"Hello darkness, my old friend

I've come to talk with you again

Because a vision softly creeping

Left its seeds while I was sleeping" - Sound of Silence

A/N: Those lyrics are so very fitting although delivered into my head by the beautiful screams of David Draiman of Disturbed rather than the original Simon & Garfunkel version. Still, they fit what's going on in my head and what's going on in the minds of my Dean and Seth.

A vision of adding to "Second Shift" has come to my thoughts many times. Enough that I actually wrote and then trashed a few chapters back in 2015. But I still love the story of these two and want to continue. In the same sense, my version of Dean and Seth have yet to let go of some vision of their relationship.

Of course there were many wrestlers in "Second Shift" and many not playing the parts of wrestlers. That was a major point for me to NOT write this story. But I've decided that we can work around that and enjoy this as a new story. To be honest, I am going to try to steer away from use of those wrestlers and since this story will not head into the appearance of The Shield, I think it will still be a fun Dean and Seth adventure without too many distractions. I am not just grateful but asking for any notices of typos etc. I have had a really horrible last several months and do become forgetful and stressed. So I will make mistakes. Your input is so appreciated. I hope this story is as fun to write as "Second Shift." I'm happy writing it and I hope you will be happy reading it. Thank you and much love - X T L.

Those first few months in Philadelphia were the best times in the guys' lives. They rented a nice but affordable one-bedroom apartment, using the money given to them by Thomas, Dean's caring grandfather. He was more like a father. He'd come to Dean's first major appearance with Dragon Gate USA and cheered so loudly that some of the younger audience members called him "that cool old guy." That wouldn't normally be a compliment but in the world of indy wrestling, it passed as a pretty respectful description.

Thomas had returned on several other occasions, bringing apples for Dean, gift cards for them from retailers like Walmart and Target and extra cash in the form of 10-dollar bills here and there. The guys had insisted that Thomas didn't need to give them anything except his company. However, as he'd been since first reuniting with Dean, he doted on his grandson without holding back. Wealth was something Thomas was so used to that it hurt his feelings when the boys refused his gifts. They'd learned to be gracious and the truth was, it certainly helped. It wasn't exactly a surprise that indy wrestling wasn't a steady check. They both worked side jobs; construction gigs and Craigslist odd jobs when they could find them.

As promised, Seth's parents had come to visit. They'd made the trip just once the first six months but they didn't have the resources that Thomas had. They had flown up for a main event at Ring Of Honor featuring their talented son. Still, they had their jobs to get back to and left the day after the match. Although Rollins loved that his parents had come for his big match, he wished that they were as flexible as Thomas could be. He missed them so much. Seth envied Dean's closeness to his grandfather but he also knew Dean needed more care right now. Ambrose was good and he was popular but he'd yet to have a main event, even on a lightly booked show. He was frustrated and it was starting to show.

When their one-year lease on their apartment came due for renewal, they decided that it was best to move to another apartment. They needed to save money and their current apartment was just too expensive. Seth was gone quite a bit to shows in other cities and had an invite to go to Japan as well. They moved to a cheaper apartment that was still nice enough and in a pretty good neighborhood but certainly not as nice as their first apartment. Rollins, whose bank account was bigger and employment history looked more stable, put everything in his name. Ambrose didn't seem to mind. It crossed Seth's mind often that surely Thomas was still sending Dean money and he worried himself to the point of physical sickness sometimes, wondering what Dean might be doing with it. He refused to ask.

Six months later ...

The guys had been in Philadelphia for well over a year and it was going better and better - for Seth. He was still with Ring Of Honor and performed in Japan and he continued to travel on a regular basis. Dean had started strong with Dragon Gate USA but it seemed he was getting booked less and less. He had no idea why. He'd improved technically in a major way over a short period of time and his persona seemed to be a crowd favorite. He couldn't believe that politics were involved because he'd done very little to rock the boat. Seth had told him over and over that sometimes a company is just really pushing particular people and it's nothing personal. That didn't help. He missed being in the ring.

The tension between the two was obvious. That closeness they shared all those dreamy nights on Dean's houseboat seemed like very distant memories. Ambrose was growing jealous of Seth. He didn't want to be. He hated himself for it but he loved wrestling too. And seeing his mate get work constantly while he grew stagnant was gut-wrenching. If that weren't enough, there was the brunette's constant hovering. He was always "checking" on Dean to see if he was feeling good or if he'd been out that day or been to the gym. All Dean heard was "Are you going to get back on drugs?" He knew that's what Seth secretly worried about.

"How was your night?" Rollins asked as he entered the apartment. Ambrose didn't answer but kept watching the slasher movie on tv. "Hey?" Rollins waved a hand in front of his boyfriend's face.

"Fuck," Dean whined. "What?" He motioned at the tv. "This is like - the best part." He was watching "Halloween" for perhaps the hundredth time. He smacked the leather sofa loudly when Seth grabbed the remote and turned the movie off. "What the fuck? I just said that I was watching that." Ambrose stood. "Give me the fucking remote."

"Fuck that movie. You've seen it a million times." The brunette set the remote aside and pulled Dean down on the sofa with him. "Come on. Watch me for awhile." He looked up from under his thick lashes and flashed a sexy grin.

"You've been watched all night," The blond said gruffly. "How many came out tonight?"

"It was a decent crowd," Seth answered. "But who cares? I want to hang out with you." He scooted closer to Dean who seemed distant and angry, his new regular mood. He ran his hand along Dean's thigh.

"Well, I was already hanging out with Michael Meyers," Dean said stubbornly and slid the remote control back to where he sat. He flipped the tv back on. Jamie Lee Curtis was on the screen, screaming as Michael Meyers chased her about the house with a butcher knife.

"There is something seriously wrong with you." Rollins walked towards the kitchen to get a bottle of water.

"Maybe you should have a fucking intervention for me or something," Dean called after him. "You know, since I'm so fucked up and everything." It had been around two years since Seth did plan an intervention for Dean and forced him into rehab for an addiction - mostly to pills and cocaine - that nearly destroyed his life. The moment he'd made the remark, Ambrose regretted it. That intervention had saved his life, saved him from prison, saved his wrestling career. And he'd just spoken to Seth as if it was something Seth had done to hurt him.

Ambrose walked into the dimly lit kitchen. The only light was from the refrigerator that Rollins was staring into. He had his water in his hand already but just looked into the appliance blankly. "Seth … um, Seth, I'm sorry." He walked over and closed the refrigerator door and put his arms around Seth. "Please don't stay mad."

"I'm not." Rollins spoke softly. He was hurt and that was even worse. Tears stung his eyes but didn't fall. He felt like crying; like breaking down and sobbing but who would take care of him? Dean? No, Dean was lost in his own pain these days. "I'm taking a shower." Rollins left the kitchen, setting the unopened bottle of water on the table. Dean heard the bathroom door shut and the water coming from the shower, shortly after.

"And that's how you fuck your relationship," Ambrose said to the empty room. He returned the water to the refrigerator. He stopped just short of the sofa, knowing that going to Seth right then was the best thing to do - go to him, and hold him, kiss him. But he sat down and slowly became engrossed in the end of "Halloween" and stayed planted on the sofa as the movie channel started the original Friday the 13th movie. He didn't even care about watching the film but was hypnotized by the screen as he escaped the real horror of his every day life. He didn't hear Seth softly say "Goodnight" from the hallway behind him and fell asleep on the sofa.

The following morning Dean awoke with midday sun streaming into the living area. He leaned over and looked out to see Seth's black Camry already gone. He'd picked up some construction work on a a renovation of a hotel in downtown Philly. The day Seth had gone to apply for the job, he'd urged Dean to come along as the construction company was hiring quite a few people to get started that day. The blond had refused and promised to go the next day. Of course, the job was full by the following day.

He remembered a tense conversation with Seth regarding the job.:

"I didn't feel like going. Fuck, this is the kind of day just a teeny-tiny bump wouldn't hurt."

"A bump?" Rollins said and then exploded. "Are you fucking kidding me? A bump! You mean like coke or Adderall or some of the other shit that, I don't know, ruined our fucking lives not that long ago."

"I was kidding," Ambrose said to his frantic partner. "Oh my fucking God. Can you pull yourself together?" He was aggravated with Seth for the outburst. "You sound like a hysterical bitch. Fuck. I was kidding."

He had been angry with Seth for his freakout and himself, for lying. He wasn't totally kidding. If someone had offered him some coke the day of the job hiring, he'd have been fine. He would've had energy and gotten right out of bed. He sometimes questioned whether there was much harm in a little coke or Adderall every once in a while. College kids used it to get through school but they weren't lifelong addicts.

Later that night ...

When Seth pulled into the parking lot, he noticed a familiar vehicle and shook his head. The 90's model Mustang was bright orange with blacked-out lights and windows. It had loud, duel exhaust and a hood vent that didn't fit properly. He was not in the mood for Dean's obnoxious friend Isaac who insisted on being called Icy. It was something refused to do. Especially after last night's argument and Dean's cruel comment about his intervention, Seth couldn't handle too much; not tonight.

As he turned the unlocked doorknob, he could already hear the loud sounds of two drunk guys playing Halo. He made his way around the wall that made up the small foyer. Isaac was chugging a beer and cheering Dean's on-screen efforts. "Fuck! Ambrose you fuckin killer!" He had his sneakers on the sofa as he bounced like an idiot. It annoyed Seth to no end but he remained silent.

Rollins walked by the coffee table and dropped his keys loudly, making Dean jump. He handed the controller off to Isaac. "Take it home, Icy," Ambrose encouraged his friend and he followed Seth to the kitchen. "Hey, you," Dean whispered as he kissed the brunette's neck. "Long day."

Before answering, Seth grabbed a cold water and chugged the entire bottle. "Yeah," he answered as the cool liquid filled his hungry belly. He opened the freezer looking for one of the frozen pizzas he'd put aside for when he didn't feel like making a meal. They were gone. "Fuck, Dean." He turned an angry gaze on his boyfriend. "Where are the pizzas?"

"I don't know. I had a couple here, a couple there. They're gone. What? I was hungry." He was nice and buzzed on shots of Jager and Heineken chasers. All he wanted was to stay in his good mood and give his partner a tasty kiss. He leaned in but Seth pulled back.

"I'm hungry now," Seth was serious. "And there's no food." He pushed Dean back even further. "I busted my ass all day and I worked last night and come home to you and that fucking fag, Icy. You smell like booze." He looked towards the living area "And I know that fucker is just dying to suck your dick every time my back is turned. Now he's eating my food."

"Your food? I see." Ambrose seemed much more sober. "I'm sorry we slackers ate your food. God knows the almighty Tyler Black needs his food." He turned on his heel and grabbed the controller from Isaac's hand and tossed it on the couch. "Come on, Isaac. We have to replace his majesty's fucking frozen pizza." He was pulling his drunken friend up roughly by the upper arm. "Get the fuck up!" He turned his anger on the unsuspecting Isaac.

"Dude, I'm too smashed to drive." Icy looked at Seth with that fear he always had in his eyes when the brunette stared at him. "Seth, man, I'm sorry about your pizza." He looked at the carpet quickly. He knew that Seth knew he wanted Dean. He also knew that he had no chance with Dean but he came around as long as the sexy bad boy would have him.

"You fucking pussy!" Dean gave Isaac a hard shove and the tall, slim young man fell over the coffee table. "You're apologizing over fucking frozen pizza. Pathetic! You're a goddamn retard, you know that?" He wasn't through belittling the man whose dyed-black hair fell into his eyes as he struggled to his feet. "Can you walk, Icy? Can you fuckin walk? You stupid limping bastard! Get up. Get the fuck out of my house."

Although Seth was not a fan of Isaac's, he could see Dean was taking his anger out on him. Isaac was just smitten enough to take Dean's abuse. "I'm sorry, Dean. Just Seth's pissed and you're yelling and I hate when people yell." He looked close to tears.

"Oh you hate yelling?!" Ambrose screamed in the young man's face. "Fuck you, Icy, you dumb cunt." He yanked the man up. "Get out. Walk the fuck home. Are you too drunk to walk? You live four blocks over, you dumb fuck. Why did you even drive?"

"I was carrying the beer and …" Dean cut him off mid-sentence with a shove towards the door. Within seconds, Isaac was on the other side of the door. He needed his keys at least for his house but was afraid to knock. He turned and started walking in the direction of his house. He lived with his single, working mother and he knew she'd be home by now. His buzz was quickly fading and tears filled his eyes as he turned the corner at the end of the block.

"You've lost your mind." Seth was speaking quietly, staring at Dean in shock. "You act like you're back on drugs. You know that?"

"You know what, Seth?" Ambrose was sweaty and still breathing heavily from his altercation with Isaac. "Who fucking cares if I am?"

"I do. I fucking care." Rollins had made the comment in anger but now he was frightened. This was the behavior he'd seen from Dean back when the drugs had their hold him. "Are you?" He followed Dean down the hallway to the bathroom and watched as the blond took his shirt off and splashed water on his face and neck. "Are you, Dean?"

Ambrose slipped on a fresh t-shirt and grabbed his keys from the foyer table. "I'm going after Icy." Seth quickly blocked the door. Surprisingly, Ambrose was quiet as he removed only his house key from the fob and set the rest down. "I'm walking. I have to say that I'm sorry. I'll get you some food too. Okay?"

Rollins didn't budge. "Dean, are you taking drugs?"

Ambrose's blue-grey eyes looked deeply into Seth's. "No." He waited for Seth to move. "I'll be back in a little while." He gave his boyfriend no time to say anymore and shut the door quietly. He broke into a jog to catch up with Isaac.

God, he hated lying to Seth.