Title: Floating Up

Chapter 9: Confessions

Author: Kora

E-mail: KrazyKora@aol.com or WinterViolet24@aol.com

Rating: R

Disclaimer: The following characters belong to WWE and all the people and companies who deal with all that legal stuff. I am simply using the characters for my own twisted enjoyment. All warnings featured on Part 1.

Author's notes: I wasn't originally going to write this chapter but as I got more and more reviews from people I felt it was necessary. Don't get me wrong, I'm about the biggest Shawn Michaels fan on the planet but I gotta admit, I like Hunter.

I like him enough in this series to write this snippet that focuses on him alone, so I hope you all enjoy it. It sure was fun for me to write too but I have to admit, I can't believe what an angst piece this has become. Nor can I believe how spicy this romantic triangle thing is, can you? Let me know! ;)

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Last time I talked to you

You were lonely and out of place

You were looking down on me

Lost out in space

Laid underneath the stars

Strung out and feeling brave

Watch the riddles glow

Watch them float away

You're falling back to me

The star that I can't see

I know you're out there

Somewhere out there

You're falling out of reach

Defying gravity

I know you're out there

Somewhere out there

-Our Lady Peace, 'Somewhere Out There'

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Stephanie was fast asleep. Her head lay on her right arm, which rested on Shawn's hospital bed. Her left arm hung limply at her side, a magazine bearly held between her fingertips. Her mouth was a little open as she slept and Hunter stood over her, watching with silent amusement, a grin taking his handsome face.

He looked up at Shawn and let out a heavy sigh. This wasn't the first time he'd seen Shawn in a hospital bed and each time he had he always wished the same thing: that this would be the last. Hunter could still remember what the Doctor had said to all of them after Shawn's surgery.

"From what I can deduce, the blow was delivered by a crowbar. The marks to the skull suggest this. The impact to his head was very serious, whoever delivered it meant business and yet, ironically enough, hit with the intention of NOT killing him instantly.

"By the way he was struck and in the fashion I would almost dare to say that whoever did do it knows quite a bit about human physiology, someone who, I think, may even be in a occupation not unlike my own. In other words, he knew where to hit and how hard to hit." The Doctor said wearily, removing his glasses to polish them on his lab coat before continuing.

"Now, naturally, in time he would have died without medical attention so I deduce that the perpetrator wanted Mr. Michaels to live long enough to die slowly whether due to blood loss or some other issue. Fortunately, Mr. Nash found him and we were able to get to him in time. While he suffered severe head trauma, there appears to be no physical brain damage but it's impossible to tell what kind of damage was done mentally, we won't know that until he wakes up."

Vince was the first to speak, "When will that be?"

The Doctor swallowed, "That's the bad news. There were some…complications during surgery. He started to seize up and…he had difficulty breathing and he," the Doctor took in another big breath, "he…slipped into a coma."

Stephanie practically melted at the words, thankful to have Hunter to rest on. Shane's hands clenched into fists and both Nash and Vince cursed colorfully as the Doctor finished up, "We've put him in his own room and you are welcome to visit him but…I can't guarantee when he will wake up. If ever."

It had been two weeks since they had first heard that news and ever since then things had just gone from bad to worse. When Nash had found Shawn he hadn't been thinking straight so when the police arrived along with the ambulance that night the crime scene had all ready been pretty contaminated, most of the possibly useful evidence lost. The rain, of course, hadn't helped this matter nor had Nash's taking the picture of Stephanie and handing it around. When they checked it for fingerprints they came up with Nash, Shane, Vince, Stephanie and Hunter's not one lick of the assailants.

Nash had beaten himself up over it for days. He had always prided himself on being so smart that he couldn't believe he had done something so stupid. Tampering with the evidence, disturbing the crime scene. He started to feel as responsible as the person who had busted open Shawn's head. It had taken quite some time before Stephanie had managed to assure him it was not his fault and not to beat himself up over it. The attacker was smart; smart enough to not leave his fingerprints in the first place so all together, Nash didn't damage anything because there was nothing to damage.

There were paint scrapings from the crowbar found in Shawn's hair but there were no other useful particles on his person or clothing that came from the attacker. No loose hair follicle or some other particle to help in the search. So once again, the police were lost on who was committing these attacks. Their only solid lead the red ink on the front of the photo. They all ready had a handwriting analyst pouring over it but still, things were too up in the air.

And of course there was Shawn himself, who every one visited daily. There had been no movement, no activity and things looked grimmer with each passing day. The whole thing was wearing heavily on Stephanie. Vince had had Shane take over as General Manager of Smackdown until she got over the situation and he had also advised Bischoff to give Hunter time off so he could be at her side. Shane had been less than thrilled at that move but Vince had chosen to make it.

"She needs someone there and as much as I'd like it to be you, Shane, it can't be. I can't run Smackdown right now; I'm too busy with other affairs including Stephanie's case. I need you to be there for me. And as much as I despise Hunter, he's the only one I can think of who would be good at her side at the moment. He was her husband once, he knows how to handle her when she's upset. Not to mention her attacker is still out there, I'd feel better knowing she has some…muscled protection at her side."

"But don't you realize what might come of this, Dad," Shane had hissed, "Don't you think that this could cause them to reconnect?"

Vince shook his head, "No, son. I don't. Have you seen Stephanie lately? Love is about the last thing on her mind right now. All she has at the moment is grief. Grief and guilt."

Hunter had actually overheard that conversation. Vince had given it to Shane not too far away from him and Stephanie. He had been relieved to hear he was going to be allowed at Stephanie's side but Vince's words had given him pause. He had to tread carefully around Stephanie now, considering all that had happened. Not to mention Nash had been floating around too, staring at him with narrowed, accusing eyes.

He couldn't say he blamed them, any of them. He had grown quite a reputation for being a jerk. It was what he had wanted. After he and Stephanie had ended their marriage he had just wanted to be left alone. But then Shawn had asked him at Vengeance to go back to RAW and he had, because he'd missed Shawn, missed those old times of freedom and independence.

But once he began to think about it, really think about it, he had flashed back to when Shawn had left, how much it had hurt him and he refused to feel that pain and betrayal again. So he turned on him, fought him, hated him. He refused to be in his shadow again, refused to be his right arm. And at the time he had thought it a good idea. He'd joined up with Flair and went around severing all the ties he could, wanting to become the most hated man in the industry. And all so he'd be left alone. So he'd never be hurt again.

And now look where he was.

Alone.

Just like he'd thought he'd wanted.

Flair had called with condolences but Hunter could tell he could really care less. He looked at Shawn and Stephanie and felt like the biggest fool in the world. He should have never pushed them away, should have never let himself become what he was now. He had done Shawn wrong, he knew that now and he refused to do it to Stephanie too. He just couldn't. He wouldn't lose her again. Not after all that had happened. Hell, losing her in the first place was what had driven him crazy to begin with. Or had it been Shawn's leaving first that had started it?

As he looked at his ex-wife and ex-best friend in the hospital room together he suddenly realized what he had lost. How ironic then, that they had found each other. That the two most important people in his life had become…something. He knew he should be furious about it but instead he just felt that it was justified. Justified due to his behavior. Justified because after all the crap he'd pulled, he probably deserved it. Didn't mean it didn't sting though.

He let out a sigh and walked over to Stephanie, he was about to touch her but then looked at Shawn and didn't know what to do. He found himself pulling away from Stephanie and walking over to the other side of the bed, over to Shawn. He raised up a tentative hand and placed it on his old friend's head. It rested there motionless for a few moments, then moved gradually, his thumb stroking at his forehead. He leaned in close, whispering softly, "Hey there, Shawn, it's me, Hunt."

There was, of course, no answer, and Hunter's voice sounded strange to his own ears as he spoke, "Listen buddy, I want you to know now…even though you can't hear me, that I'm sorry."

Hunter laughed bitterly, "Yeah, I know you don't buy it. But I am. And yeah, I know you think it's probably fucking hilarious that I would only tell you when you can't hear me but, you know, that's me. I…don't like to apologize. When I do I feel like-like I'm lowering myself. But shit Shawn, you did so much for me and I never got the chance to-to thank you. You did so much, you were always my friend even though I always have these walls up and-"

Hunter licked his lips, wondering how to go on, "I was always jealous. You had such charisma, such talent and I always felt like I'd be under you. That I'd never be out of your shadow but then…then there were lots of times when you let me come out of that shadow. You pushed me forward and I guess I never appreciated that.

"Like, remember when you let me win the European Championship from you? Sure you let me win but I know the reason you did is because you wanted me to have the belt and get the spotlight, even if I was pulling the whole theatrically fake crying it did mean a lot to me, that you did that."

He ran his hand down Shawn's face and to his arm, patting it lightly as an amused smirk took him, "You really need to wake up soon, you ass. So I can tell you some of this stuff in person."

Once again, the only answer was the beeping and humming of the machines. Hunter's moment of mirth was lifted as a bleak look took his face, "I know when you're awake I may not be able to tell you all this, but if you woke up, I'd sure as hell try. And lord knows you need to wake up for Steph. She's...she's going crazy without you. Totally lost like…"

Hunter ran a hand through his hair, "I don't know all that's gone on between you two but, you know, I love her. I do. I don't know if I ever stopped but I do and I think she loves me too but-but not the way she used to. Us going out has been good, like old times and I want her, I really do but I think…I think she wants someone else. I think you know who that is and I think I should hate you even more for it. I should want to kill you for it."

The last part came out in a snarl and he fumed for a moment, hands clenched in fists but it faded, "But I don't. I can't. Because I'm the one who messed up. I'm the one who hurt her. The one who lost her and I have no one to blame for it but myself. And you're a good guy now. You'd be good for her and there's no one more I'd trust to…look, I can't talk about this shit now, okay? You're not awake to hear it and I want you to be when I tell you. I need to talk to Stephanie first anyway. I just wanted to tell you now in case…"

Hunter trailed off as he looked at Shawn. He lay there, his golden brown hair all laid out, his eyes closed, long eyelashes spread out on his cheeks like little fans. A tube was protruding from his mouth and was hooked to some machine and several wires came out of his arms to other machines. His normally tanned skin looked deathly pale. And Hunter suddenly imagined what it would be like never to see this man's bluegreen eyes again. To never hear that husky Texas accent. To not hear that arrogant laugh, not see that sexy, all knowing smirk and self-confident hip wiggling.

His throat suddenly became tight, his eyes watering for the first time in ages, "Oh Jesus, man, don't-don't leave me like this. Don't leave me again. I need you. You're my best friend. Even though I did to you what I did I still…love you."

Hunter stood there for a few moments, fighting back tears as he looked at Shawn. His eyes cast over to Stephanie again, wondering if he'd accidentally woken her in his diatribe but she was still fast asleep. He looked at Shawn once more and abruptly gave a watery laugh, "I love you as a friend, you ass! Not as-you know, I'm not like that. Even as much as you've joked about it. What was it you used to say? 'Face it Hunter, you know you want me. I know if I didn't lock the shower after myself you'd be running in there trying to snatch yourself a piece of this sweet ass.' God, you were such an egomaniac."

Hunter smiled and patted his arm again, "But you were also my friend. And I know you would have done anything for me. I'm sorry I hurt you. And when you wake up, I promise, I'll try and make it up to you."

He leaned in, feeling a little awkward as he kissed his friend's forehead quickly. He drew away just as fast, blushing like a child who'd been caught doing something silly before he whispered again, "I'm gonna go talk to Stephanie now, just like I said I would, wish me luck, okay?"

Hunter walked over to where Stephanie sat and squatted down, gently removing the magazine from her fingers and patting her arm lightly, "Hey sweetheart, time to wake up."

"Hmm, Shawn?" Stephanie asked sleepily, her eyes opening slowly, unfocused.

"No baby, it's me, Hunter," Hunter said, covering his hurtful flinch at her words.

"Oh, Hunter," Stephanie whispered and straightened up, yawning as she stretched, "I guess I fell asleep. I was just reading Shawn a magazine and…when'd you get here?"

"Not too long ago. Let's go outside. You and I need to talk a little."

Stephanie frowned but slowly rose to her feet, trying to shake the exhaustion out of her. She looked over at Shawn and let out a tiny sad sigh before following Hunter out, wondering why he sounded so melancholy.