California was warm and sunny, quite a change from Japan. Sean stood outside, waiting for his rental car and turned his face toward the sun. Looking around, he decided that the only thing brighter than the sun was his mood. It had been four days since Dave left, and he hadn't told him he was coming. He wanted to surprise Dave, just like Dave had surprised him. He loaded his bags into the car and headed for the hotel, singing along with the radio as he drove.



For the first time in a month, Dave was smiling as he packed his gear into his bag. No one asked him about the change in his attitude - most of them were smart enough to know that just because he was smiling it didn't necessarily mean he was in a good mood. A few even knew that the smile on his face could be a foreshadowing of pain and suffering for someone.

Checking his watch as he slung his bag over his shoulder, Dave knew it was too early to call Sean. He would do that from the hotel, after he had gotten settled in. With a wave, he said goodbye to a couple of the guys before heading out to the parking lot. Hunter and Randy were standing near the door, whispering to each other. From the look on Randy's face, it obviously wasn't a pleasant conversation, but Dave didn't pay them much attention as he walked by. He had more important things on his mind.



Sean sat in a chair in the lobby, reading the local paper. His eyes kept darting up to the doorway, watching for Dave. He knew it was a little early for him to be there yet, but he would wait as long as it took. He checked his watch again, then went back to reading the comics, trying to distract himself. A group of teenagers approached him and the inevitable, "Hey, aren't you…?" conversation followed. He signed autographs, told them he was in town visiting friends and silently prayed for them to disappear into thin air. They made their way to the front door, standing outside in hopes of getting a glimpse of their favorites as they arrived.



Dave turned the key one more time, slamming his hands on the wheel in frustration. The car was dead, completely dead. He looked out the window and saw that Hunter and Randy were leaning against their car a few feet away, watching him. He opened the door and got out, stretching his long legs. Hunter smiled at him. "Looks like somebody needs a ride," he called out. Dave shot him a look that would have made a smarter man run in fear.

There were a few other cars in the parking lot and Dave looked around, trying to determine who was still in the arena that he could get a ride from. Hunter pushed himself off the car and slowly walked toward him. Dave stood, arms crossed, wondering if he could punch the guy out without anyone noticing. The security guards were near the gate - they wouldn't see a thing, except for Hunter laid out on the ground.

His eyes darted around quickly, but not as fast as his hand shot out and wrapped around Hunter's throat. Dave pulled the man close to him, his face just inches from Hunter's. Hunter struggled against the force as Dave said, through clenched teeth, "I told you to leave me alone, you stupid fucker. We're not working right now, which means that there ain't a part of me that belongs to you. If you want to push somebody around, maybe you should try your little boy over there."

Hunter opened his mouth to speak, but Dave just squeezed his throat a little tighter. "I didn't give you permission to speak," he said, watching as Hunter's face turned a brighter shade of red. "Come near me again, and I swear I'll snap your neck." As Dave released him with a slight shove, Hunter almost fell to the ground. Dave glanced over at Randy and couldn't help noticing the slight smile on his face before he rushed over to help Hunter back to the car.

Dave looked up as he heard someone call his name. He turned to see Adam and Matt approaching him. Adam looked from Hunter to Dave with a smile. "Problem?" he asked. Dave shook his head, laughing. "I think I got rid of it," he said. "But, my car is dead. Think I could get a ride to the hotel?" The pair nodded, then waited as Dave got his bag from the trunk and followed them to their car.



Randy rolled his eyes again as he listened to Hunter bitching in the seat next to him. "I swear, he's dead meat, man," Hunter said, sounding more and more like a broken record. Randy just nodded as he drove. He had learned long ago not to say anything while Hunter was in the middle of a rant. If you disagreed with him, there was hell to pay. Most of the time, there was hell to pay even if you agreed with him! There was nothing that could make him happy at a time like this, so he just continued to make his way to the hotel, trying to drown out the noise coming from the other side of the car.



The three men in the back booth of the restaurant were totally oblivious to the stares directed at them as they laughed at another joke. Matt wiped his eyes, looking over at Dave. "Ya know, I'd hate to think what woulda happened if Sean ever got his hands on Hunter," he said. Dave's laughter died down a little as he thought about what Matt had just said, then he nodded. "That is a scary thought," Adam agreed. "Hunter would be in a million pieces." Matt chuckled. "Hunter don't look good in blue," he said. The other men looked at him, shaking their heads as they rose from the table and made their way to the door.



The covered parking area was brightly lit but Sean had managed to find a dark corner to stand in, waiting for Dave to pull in. He checked his watch again, figuring the amount of time it would take Dave to change and stop to eat. Any minute now, he thought, looking again to the street outside the hotel. Since he had come out to wait, no one had bothered him, and he was happy about that. All he wanted to think about right now was the look on Dave's face when he saw him. Sean smiled softly, glad for the cover of darkness to hide his unnatural display of emotion.

A dark car turned off the street and slowly approached the opening of the garage. Sean stood straight, watching to see who got out of the car. He heard the doors open and immediately his face darkened as he recognized the voice coming from across the lot. Randy was whining, pleading with Hunter to calm down. Hunter turned to stare at the young man. "I don't have to calm down, damn it!" he practically shouted. "Look at my neck! I'm going to have a bruise now and it's all that bastard's fault!"

Sean chuckled softly. He knew the bastard Hunter was talking about, and he wondered what he had done to anger Dave this time. "I'm going to get him," Sean heard Hunter say. "One way or another, he's going to be mine. I always get what I want, and NOBODY gets away with treating me like this." Randy opened his mouth to reply, but Hunter was wound up and there was no way anyone was getting a word in edgewise. "Doesn't he realize how much I could help him?" Hunter asked no one in particular.

Randy had gotten their bags from the car and was standing there, waiting for Hunter to turn toward the entrance and go inside. Hunter, on the other hand, was busy pacing back and forth beside the car, muttering to himself. Sean strained to hear what he was saying, but he couldn't make out anything other than an occasional word. Suddenly, Hunter stopped pacing and turned to look at Randy. "Why are you just standing there?" he asked angrily. "Take my stuff to my room!"

The younger man nodded and turned toward the hotel, waiting for Hunter to follow him. "I'll just tell Dave I talked to Vince," Hunter said as he walked past Randy. "I'll tell him I got Sean's job back and then he'll do what I want." Randy rolled his eyes as he hurried to catch up to Hunter. One of these days, Hunter was going to get his ass kicked and he was going to deserve it. "What the hell does he see in that piece of shit anyway?" Hunter asked, suddenly spinning around to stare at Randy, waiting for an answer.

"Um, I dunno," Randy said, shrugging. "It ain't like Sean is bad lookin' or anything. And he's a pretty nice guy, from what I hear." Hunter glared at him. "Who in the hell asked you?" he asked, shaking his head. Randy started to answer but he closed his mouth, trying to hide a smile as Sean stepped out of the shadow and silently approached the pair. "Doesn't Dave know what I could give him?" Hunter continued his rant as Sean walked closer.

"I could do so much for him, if he would just get his head out of his ass and listen to me." Sean stopped a couple of feet behind Hunter and looked at Randy, his eyes asking for silence. Randy almost giggled as Sean's face hardened, his arms folded across his massive chest. "I'm Triple H, goddamn it!" Hunter growled. "Who in the hell does he think he is, turning me down over and over?" Hunter jumped as Sean tapped his shoulder and he turned quickly.

His eyes grew wide with fear as Sean looked at him. "I don't know who he thinks he is either," Sean said, the anger barely contained in his voice. "But I do know who I think he is - he's mine." Hunter just stared at Sean, nodding silently. "My suggestion to you is to leave him alone," Sean continued. "I'd really hate to have to do anything to you, man." Randy smiled, watching as Sean leaned closer to Hunter.

"Ya know, that was a lie," Sean said. "I wouldn't really hate it. Matter of fact, I'd probably enjoy the hell out of it." Hunter stared into Sean's eyes, realizing he was in deep shit. As if reading his mind, Sean nodded slowly as his hand darted out and grabbed Hunter's throat. He looked for a moment, noticing how his hand fit perfectly over the reddened print Dave had left earlier. "I know you had something to do with me getting fired," Sean said as he stood nose to nose with Hunter. "And really, I ain't pissed about that."

Hunter was gasping for breath as Sean continued. "What really pisses me off though, is the fact that you think just because you suck Vince's dick, you can get anybody you want to suck yours." Sean looked over Hunter's shoulder at Randy. "Ain't that right, kid?" Randy smiled, then shook his head. "I dunno what you're talkin' about, Sean," he said. Sean rolled his eyes then looked back at Hunter. "You're nothing but a piece of shit, Hunter," he continued. "A big, fat lousy cocksucking piece of shit. It's people like you that give this business a bad name."

Headlights cut across the parking lot and Sean was distracted for a moment, just long enough for Hunter to take a swing at him. The punch landed softly on Sean's cheek and his eyes hardened as he turned his attention back to Hunter. "That was a mistake," Sean said releasing his grip on Hunter's throat. "One of many you've made lately." Hunter backed up, running into Randy. There was nowhere for him to run as Sean's fist connected with his jaw, knocking him to the ground.

Hunter jumped up and swung at Sean, missing his target as Sean ducked. He spun around with a vicious kick that landed on the side of Hunter's head, knocking him to the ground once again. Sean heard his name and looked over, seeing Dave run toward him. Again, Hunter used the distraction to his advantage, getting up and throwing another punch at Sean. "Look out!" Sean looked over as Hunter turned toward Randy, his eyes narrowing at the man who had just betrayed him.

Sean grabbed Hunter in a chokehold as Dave ran up next to him. He put his hand on Sean's shoulder, smiling. "Don't kill him, sweetheart," he said softly. "I ain't got the money to get you outta jail, and besides, he ain't worth it." Sean shrugged, watching Hunter's face turn red. Dave put his arm around Sean's waist then leaned over, whispering into his ear. "C'mon baby," he said, his breath blowing softly on Sean's neck. "We got better things to do."

Sean grunted as he released his hold on Hunter, letting him fall to the ground for a third time. He turned toward Dave, his face softening at the sight of his lover. Dave chuckled, kissing Sean softly as Adam and Matt approached. Matt stood, looking down at Hunter. "Man, that sucked," he said and Sean turned to him, his eyes questioning him. "I wanted to see ya kick his ass!" Adam shook his head, laughing as he put his arm around Matt's shoulder.

"Maybe next time, Hardy," Sean said. "Dave's right - he ain't worth it." Matt nodded. Sean smiled at Dave, holding his arms out. "Surprise!" Dave chuckled, kissing Sean again. "Not really," Dave replied. "But I'm glad you're here. I missed you." Sean looked down as he heard Hunter groan. Reaching over, he pulled a bag from Randy's shoulder.

"This his?" Sean asked and Randy nodded mutely. Sean dropped the bag on Hunter's chest then looked over at the group standing around him. "Anybody want a beer?" he asked, taking Dave's hand. "I'm buyin'." Everyone chuckled as they followed Sean toward the entrance. Randy looked from Hunter to Sean, who motioned to him to come along. With a giggle, Randy jogged to catch up with them.

Everyone in the bar stared at the five men, laughing in the back corner. "I really wanted you to kick his ass, man," Matt said, looking over at Sean. Dave chuckled. "Be careful what ya wish for, Hardy," Sean said. "It just might happen yet." Adam raised his beer. "Here's to kicking Hunter's ass," he said. Randy giggled. "Here's to me findin' a new travel partner." Matt laughed. "Here's to Sean for knockin' him to his ass." Sean smiled, looking over at Dave. Dave smiled, then said, "Here's to defending my honor." Sean blew Dave a kiss, then raised his beer. "Here's to you, sweetheart."