Punk was walking the backstage area, heading towards the locker room when someone grabbed his arm and pulled him into the nearest room. His first instinct was to fight but he caught a glimpse of the familiar colors of John's shirt and let John pull him.

And John did pull him close, pressing his lips against Punk's. The kiss lasted just a few moments before John pulled his head away, although he didn't release Punk.

"I gotta start the show soon," John said, hands still on Punk's waist.

Punk shrugged and rolled his eyes. "I have to get ready for my title defense." He was still a little irritated about how Ziggler had 'earned' the match.

"Right. But we still got about fifteen minutes," John pointed out, pulling Punk back to him.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Technically, Chris had gotten to the arena well before his promos came up again, well before he'd finally be going down to the ring. It was then, when he was hiding out in the back to make sure no one saw him before that, that he spotted the big man.

He'd watched Kane's return as well but what was interesting was not the fact that Kane was there but who Kane was apparently stalking that week. Chris had been down the hall from John Laurinaitis when he'd caught CM Punk coming from the office, in his ring gear, with a scowl on his face. Then he'd spotted Kane coming out of another room, apparently following.

Chris had plenty of friends backstage, plenty of friends that kept him up to date on what was going on and he could guess why Kane was stalking Punk. Chris, however, had his own plans and he didn't want Kane screwing them up.

"I wouldn't do that," he called out to Kane when he got close enough and when he was sure Punk wouldn't hear either of them. Kane turned towards him and Chris held up his hands when the big man started towards him.

"Hey, I'm not looking for a fight but if you really want to mess with Cena, and you really want to use him to do it, there are better ways of accomplishing that task than simply beating him senseless." Chris grinned. "Trust me; I have a plan that will be worse for them both."

Xxxxxxxxx

If he wasn't pissed about how Ziggler had won the match, or that Ziggler had ran off with his title aftewards, he most definitely was later on in the night. He'd been having a fairly good day before coming to the arena too.

But, he had just gotten out of the shower, just changed into his street clothes when those promos started up again. He stopped and watched and found that John had been right. The lights went out in the arena and when they came back up, Chris was standing at the top of the ramp with a freaking light up jacket on.

For several minutes, Punk stood watching with his fists clenched as Chris ran around the arena. His day had officially turned to shit and Punk grabbed his bag and started out of the arena. He'd meant to stay and watch John's match but he was practically shaking with rage and he definitely didn't want to be backstage when Chris got back there.

Sending a quick message to John that he was heading back to the hotel, he left.

Xxxxxxxxx

He'd been sitting beside Zack, waiting for their match when John got the short message from Punk. He frowned, half his attention on his phone, the other half on his the monitor where Chris Jericho was making his return. Punk had told him earlier that he'd stay until after John's match and that they'd leave together.

"Everything alright, bro?" Zack asked.

"Yeah." John was still frowning, however. He knew Punk was pissed about what had happened earlier in the night with Ziggler but he also still remembered Punk's reaction to posibility of Jericho returning.

You okay?

He sent the message, and his frown deepened when he didn't get another in return.

"Ready?" Zack had stood and John nodded, his concern not going away.

Xxxxxxxxxx

John found Punk face down on his bed when he finally made it back to his hotel room. He'd stayed after the show, mostly to make sure Zack was alright after the attack from Kane and from their match.

Punk didn't move when John came into the room and John sighed. "I know you're not asleep," he said, a little angry that Punk hadn't texted him back. He'd been worried.

Punk did not lift his head, instead bringing one of the pillows over it. "I'd like to pretend," was his muffled answer.

"What the hell's wrong?" John asked, crossing his arms and staring down at him.

Punk tossed the pillow to the side and finally looked up at him. "You're pissed," he said, a statement not a question.

"Yes, I'm pissed. Why didn't you call me back?"

Punk frowned, looked to the nightstand where his phone was sitting. "Turned off my phone." He sat up, ran a hand over his face. "Sorry."

"Why?" John's anger hiked up another notch at the half hearted apology. Although, Punk did look exhausted and weary, John was still of the opinion that he could have at least let him know something.

"Because I didn't want to talk to…people."

"People like Jericho?" John asked, watching as Punk tensed at the name.

"Sure, people like Jericho." Punk dropped back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling and John's anger deflated. He'd never been too angry of a person anyway.

"What's up with that? What history do you even have with Jericho?" John had some with the man. He had been the man who had forced Jericho out of the company at one point. Well, he hadn't specifically, but still…

"You know that ex I was telling you about before?" Punk turned his head towards John and raised an eyebrow.

"You dated Jericho?" John sat down on the bed, a small frown forming.

"For over two years," Punk admitted. "Well, off and on for over two years."

"Off and on?"

Punk sat up again and shrugged. "We weren't all that…compatible at times."

And John could see that, he supposed. John wasn't exactly friends with Jericho but he knew the man well enough to know that his ego was even bigger than Punk's could be and he was just as stubborn and hot headed.

"I went little nuts after the thing with Jeff Hardy and Chris was all high on himself and had decided that he pretty much hated everybody. That was about the time we got together."

"Huh." John tried picturing that. He'd watched Smackdown when Punk had been doing the Straight Edge Society stuff. He remembered thinking how crazy Punk was back then.

"So, you started a relationship based on the fact that you were both cynical bastards?"

"Pretty much," Punk answered, not taking offense to the question at all.

"That sounds…healthy."

Punk almost smiled at that. "Of course it was." Punk paused and pulled John down with him. "Now, can we stop talking about Chris?"

"I don't know. I think I'm still mad at you."

Punk did grin this time and rolled on top of John. "Don't worry. I think I can make it up to you."