Chapter 2
"COMING DAMMIT!" Jeff yelled to the person pounding on his door.
He stomped down the stairs of his house, his head still clouded with sleep and stumbled, sliding the rest of the way down on his ass. "SON OF A BITCH!"
Whoever had the nerve to show up this hour of the morning was going to die, he vowed right before stubbing his bare toe on the coffee table. "SHIT!"
Practically fuming he limped across the still dark living room, unlocked the door and flung it open. "WHAT!"
"Morning." Matt smiled and walked past Jeff into the house.
"Hey Rainbow." Rob slapped Jeff's shoulder on his way in.
Jeff slammed the door and turned to face them. "You have a key. Is there some reason you're not using it?" He growled. At this time of morning, he could care less if he sounded rude.
Matt flipped on a light and sighed, seeing his disheveled brother still dressed for bed. "Is there some reason you're not ready?"
Jeff frowned at his inconsiderate brother then gasped, remembering they were supposed to be flying out! "SHIT! Why didn't you call me?" He raced back up the stairs.
Matt groaned. "I did. You didn't answer." He said, him and Rob following.
"Cuz' I was trying to sleep." Jeff explained, flying into his bedroom. He hit the lights and grabbed a suitcase from under the bed.
Chris sat up in bed and held a hand above his eyes, blocking back the sudden glare. "What's going on?" He asked, puzzled to see Matt and Rob enter the room.
For an answer, Jeff threw a bag at him, accidentally knocking him back down. "Don't just lay there... Get up! We've got to go!"
Chris pushed the bag aside and looked at the clock. "SHIT! Why didn't you set the alarm?" Without thinking, he threw off his covers and jumped out of bed.
"WHOA!!" Matt and Rob both exclaimed, quickly turning away.
Chris looked down and blushed deep red, forgetting he was naked. With a sheepish grin, he grabbed a pillow and held it in front of himself while walking backwards into the bathroom.
"You kind of caught us unprepared." Jeff explained, then wished he hadn't, seeing his brother's irritated expression. Great, here comes the lecture.
Matt crossed his arms. "What have I told you about packing ahead of time?"
Jeff rolled his eyes, but knew he couldn't say anything. Matt grabbed a couple of shirts and started helping. "Do I have to hold your hand for the rest of your life?" He grumbled.
Jeff sighed, clenching his teeth to hold back his remark.
Rob pointed to a pair of silver sequence thongs lying on the floor. "Let me guess- Chris's?"
Jeff nodded. "You know him and his sequence thing."
Matt made a face. "Don't touch them." He warned Rob.
Rob held up his hands. "Don't worry."
Jeff rolled his eyes again. "They're clean." He assured, grabbing the thongs and shoving them into Chris's bag.
Matt looked around the bedroom, taking in the tornado-like scene of cloths piled everywhere. "I don't know how you can tell what's clean and what's not." He stated. No matter how old Jeff was, his bedroom always looked like he was twelve.
"I've got a system." Jeff said, grabbing up whatever happened to be lying on the floor in front of him.
Chris exited the bathroom, fully dressed, and rushed over to his bag.
"Already done." Jeff informed.
Chris began examining the bag's contents, making sure everything was there.
Rob clapped him on the back. "Don't worry, Man. We didn't forget your 'disco' thongs. Don't want you to miss out on those boogie nights." Him and Matt laughed while Chris blushed.
Jeff smiled at his boyfriend. "Ignore them Baby. They only wish they could see what you look like in them."
Matt snorted. "We've already seen what he looks like out of them."
Chris just smiled. "Now you know why I'm the 'king of the world' Junior."
Matt raised an eyebrow at the nut his brother loved. He always forgot Chris was older than him. Too bad it didn't always show.
Rob elbowed Matt in the side. "What was that look?" He asked, nodding his head toward Chris.
Matt blinked. "What look?"
"I don't know..." Rob shrugged. "You were just looking at him kinda funny." He shoved his hands in his pockets.
Matt regarded Rob, incredibly. Does he actually think I liked what I saw? "Please... Looking at him 'funny' is exactly right." He halted and looked back at Chris, not meaning to sound offensive. "I didn't mean it like that. You looked good... I mean NO!... What I meant was..." This time Matt blushed, stumbling over his words which were all coming out wrong.
Rob and Chris raised their eyebrows while Jeff smiled smugly at Matt's discomfort. "What exactly do you mean Brother?"
Matt glowered at him. "Aren't you dressed yet?" He snapped, before turning and retreating the room.
Ignoring the laughter he heard, he hurried down the stairs and out the front door. He glanced at his watch impatiently, seeing twilight had already started. At least Amy was staying with Trish and Jazz. At this rate, they'd never be able to pick her up and make it to the airport in time.
Digging his keys out of his pocket, he walked towards his car then stopped, noticing his two front tires. His two, very flat, front tires.
"What the Fuck?"
Matt knelt beside the passenger side tire, examining it. How the hell did that happen? It was as flat as flat could be. He moved around to examine the driver-side tire and halted, his mouth dropping at the sight of the pocketknife sticking out of the side. Clenching his fist angrily, he looked around for the practical joker and of course, no one was in sight.
"Your ass had better be long gone." Matt muttered angrily then stormed into the house. He entered just as the others were coming down the stairs. "You better not have lost that jack I lent to you, cuz' we need it NOW." Matt informed Jeff.
Jeff raised his eyebrows at his brother's temperament. "It's in my trunk. Why?"
"Get it." Matt ordered. "Somebody slashed my damn tires."
Rob's eyes widened. "What? Are you sure?"
"Go see for yourself." Matt said, following Jeff out the backdoor. After retrieving the jack, they hurried to the front of the house, where Rob and Chris were inspecting the tires.
Chris shook his head. "Man Matt. What did you hit?"
Matt furrowed his brow. "I didn't hit anything. Can you not see the knife?"
"Knife?" Rob exchanged looks with Chris. "Where?"
What are they, blind? Matt walked over to the driver side tire and pointed. "Look, you see..." He stopped, realizing, he was pointing at nothing.
"See what?" Jeff asked, standing behind him.
Matt stared at the tire, perplexed. "There was a knife there." He looked at Rob for conformation.
Rob shrugged. "I didn't see any knife." He looked at Chris.
"Me neither." Chris agreed.
"But..." Matt held out his hands, not sure what to think. "There was a knife." He tried again, weakly.
Jeff walked past him and placed the jack under the car. "I think you're a little tired."
Matt frowned. "What's that have to do with anything?"
"Well, it's still kinda dark." Jeff explained. "You might have thought you'd seen a knife."
"I don't just see knifes." Matt snapped. "How do you explain the two flat tires?"
Jeff gave his brother an 'I know better' look. "This road's really rocky and you always drive like you're in Nascar. I can't tell you how many flats I've had. Why do you think I'm always borrowing your jack."
Matt sighed exasperated. "I think I would have noticed if I'd hit something hard enough to make both my tires go flat."
Jeff shrugged and continued his work, although his expression clearly said 'whatever'. Matt irritably placed his hands on his hips, but was unable to find anything to say that would back up his claim.
Rob nudged him. "I've got to stop keeping you up so much." He joked, trying to lighten things up. "Why don't I drive and you can sleep on the way to the airport."
Matt kept himself from snapping at Rob and nodded instead. He was tired, but not that tired. He knew what he'd seen and whoever had done it, must have came back and retrieved the knife when he'd returned into the house. Would a simple prankster be so bold?
He carefully scanned the property, wishing Jeff didn't live nearly halfway in the woods. The grey hours of dawn hide, from his sight, whatever was through the trees. If the person had returned for the knife that meant they'd still been there, watching him the whole time, and could still be watching now.
"Did you turn on your security system?" He asked Jeff.
Jeff nodded absently while him and Chris worked on the tire. "Yeah, and since you're just standing there, you think you can get the spare out of my trunk? Considering you only have one."
Matt glanced toward the back of the house, which was shadowed in darkness. It was the last place he wanted to go, but had no choice. They had to hurry. Grabbing Jeff's keys, he quietly made his way to the back, keeping his senses alert to anything out of the ordinary.
Opening the truck to Jeff's corvette, he dug for the spare then hesitated, hearing a twig crack behind him. Taking a deep breath he continued his task, without turning around. If someone thought they were going to sneak up from behind and catch him by surprise, they had another think coming.
A hand grabbed his shoulder and Matt quickly whipped around, fist raised.
"WAIT!" Rob jumped back. "Man, are you paranoid or what?"
Matt lowered his fist. "What the hell are you doing, sneaking up on me like that?"
Rob held up his hands. "I wasn't. I was just coming to give you a hand."
"Oh." Matt peered past him, making sure they were alone.
Rob reached out and cupped his chin. "Don't you think you might be over reacting a little?"
Matt slightly frowned. "Have you ever known me to over react?"
Rob just smiled. "Come on Midnight. Remember the dream you had earlier? Your sub-conscious mind can play tricks on you, you know."
Matt considered the thought for a moment. Maybe he really was over reacting. He'd never actually walked up to the tire and touched the knife. It could have simply been the moon reflecting off the hubcap in some weird way. "I guess it's possible." He finally agreed with a small smile.
Rob made a fist and playfully punched Matt's chin. "Come on, we'd better go help the guys." He grabbed the tire and closed the trunk.
Matt followed, but not before casting one last glance over his shoulder into the woods. A low hanging tree branch moved and he narrowed his eyes, trying to focus on what was out there. At the same time a gust of wind blew his hair and he shook his head, chiding himself for being so paranoid. What is with me? It's only the wind...
The stranger stood back up, from his crouching position, when Matt walked away. For a moment it seemed like Matt was looking right at him, but luckily, the darkness kept him covered.
Chuckling he closed his pocketknife. This was going to be too easy. Turning, he hurried deeper into the woods to find his hidden car. He had his own plane to catch.
"Sorry Jazz, but I don't see it happening." Amy said, laughing as she watched Jazz take Matt's arm, grab the side of his jeans, and try to lift him up for a back suplex.
Team Extreme, the Dudley's, and Jazz were finishing up their in-ring work out for the six person inter-gender tag match for that night. Matt straightened himself up, once Jazz finally gave, and smiled at her. "I think you were just trying to get a cheap grope." He said knowingly as he ruffled her braids. "Your hand was a little too far in the back."
Jazz smirked at him. "Gee, didn't think you'd notice." She sarcastically gave back.
Matt laughed and climbed out of the ring with the others.
"Could I get some of that?" Jeff asked, teasingly ducking under the ropes in a Stacy Keibler-like manner. Jazz walked over and kicked his backside, helping him the rest of the way through. Jeff fell to the floor, but simply smiled up at her. "How'd you know I liked it rough?"
"I told her." Bubba Ray answered. "How could I forget that night in the past." He joked.
The others laughed, while Chris gave Bubba a withering look. "Funny, Man." Chris said cynically, lending a hand to help Jeff up. "He is kidding, right?" He asked when Bubba walked away.
"Me and Bubba?" Jeff was amazed Chris would even wonder. "Can you honestly see me with a guy who calls himself Bubba Ray?"
Matt snorted. "You're with a guy who's sometimes called himself Moongoose."
Ignoring his brother, Jeff smiled at Chris. "I'm with the Ayatollah of Rock n' Rolla." He wrapped his arms around Chris's neck. "Why don't you rock me, baby."
Matt groaned in disgust, walking past them and Jazz. "Why don't you kick him again." He suggested to her.
While she considered the thought, he flopped down in one of the arena chairs and smiled as Booker-T approached. "What's up, Book." He greeted.
Booker looked down at him, shaking his head. "Man, when are you going to quit wasting your time on that Sucker, Van Dam?"
Matt regarded him amusingly. "Wasting my time?"
"For real, Man." Booker said. "Especially when, word is, you've got a taste for chocolate." He put his hands on his hips, thrusting out his chest. "I'm like a Milky Way- can't eat just one."
Matt raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that suppose to be potato chips?"
"I'm all dat & a bag of chips." Booker replied. "Just don't forget."
Matt laughed. "I won't." He promised and waved as Booker walked away.
The Rock strolled over and lowered his sunglasses, watching Booker-T leave. "Hmmm. His taste seems to vary. Especially towards you." He implied, sitting beside Matt.
Matt just shrugged. Every since he'd been with Rob, it was almost funny how a couple of the guys had started to approach him in ways they hadn't before. He didn't complain, though. Secretly, he kinda liked the attention. "Nice to see you back. Your movie was pretty cool."
"Thanks." Rock smiled his movie star smile. "It's good to be back." He looked around. "Why isn't your better half here? Is he off hanging up posters of you or something?"
Matt cocked his head to the side, but smiled. "Unlike some people, we don't have to be together all the time." He indicated to his brother and Chris. They were standing by the ring, hanging all over each other, neither one caring how sappy or disgusting they looked.
Rock chuckled. "Thank goodness for that." He tossed a few letters in Matt's lap. "Here you go. Shane O' Mac was handing out the mail that came to the corporate office."
Matt looked at his fan letters then back to the huge pile Rock was still holding. "Need help handing those out?"
"Thanks, but the rest is mine." Rock stated casually.
Matt raised his eyebrows, but shouldn't have been surprised. The Rock was as big a superstar as they come.
Rock chuckled at his expression. "Hey, I'm the 'people's champ' and a movie star now. I'm surprised you're not sending me fan mail." He joked.
Matt snorted good-naturedly. "Sorry to disappoint you 'Great One', but everyone here already knows you so we're not going to be the star-struck fans like people who don't."
"ROCKY!" Jeff yelped excitedly as he ran over. "Your movie was freakin' awesome, Man! You've got to autograph something for me!"
Matt watched incredibly as his brother eagerly searched for a pen.
"Here." Chris happily handed Rock a pen. "Sign my wrist pad."
"Mine too." Jeff said, sticking his arm in Rock's face.
Rock chuckled, casting a glance at Matt. "Anything for my fans."
Matt shook his head in amazement, more at his brother than anything. "I'll let you tend to your fan club." He said, standing to leave.
He headed into the corridor to find the night's card, curious to see who was wrestling whom tonight. As he walked, he looked through the letters he was carrying and held up a bright red envelope. Unlike the others, this envelope only had his name on it with no postmark. Curiously, he tore it open and pulled out a card. The front of the card was blank, but a polaroid picture was taped on the inside.
The picture was of a fireplace, burning a cozy-like fire. "Picture you and me, sitting beside the fire, drinking a little wine." He read the words aloud. "PS, I have a present for you in the utility room."
Matt stopped in his tracks raising his eyebrows. The letter obviously wasn't mailed and there was a present in the utility room? Matt frowned thoughtfully, until it occurred to him- Rob.
"Hey, where's the utility room?" He asked a stagehand walking by.
The man pointed down the hall. "Second door on the left."
"Thanks." Forgetting the matches, Matt hurried to the door and opened it up. Flipping on the light, he saw a dozen red roses sitting on a table.
Although he really wasn't a flowery kind of guy, Matt couldn't help but smile. Rob was something else. Approaching the table, he reached out to touch one the velvety petals then leaned over, inhaling the sweet scent. A little card was hanging off the stem and he opened it up, reading the words aloud.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
When you see how much I want you,
You'll want me too.
Matt snorted in amusement. Rob already had him, but it was probably the best he could do in order to make it rhyme. Picking up the flowers, he left the room to go find him.
"Hey." Rob sat up on the weight bench, from where he was doing his presses as Matt entered the room. "Nice roses."
Matt looked around, to make sure no one was paying attention, before kissing Rob on the cheek. "Thanks, but you shouldn't have."
"I didn't."
"Oh."
Rob chuckled. "Why would I get you roses? You hate flowers, right?"
"Uh.. right." Matt looked at the flowers he held. "Guess they're from a fan. Who happens to be here." He added to himself.
Rob studied the expensive bouquet. "That's some fan. And they're here?"
Matt sat on the bench, beside Rob, showing him the cards.
Rob chuckled, after reading them. "Ah... You really do have a fan."
"I guess." Matt agreed absently, missing Rob's humor. Fans were always giving him gifts. So why did this seem a little strange?
"What is it?" Rob asked.
Matt bit his bottom lip, thoughtfully. "I don't know. Seems like a lot of weird stuffs been happening lately."
"Like what?"
Matt just looked at him. "How did these flowers end up in the utility room? No one but the crew is allowed in the arena and won't be for hours. Not to mention the knife in my tires."
Rob cocked his head to the side and Matt sighed. "Look Rob, I know what I saw and if you don't believe me..."
"I believe you." Rob interrupted, seeing Matt was getting worked up. "You should call the police and report it. It was probably just some bored punks, killing time."
Matt was dubious. "That early in the morning?"
"People do strange things." Rob said. "Besides, that was in N. Carolina. As far as the flowers go, a fan probably asked a stagehand or someone to put them in there. Hell, maybe they're from one of the stagehands themselves or... Rumor has it, Booker-T kinda digs you. They could be from him."
Matt chuckled dryly. "I doubt it. Booker's a little too straightforward to do something like this. Trust me."
Rob slightly frowned. "Has he been hitting on you?"
Matt regarded him a moment then smiled. "Does that make you jealous?" He asked, remembering how Rob reacted, when he thought he was looking at Chris.
Rob waved a hand. "Dude, I'm totally secure."
Matt snorted. "More like overly confident."
Rob raised his eyebrows. "Should I be worried?"
Matt laughed, giving him another quick peck. "Dude, you have nothing to worry about."
X-Pac casually strolled up to the dressing room door and stopped, looking around to make sure he hadn't drawn any attention to himself.
You'd think they'd learn to lock the door by now, he thought, slipping quietly inside. He'd been given a description of Rob's bag and easily found it sitting on the floor. Unzipping the bag, he searched for the prescription bottle, as he'd been ordered to do.
Normally he wasn't fond of playing errand boy, even if it was for this particular individual, but he had no love lost for Rob and willingly accepted the assignment.
Finding the bottle, he held it up and examined the contents. Rob had received a concussion from a match about a week ago and was prescribed medication for it.
"Poor Rob." X-Pac sarcastically mused. He opened up his own bottle of pills and poured them into Rob's. All the pills matched, just as he'd been told they would. "This will help you heal."
Replacing everything as he'd found it, X-Pac carefully slipped out the door, undetected, and continued his casual stroll down the hall. Now it was up to him to make sure Rob took them, then his assignment would be complete.
TBC...