"So..." Matt said, sighing as he took a long drink from his glass.

Jeff looked at his brother, awaiting his next words. It had been an eventful evening not only for him, but for his older brother as well. He was happy to share such an occurrence with his brother and it felt good to move on with so much support behind him.

"Yeah?" Jeff asked, leaning back in the chair, his legging bouncing on the floor.

"What do you have planned for tomorrow?" Matt asked.

"Well, I have a meeting in town and after that, I have to call McMahon, but nothing for the rest of the evening. Why?" Jeff asked, leaning forward, resting his forearms on the table.

"I was just wondering. I know you are gonna have to find something to pass the time away now." Matt said softly.

"Yeah, but I can do it. There's lots of things I need to do. And besides, once I return to the road, that will occupy me beyond belief. I'll be too busy to worry about anything." Jeff said, shrugging his shoulders.

Matt stood then, placing his glass in the sink before making his way back to the table where he stood beside Jeff. Jeff looked at him, wondering what the awkward silence between them was about. Matt smiled gently as he squeezed the younger Hardy's shoulder.

"I'm proud of you, Jeff. You know that, right?" Matt asked.

"Yeah, I do Matt. Without you even having to say it." Jeff replied, shaking his head.

"How?" Matt asked, arching his brow, rather amused.

"I saw the disappointment too many times in your eyes. If the pills taught me one thing, I learned how to be aware of people's reactions and their emotions. I see the look in your eyes now, Matt. I saw the weight lift from your shoulders, just like it did mine." Jeff answered, staring into the glass of the table, his reflection staring back at him.

"Very perceptive, Jeffrey." Matt replied, laughing lightly. "I love you, bro."

Jeff looked at his brother and smiled. It had been a while since the brothers had shared any form of closeness and it felt nice to have his brother back. Even if the pills had clouded the truth, he knew his brother loved him, but after sharing the conversation they had that evening from his career to his next steps personally, he felt for the first time in years, his life was finally back on track.

"I love you, too, Matt." Jeff said, standing and embracing his brother. "Thank you."

"Anytime. You know I'm always here." Matt said, smiling at him.

"I know. I think I might go and talk to dad tomorrow, too. Let him know everything's gonna be alright from now so he don't have to worry anymore." Jeff said.

"I think that's a good idea. God knows that man has worried so much over the past few years." Matt agreed, making his way into the living room. "I'll see you tomorrow, bro. Get some sleep."

"I'll try." Jeff said, walking aimlessly into the living room and looking at the array of pictures displayed on the walls.

He smile to himself of the fond memories and couldn't help but to laugh allowed at a couple of them. Overall, rather good or bad, he had a great life and he couldn't help but realize how he almost threw it away for a 6-hour high. He had been incredibly stupid, but he knew he was changing and things could only look up from here.

He walked slowly up the steps, not really wanting to go to sleep, but knowing his body was in need of it. As he stripped to his boxers, he placed his cell phone on the night stand and slipped beneath the cool sheets. His nerves were on edge that evening, but somehow, he had managed to keep the short-temper at bay, not wanting to ruin the mending he had done that day.

As he closed his eyes, he felt his heart racing, the sweat forming on his forehead and his hands becoming clammy and shaky. He knew it would be a long night; the next few weeks would probably be the same way, but one step at a time, he was going to do. He was going to force himself to.

He wanted his life back and it all started with now.

He flung the covers from his legs and shot up in the bed. His breathing was labored and he was drenched in sweat. He threw his legs over the side of the bed and stood on the cold, wooden floor. His knees and legs were unbelievably shaky as he stood, holding onto the wall for support.

He felt the dizziness swarming around him, as the sweat poured from his head. He had never felt like that before and wondered if he was experiencing the worst of withdrawal. Somehow, he knew better and thought to himself that it would probably get much worse before it would get better.

He inched his way along the wall, knocking over the lamp in the process. The porcelain shattered onto the floor, the sound echoing throughout the once quiet house. He winced at the sound of it and stopped, as he leaned against the wall for support before sliding down it, landing on his bottom on the floor.

The room became illuminated as Jeff winced against the brightness, not wanting to look up. The light was blinding enough for him and his head was already pounding from an on-coming headache. He felt the hands touch his shoulder gently as he gave a sideways glance and smiled weakly at Matt.

"Jeff..." Matt said, giving him a once over, as he trailed off. "Are you..."

Jeff tried speaking but realized his throat was increasingly dry. Every time he tried making a sound, he felt nauseous and his stomach almost forcing its contents out. Jeff managed to shake his head as he pointed towards the night stand. Matt followed his brothers finger and looked on, wondering what he needed. Matt looked back at him and slowly shook his head, before stepping back slightly.

"You don't..." he said, trailing off again, looking at the broken lamp on the floor.

Jeff shook his head violently and reached for cell phone. His frail form feel over onto the hard floor and lay there as Matt reach for the phone and handed it to him. Jeff allowed his fingers to fumble through the contacts before he handed it to Matt and tapped the screen.

"Janine." Matt whispered before hitting the 'send' key and waiting for her the answer.

Jeff lay on the cool floor, not wanting to move. His entire body ached and hurt, more than he had ever experienced before. He lived his life in a ring, traveling up and down the road 5 days a week and he yet, he still had never experienced anything as bad as he felt now. Matt looked at the digital clock on the nightstand and sighed as he heard the groggy voice on the other end.

"Janine!" Matt said, a sense of panic evident in his voice.

"Matt?" she questioned, yawning slightly.

"Yeah, listen. It's Jeff. He's laying on the floor, sweating and..and shaking." Matt described, as he placed his free hand on his brothers forehead.

"Um, alright. Try to get him back in bed and get him some water or something. I'll be there in 10 minutes." she responded before hanging up.

Matt slammed the phone shut and threw it on the nightstand before picking his lifeless brother up and setting him gently into the bed. Jeff grabbed onto his shirt as Matt sat on the bed as their eyes locked. Matt saw the fear in his brothers eyes and it scared him to no end. He sighed again, as he explained to Jeff he was getting him some water before leaving the bedroom.

Jeff looked around the room and slowly managed to sit himself up against the headboard. He laid his head back, his thoughts racing and the sickness taking over. He closed his eyes, trying to at least relieve the dizziness some when he heard his brother stumble back into the bedroom.

His eyes flew open as he grabbed the glass, his hand shaking violently before placing it to his lips and gulping at the cool liquid. Matt placed a cool wash rag on his forehead, as Jeff finally slumped further into the bed, feeling the first effects of comfort. Matt turned his head towards the door as the knocking sound came louder and louder from downstairs.

"Jeff, I've gotta go downstairs and get Janine. I promise you, we'll be right back up, alright?" Matt said.

Jeff merely shook his head as he watched his brother leave the room and sighed. He hadn't thought the effects of withdrawal would be as bad as they were and for the first time since he decided on sobriety, he questioned his decision. The pills would at least take the sickness away; it always had before. He didn't know how much he could stand, let alone how many days he would have to face it.

"Jeff..." came a female voice from the door.

He looked at her and managed a weak smile before she knelt down beside the bed and grabbed the cool rag, wiping it around his face. He closed his eyes, as Matt looked on from the door.

"Matt, can you get me a cover and a pillow?" she asked.

Matt gave her a confused look before disappearing into the hallway. She turned her attention back to Jeff and cocked her head to the side, smiling sweetly at him.

"Jeff Hardy, I swear..." she said, pushing a strand of hair from his face.

"Ja...Janine..." he whispered, grabbing her hand.

"What is it Jeff?" she asked, searching his eyes for an answer.

"Do...don't...leave." he replied, his voice clearly scratchy.

"I'm not." she replied, looking at the couch in the bedroom. "I'm going to sleep right there. If you need me, I'll be right there." she replied, pointing to the couch.

He shook his head, easing himself onto the pillow and shutting his eyes, not releasing her hand. Matt returned with the items as he smiled at the two and threw them onto the couch.

"Is he alright?" Matt asked, looking at his brother.

"He will be. This is all completely normal." she replied, looking at Matt before looking back at Jeff. "I'm going to sleep over if that's ok."

"Yeah, that's fine. I'm gonna try and get some sleep." he said. "Please, if he anything happens, come and get me."

"I will." she replied, sitting on the side of the bed, not taking her gaze away from Jeff.

Matt exited the room, turning the light off and shutting the door silently behind him. Jeff opened his eyes, locking his gaze with Janine's. She placed the rag on the nightstand and stroked his forehead gently.

"Do you need anything?" she asked.

"No." Jeff answered, finding his voice. "I'm starting to feel...a little better."

"That's good. You know it's going to be like this for a couple days, right?" she asked easily.

"I...know. I've gotta...do this." he answered, breathlessly.

"I'm glad. You try and get some rest, alright?" she said, standing before she felt him grab her hand and pull on her gently. "What is it Jeff?"

"Please... just lay with me until I go to...sleep." he answered.

She looked around the room before returning her look back to Jeff's. She sighed and smiled sweetly at him once more.

"Alright." she replied, lay down on her back.

"Janine?" Jeff whispered.

"What is it, Jeff?" she asked, looking at him.

"Thank you." he said, kissing her cheek gently before closing his eyes.

"You're welcome, Jeff." she whispered, closing her own eyes.

She rubbed her cheek gently where his lips once were and smiled, feeling the heat rise within her. She had watched him change in such a short amount of time and even if she didn't want to get her hopes up about him changing, she couldn't lie to herself any longer.

She had felt herself falling for him and she didn't know rather it was good or bad, wrong or right – but it felt nice.