Time was different now. Ever since that night, the minutes left like hours for Randy. The hours felt like days and the days felt like years. Nothing was how it should be. Spending time with his boys . . . it just wasn't the same. Before, Randy would love nothing more than to sit down and talk and mess around with Cody, Evan, Justin, and the rest of the bunch, but after all that had happened, just a simple greeting was all that he could deal with. The only person he would really allow to touch him was John, and even that was a stretch for him. Randy felt dirty and so completely violated, no shower was enough. Ever since that night, it was all he could really think about. He could see the look in Dave Batista's eyes. Before it even happened, Randy could see it, yet he refused to put two and two together until it was too late. Batista already had his hands around him, locking him in place, refusing to stop until he got what he wanted.

Randy could feel his defenses breaking. The smallest things got the best of him, making him snap and yell just to hide what was truly happening on the inside. He didn't want to hurt any of his boys. That was the last thing he wanted to do. It didn't matter, though. It happened anyway . . . it always happened . . .

Earlier that day, it was the first time that he ever tried to make contact with John. He didn't mean to say all that he did. In doing so, it opened up a lot of questions that John would be seeking. John was patient, but even he had his weaknesses. Randy knew that that weakness was him. John tried not to show how much everything that getting to him, but Randy could see right through him. Even now, sitting in the locker room with the rest of the guys, watching as he slowly got ready for the night ahead, Randy could clearly see the confusion and worry in his eyes. He hated that he was the one to cause it, but there was no other choice. He had to remain quiet. If he didn't then the ones he loved would get hurt. John would get hurt. He would get hurt . . . again. Randy couldn't allow that to happen. Not only could he not go through the pain again, but seeing something horrible happening to the ones he loved, it would kill him. He wasn't strong enough to deal with something like that. Randy could barely get through being raped.

John was his majour worry, though. As much as he loved the rest of the boys, they were nothing compared to John. And even though the secret he was harbouring was almost too much to bear, Randy could fight it until he took his last breath. There was no way he was going to allow John to pay for something that wasn't his doing. What happened between John and that house show a few weeks prior would be nothing compared to what Batista would do to him if he found out the truth.

"Randy."

Blinking his eyes, Randy snapped out of his conflicting nightmares and focused on John, who was crouched down in front of him. Keeping eye contact, John's hand slowly reached over and took Randy's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Much to his surprise, Randy squeezed right back. To John, though, it wasn't really a squeeze. It didn't feel like that. To John, it was almost desperate like. It was as though Randy was clinging to him, refusing to let go, to break the contact. Of course, that might just be his imagination. Ever since Randy's sudden mood change, John's worry and paranoia was taking a mind of its own.

"I'm getting ready to go out there and give my promo. I'll be back in about ten minutes." John said in a low, gentle voice.

Randy didn't say anything at first. He didn't want John to go anywhere. If John wasn't in his eyesight then that might that Batista could hurt him.

Randy slowly nodded his head, squeezing his hand again. "Be careful."

"I will." John slowly stood straight. He leaned over and kissed Randy's forehead before letting his hand go. After a small smile, John turned around and left.

Leaving was something John didn't want to do. He hated it. Something was wrong. He knew there was. Wrestling was his life. There was nothing else John wanted to do more. That was until he met Randy. Everything changed in the first few seconds of meeting. Randy's eyes were sparkling like no other. His smile caught John's breath the first time he saw it, and it still did, even after all the years they spent together. The first time they kissed . . . it was like John was floating. With their lips molded as one, John knew that he could do anything. Randy just had that ability to him. He knew what John was capable of and he never stopped helping him. Randy was it for him. His love for Randy was endless.

John wanted to spend the rest of his life loving and taking care of Randy. He knew that Randy felt the same way. They were soul mates. The one thing that John couldn't take was the love of his life in pain. His worry for his fiancé would never cease. Knowing that there was something wrong with Randy tore at John. Knowing that Randy wouldn't talk to John, wouldn't let him get close to the truth, it was confusing. At some points, it got so damn frustrating. If John knew what was going on than he could fix the problem. He would do anything to see Randy smile again. All that he was seeing, though, was the blank expressions and the jumpy reactions. All John saw was the somewhat panicky look on Randy's face, as though something was watching his every move. John hated that. All he wanted to do was take the pain away, to make him come back to the Randy he knew was still inside.

John was knocked out of his thoughts when he walked into a solid frame. Regaining his balance, John recognized who he walked into and immediately narrowed his eyes, clenching his fists tightly.

"What, no 'I'm sorry'? Batista asked, smirking.

"Walk away, Batista. Now is not the time." John warned.

"Are we having problems at home? Your boy's not giving you any?"

The sight of John's jaw tightening only made the moment that much more humourous. He knew that Randy was doing just what he was supposed to. A part of Dave hated it, though. Randy was tight and just what he liked. His time in Evolution with Randy was, in his opinion, the best moments in his entire career. He had his eye on Randy for a long time. Knowing that Randy was taken by John, even then, was eating up at him. He cursed himself for not taking what he wanted years ago.

"I'm warning you right now. Walk away."

"No, you should walk away." Dave said, his entire demeanour changing. From being cocky and sarcastic, Dave went straight to dangerous and cold. "Walk away or something bad is going to happen. You wouldn't want that, would you? Especially after what's already happened."

John narrowed his eyes even more. What the hell did Dave Batista know? Of course John still had suspicions about The Animal, but his time was mostly trying to get through to Randy. His curiosity was already peeked, though.

"What are you talking about?"

Dave chuckled and shook his head. He backed away from John, the smirk still on his face.

"Ask Randy. He knows all about our night."