| Part VIII |
| The paramedics managed to stabilized Alex in the ambulance as well as stop the bleeding. However upon reaching the emergency room Alex remained unconscious. The emergency room doctor made the mistake of trying to remove Kane and 'Taker from Alex�s bedside. If the ladies had not intervened and the guys not been holding 'Taker and Kane, the doctor would have been in need of his own medical facility. Ice calmly and very strongly advised the doctor that he allow Kane and 'Taker to stay. After almost swallowing his tongue at the glare from 'Taker; he got them to compromise by letting one or the other stay with Alex at all times. X-Pac, Jesse, Jericho, Matt and 'Taker were in the room with Alex at the moment. Kane and the rest of the group stood in the waiting room listening to the doctor. He was explaining that Alex�s wound was not terribly serious but if she did not wake up soon he feared she would slip into a coma. He informed them that he was going to continue to run some test and would be checking on Alex periodically throughout the night. ~It may be psychicly related. She�s not responding telepathically either. Kane informed them. ~It may have something to do . . . Kane stopped when he saw X-Pac, Matt, Jesse, and Jericho approaching. �What�s going on? What did the doctor say?� Jesse asked. Kane shook his head, �Only that there is no real reason she shouldn�t be waking up.� Jericho was watching Kane�s face and then he looked around at the other ladies. �What is it?� he asked. Kane shook his head, �I�m just concerned.� Chris shook his head. �Do you have an idea of why she�s not waking up?� he asked. Jericho had watched Alex with these ladies. He had always believed there was a sort of bond between them that went beyond friendship. �What do you know?� Jesse demanded. �I don�t explain myself to you!� Kane snapped back. �Look!� Jesse snapped back, stepping up to Kane. �That little girl in there is just as important to us as she is to you! What do you know!?� Jesse demanded. The two men now stood toe to toe, glaring at each other. Leah stepped forward and put a calming arm on Jesse as Storm did to Kane. �Back up man.� Hunter advised Jesse as he, Jeff, Steve and Matt got between the two men. �Tell them. Leah asked of Kane, standing in front of Jesse. ~Why? Kane asked curiously. �They�re just as concerned as we are. Kanike informed him. �Some a little more than others. LaShana informed her sisters, blocking Kane. �They have a right to know. They�re right. Alex means just as much to them. RIP continued. Kane looked over at Storm and she nodded. �What is the deal with all you people?� Jesse asked. He could see the way everyone was looking around. He got the oddest feeling they all knew what the other was thinking. �What�s wrong with Alex?� X-Pac asked. �Don�t say you don�t know, cause I got a feeling you do.� Jesse continued. Kane only glared at Jesse as he nodded, �Specifically I don�t know, but I have an idea. Alex and her sisters,� gesturing around at the ladies, �are telepathic. They can read each other�s minds. They are also connected to 'Taker and myself.� �So the �brides� thing?� X-Pac asked, looking around at the ladies. �Is a reality, it just happens to make a clever gimmick as well.� Ice acknowledged smiling weakly. �That�s how you knew Alex was in trouble, isn�t it? How you knew Tori was in the arena?� Matt guessed looking at Kane. Kane simply nodded. �So what does that mean exactly?� Jericho asked. �What does that have to do with Alex not waking up?� �I don�t know exactly.� Kane began. �Well what do you know?� Jesse snapped. �Jesse, calm down!� Leah demanded. Jesse heaved a sigh and paced in a small circle for a minute. �Sorry . . .I�m just getting frustrated.� He admitted. �I know.� Kane nodded at Jesse. �I think that part of her brain isn�t responding and that�s why she won�t wake up. But that�s just a guess.� Kane stated. Chris stepped away from the group and walked back to Alex�s room. Jesse and X-Pac stayed to ask Kane a few more questions. �So that may be why she won�t wake up. The head injury could have, what, damaged or impaired that part of her brain.� X-Pac asked. �Something like that. Again it�s just a guess.� Kane admitted. �This hasn�t happen before. Alex is also empathic.� �Which means?� Jesse asked confused. �She can feel other�s emotions. When she�s close to them, she feels what they feel.� Kane explained. �Our concern for her may be bouncing back. Which could be another reason she isn�t waking up. I�m going to keep trying to reach her telepathically, but right now there�s nothing to do but wait.� ~~*~~ The ladies took turns sitting with Alex, changing once an hour. Jericho, Matt, X-Pac and Jesse sat with them and occasionally took one of the girls� shifts. Everyone was beginning to get very worried. It had been almost 12 hours and Alex had still not woken up. Kane was sitting in the corner, resting in a chair. Most of the girls had fallen asleep in the waiting room either leaning or in the arms of their boyfriends, not wanting to go back to the hotel. Jericho opened the door as quietly as possible. He knew he couldn�t see Alex alone, but was hoping Kane would be asleep. He walked up to Matt who had fallen asleep in the chair he was sitting in. Matt�s head on the bed next to Alex's hand. �Matt.� He whispered, waking him. �I�ll sit now man. Go get some sleep. You�re gonna be sore sleeping like that.� Matt only nodded sleepily and with one more glance at Alex he turned and went to the waiting area with everyone else. Chris sat down in the now empty chair, not taking his eyes off of her. He was surprised at how she looked. Alex�s normally unruly curls lay flat against the pillow. Her dark red hair was a stark contrast to her pale face, which matched the bandage around her head. As he sat down he took Alex's hand. �Hey you.� Chris whispered. �Time to get up. You got a lot of people out here worried about you. Including me.� he whispered even softer. �You think getting knocked on the head, you�re getting out of this date, you�re crazy.� Jericho continued, brushing her hair from her face. �You owe me a night on the town, sweets.� Jericho sat with Alex for almost an hour, pulling a chair as close to the bed as possible, to sit near her head. Somewhere in the darkness Alex was in, she heard someone talking. Her head hurt so badly. When she tried to wake up her head only hurt worse. It hurt to concentrate or focus. She heard someone�s voice and she tried to focus on it. The more Alex focused the more it hurt, but she liked the way it sounded, almost musical. Then she realized they were singing. �I�ve been working on that one for a while. I wrote it myself.� Chris added proudly. �The record company wants one new song on the album. When you wake up you�re going to come see us play.� He suggested. �But you�ve got to wake up.� He leaned in to whisper in her ear. �Alex, you�ve got to wake up.� Chris ran his finger along her forehead, and then traced his finger down her nose. �You can�t do this to me.� he whispered in her ear. He�d barely leaned back again when the door opened and Jesse walked in. �Hey man. How�s she doing? Any change?� He asked. Chris cleared his throat before he answered, �No. They said talking to her might help, but she still hasn�t woken up.� Chris offered. �You need to get some sleep.� Jesse suggested. �You had a killer match last night. Benoit can be sadistic.� �Yeah, I�d better go.� Chris said mildly. Chris stood and as Jesse stepped back into the hall to call to X-Pac kissed Alex�s fingers, running his thumb over her knuckles. Chris left the room with a glance at Kane to make sure he was asleep. In reality Kane was in a deep trance. Over the past hour Kane had been trying to reach Alex telepathically. The doctors had run countless test but could still give no reason for Alex�s not waking up. While in trance neither Kane nor 'Taker had been able to reach her either. Now after almost 12 hours he could feel Alex starting to come around. He was slowly coming out of his trance to hear Jesse and X-Pac in the room. �Man, be quiet!� X-Pac warned. �No. The doctor said talking to her was good.� Jesse informed him. �But I don�t think he meant listening to your corny ass singing.� X-Pac countered laughing. �Shut up. You love my singing.� Jesse stated. �And so does she.� He added smugly. �No, I don�t.� Both men turned to the bed, �Alex?� Jesse whispered. Alex whimpered and groaned at the pain in her head. �Too much noise. Girl can�t sleep.� She answered softly. She turned her head to their voices and opened her eyes a little. �Alex? Are you feeling okay?� X-Pac asked, the words tumbling over the other. �Go call the doctor.� Jesse ordered, pushing him toward the door. X-Pac ran out the door as Jesse grabbed Alex�s hand. �How do you feel?� Jesse asked. �Not so loud.� She asked quietly wincing. �Voice is loud. Ringing in my ears.� She answered haltingly. Jesse lowered his voice as he continued. �How do you feel, baby girl?� �Head hurts.� She replied, touching the bandage. �Obviously. But just tired and a little sore.� She mumbled. �What happen?� she asked. �Where�s Kane, 'Taker . . .the girls?� She asked trying to sit up. The memories rushing back suddenly, �Tori!� She choked, clutching at Jesse�s hand. �She didn�t . . .� �No. No. No.� Jesse interrupted trying to calm her. �She�s back in jail. She didn�t hurt anyone else.� He assured her. �Kane�s over there.� Jesse informed her pointing to the corner. Alex sat back in bed and closed her eyes. *Kane? Alex called and winced at the pain in her head. ~Little girl? Kane stirred in his sleep. *I�m awake. She answered. Kane sat up in his chair, when he saw Alex open her eyes he rushed to her side. ~How do you feel? He asked. Alex glanced at Jesse to see him staring at her intently. ~It�s okay. He knows. Kane informed her. Alex eyes widen and then she smiled. *You mean I can�t talk bad about him anymore. She asked Kane while she grinned at Jesse. �She�s talking about me isn�t she?� Jesse asked Kane. Kane and Alex laughed together. Alex touching her head as the sound rang in her ears. �Just wait until you feel better, baby girl.� Jesse warned, kissing the hand he was still holding. At that moment 'Taker and the girls entered and the doctor soon followed. �Okay, I need everyone out.� The doctor seeing the look from Kane and 'Taker. �For a few minutes.� He added hurriedly. As the doctor examined Alex everyone moved back into the hall. Jericho came down the hall with a cup of coffee. He nearly dropped it when he saw everyone in the hall. He knew Kane and 'Taker hadn�t left Alex�s side all night. �What happened?� he asked as he approached. �She woke up!� Jeff informed him. Chris tried to remain calm as he smiled but LaShana, Storm and Leah saw the look of relief in his eyes. They cast each other curious and knowing glances. �The doctor is examining her.� Storm continued to explain as she saw the worry in his eyes. The doctor emerged from Alex�s room. �The blows to her head simply knocked her unconscious. There is no explanation as to why she stayed unconscious for so long, but that�s all it was.� �What about her throat?� Jesse asked, remembering the match earlier. �I saw those. They�re not serious. They will however leave some ugly bruises, but there�s no damage to her throat.� The doctor answered. �There are some gaps in her memory.� The doctor continued. �She�s also a little disoriented, but I believe all that will return in time. I�m going to start the paperwork for her to be released. She�s asking for you ladies.� The ladies made Kane and 'Taker wait outside while they went in. Alex turned to the door as it opened and smiled. �I had to be sure.� She stated. �I barely got a glance a moment ago. I could feel all of you here, but I needed to see that you were all right.� She explained her voice thick. �We are all fine.� Storm assured her. �Kane�s hand?� Alex asked. �It�s not broken. It�s just a deep sprain.� Storm answered the relief evident in her voice. Alex turned to the group, �And everyone else?� she asked. �A little tired and sore from sleeping in hospital chairs, but fine.� Ice continued. Alex looked at her strangely, �How long have I been here?� she asked. �Almost 12 hours.� LaShana answered. �What!� Alex yelled. �Why? What�s was wrong with me?� �The doctors couldn�t find anything wrong.� RIP informed her, �You just wouldn�t wake up.� �They thought it was a concussion.� Leah answered. �But the only thing they had to go on was you wouldn�t wake up.� �Do you remember what happened?� Kanike asked. Alex was silent for a minute thinking. �I remember bits and pieces of the match. Then walking to the dressing room to find Tori there. We fought, but after that.� She raised her hands shrugging. �Do you remember where you were going? Why were leaving without us?� Kanike continued. Alex sat there quietly, struggling to remember when Jesse stuck his head in the door. �I know it�s a girl thang.� He drawled, �but Vince just called. The boys and me got to catch a flight for tonight or he�ll have no show and our heads.� He informed them. �They want to say good-bye first.� �OH!� Alex exclaimed. �Okay, sure.� Jesse, X-Pac, Hunter, Jeff, Matt, Steve, and Jericho all came into the room. They each took turns saying goody-bye and get well. As they talked for a few minutes, �Oh X-Pac.� Alex asked, gesturing him forward. Alex pulled him into a hug then as she let go she gave him a loud kiss on his cheek. �What was that?� he asked. �It�s a kiss you goof.� Jesse informed him, smacking his head. �I though Alex got hit in the head, not him.� Hunter razzed. Alex laughed, �It�s a �thank you�.� She explained. �For teaching me that spinning heel kick. Worked perfectly.� She informed him. �Oh yeah?� X-Pac smiled smugly, when she smiled and nodded. �Who all is going?� she asked. �Everyone except Kane, 'Taker, Kanike and myself.� Storm answered. �How is Vince going to work around Kane and 'Taker?� She asked curiously. �Of all things to be worried about right now.� Jericho smiled. She grinned and shrugged. Alex looked at Chris curiously, trying to figure out what he was doing there. She didn�t remember him being in the locker room after the match. �Habit.� She informed him. �With Kane�s hand, he won�t be back in the ring for a week. So they�re going over to one of the TV stations a little later to shoot a promo via satellite. �Oh.� Alex responded. She waved to everyone as they walked out the door. Jesse and Chris were the last two to leave. Jericho lingering near her bed for a few more moments. �Hey Jesse?� Alex called out. When Jesse turned to her, �I heard you.� She said plainly. �I heard you singing to me.� Jesse smiled back. Alex grinned wickedly, �You sounded great at first, but then it kind of went down hill.� She informed him, making a downward motion with her hand. �I had to wake up to tell you to be quiet.� Jesse narrowed his eyes, but grinned, �Baby girl, you and me are gonna have a serious talk when you�re feeling better.� He warned again. �I�m so scared.� She mocked giggling. She blew him a kiss and waved to Jericho. �I�ll see you guys in a few days.� As the door closed, �Do you think you should be going back to work so soon?� asked Storm. �The doctor said I�m all right. So I�ll probably be back for the weekend shows.� As Alex continued to assure them she was well enough to return to work, 'Taker and Kane entered the room. Alex head snapped up as she felt the weirdest mixture of emotions from them. It was relief, apprehension and a bit of sadness. �What is it?� she asked. �What's wrong?� Storm continued. "We just got off the phone with Vince.� 'Taker began. �Does he want you guys� back tonight?!� Kanike asked heatedly. 'Taker shook his head, he walked into the room further and stood next to Kanike; putting one arm around her pulling her close. With the other he reached down and took Alex�s hand. Alex turned to Kane who was now standing with Storm in his arms, holding her tightly. �What is it?� Alex snapped; her emotions getting the best of her. ~It�s over. Kane stated. ~The police called Vince. Tori was shot trying to escape again. She�s dead. He announced. Alex�s eyes widen in shock, but to her confusion she only felt relief. After everything Alex couldn�t even feel pity, just relief that it was all over. ~You can�t feel what�s not there, little girl. Alex heard in her head. She looked up at Kane. *I just don�t know how to feel. I mean, after everything, I can�t. Alex paused, her emotions trying to take over. �I mean I can�t form the words on my lips.� Alex continued aloud. �No matter how empty the sentiment, to say I�m sorry she�s gone.� She stumbled. �Does that make me a bad person; uncaring?� she asked Kane wide-eyed. ~No. He answered, shaking his head. Kane leaned down and kissed Alex's forehead. ~Of course not. There�s no reason you should feel anything. Tori caused all of you ladies nights of worry, but maybe she�s at peace now. Kane offered. Alex sat back on the bed and was immensely comforted in the kindness and compassion Kane was able to feel. However she was more grateful that everything was finally over. Maybe now things could return to normal. To be continued . . . |