A/N: School resumes next week, and I'm not too sure how often I shall be updating. Hopefully, I won't be too busy because I do enjoy writing these chapters. I suppose I shall just wait and see what the future holds. Anyway, here's the next chapter. R&R. Enjoy!

Survive

Wild animals never kill for sport. Men is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself.

James Anthony Froud

Randy knew before he even stepped inside the police department that he'd have to talk to the Chief. The fact that he's a detective and that he has personal ties to the Barrett case made that very clear to him when he saw the news broadcast last night. However, that didn't mean that he was looking forward to going to work and having to deal with the stares and gossip and the talk with Chief Markel. But he couldn't avoid it, so he went inside the building.

And sure enough, upon his entry, the babble and gossip ceased and everyone either looked at him or kept their gazes down while trying to steal glimpses of him. It was all incredibly uncomfortable and annoying. He wished that they'd just come out and speak their peace and get on with it so that he can go and talk to the Chief. If they did that, then everything else would be easier.

With narrowed eyes, Randy made his way to his desk and took his jacket off. He wouldn't need it as it was going to get hot later on. Slowly, the other officers in the station began speaking once more, but in soft, low voices. Suppressing a growl, Randy straightened up and turned around so that he was facing them.

"Alright, if any of you have something to say, then say it right now because I'm not going to deal with this bullshit all damn day. You've seen the news, you know what's going on, and if you've got a problem with any of it, then please, let me know." Ending in a growl, Randy's narrowed ice blue eyes stared at each and every one of his coworkers. But before anyone could respond, Chief Markel entered the room and cleared his throat. A few people jumped, but for the most part, no one reacted too much. Randy gazed back steadily at his boss, and nodded.

"Chief."

"In my office, Orton. Now."

Without looking at anyone, Randy stalked behind the Chief and followed him to the back of the station and into his office. Once inside, the Chief closed the door and twisted the blinds closed so that no one could peer inside. Randy merely watched him in silence as the Chief strode over towards his desk and looked down at the newspapers littering it along with various files and memos. Looking down, Randy could see that the newspapers were covering Barrett's escape, which wasn't all that surprising.

"You know why I called you in here." It was a statement, not a question, and Randy looked at his boss and nodded.

"Yeah, I do."

"You told me everything when you arrived at this department. I was hesitant to take you in because of your…personal involvement in this case. I feared that you were one to become personally involved in every case. But you surprised me, and you even became a detective. You're one of the best I've got, Orton."

"But you don't want to talk about that crap, so cut to the case if you don't mind."

Chief Markel laughed and shook his head.

"That's why I like you kid; you're honest, straightforward, and head strong. Anyway, I guess you've realized that Wade Barrett has escaped, and while there's a massive manhunt underway, I've been notified to keep on the lookout for him as well."

"I've figured as much."

"Yes, well, I think you ought to stay off of the case."

"What? Why? Because I'm married to John? That's a lame ass excuse and you and I both know it." Randy glared at Chief Markel and the older man sighed, sitting down in his chair.

"Randy… Things could get incredibly messy if you're an active participant on this case. I don't want that to happen."

"I'm the best you've got. We both know that, and you need me to be on this case. Besides, if I can't separate my personal feelings from my professional ones, then I'm not suitable for this job, am I? And believe me, there have been plenty of times where I've wanted to beat the shit out of someone I've arrested. You need me on this case, Chief. No one in this department has history with Barrett or knows him like I do. I'm an asset."

Chief Markel stayed silent for a few minutes, contemplating all that Randy had said. Regardless of the detective's arguments, the Chief was the only one who could make the judgment call on this. It was very true that Randy was the best he had and that his knowledge of Barrett and how he acted, what he did, and the like were valuable. But at the same time, Randy was married to John Cena, Barrett's godson. He had personal ties to this case, but then again, he's had personal ties to other cases, all of which he's performed admirably. Surely, it couldn't hurt…

"Alright, Orton. You're on the case. But only if there are sure signs that Barrett is heading this way, you understand me? All I've been told to do is to contact state police should we receive any information on Barrett's whereabouts. I want you to work on your current cases; they are to take top priority unless told otherwise, understand?"

"I understand Chief. Am I free to go back to my desk now?"

"You're free to go. And Randy, you ought to talk to John about all of this."

Randy nodded and opened the door, leaving the office. Of course he was going to talk about this with John. The odds that his husband already knew about Barrett breaking out where extremely high; hell, he'd be surprised if John didn't know about it. He only hoped that John wouldn't be too upset with him when he was finally confronted. An angry John was never a good thing…

John sighed as he drove home, getting closer to his destination with each passing second. After that meeting with Mrs. Owens, he returned to his office, trying to work through the files and cases on his desk. Unfortunately, he found that after an hour of constantly arranging and reading, he simply couldn't concentrate. So, he took Mrs. Owens up on her offer and, after speaking to her, he left work early. While he hated leaving so soon, he was kind of relieved. He wanted to get home as soon as possible. No, he needed to get home as soon as possible, so that he could calm down a bit more.

Besides, Cody was on summer vacation, and although he saw her every day, he wanted to spend a little alone time with her. Surely, she had watched the news and she would know that Wade had escaped. He had explained to her a few years ago about what he went through with Wade, and he knew that she should be kept on her guard. Even though she was fourteen, she could handle the news of Wade's escape, probably better than John had actually. So he was going to talk to her about it, make sure she was dealing with it okay. While she had never met Wade, John figured that her feelings towards him were less than friendly, but he wasn't too sure.

It wasn't long before he was pulling into the driveway, though the ride home felt as though it had taken forever. Taking a deep, hopefully calming breath, John grabbed his bag and got out of his car, locking it up before he made his way up the pavement towards the door. Glancing through the window, he saw that Cody wasn't in the kitchen. With a slight frown, he unlocked the door and stepped inside, placing his bag down onto the floor and closing the door behind him.

He wasn't looking forward to this. To talking to Cody, and to Randy. But, it needed to be done… It had to be done.

Placing his keys onto the table, he left the kitchen and walked into the living room. Cody wasn't there either, so she was probably upstairs in her room. Turning left, he walked down the hall and walked up the stairway. At the very end of the hall was Cody's room and, sure enough, her door was open slightly and music was flowing out of the room, soft and low so as not to disturb others. With a small smile, John nearly shook his head as he stared at the door.

He would never be able to grasp just how special Cody Marie really was. She was so…different from other teenagers; it truly amazed him. Of course, John was incredibly shocked to have found out that he was pregnant. It was right after he had graduated from college and had started working at the Child's Advocacy Center. At first, he didn't know how to react and he didn't know how Randy would react. All he could do for the first fifteen minutes or so after telling Randy was cry. When he first discovered his unnatural pregnancy, he was terrified that Randy, the one person he loved the most, would think he was some kind of freak, something vile and disgusting.

However, to his great surprise and relief, Randy had reacted oppositely. Although he was shocked at first, Randy soon realized John's fears and reassured his husband that he wanted the baby and that he was truly happy for this blessing. And if he thought that telling Randy was the hardest part of it all, he was sorely mistaken. John didn't understand the severity of the situation until he suddenly went into labor just four months into his pregnancy. The doctors and nurses were practically panicking and it was as though a giant hurricane overcame the hospital.

John understood what the doctors had told him when he first found out; that male pregnancies were extremely rare and dangerous to both the carrier and the child and that it often ended in either miscarriage or death. But the reality of it never took hold of him, never sunk in until he went into labor at four months. And then all the information came hurtling back into his mind and he thought that both he and his child were going to die. Never before in his life had he been so frightened, not even when Wade was so angry and pissed off…

Thankfully though, both he and Cody Marie had survived, in large part due to the efforts of the hospital staff and the doctors. While their daughter had to stay for a good while at the hospital due to being delivered prematurely, both Randy and John were happy that she was alive and breathing, and looking healthier by the day. It was truly a miracle, and John thanks his lucky stars every day for giving him his Cody Marie, his star, his blessing.

Shaking his head, John snapped out of his thoughts and proceeded forward until he was standing just outside his daughter's door. He knocked gently before pushing the door open further. Cody was sitting at her computer desk, with her writing notebook on her lap. She had been typing up something but had ceased when he knocked. Now, she was looking up at him with wide, bright eyes and a smile across her face.

"Daddy John! You're home early."

"Yeah baby, I am. Mrs. Owens let me leave early after our discussion."

"About Wade breaking out."

The statement was so simple and said so nonchalantly that John had to sit down on Cody's bed to steady himself. To hear her speak those words, to know that she had seen the news broadcast, made it sink in a bit more and it made him weak in the knees. He inhaled shakily and nodded, looking up at Cody and meeting her worried gazed.

"Are you okay, Daddy?" He smiled slightly and nodded.

"I…I'm fine, Codes." Taking another breath, he continued. "So… You've seen the news."

"Yeah, this morning before Daddy Randy went off to work."

"How do you feel about this?" Cody closed her notebook and placed it on her desk before she turned to face him.

"I'm okay. Just worried about you. You've got enough on your plate with work and stuff, you don't need him coming back to top it all off."

"You're not…scared or anything?"

"I'm kind of scared, but the police are looking for him, right? Both you and Daddy Randy are on your guard and everything, right? It's only a matter of time before he's caught again."

"I hope you're right, baby. I hope you're right…"

John was sitting on the couch when Randy came home from work a little after five. He got up and walked into the kitchen when he heard the door open and close. Cody was in her room and John wasn't going to start on dinner until he and Randy talked. When Randy looked at him with trouble, pale ice blue eyes, John instantly knew that his husband felt bad for keeping Wade's escape a secret. It was as plain as day and John felt a little bad for feeling angry with him. After all, it was Randy who had helped him the most when he escaped Wade's clutches. How could he be mad for trying his best to continue protecting him still?

"Randy… Sally showed me the news story and the…the newspaper headlines. I know." Randy nodded.

"I figured she would. I bet you're pissed at me."

"I was." John approached the older man and gently flattened out a wrinkle on his jacket.

"I'm so sorry baby. I just-" John silenced his husband by leaning up to kiss him gently on his lips. The small contact made him moan softly; never before had he felt such a strong urge to simply be with Randy. Perhaps it was an effect on the current situation, but at that point in time, he really didn't care.

"I know, Randy. I know. And I understand why you did it. Believe me, I'm not mad. Promise."

Randy smiled, a soft, loving smile before he took off his jacket and hung it up in the closet by the door.

"I'm glad to hear you say that. Chief talked to me about the Barrett escape today. At first he wanted me to steer clear of it, but I convinced him otherwise."

"He's after us, Randy. I know he is. Wade will do anything and everything he can to get to us. And he'll take down anyone that stands in his way." John sat down in a chair at the kitchen table. For the first time that day, he felt the prickle of hot tears ebbing to the surface. Reality had taken a full and complete grasp on him now; there was nowhere to hide, nowhere to turn to, and nowhere to deny the fact that Wade was out and that he was going to pursue John and his family until he achieved his goal.

Until he got his revenge.

"I know he's after us, baby. I know. We'll figure something out."

Nodding, John closed his eyes and leaned back to that his head was resting against Randy's stomach. Randy was right; they'd figure something out. They just had to.

"Well, well, well. It's been a long, long time hasn't it, Miz? Or should I say, Detective Mizanin?"

Mike struggled against the ropes that bound him to the chair. He was on vacation for a few weeks to visit his family, something he had been looking forward to for a while. The only people from his police department that knew exactly where he was were the Chief and his partner, Randy. The brunette didn't see the news broadcast, he didn't see that Wade Barrett had escaped. And now, here he was. In some…some basement of some sort. Tied to a chair. With Wade motherfucking Barrett towering over him like a malicious predatory, thinking over its next move.

"What have you been doing with yourself, Mikey?"

With the gag in his mouth, Mike couldn't answer the Englishman. All he could do was struggle, groan, and glare at his captor.

"I heard that you went straight. That you work for a police department. The exact department, I hear, that my old friend, Orton works for. You're his partner, aren't you?"

Mike's eyes narrowed. If he could swear and spit at the man, he would. Yes, it was true that, as a teenager, he had done many things he wasn't proud of. He did drugs, was in Wade's little gang, he even assaulted people. And he couldn't make any excuses for his behavior, he couldn't take any of it back. He did whatever the hell he wanted, then he got clean and went straight, and now he's paying for it.

"Why don't you tell me precisely where you work? If you hand Orton and John over to me, I'll let you live. How does that sound. Here, I'll even remove the gag."

Finally free to speak, Mike continued glaring up at the man and spat onto the ground.

"Fuck you, Barrett! You can go to hell!"

Frowning, Wade glared at the small brunette and drew his fist back. Mike's head whipped sharply to one side when his fist collided with his mouth. Wade smiled, a dark, twisted smile. Oh, how he loved causing others pain.

"I'll kill you if you don't tell me, Michael. You know I will; I've done it before. Now, let's try this again…"

Michael Mizanin may have done many horrible things in his past, but he was different now. He had a husband, a newly adopted baby boy, he had a career and a partner whom he trusted more than anyone else, aside from Kevin. All of their lives were in his hands, and he'd rather die than give them up.

He'd rather die…