October 9 was going to be a special day for Stevie Richards. It was his birthday, and one of his friends, Hunter, had been planning a big surprise for him.

"Yo, Stevie!" Hunter finds Stevie watching tv in his lockerroom. Stevie looks up and grins as Hunter enters the room, a grin on his face as well. "Yeah?" Hunter walks over to Stevie and gives him a friendly hug. "Happy Birthday man! And do I have a gift for you.."

"A gift?" Stevie asks, jumping up and down excitedly. "Oh, what is it? I can't wait!" Hunter laughs. "Calm down, kid. This is a special gift, and it'll take a few minutes to get here. But don't worry...I assure you that this'll be well worth the wait."

"Can ya give me a clue? Huh, huh?!" Hunter shakes his head slightly. "No way! Just wait a few minutes, and believe me, you'll be so happy I didn't tell you!" Stevie hugs Hunter. "I-I haven't even gotten the gift, and I'm so happy!" he exclaims.

Hunter smiles. "Now you wait here, I've gotta go make sure everything's working out right...but I promise you, you're gonna love this!"

Hunter exits the room, making sure to shut the door behind him.  On the other side of the now empty arena, Chris Jericho and Andrew have just grabbed Jen.  "What do you two think you're doing?" she asks angrily.
 

"You'll see," Andrew says, grinning. A few seconds later, Hunter walks over to them, a smirk on his face. "Well, look who we have here," he says, putting his hand under Jen's chin and forcing her to meet his eyes. "What are you trying to pull?" Hunter just keeps on smirking.

"Hunter I find nothing amusing about this, so you better tell me what you're up to!" Jen demands. Hunter shakes his head, then motions for Jericho and Andrew to follow him.

"Maaaaark!" Hunter turns around and glares at the girl. "Will you shut up? If you don't, I might be forced to use that sledgehammer again, and it won't be a pretty sight." She goes along with them quietly after that remark, trying to think of a way to escape. Hunter stops at a door and grins at Jen. "Time's up."

Hunter opens the door slowly and peeks his head inside. "Stevie?" Stevie pokes his head out from behind the door. "Yes?" "You ready?" Stevie nods excitedly. "Okay.. close your eyes and I'll bring your gift in." Stevie listens and closes his eyes, grinning ear to ear.

"Don't say anything," Hunter whispers to Jen. He watches as Andrew and Jericho drag in the 'gift.' "All right, Stevie,
open your eyes!" Stevie does and his whole face lights up. "Jen!" he yells, running across the room and hugging her.

"Stevie get off me!" Jen shouts, shoving Stevie away. He stumbles backwards, slightly. He frowns at Hunter, his eyes growing sad. Hunter walks up behind Jen. "You better be nice to Stevie. It *is* his birthday and I don't want to see him sad. So, if I see him upset again because of you, I just might have to bring my sledgehammer out." he whispers in her ear.

She shivers slightly, imagining the sledgehammer. "Um, uh, sorry," she mumbles. Stevie gives Hunter a surprised look. "You mean.. you mean she's mine?" he asks. Jen almost says out loud that she doesn't belong to anybody and remembers the sledgehammer. She doesn't say a word.
 

Hunter smiles, placing a hand on Jen's shoulder. "All yours." Hunter answers, glancing at Jericho and Andrew when they chuckle. "I know how much ya like her, and I thought she'd be the perfect birthday gift for you!"
"Thanks, Hunter!" Stevie cries happily. He glances at
Jen. "A hug for your new boyfriend?" he asks, as Hunter shoves Jen into his arms. She can't do anything about it...unless she risks getting hit with a sledgehammer. "This is going to be the best birthday ever!" Stevie says, smiling.

Joey paced around the backstage area, highly agitated.
Ashlee, his Ashlee, was now back at Andrew's side. He had to get her back, somehow...He jumped when someone came up behind him. "Easy, boy," said a deep voice. Joey turned around and saw Mark. "You're thinking about Ashlee again." It was not a question but a statement,. "Yes." "I can help you get her back." "How?" the Posse member demanded. "Oh, it's nothing, really... less than twenty-four hours and she'll be yours again, I promise you."

Joey smiles excitedly. "Really?!" Mark nods. "Yes, and there's not going to be anything her precious Andrew can do about it." "Thank you Mark! I owe you big time buddy!”

Ashlee walked down the dark hallway. She was a little
uncomfortable- why did it have to be so dark down here, anyways- but she kept going. It was the only way to reach Stevie, and she needed to congratulate him on his new 'girlfriend.' It would be all the better that Jen would be there...Ashlee suddenly felt a strong hand cover her
mouth. "If you dare scream, I'll see to it that you never wake up again." Slightly dazed, Ashlee realized that she was breathing in some sort of drug...ether or a similar substance. She tried to fight the darkness that would follow but soon became its victim.

Stevie places his arm casually around his new girlfriend. He looks into her eyes lovingly.  "So Stevie, I take it you like your gift?" Hunter questions, smirking. "Uh huh, uh huh! I love it Hunter!" Stevie replies, not taking his eyes off of Jen.

Jen tries her best to ignore him. She silently begs Mark or Adam or somebody to come get her out of here and away from these two. Hunter leans down and looks at Jen with a huge grin. "Jen, what do you think of your new boyfriend. Come on, be honest."

"What I really think?" Hunter nods and gives her a look which tells her to be nice. "Umm.. I think he's really.." she stops, cringing at the thought of having to compliment Stevie, "- nice and sweet. He's an absolute doll." Hunter claps lightly, satisfied at the smile that spreads across Stevie's face.

Ashlee's eyes flickered open slowly, taking in her surroundings. It was very dark, and she felt a chill in the air. Something was very wrong here...."Ashlee! You're awake!" Terrified, Ashlee glanced over to see Joey heading towards her. "Stay away from me!" she yells, but it's no use. Joey takes her hand in his and looks at her seriously. "It's okay, I'm here. You're safe."

"Safe with you? You have got to be kidding me!" she says, yanking her hand out of his grasp. He frowns slightly at her. "I'm serious Ash. You know I only want what's best for you..." his voice trails off.

"I can't believe you, Joey," Ashlee replies sharply. "If you knew what's best for me you would've stayed away from me!"

"Ashlee, you don't understand. That Andrew is a loser, a dangerous psycho that's only going to hurt you. In the long run...you'll realize that what I'm doing is best for everyone involved.”

Stevie leans in toward Jen's face, puckering his lips. Jen backs up. "What are you doing?" "I want to give you a kiss..." Jen just about protests, but remembers Hunter and the sledgehammer. She looks over Stevie's shoulder, and glares at Hunter. He grins and blows her a kiss. She shakes her head slightly. I'm going to get this bastard for this..

Very reluctantly, Jen has to accept...or else get a broken limb or a kiss from Hunter, or, worse yet, both. She manages to glare at Hunter, who's holding a hand over his mouth to keep the laughter from escaping.

Jen turns her attention back to Stevie. "Fine, fine.. go ahead and give me the kiss." Stevie beams with happiness and he leans down once again and kisses Jen. Hunter removes his hand from his mouth and starts laughing out loud. "Looks like fun Stevie, can I give her a little kiss myself?" Hunter suggests. Stevie smiles. "Sure.. but, just on the cheek, k?" "Sure.." Hunter walks over toward the two and smirks at Jen then proceeds to give her a quick kiss on the cheek.

Joey helps Ashlee to her feet- she's still a bit weak from the ether. "Sweetheart, I'm telling you this is for the best!" "Don't sweetheart me, Joey!" she snaps. He pulls her close and kisses her. "Feel better?" "NO!" she shouts, slapping him.

He puts his hand up to where she slapped him. He looks at her sadly. "That hurt Ash.." he sniffles. "Good! I'm glad it did. Now let me go Joey!" She struggles to free herself, but someone walks up to her from behind and grabs onto her shoulders. "Going somewhere?"
 

"Mark," Ashlee says angrily. "I should've known you were involved in this." He laughs. "So maybe I was. But you know, this is one time that you're not going to get away from your husband." "No..." Ashlee argues.

"Oh yes.. there's no escape. Besides, I know you secretly love being around Joey, so stop pretending that you want to get away." Ashlee doesn't reply, because Joey cuts her off before she has a chance to say anything. "Mark! Andrew's not going to bother us, right?" "That boy doesn't even know where Ashlee is.. so I wouldn't worry about it, Joey.
Although you should be going soon. I saw Jericho roaming around the building before..." Mark informs, glancing around.

Jen gives Hunter a look that could freeze water in July. "You know, Stevie, it's getting late...you should probably get going on that date now," Hunter says, aiming a smirk at Jen. "Oh, and Jen? Be nice to him, will ya? You know what'll happen if you're not." She nods her head slightly, but out of the corner of her eye notices a figure in the
darkness, dressed in a long black coat.

Hunter looks at her, confused. "What are you look-" he gets cut off as Adam jumps him from behind, knocking him to the ground. Stevie shrieks and pulls Jen behind him. "Don't worry, I won't let him hurt you!" Stevie assures her. Adam starts to kick and after a few kicks, he turns his attention to Stevie, grinning.

"No...stay away!" Stevie cries. "Just release Jen and nobody will get hurt," Adam says calmly. "But....but-" "Stevie, don't argue with me." Stevie nods, frightened, and leads Jen to Adam. His face pales as he races off in search of safety.

Joey grabs Ashlee's hand and leads her off in the direction of his car.  He looks back and waves at Mark, but gets surpised as he sees Chris Jericho sneaking up behind Mark with a chair.  "Mark look-" Joey goes to warn Mark, but is too late.  The sound of the chair connecting with Mark's skull echos loudly.  Jericho laughs, watching Mark fall.  He then starts walking toward Joey and Ashlee, still holding the chair.  "Joey, let her go, now" Jericho demands, stepping closer.

"No! She's coming with me .." Joey argues, taking a few steps back. "Nuh uh." Jericho shakes his head. Ashlee sees this distraction as a chance to escape. She elbows Joey in the stomach, hard. He lets go of her hand and falls to his knees in pain. Jericho runs at Joey and hits him in the face with the chair, knocking him out cold.

Adam glances down at Jen and puts an arm around her
shoulder. "Are you okay? You're shaking." "You have no idea," Jen murmurs, leaning against him. "Come on, we've gotta go check on Mark and Joey....they had Ashlee with them the last time I saw them..."

Ashlee hugs Jericho. "Thank you, thank you!" He grins. "No Prob.. anything for a friend. Now, let's go see how Stevie and Hunter are doing with Jen, huh?" "Sure." Ashlee and Jericho head off in the direction of Stevie's lockerroom, not knowing that Jen was free and Adam had saved her... What was it to them anyway? They were both safe.. for now.