The Way to Eden

Eden had gone down for some pizza because she knew Jeff would be concerned if she didn't eat something. It was difficult but she managed to choke down two small pieces. Appeased, Jeff didn't question when she feigned fatigue and retreated back to her room. Now she sat waiting for Jeff to fall asleep. She knew he'd gone to bed because she'd heard his footsteps pass her room about an hour and a half before. She'd dressed in her Original Sin costume because she felt it would help her get into the right frame of mind. She also thought Henry would find it fitting that Jeff's last image be Sin rather than the woman who played her.

Fingering her knife, Sin felt the knot in her stomach grow. She still didn't know how she was going to do it. She would knock him out when she reached his bed, but how was she going bring herself to cut his throat. The anxiety was overwhelming. She'd never actually killed anything before, let alone someone she was beginning to care about. Jeff represented freedom. He could help her. But no matter how much she wanted to she couldn't take him up on his offer. Samuel had molded her into his image and she had to follow his direction. He'd saved her, it was the least she could do. A part of her still argued that she had every right to take back the life that had been stolen from her. But she couldn't do it. Samuel had trained her too well to obey him.

She dropped her masked head into her hands and shivered as she tried to collect herself and assume the Sin demeanor. It was difficult. She knew the time had come and she'd have to dispose of her host now. Taking a deep breath she stood and silently opened the door to make her way to Jeff's room.

--------------------------------------

Rio held back in the shadows of the stairwell. It had been a feat getting to this point without alerting the house's other occupants, as Liger cheerfully greeted her when she emerged from the basement door. She had to bribe him with a piece of meat from the fridge to get him into the den and close the door behind him. She only prayed that he didn't whine once the meat was finished and he realized he was alone in the room. Now she crouched low and looked up into the darkened hallway. She could barely make out the purple clad figure making its way to Jeff's room.

So it seemed they both had the same idea when it came to this confrontation and dressed accordingly. That was interesting. And the woman had been trained well to move silently. Frowning, Rio waited until Sin was inside the bedroom before making her way upstairs just as quietly.

--------------------------------------

Sin stood over Jeff's bed and watched him sleep. His crimson and black hair shone in a ray of moonlight that was streaming through the window. She leaned forward to ready herself for the blow but she just couldn't seem to do it. He suddenly moved in his sleep and his forehead clipped her chin.

"Oh," she said before she could stop herself.

Jeff's eyes blinked open as he lifted his head and tried to focus in his daze. "Sin?" he asked. "Tha' you?"

"Yeah," she said. She quickly kissed his lips briefly. "I'm so sorry, Jeff."

"Sorry fo' what?" he asked just before she punched him hard in jaw. He made a grunting sound then fell back against the pillow, motionless.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered and she gripped her knife.

"Not yet, but you are going to be," hissed a female voice in a distinctive Russian accent.

Sin felt herself being jerked backward and she landed hard against a dresser. She looked up and saw the impossible. Rio checked for a pulse on Jeff's motionless body then stood over her, and though the fighter was only a bit over five feet tall, she was imposing as all hell. Sin trembled a moment knowing she would have to fight the undefeated Warrior Series champion before completing her goal. But Rio had been out of the game for a while now, her mind reasoned. She would be rusty. She had to be. And Sin couldn't afford to lose this fight. Subtly reaching around for the knife she'd let go of earlier, she glared at the silver woman ominously.

"You," she seethed.

"Me," Rio replied in amusement.

"You were the woman in the audience."

"Ah," Rio chuckled. "You have finally put some of the puzzle pieces together."

"Why?"

"I knew what Henry's plan was," the silver fighter shrugged. "He is easy to anticipate. Unfortunately, Jeff is not so easy to convince."

"He wants me," Sin spat.

"He may have, but I doubt he will when he wakes up."

"He CAN'T wake up!"

"He WILL," Rio hissed. "I will never allow you to hurt him."

"You can't stop ME!"

"Can I not?" the small fighter grinned. "Looking for something?" She suddenly held her hand up showing Sin the knife she was missing.

"I guess this is where we bitch fight over him, huh?" Sin sneered.

"No," Rio said calmly, tossing the knife under the bed. "This is where I break you!"

She kicked out hard and clipped Sin's jaw. The taller woman fell back again holding her bleeding mouth. Wiping her hands on her purple tights, she jumped up and assumed a fighting stance. Rio laughed.

"Fine," she told the taller but less experienced fighter. "I will play your game."

"This is how I play," Sin growled whipping the second knife out of her other boot and aiming for Rio's chest. The silver fighter didn't miss a beat and caught the knife in mid air, re-aimed it, and sent it back to Sin's thigh. Sin wasn't fast enough and the blade sliced through her skin.

"You BITCH!"

"Yes, that seems to be the consensus from my opponents," Rio answered.

Sin pulled the knife out of her leg with a grunt and lunged for Rio in a last desperate attempt to stop her. The Warrior Series champ let her get just close enough then grabbed her knife wielding arm and pulled it behind her back, snapping it in the process. Sin cried out as she dropped the knife. Rio slammed the other woman's head into the floor and suddenly Sin felt the darkness overcome her.

--------------------------------------

Rio dropped Sin into a motionless heap on the floor and ran over to Jeff. She shook him and called his name several times. He stirred once but went back into unconsciousness. She kept trying to wake him when Justin and Sven appeared in the room.

"Mom!" Rio called. "Check him, he won't wake up!"

Sven immediately made his way over to the bed and turned on the light. Meanwhile Justin checked Sin for a pulse.

"She's not dead," he said relieved.

"Not yet," Rio hissed.

"I have never seen you like this, small one," he whispered. "What has gotten into you?"

"She tried to slit his throat, Dad," she replied. "And when I made my presence known she said she would not stop. I have not been this enraged in quite some time."

"I know the feeling well, daughter," he sighed, rising and taking her in his arms.

"I know," she sighed.

"Jeff does not have a concussion," Sven said walking over to hug the two from behind Rio. "Do you want us to take him to the hospital?"

"Are his injuries serious enough to warrant it?"

"No more serious than the ones he received in his last match with Jason."

Rio laughed before breaking the hug. "Then he will not be pleased to wake up in the emergency room. You know how much he detests those."

"What do we do now?" Justin asked.

Rio was glad her fathers were willing to let her make the decisions on this situation. Not long ago, they would have just handled it for her without her input at all.

"Mom, you take that," she nodded over to Sin's still unconscious form, "back to Massachusetts with you and treat the injuries."

Sven nodded thoughtfully.

"Just the injuries," she repeated. "Please do not try to retrain her. I will be personally insulted if you do before we discuss it."

The blonde man gave her an odd look but nodded again.

"And me?" Justin prompted.

"Henry will be looking for me soon," Rio replied. "I plan to convince Mr. McMahon to give Jeff a bit of time off so that Henry will believe Sin was successful. You can watch me for his arrival."

"You are giving him to me?" the dark haired man asked in surprise.

"Yes," she answered. "I hope you do not have to take back your promise, but I think you are the only one who can finish this. I will not be able to control myself if I take him alone."

"Understood."

"What will you do now, sweet?" Sven asked.

"I will change and watch over Jeff," she said. "When he wakes up he will be feeling awful for a number of reasons."

Both men nodded.

--------------------------------------

Jeff's head felt like it was splitting into a number of small pieces. He opened his eyes and tried to focus on the ceiling. Then his last memory came crashing back with blinding clarity. Sin was standing over him with a knife. She'd kissed him, apologized then the world went black. Groaning, he turned his head to see a figure with a familiar shade of red hair lying haphazardly in a chair next to the bed.

"Amy?" he asked warily.

The woman looked up quickly and he couldn't believe it.

"Tara?" he tried again.

She wiped her tearstained eyes and leaned over him.

"How are you feeling?" she asked anxiously.

"Like someone split m' head open."

"Accurate," she sighed touching his head softly.

He winced and covered her hand with his own. It was nice having her here with him, but he was curious as to why she was here instead of in California.

"Wha' happen'd?"

"Sin was going to kill you," she growled angrily, then softened her features. "Can I get you anything?"

"An aspirin," he managed. "An' an explanation."

She furrowed her brow but grabbed a bottle off the nightstand to follow his first request. When he handed back the cup of water she gave him, he looked at her expectantly.

"I know you said you were fine," she began shakily, looking away. "But I had to make sure for myself. I was here the whole time when I spoke to you on the phone. I'm sorry if you're mad but I couldn't trust her. Do you have any idea how badly you scared me?"

Jeff smiled a little while he listened to her prattle on in a very un-Rio- like fashion.

"I'm no' mad," he finally said.

Her deep blue eyes darted back to his own green ones. "You're not?"

"No," he answered. "Ya saved my life."

"Well, you saved mine first," she teased.

"C'mere," he said lifting the covers of the bed.

She hesitated only for a second and then scooted in next to him.

"Jus' don' tell Shan," he joked.

"Shut up, Jeff," she said snuggling into him.

He could feel her trembling subside a little as she drifted off to sleep in his arms.