A/N: A HUGE thank you to my patient readers. I had some trouble with this chapter. I knew how I wanted it to begin & end, but had some issues writing the middle. I hope you're not disappointed.
The clock on the wall behind Sara's chair ticked loudly, a continuous reminder that her first patient of the day was over 45 minutes late.
After overhearing Randy's argument with Dean, she'd made it a point to watch his match on the large monitor set up just outside the gorilla position. He'd walked directly past her but gave no indication that he'd noticed her standing there. She wasn't sure if he'd purposefully ignored her (she knew he couldn't be happy about Vince's request that he come see her), or if he was intently focused on his match. Either way, she knew it was best to stay quiet.
A few minutes passed before the first notes of his theme music began to play and the crowd erupted in excitement. If he'd been angry, it didn't show as he stepped through the curtain and into the arena where thousands of fans chanted his name. From the moment he set foot on the stage it was all business.
Not long after the match ended and Alberto's hand was raised in victory, Randy reappeared through the curtain and just as quickly, disappeared down the hallway towards his dressing room.
She'd called John on her way back to the hotel at just after 1am and he'd mentioned Randy had already gone to bed. That had been almost 10 hours ago, she thought glancing at her watch. So where the hell was he?
Just as she prepared to give up hope, the door swung open and Randy sauntered in, dressed casually in a pair of red gym shorts, a black t-shirt and pristine white sneakers. A pair of aviator shades covered the dark circles under his eyes, which, even behind the dark lenses, she could tell were bloodshot. A mischievous smile kissed his lips but his body language betrayed his desire to be anywhere else but her office. She knew he thought meeting with her was a joke, but Vince's orders were clear. Randy had to learn to control his anger or face the consequences.
"Sorry I'm late, doc," he yawned loudly.
It was obvious he was anything but sorry. However, she refused to let him bait her.
"Let's just get started," Sara said, clearing her throat. "Since we don't have much time left, I'm going to cut right to the chase. I want to talk about you and your wife. I know that –"
"What the hell do you know about what I'm going through?" Randy interrupted loudly, "Huh, Lil' Miss Perfect?" His quiet indifference quickly replaced with irritation.
While Sara was not one to be intimidated easily, if she was completely honest with herself, Randy's sudden outburst had startled her. And she was pretty sure he'd noticed her flinch, as hard as she'd tried to hide it. Showing a man like Randy even one moment of weakness threatened to undermine her position and she knew he'd be quick to take advantage of it.
Pulling herself together, she squared her shoulders and fixed him with a firm stare.
"I don't normally discuss my personal life with my patients, but if that's what it takes to get you take this seriously, fine. You want to know how I know what you're feeling?"
"Whatever," Randy said as he made a show out of removing his sunglasses so she could see him roll his eyes.
"Five years ago the love of my life died in a car accident," Sara said bluntly, not bothering to sugarcoat the painful memory, "Matt and I had been together for six years and were planning to get married. I lost my best friend and the man I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with."
For a split second Sara saw Randy's expression soften, but in the blink of an eye it was gone. The walls were back up and his eyes narrowed.
"You think your sob story is going to make me feel bad for you? How is someone so screwed up going to help me?"
He stood up quickly, his movement causing his chair to tip backwards and crash to the wood below. The sound did nothing to break the tension in the room.
"I'm out of here. Tell Vince I said thanks, but no thanks."
Randy slammed the door a little harder than necessary, but Sara was too stunned to notice. Staring at the fallen chair she couldn't believe she'd just told Randy about Matt. She valued her privacy and tried her best to keep her personal life close to the vest. What had come over her?
He couldn't believe Sara had tried to trick him into telling her about Samantha. He wasn't fooled by that sweet smile or those baby blue eyes. He knew it was only an act to get people to trust her. But he was smarter than the poor saps before him. Though he'd admit a few years ago he might have laid on the charm and gotten her into bed, he wasn't that guy anymore. For better or worse, Samantha had changed him and he still loved her. He wasn't going to let anyone pass judgment on what they shared.
Caught up in all the thoughts going through his head, Randy nearly tackled John as he rushed to his dressing room.
John regained his footing, shooting an annoyed look at the man who'd barreled into him. When he realized it was Randy, his expression changed to confusion.
"Hey, man. What are you doing here?" he asked glancing at the clock on the wall, "Aren't you supposed to be meeting with Sara?"
"I told Vince and I'm telling you, I don't need her. Or anyone else."
"Listen, man. I know you're upset. About a lot of things. But you need to take this seriously. Or you're going to find yourself working as a punching bag in FCW."
"I ain't going anywhere but up. Vince knows this company can't do anything without me."
It was obvious Randy wasn't ready to back down and John knew he was no match for his best friend in his current state of mind. However, he wasn't about to stand idly by and watch Randy throw everything away.
"Do yourself a favor and do what the boss says. And take it easy on Sara. She's just doing her job."
"And I'm just trying to do mine. So do me a favor and mind your own fucking business."
John exhaled loudly as he watched Randy storm away, sending up a silent prayer no one had the misfortune of getting in the Viper's way.
"You told him about Matt?" Natalie Neidhart asked, unable to believe what she'd just heard.
Sara had spent the last twenty minutes filling the third-generation wrestler in on her brief session with Randy that morning. Natalie hadn't said a word until Sara spoke Matt's name.
"It just came flying out of my mouth. Before I could stop it," Sara explained, closing the door to their hotel room behind them.
"That isn't like you at all."
"I know."
"What did Randy do?"
As they reached the elevator, Sara was quiet for a moment while the memory replayed in her head.
"I swear, for a split second, he was someone else. I saw it in his eyes. Recognition. Of the pain that comes with losing someone."
"Then what?"
"It was gone. As quickly as it came. Then he shut down again. Tore out of my office like it was on fire."
Before Sara could say anymore the elevator doors opened to reveal John and Randy, who was facing the back wall of the elevator having, what appeared to be, a heated argument with his reflection in the mirrored glass.
"What's with him?" Natalie asked John, motioning to Randy.
"He was in the lobby challenging the doorman to a cage match. The concierge almost called the police, but I told her he'd taken too much cold medicine."
"And she believed you?" Sara asked, incredulous. It was obvious to anyone with eyes, or a nose, that Randy was plastered.
"Enough not to call 911."
Sara and Natalie smirked, confident John had used his good looks to charm the young lady at the front desk.
Randy, who'd grown tired of yelling at himself, turned to face the trio.
"What the hell is she doing here?" he demanded, shooting a disgusted look at Sara, "This is my elevator and I don't want her near it."
"Alright, buddy. Let's get you to bed, okay?" John said to Randy, taking a soothing tone. Then, to Sara and Natalie, "Will you guys help me get him to our room."
As John assisted Randy out of the elevator, Natalie leaned over to whisper to Sara,
"What else happened this morning? I think you broke him."
Sara shot her an irritated look, but all Natalie could do was shrug.
After spending the last hour listening to Randy dry-heave in the bathroom, they were confident he could be left alone to sleep without fear he'd get sick and drown.
Just as John reached out to turn off the light, Randy lifted his head from the mattress.
"Where's Samantha? She said she'd sleep with me tonight. She knows I'm sorry."
The voice was so small, Sara wasn't sure it had even come from Randy. It sounded more like a scared little boy. Sara and Natalie, standing together in the doorway, shared a pitying look.
"Sam's in California. You know that," John answered. As much as he wanted to sugarcoat the truth, he refused to lie to his best friend.
"Oh yeah. I forgot," came the same small voice.
A beat passed and Randy spoke again, sounding more like himself.
"Who's that?" he asked, his eyes on the doorway.
John turned to follow Randy's gaze and smiled.
"That's Sara."
"She's pretty," Randy yawned, as he lowered his head to the pillow and his eyes fluttered shut.
Flicking the light switch, John followed the girls out of Randy's room, "Thanks a lot, guys. I think I can take it from here."
"You sure?" Natalie asked.
"Nothing I haven't dealt with before," John replied, giving them each a kiss on the cheek.
"We'll see you tomorrow for breakfast?"
"You bet," he responded, opening the door so they could step out into the brightly lit hallway, "Goodnight."
The door closed behind them, echoing silently. Sara exhaled a deep breath, one she hadn't realized she'd been holding since Randy had looked at her, as if seeing her for the first time. She glanced at Natalie, who wore an amused expression.
"Everyone deserves a second chance, right?"
"Right," Natalie replied, with a giggle, "Let's go get some ice cream."
