Chapter 29

Two weeks later Matt was back at work, but his mind wasn't in it at all. He hated that because he knew it increased the risk for injuries but he really didn't care. His best friend was laying in a hospital bed in a coma, swelling in her brain and a healing punctured lung. Those were the big things. All the knife wounds were healing up wonderfully and the doctors said that ninety percent of them won't leave scars. What the doctor couldn't figure out was why she was in the coma. According to him she should be awake and talking and getting better daily. That told Matt that maybe, just maybe, she was giving up. She'd taken one beating too many and she no longer had hope for a life that would be free of the abuse. Logan was a nightmare that wouldn't go away.

At the thought of Claire's ex husband Matt felt his muscles all clench up in anger. He had never thought he could truly hate someone, but he hated this man he'd never even laid eyes on with all he had in him. He was lost in his thoughts when a knock sounded on his locker room door.

"Matt," Steve Keirn poked his head in and said, "Can I come in a minute?"

"You're the boss so I guess that means you can go and do whatever you want to." Matt didn't mean to snap at the older man, but his mind was still on other things.

"Matt, I know this is hard for you, I see how close you and Claire have gotten. She's like a daughter to me too. I just want you to know that if you're not ready to get in the ring I understand. You don't have to."

Matt tore at the wrist tape with his teeth and patted it down smooth on his arm. "Yes, I do have to get in the ring. It's what I do. I'm going stir crazy not in there. Besides, it'll give me a place to take out my anger."

"Listen to me," Mr. Keirn said. "I know that you need a place to deal with your anger but just remember that those guys out there didn't do this to her. You didn't do this to her either. Don't let yourself or someone else get hurt because you're not focused. You've got tonight. If I think you are not full on out there, you're pulled from shows until I say different. Are we clear on that?"

Matt glared at him, trying his best not to let his temper get the best of him, knowing that every word was the truth. As he brushed past the older man on his way to gorilla position he muttered, "Crystal fucking clear."

That night the show went off without a single issue. Matt somehow managed to contain his thoughts so that he could focus on the match and not getting any one hurt, but he had never been so thankful to hear the three count followed by a bell. Before he was even through the curtains good he was ripping off his tape and arm bands. He had planned to change clothes and head back to the hospital to sit with Claire. He didn't know if she knew that he was there but he did, and for him that was what mattered right then.

"Matt, wait up," he heard from behind him. He stopped walking but didn't stop unwinding the tape that had bound his wrists.

"Matt, I've been calling you for the past week. I've been worried about you."

"PJ, not here, this isn't the place for this discussion. I'm fine, just been at the hospital with Claire and dealing with a lot of stuff. I'm sorry."

PJ stepped in front of Matt when he tried to walk away and held his hands up. "When exactly would be a good time for you? You never answer your phone, you're always at the hospital, it's like you stopped living when Claire was attacked. We all love her and care about her but you have to live still. It's not healthy for you to always be sitting there at the hospital."

Matt slowly raised his head to look at the man who he'd grown so attached to. "You have no idea what kind of a relationship Claire and I have; the things we've been through. Don't talk to me like you know her. Now, if you'd move out of my way, I've got to get changed." Matt roughly pushed by PJ and headed on to his locker room.

"You sitting there won't bring her back if she doesn't want to come back ya know," PJ called out. The only answer he received was a middle finger high in the air.

Matt changed clothes in record time and allowed his mind to register that Stephen had yet to come back to work. He'd taken up counseling Matt knew, and was having a hell of a time dealing with what happened. He'd been to the hospital twice in the two weeks since the attack but Matt understood. He grabbed his cell phone to let Claire's mom know he was on his way then grabbed his bag, slinging it over his shoulder before walking out of the locker room.

The sound of PJ calling his name once again stopped him. He turned and struggled to keep his cool. "PJ we aren't talking about this here or anywhere else right now. I've got to go."

"I was going to tell you that there is a guy out in the parking lot waiting on you. He said he was a big fan and wanted a quick autograph and picture. Ya might think about putting on smile, at least for those few minutes to give the fans what they want." He turned and walked the other way without another word.

Matt rubbed his head roughly and thought that he had to do something about his rage that was built up inside of him. He turned and focused on happy thoughts, as happy as he could, as he headed out to the parking area. He glanced around the area and didn't notice anyone waiting so he headed to his car. Opening the trunk he tossed in his bag and then headed to the driver's seat. Just as he was about to climb behind the wheel he heard a voice from behind him.

"Evan, great job tonight," came from over his right shoulder.

Matt turned prepared to extend his hand to the fan. As he did he felt his gut tighten and a rage like nothing he'd felt before wash over him.

"It is alright if I call you Evan, right? Or should I call you Matt like Claire does."

"You filthy son of a bitch, you've got a lot of nerve showing your face around here. You are a sick, demented bastard."

"Is that any way to talk to a real big fan? I mean I can't see how in the world you have fans when you treat them so poorly. Of course I guess you save all the good stuff for Claire huh? How is she anyway?"

Without a second thought Matt swung, his fist connecting with Logan's chin a satisfying crunch beneath his fist. Logan went down to one knee and Matt was on him, punch after punch landing in the man's face. With every blow he ticked off another injury that Claire had sustained at the hands of this monster. When Logan was flat on the ground Matt let his foot connect with ribs. He heard nothing and saw nothing but red.

After a minute voices began to break through the rage calling his name. Matt felt hands on his arms pulling him back. "Let me go! I won't kill him but damn it the bastard sure as hell will wish he was dead."

Logan was groaning and holding his ribs, a sick and twisted smile on his face. Matt spit at him as he was pulled back. He turned to who ever it was that had pulled him away and found himself looking into the eyes of Mr. Keirn. Matt straightened his shirt and headed back to his car. "I've got to go."

"How about you stop and let me know what the hell is going on here before I have to go inside and call the cops."

Spinning furiously Matt said, "You wanna know what's going on? That piece of shit you just pulled me off of is Claire's ex husband. He's the reason she's in a hospital bed in a damn coma right now. That son of a bitch is the reason she might not make it." Matt choked out the last words as his tears fell freely. He let his head fall to the roof of his car and let angry tears fall with no concern to who might see. He cried for the unfairness of it all and for Claire. After a minute he looked up at the older man who stood wordlessly by. "I know you have to call this in. I also know that I'm probably facing jail time. I can live with that though. Tell the cops if they want me I'll be at the hospital with the real victim." He climbed in his car and left.