This was supposed to be the final chapter, but I've come to realize having it all be in one was just going to be too rushed. So consider this part one to the finale of this story *nods*

…

Nobody realized just how serious Jeff was about that comment until Matt caught him the next day loading the boatload of guns that he had just purchased. "Holy shit," the older Hardy said under his breath. "Is this the Alamo and we're making our last stand?" He sighed when Jeff failed to even begin to crack a smile. "You got all of these for Randy huh?" He waited until Jeff nodded before speaking again. "You know I don't think you should be here waiting for him to show up. You should go somewhere safe and let me and-"

"No," Jeff said without hesitation. There was absolutely no way he was going to be moved on this. He didn't care what Matt or anyone else had to say on the matter. He was staying right where he was. "I need to be here."

"Jeff-"

"No Matt. I need to be here." Jeff already had one of the guns strapped to him and he handed another one off to Matt. He needed to give his dad, Jay and Shannon one too before distributing the others all around the house just in case. "Don't you understand? I'm the one that has to end this." He knew that that wasn't something Matt and the others wanted to accept but he didn't care. In his heart he knew that this was the way that it had to be and he had come to accept it.

Matt pressed his lips together tightly and shifted around uncomfortably on his feet. Deep down, he knew that Jeff had a really good point and was possibly completely right about this. But right or not, it didn't seem very smart to him and it didn't change the fact that he didn't want Jeff doing this. Randy was so single minded in his quest for Jeff and he just couldn't stomach the possibility of this going wrong and having Jeff get hurt again. He just couldn't do it.

Jeff noticed the look on Matt's face and knew what it meant. "Matt I love you," he said, running his hand through his hair before getting up and forcing eye contact with his older brother. "And I know you don't want me to do this."

"That might be a bit of an understatement," Matt said with a shake of his head.

"I know." Jeff rubbed his eyes tiredly. He hadn't really slept since finding out the news of Randy's escape and he knew that until this was all over, there was no way he could rest peacefully again. "But I'm doing it. This is going to end one way or another-I'll fucking make sure of that." He gave Matt a quick hug, trying to find some kind of comfort in his brother's embrace before letting go and continuing on with the loading and distributing of his guns. Matt watched him silently for a few minutes before letting out a long breath and stepping up to help him out. Jeff raised his eyebrows in surprise but then managed to weakly smile. Matt gave him one in return and then they worked in silence, no other words even needing to be said.

…

Randy drove the semi-truck down the road, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that it felt like he was going to break his fingers. He couldn't relax, no matter how much distance he put between himself and the prison. He knew that he was a wanted man and there was probably only a matter of time before he was recaptured. As of now he was disguised as a trucker, complete with a red flannel shirt and ratty jeans, a red mullet style wig, a trucker hat and giant sunglasses that hid a good portion of his face. He had walked by a group of wrestling fans earlier in the day and they hadn't even looked twice at him, so that told him his disguise was effective enough for right now. He didn't know how long it would hold up though or if it would do any good against anyone really looking at him so that was why he was speeding as much as he dared to down the highway, determined to get to North Carolina as fast as he possibly could. He knew that logically, this wasn't the smartest plan in the world. This was exactly the move people had to be expecting from him but he couldn't bring himself to not do it. He needed to get to Jeff. It felt like he couldn't breathe without him and that was not a feeling he could go on having. So off to North Carolina he was going, not giving a damn about the consequences.

One way or another, he was going to get Jeff once and for all.

…

The worst part was the waiting. That was what Jeff decided to himself as he tried to pass the time by doodling. He really could be using some sleep but he knew that as soon as he went to bed and laid down that he wouldn't be getting any kind of sleep. His mind would just start racing and would psyche him out of being able to sleep. But the problem with that was the more he avoided sleeping, the more exhausted he would get and that would weaken his defenses and leave him more vulnerable for an attack. And as he saw it, he had been vulnerable enough as it was to Randy and he didn't need for that shit to happen again.

He yawned and rubbed his eyes, deciding to forego the doodling and maybe try making something. It was about ten at night and he wasn't actually hungry even after the complete lack of dinner he had had but he needed to try to do something to pass the time. He walked towards the kitchen, his nerves so badly frayed that he jumped at every little noise that he heard. It angered him that he was reduced to this. Trapped in his own house, afraid that every noise he heard was actually Orton hiding in the shadows…he was so sick of this shit and just so ready for it be over.

When he got into the kitchen he frowned when he saw Jay sitting by the window, holding the gun Jeff had given him and he was keeping a watchful eye out. "You on guard or something?" Jeff asked, fighting off yet another yawn.

Jay nodded. "I am actually. Kimo and Yuk are out making patrols through the property and I know Shannon and Matt are supposed to be keeping watch too."

Jeff blinked in surprise. "You guys are really doing this?"

"Of course!" Jay looked shocked that Jeff was even remotely surprise. "Marty, Shane, the GCI crew and Monster are all going to come by and help out tomorrow so we can all get some sleep." He frowned and shook his head when he noticed that Jeff still had that same look on his face. "Come on, don't look at me like that. You're important to all of us Jeff and we'll be damned if you have to do this on your own."

Jeff just stared at Jay for the longest time, unable to move, speak or even properly think. Finally he ended up launching himself forward, surprising both Jay and himself by wrapping his arms around him and hugging him for all he was worth. Jay's eyes widened and he froze up, unsure about what to do at first. Finally he decided to just hug Jeff back, resisting the urge to pull him into his lap and bury his face in his neck like he used to do. He didn't want to push his luck too far.

"Thank you," Jeff said, breathing in Jay's scent and internally cringing because now he remembered just how much he missed laying in Jay's arms at night. Right at that moment, it would have been so easy for him to kiss the older man and sink into his embrace, just like he used to do. In fact, he almost did it. But then he stopped himself because he knew that he would regret it later and he forced himself to take a step back. "Think Matt will mind if I go ask him to stand guard in my room while I try to get some sleep?"

Jay snorted. "I think he would be insulted if you didn't do that."

Jeff nodded and started to leave, intending to go and do just that.

"Jeff?"

"Huh?" Jeff stopped and turned back around to face Jay. "What?"

Jay started to say something but then stopped and just stared at Jeff for a very long couple of minutes. "Try to get some real sleep," he finally said weakly. "You need it."

Jeff raised his eyebrows. "You trying to say I look like shit or something?"

"No…but you do look like you could use it."

"Yeah…" Jeff sighed and nodded a bit before leaving the room. He knew that that was the truth but he still wasn't sure if real sleep was possible. He was going to give it a shot though. Even a little would be better than none at all.

…

Randy washed his hands furiously, constantly checking the door in case anyone decided to come in. About seventy miles back, he had been forced to pull into a gas station to fill up the tank of the semi and had ended up being recognized by the clerk running the register at the station. In a state of panic, he had killed him and had been forced to dump his body as far away as he dared to drive with it. And now he was cleaning himself up, absolutely furious with this turn of events. He was only a hundred miles away from Cameron and he was already saddled with doing everything he could to keep out of sight of the authorities. Having to kill some stupid bastard who couldn't mind his own business was not part of the plan.

He finished washing his hands and dried them off with some paper towels all while staring at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes had very noticeable purple bags under them. He hadn't really been sleeping since his escape. He couldn't afford to. Every moment of his freedom was precious. Once he had Jeff again he could maybe think about sleeping. Not a second before though.

He threw the paper towels away and slipped out of the restroom, luckily going unnoticed as he walked to the truck. He needed to just put all of this behind him. Yes it had been a crappy distraction but he was so close to Jeff that he could taste it. He needed to just pull himself together and focus on figuring out a way to get Jeff away from the force field of people he probably had around him. He did have a couple of ideas…it was all just a matter of getting to Cameron and doing them.

Once I get to Cameron it will all work itself out. It will. It's just a matter of getting there and making it work.

…

"This is not fair," Shannon complained with a pout. He glared at everyone around him before folding his arms over his chest and shaking his head. "You guys are all cheating. How can you guys do this to me? I'm your buddy Shanny! This is not right!"

Jeff snorted loudly at that. After only getting some sleep because he was so exhausted, he had been pulled into a game of Monopoly with Matt, Shannon and Jay. It had been going on for two and a half hours straight now and Shannon was almost bankrupt, which of course didn't set well with the Prince of Punk. "You're just saying that because you're losing."

"Yeah really," Matt agreed. He was the clear winner so far so he was happier than a pig in shit at the moment. "Buck up Shanny and take this whooping like a man."

"Fuck you Jimmy Legs!" Shannon reached over the board to give Matt a forearm to the face.

"Hey hey hey! Watch it!" Jay gave Shannon an irritated glare. "Don't do that shit on my turn or I'll kick you so hard in the groin your nuts will bust."

"Oh yeah? I'd like to see you try bitch!"

Jay seemed to be about to do just that when Marty came running into the house, totally out of breath and his eyes wide. "Your dad's house…fire! It's on fire!"

Jeff and the others were instantly up to their feet and running out the door. Gil was upstairs here so it wasn't like they were afraid that he was trapped inside. But he did have dogs in there and in the yard right by it, and it was just one of those things that they had to go run and see for themselves. Matt already had his cell phone out and was dialing the number of the fire department as he ran. Jeff was in the lead initially but then slowed down and looked back towards his house. What could have made Gil's house set on fire? He didn't leave anything dangerous on or plugged in. That wasn't his style. And the fire just seemed to be too…convenient.

"Uh oh," he muttered under his breath. He didn't even shout to the others to come back with him. He just booked it back towards his house, realizing that this was a distraction for a trap-and his father was getting caught right in it. Randy fucking Orton….you're are so fucking DEAD when I get my hands on you.