Only Skin Deep

Disclaimer: Author owns nothing that is recognizable. Capiche? I just borrow for a bit of fun .. Or torture if you'd like to call it that.

Spoilers: hahahahahahaha, no.

Pairings: not important

Rating: T 'cuz I have a foul mouth.

Summary: When the women's division is put on hold, the Diva's of the WWE come up with their own solution.

Notes: Now, let me explain a few things. Trish injured, but still able to travel otherwise I wouldn't be able to have her in this piece. This little piece of fiction is something I would die to see happen, and keeping that in mind, everything is highly unlikely to happen. One champion per title, sorry but it's crucial to the plot. There is no set starting time. Some slight new Diva bashing. Friendships, alliances, associations by my choosing. Mix of scripted and non scripted .. Oh yeah, rosters joined but still two separate shows .. that's it.. Enjoy!

……………….

Diva's Locker Room

"Well this just sucks," Trish Stratus let out a dejected sigh, closing her cell phone with a flick of her wrist. "I can't wrestle for six weeks!"

"Tell me about it," Victoria huffed, sweeping her hair from her face, "What am I going to do now? Wrestle against myself?"

"Well…" Lita began thoughtfully, "You can always ask Bischoff to include you in the lingerie pillow fights."

The raven haired Diva rolled her eyes, tossing a shoe at the redhead. "No thanks .. That's not really my cup of tea."

"Just saying.." Lita held up her hands in defense, propping her crutch against a nearby locker. "But you're right, it majorly sucks. First me, now Trish."

"So, who does that leave?"

"Well there's Christy.."

The blonde Canadian wrinkled her nose, "You're kidding right…? No offense Li, but Christy just isn't ready."

"So.." Victoria sat back, resting her palms flat on the carpeted floor. "What about Dawn, Torrie or Jackie?"

"What about me?" the New Jersey native queried as she entered the locker room. "Is Trish talking about me again?"

The women's champion rolled her eyes, "No .. at least not this week." she shrugged then, "I just got off the phone with my doc. And apparently I injured my back worse than I thought .."

"She can't wrestle for six weeks." Lita finished for the blonde. "So, now we're wondering who's left to carry the women's division."

"Ahhh.." Dawn nodded then, setting her gym bag down on the bench. "Well, if they hadn't gotten rid of Gail, Jazz, Jacqueline, Nidia .."

"If Molly hadn't asked to be released."

"And if Ivory wasn't off doing Experience.." the New Jersey native pursed her lips in thought, "So who is left?"

Victoria shrugged, "We figured, it's between me, you, Torrie and Jackie.. And Stacy of course."

The brunette Diva shrugged, "What about the new girls? I thought Candice, Maria and Christy were training and stuff. .. I'm pretty sure Michelle is."

"We know that," Trish brushed back a strand of hair from her face, "but are they ready to really carry the women's division?"

Dawn shrugged absently, "You're guess is as good as mine."

"Yeah, I'm sure .." the voice in the hallway giggled, "I'll see you later okay? Bye!"

"Torrie's here.."

"Hey girls!" Torrie Wilson smiled brightly as she entered the designated Diva's locker room. "What's up?"

Victoria smiled from her spot on the floor, "Trish is out with an injury for six weeks, so we're trying to figure out who else is left to carry the women's division."

"Well that just stinks." the Idaho native frowned, "I'm really sorry to hear that Trish."

"Eh," the blonde Canadian shrugged, "part of the business I guess." Trish offered her best smile, "so who's the lucky guy?"

"Oh well.." Torrie blushed slightly, "Don't tell Stacy?"

"You didn't.." Dawn raised an eyebrow, "Torrie! Stacy is gonna flip!"

"Well, they've been broken up for awhile and-"

"But isn't there an unwritten rule or something?" The New Jersey native sat back on the bench, "Thou shall not go after a friend's ex.?"

"But she moved on," Torrie pointed out tactfully, "So I don't see why it should be such a big deal."

"Who moved on?" Jackie queried as she entered the locker room, "And what isn't a big deal?"

"Stacy moving on from Randy." Lita summed it up quickly, "And Torrie and Randy have a date later."

Jackie let out a low whistle, "Ooooh Torrie, Stace is gonna kill you."

"Do you think I should cancel then?"

"Well…" Jackie shrugged, setting her own gym bag down. "I just happened to overhear Stacy making plans for a date later.."

"With who?"

"Yeah .. I'm looking forward to it too." the voice in the hallway paused, "Sure, I'll see you later okay? Bye Rob!"

"Hey girls!" Stacy Keibler smiled as she entered the locker room, "What's up?"

"Well.." Trish cleared her throat slightly, "We were just trying to figure out who's left to carry the women's division."

"Huh?"

"Trish injured her back worse than she thought," Victoria explained quickly, "she'll be out for six weeks at least, plus with Li already injured.."

"Oh," Stacy frowned as she set her gym bag down, "well that really stinks!"

"Uh huh," Lita nodded in agreement, "We figure there's you, Victoria, Dawn, Torrie and Jackie so-"

"Are you kidding?" Jackie rolled her eyes, "Have you seen me in any matches lately? Have you seen Torrie or Dawn in any matches lately?"

"There's also the new girls-"

Dawn snorted, "Please they can't carry a decent promo, and you expect them to work a good match?"

"Dawn," Lita chastised, "let's be nice.."

"Anyway," Trish spoke up then, "So yeah, Stace, that's what we're doing.. Trying to figure out who's left to carry the women's division while me and Li are out."

"Hey girls!" an arena crew member stuck her person in the doorway, "Updated scripts for tonight!"

"Thanks." Victoria smiled, hopping up from the floor to take the stack. "Let's see what we're scheduled for."

"Are those the new scripts?" Maria queried as she entered the locker room, "I lost mine.."

Trish raised an eyebrow but didn't comment, "Updated scripts actually and they just got here."

"Here's yours.." Victoria mentioned as she handed Maria's script off, "Where's Joy, Lauren, Michelle, Candice, Christy and Melina?"

"Just got here," Maria mentioned then, the woman feeling slightly intimidated. "I saw Lillian talking to Batista on the way here."

"Nothing new," Lita commented as she skimmed over her script, "Oh goodie.. I'm officiating tonight."

"And I'm.." Dawn stopped mid-sentence, "I'm in a paddle on a pole match."

Stacy snorted, "At least you aren't in a stupid evening gown match."

"Yeah really," Torrie echoed the leggy blonde's distaste. "I'll give them some credit though, it's a six woman tag match this time."

"Well, whoop-dee-damn-doo." Jackie rolled her eyes, "This is just really stupid.. It's the same ole shit week after week."

"And it'll only be that way," Torrie reasoned then, "Until Li and Trish are healthy enough to wrestle."

"What will only be that way?" Joy questioned as she, Michelle and Candice entered the locker room. "Are those the new scripts?"

"Updated," Stacy mentioned, "And Trish injured her back, she's out for six weeks .. We're trying to figure out who else can carry the women's division."

"Can someone get the door?" Christy beckoned from the hallway. "My hands are full of costumes."

"Door's open.." Trish replied then, the blonde Diva smoothing down her dress shirt, "And who are the goods for?"

"Joy, Dawn, Michelle, Candice, Torrie, Stacy, Lauren and Jackie." Christy let out a breath, "And referee uniforms for Li and myself."

"Ladies." Chris Jericho popped his head in, "Bischoff, Long and McMahon need to see you all for a quick meeting .. Run over your scripts or something."

Victoria nodded in turn, "Thanks Chris."

The blonde Canadian touched a hand to his forehead, "No problemo.."

"Well," Trish huffed, "Let's get this over with."

……………

Silence fell over the locker room, the Diva's taking their time as they exited their temporary sanctuary. They met up with Melina and Lillian in the hallway, Victoria explaining that they were needed for a meeting with the heads. Torrie opted not to tell Stacy about her date, figuring that her best friend really wouldn't appreciate hearing that bit of information. At least not yet anyway but she did intend on telling her before the night was over. Whatever the case, the Diva's filed into the office designated to McMahon, all nodding in greeting before they dispersed themselves amongst the couches and chairs.

"Good evening ladies," Vince sent a smile to them all then, "Just wanted to touch base with you all about the scripts."

Bischoff nodded in turn, "The paddle on the pole match is set for tomorrow night, Christy? You'll be officiating for that match."

"Lita? You're officiating for the six woman, evening gown match.." Vince paused to look over the master copy, "And Victoria you and Trish-"

"Um, Mr. McMahon?" The women's champion raised an eyebrow, "I talked to my doctor earlier, and .. I can't wrestle for six weeks because of my back."

Vince removed his reading glasses, "Excuse me?"

"I can't wrestle for six weeks.." Trish shrugged nonchalantly, "I can still travel, I can appear on television … but I can't wrestle."

"Well this puts a damper on things," Vince frowned then, rubbing the bridge of his nose in thought. "I'll just make a few adjustments to the script.."

"I'm sorry Mr. McMahon," the blonde Canadian offered an apologetic smile, "if there was something-"

"No, it's quite alright," Vince interjected then, "It's just we've got another photo shoot scheduled five weeks from now, plus another television special, a few charity events and things of that nature. I guess we can just put the women's division on hold until you're able to defend the belt."

"And do what until then?" Jackie questioned quietly, "Have more bra and panties matches?"

Bischoff raised an eyebrow, "Unless you all think you can come up with an alternate plan."

"And if we can?" Lita questioned the RAW G.M. "If we can come up with an alternate plan, do you as management, agree to carry through with it?"

Long shrugged his shoulders, "You make it believable, and you got yourself a deal .. With my show anyway."

"And with RAW as well."

Vince pushed back from his desk, resting his feet on the desk top surface. "If you can propose an alternate, it has to be within reason. You'll need to come up with the alternate storylines, angles, matches, etc.. for the next six weeks. Since you're all still able to travel, the other things shouldn't be a problem…correct?"

"Correct." Trish tossed her hair over her shoulder, "When do you need the proposal?"

"Tuesday, by the time Smackdown starts taping," Vince stated firmly. "I realize that's not much time, but we need to know so we can alter the scripts for everyone accordingly."

"Done." Victoria spoke up for them all, "We'll have the proposal, all six weeks of it, on Tuesday."

"Good," Vince nodded then, "Well you all have your assignments for this evening .. The pre-show meeting starts in about fifteen minutes.."

"Thanks for your time." Jackie mentioned with a forced smile.

…………

The remaining Diva's nodded in turn, all turning on heel to exit the office shortly after. Granted, they didn't know exactly what they would do about the next six weeks, but they'd figure out something. They just knew that they wouldn't be appearing in six more weeks of paddle on a pole matches or other such degrading things. It wasn't that they entirely minded, or at least they didn't complain about it, just that there had to be something more interesting for them to do. The only question was: what could they do?

"So genius," Dawn raised an eyebrow at the redhead, "just what are we going to plan for the next six weeks?"

"You all can figure that out for yourselves," Melina tossed her hair over her shoulder, "I've gotta meet with Mercury and Nitro." she sent a wave over her shoulder, grabbing her bag before she exited the locker room.

"Lucky bitch." Trish rolled her eyes, indicating for Joy to close the door after the retreating Diva. "Now, back to business .. We have to plan six weeks worth of alternate material."

"Preferably material that doesn't involve bikinis, lingerie and the likes."

Dawn nodded in agreement with Joy. "That too .. So, what are we going to do?"

"There has to be something."

"We'll figure it out," Lita promised then, "I mean anything has got to be better than what they have planned for this week."

"Well," Christy sent a glance to the clock, "We'd better figure out something soon .. We don't have much time."

"We've got until tomorrow," Joy pointed out then, the brunette wrinkling her nose in disgust at her appointed outfit for the next night. "That's enough time as long as we start planning now."

"Exactly," Torrie settled on the bench, "So, lets see what else is planned for tonight .. That way we can figure out when they put the Diva's segments in for the shows."

"Okay," Trish glanced over the script in her lap, "They're starting the night with a fatal four way…then a promo.."

"Singles match, promo, tag match, commercial break, back to the tag match," Stacy frowned in thought, "Six woman evening gown match."

"Commerical break, Promo, singles match, another promo…non title tag match." Victoria finished then, "So that's the program for tonight."

Dawn made a face, "Why do the guys get matches and we get-"

"The shit end of the stick?" Lita supplied with a wry smile, "because we're females that's why."

"That's not fair." Jackie scowled, "Just because we're female doesn't mean we can't wrestle."

"Tell me about it," Michelle sighed, setting her script off to the side, "but it's how the business works.. I guess anyway."

"More or less," Trish smiled half heartedly, "we're here for the sex appeal."

"But that goes both ways doesn't it?" Victoria sent a look around the locker room, "I mean, not all of the guys are fugly."

"No," Dawn conceded then, "Some of them are just damn.."

"Okay, okay.." Trish interrupted then, "back to the task at hand? Like figuring out what we're going to plan for the next six weeks."

"I'm just saying," The New Jersey native shrugged, "Some of the guys could be models-"

"Or porn stars."

"Jackie!" Lillian exclaimed then, "Come on girls,.. I mean, I know I'm not here to be a wrestler, but I feel your pain."

"So, what are we going to do?"

The room fell silent, the diva's seemingly at a dead end.

"Lita, why are you smiling like that?"

Candice raised an eyebrow, "Lita? The last time you had that look all of my stuff disappeared and re-appeared later in Triple H's locker room."

"I know, I know.." the redhead offered a sheepish smile, "I didn't think Eddie was going to go through with it, and I'm sorry Candice."

"So what are you scheming this time?"

"Well," Lita tossed her hair over her shoulder, "there are more than enough males on the roster.. They get all the good matches, they don't have to do photo shoots-"

"I wouldn't complain if they did."

"They don't have to wrestle in lingerie, they don't-"

"The point Li?"

"We schedule things like they would be for us, but instead .. We find replacements."

Torrie's forehead etched in confusion, "Replacements?"

"Exactly." Lita grinned, "We find replacements."

Trish raised an eyebrow, "What kind of replacements?"

Victoria slowly smiled, "Just take a good look around you Trish .. The hallways are filled with them."

Stacy blinked, "You mean the guys?"

"Precisely," a wicked grin creased at the corners of the North Carolina native's mouth. "It's within reason, it'll draw ratings, plus it'll keep us out of the lingerie, the bikinis, the mud, and whatever else they plan for us."

"Vince won't go for that," Joy pointed out quickly.

"It's worth a shot," Trish countered with a shrug, "Besides, I think it's high time the guys learned exactly what we go through."

"So, how are we gonna figure out who replaces us?" Maria blinked then, "There are a lot of guys and-"

"We've got the pre-show meeting coming up." Michelle pointed out then, "We can pick and choose .. Narrow it down to say-"

"No more than twenty five."

"We'll get copies of the programs," Lauren spoke up finally, "And tonight we narrow it down to.."

"Ten." Dawn reasoned then, "Or do you think it should be more?"

"I think ten is good." Christy shrugged her shoulders then, "So that's the plan? We find ten guys to take our places for the next six weeks?"

Lita nodded in confirmation, "More or less, yup .. That's the gist of it all."

Trish let out a laugh, "The guys won't know what hit 'em."

"That's if Vince approves it.."

"If he doesn't." Jackie tossed her hair over her shoulder, "Then I'm protesting for six weeks.. I don't know about the rest of you, but I could use a good vacation."

"Mamacita's!" Eddie Guerrero beckoned from the hallway, "Meeting's starting soon, are you all descent?"

"We'll be there Eddie!" Dawn called back, "Don't wait up!"

"So, it's settled?" Trish sent a look around the locker room, "If Vince doesn't accept our deal, we protest for six weeks."

Although there were still some doubts lingering amongst them, there was a subsequent nod of heads in agreement. They had their plan in mind as they filed out of the locker room to the pre-show meeting, or at least the beginning stages of it. Now all they had to do was figure out who was going to take their places.