Thank you all so much for the reviews. Myth, I love reading your thoughts. I wasn't going to type this chapter up today because I just got done working a 20 hour shift but after reading what you wrote I jsut had to update. Hope you enjoy. As always Latisha, thank you. Phenoix and Viper please keep reviewing. Happy reading.

The Next Morning

Paul entered the waiting room not surprised to find it empty. Mark had told him about Dave's explosion and Laney had confessed about going in to see Randy. Walking up to the nurse at the desk he inquired about his young friend.

"Oh yes, he has been up most of the morning and he gave orders to let anyone back who wanted to see him. Just follow me."

Paul followed her down to Randy's room. After thanking her he walked in and sat down with out a word. Randy looked over at him from the corner of his eye, then turned back to study his hands. After letting the silence stretch for five minutes Randy spoke up.

"How's Steph?"

"Irritable." Paul replied curtly as he busied himself making sure that Randy was on his way to recovery. He was relieved to see that the young man was no longer on the IV drips the nurses had told him about days ago.

When he didn't say any thing else Randy sighed and spoke up.

"Listen man, I'm sorry for putting you through this, especially with everything that is going on with Steph."

"What are you sorry about Randy? Hiding something from us, using drugs, or almost killing yourself?" Paul asked in a bored voice.

Randy winced, knowing Paul was more than angry, he was furious.

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I got sick and I thought it would go away. I figured if I told you or Dave I would end up at the doctor and I would have missed some shows. I honestly don't know how it went from simple illness to death row."

"The reason you didn't realize you were so serious is because you were covering it with drugs. But that is another issue. Has your ego gotten so big that you would sacrifice your health just to be on TV?" Crossing his arms Paul leaned back in his chair and stared at Randy expectantly.

"I didn't want the writer's to have to change everything for something simple." Randy answered, trying to explain himself.

"That is just pure bullshit. Or maybe you are so ignorant that you really believe your illness was simple. If that 's the case maybe we need to sign you up for health class." Paul scoffed.

"That's not fair." Randy said quietly.

"Well I am not in the mood to be fair. Why didn't you tell Dave you were sick Monday night when he helped you back to the hotel?"

"By then things had gone too far and I was scared of what was going on and what Dave would say." Randy admitted.

"You know, getting yelled at is preferable to being dead." Paul said sarcastically.

"Depends where you're sitting." Randy muttered.

"Are you saying you would rather be dead?" Paul asked in a low dangerous voice.

Randy sighed. "Of course not. I just feel really ashamed. I am an adult and I am being treated like a child. It's not manly."

"If it was me that had put drugs in my body and I was the one that landed in the ICU, would you say anything?" Paul asked, softening slightly.

Randy smiled. "I would have to get in line, but yea I would be yelling as loud as anyone."

"And do you not think you acted like a child and deserve to be treated like one?

"Yea" Randy admitted grudgingly.

"Speaking of childish behavior, did you think you were accomplishing anything by refusing to see us? Did you not think about how much we would worry?" Paul demanded getting angry again.

Randy had the grace to look ashamed. Putting his head down he remained silent.

"Shall we discuss the drugs?" Paul went on.

"I would rather not." Randy tried to joke. "I already feel about two inches tall."

"You should. Now I can see taking the pain medication and maybe even the xanex, though by then you should have realized something was wrong. What I can't get over was the fact that you went out and bought an illegal drug off the street. You cannot say that you did not know better or that everything just got out of hand." Paul bored his eyes into Randy.

"It was just speed." Randy tried to rationalize.

Paul took a deep breath and counted to ten. "What would have happened if the cops had busted you while you were buying 'just speed'?" He went on as he saw Randy pale. "And what if John hadn't found you the first time. Who knows what you were sold."

"Point taken." Randy answered softly.

"No I don't think that it is, because if you got it that quickly you wouldn't have done it in the first place." Paul pointed out angrily.

"So what now?" Randy asked, dreading the answer.

"I am going home to listen to my wife bitch and complain for the rest of the day. You are going to concentrate on getting better. When you get out of here all of us are going to sit down and discuss your behavior and its consequences." Paul stated sternly.

"Yippee" Randy muttered. Seeing the glare Paul through at him he shifted in bed. "Is Dave out there? I kind of want to get all the yelling done at once."

"He's not here and from some things he said yesterday you might have to call him and ask him to com in. But I don't think he's going to let Journey sit in the waiting room any longer."

Randy nodded, deep in his own thoughts. He resurfaced as Paul headed for the door.

"Hey Paul, thanks for coming."

Paul turned back to the young man. "Just get better."

Randy laid there for a long time before reaching over and picking up the phone. Dialing Dave's number he waited impatiently for the big man to answer.

"Hello?"

"Dave man, how are you doing?" Randy tried to sound cheerful.

"What do you want Randy?" Dave questioned.

"Oh I don't know, maybe to apologize and give you a chance to yell at me."

"I would have liked to do that a couple days ago, but you wouldn't give me the opportunity." Dave said sarcastically. "What changed?"

"I feel like I can take what you are going to dish out without breaking down." Randy joked.

"You do know that if I come in its not going to be fun and games right?" Dave asked serious.

"Yea, I have a little bit of an idea." Randy replied quietly.

"You sound exhausted." Dave said.

"Paul just left. I'm just a little tired." The younger man answered.

"How about you get some rest and I will come around after lunch." Dave reasoned.

"I'll fortify myself." Randy teased back already half asleep.