Author: Rebellecherry

Title: Hello Heartache

Summary: The ink just has dried on John's divorce papers and he can no longer deny the secret that he's hidden his entire life. His best friend Nikki pushes him closer to CM Punk an equal in the company a sometimes adversary, always an attractive distraction and he just might be the best heartache John has ever had.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything! I don't know these people, and I am in no way affiliated with this NYSE traded company. I am not saying that this has or will ever happen this is just an artistic release and expression.

Chapter 3

Back to Black

When he woke up John realized two things, one he wasn't alone which was fine because for the last three weeks he'd been having sleepovers with Punk and Nikki. The second thing was that he felt like a he had a dance floor in his head and all the dancers were clog dancers who were intent on giving him a brain hemorrhage. He licked his dry lips and forced his eyes open. He ran his palm over the warm smooth surface it was lying on to find that he'd had his hand draped around another body. He was fine with that, it was either Punk or Nikki and he had on good authority both of them were sleep cuddlers, he'd woken up more than once with a leg thrown over his hip and one of them clinging to him.

He brought his hand up a little higher running into the pierced nipples instead of heavy breasts, he decided who his cuddle partner was. The little gasp he got for brushing against the nipple shot straight to his lower reigon, which was already on the up and up this morning before he could wake up. It was so intimate the way they were sleeping. John pulled his head away from the man's side and gazed at the straight edge tattoo on his stomach.

He imagined himself kissing every letter but he couldn't, the image in his mind was so real. Like it had happened. John thought it was just his imagination he had quite the imagination when it came to Punk. And he had had the most amazing dream about him, it was hotter and more real than any other he'd ever had and he'd had a lot of dreams about Punk. So maybe he was suffering from the residual effects of having a Punk filled erotic dream and waking up next to the man.

"How are you feeling?" Punk's voice was soft and almost unsure, John could count on one hand the times he'd heard him sound like that.

He met Punk's eyes and tried not to shudder under the intensity of the green brown gaze. The man was looking at him with such concern. John gulped.

"I'm okay," he answered, "just a little hung over."

He tried to sit up and couldn't, "okay a lot hung over. What happened last night? The last thing I remember you were yelling at me, and then I was slamming shots of Jack."

"You don't remember anything that happened last night?" Punk asked the shock evident in his voice.

"Around the third bottle and pacing my room, it all blurred together," John said, "Did I come over and make an ass out of myself?"

"No, last night was fine," Punk whispered.

There was a knock at the door by the time John was able to stand up, he wobbled over to the door and opened it, there was a bell hop rolling in a breakfast tray.

John thanked the man, breakfast was exactly what he needed.

"Go ahead and eat I gotta shower, we're leaving at eight right?" Punk said the man's whole demeanor was changed in it's place was that tough aloof exterior it had taken months and years for John to fight his way through.

Punk rifled through his suitcase grabbing what he wanted and disappearing into the bathroom.

Punk struggled not to react to what John had said, he didn't remember last night, he was a walking talking blackout when he entered Punk's room. He knew better than to let things get this far, he'd let him in and he was starting to fall for him. And now John didn't remember the fact that they'd had sex. And Punk had been under the impression that it was rock 'em sock 'em too good to be forgotten.

Once he was safely in the bathroom it was okay for him to be completely crushed, it was happening again. Someone else had said those three words and took them back, well they weren't taken back they were forgotten even worse. He couldn't stop the tears then, sliding down against the door he let them come and when he got up he wasn't going to cry about this anymore, if John had forgotten then it was just then end of things, if he was going to be in the friends zone he was going to do it with dignity he wasn't going to pine for a man who was so deep in the closet it would take a team of archaeologists to get him out.

He pulled his knees up to his chest feeling his tears hit them but he couldn't stop. He hugged his knees close trying not to let his sobs get too loud. He was going to allow himself this one cry he could be miserable all he wanted but he'd be damned if he let John see how miserable he was. He stood chest still heaving, he was done, he'd wasted enough tears on guys who were afraid. He turned on the shower trying his best to put that hardened persona in place, and he'd almost succeeded until he got out of the shower and noticed the marks John had left on his hips. He'd left a bigger mark on Punk's heart.

He dressed covering up the marks. He didn't want to look at them. John was eating when he walked out, the blush in John's cheek was evident when he came out shirtless baggy jeans low on his hips going over to pull a wrinkled tee shirt out of his bag quickly before John questioned the marks on his hips.

"You hungry?" John asked downing some orange juice the man had put his clothes back on all of them and it was just as well Punk wouldn't be able to touch the chiseled physique the man possessed again so there would be no point in gazing at it all morning.

"I'm fine," Punk sighed, zipping his suitcase, he'd effectively packed in ten seconds.

"I should go pack too," John said, "And find some aspirin."

"Nikki has some in her purse," Punk tried to smile at John but all in all he wanted to mope, in a way that rivaled any sexually ambiguous fifteen year old who had a crush on the school quarterback.

Nikki came barging in with her giant rolling suitcase and John's as well she was out of breath.

"Good you ordered food," Nikki said dropping the luggage on the floor she was on her way to the food when she met Punk's eyes.

She looked at John who was holding his head sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Nikki do you happen to have aspirin?" John asked.

"I have Aleve," she said reaching in her purse that was probably big enough to put Rey Mysterio inside.

She gave him the bottle and he took two with his orange juice and she dropped the bottle back in the purse after replacing the cap.

"What's going on here?" Nikki said her question directed at Punk who shook his head.

"I'm gonna go shower," John said, "Nikki will you be okay to drive in a little bit?"

"I'm good," she grinned.

"What is going on?" she repeated the question when John left the room.

"He doesn't remember last night Nikki and I can't forget it," Punk whispered sitting down on the floor.

"Well remind him," Nikki said.

"I can't," Punk said staring blankly ahead.

"I've been dreaming about this for months and you two are not going to fuck this up for me," Nikki said, "you need to talk to him try to jar his memory. We have ways that we can get him to come around."

"Nikki I don't think…" Punk began but Nikki cut him off.

"You think too much," Nikki said grabbing a piece of bacon and a pancake and wrapping them together she sat on the floor in front of Punk, "let me handle this. You will not mope about this. You won't cry. John loves you and I have a feeling you love him too. We're going to get him to say it sober and I know exactly how."

"This is going to go like the time you tried to hook up Celeste and Stephen?" Punk asked.

"It's going to go way better," Nikki grinned, "I still haven't given up on them."

"You should give up," Punk said, "Celeste and AJ are dating and have been since their rookie days. Celeste is gay and you tried to hook her up with a giant pale Irishman."

Nikki's eyes widened, "Really?"

"Yeah, I had the honor of rooming next to them a few times last year, AJ is a screamer," Punk reported.

"I too have now experienced another woman and I have seen their ways," Nikki said.

"You and Nattie?"

"And Justin," Nikki grinned, "it was hot."

"Good for you Nikki I was scared you were gonna start humping my leg if you didn't get some soon," Punk said.

"I could have said the same for you Punk," she said, "I am so sorry babe. We're going to fix this."

She pulled him into a hug and he relaxed. Giving Nikki control of the situation wasn't the best idea, but he didn't want to think about it, it was going to drive him crazy if he continued.

"Now eat something," she scolded, "We're getting on the road as soon as John brings his ass back here. And he forgot his clothes, I should bring him something to wear."

Nikki smirked and hopped over to John's suitcase, when she dressed John the results were disastrous, she pulled out random items, one of them was the hoodie Punk had lent him three weeks ago on their Wal-Mart outing. He didn't see what other items she grabbed.

"I'll be right back and we'll go check out," Nikki said simply.

She wasn't gone too long she returned grinning like a Cheshire cat, they grabbed up the luggage, and Punk debated over what to do with the condom in the trash can. Nikki groaned and picked up and flushed it.

"Can't trust hotel staff," Nikki grinned, "one of them might have come around saying that they were pregnant in the National Enquirer."

"I'd probably kill them or at the very least make them wish they were dead," Punk said, "I don't like the idea of someone walking around with John's kids."

"He doesn't either," she said, "he doesn't want kids nor does he want to get remarried, I think this forgetting thing might be just as subconscious as alcohol induced. Not saying it's a lost cause because its not just letting you know that the bitch he married did a real number on him. I hated seeing him go through that."

Punk nodded solemnly he didn't have the best track record with relationships either and he could relate to that. If this was going to work he was going to have prove to John that he wasn't like that. Not that he was in anyway pushing for a marriage or kids, both things impossible due to state laws and who has time for kids on the road?

"After SmackDown, I'm coming to Chicago with you," Nikki said, "We've got lots to do. I've already seen how waxed you are keep it up, we've got to get you some jeans that fit."

"These fit just fine," Punk said.

"You've got a great ass we should show it off," she told him, "We're going shopping, I know you hate it and you hate labels so we might do this the old fashioned way, I'll ask the seamstress for your measurements and I'll go online. But we're heading to NJ the land of malls, we could hit up Paramus and I get you into a couple pairs of skinny jeans so you can parade around in front of John at the last house show."

"How about not," he said, "I am not changing who I am to get some boy to notice me."

"He already notices you Punk," Nikki said stuffing the clothes she'd no doubt stolen from the bathroom floor when she switched in her sabotage outfit in John's suitcase, "I wanna get him unhinged, salivating, to the point where every thought he has is about how badly he wants into your pants. I want him to realize what he's running from and to not do it anymore."

They trudged down stairs with their stuff, Nikki was at the hotel desk and Punk was at John's rental loading the things into the trunk he smirked finding his gear bag already in the trunk. He started the car and pulled it around to the front, John and Nikki were arguing in the doorway. Nikki had only given him a pair of jorts boxers and Punk's hoodie to wear along with a matching pair of sneakers and socks.

"I was just trying to help Johnny," Nikki said looking her most pitiful.

"I actually like you in that," Punk said getting out of the car and walking around to the passenger side.

Nikki got in on the driver's side and stuck out her tongue at John who trudged toward the backseat, got in and sprawled out across it.

"I am never drinking again," John groaned.

"You are banned from alcohol forever," Nikki agreed sharing a look with Punk who said nothing but bit his lip ring.

John eventually perked up on the ride from Virginia to New Jersey. When they stopped to eat three and half hours in he actually took over a driving and ended up shaving a half hour off the six and half hour trip. They arrived at the next hotel and checked in, John got his own room and Nikki and Punk decided to share. Punk knew he'd get questioned about this later but he didn't care, he was going to need to lean on Nikki right now, and she was going to let him and that was all that mattered.

"Why didn't the three of us split a double room we're always bunking together anyway?" John asked as they headed for the elevator.

"The whole roster thinks we're involved in a three-way they don't need any more suspicions," Nikki pointed, "not that I really give a fuck what they say but Nemeth following me for clues to drag back to Vickie is ridiculous."

The elevator opened revealing the chairman of the board the founder of the company Vince McMahon. Punk gaped because he had serious history with this man and not just professional history and not to mention he'd heard everything Nikki had said. He thought that Mr. McMahon would be staying in New York at the Four Seasons like Stephanie and Hunter and just drive down for SmackDown.

Vince smiled at them, "Hello John, Nicole... Phillip."

Punk winced at the use of his real name.

"The three of you aren't getting into any trouble I hope?" Vince asked the question clearly directed at Punk.

"No sir," Punk responded quickly sarcasm dripping from the sentence.

"There'd better not be a whisper of anything about you three on the dirt sheets," he said.

"We're just friends," John said, "all three of us."

"That's a real pity, you and Nicole would look great together, The Boy Scout and the Bella, that could work," Vince laughed, "see you around kids."

He wanted to make a scene and go after the man but he was pulled into the elevator by his friends.

"What in the hell was that?" Nikki asked.

"He's such an ass, the biggest ass on the planet," Punk ranted, "all this time later he doesn't want me to move on. He knows nothing is going to get to the dirt sheets, we're all careful and nobody rats on anyone around here. He doesn't own me, I can't wait to show him."

"That was weird," Nikki said as they put their stuff in the room with the big bed.

Punk was pacing, beyond pissed that Vince had done that. He was sure Vince wouldn't have said shit to TJ and Nattie about Gabriel. But then again Vince hadn't a vested interest in any of them, and Vince was interested in anything Punk did and he had been since the day they'd met but it never got Punk anywhere.

"Don't let the old goat scare you," John stated.

"I'm not scared," Punk stopped to glare at him, "I'm pissed off. He wouldn't have tried that shit with Nattie and Tyson about Gabriel. This is about what it's always about it's about me and him. He's got another thing coming if he thinks I won't do it."

"Won't do what?" Nikki asked.

"My contract is officially up on July 17," Punk said, "I wanna split but I haven't figure out which would be the best way to piss off Vince. He keeps me staggered somewhere in the mid card no hope at any opportunities for titles. Mediocre storylines, and I've been screwed over more times than I've been screwed."

"You should leave with the title," John said.

"The one in your bag? The one that Sanmartino held and Stone Cold?" Punk asked, "that would kill Vince I don't want him dead I wanna be left alone and after that is all anyone would ever talk about."

"Wouldn't it be great?" Nikki said, "you could get whatever you want. You're being underutilized."

That's what hurt the most, they weren't playing him to his strengths. He was a top dog everywhere else he'd went in a matter of months, he'd been here for years and he hadn't really done shit here.

"Thanks guys," Punk grinned, "I think that might actually work. And if it doesn't I'll still see you guys all the time."

"If it doesn't we'll move to Chicago right Johnny?" Nikki smirked.

"Of course," John said, "that would make the dirt sheets, we'd buy a compound and all live together and people would never stop talking about that."

They readied themselves for the venue, Nikki showered again, and so did Punk and John. John got ready in the empty room just to save time Punk put on most of his gear because he had to annoy Vince as soon as he got there. And there wasn't much that got Vince's attention like Punk's ring gear.

John was caught in a conversation with Miz about their feud, and Nikki was with Brie, catching her up on what her plans were for the rest of the weekend, since she and Punk had no house shows she was going back to Chicago with him. He trusted Nikki not to discuss anything but the basics with her sister. The situation was too touchy and Nikki could handle herself.

He was wearing his boots and the yellow gear with the matching boot covers and kick pads. He'd oiled up and slicked his hair back after dutifully going to make up and getting his bruises covered by a smirking makeup artist. She'd seen worse on him, and had never questioned his activities.

He made his way down to Vince's office, which was out of the way. He was surprised to find when he knocked and was let in the man was alone dressed impeccably in a suit.

"Phillip, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Vince asked smirking, "You are going to take the piercings out before you go on right?"

"This visit isn't going to be pleasurable," Punk said simply as he closed the door behind himself, "I always take out my nipple rings and tongue ring before heading out these days don't I?"

"That's my good boy," Vince grinned lasciviously.

"You just had to do that didn't you?" Punk said, "your jealousy knows know bounds."

"Words getting around about how you three are spending a lot of time together," Vince said, "it's not true is it? John always seemed straight as they come. But Nicole has always been a wild one but we both know she can't give you what you need."

"Anyone with eyes can see how bad you've got it for John, even that crazy prick Orton picked up on it and he's been after you like a dog in heat," Vince sneered, "I know your high morals won't allow you to pick up another lover anywhere else at a bar or any other place."

"If I just wanted someone for sex I would have never ended our situation," Punk said, "I want more and I deserve more."

"You could always come back Phillip," Vince said, "I always know what you need."

"I needed you to love me," he said, "you couldn't do that you used me for as long as you saw fit, and now that I've found new friends you won't let me move on."

"Why do those three words matter so much to you? You're still weak for me admit it to yourself if you can't say out loud," Vince stepped closer and Punk stepped away from him till he was trapped between a wall and the older man.

"Have you forgotten?" Vince whispered, "how I had you spread out all over Italian leather during the party at WrestleMania last year? How I fucked you with in an inch of your life? How perfect you were that night. You teased me all night while you danced with your friends. And you look amazing in a suit, and even better out of it."

Punk swallowed hard, he wasn't weak, but he remembered and his body responded accordingly, with Vince pressed against him whispering in his ear.

"You want to be with me again," Vince licked his neck and gripped his hips.

Punk let out a shuddering breath, "Stop please. I can't do this again."

He tried to push the man away but he went kissing Punk's neck and rational thought left. The hands on Vince's shoulders that were meant to push him away instead where clinging to him for dear life.

"You want this," Vince observed, "do you want to be mine again Phillip? I'll take care of you and you know it. You won't want anything."

Punk found his resolve, "The two things I've wanted from you are two things you won't give me."

"I'm not leaving my wife," Vince said, "it's bad enough that she knows we do this."

"I never asked you to leave her," Punk said, "I just wanted some respect and for you to say you love me and not take it back."

"I respect you," Vince said searching his eyes.

"No you don't," Punk said, "otherwise you wouldn't have cornered me. You're trying to take advantage of me again."

"I just want to give you what you're scared to ask me for," Vince said, "we can go back to the way we were. Weekends in the Hampton's just you and me, sex whenever you want it. Private dinners you and me. You like it when I hold your hand in the limo."

"That's all really nice Vince," Punk said, "but I can't."

"Why not?" the man kissed him again slowly, the way he liked pulling off biting his lip ring.

"It won't mean the same thing to you that it always has to me," Punk said, "I'm not some sort of mistress that you can keep around to get your rocks off because you can't get off with your wife. That was okay for awhile because I didn't know any better. I shouldn't have started this, because you're never going to see what I have to offer in the ring because all you see is the little boy you've had in your bed!"

"If you didn't have the skills to be here you wouldn't be," Vince said, "I like that you don't use the fact that I've had you to get more TV time. That is something I do respect about you. I don't use you to get off because I can't with my wife, in fact when you're not with me I don't want anyone else it took me this long to find you, I'm not going to settle for someone else."

"Really?" Punk asked.

"Yes baby," Vince kissed him again and Punk could feel himself giving in, "how long till your match?"

Punk glanced at the clock, "I'm in the mid card, about 45 minutes I guess."

"Good," Vince said, "I can make them hold the show for you if I wanted. And right now, I want to."

John finished up talking with Miz he had a bone to pick with Vince, about his behavior this afternoon in the elevator. He wanted answers and he knew he couldn't get them from Punk. Vince had been almost possessive and it was clear when he was speaking he was talking to Punk specifically.

Honestly he didn't hear the moans until after he'd knocked on the door, they sounded far away and familiar. He heard Vince swear and the shuffling in the room.

"Vince, it's John. I'm coming in whether you like it or not," John opened the door, he found Vince and Punk standing in a corner Punk trapped by Vince and a filing cabinet.

Punk's lips were swollen his eyes lidded and sad in a way John had never seen them. And he never wanted to see them that sad again.

"Now just who in the hell do you think you are barging in here like this Cena?" Vince didn't bother stepping away from Punk.

"I wanted to talk to you about earlier today, but think we should talk about right now," John said slamming the door.

Punk looked utterly terrified. Vince looked annoyed and stepped away from Punk and walked around to sit at the small desk.

"Punk do you want to be here?" John asked.

Punk frowned his eyebrows knitting together, "The more I think I about it the less sure I am."

"I'm not going to ask what's going on cause it's not my business," John said.

"Damn right it's not, and you won't speak of it either of you," Vince said harshly and Punk visibly flinched the hurt evident on his face.

"What exactly don't you want us to talk about? How you threatened us mostly Punk in the hallway?" John asked, "and how I came in here to ask a question and found you pressing the same young man against a filing cabinet what am I supposed to think Vince?"

"I couldn't give a damn what you think," Vince said, "you're not known for your thought processes. Stick with what works your brute strength, you just put two and two together and got forty seven."

"John lets just go," Punk said before shooting a cold look at Vince "nothing was happening. You almost got what you wanted then didn't you?"

They walked out into the hallway, and John grabbed Punk by the wrist, harder than he probably should have. Leading them out of a loading exit ignoring the young man's protests.

"What the hell?" Punk demanded rubbing his wrist.

"Did I put two and two together and get forty-seven?" John asked, "Which is probably the number of years between you and Vince. How long has this been going on?"

Punk rolled his eyes, "Nothing is going on didn't I tell you?"

"Fine," John said, "we'll play it your way. Something was going to happen if I hadn't come in right?"

Punk crossed his arms and kept silent.

"I'll take that as yes," John said, "did you want something to happen?"

"No," Punk said firmly, "that's over. This not the place for this conversation."

"We will talk later," John said firmly.

Punk nodded before pulling John into an impulsive hug, "thank you."

With that he was gone, feeling Punk pressed against the length of his body his thoughts going back to the dream he'd had. Everything felt so real, and so amazing. He wondered if Punk was in love with Vince. He didn't know if he could handle it if he was. It was clear the two had a lot of history and it made John's blood boil. Vince was using Punk and he could see that from where he'd stood.

John wasn't sure what he was going to do, but he was going to keep Punk the hell away from Vince, no matter the cost.

Thanks to everyone who has been reading, reviewing and following it means a lot. I'd like to wish everyone a happy New Year!