"Are you sure?"

"Sorry Matt." Eve Torres looked up apologetically at the older Hardy brother, "I haven't talked to him since me and Maria got back."

"Oh, ok." Matt sighed, "Thanks anyway."

"See you around." Eve gave him a sad smile and turned, walking away.

Matt reached up, rubbing his eyes tiredly. He wasn't used to waking up at the crack of dawn—and he wasn't used to having to search for a missing Jeff either. He was getting real tired of all this shit… God help Jeff if he didn't have a good excuse for disappearing. Matt had spent the better part of two hours scouring the hotel: he went to dining halls, the pool, the spa, and somehow he'd eventually made his way to the lobby. That's where he'd run into Eve. She and Jeff were pretty good friends—he'd been hoping that Eve—or her girlfriend, Maria—had heard from Jeff. But no, of course they hadn't seen him, because that would make life easy for Matt, and god forbid that ever happens…

And as if the frustration wasn't enough, Matt was getting more and more worried by the second. Jeff was pretty irresponsible sometimes, but it wasn't like him to just disappear like this. If he wasn't with Matt, Adam, or Eve…who the hell else could he be with? Maybe Mark or Shawn? But if he had gone with them he would have definitely called Adam to tell him. Then again, who's to say Jeff was with anybody? He could be alone somewhere…or, Matt shuddered to think, with someone he didn't want to be with. Or what if Adam's fears were true: what if Jeff ended up in the hospital somehow? Or in jail? Which was worse, Matt didn't know. All he knew was that he was going to strangle his younger brother if he didn't have a good excuse for staying out all night.

It was then—standing in the lobby after nearly two hours of searching—that Matt Hardy finally spotted his younger brother. With his bright, blood-red hair, Jeff was real easy to pick out of the crowd. Pushing past people, Matt made his way over to his younger brother, both pissed off and very relieved that he was obviously ok. Jeff was walking normally, and he didn't look upset in anyway, if only a little tired and haggard. Striding past the people who were milling about aimlessly, Matt called out to his brother, hoping to grab his attention before he walked off.

Jeff turned and then froze like a deer caught in headlights.

"Jeffrey Nero Hardy!" Matt growled, narrowing his eyes.

"Uh…hey Matty." Jeff smiled weakly, looking up at Matt sheepishly.

"Hey Matty?" Matt scowled, "Hey Matty? Me and Adam have been looking for you for nearly two hours and all you have to say is 'Hey Matty'?"

"I-I didn't know you guys were looking for me…" Jeff said.

"Adam woke up and found out you never came home, Jeff!" Matt, hissed, his voice growing louder in anger, "What the fuck did you think he was going to do?"

"Look, Matty, I'm sorry, ok?" Jeff only called him Matty when he was trying to bribe him or get away with something, "I'm here now ok? Lets go find Adam—"

"Hold on just a damn minute." Matt reached out, grabbing Jeff by the arm when the younger man tried to walk off, "You owe me an explanation."

"E-explanation? For what?" Jeff stuttered; he wasn't a good liar at all! What the hell was he going to tell Matt?

"You know what." Matt frowned, leaning forward, giving Jeff a hard look, "What did you do after you left my place? Where were you all night?"

"I…uh…" Jeff struggled to think of a plausible excuse, "I…went to Mark's."

"Mark's?" Matt's eyes narrowed disbelievingly, "Did you stay the night there?"

"I…yeah." Jeff nodded, "I went over to Mark's and…uh…we hung out. And then it got late…and I, uh, lost track of time. I fell asleep and didn't wake up till just a bit ago."

"And I suppose that's why you didn't call?" Matt said slowly.

"Yeah. Sorry." Jeff nodded, relieved that Matt was buying it.

"You are so full of shit!" Matt growled, "You know I can tell when you're lying Jeff! Now tell me, where were you last night?"

"I…it's the truth!" Jeff sputtered, "I swear!"

"Well, here comes Mark now, so why don't we ask him?" Matt smirked evilly, knowing Jeff was stuck now.

Jeff could feel all the color draining from his face as he turned and looked behind him. Mark—who was really easy to pick out due to his sheer size—was making his way toward them, Shawn following right behind him. Mark was frowning as usual, but Shawn was smiling, obviously in a good mood… Oh fuck, Jeff thought, what was he going to do now? Damn it, he needed to come up with something quick!

"Jeff, Matt." Mark nodded somberly as he drew near them, his dark eyes serious as usual.

"Jeffy, Matty." Shawn nodded, trying to scowl seriously like Mark, but only succeeding in making himself look ridiculous.

"Hey Mark, Shawn." Matt said nonchalantly, smiling slightly, "We were just talking about you, Mark."

Mark raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

"Yeah." Matt continued, "Jeff was just telling me about last night. You know, how he stayed the night at your place.

Mark glanced at Jeff questioningly. The younger, smaller man bit his lower lip, looking up at Mark desperately. Immediately, Mark could feel himself soften. He'd always had a weak spot for Jeff Hardy…just as bad as the one he had for Shawn. But with Jeff it was almost worse because the poor kid seemed to attract trouble wherever he went. He'd become real protective of Jeff a long time ago—maybe even just as protective as Matt was, if that was possible. Normally, Mark wouldn't lie for Jeff. Especially to his older brother, who obviously only wanted the best for him. But right now the look Jeff's green eyes were giving him was filled with such desperation and worry that Mark couldn't say no…

"What about last night?" Mark asked, shrugging calmly.

"Wait…" Shawn frowned, very confused, "How come I don't remember Jeff—"

"Because, Shawn," Mark interrupted, giving the Showstopper a hard look, "You were already asleep when Jeff got there."

"Then why didn't I—" Shawn began, falling silent at the death glare that Mark gave him.

Matt, however, didn't give up, "Why didn't Shawn see him this morning?"

"Jeff left before Shawn and I woke up." Mark lied effortlessly.

"Oh." Matt said, "Why did Jeff stay the night at your place anyway?"

"I told you Matt." Jeff interrupted, "It got late and we lost track of time. I fell asleep on the couch."

"Oh." Matt repeated, "Well, you really should've had him call Adam, Mark. He was really worried this morning."

"Sorry Matt." Mark answered, "Like Jeff said, we just fell asleep. Won't happen again."

"Ok," Matt sighed, accepting it, "I guess I'm glad he was with you guys and not some pervert or something…"

Jeff could've jumped for joy, he was so happy that Matt was buying their story. He had no idea why Mark lied for him—and right now he didn't care. Right now all that mattered was that Matt and Adam still had no idea about Randy, and it needed to stay that way.

"So Jeff." Matt turned to him, "I think we should find Adam now. He's been looking for you—"

"Actually Matt," Mark spoke up, his voice deep, "Jeff left his wallet in our room. He should probably come up and get it."

Jeff looked curiously at the Deadman, but Mark's face was blank; he gave nothing away.

"Adam's pretty worried." Matt frowned, "Can't Jeff get his wallet later?"

"No." Mark said, "We're going to be out all day, he should come get it while we're still here."

Jeff decided he should speak up. Mark had helped him with his lie, now he needed to help Mark: "I can go grab it real quick, Matty. Just tell Addy I'll meet him up in our room in fifteen minutes."

"Fine." Matt sighed, "But don't take real long. He was pretty worried about you Jeff."

It took all of Jeff's self-control—which really wasn't all that much—to stop himself from saying 'Well, he sure as hell wasn't worried last night when he was getting fucked by Dave Batista'. He didn't want anyone else to know about that yet. It was bad enough that Randy knew—he didn't think he could deal with the pity, outrage, and drama that would come if everybody else found out. Not right now anyway.

"See you later Jeff." Matt turned and left, pulling out his cell phone to call Adam.

"Bye…" Jeff said quietly, feeling slightly guilty for lying to his brother. Matt was only being a good older brother, and Jeff had repaid him by lying completely…

"Come on Jeff." Mark indicated to the elevator.

"Wait—we're actually going to the room?" Jeff asked, confused.

"Yes." Mark growled at him, turning very serious, "I just lied to your older brother about where you were last night. And now you're going to tell me where you really were, because if you don't I'll call Matt right back over here and tell him the truth."

"Wait…" Shawn looked at both of them, "So, Jeff really didn't stay the night?"

"No." Mark rolled his eyes, "And he's going to tell us where he really was when we get to the room, right Jeff?"

"Right…" Jeff sighed. He should've known Mark would demand to know where he was…he was worse then Matt sometimes!

The elevator let out a soft 'ping', and the trio stepped inside.

"Ok, ok…" Shawn was the first to speak when they stepped into his and Mark's room, "I'm really confused. You told Matt that Jeff stayed with us but he really didn't and now you want to find out where he really was…which wasn't with us and not with Adam or Matt?"

"Yes." Mark said, "See, you do understand."

"Whatever…" Shawn grumbled, "That's really confusing."

The room was surprisingly neat, Jeff noticed as they walked in. He would've thought that any place Shawn lived would've been trashed…but apparently Mark was a neat person. The beds were made nicely and the floor clean, newly vacuumed by the looks of it—though that all was probably due to the housekeeping crew rather then Mark's own cleanliness. Mark and Shawn's bags were lined up against the far wall neatly, and the blinds on the window were drawn shut—no doubt due to Mark's natural preferences for the dark.

"You," Mark said stonily, glaring at Jeff, "Sit down."

Jeff immediately plopped down on the neat bed, looking up at Mark fearfully. Shawn too, sat down next to him, looking up at the Deadman expectantly.

"Not you Shawn," Mark rolled his eyes, "Get up."

Shawn stood up as quickly as he sat down, spinning around to give Jeff a triumphant smile, "Well, I gotta admit, it's nice not being the person in trouble for once!"

"Don't get used to it." Mark mumbled, "Now, Jeff, you're going to tell us the truth."

"Yeah, the truth!" Shawn echoed with a growl.

"Shawn…" Mark glared at him, "I can be perfectly intimidating on my own."

"Ok," Shawn nodded seriously, "Just tell me if you need any help."

"Right." Mark rolled his eyes; he would never really understand Shawn. Not completely.

"Look, Mark," Jeff said, "Thanks for helping me with Matt. I owe you one, for sure… But I'd really like to keep last night a secret—"

"A secret?" Shawn of course couldn't keep quiet, "Ooh…you did something really bad, didn't you Jeffy?"

"Why do you automatically assume that I did something bad?" Jeff scowled.

"Well did you?" Shawn looked at him as if the answer was obvious.

Jeff fell silent, choosing to stare at the floor instead of answering Shawn's accusation.

"Well Jeff?" Mark growled, "Did you do something bad?"

"Well…" Jeff reached up, twirling a finger into his blazing hair, "It depends on what you consider 'bad'…"

"Trust me, Jeff," Shawn said dryly, "Mark's going to consider it bad."

Mark shot Shawn a death glare, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh come on Mark." Shawn pouted, "You never let me or Jeff get away with anything."

"Don't change the subject." Mark hissed. He'd been playing games with Shawn for far too long to fall for that trick.

"Sorry Jeff." Shawn shrugged, turning toward the younger Hardy brother, "I tried…"

"It's ok Shawn." Jeff sighed dejectedly, "Look, it's not really bad, you're just not going to like it…"

"Try me." Mark answered, folding his thick arms across his chest.

Jeff looked up at him pleadingly, "Promise you won't get mad."

"I'm not promising anything." Mark growled in response.

"Then I'm not telling!" Jeff snapped back, pouting angrily.

"Jeff, don't act like a kid—" Mark began.

"Don't treat me like a little kid and I won't act like one!" Jeff grumbled unhappily.

"Fine, fine." Mark nodded impatiently, "I promise I won't get mad."

"I…" Jeff hung his head, "I stayed the night with someone."

"Well, we kinda guessed that." Shawn said.

"No, you don't get it." Jeff looked up, green eyes flashing, "I stayed the night with someone."

"Oh." Shawn's eyes widened, "Oh."

"Wait," Mark's eyes narrowed, "Did I miss something?"

"He didn't just stay the night with someone," Shawn's eyes were large, disbelieving, "He stayed the night with someone!"

Mark scowled, "Shawn, you're just repeating yourself—"

Jeff hung his head again in shame. He couldn't bring himself to explain this in detail to Mark, he just couldn't. Thankfully, Shawn came to his aid.

"Mark, you're not listening!" Shawn said, exasperated, "He stayed the night with someone! Someone as in not Adam!"

"Wait, you're saying—" He turned to Jeff, dark eyes narrowing, "Jeff, did you cheat on Adam?"

Jeff didn't answer; he merely continued to pretend to be fascinated with the dull green carpet.

"Jeff, look at me." Mark said angrily.

Reluctantly, Jeff lifted his head, his eyes darkening as he met Mark's gaze.

"Did you cheat on Adam?" Mark asked again, his voice calmer than before.

Jeff nodded slowly.

"Damn." Shawn whistled, "Did not see that one coming… Did you, like, plan it? Or…was it a spur of the moment kind of thing?"

"I…I didn't plan it or anythin'." Jeff mumbled, "I stopped thinking…and it just sort of happened."

"Was this the first time?" Mark's voice was quiet, thoughtful.

Jeff nodded.

"Jeff," Shawn looked at him, "This is kinda serious. Do you love this other guy? What about Adam?"

"I don't…I didn't…" Jeff didn't know how to explain. He had felt some real affection for Randy this morning, but he hardly knew the guy. It wasn't possible to fall in love in one night, was it? And what about Adam? He couldn't bring himself to tell Shawn and Mark about Dave Batista. He already felt like shit after admitting that he cheated…he'd feel even worse if he told them why he cheated. He could not deal with pity right now.

"Well?" Mark asked.

"I don't…I don't know." Jeff answered finally.

"So…Matt and Adam don't know anything about this." Shawn continued, filling in the silence, "Are you going to tell Adam?"

"I don't know…" Jeff held his head in his hands, confusion and confliction overcoming him.

"You don't seem to know anything, Jeff." Mark's words were soft, not unkind.

"I don't know what to do." Jeff said, "I should tell Adam…I probably will eventually. But I'm so fucking confused right now I don't know what the fuck to do!"

"You don't have to do anything right now." Shawn's voice was quiet, he was looking at Jeff with what seemed to be understanding and a wisdom that neither Mark nor Jeff knew he possessed, "You don't have to do anything right away. Wait a little while. See how things play out. Adam doesn't know…and you should keep it that way until you're sure of what you want to do. And if that's not for a few days, a few weeks, hell if it's not for a few months then so be it. It's better to wait then to rush and act without thinking, take it from someone who knows."

The trio fell silent, Mark and Jeff looking at Shawn with a mixture of surprise and suspicion.

"What?" Shawn blinked.

"When did you become so smart?" Mark asked, incredulous at the wisdom behind Shawn's words.

Shawn rolled his eyes, "I've always been smart. You guys have just never noticed."

"You're right Shawn." Jeff said slowly, "I don't have to do anything right away."

"There's something I don't get." Mark said lowly, "Why did you think I would get mad?"

Jeff fell silent, his cheeks reddening.

"I mean, yes, I don't like the thought of you," Mark visibly cringed, "Sleeping with a guy, but you're an adult Jeff—even if you don't act like it. What made you think I would get mad?"

"Well, not so much the cheating part…" Jeff went back to twirling his long hair, a nervous habit of his, "But who I cheated with."

"Who did you cheat with?" Mark hissed, his eyes narrowing.

"Was it Matt?" Shawn asked, "Because I always thought you guys had some major brotherly love going on…"

"No!" Jeff sputtered, "It definitely wasn't Matt!"

"Ah, well, wishful thinking." Shawn shrugged.

Mark and Jeff stared at him.

"Oh come one Mark, even you admitted that the Hardy brothers would be hot together!" Shawn grumbled, "Everyone thinks so…"

"Anyway." Mark cleared his throat loudly, "Who was it Jeff?"

Jeff mumbled something incoherent.

"Could you speak up?" Shawn asked.

Jeff sighed loudly, "It was Randy Orton."

"What?" Mark roared, eyes bulging, "You've got to be kidding me!"

"You said you wouldn't get mad!" Jeff whined, looking up at Mark with a mixture of anger and fear.

"Please Jeff," Mark snarled, ignoring his statement, "Please for the love of god tell me you didn't sleep with that asshole!"

"He's not so bad…" Jeff mumbled.

"Not so bad?" Mark hissed, eyes narrowing as his voice grew louder, "Jeff, the guy is a complete dick. He pisses off everybody…how the hell could you cheat on Adam with Randy Orton?" Mark was beyond angry; he was livid. The thought of Orton—one of the most hated men in the locker room—sleeping with little innocent Jeffy made Mark want to break something. Something being Orton's spine.

"He was nice to me." Jeff said weakly.

"He was nice to you because he wanted to get in your pants." Mark growled, feeling a bit guilty after Jeff flinched from the harshness behind his words. Sure, that statement may hurt the kid, but he needed to hear it. Sometimes Jeff was too naïve for his own good…

"You're wrong." Jeff snapped, "He was nice to me this morning…and we didn't, we didn't even—"

"I can't believe I'm hearing this." Mark sighed, "Shawn, help me out here."

"I don't know Mark, Randy's pretty sexy." Shawn said with a nod.

"That's not helping." Mark growled, glaring at Shawn, "Don't forget that he treats everyone like shit."

"He was nice to me." Jeff repeated, looking up at Mark defiantly.

"Randy Orton is only nice to people if he wants something from them" Mark said darkly, "Jeff, promise me you won't go see him again."

"I…" Jeff frowned sadly, "I don't know…"

"Jeff," Mark's voice quieted, "Please promise me. Randy is no good. All he'll do his hurt you, please, promise me you won't go see him."

Jeff sighed, "Alright. I won't go see him."

"Good." Mark nodded, "You should probably go. Adam's waiting."

"I don't think I can face him right now." Jeff groaned, "Maybe I'll go out for a bit. Try to clear my head or something."

Jeff stood up, heading for the door, "Please don't tell anyone guys."

"You know I won't." Mark said, "And I'll make sure Shawn doesn't either."

Jeff didn't answer, he merely nodded, turning and heading out the door. As soon as it closed behind him, Shawn turned to Mark, who had taken Jeff's place on the neatly made bed.

"So…" Shawn began, "What do you make of this?"

"I don't know." Mark sighed, "I want to break Orton in half for touching Jeff."

"I think we're still missing something…" Shawn pursed his lips, thinking hard.

"What do you mean?" Mark asked quietly.

"Well…" Shawn narrowed his eyes, racking his brain, "Jeff and Randy don't hang out. How did they even end up in a situation where they would cheat together? I mean, it's not like they get any alone time together…"

"You're right." Mark nodded.

"And I for one think it's a little weird that Jeff would cheat on Adam in the first place." Shawn continued, "He was crazy about Adam…what the hell happened? I'm thinking we didn't get the whole story…"

Mark thought for a moment, then stood up, "Either way, I'm going to make sure Orton doesn't touch Jeff again." He walked toward the door, scowling deeply.

"Whoa," Shawn followed after him, "What are you gonna do?"

"I'm going to go have a talk with Orton." Mark growled.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Shawn frowned, "It's not really any of our business…"

"Jeff is our business." Mark replied forcefully, "Matt can't watch him all the time, so we need to help out."

"I don't think this is a good idea." Shawn said, "We should stay here."

"Stay here and do what?" Mark's eyes narrowed.

"You know what." Shawn wrapped his arms around Mark, looking up at the tall man seductively, "Forget about Randy. It's none of our business."

For a second Mark could feel his resolve wavering. Maybe it was the sexy look Shawn was giving him, or maybe it was the mere thought of just what they would do if they did stay home…

Mark shook his head, gently pushing Shawn away, "I need to help Jeff. I'm going to talk to Randy."

"Fine." Shawn sighed, disappointed that the sex had to wait, "But I'm coming with you. I'm not about to let you go get yourself suspended because you lost your cool with Randy Orton."