I don't know who's dumber right now. I honestly don't. Stasiak for thinking I meant him in any way or Sean for thinking I meant him. I have a feeling I know where the Shawn I'm looking for is. He left. I'd bet money that by now he's on a plane back to Texas. "What the fuck did you do to him Sean?"
"What did I do to who Kev?"
I grind my teeth together knowing that if I get angry I'm just going to hurt myself all over again. I take a few calming breaths and look back at Kid. "Where is Shawn Michaels ya dumb fucks?"
Scott speaks up this time. "He's right� here?" He's frowning as he realizes what I noticed upon opening my eyes. "He was with us. I swear he was Kevin."
"I know. I've no doubt he was with you when you all got here. But where is he now?"
Everyone shrugs and it's all I can do to keep my temper in check. "You dumb fucking assholes." Okay so much for keeping my temper in check. "He's gone. Money on him being on a plane to Texas. You fucking selfish bastards. The only one who shouldn't have noticed him leave is Scott. He's the only one I refuse to hold responsible for Shawn leaving." I wince again as I shift but ignore the pain as I reach for the telephone. I dial a number I know better than my own. Growling when I get his answering machine I wait until the beep before I start talking. "Get your ass back here Hickenbottom. Now. Don't bother calling me and telling me you can't come back. If you don�t come back I'm coming there. And just think what that would do to me. I mean it Shawn. Get your skinny little ass back here pronto."
Without saying goodbye I hang up the phone and turn to look at Sean. "You fucking asshole. You just can't stand not being the center of attention. Well let me tell you something you arrogant little shit. If it came down to me having to choose between you and Shawn? I'd choose him any day of the week. He's my best friend after Scott. He's the only person other than Scott that I'd trust with my life. I've heard that you're acting like a little bitch because O'Haire over there is being nice to Shawn? Why? Do you have a hot nut for Sean or is it just that you can't stand that someone might actually like Shawn more than they like you?" I take a breath and am relieved when it doesn't hurt.
"I want you to listen very carefully Kid. Yeah you are part of the Kliq. A big part of it. But it's about fucking time you realized that you aren't the only member of the Kliq. No one has ever gone off on you before today because we quite frankly haven't paid enough attention to how much the things you do and say hurt Shawn. That's as much my fault as it is anyone else's but I'm not going to put up with it any more. You have two choices. Well you may have more than that but the way I see things you only have two choices. First choice being apologize to Shawn and try to be nice to him from now on. Second choice being walk away. Walk away from the Kliq. Walk away from every one of us. With the exception being Hunter because we all know he doesn't have the balls to not go with you."
I take another deep breath and sigh as Sean just stares at me. "I don�t want to do this. But you don't leave me any choice. The only person besides Scott that I wanted to see when I woke up was Shawn. Because of you he's sitting on a plane hurting because he's thinking he isn't wanted here." I'm fighting to keep my voice under control. "Don't get me wrong. I'm glad my boys are here. And had he not run away because of you I'd be plenty happy to see you and Hunter too. But he's not here because of you so I want you to leave. Right now. Until you are willing to apologize to Shawn I don't want to see you."
I watch a little sad as Sean just turns on his heel and storms out of the room. Scott's staring at me open mouthed. "I know. Trust me I know. But you know what. He needs to understand that our lives don't revolve around him." I shake my head when Hunter follows Sean without a word to us. I knew he'd follow him. He's too spineless not to.
I sigh and look over at my boys. "Okay. Now who wants to tell me what in the hell is going on with you guys?"
"What are you talking about Coach?" Stasiak says trying to look cheerful.
"You and Chuck are glaring at each other like one of you knows something the rest of us should know but the other doesn't want us to find out. Mark and Mike, whom I thought were getting along really well, are looking ready to kill each other. And O'Haire looks like he's on another planet." I smile at the blue eyed man when his eyes focus on me. "Or maybe he's just in another state." He nods his head and smiles at me before speaking for the group.
"Mike and Mark are fighting because if they don't leave tonight to go back to Ohio they're gone from WWE. Vince says he's not putting up with anymore bullshit from anyone for any reason. Mike doesn't want to leave you but Mark doesn't want to lose his job."
The two men Sean's talking about nod their heads slowly. I can't help the grin that cover's my face. "Okay I'll make it simple. Leave. I don�t want you guys giving up your futures because of me. You guys are so close to making it to TV. Don't ruin your chances by staying with me. I've got Scotty here. If anything happens good or bad, he'll call you." Mike starts to protest but I raise my hand effectively stopping him from talking. "Don't. Just know that I feel better for having seen you guys. And I'll feel even better when I know you're back on a plane going back to work and are happy with each other."
Mike finally nods his head and walks to the bedside. After he murmurs his thanks he kisses my cheek and waits until Mark does the same. They then take their leave as I turn back to Sean. "So what's up with dumb and dumber?"
He laughs. "Shawn found out that Billy and Chuck are more than just friends and has been threatening to tell me ever since he found out. Chuck's pissed off because he thinks that I'll kill both of them. Well, not Shawn but Billy and himself. What he doesn't know is I've known. I found out shortly after Jesse walked in on Billy and Chuck fucking in the locker room. Jesse called me and told me every thing. Way more in fact than I wanted to know. So I guess it's my turn to play peacemaker. Don't sweat it Shawn. I know. I've known. I haven't broken it off with Chuck yet because I was hoping on some dumb level that he'd come clean with me. But now I know that it's not going to happen. Silly me. I actually thought Chuck and I were more than lovers. I thought we were best friends too. Oh well. I guess I can't have it both ways."
I don't know who looks more stricken by the news that O'Haire knows, Chuck or Shawn. Sean continues as though he hadn't stopped talking. "See the thing is Chuck I don�t know at what point it was but I fell out of love with you. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I've realized recently that I have feelings for someone else. Maybe it's that you've been cheating on me with Billy since almost the beginning of this angle. Maybe it's that we haven't talked since I left the WWE. Maybe it's all of the above. But the thing is, I don't love you anymore and you don't love me anymore. I'm kind of hoping we can still be friends on some level. I mean we've been through too fucking much to just let it all slip away haven't we? Or is that just wishful thinking on my part?"
"I didn't want you to hate me. And I didn't want to see Billy get hurt. No matter how tough he is I know he's no match for you."
"Are you happy with him?"
Chuck nods his head. Suddenly I feel like I'm watching a tennis match. "Then guess what? I'm happy that you're happy. And when you find out who I care about I hope you can be happy for me. I also hope you won't let other peoples prejudice get in the way of how you feel. Remember man, the only person who can tell you how you feel is you." I watch with a smile as Sean frowns. "And fucking Christ could I sound more like a fucking Hallmark card?"
We all laugh and I watch with a smile as my boys hug. I'm glad, really glad that these two are going to be able to be friends. They always had such incredible chemistry together. I don't think it was ever a sexual thing. But they did have a wonderful chemistry.
The three remaining Thrillers sit down and the five of us sit around bullshitting until the doctor comes in and tells everyone it's time to leave. I wheedle him into letting Scott stay but say goodbye to two of the Thrillers. Sean it turns out doesn't have to be back to work for two weeks so he's going to stay here and stay with Scotty and me when I get out of this hellhole.
I wait until the doctor leaves before turning to Scott and grinning. "Hey baby. There's enough room here for you. Why don't you climb on in and make yourself comfy?"
"Kevin you have stitches in your ribs. I don�t want to hurt you."
"It'll hurt more if you don�t get that cute ass of yours in bed with me."
He laughs and climbs onto the bed. I wrap my arms around him and hold him tight. Now this is my idea of heaven. We fall asleep within minutes.
O'Haire's POV
I don't know why I'm on a plane to Texas. I just know I have a feeling. A bad feeling about Shawn. I'm scared of what I'm going to find there. I meant what I said back in Kevin's room at the hospital. I really care about someone new. It's Shawn. I don't know how. I don't know why. I just know that I care about him.
I shake my head when the stewardess asks me if I'd like a pillow. There's no way in hell I'm going to be able to sleep. I try watching the in flight movie but that's a bust. I like Jim Carrey normally but I just don't feel like watching the man talk out of his ass.
I do end up dozing off or else I was really spacing because the next thing I know they're announcing the arrival of the flight into the San Antonio airport. I shake my head free of cobwebs and grab my overnight bag. I'd already asked and there's no way I can get to Shawn's house get him packed back up and back to the airport by the time the last flight leaves. So I'll just stay at his place. I hope.
I head directly for the car rental desk and make it five minutes before they close. The guy behind the counter looks ready to give me what for until I stare at him as meanly as I can. It's not like I'd really hurt the guy but hey the intense thing works most of the time. He finally just shrugs and gives me a car. Probably a piece of shit but as long as it gets me to Shawn's I don't give a fuck.
I'm finally on my way to Shawn's when I notice the red and blue lights flashing behind me. Great. Just fucking great. I wasn't even speeding and I'm getting pulled over. A young woman walks up and raps on the window. I roll it down and force a smile at her. "Did you know both of your tail lights are out mister?"
"No I didn't Officer. It's a rental. I kind of assumed it would be in proper working order."
She nods her head and asks for my license and the car's registration. I hand her all of the paperwork and sit silently fuming while she goes back to her car and processes it. She comes back and smiles at me. "When you drop off the car Mr. O'Haire make sure to tell them that the back tail lights are out. Sorry for the inconvenience."
I nod my head and my thanks and get on my way. I thought for sure I'd get a ticket even if it isn't my vehicle. Thank god for nice cops. About forty minutes later, I reach Shawn's house. It's huge, way bigger than Kevin has ever said. Of course it's smaller than his place so I guess he wouldn�t make a big deal out of it but for someone who's living in an apartment right now and a shitty one at this any house would probably look like a palace.
I pull into the driveway behind a black BMW convertible and walk up the front steps. I knock first hoping he's still awake. When there's no answer I try ringing the doorbell. Again no answer. Kevin's always said he's a light sleeper so I know he has to have woken up to the doorbell. I try knocking harder on the door when it swings open by itself.
With a frown I call out to Shawn. I seem to remember Kevin telling me that although Shawn is far from a typical Texan he still loves to collect guns and has a whole shit load of them in his house. I step into the hall still calling out to Shawn. The minute I stepped through the doors I felt this intensely bad vibe. A search of the downstairs results in me finding nothing more than a cockroach the size of my apartment and fresh coffee in the coffee pot so I head upstairs. After a short search of all but one room I come up empty so I head into the last bedroom. I'm immediately struck by how hot it is in this room. And then I hear it. The sound of water running.
With a sigh of relief I throw open the door which has the water running behind it prepared to scare the living hell out of Shawn. I step beyond the threshold and just stare.
