NO CHOICE

HEAT/NO WAY OUT, FEBRUARY 25TH, 2001

Lita and the Hardyz accompanied Angel and Tim to the airport, despite the fact that they had a match that night. Well, Matt did. While the match with Rikishi wasn’t on the Pay Per View card itself, it was the only match booked for Heat, so they were responsible for jerking the curtain for No Way Out.

Angel herself had been quite friendly with Tim since Thursday, even returning to the room they shared. While things weren’t the same between them, Tim had spent a lot of money coming out to see her, and she loved him for that.

Matt and Jeff helped Tim check in his luggage, then the four of them took him to the gate.

"Well, Tim," Matt started. "It was nice meeting you and I hope you have a safe trip back."

Tim shook his hand.

Lita was next. "I’m sorry we didn’t get to hang out much, but me and Matt were long overdue on some ‘us’ time." She kissed Tim on the cheek.

"That’s okay," he replied. "I get that."

Lita smiled. "Maybe I’ll come out to Australia and meet all Angel’s friends some time."

"That’d be great," Tim told her.

"Take care," Lita finished.

Jeff grabbed Tim by the shoulders and led him away from the others. "Other than Angel, I probably spent the most time with you," he said. "So I thought I’d give you something to remember me by." He reached into the bag he was carrying and handed Tim a Hardy Boyz T-shirt. "Try that on for size. If you wash it a few times it might fade, then it’ll fit in great with your style."

Tim frowned at him.

"I’m kidding," Jeff shrugged, but he didn’t crack a smile. "It’s a cool shirt. I sometimes wear one like it."

Tim nodded and shook his hand. "Thanks, Jeff. You’re a pretty good bloke, even if you do want to get into Angel’s pants."

Jeff didn’t even bat an eyelid. "No, thank you, Tim. Thank you for making the biggest mistake of your life. You let her go and now there’s nothing standing in my way. She’s going to be mine. And I just have to thank you for that. Have a nice trip back and I wish you luck, I really do." He turned and walked back to the others. "Gel, you’re up."

Angel focused on Tim and walked over to him. "So," she started.

"So," Tim echoed, equally lost for words.

Angel wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. "Thank you so much for coming, Tim. It really means a lot to me. It does."

Tim broke away so he could look her in the eyes. "Not enough though, huh?"

Angel frowned. "No, Tim. I don’t want us to leave angry at each other. Just…I’m glad you came."

"Me too," Tim nodded. "When you get back, give me a buzz. I know neither of us can promise anything, but we can at least hang out."

"Definitely." She squeezed him again. "Oh, I’ll miss you."

"Me too. Try to stay out of trouble, okay?"

Angel gave him a sad little smile. "Me? Trouble?"

Tim laughed as the PA system announced his flight. "Well, that’s me. I’ll see you, psycho."

Angel nodded. "See ya, derro boy." She kissed him on the cheek and he gave her one last smile, then turned to leave.

Angel watched him go as Lita, Matt and Jeff stepped up behind her.

"Well, there he goes," she murmured, tears filling her eyes. "I sure am going to miss him." Jeff put an arm around her and she tilted her head onto his shoulder. "You guys didn’t get to know him, but he really is a cool guy."

They said nothing, just surrounded her as Tim walked out of her life.

Tim himself turned at the last moment. He saw her standing there, amongst her friends and cousin, her head on Jeff’s shoulder.

"Take good care of her, mate," he said aloud. "She’s worth every moment."

* * * *

Angel sat with Jeff in her office. She was sad Tim was gone and even sadder that it was officially over between them, but she still had one more signature to get or she’d be seeing him a lot sooner than he thought.

Jeff was sitting with her, hoping to intercept the Rock as he inevitably arrived early for No Way Out. Ordinarily, Angel would shy from Jeff hanging out on a night when she had no valet clients lined up, but tonight wasn’t about clients. It was about signatures and if Jeff saw anyone he’d remotely consider a friend or even acquaintance, Angel wanted them on board.

She looked down the hallway and couldn’t believe her luck. "Essa Rios!" she shouted.

Essa made his way to her table. "Hola, Angel. Hola, Hardy Boy."

Jeff glared at Essa and he swallowed deeply.

"How are you, Essa?" Angel asked in Spanish.

Essa shrugged and replied in the same language. "You know, Angel. No match, but I still have my job so…" He shrugged. "It is good."

Angel nodded. "That’s good to hear. Tell me, Essa, could you do me a big favor?"

"A favor, Angel?"

"Yes. Could you sign a list so I can stay around here? If you don’t, they’re going to send me home."

Essa frowned and backed away. "No, no, Angel."

"Why not, Essa? I’ll be someone for you to talk to. I know it must be hard when you don’t speak very good English."

Essa sighed, exasperated. "No, Angel," he repeated, before attempting some faltering English. "I do not…wanting to be jumping on the feet of any person. I am sorry if…you thinking I am."

"No entiendo," Angel replied, before continuing in that language. "Tell me in Spanish, Essa."

Essa backed off even more. "No, Angel. I should never have talked to you at all. You’re not worth this much." And with that, he turned and walked away.

"No luck, huh?" Jeff asked softly.

Angel’s eyes were downcast. "He told me I wasn’t worth it."

"He’s an asshole," Jeff spat. "Selfish Mexican piece of shit."

Angel grabbed his shoulder. "It’s okay. There’s plenty more fish in the sea…or wrestlers in the arena."

"Don’t give up," Jeff agreed. "Hey, it’s the Rock. Hey, Rock! Come here a minute."

The Rock didn’t even turn around, just kept on walking. "Not now, jabroni. Can’t you see the Rock is about to win back his WWF title from Kurt Angle? The clock is ticking, Kurt Angle. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock." And then he was gone.

Jeff slammed his hands down on the table. "I hate Pay Per View night! We’re running out of options. I’ll see if I can think of someone relatively harmless for you to make friends with. It’s too bad no one’s seen the Mean Street Posse in a while…" He trailed off.

Matt appeared, hand in hand with Lita. "Well, it’s show time. Any luck?"

Jeff and Angel both shook their heads.

"Keep trying," Matt advised. "There’s still time."

"Good luck, Matt," Angel said.

"Thanks. We’ll see you later."

As they left, Angel looked down at her watch. The Rock was right. The clock was ticking. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.

* * * *

Angel and Jeff watched on the little TV as Matt got demolished by Rikishi, just as Jeff had several nights earlier. It did not look good at all and when Rikishi landed the Banzai Drop on Matt, Jeff turned to Angel. "Are you thinking screwjob?"

Angel smiled. "No. I’m thinking it’s probably my last night and I can’t think of a better way to spend it than beating the hell out of a big fat sack of crap."

Jeff grinned. "Let’s go."

They jumped the table and raced down the hall, through the backstage area and down the ramp. The bell rang, signaling the end of the match. Rikishi was declared the winner, but that didn’t stop Matt, Lita, Jeff and Angel from bringing him down and kicking him as hard as they could.

"That’s for the ass avalanche on Jeff!" Angel cried. "And that’s for the ass avalanche on Matt. And that’s for sticking your big fat ass in Lita’s face."

"And that’s for almost sticking your big fat ass in Matt’s face," Lita added.

The party was broken up by the appearance of Haku.

"Great," Angel muttered. "Broccoli boy’s here." She, Lita and the Hardyz scattered, but met on the ramp where they formed a tight group and walked together to the locker room.

"It’s not going to happen," Angel shrugged. "But I sure have had fun."

Lita, Matt and Jeff surrounded her in a huge group hug.

"Oh, Ange," Lita cried. "I’m going to miss you so much!"

"Yeah," Angel sighed. "I guess I should’ve booked a seat on Tim’s flight."

Any reply any of them might have had was cut short by the sound of Jeff’s watch alarm.

"Here goes," Angel murmured. "You guys coming with me?"

"Of course!" Jeff cried and they left the room.

"You can still stick around," Matt told Angel. "You just won’t be able to come backstage."

Angel shook her head. "Security’s going to be watching for me. I won’t be allowed within a hundred yards of any of you."

"That’s crazy!" Lita cried. "You’re my cousin."

"That’ll teach me for making a deal with Vince McMahon," Angel sighed as she reached his office. She knocked and was invited inside. This time, she didn’t even bother to sit.

"So, Angel, anything new to report?"

Angel shook her head. "Nope."

"You didn’t get the last signature?"

"Nope."

"So, you’ll be leaving us."

"Yep."

"You don’t seem too upset."

"I’m devastated. I just don’t want to cry in front of you."

Vince nodded. "Well, I guess I’ll have to call up security and have you escorted from the arena."

Angel nodded. "I understand. Thank you for your time, sir."

"No, Angel, thank you and I hope you continue to support the World Wrestling Federation in the years ahead." He picked up the phone. "This is Mr. McMahon. Send up your two best men to take care of a little problem in my office. Thank you." He put down the phone and nodded over at Angel. "They’ll be a minute or so. They need to take care of some drunks at the concession stand first."

Angel returned his nod and the room lapsed into silence. It was broken moments later as Chris Benoit burst in.

Both Angel and Vince were equally unimpressed by the intrusion.

"Benoit, I’m in a private meeting. And anyway, didn’t I give you a title shot tonight?"

Benoit nodded. "But this meeting also concerns me."

Vince raised his eyebrows. "Just how, exactly?"

Benoit switched his gaze between Vince and Angel. "Just suppose, okay, suppose I was to sign the girl’s petition. She would stay then, eh?"

Vince nodded slowly. "That’s the deal, provided you sign before No Way Out. Would you like to sign?"

Benoit shook his head. "What I’d like is to make a deal with the girl."

Vince noticed the glare that passed between them and broke into a smirk. "Go ahead. I’d actually like to see this."

Benoit turned to face Angel. "Why didn’t you ask me to sign your petition? Well, why didn’t you?"

Angel shrugged indifferently. "Because I didn’t think you’d do it."

"Oh, you didn’t, huh? Would it have killed you to ask? The worst I could have done is refuse."

Angel shook her head. "I don’t trust you. You could have torn it up and then I’d need to start over."

Benoit smirked. "That would have been childish of me."

Angel shrugged, not making the obvious comment. "Will you sign?"

"That depends," Benoit stated. "On what you’d be willing to do for it."

Angel hated that about him most of all – the way he was constantly trying to get at her. She vowed she wouldn’t let him do it. Not now, not ever. "What exactly did you have in mind?" she asked evenly.

Benoit abruptly turned to face Vince. "Do you know how many times I’ve asked this girl to be my valet? And still she refuses. She’s trying to earn enough money to survive and yet she continually turns away wrestlers of the caliber of me. I wouldn’t say that was very smart, would you?"

Vince smiled a little. "No, not at all."

"You want me to be your valet tonight? Fine, I’ll do it. There, are you happy?"

Benoit turned back to her, smirk in place. "No, princess. You see, that doesn’t quite cut it. Maybe if you’d asked me on Monday I’d have been satisfied with that. But now, I’m your last chance. Whether you like it or not, you need me."

Angel glared at him. "What do you want, Benoit?"

He grinned. "I want you to be my valet."

Angel was losing her patience. "I thought you just said…"

"No," Benoit cut her off. "I want you to be my permanent valet."

Angel blinked. "What do you mean?"

"You will belong to me," Benoit continued. "If I want you to be somewhere, you will be there. From tonight and every night. You will join me in the locker room with the other Radicalz. You will accompany me to the ring. You don’t have to do anything, you just have to be there."

Angel frowned. "No. I won’t do it."

Benoit smirked. "I don’t see that you have a choice."

Angel sighed. He was right. "What about other clients? If I’m with you in the locker room, no one will be able to hire me."

"Well, isn’t that just too bad. You’ll belong to me. You won’t need them."

"I need them. I need the money or I might as well just go home."

"When you’re with me, everything will be taken care of. When you’re alone, you pay your own way."

"That’s not good enough," Angel told him. "I need at least four clients a week just for transport and a contribution towards a hotel room."

Benoit nodded thoughtfully. "I can give you three matches per show. Me, Dean and Eddie. I’d offer you four, but Perry already has the slut."

Angel raised her eyebrows. "Three per show?"

Benoit nodded. "If Dean and Eddie don’t want you, or if we don’t have any matches, that’s okay. I’ll still pay you. But me…you don’t have to worry about that. If I have a match, you’ll be there."

Angel thought about it. Financially, she couldn’t beat that. "What if I do manage to get other clients?"

Benoit shook his head. "No."

"Matt, Lita and Jeff," Angel said. "I owe them."

"You really don’t," Benoit told her. "But fine. Those three only. And only if they’re not against the Radicalz."

"Al Snow?"

"No."

"He’s my coach."

"I don’t care," Benoit shrugged. "Now, do we have a deal?"

"One more thing," Angel told him. "With Lita and the Hardyz I’m safe. I need the same from you. I don’t trust you like I trust them so I need to know I won’t be hurt."

"I can only speak for myself," Benoit told her. "But if anyone so much as touches you, I will personally make sure they are very, very sorry."

"And you?" Angel asked.

"That won’t happen," Benoit told her.

"I need assurance," Angel insisted. "If you hurt me, our deal ends. I can go."

Benoit nodded. "Okay. That’s fair. Because it won’t happen."

Angel nodded slowly. "Alright. I don’t like it, but I’ll do it. You have to keep your word. If you break it, I’m leaving."

Benoit smirked. "It’s settled then." He held out his hand and Angel shook it tentatively. Then she took the paper from her pocket and handed it to him. She still half expected him to tear it up, then turn and attack her. But he didn’t. He simply unfolded the paper, placed it on Mr. McMahon’s desk, picked up a pen and, in the space next to fifteen, signed his name. He looked up at Vince. "I think this takes care of it."

Vince nodded. "It’s all in order and still a few minutes before No Way Out. Congratulations, Angel."

"Thanks," Angel replied sullenly.

Just then, two burly security guards entered the room. "Mr. McMahon, you said there was a problem?"

Vince put his hands in the air. "There was, but this gentleman seems to have it under control. Good luck with your match, Chris. I know I can count on you to teach Chris Jericho how it’s appropriate to speak to a woman."

Benoit nodded, smirk in place. "You can. Come on, little girl," he said, grabbing Angel’s arm. "My match is second and Eddie and I still have an interview with that bitch Garcia."

He pulled her roughly from the room.

Lita, Matt and Jeff noticed them and leaped to their feet.

"Benoit, let her go. What are you doing?"

Benoit turned and smirked at them. "Why don’t you tell them, princess?"

Angel scowled and turned to the worried faces of her friends. "I have to go with him," she said softly. "I had no choice."

They were stunned. "No, Angel," Lita whispered.

"I’m sorry," Angel murmured. "I had to do it."

"Come on," Benoit snapped. "We’re late already."

He pulled her along and started chuckling evilly with the protests of Lita and the Hardyz ringing in his ears like the sweetest music.

* * * *

Angel watched from behind the cameraman as Benoit and Guerrero gave their pre-match interview. They talked about their Fatal Four-Way match with Chris Jericho and X-Pac and said that they planned to work as a team to win one of them the Intercontinental Title.

In a lot of ways, Benoit and Guerrero were exact opposites. While Benoit was cool, methodical and calculating, Eddie was over-the-top, erratic and spontaneous. Yet they were firm friends, and had been for years.

Angel couldn’t help wondering how a man like Benoit could keep one good friend, let alone three like Guerrero, Malenko and Saturn. He didn’t exactly have the type of personality people flocked to…or the looks. But did any of the Radicalz, really? Angel pondered this question. Each of them was deluded in some way. Saturn thought he had great fashion sense and that his girlfriend was beautiful. More than this, he thought he was hardcore and that the Radicalz would miss his skills if he was gone. Guerrero and Malenko each thought they were hot stuff, when one had a mullet, the other was going bald and they both talked kind of funny. But love isn’t entirely superficial and if women could see past those things they’d find…two rude, misogynistic, violent assholes. At least they had a sense of humor – they’d have to with the stuff that came spewing from their mouths at regular intervals. Benoit was perhaps the most deluded of all. He thought he was untouchable, unstoppable. He was a lone wolf…or wolverine, who commanded the Radicalz because they had joined the cult of the crippler. He was their leader. If he said jump, they didn’t even pause long enough to ask how high. They just jumped. They needed him, he didn’t need them. Hell, he didn’t need anyone. He was wrong. If the Radicalz broke up it would probably destroy him. And, all of a sudden, the beginnings of a plan formed in Angel’s mind. She may have been caught in Benoit’s trap, but when that thing snapped shut, hers wouldn’t be the only broken back. She smiled to herself as her thoughts took shape.

"Let’s get moving, little girl." Benoit grabbed her arm again and she looked up defensively. The interview was over. It was time for her to be a valet.

* * * *

"So, mamacita, are you excited about this big match, eh?" Eddie asked as they walked towards the backstage area.

Angel didn’t reply.

"What, she don’t say nothing, essa?" Eddie asked Benoit, who turned his head to look at Angel.

"He’s talking to you. Answer him."

"I’m a valet. I accompany you to and from the ring. Anything else, including talking to you, is up to me."

Eddie frowned at her. "Well, aren’t we the little zorra, huh?"

Angel formed a sarcastic smile. "When faced with such a complete imbécil, yes, we are."

Eddie spun around and tried to grab her but Benoit stopped him. "Hey! Cut this crap out. Eddie, you and me have a match to win and you," he said to Angel. "I thought you said you were going to shut up."

Angel shook her head. "I said it was my choice whether or not I talked."

"How about I give you ten bucks extra to shut your mouth?"

Angel smiled sweetly. "Done."

She was silent for the rest of the walk. Too bad the same couldn’t be said for Eddie.

"Chris, man. I don’t like this girl. Let’s lose the broad, huh?"

Benoit glared at him. "You don’t have to like her. I’m the one who paid for her."

Eddie raised his eyebrows and turned to Angel. "Puta."

Angel said nothing. She slowly raised her hand, turned her palm inwards, and gave him the finger.

* * * *

One not-so-friendly exchange with Eddie and Angel’s plan was already starting to come into being. Eddie and Benoit worked very well as a team until Eddie surprised Benoit by violently breaking a cover his friend had made. At first, Angel was equally stunned, but after the incident, Eddie looked down at her and smiled.

‘Damn idiot,’ she thought. ‘He doesn’t realize I don’t give a crap what happens to Benoit.’

Benoit and Eddie were both talented but, because they kept fighting each other, Jericho could concentrate on X-Pac, his other opponent. This proved challenging enough when X-Pac’s friend Justin Credible showed up for the screwjob. However, it was somehow avoided and Jericho eventually rolled up Benoit for the pin and the three count.

Throughout the match, Angel hadn’t said a word. In fact, the only time she’d even moved was to get out of the way when the action came too close.

Angel looked up as Jericho’s hand was raised in victory. Despite the fact that he was friends with Matt and Jeff, it seemed so empty to Angel. If only he’d signed – not really a large request – she wouldn’t be in this mess, stuck as permanent valet for a man she abhorred. Her eyes burned holes in Jericho and he looked down, noticing her for the first time. He looked surprised.

"Be surprised," Angel murmured as Benoit made his way over to her. "Because it’s partly your fault. Benoit might have offered the deal, but you could have saved me from having to agree to it. And you didn’t."

"Let’s go," Benoit said, roughly grabbing her arm. "Latino Heat and I have some talking to do."

* * * *

Angel hadn’t seen any of the rest of the Pay Per View. She’d been forced to return to the Radicalz locker room and sit in on a discussion that Benoit called a ‘debriefing’ but which more resembled a hybrid of a wake and a civil war.

It had mostly consisted of Benoit and Guerrero screaming at each other and Malenko and Saturn trying to prevent them from getting physical as Angel and Terri sat quietly on opposite sides of the room.

Malenko tried to tell Benoit that he didn’t appreciate Angel’s presence but he was ignored. This argument was about Eddie and Benoit made sure everyone knew it.

They said the same things over and over and argued for what seemed like hours, and probably was. Eventually, Eddie ended it by storming out.

"Good," Benoit said coolly, though he was still fuming. "Now we’ll all fit in the same car."

Angel shook her head. "I’m going with Lita, Matt and Jeff."

Malenko looked at his watch. "It’s after midnight. They probably left. I wouldn’t wait for you this long."

"Yeah, but you’re a son of a bitch," Angel replied matter-of-factly. She looked at Benoit, not caring what Malenko’s reply would be. "Can I go?"

Benoit simply nodded and Angel exited. She reached the Hardyz locker room and tried the door, but it was locked. She glanced at the bottom of the door and noticed there was no light peeking through. They had left her.

"Great," she muttered, leaning back against the door and sinking to the ground.

"Looks as though you’re riding with us after all."

Angel got to her feet and joined the group.

"I suppose I am," she replied evenly.

Benoit drove and Malenko called shotgun so Angel was left in the back with Perry and Terri, who wouldn’t stop slobbering over each other.

Angel looked out the window at the bright Vegas lights and sighed.

"This is a nightmare," she murmured. "An absolute nightmare."

* * * *

Lita, Matt and Jeff were holed up in Lita’s room, waiting for Angel’s return.

"I can’t believe she had to be Benoit’s valet," Jeff said, probably for the seventh time.

Matt shrugged. "At least she got a match at pay per view. I know everyone in this room wishes they could say the same."

"But Benoit?" Jeff asked.

"She had no other choice," Matt argued. "It was either that or leave."

"But Benoit?" Jeff said again.

"Oh well," Matt sighed. "It’s over now, anyway."

"I don’t know," Lita put in. "There’s something about this I don’t like. The looks on their faces were too intense for one simple match."

"I think you’re both worrying about nothing," Matt announced. "She didn’t even get hurt."

"Then why isn’t she back yet?’ Jeff asked.

"That’s what I’d like to know," Lita added.

At that moment, the door opened and Angel, looking thoroughly drained, entered.

"Hi guys," she murmured, flopping down on the bed next to Jeff.

"Are you okay, Ange?" Lita asked.

Angel shook her head.

"Did those jerks hurt you?" Jeff questioned.

She shook her head again. "I’m sorry," she whispered, more to herself than anything. "I had to do it. I had no choice."

And then, with her friends surrounding her, she fell asleep.