Mark sat down on the side of the comfortable hotel bed, unsure of what to say. Jeff had been silent ever since last night, ever since Raw when Mark had beaten him and hurt him. The older man had thought that they'd worked it out, but Jeff's behaviour that night and the subsequent morning had made Mark fear for Jeff, and their relationship. He knew how psychologically fragile his young lover was, and was afraid that he had undone all the work he'd put in to the relationship over the past months. Afraid that he'd destroyed Jeff.

"Baby?" Jeff looked up, a little surprised, and Mark could tell that he'd been crying. It made him feel like his heart had been ripped out, seeing the pain that he knew Jeff would try to hide from him. He wanted to comfort Jeff, to take the pain away, but he knew that the younger Hardy wouldn't open up to him that easily, not after last night. And he couldn't, not yet. He had something to tell Jeff and he didn't know how he would react.

"Jeff baby, I have a match against Matt at Smackdown tonight." He came straight out with it, having never known any other way except straight down the line. "I'm supposed to beat him really badly."

Jeff shifted in the bed a little, his red-rimmed eyes shining up at his lover. "And are you going to?" he asked softly.

"Do you want me to?" He felt guilty enough for going over the top on Jeff, and the last thing he wanted was for Jeff to believe he was capable of the sort of mindless cruel violence his brother had subjected him to. But at the same time he wanted to destroy Matt for what he had done to Jeff.

"Do what you think is right Mark," Jeff replied, closing his eyes lest a tear should slip from them and reveal his pain. He was so confused, he hurt so much, it was all too much to bear. If only everything could be simple again.

"I'll do what you want me to do Jeff. If you want me to punish him for hurting you, then I'll do it." In some perverse way, Mark almost wanted Jeff's permission to beat the older Hardy.

"I want you to do what you think is right Mark. I'm gonna stay here. Come back to me when the match is over and tell me what you did." He just closed his eyes and blocked out the world. He loved Mark, and finally believed that Mark loved him too. But why was he scared? Why was he scared of his lover, the one who had been so gentle, so kind, who had treated him with such respect and love, until last night. Last night he had shown violence towards Jeff for the first time, and although he'd said that he'd never do that again, Jeff couldn't be sure. He wondered for the first time how well his lover knew him. That was why he did what he did. How Mark fought with Matt would show Jeff to what extent Mark understood him. He needed to know, and only then could he work out where he stood and where their relationship was going to go.

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When Mark returned Jeff was asleep. He looked so peaceful and innocent Mark was for a moment struck, unable to move. He could hardly believe that he had given his heart to this young man and that it had been accepted.

Jeff stirred and looked over to his lover. "Mark," he whispered. "Tell me what you did."

Mark sat down. "I beat him badly Jeff. I put him in hospital. I didn't want to, I went into the match not wanting to do him damage cos I had this feeling in my heart that you wouldn't want me to… but then he said something… he said…" Mark shook his head sadly, "it doesn't matter what he said, but I got so angry, I beat him. I feel like I've done you wrong by doing that Jeff. Have I?"

"Oh Mark." Jeff sat up and motioned for the older man to sit next to him. "I didn't want you to beat him. I didn't want you to get angry… what if you get angry with me one day?"

"I would never raise even a finger to you baby, you know I wouldn't," Mark interrupted forcefully.

"Do I?" The question cut through Mark's heart. "Mark, what about last night? Matt was always the same. He always said he'd never hurt me, that he would only do what was best for me, then… when I deserved it, he'd hit me. How can I know you won't do the same?"

"I… I guess you don't." It was hard to admit. "How can I earn your trust again? I'll do anything Jeff, anything you want me to."

"There's nothing you can do," Jeff said sadly. "Just give me time to learn to trust you again. And I need you to do something for me… don't protect me from Matt. I need to learn to stand up to him myself don't I? Tell me what he said."

"Do I have to?" Despite what Jeff said, Mark still wanted to protect him from hurt, and he knew that Matt's words would hurt, they always did.

"Tell me."

"He called you a dirty little whore… and said that if you stay with me he'll make sure no one from your family will ever speak to you again."

Jeff began to sob, slowly at first, then as he spoke his sadness became more and more evident. "He… he can't… he's already taken… my dignity… my happiness… he can't take you away… he can't take dad away from me… I can't… what can I do?"

"Oh sweetheart." Mark pulled him close and stroked his hair tenderly, trying to calm him down. "Jeff, it's OK, it won't come to that, it won't. I won't let it."

Jeff continued sobbing, hardly even listening to his lover. All he could see was darkness and pain, no matter what he did. If he stayed with Mark he risked hurt, and would lose his family. If he left Mark, he knew he would be miserable and alone and his heart would be empty, because however much he was scared of Mark, he still loved him. And without Mark, he knew that Matt would try to control him again. And he would succeed. There was nothing he could do that wouldn't end up in him being hurt.

"Jeff?" Mark was worried by his heartbroken silence, and kissed his forehead gently. "I love you baby, I'll never hurt you, but I know that you're hurting now. Close your eyes for now baby, sleep. If this is gonna be my last night with you I want you in my arms."

Jeff lay down and snuggled close to his lover. It felt right here, in Mark's arms, but he didn't know if that was enough. He didn't know what he could do, so he closed his eyes and allowed the security of Mark's arms to envelope him. It wouldn't solve his problems, it wouldn't make everything be OK, but for now, it was the only thing that could make him feel OK.

Read story #3 in the trilogy Something Destroyed