Count this one towards the Gauntlet match
Not much has changed since the last time you saw J2H, life is still indeed a rollercoaster, jumping from one torturous moment to the next, but as usual, not everything meets the eye. On camera is one thing but with so much going on in the twenty one year olds life, behind the scenes, things have a way of taking their toll and any kind of help can be considered good help. Here's where we start in J2H's Beverly Hills mansion.
The young SCW superstar sits on a sofa, his hands on his head, his eyes bloodshot and face looking drawn and tired. His hair more unkempt that usual as he sits in just long shorts past his knees and a white sleeveless shirt, no sunglasses, cap or chain can be seen. He looks at his bare feet on the floor, his eyes just about focusing. The camera pulls back to show Simpson standing watching the young man with concern in his eyes. Next to Simpson stands another man.
Simpson: I'm worried about him Dr Goode. He's been like this for a long time. He doesn't sleep well, he's become very lethargic.
The man now known as Dr. Goode, a balding middle aged man, with gray hairs running along the side of his head, entwined with the arms of his glasses, strokes his stubble covered chin.
Dr. Goode: Do you have an inkling of the route of this problem?
Simpson: It could be one of many things sir. Master James has had a tough time lately. He's had to deal with the return of someone I feel he cared about, he's had two people in the form of Mr Despayre and Ms. Mikah attempt to set him up with potential suitors, he made some sort of arrangement with a gentleman by the name of Brother Grimm, it could be any of the above. I have been taking notes should this day had to come.
Simpson hands Dr. Goode a folder in his hand, who quickly opens it and stares down through his thick rimmed glasses. He quickly flicks the page and reads on, nodding his head at various parts.
Dr. Goode: Interesting notes Mr Simpson, it seems you have been keeping a very close eye on Mr Hawkes.
Simpson: Indeed I have sir. I have been worried about him for a long time.
Dr. Goode flicks through the notes a little more, turning around page.
Dr. Goode: I think it's time to meet the patient.
Simpson: If you follow me sir.
Pointing towards where J2H sits, Simpson leads the man towards J2H, his eyes still not leaving the floor. Simpson stands next to him, looking down at the young man.
Simpson: Sir, I'd like to introduce you to Dr. Goode.
J2H raises a hand, but his eyes stays focused on the floor.
J2H: Look, if he wants a donation to some kinda clinic in Africa or something, just give him ten bucks and send him on his way.
Dr. Goode: Pardon me, Mr Hawkes, but I'm not that kind of doctor.
For the first time, J2H tilts his head, his eyes meeting Dr Goode's features for the first time. He looking at the man up and down.
J2H: This is a face that really doesn't care what you're a doctor of. You can be a doctor of anything these days. You can be a doctor of burping, sneezing and coughing these days.
Dr. Goode: I'm a doctor of hypnosis.
A frown breaks on J2H's face as he look at the man.
J2H: Hypnosis? Are you fucking kidding me? What are you hear to do? Turn Simpson in to a chicken or something for my entertainment? Do me a favour and use whatever door you came in to and fuck off right back out of it.
Simpson steps forward to quickly intervene.
Simpson: Sir, I feel it would be wise for you to speak to Dr. Goode. You have been under a lot of pressure as off late with being attacked by Eric Steel and CJ Sharpe, as well as your deal with Brother Grimm, your dealings with Despayre and Mikah. Also with Ms. Grace's unexpected return.
J2H rolls his bloody shot eyes before quickly closing them and rubbing the side of his head.
J2H: Had to mention her, eh?
Simpson: I just feel if you got this out in the open a little more sir, you will be able to focus on your goals for 2016, and not let these matters hinder you. You might actually be able to sleep soundly sir.
J2H cocks his head to the side, hearing the keyword of sleep. He looks wearily at Simpson before returning his gaze to Dr. Goode and back to Simpson.
J2H: Starting to forget what sleeping soundly actually means Simpson.
He looks back with caution in his eyes at Dr. Goode.
J2H: How exactly does all this work? Cause I don't wanna be running around like a chicken either.
Dr Goode: It's simple, young man. We put you in an hypnotic state, a shallow one where I will ask you questions and you will respond in an honest fashion, to get to the root of your problems. Once out in the open, I can recommend many ways to help you get the much desired sleep you crave.
Again, the keyword of sleep appeals to J2H as he looks at Simpson.
J2H: I want this filmed, cause if this joker turns me in to a chicken or something, I'm gonna put his head through the wall.
Dr. Goode: Please get comfortable on the sofa.
J2H leans back, grabbing a cushion from the top of the sofa and leaning backwards. Dr Goode leans over J2H, pulling out a pocket watch. An arrogant smirk crosses his face.
J2H: Seriously? A fucking pocket watch? What is this, a kids birthday party or something?
The doctor ignores him, waving the watch in front of his eyes.
Dr. Goode: Just follow the watch with your eyes, blocking out every sound, other than the sound of my voice. Nothing can harm you when you fall in to your restful state, you will feel at peace. When you hear me ask questions, reply in the most honest way possible.
J2H's eyes start to drift shut as he's breathing gets steadier. Simpson looks at Dr Goode who fires a nod back in Simpson's direction. Dr. Goode looks at the notes handed to him earlier by Simpson before he looks towards J2H.
Dr. Goode: Ok James. Let's start at what looks like could have been the beginning of why you started to feel this way, Melody Grace.
J2H: You think that was the beginning? You couldn't be more wrong...
Dr. Goode: Oh....
*******
Flashback to day one of training with Austin Parker...
6am.
Light starts to creep through the windows of the small guest house of Austin Parker, the place where a young James Huntington-Hawkes III is staying during his training by one of the best in the business, Austin Parker. In the bedroom, James tosses and turns, slightly uncomfortable in this unknown bed. He spins over on to his back, pulling the covers with him from the small looking double bed. The sound of creaking can be heard coming from a different room. The door of the bedroom opens and the sound of metal upon metal is heard crashing together. James sits up straight in bed as the light fires on, showing Austin Parker standing in the doorway, a frying pan in one hand and a pot in the other, crashing them together.
James: Dude! What the hell?
Austin: Get ya lil' ass out of bed, it's time to get to work.
James: What time is it? And where's Simpson? He never wakes me up like this.
Austin: It's 6am and don't you remember? Ah sent Simpson and ya damn credit cards off on vacation when ya got here.
The confused and still half asleep James looks towards Austin, his eyes not adjusted to the light in the room.
James: 6am? I don't get up at 6am? Why would anyone get up at 6am?
Austin: Because ya not in ya big ass Beverly Hills mansion now boy, you don't have butlers, and servants and people to wipe ya nose around here. There's no one to pick up and clean after you, you're on you're own out here. Y'all gotta do everything for yaself, now get ya ass outta bed!
James looks towards Austin, putting a foot out of the bed and quickly lifting it back up as the cold from the floor creeps through his body. He lifts his foot up towards the bed but Austin shakes his head, forcing him to put his foot down on the floor once more, letting the cold shoot through his body again.
James: Fine. Where do we get breakfast around here?
A smile creeps over Austin's face as he points behind him.
Austin: The kitchen is through there.
James: How about a little privacy?
Another grin passes on Austin's face as James drops his eyebrows in wonderment. Austin turns and leaves the bedroom and James gets to his feet, pulling on a robe and wrapping it around himself. He follows Austin through the living room and through a side door in to a small kitchen area. James looks around curiously.
James: Well... where's breakfast?
Austin: This is where you learn to make it ya damn self! I'm not ya maid!
James grits his teeth before opening a cupboard, seeing it's empty, he turns to Austin once more.
James: Where is everything?
Austin: Mah guess is you haven't been to the store yet, ya know, those places where people buy groceries?
James: But you made Simpson take my cards away! How am I meant to buy things with no cards?
James stomps his foot but Austin looks at him unimpressed.
Austin: Long before plastic was used to buy things, people used this thing called money.
James: I have like thirty bucks in cash! Without a card, how the hell am I meant to get cash? Is this place that backwards.
Austin grits his teeth as he looks at the young man.
Austin: Simpson and Ah made a deal. You work here on the farm and every week, I give you a hundred bucks and you run ya ass down to the local store and get what ya need.
A look of pure astonishment runs across James' face as he stomps his foot.
James: One hundred bucks? What the hell am I meant to get with that poor amount of money? What can you buy for a whole week for that?
Austin: This is where you learn to be a man. You think the whole of this country have what your ungrateful ass has? No! If we took all ya money and spread it around everyone in America, we'd take a dent out of poverty, instead, it's sitting in your account doin' nothing, because ya mama and dada gave it to ya. Ya might not appreciate what ya have boy, but ya more than what ya need. Now get in some damn clothes because ya already late for work. If ya wanna make that money, ya gotta earn it, are we clear?
A look of annoyance, quickly falling in to anger crosses James' face as he stares through narrow eyes at Austin and his outburst. He opens his mouth to speak but quickly turns around, moving in to the guest house and in to the bedroom....
7am...
Austin and James stand outside, looking at a stable area, the wind nipping at James' skin as he looks up at the old wooden building in front of him. Austin stands to his right hand side as James peers at him.
James: A stable?
Austin: Well done, ya did learn something at ya fancy schools, yes James, it's a stable, it's where horses live.
James: Well obviously, my fancy school also told me about the horses too.
James fires a cocky look towards Austin, who returns his look with a glare, causing James to uncomfortably clear his throat. James looks towards the door of the stables as Austin walks past him, waving his hand and getting James to follow him. Austin pushes open the stable too and walks in unaffected by the smell, but James instantly hold his breath.
Austin: What wrong with ya?
James: It stinks like horse shit in here!
Austin: Well that's because it is horse shit genius! What did ya think it was gonna smell like in here? Roses? Jasmine? Sea air? It stinks of horse shit because it is horse shit!
James: It's disgusting.
Austin: It ain't meant to be pretty, but it is good for fertilizer.
James: Well thanks for the lesson in horse shit, but I have to be somewhere.
James turns around but Austin puts an arm on his shoulder, stopping him from leaving.
Austin: Ya have to be here, cause this is all part of that think called work ya happen to have avoided for years. This is where your day will start every single day, right here.
James: I don't wanna ride horses! Why would I wanna be here.
Austin: Cause you're gonna take that big old steaming pile of fertilizer and pick it up with that shovel, fill up barrow after barrow, and take it outside this door and round the corner to the fertilizer pile and dump it there.
James: Dump it there, very funny.
James smirks at Austin but Austin's face stays straight.
Austin: Ah'm wasn't trying to be funny, do ah look like a comedian to you? Ah'm telling you what to do.
James puts his hands on his hips, shaking his head at Austin.
James: This is slave labour! Why should I do this work for you!
Austin moves in closer to James, his face inches from the young man's face, his eyes narrowed at him.
Austin: Because you're stuck here, and if you don't, then things won't get better for you, things will get worse. Ya won't have the heart to be anything other than that bitchy little kid that y'are now. Ya wanna be the best rassler in the world, but ya not getting given that for free. Ya need some character, need to be able to work like ah man before anyone will treat ya like one. Beside, ya don't work, ya don't get paid and ya be missing more than breakfast.
James looks at Austin weirdly before moving towards the shovel, picking it up and looking back to Austin, who give him an encouraging nod. James turns around, walking towards the horses...
12pm....
James sits at the gate of the ranch, sweat pouring from his head as he takes a break from the first day of manual labour. He stretches his aching, tired muscles out as he sits on the floor against a wooden post. Austin Parker approaches him from the side.
Austin: Great job today. If this whole rassling thing don't work out for ya, you'd make an ok shit shoveller.
James looks up at him with tired eyes, letting a sigh escape from him lungs.
James: I've worked my ass off and I'm starving.
Austin: Well you're in lucky, get up.
James stands up slowly, his muscles aching more with every movement. He steadies himself against the post as Austin points behind him.
Austin: Just down that road, about a mile, there's a general store, they'll have everything ya need for a good meal or two. Ya said ya got a little money, so ah suggest ya shop wisely cause it ain't payday till the end of the week.
James opens his mouth widely as he looks at Austin, not quiet believing what Austin has said.
Austin: Don't sit there and try and catch flies with ya mouth, Ah'd get going if I was you, cause ya lunch break ends in ah hour and if ya not back by then, ah'm docking ya pay!
James turns away slowly starting to walk down the road, his body aching more and more with every step he takes. Austin calls out to him with a smile.
Austin: Hey! Pick up mah wife some peppers while ya down there and don't be late back.
James just raises a hand and starts to pick up the pace, moving down the road a little bit quicker.
Let's fast forward past this uneventful journey.
James stands outside a wooden building, the words "general store" painted in white above the door is seen. James looks up at the store sign as a couple in their early twenties walk past him, sniffing the air and looking with a look of disgust on their faces as they look at him.
James: I can't help it, when someone's had be shovelling horse shit from 6am! It's not my fault!
James storms past the couple and in to the store, looking around at the old time wooden isles, with rows of produce on them. James moves in to the store, instantly getting a scrunched up nose look from the cashier. He moves past, looking down the row of tinned food, picking up a tin.
James: Tinned ham? Seriously, people take part of a pig and shove it in a can... Why? What is the point of taking meat and ruining it by putting it in a piece of metal? Does it improve anything?
He places it back on the shelf before moving along a bit more, reading a label.
James: What the fuck is spam?
He puts the tin down in horror and backs away, spinning around in to the fresh product section.
James: Now think James, think. You wanna be a better wrestler than everyone in the world, so you need to be healthy, and fruit and vegetables, they're gotta be healthy, right?
He looks down the refrigerated section, looking at fruit, looking at rather large pineapples.
James: Pineapples in Georgia? Really? Ugh, what goes with pineapples? Bacon maybe.... I mean pineapples with bacon, the bad side of it will be cancelled out by the good side of it, right? That's how this all works, balance.
He walks down a little further, his eyes reading a label in front of a tray of green tomatoes.
James: Tomatoes? Are you sure? They're fucking green! Why would people sell things that are clearly gone mouldy? Clearly no one around here has any standards at all.
James turns his head, looking at a young lady walking past and points to the tomatoes.
James: Don't buy these, they're mouldy as fuck.
The woman sniffs the air, looking at James strangely and continue to walk past, walking away from him at a faster pace. James shrugs and moves on, looking at boxes of mushrooms with a look of disgust on his face.
James: Who would eat stuff that grows wildly?
He looks at the labels on some of the boxes, reading them out loud.
James: Oyster, White, Stone, Portabello.... They're just fucking mushrooms! I mean they go on pias, why the hell do they need so many names when they're basically the same thing?
James turns on his heels, looking around and seeing a spice and herb shelve. He moves in closely, examining the labels.
James: Rosemary, thyme, tarragon, dill, chives... What goes with what? It doesn't say that on the packet so that's about as pointless as those mushrooms there.
He points his thumb behind him towards the mushrooms and shakes his head.
James: Nah, fuck this, I'm out of here!
He turns to his side, quickly walking through the isle but stops as he looks left seeing the pepper selection in different colors.
James: Red, green, orange, yellow.... He knew that was gonna mess with me. So not funny from that hick! I'm gonna find my way out of this hell hole and back home. This is bullshit!
He charges out of the store and instantly turns left, walking away from the store and in the opposite direction of Austin's ranch. He grows under his breath as the pain from his already tired muscles start to intensify. The gravel crunches beneath his feet as a car passes, causing him to turn his head and look as it passes by. He stops dead in his tracks and bows his head, running both hands through his messy hair.
James: If I keep walking, I can find freedom.
He turns his head around, looking behind himself and looking towards Austin's ranch.
James: But if I go back, then I have a chance of being more than I am now.
He closes his eyes, sighing deeply. he nods to himself and turns around, walking back towards the store and Austin's ranch. He reaches the store and turns sharply right and in to the door once more...
6pm...
Both James and Austin are seen walking along by the barn, no ordinary barn, but the barn where many wrestlers have trained. Nothing fancy but an old wrestling ring amongst the bales of hay. James walks with a slump in his upper body, clearly tired from day one. He fires his half shut eyes towards Austin.
James: So when do I actually start training? I didn't come to here to pick up horse shit, be your errand boy or be a farm hand, I came here to train to wrestle!
Austin: Ah told ya when ya first got here, Ah ain't gonna train ya till ya can pick up a bale of hay without falling on ya ass!
James looks around, spying a bale of hay near the aged entrance of the barn and moves towards it. He reaches down with both hands, trying to lifts the bale, but his tired body works against him as he can't budge it at all. He places his palms down on the hay, admitting defeat. Letting out a sigh, he straightens up to the best he can and moves towards a shrugging Austin.
Austin: Time to call it a day.
Austin and James walk down a path, leading to the guest house and stand outside.
Austin: Not ah bad first day.
James: Depends from who's eyes your looking through.
Austin: Ah've seen worse, not many, but ah couple.
James pushes open the door, leading directly in to the living area of the guest house and reaches his left hand around the wall, reaching for a light switch. He eventually finds it and hits the switch, lighting up the room. He wanders to the couch and falls face first on it.
Austin: Don't get too comfortable, dinner is in an hour and mah wife wants to meet ya.
Austin shuts the door as he leaves the guest house as James rolls his body around to sit up. He plants his feet on the floor, letting out a long exhale as he covers the side of his head with his hands. He opens his watering eyes, swallowing hard and slowly letting words gently fall from his lips.
James: If this is life, I don't want it anymore. I'm in hell....
*******
Dr. Goode: So you saw Austin Parker as a bully?
Dr Goode turns his attention to his notes on his lap, flicking through two pages.
J2H: At that time, I didn't see the bigger picture of what I was trying to be taught, I didn't see that he was there to rebuild me layer by layer. That was to build my character, that was to build my heart, that was to build my work ethic. Without being on solid ground, you can't build upwards. You can't build castles on quicksand.
Dr. Goode: Interesting.
J2H: No, not really. You build everything from the ground up. If you're building a car, would you put the seats in first? If you were building a house, would you put the roof on first? Why give a man the wrestling skill he needs to be the best, if you don't want to work hard to use them.
Dr. Goode: You seem to be smiling when you think of those times now.
J2H: I do smile when I think of those times because it made me stronger than I was before. It gave me motivation to work hard, which gave me the body, which gave me the skills to be better than anyone ever expected.
Dr Goode quickly flicks through his notes, moving the pages closer to his eyes.
Dr. Goode: You seem to come across as that was not where it started your downslide.
J2H: There's a common theme here doctor, I'm sure you'll work it out eventually.
The doctor shifts uncomfortably in his seat, looking at J2H with a curious look on his face.
Dr. Goode: Let's talk about your wife.
J2H: Not quite my wife doctor.
The doctor quickly flicks through the notes, looking closely.
Dr. Goode: Ah, I see. This could be a source for your misery.
J2H: Again doctor, you couldn't be further from the truth because Melody did make me happy more than once.
Simpson's head jerks back as he looks surprised at J2H's latest comment, drawing raised eyebrows from the doctor.
Dr. Goode: How would that be?
J2H: Well, they say it's the simple things in life that makes it worth living, right....
*******
Let me take you back to a peaceful Sunday morning in March 2015, March the fifteenth to be exact. One week after Blaze of Glory IV to be even more exact.
It's not uncommon for wrestlers on tour to make the most of a week off after a supercard by flying home the day after the show to where ever they may come from. Friends and family are good people to around when you've spent weeks getting hurt, J2H wasn't that much different.
Life over the last three months had took a turn for him, married, or so he thought to the smoking hot and popular Melody Grace... Ok, Mrs Melody Grace Huntington-Hawkes III as she would like to remind people. It had been a whirlwind since New Years Eve 2014 when I do's drunkenly got exchanged, but the two had tried to settle, to make things work. Two very different people were starting to become one...
J2H sat peacefully in the back garden of the home now shared by the couple, an unusually warm sun lit the morning sky. He softly pushes his expensive looking sunglasses, closer to his eyes as he admires the blades of grass blowing gracefully in time with each other in the wind. In front of him is a wooden table, immaculately varnished with a natural wood. From behind him, Melody appears, wrapping her arms around his neck and planting a kiss on his cheek with a giggle before quickly disappearing away from him. A smile (Yes, a real one!) crosses his lips as he turns around to look in the doorway leading in to the house. Melody stands in the doorway, giving him a quick wave before turning around and moving back in to the house. J2H turns back to looking at the grass blowing softly in the wind. A boyish and rarely seen smile crosses his face.
J2H: This could be a good day.
He leans back in the wooden matching chair, his hands behind his head as the smile moves over his face more. He closes his eyes, tilting his head back as far as it can go, not noticing Melody's return, placing a coffee on the nearby table. She leans over him, nose to nose but upside down. Under the sunglasses, J2H slowly opens his eyes, looking up at Melody with the smile still on his face.
J2H: What are you doing?
Melody: Well I brought coffee out, and you had your head back and I loved that scene from Spiderman so...
Melody leans over further and quickly gives him an upside down kiss on the lips. She pulls herself away and looks down at J2H, grinning back at her.
Melody: Just like the movie! K... bye.
Melody giggles and tries to run away with a smile, but J2H catches her by the wrist, pulling her around the chair, with her landing across his lap. J2H wraps his arms around her while Melody puts her arms around his neck.
Melody: Hi!
J2H: Hi!
The two smile at each other, both just look at each other before J2H speaks again.
J2H: What has gotten in to you today? More bubbly than usual.
Melody: Well, I could so tell you, but then you're gonna have to go house shopping, and clothes shopping, and well every other kinda shopping.
J2H lowers his sunglasses and looks at Melody.
J2H: Whatcha mean babe?
A wide grin breaks out on Melody's face as she tilts her head on to J2H's shoulder.
Melody: I love being called babe.
J2H meets her grin and moves his head around, his lips on her forehead.
J2H: What's this about shopping?
Melody: Well I have something in there cooking, but that's ok, I like this moment better, we can get new stuff.
J2H's head fires backwards, his neck straighted up as he looks at Melody on his lap.
J2H: Say what?
He bumps his knees up, causing Melody to bounce up a bit, causing the young blonde to poke out her lower lip with a pout.
Melody: Fine, I'll go save the house, but you owe me mister.
Melody pokes J2H on the nose as he moves his arms away. She stands up and runs towards the door, but quickly turns around and runs back to J2H, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck once more. She lets him go and charges off towards the house darting in to the open door. Another smile on the young man's face tells the story as he reaches out and wraps his fingers around the coffee mug. His face quickly turns to a frown.
J2H: Wait, why isn't Simpson cooking?
J2H picks up his coffee mug, taking a sip from the top, before nodding slowly while exhaling out of his nose. A look of approval appears over his face.
J2H: She got it perfect. Man, my wife did good.
J2H quickly sits up in the chair, removing the sunglasses from his eyes with his free hand, to reveal surprise burning in to them.
J2H: Think that's the first time I've actually said that. Didn't feel bad, actually felt pretty natural.
He stands up, coffee mug in hand and moves towards the house, moving across the stone floor and in to a function hall like area. He moves through the function hall and through a corridor, pushing a door open to the right and moving inside a very modern kitchen. At a long table, Melody sits on one side, in front of her sits a bowl of oats, with dried fruit and almond milk, next to a green coloured smoothie. Across the table sits a plate of bacon, eggs, sausage and toast. Melody points to the chair across from her.
Melody: So I didn't burn the house down or breakfast so we can call that a big win.
J2H walks towards the chair, pulling it out and sitting opposite Melody.
J2H: You made me breakfast? What happened to Simpson? You don't have to do this, you know?
Melody: I know I don't but I told Simpson to stay in bed cause this is what a wife should do for her husband.
Hearing the word wife instantly brings a smile to J2H's face.
Melody: I'm sorry I couldn't wait for you to get here but I'm meant to be out ten minutes ago to pick up late birthday present for you.
Melody stands up, moving around the table and behind J, wrapping her arms around his neck and planting her lips on his cheek, holding them there firmly. After a few seconds, she pulls her head away, leaving the shape of her lips on his cheek. She whispers in his ear.
Melody: I won't be long, and look under your plate.
Melody walks to the door of the kitchen, turning back and to spy J2H reaching under his plate. He looks at a note under the plate, simply reading "Miss you already". A huge smile breaks out on the young man's face as he turns to look at a winking Melody. She turns and vanishes down the hall.
*******
J2H: See, I was happy with her...
Back in the home of J2H, we return to current times. Dr Goode continues to write notes of his own, as J2H stays laying down in a peaceful state.
J2H: It felt natural.
Dr. Goode: It feels like you had real feelings for her.
J2H: Of course I had real feelings for her. She was here, we were happy, did you not listen to me tell you about me being happy with her? She did cute little things that got me smiling. Even when I would sleep late and she'd be out when I got up, I'd wake up to sandwiches cut in triangles and a note with a smiling face on it. How could you not love that?
Simpson looks astounded by the revelation of J2H under the trance. The doctor looks towards Simpson and back toward J2H.
Dr. Goode: Have you ever admitted that to her before or to anyone?
J2H: I never told the world cause it wasn't the worlds business. Eyes was on us all the time. Things wasn't planned, this was no SCW bullshit drama storyline, this was my life, this was her life. We were two people trying to work it out ourselves. I tried to tell her, but you try telling someone that when it's the first time you've felt it.
Again, another astounded look runs along Simpson's face.
J2H: I've had girlfriends but none I cared about like that.
Dr. Goode: But these notes lead me to believe that you wasn't always like that around her in public, why was that?
J2H: Because I didn't know how to act in public with someone that I cared about. Like I said, everyone was watching us, one little fuck up from me and the world knows it and I didn't want her being under the spotlight for stupid things I did. I knew I would fuck up, I did fuck up at times, why should she have suffered for me?
Simpson holds his hand on his head, his mouth opens as he watches the man he held in his arms as a baby seem more human than ever before.
J2H: She became so much to me, and then she left.
Dr. Goode: And now it seems she's back. How do you feel about this? Do you still feel the same?
J2H: No, I feel angry, I feel disappointed, I feel like I'm full of questions, but the only one that matters is why run?
Dr. Goode: And that makes you angry that she is back?
J2H: No, it makes me angry that she returns to Twitter, meets five hundred new people, gets a role on a show that I worked hard on, becomes the most popular thing around again, and I got what a stupid public tweet and her dressing up in stupid things to try and give me stuff. I didn't get a hi, my fucking number is still the same. I didn't get a message away from the public even asking if I was ok. Yet she comes back and everyone jumps to her side, the same fucking people know knew our history and for months didn't ask how I was. They just seemed more happy she was back, then ever wondering how I was when I was still around.
Dr Goode flicks through the notes on his lap.
Dr. Goode: This says she left when you found out that you wasn't married, what if she stayed?
J2H: I would have maybe come up with something to see if it could have worked, but I didn't get the fucking chance to try, just gone, just like that and I'm the bastard sitting here picking up the pieces. Just watching her, she's changed, she might have everyone else fooled, but I know the woman I thought I was married to. She's not the same and I'm angry about that because she didn't have to change when she was just great the way she was.
Dr. Goode: Do you blame her for the situation?
J2H: No, I blame Despayre for a lot of this.
Dr Goode shuffles through his notes, quickly finding Despayre's name and running his eyes over the notes that Simpson made earlier.
Dr. Goode: Oh...
J2H: Oh is right. If he never played that stupid game, making me think I was married to Melody, I wouldn't have got feeling and I wouldn't have ended up like this! I know he likes to have fun but this messed with my life. When she left, I was secretly destroyed, if he never put me in that position, I wouldn't have been like this today.
Dr. Goode: He seems to be a source of anger for you.
J2H: He constantly likes to fuck with me. On tour, I booked a luxury boat to stay on and he somehow changed it to a piss poor little tug thing with rust and looked like if you stepped too hard, it would sink. The next week, I booked a suite to get the thought out of my mind and he changed it. I slept in a fucking pod with people above me, below me and either side of me, and it doesn't stop there because again, he's trying to mess with my life. Him and Mikah...
Dr. Goode: Mikah....Mikah....
Another quick shuffle through the notes to find Mikah's name.
J2H: Oh she's something doc, a real one of a kind. Uses everyone to get what she wants, and for some fucked up reason, she wants to get in my life. It makes me wish I was nicer to Misty so she'd come back and shut her up for me. Can you believe she's teamed up with Despayre to find me a woman? Like I actually need help to do that! Despayre even said about me... me with Mikah!
Dr. Goode: What's your thoughts on that?
J2H: God no! She is.... just no! She's a train wreck, especially with men. She's groped more of the male locker room in the last six weeks, than Amy Marshall banged, and trust me, she's a porn star, she's banged a lot! Says I couldn't handle her, fact is, she couldn't handle me. I think she's all front, but when it comes down to it, when the cameras are off, she's a whole different person. I just to be that guy, but I'm not anymore. If she was here right now, I'd say sorry Mikah, you really couldn't handle me and you and Despayre need to butt out of my life before I start making more deals with the devil.
Dr. Goode: Deal with the devil?
A flick through the notes takes him to the name Brother Grimm and the word deal underline. Dr Goode looks towards J2H as he starts to laugh to himself.
Dr. Goode: A deal with Brother Grimm?
J2H: A deal with Brother Grimm...
*******
Climax Control 130.
You know the show, the show where a certain Austin Parker was returned to help a helpless J2H after being attacked once more by a seemingly obsessed Brother Grimm. Do you remember what happened a little later?
You saw J2H having a conversation with Baba Yaga, but you never got to see what happened behind closed doors. It's ok, pause this and go back and watch that part...
Done? Good.
Do you also remember Climax Control 137? Wasn't too long ago, so you should. That was the night of the debut of Eric Steel. You remember what happened when he jumped J2H, brutally assaulting him, before and unlikely savoir came to light in the form of Brother Grimm... Very unusual, yet the night got further shrouded in mystery after the mate, did it not? Those chilling words when Brother Grimm revealed that he and J2H have a bargain, but you never saw just what that was or how that came about.... until now.
Baba Yaga moves in to the dressing room turning away from J2H, her long gray hair flowing down her back on her black robes. J2H moves towards the exit of the room, still in two minds on if he should escape while he still could, closing the door behind them and quickly moves his back to the door. His heart pounds through his chest as beads of sweat runs from his forehead and past his brow to run along his cheek.
Baba Yaga: Don't be nervous...
J2H looks at the back of her head, not even had she turned around to his increasingly faster breathing.
J2H: You'd be nervous if you had a witch sniff you and call you tender.
A deep gulp comes from J2H, unsure on if his sarcastic tone would make things lighter or get him in to more trouble. Baba Yaga turns around, her knitting still in hand as a smile crosses her face, making the tension in J2H's body increase.
Baba Yaga: Such wit for a young man, but let's not get in to a battle of sarcasm, it's one you've already lost without knowing.
Another gulp from J2H, more beads of sweat dripping from his brow drops to make contact with the locker room floor.
Baba Yaga: You mentioned some sort of deal.
J2H clears his throat, his eyes meeting Baba Yaga in an uncomfortable stare, her eyebrows slightly raised as she looks at him with a tilted head.
Baba Yaga: Well out with it before we're all too much older.
Again, J2H clears his throat but the nerves are still running through his tone.
J2H: This, this whole haunting me, it's got to stop.
Baba Yaga: And why would that be? I mean Grimm seems to find it fun, and don't we all just want to have fun?
J2H slowly shakes his head.
J2H: But it's been a lie for six long months lady? A six month long lie now, and now he's doing it for no reason at all. In fact, his making himself look stupid.
J2H's boldness quickly fades away as an intense stare returns to him from Baba Yaga, as if she is burning a hole directly through the young man's soul.
Baba Yaga: Care to explain why?
Another quick clearing of his throat is head and J2H takes a step forward, his back leaving the door for the first time as he becomes braver.
J2H: I may have got it wrong calling him all these creatures that you claim he isn't, but I haven't got it wrong in the fact that he likes to haunt the young, that he likes to haunt children.
Baba Yaga: Finally a fact you have got right for once, kudos to you James.
Using his real name forces him to snap his head to the right, looking at the interested witch.
J2H: I'm not a kid anymore, I turned twenty one six damn months ago, I can legally go out and do whatever the hell I want worldwide and get away with it. Anything that's legal to do in the world, I can do because I'm no longer a child. Grimm is going for someone that's against who he supposedly doesn't go for, or none of the roster is safe.
Baba Yaga: Young is his preference, and you are still young.
J2H holds up his finger, becoming braver and braver by the second as adrenaline kicks in.
J2H: But there's one younger than I am here, he's right under his nose, yet Grimm seems to have an obsession with me because I am the thorn in his side and have been for a long time, but what if I gave him someone else.
From out the shadows forms a figure, a man stepping through them as J2H's eyes widen. He turns around grabbing for the door handle and turns it but the figure waves a smokey arm and the door quickly slams shut. J2H pulls on the handle but the door refuses to budge. J2H turns back to the figure as the body starts to form, the pale facial features of Brother Grimm starts to take shape. His face forms first before the rest on his body and the smoke and shadows disappear. J2H's hand starts to rapidly shake as he looks at the tilted head of Grimm, slightly bowed forward, looking up with a smile. J2H pulls at the door once more but to no avail. He turns to Grimm, his fists clenched and ready to strike, but Grimm raises a hand, waving it up and down. J2H slowly lowers his fists.
Grimm: I'm listening.
J2H moves his fist down to his side looking at Grimm.
J2H: Well you don't seem like the kind of... well, whatever you are to just step away from someone that beats you a lot, seem the vengeful kind.
An arrogant smile crosses J2H's face, but instantly changes when Grimm returns an icy stare.
Grimm: Another thing you have right about me.
J2H: Well what if I gave you someone else to go after? Younger, within your age range, not a man for a long time to come. What if I gave you him as a replacement so you get over haunting my life and haunt someone more suited.
Grimm: And who would you have in mind?
J2H: Tim Staggs.
Grimm and Baba Yaga share a glare, a thoughtful look on Baba Yaga's face while Grimm strokes his pale chin.
Grimm: Interesting...
J2H: You get what you want, by being able to haunt someone that is not an adult, I get the peace and freedom that I want, everyone wins.
Baba Yaga: Except Tim Staggs.
J2H: Who cares about Tim Staggs? He's proud of being a nobody. Besides, did either of you care about haunting me?
Another look is shared between Grimm and Baba Yaga, both rolling their shoulders casually.
J2H: Didn't think so. So do we have a deal?
Grimm puts his hand out towards J2H, who looks at him cautiously.
J2H: I don't have to sign in blood or anything like that, do I?
Baba Yaga: What do you think we are? Savages?
To his better judgement, J2H keeps his mouth shut and places a hand out to Grimm, feeling the cold run through his body as he makes contact with Grimm's hand.
J2H: You owe me after tonight. Another attack out of nowhere.
Grimm grips J2H's hand firmer as he looks at the young man.
Grimm: Likewise, Austin Parker.... Who would have thought it?
*******
Dr Goode flicks through his notes in front of him, scanning for a relevant parts of the notes given to him by Simpson.
Dr. Goode: That would explain the save written here by Brother Grimm, but this whole session, I can not understand why he feels down.
J2H: You're not a very good doctor then. If you can't link all of that together then you might need to think about just doing kids parties from now on.
Dr. Goode: Care to explain?
J2H: If I don't, you'll never get it. It's all about respect. Austin didn't respect me when I first started, but I worked my ass off to get that respect from him. Do you think there was respect from Melody? No! She might have cared in her way, but who leaves a man who gets one of the biggest shocks of his life if they respect them? No one! I don't know if she respects the fucking fact that I went out on my own and told the world what happened with no one to turn to afterwards, but if she doesn't now, then her human side has gone and on to Brother Grimm. He didn't respect the fact I beat him before, he just wanted to haunt me for the sake of it, but he respected the fact I stood face to face with him.
Dr. Goode: But if you feel you may have earned the respect of others...
J2H: I want the fucking world to respect me. I busted my ass as a guy who got picked on by the whole roster, did they look up to me when I took Roulette and Tag titles? No, they said I got lucky cause they had more years in wrestling, but winning something got me nothing from them, the fans...
Dr. Goode: The fans?
J2H: They watched me grow from that wimpy little kid in to someone who learned to be better from one of the best in the world, but did they respect my hard work? No, they didn't. Look at things now, in the locker room, in the crowd, I have done all I could to earn their respect, but no, they treat me like a joke! Despayre, Mikah, I'm their little pet project! Melody seems to like rubbing my face in so much, I'm their own personal little joke. I'm the guy they can score points off to look better. I'm sick of being a joke, there's absolutely no respect there from anyone. That is what this is all about doctor.
Dr. Goode: You can't expect people to just hand out respect like that.
J2H: Hand out? I've earned it. I've gone through hell in SCW. I came in and got beat by a damn teddy bear in match one, I ended up in a group with a stupid name, who upped and left. I stepped away for a whole year to work on being something better for what I do and I came back with fire in me with Power Play, where are they now? Did I give up? No! Did I walk away? No! I stayed here to get haunted by a supernatural creature, listen to the same old jokes about me, stood around while people made fun of me, but I was still here working, but I got a solution.
Dr. Goode: You do?
J2H: Oh yeah, I'm going to make them all see that they were wrong to doubt me, that they were wrong to shun me, that I was and am an asset to each and every person here.
Dr. Goode: And how do you plan on doing that?
J2H: I'm going to destroy Eric Steel and CJ Sharpe, then I'm gonna go on and become the SCW World Heavyweight champion...
Both Dr Goode and Simpson look at each other, Simpson's eyes widened by yet another revelation from J2H.
Simpson: Maybe we should bring him around now sir...
The doctor nods in agreement and leans over J2H.
