Title: Make It Better

Rated: M (Mature)

Genre(s): Romance/Hurt/Comfort

Pair(s): Jericho/Phil, John/Phil, Jeff/Adam

Summary: Sequel to Please, Don't Leave Me. Chris has finally pushed Phil too far. After his actions on Raw, it seems as if there is no way for him to redeem himself in Phil's eyes. Is there any way to make it better?

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, besides my OCs.

Warning: Slash

Part: 7/?

OOOO

"If Jeff knew that I was here, he would have a fit." Adam said, taking a seat across from his best friend of several years. "But, I'm here, and that's what matters. And I'm here to talk to you about Phil."

Chris had decided that he needed someone to vent to, someone to hear his side of the story. Immediately, the first person he turned to had been Adam. Of course, he knew that there would be some complications, considering the fact that Jeff was adamantly taking Phil's side… but he needed someone to talk to, and Adam hadn't hesitated. So now, the two sat across from each other in a restaurant that Chris had selected. Each waited for the other to talk first, before Chris finally broke the silence.

"I know that it doesn't seem like it, but I never meant to hurt him." Chris said, looking down at the tablecloth.

"Have you told that to Phil?" Adam asked, and Chris shot him a 'look'. Adam rolled his eyes. "Just answer the question, Irvine. I can't help you if you won't cooperate."

Chris swallowed hard. "Of course I told him that. I tried to tell him that Chris Jericho and Chris Irvine were two completely different people, and he called me an asshole. I tried to tell him that I still love him, and he gave me back his ring! What am I supposed to do, Adam?"

Adam was silent for a moment, before he said, "Phil is feeding off of your reaction."

"What?" Chris asked, confused.

"His emotions… his reactions… all of it, are a derivative of how you act first." Adam explained. "He's upset, and therefore he wants you to hurt as much as he does. He still loves you. He just can't come out and say it."

"'Guess that makes sense…" Chris trailed. But the more he thought about it, the more sense it made. Phil had always had trouble expressing his emotions, and this situation must be making it ten times harder.

"Of course it makes sense." Adam smirked. "It was my idea."

"Don't let it make your head swell."

Their food came, and the two ate in a relatively comfortable silence. But Chris was still thinking about Phil. All of the love that they had… all of the good times that they had shared… lost because of a stupid storyline. It just wasn't fair. Taking a sip of his coffee, he thought back to when he smashed the bottle over the back of Phil's head. Even if the bottle didn't actually hit, it still sent a message loud and clear. Jericho would do anything to regain his title of 'Best in the World'. Even if it meant destroying Chris' relationship with his husband.

And it wasn't even so much the physical act of smashing the bottle over Phil's head, then the psychological damage that accompanied the action. In doing this, he showed just how little he cared about CM Punk… to hit him while he was down and hurt, to embarrass him in front of a live audience and millions of at-home viewers, to try and drive it home with a kick to the head. Chris knew that what he had done was wrong. And if he had the chance, he would spend the rest of his days making it up to Phil. But he had to win Phil back first.

Adam yawned. "Sorry, it's really not the company. We were with Daylee in the hospital last night 'cause she had to get twenty stitches in her forehead. That kid really hates needles…"

Chris' blue eyes widened. "What happened to her?"

"The GM sanctioned a match between her and The Big Red Monster. She fell awkwardly and smacked her head on the apron." Adam answered, his eyes narrowing at the mention of the GM. "When Kane saw all the blood, he forfeit the match."

"You know," Chris said, thinking back to when he had last seen his husband. "Phil had said that he had to talk to the GM, but when I found him the one side of his face was swollen and bruised. You don't think that the two could be related, do you?"

"I don't know." Adam shook his head. "I can have Jeff ask him, just to be sure."

"Thanks, Adam. It means a lot that you would take the time to come talk to me."

"Not a problem, Chris." Adam smiled. "I'll see you when I find out more about Phil's condition."

OOOO

Phil lay on the bed in his old room, so exhausted that he couldn't sleep. He hadn't been able to sleep on the plane, either. Ever since he and Chris had started having sex, Phil found it nearly impossible to sleep without the other man's arms around him. He didn't even have his suitcases, so he couldn't take out the old shirt that he had stolen from Chris' dresser and hold it… like he would when Chris was on DWTS. It reminded him of his lover – at the time – and made him feel safe. Was that too much to ask for?

Taking a deep, calming breath, he remembered the intitial shock on his mother's face when he showed up on her doorstep at noon. He looked like he was about to collapse from utter exhaustion – he had driven the entire night to reach the airport and had booked the first flight to Chicago that he could. (It must have been pure luck – or something else entirely – that his wallet was the only thing that he had on him). He could tell that she wanted to ask about the bruise, or the lack of wedding ring, but she held back and instead led him to his room so he could rest.

But Phil couldn't stop thinking long enough to get a wink of sleep. It taunted him, almost taking him into it's warm embrace, and then violently shoving him back into the world of the waking. Tentatively, Phil reached up and touched a hand to his swollen cheek. It hurt like hell. For a man who hid behind 'The People' to make shitty decisions, he certainly had one hell of a left hook. Which made him wonder, why hadn't he told Chris what the GM had done to him? And then he scoffed. Would Chris have believed him?

"I promise to love you… to cherish you… to protect you… and to lead you on toward a brighter future, together. We'll be together forever, baby. Forever…"

Phil smiled, trying to bite back tears and failing. Chris had always been so raw with his declarations of love, and it made Phil's heart ache. Squeezing the pillow tightly to his chest, his eyes fell on the cell phone on his bedside table…

Maybe…

OOOO

A/N: Please Review!