"Standing in the Way of Control"

Written by SRC

Chapter IV

Ok guys, I can only ask that you all trust me in this story right now. This isn't the greatest chapter, but I worked super hard on it and I spent a lot of time on it. The reason it took so long was that I had test and mid terms coming up, so yeah.

I would love love love reviews. I need major feedback on this chapter before I send out the next chapter. Please.

Oh yeah, I don't own anything you recognize; Just so ya know.

Also (BEWARE: SHAMELESS PLUG):I wrote a story called "Whipping Boy" and it has my beloved Shawn and John in it. It's not really slash but, I'm sure ya'll are pretty imaginative (wink).

John heard the girls before he actually saw them.

John had so much respect for almost all of his colleagues. As a whole, they were the most professional, hard-working, helpful people John had ever even thought about working with; the girls especially.

They were truly the most dedicated individuals who took the most time in perfecting their craft and bettering themselves. They were gorgeous and lethal, but sweet and very talkative and sociable.

And John was a little bit afraid of them.

Before he rounded the corner he heard Maria's high pitched giggle and his blood ran cold for a second. He didn't understand his universal uneasiness around girls in general, but Maria was everything you could ask for; pretty, talented, easygoing, and she was hilarious. Probably one of the funniest girls John had ever met.

Everyone thought something might happen between the two of them; the ring-side chemistry defiantly there. And John wanted to like Maria. He really did. Every time she just rolled with the punches or quoted some stupid movie that John only thought he had seen, he wanted to get up the nerve and ask her out to dinner or take her to see a movie, talk about anything but work. But when he pictured himself at the dinner in an over starched suit with a choking stiff color and a silk tie, wrapped around like a noose, he swallowed down the question.

He couldn't, wouldn't, do that to himself.

When he walked in the room, Maria gave him a dazzling smile from the arm chair she was curled up in. Her face was washed free of makeup and had her thick hair pulled back in a sloppy ponytail. She had on a pair of black yoga pants that cut off mid calf, a pink sweatshirt that had "Hugs not drugs" in a big heart, and a pair Kelly green sneakers peaked out under her knees. She was also nursing a Venti-Starbucks-coffee-something, that was so big it nearly oversized her skinny arm. Trish was standing by the window talking on her cell phone in a hushed voice. She was dressed in a matching Adidas track suit with her hair in a long blonde braid down her back. She gave him a small wave when she saw him walk into the room and went back to her conversation.

"Morning John."

"Hey Maria", he took in her lack of makeup, her sleepy eyes, and large coffee, "Rough morning?" Maria was a sweetheart, but he had never seen her not made up like a movie star. With no thick, black lines surrounding her eyes she looked younger and even more approachable.

She looked shocked and hurt for a fraction of s second before she covered it up by giving him a mock glare for a moment. "I hate when people ask you that. It's just a nice way of saying that you look like shit."

John felt the blood drain from his face and his jaw go slack. What the fuck was he thinking? Telling a girl that she looked tired; Amateur move, Cena. He sputtered out words, but strung together they made no sense; "I-I-I … Maria - you know I think… I didn't mean that- … You're always-".

Maria just cracked up, "John! I'm joking. Besides, you know what they say about rough mornings, 'I like to call them good nights!'" she quoted with a wink.

John recognized the 'Dodge ball' line and lost it.

He was still laughing and bent over Maria's chair his forearm resting on the cushioned arm of the chair. Maria was now laughing too, with one hand covering her mouth as she let out a snort, which only caused them to both laugh harder.

Shawn walked noiseless into the room and stopped when he saw the two younger associates laughing intimately. He watched them with a sot of blank eyed expression on his face, before clearing his throat and screwing on a smile.

With barely a nod in Cena's direction, "Hey, Maria. Did you have fun last night?"

John snapped up from his position above Maria, and looked closely at the Heartbreak kid. He was dressed in black sweat shorts that hit just above his knees and he had on a thin heather gray t shirt with Aerosmith in cursive across the front. In his arm he had a dark green zip-up sweatshirt and his honey colored hair was restrained with a faded red bandana. After the once (or twice) over he grinned and jumped back into conversation, "From her last comment, I would say she had a -great- night" he snorted.

Shawn had to give a questioning grin to Cena for that comment and looked back at Maria on the chair. "What did you and Torrie end up doing?"

"We went salsa dancing and I got to catch up with a bunch of old friends from school." She laughed, "I think I was on, like, my fourth champagne and Red Bull, before I was completely gone. I can't remember what happened after that" she looked thoughtfully at John, "I hope I didn't do anything I might regret later." She looked back at Shawn, "So that's why I look like crap."

"Oh, darlin', you're just fishing for compliments. You're always beautiful; I love your hair all up, like that. Sexy, messy-bed head." He gave her another kind, sexy, smile.

Maria looked away and flushed happily before uncurling herself from the chair and walked over to Shawn. She stood on her tip-toes and gave him a kiss on his morning scruff covered cheek. "Thanks, Shawn-y." She turned to Cena and stuck her tongue out, "See? This is why Shawn gets the numbers."

John narrowed his eyes at Maria, sliding up the pair who were standing close together now and put on a fake shy smile and aiming it at Shawn.

When he was standing within two inches of the smaller man, "In that case …". He looked down at his shoes and started to nervously toe them into the carpet. "Gee, Shawn. … I had a really amazing time last night." He looked up mock-nervously at Shawn, who was trying not to laugh and ruin the act. John began to trace his fingertips up and down the smaller mans arm, "I hope you had a good time too?"

Shawn chocked back a snort, "… Yeah, whatever", he said in a mock, gruff voice. John continued the path up to Shawn's shoulder and trailed it lightly back down, nearly caressing the soft skin under his wrist and he had to suppress a shudder.

John didn't notice and continued the act, "So, you'll call me then? Tomorrow, even?" John made puppy eyes.

Back in character, Shawn sniffed non-committedly and rubbed his nose and his lips with his thumb, before shoving his hands into his pockets, "Yeah… whatever."

John and Shawn shared a look for a few moments, before both of them broke into a toothy grin. They looked over at Maria and the slight brunette was bent over her waist, shaking with laughter.

After regaining composure and breath, she smiled at the two men, "You guys are hilarious. Seriously, you work well off of each other! Wonder why Vince doesn't put you together more." She looked at John and smiled, "Most guys would never have gone that far with another guy."

John smirked at her, "Yeah, I go there." And he grinned a dimpled grin to the other man. The guys locked into another stare, before Maria linked arms with both of the guys and wedged her way between their bodies which had been in contact with each others throughout the last few minutes.

"So are we running or not? Trish! Stop yapping and let's go!"

Scene Change

They had been jogging for about a half hour down Addison Drive and they had just passed Wrigley field. They had let Maria lead them at her slow, but steady pace until they could see the lake, so they wouldn't get lost.

Shawn was itching to turn up the pace. He had become a runner once he stopped lifting weights so much. He knew he would never be able to get his physique back to what it had been 10 years ago, so he had completely re-vamped his workout. Instead of the intense weight-training he had oncebeen able to do in his sleep, he substituted most of it for long runs that cleared his mind and made his body long, lean and alkaline. He thought he would miss the bulk of his muscles, but this older, more agile body was growing on him fast. And if he was going to blow out his knees doing something, why not ruin them doing something he loved?

As soon as the lake was in view, he turned to face the girls who were only slightly in front of him, with John in the back of them.

Maria's face was covered with a slight sweat. Her breath came out in even puffs and her rhythm was perfectly steady. Torrie was fairing about the same, looking a little less tired, but in no shape to turn up the notch on the intensity. He snuck a glance back to John. The young man was trying to keep a steady pace that matched the girls, but Johns legs were just too long to comfortably keep up the pace for much longer; he had a bored look on his face, but Shawn saw that his eyes would wander from the back of Maria to where he was running.

When they had to stop at the next red light, Shawn turned to Maria and Torrie, "Is it ok if I run ahead, or should I stay with ya'll?" He asked with his hands on his hips.

Maria nodded at Trish, before waving him on, "Go for it, superman. You know I only have one speed; slow."

Torrie agreed, "Go for it, speedy. I'm still feeling last night's jello shots, or I would join you."

As soon as the light turned green, Shawn waved back to his group and shot off, following the trail that was parallel to the curvy coast of the sparkling blue Lake.

Hardygirl14: Thank you so much for the kind words. I'm so happy that you are enjoying this and this new pairing I seem to be thrusting upon the masses. The more I have been watching RAW lately, the more adorable and close they seem to get! I'm lovin' it! I'm glad you appreciate the detail I put into this story, because that is an important part of my writing. Hope you like this, and please keep the feedback-a-comin'!

SSShirrleyy: Thanks! But I'm sure you could write a great m/m story. I mean, all it takes is a little inspiration! Just let me know when you do; I'll sure read it!

Bishie lovers 'R' us: Guh! I don't remember that scene! But you're so welcome with the whole pairing thing. I would love to read me some Cena/Michaels fic, but I can't find any! Hasn't RAW been amazing though? There getting beat up together so I bet they get revenge together too. Then, maybe they can celebrate together? Hmmm... Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter!

DogTowngurl: The URLs got garbled by but thanks for trying! Hope you like this next chapter!

Sky-Queen3: I bet you could write some great Michaels/Cena fics. You should give it a shot if inspiration hits. Hope you like this chapter!

Sploink8654: Thank you for the review. I hope you continue to critique my work and that you continue to enjoy this. And when you do write your own fan fiction with Cena and Michaels I'll be sure to read it and most likely LOVE it. Hope you like this chapter and can stick with me through my shakey writing style and horrible spelling/run on sentences. Also, I did write another story with our two favorite gentlemen ("Whipping Boy")... you might want to check it out and, ha, ya know, review. Enjoy this chapter and continue with the reviewing (please!).