On the other side of the backstage area, Chris is nervously pacing in his locker room. He knows that his wife will be out in the crowd, watching his every move like a hawk. And it scares the crap out of him. These past 48 hours have been like a cruel recap of all the shit he's gone through in the last year. All the horrible shit that he's done, and the shit that's been done to him.
A seemingly endless cycle of wholly unnecessary violence and retaliation. That's what this is. Just a glorified excuse for Chris to once again remind his daughter that in his eyes, she'll never be the son he wanted her to be.
"Chris, is it true that Jessica is out in the crowd tonight?" Jake comes through the door and stops Chris's pacing.
"Yeah, she's here," Chris confirms.
"Well, then what does that mean for us?" Jake presses further. "Are we really going to make a move while your wife, the mother of your kid, is watching live?" He asks Chris.
"I don't know!" Chris raises his voice out of frustration. "I don't even know what the hell we're doing anymore." He sighs heavily, the weight of his transgressions finally beginning to catch up with him.
"You know we could always stop," Sammy suggests from the corner quietly. "I mean, haven't both of these teams been through enough?" He asks everyone. "I ruined a perfectly good friendship over your petty rivalry with your kid, Chris. And frankly, I'm done."
"What? And let Max win?" Chris scoffs.
"I wouldn't really call that a win," Santana speaks up for both him and Ortiz. "You don't treat family like that Chris. It's getting out of hand."
"He's right, Chris." Ortiz agrees. "Fighting with family is one thigh man. But this is going way to far. You just need to get over it."
"So that's how it's gonna be then?" Chris scoffs. "You cowards are just going to give up?" He glares at his colleagues.
"We are if you're gonna continue to act like a lunatic blinded by your petty rage, man." Sammy nods, the rest of the group agreeing with him.
"It's time to call a truce, Chris." Jake insists.
"Do it for your family, man," Sammy adds.
Unable to stomach the fact that his friends are all essentially giving up on him, Chris storms out the door. Sammy lets out a sigh as the door slams shut and get up from his chair.
"I talked to Sam earlier today." He announces to everyone. "And I know that deep down she's just as tired of this as we are." He tells them. "I think that we can end this. Tonight."
"Yeah, how?" Santana replies.
"Yeah, are you forgetting that she's got Max chirping in her ear all the time now?" Jake nods with Santana.
"I say that we call a meeting in the ring," Sammy suggests. "Get everyone out in the open and on equal ground."
"Okay, yeah I could get behind that." Santana agrees.
"Me too." Ortiz agrees. "What about you, Hager?" They all look to Jake in the corner.
"Yeah, if you guys are willing to take the chance. Then I'm in." He agrees as well. "But what about Chris?" He addresses the elephant in the room.
"Chris will have his chance when he sees us all out in the ring trying to make peace," Sammy replies. "But I am done fighting with Sam. I just want a chance to get my best friend back. Damn the consequences." He insists.
Everyone collectively nods and the plan is set. Now everyone just has to wait for the perfect time to execute the plan.
AEW kicks off on the air and the show flies by. Sammy paces nearly the whole time while he waits. If this plan doesn't work out the way he wants it to. Well, he doesn't know what he's gonna do.
Out in the ring, Cash and Dax have their match against the Lucha Brothers and end up picking up a win. Sam is out there with them for support, along with Wardlow. Max opted to stay backstage for the time being with Shawn. No sense in all of them being out there at once and becoming a target.
Sam is in the middle of raises Dax and Cash's hands when suddenly Sammy is coming through the tunnel with the rest of the Inner Circle with him. Everyone except for Chris. Wardlow quickly makes his way into the ring with Sam, Dax, and Cash just as Sammy gets a microphone in his hand.
"We just came out here to talk." Sammy starts off the conversation. "Scouts honor. No funny business." He insists.
Sam shares a small look with Wardlow before she gets her hand on a mic as well for a reply.
"Alright, I believe you, Sammy." Sam puts her trust in her former best friend. "Come down, we won't attack." She makes everyone take a step for good measure.
Sammy and the rest of Inner Circle make their way down the ramp. Trusting that Sam and her group will keep their word. Sammy is the first one in the ring. He approaches Sam warily, keeping an eye on Wardlow standing next to her.
"Sammy." Sam greets him casually.
"Sam." Guevera nods back at her. "Thanks for not going in for the easy kill." He thanks her.
"And thank you for not playing any games." Sam agrees. "So, what's this all about? And why isn't my dad here?" She comments on her father's absence.
"If Chris wants to be here then he'll show up," Guevara replies. "As for the rest of us. Well frankly Sam, we're getting tired of this pointless fighting." He explains.
"Funny. We were just thinking the same thing, Guevara." Sam laughs. "Does this mean that you're here to call a truce?" She asks Sammy with a raised brow.
Sammy nods, his conversation with Sam backstage earlier echoing in his head. This is it. Either Sammy accepts that he'll never have Sam as anything more than a best friend. Or he holds a grudge on something he can't change and loses her forever. And his choice is clear in his mind.
"We are, yeah. What about you? Are you guys willing to go our separate ways? No hard feelings?" He glances at the rest of The Pinnacle members.
"I think we can come up with something?" Sam nods. "What do you guys think?" She turns back to the group.
That conversation in the hall with Sammy changed Sam's whole game plan for the night. She came into work today thinking that she was going to have to fight her dad once again. But Sammy came to her willing to let the past go. And deep down all Sam wants is her friend back. Hell, deep down she just wants her dad to stop hating her. And this might be the first step to achieving that peace.
The rest of the Pinnacle members all whisper with one another for a brief moment. Sam touched on the possibility of a truce back in the locker room. And even Max was on board with the idea.
"I think that they agree." Sam turns back to Guevara after a second. "Truce then?" She holds her hand out for a handshake.
Sammy leans forward and grabs Sam's hand. But he pulls her in for a hug rather than a handshake. And for a brief moment. There is peace between the two groups.
But alas, peace was never meant to last.
Judas blasts through the arena and breaks the cheers of the crowd. Sam freezes in place and locks eyes with her dad at the top of the ramp.
"Peace huh?" Chris shakes his head. "So you guys are making plans behind my back now? I made you guys!" He growls.
"Oh no." Sam shakes her head and glances out of the ring at her mom still sitting at ringside.
This turn of events can't end well. No matter how bad Sam and everyone else wants it to.
YOU ARE READING
Bloodlines//MJF
Fanfiction"You know I'm just using you to get in your dad's head right?" Sam's arms wrap around the back of Max's neck. "That's fine. Because truthfully? I'm just using you to royally piss him off." Max flexes his shoulders against her delicate touch. His ha...
