Stephanie managed to keep from entirely freaking out She glanced around them. There had to be a way out. When she found none, that's when she began to panic. They were all ready backed up against the wall.

He was going to attempt to protect her, she knew it. All ready he was in front of her, looking like a cornered dog. She knew there would be no way he could take on all of them. Especially not these guys.

"Keep her out of this." Chris stated, looking determinded.

"I don't think you are in any position to tell us what to do, Mr. Jericho." Shane suddenly walked forward, and smirked. Her mouth dropped. Even Shane..? "Nor will we let her go. She deserves it as much as you."

"You're sick." she spat. Shane grinned at his sister.

"Thanks, sis." he snickered, sounding cheerful.

"Make an example out of them." Austin pointed toward them. Stephanie let out a yelp when three people jumped Chris. She tried to go help him, but found himself caught by Austin himself.

"Chris!" she struggled in his grip. "Let me go!"

"You see what happens, traitor? What? I don't hear you.." Austin snickered. She shivered when his breath hit her neck. "Watch your boyfriend get beat into a bloody pulp."

"Leave him alone!" she cried out as another four took their turn on him. He was trying to fight back, but they quickly over powered him.

Suddenly she felt Austin slump against her, and she buckled under his weight. She quickly felt the weight get thrown off her though, and when she turned around she found Rhyno standing over a out cold Austin.

Chris wasn't being attacked either. Rhyno helped her up, and she found herself seeing the entire ECW group attacking their old team mates.

Then she saw a bloodied and battered Chris Jericho trying to stagger to his feet, and in seconds nothing else mattered. She ran to his side. His legs buckled and he dropped to the ground, panting heavily, blood pouring from different wounds.

"Chris, are you okay?" she whispered gently. He twitched, looking like he was in extreme pain, but he looked up at her, managing to give a small, pained smile.

"Never better, Princess." he managed to say. He looked like he was probably half-awake. Suddenly she saw his eyes widen and before she could say anything he pulled her aside. She was temporarily stunned, but it quickly went away when she heard a sickening thump. She turned to find Chris now really lying out. Above him was DDP, who was holding a piece of plywood.

He began to go after her, but suddenly he slumped to the ground himself. In her panicked mind, she still recognized Raven, who was smirking, giving DDP a kick for good measure. She noted cheering, and figured they had run the WCW people off, but she didn't care.

She was back to kneeling by Chris's side, pulling him to her, his head in her lap. He was still conscience, somehow, but the blood was pouring now even more freely, staining Stephanie as well. She didn't care. His face was scrunched up, showing his obvious pain.

"Chris!" she cried, all ready feeling tears roll down her face. He opened his eyes briefly, looking up at her. "You're so stupid!" she sniffed. "Why did you take that shot for me?"

"Because.." he managed to say. "I owed you one..the blackout.." His head fell to the side. At first she thought he had died, but the steady rise and fall of his chest comforted her. She cradled him, not caring that the blood continued to flow, nor noting that all her employees but RVD, who had went to call 911, was watching her do so.


****

It felt like a dream. He had continue to drift in and out of conscienceness, his memory picking up little things. It was all blurry though, almost incomplete. He heard voices that he couldn't seem to hear clearly enough. It was like a dull buzzing noise.

He woke up, his eyes silently rolling open. His senses were assaulted all at once. The light glared down on him, the smell of detergent was overpowering, and he heard light, distinct mumbling from somewher near him, but not too close. There was one sense that quickly knew what it was dealing with, though.

Her hand. He knew it anywhere. The memories came back pretty quickly. The fight. Stephanie. ECW..

He turned his head, his eyes focusing. He knew it, it was her. Stephanie, she had her hand on his. Her head was placed on the bed he was sleeping on.

It came to him suddenly..he was in a hospital.

Chris freed his hand gently, letting it rise slightly to touch her cheek. He bit back a cry of pain when he must have moved a wrong muscle. The pain was worth it. It all was.

He watched as her eyes opened, her head slowly rising from the bed. She looked at him, and he gave her a smile. She blinked twice, then seemed to snap awake.

"You're awake!" she cried out in surprise, giving him a hug.

"Ow..ow! The ribs!" he winced.

"Oops." she coughed, letting him go.

"How long have I been out?" he inquired, yawning.

"Three days." she sighed. "Don't you worry me like that again Chris Jericho!"

"It's not my fault I was jumped by a dozen people." he pouted, wincing as his body disapproved of his movement. She looked down. "How long have YOU been here?"

"Three days." she replied again. He smiled.

"This seems like a big switch of what happened in the cabin, doesn't it?" he chuckled.

"Only you didn't throw up on me." she paused. "Well, the blood was just as bad.."

"So, what's wrong with me?" he asked.

"A few bruised ribs and bones, and a hell of a lot of stitches." she shrugged. "Not as bad as I thought."

"Are you OK?" he asked, peering up at her. She smiled lightly.

"Thanks to you." she paused, then sighed. "This was a mistake."

"What was?" he asked.

"Chris, look at you.." she sighed. "This is all my fault."

"I could have swore DDP hit me." he scratched his head.

"He wouldn't have if I wasn't so selfish." she sighed.

"Selfish?" he blinked.

"If I didn't leave WCW, you'd be OK." she sighed.

"No I wouldn't." he quickly interjected, struggling to get up. He managed to prop himself up, and picked up her chin with a hand, making her look at him. "I wouldn't have protected you if it wasn't worth it, hun. And trust me, the pain I went through wasn't as bad as the pain I had away from you.."

"Do you mean that?" she asked.

"Yeah. After all, I was numb after the first wave anyway." he grinned, his tone joking. She couldn't help but laugh. "I love you." He said it with such seriousness that he was surprised himself. He still pulled her closer into a kiss.

"What the hell..?!" Thump. Chris looked toward his hospital's room door to find Matt had fainted.

"We have explaining to do, I suppose." she mused outloud.

"To both companies." Chris agreed, grinning at Stephanie.

He pulled her into a kiss again, feeling the pain melt away. He couldn't believe he almost lost her.

"I KNEW IT!" He heard Jeff screech. Chris made a mental note to get new friends when he got better.

Well, maybe he did owe them. A little. Sort of. He glanced at all of the sudden occupants of his room. "Things are gonna be interesting now." he mused to basically himself, letting out a small chuckle.