A/N: I should be doing my homework. I really should. But I can't focus on that because I'm watching TNA wrestling. Gotta love DVDs! Anyway, sorry for taking forever to update on this story. It's one of my favorites that I'm writing, mostly because I love Sabin and Shelley. Anyway, here's the next chapter. R&R. Enjoy!

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Chris has decided to tell Alex about his feelings after the show the next day. Arriving at the arena, Alex and himself headed towards the locker room. Before they entered the locker room though, Alex's phone started blaring, telling him he had a text message. Groaning, Alex took his phone out of his pocket and walked away from Chris, his eyes downcast, but full of fear and anxiety. At first, Chris didn't want to let him go; at least, not by himself. But what could he do? Alex would flip shit on him if Chris told him that he saw the text message from Ray. Sighing, feeling at a loss, Chris entered the locker room, his mind on Alex.

As soon as he walked in, Chris was hailed by Roddy, who looked serious, unsure, and uncomfortable. When Chris hesitated, Roddy rolled his eyes and stood up from the bench he was sitting on and grabbed Chris by the arm. Practically dragging him to a secluded part of the locker room, Roddy fidgeted for a moment or two before looking at Chris and looking away as he spoke.

"Hey, um… I really don't know how to tell you this, but…I guess I'll just say it."

"Then say it, Roddy. You're confusing the shit out of me."

"I'm confused myself Chris! I mean, hell, I didn't expect to listen in on what I did last night between Alex and Ray." Chris' eyes widened and he looked at Roddy.

"Tell me everything Roddy. Now." Nodding, Roddy started up.

"Well, last night after the show, I came back here 'cause I was bet and I showered and changed, right? Anyway, Alex came in and I gave him some space since he looked worn out and beat. Ray comes in and grabs Alex, slamming him into a locker. I didn't do anything because I thought it was Ray just dicking around and stuff like he usually does. But he wasn't dicking around. He was pissed. He started yelling at Alex, asking him if he had any idea of how weird he was acting and that if he didn't calm down someone would notice their 'unique little relationship'." Chris' eyes narrowed and he felt his anger begin to boil as Roddy talked. Ray doing stuff for shits and giggles was one thing, but him putting his hands on Alex in anger? And what relationship? Alex wasn't seeing anyone.

"Relationship? Alex isn't in a relationship. And if he was, he wouldn't date Ray." Roddy nodded, looking relieved that Chris wasn't skeptical of him.

"Yeah, that's what I thought. I mean, I wasn't sure if Alex was gay or not, but I don't really care if he is. He's my friend either way. Anyway, Alex told Ray that they weren't in a relationship and Ray was all 'Yes we are' and 'What do you think last night was about?' and stuff like that. And then Ray told Alex that no one better find out about 'last night', especially you, Chris. Ray told Alex that he owned him now and that no one else, not AJ, James, or you could have him. And then he kissed him, all rough and shit like that and Alex was trying to get away from him, but he couldn't. I didn't know what to do. I just…I froze. I hadn't expected that out of Ray, you know?"

Chris was stunned. Completely and totally stunned. Everything Roddy had just told him was moving around in his mind and on constant repeat. Something had happened a few nights ago. Alex just wouldn't flinch away from him like he had yesterday for no reason. Ray had done something to Alex, and Chris had a sneaking suspicion as to what that something was. Rage coursed through his veins like liquid fire and when he thought about what Ray had possibly done to Alex, he felt sure of himself, as though his gut was telling him that he was right.

Ray raped Alex.

He had raped Alex, his Alex, and had hurt him beyond anything that was even tolerable. Not only that, but he had, basically, rubbed it in Alex's face last night and had forced himself on the younger man again. Chris was going to kill Ray. How dare he put his hands on Alex? How dare he abuse him and talk to him and claim him like that, after what he had done? It sickened him, and now, everything was perfectly clear and so fucking obvious. Alex's behavior was easily explained now, and that text message that Ray sent him…

Looking back at Roddy, he saw his friend's worried expression and he suddenly felt glad that Roddy had been there. He didn't blame him for not doing or saying anything; if he had been there, he probably would have been frozen himself. But that didn't matter now. What mattered was Alex, and keeping him away from Ray and getting him back to normal. Well, as normal as he could be. What mattered was teaching Ray a lesson.

"Roddy….I think…I think Ray raped Alex two nights ago." Roddy gaped at him like he had grown two heads. But then, he saw a light flicker in Roddy's eyes and understanding spread across his face.

"That'd explain why he's actin' so weird… Damn…. Damn. If I had known that, I would have tried to get Ray away from him. Damn it!" Chris shook his head and grabbed Roddy's shoulders, trying to calm him down.

"Hey, I didn't realize it either! Not until now. All we can do now is keep Alex away from Ray and maybe teach that bastard a lesson." Roddy looked at Chris and a small smirk slowly spread across his face.

"Sounds good to me. Do you want me to rally the boys up so we can kick his ass?" Chris nodded.

"Yeah, but don't tell them exactly what happened. Just tell 'em that Ray scared the crap out of 'Lex and did a number on him. That should be enough motivation for them."

Roddy nodded and clapped Chris on the shoulder before leaving him. Chris shook his head and decided to go and find Alex.

Alex didn't want to meet Ray in the hallway. He didn't even want to read his text messages. But if he ignored him, Chris would get hurt, and he wasn't going to let that happen. So he went to him, even though he wanted to do the exact opposite. All he wanted to do when he received that text message was to follow Chris into the locker room and stay with him. But when he got that second message, the one reminding Alex what Ray would do to Chris if he didn't show up, he knew that he had to go.

And that's where he was at now.

In the hallway, with Ray pressing him up against the wall and kissing him hard and fierce while his hands roamed and touched his body. But even though Alex nearly gagged, he kept himself calm and relaxed as he allowed Ray to touch him. Chris was all he could think about, even as Ray ground himself against his body. He shuddered, feeling sick and disgusting as he felt Ray's erection press against his thigh. When Ray placed a hard, biting kiss to his neck, he hissed and squirmed, trying to get away, unable to bear it any longer.

"Alex? Hey…Hey! Get off of him!"

Suddenly, Ray's body was gone and Alex slid to the ground, his legs weakened and his body shaking. His eyes found Chris and Ray as Chris threw the older man into wall, looking more pissed off than Alex has ever seen him. It scared him, seeing his friend and beloved so enraged, but he was also glad for it because Chris didn't just let him go there. Instead, he kicked Ray numerous times until the man was a groaning heap on the floor.

"If you ever fucking touch him again, I swear to fucking God that I will cut off that small excuse for a dick that you have and shove it down your throat! Got it?" Ray managed a nod before Chris kicked him one last time and heaved heavily before he made his way over to Alex. Crouching down beside him, Chris reached out for him and Alex fought hard to not flinch from him. He closed his eyes, happy that Chris was there but also ashamed and disgusted that he's seen Alex in such a state. When a large hand cupped his cheek gently, a thumb beginning to caress it, Alex opened his eyes and looked up at him.

Chris was gazing at him with soft, gentle eyes bright with concern and love. It made Alex's chest tighten, knowing that that love was just that of a friend and not a lover. He started calming down and he glanced over at Ray, making sure that he was still on the ground. Chris followed his gaze and growled when his blue eyes landed on the older man. Shaking his head he stood up and helped Alex to his feet.

"I'm so sorry Alex…" Alex looked at him, a bit confused and more than puzzled.

"About what?" Chris sighed and pulled Alex to him as they made their way to the locker room.

"About everything. Not noticing what was going on, not helping you…"

"Chris, what are you talking about?"

"I know, Alex. I know what Ray did to you a few nights ago."

Alex's brown eyes widened and he stared at Chris completely dumbfounded. How? How could Chris have found out about that? Oh God…he knew. He knew. God, Chris was probably so fucking disgusted by him. He could practically hear it now: Sick fuck! Freak! Disgusting whore! Well, he'd be right on the ball… Nodding, Alex stepped away from Chris and kept his gaze to the ground, tears beginning to swell up and threatening to spill over.

"'Lex. 'Lex, please…don't cry. I can't….I can't stand it when you cry. Please, 'Lex, don't cry." Chris pulled Alex into a tight hug. Alex didn't return it; he just stayed limp.

"I know…I know…A whore like me sh-should cry. Not when I…I brought this upon m-myself…" Chris pulled away and Alex looked up at him, astounded to see the shocked expression on his face.

"Whore? Alex, you're not a whore and you definitely didn't bring this upon yourself. Why would you even think that?" Alex looked back down and shook his head, tears starting to flow down his face.

"Why w-wouldn't I be? He…he r-raped me in that….that fucking alleyway….near a God damned bar for Christ's sake! How could I not be a w-whore?" Chris shook his head and forced Alex to look at him. Brown met blue and Alex was stunned to see so much love and acceptance in those eyes, eyes that he's come to know and love so well.

"Because you didn't ask for it. Because you don't sleep with everything on two legs. Because you don't like Ray. Because you're so much better than that. Alex, you're not a whore or a slut or anything like that and you didn't deserve this. You didn't deserve this Alex. You're too beautiful to be taken like that."

Chris pulled him into another hug and kissed his temple softly. And then, Alex felt Chris' body spasm and he felt onto the ground, knocked out from a blow to the back of the head. Ray was seething and looking like the meanest son of a bitch on the planet, and all Alex could do was fall to his knees beside Chris and try to wake him up, knowing that the older man would be connecting his fist with his head in a matter of seconds.