Mending Hearts

Jay sighed as he and Matt stepped into the steam room. The sauna was for wimps as far as the Canadian was concerned. The real therapy came from forcing e por pore in your body open to let all the toxins leak out. A disgusting image, but truthful nonetheless. Matt apparently agreed as he adjusted his towel and plunked himself down onto the nearest bench, leaning his head back, his eyes closed in contentment. The recent matches were taking their toll on Jay and he knew Matt felt the same pain. They'd both managed a quick intense workout today, to avoid the various stalkers, and slipped into the gym's steam room before the others got there.

Jay wasn't sure how to deal with Matt since the other morning. There was no denying that the older Hardy brother had helped him through a very difficult time. In fact, before he had, Jay'd been laying in bed wondering if he would make it to morning. Jeff had always been there to hold him through the Canadian's darkest moments and he'd become very reliant on his friend's strength. The phone call had helped a little, but it didn't give Jay the physical crt hrt he needed to make it through the night. But Matt came through for him, even when Jay had been almost certain he wouldn't. He'd even held the Canadian in bed the following morning and helped him get as much sleep as he needed. Jay hadn't expected that from Matt, especially in light of the quiet manipulation the other man had been exerting lately. Jay guessed Jeff was right to try to save Matt after all.

The door opened and the three stalkers danced into the room, hooting hollhollering at finding their targets. Jay muttered an oath under his breath and Matt glared at them ominously.

"There you are, Jasey-Poo!" Chris exclaimed. "I've been looking everywhere for you! Are you trying to avoid me, Snookums?"

"SNOOKUMS?" four other voices rang out, Jay's loudest.

"I am NOT your Snookums, you human hemorrhoid!" Jay exclaimed.

"Oh?" Chris cocked an eyebrow. "Does that mean I have competition then?" He returned Matt's glare with pompous one of his own. "You better not touch one blond hair on his head!"

Matt traded calculating glances with Jay and smiled back at Jericho innocently. "Or you'll what? Blow dry me to death?"

"Ooh! Tough words, Hardy Boy!" Chris grinned as he sat down next to Jay.

Much closer to Jay than he would have liked, actually. This was really becoming annoying now. But Jay and Matt had made a pact to protect each other, and that they would do.

"How's your shoulder, Matty?" Shane drawled in a husky voice as he sat next to Matt and rubbed the offending appendage. "You took a mighty tumble in that last house show."

"Yeah," Rob agreed, positioning himself on Matt's other side. "I can teach you some yoga," he smiled slyly, "positions to help you train your body to absorb those better."

"Um, no thanks, Rob," Matt said tightly, extricating himself from their clutches and shooting over to Jay's side.

"Don't you touch my Jasey!" Chris exclaimed.

"I think I've had a long enough steam, how about you, Matt?" Jay hastily stood.

"I'm definitely done," the older Hardy said and jumped up as well.

The two backed slowly to the door and quickly ran through it before the others could say anything.

*********************************************

A minute later the steam room was filled with laughter.

"I thought he would jump out of his skin when you touched his shoulder," Rob said to Shane between fits of hysteria.

"Me?" Shane retorted as he wiped his eyes. "Your 'yoga lessons' really sent him running!"

"Hey, I think I did a decent job, too, if I do say so myself," Chris snorted.

"You definitely did, man," Rob grinned. "I don't think Snookums will be able to look at you the same way again."

"As long as he stops moping, that's all that matters."

All three men nodded in agreement.

"Hey, Shane?" Chris asked softly.

Shane lifted his head in qion ion though he had a feeling he knew what was coming. He'd actually been expecting it much sooner than now. He and Jeff had discussed the possibility and Shane felt the inner circle of friends, at least these two, could be trusted.

"Why are we following those two?" the Canadian asked. "I mean, not that it isn't fun. Hell, I think I'm finally seeing the old Jason Reso return. And I'm very happy to have a hand in that. I was just wondering why."

"Me too," Rob added quietly.

Shane sighed and began his story, trying not to make Matt out to look like a desperate obsessive man. He left out most of Jeff's involvement, seeing Chris' eyes flash slightly at the mere mention of his name. He only said that Jeff was working on Matt to get his head back on straight and that the group's main purpose was to distract him so that he didn't have time to put his plan into action. He left out Shawn and Lance's identities, citing privacy issues. When he was finished, Chris and Rob exchanged worried looks.

"What's wrong?" Shane asked.

"Well, Rob has developed a real crush on Matt," Chris began.

"It's not that big a deal," Rob protested.

"It is," Chris argued. "If you do get him, you could end up pining for someone who's emotionally unavailable."

"I can take care of myself," Rob pointed out.

"I thought so, too," Chris said sadly. "Just think twice before you fall for him." He then turno loo look at Shane. "You, too."

Shane's eyes widened as he took in the pleading look on Chris' handsome face. How could he explain that he was okay? He was the one who suggested that Jeff and he hide their relationship for a while. Chris was still so angry with Jeff. Shane didn't know what the Canadian would do if he found out that Shane was the man who stole Jeff's heart and caused him to hurt Chris' jaded ex-lover. Shane looked to Rob for support, but the other man only shrugged.

"Don't worry about me so much, Chris," Shane smiled. "I ain't after Matt. It's just an act on my part."

"You're sure?" the blond man asked cautiously.

"Positive."

*********************************************

Matt and Jay grabbed their clothes from their lockers and beat a path up to their hotel room to shower. It would be easier to avoid any unnecessary prying eyes. Matt was thrilled not to have those three in his presence. He could tell by looking at his roommate that he felt the same way.

"You take the first shower," Jay offered with a smirk.

Matt nodded his thanks and escaped into the bathroom with his bag. He stripped, turned the shower on and waited for it to heat up. As soon as it did, he slipped under the water and sighed happily. Almost as good as the ruined steam room experience.

As he lathered up, his thoughts turned to the man in the other room. He couldn't seem to get Jay out of his mind since he first held him the other night. He was glad the Canadian hadn't noticed the raging hard on he'd had when he got out of that bed. It blew his own mind to discover it himself. In fact, he noticed that he hadn't even thought about Shawn or his plan since then. Peculiar. He remembered waking early to find Jay pensive and then trying to get out of bed. Now that really bothered him. He knew Jay was still healing from his broken heart, but he wanted the man to be comfortable with him. Just why he wanted that he wasn't able to say then. He just did. So he grabbed the other man back to his body and curled himself around the fidgeting blond. It worked, as Jay slipped back into a peaceful sleep for another few hours. When they got up later, Jay thanked him for helping him and they set about their day. Well, after Matt took care of the raging hard on in the shower.

The following night, Jay seemed reluctant to sleep alone again so, without a word, Matt slid back into bed with him and held him through the night. And so began the new ritual they had. They didn't talk about it, but they slept together every night since. And, even though Jay didn't know it yet, Matt intended to keep it that way. Somehow, his big plan suddenly dissolved from his mind and he discovered a new goal to pursue. Now, he was just going to have to figure out how.

A bang on the door startled him out of his pensive state.

"You going to use up all of the hot water on me?" Jay demanded from the other side.

"That would be a change, wouldn't it?" Matt called back with a smirk. He finally finished rinsing his hair and shut off the water. "Usually it's the other way around." He began to swiftly dry off.

"A little retribution, huh?"

"No," Matt laughed as he tugged on a pair of shorts and came out of the bathroom. "It's all yours."

Jay looked at him disbelievingly before passing him and entering the bathroom. Oh yeah, Matt had to be very careful. Jay already had cause not to trust him, courtesy of his actions. But Matt faced this new challenge with determination. He would find a way.