Chapter 1
Bad Ass Billy Gunn walked through the halls of the darkened arena. He had never really been much for the dark. He enjoyed sunlight. A beautiful summer's day, walking on the beach, that was his idea of fun. It certainly wasn't lurking around an arena after a show. But this was different. This was important. This was about keeping two of his best friends safe and he would do anything to do that. Even going so far as to making a deal with the closest thing there was to the devil on earth, Shane McManon.
He was so deep in thought that he didn't hear the other two walk in. He felt a hand on his shoulder and spun around ready for action only to find who he was there to meet.
"Geez, Helmsley. Give a guy a heart attack."
Hunter Hurst Helmsley smiled at his friend. He had missed them. He drew Billy close for a quick hug before releasing him. "How are you?"
"Oh, I'm fine, except for the fact that two of my best friends now hate me."
He peeked around Hunter and spotted Chyna watching the door. "Hey, Chyna."
She gave him a small smile and waved. It was almost like old times. Almost.
Billy turned his attention back to Hunter. "I still don't understand why you guys couldn't tell X-Pac and Jesse about Shane's threats. They would have understood and gone along with it."
"How would you have liked me to break the news to them, Billy? 'Guess what guys, I'm going corporate so that Shane doesn't carry out his treat of hurting you guys if I don't.' That would have gone over real well."
"Why did you tell me, then? Why did you tell me about Shane threatening to send the Ministry after us if you didn't join him?"
"Because you can do something that Jesse and Sean can't."
"What's that?"
"Lie."
Billy smiled. "Yeah. I am pretty good at that, aren't I?"
"No. They're just really bad. Their eyes give them away every time. Jesse had a hard enough time convincing everyone that you and he had gone corporate that one time."
Billy nodded. "Yeah, he did."
"Speaking of which, how are they?"
"Before or after they stopped talking to me?"
"I'm sorry, but Chyna and I needed help. We can't bring the Ministry down by ourselves."
"What about Vince?"
"He's with us. I went to him the day Shane threatened me and Chyna told me about the similar threat that made her join."
"What was his reaction?"
"He was upset to find out that Shane was behind this. He has promised to do everything in his power to keep X-Pac and Jesse safe from the Ministry."
"That's good." He paused. "I still wish we could tell the others. I miss them." He smiled sadly. "You know, I used to hate Jesse's bad puns, but now I'd do just about anything to hear them again."
Hunter smiled. "Yeah. Sean's energy used to wear me out. I miss him. You have no idea how much that hurt me to do that to him at Wresltemania. He loved being the European Champion and to lose it to a prick like Shane, thanks to me."
Billy nodded. "Did you have to use the pedigree on him, though? His neck was bothering him for weeks."
"I had to make it look real, but a night doesn't go by that I don't think about it, I promise you."
"So now what?"
"Well, tomorrow, you meet with Shane and then he'll introduce you on Heat next Sunday. Then, we'll start taking apart the Ministry from the inside."
"Sounds like a plan, but I hope this ends soon." He shifted his stance a little before he asked his next question. "Do you think that we have just totally killed our friendship with them?"
"I hope not. I think Sean and Jesse will forgive us once they understand what has happened. Or once we get someone they trust to explain what happened."
"I hate this."
"So do I, but I would rather have them hating us and healthy, than loving us and not able to wrestle or worse."
Billy nodded.
Hunter looked at his watch. "We gotta go before we're missed. Taker keeps strange hours."
"Yeah. See ya later."
Billy watched them leave and started back to his car. He wasn't looking forward to going back to his hotel room. It wasn't any fun playing nintendo by yourself.
Chapter 2
Road Dogg smacked his alarm clock as hard as he could. Damn. Ten o'clock. Time to get up. He managed to drag himself out of bed and grabbed some clothes. He stumbled into the dinning area of the hotel room he was sharing with X-Pac and froze when he ran into something big and red. He looked up into the face of Kane. The Big Red Machine looked down at him and he couldn't help but step back a little.
"Bout time you got up." Sean said as he walked over from the table. He looked up and smiled at Kane who walked back over to the table and sat down.
"Sean, may I speak to you for a minute." He said motioning back towards his room. Sean followed him quietly. "What is he doing here?"
"Who? Kane?"
"Who else?"
"Well, I ran into him in the hall and I invited him in. He's really not that bad, Jesse. Give him a chance."
"I don't have a problem with him. I have a problem with the fact that every time I see him in the ring with me, I get choke slammed."
Sean smiled that smile that made him look younger that his twenty-six years.
"You're a friend. He's got the idea now."
"Are you sure?"
"Did he choke slam you when you walked into him?"
Jesse smiled. "Okay. Point taken. What did you get to eat?"
"McDonalds." He paused. "I got you a kid's meal."
Jesse gave him a look. "That's real funny coming from you, kid."
The two made they're way back into the main room, where Kane now sat at the kitchen table. He watch both men enter.
Sean went over and grabbed the food off the counter and brought it to the table. He handed Jesse one of the Big Mac and kept the other for himself. Turning towards Kane, he said, "I wasn't really sure what you like, so I got you some fries." He placed them in front of the Big Red Machine, who nodded at him.
Jesse decided to start the conversation. "Shane's a prick."
Kane looked up at the remark. He knew what that meant. If he hadn't worked for them then he was related to one.
"I can't believe he did that to you guys. By the way, kid. How's your head?" He said as he reached over and brushed Sean hair out of his face to reveal a rather nasty looking bruise from where he had hit the chair.
Sean swatted his hand away. "Fine, mother."
Jess nodded. "Just checking. Someone's gotta look out for you." He saw Sean flinch at his words. Damn. The last person who had said those words to him was Hunter right before Wrestlemania. He leaned forward slightly. "You mind if I ask you a personal question, Sean?"
Sean went on the defensive. "You can ask," he said between bites, "but that doesn't mean I gotta answer."
He nodded. "Fair enough. How did you and Hunter meet?"
Sean smiled as memories of a happier time flashed through his mind. "We kind of saved each other in a street fight."
Jesse nodded.
"My turn."
"Shoot."
"How about you and Billy?"
"Well, at the time he was with the Honky Tonk Man and I was with Jeff Jarrett. I asked him if he wanted to make some money and he said sure, so we let them and became the New Age Outlaws."
"Cool."
An uncomfortable silence reigned for several minutes before Jesse chuckled. He motioned toward Kane, who was chewing on a French fry through the slit in his mask.
"I don't think I have ever seen you eat."
Sean smiled slightly. Kane put the fry down and glared at Jesse, which caused Sean's smile to grow.
Jesse slouched a little in his seat. "Why do I have the feeling that I just stepped in it up to my knees."
**
Kane
They are like children,who have lost their families. Little do they know that they still have them. A night long ago, my one true friend came to me. Told me to leave the Corporation. She would help me. No asylum. Told me a plan. A plan to destroy the Ministry. A plan that needed Triple H in and me out. Fine. She asked for one thing and one thing only. Protect them. Protect her friends. Billy Gunn. Jesse James. X-Pac. Yes. A small price for freedom. For friendship.
She hit me with a chair to make it look real. I choke slammed her to make it look real. X-Pac helped me. I don't know why. Yes, I do. He thought I had been betrayed. Like him. He offered to be my partner. Easy way to keep an eye on him. I agree. We fight, but I don't trust him. He expects too much. Yet, after awhile, I do. I trust X-Pac. I trust Sean. We fight his friends and I see their bond. I like him. He tries to include me. Tries to make me feel welcome.
Billy Gunn turns. Confusing. Why? Must protect, but who. If Billy Gunn turns, then Jesse James must have, too. I was wrong. He didn't turn. X-Pac showed me that. Chyna called and told me of Billy and the plan. He is with them. Have two to protect. Jesse James. Sean. Must protect them. Must protect...my friends.
**
Road Dogg stretched on the couch before going back to his game with Sean. Who would have thought that the kid was this good at Smash Brothers for Nintendo 64. "I'm getting my ass kicked by him. I have one life left and he is fricking cat with lightening." Jesse concentrates on the final moments of the game. "Damn."
"Dude, your ass is grass."
"Funny. Oh so funny." He glanced at his watch. "We gotta be up early tomorrow for our workout time so I suggest we go to bed."
"Why so earlier?"
"It's three o'clock in the morning, Sean."
"Oh. My bad."
Jesse shook his head. "I'm gonna go out and get my stuff out of the car." He passed Kane on the way out, who had sat on the couch, quietly watching them play, and nodded at him. It took him ten minutes to gather all of his gear and make his way back up to the third floor. He pushed the door open and ran straight into Kane again. This time, however, everything that he was carrying, and he himself, ended up on the floor. He sat there for a minute getting his bearings. He felt a hand grab the back of his shirt and lift him up off the floor. When his feet touched the ground he looked at Kane who had let go of his shirt and was now bending over to pick up some of his stuff. He helped him and soon had it all gathered in his arms again.
"Um...Thanks, man."
Kane nodded and continued out the door.
"Wow," he thought to himself. "He didn't hurt me. That's cool. Maybe he's not so bad after all." He carried his gear to his bed and dumped it beside it before turning to X-Pac. He couldn't help but smile at the sight.
Sean was draped across his bed, completely dressed, and dead to the world. Jesse shook his head. "What am I gonna do with you."
Chapter 3
Sunday Night Heat started off as it had for the past month, with the Corporate Ministry. They came out under the blue strobe lights that flashed during their music. Undertaker, Shane, Viscera, Hunter, Chyna, and a new addition, Billy Gunn. Shane stepped forward and took the mike.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. Boys and Girls. Children of all ages." He paused and smiled as the boos increased. "Allow me to introduce you to the newest member of the Corporate Ministry, Mr. Ass, Billy Gunn." The boos increased even more.
Billy couldn't help but flinch.
Hunter felt sorry for his friend. "It's our fault the fans hate him so much." He looked at Chyna, who also looked upset.
The three basically tuned out the rest of the speech. They had heard it before and could probably quote it by heart. Soon the music cued up and they retreated to the back.
**
Hunter couldn't help but tense when he and the Corporate Ministry rounded the corner to run right into X-Pac, Kane, and Road Dogg. Jesse was leaning against one of the many crates in the back. Sean was perched on top of it and Kane stood a little to his left. They glanced up and the conversation stopped. Neither group spoke as they passed one another. It wasn't until they started to round the corner that Bradshaw spoke up.
"Hey X-Pac. It's nice seeing you on your feet instead of over the Big Red Retard's shoulder. And, um, Jesse. Sorry about you losing your meal ticket and all. Guess now you'll actually have to get off your ass and fight." He smiled at his partner.
Billy tensed and made his hands into fists. He took a step forward only to be stopped by Chyna leaning on his shoulder.
"Patience is a virtue, Billy." She whispered.
"So's revenge."
Jesse stepped forward at the same time that X-Pac jumped down. Both walked forward, ready for a fight, when Kane stopped them. He grabbed their shoulder and pulled them back behind him before stepping forward and adjusting his glove.
Bradshaw had enough sense to look worried.
Chyna barely managed to hide her smirk of amusement.
Sean looked at Jesse. "I think he could take him. I mean, if he can choke slam Taker's fat dead ass, he can certainly take Bradshaw."
The Undertaker's eyes darkened at the comment.
Hunter bowed his head. "Don't, Sean." He whispered quietly. "Please don't."
Jesse looks up at Kane. "I think you can take him."
Kane looked at Jesse before turning his attention to Bradshaw, who backed up a couple of steps.
Jesse chuckled before turning his attention to his former teammate and friend. "Hey, Billy. You got something brown on your nose. You may want to wipe that off. People might get the wrong idea. Or the right one."
Billy's face hardened at the remark. That hurt. But it was pretty good.
Sean looked over at Triple H. "Nice to see that you dug your head out of Chyna's ass long enough to join us today."
Hunter couldn't help but flinch. He had said that with such loathing and hatred. He felt like he had been kicked. He couldn't respond, so he settled for an icy glare.
"Enough." Undertaker said. "We have more important things to worry about than this."
The Ministry started to leave.
"Oh, Taker."
He turned slowly in time to see X-Pac and Jesse send him and the rest of the Ministry a crotch chop. He glared at them, silently promising revenge.
Hunter glanced at Chyna and Billy. This was bad.
Chapter 4
Inside Hunter and Chyna's hotel room.
Hunter closed the refrigerator door and carried the three cokes back to the couch. He handed the first to Chyna who smiled at him and scooted over so he could sit down. He leaned forward and handed the second to Billy, who was stretched out of his side on the floor. Hunter opened the third and took a drink before reaching over and turning the TV to USA for Raw is War.
"It's kind of nice being off and all." Billy said as he rolled over making himself comfortable.
"Yeah."
Everyone's attention was turned to the TV as the music started. Shane and the other members of the Corporate Ministry, minus them, came out. Hunter smiled at the boos and chants they started. They gave the Ministry three one finger salutes before settling back to watch. Shane gave the same speech and the Undertaker stepped forward to threaten Stone Cold some more. They finally left and the matches started.
The first was a tag team match with The Brood's Edge and Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz. Gangrel and Michael Hayes walked on the outside of the ring. Gangrel switched places with Christian two times. In the end, Michael Hayes attacked Christian outside of the ring with his cane while Gangrel covered Jeff for the win. A short brawl ensued with the Hardys and Hayes fleeing to the back. Edge and Gangrel helped the semi-conscious Christian to the back.
"Is it just me, or is Hayes obsessing a little?" Billy rolled onto his back to look at the others.
Chyna answered him sarcastically, "It's just you, hon."
"Just checking."
The next fight was Too Much vs. D'Lo Brown and Mark Henry. It was a short and uneventful fight leaving D'Lo and Sexual Chocolate as the winners. The show broke for a commercial.
Chyna turned to Hunter. "Now what is this plan of yours. I would like to get out of the Corporate Ministry as soon as possible. The signs in the audience are beginning to bother me."
Hunter nodded. "Well first we should work on the Acolytes. They should be easy to put a wedge between. You saw how they acted when they had to fight each other. Just a few well placed 'rumors' and they won't be able to stand each other."
Chyna smiled. "I like that."
Billy nodded. "Me, too. Who after that?"
"Midian."
"Cool. I..." Billy's words were cute short as a familiar music blared from the TV.
"Break it down!"
The conversation immediately died and their attention was locked on the TV. Jesse and Sean came out and the crowd roared to life. They did their usual antics walking down the ramp.
Once in the ring, Jesse took the mike. "Welcome to the dog house. Where you know DX always kicks it doggie style." He paused to let the applause die down. "Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages. Degeneration X, proudly brings to you, two of the greatest partiers in the worrrrrrrlllllllldddddd."
Hunter and Billy couldn't help but chuckle. That was so true.
"The Road Dogg Jesse James, the X-P-A-C, X-Pac, De-gener-ation X."
Chyna smiled. "God, I miss them."
The others nodded.
The lights went out and eerie organ music came on. Kane stalked out of the curtains and down to ringside. He stepped over the ropes and proceeded to call on the fire and brimstone that he was known for. X-Pac dropped to his knees and pointed at Kane as the flames grew higher. Behind him Jesse motioned for the crowd to make some noise while he moved his knees back and forth in a familiar fashion.
He stepped over to the ropes and brought the mike to his lips again. "Now, if you're not down with this gleesome threesome, I got two words for ya."
"Suck it!" Chyna, Hunter and Billy couldn't help but say it with them.
The music of the Acolytes came on and they, with Midian, came down to ring side.
Hunter turned towards Chyna and Billy. "I don't remember them being scheduled for a match tonight?"
"They weren't. Shane must have done it right before the show."
They stopped talking as the two teams stood in ring facing each other. Midian said something to Jesse that made him frown. He stepped forward but was stopped by X-Pac. Sean moved quicker than lightning, kicking his hand and causing Midian's ever present eye in a jar to sail across the ring and shatter on the metal steps.
"Nice shot, Sean."
The brawl quickly began and Kane cleared the ring. Then the match really started. Midian faced off against X-Pac. He attacked viciously taking several cheap shots at Sean who countered as much as he could. Midian tagged Bradshaw in and he and Faroouq double teamed X-Pac. He managed to catch Bradshaw with a spinning kick and ducked under Faroouq's arm as he made the tag to Kane. Again he cleared the ring.
Billy and the others cheered. Kane was in their for a short time. He soon tagged in Road Dogg. He did a little shake rattle and roll on Midian before he was jumped by the Acolytes. Sean and Kane rushed to his rescue and they managed to send them out of the ring. Sean ran to the other side and got the mike.
"Hey guys. Tell your master that his ass is grass and we're gonna smoke it." The crowd cheered and the station cut to a comercial.
Chyna smiled at Hunter, who looked about ready to bust with pride. She knew he had always considered Sean as a little brother. Hell, so had she. And she knew that Billy felt the same way. "Let's get this plan started so that we can get back to having fun."
Chapter 5
Hunter, Chyna, and Billy arrived early at the arena. Shane had called another one of his meetings. Basically, all they did was sit down and discuss who the targets were, how to get them, and any major plans for the week.
As they entered, they ran right into Bradshaw and the Big Boss Man. Bradshaw was regaling Boss Man with tales of his and Faroouq's latest fight.
"...and if it had been for some fast thinking on my part with the chair, well, let's just say that yours truly would be extremely upset. They never knew what hit them and we got the titles."
Hunter walked closer to the two, who nodded at his approach. "Um, hey Bradshaw. You haven't talked to Faroouq lately have you?"
"No, why?"
"Um, no reason. It's just that he tells this story a little differently than you do."
Bradshaw immediately went on the defensive. "How differently?"
Billy turned toward Chyna to hide his smile. "Hook, line and sinker." He thought to himself.
Chyna winked at him before turning her attention back to Hunter.
"Well, he was telling us that you were lucky that the ref didn't see you get that chair or else you two would have been disqualified. He said something about if you kept it up, then he was going to have to put you in your place." Hunter finished and looked at Chyna who nodded.
"Oh really. Well, it looks like I'm just gonna have to have a talk with that boy, if y'all will excuse me." He turned quickly and strode off down the hall. Boss Man followed close behind.
Hunter turned back to the others. "That was easy. I thought we would have to work more for that one."
Chyna shrugged.
Billy smiled. "I think those two will take care of themselves. Now, onto Midian."
Chyna smiled. "I have an idea about that one."
Chyna filled them in as they walked toward the meeting room.
None of them saw the figure that stepped into the hallway behind them. The Undertaker watched them walk down the hall. "Trying to put a wrench in the works, I see. I'm afraid I will have to change those plans."
Chapter 6
The Corporate Ministry sat in the small meeting room located near the back of the arena. They waited patiently for the Undertaker and Shane to arrive.
Once they did, the 'meeting' started. It started like most others with Shane and the Undertaker going off about Stone Cold and the Rock.
Billy sat in his chair next to Hunter. His attention wasn't on the rantings of the leaders. It was focused on the pencil that lay in front of him. His attention didn't even turn to them until he felt Hunter tense beside him. He looked up sharply and left the pencil to roll to the floor beside his chair.
Hunter had been sitting there watching Billy playing with a pencil when the Undertaker said his name. He looked up at the Lord of Darkness and he couldn't help tense when he saw the insane smile that covered his face. He saw Billy look up out of the corner of his eye and glanced at Chyna to make sure she was paying attention. She was.
"Triple H. It has come to my attention that you and your 'friends' may not be as loyal to the cause as you should be."
"What do you mean not loyal? We've done everything that you have asked of us."
The Undertaker smiled and leaned forward in his seat. "We know that you are here under, shall we say, different circumstances than everyone else. But your loyalties must lay with us. That is why I have arranged a little test for you."
Hunter frowned. "A test?" He looked at Chyna and Billy. "What kind of test?"
"Well," Shane said, "we have decided that you should fight more and so we have arranged a special match that should prove most interesting."
"A match, huh. Against who?"
Undertaker smiled. "X-Pac."
"Now wait a minute. You said that if we joined you then you would leave them alone."
"I said nothing of the kind. That was Shane. But you are very lucky that I'm letting you do this instead of my Ministry. He wouldn't get off so easy with us. He, Road Dogg, and my idiot brother are becoming thorns in my side and must be removed. Their antics are getting too dangerous to us and they are beginning to piss me off. We are not going after all of them, just the weakest link. That should please you somewhat. We could go after all three. This is a message to them."
Hunter stood up, sending his chair flying into the wall. His brotherly instincts were at an all time high. "X-Pac is not the weakest link and I'll have no part of this."
"Oh you will, and you'll do exactly as I say or I'll send Viscera to make sure that they never wrestle again, let alone breath. Besides, what other choice do you have? You don't want me to take care of it and you can't go to them. They wouldn't have you back and you know it."
Hunter was screwed and he knew it. "Alright." He caught to looks that Chyna and Billy threw him. "When?"
"I knew you would see it my way. You will challenge him on Heat and fight him on Raw. It will be a lumberjack match and Road Dogg and Kane will be barred from ringside. Any questions?" He paused. "I didn't think so." He motioned and the rest of the Corporate Ministry left. He paused at the door, watching Hunter sit back down. "Oh, Hunter."
Hunter looked up.
"It had better be real or I'll make sure he doesn't leave the ring alive." And with that he left.
"Oh, God." Chyna said as she moved to the chair on the other side of Hunter. "What are we gonna do?"
Billy leaned forward putting his head in his hands. Things had gone too wrong too fast and it was making him sick.
Hunter sat back and put his arm around Chyna. He placed the other on Billy's head and sighed. "The only thing we can do. Get ready for the match and pray to God Sean and Jesse can find some way to forgive me."
Chapter 7
Jesse sat down in the DX dressing room near the waiting area of the arena. His fight with Jeff Jarrett had been interesting. He had almost gotten Debra to show her puppies when Jeff woke up and interrupted the fun. "Damn." He thought. "Oh, well, maybe next time." He was startled when the door to the dressing room opened quickly and Kane, followed closely by X-Pac, entered. Neither looked happy. "Some thing wrong?"
"Yeah," Sean said running a hand through his curly hair. "We've just been called out by the Corporate Ministry. They want to talk to us in twenty minutes near the end of Heat."
"What about?"
"Got me, man."
Jesse pulled his dreds back into a ponytail and glanced at Kane. His whole stance said he didn't like this. He looked back at Sean who was practacally bouncing. Not unusual. "Okay, what do you think they want?"
"Honestly, I'm hoping a fight."
"Sean, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a bad feeling about this. What ever they want, it won't go good for us."
"I know."
Jesse sighed and stood up. He put his hat back on and turned towards his two friends. "Well, we can't keep the Corporate Ministry waiting now can we." All three left the dressing room.
**
Twenty minutes later, the Corporate Ministry's music blared through the arena followed only mere seconds later by DX's. Jesse and X-Pac came out doing their usual antics and Kane followed silently behind.
Jesse grabbed a mike and smiled at the audience. "Let's make a little noise up in this biz-itch!"
The 'asshole' chant got noticeable louder.
Shane took the mike from Paul and stepped forward. He listened to the chants for a second before smiling evilly at DX. "Laugh while you can, but that is not why we called you out here. We called you here to inform you of a match that will take place tomorrow night on Raw. And not just any match. No, it will be a lumberjack match."
X-Pac took the mike from Jesse and stepped forward a little. "Would you quit your whining, Shane, and get on with it. Some of us have better things to do than listen to you try to screw ever one over." He kept an eye on his ex-friend in the back of the group as they silently talked. "Well, X-Punk, I will get to the point. Tomorrow night you will face Triple H in a lumberjack match. And the lumberjack's will be the Corporate Ministry. Road Dogg and Kane are bared from ringside and if they show up will be fired on the spot. How's that for getting to the point?"
X-Pac shrugged. "Fine. You want a fight, you got one. Oh, and Hunter." He waited until his former best friend looked up and made eye contact with him. "Your ass is grass and I'm gonna smoke it." With that he and Jesse saluted the Ministry with crotch chops and headed back toward their locker room.
Once behind the safety of locked doors, Jesse turned to Sean. "You can't do this, Sean. It's a suicide mission. They are gonna really hurt you."
Sean smiled at Jesse. His concern was heartwarming and he realized that was one of the reasons why he liked Jesse so much. He patted him on the shoulder before continuing. "They are gonna try, but I can take Hunter. All I gotta do is stay in the ring. Once the match is over, I'll bail through the crowd. No sweat."
"I wish I was as sure as you are over this. I know something bad is gonna happen and I don't want you getting hurt, that's all."
"I know. Thanks, man. That means more than you will ever know." He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to smile at Kane. "You too, man. Don't worry. I'll be fine, but right now, I've got a match to get ready for. You gonna help?"
Jesse smiled and nodded. "Yeah, we'll be right there." He watched as Sean left to gather up his gear. He slowly turned to Kane. "I don't like this anymore than you do, but we really don't have a choice. But I, for one, am gonna be watching that fight from the ramp and at the first sigh of real trouble, I going out there, job or no job."
Kane nodded and fixed his glove.
"Good. Now let's go get him as ready as we can."
Chapter 8
Raw came much too fast for all parties involved.
Hunter spent the first hour pacing in his locker room. He didn't want to do this. Sean could really get hurt. But he couldn't see anyway out of it. He continued to pace back and forth, his mind miles away. He only stopped twice to glance at Chyna who sat only inches from him.
Chyna was lost in her thoughts, too, but they were not on the upcoming fight. She was remembering the night that Hunter took over DX and they had all gone to celebrate.
FLASHBACK
"Two more beers, please." Chyna smiled as the bartender filled her order and she carried the beers back to the table. She smiled at the scene before her. Hunter and Sean still sat side by side sharing their wrestling adventures with each other. They hadn't seen each other in person since a couple of months after Sean had broken his neck. Her and Hunter had stayed with him while he recuperated. She didn't think he would ever get better and now here he was sitting with Hunter, drunk off his ass, and cussing up a storm about WCW.
"The stupid shitsss. They didn't even fire me in person. I found out in a letter. A fricking letter, man." He took another gulp from his glass and smiled at Chyna as she sat down.
Hunter gave her a dopey grin and turned back to X-Pac. "Well, that's why you should come back home. Join us. Be a part of DX. You, and me and Chyna and them," he said motioning to the New Age Outlaws who were currently chasing Blue aliens through the bar, "can have a lot of fun and be a family again."
Sean smiled sadly. "I miss having a family."
Hunter looped an arm around his shoulder. "You have always had a family. You and me and Chyna are like siblings, you know?"
Billy and Jesse chose that time to stop their chase and crash into the seats on either side of the two.
"Think of them as distant cousins."
Sean laughed.
Billy and Jesse shrugged and turned to Hunter. "So has he excepted yet, or what?"
Hunter looked at Sean. "I don't know? Have you?"
Sean took another sip of his drink. "Eh, why not. Sure I'm in."
"Then," Hunter said standing up, "a toast. To the new improved DX."
"To DX!"
PRESENT
Chyna sighed. Things had been so simple back then. She was surprised when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked up at Hunter.
"Time to go."
She sighed again and climbed to her feet before heading out for what she was sure was going to be one of the worst nights of her life.
**
Down the hall, Billy sat in him dressing room, working out. He was trying to take his mind off all of this. "Man, Jesse is gonna kill me after this." He smiled to himself. He could almost here the words.
What had started off as a business deal between them had quickly grown into a full-fledged friendship. He could still remember Jesse whispering "I smell money" in his ear. At the time he had only been in this for the money. Now it was different. Jesse was family. He was the brother Billy never had. Hunter, Chyna, and Sean were family, too. He got along better with them than he had his real family.
He sighed as he thought about all the fun they used to have. To bad that was in the past. He didn't even know if he had a friendship to go back to after this. To Jesse, his actions must have come off as betrayal from the worst source. He didn't know if Jesse would ever forgive him. He sighed and put the weights down. A knock on the door signaled the arrival of Chyna and Hunter. He got up and went out the door to join them as they headed out to the ring.
**
"Sean. If you don't stop pacing, I'm gonna have to hurt you." Jesse shifted again for what seemed like the millionth time. He hated waiting. And he knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that something was gonna go wrong, despite Sean's assurances. He shook his head as Sean ignored him and continued to pace. "SEAN!"
He stopped and whirled around. "What?"
"Sit. Now."
Sean looked at Jesse, who looked about ready to hit something and sat down. "Funny," he thought, "I'm the one about to go through the match from hell and he's the one about to have the heart attack." "Jesse, calm down before you pop a vein, man. Everything's gonna be cool, okay."
"No, everything is not gonna be cool. Something is gonna go wrong and you are gonna get hurt. End of story."
"Oh yea of little faith."
"It's your ass, man. If you're not gonna look out for it, someone has to."
Sean smiled. Poor Jesse. "Hey, Jess, you sound like you have been smoking some of your own goods."
Jesse smiled. He knew what Sean was doing. He was trying to lighten the mood. "He's a good kid." He thought. "Funny. Very funny. Just be careful."
"Yes, mother." Sean gave him another smile before glancing at Kane.
He was leaning against the far wall, quietly watching what was going on.
"I don't need to ask. I know he doesn't like this." Sean sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Man, I don't want to do this." He looked at Jesse. "Hunter and I used to be tight, like you and Billy. What the hell happened?"
Jesse shrugged. "Wish I knew. Now all we can do is try to forget about them and stick together." He glanced at Kane. "All of us."
Kane nodded and walked forward to place a hand on both of their shoulders.
They sat in silence until the mood was killed by a knock on the door. "X-Pac? You've got five minutes."
"Thanks." He looked at the other two. "Well, let's get this over with."
"Amen."
Chapter 9
The Corporate Ministry's music played as they filed out one by one. The crowd booed louder and louder for each person. Boss Man led the way followed by Midian, Viscera, Billy, and Chyna. The last two earned the biggest reaction. Shouts of sellout and traitor filled the air. They had a little trouble not letting the reactions of the crowd affect them. Once they were around the ring, another set of music filled the air.
Triple H's music played and the boos increased. He walked out to the ring with a steady gait. He yelled at the crowd and spit water, but that was all for show. Inside he was trembling. He was worried. Nothing good would come from this night.
X-Pac's music blasted through the speakers and the crowd cheered. He came out to his usual antics bouncing up and down as he came to the ring. The Corporate Ministry parted to allow him access to the ring. He bounced up on the mat and did a crotch chop to the rest of the Ministry before climbing into the ring. He locked his gaze with Hunter as the bell rang.
The fight started off as usual with a lot of grappling. They threw each other all over the ring. Hunter threw Sean over the top rope twice, once to Billy and once to Chyna, knowing that they wouldn't hurt him too bad. He knew Sean's moves so he did a lot of combinations that he was sure the kid knew how to counter. And Sean did.
Sean was a little confused. He had expected a hard fight, not to say this one wasn't hard, but Hunter kept using moves he could counter in his sleep. And he was sure Hunter knew that. "What the hell is going on?" He continued his assault on the larger man mercilessly. He couldn't help but smile as Hunter started to use the pedigree. "Eat your heart out, Hunter."
Hunter wasn't sure what happened. He had been lining the kid up and was about to pedigree him and end this mad fight, when he found himself on the mat. "I don't believe it. The kid found a counter to my move. Way to go, kid." He got up to continue the fight when he realized the ref was gone.
"Hunter!"
He turned just in time to catch the sledgehammer that the Big Boss Man had tossed him. The crowded booed and he turned to look at Sean, who was staring at him with those brown eyes that he swore could see into his very soul. "Oh, shit. Now what." He knew what was expected of him. "Sorry, kid. I hope you can forgive me later." He swung the hammer high and wide hoping to give the kid enough room to get out of the way.
Instead, Sean stepped in and grabbed the handle, using Hunter's own momentum to flip him to the floor. He pulled up his former friend by the hair and proceeded to nail him with several kicks, knocking him back into the corner.
Hunter was barely aware of what was going on, but he knew enough to know that he was in trouble. He saw Sean over on the other side of the mat and looked up to find himself sitting on the floor in the corner. "Bronco buster." He barely had time to think as the kid landed the move perfectly and Hunter's world disappeared.
Sean got up quickly. The crowd was cheering now. He had just landed his patented move and stepped away to admire his handy work. The cheers turned to screams and he turned around only to receive the head of the sledgehammer as it was rammed into his stomach. He dropped to his knees and looked up at
the Boss Man, who had tossed the hammer away.
He took out his nightstick and flipped it a couple of times before approaching Sean. "I'm gonna enjoy this."
Sean tried to stand but the pain was too much. That hit had damaged something important he could tell. He managed to roll out of the way of his first attack, but the pain wouldn't allow him to move out of the way of another. He felt the first blow, and then another. He was vaguely aware of the screams from the audience. The room went black and then came back to life as red light and an explosion filled the arena. "Kane." He thought. He tried to fight back but he couldn't even move now. He felt the Boss Man loop the nightstick under his chin and apply pressure to his neck. He couldn't think, couldn't breath. The world spun out of control and he lost all sense of reality.
**
Kane and Jesse had been watching the fight from outside, when they had seen the ref pulled out of the ring and knocked out. They had watched for only a moment as the sledgehammer sailed through the air.
"Oh, you did not!" Jesse got up and ran toward the ring. "Come on, Kane!"
**
Chyna had been surprised when Midian had pulled the ref out. Billy had looked at her questioningly. Both had frozen when the sledgehammer had been thrown in the ring. She looked up the ramp in time to see Jesse start out and ran with Billy to intercept him. If he got to ringside, he'd be fired. Hunter wouldn't hurt Sean. They caught him as he tried to run past him and wrestled him to the ground. They were too focused on him to here the reactions from the crowd.
Jesse screamed and hollered. "Get off of me, you assholes! You fucking traitors!" He couldn't see what was happening in the ring. Sean was gonna get killed. Boss Man was attacking him with that nightstick and his ex-friends were stopping him from going to X-Pac's aid.
They had him successfully pinned and looked down at him.
"Why?" He asked. He wanted to know what he and Sean had done that was so bad that they were willing to kill them to get revenge.
Billy couldn't take that look of agony on Jesse's face. He started to spill the beans on everything when the lights went out and part of the stage exploded signaling Kane.
Kane
No. Not right. They're friends. Not right. Hurting Sean. Must stop them. Follow Jesse. Must stop them. Chyna and other stop Jesse. Must stop them all.
Billy was surprised as he and Chyna were lifted up off the ground by Kane. There was no look of understanding in his eyes. Only hate and pain. His emotions had taken over. He raised them both above his head and slammed them down onto the ground below.
Kane proceed to clear a path for him and Jesse to the ring. Once there he fought Viscera while Jesse jumped into the ring.
Jesse saw Boss Man with his nightstick choking the life out of Sean's lifeless body and something snapped. He wasn't aware of how hard he hit the Boss Man. He didn't care. He was vaguely aware of him crawling out of the ring. His attention rested solely on his friend. He knelt down beside him. Sean's neck was red from where Boss Man had strangled him and blood was starting to come out of his mouth. He motioned to Kane, who came over and gently scooped Sean up off the ring floor. "Careful with his neck."
Kane nodded and stepped over the rope carrying his precious burden. He only stopped to kick Viscera in the face, who was getting up after being choke slammed. He walked toward the back faster than normal, following behind Jesse who was running to alert the paramedics.
Jesse made it to the back of the arena in record time and told the two paramedics that someone was being brought to them. He turned and watched as Kane carried Sean's limp form up and put him on the gurney. The paramedics took over and Jesse pulled Kane back a little. When they started to load him in, Jesse stopped them. "Do you mind if he rides?" He said pointing to Kane.
"No."
"Good." He walked back over to Kane. "You ride with them. Keep an eye on the kid. I'm gonna follow behind in my car. Okay?"
Kane nodded and climbed into the ambulance.
The doors shut and Jesse watched it pull away. He ran his hand over his dreds. "I hate it when I'm right."
Chapter 10
When Hunter came too it was too a blinding headache. "What happened?" He thought. "Oh yeah, Sean's Bronco Buster. I don't care to be on the end of that again." He felt a hand run through his hair and opened his eyes to see Chyna. She smiled slightly at him, but she looked tired. He started to sit up when Billy reached out to stop him.
"Easy, Hunter. Kid got you good."
Hunter nodded and laid back down. He could here the rest of the Corporate Ministry in the other room. They sounded like they were celebrating. "What happened?"
Chyna shook her head. "I don't know. Some how we won, but Billy and I weren't conscious enough to see what happened." He gave her an odd look. We tried to stop Jesse from going to ring side and destroying his career when Kane chokeslammed us."
"But, I thought Kane was with us?"
"He is," she replied, "But that didn't stop him. His emotions may have got the best of him. He has a little trouble controlling them."
"Apparently. So how did we win?"
"Don't know." Billy walked over to the TV on the far side of the room and turned it on. "They are gonna play it again in a few minutes. Even as he said that JR announced a replay of what had happened moments ago.
Hunter couldn't help but smile as Sean did the Broncobuster. He had always thought that move was the funniest thing he had ever seen, but it got the job done. He and the others froze as they saw Boss Man enter the ring.
They stared in horror as the scene played out before them. The camera spun to show Billy and Chyna stopping Jesse, both oblivious to what was happening in the ring. It showed Kane's entrance and trip to the ring and his departure with Jesse and X-Pac. It showed the Ministry carrying all of them out. All three sat in silence as the scene ended. They could here the cheers in the other room as the Ministry celebrated. JR told the audience that there was no word on X-Pac's condition. The next match started.
Chyna put her head on Hunter's shoulder. "I didn't know. I swear I didn't know." She cried.
Hunter reached over and put his hand on her head. "It's okay. I'm sure Sean will be fine. He's a tough kid." God, please don't make me a liar.
Billy sat in the corner with his head in his hands. Jesse's reaction made since now. He hadn't been asking why they turned, he had been asking why they stopped him from helping Sean. He felt like he was going to be physically sick.
Hunter stood up and quickly walked over to his coat, ignoring the nausea that threatened to make it's self-known.
"Where are you going?" Billy asked.
"I'm gonna go see Sean. You two are welcome to come."
"But what about the Ministry?"
"Screw the Ministry. After what they did to him, they can go to hell. After what we did to them..."
Chyna nodded and grabbed her and Billy's coats. "Come on."
He nodded and together they slipped out one of the side doors.
Chapter 11
Hunter, Chyna, and Billy quietly entered the hospital. It was huge. They had very little trouble finding out what room Sean was in. The problem was going to be getting in there without being seen. They had spotted Jesse's car outside, so he was obviously here and as of late, where ever Sean went, Kane went.
Hunter scratched his head. "Let's take the stairs."
Chyna and Billy nodded and the trio began their way up to the 9 floor. Once there, Hunter poked his head out the door before yanking it back inside and motioning the others to be quiet.
"What's going on?"
"Jesse's headed this way." Hunter pressed his ear to the door as Jesse and the doctor walked by.
"...we've managed to stop the internal bleeding, but it's gonna be a little while before he will really be up and around."
Jesse sighed. "Anything else?"
"There is one complication that you are gonna notice..." The doctors words trailed off as they continued down the hall.
Hunter sat down on the step and looked at the other two. They had heard the conversation, too.
Chyna looked at him. "Complication?"
"I don't know, but there is one way to find out." He motioned and the three quickly ran out of the stairwell and down the hall. Room 914. Hunter pushed the door open and stepped into the dimly light room. Once all three where inside, he took a good look at the occupant on the bed and couldn't help but gasp.
Sean was pale. His black hair made it all the more pronounced as it fanned out on the pillow behind his head. One small bandage covered a cut on his forehead. He had bandages wrapped around his waits, probably to keep his ribs together. He was also wearing a neck brace.
Hunter covered the distance from the door to the bed in three long strides. He grasped the limp hand that stuck out from under the sheets before reaching up to brush his hand across the kid's forehead. "Oh, God. His neck." He couldn't help but stare at the brace. The last time the kid had such a hard fight back. It wasn't fair that he had to go through it again.
Chyna walked over to the other side of the bed and lightly brushed a kiss across his brow. "Hey, Sean. Just rest and get well. We won't let them get away with this. We promise." She had to wipe her hand across her face to keep the tears from spilling down.
Billy stood at the foot of the bed. Seeing the kid still was unnatural. Hell, it was scary. This was the guy who could liven up a room just by walking into it. Well, maybe not walk, but bounce. Poor kid. He didn't deserve this. Billy turned to look out the door. Poor Jess. He had sounded so tired when they had overheard him. Billy reached out and rested his hand on Sean's foot, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Crack.
All three whipped around to stare at the furthest corner of the room. They weren't alone. Kane stepped out of the shadows. He fixed his glove and stepped forward.
Chyna intercepted him. She started talking very fast and quiet.
Billy and Hunter had moved in between them and Sean. They knew Kane wouldn't hurt him, but during a fight anything could happen accidentally.
Kane nodded slowly at Chyna. He looked at all three before pointing outside of the room. The message was clear. Get out.
Chyna nodded and quickly walked back over to Sean. She gave him another quick kiss and then went to the door. Billy walked over. "Take care, kid." He patted his arm, not knowing what else to say. He joined Chyna.
Hunter gripped his hand a little tighter and leaned over. "You'd better be okay, Sean. I don't know what we would do if you weren't." He slipped Sean's hand back under the sheet and left with the others, watching out of the corner of his eye as Kane took the spot that he had just vacated. They had to duck into a nearby room when they saw Jesse coming back down the hall. He paused outside Sean's room and sighed before continuing in. He turned to the others. "It's time we speed up this plan a little. We start working on Midian next."
To Be Continued...
