Tarnished Armor

Heart of a Warrior (Chapter Twenty-Nine)

A producer came to me as they started preparing for Warrior's induction. I went behind the curtain and saw Indy and Maddie standing there.

"Are you ready, Ladies?" I asked with a smile.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Good. Smile for the camera people, and no matter what, make your dad proud of you."

King announced the girls and Jim. I walked back to my seat as the girls left the stage. Jon looked at me.
"I had to get a picture of you for Co-Jack."

"Thanks, Jon."

As Warrior spoke, I sat and listened to him speak to his daughters and I hoped that when Colby gets inducted into the hall, he remembers us. The night progressed on and I got my picture taken with Amy, Jake, Dallas, Scott and of course, the Warrior and his family. He made me smile.

"You did an amazing job with the girls. They looked beautiful."

"I just helped with dresses. They got a good blend of genes." I said.

Jim smiled. I couldn't wait for Wrestlemania. I walked back to the limo and standing there in a suit and tie, holding a bunch of pink carnations, was Colby.

"Umm..Linds..." Jon said.

"What?"

"Look."

I saw Colby standing there.

"Oh, my, god..."

"Hello, Beautiful."

I stood there, speechless.

"How've you been?"

I could feel tears come down my face. I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him. Joe, Jon and Chel looked at me.

"Well, now...It's about damn time." Jon said.

Chel held back a laugh.

"Where are the girls?"

"With mom n dad, I needed to hold you in my arms."

I kept, in the back of my mind, exactly what Randy said. How the man holding me in his arms now, paid someone else to date me just one time. I looked at Colby.

"I can't believe you're here."

"I missed you."

"Are you ready for tomorrow, Bro?" Jon asked.

"Absolutely. We're gonna kick some ass."

I smiled watching the three of them together again. I also saw Randy looking at me, concerned but happy. Somewhere in the heart of that viper, lies a man who could make me smile just by being that guy. I know I'm married but seeing as there are few men willing to be brothers to me, I accepted Randy's thoughts as what they were; a man being nice to me. I noticed the woman with him at the Hall of Fame. She was pretty, I'll give him that. It definitely wasn't his ex. I wanted to meet her just to reassure her that Randy and I were friends. I looked at Colby.

"Good luck, I'll be watching from the office."

Colby kissed me again and I was happy once again.

**********

I sat in the office the next night waiting on the Shield versus Kane and New Age Outlaws. That match went way too quick. I watched Randy and Dave pretty much butcher Bryan. In the end, the better man won. I wanted to see Brie beam when she saw Bryan. I smiled at her great fortune. Excitement surrounded the Superdome yet one more night. I sat in back, in my own dressing room, sad. I missed not having my daughters but also missed Esme. She'd been gone one week today. I looked at my I pad and saw a message on it. I opened it.

"Hey, Sis, it's Es. Listen, I know I just dropped the girls on you at the gym. I'm sorry about that. I love them, you and Bro to the ends of the moon and back but Tom told me he loved me. I don't know what to think about it but if it's anything like you and Bro, I know I'll be happy forever. Oh and you look amazing in that dress. I saw you trying it on at the store. I didn't want to say anything but I was looking for something there too. I miss you, I love you all and I'll see you soon."

I broke down crying. It was like God told me something in that message. He musta told me Esme made it to heaven. I hit save on the message and wanted to show Colby sometime when the show ended. Towards the end of the show, Colby came to see me one more time.

"Why were you crying?"

"I'll show you later."

He smiled, kissed my cheek and left. Then I saw another message.

"Lindsay, it's Jacqueline. I'm a nurse for your mother Kathleen at the rehab center. I regret to tell you this but Kathleen killed herself. She left you a package here at the center whenever you want to pick it up, feel free."

I wanted to punch something. I wanted to scream. I walked out of the office and went to the nearest bathroom. There, I hit the walls. I couldn't think of what else to do. She took the last bit of my life from me. It sucked. I wanted to call Jess or my dad but I don't know if they're even here. I just screamed. I couldn't do anything else. I guess I scared someone having screamed.

"Are you okay?"

"No."

"Do you need help?"

"I don't know."

The female went to get Layla.

"Lindsay, darling, are you okay?"

"No."

"What happened, Honeybee?"

"Kathy killed herself."

"Your birth mum?"

"Yes."

"Oh lord,"

She came in and gave me a hug. I missed almost everything of value except the Warrior's speech. I got to see that with Layla sitting next to me.

*********

The next day, I saw it splattered all over the internet.

"WWE LEGEND JIM 'ULTIMATE WARRIOR' HELLWIG COLLAPSES OUTSIDE OF HOTEL ROOM."

I  called Dana almost immediately.

"Are you okay?"

"No."

"What happened? Is Jim okay?"

"No. He died."

My heart dropped.

"Do you need anything?"

"Yes. I need to call people, tell the girls, I don't know where to start..."

I held the receiver close and talked to Dana. That's when I heard Steph knock.

"Lindsay,"

"Yeah,"

"How would you want to help Dana again?"

"I'd be honored."

Steph sent me out to their home so I could assist with anything that needed doing. I sent Colby a message telling him I'd be back and the girls were due to come home that weekend. He knew all that and told me to go be an angel. He loved me and hoped that I could help.

{Author's Note: I know this music is more modern than the chapter but the song was on when I read the part where Esme was talking. It was a moving part to me. ~LG~}