Title: Unrequited (3?)
Rating: at the moment PG, or whatever ffn's equivalent is
Content: sap, angst
Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters mentioned herein, and no disrespect meant
Summary: Lita is falling. Will someone catch her?

Randy had planned ahead, and purchased a bottle of Jack Daniels at the airport, so it wasn't long before both of them were well on their way to drunk. Lita was giggling at a corny joke from Randy, and he was just sat watching her; she looked carefree and happy, problems forgotten in the drunken haze.

"It ain't always gonna be like this, is it?"

Randy smiled, "what ain't?"

"Me and you, gettin' drunk, talking shit…"

"Havin' fun?" Randy finished. "Nah, this'll never change."

"Even when we're seventy?"

"Even when we're eighty," Randy threw an arm around her, giggling somewhat, before growing more serious, "we're lucky, if you think about it."

"I know…" The words didn't need to be spoken. It had been a bad year in more ways than one. "I know. And I feel guilty for wallowing like this…"

"Don't." Randy grabbed the bottle again, and took a long slug before passing it to the redhead, "bad things happen, we deal with them in a million different ways. We get through life the best way we can."

She took a drink, and shook her head, "why haven't you got a girl Randy?"

"After Stacy, I'm damaged goods." He had RKO'd her in the centre of the ring, which admittedly wasn't the best way of finishing with someone. "I'm not really that surprised."

"She's a fool. I'd have had more faith in you," Randy wished that she actually meant that, but he knew that was beyond anything he could expect.

"I don't need the distraction now anyway, I'm just concentrating on getting back to the top." Randy figured that if he told himself that often enough, he might believe it. If not, it would sound a more convincing lie.

"I'm a distraction, aren't I?"

"No. You're a friend." And so much more, although she didn't realise it.

"I feel like a distraction. I feel like a walking career killer."

"Don't." Randy grabbed the bottle again. "So what were we talking about before we got all miserable?"

He wanted to change the subject. Lita was prone to dwelling on her perceived faults, and when she was drunk she was even more harsh on herself. He hated hearing her talk like that, hated seeing her beat herself up over everything. He hated himself for not being able to do more to help her. It was like a circle of self-hate that neither could get out of. They were both there for different reasons, but both looking for the same road out.

"I think you were going to tell me some juicy gossip about Christy," she appreciated his attempts to lighten the mood, she was only too aware of her self-absorbed and pitying behaviour. "so spill, come on."

"Oh yeah, well, you know she's been doing extra training down in OVW," Lita nodded, "well," he leaned over and whispered in her ear.

"No way!" Lita looked back at him, shocked. "Melina told you that, and you're sure she's not bullshitting?"

"Positive. I've heard similar off a couple of other people too."

"Well colour me speechless." She laughed and gave her first genuinely free and relaxed smile for ages, "she's a dark horse isn't she?"

"She is indeed."

Lita smiled at him as he stifled a yawn, "Tired?" He nodded reluctantly. "I am too. You go on to bed,. See you in the morning? Or possibly late afternoon, knowing you."

"Yeah," he laughed a little, "'night angel," somewhat reluctantly he kissed her cheek and stood up. He wanted to be going to bed with her, not to the spare room that he had pretty much made his own. This, however, was as close as he was likely to get, and for that he would be grateful. Anything was better than nothing.

"'Night Randy," She jumped up and threw her arms around him, "thank you. For everything."

He just walked away. Her obliviousness to his feelings hurt just as much as his not being able to have her.