Fading Memories

Disclaimer: I don't own, I borrow.

Rating: M for some violence and language

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

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

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

Notes: ahh.. it's kind of pertinent. switching Randy's draft day from the second day to the first day and pretending that he already knew about a roster switch.. sorry for taking forever to update...sheepish smile.. And one added note, I am without my spell and grammar checker, so hopefully all goes well in those departments.

-x-x-x-

While Rob looked like he wanted to be in the same vicinity as Lita.. Dawn managed to coax him into heading back to the hotel with her. The brunette using the excuse that, for one, she didn't know where the hotel was and more importantly.. She didn't even have a hotel room yet. And while the Battle Creek native had been reluctant to agree, he had agreed eventually.. More wilingly when he realized that the back seat would be pretty cramped if he had gone with Tommy and Beulah. Randy was already seated, Lita beside him...the redheaded diva's legs stretched out a little while she was leaning quite comfortably against the third generation wrestler. And when both Dawn and Rob started to say something, Beulah hushed them.. Pointing out, rather quickly, that Lita was already asleep and whether that was from the hospital visit or from the match tonight, none of them really knew for certain but...it wasn't like they could ask. So, instead of taking the risk of waking her up, Dawn and Rob retreated back to the former diva's car.. Waiting for Tommy to pull out of his parking spot before they were off to the hotel. But, in all truth, the redhead really wasn't asleep...certainly yes, her eyes had been closed, but she wasn't asleep. Beulah had only told Rob and Dawn that so they could get back to the hotel without a string of questions. In all truth, Lita was tired...but not in the way they were thinking. The RAW diva was tired of the way things were going, the way things had gone...tired of being stuck with seemingly no end or solution in sight. And somewhere in the back of her mind, a nagging voice told her that things would never change...that this was the way it would always be. Another voice, from another recess of her mind, argued back that things could change...but that was only if she did something. And while this internal argument was going on, the young wrestler beside her observed. Blue eyes trained on the woman he knew, wondering where the woman he used to know had gone. He felt no pangs of guilt this time around, but, Randy still couldn't help but wonder...maybe if he had been there for her more, had tried harder.. Then maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't be in this situation now. Or maybe she would've tried that much harder to push him away and isolate herself. A frown marred his handsome features then, he wanted to help her in any way that he could but.. Randy just wasn't sure if she would let him. Shaking his head, Orton turned his attention to the dark buildings surrounding them, their hotel outside of town.. His thoughts drifting to the past.

- Flashback -

The day before the drafts started was a day of nerves for both rosters. For one, it meant that the backstage would be just a little crowded with both rosters on hand and it also meant a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the locker rooms. As was the case with last year's draft lottery, no one was exempt from being drafted. No one knew which roster they would be on by the end of the night...which meant that no one knew if they would be amongst familiar faces by the time all was said and done. For the divas, in particular, it meant the difference between having the chance to wrestle or being put in an endless string of gimmick matches. But, then again, with the state of RAW and the lack of apparent interest in the women's division...Lita shook her head, ridding herself of those thoughts for now.. Trying to keep up some optimism in the face of the drafts. At this point in time, it didn't really matter to her where she would be going. She hadn't been involved in the so called women's division and she doubted that Smackdown would be any real change to that. There was no belt to compete for on Smackdown, but, she would still be playing the same role. Regardless, she went through RAW just like she would any other night...keeping to herself, staying away from the majority of either roster until the night was over.. And the returning to her hotel room to reflect...or sleep. Whatever the case may have been, it wasn't going to happen that night.

Lita blinked as the sound of someone knocking, rather persistently, reached her ears.. the redhead just exiting the bathroom and thankfully dressed.. "Unless you're selling Girl Scout cookies.. Go away."

"I don't have Girl Scout cookies, but I do have cookies," a familiar voice replied, "from the vending machine."

A thoughtful frown crossed her features as she unlocked the door but did not undo the chain, "why are you here?"

Randy Orton feigned hurt, "you don't want to see me?"

The diva rolled her eyes as she closed the door again, quickly undoing the chain before opening it. "That's not what I meant and you know it.. It's just that--"

"I know Li, everyone will jump to their own conclusions if they see me with you." Randy shrugged as he walked into the hotel room, "but that obviously didn't stop me and there's no one else awake on this floor."

Lita shut the door, arching an eyebrow as she turned to face him. "And you would know this how? Unless of course, you just went door to door to check...which, knowing you, that could be a possibility.."

The Legend Killer rolled his eyes, "very funny.. I'm just guessing because your room is at the exact opposite end of the elevator, and every room I passed by had a do not disturb sign on the door knob."

The redhead smirked at that, "but that doesn't necessairly mean they're 'sleeping' now does it?" She shook her head when he shrugged, the diva seating herself on the bed. "But, that still doesn't explain why you're here.."

He seated himself in one of the chairs in the room, running a hand through his short hair. "About that..You know, the drafts started tonight.."

"No really?" She quipped sarcastically, "I wouln't have known...what with the backstage being crowded and the parking lot packed."

Randy closed his eyes momentairly, not sure why this was suddenly so hard to tell her.. "Vince called me in for a meeting tonight.." His eyes opened, avoiding her steady gaze, "I'm being drafted to Smackdown."

Silence. Absolute silence...broken by a sigh from the redhead...and then... Silence.

"You're the only one I've told so far and--"

"You're leaving," she said quietly, almost to herself.. "you--"

"If I could stay on RAW, you know I would Li.." Orton stood, blue eyes watching her while he spoke. "But, I can't do anything about it.. Vince's word is final. I leave tomorrow morning with the Smackdown roster."

Lita turned her face away from him, biting her at her lower lip. "I...I guess it won't be so bad but.. You.."

Randy raised an eyebrow, seating himself near her. "But what, Li?"

The diva brought her knees to her chest, her chin resting lightly on her kneecaps. "It's not important, Randy."

The blue eyed wrestler frowned, "I don't buy that for a minute, Lita." He inwardly sighed when she ignored his questioning look, her face soon hidden by her hair. "Li.. Why are you doing this?"

"You were supposed to be different," she whispered to him, still refusing to look acknowledge him in any other form however.. "You weren't supposed to care about someone like me, you weren't supposed to matter." Lita let out a heavy sigh, "I wasn't supposed to care if you weren't going to be there anymore."

Cautiously, he moved closer to her, another frown crossing his features when she stiffened. "Red.. It's like you said though.. I'm not really leaving.. Just going to another roster."

"But you won't be there," Lita replied sullenly, "you won't be here anymore." And then she met his gaze, a wry smile on her face. "It was so much easier, when I thought you were nothing more than a pompous, arrogant, ass kissing jerk."

In spite of the situation at hand, Randy couldn't help but shake his head. "Yeah well, I always thought you were nothing more than a stubborn, unreachable bitch who wouldn't hesitate to kick my ass."

"I still am," she reminded him with the hint of a real smile. "Piss me off and I'll prove it."

"Thanks but no thanks," he said with a smirk, his expression sobering after a moment. "Li.. You know I won't leave you.. Sure, we might be on different rosters, but that doesn't mean anything has to change."

The diva's expression changed, "but it will change because people change.. Things always change and there's nothing that we can do about that." As she turned her eyes away from him, her mask finally fell...the walls crumbled as a tear trailed down her cheek. "Everything changes...people get lost, promises get broken.."

"Lita.." Randy reached out to her, wiping away the tears that were now falling. "I won't make you any promises that I can't keep because I know what you think of them." He waited until she was at least looking in his general direction, a finger hooking under her chin. "But that doesn't mean that I won't be there for you."

She shook her head, a defiant look in her eyes. "You say that now but--"

Orton inwardly sighed, his tone quiet but with some sense of urgency to it.. "don't push me away."

Lita held his gaze that time, her lips parting, words on the tip of her tongue but...they never came. Instead, she was turning away from him again, trying to distance herself from him but, before she could do that.. Randy pulled her towards him, holding her despite her reluctance.. The beginning of the end was looming...though neither of them knew that yet.

- End Flashback -

Of course things had changed.. Lita had changed and she had pushed him away. The woman sitting beside him was not the same woman on the outside.. But, she was still Lita. A spark of her was still there, hidden behind those walls that she had built up.. Before he could think any further on it, Randy was shaken from his thoughts...the rental car finally pulling into the hotel parking lot.. The young wrestler glancing upwards to meet Beulah's amused look. And a part of him wanted to ask her if she had been watching the entire time...not that there had been much to see but still.. He didn't ask and neither did she...the two waiting for Lita to move so they could all exit the rental car. Tommy was already out of the car, popping the trunk to get their bags.. Beulah joining him shortly, followed by Randy who was carrying the redhead. A few moments later and they were joined by Dawn and Rob, the brunette offering to carry Lita's bags before Rob had a chance to ask the same. And given the choice between a nosy Dawn and an overprotective Rob, the third generation wrestler went with the former of the two.. The trio soon on their way to the hotel, Randy informing Dawn of the location of his hotel room. And to their utmost surprise, Lita wasn't complaining about being carried...even though she could walk...or try to walk. She was awake but she was quiet.. And perhaps that was due to her injuries or perhaps there was a different reason for it. Whatever the case, Lita remained in that silence until they reached the floor where Randy's hotel room was.. Dawn leaving rather quickly, but not before promising that she would be back in the morning. With that bit of news in mind, and Lita now settled quite comfortably on the lone bed in the room, Randy decided that now was a good a time as any to take a shower.. Especially since he hadn't gotten the opportunity to do so at the arena since he had left before his match had even ended. His shower had been quick all the same, the blue eyed wrestler towel drying his short hair as he walked out of the bathroom, the young man stopping short when he saw something he really didn't want to see. For reasons he really didn't know, Lita had taken it upon herself to change while he was in the shower.. the ECW t-shirt on the floor, while she was tugging a new t-shirt over her head...but that wasn't what was bothering him.. Rather, it was the nasty bruises on the still exposed portion of her back. And then, before he could think twice about it, he crossed the length of the room in a few strides, stopping the movement of her hands before the shirt could completely cover her.

His fingertips barely grazed over one of the marks, the diva flinching at the action. "How long?" Randy asked through clenched teeth, "and please.. Don't lie to me, Lita.. I can see it and I already--"

"Long enough," she answered him quietly, "I think you've seen enough Randall."

Randy moved his hand away as if he had been burned, "you could have told me, Li."

Lita let out a bitter laugh, "that still wouldn't have stopped him, Randy."

The young wrestler shook his head, "but you could have told me.. I could have helped you."

"You don't know that," she replied distantly, the shirt long since covering her fully. "Maybe you could have tried, but you don't know if--"

"If you hadn't pushed me away and given me a chance to help you," the blue eyed wrestler interrupted shortly. "Li.. Why did you stay? Why didn't you say anything?"

The diva was silent for a long moment, her lips pressed together in a thin line. "I wanted to leave.. I tried to leave." Heaving a sigh, she closed her eyes.. "But it's not always that easy.. Not that simple."

He ran a hand through his slightly damp hair. "But that still doesn't mean you couldn't have said something."

Lita's shoulders lifted in a marginal shrug, "too late to change that now, isn't it?"

Randy shook his head, "I just don't understand why you won't let anyone help you."

A wry smile touched her face though he couldn't see it, "I'm already weak enough, you know, I don't need to depend on people...remind myself of how weak I am, what I've become."

"It's not weakness Li, it's the difference between knowing when to ask for help and being too damn stubborn." He put a hand on her shoulder, "having friends isn't a weakness."

Lita raised an eyebrow as she turned slightly to face him, "and when did you get so smart?"

Randy rolled his eyes, "it's not being smart, it's the truth." He squeezed her shoulder lightly, "we were friends before...what's changed?"

"A lot," she said, then sighed as she shook her head, "maybe too much.."

Orton cupped her chin in his hand, "I doubt that Li.." He shrugged marginally, "you're still as stubborn as everbecause you know you should have stayed at the hospital tonight." She opened her mouth to argue and he raised an eyebrow, "I know you don't like hospitals, but that's not the point. Yeah, you might have changed.. I know I've changed but you're still you.. Still pushing people away from you, believing that you can do everything by yourself."

The ghost of a smile crossed her lips, "you're the same way, you know.. And don't try to tell me different Randall Keith."

Randy smirked at that, "you just had to go there didn't you?" And then he blinked, "you're wearing my shirt."

"Yeah," she said in a matter of fact tone, a near playful look in her hazel eyes. "Is there a problem with that?"

The Legend Killer shook his head, his hand resting on her shoulder again. "Nah.. Just means that I have nothing to sleep in."

Lita rolled her eyes, "yeah right.. You have a Cardinals shirt in your bag, plus a few of those wife beaters that you used to wear all the time and--"

An amused smirk played on his features, "were you going through my stuff?"

The diva shrugged nonchalantly, "so what if I was? You went through my stuff all the time--"

"But I never wore any of your clothes."

Lita nearly laughed at the look on his face, losing the battle when the mental image appeared in her mind...wincing after a moment. "I.."

Randy moved slowly from the bed, "I'll get some ice for your rib.. After I get you some asprin."

She was reaching for him before he could move completely, her small hand grasping his wrist. "Randy.. I.. I'm sorry."

He shook his head, seating himself next to her, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear. "You have nothing to be sorry for Li.."

The dive sighed softly, resting her head on his shoulder, her voice quiet as she spoke. "I've missed you."

Carefully, he wrapped an arm around her, bringing her closer to him. "I missed you too.." Resting his chin atop her head, he added: "you don't have to be alone anymore."

Lita shifted away from him just enough to peer upwards, "don't make a promise you can't keep.."

Randy kissed her forehead, "I'm not making a promise.. I'm stating the facts. You have Dawn, Tommy, Beulah and Rob." Smiling a touch, he continued.. "and you've always had me."

The redhead's nose wrinkled slightly, "so cocky.." And then she yawned, "but as you would say.. it's not being cocky...it's being confident."

"Damn right," he told her seriously, his expression softening as her eyes started to close. "Get some sleep Li.. I'm not going anywhere."

Lita smiled sleepily, "promise?"

Randy smiled, gently urging her to lie down. "Promise.."

It didn't occur to him until after he was standing, watching her from one of the chairs in the room.. She never asked him to make any sort of promises.. Big or small for that matter. And that was simply because she didn't believe in them anymore. As she had said many times to him... Promises were empty...or they were broken all too easily. And perhaps she was just too tired to realize that she was asking him to make any sort of promise. Or there might be more to it. Whatever the case, he coudln't really ask her about it now...the diva sleeping quite peacefully given all that had happened tonight. And though he knew he should be getting some rest himself, he couldn't help but watch her. For reasons that he could never put his finger on, he was still drawn to her.. And though he never really sought her out during his time on Smackdown, he would admit easily that he missed her...wanted to see her.. Wanted to be with her. He had called her yes, but, that just wasn't the same as actually seeing her.. Spending time around her. Randy had missed her more than he cared to admit at the time.. But now, reality was staring him in the face. And as he finally gave into his body's demand for rest... He couldn't help but wonder if she had gone through the same.. If she had missed him as much as he missed her.. Needed him as much as he apparently needed her.