AN: Guys I swear to God I tried to make this one short but damn it all to hell I couldn't do it. The reason is because I had to attempt to make this believable and nothing was working. I started to go the straight smut route but it's Christmas and Owen (RIP) wouldn't let me do it. So…here's to another long ass short story. It will be a few shot eventually. Probably just three chapters or two depending on how long chapter two will be. I already had the entire story mapped out. Just got to finish typing it. I only posted part 1 now so that I can star work on the others I have left. Oiya! Merry Christmas all!

*Note: This is based off the fanfic "Heart to Hart". Why? Because for some reason I can't seem to get away from it.

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Brotherly Love

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For HeartbreakDX

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Montreal, Canada 1998

Christmas Eve

Owen watched the handsome blonde sitting on the bench taping his wrists. If Owen could describe Shawn in one word he'd say audacious. Audacious was a good word for him because only someone that bold would even attempt to perform before a Montreal crowd, especially after what he managed to get by with around this time last year. It has been one year and some odd months since the infamous "Montreal Screw Job". His big brother Bret was now working alongside the competition at WCW while Owen was still in the World Wrestling Federation. If you were to ask Owen why he was still here instead of leaving with his brother, he would tell you that he really didn't know. That of course, would be a lie.

Owen wasn't as thick as his peers thought he was. Sure he liked to joke around a lot but that didn't mean he wasn't a careful observer. Owen knew there was something more to his brother's "rivalry" with Shawn but he couldn't prove it. Bret was always so careful when it came to his personal life that only Owen would know something was up. He was just that good at keeping his personal life…well…just that – personal. However, Bret's eyes were always the thing that gave him away which is why Owen knew Shawn was special. And it didn't take a rocket scientist to see why either. Shawn was a very beautiful man. In fact, he once heard his brother say that Shawn was a cruel joke created by God for his own amusement. Shawn was 6'1, 225 pounds of pure sin. His long blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes and perfect body would put any gay man in a coma. Owen could only imagine how women felt watching him each night as he swayed those perfect hips in the ring. Owen was not really gay…not really. To be honest, Owen was totally into women and wouldn't dream of actually being with a man except…Shawn was different. He knew Shawn was different because it was Shawn who effected his decision to stay with Vince.

Owen remembered the night like it was yesterday even though it was a little over a year in his past. Bret spit on Vince McMahon, grabbed a microphone and proceeded to thank all his fans for support. After that he paced the ring for a little while as he, Jimmy and Davey looked on fearfully. Bret was so angry that he tore up a lot of equipment before storming up the ramp to find Shawn. Owen lurked nearby watching the confrontation between the rivals. Shawn was crying, shaking his head as Bret screamed at him, shoving him hard against the wall. Owen shouldn't have felt anything for Shawn that night but it was something about his eyes…the pained expression on his face and the fear in his eyes that made Owen wonder.

"I never want to see you again."

Those were his brother's last words and when he left the blonde, Owen lingered just long enough to watch Shawn slide down the wall in a fit of sobs while Hunter held him in his arms attempting to comfort him. A week later Owen was on the phone turning down his brother's offer at a WCW contract. He knew it was possibly career suicide considering Shawn wasn't pulling Vince out of the hole yet. Of course Owen knew one man wasn't the blame for the World Wrestling Federation's failure but since Shawn was the new face of the company, it was just something that came along with the territory. The champ was blamed for everything from poor merchandise sales to bad ratings. Raw's ratings weren't bad; they just weren't beating WCW, something Shawn was having a hard time accepting.

Like now…Shawn was sitting on the bench taping his wrists but Owen could tell that he was troubled. In fact, since Bret's departure from the 'F, Shawn's behavior was nothing short of troublesome. He was angry all the time, throwing fits all over the place when things didn't go his way. His little clique in the form of Hunter, Chyna, and the NAO weren't helping matters either. Owen could only watch from a distance, often in the shadows, a man who was suffering in silence. His friends didn't know and if they did, they were too stupid to care. For instance, Bret was gone and Hunter was only to happy to pick up the pieces. It disgusted Owen to see Shawn used and neglected like that but it wasn't his place to get involved. So…he watched. He waited and watched each week as the blonde slipped farther and farther into depression. A part of him really wished he could comfort him. While Bret would never own up to it, he knew his brother missed Shawn. However, Harts were stubborn and Bret would never be the one to just apologize for anything, especially if he was wrong.

A choke, and then sobs followed. Owen watched from the crack in the door as Shawn doubled over, sobbing into the palm of his hands. Owen sighed. He'd been watching Shawn suffer for a really long time but he knew sooner or later he needed to let him know. Owen quietly pushed the door open being careful not to draw too much attention to himself. Shawn was in his own private locker room, mainly because it was Vince's orders. Protect his most valuable star, but Owen knew it was necessary. So many people hated Shawn and the ones who didn't just wanted to fuck him. Owen shut the door as quietly as he could locking the door behind him. They still had a good ten minutes before the show actually started and since Shawn was the main event, he still had a good hour or so.

Shawn heard the latch click and he jerked his head up quickly, a shocked expression on his face. "What are you doing here?" he asked. He quickly wiped his eyes, his cheeks flushing from embarrassment. Owen was sure that was the first time he ever saw Shawn embarrassed about anything.

Owen shrugged. "I don't really know."

"Oh." Shawn went back to taping his wrists while Owen stood idly by watching him quietly. It was pretty awkward but then why shouldn't it have been? It wasn't like they were friends and if you were to ask an outsider about it, they'd probably say Owen needed a good kick in the rear for being near his brother's number one rival. That's what they'd say but Owen didn't care. He didn't care because no one knew his brother like him and he knew deep down that he was right. Bret and Shawn were a lot closer than most people think, but he was going to keep it to himself because it wasn't his place.

"You look like him."

Owen frowned. "Excuse me?"

"I mean…you're blonde but I can still see a lot of him in you."

"Bret?"

Shawn nodded. "I don't know why you're here but if it's to give me hell about Montreal I don't think you can say anything to me that hasn't already been said."

"Shawn, if I wanted to blame you for Montreal, I would have done it alongside my brother last year. If anything I just want to say that you've got guts going out there tonight. I know I couldn't do it."

Shawn shrugged. "It's no big deal. If they kill me then so be it."

"You don't…seriously mean that do you?"

"Doesn't matter and anyway shouldn't you be elsewhere?" Shawn asked dismissively. "I would think you'd want to stay far, far away from me."

"Why would I want to do that?"

Shawn merely rolled his eyes. "I'm pretty sure it was I that screwed your brother over last year."

"And what does that have to do with me?"

Shawn scoffed. "Are you kidding me? Bret's your brother. I screwed him. Wouldn't that make us enemies by default?"

Owen remained silent for a second choosing his words carefully. "Maybe I don't see it that way. I'm not one for making enemies Shawn. You're no exception to the rule."

"Then why are you here?" he asked, suddenly growing defensive. "You shouldn't be here and you know it! Are you here just for kicks? Just to…just to spy for your brother?"

"Shawn-

"Why are you in here dammit?!" he snapped. "Everyone else hates me and they all blame me for the bad ratings so why are you here? Are you here to gloat? To rub it in that Bret was better suited to be a leader than me because if you are then-

"Shawn calm down," Owen said quietly. "I don't…I didn't mean to upset you. If my being here is that upsetting then I'll go. I just figured you could use a friend right now."

"I have friends," he answered coldly.

"Apparently not very good ones."

"What do you know about my friends?" Shawn snapped. "And where do you get off coming in here-

"Shawn, I don't have the patience for one of your little tantrums," Owen stated calmly. "I only came by to check on you. It wasn't to gloat and it sure as hell wasn't for my brother."

"Forgive me if I don't believe you." Shawn grabbed his belt hoisting it over his shoulder. "I'll need you to move out of the way. I'm leaving."

Owen unlatched the door holding it open for him. "After you…princess." Owen didn't know what he had done or said to scare Shawn like that. All he knew was that maybe he shouldn't have tried to make a joke. Shawn let the belt fall to the floor and started trembling to the point where Owen was sure he was having a seizure. "Shawn?" Owen rushed to his side grabbing hold of him before he could hit the floor. "Shawn? Shawn what's-

He was crying – sobbing uncontrollably and Owen had absolutely no idea why. Owen guided him back to the bench and sighed when Shawn just folded into him, clinging to him as if his life depended on him. "Shawn…I…I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry."

"Just…just hold me," he answered and so Owen did. He held him close to his chest, his sweet smell and warm body drawing him closer to the blonde. He didn't understand it but that didn't matter...at least not right now. All that mattered was that he was finally doing what he needed to do since turning down that contract.

"Hey Shawn you—

Both Owen and Shawn jumped at the voice; Owen practically flushing from embarrassment. It was Hunter standing in the door, a look of confusion on his face. Owen had forgot all about the door being open which meant it was possible that others saw them too. This was not good.

"What do you want Hunt?" Shawn asked, slowly untangling himself from Owen's hold.

"Uh…you're…promo time," he managed all the while glaring daggers at Owen.

"Oh okay. Be there in a second." Hunter nodded but not before shooting Owen another dirty look as he left.

Owen shook his head. "Guess that's my cue to leave." He stood to his feet. "Have a nice night Shawn."

"Owen…wait!" Shawn ran to the door stopping Owen. "Thanks. You're right. I did need a friend. Bret would have been nice, but I ruined that for good last year."

"It's fine Shawn. Good luck out there tonight and take care of yourself. I'd hate for you to have to spend the rest of Christmas Eve in a hospital," he joked.

Shawn finally smiled and Owen was quickly reminded why Bret was so smitten with him. "Thanks and I hope you don't take this personally." Shawn pressed his lips to Owen's for a quick kiss. "Merry Christmas Owen." Owen watched the now smiling blonde hurry out the room to take on a very hostile Montreal crowd. In the meantime, he was about to head home to Calgary for the evening. Maybe after I watch his match… Owen smiled inwardly as he headed after the blonde. After all it was his job to look after him and he wouldn't have a Merry Christmas without knowing the blonde was safe.

-TBC…