Shannon and Evan had been hanging out together for almost a month and it
was beginning to worry Shane. He still had his doubts about Steiner and
Evan's relationship, but he kept these mostly to himself to keep the piece
in his new tag team group, 3 Count. So far, Evan hadn't pressured Shannon
into anything more than going to the movies or a bar in the areas where
they performed. Shane had even gone out with them a few times to get a
better handle on things. Evan and Shannon seemed fine, though Shane
couldn't shake his bad feeling. Steiner may not even be a credible source,
either.
Shannon had told Shane a few days ago about an interesting conversation he'd had with Juvi after the show one night. Juvi had a series of bruises on his back and torso that Shannon had seen accidentally when he'd walked into the locker room to get something he'd forgotten. Juvi had apparently been trying to hide the bruises and had waited until the locker room was empty before he changed.
When Shannon questioned him, concerned about his welfare, Juvi tearfully told him about his new and recently ended relationship with Rick Steiner and how he'd beaten the smaller man when Juvi tried to break things off. Shannon held him and let him cry for a while helped him change and took him back to the hotel with himself and Shane. When they'd dropped Juvi at his door and found their own room, Shannon told Shane what had happened.
But something about the whole situation gnawed at him. It was pretty convenient that Juvi's problem surfaced after Shane told Shannon what he'd heard. And when Evan didn't know Shane was watching him, Shane couldn't miss the calculating smile he directed to an oblivious Shannon. Nope, something wasn't right here at all. And Shane wasn't about to take his eyes off Shannon for a minute until he found out what the hell it was.
********************************
Evan watched Shannon practice with barely concealed lust. He and Juvi knew their plan to keep the blond away from Steiner had worked perfectly. Too bad a similar plan wouldn't work on Shane Helms. He knew Shane was apprehensive about his budding relationship with Shannon and had made every effort to appease him, but nothing worked. And Juvi was getting impatient. He wanted Shannon in their bed with them now. They'd already planned the scenario and acquired the drug. Shannon wouldn't give it up any other way, Evan realized.
Evan agreed it was taking longer than he'd hoped. It hadn't taken this long with the others, but they were one-nighters. Both he and Juvi wanted Shannon with them for a lot longer than that. It would take some convincing after the first time, but Shannon could be coerced into such a relationship once he'd been taken. This Evan knew from the way Shannon was adjusting to him now, even though the blond had been very reluctant to date him at first.
Although he'd only shared a few kisses with Shannon, he'd gotten a taste of him and he wanted that sweetness for himself. Juvi was going to become addicted, too. He knew his lover well. Shane would have to be distracted tonight for the plan to work.
Evan grinned at his own intelligence. He knew the Hardys were performing in the vicinity tonight. He also knew that Shane and Shannon intended to meet up with them. What they didn't know was that Shannon was going to get a call from a tearful Juvi just before he left and he would be sending Shane off on his own, the older man not suspicious as Shannon would be with Juvi instead of Evan and didn't know about the connection yet.
Yes, tonight they would have the young blond, Evan smiled to himself. And they would have him completely.
********************************
Shannon pulled his shirt over his head whistling lightly. He was looking forward to seeing Jeff tonight. And for the first time in years, he felt he would be seeing him without the usual longing and sadness. He knew he owed a lot of that to his new relationship. Evan hadn't pressured him at all. He'd been very sweet, actually. And Shannon was beginning to look forward to their dates. It was too bad that Shane was taking so long to get used to it, but Shannon knew his "big brother" would adjust eventually. It was nice to have someone watching out for him on the road, anyway.
"You almost ready, Shanny?" Shane asked as he walked back in the room from seeing one of the guys down the hall.
"Yeah, and stop calling me that," Shannon griped back with a smile.
"Aw, but you'll always be my little Shanny," the older man teased, pulling the blond into a headlock and laughing.
Shannon struggled a little, giggling, until Shane let go and stood him back up.
"Sorry about that," he smiled. "You know I can't resist touching you."
"Yeah, right," Shannon grinned. "If that was the case, I'd really be worried."
Shane only shook his head and picked up the keys to their rental car. Just as they were about to leave, the hotel phone rang.
"Leave it," Shane said, not breaking stride.
"But it might be Matt and Jeff," Shannon argued, walking over to the phone and picking it up. "Hello?"
"Sh-shannon?" Juvi's small voice sniffled into the phone. "C-can y-you c- come over tonight?"
"Juvi? What's wrong?" Shannon asked, instantly alarmed.
Juvi let out a low sob and seemed to be fighting for composure before he could go on. Shannon waited patiently, looking at Shane who stood leaning against the door in obvious annoyance. The small blond just shrugged.
"It's Rick," Juvi finally went on. "I s-saw h-him earlier and h-he . . .w- w-we had another fight."
"Another fight with Steiner?" Shannon repeated. "Are you okay, Juvi? He hurt you bad last time."
"N-no."
"You need to see a doctor then," Shannon advised sternly.
"NO!" Juvi screamed. "N-no d-doctors. I j-just w-want to st-stay h-here. Cc- can y-you st-stay w-with m-me t-tonight?"
"I was just on my way out."
"P-p-please? Y-you're the only one that kn-knows."
"All right," Shannon sighed. "I'll be over in a few minutes."
"Oh, th-thank y-you, Sh-shannon," Juvi gushed. "Th-thank y-you s-so m- much."
The line went dead and Shannon turned to a very pissed off Shane.
"What was I supposed to do?" Shannon asked defensively. "You saw the bruises yourself."
"Can't someone else?"
"He says no one else knows," Shannon replied. "He begged me not to tell. I never even told him I told you."
"Where's your boyfriend tonight, anyway?" Shane suddenly asked darkly.
"Evan's not my boyfriend," Shannon returned just as warningly. "And he's home visiting his girlfriend."
Shane nodded once, but appeared no less worried.
"Well, I guess I'll make your excuses to Matt and Jeff," he finally said. "At least I don't have to watch you around him tonight."
"Shane, try not to be nasty to him tonight," Shannon pleaded. "He asked me why you're mad at him and I'm not good with lying. I'd rather not have that particular conversation with him either."
Shane stared rigidly back at him.
"Please?" Shannon added softly.
"Okay," Shane finally muttered with a sigh. "But I can't promise to be nice to him."
"As long as you're not too mean, that's all I'm asking," Shannon smiled as they left the room.
********************************
Shane reached the bar just as Jeff turned around. He regarded the younger Hardy coolly but nodded in greeting.
"Hi," Jeff said and Matt turned on his own stool.
"Hey, Sugar," he greeted Shane with his usual smirk. "Where's the kid?"
"He got a last minute call from a friend in need," Shane said taking the empty stool next to Matt, and as far from Jeff as possible. "Says to tell you he's really sorry and he'll call Jeff tomorrow."
"Oh," Jeff said looking disappointed. That look did nothing to soften Shane's attitude towards him. He merely regarded the Hardy remotely for a minute before turning back to his own best friend.
"Nasty hit you took from Adam last night," he grinned after ordering a beer.
"You saw it?" Matt asked.
"Shanny and I never miss it when we can watch."
"Jeff took the bigger bump from Jay," Matt pointed out. "They'd practiced it a thousand times, too. Why'd you miss that spot anyway?" He asked over his shoulder.
Jeff shrugged.
"Probably something shiny in the audience?" Shane taunted softly.
Jeff gave him a bewildered look and turned back to his beer.
"Please, Shaney," Matt whispered so only he could hear.
"All right," Shane whispered back. "Shan made me promise, too."
Matt grinned and Shane scanned the room for anyone interesting while he waited for his own beer. His eyes widened when they fell on the notorious Steiner brothers. That couldn't be right, he thought. Could Rick have gotten into an emotional confrontation with Juvi then gone out immediately to pick up babes with his brother? A cold fear ran down his back as he pushed away from the bar.
"Be back in a sec," he called back to Matt.
********************************
"Are you feeling any better?" Shannon asked as he patted Juvi on the shoulder.
"A little," Juvi sniffled before getting up to pour himself some soda. "You want some?"
"Maybe in a bit," Shannon replied clicking on the television. "Hey, look, an Adam Sandler comedy marathon is on. Want to watch?"
Juvi quietly sat back down next to Shannon and shrugged. He handed Shannon a small glass of soda and started drinking his own. Shannon took it and set it down on the nightstand, leaning his back against the headboard. They watched in silence for a while, Juvi fidgeting mostly. Shannon sighed and picked up his soda, suddenly thirsty. He downed the small glass in one gulp and got up to get more. When he reached the bed again, he felt himself get woozy and had to set the glass down so as not to spill it.
Juvi smiled and pulled Shannon down with him as the room began to spin for the blond. Juvi rolled Shannon over onto his back and leaned over him, kissing him deeply. The door of the room opened and Evan walked in as Juvi was reaching for Shannon's shirt.
"You're right, mi amor," he grinned up at Evan as he approached the bed. "He is sweet."
********************************
"What are you doing here?" Shane demanded as Rick watched his approach. Scott was at a nearby table with two ladies, ignoring his brother as usual.
The big man looked at him in confusion for a moment before answering. "What do you mean?"
"Haven't you had enough excitement for one night?" Shane challenged. "Juvi's still reeling from it."
"Juvi?" Rick asked. "What about that little shit? I haven't talked to him since I broke up with that asshole, Karagias."
Shane's pulse quickened. "You didn't get into it with Juvi tonight?"
"No!"
"SHIT!" Shane started to stalk away.
"Wait a second, Helms," Rick grabbed his arm. "You can't walk away without explaining that."
Shane was quaking with fear for Shannon. But he knew Rick might be able to help him, so he stopped. "Juvi called Shannon just as we were coming here to meet our friends," he nodded toward Matt and Jeff, who were watching from the distance. "He said he'd fought with you and asked Shannon to stay with him"
"Shit is right," Rick said getting up. "I'm coming with you."
"You are?"
"Yeah, and don't tell your friends," he instructed. "If they're doing to Shannon what they did to me, the less people that know the better."
Shane's blood ran cold as he nodded and went back to Matt and Jeff to let them know he was leaving.
********************************
NOTE: Thanks again for the very appreciated reviews. I'm so glad you like the story!
To Cat Lea Takersdarkone: Evan is Evan Karagias, the third member of 3 Count. Juvi is Juventud Guerrera, who was also in WCW. Sorry for not explaining that connection!
Shannon had told Shane a few days ago about an interesting conversation he'd had with Juvi after the show one night. Juvi had a series of bruises on his back and torso that Shannon had seen accidentally when he'd walked into the locker room to get something he'd forgotten. Juvi had apparently been trying to hide the bruises and had waited until the locker room was empty before he changed.
When Shannon questioned him, concerned about his welfare, Juvi tearfully told him about his new and recently ended relationship with Rick Steiner and how he'd beaten the smaller man when Juvi tried to break things off. Shannon held him and let him cry for a while helped him change and took him back to the hotel with himself and Shane. When they'd dropped Juvi at his door and found their own room, Shannon told Shane what had happened.
But something about the whole situation gnawed at him. It was pretty convenient that Juvi's problem surfaced after Shane told Shannon what he'd heard. And when Evan didn't know Shane was watching him, Shane couldn't miss the calculating smile he directed to an oblivious Shannon. Nope, something wasn't right here at all. And Shane wasn't about to take his eyes off Shannon for a minute until he found out what the hell it was.
********************************
Evan watched Shannon practice with barely concealed lust. He and Juvi knew their plan to keep the blond away from Steiner had worked perfectly. Too bad a similar plan wouldn't work on Shane Helms. He knew Shane was apprehensive about his budding relationship with Shannon and had made every effort to appease him, but nothing worked. And Juvi was getting impatient. He wanted Shannon in their bed with them now. They'd already planned the scenario and acquired the drug. Shannon wouldn't give it up any other way, Evan realized.
Evan agreed it was taking longer than he'd hoped. It hadn't taken this long with the others, but they were one-nighters. Both he and Juvi wanted Shannon with them for a lot longer than that. It would take some convincing after the first time, but Shannon could be coerced into such a relationship once he'd been taken. This Evan knew from the way Shannon was adjusting to him now, even though the blond had been very reluctant to date him at first.
Although he'd only shared a few kisses with Shannon, he'd gotten a taste of him and he wanted that sweetness for himself. Juvi was going to become addicted, too. He knew his lover well. Shane would have to be distracted tonight for the plan to work.
Evan grinned at his own intelligence. He knew the Hardys were performing in the vicinity tonight. He also knew that Shane and Shannon intended to meet up with them. What they didn't know was that Shannon was going to get a call from a tearful Juvi just before he left and he would be sending Shane off on his own, the older man not suspicious as Shannon would be with Juvi instead of Evan and didn't know about the connection yet.
Yes, tonight they would have the young blond, Evan smiled to himself. And they would have him completely.
********************************
Shannon pulled his shirt over his head whistling lightly. He was looking forward to seeing Jeff tonight. And for the first time in years, he felt he would be seeing him without the usual longing and sadness. He knew he owed a lot of that to his new relationship. Evan hadn't pressured him at all. He'd been very sweet, actually. And Shannon was beginning to look forward to their dates. It was too bad that Shane was taking so long to get used to it, but Shannon knew his "big brother" would adjust eventually. It was nice to have someone watching out for him on the road, anyway.
"You almost ready, Shanny?" Shane asked as he walked back in the room from seeing one of the guys down the hall.
"Yeah, and stop calling me that," Shannon griped back with a smile.
"Aw, but you'll always be my little Shanny," the older man teased, pulling the blond into a headlock and laughing.
Shannon struggled a little, giggling, until Shane let go and stood him back up.
"Sorry about that," he smiled. "You know I can't resist touching you."
"Yeah, right," Shannon grinned. "If that was the case, I'd really be worried."
Shane only shook his head and picked up the keys to their rental car. Just as they were about to leave, the hotel phone rang.
"Leave it," Shane said, not breaking stride.
"But it might be Matt and Jeff," Shannon argued, walking over to the phone and picking it up. "Hello?"
"Sh-shannon?" Juvi's small voice sniffled into the phone. "C-can y-you c- come over tonight?"
"Juvi? What's wrong?" Shannon asked, instantly alarmed.
Juvi let out a low sob and seemed to be fighting for composure before he could go on. Shannon waited patiently, looking at Shane who stood leaning against the door in obvious annoyance. The small blond just shrugged.
"It's Rick," Juvi finally went on. "I s-saw h-him earlier and h-he . . .w- w-we had another fight."
"Another fight with Steiner?" Shannon repeated. "Are you okay, Juvi? He hurt you bad last time."
"N-no."
"You need to see a doctor then," Shannon advised sternly.
"NO!" Juvi screamed. "N-no d-doctors. I j-just w-want to st-stay h-here. Cc- can y-you st-stay w-with m-me t-tonight?"
"I was just on my way out."
"P-p-please? Y-you're the only one that kn-knows."
"All right," Shannon sighed. "I'll be over in a few minutes."
"Oh, th-thank y-you, Sh-shannon," Juvi gushed. "Th-thank y-you s-so m- much."
The line went dead and Shannon turned to a very pissed off Shane.
"What was I supposed to do?" Shannon asked defensively. "You saw the bruises yourself."
"Can't someone else?"
"He says no one else knows," Shannon replied. "He begged me not to tell. I never even told him I told you."
"Where's your boyfriend tonight, anyway?" Shane suddenly asked darkly.
"Evan's not my boyfriend," Shannon returned just as warningly. "And he's home visiting his girlfriend."
Shane nodded once, but appeared no less worried.
"Well, I guess I'll make your excuses to Matt and Jeff," he finally said. "At least I don't have to watch you around him tonight."
"Shane, try not to be nasty to him tonight," Shannon pleaded. "He asked me why you're mad at him and I'm not good with lying. I'd rather not have that particular conversation with him either."
Shane stared rigidly back at him.
"Please?" Shannon added softly.
"Okay," Shane finally muttered with a sigh. "But I can't promise to be nice to him."
"As long as you're not too mean, that's all I'm asking," Shannon smiled as they left the room.
********************************
Shane reached the bar just as Jeff turned around. He regarded the younger Hardy coolly but nodded in greeting.
"Hi," Jeff said and Matt turned on his own stool.
"Hey, Sugar," he greeted Shane with his usual smirk. "Where's the kid?"
"He got a last minute call from a friend in need," Shane said taking the empty stool next to Matt, and as far from Jeff as possible. "Says to tell you he's really sorry and he'll call Jeff tomorrow."
"Oh," Jeff said looking disappointed. That look did nothing to soften Shane's attitude towards him. He merely regarded the Hardy remotely for a minute before turning back to his own best friend.
"Nasty hit you took from Adam last night," he grinned after ordering a beer.
"You saw it?" Matt asked.
"Shanny and I never miss it when we can watch."
"Jeff took the bigger bump from Jay," Matt pointed out. "They'd practiced it a thousand times, too. Why'd you miss that spot anyway?" He asked over his shoulder.
Jeff shrugged.
"Probably something shiny in the audience?" Shane taunted softly.
Jeff gave him a bewildered look and turned back to his beer.
"Please, Shaney," Matt whispered so only he could hear.
"All right," Shane whispered back. "Shan made me promise, too."
Matt grinned and Shane scanned the room for anyone interesting while he waited for his own beer. His eyes widened when they fell on the notorious Steiner brothers. That couldn't be right, he thought. Could Rick have gotten into an emotional confrontation with Juvi then gone out immediately to pick up babes with his brother? A cold fear ran down his back as he pushed away from the bar.
"Be back in a sec," he called back to Matt.
********************************
"Are you feeling any better?" Shannon asked as he patted Juvi on the shoulder.
"A little," Juvi sniffled before getting up to pour himself some soda. "You want some?"
"Maybe in a bit," Shannon replied clicking on the television. "Hey, look, an Adam Sandler comedy marathon is on. Want to watch?"
Juvi quietly sat back down next to Shannon and shrugged. He handed Shannon a small glass of soda and started drinking his own. Shannon took it and set it down on the nightstand, leaning his back against the headboard. They watched in silence for a while, Juvi fidgeting mostly. Shannon sighed and picked up his soda, suddenly thirsty. He downed the small glass in one gulp and got up to get more. When he reached the bed again, he felt himself get woozy and had to set the glass down so as not to spill it.
Juvi smiled and pulled Shannon down with him as the room began to spin for the blond. Juvi rolled Shannon over onto his back and leaned over him, kissing him deeply. The door of the room opened and Evan walked in as Juvi was reaching for Shannon's shirt.
"You're right, mi amor," he grinned up at Evan as he approached the bed. "He is sweet."
********************************
"What are you doing here?" Shane demanded as Rick watched his approach. Scott was at a nearby table with two ladies, ignoring his brother as usual.
The big man looked at him in confusion for a moment before answering. "What do you mean?"
"Haven't you had enough excitement for one night?" Shane challenged. "Juvi's still reeling from it."
"Juvi?" Rick asked. "What about that little shit? I haven't talked to him since I broke up with that asshole, Karagias."
Shane's pulse quickened. "You didn't get into it with Juvi tonight?"
"No!"
"SHIT!" Shane started to stalk away.
"Wait a second, Helms," Rick grabbed his arm. "You can't walk away without explaining that."
Shane was quaking with fear for Shannon. But he knew Rick might be able to help him, so he stopped. "Juvi called Shannon just as we were coming here to meet our friends," he nodded toward Matt and Jeff, who were watching from the distance. "He said he'd fought with you and asked Shannon to stay with him"
"Shit is right," Rick said getting up. "I'm coming with you."
"You are?"
"Yeah, and don't tell your friends," he instructed. "If they're doing to Shannon what they did to me, the less people that know the better."
Shane's blood ran cold as he nodded and went back to Matt and Jeff to let them know he was leaving.
********************************
NOTE: Thanks again for the very appreciated reviews. I'm so glad you like the story!
To Cat Lea Takersdarkone: Evan is Evan Karagias, the third member of 3 Count. Juvi is Juventud Guerrera, who was also in WCW. Sorry for not explaining that connection!