Title: Savin' Me

Rated: M (Mature)

Genre(s): Romance/Angst/Hurt/Comfort

Pair(s): Chris/Phil, Jeff/Adam, ?/Chris, Matt/AJ

Summary: Even though Phil passed his public field sobriety test, the GM still stripped him of his title. Humiliated and heartbroken, Phil knows exactly who to blame. Chris Jericho. Can their relationship survive this test?

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone. I also don't own the song.

Warning: Slash, Mentioned Alcoholism, Self-Harm

Part: 5/? – Well Informed

OOOO

"All of the information that you found on our father was correct. He did have severe issues with alcohol, and Phil often suffered for it. As you know, this was the reason that Phil chose to cut smoking, drugs, and alcohol out of his life." Selene said. "But he was still scarred on the inside, and so he turned to tattoos."

Chris nodded. He had heard a lot of this from Phil, but the ravenette never ventured into too much detail. "He liked the form of self-expression. It made him feel free."

"Exactly." Selene confirmed. "It made him feel free from the world. That was also the reason that he dyed his hair. Granted, he was never as adventurous as Jeff when it came to his hair, it was still an outlet for his frustration."

Chris looked down at the beer in his hands. "He was better, wasn't he?" Selene nodded. "I'm sure that my little announcement to the world didn't help him at all. And I just continued on with it… I could see him break a little every week, and I just continued on with it!"

"Chris!" Selene exclaimed, before he laid her small hand over his to calm him. "This isn't your fault. You didn't know."

Chris shook his head. "Don't you understand? That is the problem! I'm his husband, I should have known. I hurt him week after week. I let him walk away from me. Hell, I don't even know where he is now."

Selene met his eyes. "Chris. Chris! Even if you were the best husband in the world, who could read-minds and foresee the future, you wouldn't be able to know all. It's one mistake. It doesn't damn you."

"I hurt him." Chris muttered beneath his breath, as if he realized this for the first time.

"Believe it or not, Chris – none of that matters. All of that is in the past. You can choose to let it haunt you constantly, or you can become better because of it." Selene said earnestly. "If you talked to Phil about this, I'm sure that he would hear you out. My brother is rather fond of second chances."

Chris went to take another swallow of beer, but found that his bottle was empty. Before he could rise out of his seat, Selene took the bottle over and disposed of it, before she returned with a fresh one. "Thank you."

"It's the least that I could do for my favorite brother-in-law." Selene smiled fondly.

"I'm your only brother-in-law." Chris retorted sarcastically.

"True." Selene raised her own bottle of alcohol and carefully touched it to Chris'. "Here's to a better future between you and Phil. Bottoms up."

"Bottoms up." Chris said.

OOOO

(Extreme Rules PPV)

OOOO

Phil, who had once looked forward to his match with Chris at the Extreme Rules PPV, went into it with the dismal frown of a man who knew that he was to lose… and that he was to lose terribly. He wasn't ready for the total assault that met him out there in front of his family and friends, and, to be honest, it kind of scared him. John Laureinitis watched from the sidelines, and Phil was afraid of what he could do should Chris throw him over the ropes. But, as it would turn out, he wouldn't have to be afraid of the GM of both Raw and SmackDown.

No, this loss had been entirely his fault. He turned his back on Chris for seconds, mere seconds, and turned around in time to be met with a beer bottle to the face. Blood and beer went everywhere. Phil could even taste some of the horrible liquid in his mouth. Limply, his body fell down on the canvas and Chris covered him for the three count. The crowd was infuriated by this, but the GM simply clapped slowly from his seat behind the announcer's table. Chris flashed him the infamous Jericho smirk, before he rolled out under the bottom rope and started for the ramp.

But, for some reason or another, Phil didn't move. His olive-colored eyes remained closed as he laid there, his back on the sharp shards of the beer bottle. Blood slowly bubbled to the surface of his skin and coated the delicately tanned flesh. Chris stared down at him, a look of uncertainty in his eyes. Phil felt bile rise in his throat and the look of pity that filled those cerulean depths. And then, it was like something in him snapped. He wished that he had his razor, but it was still hidden in Jeff and Adam's custody.

So, he did the next best thing. He lashed out at Chris. It was all Chris' fault, after all. If Chris hadn't opened up the old wounds, he wouldn't have fresh scars on his wrists and his calves. He beat him down until Chris didn't even try to stand anymore, he kicked him until bruises marred his alabaster skin, and he knocked him down into the bloody glass. Seconds turned to minutes, but Chris didn't move. All that could be seen was the subtle rise and fall of his chest. That's when the tears started to pour out of his eyes.

The audience cheered on his actions, but Phil couldn't believe what he had just done. He slid out of the ring and ran off as fast as he could, tearing the tape off of his wrists as he ran. The small burn that came with the removal of the tape, and the subsequent wet feeling that came with it told him that he had reopened old wounds. But he didn't care, and he was too far up the ramp for anyone to see. When he finally reached his locker room, he slammed the door closed and locked it behind him. And then, he shoved his fist into the mirror.

His eyes widened as he removed a thick shard from the sink…

OOOO

A/N: Cliffhanger! Please Review!