Title: Solving Problems (6?)
Rating: We'll go for a nice safe R, M in parlance
Content: mentions of domestic violence, drug use, swearing, sex
Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters mentioned herein, except for Laura, no offence meant.
Summary: Laura hasn't been around the wrestlers of the WWE for a while. When she returns, things have changed, schisms have formed, and all is not well. Can she sort things out?

Randy stood at a respectful distance from Laura as he watched her on her cellphone arguing with her agent. She had a fiery temper, as was evident by the colourful language she was currently employing. She ended the conversation with a passionate "it's my fucking book, my fucking way, asshole," and hung up with a pained sigh. She jumped when she saw Randy.

"Sounded nasty," he didn't want to seem like he was eavesdropping, but wanted her to know that she could vent at him if she wanted.

"Asshole agents. Trying to screw me out of money again. Nothing new there," she shrugged. "I can go elsewhere after this book if I want."

"It's a free life, writing." He looked kind of wistful, envious almost.

"Yeah… no security though. I'm ok cos of the film deal… others have to wait years for that sort of security." She looked at him worriedly. "Did you post the letter?"

"Yeah, I spoke to Christy too. She was a little reluctant but she said she'd think about it. She said she was grateful too. Trish and Victoria were with her… I think I might be getting somewhere."

"Good."

"So, dinner. Tonight? Say 9.30? I'm on at the beginning of the show so I should be free by then."

"OK." She smiled up at him sweetly. "I'll look forward to it." She was doing anything but looking forward to it. Randy was a decent guy, good looking… everything a girl should want. Except when you were a girl who never would want to get involved with a wrestler again.

Laura was contemplating whether or not to go back to the hotel to get changed when her train of thought was derailed by a frantic Chris Jericho.

"Laura, we need your help babe. Randy's flipped."

"What? Where is he? What happened?"

Chris almost dragged her down the corridor, explaining on the way as much as he knew, "something's upset him… he was freaking out, throwing stuff about his locker room, screaming almost… I thought you might know what to do."

She nodded thoughtfully, waiting until they got outside Randy's locker room before speaking. She looked at the crowd of wrestlers now assembled and, seeing Shawn, called him over. Randy wouldn't want an audience, she was sure of that, so she quietly asked him to get rid of the others.

He nodded quickly, "what will you do?"

"I'll go in and talk to him." The answer seemed obvious to her.

"Not while he's angry and throwing stuff. Who knows what he'll do to you?" Jericho interrupted, not wanting Laura to put herself at risk.

"I'll be fine Chris. Help Shawn get the others out of here, please. I don't know what's gone on, but give me a chance to try and sort this out. He's not gonna hurt me, is he?"

The Canadian reluctantly agreed and carried out her request. Nervously, Laura knocked on the door and pushed her way in.

"Randy?"

She surveyed the chaos that greeted her. It seemed like the entire contents of Randy's gym bag had been thrown around the room, a chair was lying upside down on the floor, and Randy was sat on the floor, leaning against the back wall, his head in his hands.

He heard his name called out, but couldn't react. He didn't want Laura of all people to see him like this. He felt ashamed of his outburst, hurt at what had happened, and like he'd been fighting a losing battle for so long he couldn't fight any more.

"Randy, love, what's happened?" Laura ran over to him and knelt at his side. She put a timid hand on his knee and squeezed it gently. "It's OK, whatever happened, it's OK."

He looked up, wiping at his face, trying to pretend that there had never been any tears falling from those blue eyes. He saw the concern on Laura's face and it confused him. Why was she here? Why did she care?

"Wanna tell me what happened?"

He sighed and rubbed his head. "I'm never gonna have people trust me again, am I? No matter what I do, I'll always be the one who did all that stuff to the girls… Acceptance is something I'll never have."

"Why? I thought you were getting somewhere."

"So did I. But apparently not. All I did…Maria was just finishing taping an interview… she started coughing a little, so I offered to get her some water…" He rubbed his eyes again, obviously upset by what he was about to say. "She refused… said that she wouldn't take anything off me… as I might have put a date-rape drug in it… fuck I know I've done some stupid stuff, but I'm not a rapist. I'd never do that… it just proves to me that I'll never have people trust me again. She has such a low fucking opinion of me she actually thinks I'd do that."

Silently Laura cursed Maria. The girl was nice, but dumb as hell. She probably wouldn't even have thought about what she was saying.

"How can people think I'd do that? I mean… I've been an idiot, but shit… rape… I'd never do that."

"You know Maria, Randy. I don't even think she has a brain to engage before she opens her mouth." Laura smiled slightly, relieved when Randy met her smile. "Did this feel like the last straw?" He nodded. "Well it's not, it's just her being stupid. I trust you, Christy's starting to trust you again, and the others. I told Christy that you wrote to Amy to apologise, she really respected that. You're getting there, don't give up now."

"Really?"

"We all know you'd never do anything like that, honestly we do. Would I be alone with you if I thought that you were a rapist?"

"Well… I guess."

"More to the point, do you think Chris and Hunter would let you give me the time of day if they thought you were capable of anything like that?"

He almost grinned. "True. She still thought it though."

"She barely has a coherent thought in her head Randy. She probably read something about date rape in a magazine and it was the first thought she had in her head, not necessarily that you would actually do it."

"You reckon?"

"Yeah." She put her arms out and pulled him into a hug, rubbing his back tenderly. "Ah, Randy, if they could see this side of you, they'd trust you again in a second. You're not as tough as you make out, and that's no bad thing."

Randy laughed slightly, "I wouldn't want anyone seeing me like this… crying and shit… I feel bad enough that you had to witness me having a hissy fit."

"It's what I'm here for." She pulled away and sat back, " you're a sweet guy Randy, I know that. I'm hardly gonna run away because you showed that you're a sensitive guy."

"Thank you."

She decided to lighten the mood. "Still up for going out tonight? How about we go and get mindlessly drunk and forget all of this."

"You're sure? I should have been taking you out for a nice meal."

"We can do that. With lots of beer to cheer you up." She stood up and held out her hand. "Come on, first drink's on me."

He took her hand and got to his feet. She grinned and looked around.

"Reckon you should clear all your shit up before we go?"

He looked around guiltily and nodded.

"Tell you what, you go and wash your face, freshen up, I'll tidy up in here."

"Thanks Laura. Don't know what I'd do without you."