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Date Posted: 18:37:34 09/17/00 Sun
Author: Trace VanReardon & Stephanie Connor
Subject: Coming Back Into The Real World… (Cage & Storm) Featuring: Trisha VanReardon










“Determination and conviction…”

“As the world continued to pass everyone else by… for a chosen few it remained still. My very own brother Trace VanReardon and the new love of his life, Stephanie Connor was such a couple for which this miracle happened. But perhaps miracle was not the right word… while Stephanie drifted in some nightmarish coma, Trace lived in a waking nightmare, filled with delusions of Alek Cage and other hidden evils. Trace had won through it all to stay by Stephanie’s side. He had used determination and conviction to accomplish the feat… now all that remained was to wait for the new beginning…”


7:20 PM… 17 September, 2000
Burton Medical Center, Dallas Texas



Stephanie felt somebody touching her hand. Her eyes tried to focus but after being closed for days. She tried to say something but only a soft whisper escaped her lips…

Stephanie: Who........

Trace blinked his eyes to make sure that he was seeing what he was actually seeing. He had been fooled completely by the dream he'd had earlier and he was determined not to be fooled again. Trace squeezed her hand and when the reassuring squeeze was returned Trace held Stephanie by her head and kissed her. As he pulled back from her he looked into her eyes, and they were as alive as they had ever been. Trace struggled to find the words, but he fell woefully short of what he had thought this moment would be like...

Trace: Hello....?

Trace rubbed his hand across his face as he laughed out of embarrassment and joy. Stephanie tried to place the voice, but it was hard. Her mind was foggy like it was lost in a haze. She tried to shake her head, but couldn't find the strength. She glanced back over at the figure and squinted trying to clear her vision. She immediately knew who it was as she looked at the most handsome face in the world. She tried to smile, but it turned into more of a lopsided pout. She squeezed his hand in recognition…

Stephanie: Tra...ce. H...i.

Stephanie closed her eyes and opened them to make sure that this wasn't a dream. But the hand on hers felt too real. She looked back over at Trace with a questioning look on her face…

Stephanie: Where...a..m...I?

Trace: We're still in Dallas... Cat arranged a private wing for you and everything...

Trace frowned a bit...

Trace: Do you remember what happened at Insurrection?

Stephanie thought for a minute to let what Trace had asked make sense. Private wing? Cat? Happened at Insurrection? Stephanie looked to be confused. The words Trace were saying were not making sense. Her head was pounding…

Stephanie: I do not.... understand.... I need wa...ter.

Trace frowned, but at least she didn't have to go through remembering that ordeal right off the bat. Trace turned to get the water, but in his haste, he bumped the pitcher and it tipped over. Trace tried to grab it, but it was too late as the cold water splashed onto her. Trace was already apologizing and looking for a towel, but what happened next chilled him to the marrow of his bones. As the cold water hit Stephanie's body, a rush of adrenaline passed through her. She let out a horrifying, high pitch scream. She sat up quickly pulling at the monitors and tubes sticking out of her. The IV pole fell over and hit the floor. Stephanie continued to scream loudly. Trace grabbed her and hit the call button frantically. Trace held her as close and as tight as he dared. He had his answer... she remembered... not on a conscious level... but she remembered....


*** *** ***



Doctor Kerns walks out of Stephanie's room where Trace is seated outside the door…

Doctor Kerns: She seems to be okay. Her memory is coming back fairly well, and she isn't confused by words. She needs to get some sleep so don't keep here awake too long.

Doctor Kerns puts his hand on Trace's shoulder. And smiles down at him…

Doctor Kerns: She was very lucky she came through. It was probably you being by her side that made her pull through. You must care for her a lot.

Doctor Kerns squeezes his shoulder and walks away down the hall. Trace walked into the room and closed the door as gingerly as he could. As he walked over to the bed he frowned a bit then sat down beside her...

Trace: Sorry I almost drowned you...

Trace gave a lopsided smile and hoped that his joke would ease the tension somewhat. Stephanie looked at Trace and his lopsided grin. She could not help but to smile at the stupid look on his face…

Stephanie: Well...I think it brought me around a lot faster. I still feel like sh*t. Not to mention I probably look like it too.

She turned her head away embarrassed. She did not like feeling ugly in front of Trace. Trace grinned as he turned her face back toward him. Trace had promised not to leave her side and he had kept his promise. The price had been his own vanity as well. Looking no better than she did he gave her another kiss...

Trace: You look wonderful... you always do.

Trace paused and smiled...

Trace: Even when you look like sh*t!

Trace laughed and hugged her tight. As he did his thoughts turned oddly to Alek Cage. Trace tensed at the thought and hoped that Stephanie would not notice the change. Stephanie smiled at Trace…

Stephanie: You are just saying that. I know how horrible I look. The only problem is I don't remember why? What happen to me?

Stephanie looked at Trace confused. Trace let her go and walked across the room, as if talking from a distance made it easier. Trace looked out the window for a moment before he turned to her...

Trace: After your match... after I left you...

Trace looked down, it was hard to even say the words, but he had to go on. He looked back up into her eyes...

Trace: You came looking for me... but Alek Cage found you first... and he... he...

Trace turned away from her and looked out the window again, having sufficiently sickened himself...

Stephanie: I really want to know.

Stephanie let Trace's words sink deep into her mind. She did not understand what he meant by that. And who was Alek Cage? She shook her head to clear the thoughts… one at a time…

Stephanie: You left me? Why? Why did you leave?

Stephanie's grasp of phrasing was still not all there. She did not realize she had asked the question twice. Trace lowered his head. He knew that she was still trying to piece it all together. Trace walked back over to her and sat down...

Trace: It's not important... not anymore...

Trace took her hands up in his and kissed them...

Trace: What is important is than I'm never leaving you again... not now... not ever!

Stephanie smiled at Trace. His answer satisfied her question. She then narrowed her eyes…

Stephanie: Who is this Cage?

Trace's eyes hardened at the thought of him...

Trace: Cage... Alek Cage is Johnny Storm's little yes man! And five will get you twenty that Storm put him up to attacking you...

Trace lowered his head...

Trace: Next week... I'll take care of Cage... you'll never have to worry about that bastard ever again!

The question of why Stephanie had maced Storm still nagged in the back of his mind, but he pushed it aside. Her reasons were her own and she was in no condition to answer any questions herself. Trace laid in the bed beside her and wrapped his arm around her....

Trace: Right now... you should get some rest. Don't worry... I won't leave you... I won't leave you ever again... I promise.

Stephanie wanted to know more. But she was exhausted. There was more time for her to get answers to her questions. Now there was only one thing in her mind. Sleep. And there would be no nightmares as long as the man she loved would be by her. Stephanie closed her eyes and breathed deeply…

Stephanie: Trace...thank you for being here. I lov......

She fell asleep before she could finish. Trace looked down at her sleeping form… so peaceful she seemed. Trace turned away from her… she almost seemed too peaceful. Trace had been the jokester… the comedian… the clown. All these things is what he was known for. The movies, the magazine pictures… everything that Kevin O’Neil had made for him would have to be put aside now. The thought of Stephanie by his side filled him with joy… but he didn’t want that right now… he wanted his hate… his hate of Alek Cage. Trace closed his eyes and thought only of Insurrection… only of the moment which he would meet Cage… and only of what he would do to the man…






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