Fading Memories

Disclaimer: I don't own, I borrow.

Rating: T for mild violence and language, may go up in later chapters

Spoilers: ECW 6/20/06- Edge & Orton vs. RVD & Angle

Pairings: Lita/Randy (eventually), others to be determined

Summary: Just when she thought all was lost, Lita gets a reminder that she has never been truly alone.

Notes: reply to a challenge in the Extreme Evolution yahoo group and no, you aren't seeing things.. This will be a Lita/Randy story.. Just give me some time to get to that point as I haven't written or updated anything Lita/Randy in quite some time.. It may take awhile for me to get back into that train of thought.. But, I'm sure once things get going, we'll be good to go. I am completely disregarding anything that is real life (the Adam/Amy/Matt triangle, Randy's suspension, etc.). so keep that in mind and we won't have problems. Friendships backstage are by my choosing…and I'm altering the match a bit for my plot…and though I've heard the rumor that Randy was injured tonight, I'm ignoring that as well.

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Randy Orton rolled his shoulders, the young wrestler currently in his own locker room for the night.. The blue eyed wrestler expecting for Edge to show up at any moment, go over whatever strategy he wanted to use in their match tonight. Not that Randy planned on following the blond man's strategy anyway and that was simply because he didn't trust his tag team partner. While he didn't know Edge personally, he knew enough of him and had fought against him enough to know the type of person that he was. Back when he was with Evolution, Edge had challenged him for his intercontinental title belt…and put an end to his reign as the intercontinental champion. And maybe then, Edge had still been okay, had some shreds of human decency in him.. But that, just like everything else in life, changed over time. The same could be said for himself, of course, Randy wanting to think that he had grown up a little bit since then…his ego had grown considerably, but he had also matured.. At least he wanted to think that anyway, his friend John Cena always telling him that he hadn't changed a damn bit. And speaking of John, he knew that the outspoken wrestler was also in the arena.. The older man issuing a warning, not about Edge, but about Lita…the so called wild card in the equation. If there was anything about Lita that Randy was sure of…she had changed drastically. The redheaded diva had changed so much that the Legend Killer wasn't even sure if he really knew her anymore.. Convinced that the woman who walked out with Edge was only a shell of what she used to be, hiding herself from the world. She was still beautiful, there was no doubt about that, but the smile on her face never reached her eyes. A smile that Randy had seen quite often before and that he wanted to see again. Shaking his head, the young wrestler tried to rid himself of the image, hazel eyes sparkling…a smile on her face..

Blue eyes snapped to the door as it was pushed open, "don't you know how to knock?"

Lita tucked a few strands of loose hair behind her ears, "I tired knocking and you didn't answer." She averted her gaze when he wouldn't look away from her, "Edge wants to discuss the match.. Make sure you're with the 'program' as he calls it."

Randy smirked, rolling out his shoulders as he stood, "he doesn't have to worry about a damn thing. I don't need someone else's help to win matches."

A flicker of a smile passed over her face, "but you used to…when you ran with Evolution," she ducked her head and the smile was gone. "But, that's changed…that was then and this is now.. We should go."

Randy couldn't help but shake his head as she left the locker room, having no choice but to follow.. Not that he minded that too much since he was able to watch her without her noticing--

"Stop staring at my ass." Lita tossed a look over her shoulder, "and don't tell me you weren't.. I know you, Orton."

Randy rolled his eyes, easily catching up to her, "yeah well, you did walk out before I did." He grinned when she glared, clearing his throat after a moment. "How've you been, Red? I haven't really had the chance to talk to you since I got shipped back over to RAW."

The diva smiled tightly, "I really don't think you want to know, but I'll tell you I've been fine."

Orton frowned at that statement, quickly stepping in front of her. "You know you can talk to me, Li.. Or you used to anyway, so why can't you--"

She shook her head, "too much has changed, Randy.. I've changed.." Lita sent him a sad smile, "we really need to get to the locker room though or he'll get mad."

Randy ran a hand over his short hair, not liking that response at all, but fell silent on the issue for now…the two reaching the designated locker room just as the door was opening.

Edge frowned as they approached, sending Lita a pointed look before his gaze shifted to Randy. "I hope you're ready for that match tonight."

The Legend Killer scoffed, "please.. I was born ready. One Night Stand was nothing but a fluke, I will destroy Kurt Angle and I will kill the legend of ECW."

"Good," Edge stated with a sharp nod, opening the door so Randy could enter, the redhead already seated on the couch in the room. "Then I'll keep this short.. We need to take those two losers out tonight.. Or at least soften them up for Sunday…then we can finish them off and I'll bring that WWE Championship back where it belongs."

Randy nodded his agreement, "Angle won't know what hit him.. Bastard breaks my ankle, puts me on the shelf for two months.. That World Heavyweight title should have been mine."

Edge smiled smugly, "if you play your cards right Orton, you might just get a title shot when I become champion again." He flicked a glance towards Lita, "you know what to do, right?"

The redhead nodded methodically, "distract Van Dam, distract Angle…distract the referee, get a cheap shot in where I can. Not much different than usual, so I think I'm set."

Edge narrowed his eyes, Lita cringing visibly at the gesture…Randy watching the small exchange with clear cut confusion.. "Yeah well, you just remember what you're supposed to do, alright? Then we won't have any problems."

"So, the match.." Randy directed his attention to Edge, "am I starting or are you starting…or does it really not make a difference?"

The blond man shrugged indifferently, "it really doesn't make a difference. Either way the outcome will be the same.. We win, they get their asses handed to them and then on Sunday? That WWE Championship comes back to me."

Randy nodded shortly, "right well.. I need to get back to my locker room.. Finishing preparing for the match, you know? I'll see you out there."

As the door shut behind him, Orton couldn't help but shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen tonight…either to their opponents or to one of them. And if it was one of them, he could only hope that it wasn't Lita.

Randy could already hear the boos for Edge and Lita…part of the crowd starting to cheer when his entrance music started. But at this point, the fans didn't matter.. The only thing that mattered was picking up the victory tonight so they could head into Vengeance with the clear cut advantage. And as he entered the ring, he couldn't help but look over to her…drawn still, like a moth to a flame, catching her gaze briefly before he climbed up the turnbuckles to pose for the audience. Once his feet had hit the mat, his gaze shifted back to the redhead, concern flickering in those blue depths underneath…but then Edge stepped between them, momentarily blocking her from his sight. And no sooner had that happened did Kurt Angle's music hit the sound system, Randy's gaze shifting to his opponent, watching him like a predator would it's prey.. Then the audience erupted in cheers as Rob Van Dam's music hit.. Lita starting to back up towards the ropes but not exiting just yet…hazel eyes catching blue once more, Orton nodding briefly at the meaning behind that look…the diva silently telling him to be safe. And then she was exiting the ring, hazel eyes returning to their usual distant look. Thankfully then, Edge started the match.. Randy's thoughts pre-occupied for the moment, the young wrestler knowing he really couldn't be of too much use right now. Sure, he could fight but…shaking his head, Randy forced himself to concentrate.. He had to focus on the match, not the woman at ringside.. The sound of the bell ringing bringing his full attention to the center of the ring as Edge started things off with Kurt.. The wrestling machine getting the better of that exchange, Edge going after the bald man undaunted, only to be pushed away and into the turnbuckles.. Kurt following it up with a short clothesline before the referee got between them.. Orton complaining momentarily to the referee while Lita climbed up onto the ring apron… distracting the referee long enough for Edge to get in a low blow, then making the tag to Randy once Lita was once more standing on the outside of the ring. The match starting out as planned or at least going smoothly for the time being.. Randy and Edge isolating Kurt until the commercial break.

And that was when the shift happened.. Rob finally getting a tag in, going immediately after Edge.. Lita still on the outside of the ring, biding her time until the next interference on her part. The action in the ring eventually moved to the outside of the ring.. Edge and Rob trading blows as the blond man lead the ECW champion towards the redhead.. Edge calling for a steel chair, which Randy thought was rather stupid on the blond man's part…given what Van Dam was capable of doing with a steel chair…but, instead of saying anything he stayed on the ring apron, keeping an eye on the action nearby. And just as he had suspected, Rob got the better use of the chair, kicking it into Edge's face as the blond man held it up. The crowd started to cheer as Edge went down…the man using ring steps to pull himself to his feet. But, as Rob started to approach, the steel chair in his hands now, Edge grabbed Lita, pulling her in front of him.. Randy could have sworn that Rob was hesitating, waiting for the redhead to move out of the way. And that moment of hesitation was all Edge needed.. Shoving the diva at Van Dam, Rob reaching out to catch her…just starting to put her behind him when Edge came lunging at them, Lita crying out in pain as she took the brunt of the spear, Rob taking the brunt of the fall as they both came tumbling to the mat. That was the point that hell broke lose.. Rob going after Edge as soon as he was on his feet, Lita curled up in one of the corners, her face contorted in pain. But, despite that, she still wasn't out of danger.. Edge yanking her to her feet to use her as a shield once more, Rob stopping in his tracks, his eyes narrowing at his opponent…the blond man then shoving Lita at Rob, the redhead stumbling before she fell into the steps.. Van Dam tossing his weapon aside in favor of helping the diva.

"Li?" Rob crouched down at her side, a sigh of relief escaping him when she met his worried gaze. "Come on.. We need to get you to the hospital--"

Lita winced as she tried to sit up, "no hospitals.. "

Rob frowned, smoothing her hair back from her face, wincing slightly at the blood on her chin. "Red, don't be a stubborn fool. You're cut."

"Then get me …. To the trainers."

Rob shook his head, but, carefully reached out…gathering her in his arms. "If the trainers say you need stitches, we go to the hospital, understood?"

"You should be going to the hospital regardless," Randy said, then sighed.. "Lita, don't give me that look. You got speared, you hit the steps.. What if something got busted up?"

Lita opened her mouth to reply, only to wince in pain as Rob shifted her in his arms, "I don't like hospitals."

Rob scoffed, "yeah? Well that's too damn bad, because we're going to the hospital so you can be seen by a doctor. I don't care if I have to tie you down to keep you there, but we're going."

At that declaration, Rob was leaving the ringside area, the redhead cradled to his chest.. Randy following behind them. The audience, Edge and the announce team had been watching in shocked silence.. The match being called to a draw, but, that didn't seem to matter too much. Or at the very least, it didn't matter to Rob Van Dam and Randy Orton…two men that were supposed to be opponents, who had been opponents that night., but were now heading over to the hospital with Lita.. The two joined in the hallways by a concerned Tommy Dreamer and an equally concerned Beulah, Tommy holding up the keys to his rental car along with Rob's things…the foursome forgoing the ambulance in favor of Tommy's car to get the redhead the help that she needed.. Not a single on them prepared for what they would find out next.