Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 19:43:22 -0700 (PDT)
From: Boston Beth <writeongirl77@yahoo.com>
Subject: Pucks and Bodyslams part 2

     Hi and welcome back to the story. Thanks a lot for the
very nice feedback!  I hope you like this as much as the
first part.  This has some sex like I promised in chapter
one.  This part is quite different from the first
installment--it has more drama and less comedy, although
there are a couple of bad jokes courtesy of Kurt(!)  I'm
afraid my sense of humor can be a little strange.   The
story gets a little surreal in some parts.  Some of the
dialogue is a bit lame & I apologize for that, I just
couldn't think of anything better in some parts. And I'd
like to take an informal survey.  It was suggested to me by
a reader that it would be easier to follow the story if I
used the wrestlers' TV names instead of the real names (like
Hunter instead of Paul).  Do others feel this way?  This
part was completed some time ago so it would have taken a
long time to change it.  But please give me an idea of what
you'd like to see in the future.

Pucks and Bodyslams in SLC by Boston Beth-chapter 2

DISCLAIMER: I am sure none of this really happened. Despite
what I have heard about certain people in this story I am
not making any claims to knowing their true sexual
orientation.  I don't own these guys and I don't want to, I
just like writing about them.  ***Please note the
following!*** In this part there is one oral sex scene
involving two men and one masturbation scene involving
another guy. Plus I threw in a shower scene for good
measure. I will tell you this once and only once: If this
sort of thing bothers you please leave now!


CAST: The hockey players: Mike Modano, Pavel and Valeri
Bure, Chris Chelios-and a surprise guest who will become
Chris Jericho's match-up.  Another heads-up: I have a
feeling not everyone will like my choice for Chris.  I'm not
an especially huge fan of the mystery guest, although I
don't hate him like I used to.  I just like the idea of them
together.

     The wrestlers: Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho (aka Chris
Irvine), Edge (aka Adam), Christian(aka Jason), HHH(aka
Paul)

     **************************************************

     "I've missed you so much, Paul." Mike murmured,
gripping his lover's shoulders.  He and Paul were near the
showers, but Paul wasn't going to let Mike get cleaned up
just yet. The wall Mike leaned on was cold and stone-hard.
With the way Paul was treating him, though, Mike didn't seem
to notice.

     Paul was on his knees, unconcerned that his expensive
pants were wet from the soapy water leftover from a recent
shower.  He took his mouth off Mike's cock, which was wet
with a mix of Paul's saliva and Mike's pre-come.  "Can you
tell I've missed you?" he asked.

     "Mmmm-hmmm.  Just show me some more.  Don't stop
there."  Mike said slowly and quietly, his head hanging to
one side.

     Paul raised his head just to stare at Mike longingly
and proudly. Paul couldn't help but smile at Mike's alluring
eyes, a smile that could melt glaciers, and the thick thighs
in which Paul wanted to plant his teeth.  He blew Mike a
kiss and asked, "Who would want to stop for someone like
you?"

     Paul covered his cock again and introduced it into his
throat in one quick and easy motion.  Two months wasn't a
long period of time by itself.  But it was too long to go
without being able to touch, kiss or fuck. The first night
they fucked Paul promised Mike that they would never be
apart for long.  He didn't count on the increased workload
Vince had given him.  Not that Mike felt like he was being
ignored or that Paul had a real reason to feel guilty.  But
Paul was disappointed by himself for not being there for
Mike more than he had.   Now that they were reunited there
was no room for hesitation.  Paul wanted all of Mike along
his warm throat and wet lips.  He sucked with greed, his
nose in the coat of fur covering Mike's abs.  Paul could
tell that Mike had wanted this too.  Paul sensed the
throbbing pulses coursing in Mike's cock all through his
mouth and into his head.

     Mike ran his fingers in Paul's scalp, drifting down to
rub the nape of his neck. His mouth was pursed in an almost
circular shape.  Mike was emitting short breaths that were
heavy and passionate. How long he had been waiting for Paul
to put his mouth back where it belonged.  He loved how Paul
struck the right balance between pinching pressure and
tenderness.  He felt as electric as the first night they
made love like this, which was the first night they met.
"You don't know.don't know how much I've wanted this." he
said.

      He wasn't very loud, but it was audible enough for
Chris Chelios to hear.  He was taking a shower, just a
couple of spaces down from the corner where Paul and Mike
were situated.  Chris couldn't help but become a silent
observer to their love act.  It distracted him from what he
usually thought of while showering.  In this solitary time
he was reminded of his age.  Years of being slammed against
the boards, hard skating and constant training lived on as
aches and pains housed in his muscles.  Hot showers brought
only temporary relief.  But now Chris felt a change coming.
He was spellbound by the ecstatic cries and moans of Mike
and Paul.  Before long Chris's thoughts were of nothing
except Kurt.

     He soaped up with brisk up and down motions, building
up a thick layer of white soap which was a sharp contrast to
his olive skin.  As he washed Chris considered his body. He
was proud of it and considered all the time he spent
refining it, even in the off-season, was worth the results.
Chris felt the strength in his nicely-developed pecs.  They
were not too large, built up enough. Somebody would like
looking at them or sucking on them.  A slippery finger let
him explore his stomach and really feel the six-pack there.
His flat hands admired his massive thighs and calves that
allowed him to still skate as swiftly as he did when he was
a rookie. Not bad for forty years old, he determined. He
hoped Kurt would feel that way too.  Ah, to feel Kurt.

     Chris couldn't believe what had been given to him.  He
had begun to notice certain things at the last Olympics. For
instance, he found that he liked to watch fellow players on
the ice and imagine undressing them slowly.  Not to mention
the glances he liked to steal in the locker room.  Chris
would watch surreptitiously, then quickly avert his eyes if
anyone got too suspicious.  What an adventure for his eyes
to see all of those hard, luscious bodies in a new way.
Chris wouldn't dare try anything with a teammate.  But
Kurt.now that was territory worth claiming.

     Chris went over his body again.  This time his motions
were slower and gentler.  He wanted to make the most of the
fantasy that was forming.  Chris dreamed of Kurt suddenly
appearing, pulling off his clothes, complaining that the
heat was on too high in the arena.  He was too hot and
sweating terribly and could he maybe share a shower with
him?

     Of course, Chris answered, dreaming of the brightest
blue eyes he had ever seen.  Here, I'll be delighted to help
you, Kurt.  Chris stroked his arms and neck, imaging they
were Kurt's.   He lightly grazed his nipples as he thought
about rubbing Kurt's smooth, powerful chest.  Then he
pinched them tight, pulled them back and forth, wishing it
was Kurt's mouth performing. Chris traveled the road that
led from his hips to his feet, groaning with need.    Before
he knew it he was stroking his cock. He pumped slowly, then
vigorously.   The water was cooling off, yet Chris was
flushed with fever with every stroke.  He was twenty years
old.

          As Chris's pre-come was trickling out, Paul lapped
up the clear fluid flowing out of Mike.
He pulled his mouth so that he could cover the tip of his
cock. Paul quickly opened and closed his lips on it.  Mike
started to cry out unintelligibly, as if he were speaking in
tongues. Paul finished with a flourish of his tongue across
the tip, like an expert swordsman would make, letting the
cock bob ever so slightly.  Then it stopped on the space
just past the head.  With fast, short strokes Paul indicated
he was reclaiming the cock.

     Mike swore and moaned. "Paul.don't stop this.  Just
don't stop it, you're so. oh G-d you're good!" he pleaded.
His knees buckled and he planted his feet firmly onto the
floor so that he could regain his balance.  He bucked his
hips quickly to let Paul put the rest of it back in.
Happily Paul accepted it. Then his head bobbed up and down
quickly, taking Mike's firm cock with it.  He knew that Mike
was close to coming as his balls were contracting and Mike's
breathing grew drawn and heavy.  Paul took Mike's ass in his
hands and squeezed as he sucked louder and harder.

     Chris was close too.  He was jerking harder and faster;
he was gushing pre-come that was washed away by the shower.
His moans were lost in the water's rush.  He clenched his
ass and shut his eyes letting the feel of his wet hands
along his cock invade him.  Nothing was wrong with what he
wanted. Chris had never reached such a higher plane of
consciousness with anyone.  He was offering himself to his
unspoken desires, to the holy bliss of sex and the forbidden
thrill of desiring a man.  But then he stopped. He wasn't
going to waste this on himself.  As much as it hurt him down
there, he was going to wait until he had Kurt.  He leaned
his body forward and let the water make him clean.  Chris
turned off the faucet and reached for a towel. He wrapped it
around his hips and walked to the mirror and sink next to
the showers.  He picked up the razor he left there and held
it while he pondered whether he needed a shave at all.
Chris had a few days' growth and he usually didn't let it go
this far. He put down the razor.  Chris ran his hand along
the beard. This will be fine, he thought. He liked it. He
loved the idea of running it along Kurt's thighs and
watching him shake with ecstasy even more.

      Mike had no such reservations.  His first shot hit
Paul's mouth and tongue like a hot, steamy spray. Then
another, and another-it seemed to go on for minutes.  After
Mike was done, Paul took what he hadn't swallowed and coated
his lips with the residue.   He stood up straight and kissed
Mike forcefully, letting him taste what he created.

     Afterwards they walked to the lockers embracing
passionately, Paul's mouth seemingly glued to Mike's neck.
They stopped, straightened up and kissed warmly.

     "Why do you even have to get dressed?" asked Paul
teasingly. "It's such a waste. Come on!" Paul reached for
Mike's top button.

     "Paul!" he said, removing the hand. "We're staying only
half an hour away. You can wait!"

     "Seriously, babe. Just put your long coat on. Who'll
know the difference?" Paul said, smiling. He pecked Mike on
the cheek.  "Listen. I have a new rule. When we move in
together this summer, we won't wear clothes. How's that
sound?"

     "Make sure you invite me to the housewarming party!"
said Adam, thinking of his not-so-secret crush fully
revealed.

     "Uh guys!" said Chris Irvine to the pair of lovebirds.
"Before you make any more plans, why don't you say hi to
Pavel and Valeri?" letting them realize they had company.

     "Oh! Sorry about that, guys." said a slightly
embarrassed Mike. "How's it going?"

     "Very well, thanks." said Pavel.

     "I'm doing great!" Valeri replied. "Nice to see you
again, Paul!"

     While they chatted, Jason yanked Adam by his shirt and
forced him to sit down on the bench.

     "Adam!" Jason spoke in a whisper, but irritation was
obvious. "You promised you would stop this garbage!"

     "I'm only kidding, Jason!" Adam replied.  He threw his
hands in the air. "Jason, come on! I love you.  I don't
really mean any of that!"

     Jason looked unconvinced. "You know, you keep doing it
and doing it and you know it upsets me!  Why do you keep
doing this?  It's not cute.  It's not amusing. Stop it,
Adam!"

      "Jason, please. I promise, that was it.  I'm stopping
right now.  I won't make those remarks anymore.  Okay?" Adam
asked, sealing the deal with a kiss.

     "Okay." Jason said in a flat voice.

     By now the Bure brothers had walked over. "Hey Kurt.
Good to see you again." said Pavel.

     "Me too." replied Kurt, who looked like his mind was
elsewhere.

     "What's going on, Jason?" Pavel asked.

     "Oh, not much, I'm doing fine." Jason replied,
attempting to convince himself.

      Pavel looked at Adam intently.  He smiled and extended
his hand. "Adam. I am very.happy to see you again." he said.

     Adam's smile suggested he was thinking of something he
shouldn't be. "The pleasure is all mine." he replied,
holding Pavel's hand before shaking it.

     Jason was disgusted. He thought back to the time when
they had last seen Pavel and Valeri.  It was around
Christmas and the WWF was doing a three-night stand in
Florida.  Their show in Miami was scheduled for the day
after the Panthers fan fest so they decided to play fans for
a change and visit it.  It was the first time Jason got
truly angered with Adam's wandering eyes.  He and Pavel
spent a good portion of time chatting and flirting, so much
so that Jason almost abandoned Adam there.  He knew Adam had
been flirting with other guys for awhile and he wasn't
worried before.  He was sure that nothing happened with any
of those guys.  But the way he and Pavel spoke to each
other!  So much heat and expectation lingered in the air.
It made Jason sick to remember it.

     "Jason?" asked Valeri. "Jason, did you hear me? Hi!"

     Jason shook his head. "Oh, I'm sorry Valeri. Hi
yourself!"  Seeing Valeri brought Jason back to happiness.
Jason ended up spending most of his time there chatting with
Valeri and his wife Candace and playing with their children.
That almost saved the whole vacation.  Jason loved children
and theirs were a joy to be around.  Candace was a cheerful,
pleasant woman.  But Valeri was the best part of it all.
Jason couldn't help but be happy with seeing him again.  He
loved Val's infectious smile and playful eyes.  Jason was
afraid to admit it to himself, but he really liked Valeri.
Ever since that day he couldn't stop thinking about him and
Jason felt like it was cheating.

     He was interrupted by Kurt's hearty laughter. "Kurt!"
Jason said. "What is so funny?"

     "I was just thinking about Jeremy!" he said.

     "So was I!" said Adam, still grinning.  "I just love
that working-class type of guy.  You know, that blue-collar,
honest and hard working look? And Irish-Catholic to boot!
All that guilt he must be keeping inside. Man, I'd like to
suck the guilt right out of him!"

     Jason forced his lips together.  He really did not want
to say something he was going to regret in front of
everyone, especially Valeri.

     "Gee. Are you drooling, Adam?" Jason whispered, his
voice dripping with a barely disguised disgust. He picked up
a wet towel from a pile near his feet.  "Here. Have a
towel!" said Jason as he hurled it directly at Adam's face.
Jason's pitch was hard and the towel landed on its target
with a smack.

     "So what? What's so funny about JR?" asked Mike.

     "He is just so uptight, for being around naked guys all
the time." Kurt observed.

     "Well, not everybody is comfortable being around gay
guys." said Mike.

     "Ha!" exclaimed Kurt. "I think Jeremy is
overcompensating, if you ask me."

     "What do you mean?" asked Paul.

     "I mean, he's a screaming closet case." said Kurt,
reaching into the cooler at his feet for a can of soda. "The
man is gay!"

Everyone looked at Kurt strangely. "Are you all right?"
asked Paul. "Why would this even cross your mind?"

     "I am very all right!  I just think his behavior was a
little strange for a straight guy. I mean, look at the
display he was putting on in front of us.  It was too
funny!"  Kurt paused to flip the top of the can. "No
straight guy who is supposedly scared of gay guys is going
to stick his butt out like that in front of anyone who he
knows will probably enjoy the show. And the hair thing! And
he loves disco."

     "Oh, that doesn't prove anything." said Paul. "Maybe he
just watched Saturday Night Fever too much as a kid!"

     Kurt shook his head. "Uh-uh Paul. Who is he kidding? He
is gay, gay, gay!" he concluded, taking a sip of his drink.

     "And you are nuts, nuts, nuts!" Paul said, looking at
Kurt with disbelief.

     Mike laughed. "Kurt, I saw that chokeslam Kane did on
you last week.  I don't think you've fully recovered from
it!" he said.  "I have to agree with Paul, Kurt. You're
looking for something that isn't there. I've never known
Jeremy to be anything but straight. I'm sure that wherever
he's going to tonight, he's going to watch women." Mike
emphasized the word "women."

     "Yeah. Maybe he'll find Hooters!" said Paul, cracking
up over his comment.

     "Hooters? Around here? Now that's funny!" said Jason.

     "Ah yes, Hooters." said Kurt. "Or as I like to call it,
tips for tits."

     Adam laughed so hard he spit out his drink in one
fearsome spurt. The rest of the guys weren't too far behind.
"Please, Kurt!" Adam yelled.

     "That's disgusting!" said Jason.

     "Now, seriously Mike."  Kurt continued when order had
been restored. "You can tell us. At the awards banquet, you
know where they give out MVP and all that?  Did Jeremy bring
his mom as his date?"

     "Oh come on!" Mike shot back, finding this silly remark
somewhat amusing.

     "Boy Kurt, you're in rare form tonight. What's your
problem?" asked Paul.

     "Aw, I don't know. It's just the whole Benoit thing!"

     "Oh G-d are we going to have to hear about that again?"
asked Paul.

     "What's the matter?" asked Mike. "I thought he was
coming back for Wrestlemania."

     "Well, he was!" answered Kurt, emphasizing was. As Kurt
retold his story, Adam's attention was diverted by Pavel.
Pavel wasn't the talkative type.  He preferred to let his
body tell the world what was on his mind.  Pavel sat with
his legs wide open and his arms hanging in between.  His
eyes went from scanning the room to getting glimpses of
Adam.  Adam returned this with a fixed stare and a confident
smile.
***************************************************

     After a few minutes Mike and Paul left to find some
special ways to relax.  Not long after that Chris Chelios
emerged.  Kurt saw him coming and his heart nearly stopped.

     "Kurt?" Chris asked. "You want to pick up where we left
off?"

     "Oh! Oh yes." Kurt replied nervously.

     "Great." Chris replied. He and Kurt walked across the
room.  They stood near the showers.

     "So how do you think practice will be for Sunday's
game?" asked Kurt.  "Any new strategies?  Is Herb Brooks a
nice guy?"

     Chris stood along the wall, taking in Kurt's broad
shoulders.  "We can talk about that later.  I'd like to talk
about you right now." he said.

     "You would?"

     "Sure.  I'd like to get some advice from a fellow
Olympian.  After all, you have what I want."

     "I do?" Kurt's cheeks were glowing red.

     "You have a gold medal, I mean." Chris said.

     "Oh. Oh yeah right."  Kurt's heartbeat picked up.

     "I think I can learn a lot from you, Kurt.  It's tough
when you've played with injuries that don't have a lot of
time to heal.  It happens in my profession.  And I hear that
you have knowledge of this."  Chris's head moved in closer.
"I heard that you competed with a broken neck.  Is that a
true story?"

     "Absolutely, Chris.  It's true, it's-ah, I gotta stop
saying that!  I'm off duty, you know?" Chris and Kurt shared
a chuckle at his slip.

     The right corner of Chris's mouth turned upward as he
moved next to Kurt, standing right behind him. Kurt first
felt balmy breaths on his neck, then Chris's mouth.  He
kissed it softly as Kurt moaned his appreciation.

     Chris's hands were around Kurt's waist.  "Hmmmm.
You've recovered well." he said.

     His hands moved to the top of Kurt's shirt.  He undid
the top buttons and slid his hand along Kurt's chest.  He
stopped at his heart, which was racing faster.  "Mmmm,
that's working well too." Chris whispered in Kurt's ear.

     Now Chris's hand dove into Kurt's pants and explored
the small of his back.  He fingered between his ass
carefully and traced the string of his thong.  Kurt closed
his eyes and thought about what was to come.

     "Oh Chris." he moaned.  For the first time ever he had
nothing else to say.
***********************************************************
     Adam was inspired by this display. He saw Pavel, who
was now leaning along the wall.  His legs were slightly
apart and his hands hung by his side.

     Now it was time to do what he'd been thinking of for
the longest time.  Adam's strut was aggressive and his
confidence was as high as heaven.

     "Hi Pavel. I know I've said it before, but it is really
nice to see you again." said Adam with a grin.

     "Oh no.  No, Adam. I'm straight.  I don't do that."
Pavel replied, examining Adam's lean body without bothering
to disguise it.

     So this is Pavel's game, thought Adam. I'll beat him at
it. He stopped in front of Pavel, his mouth looming close to
Pavel's lips.

     "Yeah right Pavel.  Tell it to the thirteen-year-old
girls.  I don't wanna hear it." said a skeptical Adam.
He unbuttoned his shirt, never taking his eyes off Pavel.
"You don't mind, right?" Adam asked. "It's just a bit warm,
you know, with the heat from the showers and all."

     Pavel responded with a shrug. Adam released all the
buttons and released the hem of the shirt from where it was
tucked into his pants.  Adam could not contain his longing
any more.  He desperately wanted to see all of Pavel and his
lean, muscular body.  Adam was familiar with a little of it
from the suggestive photos of Pavel he found on the
Internet.  Especially the one he saw on that site for gay
men who loved sports.  In the picture Pavel smiled sweetly
for the camera.  His shirt was open just enough to supply a
peek at his sexy chest and rippling stomach.  Adam really
loved the fine covering of hair.  He wanted to kiss it from
under his hard pecs right down below his belly button.
Maybe even nibble down his treasure trail and get a stray
hair or two stuck in his teeth.  He wanted to lick the veins
that stuck out of his arms and signified their power.  The
more he looked, the worse Adam's need became.  He needed to
kiss Pavel's ripe, juicy lips, to brush back his hair, to
completely penetrate him through the mind as well as the
body.  Adam was completely off guard.

     Pavel grabbed Adam and slammed their bodies together.
He kissed Adam passionately while he backed him up against
the wall.  Adam moaned in confusion but Pavel would not
stop.  Pavel moved so that his erection leaned on Adam's.
Soon Adam was at peace.

     Pavel removed his mouth.  Adam stood there frozen with
shock. Adam's cheekbones got red, making them even more
prominent.  His legs grew weaker as Pavel ran a hand in his
hair.  He picked up sections of the long, blonde locks and
combed them gently, then let them fall back into place.

     "Just lovely.  I've never been with a guy who had hair
this long or this beautiful." Pavel remarked in a slightly
menacing voice.  His hand slid around Adam's hip to his
buttocks and rubbed in circular motions.  Adam could not
conceal how good leather felt against his bare skin.  The
next thing he felt was a knee to the groin applied with just
enough pressure to make Adam's head spin.

     "Let me make something clear, Adam." said Pavel
quietly.  "I know you like me.  And, as you can tell, I am
somewhat interested in you. We can play.  We're going to
play. But it's got to be by my rules.  I like to run the
show.  Do you agree to that?"  Pavel's intense eyes never
broke sight of Adam as he removed his knee, then gave him a
surprisingly sweet kiss.

     Adam's cockiness had long since disappeared.  He wasn't
counting on the power that Pavel seemingly possessed to sway
minds and to make even the strongest soul submit.  Adam had
never been dominated like this before.  He thought he could
never imagine how that could be.  Things had changed.

     "Oh yeah." Adam said in one breath.

     Jason watched the entire scene unfold.  Glumly he sat
on the bench, head in hand.  He'll never change, he said to
himself.

     "Jason?"

     Jason thought he heard a friendly voice.  It belonged
to Valeri.  He had taken a seat next to him.

     "Oh, sorry friend."  Jason's mood had shot up. "What's
up?"

     "Not much.  Not much at all." replied Valeri.  Jason
couldn't help but notice that Val seemed distracted by
something.  Val watched his brother and Adam kiss.

     Valeri's voice was kind and caring.  "Jason, please
forgive me.  I don't mean to make comments on things that
aren't my business. But this."-he gestured at Pavel and
Adam-"this is disrespectful.  It's disrespectful to you
because this is your boyfriend.   And I am really shocked
that Pavel would do this.  He's never done something like
this in front of me before."  He looked at Jason with
compassion.  "I'm sorry you have to see this.  I can tell
it's hurting you.  I can tell by your eyes."

     "Naw, it's okay."  Jason lied.

     Valeri shook his head. "No, it isn't.  It's not right.
Not right at all, Jason."  A robotic melody could be heard
in the pause.  "Oh, that's my cell.  Please, would you
excuse me Jason? I'll be right back, I promise." said Val.

     "Oh, sure."  Jason smiled a little at the prospect of
Valeri spending more time with him.

     Valeri walked to an empty corner of the room.  He took
the phone out of his pocket and pressed the keypad.  "Hello?
Hi Candace.hi kids!  Daddy misses you too!  Hi again, love.
Yes, well it could have gone better but we'll be playing for
bronze.  It's nothing to be ashamed of.  Yes.yes, actually
do you know who I ran into?  Jason!  You know, Christian
from the WWF?  Yes, I knew you'd remember.  Listen, I have
to get back.  Okay.  And Candace.thank you for
understanding.  You are the best wife in the world.  I love
you, sweetie.  Kiss the kids good night for me.  Good-bye!"

     Valeri replaced the phone and returned to Jason, but
did not sit down.  "Jason, hey listen.  I was thinking.  We
don't need to stay here and watch this.  Would you like to
go somewhere and just hang out, watch some TV?"

     Jason could not resist that smile of his.  "Sure.  That
sounds good."  He got up and stretched his legs which were
stiff from sitting for a long time.  "Thanks, Val."
******************************************************
     Chris Irvine was the only one left and he couldn't
stand himself one more minute.  He saw everyone pair up and
all it did for him was remind him of his loneliness.  It
just followed him everywhere lately.  Needing to be alone,
Chris moved into the massage room next door.  He found a
table and sat down on it, trying his best to get
comfortable.  Chris scanned the room.  It was white, plain,
pure and simple.  Why couldn't life be simple?  He shut his
eyes as if in reaction to the sudden onset of a pounding
headache.  He buried his face in his hands and fought wildly
to prevent tears from spilling.

     The thud of a heavy gym bag broke the silence.  Its
owner was surprised to see Chris.  Chris looked up but did
not clearly see the visitor.

     "Oh, I'm sorry.  I didn't know someone was in here."
said the man.

     "Well, yeah." Chris said, full of exhaustion.  "And if
you don't mind I'd rather be alone."

     "Well, all right." the stranger said.  He turned
around, then decided he wasn't going to leave.  This scene
looked so familiar to him.  He thought back to all the times
when he was so depressed he did not know if a way out
existed.  He didn't know Chris's story but he did know one
thing.  He wasn't going to leave someone in this state to be
upset and confused.  He wasn't going to treat this guy like
everyone else treated him.

     "Hey, are you all right?" the man asked in a concerned
voice.

     "It's none of your business.  Leave me alone." Chris
responded.

     "But obviously something's bothering you.  I can't just
leave you here like this.  Do you want to talk about-"

     "Hey, buddy!" Chris snapped. "I said shut up and leave
me alone!"  Chris wanted his point heard once and for all.
He faced the stranger, intending to repeat the statement so
that it was absolutely clear.  The anger disappeared when he
saw who the other person was.  Now Chris was hot with
embarrassment.  This man was tall and strikingly handsome,
with curly brown hair and an athletic physique.  He was also
very familiar.

     "You-you're Eric Lindros." Chris could barely get out
the words.

     Eric nodded, showing no anger or animosity. "Yeah, yeah
I am."  he replied.

     Chris thought he would drop to the floor in shock.  "I-
I-I.I am so sorry, Mr. Lindros!  You have no idea how sorry
I am!  I didn't mean to yell, I just.man am I going to be
sick!"

     "Hey now, don't worry about it!" said Eric.  "It's
okay.  Are you going to be okay?"

     Chris nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm going to be.just fine."
His voice broke and he couldn't control the tears any
longer.  They spilled fast and furious down his face which
Chris promptly covered out of humiliation.  "I'm sorry, Mr.
Lindros, so sorry!" he screamed.

     "Hey, hey."  Quickly Eric rubbed Chris's back. "No,
please don't cry." he asked, thinking back to all the times
he wept alone.  "Whatever it is, it's going to be all
right."

     "No it won't!" Chris shot back, searching his pockets
unsuccessfully for a tissue.  He gratefully accepted one
from Eric.  "Thank you, Mr. Lindros." he said between sobs.

     After Chris cleaned up his face, Eric looked deep into
his eyes.  "It will.  I promise it will.  And you can call
me Eric.  What can I call you?" he asked.

     "Chris. My name's Chris."  The crying had stopped.

     "Chris, if you don't mind me asking, how come you're
back here anyway?  Are you part of the Olympics?"

     "Uh, no. I just came with some friends to visit some
other friends.  Things got a little weird and I couldn't
take it anymore."

     "Okay Chris.  Listen, if you really want me to leave
you alone, if that's want you want, I'll do it. Otherwise,
I'm right here.  I'll listen to you."

     "No! I can't talk to you!" Chris said, intimidated
without knowing why.

     "Sure you can talk to me!" Eric said cheerfully.  "I'm
just another guy, you know." He stood with his hands folded
behind his back.

     That's what you think, thought Chris.

     "So I play hockey and a lot of people happen to know
who I am.  So what?  What do you do, Chris?"  Eric asked
with genuine interest.

     Chris didn't know how to answer.  He was afraid to tell
Eric who he was.  He was afraid that Eric would just want to
be around another famous guy and not really listen to him.
He was afraid that what Chris Irvine had to say was
insignificant.

     "I'm a musician." Chris replied.  That was the truth,
even though he hadn't played with Fozzy for several months.

     "Where are you from?" asked Eric.

     "Originally, Winnipeg.  I live in Manhattan now." said
Chris.

     "You like coffee or tea?" asked Eric.

     What was he trying to do? thought Chris.  He played
along anyway.  "Coffee."

     "Tea. You like hockey, I take it.  Who's your favorite
team?"

     "Well.the Rangers of course!" said Chris, still
confused. "And Tampa Bay.  I used to live there."

     Eric approved.  "Okay. Now we know a bit about each
other.  Now, come on.  Tell me what's wrong.  You need to
talk and don't tell me otherwise."

     Boy, he doesn't stop until he gets what he wants,
thought Chris.  For some reason he was slightly excited by
that.   "Okay.  See, I love two.people.  I work with these,
uh, people every day.  But they just don't want to be with
me."

     "Okay.  I know that feeling.  That really sucks, Chris.
It is really painful to love someone when love doesn't feel
the same way." said Eric.

     "Yeah." Now Chris was comfortable enough to open up a
bit. "I mean no matter who it's with it hurts all the same.
Because love can be really not so good, you know, and it
doesn't really matter who you love because--"

     "You're in love with two guys aren't you?" asked Eric.

     Chris was amazed by Eric's perception.  "Am I that
transparent?" Chris asked with a chuckle.

     "Well, let's just say I can tell these things and I
have, well, first-hand experience with the subject."

     Chris was shocked.  He had heard the rumors, of course.
He just chalked it up to people who didn't like Eric or his
reputation. All those guys who would chant "Erica" or
"spoiled brat fag" when Eric hit the ice.  That group had
included Chris, before he realized his own orientation. Now
he was overcome with shame for ever making fun of Eric.

     "So Chris, now that you know about me, maybe I can be
of some help." said Eric.  "Are you sure you want to be
alone?"  I hope he doesn't say no, thought Eric.  This Chris
is kind of cute.

     Chris could only appreciate his kindness.  For all
intents and purposes Eric was a stranger.  But he was
offering to listen to Chris's problems.  The only people who
knew of Chris's dilemma were Matt Hardy and Amy Dumas and he
was well aware of their opinions.  Maybe a different mind
can bring different insight.  Hey, Chris thought, it
shouldn't be so bad.  If the conversation was no good, at
least the scenery would be.

     "No. I'm going to take you up on your offer." said
Chris.

     "Great!" said Eric, picking up his bag.  "Let me drop
this off in my room and then I'll take you to this club I
found.  It's real quiet and low-key.  It's good for
conversations."

     For the first time in this whole trip Chris had a
reason to smile. He put his feet on the floor and lifted
himself off the table.  "Sounds good, Eric.  Besides, I
don't think my friends will miss me."

**********************************************

 As always, praise and constructive criticism is most
appreciated.  Flames are not-don't even bother, I have no
time or energy to waste on them.  If you're enjoying it so
far, let me know!