Mending Hearts

Shannon's eyes widened when he opened the door and found Jeff on the other side. What was he doing here? Adam, seated on his bed reading a magazine, looked up at the doorway in puzzlement. His eyes met Shannon's but the small blond could only shrug as he stepped aside and let Jeff into the room. The younger Hardy stalked inside and dropped a duffle bag at his feet.

"Uh, hey Jeff," Shannon squeaked. "What're you doing here?"

"That seems to be a popular question today," Jeff smiled. "You know why I'm here, Shannon. Why don't you ever return my calls anymore?"

"Uh, um," Shannon stammered.

"He's had a hard time lately," Adam interjected. "Couldn't you ease up?"

"Who are you, his new mama?" Jeff smiled, but Shannon could seedidndidn't quite meet his eyes. Jeff didn't like his traveling with Adam and Shannon thought he knew why. Jeff was worried Adam was taking advantage of him. He could explain that he wasn't, but Jeff wouldn't believe it. He'd assume Shannon wasn't capabletelltelling the difference. He loved Jeff, but sometimes be didn't appreciate being treated like a kid.

"No, I'm his friend, though," Adam smiled back, and Shannon could see that Adam understood what was happening.

"I know," Jeff shrugged. "Can't blame me for worrying, though."

"Nothing to worry about," Shannon grinned. "Really."

Jeff looked at him thoughtfully for a minute then shrugged again. He went over to Shannon's bed and sat down on the end of it.

"Shannon, can we talk, please?" he asked in a serious voice. Shannon didn't like the sound of this.

"Uh, sure," he answered, plunking down on the other side of the bed. "What's up?"

Jeff's eyes wandered over to Adam, who was watching them uncertainly.

"Right," Adam sighed, starting to get up. "I'll go see what Chris and Terry are up to."

"You don't have to leave," Shannon said.

"But . . ." Adam and Jeff both said together.

"No," Shannon shook his head and turned to Jeff. "Adam knows everything anyway, Jeff. I told him about me and Matt."

Jeff quirked an eyebrow in what looked like irritation. "So, you can't talk to me," he started slowly. "But you can spill your guts to a virtual stranger?"

"That's not why," Shannon growled back. "You know you sound like him on the phone, Jeff." Shannon looked down, slumping his shoulders. "It just makes me uncomfortable."

"I just want to help," Jeff mumbled.

"You do help," Shannon exclaimed looking back up at his best friend. "It's not a problem when we talk in person, but on the phone, you just sound so much like him. I do want to talk to you."

Jeff watched him intently and Shannon looked back down again.

"You sure you want to discuss Matt while Adam's here?" Jeff asked. "I can talk to him about the other stuff after."

"What other stuff," Adam asked from his bed.

"Not now," Jeff replied, not taking his eyes off of Shannon, who stared back uncomfortably.

"I'm sure I want him to stay now," Shannon said. "Especially since part of it obviously concerns him."

"I am concerned," Adam grunted, sitting up. "Spill, Jeff."

Jeff sighed and shook his head. "There's no good way to say this, so I'll just spit it out." He took a deep breath or two then looked back at Shannon again. "Matt's been playing you, buddy," he said sadly. "I'm so sorry, but he's been playing you all along."

"What?" Shannon's stomach bottomed out.

"Look, I didn't know, Shan, I swear it," Jeff begged. "I had a bad feeling about it from the start."

"I know," Shannon nearly shouted. "That was another reason I didn't call. Who wants to hear 'I told you so' when your boyfriend dumps you?"

"I didn't mean it like that," Jeff replied. "I got one of my feelings." He looked at Shannon meaningfully. "You know the ones. I just felt it when you told me you'd hooked up with him. Well, now I have confirmation."

"What kind of confirmation?" Adam asked in a dangerous voice. Shannon could see the tall blond was not liking what Jeff's news was doing to him, and part of him was glad. It feltnicenice to have a friend on the road with him.

"What kind?" he echoed the Canadian's question.

"Well," Jeff licked his lips and sat back. "It's bad, Shan. Matt's not done causing trouble."

"What else is he planning?"

"He's after Shawn," Jeff sighed. "He wants to break him and Lance up."

"Break them up?" Shannon asked. "How?"

"He didn't tell Jay everything," Jeff started.

"Whoa whoa whoa," Adam put a hand up. "Jay?" he asked with a serious look on his face. "What does he have to do with this?"

Jeff sighed again and started at the beginning, telling them all about Matt's crazy plan to break up Shawn and Lance using Jay, who they both trusted, to probably feed them both bad information about each other and help him arrange for compromising positions. The part that both Shannon and Adam winced at was where Matt used Shannon and dumped him so that when Adam eventually went back to Smackdown and got close to ShannMattMatt could easily sneak back in to break them up for Jay. He also said that Jay was actually working to stop Matt.

Shannon sat back dumbfounded. He knew Matt hadn't loved him. That wasn't a surprise. But to use him so disgustingly and then plan to come back and do it again, knowing Shannon's weakness for him, well that was just shocking. Matt must hate him. Either that or he just never cared for him even as a friend. How could one person do that to another, and one he practically grew up with at that? He felt numb inside. Cold, even. Fate just couldn't let him off that easily, could it? No, not Shannon. He was doomed to go through life unloved. That had to be why.

"Shan?" Jeff asked carefully. "Please talk to me. I know what you're thinking and I can promise you that's not true."

"Really?" Shannon's voice cracked. "What am I thinking?"

"That you'll never be loved," Jeff answered without hesitation. "That you're fated to never have someone love you for you, and not because you remind them of someone or can help them forget someone. That's not true."

"Well, the theory's held up so far, hasn't it?" The tears began to fall down Shannon's cheeks but he didn't care.

"It's NOT true," Adam said emphatically.

Shannon looked up and lockeds wis with him. How could this man be so blind? Even Shannon could see that he was probably a stand in for Jay. He wanted to believe that Adam liked him just for himself. He really did. Their time together so far had been nothing but great times. But he couldn't risk becoming a casualty again. He knew he would eventually give in to his growing attraction for Adam. And when Adam left him, well, he never thought he could hurt more than he did when Matt left him, but he was wrong. Adam's betrayal would cut much deeper.

"You don't even know the half of it, Adam!" he shouted. "Trust me, I'm nothing but the company whore!"

"No, you're not!" both Adam and Jeff yelled back.

"Yes I am!" Shannon insisted, jumping up and heading to the door. "Stick around and you'll see!" He looked back at Adam. "And when you're done with me, don't forget to give Jay my regards!" He slammed the door behind him.

********************************

"Shannon!" Adam yelled, jumping up to follow him.

"Let him go!" Jeff growled, pulling Adam back. "He needs time on his own."

"Oh, he does?" Adam shot back feeling the rage rise up in him. "We should just let him go and stew in THAT opinion of himself?"

"You really do care about him, don't you?"

"Yes!" Adam screamed. "I really do care about him, Jeff! And now he's out there by himself thinking that no one will actually want him for anything but a quick fuck or two! Doesn't that bother you at all?"

"Oh, it bothers me a LOT," Jeff replied his eyes darkening to a stormy green. "And you can bet your PVC pants Matt's going to answer for what he did to Shannon. That's why he never comes home anymore, you know."

"Why?"

"Because he knew I'd figure out what he's doing," Jeff said. "He knew I'd stop him."

"What about Shannon?" Adam asked.

"I thought about that," Jeff sighed. "Long and hard. What about Shannon? Lance told me you cared for him."

"Lance knows?" Adam's eyes bugged out. "What did he tell you?"

"He couldn't tell me much," Jeff shook his head. "Because you wouldn't tell him. But he did say he trusted you."

Adam stared at Jeff intently, wondering what he would say next.

"And now I can see that he's right," Jeff smirked. "You have fallen in love with him. You don't just like him. It's not just 'a thing' for him. You are very much in love with Shannon, Adam."

Adam opened his mouth to deny it.

"Don't even go there," Jeff laughed. "I can see your heart in your eyes, man. It's what's keeping you from seducing him. I know you want him. You're practically vibrating with it."

"If he suspected," Adam began.

"He'd run," Jeff finished. "I know."

"What do we do now?"

"That's not for me to say," Jeff picked up his duffle bag and headed to the door. "I have my hands full so I'm trusting you to help him, Adam."

"But Matt . . ."

"You leave Matt to me and my accomplices," Jeff said with authority. "I'll handle him. You just stay here and wait for Shannon. He'll come back here, don't worry. When he does, you'll have your work cut out for you. He'll be more withdrawn than ever for a while. But you'll reach him."

"How can you be sure?"

"Instinct," Jeff smiled as he opened the door. "I trust you, Adam."

********************************

No one could possibly love him, Shannon thought. Well, not in the romantic sense. Jeff loved him like brother. His family loved him. Adam . . . No, Adam liked him well enough. He was attracted to him. But he didn't love him. He'd given Shannon no inclination that he did. Good thing, too, because Shannon would run like hell if Adam tried to tell him he did. Look where caring has gotten him! No, it's better not to love at all. Fuck that old saying!

Shannon stared down at the ground from the hotel roof. So far down, he thought to himself. So tempting.