Shannon sat back against the headboard in his hotel room with a bottle of Jack on the nightstand next to him. His body was still reeling from the sensation of being held tightly in Jeff's arms earlier that day. The lights were off and he sat in the darkness. He hadn't opened the bottle yet. It sat on the table, almost mocking him. His mind kept rewinding the scene with Jeff, interspersing it with memories from their night together long ago. He could feel the tears trying to push their way out of his eyes but he wouldn't allow himself to break down this time. He was going to learn to control himself, he decided. If he couldn't have Jeff, he shouldn't cry over it.

A soft knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. He looked in its direction wondering who it could be. Most of his friends were in North Carolina right now and no one from his new company knew he was here yet. A sudden cold chill swept up his spine and put goose bumps on his arms. He made sure he was absolutely silent as he made his way to the door and peered into the peephole. The chill intensified as he saw Juvi standing on the other side.

"I told you I didn't think he was here," he whispered to someone out of view, probably Evan. "The lights aren't even on and it's too early for him to be sleeping."

"Then we'll just sit here until he gets back," Evan's disembodied voice whispered in reply. "I've been waiting on him for too long."

Shannon crept back to the other side of the room and into the bathroom. He was quietly freaking out about his two stalkers following him to Ohio. Why won't they leave him alone? He shook as he wished he'd thought to bring the bottle in with him. But maybe this was better. It was hard enough to cope with his situation as it stood. Getting drunk would only make things worse for him. He slowly slid down the wall to the floor and wondered what the hell he was supposed to do now.

**********************************

Matt's hands were tangled in Shane's hair. Sugar had said it was too soon for them to make love, but he was giving Matt the most mind-blowing experience the older Hardy ever had. His tongue kept massaging Matt's shaft as he gently sucked and licked. Matt could feel the orgasm building. The last two times he'd felt the sensation Shane had eased back. Matt was hoping this time his new lover would bring him to completion. He whined and moaned, growling Shane's name.

"That's right, babe," Shane's husky voice drawled out. "Let me know how much you want me."

"Please, Shaney," Matt begged. "Oh, God, I want to cum."

"Oh, you're going to come," Shane grinned up at him, momentarily releasing his cock.

"When?" Matt groaned.

"Right now," Shane replied, lowering his mouth back down onto Matt's shaft and sucking more forcefully on it.

Matt bucked at first and tightened his grip in Shane's hair. The sensations that had been building up finally exploded and he could swear he actually saw stars as his body convulsed and he spilled his seed into Shane's waiting mouth. Shane was making purring sounds in his throat that vibrated through Matt's cock and intensified the orgasm. It took several long minutes before Matt realized he'd finished convulsing. His breath came in ragged gasps and he had trouble focusing his eyes. Suddenly he realized Sugar was back on top of him, looming over him actually with a concerned expression.

"Are you okay, Matt?"

"What happened to 'babe'?" Matt gasped out smiling.

Shane grinned back. "That your new name then?"

"Only for you to use," Matt replied, catching his breath. "That was amazing."

"I'm glad you liked," Shane smiled, giving Matt a few short kisses before pulling back. "This is more than that, right?"

"You know it is," Matt said as he reached up to finger comb Shane's hair back where it belonged. "If you still want me."

"If I still want YOU?" Shane had the grace to look incredulous. "It's up to me then?"

Matt nodded, biting his lip.

"Then you ain't going nowhere, Matty-boy," Shane grinned again. "You're mine."

Matt's heart did a double flip. He'd been worried Shane had changed his mind. Thank God he hadn't because Matt couldn't back to the way things were now. He put on his famous Matt Hardy smirk and pulled his Sugar down for another long kiss.

"I think I love you, Shane," he whispered as they broke apart.

"You THINK?" Shane pouted. "Let me help you figure it out for sure."

He leaned in again when his cell phone rang, breaking the silence. Matt's pout returned as he thought Shane would break the cuddling to answer it.

"Let it ring," Shane smirked and leaned in again. Matt sighed happily into his mouth.

**********************************

"Come on, answer," Shannon whispered frantically into the phone. Shane's voicemail kicked on and Shannon severed the connection in frustration.

He was hoping Shane would know how to get him out of this mess. He'd been hiding silently in his room for over an hour now but Juvi and Evan were still there. Shannon could hear them whispering to each other when he'd crept back toward the door a few minutes ago to check it. They were serious about waiting for him and Shannon knew they weren't interested in hearing the word 'no'.

His cell phone suddenly vibrated with an incoming call and Shannon checked the caller ID. Praying it was Shane. It wasn't. Sighing, he clicked it on, knowing he had no choice now but to appeal to the person on the other end for help.

"Shan?" Jeff said when the blond clicked it on. "You get in okay?"

"Yeah, Jeff," Shannon whispered.

"Why are you whispering?"

"I . . ." Shannon was so afraid of finally telling Jeff. He knew everything would come out now, but he didn't see as he had a choice anymore. Sniffling, he collected himself. "I need help."

"What happened?" Jeff demanded. Shannon knew his friend was now on instant alert. He heard as Jeff jangled his keys and ran out of his house, slamming the door behind him. Shannon heard another slam that sounded like a car door and then Jeff started an engine.

"Jeff, where are you going?"

"To the airport," Jeff grunted back. "Now tell me what happened."

"I haven't even told you yet and you're already leaving to come help me?"

"Yes, baby," said Jeff distractedly. "Now talk."

Shannon's heart began to pick up speed. "Baby" again. Jeff had called him that this morning, but Shannon hadn't dared believe he'd meant it. But he couldn't just explain it away when it happened twice in one day, could he? Shannon wanted to believe, but he was so scared. Scared of Juvi and Evan. Scared that he was reading too much into things.

"Shannon, baby," Jeff growled again. "Stay with me here. Tell me what happened."

Stay with you? Shannon thought quietly. Just ask me, Jeff, and I'll never leave you.

"They're here," Shannon sighed in a whisper. "They're here and I don't think they're going away. I tried to call Shane, but he didn't answer."

"THEM them?" Jeff grunted.

"Yeah," Shannon said, knowing his best friend understood who he meant.

"You should have called ME first," Jeff replied. "From now on you always call me first."

"Okay, Jeff," Shannon smiled. "But what do I do now?"

"You stay put where you are," Jeff instructed. "Don't you go out there. Don't make a sound until I get there. I'll take care of it."

"Why?" Shannon finally asked, not sure if Jeff would give him an answer. There was at least a full minute of silence before Jeff answered.

"We both know why," Jeff said. "I'm sorry if this makes you uncomfortable, but honestly, right now I can't care about that. When this is over, we can talk about it if you want to. Or we can leave it like you wanted to the last time."

"Like I wanted to?" Shannon hissed, wanting to yell but knowing he would give his presence away if he did. "I don't know what memory YOU'RE talking about, but the bottle of Jack on my nightstand says I didn't want to drop a damned thing."

Jeff was silent for another minute while Shannon sat seething and listened to him park his car then slam the door shut as he apparently exited the vehicle. Then he listened while Jeff rushed in and bought a ticket for the next flight out to where Shannon was. After that the younger Hardy brother finally got back on the phone.

"Shannon, if you're saying what I think you're saying, you'd better be damned sure about it," he said in a dark, serious voice meant to allow no argument. "Because once you cross that line I ain't NEVER letting you go. Ever."

"Possessive words for someone who's been ignoring what we shared all those years ago."

"I ain't going to apologize for that night, either," Jeff hissed back. "I felt guilty for years afterwards for losing control and pushing myself on you when I knew you were straight."

"I ain't never been straight, Jeff," Shannon grunted. "You should have asked."

"I'm past asking," Jeff shot back. "I want you."

Shannon then heard the loudspeaker blare into the phone that Jeff's plane was ready to board. "Well then," he said as he heard Jeff shift, probably getting up from his chair. "Come get me."

**********************************

NOTE: I was going to draw this out for another couple of chapters when my "Jeff muse" came dancing out and whacked me on the head.