Chapter 3

Triple H sat up in bed, his legs still a little sore, waiting for a sign that the girl he was looking up at was still alive. He was reading, but his intentions were low, wanting nothing to do but rest his body before they had to leave for the next town. He saw the girl sleeping peacefully on the couch and thought he should have kept a more sharp eye out for her during the few hours until daylight broke in.

He woke up about three hours after he had gone to sleep, managing to go back to sleep again after checking on Shawn, then woke up two hours later and couldn't allow sleep to come back to him. He got up from the bed and walked over to the couch, seeing the girl, her broken and beat body still horrific as when they first saw her, and seeing how her breathing had improved since he and Shawn found her. He decided to rub his hand on her forehead, but only to find it a little warm. He stood there for a few moments before finally deciding to pick up the washcloth that Shawn had left beside the bed and use it again, walking into the bathroom and running cold water against the material, able to rinse it out before finally walking back into the room and placing it on the girl's forehead, brushing some hair out of her closed eyes.

Now, collecting his thoughts in the bed, he just looked at the girl as she was sleeping, trying to hold on to life, and yet she looked peaceful as if she was gone. He tried to think of other things, like the next show and what they could possibly be doing, but the girl kept getting into his thoughts. He looked over and saw Shawn sleeping on the bed next to him, not wanting to bother him. After all, Shawn was a few years older and needed extra rest, just as the girl needed all the rest she could get.

A movement on the bed stirred Triple H from his thoughts and he looked over again, only to see Shawn's blue eyes open as he twisted his body around to avoid the blinding sunlight in the window close to the bed.

"How did I get into the bedroom? I could have sworn I was lying next to the couch." Shawn said, groaning, looking up at his friend.

"There was no way I was going to let you sleep on the floor, Shawn. I woke up last night and happened to see you there. I called your name, but you didn't answer, so I picked you up and brought you in here."

Shawn sat up a little as he stretched his bones and muscles, trying to get his body fully awake.

"No wonder I felt like I was falling last night." He said, moving his arms above his head.

"Last night? It was only six hours ago." Triple H said, placing the book he was reading back on the mantle.

Shawn stopped stretching and looked over towards the door. "How's the girl? Is she okay?"

"She's got a slight fever. I checked on her early this morning and I helped her out I think."

"I hope she gets better, Hunter. She didn't deserve what happened to her."

"Me too, buddy."

After a few minutes, Shawn managed to get out of bed and walk into the living room, approaching the couch to see if the girl was okay. She was sleeping, still breathing, and she wasn't groaning and moaning as she was the night that seemed like minutes ago. Shawn breathed deep as he removed the washcloth and quickly checked the girl's forehead, feeling the warm presence that was while his cold hand could have been of some relief. He placed the washcloth back on the girl's forehead and left her once again, turning back to see if she had moved or opened her eyes until he turned his back completely.

Triple H got out bed while Shawn entered the bedroom again, lying back on the bed, grabbing his bag, that happened to have been put on the side along with Hunter's, and going through it until he found his toothbrush, toothpaste, brush, and hairband.

"You don't mind...?" Shawn asked, his voice trailing before he could say anything else.

"You know I don't mind." Triple H said, opening his bag and looking at the neatly folded paper that lied on top of the pile of clothes. It told him about the next cities and states they were to go to. He sighed, the paper still neat looking in his hand. "I knew we were headed to Mississippi."

Shawn smiled and walked back into the living room and, looking over at the girl again, quietly entered the bathroom. He sighed as he looked at himself in the mirror, his image looking ghostly than what had been. He had slight bruising above his right eye, and he noticed the blood and dirt that covered his shirt and some of his blue jeans. He set the items down on the counter and picked up the toothpaste in his left hand and the toothbrush in his other hand. He unhooked the cap from the bottle and squeezed it, not trying to keep his thoughts on the blood that ran from the girl's mouth and nose with that of the ooze-like material. He quickly set the bottle down and began to brush his teeth.

He had a few moments to look at the girl until he spit out the strawberry flavored toothpaste that he loved so well. He managed to clean his mouth off every time with a long white cloth from the rack and continued brushing. He spit a couple more times and, for what seemed like a brief second, he thought he saw the girl moving.

He turned around, the brush out of his mouth, but the girl was the same as she had been. A slight feeling of disappointment hit Shawn's heart as he continued to frown at the girl, his tears too soaked up to flow again. He managed to turn his attention back to his teeth as he turned his back again. He was caught up in spitting so much this time he didn't realize Hunter had appeared by the doorway.

"I still think we should call the police." Triple H said, sighing.

Shawn managed to stand straight again. "I guess it would be the right thing to do."

Triple H noticed his appearance in the mirror and saw the bruises that was on his upper forearms. They were small, but seemed to be noticable. He tried to remember if he was hit there, but more so trying to remember how he got them.

After a few minutes, Shawn finally ended brushing his teeth and rinsed out the brush under the sink. He then placed the top back on the toothpaste and set it down on the counter.

Triple H was looking at the girl, his back resting on the door hinges. "She's pretty tired, I bet. I'd hate to know what she did to get those thugs mad at her."

Shawn almost spoke, but his voice was almost choked with tears that he didn't want to. He grabbed the brush set on the side of the counter and he brushed down his hair, getting out the tangles that had formed, pulling roughly. Triple H noticed this, looking at his friend.

"Shawn, I know your upset about her," He said. "Don't be, buddy. I'm sure she'll be okay."

"How would you know?" Shawn asked, a sob coming close to his throat. He sighed, letting the brush fall onto the counter. "Why am I so upset?"

"You have feelings. Deeper than anyone I know. And you have a big heart."

Shawn let the words hang in the air as he grabbed the little hairband and let it come in contact with his hair, putting it up by leaving half of his hair in the hairband and the other half hanging loosely on his shoulders. He sighed again, letting one tear fall. His emotions were out of control as of late. He at first didn't feel like crying, but then he felt as though he needed to. It was as if he was trying to be someone he wasn't.

Triple H came over and threw his arms around his best friend, realizing Shawn was getting upset as he was hours ago, his chest feeling Shawn's warm back as his head came close to his friend's shoulder. He felt Shawn turning around, and he let his friend do so, now looking into his blue eyes that were swollen with tears that dared to come out of him.

"Shawn...It's okay..." Triple H said, his hands now on Shawn's arms.

Shawn fell against Hunter's shoulder and his tears finally made way. His sobs were loud. His body was shaking. His arms were wrapped around his friend's waist. He needed this moment, or at least what Triple H thought, his hands around Shawn's neck and shoulders. He needed to cry. He needed to let his emotions out. He did so earlier, and he was doing so now.

"I'm sorry," Shawn said in-between sobs. "I'm sorry. I just...get so caught up in my emotions...I can't-"

"There's no need to explain yourself, Shawn. I know you're upset. Just let it out."

"How can I...focuse on our match...if...knowing the girl isn't going to get better?"

"The girl's okay, Shawn. She's breathing," Triple H took a moment to collect himself from crying, tears hanging onto his eyelids, and he began to chuckle. "Your heart is the best I've ever known of. You always cared for others in need."

Shawn began sniffling. A sign he was trying to stop. "I know. I'm a wreak."

"Shawn," Triple H let Shawn's head come off his shoulder and looked into his eyes, a little red, but as blue as they always was. "Your not a wreak. You just get angry or sad and you let it out. Your worrying about the girl, and I am, too."

Shawn let his head hang limp, looking at the white tiled floors. "It's not just the girl, Hunter."

Triple H wanted to ask more questions, but felt he shouldn't since Shawn was like this. He didn't want Shawn to cry anymore. They had been through enough to let emotions like this come and go.

After a few moments, Shawn managed to look at Triple H again, tears streaming his face, letting his friend see them. He knew Hunter wouldn't laugh at him in times like this. Triple H managed to step back and walk over to the nearby counter in the corner of the room and looked in them. Nothing. No spare towels were there.

"Great." Triple H mumbled.

He closed the cabinets and looked back, noticing that Shawn was leaning against the counter, his tears coming down faster. His face becoming more ghostly than what he thought it would be. Shawn managed to breathe in deep breaths as he looked in the mirror, the image of the girl still lying on the couch, as if she was indeed gone. She wasn't moving.

"Please...don't worry about me...check on the girl." Shawn said, not looking back at his friend, his eyes darting the counter.

Triple H stood behind his friend. "You sure?"

Shawn sniffled and his tears kept flowing. His emotions were getting the best of him. His sobs created tension between the Hunter and himself.

"Shawn..." Triple H said, placing his hand on Shawn's shoulder. "Why don't you just go lay down? Sleep some more. It might do you some good."

"No."

"Shawn-"

"No. Check on the girl."

Triple H let his hand slide off Shawn's back and brought it back to his side. It felt hopeless to get Shawn to cooperate. He looked back at the girl on the couch and, after a few seconds, walked into the living room. He took a few steps towards the couch, then looked at the girl.

She looked the same, and she still looked peaceful. Her stomach muscles were moving...better than what had been.

"Hey, Shawn!" Triple H called, not trying to be too loud, but his voice overpowered him.

He looked back towards the bathroom, but Shawn was the same. He was still leaning on the counter, his back to Hunter, and his sniffles turned into short sobs every other second.

"Shawn?"

Shawn twisted towards Hunter, but his body language insisted that Hunter would leave him alone. Triple H tried to think of something to cheer Shawn up, but he couldn't think of anything but the girl. "The girl's breathing better."

"That's a relief." Shawn said, his voice cracking, followed by sobs.

Triple H started to walk back into the bathroom to comfort Shawn, but Shawn had already unclung himself from the counter and walked into the living room, getting another look at the girl, then made way back to the bedroom, his toothpaste, toothbrush, and brush in hand. Triple H looked at Shawn as his back was turned towards him and saw his friend put his materials back in his bag, then, slowly, let his own self down on the bed, his body sideways.

Triple H looked back at the girl, who looked to have been doing better, but there was still a lingering feeling of regret. He felt that the girl might not have a chance. Then again, there was a chance. He decided to check on the girl's fever when he walked over to her, getting a better look, and removed the washcloth, placing a hand on the girl's forehead. It was slightly gone. Triple H sighed in relief.

He took the washcloth in his hands and went back into the bathroom, letting the cold water from the sink seep back into it as he rinsed it out. He walked out of the bathroom and into the living room, looking at the girl again before putting the washcloth gently back on her forehead like before. Her body seemed twisted on the couch, from the look of it, but Triple H decided it was best this way. He walked back into the bedroom, Shawn's body not moving or responding.

"Shawn, can you please move?" Triple H asked, looking at his friend.

Shawn moved a little before getting up completely, his body turning to where his face was now looking into Hunter's, and his body was now straight and his arms crossed his chest, his tears still streaming.

"I'm sorry." Shawn said.

"Shawn, it's okay. You don't have to be sorry." Triple H said, sitting on the edge of the bed, his body turned to the wall.

"But I do. I cried in front of you."

"In front of your friend. I've seen you cry many times, and you said sorry each time. It's okay to cry."

"You have been there for me each time. I guess I am a wreak."

"Shawn..." Triple H turned his body towards his friend, his legs managing to swing onto the bed. "Your not a wreak. Your the greatest friend anyone could ask for."

Shawn looked at Hunter, as if Hunter had broken Shawn's hard shell. "I guess so."

"Well, I know so. Your the greatest friend in the world to me."

Shawn smiled, realizing he wasn't what he intended to be. He sat up and, whipping his tears from his face, looked at Triple H.

"I'm glad your feeling better." Triple H said.

"I'm glad your my friend." Shawn said, smiling.

Triple H moved on the bed to where his back was resting on the headboard. He smiled as he saw Shawn's smile continue to brighten the mood.

"Thanks, buddy." He said.

Then, a noise filled the air. A noise that sounded like a cough. The two friends looked at each other and sprung from the bed, as if they knew where the sound came from. They both walked into the livingroom, where the noises got louder, and looked over at the couch.

The girl was there on the couch, her eyes open completely, and her coughing made Shawn and Triple H smile.