Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Note: Hey everyone. Thank you for the reviews. I'm sorry it took me so long to update this! And also, I want to say I know it mentions that Dixie decided if MCMG would keep the titles after the best of five matches. I'm sure it didn't happen that way, but it made it more real and a reason for Alex to show up, so I thought I'd add that to the story and all. Lol. Enjoy!

Another plane ride was surprising as he waited in line to board. He had absolutely no idea what drove him to fly to Florida for the Impact tapings, but he was on his way. Maybe it was Claire; maybe what she said right. He had wanted to believe this, but something told him he knew what was right all along. Would it really be worth it to be selfish and leave his best friend without a tag team partner during one of the best periods of their career? Especially when Sabin was so concerned, just like he always was.

He still didn't look at his phone for Claire's number. Part of him found comfort in it, as if even though it was there, he didn't need to use it. It was enough to know it was there. A phone call away, a drug he was tempted to use, but was strong enough to avoid. At least, for a while.

He was enhanced, drawn in like a moth to a light, to Claire. He wanted more about her, even though she was never eager to give anything. It was probably why he cared so much. Claire was definitely hurting, definitely in some kind of pain she didn't want to talk about. And she obviously knew Alex was in pain as well. Was it a familiar pain? Did she just break up with someone? It seemed deeper. He suddenly remembered the accident as the plane took off. Was she involved in an accident, or maybe someone she loved? Did she maybe witness one, or maybe she was once a nurse who dealt with accidents every day? All the possibilities made him wonder who she was and wished he had a better chance to know her.

He could remember her stunning eyes and rough smile. He loved her style. And he especially loved her taste in music, considering it was very much like his. A part of him ached to be in a bar that night, singing while she listened to him. Would she still want that signed CD when It's Not What You Think would finally hit the internet?

Alex thought about his band and all his friends who realized he was gone. At this point, Chris probably told everyone, tried to contact Michelle. Michelle probably didn't answer, maybe even changed her number at that point.

He still didn't know what he was going to say to Chris when he walked inside and saw his friend. It was probably better not to say anything and explain his life for the last few weeks. Less complicated, easier to move on and pretend it never happened. Moving on would mean forgetting Claire though and he wasn't ready to do that, if ever.

Standing alone in the parking lot of Universal Studios made his screwed up knees weak. Inside, his co workers and friends were, all worried and hoping he'd show up. Chris probably already told Dixie of his disappearance, explaining it in some way that wouldn't cost him his job. Chris had a charm to him, one that didn't have a dirty after thought like Alex's always did.

It took a lot to drag his feet forward and put himself into the building with everyone. At first, it didn't seem as if anyone cared he was there. He saw familiar faces walk past as if they didn't even know him but it was Chris Sabin's voice that broke through his thoughts.

"Dear God, Alex!"

Alex didn't move.

"Alex!"

Chris ran around him, concerned eyes staring into his own. He wanted anything to say.

"You look like shit, man. Where did you go, where have you been? You're lucky, I was about to talk to Dixie. Our match is in less than an hour!"

Words didn't matter. He just stood there, unable to remember why he flew here when he had nothing to say, nothing mattered. It reminded him of a High Crusade song. "Nothing really matters anymore." He always considered the Brim a really dark song and it was one of his favorites, but now it meant something, it seemed even darker.

"If you won't say anything, please at least put your gear on. It's the last match, man! We will know in a few minutes if we keep the titles. Don't you want to keep them?"

Alex walked away, toward the locker room and put on his gear while Chris watched with worried eyes. He didn't say a word this time and it even worried Alex. When he was finished, Chris pulled him along until they were in front of Bobby Roode and James Storm. As Chris and Beer Money discussed their match and several impact moves, Alex stood there.

More time moved without him caring and in seconds, he was in front of the curtain. James Storm and Bobby Roode were joking around with Chris, laughing about taking the titles when Dixie Carter came up to them.

With a warm smile on her face, she handed Chris a paper. His eyes lit up when he read it. "Dixie, thank you," he smiled. Dixie hugged Chris and whispered something into his ear. After everyone realized who would keep the titles, it grew into a lull of conversation. Alex watched Storm and Roode, trying to see if they were upset. Probably not, considering they had won the titles before. He also knew they knew how much it mattered to them, driving for the titles for nearly four years and always being screwed. It was always rare that a match was decided last second like this, but Dixie seemed to think it was important, especially with the emphasis on tag team wrestling in TNA. He had such a blessing when it came to his job as of late, being involved in matches like these, despite the obvious pain it put on his body.

Just as music started to hit, he remembered how excited Claire had been when she saw last week's match and tried to remember that as he ran through the curtain, forgetting his pain for a second. He heard cheers and saw fans. He was ready to win the titles.

Use Me Up

"I know its crazy, but I can't believe I'm still holding my title."

Chris Sabin stared at his title while Alex pulled the tape off his hands. It was a little unreal, how he went from feeling perfect in the ring and back to alone after. Even as Chris talked, pretending his friend was actually listening, he didn't seem to care. He was actually excited he still had the titles, as it showed some part of his life was still okay. Staring at it in his hands, he couldn't help but smile.

"A smile!" Chris laughed. "You are alive!"

Alex didn't reply.

"Seriously, man. Can you please just talk to me? I'm worried."

"I'm fine."

Chris scoffed.

"Just leave me alone. I think I need to call someone."

He stood in the room for a second and left when Chris didn't answer. And then he found his phone and looked through it until he saw Claire's number. When he called the number, she didn't answer like she said but he had something to say. "You said you think I'm special. If you really think so, please turn on Impact this Thursday. I thought of you the entire time."

Use Me Up

When Alex realized all the hotels were already booked for the night, he realized he had to rely on Chris when he didn't want to. After looking around for a while, he found his room and knocked on the door. "If you let me stay with you, I'll tell you why I left," he whispered.

Chris raised an eyebrow. "You can stay either way," he said. "I just want to know you're okay."

Alex shrugged. "I don't know."

Chris let him in and sat on the bed. "What happened?"

He stared at Chris for a long time. It wasn't as if he didn't trust him, because he did. It just felt strange. "Michelle left me," he finally said.

"WHAT?"

"A few weeks ago. For someone else."

"Alex, man, I'm sorry. I wish you would have told me earlier. Where did you go?"

"It doesn't matter."

"You're so much better than her, man. I did like Michelle, but you're so much better."

His friend's words didn't help. He still felt so alone and strangely, he thought it was because Claire was across the country.

Let's all make sure Alex gets a nice, warm hug, lol. REVIEW.