PROTECTION

SMACKDOWN, MARCH 8TH, 2001

Angel slowly edged through the room, eyes focused on Benoit. He was still sleeping, mouth open, breathing loudly. She wanted to keep it that way. If he caught her trying to leave she was in big trouble. Finally, she reached the door and eased the handle around. Taking a deep breath, she pulled the door inwards. It squeaked and she released it, turning warily back to Benoit. He slept on and Angel let out a sigh of relief.

‘Calm down, girl,’ she thought. ‘Just step through the door, close it and go.’

One step…two…three. She was out. She turned back and slowly closed the door. It clicked shut. She was out and Benoit wasn’t with her. She was so happy she almost skipped on her way to the elevator.

On Tuesday she’d convinced Benoit to change hotels to the one where everyone else was staying. He’d refused at first and she would have just left him and checked herself in, except for the fact that she had no idea where it was. Finally, Benoit had relented, but only because the gym facilities at their hotel were inadequate and even only then because Angel had agreed to the same living arrangements. A two bedroom suite. Angel hadn’t been happy, of course, but she’d had a choice. A two bedroom suite with Benoit in a hotel where all her friends were staying, or a two bedroom suite with Benoit in an unknown hotel. There really wasn’t much of a choice. At least now she was in the same hotel as Lita, Matt, Jeff, Molly and the others, although she hadn’t actually seen any of them, and the only proof she’d had that they were in the right hotel at all was witnessing the Dudley Boyz and Kaientai getting into a food fight in the hotel restaurant. Speaking of the Dudley Boyz, despite what Benoit had predicted, Matt and Jeff had won their title match. Angel was delighted for them, but sad she hadn’t been there for them. She wanted to be the first (after Lita, of course) to congratulate them. In fact, that was where she was going. She’d done a little detective work in her couple of seconds away from Benoit and had discovered that two adjoining rooms on the fifth floor had been booked under the name Hardy. She didn’t know which was which but she was just moments away from finding out.

She knocked brusquely. No answer. She knocked again. Still no answer. She tried once more.

"Okay, okay, I’m coming."

Despite its anger, the voice filled Angel with a warm glow. Jeff. She missed him so much.

The door opened and Jeff stood there, shirtless and angry. "Angel," he said, surprised.

"Hi Jeff," Angel smiled.

"Yeah, hi," Jeff replied suspiciously. He leaned forward and looked carefully up and down the hall. "Where is he? Where’s Benoit?"

Angel sighed. "He’s sleeping."

"Are you sure? Do robots need sleep?"

"Jeff, don’t be ridiculous. Can I come in?"

Jeff shrugged but stepped backwards. As soon as Angel entered the room, he jumped past her and locked the door.

Angel walked around the room, her every move watched by Jeff. She stepped in front of the bedside table, where the tag title belt lay. Angel gently picked it up and examined its shiny surface. She looked up at Jeff with a proud smile.

"So, it’s yours again? It’s awesome, Jeff."

Jeff nodded slowly, approaching her. He reached out and took the belt from her. "Yeah, it is."

"Can I see it?" Angel asked gently.

Jeff kept nodding and held it up for her, keeping it just out of reach.

"What’s wrong, Jeff?" Angel frowned.

Jeff shook his head. "Nothing," he replied, reaching around her to put the belt back down.

Angel grabbed his wrist. "Jeff, I know there’s something wrong. I can see it in your eyes."

Jeff sighed. "You’re sharing a room with Chris Benoit."

Angel nodded as if she’d known he would say that. "It’s a suite. I have my own room. And we have to. The Radicalz want to kill both of us. We’re safer together."

"You’d be safe with me."

Angel shook her head sadly. "No, Jeff."

Jeff sank down onto his bed. "Why Benoit, Angel?"

"Because I had to."

"You keep saying that. I just want to know something. Is it ‘cause you have to, or ‘cause you want to?"

Angel shook her head. "No, Jeff."

"I’m trying so hard to understand, but either it’s the most complicated deal in human history, or you’re trying to fool me."

"Jeff, I just…you have to believe me. Benoit…he makes me go everywhere with him. If I want to go to the bathroom he waits outside until I’m done. I can’t get away. Even this morning I had to sneak out while he was sleeping."

"Why do you stay? Why don’t you just leave?"

"I can’t."

"You can!"

"No, Jeff. It’s bigger now. Even if…even if I could get around the deal, I have to stay."

"Why, Angel?"

Angel blinked behind her sunglasses. "Because I’m scared," she murmured.

Jeff stared up at her curiously. "Of Benoit?"

Angel shook her head. "No."

Jeff frowned. "I could protect you. Me, Matt and Lita."

"No, Jeff. You and Matt have the titles to think about. Benoit and I have common enemies now."

"What?" Jeff cried. "I don’t even believe you just said that. You’ve changed, Angel. I didn’t want to believe it, but you have."

Angel shook her head. "No, Jeff."

Jeff scrunched his face up. "Just…just stop saying ‘no, Jeff’. You have changed. I mean, talking about being on the same page as Benoit?"

"No," Angel whispered. "I hate him. But I do know he can keep me from being hurt."

"You trust him?"

"I…" Angel paused. "I have to."

Jeff shook his head, aghast.

"Jeff, no, Jeff," Angel whispered.

Jeff still shook his head violently. "Two weeks ago you were a completely different person. You were crazy, you were fun, you were…well, as close to perfect as I can think of right now. You were my best friend. But now, Angel. Now you walk around wearing that…that outfit. That Radicalz sweatshirt and shades. And you have your head down and you never smile, dressed all in black like some…some hooded druid from the dark side. And you’re trusting Benoit now?"

Angel took a deep breath. "There’s a reason for everything. If I’ve changed, it’s not through choice. I trust Benoit because I have to, not because I want to and, as for the clothes and the fact I haven’t been my usual cheerful self lately? You want to know why, Jeff? I’ll show you why. But you have to sit right there and not say a thing until I’m done."

Jeff nodded slowly. "I want to trust you."

"Okay," Angel whispered. "Here’s why, Jeff." She slowly reached up and lowered the hood of her sweatshirt. Keeping her eyes on Jeff, she raised her hands and took off her sunglasses, throwing them onto the bed next to Jeff.

"Oh my God," Jeff gasped, taking in her blackened eyes, bruised face, swollen lips and various cuts – both stitched and unstitched.

Angel stared at him expressionlessly. "I’m not done, yet."

Next, she crossed her arms and pulled her sweatshirt off, revealing a deep gash on her left upper arm, just peering out from under her T-shirt. Taking a deep breath, she kicked off her shoes, then moved her fingers to her fly.

Jeff watched, transfixed with horror and sympathy as her pants fell to the ground. More bruises and cuts and a somewhat swollen left knee.

"Oh, Angel," Jeff breathed, shaking his head sadly.

Angel took another deep breath and blinked back tears as she crossed her arms again. Slowly, carefully, she pulled her T-shirt up and over her head, dropping it on the ground, leaving her in just her underwear. It was all there – a severely swollen right shoulder, the continuance of the gash on her left arm, her broken ribs, re-taped only the night before.

"This is why, Jeff," she finished quietly. "This is why."

Jeff couldn’t even begin to find the words. "W-when?"

"Sunday," Angel replied flatly.

"Sunday," Jeff repeated, his own voice filled with emotion. "And you still look like that."

"Yeah."

"Who did this, Angel?" Jeff asked urgently. "Who did that to you?"

"The Radicalz. Not Benoit. The other four. Eddie…" She trailed off.

Jeff shook his head slowly and got to his feet in front of her. "Why didn’t you tell me before?" he whispered, tilting his forehead towards her shoulder so she could no longer see his eyes.

"I don’t know," Angel replied as Jeff slowly slid his hands up her back, his touch feather-light. "I’m sorry."

"I’m sorry," Jeff echoed as Angel wrapped her arms around him. "I should have been there to protect you."

"It’s okay. You couldn’t have changed things."

"You are so beautiful," Jeff murmured, pressing his lips gently to her shoulder. "How could they do this to you?"

"I don’t know," Angel replied sadly, making circles on Jeff’s back with her hands. "I don’t know."

Jeff’s fingers traced the outline of her body and came to rest under her chin. "Angel," he breathed, looking right into her eyes at last. "I would never hurt you."

"I know, Jeff," Angel replied quietly, closing her eyes as Jeff leaned in and softly pressed his lips against hers. A few seconds later, he pulled away and her eyelids fluttered open as she broke into a slight smile.

Jeff blinked languidly, stroking her cheek with his thumb, tracing the outline of her bruises. "I want you," he whispered, his words barely audible.

Angel still smiled as she closed her eyes again, tightening her grip on Jeff’s shoulders as he bent his head towards hers. His lips brushed over hers gently, then once again, as if he was afraid he’d hurt her if he kissed her how he really wanted to. With every touch, Angel responded, until she finally wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, sending Jeff stumbling backwards onto the bed, his arms still enclosing Angel. Jeff finally broke away from the kiss, then trailed his lips along her skin, stopping them carefully on all of her cuts and bruises, as if kissing them would make them disappear. Angel sighed happily and clutched his shoulder with one hand, burying the other in his hair. It amazed her that someone so strong, so tough, with such an incredible body could be so gentle with her. She couldn’t deny how much it was turning her on, despite the misery and uncertainty of the past two weeks. It didn’t matter who wanted her gone, who wanted her dead, who she could or couldn’t trust. Right now there was only Jeff and she needed him, at least as much as he wanted her. Angel pressed her hands to the sides of his face, guided his head towards hers and kissed him deeply, longingly. It hurt her lips but she didn’t care, she just wanted more. Not breaking the kiss, she trailed a single hand up his chest, touching exploring. He was no longer Jeff – the sometimes goofy risk-taker with the sweet, sensitive side. Now he was all those things and more. He was incredibly sexy and she wanted him, she needed him.

"Jeff," she murmured against his mouth. Their cheeks touched briefly and shared so much heat they practically ignited.

Jeff pulled her even closer, if that was possible, and she cried out a little. ‘I have to not hurt her,’ he kept telling himself. ‘I have to not hurt her.’

But she kept kissing him like that and he was having trouble thinking at all, let alone restraining his actions. He wanted her so badly and finally, finally she wanted him, too. She was in her underwear, he was naked above the waist. They really didn’t have far to go. He knew this could ruin their friendship, but this was where he’d been heading all along. It was up to her. Hardly believing he could find the strength, he pulled away from her and looked down, right into her eyes. Angel immediately grabbed at his face and pulled him down again. Jeff smiled as he reclaimed her mouth. It was on.

Neither of them heard the door being unlocked and opened, but they sure heard the voice.

"Hey, little brother. You ready to…"

The room erupted into a stunned silence. Angel reacted by pushing Jeff away and reaching for his blankets, covering herself urgently. Jeff sat back next to her, throwing his hands onto his head. Matt stood frozen, the door and his mouth both open.

"Good morning, Matt," Jeff said coolly.

"I..." Matt started, before stopping to try again. "Oh my God, I am so sorry. I had no idea. You…um, I’ll leave and you get back to…" He signaled with his hand. "Whatever it was you were doing." He turned to leave.

"That’s okay," Angel called, but he was already gone. She turned to Jeff, who shrugged.

"Thanks, Matt," he muttered, before breaking into a little smile.

"It’s not his fault. He didn’t know," Angel replied. "How’d he get in here, anyway? I thought you locked the door."

"He has a key. I have his and Lita’s. Added protection," he explained. "In more ways than one. He usually comes in to wake me up. I’m not a morning person."

Angel smiled at him. "I should go, anyway. If Benoit wakes up before I get back I’m in deep shit."

"Screw Benoit," Jeff scowled.

"No thanks," Angel scowled, climbing out of the bed and starting to dress. "I usually prefer humans."

Jeff grinned and handed her the sweatshirt. "I really don’t like this one," he announced.

"Only for a few more days, hopefully," Angel replied, pulling it over her head and putting her hood up.

Jeff nodded and spread his arms. Angel stepped up to him and hugged him tightly.

"Take care of yourself, Angel."

Angel nodded, breaking away from him to pick up her sunglasses. "I’ll see you later."

Jeff nodded, then thought of something. "Eddie Guerrero?" he asked.

Angel nodded. "He’s the ringleader. But don’t do anything crazy, okay?"

Jeff formed his sick little smile. "See you soon, Angel."

* * * *

Jeff let himself into Matt and Lita’s room, where Matt was doing pushups while Lita sat on his back. They looked up at his entrance.

"I want my key back," Jeff answered.

"You’re done already?" Matt cried. "You’re not a Hardy. You can’t be."

"And you’re not funny," Jeff replied.

"Did she leave because of me?" Matt asked.

"Only 80%. She had to get back before Benoit noticed she was gone."

"I can’t believe you actually got it together," Matt mused. "Especially with the Benoit thing."

Jeff shrugged. "Neither can I. But apparently she’s got bigger problems than Benoit."

"Really? What, Jeff?" Lita cried, nervously.

"Well," Jeff started. "Have you ever wondered why she wears the sweatshirt and shades?"

* * * *

Angel finally reached her door. She’d had plenty of time to think and had come to the conclusion that Matt showing up was a good thing. Did she really want to be starting things with Jeff when her life was already complicated enough? She’d seen how protective Matt was with Lita since they’d ‘come out’. If Jeff was anything like his brother it’d cause quite a tug-of-war with Benoit who, bizarrely, Angel now needed around. Benoit was the only person who knew how Guerrero, Malenko and Saturn thought. He knew their moves, their strengths, and their weaknesses. Like it or not, sticking with Benoit was the safest option. Even so, she couldn’t fool herself. She was definitely attracted to Jeff and realized now she probably always had been. A week ago, when he’d kissed her, it had been different. Despite what he’d been telling her, there’d been no pressure, no need to make a choice. Today was a totally different story. She unlocked and opened the door, still unresolved about her decision.

Benoit stood right in front of her. "Lock the door," he ordered, his cold stare drilling right through her. She did as she was told and turned back expectantly.

"Where were you?" he demanded. "Tell me! Where have you been?"

"I was with Jeff," Angel replied evenly.

Benoit raised his eyebrows and started pacing. "With Jeff," he repeated, before stopping to glare at her. "With Jeff?"

Angel ripped off her shades and scowled. "Not that it’s any of your business, but yes. I was with Jeff."

"You told me you weren’t a couple," Benoit said accusingly.

"When I said that, three weeks ago, we weren’t."

"And now?"

Exasperated, Angel stepped right past him towards her own room. She stopped in the doorway and spun back around. "I don’t know what we are, okay? And it really doesn’t concern you."

"Are you in love with him?" Benoit asked mockingly.

Angel fixed her gaze. "If I said I was, would you end our deal and let me go?"

"No," Benoit replied emphatically.

"Then it really doesn’t matter, does it?" Angel spat, stepping into her room and slamming the door.

* * * *

Lita and the Hardyz walked through the lobby, ready to leave for the MCI Center. Up ahead, Jeff spotted another group and broke into a sprint.

"Guerrero!" he screamed, leaping onto him. "You son of a bitch."

"Hardy boy. I don’t know what you thinking, essa, but it’s not very smart."

It took Saturn, Malenko, Terri, Matt and Lita to separate the two of them.

"I’m going to kill that son of a bitch!" Jeff shouted as Matt and Lita dragged him away. "I’m going to kill all of them."

"I’d like to see you try it, essa," Eddie mocked him.

The two groups stared each other off, neither wanting to be the first to turn and leave.

Eddie spat out a mouthful of incomprehensible Spanish as Jeff continued his tirade.

"You stay away from her, or I swear to God…"

"Hey look, guys, it’s another one for the putacita. I wonder if there’s some machine making Chris Benoit clones, huh? Now that’s a scary thought."

Malenko leered over at Lita. "Hello, Lita."

"Hi Dean," Lita replied sarcastically.

"Long time no see. I must say, you’re looking incredibly sexy today."

"Okay, that’s enough," Matt snapped and Lita now had two Hardys to restrain.

"Think about the belts, guys," Lita soothed them. "The Dudleyz have their rematch tonight and who knows what Edge and Christian are going to try? You have to keep your titles."

"Yeah, essas," Eddie said antagonistically. "Listen to the mamacita. You gotta think about your titles."

"Let’s go," Lita suggested.

"Yeah," Matt growled, putting a protective arm around her. "Let’s get the hell out of here."

Jeff nodded and followed them, keeping eye contact with Eddie until the last possible moment.

* * * *

Side by side, Angel and Benoit walked the halls of the MCI Center. Benoit was focused and kept his face forward, while Angel turned at every sound. Suddenly she heard a voice so distinctive she placed it immediately, despite only having heard it a few times. She turned to Benoit.

"I need my money up front tonight."

Benoit turned and stopped, giving her a disdainful look as he reached for his wallet. "There."

Angel counted the notes. "Where’s the rest?"

"What rest?" Benoit asked gruffly.

"Three matches, Benoit. Not one, three. I know wrestlers aren’t too good at counting, but…"

Benoit gave her a deadly glare. "You expect me to pay for Eddie and Dean when it’s your fault I’m no longer a part of that team?"

Angel was unmoved. "Yes, I do. That was our deal. Three matches per show."

"I pay for the hotel room. I pay for meals."

"Also in our deal," Angel shrugged. "When I’m with you, everything’s taken care of. That’s what you said."

"I know what I said!" Benoit shouted, causing a trainee ref to go scurrying in another direction.

"Then hand it over," Angel persisted.

Scowling, Benoit reached into his wallet again. He handed her twenty dollars. "You’ll get the rest later."

Angel looked at him skeptically.

"That’s all I have," Benoit muttered through clenched teeth.

Angel nodded slowly and pocketed the money.

"Now, come on. I have to get ready to fight your battle."

His sarcasm didn’t go unnoticed, but Angel just smiled. "I’ll be right there. Ten minutes."

"What?"

"Don’t worry. I’ll be back in plenty of time for your match, if you get one. I’m your valet, not your conjoined twin."

With that, she strode up the hall, leaving Benoit to watch her, a terrifying look on his face. He reached the locker room and violently jerked the door open. General purpose locker rooms. Was there anything worse in life? He surveyed the not-so-inspiring group that shared the room, most of whom weren’t even close to having a match. But they were always there and ready for the off chance that they might trip and fall on someone’s cast-off talent. He picked up a chair and slammed it into a wall, following it with a table. He stopped and smirked as the other so-called wrestlers evacuated the room, leaving him alone. What was once communal could so easily become private. Benoit smiled to himself and unzipped his gym bag.

* * * *

Angel knocked on the door.

"Come in!" called a voice with a distinctive southern drawl. It was the voice she’d heard earlier.

Angel stepped into the room and lowered her hood but didn’t remove her shades. She stared across the table at the three people in front of her who were, as usual, smoking cigars, drinking beer and playing poker.

"Hey look, man. It’s Kat’s friend. What you doin’ all covered up like that?"

Angel fixed her gaze on Bradshaw. "I’m cold."

"You are? Well, come on over here and I’ll warm you up real nice."

Sensing she wasn’t going to get a sensible conversation out of Bradshaw, Angel shifted her focus to Faarooq. "I’ve come for protection."

Faarooq started to answer, but Bradshaw spoke over him. "Then you want the drug store down the road. Mention my name, they’ll fix you up real good." He winked at her and she again turned to Faarooq.

"You guys are the Acolyte Protection Agency, right?"

"They are," Jackie, the woman sitting between them, replied. "But if you think you’re going to get a straight answer out of these two you’re crazier than you look."

"That’s right, we are," Bradshaw smiled. "I forgot. Sorry."

"That’s okay, brother," Faarooq said. "Who you want protection from, girl?"

"Eddie Guerrero, Perry Saturn, Dean Malenko and Terri."

"Those five-foot fools?" Faarooq cried.

"I think they’re four feet, actually," Jackie put in.

"Oh yeah," Faarooq chuckled. "That’s right." He looked back up at Angel. "How you gonna pay us? We don’t take checks."

"She can pay us how the Kat paid us," Bradshaw suggested hopefully.

"How was that?’ Angel asked.

"Here we go," Jackie sighed as Bradshaw excitedly slapped his hands down on the table.

"She walked in here wearing one of those long coats, then she undid the buttons and POW! She stood before us, nekkid as the day she was born. It was the happiest night of my life."

Angel gave him a strange look from behind her shades. "Cash will be fine."

"You sure now?" Bradshaw asked.

Angel nodded. "Yeah, I’m sure."

"Cash it is," Faarooq announced.

Angel handed over the fee and turned to leave.

"You wanna stay for a beer, honey?" Bradshaw called after her.

Angel shook her head. "I have to be getting back."

"We’ll see you at your match," Bradshaw told her. "And don’t worry. We’ll be pounding ass for you. At least I hope we will."

"Don’t you hate it when no one tries to attack?" Faarooq asked.

"Oh man, that’s the worst!" Bradshaw cried.

* * * *

Jeff walked up the hall alone, his fists clenched. He stopped at the right locker room and knocked loudly. "Guerrero!" he shouted. "Get your Latino ass out here!"

The door opened and there stood Eddie. "Hola, essa. You come to see me. Is there something that you want?"

Jeff glared at him. "You. Me. Right here. Right now."

Eddie put his hands in the air. "You don’t wanna do that, essa. You don’t want a piece of my Latino Heat, Mr. Tag Team Champion."

Jeff scowled. "I’ll show you what I want."

Eddie smiled. "I know what you want. You want the little ‘cita. I’m not the one you got a problem with, man. It’s Benoit. He took her away from you, right? That wasn’t me, essa. That was him."

"You attacked her," Jeff hissed.

"It was initiation!" Eddie cried. "We were gonna let her be a Radical. You been to college, huh? You seen those fraternities with their hazings or whatever? It’s like that, essa."

"You didn’t even go to college," Jeff challenged.

"No, but I heard all about it. It’s the same thing. We had to make sure she was tough enough, that she was really Radicalz material. But then Benoit came and ruined it all. They both gone, now. We ain’t seen either of them. Who knows what they’ve been doin’, huh?"

Jeff shook his head. "I don’t believe you."

"You don’t have to believe me, man, but I’m tellin’ you the truth. Benoit’s got the putacita. You should just forget about her. You got a title now."

"No!" Jeff snapped, punching Eddie in the face. Eddie was back on his feet in a flash.

"Oh, you want some of this?" he asked, clenching his fists. "Huh, essa, is that what you want?"

Jeff just glared at him and sucker punched him again. This time Eddie dove and tripped him and they scrambled on the ground.

The other Radicalz heard the noise and rushed from their locker room. Malenko grabbed Eddie while Saturn caught Jeff.

"You’re in way over your head, Hardy Boy," Saturn told him. "If you know what’s good for you, you’ll get the hell out of here."

"Maybe I’ll take you on, too," Jeff replied, trying to get in a shot.

Saturn just laughed and pushed him up against the wall. "You’re not worth it, kid."

Jeff sank to the ground as the Radicalz laughed and entered their room.

"Yeah?" Jeff called. "Well, you look like a damn walrus." He picked himself up, muttering under his breath, then started back down the hall.

"Hi Jeff," Angel smiled as she passed him with Benoit.

"Hey Angel," Jeff replied distractedly, not stopping to chat.

Benoit shook his head sarcastically. "That was nice."

"Shut up," Angel sighed. "He has a title to think about. Too bad you can’t say the same."

Benoit turned and glared at her. "Stay here."

"What?"

"Stay here!" With that, he entered the Radicalz locker room and found his former teammates huddled together, deep in conversation.

"Oh, don’t mind me," he announced. "If you guys want to talk about me, just keep on talking. Go ahead, Eddie. What’s on your mind?"

"Where is she, man?" Eddie scowled. "Where’s the puta?"

Benoit overacted a shrug. "I don’t know. What else you got to say, huh? No words? Well, why don’t you mime it for me, instead? You want to hit me, Eddie? You want to take a shot?"

"Do I wanna hit you?" Eddie echoed as Benoit turned his back and spread his arms.

"Go ahead, Eddie. Hit me."

Eddie rushed him but was caught by Saturn and Malenko. "Whoa, whoa, whoa."

Benoit grinned. "Come on, Eddie. Why aren’t you hitting me?" he asked, his tone increasingly mocking. "I can hear you but I can’t feel you. Come on, Eddie."

"Don’t worry, Eddie. We’ll get him later," Saturn announced.

Benoit’s smirk disappeared as he turned back around. "We? We? We’ll get him later? Well, let me just say something. Me…and my valet…are going to the ring as soon as the first couple of matches are over. You can join me and we can take care of all our troubles one by one. I know I can beat you all. Prove me wrong, brothers. Prove me wrong."

Chuckling, he left the room, only to be faced with the sight of Jeff and Angel, kissing. Shaking his head, he grabbed her away.

"Come on." Despite her injuries, he held her roughly and dragged her along. He stopped after about ten steps and turned back to Jeff. "I’d check your watch, sunshine. I think your match is about to start."

Jeff’s eyes widened and he raced past them towards the backstage area. Benoit chuckled.

"You’re a jerk," Angel scowled.

"You need to respect your friend’s title belt," Benoit shot back. "Titles are everything."

"Then where’s yours?"

Benoit squeezed her arm tightly, making her cry out. "Oh, did that hurt? I’m sorry I’m wasting my time fighting my former friends because they had the good sense to beat the crap out of you."

"Asshole," Angel muttered, shaking out her arm.

"Princess," Benoit smirked. "You always say the sweetest things."

* * * *

"The following series of matches make up a gauntlet. On his way to the ring, being accompanied by Angel Torres, from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, weighing in at 227 pounds, Chris Benoit."

They made it to the ring before the Acolytes’ music played and Faarooq and Bradshaw made their entrance.

"What the hell is that?" Benoit demanded.

"I paid for them," Angel replied expressionlessly.

"What? You don’t think I can protect you?"

"You worry about what happens in the ring, okay?" Angel asked, climbing down to stand in his corner with an Acolyte on either side.

She looked up as the Radicalz appeared on stage. She glared at them through her shades and called the Acolytes in.

"I want Terri," she informed them. "You keep the others away."

"You got it, darlin’," Bradshaw agreed.

Saturn was first up, meaning Terri took her place in his corner. Angel watched the action expressionlessly, just nodding slightly whenever Benoit executed a particularly good move.

Terri was behaving herself surprisingly well, which surely meant there was trouble ahead.

"Stay here," Angel told the Acolytes. She reached the corner just as Terri grabbed Benoit’s leg. He spun furiously and grabbed her by the hair, setting up to suplex her into the ring. Just as Perry ran to help his girlfriend, Benoit jumped out of the way, causing Saturn to knock Terri off the apron. When she hit the ground, Angel was waiting for her.

"Hi Terri. Wanna see what it’s like to be me?"

Terri’s eyes filled with fear. "No, Angel. I’m sorry. Please don’t hurt me."

Angel smiled sadistically and pulled out her sticks while, up in the ring, Benoit locked on the crossface and forced Saturn to tap out. Perry rolled from the ring towards Terri’s screams.

"Let go of my woman!" he shouted, grabbing Angel by the back of the neck. "Don’t you ever learn?"

Suddenly, he was shoved from behind by Faarooq as Bradshaw waited to pick up the crumbs.

Angel climbed out of the fray, put her sticks back as if reholstering a gun and returned to Benoit’s corner. He was now fighting Malenko and tiring by the minute. Still he battled on as his former teammates cheered against him. Finally, Malenko pulled Benoit down for an attempted sunset flip, only to become trapped and unable to kick out. One…two…three. It was time for Eddie.

Eddie hesitated as Benoit tried to catch his breath, then sat on the ropes to invite Eddie into the ring. Suddenly, Saturn and Malenko ambushed Benoit from behind as Eddie laughed outside the ring.

"You want us to help him?" Bradshaw asked as Malenko held Benoit and Saturn hit a flying knee from the top turnbuckle.

Angel shook her head. "No."

Finally, Benoit was left lying in the ring and Eddie was ready to start.

"Get out! Dean, Perry, get out!" He rubbed his hands together and began the punishment. A giant suplex and frogsplash later, it was over.

"You know what, essa?" Eddie asked, standing over Benoit’s body. "I think Latino Heat just proved you wrong."

"Okay," Angel said. "Now you can help him up."

Bradshaw and Faarooq helped Benoit to his feet as the Radicalz celebrated on the ramp.

"Look at him!’ Eddie cried, pointing to the ring. "I told you he wasn’t a Radical!"

Benoit was recovering his senses. "Get off me!" he shouted, shrugging off the Acolytes. "Come on, little girl."

Angel sighed and followed him from the ring. He’d lost. That meant he’d be even harder to live with than usual.

"I can’t wait," she mused, before turning to the Acolytes. "Thanks, guys."

"No problem, honey," Bradshaw replied. "We’ll still refund your money if you want to pay us like the Kat did."

Angel smiled. "Maybe next time."

* * * *

Jeff knocked and waited.

"Come in."

Nervously, Jeff entered the office. He’d never liked talking to the boss.

"Jeff Hardy," Vince smiled. "How are you enjoying your title reign?"

Jeff smiled back. "I’m enjoying it just fine, sir. But I’m not here about a tag match."

"Well, that is interesting," Vince mused. "What can I do for you, Jeff?"

"I want a singles match against Eddie Guerrero."

"Are you sure? He is a former Intercontinental Champion."

"I know. I have a score to settle with him so I think it’ll be best done in the ring."

"You wouldn’t rather have Matt join you in taking on Guerrero and Malenko? Or you, Matt and Lita against Guerrero, Saturn and Terri?"

Jeff shook his head. "Me and Guerrero. That’s what I want."

Vince nodded thoughtfully. "Well, you’re a brave man, but if you think you’re capable of it, it’s yours. I’ll book it for Heat."

Jeff was ecstatic. "Thank you, sir."

"That’s not a problem, Jeff," Vince replied as Jeff left the room. He sat back in his leather chair. "Son, you are going to get killed."