PART 39

Randy closed the door to Mr. McMahon's office, needing to use every ounce of his will power not to slam it shut. He was finding his boss more and more aggravating by the day. And it became more and more clear to him that Vince was just as annoyed with his young Superstar.

Randy sighed, rubbing at his eyes. He felt guilty, even though he knew he had no reason to. But he couldn't help it... his relentless pursuit of having Paul Levesque fired for his actions put other people - namely, Dave Batista in a lot of trouble. Vince had explained to him only moments ago that he would not be firing Paul; he still believed with all his heart - if one could call the cold organ in his chest a heart at all - that his favorite Superstar was innocent of any crime. Instead, he was suspending him indefinitely, and would not be fired till after he was discovered and found guilty.

However, he said that in order to assign Paul such a punishment, he'd have to do the same with Dave and Ric Flair. Randy knew it was only fair that all three men receive the same punishment; they all took part in attacking Trish. He just didn't like the idea of Dave being associated with those two lecherous excuses for men.

"He's got to pay the price for what he did," he reminded himself with a sigh.

He had to get over himself and gather his composure as best as he could, and then he had to head back to the hotel. Trish was waiting for him there. As he passed by a door, his gaze drifted inside, and he stopped. Trish would have to wait with Adam just a little while longer.

Breathing in deeply, he made his way into the room, pausing in the doorway. Dave was just inside, tossing the last of his things in the bag at his feet. Randy cleared his throat, getting the big man's attention. When Dave turned to face his visitor, he frowned, noting the sympathetic look on his friend's face.

"Randy, don't even start," he instructed, throwing a hand to the air in protest. "I don't want to hear it. I will not let you feel guilty over this."

Randy frowned as well, his expression matching the one on his best friend's face. Despite the strength in his voice, Randy knew Dave's heart wasn't as sincere as it was trying to be.

"I know, I know..." he agreed, raising his hands in retreat. "I just wish it didn't have to end this way... I didn't want to see you get suspended."

Dave shrugged, casting his glance to a far off corner of the room.

"I deserve what I'm being handed, Randy. I'm lucky that right now all I have to worry about is a suspension. I only hope a jury - I can't even begin to worry about God, or Trish - will have mercy on me."

Randy's lip began to quiver, and he bit down on it quickly, preventing any signs of emotion from bursting through. His hopes were that the people would see through Dave's actions and behavior that he was not like Ric Flair or Paul Levesque. He was just a good man, who had been thrown into a horrible scheme before he even got a chance to think it over. The fact that he had already turned himself in - he had been promptly released upon paying a hefty bail - while Paul and Ric had gone into hiding had to stand for something.

"Look, I'll let you finish," Randy said after a brief, somewhat awkward silence. "I just wanted to say goodbye... and good luck."

"Well, thanks, Randy, I appreciate it. I really appreciate it," Dave replied, managing a half smile for his best friend.

Randy's lips curled up just slightly, and he turned away, stopping to turn back after one foot was out the door.

"And Dave..." he began, waiting for the big man's head to snap up before he continued. "Just remember that no matter what happens, I have love for you. I've got your back, man... and so does Trish. Somehow, she understands."

Dave simply nodded, but for the first time in a long while, he genuinely smiled. Randy gave him a quick nod, and was set to be on his way - till he was nearly bowled over by a blur of brunette hair. Having been knocked so off balance he nearly fell to the ground, Randy hastily grabbed a hold of the door handle. He propped himself up, cocking an eyebrow as the blur came to a halt between himself and Dave, and he immediately recognized it as Dawn Marie. In a moment's time, the two men were at her side, anxious to know exactly why she had barged into the locker room.

"What?! What is it?" Dave asked, concern filling his eyes as he watched the gorgeous woman before him gasp for breath.

Taking a hold of one of either man's arms, Dawn took a few deep breaths. She took a moment to catch her breath, all the while thinking to herself how relieved she was to have found him.

"Oh, you guys, we have to get to the hotel! I was just... when I saw him, I... I wanted to tell Trish, but I figured by the time I got your room number from the front desk Trish might not even answer the door, and then it would've been a huge waste of time," she explained, seemingly all in one breath.

The two men, both of whom Dawn Marie still clung too, glanced at each other in confusion.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Randy questioned, his voice sounding a bit frantic.

Dawn's eyes widened as Randy questioned her, and she suddenly realized that she had left out one very crucial detail.

"It's Paul," she said, her eyes wide with fright. "Paul Levesque is in the hotel."

Despite the sour mood she had been in for much of the week, Trish smiled. She had finally gotten back a piece of her independence. Soon after the breakdown of sorts she had with Adam, the blonde re-learn how to be a functioning adult.

Of course, doing so would have to happen in small, very small, steps. And Trish decided her first step would be to walk Adam back to his room, and then to head to the hotel lobby to get herself some coffee. It was a small task, but to Trish, who hadn't been out in a public place alone since she was in the hospital, it opened up the doors to her freedom. Sure, she had only gotten herself a cup of coffee, but she finally got herself out of that room; and by herself, no less.

Still, as she continued the walk back to her room, her confidence was dwindling. The halls seemed to become longer and more narrow with each step, and her pace was quickening visibly. So much so, in fact, that she had to force herself to slow down because the coffee had begun to spill out of the styrofoam cup. She had done well up until this point, but now she wanted nothing more than to be back in her hotel room. At least in there, she didn't feel the constant need to look over her shoulder.

Luckily, she was very close to her room, and she reached the door within the next minute. With a sigh, Trish held her coffee in her left hand, digging around for the keycard with her right. Not a moment after she had stepped in the door, Trish caught a glimpse of a shadow just behind her. Her stomach dropped as she slowly turned around, paranoia settling in.

Her eyes widened as she recognized the person behind her. She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. Instead, the only sound heard was the coffee splashing on the floor, the cup having slipped from her hand.

"Isn't it ironic - and a damn shame, at that - that I managed to invade the one place you felt safe?" he said, a maniacal grin on his face.

"H-how did you get in here?" she asked him, her body beginning to shake with each breath she took.

"I have ways of getting whatever I want, even if I am a fugitive," Paul said with a wink. He moved closer to her, smirking as he noticed that Trish was too terrified to move. He stopped just before her, laughing at the tears that filled her eyes as he took a few locks of her soft hair between his fingers. "But you already knew that, didn't you?"

Two tears slipped from her eyes, one of them happening to slide off her cheek and land on Paul's forearm. He pulled his hand back, examining the tear on his arm closely. Then, smile still spread across his lips, he wiped the moisture off onto his shirt.

Trish remained still, her eyes following his movements. Once again, she had found herself in a situation where a door was so nearby, and yet she was too paralyzed with fear to try and escape.

"What do you want?" she asked him roughly, though her expression was nowhere near as fearless or demanding as her tone.

Paul laughed to himself, taking Trish by the arm. He squeezed her arm a bit, smirking as her knees buckled from the pressure.

"Oh, honey, I was sure you'd be smarter than that. I'm sure you know just as well as I do... you and I have some unfinished business to attend to."