A Light In the Dark
Chapter 8

"How does it feel to be back, man?"

Shawn glanced at Randy, then returned his eyes to the arena. Sure, it had been awhile since he was backstage during Raw, not counting the previous week when he was visiting... He was now officially back in the business as Randy's manager. He wasn't sure how it was going to work, but they were sure as hell going to try.

Shawn found it odd that Vince wanted him to be Randy's manager. The kid was one of the most successful competitors in the business. He was the youngest World Heavyweight Champion of all time. He didn't need a manager. Then again, Shawn figured it was Vince's way of keeping his eye on him. Randy knew more than Vince did, in a sense, and that's what had Shawn a tad concerned about the pairing. He had an odd feeling of déjà vu as he contemplated if Vince paired Shawn with Randy because he thought Shawn would feel more comfortable hanging around someone he was familiar with or if Vince wanted Randy to babysit him 24/7.

Shawn seriously hoped it wasn't the latter.

"Feels great." He mumbled.

Randy watched him for a moment, and Shawn had a feeling he was about to explode with questions about how his sanity was, and he was genuinely surprised when Randy smiled at him.

"Good. Glad to hear it... I mean, you have no idea how awesome it is to have you back."

Shawn locked eyes with the younger man. "I have my assumptions."

"...Yeah, I guess you're right... Seeing as to how you're the one who's back and all... So... Any ideas about the show...? Like... How you want me to introduce you or anything like that..?"

Shawn shrugged his shoulders. "No clue."

"Ah, that's alright... I'm sure Vince or Steph have some ideas."

"Why don't you just tell the moron to say your name and step out of the spotlight for a couple of minutes to let you talk to the crowd?"

Shawn huffed in mild annoyance. The last thing he wanted was an interruption during a serious conversation, especially since the person he was having said conversation with was standing no more than two feet away from him. Shawn pushed the annoyance away and smiled at Randy. "I'm sure they do... I bet Vince has a list stashed away somewhere."

Randy chuckled. "You're probably right... He's been up my ass to get you back all year. I had to constantly remind him that I can't force you into anything and you'd come back when you're ready... I wouldn't be surprised if Vince has at least five pages worth of ideas."

"I bet none of them included being your manager."

Shawn cleared his throat, taking Randy by surprise. "Ahem, sorry. He needs to hurry up and get here so we can see what he came up with."

"Could you imagine if he forgot to bring his list?" Randy asked.

"If he even has one." Shawn stated.

"No, no. I'm about 99 percent sure this list exists somewhere."

"Have you asshats not met my father?"

"You shouldn't be that sure of something if you haven't seen it." Shawn replied, choosing to once again ignore the other voice.

"Well... I haven't seen Santa Claus, but I know he's real."

"...Did he really just fucking say that?"

Shawn stared at Randy for several moments, trying to figure out how to respond. When words failed him, he burst into hysterics.

"What's so funny?" Randy pouted.

"Your existence."

"You!" Shawn shouted.

Randy shrugged his shoulders. "Fine, laugh at my beliefs... I'm just trying to say that sometimes we don't see things, but we know they're real... Like... We can hear them or feel them. Or we just know in our hearts that it exists."

Shawn blinked. "I guess."

"I think he's calling you out."

I think you should shut up. Shawn thought.

"You okay?" Randy asked, looking slightly concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" Shawn replied, eyebrow raised.

"I'm telling you. He's calling you out. He knows."

Shut the fuck up. Shawn narrowed his eyes angrily.

Randy shrugged his shoulders, watching as Shawn's facial expression changed. "I don't know, man. You seem a little tense."

"Nerves." Shawn replied, forcing a smile.

"You can talk to me about anything... You know that, right?"

"Yeah."

"Talk to him, dunce!"

Leave me alone. Shawn thought, rubbing the back of his neck somewhat angrily.

Randy nodded his head, studying Shawn carefully. The man hadn't been himself in God knows how long, but his current behavior was one for the books. He looked like he was ready to run a marathon. He was fidgeting like it was nobody's business, and that had Randy concerned. He wasn't himself, no matter how hard he was trying. And Randy knew it. But, if Shawn didn't want to open up, Randy wasn't going to force him. He would literally watch Shawn spiral out of control before forcing him to admit he had a problem.

Randy was just grateful it wasn't drugs. He didn't know how to handle that.

The younger man looked around the room, trying to find the source of Shawn's problems. He even listened closely for a voice. Anything to prove Rebecca wrong. He wanted to let them know Shane was really there, talking to Shawn and trying to help him cope. Alas, there was nothing there. Rebecca was right. Shawn was hallucinating.

And Randy knew it was true. He saw Shawn go from "fine" to agitated in a matter of seconds. There was no doubt in his mind that it was "Shane" talking to him. Maybe even instigating him. Who knew?

Either way, Randy was ready to get to the bottom of it. He knew it was the reason why Vince placed him with Shawn. Randy shared an ability with Vince's late son, and it was one that many people have, but only some embrace. When Rebecca told Vince about Shawn's hallucinations, Vince wanted to make sure his son was truly gone and not hanging around, and that's how Shawn became Randy's manager, even though Randy said Shane wasn't there. Besides that, Randy knew Shawn for years, and if there was anyone in the business that could handle him as he was now, it was Randy.

Well... Vince hoped so, anyway.

Speaking of Vince, the older man had finally arrived and, like Randy said, whipped a list out of his pocket.

"I win." Randy declared, making Shawn roll his eyes.

"Whatever."

Vince looked back and forth between the two, then looked back down at his list. "Now... I have a couple of things I wanted to go over with the two of you before the show..."

A/N: Hey guys! I am SO sorry about the delay in updating this story... I have no shame in admitting I had no idea where to take it, but now I have a few ideas, so all should be well. Hopefully, updates will come steadily from here on out.