Chapter 6: I'm Not Perfect

Three weeks later Bryan walked into the locker room alone. Wade and Justin were getting ready for their tag team match; they only needed Heath to show up.

Justin looked up at Bryan, "Bryan?"

Bryan nodded to Justin and walked to his locker to put his bag up.

Justin pushed off the bench and walked over to the younger man, "Where's Heath?"

Bryan sighed then closed his locker, "He's in the hospital. Apparently he hasn't been eating and taking care of himself. I didn't see it coming, and I should have. I've been around him the most for the last month and a half."

Bryan leaned his head against the locker. Tentatively Justin touched Bryan's shoulder, "It's not your fault, Bryan."

"Yes, it is." Bryan whispered.

Justin watched a tear work its way down Bryan's cheek. He wiped it away gently before letting his hand rest back on Bryan's shoulder.

"Everything will be alright, Bry." Justin whispered.

"I really hope so, Justin. I can't lose my best friend, again." Bryan pulled away from Justin and quickly left the room.

Justin stared after him. After a few minutes he turned around and looked at Wade, who was staring at the ground. Wade refused to look up at Justin because he knew his green eyes would be filled with worry, and Wade Barrett did not worry about anyone.

Wade walked up to the nurse's station. "Excuse me, miss."

An older woman looked up and smiled, "Yes, how can I help you?"

"Could you tell me what room Heath Slater is in? I'm a coworker of his, and I heard that he was in the hospital. I wanted to wish him well." Wade gave her his best smile.

"Of course. It's Room 220. He may be asleep, so if he is please don't linger too long."

"I won't. Thank you, ma'am."

Wade walked down to Heath's room. He pushed the door open. He heard soft music playing from the bed. Wade padded into the room as quietly as he could. Heath was definitely not asleep. He was sitting up on the bed looking through his iPod. His dinner was sitting beside the bed, cold and stale. Wade wrinkled his nose. Hospital food was not the best to try and feed someone that was starving themselves.

"You should really eat something." Wade said softly.

Heath's head snapped up at the British voice. He saw Wade leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Heath chewed the inside of his bottom lip.

"Bryan's blaming himself for you being in here. I think we both know whose fault it really is." Wade pushed away from the wall and over to the bed, "Why would you do something so destructive? You're in the hospital, Heath."

"I thought I was in a cushy ass hotel with round the clock maids." Heath snapped, his voice hoarse and tired.

Wade shook his head, "Why?"

"Why? Maybe because I was cheated on, Wade. I was used and treated like trash. Maybe because SOMEONE threw my heart out the window. Maybe because you broke me. Did you think of that before you stuck it in Justin? The repercussions for your actions?" Heath started coughing. He reached for his water, but Wade got to it before he could. He sat down on the bed and turned the straw towards Heath's mouth. Heath took a drink, glaring at Wade the whole time.

"I know this is my fault, but why would you do this? You could have killed yourself by doing that." Wade said gently. He sat the glass back down, "When Bryan told us what happened, I thought I was going to be sick. The thought of losing you like that scared the hell out of me."

"Serves you right." Heath whispered.

"I'd be lying to myself if I said that I don't care about you. I know that sorry won't take back everything I did, but maybe in time we can…I don't know." Wade shook his head.

"Maybe we can go out for drinks, or something."

"Dinner would do you a little better." Wade smiled small.

Heath looked down at the covers, "Yeah…"

Wade stayed in the hospital room with Heath long after the younger man fell asleep.