-------  01.12.07  The Wall Came Down

I: Friday, December 1, 2006, Wessex, England

Through the many twists and turns of the past decade, Thane Kushner had seen what he felt was everything life had to throw at him. He'd seen the death of his wife to suicide, countless battles with countless friends all across the continent, and even once faced a man who claimed himself to be the devil himself.

Today, on this early December afternoon, with the sun shining brightly over a massive estate in Wessex, he smiled for a moment, to realize that although peace had returned somewhat to his world over the past year, something had been missing. It wasn't enough that he'd begun to date again, or that he had gotten a great job... his mind was always being drawn to the thrill that he grew up with.

The feeling he had felt, when he was in the ring... in front of thousands...

More than that though, was the sense that he missed the life. The fans, the ring crew, the sense of fury at his enemies, and the camaraderie with his allies. None more so, than the man who lived inside the home he stood before on this day.

Thane, as much as anyone, was aware of how far his friend inside had come, from where they'd been. Once, they'd been the best of friends; Thane's casual nature being tolerated far more than virtually all others. Their friendship dated back a number of years, and extended even to Thane's father, the renowned Toronto wrestling promoter, Thane Senior.

For the past year, Thane had put out of his mind the thoughts of the past in an effort to move forward. Today though, less than two weeks before his 30th birthday, he was about to step to the door of the past, and reunite with a man who he hoped would help him reclaim some of what he was missing.

He was dressed in a pair of grey slacks, and a black long sleeved shirt, and a small silver chain around his neck. His scars from his professional past still marked his face, time not healing his particular wounds.

A pair of simple black sunglasses covered his eyes, as he looked before him with a moment of caution, before stepping forward, and approaching the door. Having stepped out of his car to examine the building in the distance, Thane stepped back inside, and pulled around to the front gate. A moments hesitation stopped him before pressing the buzzer, cursing himself for not having called ahead.

He knew for certain his friend was here, having spoken to mutual acquaintances. His fear, was not that his friend would not be here. His fear, was that his friend would not want him here.

"One step at a time," he told himself.

The moment passed, and he pressed the buzzer, hoping that some of the past tolerance for his casual nature, would still be present.


A quiet afternoon was a rarity for the Duke of Wessex.  Marissah had decided to take off to London for yet another shopping spree - her third in as many days - leaving the Duke to spend time with his thoughts and to compose himself before his inevitable return to the United States to face all those who despised him.

In the Grand Library time seemed to stand still, if it weren't for one of the ancient grandfather clocks that noted otherwise. The leatherback chair of his father remained his favourite place to read and to indulge his mind in a world of fiction, where things were predictable and knowable.

Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra was one book he had never been able to get into; for whatever reason he could hardly get past the first scene, and he, armed with a fine port, was determined to end this tyranny of stalled reading.

"Robert."

The Duke's eyes closed as he shut his book.  So much for that, he thought.

"Yes Jim."

"Someone is at the gate requesting to see you."

"If it's not Tony Blair or Donald Trump, tell them to piss off," he retorted coldly.

"It's Thane Kushner."

His reaction was one of quiet surprise, laced with trepidation.

He tossed his book aside and without hesitation, declared, "Show him in.  I'll be here waiting."

Jim turned around to follow out his master's orders.

"Oh and Jim."

He stopped and turned.

"Have a Coca Cola standing by, will you?"

Knowing Thane's penchant for Coca Cola, Jim nodded and shuffled off once more.

A thousand thoughts a minute streamed through Robert's mind.

It had been...years? since he last saw this man.

What did he want?

Will he be hostile?  They had befriended each other - became bitter enemies - befriended each other again, and so on...

Has he talked to Seamus?

Then he was there.

Jim doing his job to the nine...

"Mr. Thane Kushner, sir."

Both men smiled.  Robert arose out of his chair and strove forward.  Their hands locked in a hearty handshake.

"You were perhaps the last person on Earth I expected to see here this afternoon," noted the Duke.  "But welcome.  Please, sit."

Sitting quickly, Thane surprised himself with how happy he was to see his old friend. Robert's remark that he was the last person he expected to see, echoed Thane's own feelings that this was the last place he expected to be.

Still, here he sat, and for a moment, he found himself in an earth-shattering moment. He was at a loss for words.

Then finally, he remarked with a genuine smile, "It's good to see you Rob. It's been far too long."

Robert grimaced slightly at the casual abbreviation of his name that Thane had done for many years, but resisted the temptation to correct him.

"Since my wedding, I believe."

"I would say I've been very busy, but somehow I doubt you'd believe that," Thane remarked, pausing to notice that a glass of Coke had been placed quietly on a table by his side. Glancing up to offer his thanks, Jim had already vanished back out through the door.

He chuckled to himself at his friend's anticipation of his request, before adding, "I'm sorry it took so long for me to come back here again...but I needed some clarity in my life."

Robert nodded his understanding. The two men began to talk about the past few years, filling each other in on the interesting and the mundane events of recent days. Conversation flowed quickly between the two, with a rare sense of understanding between them making the gap in their personality types, appear as nothing.


Lancaster however, still had some reservations.

As his glass of port neared empty, he helped himself to some more before staring directly across at his compatriot.

"I won't mince words, Thane.  I'm not the man you knew.  That Robert Lancaster is dead.  Did you see what I did to Seamus?  Have you seen what I have become in that ring?  If we are ever to become compatriots inside the ring as well as out - you must accept it, acknowledge it...and have no qualms with it."

Lancaster was deadly serious.  He could not overemphasize his change enough.

Thane nodded his understanding. He had watched his old friend from afar these last few years. The transition had troubled him, but had not surprised him. What he did to their mutual friend Seamus Finnegan, Thane's former stablemate from the beginning of his career, bothered him to his very core.

To say any of this was a shock though, would be to not understand the nature of Robert Lancaster. From the day they met, Thane always understood that to stand in the path of the storm, was to be shoved aside, swept away, or be crushed.

He paused for a moment to take in this thought, before commenting again.

"I've seen it all Rob. I know what you've become inside the ring, and out here. I'm no fool. I know you as well as almost anyone. I knew you before you were the champ...but here you sit..."

"Part of me turns my mind to the past, and remembers you before all this. But times have changed. I have changed. My qualms aren't what they used to be. I'm back Rob...and not just to your door. I've talked to the execs. I'm back in the ring too."

Raised eyebrows from the Duke of Wessex.

"You should have let me know beforehand especially if those assholes like Kai Scott or other execs gave you trouble.  Being the Commissioner as well as champion has its...benefits."  A sly smirk all too familiar crossed Robert's lips.

"As well as being the leader of the most powerful faction in OLW."

Subtlety may not have been the Duke's strong suit.  But he knew how to get his message across to Thane without having to be explicit.

Thane smiled at the memory of the conversation he had with the OLW executives, when he informed them of his desire to return to the ring. Their shock was priceless... his explanation had been that he was just too connected to the sport to give it up so easily.

He looked up at Lancaster and remarked, "I've watched you and your faction. I've been intrigued."

Thane grinned widely, at his own subtlety, knowing full well that he was speaking with one of the few men who could see almost completely through him.

"Welcome home my friend."

The two leaned across and clinked glasses.

And OLW will be the worse for it.

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