Chapter 5

A/N: Raven now has an official Web site: www.theraveneffect.com. And I don't know anything about their families.

The show: On 9/29/03, Raven finally got Mitchell. Tied a chain around his neck and beat the crap out of the others. He was however alone. No CM Punk, no Julio. And I was lucky my companion for the night had a marker. Raven said, "You have hung me. You've shaved my head. You're looking at a man that has nothing left to lose."

Disclaimer (haven't done this in a while): Don't own the people or the fued. My only profit is reader response. Don't even know the people, well, I did meet them once, but it was the Anniversary Show and I saw several people.

Ok, done with that.

            Raven woke up to the most pounding headache he'd had since, well since the last time he got hung over. And having Julio yell into the phone while in the same vicinity didn't help matters either. Raven refused to open his eyes, feeling the sunlight on his face, and chose instead to listen to the younger man.

            "Fine, but I won't be your damned counselor! I have shit of my own to deal with. No! Go the fuck home! I'll handle it!" Julio threw his cell phone across the room where it bounced on the carpet. He frowned, as the action wasn't enough to suit his mood.

"Who was that you were so kindly talking to?" Raven's voice was rough with sleep.

Julio walked over to him and handed him a glass of water that was sitting on the bedside table. "That was Punk."

Raven opened his eyes and groaned as the sunlight hit. As hangovers went, this one was more of an annoyance than pain, he wasn't sick. "Why were you yelling at him? Where is he?"

"Funny you should say that." Julio gave a mirthless laugh. "He said the same thing this morning. After hours of not knowing where you were. We were both so worried. Punk looked at me, almost scared when Sandman called me this morning. 'Where he is?' Punk asked. And I had to tell him. You were at a bar and you were drunk as hell." Julio spoke the words like daggers and continued when Raven flinched. "So, hurting and broken-hearted, we went to get you. Picked you up and brought you back to the hotel. Then he told me he was going for a walk. That was three hours ago. He just called to say he was at the airport and he was going home."

Raven went weak at the words and the tone Julio used. The glass fell from his nerveless fingers, spilling water as it hit the floor. Neither man moved. Finally Raven found his voice. "So when are you leaving?"

"What?" Julio blinked, startled from the silence. "Where are we going? Did I miss something?"

Determined not to look the other man in the eyes, Raven got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. "I figured you were the next to leave. Punk is already gone. Were you just waiting around to tell me I fucked up and that is why you were leaving? You didn't have too. It's happened a few times already. I would have understood again." He stood at the sink and splashed cold water into his face. "Hell, this time I don't even blame you. I broke some things this time I shouldn't have. Made some promises I shouldn't have either. I should have known myself better than to ever let the two of you trust me this much. First I let Douglass and the New Church hurt you, then I go and do it myself."

Julio stood at the bathroom door, still angry but heart wrenching at Raven's self-debasement. "Why did you go off and get drunk? Old habit die hard?"

The older man pushed past him, going to his bags for a chance of clothes. "Old habits? Maybe." Raven began to change out of yesterday's clothes. They still smelled of beer. He grimaced. "Memories though. Only beer seems to soften them."

"Memories? Memories of what?" Julio hounded him.

Raven glared. "The ones of you and Punk hanging from chains at the show seems to be most prominent in my mind. The one that proves that the New Church will kill the two people I love because they are pissed at me!"

"So going off and getting drunk was the answer to that? Shit. Did it ever occur to you that we might need you with us after that? Punk was still freaked out that it happened and I was none too calm myself. But we were together. It would have been nice if you were there. But no. You had to go off, break our trust by drinking to forget. And I say our trust because Punk doesn't want you to drink. He trusted you not too, therefore I trusted you not to hurt him. And you did." Julio grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. "You know what, I am leaving. I'm just heading out for a bit to cool down. Before I say something I will regret." He stopped at the door and looked back at Raven who was standing still, clean shirt in his hand. " Punk and I were proud to fight next to you, even if it meant getting hung. This isn't me saying I'm leaving for good Raven. I will be back, Punk will be back, but you hurt us man. And we have to get over it first." Julio walked out the door, leaving all his things in the room with Raven.

It may not have been the best of ideas for Julio to walk out like that, still angry. But Raven understood. If Julio and Punk never came back, he would still understand. But Mitchell and Douglass were going to pay for making him lose the best things he had in life. Oh how they were going to pay.

***~~~***

*next Wed.*

Julio met Punk at the back doors of the arena after the show had started. Punk walked right into his waiting arms for a long hug. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." Julio replied, accenting his words with a kiss. "How is the family?"

Punk sighed. "Fine, annoying as ever. And your sister?"

"She has a two-year-old. I might go back and visit in ten years." Julio laughed. "Cute kid if you take away the sugar intake."

"I wonder if Raven's been brooding much?" Punk walked to a monitor of the show as The New Church was fighting. He turned to see Julio's eye roll. "Right. Look who I am talking about. Raven not brooding would be more of a shock. I feel bad now, about the both of us going away."

The dark-headed man grabbed his hand. "Hey, don't say that. Hanging around when we weren't so ready to forgive would have only hurt each of us more. We would have said things,"

"What the hell?" Punk cut him off and pulled him towards the screen. "That's Raven attacking Mitchell!"

Both of them headed for the ring, preparing to get involved, when they heard Raven on the mic. "You've shaved my head. You're hung me. You are looking at a man who has nothing left to lose." They stopped in their tracks; horrified to realize Raven may indeed think both of them had ended their relationship. Did that last line mean them? Raven spoke more on how much he intends on destroying Mitchell and the others, but Punk and Julio focused on that phrase. Those three damning sentences.

They were waiting in the wings as he walked back, uninjured and kinda pleased with himself. He stopped upon seeing them. "Punk? Julio? You came back?"

"Of course we did." Punk said as he threw his arms around Raven.

Julio kissed him and took his hand. "I told you we would."

Raven suddenly gripped the two of them like he was afraid they would walk away again. "I'm sorry. Those two words don't impress how sorry I am, but I don't say then often anyway. I haven't drunk anything since you have been gone. Although I admit I've wanted too. But what I have wanted more is for the two of you to be there. I can't guarantee I'll never drank again, but," he paused and looked down, "I'd like it if you two were there with me when I felt the need. So I never have to drink because I'm alone."

Punk moved Raven's face so he could look him in the eye. "That's all I can ask for. And all I will. But remember, I will always come back."

Julio simply nods his agreement and Raven smiles at both of them. Then movement behind him causes him to frown. "Um, guys, can we take this up later? Cause I see Sinn and well, I'd really rather not be around when the New Church regroups after that little attack in the ring just now?"

Pulling the keys out of this pocket, Julio grins. "Last one to the car buys dinner."