �Title match.�
�Even though he wants a ladder match.� Matt said.
�Well Edge got one.�
�Maybe if you go to the Alliance and leave me to be the baby face you�ll get one too.� Matt smirked.
�You�d miss me too much.� Jeff said blowing kisses at him.
Chris laughed. �I�ll see if Benoit can do it.�
�Do what?� Matt asked.
�I�m going to Raw and I�m going to make Austin a proposal he might not be able to refuse.�
�Chris.� Stephanie called running down the stairs. She ran right smack into Matt Hardy who was coming out of the kitchen. �Sorry.�
�It�s ok, just water.� He said wiping his shirt. �Chris isn�t here.�
�Where is he?�
�He ran to Walmart real quick.�
�Without me?� Stephanie looked stricken.
�I know, I�m sorry.� Matt said making his way over to the couch. �He said you had grown attached to that store.� He looked at her while he drank his water and noticed that she was still looking a little upset. �Honestly, he didn�t want to wake you. He said he wasn�t sure if you were sleeping well or not and that sleep was the best thing for you right now.�
She smiled softly. �Maybe I can have breakfast ready when he gets back.�
�Lunch?�
�I slept that late?�
�Yeah.� Matt laughed softly. �I�ll let you know what his favorites are.�
�Ok.� Stephanie smiled. �I�ll be right back down.�
�Ok.� Matt said as he watched her jog up the stairs. Chris was right. This wasn�t the Stephanie that they all thought they knew. This was a woman who had an innocence about her. A woman that was happy by simply making others happy. He leaned up on his knees and ran one hand over his face, wondering how she ever got so screwed up.
�Hey.� Chris said as he walked into the kitchen with a smile. �What�s all this?�
�Your favorites.� Stephanie said. �I think. At least, that�s what Matt told me.�
�No, he�s right, this is�thank you.�
�You�re welcome.� Stephanie said leaning on a chair. �Although I don�t know why I did it. I heard that you went to Walmart without me.�
�Oh.� Chris laughed. �Sorry about that. The gang decided that after they kicked Trish out it�d be a good idea to stay and bond.�
�They kicked Trish out?� She asked. �Matt didn�t tell me that.�
�He probably didn�t want you to think that he was trying to be friendly with you.� Chris said. �It�s a little�where are you going?�
Stephanie moved past him and into the living room where Jeff had discovered PlayStation 2 and he and Amy were playing it. Matt was curled up in a chair reading a book about the damage that hair dye can do.
�Excuse me?�
Lita and Jeff turned around and Matt looked up as Chris walked into the room behind her.
�Hey Steph, lunch ready?� Lita asked.
�Almost.� Stephanie said. �I heard about�I heard about last night, about Trish. You didn�t have to do that.�
�She insulted a friend of Chris�. We did.� Matt said.
Stephanie was caught off guard for a moment. She never considered herself a friend of Chris�. Did he consider her his friend? He was staying here and looking out for himself but a friend? She�d have to talk to him about that later.
�But she was Jeff�s girlfriend.�
�She was not Jeff�s girlfriend.� Lita shivered. �She wanted to be Jeff�s girlfriend and this man took forever to ask her out, thank God, but they were not together.�
�Um, okay.� Stephanie said.
�Yeah, really Lita.� Chris laughed.
�You wanna start something Jericho?� Lita asked as she stood up and put her hands on her hips.
�I don�t think he wants to start something honey.� Matt said standing up as well.
�Guys, no.� Stephanie said. �I didn�t mean to cause a fight.�
�They�re kidding.� Jeff said pushing Chris aside and sliding his arm around Stephanie�s shoulders. �But they�re mean and won�t tell you that. It was no problem sending Trish home. I guess it took me to see that side of her to realize that she hasn�t changed. I�d rather spend time with you. Your much prettier.�
Stephanie blushed deeply as Chris rolled his eyes.
�Stick with me.� Jeff said as he walked her into the kitchen. �I�ll keep an eye on you.�
�He really needs a girlfriend.� Chris said as Matt walked towards him with his arm slinked around Lita�s naked waist.
�Why is that Chris?� Lita smiled. �Because he stole yours.�
�Funny, very funny.� Chris said as he followed a giggling Lita and Matt into the kitchen.
�Hi.�
Benoit grunted as he sat up right on his couch. He could envision Chris smiling on the other end of the phone and he knew that he wanted something.
�What?�
�How�s therapy going?�
�What do you want?�
�Are you feeling better? I can�t wait till your back in the ring. Maybe we can regain those tag team championships.�
�Ok.� Benoit said. �What did you break?�
�Remember how great we were in that Austin/Triple H match?�
�Steal? Did you steal something? Burn something down?�
�I�m hurt, Benoit.� Chris said. �I can�t just call and talk to my friend.�
�Ok, now I know something�s up.�
�Alright, alright.� Chris sighed. �When�s your next session? Don�t tell me. I need two favors.�
�Those favors would be?�
�Could you fly back here tomorrow and keep an eye on Stephanie?� Chris said. �I�m going to be out.�
�Where are you going?� Benoit said. When his answer was silence, he knew. �Chris, I don�t think that�s such a good idea.�
�I need more time.� Chris said. �And I think this will give me more time.�
�Are you sure about this?�
�Yes.� Chris said. �It�s something I have to do. So?�
�So, what time do you want me there?� Benoit asked.
�Afternoon.� Chris said. �She usually naps and I�m heading out around 4. That�ll give me enough time. I don�t know when I�ll be back, it depends on��
�Just come back in one piece.�
�I�ll try.� Chris said as he ran his hand over his face.
�What�s the other favor?� Benoit asked.
Chris sighed. He knew this was the hard part. �Do you remember before you turned that Hunter and Trish were getting close?�
�They were close before that, no one really knew about it.�
�Right.� Chris said as he swallowed hard. �I need you to find out how close they were.�
�What?� Benoit asked. �Are you asking me what I think your asking me?�
�I need you to find out if Triple H slept with Trish Stratus.�
