Title: Alone

Part 5 in Series

Author: Midnight

Email: bratd19@charter.net

Fandom: WWE wrestling

Series: Is This Love?

Characters: Shawn Michaels, Dave Batista, mentions of Triple H and Hulk Hogan

Author: Midnight

Email: bratd19@charter.net

Warnings: m/m slash

Disclaimer: don’t know them, don’t own them, this is fiction

Before Backlash 5/1/05

Sleep was an impossible dream these days. He tossed and turned and hoped and prayed but it never came. Six days; six long days and he was running on empty. Hunter was dogging his steps; always half a step behind him and talking non-stop. He promised himself he was going to glue his mouth shut next time; anything for a bit of peace and quiet. Dave was almost as bad. He refused to leave his side unless he absolutely had to and then he drafted Chris Jericho to baby-sit him. Chris, at least, gave him space; let him be. He was grateful for that; wished his friends would take a page from Y2J’s book. Friend: because they weren’t lovers anymore. He didn’t know if they ever would be again. Being touched wasn’t something he could especially tolerate these days. They still shared a bed. He couldn’t tolerate sleeping alone, either. He at least needed to know someone was close by, if not right on top of him.

“Are you sure you’re going to be able to do this?” The quiet question drew him slightly from his thoughts and he turned toward Dave, almost smiling at the nearly paranoid look he was directing at him. Like David Batista had a reason to be paranoid. He wasn’t going to be forced to tag with his would be rapist and beaten nearly to death later. How exactly was he supposed to deal with that, anyway? How was he supposed to go down to the ring with that saggy old bastard and smile for the cameras? He wasn’t sure he could but he was positive he’d lose his job if he didn’t. “Shawn?”

“I’ll be fine.” Shawn muttered and moved further away. He was tired of all the questions. Tired of them looking at him like he was going to break; like he was a charity case; like he needed to be pitied. He was Shawn Michaels, damn it. He didn’t need anyone’s pity. “You don’t have to stay here. I’m old enough to be left on my own.” Dave smiled and stood up. Shawn watched him carefully out of the corner of his eye. He’d been especially careful with him lately. Doing his best not to piss him off or upset him. Shawn was almost grateful. But he would’ve liked it a lot better if he’d treat him like an adult again. Have a normal conversation with him that didn’t revolve around what had almost happened. He’d welcome a good argument right about now. He figured it’d feel pretty damn good to yell and scream instead of cry. He was sick of crying. He’d cried more in the past six days than he had in his entire life.

“You want to come with me to talk to Hunter and Ric?” Of course he didn’t. The question was: did he have a choice? And he seriously doubted he did. Hunter had basically ordered him to show up and Hunter did not take ‘no’ for an answer. If Shawn didn’t go, Hunter would stalk back here and drag him to his locker room. Literally. Shawn really didn’t want that. The last thing he wanted was to create a scene. For the first time in his life, controversy and attention did not sound appealing to him.

“Yes.” He reluctantly agreed and Dave smiled, almost leaned down and kissed him, remembered he’d have his balls ripped off and didn’t. Shawn smirked. “You’re going with me to talk to them about my match, right?” He wasn’t going alone and he sure as hell wasn’t taking Hunter. Dave was the best option despite his repeated threats to tear Hogan limb from limb with his bare hands. He could control Dave. Hunter would just smile and ignore him.

“If you want me to.” Shawn rolled his eyes. No, he didn’t want him to. That’s just why he asked. He swung around and looked up at him.

“You’re not too bright, are you?” He said dryly. “All brawn, no brains. You remind me of Hunter.” Hunter wasn’t too bright sometimes, either. Okay, most of the time. They both reminded him of overgrown apes most days. Walking around scaring the hell out of people with a look and congratulating themselves on their ability to do so. So, maybe overgrown ten-year-olds. Apes were smarter. “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want you to go with me.” Need. He needed Dave to go with him. Of course, he wasn’t giving him the satisfaction of knowing that.

“Then I’ll go and I’m nothing like Hunter.” Shawn rolled his eyes. No, nothing like his best friend at all. He stood up and moved toward the door.

“My meeting first then we’ll go and meet Hunter and Ric.” Dave nodded and dropped the bag he was rooting through. “I just want it done.” He refused to look at him. If he saw pity in one more person’s eyes he was going to claw them out of the person’s head.

“Just a few more hours and this is all over, sweetheart.” Shawn closed his eyes, let the reassurance wash over him, calm him a little, before nodding and trying to smile. He opened his eyes and looked back at Dave, motioning at the door.

“You first.” He whispered and held out his hand. “And hold my hand. I want Hogan to know…” He trailed off but he figured Dave knew what he meant. The bigger man took his hand, found the courage to lean down and kiss his forehead, and led him out the door. Despite himself, despite everything, Shawn smiled.

The End