Title: Solving Problems (7?)
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?
A/N: Well, thanks for the reviews, I really appreciate them! I'm really enjoying writing this, partly because I'm writing it for different reasons than I usually write for. This is pure escapism, pure entertainment. It's not about me improving my writing or looking carefully at character development and the usual things that I worry about when I write slash. It's just fun. I can also include a few plots that I've been dying to use but that don't fit in with my slash fics, which I hope you'll all enjoy! For anyone who's interested, the whole draft thing kind of messed up my plans for the Taking Chances, but I've pretty much worked out where I'm going with that now. Hope to have something written by next week. I've got enough of this fic done to keep posting for a while, so it's not going to be so bad if I have to put it on the back burner for a bit.

Randy was full of surprises. He was a perfect gentleman, and Laura found herself really having a good time. Randy was very open with her about many things, and she found herself opening up to him a lot too, a lot more than she had with anyone else in a long time.

She could see that he was dying to ask her something, and guessed what it was.

"You can ask me about Jeff if you want. It's OK."

"You're sure?" Chris had made it pretty clear to Randy that he shouldn't go there with Laura, that it was a dark time that no one wanted to talk about. He was surprised at how perceptive she was about his thoughts, and how well she could read him.

"Yeah. I know Chris probably warned you off mentioning it, but I don't mind. I'd rather you hear the truth from me than gossip from someone else." She did look uncomfortable though, despite the even tone of her words.

Randy took a drink and watched Laura's body language. She was nervous, concerned, a little scared, he thought. Slowly and carefully he touched her hand, giving it a little squeeze. She rewarded him with a huge smile, and began to speak.

"He wasn't using drugs when we first met. He was a really nice guy… I was crazy about him. He only started using after he got a shoulder injury - the pain pills the hospital gave him didn't really work. At first, I didn't really know, or if I did I wilfully ignored it. Then his personality changed, he started threatening me. He blamed me, I think, or I was an easy target, I'm not sure. Anyway, one night, Chris and Hunter heard me screaming, and managed to get into our room. Jeff was trying to throw me off the balcony… I think he was hallucinating or something. Hunter managed to restrain him while Chris got me out of there. I left the next day. Jeff was fired soon after."

"Jesus." Randy took hold of her hand now and stroked it tenderly. "I'm sorry."

"Not your fault. Not anyone's fault really," she shrugged.

Randy seemed to be considering something, debating within himself whether to ask the question.

"Go on," Laura prompted him to ask what was on his mind.

"When he did that to you… it wasn't the first time he'd been physically aggressive towards you, was it?"

She looked away. No one had talked to her about the relationship after what had happened. Either they were scared to bring up bad memories for her, or they thought that it had been a one off.

"No one's asked you that before, have they?"

"They didn't want to hurt me. Or they didn't know. I think they all thought it was a one off thing. I don't think that anyone would have believed that I could stay in a relationship like that. I'm supposed to be smart."

"How long was he hurting you for?"

"Too long." She looked away, this was going farther than she was ready for.

"I won't pry any further if it's upsetting for you." Leaning over, Randy wiped a tear from her cheek. "If you do ever need anyone to talk to though…"

"Thanks." It was touching for Laura to have someone concerned for her, and ready to listen. Usually, she was the one doing that for others. "I appreciate it, really do." She took a deep breath to calm herself and smiled brightly. "Hey, we're out to cheer you up, no need to be talking about me. Lets get another drink and talk about something more cheerful."

"Why not." He knew now wasn't the time to take this any further. "Lets get very drunk."

They were both extremely drunk when they got back to the hotel, hanging off each other, laughing and joking. They'd had fun, despite everything.

"Thank you Laura sweetheart, that was exactly what I needed," Randy smiled and kissed her cheek affectionately.

"Me too, I had a really good night," she hugged him tightly.

"Want to come for one last beer?"

"Why the hell not?" She didn't fully appreciate the implications of what she was doing, and neither, at that point, did Randy. It only became clear as they both lay on Randy's bed watching late night TV. Suddenly, both were very much sober and very much embarrassed.

Randy turned to Laura and bit his lower lip; suddenly both of them could feel the tension between them. Laura took a deep breath, unsure who would make the first move.

"You're incredible," Randy whispered, leaning forward to capture Laura's lips. She didn't resist. She'd been trying to fight her feelings, but she'd been wanting this, wanting Randy, for a while now. She knew she shouldn't, but tonight had just magnified her feelings for this man. He wasn't Jeff and he wouldn't hurt her. All she had to do is remember that.

Laura wasn't quite sure where she was when she woke up. Her mouth felt like the bottom of a birdcage, her head, while not exactly pounding, was sore, and there was an arm around her waist.

It was that third thing that freaked her out. That third thing that reminded her of exactly what happened last night.

"Randy?"

His eyes opened slowly, and she could see the same realisations coming to him.

"Laura, hey babe." His voice was croaky.

She didn't speak, she didn't know what to say. This wasn't how it was supposed to be.

Randy got out of bed and walked over to his bag, grabbing out of it a bottle of water and some aspirin. He returned to Laura and sat next to her, handing her the bottle and a couple of pills. "Here, I know I need these, I'm guessing you will too."

She nodded gratefully, taking the pills and a sip of the water, then handing the bottle back to him. He did the same.

"Do you regret last night?" His question was soft, hopeful, but not accusing.

Laura wanted to say 'yes, it should never have happened', but she'd by lying to herself, and worse, lying to Randy. "No."

"Me neither." The relief flooded over his face. "I know… I know this is not how… this is…" he was getting tongue-tied and frustrated, "ah fuck. Laura, I wanna be with you. You're incredible… I've been having feelings for you since we first met, I was scared to tell you, especially with Chris and Hunter so protective… you're amazing though, you're all I've ever wanted."

"The last thing I wanted when I came back here," her voice was low, and wavering, "was to hook up with a wrestler. I couldn't… I was scared of putting myself through that again. I tried to keep things platonic with you, I tried to pretend that I didn't have feelings, but…" she rested her head in her hands.

"You do have feelings for me?" There was no cockiness in his statement; just concern, and a little bit of fear.

"Yeah."

He pulled her close, "I would never hurt you babe, I promise. I'm not him. I grew up in this business, I've seen the pain that drug abuse brings. I promise you that's one road I'm never going to travel."

She slowly allowed herself to be enveloped by his arms. He was whispering sweet words into her hair, inhaling her scent. She felt like she was in the right place, but she was scared too. She hoped that Randy would be worth the risks she'd be taking. She hoped that she would be worthy of him.