FU, Jericho!

It was almost midnight and Chris was humming his theme song in the bathroom while he styled his hair. The God's honest truth was he wasn't sure if Cena was gonna take him seriously or not, but he sure as hell was gonna have some fun finding out. Time away from family can make even the most jaded person long for a connection, even if it is with someone of the same gender.

Three floors down, John Cena was doing the same thing. Unlike Jericho, he was secure enough in his sexuality to have fun with anyone, whether it be male or female. That's why he felt no guilt over anything he'd ever done, whether it be the performance for Eric or the night he spent with Edge shortly after his second marriage fell apart. To him, it was all about being there for someone in every way a friend should.

After finishing with his hair, Chris looked at his luggage, debating on whether he should actually get dressed. In the end, logic won out over his libido. Logic dictated that he shouldn't seem too eager; he might end up turning Cena off while his libido suggested that he answer the door naked and hope for the best.

Five minutes to midnight. Chris looked around the room. He mentally checked off the booze, snacks, and the extras which were hidden in his carry-on bag. Again, no sense seeming too anxious to get going. He had all night, and he hoped John did as well.

At precisely twelve, there was a discreet knock on Chris' door.

"Here goes." Willing his heart to slow a little, he peeked through the door.

"Right on time. I like a guy who's punctual."

"Yeah, bro. I see you're ready for a long night." Cena took in the food and drink that were laid out on a nearby table.

"I wasn't sure if you'd be hungry or not." Chris tried to seem indifferent, but the fact that John was standing in his doorway was intoxicating in itself.

"Whatever. May I come in before someone sees me?"

"Sorry. Where are my manners?"

John strolled in. Chris took a long look at him. No matter what the weather, Cena always seemed to be dressed the same. In fact, the only time Chris had seen Cena not wearing 'character clothes' is at the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony. As usual, he wore a throwback jersey, his jean shorts, and red high-tops.

"Wanna a drink?" Chris offered

"Sure." John replied

"Good start." Chris thought "Just don't seem too ready."

While Chris was having fun, Randy and Adam also dealing with feelings of anxiousness. And it had nothing to do with cruising miles overhead during a thunderstorm.

"I'm waiting for suggestions." Randy whispered, gripping the armrests tightly.

"I'm a little busy right now." Adam answered from the depths of the airsickness bag.

The plane suddenly rolled right, Adam heaved into the sack. Randy grimaced, holding on to the chair for life.

"When I'm done barfing, we'll talk."

"When will that be?"

"The plane pitched to the left. Randy heard a now familiar sound from his travelling companion. "Dunno... erp!"

Several hours later...

"Pass me another one." Cena drawled

"Last one." Chris passed over the last of the small bottles from his mini-bar.

"Damn... if I could stand, I'd go to my room and grab some more." Both Cena and Jericho were not completely drunk, but buzzed enough that staying in the room was a better choice.

"Oh well..." Chris watched while John tipped the bottle back and emptied it in one swig.

"Now what?"

"Wanna have some fun?" Chris asked, hoping for a positive reply from Cena. For the last five hours, they'd spent pounding down drinks and scarfing snacks, but neither of them had discussed the reason for hooking up. Chris was serious, he hoped John was as well.

"What'd you wanna do?" Cena's eyes flicked toward his groin, then Jericho's.

"Depends." Chris smiled.

"I guess I should take my clothes off then." John pulled his shirt up.

"Let's make this interesting." Chris grabbed a deck of cards from the bedside table.

"It's gotta be easy. I don't think I can take any thinking right now."

"Okay. We draw a card. If it's a face card, we take off an article of clothing. Whoever is naked first loses." Chris smiled evilly.

"Shuffle up and deal." John climbed onto Chris' bed.

Meanwhile, Eric was pacing his bedroom. After his adventure at the bar, he felt uneasy about leaving his abode for any reason. He had seen the local news and there was nothing on it, but only because it had happened too late to make the broadcast. He'd also tried contacting either Randy, Adam, or Chris on many occasions, but hadn't been able to reach any of them.

"Dammit, this is stupid! Eric, you've got to relax. Get some sleep."

He lay down on his bed, and tried to get some rest. He was just dozing off when he heard his phone ring. He stared at it, debating what to do, but then decided it might be one of the guys calling.

"If this isn't an insanely hot guy calling, I'm hanging up."

"I guess you won't be hanging up, then."

"I guess not, Orton, what do you want? I just went to bed."

"Adam and I just landed. We need to talk to you right away. We'll be at your house in an hour."

CLICK!

Eric mumbled something uninterpretable and rolled out of bed.

"Jack of spades!" Chris squealed

"I should've shuffled those things myself." John groaned. This time the shirt came off and stayed off. They'd only drawn ten cards each, but Cena had already hit five face cards and lost his shoes, socks, and now his shirt. Jericho had only drawn one. "Your turn."

Chris pulled a card out of the middle and looked at it. "Sorry." It was the seven of hearts.

"If I find out you're cheating..."

"If you're gonna be a sore loser, we can stop right now." Jericho said, though it was the last thing he wanted to do.

"I will win, don't worry." John reached for a card and swore. "Queen of clubs. I've heard of losing your shirt at cards, but this is going a little too far."

He stood and reached for his belt. Chris leaned back and watched through lust-filled eyes. John unfastened, buttoned, and zipped and let them fall to the floor. He sat back on the bed, only wearing a bright red banana-hammock; one that left little to Y2J's imagination.

"One more and I win." Jericho giggled like a schoolgirl at the premiere of "High School Musical".

"There's still time." Cena hoped he'd lose soon because his choice of undergarment was not the best given the fact that he was starting to get hard thinking about what might happen later.

"Doubt it." Jericho had already drawn and he showed Cena his card with a flourish. It was the Ace of diamonds. "Your turn..."

"Do you want to explain this to him, or do I have to do all the talking again?" Randy demanded, standing outside the Hardy residence.

"I don't know." Adam shouted "We'll figure this out when the time comes."

"Well, the time is now." Randy heard footsteps nearing the door. A bleary-eyed Eric stared at them.

"This had better be good. I was just falling asleep when you called." He bade them enter.

"Eric, there's something we have to tell you..."

"Sit." Eric motioned to the couch and disappeared. He returned with a steaming mug of something. Coffee, they guessed.

"If this is as serious as you two seem to think, then I should be awake for it." Eric took a sip of the hot liquid and looked them over. "Well, are you gonna tell me what's up or do I have to guess?"

"Eric, there's something you should know. Actually, we should've told you before we left town..."

"Damn!" Jericho cursed.

"Another one?" Cena guessed

"Now who's the cheater?" Cena's luck had changed. Not only had he not drawn another face card, but Jericho had drawn one on five straight pulls. Both men were down to their underwear and there were still two face cards left in play.

Cena laughed as Chris peeled off his jeans. He wore a pair of Hardy Boyz boxer shorts.

"I can see you're a fan." He laughed

"Stop it before I take you right now! Draw!"

Cena laughed and reached for the cards. His laughing suddenly stopped when he saw what he'd drawn. The smiling face of the King of Clubs looked at him. Dejected, he threw the card down on the bed.

"I win..." Jericho screeched "Take it off!"

"You do it!" Cena leaned back on the bed.

It was one of Chris' deepest fantasies: one he'd used to get off many times. To be this close to Cena's manhood; only separated by one piece of fabric, and one that was gonna be gone in seconds, was what he'd lusted after since the days when Cena's ring attire was much more revealing and much less hip hop-ish.

"What are you talking about?" Eric asked

Randy, with Adam's help, had finally explained everything to him.

"You mean I just killed Chris' brother? Why didn't one of you call me?"

"Our bad. We didn't think you'd take him out so quickly."

"Nor did I." Eric stated, apparently unruffled by the news that not only had he committed murder, but the victim was close to a friend. Or an ex-friend if he ever found out. "Wrong place, wrong time."

"Let's hope he doesn't find out soon..."

"It really doesn't matter to me what happens. He messed with my friend and that's something you just don't do."

Randy smiled. That was the first time Eric had used that particular f-word in reference to him. Things were looking up...

"Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a stabbing at a Boston bar earlier this morning. According to sources near the scene, 21-year-old Michael Irvine was the victim of what police are calling 'a random act' of violence. In custody is 26-year-old Joseph Silvio, also of Boston. Police will not comment on whether this killing had anything to do with the recent deaths of three other gang members..."

Chris slammed the remote on the bed, shutting off the television.

"Problem?" Cena asked, emerging from the bathroom. He'd taken a shower soon after Chris' hands and mouth made short work (or long work) of him. He's lasted less than two minutes before getting off.

"Nothing I can't handle." Y2J forced a smile. "You finished in there?"

"For now. You want to go again?"

"Maybe later." Chris pushed past. Once he'd closed the door and starting running the water on full, he screamed "Eric!" He didn't believe the reporter at all. If this Silvio was involved, it was only because Eric needed a fall guy. That much he knew for sure. What he didn't know was how he was going to deal with Eric.

"You okay, J?" John tapped on the door. He'd heard the shout over the sound of the water running.

"I'm fine." He lied. Calming down was not gonna happen with any certainty and the last thing he wanted to do was do something he'd regret. He only had one option. Get on a flight to Boston and confront Eric. He shut off the water, all thoughts of a shower washed away and stepped back into the room.

"John, I hate to come and go, but I gotta get back to Boston. There's some family troubles." Much as he hated lying a second time, he didn't want to answer a lot of stupid questions.

John nodded, a little saddened that he wouldn't have any more fun.

"Whatever you gotta do. Anything else?"

"I'll call you when I arrive." Not having unpacked yet, Chris grabbed his bags. He was gone in moments.

On his way to the airport, Chris called the office.

"I got an idea. Can you find a way to book Eric Hardy on an episode of The Highlight Reel?"

"We could, but why? He's quit."

"I don't know if the fans believe that or not. I'd like to give him a chance to explain himself."

"I'll talk to Vince and see what he thinks."

"Cool. Tell him I'll see him in Albany Monday." Chris hung up and laughed. "Hardy, that will be a night you'll never.... evah!!!!!!!!!! Forget!"

Eric received the phone call the next day while he was visiting Jeff.

"Hey, Eric, it's Vince..."

"What do you want? I don't..."

"Yes, I know what you said the last time we were together, but I was wondering if you'd reconsider it."

"Thanks, but no. Jeff is more important to me right now." Eric replied

"I understand. Would you at least be willing to come to RAW and say goodbye to the fans... most of them think it was just part of the show." Vince pleaded

Eric hesitated briefly. "What, just come down to the ring and vent again?"

"Something like that." Vince answered

"If you understand that it's not for you, or anyone else, but just for the fans, I'll do it. And no begging, whining, or cajoling me into coming back."

"Agreed. We'll see you Monday." Vince hung up. "Did Chris tell you why he wanted to interview him?"

"No, Vince." Gerald Brisco replied "It just said it was a matter of life and death."

TO BE CONTINUED

I was gonna finish up in this chapter, but I figured one climax was enough... but we're in the home stretch now, baby!