A Cruel Surprise
Chapter I
“You okay?” Jeff held open the car door for Kalli as she rummaged through the glove compartment of her Mustang looking for her wallet.
“Uh huh.” Her hand brushed something leather and she pulled it out, “Found it.” She climbed out of the car, standing beside him while he closed the door and locked the car up, taking his hand as they head through the car park of the Airport. “Which gate was it again, baby?”
Jeff sighed, “You were the one with all the details.”
“Yes, but I told you, and when I tell you I expect you to remember.”
She flashed him a cheeky grin and he shook his head at her, smiling adoringly, “It was gate 12.” She nodded, continuing to walk silently beside him. After a while he leaned over to her and whispered, “Spill.”
A flush touched her cheeks, and though her unhappiness was evident she shook her head. “I don’t wanna, Jeff.”
“And why not?” He asked.
“Because we’re about to pick Heidi up and the last thing I want is her to see me looking like someone just died...”
The Hardy came to a halt, pulling her up beside him. He tilted her face toward his, “I know what you’re thinking, and this is not your fault.”
A little spitefully, exhausted and just wanting it all to go away she retorted, “Isn’t it? *I* kissed Matt, Jeff. *I* took him away from Krissy. She’s said it herself. A thousand times.” She sighed, “And God dammit, why didn’t I do something more at dinner today to stop Melly? Pregnant or not I should have slapped her or something. Isn’t that what Kalli McMahon would do?”
Jeff sighed softly, “And somehow I get the impression this is not just about you being *unable,*” he stressed the word, feeling in his voice, “to stop Melly running her mouth at dinner.” Kalli’s cheeks flushed and she looked away. Disappointed that her reaction held no real response at all, he touched her cheek, her gaze still held elsewhere, and pushed gently, “Talk to me.”
Without looking up she whispered, “Daddy is right. I am a disappointment.”
“Hey,” the Hardy Boy again tilted her face up to meet his. “That’s not true.”
She shook her head, “Baby... I’ve let everyone down.” Her eyes searched his, “And you can’t tell me that’s not true.”
“Not everyone...”
The McMahon Heiress sighed reluctantly, “Maybe... Maybe not everyone. But the important ones... All that people that really matter to me.” She spoke softly, “I let the family down by literally destroying my career in the WWF, Jeff. I let Matt down, and Krissy...”
He cut her off, “You haven’t let me down, Kalli.” Choosing his words carefully, wanting her to not just see, but feel his faith in her, “And okay, maybe you haven’t been...” He fought for the right words, “The most level headed person the last few months, but your intentions are good, Kalli. It’s your heart that runs away with you.”
She told him plainly, her disappointment in herself in her voice, “That’s no excuse.”
“Maybe,” he whispered, “But it’s the truth.”
Kalli leaned forward, wrapping her arms around his waist and hugging him tightly, “Jeff, why do you defend me when I don’t deserve to be defended? I’ve made such a mess this last few months...”
“Then make it better.” He kissed the fringe of her hair.
“How?” She near-stammered, “Melly and I can barely manage a civil word to each other, Daddy is sick to death of me, and Krissy...”
In truth, it was the loss of Krissy that hurt most of all.
“How do I even begin to make it up to them?”
Jeff gave her a gentle smile, “By loving them. By being there for them. No matter what happens, Kalli. If you persist, you can prove to them what they mean to you. Just be you.” She nodded and he added, “Without that temper.”
The girl flinched.
Her temper.
It really had been her undoing.
Her career in the WWF had been completely decimated by her temper and her temper alone.
She had quit the writing team.
She had plotted and planned and used the Women’s Division as a method of attack in her attempts to win back Jeff when he had left her.
She had performed poorly in the match she had pushed and begged for.
She had been hurt.
And most recently, she had attacked Stacy Kiebler. A WWFE Employee.
She had crossed the line.
Above all else, she had become irrational, stubborn, violent and domineering.
And McMahon’s were not supposed to be that way.
No. McMahon’s were supposed to be intelligent, business minded, fair and professional.
All the things that of late, she had been completely unable to be.
“Jeff,” she said softly, “I don’t know if I would have the first idea how to control my temper.”
“Then learn,” he told her, his voice a supportive command. “Because what you’re doing, Kalli, more than anything else, is hurting yourself.” He whispered, love in his voice, “I don’t want to see you hurting anymore.”
A little overcome, she simply nodded, squeezing him a little bit tighter than before. “Jeff,” she cooed, her voice slightly choked.
He smiled, “I know, baby.” He tilted her face up, his eyes locking on hers. His smile was infectious and when she returned it, he chuckled adoringly, leaning down to kiss her gently.
When he pulled away, Kalli giggled warmly, “I hate that you’re the sensible one.”
“Yeah, well,” he winked at her, “I hate that you’re just a little more Xtreme than me these days.”
Kalli’s giggle grew into an amused laugh, “Why Jeffykins, you’re not starting to mellow on me, are you?”
“Never,” he kissed her again, laughing when she was still giggling as he pulled away. “Come on, insane-o girl. Let’s go get your sister...”
~*~
Chapter II
“Do you see her?”
Kalli’s eyes ran desperately over the crowd gathered around Gate 12. It had been hours and the next flight departing Gate 12 was boarding. “Damn, I should’ve asked Heidi was colour her hair was.”
Jeff chuckled at this, “She dyes her hair?” Kalli nodded and he told her warmly, “You never told me that.”
Distracted she asked half-heartedly, “I didn’t?”
“Nup.”
She shook her head, “I’m surprised. She dyes it more than you do.” The girl looked up at him, flashing him a wry grin, “And she dyes it some freaky assed colours too.” She smiled to herself, remembering the time Heidi had tried to dye her hair blue, much like Jeff’s was now, only to end up with a rather intimidating, or was it horrifying, shade of green.
Catching a glimpse of the back of a girl with purple hair, Kalli pointed suddenly, “Maybe that’s her, come on baby.” She hurried forward...
Stepping straight into a girl who was just climbing out of one of the seats nearest her.
Long red hair, almost identical to the colour of Amy’s, flung back over the girl’s shoulder, “Hey! Why don’t you watch...” Her angry voice trailed away, replaced by an excited scream, “Kalli!!!”
The smile that touched Kalleasto McMahon’s face at this was priceless, “Heidi!!!” She pounced on the girl, wrapping her arms around her and hugging her as tightly as she could. She planted sweet, tiny kisses all over her cheeks, bouncing around on the spot.
Heidi laughed heartily, her voice silly, “What’s up in the hood, my homey?”
Kalli’s laughter joined hers, “God! You know I hate when you say that! It kills me!” She pulled away slightly, still holding on to her half- sister like she would disappear at any moment. Happy tears filled her eyes, “I have missed you SO DAMN MUCH!”
“You’re telling me?” Heidi yanked affectionately on her hair, “Damn, Kalli, Australia just isn’t the same without you.”
“Aww,” Kalli choked up, a tear escaping her. “Shut up already! You’re going to have me balling at any second.” She cast a glance over at Jeff, who was smiling, all amused, by the twosome. “Heidi,” Kalli took her hand, stepping away slightly again and turning her to face Jeff, “This is Jeff. Jeff, my little sister, Heidi.”
One of the most adorable grins Kalli had ever seen on Jeff’s face curled onto his lips, “It’s nice to meet you at last.”
Despite herself, a blush touched Heidi’s face and she stammered without thinking, “Shit, Kalli. He’s even hotter than I thought he’d be in the flesh.” Kalli laughed at this and the girl turned all the more crimson, “Oh God...”
Jeff winked at her, “That’s okay, you feel free to stroke my ego any time you like.”
Kalli added teasingly, “As long as that’s all she strokes.”
“KALLI!!!” A horrified gasp escaped the young Australian, and if it was possible she grew redder still.
“I’m sorry, honey. I’m just teasing.” The McMahon Heiress hugged her again, casting a look around at the gear surrounding them. “This is your stuff?” Heidi nodded. “*All* of it?” Heidi nodded again and Kalli sighed, “Girl you have *got* to learn to travel lighter.” She bent to pick up a bag while Jeff grabbed her two suitcases. She grinned at her boyfriend, “Aren’t you just the muscle man?”
He grinned, turning and heading off, walking a little in front of them so the twosome would have some time to talk.
“Heidi,” they grabbed the last of the girls bags and made their way after Jeff. “I am so, so sorry I forgot to pick you up on time.”
Heidi managed a half smile, “It’s okay...” She added, “But I would be lying if I said I wasn’t mad at you.” She shrugged, “But it happens.”
“I am sorry.” She offered weakly, “It’s just... The McMahon family luncheon turned into World War III and then Melly went into labour. It was nuts.”
Her younger sister gave her a little smile, “Now I thought you always said the McMahon family was perfect.”
Kalli shook her head, “You left the ‘compared to Mum’ off the end of that statement.”
Heidi pondered a moment and then said, “Oh hey, yeah that’s right.” She smiled and asked, “But compared to Mum, anything would be just about perfection.” She sighed, “She’s so angry at me, Kalli.”
Sensing the hurt in her half-sisters voice at this, Kalli came to a halt, “Hey, don’t, Heidi. Don’t let Mum ruin this for you.”
“I’m not, it’s just...” She told her sister softly, “The last thing she said to me before I got on that place was ‘You’re sister is going to turn you in a McMahon, just like *HE* turned her into one.’” Heidi shook her head, “Mum pulled nearly every stunt she could to keep me from coming here.”
The McMahon Heiress sighed, “I’m sorry, honey, I never wanted you to get caught between me and Mum.” She thought a moment and then said a little spitefully, “But you know what... You’re my sister, and America is *my* home. You have every right to want to see it.”
“Yeah,” Heidi smiled gently, “I do.” The two exchanged a loving glance before they started walking again. After a moment Heidi stated playfully, “But I *am* still made at you for leaving me here so long.”
Kalli groaned, “You are *never* going to let me live this down, are you?”
“Nope.”
The girl giggled, “This is going to be a long, long visit then...”
~*~
Chapter III
"So what's the plan, Kalli?"
"The plan," Kalli asked, searching through her glove compartment while Jeff drove, this time in search of some gum.
"Yeah, " Heidi nodded where she sat, stretched out in the back seat of the mustang. "The plan for the next two weeks."
Finding the gum, Kalli yanked it out of the glove compartment. "Gotcha!" She exclaimed to herself, blushing when she realized that both Jeff and Heidi's eyes were on her. She cleared her throat, grabbing some gum before handing a piece to Jeff and then to Heidi.
"Well," she spoke as she chewed. "I thought we could go to RAW and Smackdown on Monday and Tuesday.. We'll head back to Cameron on Tuesday night for two days and then we might fly out to New York if you like. We can do some clubbing and sight seeing, and I'm *dying* to take you to WWF New York!"
"And after that?"
Kalli shrugged, turning in her seat so she could sit facing her sister. "We'll play it by ear."
Heidi sat quietly for a while, then asked, "So we're *not* going to the house shows?"
Kalli shook her head and Heidi pouted. "Kalli!!! I want to go to every show while I'm here!"
"You do?"
"Of course I do," she whined. "I love the WWF. Do you think I want to miss one show?"
Jeff chuckled at this. "Dear God, she sounds just like you."
Kalli flashed him a smile and then turned her attentions back to her sister. "Well, we can go to all the house shows if you like, I just thought you'd like to see more of America."
It was Jeff who piped up. "Pro-wrestling is a big part of the American culture, Kalli."
She gave him a playful glare. "I know that, but that wasn't what I meant." She turned back to Heidi. "Are you sure? You just want to troop around with the WWF?"
"Please! Please!" Heidi bounced up and down in her seat. "Please, Kalli!"
The McMahon chuckled. "Okay, okay! Consider yourself a WWFer for the next two weeks."
"YES!" Heidi practically screamed leaning over the front seat to give Kalli an ecstatic hug and a kiss. "Thank you!"
Jeff laughed again. "Oh yeah, she is definitely just like you."
Kalli smiled at him and he returned her smile adoringly as Heidi flopped back into her seat. "This is great! I get to see Chris Jericho and The Hardy Boyz and Edge and Hurricane Helms and Christian and .." She smiled at her sister. "Added bonus, I FINALLY get to see my sister wrestle!"
And Kalli's smile was gone.
Noticing the immediate change in her older sister's demeanour, Heidi asked softly, "What?"
Kalli and Jeff exchanged a sorrowful little look and she asked again, "Kalli, come on, what is it?"
"Uh.." Tears threatened to fill her eyes, this wound was still too fresh. "Heidi.. I'm not.. I’m not competing in the WWF at the moment."
"Not even the house shows? Or Metal? Or Heat? Or anything?" Kalli shook her head sadly. "Why not?"
For a long time Kalli did not respond, her eyes locked on Jeff.
She knew very well that she could explain it away with a simple white lie. She could say 'They just don't have anything for me in the storylines at the moment.' or 'They're keeping me out until they're sure I'm a hundred percent after Unforgiven.'
Yeah, they were passable excuses.
But the entire WWF knew the real reason why she was suspended and as much as she would rather her sister not know of her recent insanity, someone would tell her eventually.
Kalli sighed softly. "I was permanently suspended from the Women's Division.." She made a vein attempt to cover that news with a bright, "But I'm training Tiara so you'll still get to see me in action."
But Heidi was not appeased. "Why were you suspended? And suspended permanently? Kalli???"
"Um, well.." Kalli struggled to explain. "I've kind of run amuck the last couple of months. After Jeff and I broke up I kinda.."
"You and Jeff broke up???" Heidi sounded horrified, "Jesus, Kalli, how much stuff have you not mentioned to me lately?"
She shrugged, "Well.."
But Heidi was still stammering, "You broke up with Jeff?"
Kalli shrugged. "Believe me, I didn't have a whole lot of say in the matter." She gave Jeff an affectionate little tap on the cheek, and though he smiled there was still some guilt in it.
"I had a few weeks of complete stupidity." He said. And though he was speaking to Heidi his eyes were locked on Kalli.
Heidi was exasperated. "That's it! You guys are going to tell me every tiny DETAIL of what's been happening these last few months."
Jeff and Kalli exchanged a little look.
Neither one knew where to begin.
~*~
Chapter IV
Heidi climbed out the mustang in the darkening parking lot of the hospital Melly was occupying, "So Stacy attacked Tiara to get to you?"
Kalli nodded, pausing with her sister while Jeff locked the car up. When he joined them, she took his hand, the threesome walking across the parking lot. "Like I said, hun, it's been nuts."
Her youngest sister simply shook her head, "That's an understatement." She smiled, "At least I'm guaranteed an interesting stay in the States."
"Yep, it's a given alright.." Jeff's voice trailed away as an ambulance came tearing up the street and into the drive of the hospital, lights blazing and sirens blaring. "Aw, man," he came to a halt waiting for the ambulance to pass them before leading the two girls across the road. The ambulance stopped at the emergency entrance. He shook his head sadly as they walked. "I hate this kind of shit."
"Me, too," Kalli murmured softly, determined to keep walking. She absolutely loathed people who stood around gawking at accidents and such.
The doors to the ambulance burst open and the EMTs carefully unloaded a stretcher. Heidi averted her eyes sadly, "I hope they're okay."
"Yeah.."
Kalli nodded, the voice of the nearest EMT reaching her. "Sherrie.. Sherrie, can you still hear me?"
The McMahon heiress froze.
There was no way..
There was no way in hell..
Though her desire to look elsewhere was strong, her gaze was pulled, fear gripping her, to the stretcher.
Messy locks of soft brown hair sat around the girl's face, her body covered in warm blankets, her face hidden breathing apparatus over her mouth and nose.
And then the very thing that confirmed her fear.
"Shane.." The girl was sobbing softly. "Where's Shane?"
Without thinking Kalli rushed forward, straight to the EMTs. One grabbed her pulling her to a halt. "Stay back, Miss."
"You don't understand.." Kalli struggled under the man's tight grip, "Sherrie? Sherrie?" Kalli grappled with the man's hold on her wrist determined to get closer.
Jeff and Heidi, both of whom who had been averting their gazes, suddenly realized that it was Kalli that was crying out. Both whirled, "Kalli?" Jeff stepped forward, his gaze sitting on the girl on the stretcher, he barely murmured, "Oh my God.."
Frightened and confused, Heidi paled, whispering, "Jeff?" She gulped. "Who is it?"
"Sherrie," he whispered. "Shane's wife."
"God.." Heidi stammered.
Kalli finally fought free of the EMT, leaning carefully over the stretcher, her fear and worry in her voice, "Sherrie, can you hear me?"
The injured young woman barely managed a weak, "Kalli?"
"Yeah, it's me."
"Wh.. Where's Shane?" Tears ran down her blood-streaked face. "Where's Shane?"
The EMT Kalli had managed to get past asked softly, "Miss, do you know this woman?"
Kalli nodded, "Yes." She barely kept from bursting into tears as she spoke, "She's my sister in law."
"Then you'll need to notify her husband." He leant forward, his voice quiet. "I think she may need surgery. There'll be forms and permission slips that need to be filled out, do you understand?"
Kalli barely replied, "I understand." She turned her attentions back to Sherrie, "Sher, let them take care of you, okay? Everything is going to be okay.."
"Shane?" She asked weakly again.
A single tear escaped Kalli at this, her heart breaking for her sister in law, for her friend. "I'll get him, Sher. He'll be here real soon, I promise."
The EMT cleared his throat. "We have to get her inside."
Kalli nodded, leaning down to kiss Sherrie's forehead. "You'll be okay, honey." She stepped back, giving Sherrie the most soothing and supportive smile she could manage. It remained until Sherrie was out of sight.
But it faded fast when she was gone, a startled sob escaping her.
Hands wrapped gently around her shoulders, turning her into a muscular chest and she whispered, "Jeffy.. Tell me this isn't the worst holiday in the history of the McMahon family."
He whispered back, "I wish I could."
Heidi stepped up beside them. "I'm so sorry, Kalli."
Kalli smiled sadly, gratefully. "Thanks, Heidi." She looked up at Jeff sniffling. "We have to find Shane."
"Then let's go, baby." He took her hand, leading her into the hospital with Heidi just two steps behind.
And all the while Kalli prayed..
Please, God, just let this family be okay.
~ The End ~