Disclaimer: Contrary to my own belief, I do NOT own anybody in this story. To make things even worse, I'm not making any money, either.

*****
The Pain

How hard can it be to get a taxi? I've been standing here waving like an idiot for half an hour now. Finally! I throw my bags in the yellow trunk, and I'm on my way to Kevin's place.

Imagine my surprise this morning when I got a call from Kid telling me that I should go stay with Kevin for a while, because Scott left him. Kid knew this because Scott fled to Kid's as soon as he finished breaking Kevin's heart into a million pieces. I have no idea what posesssed Scott to leave Kevin; he loves him more than life itself. He must have been drunk again.

So, that's why I'm now walking up Kevin's drive bracing myself for the anti-Christ that is an upset Kevin Nash. Sure enough, he looks like eight trucks ran him over when he opens the door. His hair is an awful mess, his face is streaked with tears, and his eyes are swollen and red.

Kevin steps aside to let me in the house. In the light I get a better look and see that his left eye isn't red and swollen. It's a dark purple and swollen. What the hell did Scott do?

Before I have time to ask, Kevin has me in a tight hug. I hug him back, and he starts sobbing in my arms. God, how could Scott do this to him?

I guide Kevin into his living room and sit him on the couch. I sit down next to him and put a comforting arm around him as he cries his heart out.

When he calms down I quietly ask, What happened?

Scott left me, he replies in a tearful voice.

I feel like slapping him upside the head and screaming duh.' Instead, I gently ask,

Something about he can't keep doing this to me.

What did he do? I ask.

He was drunk again last night, and I told him that he had enough to drink. He didn't agree and hit me. Kevin tells me before more tears fall. I wait quietly for him to go on.

He woke up this morning and saw what he did to me. Then, he told me that he had to leave, because he didn't want to keep hurting me.

Now I understand. Scott didn't leave because he's a drunk heartless bastard, but because he's trying to protect Kevin. Kev doesn't seem to understand that, though.

He didn't mean to hurt me! He was drunk! He didn't know what he was doing! Kevin screams.

He didn't know Kev collapses into more tears.

I know, it'll be okay. That's all I can say as I try to comfort him again.

We sit like this for at least an hour before Kevin's tears finally subside.

Thanks, Shawn, he says.

No problem, this is what friends are for, I say.

Kevin grabs one of my bags that are still sitting by his front door. I grab the other and follow him upstairs to the guest room.

Make yourself at home. You know where everything is, right? It's late and I'm tired, he tells me.

I nod, Goodnight, Kev.

Night, Shawn, he replies. Then, he walks down the hall to the room he used to share with Scott. There's not a doubt in my mind that he's going to cry himself to sleep tonight.