Adam sat backstage after his evening's match in front of the TV monitor in his and Jay's locker room.  Knowing that tonight's RAW was the last televised show Amy or Jeff would be on for awhile, he wanted to catch the redhead's appearance.  Amy didn't have a match scheduled for herself but accompanied the younger Hardy to the ring for his match against The Undertaker - the new Hardcore champion.

Adam frowned, seeing how fitting it was that the young man face such a competitor.  Although revered and respected, for he was a legend in the company, 'Taker was a most feared opponent.  Most wrestlers of Jeff Hardy's status would be chewed up and spit out, according to the script.  Mark Calloway was a true professional, and, always willing to put a new or younger guy ahead, would job out for anyone.  But Adam knew this wasn't the case tonight - not by a long shot.

Whenever the camera's angle would include Amy in view, the tall blond kept his eyes glued to the diva.  She looked frantic as she watched her friend, who was more like a younger brother, get repeatedly pummeled.  More than once, the camera focused on closeups of her face, and Adam knew there was a lot more to her winces than just Jeff's punishment in the ring.

For a moment, the Canadian suspected that Mr. McMahon might have told 'Taker to hurt Jeff Hardy, as there appeared to be a bit more of an edge to his offense, but he rejected the idea.  Last week, the Dead Man had faced Spike Dudley and had been equally as rough - and as far as Adam knew, the small man hadn't run into any trouble with the boss.

The blond sighed, running a hand through his long hair as he watched the unmerciful ending of the match.  One Last Ride later, and the big man got the win.  But then Adam realized that wasn't quite the end.  He watched as the veteran grabbed Jeff, carrying him over one shoulder, up the ramp to the stage, Lita chasing after him.  The redhead begged the Dead Man repeatedly to spare her friend further torment, but the 'Taker ignored her, having other ideas.  He lifted the much smaller man up and delivered a devastating Last Ride - all the way back to the arena floor off one side of the stage!

Adam couldn't believe his eyes, and, all of a sudden, the camera switched to a shot of Matt Hardy, via WWF New York - the dark-haired young man had an equally shocked and angry expression on his face.

"No!"  Adam's hands clenched into fists at his sides as he watched, with further disbelief, as The Undertaker suddenly grabbed Lita by the hair.  Although it was all scripted, he was furious that Vince had had her included in all of this madness.  "Leave her alone!" he shouted futilely at the 'Taker on the monitor.

The redhead struggled for a moment in the huge man's grip, then managed to turn around, kicking him, connecting quite solidly with his crotch.  The man doubled over in pain, and it appeared that Lita was going to be spared - but when she tried to run, she couldn't - for the 'Taker still had hold of her long red hair.

Adam's jaw dropped when, a second or so later, the Dead Man grabbed the diva, tossing her far off the stage.  Although she landed on top of Jeff Hardy, he was still angry.  Sure, he himself had side-suplexed this woman, had taken her down with one of his signature moves that was now dubbed the "Edge-o-matic," and had speared her countless times in the past - but this was a violence the caliber of which he could not even fathom.  Even when the Dudley Boyz had put her through a table nearly two years earlier, it hadn't been this bad.

The camera shifted to another shot of Matt - the man had both hands to his head and again had what Adam knew must be an expression on his face that was nearly identical to the one on his own.  He knew where this was all leading to - a challenge from Matt to the 'Taker for a "revenge" match on the next SmackDown - which would prove to be even more brutal than the carnage from tonight.

Adam was so angry, he wanted to punch something - like Vince McMahon's face.  He had an impulsive urge to seek out the boss and give him a piece of his mind.  So what if he ended up suffering the same fate as his friends?  They didn't deserve this.  Amy certainly didn't deserve it!  The WWF would be very dull without her, even if she was only off the TV shows for a week.

The tall blond looked up, his face still furious as RAW cut to a commercial break.  Jay stepped into the room.

"Oh, hey..."

"Did you just see that?" Adam asked, his voice nearly a snarl.

"Yeah - I was watching with Trish in her locker room," Jay said.

"That old prick needs to be taught a lesson," the taller man spat.  "And I would love to have the honor of being the one that gave it to him."

His best friend stared at him, worry clearly evident in his sky blue eyes.  He knew Adam had a tendency to be impulsive at times - which was not always a good thing.  "You do that, and you get fired, man...let it go.  Yeah, the old man is a piece of shit - look at what he did to poor Trish - but he's our boss, Adam."

"Unfortunately..."  There were plenty of times the tall Canadian had wished that Stephanie, Shane or Linda was in charge - any of those McMahons would be a vast improvement over Vince.  But Jay was right - there was nothing he or anyone else could do to help their friends or themselves.

Adam sighed dejectedly, then ran quick fingers through his mass of golden hair.  "I just wish there was something I could do for Amy."

"I know, man...hey, I'm sure she and the Hardys won't be punished very long," the other blond said.  "Come on - this is Ames and Matt and Jeff Hardy we're talking about here.  They've never caused any trouble - even when Amy got into that fight with Torrie Wilson, she got off scot-free - those three are pretty much the goody two shoes of the WWF!"  He laughed at his own remark.

Adam gave him a small, half-hearted smile, his mind completely focused on the redhead with whom he was so desperately in love...

*

"Hey...can I come in?" Adam asked as he tentatively peeked through the partially ajar door after knocking.  He peered in at the four women inside the locker room - Trish, Stacy, Nora Greenwald - who had always been known in the company as Molly Holly but was now Mighty Molly, The Hurricane's sidekick - and Amy.

"Sure, Adam - come on in," Trish said warmly, gesturing for the tall man to enter.

Adam stepped inside, glancing at each of the divas.  "Hey, ladies."  His gaze stopped on Amy.  The redhead appeared to be fumbling with some items in her locker, her back to him.  While the other women had responded in kind to his greeting, she hadn't.  And maybe he was only being paranoid, but she seemed to be deliberately ignoring him.

"Ames?"  He tentatively stepped closer to her, reaching out to touch her on the upper arm, his hand making contact with her huge tattoo - which he'd always been amazed she had gotten, as it had to have been excrutiating.

She barely reacted to his touch, continuing her task of packing her bag.  After a beat, she turned around to face him.

He winced at the look in her eyes.  She looked so sad, but the hopelessness evident in her hazel depths was much worse.  It was the kind of feeling Adam couldn't think of as anything other than "I've given up."  He longed to wrap his arms around her and hug her for all she was worth - which would mean he would have to do so very tightly and never let go.  He wanted more than anything to make her feel better.

"What are you doing?" he asked, finally rediscovering his voice.

"I'm packing," she stated simply.  "Jeff and I are catching a late flight back to North Carolina.  Since we won't be at SmackDown tomorrow night, there's no point in sticking around."

Yes there is, Adam thought.  I want you to stick around...because I love you!  Damn it!

Growing angry with himself, he tried to snap out of it.  Despite what Jay had told him a week before, there couldn't be a worse time for him to focus on his feelings for her.  He knew she would feel awkward and more uncomfortable than she was already feeling - and he refused to put her through more discomfort.  If he ever told her, it would have to be at another time.

"Do you need any help?"  Great, he berated himself.  Just great, now you sound like you're happy to be seeing her go.  Why couldn't he do or say anything right to and by her?  Lately, he seemed to be all thumbs.

"No, but thanks for offering.  I'm already done," the redhead replied.  She looked at her stuff, then back at him.  "Well...I guess I won't be around until the next house show."

Adam swallowed hard, knowing the next house show wouldn't happen until after New Year's.  God, this really sucked.

Amy laughed sarcastically.  "Well, at least I'll be off for the holidays...and Cody will be happy to be able to spend so much time with me."

The blond man agreed, smiling sadly, knowing that Amy's doberman would be thrilled to be spending all that quality time with his mistress.  He guessed Cody would probably make Amy play out in the snow with him every day while she was home.  He also found it unbelievable that he was suddenly feeling jealous of a dog.

"Yeah," he said sadly.  For a moment, Adam didn't know what else to say, as he was feeling very badly that she wouldn't be around.  "Hey," he finally said, a small smile coming to his handsome face, "I wish I could visit you during Christmas...I doubt I'll have the time, but I'll call you."  He rubbed her shoulder affectionately and winked at the redhead.

Amy smiled, also feeling sadness creep over her.  She looked up and gazed intensely into her friend's beautiful emerald eyes wordlessly for a moment.  "I'm really going to miss you, Adam..."

"I know...I'll miss you, too," he replied as he moved closer to her.  He pulled her in his arms for an embrace, dipping his head slightly nearer to hers, and the redhead stared up into his face, her breath catching.  She suddenly became acutely aware of the fact that Trish, Stacy and Nora had all, somehow quietly left the room - and that she and the tall, handsome blond man were alone.

After a moment, they instantly parted, startled, Amy jumping slightly as the locker room door was suddenly opened.  She glanced quickly over there, and Jeff was poking his head in.

"You ready, Ames?" the young man asked.  "Oh, hey, Adam."

"Hi, Jeff."

"Yeah, I'm done here," the diva replied.  She gazed up at the Canadian for a moment, then glanced over at the Hardy Boy.  "I...I was just saying goodbye to Adam."

"Well, I'll do the same, then," Jeff said.  "Take care, man...have a happy holiday, and I'll see you when we get back - whenever that may be."  He shook his head despondently.

"Yeah, you too - enjoy your holiday - both of you," Adam said, glancing back over at the redhead.  How close he had come to kissing her, only to be halted by Jeff's sudden appearance.

"Bye, Adam," Amy said softly as she grabbed hold of her luggage, steering it toward the doorway, where Jeff still stood waiting for her.

"Later, Ames," he replied sadly.  And then she was gone.  Adam left the women's locker room after her, watching as she and Jeff made their way down the hallway to leave.  He ran his hand through his long blond hair as he began to think furiously about what he was going to do.