Under The Flame

______________________________________________________

Adam returned to the locker room after his shower feeling refreshed and ready to face the rest of the night. He couldn't wait to get out of the arena with Amy and return to the hotel and had tons of thoughts whirling through his head when he suddenly realized something...

... As he neared his locker room, he could hear the distinct sound of crying. He frowned and rushed inside.

He cocked his head to one side, concern flooding through him as he eyed her. The redhead had returned, and she was huddled almost into herself on the couch halfway across the room, sobbing.

"Amy? Baby, what is it?" he demanded, rushing directly to her. He sank to his knees before the crying woman, his towel, shampoo and other stuff forgotten as he focused on his girlfriend.

The redhead raised her head, a look of misery dominating her features as she peered down at him with reddened hazel eyes. And just by taking in the expression on the blond man's face, she cried even harder.

Adam winced, his large hands resting gently on her knees. His heart nearly broke at the extent of sadness she was apparently feeling. What the hell had happened that had her so horribly upset now?

"Sweetie, what is it? What's the matter?"

Amy shook her head, bowing her head forward, her long red hair falling in soft waves to curtain her face. She couldn't say it... If she did, she knew exactly what would happen - and damn it, she wanted Adam and Matt to mend the dispute between them and be friends again.

"Talk to me," he said softly, his green eyes full of concern and shining clearly with all the love he felt for her. He kept a steady contact with her, his eyes locked on hers and stroked her knee tenderly.

"M-Matt," she managed to get out. "I saw him in catering."

The blond man's gaze hardened. So, Matt had approached her and done or said something to upset her? Why was it that he was suddenly thinking he should have known better? His right hand clenched into a tight fist.

"What did he do to you?" he demanded.

Amy stiffened at the question, not only from the harshness of his tone, but more so because of the actual words themselves. She couldn't tell him... What would he think? And, even more importantly, what would he *do*? She was pretty sure she knew the answer - he would go seek out Matt and *kill* him!

"He didn't *do* anything," she said weakly. "It... it was something he *said*." She shook her head, wanting to just forget all about running into Matt at catering. He was supposed to be her friend... He was supposed to be *Adam's* friend, too! How could he ever think something so terrible? How he could even entertain the mere *notion* that the blond man could or would ever physically hurt her? It tore away at her heart.

The Canadian's face was by now full of anger. His emerald eyes were widened from it as he glanced around the area as he tried to rein in his temper. Unfortunately, it was a losing battle.

"What did he *say* to you?"

The redhead shook her head.

"I... I don't even want to say it."

He gave her a strange look as he cocked his head to one side and examined her.

"He didn't call you a slut or a whore or something else, did he?" he asked.

"No," she replied evenly, shaking her head. "He didn't. I... I can't tell you, Adam."

The tall blond man stood back up, and this time *both* of his hands balled into fists. He gazed down at her with tenderness for a beat until he spoke.

"Well, that's just fine and good - I'll just go and *beat* it out of him. You stay right here!" He turned and fled the room, leaving the redhead behind. She even issued a shout after him, but he ignored it. All he could think of was getting his hands on Matt Hardy and demanding answers from him. The man had made the woman he loved cry her heart out, and damn it, he wasn't going to let him get away with it.

Adam was relieved that Amy actually listened to him and stayed back in the locker room as he raced down the arena hallway. He couldn't exactly focus on much of anything, however, except getting to the Hardyz's locker room. He didn't give a damn if Jeff was there, or that the younger man might physically get involved, either. At least Jeff had some sense. Hell, he might even side with *him* because he knew just how irrational his brother had been for the last couple of months.

Finally at the proper locker room, the tall blond man raised his right fist and pounded it hard against the door.

"Matt Hardy? Open this fucking door!" he shouted, his voice quickly becoming a growl. "Let me in, you gutless son of a bitch!"

There was no response. Yet Adam couldn't detect any sounds coming from within the room, either. He turned around in circles, his body shaking in his anger, and suddenly he realized Jeff was approaching.

"Hey, man... What's going on?" The young man frowned as he realized the blond man was angry.

"I'm looking for your brother," Adam replied evenly. "Have you seen him?"

"Yeah, he's right-" The rainbow-haired man didn't get a chance to finish his sentence as the Canadian suddenly caught sight of Matt on his own. Then, before his shocked eyes, Adam took off, moving at unbelievable speed as he speared his older brother down to the floor.
 
 
 

Part 10

Back