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Edge was filled with even more worry as he witnessed the Women's title match. He couldn't believe what had unfolded before his eyes.
Lita was hurt - he knew something bad was going to happen, and damn it, it *had*. The redhead had been on the ring apron after knocking Trish Stratus to the ground. A leap had landed the Women's champ solidly on her left knee - and from there on in, it had been sheer chaos.
The Canadian diva had taken over. Lita had valiantly tried to fight back, but it had been no use. Once the two women were back in the ring, the little blonde bitch had focused on Lita's good right knee. Edge had growled, his hands clenching into fists at the evidence that Stratus wanted to cripple his manager.
Damn it... The match had just come to an end. Trish had just nailed Lita with a chick kick, made the cover... 1-2-3... It was over. The redhead's second reign as Women's Champion was over.
It wasn't fair... but damn it, Edge didn't care about the fact that Lita lost her title so much as he did that she'd been hurt. He could see the agony plainly written across her beautiful face, and he felt a sad emptiness inside. His heart felt heavy, he felt so low and hopeless, and... He was extremely worried for her. And by God, he realized then, with sudden startling clarity, that he was in love with Lita...
The tall blond man rose from his seat in the locker room and rushed for the door. He had to go see the redhead, make sure she was all right.
Edge raced out by gorilla position just in time to meet the now former Women's Champion. Leaning on two referees, Lita's pretty face was contorted with pain. She raised her gaze just in time to see the blond man right there.
"I've got her," he said to the officials, all but ignoring them as he reached for the hurting diva. Lita grabbed onto his outstretched arm, and he supported her, sweeping her up into his arms. He carried her to the trainer's room, full of concern.
"I saw what happened out there," he said gently. "I'm so sorry, Lita."
She winced and tightened her hold on his, her right arm over his shoulder. She let out an exclamation of great pain.
"So am I... Damn it!" she cried between clenched teeth. "I can't believe this happened! And that little bitch gets the title right back to her!"
Edge didn't answer her despite not giving a damn about *that* part of what had happened. They were at the trainer's room by now, and he merely carried her inside.
"She's got a hurt knee," he told the man. Very, very gently, he set the redhead down on the examining table. "Look," he said, directing his words at her, "I'll be back soon. I have to go speak to Eric Bischoff."
"Again?"
The tall blond man nodded with determination.
"There's something very important I need to discuss with him."
He missed a perfectly sculpted eyebrow arch in question as he turned to hurry out of the room. Edge marched down the arena hallway, steeling himself for the very same reaction from the General Manager he'd received a bit earlier. Just prior to Lita's match, he'd tried to appeal to Bischoff's sense of fair play by requesting that his brother Christian take his place in the Elimination Chamber. His motives had been entirely aimed at protecting himself from Shawn Michaels, who'd been unfairly named as the special referee for the contest.
This time, however, his motives were totally different...
He knocked on the GM's door, then let himself in. And the very moment Bischoff caught sight of him, the man let out an exasperated sigh.
"What I said earlier *stand*... I am *not* making any changes in the main event, and that's *final*!"
"But..." The tall blond man silenced for a beat, his gaze lowering as he considered the wisest way to proceed. Then, taking a few steps closers to the GM, "Mr. Bischoff, I know what you said earlier, but... look, Lita just got hurt in her match, and I'd like to be able to be with her if she goes to the hospital or-"
Bischoff laughed, though it rang sarcastically in Edge's ears.
"Oh, that's rich, Edge... So very rich," the RAW General Manager remarked.
"What are you talking about? It's the truth!"
"Yeah... Right. Look, Edge - everyone in this company knows you don't give two shits about Lita, and you're not going to use her or her unfortunate injury as an excuse to weasel out of the Elimination Chamber. You got that?"
The tall blond man was seething at the man's comments about him not caring about Lita. 'Everyone in this company'? They didn't know a *damn* thing about him and Lita! He tried his best to reign in his temper, reminding himself that this prick was his boss.
"That's not true... Look - *please*! I don't give a damn about the Elimination Chamber," Edge said firmly. "I care about Lita, and I want to be able to be there for her - *with* her when-"
"No!" the GM yelled, his face red in his anger. "To reiterate - negative, denied! What I said earlier stands! Now, get out of my office!"
The tall blond man's eyes widened in shock and rage as he glared at the General Manager. Shit... There was absolutely nothing he could do.
Before he really lost it and did or said something they would *both* regret, he turned and left
the office.