Title: Whispers In The Dark
Rated: T (Teen)
Genre(s): Romance/Hurt/Comfort
Pair(s): Jeff/Adam, Jeff/Mickie, Jeff Jarret/Karen Jarret
Summary: Jeff has been distant for weeks, blatantly refusing any kind of intimate contact. It all started with one careless comment from Karen Jarret. And now, Adam is losing the man he loves. But one night, Adam crosses the line of no return with his best friend, officially breaking Jeff's heart. Can they be saved?
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, besides my OCs.
Warning: Slash!
OOOO
It had been two weeks since their last encounter.
Jeff winced as his back hit the floor, too exhausted to aim for the bench a few inches away. His entire body was sore, but all that mattered to him was that he won. His business with Jeff Jarret was done. Pain flared in his lower back, and the idea that he could head back home to Adam for a rub-down was short-lived. A different kind of pain came over him then, and the last of the adrenaline flowed from his veins like water. All he could do was lie there and stare at the tiled roof, while his brain formed that one question that would open a new door in their relationship… why? Why would Adam hurt him like this?
However, it would seem that his time of silent reverence would be cut short. A firm hand knocked on the door to his locker room, and after thirty seconds of the incessant tapping, Jeff knew that whoever it was wouldn't leave until they talked to him. With a moan, Jeff used the bench to climb back onto his feet. His back cracked as he slowly moved to stand erect, and he flinched. Jarret had certainly done a number on him. Trying to make himself as presentable as possible, he ran his hands through the knots in his hair and flipped it over his shoulder. He contemplated putting his shirt back on, but decided not to. It would take too much time.
When he finally opened the door, the last person he expected to see was Karen Jarret. In fact, he had kind of hoped that he would never have to see her face again. Her comments toward him had been rude and uncalled for – and they certainly hadn't been scripted. Jeff could see the fury knotted in her face. And then, she drew her hand back and struck him hard on the cheek. Jeff stumbled back a bit with the force of the blow. What the hell? She moved to do it again, but Jeff moved out of the way seconds before her fist could connect. Instead, the momentum pulled her further into the locker room. Maybe that was what she had wanted from the start.
"What do you want, Karen?" Jeff asked, trying a little too hard to sound hospitable. They both knew that they couldn't stand each other, so why bother with the pleasantries?
"I heard about your husband's unfortunate… slip. I just wanted to congratulate you on a job well done; I didn't think you could do it. Turns out you have a set after all." Karen sneered.
"My personal life is none of your concern -,"
Karen interrupted him. "Does it make you feel like even less of a man, knowing that you couldn't satisfy him? Does it eat you from the inside out to know that he had someone else touch him? That he liked it more? I hope it does. I hope you realize what you did to this company – that you could never be half the man that Jeff Jarret is!"
"And why is that?" Jeff asked nonchalantly. However, on the inside, all of his old insecurities were stirred.
"Because, unlike you, he can keep his woman satisfied." Karen countered easily.
Jeff felt tears burn at his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. Not in front of her. He would let Steve handle her later. "I think that it's about time you leave."
"Fine." Karen said, before she started to walk toward the door. "Soon enough, this entire company will be six-feet-under. We'll bury it next to your marriage."
Jeff slammed the door closed behind him. What reason did he have for answering it in the first place? Slowly, he slid down the door and buried his face in his hands. For the first time that night, the tears fell. And they wouldn't stop. No matter how hard he tried to control himself, they just kept coming. Finally, after several moments of fighting the losing fight, he succumbed to all of it. The full weight of the situation fell on his shoulders, and the painful truth was that Karen Jarret had been one-hundred percent correct. Adam wanted Jay more – in fact, maybe he had never wanted Jeff at the start. Maybe that's all he thought Jeff was good for. A doll to be used and thrown away.
The Enigma could still remember when he was little and his mother used to read him stories about brave knights, his favorite had been Lancelot. But the question always arose about Guinevere. Did Lancelot steal her from Arthur, or was she never really Arthur's to begin with. And his mother would always answer in the same way. Love is blind. It does not know race, gender, age… It is free. Anyone can love. But to be loved, and to accept that love, is entirely different. To trust someone with your heart is like handing over your all and expecting it to be broken. Just because your beloved broke your heart, doesn't mean that they aren't your soul mate… it means that they love you so, so much, and have no other outlet for that emotion.
Was that what had happened with him and Adam? Was there such a thing as too much love?
OOOO
Mickie speared another bite of hamburger on the fork, before she handed it to the toddler. "There ya are, sweetie. Ya want some mustard… or ketchup?"
"Can I have some mustard, Auntie Mickie?" Daylee smiled at the woman sweetly.
"Sure, doll-face." Mickie smiled as the carefully dolled out the mustard.
It was late, and most of the other wrestlers had headed back to their hotels. However, Mickie had offered to watch Daylee while Jeff changed back into his street clothes. But that fifteen minute period had turned into a half hour, and then that had morphed into an hour. Daylee had gotten hungry in that time, so she had taken her to the consession stand. The toddler had already downed two small sodas, a hot dog, and half of a hamburger. Mickie didn't have much more money in her wallet. Luckily, Jeff came down at that point. He was shirtless and sporting a rather large scratch over his abdomen, but other than that he looked to be OK.
Daylee watched the man with her emerald eyes, looking tired but happy to see him all the same. Carefully, she chomped down on a French fry coated in BBQ sauce. Jeff watched her, not wanting to say anything. He was still a little overwhelmed by the rush of emotions that had attacked him in the locker room, but he thought that he had himself pretty much under control. Thought being the operative word. The minute Mickie turned to him, a questioning look in her soft eyes, he broke. The metaphorical dam of tears burst forth, but somehow he managed to keep the sobbing under control.
"Mickie… Mickie, would you mind watching Daylee tonight? I swear I'll come for her first thing in the morning, I just… I need some time to think over some stuff." Yeah, that was really descriptive. But Mickie seemed to understand.
"Sure!" Mickie answered almost immediately. "What d'ya say, honey-bear? We'll have a Disney Princess marathon!"
"Yes!" Daylee cheered, and Jeff couldn't help but feel as if he'd been replaced.
Oblivious to the look of hurt on Jeff's face, Daylee scarfed down the rest of her burger and fries and climbed into Mickie's arms. The Knockout chuckled softly at the toddler's antics, before she stood and threw out the trash. Jeff watched all of this from where he sat at the table still. And then, Mickie came back and lowered Daylee to eye level with Jeff. Taking her cue, she planted a wet kiss on Jeff's nose. Jeff chuckled, before he kissed her forehead. And everything was OK again. Mickie shifted the toddler to her other hip, and little hands bunched the front of her button-down. It was an adorable sight.
"Jeff." Mickie said seriously. "She'll always need her Daddy. She loves you to death. But sometimes, little girls need girl time! Isn't that right, honey-bear!"
"Yeah!" Daylee cheered. "Will Auntie Mickie do my hair?"
Mickie nodded. "Sure, baby. I'll even do your nails." Then, Mickie leaned down and kissed Jeff on the cheek. The smear of her lip gloss stained his skin. "We'll see you tomorrow, then."
She left Jeff there, fingers pressing tentatively to the skin that had been kissed, wondering what she had meant.
