[Soo, for any timeline, Jeff has already defeated Regal for the European Championship Title but I'm trying to keep the rest as accurate as possible

[As for the amount of alcohol they down, well sorry, I just pictured they needed a fun night out

[And thanx everyone for the Reviews, blushes

Chapter 7

There was silence, and staring, and some more silence, like a big black cloud hoovering over their table, a huge thunderstorm approaching, the atmosphere had become quite electrical, and seeking a fast way out Jeff moved one leg up on the bench, ready to jump back in the case of a strike from his left side, he didn't even have the courage to look at the Deadman as the images of the vomit incident came back to his mind, that had been very fun at the beginning, unfortunately it had gotten quite out of hands when his brother had gotten involved, but hey, it had been fun, until it had come to his beating up, that had been far from fun, and he could just hope that the Taker had forgiven him for that move, in his quite drunken state he'd stand no chance in case of an attack…

"What? You all lost your tongues guys", it wasn't malice, Glenn just wanted to know what the link between his brother and Jeff was and even Batista's headshake didn't make him realize that he really missed a good opportunity to keep his mouth shut, "What are you shaking your head for Dave, I just want to know that's all, hey it's not a secret, Mark would have had", Hunter interrupted him, "Gleeennnnnnn, it's good now, you said enough, I think we all got your point, but why don't you have this conversation with your brother when you're alone ok, before you get Shawn starting to laugh the way he did that day"…

Shawn stared at Hunter, "Hey, thanx for getting me in harms way on this, really", then looked at Mark with puppy eyes, "It was not as he's telling now, I was laughing at something else", and the growl that exited the Takers throat made Jeff get his other leg up too, ready to jump backwards even if he'd be landing in the plants, rather that than the wrath of the Deadman…

"You think you're funny Micheals, right", Mark's voice didn't betray any emotion and Shawn just shook his head, "Nooooooo no, really, you know me Mark, I'd never ever", he put his fingers crossed over his heart, "never ever laugh when it comes to you, jeez Mark please, we've come a long way right, never I'd disrespect you, I leave that to others", his gaze went to Jeff who fidgeted even more, "and I may or may not be looking at one of those right now", he pulled his tongue at Jeff who wasn't as amused by his joke, "Shawn, enough", he was grateful for Dave's intervention on this one, maybe he wasn't going to die tonight, "We should all calm down and Glenn, man, that was not an intelligent move"

Mark moved his head to his left and cocked an eyebrow upon seeing Jeff with his feet on the bench, and shaking his head, "Well, you've got the balls to do everything that crosses your puny little mind… without a single reflection on the consequences that is… and now you're ready to get away and what? Hide like you love so much? Don't tell me that you're a coward, I would be disappointed, really", Mark glared at his brother and added, "and you're up for a beating, better not get to our room tonight, sleep here, outside or wherever, just don't get in my face", and Glenn, who had said nothing glanced up at his older brother, "I didn't want to piss you off, I just want to know, that's all… Well hey, maybe I can switch rooms with Jeff"…

"No", Jeff hadn't wanted to spit it out like that, rocking on his heals, knees bent under his chin, but he felt like having had a wonder happen on his ass, he was alive, and he wasn't going to challenge his well-being, even if that meant that Glenn would have to find another way to get some sleep, "Sorry, but I need to rest and I'm not sure that would be possible in your room", only to hear, barely audible, "coward", Mark hadn't even looked at him, just downed the next tequila, it had slipped, but since Jeff seemed to be completely impetuous one day, and calm and withdrawn and with that chased look on his face the other, he really was wondering how far the kid would go, how was he really ticking…

And he was in for a treat, aided by an other downed Tequila, Jeff threw his body at Mark making the Deadman topple over and land with a bang on the floor. Grinning at him Jeff gave him a provocative look and went back to sitting normally next to Glenn, who grinned too, "Wow"… Jeff's mind was trying to find something else to answer but he was at a loss on it, "Didn't you want him to sleep outside? Now you want him in my room… And me in yours?" , he had started shaking a little, there was no reason beside torture and pain that could make Mark want to room with him, and he started realizing that he maybe shouldn't have pushed Mark to the floor…

"That's not what I said punk, is it, but you're doing a great job trying to get killed", Mark poked the lemon slice that had had better days of his arm and threw it at Jeff, "guess we're not done, not by far punk, this will have consequences, many consequences, painful ones boy…"

It was Hunter who finally managed to raise his voice again, "Wow, he's got you on your ass on the floor Mark, nice move kiddo", Mark just grabbed Hunters leg and pulled violently making him join him on the floor, "Now you're on your ass too"

"Enough, guys, everyone is looking, behave yourselves, it's not as if we were low profile right now… Man, I'm not drunk enough for this", Batista couldn't help but shake his head and laugh, "I'm glad I can sleep tomorrow, Hunter, they emptied the Tequila again, get us another one since you're up", Hunter was getting up, helping himself by propping on Mark who pushed him back and went up, staring straight at Jeff, "Pain, suffering, think about it", leading Shawn to open his mouth and murmure, "Yeah, no lube use, a whip and chains, right Mark"

Batista slapped Shawn in the neck, got up and went with Hunter to the bar to fetch some more drinks, whispering to the Game as they were far enough away, "Well, I start believing Glenn, there's something weird going on, as if both of them didn't know how to interact with one another, don't you think?"

"I thought you liked to stay out of other people's business Dave", he gave him two bottles, "Yeah I know and I still don't like to get involved, but I can't shed a strange feeling, if any of us had done half of what that Hardy-kid has done to him we would have had our careers efficiently ended and I mean ended, but apparently he can get away with a lot more than anybody else if not everything, I'm just a little amazed at that fact, just like now"…

Dave's head turned in the direction of their table as he continued, "he pushes him down like that and all he gets is a glare, which was not even a real mean glare and some threats, it's a little unbelievable don't you think", Hunter got closer to him and whispered, "Yeah, but I don't think we'll find out by asking or by provoking, I already told Mark not to hurt him, you should have seen the look on his face, precious I tell you", Batista didn't really understand of which hurt Hunter was speaking, "You told him before the match? Why?", "No, after", "Ok, on which grounds, I mean why would he hurt him", "You said it youself, there's something going on between the two, well hell I don't know, hurt him with a look or something he says", Hunter was at loss, his brain refused to work clearly, it was all foggy, "the boy is sensitive, I don't want him hurt that's all", Batista whistled, "Wow, hearing that from you, you found your altruism back man"

"You're done gossiping you idiots", that much for the low profile suggestion, and as they moved their eyes to the table they saw that they had the undivided attention of everybody and Glenn added, "must be a hell of a subject that you keep our drinks from us that long"

While they had had their little chat, Mark had sat down, grabbing Jeff's leg and squeezing short above the knee making Jeff wince and put his hand above his to try and detach it, "Ouch", "Don't you ever do that again boy, or I swear I will not keep back, is that clear", "Yeah, but I can't promise though", and the gaze he got confirmed that, at some level he really was fearless, and the Tequila seemed to have broken the last limits, "Oooh, is that so, we'll have to wait and see then", he squeezed thightly before letting go and squeezing the hand that had now been laying casually on his, ripping some more complaints out of Jeff, "Ouch man, you're beaking my hand, stop it", "Really, when I tell you to stop you just go on and on and on why should I stop", "Noooo, that's your brother, wouldn't want to get hurt in his place, you've got the wrong man Mark", through out that quite painful ordeal Jeff had kept his eyes riveted on Mark's, melting their gazes for a brief moment and losing himself in, but the return of Hunter and Batista made him snap out of his dreaming, Mark let go of his hand and slapped him in the neck, "You're a pain in the ass Hardy"…

Batista gave Hunter a knowing look and whispered, "What was that?", "I've got no idea, but I tell you, this ain't finished yet… Sooo guys, heard you missed us", Hunter put down the bottles and sat down, "Anything interesting while we were gone kids?", earning himself glares from everybody, "What now", Shawn who had already some first signs of defeat, he smelled the booze and pulled a face of slight disgust as he washed the Tequila down, "wouah, this gets tougher and tougher", Batista next to him shifted a little, "man, I don't wanna bring any incidents up, but you puke on me, you're a dead man Shawn", he gave Markan innocent smile…

"Could we just now have some good time please", Mark glared at Shawn who wanted to add something on that, "Don't, it will be unpleasant if you open your mouth now"…