John reached down and helped the man, he'd just punched, to his feet. Not a word was shared between the two friends and Randy ignored the pain in the hand that John was pulling him up with. While John was angry he wasn't stupid. If he'd pulled his friend up with his bad shoulder there would be even more damage done, instead he took the hand Randy had cut yesterday, ensuring to place unnecessary pressure on the wound.

"So, who's hungry? I made lunch," Randy announced brushing himself off and ignoring the pain in his face. If he showed any sign of pain he'd lose face, the previous night John had ignored his injuries for an hour before needing to seek help. If Randy showed pain now it gave John permission to cause more.

"Randy, are you okay? Let me get some ice on that!" Alex rushed out trying to look after the man.

"I'm fine, I don't need ice,"

"You'll end up with a black eye, let me get some ice!"

"No, no leave it I'm fine. A black eye is nothing," Randy ensured the woman brushing her hand away.

"Randy! You're usually such a big baby let me get you some ice,"

"He said leave it! He's fine!" John growled finally butting in.

"Whatever, I don't understand you men!" Alex cried throwing her hands up and walking away. John turned to his friend,

"Well, go get her!" John insisted causing Randy to jump up and dash after Alex. John shook his head gingerly and sat down attempting to eat some soup.

"Lex, don't leave!" Randy begged entering her room,

"I don't understand you boys," Alex shook her head looking at the suitcase in front of her.

"It's quite simple actually. I did some major damage to John last night and he barely showed pain. What he did to me was nothing in comparison so if I show pain it means that he's entitled to cause me more pain. It's a locker room law – if someone hurts you to the degree that you miss at least two weeks work then when you return you have two weeks to king hit them. Rules are that you only have two weeks and you can't hurt them as much as they hurt you."

"Locker room law? Who makes these supposed 'laws'?" Alex asked raising an eyebrow; she wasn't quite sure what to make of the whole locker room law.

"Locker room leaders; guys like Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, JBL and at times John"

"John? As in that goof out there?" Alex asked definitely not believing Randy,

"Yea, don't ask I can't figure it out either!" Randy smiled picking up the still empty suitcase at Alex's feet.

"What are you doing?" Alex asked watching as Randy carried the suitcase to the open wardrobe and placed it inside before closing the door,

"Please don't leave," Randy finally said not turning to face the woman,

"Why not?"

"Because I've already lost too much to have you leave now,"

"So, you're going to guilt me into staying?" Alex asked somewhat put out. Randy spun around,

"No, I could never do that. If you really want to leave, leave. But, know I don't want you to go."



"Randy, I can't do this anymore!" Alex sighed standing up and heading for her bag. Randy was confused, she'd called him by his name not the nickname she'd given him.

"Can't do what?"

"This game of cat and mouse between us. I can't keep falling into this world of yours, this world of late night cuddles and good morning kisses. This world, where you and me make so much sense and, at the same time, absolutely none. I can't keep falling into this with you because soon I'm not going to be able to get myself out,"

"Do you want to get out?"

"If there is nothing more than this, then yes," Alex finally admitted silently.

The woman was showing complete vulnerability towards Randy and was afraid that he would use it to his advantage. Before Randy had a chance to respond John stuck his head in the door,

"I'm going out tonight so I'm going to have a nap. I barely got any sleep last night. It's 3pm now; can you do me a favor? Wake me up at 5?"

"Should you be going out after last night?" Alex asked grateful for the distraction,

"Yea, I'm right. Okay, I'm gone. Thanks for lunch Dall," John waved a hand and disappeared up the stairs.

"Lex," Randy started after hearing John's bedroom door close, "if you look screw up, up in the dictionary you're going find a photo of me. I'm the biggest screw up in the world. I only have a job because someone convinced McMahon that I was the next Rock and because my looks put females in the audience. I had the grades to do anything but I get beat up for a living because that's what my dad did and that's what his dad did. I had legacy to carry on and I screwed it up. I'm third generation and I can't do anything right.

"I'm a recovering drug addict, I have anger issues and I should probably re-evaluate just how much alcohol I consume. Either my performance or my injury is going to result in me losing my job. Nothing in my life makes sense, except for one thing. And that is waking up with you in arms. I've barely known you for two weeks but I feel like I've known you all my life. If you leave I don't know what I'm going to do. I can't keep playing this game anymore either. I want you; I need you to stay so that I can keep falling into the only thing that makes perfect sense. I barely know you but I know that I love you so please stay, no more games; just us," Randy's brain barely registered that he had told Alex he loved her, somehow those three words had slipped past the censor but he didn't care.

After what had happened with Sam and the innumerable flings he'd had, Randy no longer knew what love was. Alex didn't either, she'd had so many bad relationships she just didn't know what was what anymore. She'd heard Randy mutter those three immortal words and chose to ignore it. Alex couldn't bear to have Randy tell her he loved her, not when she was still trying to figure out just what it meant. Randy didn't care that Alex hadn't acknowledged his declaration of love, he didn't even know where the word had come from, he didn't know where anything he was saying was coming from.

"Just us?" Alex asked quietly. Randy had been completely vulnerable with her and she didn't know how to respond.



"Just us," Randy whispered now kneeling in front of Alex. He gently lifted her chin so that he could see her eyes, "Your eyes show me your soul and I know it aches. The night we met your eyes told me you're lost and alone, so am I. But something's changed, something's different. Your eyes tell me that you feel the same way about me that I feel about you. So stay, give us a shot,"

"Alright, I'll stay," Alex smiled before wrapping a hand around Randy's neck and pulling him in for a kiss.

"Really?" Randy asked in shock when they pulled apart,

"Yea, besides who else is going to hold your hand when you have to go to the doctor?" Alex smirked, "But, there is one condition,"

"What?" Randy asked nervously,

"Back off the alcohol. You scared the living daylights out of me last night,"

"Deal," Randy smiled. Having Alex was better than any alcohol.

Randy knew that Alex wasn't asking him to stop drinking all together, just to drink responsibly and after his behavior the night before Randy didn't blame her. Alex said she'd been scared but she had no idea how frightened Randy had been. He'd barely recognized himself, the man he'd been the night before was any one but him.

The new couple didn't do much for the next couple of hours, but when 5pm came Randy was reluctant to leave and wake up his friend. Eventually Alex kicked him out of the room sending him upstairs to wake John. On the way he caught a glimpse in the mirror and winced slightly at the dark bruise already forming around his eye. Reaching John's room Randy took a deep breath and dared to venture in. He took a running jump and landed on his friends stomach,

"Its 5pm, time to wake up"

"Go to hell!" John groaned pushing his friend off him.

"You're the one who wanted the wake up call," Randy shrugged disappearing down the hall.

John groaned before blinking a couple of times, his left eye still wasn't opening and he knew that he looked horrible but he didn't want to cancel his date with Ashley. John finally dragged himself out of bed and into the shower; the hot spray stung his injured face. After his shower John looked for something to wear. Usually he never cared on a date because he had a 'special' outfit that he knew the ladies loved, but he didn't just want Ashley to fall into bed with him. He remembered that he'd recently bought a new pair of dark Levi's that he was yet to wear them and decided that his date with Ashley was a good time. He then found a light blue muscle tee, which he covered with a royal blue button up shirt.

Looking in the mirror John decided that even with his face a mess, he looked good. He'd contemplated calling Ashley and asking her to pick him up but figured that would make him sound pathetic. He wasn't on that much medication anyway so he could drive no problems. He hadn't taken any thing stronger than Tylenol since he'd left the hospital.

John looked in the mirror once more and temporarily contemplated some foundation to make his face look a little worse. But, he quickly decided against it knowing that Ashley would instantly pick up on the swelling anyway. Giving himself a final glance John headed downstairs to let his friends know he was leaving.

Reaching the living room John found all the curtains drawn and lights off, Randy and Alex were curled up together watching a movie on the big screen. John smirked they looked so cute together and he could tell that they'd sorted things out; he just hoped that Randy had been open with his feelings. The man noticed that Alex was dozing if not completely asleep so he tapped Randy on the shoulder,

"I'm heading off; I'll be back later tonight,"

"Have fun," Randy muttered barely even looking up from the movie. John headed for the door and glancing back realized that Randy wasn't watching the movie but the girl curled up against him.

It was a short ride to the Italian restaurant Ashley had suggested. Entering the restaurant John looked around and smirked when he realized that Ashley was yet to arrive, especially after she'd teased him mercilessly about his infamous inability to be on time. John checked his watch quickly and noted that he was actually 5 minutes early.

"Hi, I have a reservation under John Anthony," John smiled at the host, "my date hasn't arrived yet but I'd like to be seated"

"Certainly," the host muttered raising an eyebrow when he saw Johns face. The host gave a waitress two menus and indicated for John to follow the young woman.

John was only waiting a moment when he made eye contact with Ashley. He stood up to pull out her chair and the woman gasped as she saw his face,

"What happened?"

"Nothing, I just fell down the stairs," John shrugged hoping that she would believe his lie. Ashley raised an eyebrow,

"Are you sure you want to stick with that lie? Or do you want a moment to come up with a new one?"

"I'll stick with that one," John shrugged,

"Randy?" Ashley asked reaching over as if to check on the extent of the injury,

"Yea,"

"You know you're not cleared to fight," Ashley growled in typical physical therapist fashion,

"Trust me aside from the black eye I gave him when I got home from the hospital I did no fighting. He did it all,"

"Hospital? Did he break bones?" Ashley asked concerned and John nodded gently indicating to his nose and cheek bone.

"That going to set you back any?"

"No, anyway enough about me, how have you been?" John asked finally able to turn the attention from himself.

After dinner the couple went for a walk, Ashley always conscious of John's face. During their walk Ashley joked about how she was surprised that the world hadn't ended since he'd arrived not just on time but early. John sighed and just sucked it up, the teasing was fair.

Eventually the two parted ways, heading for their respective homes, but before they said goodbye Ashley kissed John on the cheek making him promise that he'd call her if he needed help.

When John arrived back at the house, he was shocked to find it completely dark. The only light came from the TV, which was displaying the menu page for 'Spider-Man 3'. Looking around John found Randy and Alex sound asleep on the couch, wrapped in each others arms. He smiled to himself before heading to the closet and grabbing a blanket to cover the cute couple. John felt a pang of jealousy watching the two together. He couldn't help but wish that he was the one on the couch with Ashley wrapped in his arms.

In his room John sat on his bed and stared at his phone, Ashley had said to call him if he needed her and he definitely needed her. But, he was afraid, if he called her now what would happen? Would she come? Would he be able to control himself or would he ruin everything? John just wanted companionship, someone to wrap in his arms and he didn't want just anyone, he wanted Ashley.

His last relationship had ended being nothing more than sex, there was barely any communication and the only reason that his ex had broken up with him was because John didn't like change and didn't have the balls to break up with her. After all, if he ended it there would be no more sex and he, like most males, was quite fond of that particular physical activity.

John wasn't stupid; he knew that the relationship had been over long before one of them got the guts to actually end it. Even when John's ex finally ended it she struggled, they were comfortable together, they'd found a niche in which the two belonged. It was when John was injured and needed her help that they were forced to realize that their relationship was dead. The hours of awkward silence, with neither having a word to say to the other just echoed that there was nothing left except the sex.

There had been a time when the couple would talk all night, the sun would rise and John's alarm would go off, the only thing stopping the conversation was his need to be on a plane. They barely saw each other because of John's job, when they were together they had so much to catch up on. Then somewhere a long the way things changed and they barely said hello before falling into bed and spending the rest of the weekend there.

In the end both of them wanted something more and John hoped that he'd found that with Ashley. Smiling slightly he dialed her number.