"Anyone want another drink?" Chris asked, standing up.

"I'm good thanks, man," Hunter replied, indicating his half full glass.

"Nan?" Chris queried.

"I'm fine."

"In that case, I'll be back."

As Chris walked towards the bar, Hunter's eyes followed him.  He was slightly amazed just how much he had come to like the man.  Since Nan's health scare several months ago, he and Chris had gotten on well.  They certainly weren't best friends, but some of the animosity had disappeared.  With that thought still on his mind, Hunter turned towards Nan.

"So are you going to tell me what your beef with Chris is today?"

"Nope, if he's too gutless to tell someone he supposedly loves the truth, then it's his funeral."

"What do you mean, supposedly loves?  Are you questioning his feeling for Rosie?" Hunter's voice took on a hard edge.

"Yes, Hunter, I am.  Tell me.  If something was really bothering you about me, would you tell me?"

He looked deeply into her eyes before answering.  "Nan, you know as well as I do that guys don't like to appear vulnerable.  If it wasn't a big issue, then, no, I probably wouldn't tell you.  It would depend entirely on the situation and circumstance."

The distinct darkening of Nan's eyes told Hunter that his answer really didn't satisfy her but she was prevented from replying by the appearance of Dave.

"Hey, man, how is she?" Hunter asked as Dave sat in a vacant chair.

"She was sleeping like a baby when I left, dosed up on painkillers."

"Do her the world of good.  She was acting strange today."  Nan commented.

"Not at all her usual self," Dave agreed.

Nan's eyes strayed to where Chris was standing at the bar, her mouth tightening in frustration.  No doubt about it, that man was going to be the death of her.  She loved him like a brother, and just like her own brothers, she sometimes felt the urge to strangle him.  She knew Hunter was right when he said guys didn't like to be perceived as vulnerable, but hells bells, did they have to be stupid at the same time?

Chris returned to the table and as expected gave Dave the third degree about Rosie. 

"Thanks, Dave, I owe you one," Chris said after Dave assured him everything was ok.

"No problem, at all.  Oh, and Hunter?  You know your comment about no-one seeing us?  Well we did run into someone.  That new chick in media Carly.  She saw us as we were walking out."

Nan carefully watched Chris for any reaction to that statement.  To the untrained eye, nothing appeared different, but she saw the white-knuckle grip on his glass. Lucky it's not crystal, it would be smashed into smithereens, she thought to herself.

"Well she's nothing to worry about," Hunter claimed, "I was more concerned about one of the other guys seeing you.  You know how the smallest things can get blown out of proportion, especially when Evolution is involved." 

***** 

An hour later Chris was feeling no pain and well on the way to being drunk.  He had to admit it was nice being with Hunter, Nan and Dave, the only thing missing tonight was Rosie.  He knew Nan was pissed off with him and it didn't take a genius to know why but he didn't try and defend himself, what was the point?  He couldn't justify his actions, or lack of action to himself so what hope did he have of explaining things to Nan?

A waitress approached their table and Chris ordered another scotch on the rocks.  Was this his fourth or fifth?  He'd lost count and honestly didn't care. 

"Chris, you're gonna have a hell of a hangover tomorrow," Hunter chuckled.

"Trips, you're not my keeper, so shut the hell up," Chris replied punching him on the arm.

"I wouldn't want to be either," he laughed and slapped Chris on the back.  "I've got enough on my plate without adding you."

Chris flashed a smile at the waitress as she placed his drink down in front of him. 

"I'm going over to see Stacy, be back soon," Nan announced as she stood up.

Hunter watched her walk away and shook his head.  "Damned if I know what's eating her today."

Chris sighed heavily.  "That would be me."

"I know that much, but what have you done to her?"

"She's pissed at me because I've failed to do something I shoulda done a long time ago."

"Is that why you have a driving need to get drunk?"

Chris jiggled the ice in his glass.  "Maybe, maybe I just want the pain to go away for a little while."

"Do you want to talk about it?"  Hunter asked quietly.

Chris gaze swung between Hunter and Dave then he shook his head.  "Thanks, guys, but no.  Rosie's the one I need to be talking to, and I'm going to have to do it soon."

"If I know Rosie, it won't matter how bad this thing is, she'll help you get through it," Hunter assured him.

"That I'm not so sure of," Chris commented softly, draining his glass and signalling for another.

"But can it really be that bad?  I mean you're not hiding a wife or anything are you?" Dave joked.

"No, but what I have to tell her will sound like I'm questioning her loyalty, when I'm really not.  It's just something that happened a loooong time ago keeps haunting me and occasionally it clouds my judgement."

"Nan knows about it, doesn't she?" Hunter asked, although it wasn't really a question.

"Yep, and she's been telling me for months to tell Rosie.  I just can't seem to find the right time."

"You know Rosie's worried about things, don't you?" Dave queried.

"Yeah, I know."

"If you need any back up or support, then Dave and I are here for you," Hunter assured him and Dave nodded in agreement.

Chris hung his head and sighed again.  "Thank you.  That means a lot to me."  He lifted his head to look Hunter square in the eye.  "I want to apologize to you."

"Don't worry, man…."

"No!  I need to apologize to you.  I've misjudged you terribly in the past.  You're not the prick you like everyone to think you are.  I've seen how tender you are with Nan and you care so much for Rosie, even though you've only known her for a short while.  Christ, if only I could be half the man you are."

"You're only talking like this because you've had too much to drink."

"Yeah, I have had a few too many drinks, but don't you know drinking lowers one's inhibitions?  It makes the truth slide out so much easier," Chris gave Hunter a goofy grin.  "Anyway, as I was saying, I'm sorry for everything that's happened between us in the past, and I'd like us to be friends."

"Now you listen to me," Hunter began fiercely, "in the ring, I can be a prick, a first class prick if we're being honest.  Unfortunately some people have difficulties distinguishing between what happens in the ring and what real life is like, but we can't change that.  Fact is yes, I am tender with Nan and I care about Rosie, hell, I even like you, despite all that has happened between us.  But know this:  you don't have to wish you were like me; one of me is quite enough and you're much stronger than you think.  How long have you been carrying around this deep, dark secret, huh?  It's only recently that most of us had any inkling that something was wrong.  Had that been me, I would have exploded long before now."

"As for being friends, man, you showed me you were me friend when Nan was laid up in hospital and you sought me out in the chapel.  You showed me you were my friend at Nan's uncle's funeral when you and Shawn were with me when we looked through that photo album.  Maybe it crept up on us or maybe it was just pre-ordained, but we ARE friends, Chris, and friends are there for each other.  Anything you need, anything at all, you ask and I'll do my upmost to do it for you."

Chris stared open-mouthed at Hunter then slowly smiled.  "You know if anyone had told me you'd say that to me twelve months ago, I'd have told them they need to see a shrink."  He stuck his hand out and Hunter clasped it firmly.  "Friends!"

"Friends," Hunter repeated before releasing his hand.

Chris repeated the gesture with Dave then raised his glass to his lips and drank deeply.  "Whoa, that stuff burns," he commented then hiccuped. 

Hunter and Dave exchanged amused looks.

When Nan returned to the table a short time later, Chris had downed another scotch on the rocks and was entertaining the others with wild and probably exaggerated stories of his early wrestling career in Japan and Mexico.  As Nan had heard all the stories ten times over, she didn't pay much attention until she glanced towards the door and saw who had just stepped through it.

Shrugging out of her white fluffy jacket was Carly, and if Nan wasn't mistaken she was heading right for them.

"Hi guys, mind if I join you?" a sweet voice asked.

Hunter looked up at Carly then indicated the vacant seat between Chris and Dave.  "Not at all."

Nan noticed how Chris' persona changed instantly and wished for the hundredth time he would come clean about his problem with Carly.  At least then Hunter wouldn't have invited her to sit with them.

"Your arms are empty now, Dave.  Where's your precious burden?" Carly asked a nasty edge to her voice.

Dave's eyes narrowed at her tone.  "She's back at the motel," he replied shortly.

"Oh, hurt her leg did she?"

"No," he growled.

"I'm sorry, my mistake.  I just assumed that since you were carrying her like a baby she couldn't walk by herself."

Chris whipped his head towards Carly.  "Are you hinting at something?" he snapped.

"Of course not," she replied, laying a hand on his arm, "but Rosie looked so content in Dave's arms with her cheek resting against his neck."

Chris shook her hand off and got to his feet, knocking his chair to the ground as he went.  "You talk about Rosie like that again, bitch, and I'll have you fired so fast your head will spin," he snarled before walking none too steadily away from the table.

Dave glared at Carly before following Chris, leaving her alone with Hunter and Nan.

"Just what are you insinuating?" Hunter demanded.

Carly realised she'd have to tread lightly around Hunter.  She'd heard all the gossip backstage about his recently found sister and knew he wouldn't stand for anyone bad-mouthing her.

"That didn't quite come out right," she apologized, "I just meant she looked comfortable, nothing more.  Why isn't Rosie here with you guys anyway?"

"That's really none of your business," Nan snapped.

"Oh, well I think I see Trish beckoning me, I'll catch you later."  Carly stood and made her way to the other side of the room.

Chris leaned on the bar as he waited for his next drink.  Dave stood next to him, not quite sure what to say. 

"Chris…" he began

"It's ok, man; you don't have to explain anything to me.  She's just trying to cause more trouble."

"I was carrying Rosie …."

"Dave," Chris interrupted, looking him straight in the eye, "I said its ok."

 Dave sighed and turned back towards their table, noticing that Carly had left.  "Why would she say something like that?"

"'Cos she's a bitch," Chris mumbled.

"Do you know her well?"

"Yep"

When Chris refused to elaborate, Dave knew that she was somehow connected to all the crap that was going on.  He almost groaned aloud when he remembered teasing Rosie that Carly might have the hots for Chris because obviously she did!

Chris accepted his drink from the barman and downed it in one gulp.

"How are you going to perform tomorrow?" Dave chuckled.

"Probably with the worst hangover I've ever had," he laughed, signalling for yet another drink.  "Lucky I don't have a match."

When they went and sat back down both Hunter and Nan had scowls on the faces.  As Chris flopped down into his chair Nan stood up, braced her arms on the table and leaned menacingly towards him.  "Are you going to do something about her or do I have to?" she demanded.

"No, Nani, I'll take care of things," he promised, raising his glass to his lips.

"Well make sure ya do because believe me, ya don't want me doing it for ya."

"I will….hic…p'haps I've ...hic… had enough for one…hic… night."  He sat his glass down and once again a goofy smile appeared on his face.  As quick as it appeared, it was replaced with a frown.  "Oh no …hic…how'm I gonna get …hic……hic… the car back to the motel?"

Dave laid his head on the table, shoulders shaking in silent laughter as Chris continued to worry over the car.  "Don't worry about the goddamn car, we'll get it back for you," he gasped out.

"Thanks, Dave, you're a good man," Chris said deeply as he pushed his chair away from the table and stood up.  Once vertical, he grasped the table to steady himself.  "Wow, who started the room spinning?"

"The makers of Chivas Regal, I'm sure," Hunter said dryly then lunged out of his chair to catch Chris as his legs gave way.  "Easy, there, I've gottcha."  Hunter slipped one of Chris' arms around his neck and Dave stood up slung the other arm around his neck.  Chris' head hung down, his blonde hair falling forward to obscure his face.

"Don't feel so good," he mumbled as Hunter and Dave started walking slowly towards the door. 

Nan shook her head as she followed them.  She suddenly realised Chris was hurting badly because he rarely had more than one drink and some of her earlier anger disappeared.  "Oh Chris, what are we going to do with you?" she sighed.

 "I'm sorry, Nani, I didn't mean to make you angry with me," he said softly.  "I'm gonna make things right, I promise."

"I hope so," she said as she swung open the door.

After a manoeuvre worthy of a military operation, Hunter and Dave managed to make their way through the door without letting go of their burden.  Once outside, Chris extracted himself from them and stumbled to the gutter where he fell to his knees and promptly threw up.  When he was finished he laid down flat on his back, one arm thrown across his eyes. 

Nan knelt beside him, heedless of the grass sure to stain her pants, and nudged his head until it was resting against her thighs. 

"Hunter, why don't you go and get the limo and Dave, you can take Chris' car back to the motel," Nan suggested. 

"Ok, I'll be right back," Hunter replied, turning and heading towards the parking lot.

"I'll meet you three back at the motel," Dave said after Nan extracted the car keys from Chris' pocket and tossed them to him.

"I feel like shit," Chris moaned when he and Nan were alone.

"Well it's not surprising, you don't drink very often."

"Yeah and now I know why!"

Nan chuckled softly and stroked his forehead.

 "That feels good," Chris sighed, closing his eyes.  "Are you still mad at me?"

"Yes I am.  Keeping your little secret is starting to affect my relationship with Hunter.  I've snapped at him numerous times today and I don't like it.  I can't keep quiet much longer, Chris, and if you don't tell Rosie I'll tell Hunter your problem.  He should know about it anyway if you ask me."

"I put one thing straight tonight.  I made my peace with Hunter."

"Well that's one step forward.  Rosie will be pleased at that"

"She's such a good person, Nani.  She doesn't deserve what I'm putting her through."

"You've got that right.  There will be a line up of people ready, willing and eager to kick your ass if you hurt her you know."

He nodded slightly in agreement as the limo pulled up in front of them. 

***** 

"Where's you room key, Chris?" Nan demanded as she felt in his pockets and came up empty handed.

"Dunno," he mumbled, head lolling forward.

They were standing outside Chris and Rosie's room, Hunter and Dave supporting Chris and Nan ready to stamp her foot in frustration.  The men had practically carried Chris through the lobby, into the elevator and through the deserted hallway, and now it seemed they'd have to wake Rosie up in order to get inside.

"I'll go and ask at the desk for the spare key," Hunter said as he and Dave eased Chris onto the floor.

"No need," Rosie sighed as she opened the door.

"Sorry, honey, did we wake you?" Hunter enquired as he hefted Chris up again.

"No, I was heading to the bathroom when I heard you guys out here."

Hunter and Dave got Chris into the room and laid him across the bed then went and joined Nan on the couch. 

"Are you feeling any better?" Nan asked Rosie.

"Much better, thanks.  My head is still aching but it's more a dull pain rather than a throb now.  What the hell happened to make Chris get drunk?  I've never seem him like this before."

"Nothing specific, he just kept re-filling his glass," Hunter explained.

"He wasn't too happy when Carly joined us, though," Nan added.

"Carly?  She's the one that we saw tonight, isn't she Dave?" Rosie asked.

"Yes and I have a strong suspicion that Chris doesn't like her," Dave replied.

"No he doesn't," Nan confirmed.

"I may be drunk, but I'm not deaf," Chris piped up from his place on the bed.

Rosie walked over to him and sat beside him.  "I know, but what caused you to get drunk?"

"Can't a guy have a few drinks occasionally?"

Rosie snorted in a decidedly unladylike manner.  "There's a difference between a few drinks and rolling drunk."

"Don't be fierce with me, Rosebud," Chris sighed, closing his eyes. "I just wanted to forget about things for a while."

Rosie sighed also, realising she was fighting a losing battle.  "I think you should just hop into bed, I'll join you when the others leave."  She bent over to take his shoes off. 

"Ok." Chris agreed, stood up so Rosie could turn the bed down then fell back down. 

***** 

A short time later, after Hunter, Nan and Dave left, Rosie climbed into bed beside a snoring Chris.  She settled on her side, facing away from him and smiled to herself when she felt him move towards her and curl himself against her body.  No matter where they were, each night before going to sleep they always assumed the same position.  Chris' arm curled around Rosie, resting just under her bust and his bent knees rested behind hers.  She fell asleep almost immediately, safe and secure in Chris' arms.

During the darkest hours of the night, Chris began to dream….. 

He was jogging along the road, heading towards Carly's house.  He hadn't seen her for a few days, her brother was in town and she was spending most of her time with him. He supposed he should have called her first but he was missing her and wanted to surprise her. 

He ran lightly up the front steps before rapping on the door. When no one answered he turned the knob and the door eased open. 

"Anyone home?" he called out, poking his head through the door.

Silence greeted him.  He walked cautiously into the entrance hall, looking this way and that.  The house appeared empty, but why was the door unlocked?

He went from one room to the next; hearing nothing but the tick tock of the grandfather clock situated in the corner of the lounge room. 

After scouting every room on the lower level, he silently made his way up the stairs.  He found the bathroom empty, Carly's parent's room empty, and the two spare rooms empty.  He stopped outside of Carly's room, absently noting it was the only one that had the door shut.

His hand reached out to turn the knob then stopped in mid air.  What was that he'd heard?  He listened and heard it again.  It sounded like wood hitting the wall…almost in a rhythmic motion.  What the hell was going on in there? 

Without stopping to think he burst through the door and stopped dead in his tracks… 

Chris sat up with a start, slightly disorientated. 

"Chris, are you ok?" Rosie asked, fumbling for the lamp switch.

Chris rubbed his hands over his face a couple of times, trying to clear his head.  "Yeah, just had a bad dream."

"Wanna talk about it?"

Chris looked searchingly into her dark blue eyes.  "Yes, baby, I need to talk about it."

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