Chapter Twenty Five

Spoiler for chapter 27?-!- "…Ohh baby I'm ready for love…" ;)

It was late, AGAIN, and very cold and windy out as Randy sat quietly on a small leather couch tucked in the far corner of Michaels office; sulking as he listened to John and Michael work out a deal he had to pretend he wasn't into and rubbed his hand over his face. Again he was tired; so fucking TIRED and again he'd been stuck there all fucking night with Mizanin and the rest of the low lives he'd to grown absolutely fucking SICK of. Except John of course-He was there to help, as per their plan…

And Randy was there to…To…Um…

He frowned. He wasn't there for anything other than Michael knew he hated it so the bastard made him stay. That's how this shit typically went though, Michael would catch him just as he was about to leave and give him some menial task to do or sometimes he even had him stay to work security with Wade and David on the casino floor. Which sucked because now that he was out of vacation time he was expected to be at the precinct in the morning.

And Hunter, god love him, was on his ass about every little thing, riding him all fucking day until quitting time when he left in a angry huff. Needless to say things were still tense between them and even though Randy had apologized Hunter didn't let up not one fucking bit. He constantly gave him the cold shoulder or "accidentally" threw away his coffee when he had his back turned. Funny but, don't fuck with his coffee! Especially when he was constantly pulling all-nighters!

But of course Hunter didn't know that. How could he? The poor SOB. And of course even if he did he'd probably still throw his shit away and Randy would still put up with it.

Why? Because deep down he missed his partner…his friend. It took him a while to realize it but Randy wasn't as alone as he'd thought before getting caught up with Mizanin. He had friends. He just never let himself see that. Just like he didn't let himself hear the truth in Cody's words either. He realized he just wasn't listening. He was subconsciouly covering his ears and screaming to drown out the noise of anything troublesom coming his way because it was the easier thing to do. He'd taken the easy way out and given up on the mystery that was Cody and it fucking cost him. Fuck it cost him HUGE.

God damn it he was there now because of it!

Suddenly anxious he stood and zipped his black leather jacket up tight. Fuck this shit! Home was calling and he had less than four hours before he had to report for work and if Tristan didn't hurry the fuck up at the store he'd seriously leave without him.

The little brat could take a fucking cab!

He stuffed his hands into his pockets, turning towards the door and almost made it before Michael caught him and stopped him with, "Excuse you, where are you going?"

Randy sighed as he turned around. Nosy mother fucker. "If you must know I'm going to the big room by the doors to wait for Tristan to get back from the store." He shook his head once, "Don't bitch Mizanin. You don't need me right now and I really don't want to listen to this shit." He glared at John, "Especially when that asshole is here." No. He didn't hate him; of course it was a part of the act! Fuck Randy was almost smug about it too! They'd done a pretty good job of convincing Michael that John was dirty; so good a job that Michael was using John for the bigger jobs every night while Randy pretended to hate him as he sat on the side lines.

It was fucking PERFECT right now. They'd staged a "bust" in Randy's apartment to be seen before the cameras and everyone there had delivered quite the performance; including Adam and Jason who helped themselves to a few bags of the product of their own before beating the crap out of Randy's ribcage. He was still bruised and sore and a little much maybe but Randy knew that it would take nothing less for Michael to believe what he was seeing.

Thankfully he was right because, Mizanin fucking BOUGHT it. He bought it and they were IN.

"Aww don't be sore!" John chuckled, his blue eyes bright with amusement, "Come on Randy you're not the only one who likes money and Bentleys!"

"Was I talking to you?" He questioned threateningly with a serious scowl, "Shut the fuck up." Good for John trying to pick a fight with him! Michael would put a stop to it and send him away!

John's laughter turned a a cocky smirk, "Make me, Detective."

Damn! From that Randy let himself get into the act and really seethed, clenching his teeth that he bared, aggressively widening his stance and balling his hands into fists at his sides. Oh FUCK if any of this were real he'd have knocked John's fucking head off for that one! "Watch it." He hissed sharply threw his teeth, "Captain."

"Alright you two," Michael stepped between them even though neither men had a made a move and put his hand up as if to silence them. "That's quite enough."

Oh was it now? Randy relaxed and almost laughed. Fucking idiot! They were playing him so fucking hard! "Fuck you, John!" He added and got a firm shove on the chest, Michael forcing him towards the door. "Get out! Go! Go the the room or WHATEVER! Just go!"

"Same to you bitch!" John shouted back and Randy was fighting a smirk as Michael pushed him faster and as he passed threw the doorway; Michael really had NO idea what they were up to! Fuck YES maybe Johns plan was going to work!-!

"I'll call you later." Michael said as he started to close the door, "Hurry up and unload the last batch because I've got more coming in that's supposed to sell real quick and the deals only good for so long."

Randy rolled his eyes as he turned, "Whatever." He really didn't give a shit!

"And try not to lose your phone again you fucking moron!"

Randy just waved him off. Fuck him the damn thing fell out of his pocket the last time he was there! And MAYBE if Michael hadn't forced him to try the new product he would have had hit wits about him enough to realize it was gone! Fucking idiot.

But, speaking of his phone, he took it from his pocket and flipped it open as he headed down the long hallway. He'd only just had gotten it back last night when Tristan brought it to him after getting it from someone who'd claimed they'd found it just laying upon the floor somewhere. Whatever. He was just glad he didn't have to go threw the trouble of getting a new one and thankfully everything seemed as if it was in order.

He checked the time, almost sighing and contemplated calling Tristan to get his little ass in gear. It was time to go home damn it! True he'd sent him out for smokes and he had no right to be impatient but, he was. And just as soon as he made it to the big room at the end of the hallway by the huge double doors he hated so fucking much, he went to call him.

But, something on the upper right hand side of the screen caught his attention and he stopped. Strange. He frowned. Why did he have an already text message from Cody in his inbox? He selected the box uptop the screen to verify that it was actually from Cody and plopped down onto a bench just outside the doorway. He didn't recall reading any messages from Cody recently. Just the last one over a week ago stating he was sorry for everything and he'd saved that in a separate folder…

And no Randy still hadn't replied to it either. He just…couldn't. Not then. Not yet. Now maybe?

He sighed softly and rubbed his hand over his face, a habit to relieve stress that didn't work! He was still so hesitant to do talk to Cody it wasn't even funny! But fuck it was time to end this shit and just, take him back! He was fucking MISERABLE without him and ever since he'd thought Cody had been murdered a sense of panic had gripped him and never quite let go or went away, it lingered and grew. And a voice he used to consider a torture told him that only being able to hold and kiss Cody again would make it stop…And it was so RIGHT.

It would let him go when…when Cody was his again. Because …that's when he would LET it let him go.

He took a breath and opened it to the message folder, his stomach fluttering anxiously until he frowned as he noticed his inbox empty of all but that one message.

What the hell?-! He sat forward, eyes darting around the screen in a panic as his heart sank. He'd saved over four hundred of them between he and Cody and they were ALL fucking GONE! Call him crazy but he'd saved ALL of their texts to each other since they'd first met and during his darkest times without him he'd hide away somewhere and read them. It was odd, he knew, but somehow it made him feel…closer to Cody. The REAL Cody. The Cody he knew. The Cody he loved more than anything in the whole world.

Fuck he missed him.

Randy blinked hard as he sat back, swallowing slowly as he let it sink in that the messages were gone and finally opened the only one left. "I'm sorry that I ruined your life Randy, I truly am…" Shit he should have checked his phone sooner instead of just tucking it away until Michael called! Something just wasn't right about this! "I'm sorry that I ruined your life Randy, I truly am. But you don't have to worry about me causing you any more grief. I'm giving you what you want...I love you." Randy scowled, his heart suddenly racing. What in the hell was Cody talking about?-! He hadn't asked him for anything! "What do you mean giving me what I want?" He quickly sent and only waited a few minutes before sending another, "?-?-?" Oh god something just wasn't right! "Cody?-?-?" He tried again after five hard long minutes. But still, NOTHING.

Randy panted hard as he stared down at his frustratingly silent phone. Something was wrong. He could fucking FEEL it. "…you don't have to worry about me causing you any more grief…" He cringed as a horrible feeling simmered in his stomach as he read it over and over.

Shit shit shit fucking SHIT! How long ago had he sent that?-! He checked and choked slightly. SHIT! Three days ago! THREE fucking days ago when he'd thought he lost his phone!-!

He cleared the screen with shaky thumbs, hurrying threw the menu. OH GOD! If something happened he was too fucking late!-!-!

He found his number and dialed out and was relieved as it rang twice and someone who he hoped was Cody picked up. Thank FUCK!

"What the fuck do YOU want?" It wasn't Cody. Randy jerked slightly, almost choking. "Justin?" Shit hadn't this happened before?-! Fuck except this time Cody would be fucking dead! This time neither of them would be so lucky! He was sure of it! "Where's Cody?-!"

"Like you fucking care!" Justin sneered, "You're shit! You know that?-! You're fucking shit you sorry son of a bitch!"

Randy's jaw dropped. What the fuck?-! Why was Justin attacking him?-! And where the fuck was Cody?-! "What the fuck is your problem?-! Of course I care! I just- No you know what? This is none of your business! Just put Cody on!"

Justin snarled, "None of my business?-! Fuck. YOU." He hung up.

Randy wide eyed dropped his head for a moment and blinked slowly, completely stunned by Justin's random outburst of hate…Seriously…WHAT. THE FUCK?-! Last time he checked Justin was angry with him but not THAT fucking angry!

He shook his head, glaring at his phone as the screen light timed out and the keyboard went dark. Little prick! And fuck man whatever Justin's problem was he just didn't have the fucking time to deal with it! There was way too much going on right now to worry about what in the hell was up Justin's ass and frankly, he really didn't give a shit! He was trying to talk to CODY, not Justin! God damn it he needed to know if he was OKAY! He needed to know if he was because he fucking NEEDED him! Fuck Justin! Randy wasn't going to worry about what Justin thought of him when he had enough shit to be concerned about as it was! And not to mention the fact that he was so fucking SICK of worrying about Cody and he really didn't have time to work Justin in! He just wanted Cody back and fucking hell when he finally tried to fix that and he gets shot down by his fucking roommate!

FRUSTRATING. Justin should just mind his own!

After a moment he called again but after one ring it went straight to voice mail. God damn it.

Fuck it. He let out a huff as he got up. Whatever! Fuck Justin and fuck calling Cody! He'd have to go SEE him in person to talk to him, apparently. And now that he thought about it, going to see him was really the better way to do this.

It was the only RIGHT way to get his Cody back to him and because, there was so much he needed to say that just couldn't be said over the phone…