JEFF'S SACRIFICE

SUNDAY NIGHT HEAT, MAY 6TH, 2001

The six wrestlers walked together up the hospital corridor.

"How you doing, Chris?" Matt asked. "Is your head still hurting?"

Jericho gave a wry smile. "Not as much as commissioner assclown’s gonna be hurting after I destroy him tomorrow night."

"You really think he’ll grant your match?" Lita questioned.

Jericho nodded. "I intend using a secret weapon to make him book it…if she’s available by then."

"You mean Angel?" Trish frowned.

"I certainly do. That girl can talk him into anything. I’ll get my match. She owes me."

The others decided to change the subject.

"Benoit, do you still have Kurt’s gold medals down your pants?" Jeff asked, making a disgusted face.

Benoit shrugged, eyebrows raised. "They’re safe down there."

Trish broke into a sexy grin. "I bet I could get them."

Benoit turned and stared at her. "No. You couldn’t."

Trish pouted, then stepped ahead quickly so she was walking next to Jericho.

"You were so great in your match, Chris. And it was for a trophy! That’s so amazing! Regal…oh, I hate him so much. Hey, can I see the bump on your head?" She pored over it. "Oh, that looks so bad. I bet it hurts a lot, eh?"

Matt shook his head at her and turned to Benoit. "Okay, so they’re safe from Kurt. But do they need to be down your pants?"

"They’re safe there," Benoit repeated.

Matt backed off. "Okay. Whatever floats your boat, buddy."

They stopped together in what had become Angel’s waiting area. It went unsaid that Lita would see her first.

"Trish," she called. "Do you want to come see Angel with me?"

Trish was surprised, then grateful. "Sure! I guess it’s hard to get used to the fact that we can go in more than one at a time now."

"Yeah, I know," Lita smiled as they made their way into the room.

Lita quickly hugged her aunt and uncle. "We’ve come to relieve you. I bet you’ve been here all day."

Angel’s mother gave a tired smile. "It’s nothing, Lita."

"Mama, really," Angel cut in. "You know I’ve been telling you both to get some rest."

"We slept at the hotel last night, honey," he father reminded her.

"Yes, but you’re jetlagged. I’ll see you both tomorrow."

"Angel, really. We can’t leave you alone."

"I’m not alone," Angel protested. "Lita’s here. And so is my friend, Trish."

"Pleased to meet you," Trish enthused, shaking their hands.

Angel’s parents turned back to their daughter.

"If you’re sure, honey," her mother sighed.

"Sure I’m sure," Angel insisted. "Go, get some sleep. Or see a show or something. Chicago has a great nightlife. You should enjoy it while you’re here."

"Okay, Angel," her father said. His daughter sure could be stubborn sometimes. He blamed himself for that. "We’ll see you tomorrow."

Angel nodded. "Love you both."

Her parents kissed her goodbye, hugged Lita and then left.

"Now, girls," Angel smiled. "Dish the dirt. How’d the show go?"

"Pretty good," Lita smiled. "Hey, Ange! I’ve just realized you’re sitting up."

"Yep," Angel grinned. "All better. Well, except for this. "She raised her left arm, which was encased in a plaster cast. "So, tell. What happened? Who won?"

"Chris Jericho beat William Regal for the Queen’s Cup, but Regal broke the trophy over his head!" Trish cried.

"What?" Angel frowned. "But that was Benoit’s match. I booked it myself."

‘Not to mention the fact that I was going to convince Regal to fight for me in that match,’ Angel thought.

"Yeah, I know," Lita shrugged. "Right before the show, Linda McMahon changed almost the whole card so Benoit ended up with Angle again. He wasn’t disappointed."

"And he won," Trish added. "It was best two of three falls and he won two straight. Just…don’t ask him where he’s hiding Kurt’s gold medals, okay? Trust me. You don’t want to know."

"What?" Angel frowned. "He has Kurt’s medals?"

"Yeah, he took them Monday as revenge for what Kurt and those other assholes did to you," Lita informed her. "Kurt’s a mess. You should see him. He looks like someone castrated him!"

"Which brings us to where Chris is hiding the medals!" Trish grinned.

Angel cringed. "You’re right. By the sounds of things I don’t want to know. So, how about you two? How’d your match go?"

"It was canceled," Lita replied. "We were censored."

"But don’t feel too bad," Trish rushed on. "We stripped Ivory and Steven right down to their underwear. It was fantastic! I swear, some moths flew out when we did it."

Angel gave a little laugh. "Sounds great."

"It was!" Trish enthused. "Best match I never fought."

"I hit the moonsault on Richards, too," Lita added proudly. "I thought you’d dig that."

"Way to go, cuz," Angel encouraged her. "Sounds like a really great time."

"Well, Matt and Jeff didn’t do so good," Lita announced, turning serious. "You know they wanted to destroy Edge and Christian for you. Well, it didn’t quite work out that way. They were booked in a fatal fourway with Edge and Christian, the Dudleyz and X-Factor. They wanted Edge and Christian, of course, but the cowards were avoiding them, so they had to try for the other teams. They eliminated X-Pac, but before Jeff was even really up from that, Edge and Christian double-teamed him and got the pin. But don’t worry, Ange. There’s always tomorrow."

Angel was feeling uneasy. "You know, Lita. You can tell them they don’t have to get revenge for me. Benoit’s the only one I have that deal with."

"Oh, they don’t mind," Lita assured her. "Besides, any excuse they get to beat up on Edge and Christian is good enough."

"Well, I’m just saying they shouldn’t feel obligated."

"They don’t," Lita smiled.

"Okay," Angel shrugged.

"So, how are you, Angel?" Trish piped up. "’Cause you look good. Back to your normal self."

"Yeah, I feel good. I’m up and walking. They’re letting me go tomorrow."

"Really?" Lita cried. "So you’re joining us in New York tomorrow?"

Angel let out a deep sigh. "Yeah, about that. I’ve been talking to mama and papa and…" She paused to stare at Lita and Trish’s confused faces. "I think I’m going to go home."

"W…what?" Lita cried.

"Lita," Angel sighed. "I’ve been in hospital three times, now. I’m stuck with Benoit. I hate his guts. I have a broken arm and the two of you seem to be a whole lot closer to getting revenge on Steven Richards than I’ll ever be. I’ve had enough, Lita. I’m turning in my boots."

"But, you can’t go!" Trish protested.

"I’m sorry, Trish," Angel said softly. "But I’m so tired. It takes so much energy watching your own ass all the time, not to mention plotting the downfall of my mortal enemies. My parents are scared to death I’m going to get hurt again and frankly, so am I. And you know you can’t head out there if you fear getting hurt."

"But I’ll miss you," Trish told her sadly.

"I’ll miss you too, Trish. But the two of you can hang out once I’m gone."

Trish and Lita looked at each other, both knowing that wasn’t going to be happening.

Lita frowned down at her cousin. "Are you sure, Ange?"

"Yeah, I am. It’s been fun while it lasted, but I really can not wait to get back to Australia and my relatively normal life."

"There’s nothing we can do to change your mind?" Trish pouted.

Angel shook her head. "I’ll write you guys. I’ll find out on WWF.com where you’re going to be and send a paper trail."

Trish smiled tearfully. "That’d be nice."

"Well, you know, Ange," Lita started. "You’ll always have a home in the WWF."

"Thanks," Angel smiled. "I know that’s not true, but thanks." She suddenly let out a huge yawn.

"Sleepy much?" Lita teased.

"I know, it’s disgusting," Angel sighed, lying back as best she could. "I still get tired really easy. It must come from being hit in the head."

"You want to take a nap?" Trish frowned.

Angel yawned again at the mention of the word ‘nap’. "That sounds like a good idea."

"Okay, we’ll leave you to sleep," Lita told her. "We’ll come back tomorrow to say goodbye."

Angel nodded sleepily and closed her eyes. "Can you send the nurse in to put this bed back down?"

"Sure," Lita smiled. "See you tomorrow, Ange."

"Bye Angel," Trish added.

They headed outside to update the others.

"She’s taking a nap now," Lita announced. "And visiting hours will be over soon. We should all just try and kill our jetlag and come back tomorrow before we fly out."

"Is she going to be better soon?" Jeff asked anxiously, before he could stop himself.

"Yeah," Lita replied sullenly. "They’re discharging her tomorrow."

"And that’s a bad thing, babe?" Matt asked with a confused frown.

"Yeah, it’s bad for the bitch," Benoit muttered. "She’ll have to start working for me again."

Lita slowly shook her head. "She’s not coming back with us."

"What?" cried the four who didn’t already know.

Trish let Lita explain.

"She’s had enough of being beaten up. She’s going home."

"So she’s just going to run away," Benoit scowled. "Typical."

"Hey, don’t be a jerk," Lita snapped. "She’s been through a lot. It’s Angel’s choice. Just deal with it."

Still stunned, Jeff was slowly shaking his head. "She’s leaving."

The others looked around amongst themselves, wondering if he was going to start crying again. But he didn’t. He just kept shaking his head and staring at his feet.

"She can’t leave. I haven’t told her yet. I haven’t told her…how I feel about her."

"So tell her," Matt cut in.

Jeff looked up at him, but took a long time to focus. "What good would it do now?"

"You could make her stay," Jericho encouraged. "She likes you too, junior."

"No," Jeff said softly. "She doesn’t give a damn about me. I’m just gonna have to…let her go."

"No, Jeff," Matt said so sharply that Jeff jumped and turned to him with an accusatory glare. "You’re gonna tell her and you’re gonna do it now."

"Matt, she’s leaving. There’s nothing I can do. She’s made her choice."

"Then what have you got to lose? Nothing, that’s what. So get in there, bite the bullet and say, ‘Angel, I love you. You can’t leave me’."

Jeff was still giving him a skeptical look.

"Do it, Jeff."

Jeff let out an exasperated sigh.

"Fine. I’ll do it."

He nearly turned back four times in the short distance to her room, but somehow made it to her side. Her eyes were closed. She looked so peaceful. Maybe he should just leave. He could tell her tomorrow. They were coming back then.

For a while he just watched her, knowing there wouldn’t be anymore moments like this, where he could just stare at her and commit every feature to memory. Her full lips, slightly turned up nose, long dark lashes, the outline of her body under the blankets. Tomorrow he would have to say goodbye. But tonight he could watch her and remember all the crazy things she used to do, before it all went wrong.

"Angel," he whispered, so quietly he wasn’t sure he’d said it at all. "I love you, Angel."

She slept on, her mouth forming a serene smile.

"I thought I lost you once already this week," Jeff went on, still barely audible. "Please, Angel. Please don’t go. If you don’t want to be with me right now, I understand. But stay. I need you, even if it’s just to know you’re around. Please, Angel. Don’t leave me."

He reached out a hand and lowered it to caress her face, then smiled as she moved against it slightly. Then he slid it down slowly, gently, over her shoulder, down her arm to her hand. Though she was still asleep, she linked her fingers with his and murmured quietly, no words, but she sounded content. Jeff sighed as he gently stroked her hand with his thumb, then slowly, carefully lifted it towards his face.

"I love you, Angel," he whispered again, pressing his lips to the back of her hand.

Suddenly, her hand sailed back, then forward and backhanded him across the face. He jumped back as her eyes flew open and focused their confusion on him.

"Jeff," she muttered, smile having transformed to a frown. "What are you doing here?"

He shrugged and perched on the side of her bed. "Lita told us you were leaving and…"

"And you thought you’d talk me out of it?" Angel guessed. "I appreciate that you’d try to do that for Lita, but I’ve made my peace with her and I’ve made my choice. You’re not going to change my mind."

Jeff shook his head slowly. "That’s it, huh?"

"Yeah, Jeff. That’s it."

"You’re just going to pack up and leave," Jeff went on, a lot more testily than he meant.

"That’s right," she replied, just as testily. "I am."

"Well," Jeff sighed. "I think you’re making the right choice."

Angel was stunned. "You do?"

"I do, Angel. This world…it’s no place for a woman. You’re right to want to get out."

"What?" Angel frowned. "No place for a woman? What about Lita?"

"Lita’s been around wrestling for years," Jeff told her. "It was her dream. What I mean is it’s no place for a woman like you."

"Like what, Jeff? What does that mean?"

"I mean you’re sweet, you’re fragile and…"

"Bullshit, Jeff!" Angel cried. "I’m about as fragile as a Sherman tank!"

"No you’re not," Jeff argued, giving her a strange look. "You’re soft and gentle and…"

"The hell I am!" Angel interrupted. "What’s the matter with you, Jeff? I’m just like Lita. A hard, tough, hardcore bitch."

Jeff was taken aback. "You’re nothing like Lita. She’s a wrestler, a grappler, a high flyer. She belongs in this world. You, well, you’ll be much better off once you’re home again with your friends. You won’t have to worry about booking matches or training for hours every day, or getting hurt."

"I know what you’re doing," Angel scowled. "You’re trying to get me to stay."

"No." Jeff shook his head calmly. "I’m looking out for you. I care about you, Angel. We were friends once, we had some good times and…"

"I don’t need you to look out for me," Angel snapped.

"Well, someone has to," Jeff shrugged.

"Uh uh." Angel shook her head. "I can take care of myself. That’s why I made this choice."

"Whatever," Jeff muttered.

"What? Did you just ‘whatever’ me?"

"Yeah, I guess I did. You deserved it. You’re spinning crap with me."

"No, I’m not."

"Sure, you are. What’s got into you? You never used to lie to me."

"Maybe I did and you just didn’t figure it out."

"Whatever," Jeff said again. "I don’t need this."

"You think I do?" Angel cried.

Jeff stood up, hands in the air. "Just…just go home, Angel. You belong there. You’re too damn weak for this business. Just admit it, okay?"

"I’m not weak!" Angel protested.

"Keep telling yourself that, Angel. Maybe then it’ll be true. I’ve had this, I’m outta here."

With that, he stormed out.

"Asshole!" Angel cried.

So Jeff thought she was weak, huh? That she was fragile too? Well, she hadn’t been training with Chris Benoit for three months for nothing. Oh no, Angel? So why are you going home? ‘Cause I’m tired, that’s why. So get some sleep, get up in the morning and kick some ass! What have you accomplished? Nothing of what you wanted to, that’s for sure. Have you beaten Steven Richards? No. Have you beaten Benoit? No. Even Chris Jericho? No. Did you get your contract? Not even close. If you go home now, what will you take with you? A broken arm and four months of your life you’ll never have back. Nothing else. You can’t leave, Angel. That’s what they all expect you to do. Always keep them guessing, girl. Then no one will ever get the best of you. It was really the closest thing to a philosophy she had, and yet she was about to go against it.

‘Keep your philosophy next to your heart,’ she told herself. ‘Otherwise you’re left with nothing.’

She sighed, having well and truly changed her mind.

"My parents are gonna kill me."

* * * *

Jeff stepped darkly past the others.

"Come on," he called to Matt and Lita. "We’re leaving."

"What happened?" Lita asked nervously as she and Matt ran to keep up with Jeff.

"She’s staying,’ Jeff replied. "So you can all thank me later."

"You told her?" Matt asked, but got no response. "Jeff, did you tell her?"

"No, I didn’t tell her, okay?" Jeff cried.

"Well, go back and tell her, then," Matt advised. "She’s still there."

"Trust me," Jeff muttered. "She doesn’t want to see me and I don’t think she’s going to for quite a while."

"Oh, Jeff," Angel said sympathetically.

"Forget about it," Jeff rushed on. "She’s staying. Be happy. I made her stay. And maybe someday she’ll actually be willing to look at me again without acting like I’m dirt. ‘Cause that would really, truly make me happy.