Mending Hearts

"What are you doing up here, buddy?"

The voice startled Shannon from his musings and he turned to see Billy Kidman leaning against the wall near the door. He looked about as sad as Shannon felt right now.

"Nothing much," Shannon replied. "Just getting some air."

"Your room doesn't have a balcony?

"It does," Shannon sighed. "I just wanted to be alone."

"You, too, huh?"

"Yeah," Shannon shrugged. "You want me to go? I was about to anyway. I know what it's like not to want company."

"Nah, stay, Shannon," Billy smiled. "I don't mind sharing the roof with you. Why don't you tell what's on your mind?"

"I don't really want to talk about it yet," Shannon sighed. "But I'll listen, if you want to talk."

"That would be nice," Billy nodded and walked over to sit next to where Shannon was standing.

Shannon looked at him for a second or so and then squatted down next to him. They sat shoulder to shoulder on the rooftop. Shannon liked Billy. They'd worked together before in WCW. But they hadn't hung out together all that much due to storylines and Billy's girlfriend. Oh, Shannon liked Torrie well enough. She was a real nice girl. But she was clingy with Billy and so they hardly ever hung around with the other wrestlers. Shane used to call Billy pussy whipped, but Shannon didn't think that was the case. He'd seen Billy and Rey ogling each other in the past and wondered if he wasn't just afraid of coming out of the closet.

"Torrie and I finally broke up," Billy smiled sadly.

"I'm so sorry," Shannon replied. "When? Why? If you don't mind me asking."

"I don't mind," Billy smiled again. "I always knew we'd end up breaking up someday. I just figured it would be because she found out." He broke off.

"She found what?" Shannon prodded. "That you love her just not in that way?"

"You know?" Billy looked startled. "How?"

"Just a hunch," Shannon shrugged again. "I'm good at spotting others like me."

"Like you?" Billy's eyebrows went up. "Small?"

Shannon shook his head.

"Ah, gay, then?" Billy smiled.

"That's the one," Shannon replied with a sad grin of his own.

"You never made a big splash out of coming out," Billy said. "I just wasn't sure if you wanted everyone to know."

"Oh, everyone knows whether I like it or not," Shannon grunted. "Matt made sure of that."

"He did keep us all away from you while he was here," Billy nodded. "I tried to talk to you about three months ago about a match we would both be at ringside for but Matt intercepted me and said I could tell him anything I needed to say to you and he would be sure you got the message."

Shannon grimaced again at that statement. He wasn't all that surprised about it, though. Matt had made a habit of running off all their friends and Shannon did nothing to stop him, afraid of capsizing an already rocking vessel. He wondered how different things might have been if he'd stood up to Matt and told him to go to hell.

"I'm sorry about all that, Billy," he said finally. "I was so blind to what he was doing, I didn't take notof sof some very obvious details."

"So, are you getting over him with Adam?"

Billy's blunt question cut Shannon to the quick. He was suddenly reminded of just what his place was in the company and why Billy was probably happy to see him tonight. He didn't blame the man, as that was what he'd let Matt turn him into.

"Adam and I are just friends," he said through his teeth. "I ain't letting that happen to me again." He turned his head to look Billy right in his deep brown eyes. "I ain't going to let anyone make me the company whore."

"I'm sorry, man," Billy murmured. "I didn't mean to imply that I thought of you that way." He flushed a little. "And that's not why I'm talking to you tonight. I really just thought I could talk to you. That you'd understand."

Shannon stared at him for a few long minutes trying to ascertain the truth behind the heated words. Billy looked back at him with unwavering eyes so Shannon knew he was telling the truth.

"All right then," Shannon said then suddenly grinned. "Besides, we wouldn't make a good match anyway."

"Why not?" Billy strived for a wounded look. "I happen to think I'd make you a wonderful wife!"

"Ha ha," the small blond giggled. "First of all we're too much alike in a lot of ways to ever make each other happy."

"I don't know about that, but whatever. And secondly?"

"And secondly," Shannon raised an eyebrow. "You're already too much in love with Rey Rey to pay me any mind." Billy flushed an even deeper red and the small blond laughed at him. "Don't try to deny it. I've seen the looks you give him."

"That obvious, huh?"

"To me it is," Shannon said. "But I'm sure nobody else noticed. You know how self absorbed everyone is around here."

"I know."

"What did happen with Torrie tonight, Billy?"

Billy frowned deeply and looked at the ground they were sitting on. Shannon wasn't sure he would answer.

"Turns out the storyline with Dawn Marie wasn't all acting," Billy finally said. "I found them in bed together last week. She keeps apologizing and I keep telling her not to worry about it, but I haven't been able to tell her why yet."

"Well, that is a jam, isn't it?" Shannon replied. "Why can't you tell her?"

"If she finds out that I'm in love with Rey, she'll tell him."

"And that would be bad because?"

"Because he and I have been friends for years," Billy sighed. "I don't even know if he likes me that way and if he doesn't and then knew I was in love with him, things would be all awkward."

"Ah, I see," the small blond nodded. "Let me ease your mind. He likes you."

"How do YOU know?" Billy sounded affronted.

"Because while you've been busy trying not to let him see you watch him, he's been trying not to let you see he's doing the same damn thing."

Billy looked at him wide eyed. "Are you sure?"

"Trust me," Shannon smiled. "I'm positive."

Billy thought for a moment then slowly smiled. He looked back up at Shannon gratefully. "Thanks, man!" he quickly shook Shannon's hand. "I'm so glad I ran into you tonight."

"No big deal," the small blond smiled back. "Now what do you say we both go back inside? It's getting chilly out here."

(A/N: Sorry for giving you grays, Cat Lea Takersdarkone! See? I got him off the roof without making him jump!)

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Adam waited impatiently in his room. He was worried Shannon wasn't all right, like Jeff insisted he was. How could anyone in that state of mind be all right? He hoped Shannon wasn't contemplating anything stupid.

Adam sat back on his bed and thought about what Jeff had said earlier. Matt had deliberately seduced Shannon because he knew that Adam cared for him. And he was planning to come back and do it again when his plan to break Shawn and Lance up worked. He was doing it to pay Jay back for his services. This plan was so disgusting to Adam he could hardly stomach the thought. What had happened to Matt to make him think up something so devious and malicious? Didn't he care about what this would do to Shannon if he were successful?

Not that it would be successful, though. Adam had no intention of playing into Matt's neat little manipulation. And he glad to hear that Jay wasn't either. He would have been sorely disappointed to find out his best friend and former lover was capable of something so cruel. Still, this plan meant Matt wasn't the same guy Adam thought he knew.

It also meant that he was the reason Shannon got hurt to begin with. How could the small blond possibly forgive him for that? And now Shannon thought that the only reason Adam wanted to be around him was that he reminded him of Jay in some way. How could Adam convince him that wasn't true? Jeff was right. This wouldn't be easy at all. Adam was determined to show the young blond that he didn't want him just for sex. It would be tough, but he knew he couldn't give up.

Sometime while he waited, Adam fell asleep on his bed with his clothes and the light on. He didn't hear Shannon come in, but he suddenly felt him crawl up his body and straddle his lean waist before he opened his eyes and looked up at him in confusion.

"Shannon?" Adam squeaked as Shannon unzipped his pants and pressed himself against him. "What - what are you doing?"

"Come on Ad," the small blond said in a sexy growl. "I'm just cutting to the chase and giving you what you want."

Adam couldn't find his voice as Shannon squirmed against him again and looked deeply into his eyes.

"You do want me, don't you, Addy baby?"