______________________________________________________
{I can't run anymore
I fall before you
I have nothing left
Though I've tried to forget
You're all that I am
Take me home
I'm through fighting it
Broken, lifeless
I give up
You're my only strength
Without you
I can't go on
Anymore, ever again...}
The young woman sobbed almost inaudibly as she sat there at her desk in her office. Normally, she prided herself in being exceptionally strong, with a 'backbone of steel,' as her mom put it.
But damn it, she wasn't feeling anywhere *near* strong at the very moment. On the contrary, she felt horribly weak and helpless - hopeless.
The young woman buried her face in her hands for a beat as the sobs threatened to overwhelm her. When she realized she was going to lose her battle against them, she moved her hand, bowing her head forward to support her forehead. An audibly soft sob escaped her.
"Stephanie? Are you all right?"
She raised her head quickly at the sound of the masculine voice to see Sean O'Haire standing just in the doorway. The dark-haired man looked concerned as he eyed her.
Stephanie McMahon wiped at her eyes with her fingers in an attempt to regain her usual composure. She rose from her chair frantically, gesturing to the man.
"Sean - come in and close the door - *please*..."
O'Haire could clearly discern the urgency behind the brunette's request, the look in her eye. He did exactly as she asked as she came around the large mahogany desk to sit on the black leather loveseat situated against the wall.
The SmackDown General Manager winced as she tried desperately to hold back any further tears. While she'd really intended to sit here and cry out all her pain in private, she actually found herself relieved that Sean O'Haire had decided to come to her office - whatever his reasons. She was in serious trouble and needed help. Even if she was unable to *get* it, she knew she needed to talk to someone - get her troubles off her chest... And while she really didn't know Sean that well, it was actually an even better reason to talk to *him*.
The muscular man continued to study her as he sat down on the loveseat beside her. He gazed at his boss with sympathy, noting how very young and fragile she looked - odd since he'd always heard and seen quite the opposite of her. Well, not the *young* part, but he'd never heard of anyone using 'fragile' as an adjective with which to describe Stephanie McMahon.
"Stephanie... What's wrong?" he asked in a soft, gentle voice. She seemed to be doing her darndest not to cry anymore, which was a testimony to how very strong she truly was.
"I... I'm glad you stopped by," she admitted, lifting her head to meet his kind blue eyes. Most people looked at him as though he were pretty menacing - after all, he was six-six and two-eighty five and played a pretty hellish heel on the SmackDown brand of the WWE - but right now, he just looked so gentle and concerned...
...Concerned for *her*.
Stephanie sighed deeply and continued.
"I really need to talk to someone... Sean, I'm... I'm in big trouble..." Her large blue eyes became watery again, but she blinked back the tears.
"How so?" O'Haire questioned. He reached across the small space between them and gripped her hand firmly but gently, and the brunette couldn't help noticing the way her hand felt so lost in his much larger one. It wasn't an unpleasant sensation at all and in face, somehow made her feel safe.
"I... I don't want to get married," she blurted. "At least not yet, not *now* - and certainly not to Paul Levesque..." She lost her battle with her tears, which spilled forth once again.
Sean looked at her questioninly, a frown coming to his handsome face. He knew the GM had been engaged to Levesque for several months, and that they'd been dating for nearly three years now. What was she talking about? Was there trouble in paradise? Before he could ask, Stephanie plundered on.
"I hate him!" she cried, her sobs nearly choking her.
Then, slowly, she began to explain...