Okay, here is the long overdue next part to this story. It might not be the best chapter but I hope you like it nevertheless…

Anyway, enjoy :D

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When the door closed behind John, Randy's eyes stayed fixed on it for a while. Dumbfounded. He was completely and utterly dumbfounded.

What was that? How did that happen?

Did he really let John practically walk through his defenses, just like that? For weeks and months his effort had been to prevent something like that and now… Less than an hour… It had taken John less than an hour. He groaned. That man! Now John would less than ever stay away, now that he had his foot in the door.

The last hour replayed in his head. That man was unbelievable. Ignore him and he comes back. Dis him and he comes back. Punch his lights out and he comes back. Give him attention and he won't go away at all. Why? Because. Just because. That was why he'd tried so hard to push John away in the past. He groaned again and blamed the state he was in for his weakness.

Then his eyes fell on the hairband.

On the other hand… could be worse, right? To be honest, John was a nice guy, even though he always tried to convince himself otherwise. All the trouble John was taking… And really, when John smiled that special smile of his, how could you not like him? That smile was contagious. He liked that smile. Especially when those dimples showed up. Those freaking cute dimples.

Wait, what am I thinking?

Randy sighed. And yes, he was tired of being alone and yes, maybe a little company could be nice. Leaning his head back against the pillows, he closed his eyes.

John was good company, he knew that. He knew it ever since they went out that first time for a drink. That man seemed to have exclusive rights on good mood, always happy, always cheerful, always optimistic and always the carefree goofball who tries to cheer you up.

Randy smiled absentmindedly. He would never have guessed that John had any interest on being friends with him back then. Every time they'd met John's smile dropped a few degrees and he never acted the way with Randy as he did with his other co-workers. Okay, he'd always been polite and never tried to avoid him, but still… And then, out of the blue, John came to him after a match and asked if he was up for a beer after the show. He'd never had many friends along his co-workers, so he thought, why not, just one beer can't end up in a disaster.

He agreed and for the first time ever John gave him that megawatt smile of his, all dimples. He'd seen that smile so often, but it had never been directed at him before and that very moment it was almost blinding and it left him giddy with anticipation. They went out alone, because John declined every other invitation for a drink, and Randy couldn't remember another time before that he'd laughed so much and so hard like he'd done that evening or the following times they went out together. And he'd seldom had comparable carefree and enjoyable moments in his life…

It wasn't easy to admit, but he had loved those evenings or to have a chat during work with this goofball of a man. John had so many friends and Randy still wondered why John had tried so hard to get him out of his shell back then and now again.

And then it happened, turning his life upside down. It had cost him everything, even his family. Bit by bit his life fell apart and at some point he'd started to push everyone away. How could he let someone into his life when it…? It was only a matter of time…

His thoughts jumped back to the accident. Perhaps it would have been better if he'd died that night. The whole fucking shit would have had an end… He couldn't remember anything, really, and when John said that he'd pulled him out… Why? The why was still present. Why would he do that? Risking his life after all the time Randy had treated him like shit? Just because they had spent some companionable evenings together? Those few evenings compared to all that John had done to get a chance to talk to him? Not a good trade for John. So again, why?

Maybe he'd made a mistake today by give in to John. He knew that they would both get hurt by this, sooner or later… But John wouldn't let himself being pushed away again and Randy wasn't sure if he really wanted to push John away again…

Bringing his good hand up he pinched the bridge of his nose, brushed it over his forehead, unsure what to do with the situation and let his hand fall onto his legs. His eyes snapped open, fixing his gaze on his legs and his hand that rested there. Right, there was another thing John did not know…

Randy sighed heavily, exhaustion taking its toll. He should go to sleep, since he was incredibly tired and he was sure John would come back. Trying to get as comfortable as possible he closed his eyes again and let sleep catch up with him.

x

On the other side of the door John stood in the middle of the corridor, a lunatic smile plastered to his face and his heart swelling with joy. He'd managed it. He'd managed to crack Randy's shell.

Woah…

He couldn't believe it. For weeks his efforts had been of no avail and occasionally painful, too, and now? He glimpsed at his watch. Less than an hour. So unlike Randy to give in so soon. His smile dimmed a little, because suddenly he felt like he'd taken advantage of Randy's weakness after just waking up…

Nah. Whatever. John's smile lightened up again full force. He would make it up to him later. And again, his smile dimmed. He would make it up to him, provided Randy wouldn't change his mind again and shut him out again.

Come on, Cena, think positive. He might not be in his best form, but doubtless enough himself that he'd not given in to you if he really wouldn't want that.

He nodded to himself and started to walk down the corridor, his smile not quite as lunatic as before, but still more than sunny enough to make everyone who was passing him smile, too. Thinking that it was time for a coffee, he made a beeline to the coffee shop he'd seen on the other side of the street.

Thirty minutes later he sat in the coffee shop, a steaming coffee in front of him. He'd bought a tomato mozzarella sandwich, too, just in case Randy was hungry and he knew the younger man liked healthy food and he knew that the food one got in hospital made rather sick than be of help to get well again. Beside the sandwich lay a new prepaid cell he got from a nearby mobile store.

John eyed the little bag that contained the sandwich and took a sip on his coffee. Although he knew that there was a small chance that Randy had changed his mind in the meantime – this was Randy Orton after all, you never knew – he'd decided that he wouldn't worry any longer about being kicked out again.

He chuckled into his coffee as his thoughts drifted back to their little water fight. A pouting Randy was way too cute and funny. Okay, also annoying, but he was okay with it. John was aware that he could be annoying, too, at times. Again a light chuckle escaped his lips while his gaze roamed the street through the wide window of the coffee shop, stopping at the façade of the hospital.

He did it and he still couldn't quite believe it. The funny thing about the situation now was that he had no idea what to do or where to go from here. Really, all the time he'd only thought about a way to finally get through to Randy and he'd run all possible scenarios through his mind what could happen on his way to this particular goal. He never actually lost a thought about what would follow. The situation had changed. It should have been a simple – and okay, in this case it was a rough – start of a friendship. And now? Randy's situation had changed. Now he needed help, even though the younger man would never admit that.

He would never admit it, but he knows it. Still he changed his mind and let me in…

Except himself there was no one else left to help Randy, not his parents, not his wife. He put his coffee back down and leaned back in his chair, folding his hands behind his head, thinking about how he would juggle his job and the visits here… And Randy would need someone to look after him when he was allowed to go back home. Household, rehab… And they weren't quite living next to each other…

A strange calmness fell over him.

He pursed his lips as he fished for his cell and hit the speed dial for Vince's number.

"Hey, Vince," he greeted his boss. "Listen, uhm… about my time-out… I need you to take me out of the show for an indefinite time…"

x

After three hours John made his way back to Randy's room, the little sandwich bag and two coffees in his hands. He was a little antsy about how Randy would welcome him. And there were a few things that needed to be talked about.

He wouldn't tell Randy about his conversation with Vince though. After he'd told his boss about his decision, there had been a pause on the other end of the line and then came the question if he was round the bend. They had discussed the matter for a few minutes, Vince being a little louder than John and frankly pissed, and now John had a lot of time. He would send his resignation tomorrow. It wasn't what he wanted but it had been necessary.

Humming he arrived at Randy's room, knocked quietly and when there wasn't a response, he opened the door as quietly as possible, slipped in and walked up to the bed. Randy was still asleep. An angelic sight despite the surroundings. Smiling, he put the sandwich and the coffee on the bed stand, sat down on the edge of the bed and took hold of Randy's hand. The long fingers closed loosely around his, making the smile on John's face light up.

He allowed himself to hold the younger man's hand a few more moments, letting his thumb slide gently over the back of Randy's hand, making him hum in his sleep. With his free hand he reached out, brushing over the short hair, over his cheek to his chest, where it settled on the spot over his heart. All this still seemed so unreal. The accident, that Randy was alive, that John now sat here, knowing that it was okay for the younger man.

In a hushed voice he said: "Thank you."

A mumble. A sigh. The fingers closed a bit tighter around John's and then the grey eyes opened up, focusing their sleepy gaze on John.

"Hey," Randy mumbled.

"Hey," John replied quietly. "Sorry, didn't want to wake you."

"Nah, 's okay," Randy yawned, pulling his hand out of John's to rub his eyes. "Mmh… I smell coffee…"

"Yeah, I got you one. And a sandwich. Hungry?"

Randy snatched the coffee from John's hand and stared at it.

"Decaf? Oh, come on…!"

The older man shrugged his shoulders.

"You gotta live with it. I don't think that caffeine would be good for you right now."

Muttering under his breath, Randy sipped at the coffee, watching John unwrap the sandwich. When he handed the coffee over to John, the older man had to laugh softly as his eyes fell on the milk froth on Randy's upper lip.

Randy eyed him suspiciously and asked: "What?"

"You have milk on your upper lip," he explained and reached out to thumb it away.

It was a gentle touch as John wiped the milk away, still Randy looked like he wanted to avoid it. He didn't though.

"Sorry," John apologized, drawing his hand back. "We should do something against the pretty uncontrolled beard growth you have at the moment, you know?

At a tiny nod from Randy he handed the sandwich over to him and thought that he should just stop touching him without asking first.

For half an hour they talked about random things and John thought about a good way to address a few things he wanted to settle before he would go home. First of all he needed to tell Randy that his parents had noted him as his next of kin. Then he wanted to know how often he was allowed to drop in. And then someone had to look for Randy's business at home. But he simply found no fitting start, so he decided to just say it.

"Uhm, there is something I gotta tell you," he began reluctantly and with a frown. "After the accident I called the hospital to ask how you're doing and since they wouldn't tell me, I called you parents…"

He noticed a shadow that casted over the grey eyes at his words, but he continued.

"They told me that you had a fight. Your mom said that they had no interest in visiting you."

Randy huffed and averted his gaze, his lips tightening to a thin line.

"Listen, I have no idea what happened between you and your parents but I think you should know that they noted me as your next of kin."

Appeasing he held his hands up as Randy's eyes snapped back up to him, a not very happy expression on his face.

"Randy, all I did was asking the doc how you're doing. I didn't decide anything and now you're awake, so…"

After a moment Randy's face softened and he sighed heavily.

"I didn't mean to… it's not your fault, John."

Again John wondered what the hell had happened between Randy and his parents but he didn't dig further and instead jumped to the next point on his list.

"What about your other stuff? Mail, bills? I could take care of it if you like? Look after you house?" John offered, not missing the humorless smirk on Orton's face.

"Sam got the house. Currently I'm living at a hotel and I got me a post-office box, but yeah, if you find the time it probably would be good if you take care about it. The key to the post-office box is in my hotel room. I just gotta inform the hotel somehow."

For a moment John was speechless. As far as he knew it's been weeks, no month's since he'd heard the first rumors that Randy and Sam had broken up. Did he really…?

"Are you telling me that you live there since… uhm… I mean, you and Sam…"

The humorless smirk grew as Randy answered: "Yeah, I live there since we broke up. That'd be four months, three weeks and two days by now."

Mouthing Randy's last words he tried to wrap his mind around the fact that Randy had been living at a hotel the whole time. That he had no home to go to after work. Alone, every night, in some impersonal hotel room without his own things. His jaw set as he felt a knot built up in his stomach. But then… an idea formed in his head as he searched Randy's face.

"Randy… you're gonna be here for a while and it would be pointless if you paid the hotel for that time. I could get your stuff from the hotel and store it at my house for a while," he suggested, watching the younger man for a sign that he overstepped a line.

When he saw none, he continued: "And if you're fit enough to leave the hospital you can look for a new apartment, house, hotel room or whatever or you could… well, you could move in with me for the time until you are fully recovered. I've got a guest room and a second bath room and…"

The grey eyes widened a little and his good hand clenched in his blanket. He was obviously feeling uncomfortable.

Here we go, you found and overstepped the line finally. Well done, Cena… John thought, mentally smacking himself.

"See, you don't need to answer that now," he reassured Randy. "You don't need to answer it at all if you don't want, it was just an idea. Anyway, I have something for you."

John produced the new cell from a pocket and laid it on the blanket close to Randy's hand and gave him a small smile.

"I don't know where your cell is so I got you that one. I thought you might want to make some calls. I stored Vince's number and the number of the car repair shop where they brought your car. And I stored my number in the speed dial, just in case you need something."

Randy's eyes fixed on the cell but he kept silent. After a moment his fingers unclenched from the blanket and closed around the cell.

"Okay… just think about it and if you need anything, just call or send a message," John said quietly, hoping that he hadn't just destroyed everything. "I have to go now. I'll drop in tomorrow around lunchtime if it's okay for you?"

Still no words from Randy, only a soft nod. But his eyes flicked up from the cell to John's, an unsure, confused expression shining in them and deciding that it had been more than enough for one day, John got up from the bed, giving Randy's good shoulder a light squeeze before he made his way over to the door. He was almost out of the room when he heard his name being called.

Sticking his head back into the room he asked: "Yeah?"

After a second of hesitation Randy just said: "Yes."

John frowned.

"Yes?"

"Your offer about your guest room," Randy said, the unsure expression still there in his eyes.

John had to smile brightly when he got the message.

"Good," he simply answered and for the first time since he came back here, Randy smiled.

With a short nod John said his goodbye and left, leaving an, again dumbfounded, Randy behind. After a minute of just sitting there in his bed, totally confused and with the cell in his hand, the younger man began to laugh quietly, shaking his head.

Day one: waking up after an accident, for weeks and months well-built defenses overrun by a cheerful goofball, talked into moving in with said goofball. Check. Great, see what day two would have in store…

Move in with John… Either it would turn out to be the best decision he'd made lately or he would regret it already after the first day. Anyway, he had to get out of the hospital first. Enough time to skip the moving in with John if it turned out that they wouldn't get along.

Right now he had a funny feeling in his belly. A tingle… Caused by the way John cared. His thumb brushed over the small device in his hand. The cell… it was just a small visible sign of what John did for him. Being there.

Closing his eyes, he made himself comfortable, thinking of the events of the day and while he dozed off, the cell was still there in his hand…