Jeff appeared in the doorway, his presence commanding attention as he stared down Christian and Edge.
He crossed his arms tightly, a glare etched on his face. "I'm going to ask you two one more time," he said, his tone heavy with authority. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Christian's face turned pale, a nervous look flashing in his eyes as he glanced at Edge.
"Uh, we were just looking for the bathroom!" he stammered, desperation creeping into his tone.
Nora felt a shift in the atmosphere and took a cautious step away from Christian and Edge, moving closer to Jeff as if seeking safety.
"Yes, we were looking for the bathroom!" Edge declared, a note of urgency in his tone as he attempted to back up Christian's claim, his eyes darting nervously between Jeff and the door.
"The bathroom? In our dressing room?" Jeff questioned, incredulity lacing his voice.
He gestured over his shoulder to where Matt and Lita were, as if their presence somehow made the situation even more absurd.
After a moment's hesitation, Edge looked at Nora and sighed in defeat.
"Okay, you caught us," he confessed, his voice heavy.
"We came over to have some fun, but then we found her asleep on the sofa." He pointed to Nora, a sheepish grin creeping onto his face.
Jeff advanced a few steps, his gaze fixed on Christian and Edge.
"So you two just decided to walk in here when you saw Nora sleeping on the sofa?" he questioned, his tone incredulous.
Christian, sensing the tension, waved his hands emphatically. "We were not planning to harm her!" he exclaimed, desperation creeping into his voice.
"What is the point of coming in here anyways?" Lita's question pierced the air behind Nora, prompting her to turn and watch Lita stride forward.
Matt moved past them to Jeff's side, he chimed in with a furrowed brow, "I'm not sure what the point of coming here is either."
Jeff nodded in affirmation, his gaze steady. "I think you should leave right now," he stated, his voice leaving no room for negotiation.
He gestured toward the door, his demeanor exuding an air of authority that demanded compliance from Christian and Edge.
Without a word, Christian and Edge hurriedly exited the room, their expressions a mix of embarrassment and defeat as they vanished from sight, leaving a charged silence behind.
Watching Edge and Christian exit, Nora felt a wave of relief surge through her.
She hardly noticed Jeff moving toward her until he spoke.
"Did they hurt you?" he inquired, his tone urgent and filled with concern, searching her face for any signs of distress.
As Nora looked up at Jeff, she shook her head firmly.
"No, I just woke up to them talking quietly and looking at me."
Jeff let out a deep sigh, his worry easing slightly. He enveloped her in a tight hug, whispering, "I am glad that they didn't try anything," his heart finally beginning to settle.
"I don't want to interrupt your moment," Matt chimed in, glancing between Jeff and Nora.
"But why is Nora even here?" His tone was casual, yet the inquiry was pointed, revealing his concern.
After letting Nora go, he let out a deep sigh of frustration.
"Nora didn't get much sleep on the plane this morning, so I let her take a nap in here," Jeff said, his voice rising slightly as he turned to his brother, irritation evident in his demeanor.
Matt nodded slowly, his sigh heavy with exasperation. "Okay, just don't make it an everyday event," he said firmly, his gaze piercing into Jeff as if to emphasize the seriousness of his words.
Lita approached Matt, her voice a soft whisper. "Oh Matt, don't worry. Jeff was just looking out for Nora."
Her words were laced with reassurance, an attempt to quell the frustration that had been brewing.
Nora's smile was tinged with awkwardness as she gestured toward the door.
"I'll just go find Trish now," she announced, her voice a mix of determination and relief as she sought a way to break the uncomfortable atmosphere.
Just as Nora reached for the door handle, Jeff's voice broke through the air, calling for her. "I'll come with."
As they exited the dressing room, a sharp sound—a slap—was followed by a grunt that sent a jolt through them.
A voice rang out just before the door closed, "Sometimes you need to keep your mouth shut."
⎯✳︎⎯⎯✳︎⎯⎯✳︎⎯⎯✳︎⎯
Continuing down the hallway, Jeff glanced at Nora, concern etched on his face. "I am sorry about Matt.
Nora's smile spread, softening her features as she shook her head. "It's okay," she said, her voice steady.
"I understand there's something going on between my sister and Lita. I don't want to cause any trouble."
A chuckle escaped Jeff as he shook his head.
"Nora, it wouldn't have been an issue," he reassured her. "My brother is just being protective." There was a warmth in his tone, an attempt to diffuse the tension that lingered.
Nora gave a gentle nod. "Alright," she murmured.
"Could we refrain from mentioning what occurred with Edge and Christian to Trish?" she asked quietly.
"I would prefer that she not worry."
Jeff sighed and nodded. "Alright, but if those two idiots pull something again, just let me know."
Nora opened her lips to speak, but was abruptly cut off by the sound of her sister's voice.
"Which two idiots are you referring to?" Trish inquired.
Nora and Jeff spun around, only to be met by Trish, her arms crossed and an eyebrow raised, a silent question hanging in the air.
As Trish reached Nora, a hint of concern in her voice, she asked, "Did something happen?"
After taking a deep breath, Nora stole a quick look at Jeff, her voice tinged with exasperation as she said, "It was just Edge and Christian being idiots," before shifting her gaze to Trish.
Just as Trish opened her mouth to respond, Jeff cut her off, reassuring her, "Trish, I've handled it; everything is fine now."
Trish let out a heavy sigh, her gaze locking onto her sister with a look of genuine concern. "Are you sure?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Don't worry about it," Nora said, her voice steady, a soothing balm in the midst of rising tension. "Jeff came just before anything happened."
"Very well," Trish replied, then turned to Jeff, offering a nod of appreciation for his care of Nora.
The three continued their way down the hallway, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly. 'Do you guys have any matches tonight?' Nora asked, breaking the silence.
"Honestly, I'm not sure, but I do know that I'll be working with the Big Show," Trish responded.
"Are they placing you in a storyline alongside the Big Show?" Nora asked.
"Yeah, so you won't be coming to the ring with me during the matches," Trish said, her voice firm. "I'll be accompanying him instead."
Nora frowned at her sister's words, disappointment etched on her face. Jeff, noticing her expression, quickly chimed in, "Don't worry! You can always accompany Team Xtreme to the ring if you'd like."
As they neared Trish's dressing room, "We have a match scheduled against the Dudley Boyz, and you are more than welcome to join us."
Nora looked at Jeff, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "Alright," she replied softly.
"Great! I'll see you later," Jeff responded, his expression brightening as he returned her smile. With that, he turned and made his way back to his own dressing room.
