Aftermath

"Yeah. Yeah. Looks like I won't be spending the week with you after all, though. I'm booked for the show in Jersey tomorrow, so after dinner, I'm gonna drive back and get packed up."

John pursed his lips. "Well I'm coming with you. I won't wrestle, but I'm going with you." He said, smiling softly.

"Dude, you almost died. Take some time and recover. I'll come back and join you as soon as I can." He doesn't want to drag Johnny away from some much needed rest and recuperation.

John smiled. "I'll be fine. I've gone through much worse. I'll sleep in the hotel room while you wrestle if that makes you happy. I'll be fine." He said softly, reaching up and caressing Heath's cheek.

"I just don't want you to make yourself sicker, Darlin'."

John sighed and snuggled closer to Heath. "Hey, with all my allergies, I was sick a lot as a kid. If I get sick, I'm used to it. Trust me, I'll be fine." He said, kissing Heath's cheek.

"If you're sure." Heath nods. "Maybe just stay in the hotel, like you said. That way they won't try and convince you to wrestle when you're not ready."

John smiled and nodded. "Fine with me." Jaime called them in for dinner. They sat at the dining room table, his twin sisters bickering too much to even notice anything. John just rolled his eyes and sat next to Heath, getting his food.

Heath is on his absolute best behaviour, falling uncharacteristically quiet. He's both trying to be polite, and somewhat distracted.

John wanted to bang his head against the table as his sisters kept fighting. When everybody finished their meal, John practically dragged Heath away, wanting to get away from his sisters.

B-but I..." Heath grunts, but allows himself to be dragged. "You okay?"

John just groans and sit on the couch next to Heath. "My sisters... they're horrible. I don't like them, they don't like me. They tortured me as a child. And white little speck of love we have towards each other is never, ever shown." He mutters and rests his head against Heath's bicep as he sinks down into the couch.

Heath sits with him, petting his hair.

John sighed contentedly, drifting off when he felt Heath stroke his hair, and talk quietly with his mother. His mother like anybody, John was never worried about her not liking Heath.

Heath continues the conversation, though he's still distracted. He's more worried about this show than usual. It wasn't like his dad to take such an interest in his career.

Jaime looked at John who was sleeping, curled against Heath. "You take care of him... He can be a bit sensitive, sometimes. He's always been too trusting... he gives his love too easily." She sighed. "You be careful with him." She finished softly.

"I will, ma'am," Heath smiles. "I mean, I can't see the future or nothing, but I'd like to get to know him better."

Jaime nodded, smiling. "Good." She said softly. John stirred, curling closer to Heath. "When...we...leave?" He mumbled sleepily.

"Tomorrow morning," Heath murmurs. "I've got to make a few calls, get the hotel set up and stuff."

John nodded tiredly and fell back asleep.

While Johnny sleeps, Heath takes care of the travel plans. It'll be an early flight, but that's nothing new in this line of work.

Heath knows he should get some sleep, but his mind is racing. He's concerned about his father's sudden meddling. Before he'd gotten into the industry, they'd agreed to keep their paths separate. Heath didn't want the association with his father and his Dad didn't want him riding on any coattails. That was fine with Heath; he didn't want or need the old man's help to get to where he wanted to be.

Such thoughts keep him up most of the night until, finally, about two hours before they're supposed to wake up, he dozes off into a light, fitful sleep.

John awoke a couple hours later. He sat up, and stretched, looking down at Heath before glancing at the time. John sighed, shaking Heath awake. "Baby... wake up... plane in half hour... let's go." He mumbled sleepily, trying to get up, his knee aching a bit.

Heath groans and sits up. "This sucks. Mornin'." He checks his watch and curses; not even enough time to grab a coffee. "Let's get going." He doesn't bother changing into a new outfit.

John sighed, putting on his knee brace and changing into fresh cloths before grabbing his suitcases and waiting for Heath to be ready.

Heath ties his hair back into a sloppy ponytail, throwing on a pair of dark shades to hide the dark circles under his eyes. "Let's get a move on, Darlin'." He goes over to the notepad by the phone, writing a quick letter of thanks to Johnny's parents for letting them stay the night.