It Can't Rain All The Time

Adam and Randy stood in Vince's office. The last time they'd been so assembled was to be informed that team Rated RKO was being disbanded.

"You got the feeling we're being dipped in it?" Adam whispered

"Probably. Let me do most of the talking." Randy replied

"Fine with me."

At the same time, Eric was facing his own inquisition. Other than the intern, the only other person in the office was Gil.

"So, what you're saying is that there's no chance for my boy to recover."

"No, what I said is there is no chance for a full recovery. There is always a chance he will regain partial motor function. But, since we don't even understand why he's not conscious right now, any diagnosis is mere speculation at this point."

"Then why are we here?" Eric demanded

"Right now, Jeffery is being kept alive by artificial means. His EEG shows very little brain activity. We need to know what you want to do. Do you want him kept alive artificially or...?"

"This isn't happening!" Eric thought "Who has power of attorney?"

"Both of us. It is quite unusual, but I guess he didn't want a unilateral decision made."

It made sense, based on what Jeff had told Eric about the circumstances surrounding the termination of Matt's life support.

"What if we can't agree?" Gil asked

"If you are unable to reach consensus, we will continue the current course of treatment."

"Well, he's your son."

"He's YOUR husband."

"I'll leave you two to discuss this. Jeffrey has been moved to the chronic care ward. A nurse will show you the way if you wish."

"...you told me returning to action was a good idea! Now I've got a possible lawsuit on my hands!"

"Vince, we didn't know." Randy finally got a word in.

"And what the hell is up with you guys anyway? One day, the four of you are at each other's throats, the next you're all buddy-buddy."

"Shit happens." Adam answered

"And you two are experts in that. What I really need is a straight answer: was Eric serious... is he through? 'Cause if he is finished with the company, I need to know..."

"Why don't you ask him? RKO is not a messenger service."

"In case you don't remember, Eric is not real reliable when it comes to returning messages. I hope you two can find out for me."

Gil and Eric walked the hall in silence, trailing behind the floor nurse. Whatever she was saying regarding Jeff's appearance, neither man heard. Both of them, in their own minds, were thinking almost the same thing. Gil had already made this decision for his oldest son, and didn't know if he could do it again. Eric, on the other hand, was trying to put this into perspective for himself... if he were Jeff, what would he want? Should he keep Jeff alive just to satisfy his own needs?

"Go ahead, Gil. I'm not ready to see him like this." Eric sighed, feeling his emotions just below the surface.

Nodding an understanding, Gil left Eric alone while he went to his son's bedside. Eric wasn't alone for long, though. Turning away from the door, he smacked into the large chest on the Undertaker.

"Hey, Mark."

"How's the kid doin'?" For a big guy, Mark could sure sneak around when he had to, or when people are least expecting it.

"Not good." Eric answered "Jeff gave Gil and I power of attorney, but I dunno what to do. I need him, but... but..." Eric's voice cracked.

"You don't want to put him through more pain just to keep him around." Mark finished

"Yeah. Exactly. Is there anyway you can tombstone me hard enough so I'll wake up from this bad dream?"

"I wish I could, man, but this ain't no dream."

"I know that too. If it was a dream, you'd be the last person I'd picture visiting."

"Jeff and I had our moments."

"I remember." Eric recalled watching the ladder match on TV. "Even though Jeff phoned it in."

Mark nodded.

"If you want to go see him, I'm not stoppin' you. Gil's already with him."

"You sure?"

"Maybe Jeff needs someone else around. He's probably sick of hearing me bawl over him."

Mark moved toward the door. "You comin'?"

"I'm not ready. I'm trying to be impartial, but if I see him now, there's no way I can be." Eric sat on a nearby bench. "Just try not to give Gil a heart attack."

"No promises, Hardy."

Leaning against a wall, Eric was once more overcome by his emotions. The harder he tried to keep it together, the faster he fell apart until he was once more sobbing uncontrollably.

At the airport, Chris was trying to relax a little before boarding his flight. Despite his offer of being an extra set of hands, what he really wanted to do was get away from it. He was torn between family and his co-workers, and even though Eric had said he'd choose family, Chris was still fence-sitting. It might've been an easy decision six months or a year ago, but ever since the death of Mike's natural mother, Chris had taken care of him whenever possible. He'd tried to steer him clear of the drinking, the drugs, and the gangs, but being away for long stretches made it impossible to keep an eye on him twenty-four/seven.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the last thing he needed right then... not only was Mike in the airport, but he was heading right for him.

"Fuck." Chris whispered

"Hiya, bro!" He said, loud enough for the entire lounge to hear.

"Quiet! For someone who's supposed to be incognito, you sure are makng yourself known."

"I thought you'd be glad to see me." Mike feigned a sulk, which infuriated Chris even more.

"Listen, my ass is already on the line here. If the wrong person sees us talking, there'll be no chance for either of us. Of all the people on the planet to pick on, you chose one of my friends! What the fuck were you guys thinking?"

"I told you... if I'd refused to go along with it, Blade woulda killed me on the spot! C'mon, Chris, you gotta take me with you... get me outta here! I promise I'll be good!"

"How? Two of the guys who want you dead are gonna be on the same flight. There's no way I can protect you. Just stay low, wait until we're out of town, and then I'll send for you. Trust me, it's the only way..."

"What is it?"

"Remember when I talked about the wrong person seeing us... well, they just did."

Although they had 'promised' Vince that they would talk to Eric, both Randy and Adam agreed that right now, he needed to be left alone to deal with his grief.

"We'll talk to Eric tomorrow. Who knows, maybe he'll have some good news?" Randy queried

"Works for me. I"m pretty sure I know what his response is gonna be... holy shit! Hey, isn't that..." Adam pointed

"Yeah! That motherfucker is mine!" Randy sprinted across the concourse, Adam in hot pursuit.

"You've been made." Chris moaned

"Shit!"

"The best thing is to stay with me." Chris positioned himself between his half-brother and the two angry wrestlers.

"Good job, Jericho! You found the son-of-a-bitch!" Randy menaced. Mike shrunk behind Y2J.

"Uh, not exactly..." Chris replied

"What do you mean 'not exactly'?" Adam demanded

"I got something to get off my chest before you two go Gung-Ho on Mike..."

"Mike? How do you know this scumbag?" Randy growled

"Randy, calm down. Let me explain..."

"The only thing you should be explaining is why you haven't wasted him. I thought you were on our side?"

"I know what I said, and I am, but this scumbag, as you call him, happens to be my brother."

"Bullshit, Jericho. The only thing he is... is mine!" Randy took a step closer.

Eric sat in the hallway, waiting for the right time to go in. When that would be was not clear, but maybe once all his co-workers stopped coming by, he could have some (semi-) private time with Jeff. Though it looked like that might not happen. Every five minutes, someone else from the 'office' came along. Everyone from Hunter and Mark down to PA's wanted to see Jeff. And everyone had to say something to Eric. He kept a brave face, but inside he wanted the pain to go away by any means necessary.

It was an unlikely source that finally broke through the funk.

"Is this the line?"

"Nah, you can go in anytime. I think Shannon's in there right now, but I've given up trying to keep track."

"Mm. I'll sit here, then..." Charlie sat. "Everyone trying to be your friend today, eh?"

"Charlie, no offense, but I don't need any more sympathy right now." Eric briskly massaged his temples, wondering if he looked as haggard on the outside as he felt on the inside.

"True dat. And I'm not gonna tell ya that I know what you're going through, even though I do..."

Eric looked over, wondering where Charlie was going with this.

"But if you wan't to step away from everyone... your clique... gimme a call."

"Charlie passed a card on which he'd scribbled his home and cell numbers. "If I'm not home, Jackie'll pass a message." And just like that, he was gone.

"Thanks for the offer, Charlie, but Cena already tried." Eric did not shred the card, even though he had no intention of ever using the offered help. He just stared blankly at the wall across from him before, with an audible sigh, finally entering the small room.

"Can you please look at this objectively?" Chris begged. Adam was holding Randy back, barely, and if Mike had been smart, he would've booked, but he remained rooted. "Don't you think enough is enough?"

"Enough? It wasn't enough when he and his buddies used me like a ten-dollar hooker! I still have fuckin' nightmares, I can't enjoy relations with my wife, and you tell me enough is enough. It will never be enough!"

"Randy, calm down. You're creating a scene."

"So? Here I thought you were on our side, but I guess that's something else I was wrong about." Randy towered over Chris, after ripping free from Adam's grip. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't pound both of you into a pulp."

"I dunno, really, but maybe you care about me?"

"What's that got to do with that sack of shit you're protecting?"

"I don't expect you to understand, or hell, even believe me..."

"Spit it out, Chris! We've got a flight to catch!" Adam was becoming frustrated with Jericho's evasiveness.

"I promised our mother I'd watch out for him. I didn't do such a good job, I guess."

"I'll say." Randy said

"Flight one-six-seven to New York City is now pre-boarding. All first-class and special needs passengers may now board at gate seven."

Giving him a "we'll talk later" look, Randy and Adam headed for the gate.

"I gotta go too, bro." Chris stated "I'll only be gone for a day or two. Just promise me you won't get into any trouble while I'm gone, okay?"

'You can count on me." Mike answered

"I'm serious. I'll talk to Randy and Adam. Maybe once they know the whole story, things will be okay." Chris detested the idea of leaving his brother alone right then, but his hands were tied.

"What if that doesn't work?" Mike asked

"Let's jump off that bridge when we come to it." Chris shouldered his carry-on. "Laterz."

As he had every day for the past week, Eric spent many hours with Jeff. He'd tried everything, hoping that a miracle would occur. Every day the result was the same and every night, Eric arrived home exhausted but couldn't sleep for long periods. When he did doze, he had the same dreams time and time again. He was at the end of his tether, apparently so was Gilbert.

"Eric, can we talk?" He whispered

"Sure." Eric straightened.

"Alone." It sounded like bad news.

"Whatever." Eric followed him into the small bathroom.

"How are you holding up?" He asked

"Alright, I guess." Eric was surprised at the sudden interest. He'd never been real close with his father-in-law, but desperate times call for desperate connections.

"Better than I'm doing." Gilbert answered "I don't know how much more of this I can take. I'm an old man and my heart just ain't what it used to be."

"If you're suggesting what I think you're suggesting, you can forget it!" Eric knew where this was doing. He'd suspected Gil was going to try something since the day after. Even though he'd flip-flopped on this scenario for days, having someone else suggest it irritated him.

"Look, can you take care of him when or if he wakes up? Do you have the money to keep him here, hooked up to all these... machines???" Gil scrunched up his face.

"I can and I do." Eric lied. Between the mortgage, car payments, and other bills he'd neglected since college, he barely had enough to make ends meet, but no way was he letting Jeff's dad know this.

"Just think it over. Do you think Jeff wants to be kept alive like this? That's why he gave me power of attorney."

"Us." Eric corrected "And he did it because he didn't want someone to make a unilateral decision ."

"I know he still blames me for that." Gil averted his gaze. Eric knew he'd hit a nerve.

"Yeah, he does. Do you know how many nights he cried himself to sleep in my bed, and it wasn't because he missed Matt. It was because he never had a chance to say goodbye to him before you pulled the plug!" Eric felt his temperature rise.

"Eric why didn't...?"

"I don't know." Eric stated "And right now, it's a moot point. The point is, you still have a son, I still have a husband, and until the doctor tells me that there is no chance Jeff will wake up, I'm not signing anything. Do we have agreement?"

Gil mumbled something that could either be a yes or a comment regarding Eric's sexual habits.

"I will assume that is a yes. Now, I'm going to get something to eat. If the doctor returns while I am out, have me paged."

Eric stormed from the room. Gil stood beside the bed for a few moments before also leaving the room. His destination was the nurses' station.

"Could you tell Dr. Cartwright that we've made a decision."

"Certainly. Where will you...?"

"I'll be with my son." Gil returned to where Jeff lay, sleeping peacefully. He brushed a few random strands of blue hair from his forehead and kissed it gently.

"I'm sorry."

TO BE CONTINUED

Uh-oh! Is Gil gonna do what I think he is? You'll have to wait to find out. To my fans, thanks for the support!