Post by Tombstone on Aug 29, 2012 3:55:56 GMT -5
Thursday, May 17th, 2012
Cleveland, OH
11:25 a.m.
Cleveland, OH
11:25 a.m.
Chris Stone's reflection stares solemnly back at him as the elevator slowly moves up. The doors were shiny, not a single fingerprint on them. Stone sits in his wheelchair, time nearly going by at a snail's pace. The nurse behind him looks at him in the doors, warmly smiling and putting a hand on his shoulder.
It had been almost a week since he had seen Ashley. A week since he was confronted by Hyde in the ring on Pure Mayhem. A week since he was beaten down and his leg broken. A week since he had watched Demona Angel and a woman known as The Obvious Enigma bring a scared Ashley Stone to the ring, throwing her to the bloodthirsty lion known as Hyde.
A week since he watched Hyde put a chair around her neck, climb to the top rope... and jump.
He shuts his eyes, unable to escape the image as it plays over and over on the back of his eyelids. The elevator dings, the doors slowly opening. He opens his eyes as the nurse pushes his chair forward, the wheels squeaking on the recently cleaned floor. His left leg was propped up, a huge metal brace wrapped around it from the ankle to the top of his thigh.
It had been a week since he saw Ashley. And now, he was finally going to see her. And had no idea what to say.
Just days before, he had been talking with Dr. Stewart when he was informed that Ashley was pregnant, somewhere between 2-3 months, but the baby was lost during the emergency surgery on her neck. Her body had been unable to endure the tremendous amount of stress and trauma it was experiencing all at once. This was the first Stone had heard of Ashley being pregnant. It shocked him to his core. But at the end of the conversation, he insisted on being the one to tell her of that when she was able to have visitors.
And now, he had no idea how to break the news to her.
The nurse stops in front of a door, leaning around the chair and opening. The door slowly swings open, most of the sunlight blocked out by the window blinds. The nurse rolls Stone into the room and his breath catches in his throat. Ashley was hooked up to numerous machines, a heart monitor steadily beeping by her bed. She was propped up, several IVs in her arms, her neck in a metal brace, a metal ring around her head. The ring is screwed into her skull, four posts reaching down to a vest around her shoulders. Her eyes look toward him, her lips quivering. The nurse pats Stone on the shoulder, nodding her head as she turns around and silently walks out of the room, shutting the door behind her.
Stone takes a deep breath, wheeling toward the bed. He reaches out, taking her by the hand and smiling.
Chris Stone:
"Hey, Ash..."
"Hey, Ash..."
She doesn't answer, her eyes saying everything for her. She takes her hand away from his, putting it over her stomach. Stone stares at her hand, his mind still blank on what to say. He didn't know how to start a conversation like this. He looks in her eyes, seeing the tears welling up and teetering on the edge of her eyelids. He takes a big gulp of nothing, knowing there was no good way to start this.
Chris Stone:
"Ash... I'm sorry about all of this. I should have trusted my instincts and not let you come along. I... I let you down."
"Ash... I'm sorry about all of this. I should have trusted my instincts and not let you come along. I... I let you down."
She sniffs, her lips still trembling, both hands over her stomach now. Her eyes were down, staring at her hands. Stone inches closer to the bed, trying to maintain his composure. He had to be strong for the both of them.
Chris Stone:
"Ash... The doc... The doc says you should be fine. It's still too early to tell if there's going to be any kind of... impairment, but he seems pretty optimistic that you'll come out of this fine in time. But... there was... something that did go wrong..."
"Ash... The doc... The doc says you should be fine. It's still too early to tell if there's going to be any kind of... impairment, but he seems pretty optimistic that you'll come out of this fine in time. But... there was... something that did go wrong..."
In his mind, he was kicking himself. He was hearing himself talk and hated every word he was saying. He knew what he wanted to say. Why was it so hard to say it? He clears his throat, still looking at her eyes. She continues to not even glance at him, tears silently sliding down her cheeks.
Chris Stone:
"He said... uh... He said..."
Ashley Stone:
"So you know?"
"He said... uh... He said..."
Ashley Stone:
"So you know?"
He was frozen. She continued to look at her hands, rubbing her stomach. Puzzled, his face scrunches up. And then, it clicks for him. She already knew. Of course she knew. He couldn't believe he didn't even think of that possibility.
With a grim look, he nods, placing a hand on her thigh. She continued gently rubbing her stomach, tears still making a trail on her face. And still, she didn't look at him.
Chris Stone:
"Yeah... Yeah, I know."
"Yeah... Yeah, I know."
Ashley lets out a sob, quickly holding in another, pain shooting across her face. She grips the bed sheets, her knuckles white. He rubs her leg, searching for what to say next. His mind kept going back to when he was just a young teenager, seeing his mother for the last time in her hospital bed, in a wheelchair just like he is now. How he couldn't say anything then as he was overcome with emotion.
Just like now.
Chris Stone:
"I... I don't know what to say about it, Ash. I just wish you had let me know. I wish I made you stay home. I wish I could fix all of this. But I can't."
Ashley Stone:
"It was supposed to be a surprise. I wanted to celebrate. We were officially leaving everything behind, starting a new life. I wanted it to start for us as soon as we cut all ties from... from there."
"I... I don't know what to say about it, Ash. I just wish you had let me know. I wish I made you stay home. I wish I could fix all of this. But I can't."
Ashley Stone:
"It was supposed to be a surprise. I wanted to celebrate. We were officially leaving everything behind, starting a new life. I wanted it to start for us as soon as we cut all ties from... from there."
Stone nods. He still wished he had known, but it made sense to him.
Ashley Stone:
"But you don't need to apologize. This was my fault. I was foolish. I should have known better... I should have stayed in Klesko's office. But when I saw what he was doing to you... I couldn't help myself. I left... and that's when they grabbed me. Dragged me out there... The last thing I remember is you... beaten up, bloody, handcuffed... It was so horrible..."[/color}
"But you don't need to apologize. This was my fault. I was foolish. I should have known better... I should have stayed in Klesko's office. But when I saw what he was doing to you... I couldn't help myself. I left... and that's when they grabbed me. Dragged me out there... The last thing I remember is you... beaten up, bloody, handcuffed... It was so horrible..."[/color}
She lets out another sob, a pained whimper accompanying it. Stone was finding it harder to keep his composure. He reaches for her hand again, only for her to keep it pressed against her stomach.
Ashley Stone:
"I'm so sorry, Chris. I know... I know this wouldn't have happened if I had just... just let you be you. But I was afraid... Afraid you'd go back to what you used to be... Forget about me again... I didn't want that to happen, especially with the baby. You're different when you're there."
"I'm so sorry, Chris. I know... I know this wouldn't have happened if I had just... just let you be you. But I was afraid... Afraid you'd go back to what you used to be... Forget about me again... I didn't want that to happen, especially with the baby. You're different when you're there."
Stone slowly pulls his hand back, his head lowering. He knew what she was talking about. He knew what kind of person he was when he was in the ring. That was the one thing that had been on his mind as he laid in his own hospital bed all those months ago. It stayed on his mind when he finally went home with her. He knew he owed her everything.
Chris Stone:
"Don't worry about that. I wanted it to be over. I know what I've put you through and what you've been through as you stayed by my side. You deserve better than that. And I wanted to make it up to you. I was done, ready to live comfortably with you for the rest of our lives."
Ashley Stone:
"But not now?"
Chris Stone:
"...I still do want to do that. But... I have one thing left to do."
"Don't worry about that. I wanted it to be over. I know what I've put you through and what you've been through as you stayed by my side. You deserve better than that. And I wanted to make it up to you. I was done, ready to live comfortably with you for the rest of our lives."
Ashley Stone:
"But not now?"
Chris Stone:
"...I still do want to do that. But... I have one thing left to do."
Silence fills the room, the heart monitor breaking it every few seconds. Stone looks at her, her eyes finally meeting his.
Ashley Stone:
"I know what you have to do. I've been thinking about that. But... I don't want to see you go through that again. He should pay. He has to pay... but please... don't do it. Let somebody else give him what he deserves."
Chris Stone:
"I've ignored him for too long, Ash. That's why we're here right now. He's put me in the hospital, put me in a coma... I deserved that. That was my karma. But he's crossed a line there's no going back from. You're the only family I have left. And we... we were going to have an addition. And he's taken that from us. Nobody else can make him pay for this."
Ashley Stone:
"But karma will find its way to him, just like it found its way back to you.
"I know what you have to do. I've been thinking about that. But... I don't want to see you go through that again. He should pay. He has to pay... but please... don't do it. Let somebody else give him what he deserves."
Chris Stone:
"I've ignored him for too long, Ash. That's why we're here right now. He's put me in the hospital, put me in a coma... I deserved that. That was my karma. But he's crossed a line there's no going back from. You're the only family I have left. And we... we were going to have an addition. And he's taken that from us. Nobody else can make him pay for this."
Ashley Stone:
"But karma will find its way to him, just like it found its way back to you.
Stone shakes his head. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. After everything, he thought she would want Hyde's head on a platter. And he was going to do that.
Chris Stone:
"He broke into our home, Ash. Remember that? Remember me, lying in a hospital bed, eyes shut for over a year? Then he broke your neck. And because of that... I'm not going to let him get away with what he's done. I can't."
Ashley Stone:
"And I can't watch you go down this path again! He has wronged us in ways that nobody has before. But what happens when you go back? You're not going to be able to control yourself. Believe me, I know he deserves whatever you're thinking of giving him. But when you do it, are you just going to stop there? Or do you keep going? He wasn't the only one that had a hand in it. Those two women were the ones that dragged me down there. Are you going to go after them too? And if and when you take care of them, could you just walk away? What if somebody else does something that you can't let them get away with? Don't you see that this can result in you just going in some bloodthirsty circle? And where does that leave me? Where I was for most of the time we've been together. On the sidelines, to the point of almost being forgotten. I just... I just want to put this behind us. Let it go."
Chris Stone:
"You were the one that told me to go back, to make it clear to him that whatever game he was thinking he was playing was over."
Ashley Stone:
"I know. I know... But that was before he did this to us! Just let him think he's won. We're still here. When it comes to the baby... we can just try again when it's time."
Chris Stone:
"I can't do that, Ash."
"He broke into our home, Ash. Remember that? Remember me, lying in a hospital bed, eyes shut for over a year? Then he broke your neck. And because of that... I'm not going to let him get away with what he's done. I can't."
Ashley Stone:
"And I can't watch you go down this path again! He has wronged us in ways that nobody has before. But what happens when you go back? You're not going to be able to control yourself. Believe me, I know he deserves whatever you're thinking of giving him. But when you do it, are you just going to stop there? Or do you keep going? He wasn't the only one that had a hand in it. Those two women were the ones that dragged me down there. Are you going to go after them too? And if and when you take care of them, could you just walk away? What if somebody else does something that you can't let them get away with? Don't you see that this can result in you just going in some bloodthirsty circle? And where does that leave me? Where I was for most of the time we've been together. On the sidelines, to the point of almost being forgotten. I just... I just want to put this behind us. Let it go."
Chris Stone:
"You were the one that told me to go back, to make it clear to him that whatever game he was thinking he was playing was over."
Ashley Stone:
"I know. I know... But that was before he did this to us! Just let him think he's won. We're still here. When it comes to the baby... we can just try again when it's time."
Chris Stone:
"I can't do that, Ash."
She shuts her eyes, tears flowing down her cheeks.
Ashley Stone:
"Then I can't watch you do this. Not again."
Chris Stone:
"What do you mean?"
Ashley Stone:
"I mean... I'm going to go back to Boston. Far away from him... far away from you. I love you, Chris, I really do. But I know once you're back there, you won't be able to turn it off."
Chris Stone:
"What are you talking about? I just want him. That's it."
Ashley Stone:
"I'd love to believe that. But I know it won't end there. And what if he doesn't stop? What if he doesn't stop when you're in the ring with him? What if... What if I end up getting a phone call, telling me that you're gone? I can't do that, Chris. I just can't."
Chris Stone:
"What are you saying?"
Ashley Stone:
"I'm saying if you decide to do this, you're going to do it alone. I will not put myself through another ounce of pain."
Chris Stone:
"I'm not asking you to be at ringside."
Ashley Stone:
"And that's not what I'm saying. There's more than just physical pain. Before, I would be home, watching you on TV because that was the only way I could see you. I don't want to go back to that."
Chris Stone:
"It's just one match..."
Ashley Stone:
"You and I both know it won't stop there. And it won't stop with him."
"Then I can't watch you do this. Not again."
Chris Stone:
"What do you mean?"
Ashley Stone:
"I mean... I'm going to go back to Boston. Far away from him... far away from you. I love you, Chris, I really do. But I know once you're back there, you won't be able to turn it off."
Chris Stone:
"What are you talking about? I just want him. That's it."
Ashley Stone:
"I'd love to believe that. But I know it won't end there. And what if he doesn't stop? What if he doesn't stop when you're in the ring with him? What if... What if I end up getting a phone call, telling me that you're gone? I can't do that, Chris. I just can't."
Chris Stone:
"What are you saying?"
Ashley Stone:
"I'm saying if you decide to do this, you're going to do it alone. I will not put myself through another ounce of pain."
Chris Stone:
"I'm not asking you to be at ringside."
Ashley Stone:
"And that's not what I'm saying. There's more than just physical pain. Before, I would be home, watching you on TV because that was the only way I could see you. I don't want to go back to that."
Chris Stone:
"It's just one match..."
Ashley Stone:
"You and I both know it won't stop there. And it won't stop with him."
Silence once again fills the room. Stone, puzzled and frustrated, grips the armrests of his chair.
Chris Stone:
"You just have to trust me..."
Ashley Stone:
"I've trusted you too many times before only to get burned in the end. I can't do this again, Chris!"
Chris Stone:
"Just what the hell are you saying? This man nearly destroyed us! We were going to have a baby dammit! And now, when I'm good and ready to take everything he's given us, EVERYTHING! And give it back to him... you don't want me to do it. Why? I know what I was like in the past. I am fully aware. And I regret it every day. But this is something I can't let slide. And I would think that you would be on the same wavelength as me. But you're sitting here, telling me not to do what must be done."
Ashley Stone:
"I've already said why. I know what kind of person you are. You won't be able to walk away. You won't stop at him. You won't even stop at the girls if you go after them. One thing I've learned about the real you, the you that was there all those years... You will stop at nothing until you are the best. You become obsessed with your craft. And you don't do it for anybody else. You do it for you. You do it to prove it to yourself."
Chris Stone:
"This isn't about championships, Ash... This is about retribution."
Ashley Stone:
"I know. I know full well what is driving you to think like this. And it makes me happy. But I don't want you to go back. The fact that you are willing to do that for us is good enough for me. Don't you hear what I'm saying? I'm afraid, Chris. I'm afraid of losing you to that business again. I'm afraid of what he'll do to you. I'm afraid of what you'll do to him. And... I'm afraid of what will happen when you finally achieve what you want... and you want more. Because when you're there, you always want more. I already let that business eat my brother alive. I don't want to happen to you."
"You just have to trust me..."
Ashley Stone:
"I've trusted you too many times before only to get burned in the end. I can't do this again, Chris!"
Chris Stone:
"Just what the hell are you saying? This man nearly destroyed us! We were going to have a baby dammit! And now, when I'm good and ready to take everything he's given us, EVERYTHING! And give it back to him... you don't want me to do it. Why? I know what I was like in the past. I am fully aware. And I regret it every day. But this is something I can't let slide. And I would think that you would be on the same wavelength as me. But you're sitting here, telling me not to do what must be done."
Ashley Stone:
"I've already said why. I know what kind of person you are. You won't be able to walk away. You won't stop at him. You won't even stop at the girls if you go after them. One thing I've learned about the real you, the you that was there all those years... You will stop at nothing until you are the best. You become obsessed with your craft. And you don't do it for anybody else. You do it for you. You do it to prove it to yourself."
Chris Stone:
"This isn't about championships, Ash... This is about retribution."
Ashley Stone:
"I know. I know full well what is driving you to think like this. And it makes me happy. But I don't want you to go back. The fact that you are willing to do that for us is good enough for me. Don't you hear what I'm saying? I'm afraid, Chris. I'm afraid of losing you to that business again. I'm afraid of what he'll do to you. I'm afraid of what you'll do to him. And... I'm afraid of what will happen when you finally achieve what you want... and you want more. Because when you're there, you always want more. I already let that business eat my brother alive. I don't want to happen to you."
The Scorpion's heart was stung. Her words hit him to the very bone, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. He couldn't believe she was taking this stance. No matter what he said, she didn't shake, she didn't budge. She truly believed what she was saying.
Chris Stone:
"I'm not the kind of person you think I am. I can control myself. I'm going into this focused on one thing and one thing only: Kick. John's. Ass. And when I'm done, we pick up where we left off. Before the year you sat by my bedside. Before he sent us here. Before he snuffed out a life before it even got a chance to take in its first breath. He will pay, Ashley. And I'm not going to wait for somebody else to do it for me. It has to be done by me."
"I'm not the kind of person you think I am. I can control myself. I'm going into this focused on one thing and one thing only: Kick. John's. Ass. And when I'm done, we pick up where we left off. Before the year you sat by my bedside. Before he sent us here. Before he snuffed out a life before it even got a chance to take in its first breath. He will pay, Ashley. And I'm not going to wait for somebody else to do it for me. It has to be done by me."
Her eyes look down, her hands gripping the bed sheets once again.
Ashley Stone:
"What about when he gets back up and asks for more?"
Chris Stone:
"He won't."
"What about when he gets back up and asks for more?"
Chris Stone:
"He won't."
She lets out an unbelieving laugh.
Ashley Stone:
"He will, Chris. He will. We've seen what he's like inches away from our face. I was even his boss a few years ago. He was nowhere near the level of crazy he is today, but I could tell then... He was not someone that could be taken lightly. He has changed A LOT since I ran SW... The man has no filter, Chris. No boundaries."
Chris Stone:
"And I don't when I'm there?"
"He will, Chris. He will. We've seen what he's like inches away from our face. I was even his boss a few years ago. He was nowhere near the level of crazy he is today, but I could tell then... He was not someone that could be taken lightly. He has changed A LOT since I ran SW... The man has no filter, Chris. No boundaries."
Chris Stone:
"And I don't when I'm there?"
She frowns, looking up at him.
Ashley Stone:
"That's the point I'm trying to make. You will be no better than him if you go back."
"That's the point I'm trying to make. You will be no better than him if you go back."
He shakes his head, a ball of anger growing in his stomach.
Chris Stone:
"I have to do this, Ash. I have to."
Ashley Stone:
"I know. And you should know that when I say that if you do this, you'll be doing it alone, I mean it."
Chris Stone:
"What do you mean? You're leaving? You said you would go back to Boston. Who would you go to? Who would take care of you?"
Ashley Stone:
"Unlike you, Chris, I welcome others into my life. I care about having friends. And I have friends in Boston. I'm sure one would be more than happy to take me in while I get back on my feet."
"I have to do this, Ash. I have to."
Ashley Stone:
"I know. And you should know that when I say that if you do this, you'll be doing it alone, I mean it."
Chris Stone:
"What do you mean? You're leaving? You said you would go back to Boston. Who would you go to? Who would take care of you?"
Ashley Stone:
"Unlike you, Chris, I welcome others into my life. I care about having friends. And I have friends in Boston. I'm sure one would be more than happy to take me in while I get back on my feet."
He was gritting his teeth, his jaw taut.
Chris Stone:
"So you would leave if I do this?"
Ashley Stone:
"I can't watch you do this to yourself again, Chris. And I can't let you do that to me again."
"So you would leave if I do this?"
Ashley Stone:
"I can't watch you do this to yourself again, Chris. And I can't let you do that to me again."
He shakes his head, running a hand through his hair. She wasn't thinking straight. None of this made sense to him.
Chris Stone:
"I'm just going to do this one thing... I understand if you don't want to see it. But I assure you... everything will be fine. You won't lose me. I take care of him and then, we do what we planned on. Living care free. Having a family. Being with each other. If you want to go to Boston during all of this, I understand. But please... don't throw us away. Don't let him win like that. Just... just wait for me."
Ashley Stone:
"I can't wait forever. I feel like I've been waiting for you most of the time we've been together. I can't keep waiting."
Chris Stone:
"Just give me a chance here. Let me end this my way. Let me do that and I will make you the happiest woman on the planet."
"I'm just going to do this one thing... I understand if you don't want to see it. But I assure you... everything will be fine. You won't lose me. I take care of him and then, we do what we planned on. Living care free. Having a family. Being with each other. If you want to go to Boston during all of this, I understand. But please... don't throw us away. Don't let him win like that. Just... just wait for me."
Ashley Stone:
"I can't wait forever. I feel like I've been waiting for you most of the time we've been together. I can't keep waiting."
Chris Stone:
"Just give me a chance here. Let me end this my way. Let me do that and I will make you the happiest woman on the planet."
She sighs, a single tear tumbling down her cheek.
Ashley Stone:
"Just one match?"
Chris Stone:
"That's all I need."
"Just one match?"
Chris Stone:
"That's all I need."
She looks up at him, her eyes meeting his, looking tired and worn down, ready to give up.
Ashley Stone:
"I will remember that, Chris. Just one match. But I won't wait any longer than that."
"I will remember that, Chris. Just one match. But I won't wait any longer than that."
He smiles, nodding his head. Finally, she was hearing his words.
"Don't worry, I won't make you."