The smile that spread across Chris' face after sending the picture was devoid of humor. It was, after all, just the very first step in his plan. Convincing Kane to back off of Punk and to focus his attention on Ryder instead hadn't been an easy task but it had been worth it as well.

If he played his cards right, Kane's quest to destroy Cena would work in his favor anyway and he'd be able to use it to help further his own plan to break Phillip down. His smile turned bitter at just the thought of the man he'd spent over two years of his life with.

The biting, hateful words Phillip had used when they'd broken up for the last time…but it wasn't just that that was motivating him. He'd come back to be on top again and anything less was unacceptable. He would break Phillip down and then he would take the title away from him. It was a two for one deal, he figured.

And if he had to go through Cena, to hurt Cena to get the job done…Well, that would be fine with him as well.

Xxxxxxxxx

John stared, shocked, at the picture, frozen in place for several minutes. His breath caught in his throat at the very sight of Punk kissing another man. The number was unknown but John was sure that Jericho had sent it, just by the angle of the picture.

How Jericho had gotten his number, he didn't know but it really didn't matter. What did matter was what was in the picture. Hesitating a moment, John turned and walked back the way he had come, the picture still up on his phone.

His match wasn't until the end of the show and the feelings that were invading his chest made him want to be alone for a bit before he had to go out and face the crowd. He sat in his car when he did make it out to the parking lot.

He wasn't sure what to think about this. He'd never been a jealous guy and when Punk had told him about his previous relationship with Jericho, he hadn't been jealous then either. But the picture…it didn't look like Punk was pushing Jericho away.

What if he'd changed his mind? It had taken Punk a while to come around and let something actually happen between them. He'd said it was because he hadn't quite been over Jericho when John had first asked him out. What if he still wasn't?

Xxxxxxxxxx

The shock had worn off, replaced by anger. Actually, more than that. Punk was furious. He was even more pissed off than he had been after Jericho had attacked him before. He'd managed to refrain from punching the wall since Chris had disappeared after that little stunt. Because, at first, he had considered tearing through the backstage area to find Chris.

It even took him a bit to realize that John was later than he should have been. John had said he'd meet him there before his match but so far he hadn't shown up and now on top of that anger, Punk was beginning to get a little worried.

John usually showed up where he said he would be, and if he didn't, he always called. He was considerate like that. Never wanted people to think he was blowing them off or to worry about him.

Thinking that maybe Kane had decided to step up his plans against John, Punk left the locker room, in search of John instead of Chris. He could get payback against Chris later. For now, he needed to find John.

He finally got somewhere when one of the divas informed him that she'd seen John walking back towards the parking lot.

"There you are," Punk said with some relief when he found John sitting sideways in his car, the door open. "What are you still doing out here? I thought you were going to meet me in the locker room when you got here?" He asked, with some confusion. He'd been dying to see John, himself. It had been a few days, after all, and as much as he loved his friends and his sisters…

John did not answer but the mixed look of shock and growing anger on his face made Punk stop short in front of him, made him think twice about reaching for him. John held out his phone for Punk to take and he did with a frown, looking down at him.

When he saw the picture, he had to stop himself from throwing the phone. All his fury at the situation came back in an instant and he gritted his teeth. "Asshole!" He practically growled.

"What the hell is this?" John finally spoke up, standing as well. "I thought you said you were over Chris…but if you aren't…"

"I am." Punk's eyes flashed with anger and the fist of his free hand clenched. "He kissed me."

"And you let it go on long enough for him to snap a picture?" John asked, the anger rising in his tone.

"He surprised me," Punk defended with a frown. "Last time we were in a room alone together he bounced my head off the wall and then kicked me in the gut. I wasn't expecting this."

"So, you would have pushed him away…?"

"Yes, I would have. I don't cheat, John. He just caught me by surprise, I swear."

"Yeah." But John's tone was still unsure and Punk's frown deepened. He could see the doubt in John's eyes and he hated that, more than anything. Trust issues had been part of the reason why he and Chris had broken up too.

"You don't believe me." He handed the phone back to John.

"Why would he do that?" John asked instead of answering that accusation.

"Because he likes fucking with me." Punk crossed his arms and his eyes narrowed. "He probably found out about you and me and he's still pissed about the way we broke up."

John let out a breath and nodded. "Yeah, alright…"

"Look, Chris can be a vindictive bastard when he wants to be. And I admit I can be to but I also know Chris. I know that he's pissed at me, I know that he's probably going to keep coming after me. If you can't handle that…If you can't believe me when I tell you that that was all him…"

John's head snapped up. "No. I can handle it." He paused, seemed to consider a moment. "I do believe you."

Punk searched his expression. "Okay."

"So, he's the one who attacked you before?" John asked, finally pocketing his phone.

"Yes, and I am going to make him pay for it, believe me."

Xxxxxxxxx

John followed after Punk as he walked into the arena. He had put his phone away, assured Punk that he did believe him but there was still that little bit of doubt, of insecurity. Jericho and Punk had been together for two years, after all.

Still, he had to trust that Punk was telling him the truth if he wanted to make it work. Not trusting him would be the easiest way to destroy a relationship, he knew from personal experience. Still, there was also always this fear in the back of his head that he was being taken for a ride.

He'd been in a few relationships where the other person had just assumed that they could do him wrong without him noticing because he was a trusting guy, because he was such a nice guy. So, when stuff like this popped up, his first instinct was to trust that Punk was telling him the truth but he sometimes ended up second guessing himself.

He supposed that if Punk was telling the truth that it was exactly what Jericho was hoping for. And it wasn't such a surprise that Jericho could be so vindictive. He'd seen far worse in his years in the wrestling business. He'd seen Jericho himself do far worse.

All of it led to the conclusion that he probably should have been more worried when Punk had told him that Chris Jericho was his ex.