Mending Hearts

Jay rounded the corner trying to get past the crowd of people mobbing into the mall before they figured out who he was. He pulled his cap down low over his sunglasses and slouched as he walked. It wasn't easy, but he was able to get into the mall and over to the bookstore before anyone stopped him. Once inside his luck ran out, though. A smaller man with ag blg blond ponytail tugged him into a corner section containing rows and rows of recipe books. As Jay readied himself to deliver a blistering tirade the man removed his own glasses.

"Shannon?" he cried perplexed.

"Shhh!" the small blond admonished. "You want the whole mall in here?"

"Uh, not really," Jay agreed finding a couple of chairs near the bookshelves and sitting down in one of them.

Shannon watched him then, comprehending what Jay was doing, sat down in the chair next to him. They warily looked each other over for a few minutes, trying to assess the situation. Jay was very curious as to why Shannon sought him out, especially when the young blond was supposed to be two states away from where they were now for the Smackdown taping. In fact, Jay realized, he must have been following him all day until Jay went someplace fairly discreet enough for them to talk.

Shannon was going incognito as well, choosing a much less flashy outfit than usual. His blue jeans were well worn and dark, and his plain yellow t- shirt was a stark contrast to his usual choices. He also wore a thin leather jacket over the ensemble, despite the fact that it was 80 degrees outside in sunny Texas. This, Jay assumed, was to conceal the younger wrestler's great colorful dragon tattoo, a fairly recent addition. Jay stewed as he sat there waiting for Shannon to speak. He should have liked this boy. They probably would have been good friends if things hadn't gone on the way they had. Finally, he couldn't take the silent staring contest any longer.

"Why are you here?"

"You know why," Shannon shot back.

"Adam."

"Partly," the blond shrugged.

"What else?"

"We'll start there and see how well we do, okay?"

Jay merely raised an eyebrow and waited for the small blond to inueinue. Inside he felt his blood begin to boil. He knew he shouldn't be this angry but Jeff always said you can't control your feelings, and who was Jay to argue with someone so in tune with emotion?

"I know you can't stand me right now," Shannon nodded understandingly. "I can't exactly blame you."

"I don't hate you," Jay replied in a measured tone. He wouldn't give Shannon the satisfaction of seeing how right he was.

"Like hell you don't! You're mad that Adam's showing me the emotion he refused you."

Jay gripped the arms of the wooden chair and narrowed his eyes. Wise little bastard, isn't he?

"I'm not thrilled with it," Jay responded. "But that's not exactly your fault."

"Yeah, but it makes you mad."

"Not exactly."

"Oh, yes, exactly," Shannon countered. "You can't control you're feelings."

"Don't you dare quote him to me!" Jay exploded from his chair. "He taught me that already!"

"And that's the other reason I'm here," Shannon sat calmly back in his seat.

Realizing his outburst would cause attention if he kept it up, Jay quickly sat back down and glared at Shannon as if he could burn a hole in him. If only.

"Yes, I know what's really got you pissed, Mr. Reso," Shannon sighed. "You can't hide it from me."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You're definitely not happy about Adam hanging around me," the small blond conceded, "but that's not what really has you ready to throw me through a wall."

"Why else?"

"Jeff."

The one word Jay had been trying to avoid had suddenly driven a hole into the pit of his stomach. He fought back the tear that was trying to force its way out of him.

"You already have Jeff, Shannon," he replied looking down. "It doesn't matter how I feel about it."

"Jeff is a force that cannot be contained, Jay," Shannon sighed. "You have him as much as I do."

The Canadian looked up sharply ready to argue the point, but Shannon's wise look stopped him and he sat back to hear what the smaller man had to say.

"You really think you're not just as close to him as I am?" Shannon finally asked.

Jay shrugged.

"Well, you are," Shannon went on. "In fact, in some ways, you're closer."

"How do you figure THAT?" Jay seethed.

"He chose to stay with you."

"WHAT?!"

"When Matt came over to Smackdown that timeey oey offered Jeff a spot, too," Shannon shrugged. "They said they could get some more mileage out of the Hardy Boyz tag team on Smackdown because there were smaller guys, more believable competition for a borderline cruiserweight tag team. In fact, they were kicking around the idea of resurrectihe ohe old WCW cruiserweight tag team titles."

"Jeff refused?" Jay's head began swimming.

"Jeff told me his decision on the phone before Matt got there," the small blond grimaced. "I begged him to reconsider. I've always wanted to wrestle with him again. We had some awesome shows in OMEGA."

"He refused?" Jay asked again.

"He told me you needed him more," Shannon sighed again. "He said that you looked vulnerable when you got there and he'd resolved a long time ago to save you. He wasn't leaving you for his career, he said. Especially since said career was losing its meaning for him. You were one of his best friends."

"Aside from you."

"Along with me," Shannon corrected. "He's always been real clear about that with me. I thought he'd explained that to you."

Jay shrugged sadly and looked down. Shannon picked his chin back up and leaned in close.

"I wasn't thrilled when he said it, but I'm okay with it," the small blond assured him. "And, even though I know you won't be as close with anyone else as you are with Jeff, I'd like to be friends with you, too."

"Don't you think that would be a little awkward considering you're in love with my ex?" Jay shot back, though not unkindly.

"Only for outsiders," Shannon grinned. "Besides, it ain't like you don't have something going on with my ex."

Jay gasped and sat back sharply hitting his back against the hard wood and grunting. Shannon's giggle sounded low and amused.

"I don't have anything going on with Matt," Jay replied with a frown.

"Oh, not at all."

"I'm just trying to keep him from destroying a mutual friend's relationship!" Jay argued, crossing his arms.

"Uh huh," Shannon leaned his elbow on the arm of the chair and held his chin with his palm.

"I am!"

"And just when is this big plan supposed to begin unfolding," Shannon looked fascinated.

"He hasn't told me yet!" Jay was really beginning to lose his patience.

"I see," Shannon nodded leaning back in the c and and watching Jay with an amused look.

"What?!" Jay growled.

"It's been my experience in the past to note that Matt, when planning something, implements those schemes as soon as possible"

"So?" Jay huffed. "Maybe he hasn't had the chance yet because Shane and Rob have been chasing his ass all over the place!"

Shannon burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Shannon wiped his eyes. "Nothing at all. Just the thought of Matt becoming the hunted."

Jay thought about it for a minute and the irony struck him. He began to chuckle a little.

"Oh, come on," the blond teased him. "It's much funnier than that."

"It might be," Jay sighed, "if Jericho weren't causing me a similar migraine."

"Chris is stalking you?"

"Like a bloodhound," Jay sighed. "Why do you think I'm hiding in here?"

"I thought you liked to read."

"I do, but I have plenty of books to tide me over," Jay said. "Matt said he had plans today and Chris didn't appear to want to leave me alone at the hotel so I gave him the slip."

"Matt's helping you?"

"It's a mutual arrangement."

"Oh, I see," Shannon looked skeptical and Jay waited patiently. "Just that Matt, the way he is now, usually doesn't help anyone unless there's something in it for him."

"There is," Jay said in exasperation. "I'm keeping him safe from Rob and Shane."

"Uh huh."

"What now?!"

"Nothing," Shannon laughed. "I'm sure you're doing a good job."

"Why are you here again?"

"Sorry," Shannon put up a hand. "I do want to discuss Adam, too."

Jay quieted down to an icy silence.

"Look, you have every right not to like him," Shannon began."

"You've got THAT right."

"But you are over him romantically."

"How would you know that?" Jay demanded.

"You refused to help Matt."

"I just thought it was wrong."

"Well, that's good to hear," Shannon replied. "But Adam was your besiendiend as well as your lover, and I know you must have made some inner peace with yourself to work to stop a plan that would hurt him."

"I'm not a bastard."

"I agree."

"You must hate Matt, too." Jay had the satisfaction of seeing a twinge of pain flash in Shannon's eyes when he'd said that. Then he felt remorse. He understood just how hurt Shannon must have been to find out Matt would have gone back to destroy him. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it," Shannon sighed again. "I've made peace with it inside."

"You want me to forgive Adam, don't you?"

"Truthfully, I don't know if you can," Shannon replied. "But I do want you to allow him to apologize at least."

"And what will you for me," Jay joked. He already knew he wouldn't refuse Shannon's request.

"I'll let Matt apologize," Shannon offered.

Jay looked at him in shock. He wasn't sure if he would have asked it of the small blond but he was suddenly aware that that's what he would have asked for one day. Yet Shannon knew it even before Jay did. Just like Jeff would have. Weird.

"Jeff's trained me well," Shannon smirked.

"I see," Jay smiled genuinely for the first timat dat day. "About Jeff."

"You better not tell him yet," Shannon advised.

"Why not?"

"He'll have Matt's head if he knows you're even slightly interested in him," the small blond said.

"Why?"

"Can't you see?"

The Canadian shook his head.

"Jeff will destroy the next man who hurts you, Jay," Shannon informed him. "It won't matter one bit if it's his own brother."