Salvation

Raven knocked on the door, leading to the girls lockerroom.
Jackie opened the door, "Hey Raven," she smiled. "What can I do for you?"
Raven's expression didn't change. "I'm looking for Danielle."
"Oh," she said dissapointed. "She's back there," she pointed towards the back of the room. "Around the corner."
Raven brushed by her and headed to the back of the room.
He turned the corner to see a few other female wrestlers/valets.
"Danielle," he said waiting for the right girl to react.

Danielle had been in the shower washing her face paint off. She had this eerie feeling that someone was watching her all night. She just wanted to get clean and leave.
She had just finished getting dressed when she heard a male voice call out. She looked around then stood up as she spotted Raven.
"Um...hi," she said as he came closer.
He sat down on the bench with his legs on each side of it and patted the area in front of him. She looked at him, unsure, then sat down and continued tying up her
boots.
Finally he spoke, "I was impressed with your performance tonight."
"Um..thanks," she furrowed her brow.
"To get to the point, I want you to be a part of my Flock."
She looked at him.
"More specifically...to be with....me."
She ended up pushing herself away from Raven.
"I'm not sure about that Raven," she paused. "You see, I'm not very good at being a...follower."
"Oh come on," he said as he took ahold of her hand.
She jerked her hand away, looking around the room, but finding the others had left.
She stood up and very nicely said, "Let me think about it."
Raven stood up, "It would be in your best interest to join me."
She glared at him. "I said let me think about it." Her temper was rising.
Raven still persisted. Danielle couldn't hold it in anymore and she sttacked him. She knocked him against the wall and he slid down it.
As she stood over him, "Don't you ever listen! I will think about it!" She then grabbed her bag and stormed out, leaving Raven with a smirk on his face.
"Gee, thanks for helping me," Danielle said coldly as she exited the lockerroom.

Danielle headed to the parking lot. She pulled her leather jacket on and reached in her pocket for the keys. As she looked up she saw some Flock members circling around her car. She jumped behind a crate and watched them.
"She should have been here already," complained Kanyon.
"I'll see if I can find her," chimed in Kidman.
"Yeah, you go do that, Kidman," Saturn said sarcastically.
Kidman flipped him off then headed inside.

"What are you doing down there?"
Danielle turned around, scared it would be another member of Raven's Flock. It was worse. It was Paul Heyman. She pushed herself backwards into the crates, knocking them over. Heyman grabbed her by the wrists as Kanyon and Saturn ran over.
Danielle struggled at first, trying to pull her wrists out of Heyman's grip. They both stopped and looked at Kanyon and Saturn.
Heyman quickly acted like he was helping them. "I found her hiding back there." He looked at her. "I was gonna bring her over to you guys."
Without warning Danielle kicked Heyman in the crotch. He fell to the ground in pain. She quickly ran off. Kanyon and Saturn stood there laughing.
"Go get her," Saturn commanded trying to stop laughing.

Danielle ran down a hall, knowing Kanyon was close behind and Kidman was in the building somewhere. She turned a corner and ran into Raven. The impact knocked her off her feet. Raven grabbed her arm and tried to help her up, but she wouldn't let him.
She stood up. "Ow," she said as she rubbed her butt.
Kanyon came up behind her and grabbed her arms. She sighed heavily, then manevered sideways, sending Kanyon into the wall. She took a couple steps forward and did it again. Kanyon let go and fell to the floor.
Kidman ran at her, she sent him flying with a hiptoss.

Raven leaned against the wall and watched, not in any hurry to stop this.
Suddenly Tommy Dreamer was there. He DDT Kidman, grabbed Danielle by the hand and took off running.

"Boy am I glad to see you," she said as they hopped in his car.
"Well, you run so damn fast, it's hard to find you," he smiled.

~*~*~
That night Danielle laid in her hotel bed, scared to sleep. Tommy was already sound asleep in the bed next ot hers. She got up and stood outside on the balcony,
finally sitting down on one of the chairs.

Next thing she knew a loud noise was waking her up.
She looked back in the room to see Raven and his Flock entering the room. She quickly jumped up and tried to hide, but there was no place to.
She watched as Saturn grabbed Tommy and pulled him out of bed.
"Danielle," Raven called out.
She stood silent on the balcony, breathing shallowly.
"Come here," he commanded.
She didn't move. Raven stared at her, then smirked.
"Come on," said Kidman becoming impatient.
Raven smacked him upside the head.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
Raven approached her. She backed up against the railing. He reached his hand out to her, trying to coax her toward him, but she wouldn't budge.
"Fine be stubborn," he said as he sat down.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, being the only thing she could think of.
"You already know the answer," he looked up at her.
Danielle looked down at her feet. Raven got up and stood in front of her. He placed a finger under her chin and lifted her head back up till she finally looked at him.
"Come on, love. I know what you have been through. All the friends that have desserted you for no explainable reason."
She jerked her head away, "That doesn't mean I want to join your 'little group'."
Raven licked his lips then backed away. "Fine." He walked back into the room, snapped his fingers and pointed to the door. Saturn pushed Tommy back towards the bed and exits with the rest of the members. Raven stopped at the door and stared back at Danielle, still on the balcony, then slammed the door behind him.
She leaned against the railing, arms hugged against herself.
"Are you alright?" Tommy asked as he stepped out onto the balcony.
"I'm fine," she said. "Just a little shacken up. That's all."
"You sure?"
"Yeah," she said quietly. But inside she was trying to figure out, how they had found her so easily.
"Well, come on back inside. You need to get some sleep."
She smiled at him as he guided her back inside to her bed.

Raven stood outside staring up at the balcony. Saturn stood beside him.
"So..." he started.
"She will be mine."
"You sure?"
Raven looked at Saturn and smiled. "She just needs some...persuading."
Raven put his arm around Saturn's shoulders as they walked off.

chapter 2
~*~*~
A couple nights later Danielle was scheduled to have a match against Molly Holly, but never made it to the ring.
Backstage as she waited for her music to start she was jumped from behind by Saturn, Kanyon and Jeff Hardy.
She tried to fight them off, but Jeff Hardy did a drop kick and sent her backwards into a pile of odds and ends, knocking her out.
Kanyon picked her up and carried her off.

Tommy stood in front of them. "Put her down," he demanded.
Kanyon refused to.
Jeff Hardy attacked Tommy first, then Saturn joined in. Before long they had him beat down. Saturn and Jeff hardy grabbed hold of him, under his arms and dragged him off.

~*~*~

Danielle opened her eyes, she blinked to focus and realized her head was resting on Raven's lap. She tried to site up, but grabbed her head and fell back into his lap.
"Nice of you to join me," he smiled
He stuck an ice pack on her head and held it there.
"Wher....where am I?" she asked.
Raven smiled, "My humble abode."
She looked around the room. "Humble alright," she thought sarcastically.
There was a mattress on the floor, nicely made. A couple chairs, the couch they were on. All in all, nicely furnished.
This time she slowly sat up, letting the ice pack fall onto the floor.
"Fuck," she clenched her teeth together as the throbbing got worse then died down.
"That's gonna smart for awhile," Raven said as he stood up and walked behind the couch.
She gave him a 'well duh' look as she turned in her seat to keep an eye on him.
"Thirsty?" he motioned to a pitcher of water.
She nodded eagerly.
As she gulped down the water Raven sat back on the couch.
"So..." he began. "What's with the face paint?"
She stopped drinking and looked at him confused.
"Well. Either it's there to hide something or..."
She cut him off, "To express myself."
Raven stared at her. "Sure it is." He sat back and was silent for a few minutes. "What are you hiding?"
Danielle looked away, uncomfortable with this situation.
"Why do I feel like I'm being interigated?" she shot back.
Raven sighed, "I'm just trying to talk to you."
"Well it appears you know all about me, so what is there to talk about."
Raven laid his head on the back of the couch, letting his braids cascade down it.
Danielle pulled her legs up onto the couch and wrapped her arms around them. She stared at Raven, yet through him, lost in thought.
"Why did you bring me here?" she paused. "Obviously it's not for the stimulating conversation."
"Dani...Why do you have to make this so complicated."
"Me? Yeah, let's just shift the blame, Raven...You're the one that kidnapped me."
Raven sat silently staring at the ceiling. "I just want to know...what fuels your fire."
She felt like she had to answer, "Lots of things, some of which no one needs to know of."
"I can understand that," Raven replied as he looked at her now. "Sometimes..." he trailed off.
Danielle didn't pursue his lost thought. She figured it was better to just let it be.
After a few more minutes of silence, "Um..." she started. "Where are the facilities?"
Raven smirked then pointed to a door on the other side of the room.
She got up and started to walk over, she glanced in a mirror and noticed Raven watching her. She quickly got herelf inside the bathroom.
She looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. "Where's Tommy?" she thought.
It was strange how Raven seemed so familiar to her, yet she couldn't place it. So many things she had purposely forgotten in all these years. It had only been in the last year that things were coming back to her, things that fueled her while in the ring.
Raven knocked on the door bringing her out of her thoughts. She splashed some water on her face and exited the bathroom.
"Where's Tommy?" she quickly asked.
As soon as the words left her mouth someone knocked on the door.
"Come in," Raven said as he sat back down.
Danielle's jaw dropped.
"Hey," Raven said happily.
Danielle looked at Raven in shock, then to Tommy. Her eyes grew wide as another memory hit her. One of Tommy and her when they were at camp, and another kid, with
wavy brown hair.

Tommy and Danielle at camp. He was one of the few people who was always nice to her, defending her if neccessary.
Then this boy, whom she'd never seen before, showed up...it was obvious Tommy knew him.
"Hey Rave," Tommy had said.
He had seemed cold to her. Hardly acknowledging Tommy or even her for that matter. It seemed like every girl caught his attention as well. And he was begining to
make her uncomfortable.

She slowly opened her eyes and sat up, leaning against the arm of the couch.
"Shit," she whispered. "That son of a bitch."

Raven woke up to find Danielle glaring at him.
"Fuck woman. Don't do that."
She continued to glare.
"What is you problem?"
"Do you remember me?" she asked flatly. "That is before I came to WWE."
Raven furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"
"You remember camp, don't you? Well think back...Think back to a time when Tommy and you were both there along with a chubby, blonde haired girl who wore glasses. I believe when you fought over Beulah." She stood up and walked over towards his bed.
Raven looked up at her as recognition covered his face. "That was you? I remember how shy and quiet you were."
She smirked, "That had everything to do with...you. That summer was hell for me!"
Raven looked at her confused.
She stopped glaring as a somewhat sad look took over.
"I...." she swallowed trying to collect her thoughts. "I liked you...but you treated me like shit."
"I didn't..."
"Especially when you and Tommy were bickering over Beulah," she sighed. "Now I see why I pushed that memory to the back of my mind." She sat down in the chair.
Raven got out of bed and walked over to her. "That summer wasn't all that bad," he smiled.
"What do you mean?"
"You really did forget, didn't you." He knealt down in front of the chair. "I do remember you quite fondly."
"Yeah right..." she paused remembering. "If I remember correctly...you used me to make Beulah jealous."
"I did?" he questioned.
She rolled her eyes.
"Okay...so I did...but..."
"But what?" she almost yelled as she fought back tears.
"I realized the error of my ways shortly after you left."
"Sure," she said coldly. "How am I suppose to trust you?"
Raven didn't know how to answer. "Just do."
She looked at him, eyes filling up with tears.
He couldn't help himself, he wrapped his arms around her, trying to comfort her.

Tommy Dreamer walked in as Danielle was pushing Raven away. She jumped up and ran over to Tommy, clinging on to him as she started sobbing.
"What the hell did you do?"
"It wasn't me. She remembered...camp and Beulah."
"No," Tommy said. "That can't be good." Tommy moved himself and her over to the couch. "I suppose she also remembered..." he pointed to Raven then Danielle.
Raven nodded.
"Fuck," he mumbled.
Raven slouched in the chair, upset at both himself and her.
Raven finally stood up and walked over to the couch. He grabbed Tommy by the arm and pulled him to his feet.
"Get out."
Tommy looked at Danielle then Raven. By the look in Raven's eyes, he knew he better leave.
Danielle looked at him, a little scared. Not sure what he was gonna do.
He sighed and sat down beside her. "I...I don't know what to say," he paused. "You're one of the most complicated people, excluding myself, that I've ever dealt with." He smiled. "I brought you here to tell you why you should join my group....to figure out what made you tick....To make you mine..." He moved closer to her. "Especially after seeing how you've turned out."
She glared at him as she tried to move away, only to push herself into the arm of the couch.
"Don't even try that," she warned.
"Or..."
She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yeah, that is over done."
"Just a little," she agreed.
He leaned in closer.
"You know....this isn't going to be like camp," she folded her arms across her chest.
"Why not?" he asked trying to sound innocent.
"I wonder," she replied sarcastically.
She wasn't going to let him take advantage of her like he did then. Back then, she was so happy to have some guy show interest in her, that she never saw the signs of what was really going on.
He kept moving closer. She gave him a warning look, but he ignored it. She turned her head to avoid his kiss, but he turned her head back towards him and placed his lips on hers. She refused to open her mouth no matter how much he tried to pry her lips apart with his tongue. Finally he pulled away and receaved a hard slap to the face. His braids flew by her face as his head turned with the impact. She quickly stood up as he turned his head back towards her.
"You bitch!" He held his hand to his face.
"What? You don't remember that?" she backed away from him as he stood up.
Raven suddenly smirked as he walked towards her.
"I'm warning you Raven. Stay back."
Raven went to grab her but she dodged his grip. She backed towards the otherside of the room as Raven approached. She backed into the wall, hard, causing her to stumble forward into Raven, who grabbed her and pushed her back against the wall. He pinned her wrists above her head and tried to kiss her again, but as he did she kneed him in the crotch. Raven let go of her grabbing himself.
"Fuck!"
"What's wrong Raven! Can't take the pain!"
He glared at her and continued to advance, walking a little funny.
"And people say I never learn." She turned around, but tripped over the bed. She landed on the edge of it, then bounced off to the floor. She groaned as she rolled over, holding her mid-section.
Raven stood over her, "Now who can't take the pain."
He held his hand out, offering her help. She glared at him, then finally reached up and took his hand. He pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her, pinning her arms between him and her.
"Why can't this be like camp?" he questioned.
She looked up at him. "Because...I don't appreaciate being used."
She wanted him to let go of her, yet deep down she didn't. She had missed his touch more than she liked to admit. She looked down at his chest, trying to avert his gaize.
Raven continued staring down at her. He sat her down on the bed and knealed in front of her.
"Well...at least I don't have to beat the deamons out of you," he laughed slightly, trying to lighten the mood.
She continued to stare down, not wanting to look at him.
"Listen," he started, "I'm only being tough on you....because...It's the only way I know how to..." he trailed off as she looked up at him. "Okay...that sounds like an excuse but it's not."
She put her head in her hands. Raven sat down beside her and rubbed his hand on her back.
"You still hurt me," she suddenly said. She got up and walked over to the couch, laid down on it and went to sleep.

Raven sat on his bed staring at Danielle. She was definatly different then she used to be. It was easy to see why he had never recognized her. He hadn'ts seen her since that summer. He never let anyone know it, but he truly did regret what he did to her. She
was so innocent at the time. He swore he was going to apologize to her the next time they were at camp. But she never showed, no one seemed to know why either.
And now here she was in his room...pissed off at him, just like she was the last time they'd seen each other.

Raven stood near the parking lot with his arm around Beulah, when Danielle came into view. She dropped her bags, catching his attention. He looked at her, but all she did was glare then look away. Beulah excused herself leaving Raven by himself. He approached
Danielle.
He put his hand on the side of her face causing her to look up at him. But there was no love in her eyes only hate. He pulled his hand away.
"How could you!?" she had said through gritted teeth.

Raven looked away from her. "It's just the way things had to be."
"No! It's just the way things have to be for you." She looked away. "Tell me...do you always betray everybody you know."
Raven looked back at her, but was unable to speak.
"You think just because we aren't together anymore that I'm just gonna forgive and forget."

The night before Danielle had gone to talk to Raven only to find him hanging all over Beulah. She was devistated, yet she had been suspicious the last few weeks. The way he had been acting around her...treating her as if she was merely a friend....Now she knew why.

Finally her ride pulled up and she headed for it. Raven grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him. Just as he was about to kiss her, she slapped him, hard. He released his hold on her.
"I'm not like these other girls, Raven. Sure...I'll hurt, but I won't keep coming back to you."

~*~*~*~
Danielle laid, staring at the back of the couch, she just didn't want to be awake yet. She rolled over, trying to get comfortable, but it wasn't working. She opened her eyes and stared over where Raven's bed was, but it was empty. She sat up, to find herself alone in
the room. She grinned and got up. She looked around again and crawled onto the bed and fell asleep.

The first thing Raven saw when he walked in was the empty couch. He quickly scanned the room, stopping when he got to his bed.
He stood beside the bed, debating on whether or not she should wake her up. Finally he sat down on the bed, causing her to wake up.
"ohmygod," she said as she moved to get off the bed.
Raven smiled, "It's alright."
She pushed herself up against the wall.
"WWE wants to know how you're doing."
"Really?"
"Well...most of the people in the back do...believe me they've been letting me know," he rubbed his lower back.
"I'm surprised...other than Tommy...I didn't think anyone cared."

A Couple Days Later:
"Gees woman," said Raven after hearing some of Danielle's bad experiences with friends and bf's, ect.
"Strange, how things in our lives seemed to have paralleled."
She nodded. "I know, I've pretty much hated my life. Nothing really thrilled me. People never liked me. Talk about judgemental people," she paused. "They always want me to be something I'm not."
Raven nodded.
"Yeah and I've seen you throughout your career, Mr. Scotty The Body." She grinned.
"Hey!" he laughed.
"But you know..." she looked him up and down. "You need to go without the shirt more often...you know just the leather jacket and shorts....or just the kilt. Believe me, everybody and their sister thinks your dead sexay that way." She smiled again.
"Listen," Raven said being serious again. "I truly am sorry about what I did. I was young and foolish."
"You're still foolish," she smirked. "But that's not a bad thing...that's a good thing." She looked around rapidly. "Did I just quote Page?"
Raven looked down laughing lightly.
She watched him laughing. Interesting how she didn't hate him anymore. In fact, she kind of liked the events of the past weeks.
She rested an arm on his shoulder as she leaned closer.
"You know....It's nice..." she paused searching for the right words.
"I know," Raven looked into her eyes and smiled.
She looked away from him smiling, a little embarrassed. Then turned back towards him, Raven leaned forward and kissed her. This time she didn't resist, she draped her arms over his shoulders as she kissed him back.
After he had pulled away, "So...you ready to go back?"
She grinned with an evil look in her eyes. "Oh yeah."

The next RAW:
Molly stood in the ring waiting for her opponent.
Some bass chords played over the PA as the lights dimmed.
Danielle emerged, hair dyed black, the top layer in braids that were tinted red and pulled into pigtails. Her face paint was of a black bird shape, with the wings spreading out over her eyes, grunged out pants, black boots and a Misfits shirt.
She stood in the corner of the ring, waiting for the announcer to finish.
Molly and Danielle locked up. Danielle shoved Molly backwards into the turnbuckles, hard, causing her to fall to the mat.
Halfway through the match, Molly had Danielle knocked down in the center of the ring. But Danielle lifted her legs up and caught hold of Molly, she rolled on top of Molly trying to pin, but she kicked out. Danielled quickly stood up. As Molly stumbled to her
feet, she drop kicked her into the ropes. As she bounced back, Danielle clotheslined her. Danielle stood over her, she looked out into the crowd as Raven and his flock made their way to their ringside seats.
She smiled as she climbed out of the ring and started looking under the ring, finally pulling out a singapore cane. She held it above her head, causing the crowd to cheer loudly. She got back in the ring, the referee warning her not to use the cane. But she
didn't listen and nailed MOlly with it. Molly stumbled around. Danielle hit her again, knocking her down. She held the cane above her head again, then got out of the ring, slowly backing towards the flock. She leaned against the railing, catching her breath, then turned towards Raven and smiled as he helped her over the railing.

Later on Michael Cole walked to ringside to talk to Danielle.
"Danielle...why are you with these people?"
She stood up. "You see Michael...Raven helped me see clearly."
"Helped you see clearly?"
"Yes Michael. My spot in this business wasn't too prominent, before Raven came along. Now...as long as I stick with him...anything is possible."
She sat back down. Michael turned his attention to Raven.
"What's done is done Cole...I helped her find her true self, I am her...salvation....Quote the Raven Nevermore."