This chapter takes place during the 2011 Slammy episode of RAW. I'm not exactly sure when WWE started airing Jericho's return promos but I'm pretty sure it was before this. I'm going to pretend it wasn't.

"Have I told you how awesome it is that you're teaming with Randy?" John asked as he sat down next to Punk, an amused smile on his face.

Punk was already in his ring gear, legs stretched out in front of him, crossed at his ankles. He glanced sideways at John. "I can't believe you're friends with him."

John shrugged. "He's an okay guy."

"An okay guy?" Punk asked incredulously, raising an eyebrow. "Did that seriously just come out of your mouth about Randy Orton?"

"Come on, you can't hold grudges forever."

"I don't. I think Randy and I beat the shit out of each other enough to put that one to rest but it also doesn't change the fact that he's a fucking psycho."

"You're not going to call him that before your match, are you?"

Punk held up his hands. "Hey, I'll play nice if he does."

John snorted. "Because you're so good at that."

Punk only answered with a half smile before turning his attention back to the monitors. John settled in beside him, stretching his own legs out. It had been a couple of weeks since he'd asked Punk out and been rejected but he and Punk had actually spent some time together.

John hadn't mentioned it again. He didn't want to be the guy who pressured Punk. They spent the next while in easy conversation and John really did like this.

"This again?" Punk asked, drawing John's attention back to the monitors, to the weird, sort of creepy promo hailing the "end of the world as you know it". They'd aired one last week as well and there were already a few theories of who it could be.

"Yeah. Who do you think it is?"

Punk only shrugged. "Undertaker?" He suggested.

"There are a lot of people who think it might be Jericho." John had turned his full attention to Punk as he said it so he didn't miss the way that Punk stilled, or the way that his expression went blank.

"Jericho?" He repeated.

"Yeah. A lot of people think it's him coming back." He paused, studied Punk a moment. "You alright?"

"Fine," Punk answered but his tone was clipped. "Don't you have a match with Henry?"

"Uh…yeah, I do." He frowned, wondering what had caused the change in Punk's demeanor, although he had noticed it had happened as soon as he had mentioned Jericho's name. He was sure that Punk and Jericho had virtually no history in the WWE. They'd tagged together a few times but he was pretty sure that was it.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Even mocking Laurinaitis during his acceptance speech hadn't improved his mood. Punk sighed when he made it backstage again and couldn't help himself…he checked his phone. No messages, no missed calls from that number. He considered, just for a moment, calling himself but stopped.

Shaking his head, he suppressed that urge. John's match with Henry would be soon and he wanted to watch it, at least. He still felt a little guilty for the way he'd brushed John off earlier. The match between Henry and John wasn't exactly long but it was what happened after that had him jumping from his seat.

He'd seen Kane's return promos, too, of course but he was sure no one expected Kane to go after John. It didn't make sense, at least that was his thought as he made his way through the halls. Mark Henry was the one who had injured Kane, after all.

He made it just as John was coming through the curtain. "You okay?" Punk asked, stopping in front of him. He'd had that actual worry when he'd seen Kane attack John.

"Yeah, I think so," John answered but he was still holding a hand to his back. "That was weird, huh?"

"A little, yeah."

"What do you think that was about?" Punk asked with a bit of concern. It looked to him like Kane was trying to send some sort of message.

"It's Kane. How am I supposed to know?" He grinned after a moment. "But you're worried about me."

Punk rolled his eyes. "Maybe I was just curious."

"Sure you were."

Punk tilted his head in the direction of the locker room. "Come on."

"Oh, I'll go anywhere with you." John tried for the breathless voice but only succeeded in making himself sound ridiculous.

"Shouldn't you be more worried about this thing with Kane."

"I'll worry later." He snaked a hand around Punk's shoulders and Punk allowed it, surprised that his mood had lifted a bit during the short conversation.

Xxxxxxxxx

Punk was not sleeping. Well, he never really slept but at that moment, he was in a bit more pain than usual. His left shoulder was still killing him from Del Rio mangling it in that ladder, his back was aching from the shots Del Rio and Miz had gotten in with the same ladder, and he'd left the arena as soon as he could.

He didn't really feel up to doing anything so he was resorting to laying on his right side in his bed and staring at the wall. What had happened during the show was Del Rio's standard attack so it shouldn't have been that surprising.

The knock on his door made him groan and he considered ignoring it in favor of staying where he was. Even if he wouldn't be sleeping, he was at least somewhat comfortable and getting up involved aggravating the pains that Del Rio and Miz had caused. And, while he would probably be up early and trying to work them out, for the moment he didn't want to move.

All in all, he'd had a pretty crappy night. John had been attacked, he'd been attacked, there was speculation that it was Jericho who was returning next month, and Laurinaitis had ended up being the one to accept his superstar of the year award. Which just kind of irritated him more than anything.

The knocking on his door hadn't gone away. In fact, it had only gotten louder. Cursing, Punk levered himself up to his feet and went to the door. He wasn't so surprised when he opened it and found John waiting.

"Hey," John said, looking him over. From the concern he could see shining in John's eyes; Punk doubted he was doing anything other than checking him over for injuries. "I know it's late but I wanted to come by and see if you were alright."

"Worried about me?" Punk asked, and he almost smiled.

"I was, actually," John admitted easily.

Punk did smile at that and then stepped out of the way so John could come inside the room.