*Denver, Colorado... it's déjà vu  all over again...*

*It was just too surreal for Erika D'laney as she moved through the tiled hallways of the hospital, enroot to one Kyle Matthew Lee's room, hand in hand with her fiancée, Bryce Knight. A little over a month ago she'd visited Lee in a hospital much like this one shortly after a vicious match with her lover. At the time they'd been enemies, but a moment of compassion and concern on Lee's part soon made them allies.*

*As they rounded the final corner that would take them to Kyle's room her stomach fluttered. She was nervous. Bryce had insisted that this was a stupid idea, but they were friends now, and friends visited you in the hospital when you were sick. Only Kyle wasn't sick... he was hurt, and hurt bad.*

*She hadn't been able to get a report on his condition when she'd called ahead, but the fact that he was here and not on a plane heading back to the West Coast told her that it wasn't good. Again her stomach fluttered she wasn't sure what she'd find on the other side of that door, Kyle Lee, the guy she had a friendship with or November, the guy who seemed to hate every ounce of life around him.*

NIGHTSTRYKER: You know we could always come back tomorrow?

*She paused with her hand on the door, but shook her head.*

Erika D'laney: No, that wouldn't be right. We should see him. He'll be hurting.

NIGHTSTRYKER: He'll be angry at me, and maybe you, and if I don't like what he has to say towards you I...

*She cuts him off.*

Erika D'laney: You'll demonstrate patience. He's our friend.

NIGHTSTRYKER: Hmm...

*With that she opens the door and the pair step into the dim hospital room of, November.*

November: Glad you could make it.

*His graveled voice comes to us even before the door fully shuts, and slowly we pan to find him in his hospital bed. Busted nose, busted lip, and apparently a broken arm...*

NIGHTSTRYKER: You look like shit.

*He takes a few steps closer to get a closer look.*

Erika D'laney: Bryce! I told you to...

*And that's about all the opening that November needs to make the first jab.*

November: Yeah... it's funny how fifty-odd chair shots will do that to you. You know fuck you up? Of course you really wouldn't know anything about that though because you were taking a nap after Danny laid you out with one. Yeah, I look like shit and you're a piece of shit for not watching my back, and now here I am again back in this God damn hospital bed and out of the game again for who knows how long.

Thanks... thanks a lot.

*Bryce looks on, not sure whether to laugh or be pissed off.*

NIGHTSTRYKER: I told you Erika. I told you this would happen. Damn near word for word too.

*She takes her place by his side and grabs his hand. The warmth from her hand seemingly calms Bryce down... if only for a moment.*

Erika D'laney: Yeah, I know. But what does that say about you, knowing what was going to transpire, and still showing up?

*He reluctantly nods his head as he exhales.*

NIGHTSTRYKER: Granted, you have a point. But that doesn't mean squat to the cripple here, now does it? He thinks I didn't do my job, but didn't think twice about how he turned his attention from the match and to Kindred, and only Kindred. I mean, he keeps this up and pretty soon he is going to be a diamond member and be able to have free stays at hospitals all over the United States.

*A bed pan goes whizzing by Bryce's head which Knight easily avoids...*

November: Fuck you! Fuck the both of you! I was being attacked! Do you really think I wanted to be out there? Do you think I give a fuck if that guy lives and breathes? That was no wrestling match... I was being attacked, and in Chicago I was watching out for the both of you. I at least thought enough about the both of you to appraise you of the situation. And now I'm the one laid up in a hospital bed and this fuck...

*He jabs a finger at Bryce...*

November: ...says that it's my fault?

*He shakes his head in disgust as he glares at Bryce.*

NIGHTSTRYKER: Fine Kyle. Obviously we aren't going to get anywhere with the moods we are in. So let's just chalk it up to it being both of our faults and leave it at that.

*As he is saying that, his eyes roll ever so slightly. Erika catches that and nudges him.*

Erika D'laney: I saw that. And that is probably the smartest thing either of you have said since we got here.

*She turns her attention squarely on Kyle and places her hand on his being addressing him. Bryce once again has a problem controlling his eyes.*

Erika D'laney: I know how mad you must be, and understandably so, but let's take things down a notch. How long do the doctors think you are going to have to stay here?

*November continues to glare at Bryce ignoring Erika for the moment.*

November: Oh, they're releasing me tomorrow and then I'm flying home to California, and that's where I'll stay for the next month at least. So good luck with your match on Saturday, Bryce. I mean obviously you can do anything on your own.

*Bryce chuckles to himself.*

NIGHTSTRYKER: Oh calm down Kyle. Do I need to call the nurse in here to help you pull your panties out of a bunch?

*He sees the look on Erika's face and gets serious for a moment.*

NIGHTSTRYKER: Look, I know you are in pretty bad shape right now, but if you aren't able to compete this week, what do you suggest we do about our tag match? I mean, I know I've stated I can do the whole handicap match thing if I have to, but that really isn't what's in the best interest for our team. Although, pulling out of the match, albeit the logical thing to do, doesn't really give me that happy feeling.

*The concussion is killing him... their voices pound in his head, and even the light as dim as it is stabs at his eyes. He closes his eyes and leans back in his bed. They told him not to sleep, but he was so tired.*

November: Fuck if I know, Bryce. You should just pull out of the match. What the hell does it matter? This isn't a wrestling federation it's three ring circus. I say cut your loses and run.

*Bryce looks after Kyle for a moment, watches as his fiancée raises a hand to flick a lock of hair out of his face, and then replies.*

NIGHTSTRYKER: As usual you're chalk full of ideas.

*Lee shoots up quickly in his bed, pain streaks through his head, but he shuts it out as he refocuses on Bryce.*

November: And you have so many Bryce? I mean I don't hear you bursting at the seams to bestow your knowledge upon us. Let's face it we're out of options. It was a nice idea, but I'm shelved for at least a month, and if a little piss ant like Kindred could do this to me... if Danny could send you tapping... then what the fuck do you think Cannon and d'Ivoire will do to you? Dreams over big guy. Take your fiancée, go home, and make babies.

*Bryce opens his mouth to respond but Erika's hand is much faster as it strikes Lee across the face with a hard slap. There's a stunned silence in the room and D'laney is the first to break it.*

Erika D'laney: I've heard enough Kyle.

November: No I don't....

*Another slap...*

Erika D'laney: We're your friends. Bryce is your friend regardless of whether or not he wants to admit it. What happened on Saturday was horrible, and I know you feel embarrassed and humiliated and angry at the world... anyone would, but we did not do this to you. You know if he could have helped he would have.

*She pauses and returns a hand to his.*

Erika D'laney: It would be easy for you to crawl inside your shell right now and vanish from the wrestling world again, but you can't and you know you can't. You'll get better and then you and Bryce will crawl in that ring again and win. What Kindred did to you can't be undone, but you can fix yourself, you can start training again - both of you - and when you crawl into that ring again you can be what you once were. What you both once were. Or you can continue to live in this mediocrity that you both seem so content with now days when it comes to your careers.

*She stops there as silence settles upon the room again. This time Bryce is the first to break it...*

NIGHTSTRYKER: But babe he's right. He's shelved for at least the next month, and I'm not going to ask Evan to step in because this isn't about Fractured Reality. This was suppose to be about Kyle and I doing something different, stirring the pot, rebuilding our trust in one another. Evan has his own career to worry about.

*He shakes his head and looks to Kyle. Lee returns the gaze.*

NIGHTSTRYKER: Listen hon it's like Kyle said, it was a good idea, a great idea, but we've hit more then a roadblock here... we've been run completely off the road. If he can't wrestle then WE can't make any kind of statement. I mean from the outside looking in... this is bad... hell this is bad from the inside too.

*Erika pats Kyle on the hand, smiles, and then standing she slowly turns and calmly responds to her fiancée...*

Erika D'laney: Well then... I'll fill in for Kyle until he's better.

*The gaze between Bryce and Kyle shifts over to a look of shock towards Erika.*

NIGHTSTRYKER: Let's not be hasty now babe. I know you can hold your own in the ring, but I can't ask you to step into the ring when you haven't even been wrestling on a regular basis.

*Still smiling, she grabs both of Bryce's hands in hers and looks him dead in the eyes.*

Erika D'laney: I know you couldn't ask me to do it. So I made the decision for you. Don't worry about me in a match like this because there is nothing to worry about when we are together. You should know this by now.

*Lee watches the two for a moment and then sinks back onto his pillow.*

November: Let the girl play Bryce... she damn sure swings a chair a lot harder then your pansy ass.

*Bryce gives him a sarcastic look before returning his gaze to Erika's eyes.*

NIGHTSTRYKER: You can make decisions for yourself, so if you are up for it, then it looks like we're a go for Saturday. And at least my partner will be alot easier on the eyes.

*Lee actually chuckles at this as he turns his head to squint in their direction.*

November: And here I was thinking I was the only one for you, Bryce.

*He sighs.*

November: Now why don't the two of you get out of here. Your voices are starting to give me a headache and all that lovey dovey stuff is making me sick. Thanks for stopping by though... I do appreciate it.

*Erika turns towards Kyle, leaning back against Bryce in the process.*

Erika D'laney: You're right Kyle we should get going. Afterall we'll need to be here first thing in the morning to pick you up.

NIGHTSTRYKER: Say what?

November: No, that's not necessary. I can get a cab, you two have a flight to catch...

NIGHTSTRYKER: Yeah see babe? He can get a cab... Kyle's a big boy he can take care of himself.

November: He's right Erika... I can wipe my own ass.

*She smiles but her resolve is unwavering.*

Erika D'laney: Mmm-hmm, but we'll still be here tomorrow morning to pick you up and take you home.

November: Listen I know how to get to California.

NIGHTSTRYKER: Yeah... I mean yeah Kyle can find his way home he's like you know... something that can find its way home easily.

November: Homing pegion.

NIGHTSTRYKER: That works.

*Again she smiles.*

Erika D'laney: Oh I know, but we're not going to California... we're going to Chicago. You'll be coming to stay with us until you heal.

*Bryce's eyes go wide.*

NIGHTSTRYKER: But-but-but....

November: No really Erika I can...

*Grabbing Bryce by the hand she turns and starts to lead the both of them out of the room.*

NIGHTSTRYKER: But-but-but...

Erika D'laney: This isn't open for debate, Lee. We'll be here first thing in the morning. Try to mind the nurses while we're gone.

*With that she pushes through the door the last of her words coming to us just before it closes...*

Erika D'laney: Come on Mr. Knight it's late, I'm tired, and we're in Denver.

*Silence follows as the door clicks shut. For a moment Lee just looks at the door in contemplation. She made everything seem so simplistic when in fact there were layers on top of layers. After a moment he grabs up the phone on his nightstand and dials in a number...*

November: Gabby... how's she doing?

*End Transmission*