PART 35

Trish wanted out of the hospital in the worst way. Seeing Adam only a few minutes earlier only ceased to remind her of how much she despised hospitals, and despised being kept in them. It was a phobia all too common among wrestlers.

She needed to be out there with her friends and coworkers - people she considered to be her family - not trapped in this dark, dingy room. However, when she tried to turn to her side in an effort to get more comfortable, she was given a stark reminder of why she was there. She could hardly move. The intense, agonizing pain that shot through the area between her lower back and mid thigh was unbearable. The smallest of motions, like the one she just attempted to make, brought tears to her eyes.

Despite the fact that she knew Paul Levesque's mind was purely evil, Trish didn't think even he would do such a terrible thing to her. It was inhuman. What she really couldn't understand was how he could get into the heads of Ric and Dave - especially Dave, who she always thought had a heart of gold - enough to coerce them into going along with him.

A knock on the door started her, and in her surprise, Trish jumped, as much as her aching body would allow her to. The knock was soft, and had her senses not become so acute since being raped, she probably wouldn't have even heard it.

"Come in..." she said quietly, wondering if the person on the other side could even hear her weak voice.

Her throat was dry, and speaking again made her realize just how thirsty she was. Keeping one eye locked on the door, Trish swallowed the pain for the time being, stretching out to the table by her bedside and snatching up the cup of water on it. As the knob on the door turned, Trish thirstily sucked down the liquid, gulping its contents down until there was not a single drop remaining. Just as she went to place the cup back in its place, the door had opened and, out of the corner of the eye she had kept focused on it, she immediately recognized who it was. She dropped the cup, her jaw dropping as well. It couldn't be...

"Randy..." she breathed, her eyes widening in disbelief.

She squinted, studying his form carefully. She prayed to whatever God there was out there that she wasn't hallucinating, and that it was really him in the flesh, standing in her doorway. Randy opened his mouth as though to speak, but no words came out. He took a deep, shaky breath, feeling himself beginning to choke up already. He swallowed hard, forcing back the tears looming just behind his eyes. He walked over to her and when he found an open spot on her bed, he sat down beside her.

"Oh, Trish," he said as he eyed her over, unable to prevent the tiny gasp that escaped from his lips.

Though he had been waiting for hours and hours on end to see her, he realized the second he entered the room and saw her lying there that he wasn't prepared for this. Then again, nothing could have readied him for this, for seeing Trish this way. He unconsciously raised his hand from his lap, touching her cheek gently, wincing as she jumped under his touch. He kept his hand there still, his touch light as a feather as he stroked her cheek.

Then, Trish surprised him by raising a hand of her own, cupping it over top of his. She rubbed the pad of her thumb over the back of his hand, examining his skin as though she'd never felt a thing like it before. In a way, she was rediscovering his touch, which - even after all the time that had passed - was comfortably familiar.

"You... you're here..." she spoke suddenly, a look bordering confusion on her face.

Randy frowned, not so much at the weakness her voice had, but at the questioning tone in which she spoke to him. It sounded like she wasn't expecting to see him, that she was surprised he was there or something.

"Of course I'm here," he said softly. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Giving what she could of a shrug, Trish glanced up at him, a bit surprised ay the almost hurt look in his pale blue eyes. She gestured for him to move back a bit, and then did her best to sit up, struggling for a moment until Randy adjusted her pillow for her.

"Because... I'm not an obligation. You don't have to be here," she replied.

Randy sighed, "Yes, Trish, I do. I couldn't leave, not until I saw you. I was worried sick."

Trish suddenly felt slightly guilty for her comment. Her heart warmed at Randy's explanation for being there... it meant so much to see that he still cared.

"I... I didn't mean to scare any of you," she said quietly, her gaze dropping to the sheets resting on top of her body.

"Oh, no, it's not your fault Trish. None of this is your fault. I'm going to get Paul for what he did to you, I promise that," he replied, his body tensing at the thought of his former friend.

He stopped abruptly, fearing he may have said too much. Sure enough, when he examined Trish's face, he could see the tears filling her eyes. The pained expression on her face stabbed at Randy's heart, and he shook his head.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, very gingerly pressing his forehead to hers. "I'm sorry I brought it up."

Trish nodded, a tear slipping from her eye and sliding down her cheek. She sniffled, frowning as the room filled with an uncomfortable silence. Both of them had so much to say, yet neither of them could form words. For a moment, it was as though they'd lost their ability to speak. Finally, Randy swallowed all the nauseous feelings running through him, and he lifted his head from hers.

"Trish, I'm so sorry for all of this. I know it's not my fault, but I feel so damn responsible," he said, his voice wavering slightly. "If I had just followed my heart and stayed with you, this never would have happened. I should have stayed with you... I should have stayed."

Trish slowly turned to face him, startled as she noticed that Randy's eyes glistened with the moisture of fresh tears. Her eyes widened and her mouth gaped open, and she reached up to touch him, unsure if she was seeing correctly.

"You... you wanted to stay?" she questioned, carefully wiping a tear from his eye.

"Always," he replied sincerely, brushing her hand away. I've always wanted to be with you, Trish... I didn't realize how badly till you were gone. I swear to you, I will never leave your side again."

"Good," Trish replied, two more tears falling as she choked back a sob, "because I need you, Randy. More than anything in the world, I need you to help me get through this."

"You have me," he promised, pulling her to him. "And this time, you have all of me."

She winced at first, but then she slowly eased into his embrace. Randy hugged her tightly, but was careful not to hurt her. Tears flowed freely from both individuals, and even though they were both crying, it felt okay. For the first time in what seemed like forever, things felt right. Randy kissed her softly, his heart pouring from his just as the tears did.

"Oh, God, Trish... I love you."