*!Safe Inside Myself!*

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

Hayley walked between the production trucks and heard the music playing out of them. She stopped to listen to what the guys were listening too and immediately recognized the music. Sitting down on the stairs of the production truck she just let herself get consumed by the music and her thoughts.

~~~~~

Long lost words whisper slowly to me

still can't find what keeps me here

when all this time I've been so hollow inside

I know you're still there

~~~~~

"Hiding out again are we?"

Hayley looked up to see Jeff standing there with a small grin on his face. It seemed that whenever she was at her worst, he was always around. She was beginning to wonder if him being there wasn't a sign of bad things to come.

"That's the basic premise yes. I just needed some time to myself for once. I just blew up at Trish so I don't think I'm going to be welcomed back in the women's locker room tonight."

"Why did you blow up at Trish?" Jeff asked laughing.

"I don't see how its funny that I blew up at someone I consider a friend, but for the record, I blew up at her because of something from earlier in the night. It had nothing to do with her."

"Well then why did you do it?"

"I'm just pissed off is all, and if you had been there or even Summer I would have done the same thing to you guys. I just needed an outlet to vent I suppose."

"So why don't you tell me what happened?"

Jeff looked at Hayley and waited for her to tell him what was wrong. He knew from the last time they talked that she was worried about her illness and how people were treating her, but he had a feeling this had nothing to do with that. He just hoped she would trust him enough to tell him, because it was obvious that she needed to tell someone.

"It's nice back here don't you think?"

"Yeah, the funny thing is I used to come back here all the time with my guitar and just sing and play music. No one was ever around so they never knew what I did, well until Summer, she figured me out pretty quick."

"You aren't really that hard to figure out you know. It's a nice place back here when you want to be alone."

"Yeah it worked wonders for me when I needed some time alone, like when they wanted to put me with Amy, and when Summer and I were all confused on how we felt about each other."

"You've gone through a lot here haven't you?"

"Like I told you before, my whole existence revolved around the wrestling business for a long time, and well most of my good memories are here, as well as the bad. So how is the writing coming?"

"Oh it's going good now. Jim seems to think talking to writers on my behalf will help, and I will grant you it did, but for all the wrong reasons."

"What do you mean?"

"Jeff, did you tell anyone I was sick?"

"No, because it's your place princess. I mean Summer and I have talked about it with each other, but we would never tell anyone without talking to you first. This is your life, not ours."

"See that's what I'm thinking too."

"So you know what Shane did then?"

"Yeah I do, how the hell do you know?"

"I just came from there, and he's pretty messed up over it, so I figured you might know about it."

"Why would he do it Jeff? Isn't this my life, and my illness?"

"It is your life princess but he is a huge part of it, and he really was doing what he thought was right for you. I think on his part it's a little selfish too. I mean he wants you to be alright and not to get any worse. I can see where's he coming from, but he should have talked to you first."

"That's why I'm out here and not with him, because right now I might punch him if I see him."

"Is that all you'd do?"

"What do you mean?"

"Shane is in the locker room thinking you are going to break up with him over this, and I have to admit, this is something that warrants a good fight, so I wouldn't be surprised if it led to a break up, but I don't want to see that happen, for either one of you."

"I wouldn't even think of breaking off with Shane, I'm just pissed off."

"With good reason. You want some advice?"

"Always, you are the good advice guy lately." Hayley said laughing.

"Go talk to him and get this all out in the open. It will do you both a world of good. Not to mention when he hears that you don't want to leave him over this, he might just jump you. He really was worried about that."

"I'll take you up on that Jeff. You know what though? You should really think about getting back in the ring again. You are here so much lately that I think you want your old job back."

"Not on your life, the timing isn't right and Summer doesn't want to come back."

"Jeff, do me a favor alright? If you do nothing else for me, go talk to your wife about this, and really listen to her. You'd be surprised what you learn when you talk with the one you love. I mean you want me to talk to Shane about this right now right? So you do the same. You might just see something you didn't before."

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

Hayley knocked lightly on the locker room door. She knew that Shane shared with some of the other guys, and lately they hadn't been in there with him, but she didn't want to take a chance and walk in on some of them naked. She waited while she heard scuffling in the background and then Shane called out to her.

"Yeah come in, I was just getting dressed."

"You don't have to do that on my account, I prefer you naked." Hayley smiled and Shane pulled her into a hug. She figured she would wait and see If he wanted to tell her what he'd done, rather then flip out on him. Although she felt after her talk with Jeff, she wasn't as angry anymore.

"I know you do, and we have all the time in the world to do that back at the house when we get home. So are you done with your meeting?"

"Yeah, I finished awhile ago, and I was going to watch the show to see how well things are turning out, but I got sidetracked with something and just went off to be alone."

"Oh. Hayley I need to talk to you about something."

"What is it Shane?"

"I told Vince and Jim that you were sick, and I'm really sorry and if you want to break it off with me, I will totally understand. Jeff made me see that it wasn't my place. I just wanted to make sure that you were alright. I don't want to have to bring you to the hospital anymore.. Can you please forgive?"

Hayley decided not to let him finish his sentence. She pulled him to her hard and kissed him passionately. She wanted him to know in no uncertain terms that she loved him and wasn't going to leave.

"Where did that come from?"

"My heart, and for the record I know what you've done. Jim told me earlier. Which is why I was in the back, cooling my jets."

"So you're not mad?"

"Oh Shane, I'm really mad, but you know what? I wouldn't leave you because of it, I love you, you big idiot. I just want you to understand something, this illness is mine alone. You can be there for me, but I'm the one that has to fight with it and beat it alright?"

"I understand.. And I can deal with you being mad at me as long as you keep kissing me like that."

"Well let's just get the hell out of here and we'll see about that alright?"

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