Part 4

"What did you say?" It came out so softly that Shawn wasn't even sure he'd heard it at all. Even if he hadn't actually said it out loud, the question was there in Chris's wide blue eyes.

"It was you, Chris." Shawn's answer came out just as quietly as the question that prompted it. He wasn't sure he should say anymore, but Chris deserved to know the truth. "From the moment I found out I was coming back I hoped we'd end up on the same show. When word got out you were coming to Raw, I couldn't wait to see you. I didn't want to push you right away, with changing schedules and getting used to working with different people again. Then it took me awhile to find out if… let me put it bluntly, if you swung that way. Know what I mean? After that it was Hunter pulling his jealous fit and I didn't want to expose you to that. Towards the end of my feud with him, I figured it was safe." Shawn paused for a breath before he continued.

"We ran into each other and started to get to know each other. I thought maybe after we'd been working together for a couple of weeks that I'd start sounding things out. Before that could happen, you came out and cut your promo. When you looked at me, I swear the hatred in your eyes about burned a hole through me. I couldn't figure out what had changed. It seemed as if every word you were saying was something you honestly believed. It hurt. So in typical fashion I reacted before thinking and kicked you a bit harder than I planned. It just seemed to escalate from there. You wouldn't even speak civilly to me. I know why now, but at the time it hurt to know you hated me. Especially when I had no clue what I'd done."

While Shawn was talking Chris had leaned against the wall behind him. By the time Shawn was done, he was sitting on the floor with his head leaning back on the wall. His eyes were closed and he wore an expression of anguish.

"Chris? Are you okay?"

When he answered, his voice was dull as if the life had been sucked out of him. "No. No, Shawn. I'm not okay. Do you realize what you just said? It could have all been so different. If I'd just waited for you, given you the letter myself, Hunter wouldn't have been able to keep us apart. Because I was stupid enough to leave it with him, I let him hurt both of us. It's my fault. I said and did things that hurt you when I could have prevented it. If I weren't such a damn coward, we might have been together all this time. It doesn't matter that we found out now, because we can't ever get that time back."

"No! Look at me." Shawn dropped to his knees in front of Chris and slid his hand over Chris's cheek until he opened his eyes. "I will not let you blame yourself for this Chris. There is no one to blame, except Hunter. He was being purposefully spiteful, because he couldn't have what he wanted. You aren't to blame for that. If it hadn't been the letter, he would have kept looking until he found a weakness in one of us. He's the one to blame and I'm going to make sure he atones for his lies. I'll make him pay for hurting you, sweetheart."

Chris whimpered slightly at hearing the endearment from Shawn. He opened his mouth to speak, but Shawn covered his lips with one finger. "Don't say anything right now. We have all the time we want to figure out what we want from this point. We've both had a very rough night. You look exhausted." Chris shook his head slightly and a small smile lit Shawn's face. "I know we don't know what's going to happen yet, but I want to ask a favor from you. Can you…would you sleep here tonight? I have some sweats you can borrow to sleep in. I may not end up with what I want when this is all said and done, but would you let me hold you in my arms for tonight?"

As Chris opened his mouth to speak, Shawn held his breath. "Actually, my room is only three doors down." Shawn felt an ache start in his chest. He was going to leave. "I have sweats in my suitcase too. If we wear those we won't have to worry about picking glass out of our asses in the morning. I'm pretty sure all your stuff is covered in it." Damn, Shawn hadn't considered that at all. "I'd guess the bed in my room is a safer bet as well. You…you can stay there with me, if you still want to." The ache faded and was replaced with a warm, comforting feeling.

Shawn brushed his lips softly against Chris's forehead then held out his hand to help him from the floor. "You know I want to, Chris." Shawn grabbed his key-card and followed Chris out of his room and down the hall.

Chris pulled his card from his pocket and as he slid it through the reader, he leaned his forehead against the door and took a deep breath. Then he turned and grabbed Shawn's hand and pulled him into the room behind him.

Chris walked over to his suitcase and pulled out two pair of sweatpants. He handed the red ones to Shawn and kept the blue ones for himself. "I'm going to go change. I'll be right back." With that Shawn ducked into the bathroom, leaving Chris to change in the bedroom. Chris changed quickly then sat on the edge of the bed and waited for Shawn to emerge from the bathroom.

He didn't have long to wait. Shawn stepped out a moment later, clad in the red sweats and walked over to the bed. Chris shot up off the bed and headed quickly to the bathroom, "I'll be right out." With a chuckle Shawn turned down the covers and settled himself in the middle of the bed. Shawn was really starting to like this shy side of Chris. It was so different from the character he portrayed to the audience. He'd have to be careful not to scare him off by moving too fast. He had waited way too long for this chance to risk losing Chris due to his own impatience.

After a few minutes, Shawn was starting to wonder if Chris was ever going to come out of the bathroom. A minute later he heard the door open and Chris walked back into the room. With a quick glance at Shawn, Chris dropped his eyes to the floor and walked over to the bed. As he climbed onto the bed, Shawn noticed the slight tinge of pink in Chris's cheeks. How incredibly cute! Shawn's grin stretched ear to ear as he grabbed Chris's hand and pulled him closer to the center of the bed. Shawn lay down on his back and held his arms open wide, waiting to see if he'd have to coax Chris to where he wanted him.

With another shy peek at Shawn, Chris made up his mind. He could do this! He practically launched himself into Shawn's arms and buried his face in Shawn's neck. As his arms wound around Shawn's waist he let out a small sigh of relief.

Shawn managed to suppress a groan at the warm puff of air against his neck. It wasn't that difficult though because he was also trying to remember how to breathe. It's not like Chris was exactly a lightweight. He wasn't about to say a word though because Chris was finally exactly where he wanted him. Shawn stroked one hand gently over Chris's hair and leaned down to press a kiss to his forehead. "Goodnight, sweetheart."

Shawn felt the brush of Chris's lips against his throat and his quietly murmured, "Sweet dreams, Shawn."

Shawn continued to stroke Chris's hair and realized that Chris was already fast asleep. As he felt his eyes drifting closed his last thought was that with Chris in his arms, sweet dreams were guaranteed.

Read Chapter Five of Undelivered