Title: Taking Chances (5?)
Rating: R for adult themes
Content: Slash, angsting, violence
Disclaimer: Don't own, please don't sue
Characters: Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, HHH
Summary: Randy's relationship with Hunter is complicated. Will Chris help him to see it more clearly, or will that just bring more complications?
A/N: Thanks for the reviews, I really, really do appreciate them.

Fortunately the hotel's desk clerk was a wrestling fan, so when Randy asked for Chris' room number he was quick to reveal the information. Randy was still trying to ignore his injury. He didn't really know why he hadn't gone straight to the trainer, but his head wasn't really in a place for thinking rationally right now.

He knocked on Chris' door, praying to god that he would be there.

The door was unlocked a minute or so later. Chris looked at the younger man in surprise. "Randy? Come in."

Randy stepped into the room nervously, flinching as he heard the door slam shut. Somehow, the harsh sound reminded him of Hunter. He just stared at Chris, unsure of what to say or do.

"What happened?"

"He found out I called you. He got mad."

Chris nodded sadly. "And how did he hurt you?"

"My shoulder." Randy hadn't looked at his shoulder since. He was worried about what the damage would be. All he knew that it was bad. "The same one I had surgery on a couple of years ago."

"Can I have a look?" Chris' voice was gentle. As Randy pulled off his t-shirt heavy bruising became evident, Chris cringing as he realised that not all the bruising was on Randy's shoulder. The injury definitely looked bad.

"You need to see the trainer. I'll give him a call. You might need the hospital."

Randy just nodded and sat down. He was numb now. He had no idea of anything that was going on around him. It was as if everything that had happened was just coming to him in a full impact. He knew he was in Chris' room and that was it. He could hear Chris' voice, first on the phone to the trainer and then talking to him, but he had no idea of what he was saying and he couldn't react to anything. It was like he was cold, frozen inside.

Chris sensed his mental state and stopped fussing over him. He stopped everything and knelt in front of Randy, hoping to snap him out of this.

"Randy?" Chris touched his knee, and then his hand. Only when he touched his cheek did he get any reaction. "Randy, talk to me, let me know what's going on."

"He didn't love me. He wanted to hurt me."

Chris' breath caught. The heartbreak in Randy's voice was painful to hear, and must have been even harder to say.

"I've been such a fool."

At least he was showing some sort of emotion. Chris took a chance and wrapped his arms around the younger man, mindful of his shoulder.

"But you've walked away. He can't hurt you any more."

Randy shook his head. "He can. He will."

"You've done the hard part now." Chris was lying, but he didn't want Randy to know that right now. Chris knew Hunter, and he knew that the man didn't give up easily. When he regarded something, or someone, as his property, he moved mountains to get it back. "At least you're away from him."

"Yeah." Randy stood up. "I guess I should go see what the damage is." He flinched as he attempted to move his shoulder again.

"Jack's expecting us." Chris had revealed very little in his phone call to the trainer, just that they'd be there shortly.

"Us?"

Chris smiled gently, "you shouldn't be on your own."

"Thanks."

"I told Jack that you tripped and fell into a table into your room, the pain made you pass out for a few hours, then I found you." Randy was proud, and Chris knew that he wouldn't want anyone to know the real story. "I guessed you wouldn't want any awkward questions right now."

"How can I tell people that Hunter did this to me?"

"You don't have to."

Randy looked up, questioning. The confusion and hurt in his eyes broke Chris' heart. "He'll probably be boasting to people how he took me out again. They'll say I deserved it."

"Do you think that Hunter wants a reputation for beating his lovers?" Randy shook his head. "He won't tell anyone. And you don't have to either."

"Really?"

"Yeah." Chris held out his hand. "Come on, lets go and find out what he's done."

The younger man nodded, and followed Chris out of the room. He could hardly believe he was here, that this was happening. That Hunter could do this to him, that Chris could be so kind… that he could be so weak.