Stephanie briskly made her way into the hospital. Her nerves were frazzled as she approached the check-in desk and inquired about the man whom she had come to see.
It was late. Because she was General Manager of one of the two brands, she had been required to stay at the arena until the show had come to an end. She hurried over to the bank of elevators down the hall and took one to the floor where her injured superstar was admitted.
When she arrived at the proper room, the brunette tentatively knocked and poked her head in through the door.
"Come in," a weak voice called.
Stephanie entered slowly, sadness again creeping into her very core as she laid eyes on him. The tall blond man was laying in the hospital bed, a sheet covering him up to his chest. He had his head back on a pillow and appeared not merely tired but world-weary.
"Hi, Edge," she said. She could barely tear her eyes away from him. It tore at her heart to see this man, who was normally so strong and proud, in such a weakened state. Dare she say he even looked smaller esconced in that hospital bed.
"Stephanie, hi," he said, and his green eyes somehow showed some spark. "Are those for me?"
"What?" The brunette was momentarily dumbstruck as she followed his line of vision to the bouquet of flowers she was holding. She was in such a bad state over his situation that she'd actually forgotten she was holding them. She'd made certain to pick them up at the florist on the first floor of the hospital before coming up. Finally, she regained her voice, somehow managing to smile for him. "Oh, yes... These are for you." She set them down on the small table beside the head of his bed.
"Thanks," the Canadian said. He watched her intently, glad that she was there.
"You're welcome," she replied. She lowered herself into the chair at his bedside. "Has anyone else come to visit you?"
"Benoit and Brock stopped by about an hour ago," Edge said. "Oh, and Rhyno and Torrie, too."
"That's good," Stephanie replied, though she couldn't help but feel a considerable measure of sadness. Why had only four people visited this man?
There was a moment of silence as the General Manager thought about Edge's ordeal. The truth was, she was filled with horror over what had happened to the man. Who had attacked him? Who would be so cruel, so callous as to beat him so severely that his neck had been broken as a result? And on top of that, the attacker had put him in a garbage can - as though he were trash. It broke her heart.
"Hey, you're too quiet."
The sound of Edge's voice brought the brunette back to reality. Meeting his eyes, she sighed.
"I'm sorry. I was just... I'm in shock over what happened to you." A look of complete horror came into her eyes. "Who would do such a thing?"
"Team Angle attacked me," he flatly stated. He didn't say anything more. The thought of how she might react if he elaborated really bothered him, and he knew she would take some sort of drastic action.
"So, it was them?" Stephanie asked, unshed tears coming into her blue orbs.
"Well... They were the first to do it."
The General Manager's heart nearly stopped at his words. What was he saying? She reached over and gently grasped Edge's hand that was resting on his stomach.
"What are you saying, Edge? That someone else finished the job that Team Angle had started?"
The blond man didn't say anything, didn't nod or shake his head... However, his gaze dropped, and it was a very telling gesture.
"Talk to me," the brunette said, her voice soft but containing a pleading quality. "Who was it? Was it Kurt?"
Edge finally raised his gaze to again meet the woman's concerned eyes. Slowly, he replied with a solitary word.
"No."
Stephanie frowned. If it wasn't Kurt Angle, then who could possibly have horribly injured the Canadian?
"Edge..."
Then, he gave her the answer she sought, and it made her blood run colder than ice ever could.
"It was Triple H. Stephanie, your ex-husband is the reason I'm in this hospital right now."