Notice to All Employees:
Matt Hardy has been released from the company, effective immediately.
Vince McMahon
Jeff Hardy rushed into the office of the WWF chairman, the concise memo clutched tightly in his fist. Amy rushed in after him, looking equally shocked. "What the hell is this?!?" Jeff screamed, slamming the paper down on Vince's desk.
Vince looked up from his laptop, an annoyed expression on his face. "Isn't it clear?" he replied, his voice laced with poison. "I've decided to release you brother."
"But you can't!" Jeff cried. "Matt - "
"Matt brought this on himself," Vince interrupted, narrowing his eyes at the younger Hardy. "Your degenerate brother has been causing problem for months, and I'm sick of it! Do you know how many complaints I've received from the female talent about him? Those alone are reason enough to fire him, but what happened this morning was intolerable! I walked into Linda's bedroom, and what did I find??? Your brother in bed with my wife!"
Jeff gasped, glancing worriedly at Amy. "You can't be - " he stuttered.
"Oh, I'm serious!" Vince looked between the two remaining members of Team Xtreme, anger blazing in his eyes. "I'm really not too certain that you two will have jobs for much longer, either, so I wouldn't push it! Without one Hardy boy, what do we need the other one and their whore for? Now get out of my office!"
Jeff and Amy both turned and bolted for the door, Amy dashing for her boyfriend's room. Jeff leaned back against the wall, feeling a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. The thought of losing his job scared the hell out of him. Not just because of the job itself, but because he knew if he left the WWF, it would undoubtably end his relationship with his boyfriend, as well.
Suddenly feeling desperate for the comfort of his lover, Jeff stumbled down the hall, trying to fight back the tears he felt coming. He didn't bother searching for his key, just banged on the door until it was opened. Christian looked shocked as his lover fell into his arms, tears already slipping down his cheeks. The golden blonde wrapped his arms around Jeff's back, pulling him fully into the room. He backed into a chair and pulled Jeff onto his lap, holding him tightly.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Christian purred softly, wiping a tear from Jeff's cheek. "Are you ok? Did somebody hurt you?"
Jeff sniffed, swallowing before he could speak. "It's Vince," he whispered. "He fired Matt! And he made it perfectly clear that Amy and I will probably be next. God Chris, what am I gonna do? I can't leave the WWF! I can't leave you." Jeff looked up into Christian's eyes, raising his hand to trail his fingers gently across Christian's cheek. "I love you," he said softly.
"I love you too, baby." Christian kept his arms wrapped around
Jeff, rubbing his back gently. "Don't worry, baby, we'll find a way," he
promised.
Part 2
Over the next few days, while Christian and Billy, Amy's boyfriend, tried to think of ways to show Vince how useful the two were, Jeff was concocting is own plan. He had come up with something which he was sure would save his job. It wasn't something he relished the thought of doing, but he was determined to do what he had to. He didn't tell anyone about his plan, not Amy or Billy, and especially not Christian. He knew he had to be careful to never let Christian find out what he was doing.
On the night he had picked to set his plan in motion, Jeff stood outside Vince's hotel room. He took a deep breath, looking around to make sure no one was watching, then knocked on the door. Vince opened it, his eyes narrowing when he saw Jeff. "What do you want, Hardy?" he spat.
"To talk about my job," Jeff replied, standing up straight and looking Vince directly in the eyes.
"I don't think talking would do you much good at this point," Vince smirked. "I was just drawing up the release papers for you and that little trollop your brother convinced me to hire. You can tell her sleeping your way to the top doesn't work when your lay gets himself fired. Goodnight." Vince tried to close the door, but Jeff stuck his hand out to stop him.
"I think you want to hear what I have to say," Jeff stated in a cool voice.
"Do I?" Vince retorted, his eyes flicking over Jeff's form curiously.
"Yes, you do. May I come in for a moment?"
Vince considered for the instant, then held the door open. "This had better be good, Hardy," he spat as the door closed behind them.
From just around the corner, but well in view of Vince's door, stepped a figure. His eyes were locked on Vince's door, suspicion clear in his deep blue eyes. He quickly strode over to the door and pressed his ear against it, brushing a few strands of long blonde hair out of his eyes. He listened attentively to the conversation going on, able to make out most every word. His eyes narrowed as he realized what Jeff was trying to do.
"Oh, you're not going to get away with this, Hardy," the blonde
stated as he backed away, retreating around the corner again. "I promise
you that."
Part 3
"Christian."
Christian's head shot up. His hand, which had been about to slide his key card through the lock on his door, fell to his side. He watched Chris Jericho step out of the shadows, a smug look on his face. "What do you want, Chris?" he demanded, a suspicious look on his face.
"Christian - " Chris took a deep breath, glancing at the door to the golden blonde's hotel room. "I have something I need to tell you, but I can't do it out here. Can I come in for a minute?"
"Why?" Christian crossed his arms over his chest, his full lips curving into a frown. "Trying to break Jeff and I up again?"
"I just saw something I think you should know about, Christian. Please, Christian, you really should know. It'll just take a minute," Chris pleaded.
Christian chewed his lip thoughtfully, still looking suspicious. "Well - alright, but it this is some lie - "
"It's not," Chris replied. "Shall we?" He gestured towards the door. Christian raised the key card, pushing open the door and holding it hesitantly for Chris. "Thank you." Chris smiled at the golden blonde, helping himself to a seat on the couch. "Sit." He patted the cushion next to him, which Christian hesitantly took.
"So what is it?" the golden blonde demanded.
"It's about Jeff." Chris leaned in closer to Christian, speaking quietly. "I heard about what happened to Matt, and that Jeff was probably gonna be axed next."
"So, I don't see - " Christian began.
"That's not why I'm hear." Chris held up his hand to stall any further objections. "Christian, just how far do you think your boyfriend would go to keep his job?" Christian's eyes narrowed, and he opened his mouth to speak, but Chris pressed his fingers to the golden blonde's lips. "I can answer that question for you. I think he'd do just about anything. And, in his mind, maybe the best way to keep his job would be to even the odds. Linda had an affair with a Hardy Boy, so..."
Christian shoved Chris' hand away, glaring angrily at the blonde. "That is absolutely ridiculous! Jeff would never do that!"
"Oh yeah?" Chris raised his eyebrows. "Well, it just so happens that I saw your boyfriend going into Mr. McMahon's hotel room last night. I also heard some very *interesting* noises coming through the door. When Jeff left a little while later, he looked awfully sweaty, and tired."
Christian rose to his feet, his eyes narrowed at the man sitting on the couch. "Nice try Chris. Very nice try, but I'm not that gullible."
Chris snorted. "Apparently you are, because you've been buying Jeff's crap for months! Come on Christian, open your eyes." He took Christian's hand in his, keeping his hold on it even when the golden blonde tried to yank it away. "You know you'd be better off with me. I care about you, Christian! I would never do that to you. Please give me a chance."
"Chris, I am with Jeff!" Christian exclaimed, finally managing to yank his hand out of Chris' grasp. "I'm not gonna buy any of your lies. Now please leave!"
"Fine." Chris stood up, looking slightly upset but determined. "You don't have to believe me. Just you wait. Tomorrow, Vince is gonna announce whether Jeff and Amy stay or go. I bet you anything she goes, but he stays. I'm sure Vince'll find a way to explain it, but you know the real reason why."
"Get out now!" Christian screamed, marching over to the door and
pulling it open. He slammed it hard after Chris had left. Then, sinking
down on the floor, he buried his head in his hands. He didn't want to believe
what Chris had said, but deep down, he was afraid it was true.
Part 4
"Did you hear?" Jeff bounced merrily into his hotel room, grinning from ear to ear. "I'm staying! Vince has come up with a new angle for me, so he's not gonna let me go! Too bad about Amy, but it's Vince's call." Jeff stopped when he saw his lover sitting in a chair, a frown on his face. "Baby?" he asked, kneeling down next to Christian. "Something wrong?"
Christian looked up into Jeff's concerned eyes and sighed. "Yeah Jeff, there is. You slept with Vince so he wouldn't fire you, didn't you?"
Jeff gasped, but it sounded fake. "Why, I would never - "
"Would you?" Christian crossed her arms. "Jeff, if there's one thing I can absolutely not tolerate, it's lying. Don't you dare lie to me."
Jeff's expression changed, from one of pseudo-shock to a determined frown. "Yes, I did," he admitted.
"I knew it. How could you do that? How could you do that to me?" Christian demanded, jumping to his feet and glaring at the younger man angrily.
"I did it because I didn't want to lose my job!" Jeff exclaimed, rising to his feet and meeting Christian's glare with one of his own. "If what Vinnie Mac wanted in exchange was a roll in the hay, well I was willing to give it to him! I did it for us, Christian, so we can be together!"
"Oh, that's a load of crap!" Christian yelled. "You did it to save your own ass!"
"Well I sure as hell am not going back to the minor leagues!" Jeff yelled back. "I did what I had to, and I sure as hell don't regret it!"
Christian shook his head, sinking back into the chair and burying his head in his hands. "I can't believe you," he whispered. "I can't believe the man I thought I loved would do something like this! And if that's how you fell...well, maybe we just shouldn't be together any more."
"Fine." Jeff stomped over to the bed, snatching up his bags. "If that's the way you want it, that's just fine with me! As if there aren't plenty of other guys who would absolutely love to go out with me! Actually, I should thank you! Now I'm free to find a real man!"
"Go then!" Christian screamed, picking up the tv remote and hurling it at Jeff's retreating back. He buried his head in his hands, tears spilling over his face. After a few minutes, he raised his head, taking a deep breath and wiping the tears from his eyes. He picked up the phone and punched in a number, grasping it like it was a life line.
"Hello?"
"Chris?" Christian whispered, trying to keep the tremor out of his voice.
"Christian? Are you ok?"
"No," Christian choked, biting his lip to hold the tears back. "You were right, Chris! You were so right. God I'm so stupid!"
"Hang on, I'll be right over."
"Hurry." Christian set the phone down, his hand trembling slightly. He leapt to answer it when he heard the knock on his door, quickly pulling Chris into the room and into his arms. He rested his head on Chris' shoulder, letting out the tears he had been holding back. Chris wrapped his arms around the distraught golden blonde, whispering soothing words to him.
"So, Jeff - " Chris began softly.
"Yes. You were so right about him. I confronted him about it, and he admitted it, and he said he didn't regret it one bit. Then I told him I didn't think I wanted to be with him anymore, and he said that was just fine, 'cos that would let him go find a real man." Christian shook his head, his eyes still very wet.
"It's ok honey. I'm sorry." Chris rubbed Christian's back comfortingly, stroking his soft golden hair with his other hand. He drew back slightly, peering into Christian's eyes. "Not to pressure you, but does this mean you'll give me a chance? When you're ready, that is."
A small smile came to Christian's lips. "Yeah, it does," he replied quietly. "Thanks for being here, Chris."
"No problem." Chris pulled Christian back into his arms, holding
him tightly and vowing never to let go.
THE END