Chapter 36

"OK! That's your fourth beer, I'm cutting you off!" Sami said as he took the beer Dean had just got out of the refrigerator out of his hand.

"Come on Sami! I need a drink!"

"A drink? You've had four already and I still haven't heard one peep as to why you called me."

"Well, if you want me to go, just say so!" Dean grumbled.

"Come on Jon!" Sami said placing the beer back in the refrigerator. "You know I have missed you Asshole!" Sami sighed as he stared at Jon who now was feeling buzzed. Jon being drunk was honestly something he did not miss. "Something is bothering you and you came to me hoping I could help but you getting trashed is not going to help me help you."

Dean stared at his longtime friend and past tag team partner from their Indy days. Sami was much shorter than Dean standing at 5'10 with broad muscular upper body and black hair. He had a patch of red on the right side, Dean figured to stand out amongst the other wrestlers just like Seth did with the blonde patch of hair. Sami was one of his best friends, one of the few people Dean had ever trusted in this world. Dean sighed.

"What if I was to tell you I was in a relationship?"

"BULLSHIT!" Sami said with a smile. "Then Hell has finally frozen over because you are not into relationships. Shit, you ever spend maybe an hour or two with any given girl."

Fuck, I'm not drunk enough for this shit! Dean realized. "What if I was to tell you I am not in a relationship with a girl?"

Sami looked confused now. "I'm not sure where you are going with this Jon!" Sami looked almost irritated now. "Dude, you're drunk!"

"NOPE! Not drunk enough actually."

"Then what is going on?"

"I'm in a relationship with a man." Dean waited to see Sami's expression. He didn't want to throw Roman's name out there if Sami wasn't receptive. Dean waited but Sami just stood there shocked. "I'm the same person Sami even though I'm seeing a man."

Sami cocked his head to side. "You're serious!"

Dean nodded.

Sami stood there for a minute. "I'm not even sure which is more shocking, you being in a relationship or you gay."

"I'm not gay."

Sami now looked even more confused. "But you're in a relationship with a man."

"Yes! One specific man that, the only man I have found myself ever attracted to."

"Meaning you not attracted to any other men?"

"No, I'm not! Just one incredibly gorgeous, completely stubborn and exceptional man."

Sami rose an eyebrow. "I've never heard even half of those compliments toward any of the woman you've fucked."

"That's because they are a blur of nameless, faceless women that I didn't even remember once I nutted! Of course being completely drunk or stoned sometimes had a lot to do with me not remembering them also." Dean sighed. "I just want to know if you hate me."

"Jon, you're my best friend, I could never hate you."

"I just don't know what you're thinking. I feel like an asshole standing here wondering if you're going to throw me out any minute."

"Bro! I love you! I would never do that." Sami said walking over and giving Dean a hug. Dean instantly relaxed in Sami's familiar embrace. They had been through so much together, he would have hated to not be a part of Sami's life ever again. "Don't just stand there, get me a beer." Sami said with a laugh stepping back.

"You're not worried Jessika will be pissed?"

"NAH! Besides, she won't be back for a few days. She has a TNA show but she is going to be trying out for NXT soon. I hope she makes it, I miss her."

"Talk about shocking, I was shocked to find out that you were in a serious relationship with Havok from TNA. I wasn't the only ladies' man, you went through about as many girls as I did."

"Well Jessika is special, but you are not hear to talk about me, you are having some problems and are trying to get away." Dean and Sami went into the living room with some beers. Even though Dean had four, Sami went ahead and let Dean get another one.

Dean felt bad for not keeping in touch with Sami more often, since he joined WWE, his career had kept him busy. Thankfully Sami understood how busy it could be. On the go was the name of the game. You never stayed around at any town for very long before you were gone.

They sat on the couch and opened their beers. Sami took a sip but Dean took a huge gulp. Dean saw Sami looking at him disapprovingly. "I don't get to drink much anymore." Dean tried to explain.

"Yeah!" Sami said taking another sip.

Dean sighed and put the beer down. "I guess I'm trying to get myself good and drunk just to forget everything."

"That never helps Jon!"

"Oh come on Sami! You love to drink to!"

"I do but I have had to calm down a lot. I'm with Jessika now and I am trying to make it in NXT and it's very competitive. Even with all of my experience, I still have to do a lot of training. I'm not very tall and almost all the wrestlers are over 6 ft." Sami sighed. "I just want to make it like you did!"

"And you will, Sami you are an excellent wrestler."

"OK! Quit stalling, who are you seeing?"

Dean wiped his face with his hands nervously. His foot was tapping. "Roman Reigns!"

"Damn!" Sami said. "So that was why he was eyeing me hard in the parking lot."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to put you on the spot like that."

"It's fine! At least I know why the guy looked like I pissed in his corn flakes when I picked you up." Sami laughed. "He isn't going to kick my ass, is he?"

Dean laughed. "No! He was just surprised when I announced out of nowhere I was going to spend some time with you."

Sami smiled. "Well he's kept you all to himself long enough, I've missed you. My life has been so quiet without you around."

Dean picked up a small, decorative pillow and hit Sami in the head with it. "I've missed you to Asshole!"

Both men laughed happily drinking their beers. Sami knew there had to be more he just sure if he should push it and how hard. Sami took a sip and looked at Dean. "So, are you happy then?"

Dean's smile faded and he looked away. Was he happy, hmmmmmm? He never really thought of that question so he wasn't sure of the answer.

"Roman is good to you, right?"

"Yeah, Roman is really great! He is sweet and sexy…"

"You ca leave out the sexy part."

Dean laughed. "Sorry! Yes, Roman is very good to me, we have our ups and downs like any other couple."

"So what's the problem? What brought you to my door?"

"Can't a friend drop in for a few days just to say HI?"

Sami gave Dean a look and Dean sighed. "OK! I just wonder if I love Roman more then he loves me!"

"He's put up with you this long, he definitely has strong feelings for you."

Dean frowned at Sami. "Very fucking funny!" Dean grumbled giving him a playful shove. "Seriously! I think Roman still loves Seth."

"Why would you think that?"

"He's been acting strange lately and then Seth said…"

"First mistake dude is to listen to other people! Does Seth still love Roman?"

"Oh Yeah! He has went through lots of trouble to try and break us up."

"And that is why you need to ask Roman yourself and not listen to Seth."

Dean sighed. "I know which is why I called you instead of blowing up and ruining everything. Everything is just so confusing though. Roman has been acting weird and it makes sense what Seth said. He also said that Roman wanted him back but he has moved on to another guy so he turned Roman down."

"What do you think?"

"That's the thing, I'm not sure what to think." Dean sighed and he buried his face in his hands. "I just know everything was a lot less complicated when I fucked them and never see them again."

Sami chuckled. "True but it's nice to have someone that you can share your life with also. I am really enjoying being with Jessika, I've never met a girl that I could see myself being with for more than just sex but now that I've known love, I feel I wasted so much time with the wrong girls; but I guess you do that until you meet the right one."

"But it's such hard work!" Dean grumbled.

"It's not supposed to be easy. Hopping beds was fun when we were younger but we are getting older. I'm tired of being alone." Sami admitted. "And then I met Jessika and now I never feel alone. Even when she is on the road, we talk, we SKYPE, we do whatever we have to do because we want to be with each other." Sami grabbed Dean's hands so he would look at him. "What do you want Jon? Do you love Roman?"

Dean took a moment to think, he really wanted to make sure he could feel wat his heart was saying. Dean nodded. "Yes I do!"

"Do you want to walk away from him?"

"No!" Dean could literally feel his heart being ripped out of his chest and all that would be left would be a huge gaping hole where his heart had once been if he walked away from Roman.

"Then fight for him."

"But what if he doesn't love me anymore." Dean got up frustrated. Just when he thought he could do this, Seth's words were whispering in his ear. He started pacing the small livingroom feeling more frustrated. He just didn't know what to do.

Sami watched him pace back and forth, back and forth. He could see the confusion and uncertainty in his bestfriend's face. He had never thought that this day would come, that Jon would find someone that he couldn't just excuse from his life when it became too complicated. Someone that he wanted to hold onto and was struggling to figure how to just do that. "Why are you doing this to yourself?"

Dean stopped pacing and looked at Sami. "Doing what?"

"Letting all this get to you, letting what Seth said get to you? You should be with Roman right now asking Roman what really happened."

"But what if Seth was right?"

"What if he is not?"

"Even if Seth was lying, he won't stop. He won't stop until he breaks me and Roman up and he will do whatever it takes to do that." Dean said sadly looking out the big bay window. He could see the sun setting in the distance. The sky was bursting with vibrant purple, red and orange tones.

"Then don't let him Jon!"

"It's not that simple Sami he's already done horrible things to us."

"But you're still together?"

"Yes!"

"Then don't let him win!"

"I just don't know how much more I can take." The tone in Dean's voice caused a chill to crawl down Sami's spine.

"What's going on Dean? There is a lot you are not telling me."

Dean sighed. "Seth has enlisted his latest flame into his little scheme as well. Some of it has to do with Seth wanting Roman back but deep down, I think it's just because he hates my guts." Dean walked away from the bay window and began pacing again. "I'm not even sure which he wants more, Roman back or me completely destroyed!"

Sami was worried now. He could tell that something was really wrong going on there. Jon he knew was a very nervous and antsy type person as it was but this was driving him crazy. Dean started rubbing his shoulder roughly as he paced, that seemed to calm him down some.

"If Seth takes Roman away from me it's the same as destroying me so he wins either way."

"Seth can't take Roman away from you but you can if you don't get it together." Sami said as he got up and went over to Dean who was still trying to pace. His mind was spinning. So much was rushing through his thoughts, as if it was on fast forward. He felt all over the place and it was making him even more nervous. Dean's eyes were darting all around the room trying to get his thoughts to focus but it was becoming increasingly more impossible.

"I'm getting another beer." Dean opted to run away from it entirely. It was easier and it had always worked for him in the past, why not now? Drink until he couldn't remember and then maybe he would be able to sleep.

"You don't need another beer, you need to talk to Roman."

"I don't want to talk to Roman." It was true, he was afraid of what Roman would say.

"You need to. It's probably not what you are expecting."

"But what if it is?"

"Then isn't it better to know now than later?"

"No! I don't want to know."

"But it's driving you crazy Jon!" Sami sighed. "You can't continue on like this. You want to get drunk now but how long before the beer or whiskey doesn't do it for you and you move on to drugs?"

"Come on Sami, I don't do that anymore, you know that."

"Yeah, you almost killed yourself on that shit which is why you need to stop bottling everything up."
"OK Fine! What if I talk to Roman and he says he still loves Seth, what then?"

"Then you come back here."

"No Sami! Three is a crowd and Jessika won't want me around."

"Then don't let Seth win!" Dean looked at Sami curiously.

"Trust Roman and if need be, win him back!"

"How do I do that?" Dean asked skeptically.

"I would the same way you won him over in the first place."

"Yeah I have no idea how I did that either. I'm a complete mess Sami! A mess. I was a mess in The Shield. Roman and Seth were constantly looking out for me."

"I don't get it? Then Why does Seth hate you now if he taking care of you before."

"He pretended to be my friend because I was good on the mic and WWE took notice that I could talk and I was good at it. Roman actually did care for me. Surprising! The one person I didn't get along with at all was the one that really cared for me. You figure it out because I can't."

"That just means that Roman has seen you at your worst and he still wants to be there for you. That is major Jon!" Sami sighed. "You need to talk to Roman."

Dean sighed. "I guess so. What do I say?"

"Ask him what really happened and actually listen Jon. Don't let your temper flare and ruin everything. You go off the deep end way to easily."

"You say that like you know me too well."

"I do know you to well which is why I'm telling you to listen to everything Roman has to say and not jump the gun too early."

"Let's just say that Seth was telling lies to get between us again but it's not true, he won't be done with us."

"Don't let him push your buttons Jon."

"You just don't understand Sami!"

"Then talk to me!"

Dean shook his head. "I can't!"

"OK! Then I will be here for when you are ready to talk to me."

Dean didn't want to burden Sami with Randy raping him and then trying to kill him in the locker room. It was too much even for him to handle, he didn't want to put that burden on Sami as well. He was already throwing so much at him as it was. He was just glad Sami was there. Sami had been with him through a lot and now here he was, accepting him with being with Roman and helping him trying to get his head straight. Sami was a really good friend.

"I think I am going to go get some rest so we can hang out tomorrow." Dean just wanted some time to think, it would probably be hours before he would be able to fall asleep but the least he could do was try.

Sami nodded and showed him where the guest room was. Thankfully it had an adjoining bathroom. The room was small with a full size bed but he could tell that Jessika had decorated it. The comforter was white with pink and yellow flowers covering the thick blanket. The curtains were white with lace and a small white vase with pink and yellow flowers were sitting on a dresser. Dean was looking forward to a nice shower and hopefully that would help him sleep.

Of course, all Dean could think about was Roman. He wondered what Roman was up to right now? Was he thinking of him at all or was he happy to have some time to himself? Would he miss sleeping with him tonight or is he going to be happy that Dean wasn't there to steal all the blankets? Dean sighed as he sat his bags down and walked into the bathroom to shower. Dean quickly undressed and stepped into the bath tub. He cut the water on and turned the temperature up to as hot as he could stand it. Dean sighed as he felt the hot water pulsating over his tired, stressed out muscles. He did feel some relief as the heat relaxed him and he moaned as the heat turned his skin red. Roman always worried about Dean when he took a shower because he would get the temperature so hot his whole body would be fiery red when he came out but it felt so good to Dean. The steam and heat had a way of releasing any pent up stress and letting him fully relax.

Dean knew he was in the shower a lot longer than normal and he hoped Sami didn't mind. He just needed to feel the calmness wash over him. Dean stepped out of the shower carefully and dried off. He put on a pair of red boxer briefs before laying down on the bed. He didn't cover up since he now needed to cool off from his hot shower. That shower had felt so good that he wanted to fall asleep. It didn't take long before Dean's thoughts went right back to his sexy Samoan. He missed Roman. He couldn't deny that. He wanted to lay his head on Roman's shoulder and listen to his voice vibrate throughout his body as Roman would talk to Dean about what, Dean was never sure of since he was always so wrapped up in the tender feel of Roman's skin, his warm arms embracing him, and the sweet smell of Roman. His long beautiful, dark hair flowing past his strong shoulders would tickle his nose but how he loved it.

Just thinking of the older man made Dean's heart ache. Damn I have it bad he thought irritably, it's only for 2 days. But 2 days away from Roman felt like a lifetime. Dean wondered if Roman had tried to call him. Dean reached over and grabbed his cellphone off of the nightstand. Roman had taught him a little how to use this damn thing. Dean unlocked it and then checked if he had any missed calls. There were 2 missed calls from Roman and 2 text messages. The last text was sent a little over an hour ago. Roman's first text was just asking how he was doing with Sami. The last one said simply I Love You! Dean smiled reading the sweet, simple message from the Samoan.

Dean didn't need to hear a bunch of elongated, pretty words. He didn't need Roman to recite some poem written 100 years ago to his long, lost love. No! He could literally hear Roman's voice in his ears saying those simple, beautiful words. He had to talk to Roman, he needed to hear his voice. It wasn't too late yet. Dean didn't give his hands time to say stop before he was punching in Roman's number. It rang a couple of times before Roman finally picked up.

Roman: Hello! Roman's voice was husky and sounded tired. Dean knew that he had to be in bed. He began wondering if Roman was wearing his boxer briefs or was in sleeping in the nude. Just the thought of Roman's gorgeous body naked made Dean blush.

Dean: Hey!

Roman: I tried to call you earlier

Dean: Yeah I just saw that. I was talking to Sami and had it on vibrate. I'm sorry!

Roman: It's OK! I figured you were spending time with Sami. How is he doing?

Dean: He is OK! Dean had almost forgot that he had told Roman that Sami and Jessika were having trouble and that was why he was spending some time with Sami the next couple of days.

Roman: I miss you

Dean smiled on the other end. I miss you to! I can't wait to see you!

Roman chuckled. I guess you get a chance to heal now from last night.

Dean: I need it to. Dean chuckled as he tried to move his damp, auburn curls from his eyes.

Roman: I won't be so demanding next time but it's so hard whenever I'm around you.

Dean felt a little sharp pain in his heart. There was still the question as to if Roman was really over Seth but Roman was very loving that night. Roman made him feel like he was the only person in the world, like he was special. Roman had a tendency to do that already but he seemed extra attentive that night. Dean wondered if it was because he was guilty for kissing Seth or feeling guilty for leaving him so callously before the meeting after they had sex in the towel room. He couldn't think about that right now, he just wanted to hear Roman's voice.

Roman: Dean…Dean…

Dean: Sorry, I'm here! Just thinking about last night has me blushing.

Roman: I love it when you blush

Dean smiled. Roman's silky voice was driving him crazy. He wished he could reach right through to the other side and kiss Roman. Dean sighed. He needed to stop acting like a lovesick kid. He would see Roman soon. He knew at that moment he needed to work things out with Roman. He wanted nothing more to be with Roman and everyone else be dammed.

Dean: I just wanted to say I miss you and I love you too

Roman: Do you and Sami have anything planned for tomorrow?

Dean: Not yet! Dean heard Roman yawn on the other end of the line. I guess I better let you go so you can get some sleep

Roman: You sure you don't want to fool around on the phone? You know, phone sex?

Roman's voice was so sexy and seductive and Dean blushed all shades red and pink. I do not want to get it on with a phone!

Roman laughed heartily. Oh how Dean missed his laugh. He sounded carefree and happy. Dean wanted to hear more of Roman's laughter. They should be smiling and laughing and just enjoying each other all the time. He was so tired of all the stress and constantly looking behind their backs, it was hard on both of them and it was affecting them no matter how they tried to deny it, it was affecting them. Dean sighed.

Roman: Are you Ok Baby Boy?

Dean: I just can't wait to see you!

Roman: I can't wait to see you either! I love you! Goodnight Baby Boy!

Dean: Goodnight Rome!

Dean hung up the phone and replaced it on the nightstand. Dean got up under the covers and pulled the covers up to his chin. He felt much better after talking with Sami and Roman. He felt a lot more optimistic. He had to find a way to keep Roman in his life. Just the thought of being without Roman made him want to have a panic attack. He just needed to talk to Roman. Hopefully Roman won't be too mad at him for lying to him but he really didn't want to cause a scene in front of his family and the rest of the world. Talking with Sami helped him put things in perspective but Sami always had that type of influence on him. Sami kept him out of a lot of trouble during the early years. He owed Sami a lot and he had to mention, he did miss his friend. He just needed to relax. Try and put his troubles to the back and just have a nice day with Sami tomorrow. He would see Roman soon enough and hopefully all will be worked out!

And that's a wrap for chapter 36. What did you guys think? I hope that me referring to Dean and Sami calling him Jon isn't confusing. I feel that Sami would still see Jon as Jon and Jon would still see Sami as Sami and not as Solomon. I love to know what my readers are thinking so please leave me a review or drop me a line. Thanks everyone for following along. I really appreciate my readers and I do care about what you think. I'm not asking for praise if you don't think it's worthy or attention. I am genuinely interested in wanting to know if you like where the story is going. So thanks again!