Coming Home-Part 3////Catching up with RRL

“Chuck always told me Millennium Park was the most beautiful place in Chicago. So when I saw we were right across the street I knew I had to experience it for myself…” ~ Jessica Matthews

“It’s not that I didn’t have fun tonight, because I did. I was actually surprised to learn that you can be a real human being when you want to be” ~ Jessica Matthews

“I lean against the wind
Pretend that I am weightless
And in this moment I am happy”

~Incubus “Wish you were here”

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Location:
Chicago, Illinois

Date:
Saturday, December 31st
2011

I grip the steering wheel tightly, watching as my knuckles turn white. I was nervous. Despite the fact that Jess had seemed relaxed on the phone and the fact that she had been the one to suggest going out in the first place, I was still nervous. This was my one chance to right the wrongs of my past…my one chance to get back the woman who meant more to me than anything else in my life. I couldn’t fuck this up…

I pull the 67 Pontiac GTO up to the gray, wrought iron gates outside of a large mansion. I smile as I look at the looming mansion standing out against the fading light. Chuck certainly did have ostentatious taste...but I already knew that. I roll my window down and lean out of the driver’s side window to press the small black button on the security box that was standing beside the driveway. After a moment of silence, I hear Jess’ voice on the speaker

Jessica Matthews
Hello?

I try to hide the smile in my voice…but I knew I was failing miserably. If there was one person on this planet who could read me like a book it was Jess…

Corey Casey
Hey Jess…it’s Corey

Jessica Matthews
Oh hey Core, I’ll meet you out front

I go to lean back into my car when I hear Chuck’s voice on the other end

Chuck Matthews
Jess…I still don’t get why you are going to go out with that no good piece of sh---

The sound immediately cuts out. I feel a smirk slowly spread over my face. It would seem that Jess and I potentially getting back together did not sit well with one Chuck Matthews. The gates suddenly swing open, granting me access to the mansion’s grounds. I pull the car through the car and drive up the long driveway, shaking my head and chuckling as I pass large hedges and fountains in the front yard. Only Chuck…

I pull up to the front of the mansion and feel a massive smile appear on my face as I see Jess open the front door and walk down the front steps. While I was in that ashram in Nepal, I had dreamt of her face…her smile…her voice. I had closed my eyes and seen her smiling at me from half the world away. But now, seeing her live and only 100 feet away, all of those memories seemed to be completely and totally wrong. She was a thousand times more beautiful than I remembered her…

Jess walks up to my car and opens the passenger side door

Jessica Matthews
Hey

I smile, feeling my tongue swell up to the size of a hot dog

Corey Casey
Hi

I take a deep breath, releasing it slowly. I had to make sure everything was perfect. I had to make sure I didn’t fuck this up. My future…my children…my heart…so much was riding on this one evening…

I don’t even notice that Jess is staring right at me, a small smile playing on her lips

Jessica Matthews
You look like you’re gonna puke

And just like that, the tension, fear, anxiousness that I had been feeling overwhelming me instantly melted away

Corey Casey
Haha…well, this is kind of a big deal…

I put the car in drive and pull away from the mansion

Jessica Matthews
Look Core…I’m still fucking mad at you. I’m still angry that you left me and Gavin and Raylyn. I’m still pissed that I had to give up chasing my dream of becoming a doctor to settle for a lab tech position in a hospital seven days a week

I frown slightly as I reach the end of the drive

Corey Casey
Wait…you had to give up becoming a doctor?

A look of sadness flashes in Jess’ eyes as she slowly nods her head

Jessica Matthews
When you left and the IWF money stopped rolling in…I had to drop out of med school. I couldn’t afford the bills…I couldn’t afford to not work…I had to feed myself and the kids. And I sure as hell couldn’t do that while taking classes and studying all day and night…

I feel my heart drop down to the pit of my stomach

Corey Casey
Jess I’m sorry…

Jess shrugs her shoulders

Jessica Matthews
We can’t change the past Core…we can only look to the future. I mean, you of all people should know that…

It wasn’t meant as a jab…I knew it wasn’t meant as a jab. I knew she wasn’t trying to unnerve me…I knew she wasn’t trying to take a shot at me for being Salvation’s faithful lap dog for the entire first half of my career. But at the same time, I could hear the smallest edge in her voice. There was resentment there…no doubt about it…

The rest of the ride, a silence hung over us like a blanket. Both of us lost in our own thoughts, like two teenagers going out to a drive-in movie theater on their first date. I wanted to ask what had happened while I was gone. I wanted to ask her about the kids…about her work…about what she was thinking about right now…but each time I started to say something, the words turned to ash before they left my mouth.

For the first time, I was speechless

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Later that evening

Location:
Millennium Park
Chicago, Illinois

Jess laughs as she shakes her head

Jessica Matthews
I still can’t even believe that you voluntarily went to a Buddhist ashram!

I smile and shrug my shoulders

Corey Casey
Sorry?!

Jess laughs as she presses herself into my chest. After the awkward silence that had defined the opening moments of our dinner together, the two of us finally began to talk in earnest. We talked about everything that I had wanted to address in the car. We talked about the kids, we talked about how both kids were walking and how Gavin had uttered his first words (“mama”…as if there was any sort of surprise there). We talked about Jess’ job, what it had been like for me to be gone…we had talked about everything in her life and everything that had gone on since I had disappeared after Fallout.

The only thing we hadn’t talked about yet…was me…

Jessica Matthews
There’s no need to be sorry. I just can’t believe that you actually went someone and sought out some help after…

Jess’ voice trails off as we walk through the park. The wind whistles through the trees, causing both of us to shiver and bundle up our coats. I had been purposefully trying to avoid this topic all night. Which was ironic, because where I went and what I was doing during my absence was all Jess wanted to talk about. I couldn’t blame her though…if the love of my life suddenly disappeared without so much as a phone call leaving me with twin babies, I would be curious about where the fuck they had gone too…

Corey Casey
Yeah…I couldn’t handle having my mind ripped apart anymore. After the physical and mental torture I endured both during and after Fallout…I knew I needed some serious help. I just…I just couldn’t handle being around anyone I knew…

Jess rolls her eyes as she playfully punches me

Jessica Matthews
Gee, thanks

I knew she had meant it to lighten the mood…but honestly, I felt like she hit me much lighter than she truly wanted to hit me…

Corey Casey
It’s not that I wanted to run away from you or anything Jess…I just needed to be alone. I needed a place where people who had a long history of cleansing the mind and body could help me to find my inner peace…

Jessica Matthews
But why didn’t you call me? Why didn’t you let me help you? I could’ve made a few calls to my psychiatrist friends. I have friends in the mental health field. I could’ve made sure you were taken care of…that you were still around…

I sigh deeply. I knew that I had to at least try to explain…but I also knew that there was no way Jess would ever understand the hell that I lived through each and every day…

Corey Casey
Jess…we have tried that. I tried to seek modern medical help when I went to Salinas. I tried to talk my problems out. I tried to take pills. I tried everything that a rational human being suffering from this affliction could possibly do…and it was all for nothing. Every single day I still heard The Lord whispering at me from the darkness of my mind. Every single day I felt my tenuous grip on sanity slowly but surely slipping away. Jess…I tried to do things the normal way…I really did. But it just didn’t work…

I spin around, facing Jess. I reach out and grab her hands, holding them in my own. Her fingers were cold to the touch as I gripped them lightly. I could feel my heart beating fast as I emptied three months’ worth of emotions into one simple explanation

Corey Casey
Jess…I needed to go someplace where I could get the type of help that I needed. I needed to go someplace where I knew that there were people who could help me. I needed something extreme to get me through the darkness. I know that running away was a cowardly thing to do and I know that bailing on you and leaving you with two twin children was the most stupid and reckless thing I could’ve done…but consider the alternative. If I had stayed…The Lord…

I take a deep breath, releasing it slowly. I had never even dreamed that I would tell her what I was about to tell her but I needed her to know that I didn’t leave her side for nothing…

Corey Casey
Jess…if I had stayed…The Lord was whispering to me that he was going to kill you. He tortured me every single day but threatening to rise up and take control. He told me that once he gained control he would murder you and the kids…

Tears begin to form in the pits of Jess’ eyes. I wanted to pull her close, to hold her tightly in my arms, but I knew that I needed to get this explanation out of me before I lost my courage. I needed her to know why I left her…the real reason why…

Corey Casey
Jess…I had to leave because I was doing what was best not for me…but for you. I left because I was doing what was best and what was the safest route for my family. I needed to leave…I needed to go to Nepal and find my inner peace. I needed to make sure that I went somewhere that I could learn how to be at peace with not only myself but with The Lord. I knew that if I didn’t banish him from my mind and my body once and for all…that there would always be a chance that he could come back…and that wasn’t a risk that I was willing to take…

Jess remains silent for a moment. Her eyes narrowing as she looked up at me. I could see the tear drops slowly begin to roll down her cheeks as she stared at me. I would’ve given anything to have some sort of an inkling as to what she was thinking. The silence seemed to stretch on for an eternity. Slowly, Jess release one of my hands and we begin to walk through the park soaking in the incredible Chicago skyline



I eventually laugh lightly…I just couldn’t help it…the way this evening was unfolding, the way Jess and I were walking hand in hand through Millennium Park…

Jessica Matthews
What’s funny?

I shake my head as I shrug my shoulders

Corey Casey
Remember how we walked through this park on our first date?

Jess nods her head as a small smile appears on her face

Jessica Matthews
I do…mostly because I remember both loving and hating you and then getting mad at myself later for not knowing which was which

We both laugh. As I walk along, I feel the cold touch of metal hanging around my neck. I suddenly remember the ring…

Corey Casey
Jess…I just want you to know that I never ever stopped thinking about you when I left…

Jessica Matthews
Corey I…

I shake my head and smile warmly

Corey Casey
Jess please…let me prove it to you

Jessica Matthews
How are you going to…

I slowly unzip my jacket and reach down my shirt. Inch by inch I pull out the silver chain until the ring hanging in the middle of the chain falls out of my shirt. Jess’ hands instantly shoot up to her mouth as her eyes grow to the size of grapefruit

Jessica Matthews
YOU KEPT IT?! BUT HOW?!

I nod my head slowly as Jess’ hands shoot out and grasp the ring

Corey Casey
After you gave it to me, i couldn't even see straight. There wasn't a sane thought in my head. I don't know why...but i knew that I had to hold onto that ring. It was the thing that I knew would always remind me of you. No matter how far down the rabbit hole, so to speak, I was dragged. When I was in Nepal I found a nice silver chain so I could hang it around my neck…that way I could carry you with me always…

Before I can say anything else, Jess leaps into my arms and passionately kisses me. I feel the warmth of her lips press against mine and I instantly slide my arms around her waist, pulling her close to me, reveling in her warmth and just how right it felt to hold her again…


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Location:

EnergySolutions Arena
Salt Lake City, UT

Date:
Thursday January 6th
2012

I stand in the shadows, watching…waiting. I knew it was important to make a good first impression on the man I was waiting for. I knew that he enjoyed a certain…flair…for the dramatic. He knew me back when he was just starting his career out in NLWF. The two of us had met in the ring time and time again since that fateful day…and each and every time he pushed me to my very limits…

I chuckle softly to myself, realizing the irony of the statement that the man “pushed me to my limits.” It was because of limits that I was even here…Upper Limit to be exact…

I see the man I was waiting for walk through the large double doors that led into the arena. I look down at my watch and smile appreciatively.

Corey Casey
7 o’clock…right on the dot

I slowly stand up, drawing myself up to my full height. I shrug my shoulders a bit, loosening up and allowing my body to stretch. I slowly turn and walk towards where the man was standing, smirking as I watch the man drop into a defensive position…

The man was nervous…

I chuckle softly as I shake my head

Corey Casey
Jesus Christ, Ruben. If I was going to attack you, you would have been down already. Since when have you ever known me to be subtle in any way? Lighten up.

Ruben Ricardo León
What do you want, Casey? I'm not here to be fucked around.

I was in too good of a mood to sit there and allow his nervousness to dictate the pace of this conversation. I needed RRL to be calm…relaxed…most importantly, I needed him to have an open mind. Because when I asked the best Mexican wrestler in the history of IWF’s and NLWF’s histories to join Upper Limit…I was expecting him to say yes…

Corey Casey
Come on man, what did I just say? Don't you trust your uncle Corey?

Ruben’s annoyance was etched so deeply into his features it was almost kind of pathetic. I didn’t know what the hell he was so pissed off about…and frankly, him being this irritated made me enjoy this little verbal sparring even more than I should…

Ruben Ricardo León
Just get to the point.

Corey Casey
You never were one for small talk were you?

I shrug my shoulders, enjoying the feeling of my new leather coat. Jess had suggested I wear this coat to this meeting. She knew, as well as I did, that Ruben enjoyed and appreciated a man who had a flair for the dramatic…

After all, Ruben was the man who left IWF the first time in a blaze of glory

Corey Casey
Very well. I asked you to come here today because I have a proposal for you.

Ruben Ricardo León
Go on...

Corey Casey
Brandon and I have been watching you for a while, back in Mexico. We knew it was only a matter of time before you got tired of being the big fish in a little pond and came back up to IWF to play with the big boys again.

Ruben Ricardo León
What's your point?

Corey Casey
Jeez, will you let me finish? I'm getting there. Anyway, we noticed that you really have become one of the best in the world. As you may have noticed, what with one thing and another we've had a bit of a clear out of Upper Limit recently, and as such we're hiring.

Ruben Ricardo León
You want me to be in Upper Limit?

Corey Casey
Brandon and I discussed it and we thought you would be the perfect addition.

Ruben Ricardo León
But why? I don't like you, I'm indifferent to Brandon at best, and neither of you have ever shown any desire to be on my team before. Even back in Bad Company. Why now?

“Because you are the best high flier in the history of IWF” I wanted to say. “Because with Sharky and I’s ground and pound attack and with you and Robbie Hart’s aerial assault, Upper Limit would be the most lethal team ever formed?”

Corey Casey
Because it's mutually convenient?

Ruben Ricardo León
How?

Corey Casey
We have a common enemy.

I learned a long time ago that hatred can be the most persuasive tool a man has at his disposal. If you go into a meeting knowing full well what it is that your target hates the most, you can easily turn the tide of any argument in your favor. I knew Chuck was Ruben’s weak point…all I had to do was exploit that weak point…

There was a reason Chuck and I were the founding members of Bad Company after all

Ruben Ricardo León
Chuck? You kicked him out of Upper Limit already, why do you need to keep going after him?

Corey Casey
Have you ever known me to need a reason for a vendetta? Suffice it to say that Brandon and I want to hurt Chuck as much as you do. If we work together we can do a much better job of fucking his life up.

Ruben shrugs

Ruben Ricardo León
Fair enough. I don't know. I'm not really much of a team player. Right now I'm just out to ruin Chuck and improve my lot. I'm not sure throwing my chips in with you guys is the right move.

I laugh softly

Corey Casey
Do you seriously think that Chuck Matthews won't come after you? Because he will, and soon. Chuck Matthews does not retreat and lick his wounds. He strikes back, hard, and right now you're in his sights. You think Craig will offer you any protection? You're wrong. Brandon and I can keep you safe from Chuck AND help you in your campaign against him. Think about it. It makes sense.

Ruben Ricardo León
Hmm, I'm still not sure.

Corey Casey
You're going to have to work with us this week at the very least ANYWAY. Might as well make it a longer, mutually beneficial arrangement.

Ruben Ricardo León
True. But how do I know I can trust you not to fuck me over. You and Brandon haven't exactly got the best track record of playing well with others.

Corey Casey
I guess you don't know for sure, other than that you could take my word for it, as little as that obviously means to you.

Ruben stares at me hard, attempting to size me up. The two of us had tangled many times both in and out of the ring. There had never been too much bad blood between the two of us and we did have some legendary encounters. There was no reason why Ruben would want to turn down the offer that I had so generously proposed…

Ruben Ricardo León
Fine. You got a deal. I'll join Upper Limit.

smile widely as I hold out my hand. Ruben takes my hand and the two of us shake on it

Corey Casey
You won't regret it, Ruben. I knew we could count on you. See you on Saturday night.

The business now being concluded…I knew it was time for the dramatic exit. I turn and walk off, back into the shadows from wince I came. I pause briefly and reach down into the breast pocket of my jacket. I throw a switch and hold my arms out to either side as a massive smile appears on my face. The darkness is suddenly lit up by flashing blue and white lights along the arms of my jacket…