It was gone midnight, and the sound of someone knocking on the door was echoing through the house.

Kaz glanced at the clock, groaned and slowly got up to go see who had woken him.

"Do you know what the time is???" Frankie sighed as he opened the door too a very wet looking Raven, "What do you want, Raven?"

"Don't call me that" He sighed, "Call me Scott"

"Ok" Kaz yawned, "What do you want, Scott?"

"My landlord threw me out...I got nowhere else to go" Scott said

"And..." Kaz frowned

"Look, I am sorry for chewing you out like that at the hospital" Scott started, "I was just ...surprised"

"Right" Frankie sighed

"Can I come in...I'm freezing" Scott said

"Sure" Kaz finally nodded

He helped Scott with his bags, and took him through to the lounge.

"I'll get you some bedding" He said, "You be ok on the couch?"

"Yeah, thanks" Scott replied quietly

Frankie went to the linen closet and got some fresh bedding and some pillows, then went back to Scott.

"Here" He said, handing them too him, "I'll try not to wake you in the morning"

"I don't mind" Scott said, "Look, Frankie..."

Frankie held his hand up to silence him

"I am too tired to talk" He yawned, "I will talk to you tomorrow"

Scott nodded

"Stick ya clothes in the drier, they should be done for when you get up" Frankie said as he headed back up too his bed

He was JUST dozing back off when he heard his bedroom door open, then his bed dipping as Scott carefully climbed in

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Frankie asked, keeping his back too him

"Like I said...I am freezing" Scott said, "S'warmer in here"

"Well...stay over that side then" Frankie yawned as his tiredness took over and his eyes slipped shut...

5 YEARS EARLIER

Frankie was nervous as he went into the building, hoping he had been given the right address. As he got closer, he could hear the muffled yells of coaches telling wrestlers what they were expected to do.

"Who the hell are you kid?" He heard

He spun round to see a familiar face, well, familiar too HIM, he had been admiring him for years on TV.

"Um, Kazarian" Frankie replied

"You want my advice kid?" The guy spat, "Get your ass out of here, you are way too pretty to be a wrestler!"

The guy...was Raven. And Mother Nature was giving him a hard time. Gone was his rock hard body, gone was his stunningly handsome face. His skin was no longer bronzed and taut, and his eyes...well that was the saddest part. His eyes had died; Frankie guessed that Raven had drunk the sparkle right out of them.

"I think I'm gonna take my chances" Frankie replied, quietly

"Don't let that fat bastard in there rip you off then!" Raven stuttered, "Make sure he gives you what you pay for"

He yanked open the door to yell more foulness at the guys in the hall, and with the sounds of their laughter ringing in his ears, Raven left.

Kaz seemed to fit right in at the wrestling school, and it wasn't that long before the head trainer was able to get him a few matches.

He quickly made friends with a couple of the guys, Johnny and Matt, and he was happy with his life.

However, the one thing that was missing from Frankie's life was a partner to share in his happiness. He'd had a few one night stands, but they always left him feeling even emptier.

He'd even kinda flirted with a few of the guys he worked with, but nothing was working for him.

Raven would work for him, that is why no one else would...and Frankie knew that.

It was sad the hand that life had dealt Raven, but Frankie wanted him, more than he had ever wanted anyone else ever in his life. It was his mission in HIS life to find him, and for want of a better phrase, save him.

That was gonna be easier said than done!!

It was 2 years before he, Johnny and Matt were hired by TNA and by then, Raven was almost beyond saving.

One of the first things they were told, were to just do what they were paid to do, and to stay away from some of the "old timers".

Raven was one of them. He was well known for having a shitty temper, and it was safer for them to just give him a wide birth.

But Kaz was drawn to him, like the proverbial moth to the flame. Every time he got the chance to talk to him, even if it was just to say "Hi" then he would. And even if Raven chose to ignore him, at least Kaz had tried.

Frankie watched from the sidelines (so to speak) as Raven did more drugs, and drank more liquor than was humanly possible. He had never seen someone snort so much of the white stuff and still be stood up! But instead of, like the rest of his friends, who one by one turned their backs on Raven, Kaz stayed close.

Sadly though, Raven was so eaten up by his own demons, that he NEVER noticed Frankie...silently loving him

Read the sequel Recovery