Broken Hearts (the prequel to Mending Hearts)

Jeff pulled up on the weight bar and grimaced. Jay was straining under his own set just a few feet away and Shane watched them both from a short distance away. He was still quietly simmering over Jeff's budding relationship with Randy. That insufferable kid was always trying to get time with Jeff and Shane had to control his instinct to put Randy's head through a wall.

And Jeff was still confused as well. Shane could see it in the beautiful younger man's eyes when he watched Shane. He thought the dark man didn't know he watched him, but Shane was very perceptive when it came to Jeff. It was almost as if the two shared a bond suddenly. And it felt deeper than any bond Shane had experienced before. The superhero wrestler found it unsettling and exhilarating all at once. Jeff likely sensed him just as easily. It was probably what was causing the confusion.

"Hey, don't strain yourselves," Randy called out as he entered the gym.

Shane sighed in disgust and assumed an appropriately amicable expression. Jay looked over at Randy warily but Jeff watched Shane with an odd look. It seemed like the Hurricane had better put a more convincing act up next time, Shane mused.

"Hi, Randy," Jeff finally smiled, making Shane's blood burn hotter with rage. "You came to work out with us?"

"If that's all right."

"Fine with me," Jeff replied.

Jay nodded but his nervous look remained. Shane felt so bad for the poor guy. It was as if he didn't know what to do anymore. He walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Here, I'll spot you, Jay."

Jay looked as if he was trying to decide something for a moment then nodded his head and set himself up on the bench. Shane stood in position and watched as the Canadian began to bench. It looked to Shane like Jay had lost some muscle mass during his last months with Adam and was trying desperately to get it back.

"Don't push too hard," Shane warned gently. "You strain yourself and you'll be off work because of it. Then where would I be?"

Jay gave him a small smile and let up a le one on his pace.

"You two okay over there?" Jeff asked as he spotted Randy's set.

"Just fine," Shane replied tightly making sure his eyes stayed trained on the Canadian. It was good to have a distraction.

"So I was hoping I could interest you in a late dinner after the show," Randy said in a hushed tone to Jeff.

Shane's insides flared to life again but he kept his expression neutral so as not to alarm Jay who kept darting his eyes up to the superhero portrayer periodically.

"Yeah, that would be cool," Jeff answered.

Shane knew he was going to have to get used to Jeff and Randy seeing each other. It was that or he had to tell the younger Hardy how he felt, but he still didn't think he could do that. He kept his eyes on Jay, noting the strain becoming more pronounced.

"I think that's good for now, man," Shane said to him softly.

Jay looked up at him mutinously at first then nodded his head and got up to stretch his arms.

"Why don't you follow that up with some cardio on the tread?" Shane suggested.

Jay looked over at the treadmills and back at him.

"Sure, I'll come with you," Shane answered his silent question as he led Jay away.

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

Jeff really didn't want to accept Randy's invitation to dinner, but what else could he do under the circumstances? Shane had insisted that he was playing the role of Jeff's protector not a jealous admirer. And Jeff and Randy had already gone past the flirtatious stage. It was a do something or forget it situation. Randy looked so hopeful, too, like he was afraid he'd read Jeff's reactions wrong all these weeks. Jeff hated to disappoint someone so sweet, too. And it was only dinner, after all. Jeff would have the freedom to decide what to do at the end of the night.

Man, but he'd been so lonely lately. Not for a physical relationship, but for someone who cared for him and understood him. Spike was a good friend and he cared enough, but he wasn't in the relationship for the company. Spike had made it clear from the onset that he was interested in a hot, sexy, physical relationship. He wasn't interested in intimate entanglements. Jeff could relate to that, as it was his own M.O. for so long. But lately he'd been feeling an inner restlessness that wouldn't let him go. His heart wanted to feel loved and his soul needed its mate. Jeff knew at that point that he needed to let Spike go and pursue other avenues.

Randy had been a logical choice at first. He got a certain sense of excitement whenever the third generation wrestler was around him and he wasn't the only one feeling it. Randy had begun to give him identical glances. Their conversations became more frequent than "hey" and their eyes would roam each other's bodies frequently.

But now that Jeff discovered his new interest in Shane, his friend all all he could think about. Yet Shane was straight. And Jeff didn't want anything to ruin his friendship with the older man either. He knew if he just told Shane how he was starting to feel, the other man would get uncomfortable and things would become strained. And how would Matt react? He'd be upset that Jeff had done something to make his best friend uncomfortable around them. So Jeff resolved to do nothing. In fact, this dinner date was just the thing. He might just be able id hid himself of this new crush and start on a possibly serious relationship with Randy. Then he wouldn't be alone anymore.

Maybe that was it, Jeff thought. Maybe his attraction for Shane was only his subconscious' attempt to get close to someone familiar who would understand him. Yeah, that was probably it. Shane was definitely straight and Jeff knew his confession would do more harm than good.

"What are you thinking about?" Randy asked suavely as he finally got up from the weight bench. "You were a million miles away."

"No, I wasn't," Jeff laughed. "I'm right here with you. I was just looking forward to tonight."

"Good," Randy smiled.

Too bad Jeff didn't feel that electricity again. But it would return, he decided.

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"Are you looking for someone?" Jay asked Shane as they ran side by side on the treadmills.

He'd noticed the other man glancing around a few times and wondered what it was about.

"Oh, I was just seeing if there were any ladies to check out," Shane smiled back at him.

Ah, that was it, Jay thought. Poor Shane, a lone wolf in a room full of fillies. Well, he didn't blame the guy. There weren't many divas on the WWE roster, so if one were available, he'd have to jump to get her.

"Molly's not taken," Jay shrugged deciding to help his new friend out.

"She's not?"

"No," Jay went on. "And she couldn't stop talking about you when we heard you were coming over."

"Molly HOLLY couldn't stop talking about ME?" Shane grinned. "Are you sure? She gave me the brush off the last time we worked together."

"She was playing hard to get."

"How do you know that?"

"I watch people," Jay shrugged. "You get to know the signs after a while."

While Jay knew this was essentially true, there were a few people he hadn't been able to read in the past. Both Hardy brothers for instance, and Shannon. The one time he'd met him, the small blond seemed amicable enough, but Jay felt something odd coming from him that he couldn't place. And then there was Adam. Boy, did he ever read that man wrong. He would never have agreed to the relationship if he'd had any idea how unsure of himself his former best friend really was. And now Shane. Shane was the epitome of dark and mysterious. No, he couldn't read Shane, but he still wanted to help him.

"Can you read me?" Shane suddenly asked, cocking his head.

"No," Jay admitted. "There are exceptions."

"But you can read Molly."

Jay nodded.

"Hmm," Shane muttered.

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Shane dressed after his shower and headed out to catch a ride with Lance to the arena. Jeff had left with Jay and Drew just a short time ago and Shane knew if he took any longer, they would be late and Lance would ground him. He found it laughable that a man who was only a few years older than him acted like a dad to him nonetheless.

So Molly had a crush on him, did she? Shane was actually happy to hear that. Molly could be just what he needed to get his mind off of Jeff, especially now that the younger man had decided to pursue a relationship with that oaf Randy Orton. Maybe he would ask the small diva out tonight. No time like the present, huh?