Chapter Thirty

Rating/Warning: MA for smut

They laid on the floor for quite some time just savoring every second they could. Touching. Caressing. Kissing. Smiling. But when the floor's unforgiving firmness set in and started to draw aches from their back they pulled themselves into bed beneath the sheets and entwined their bodies in a comfortable mess of arms and legs and lips that rarely parted. And still or such a long while they said nothing. They didn't need to.

Their hands grabbed and pulled at skin, faces, groin's. They clawed and tore all over each others bodies with even more urgency in their moment than before. But it wasn't about sex or their overwhelming attractions for each other. It played a part in the beginning yes; before when everything was fucked up. But it definitely wasn't now and those days were seriously over. No more would they look at each other and fall under lusts blissful spell that left them satisfied yet oddly distant from each other. No more would that drive their actions as it so had done in the past. No this was about coming together as the powerful, beautiful entity that they were meant to be and sex was just a delightful bonus that came with it. This was purely about the marvelous, relentless love that had grown between them that strongly burned within their very souls even when they were drowning in despair. They had to touch. They had to kiss. They had to say nothing.

Because there were no words.

Time passed. A while later. Sometime after the sun had come up and disappeared behind dark clouds Cody broke a fully conscious smile, sliding his hand up Randy's side beneath the covers, stroking him, caressing him. Randy smiled too, his eyes half drawn but still vibrant and shinning threw perfect accentuating lashes. "Hey..." It was a soft word. Pleasing and not requiring much of a response.

Cody's smile grew "Hmm..." He leaned forward as their lips met again as he reached down and took hold of Randy's slick shaft, stroking it, moaning into his mouth as it throbbed and twitched in his hand. He leaned away slightly and purred against his lips, darting his tongue across them swiftly as he let his cock go and slid his hand up Randy well muscled abdomen, stopping at his chest. "Hey." He said in another purr to his lips, "Detective Orton."

Randy let out a soft laugh, shaking his head slightly, eyes bright with amusement, "You just love it that that drives me crazy."

"I do." He snickered softly, dancing his brows about playfully. "Detective."

"Yeah well, give me a few minutes and I'll fix your wagon."

"Oh my god. Wagon?" Cody laughed wholeheartedly at that, hiding his face within a pillow and shaking his head at Randy's backwoods threat that was somehow supposed to be arousing and laughed harder because it was. But still Randy...Oh Randy...

"Well I don't know about no wagon," He rolled his eyes slightly as he came back up; still smiling what felt like ear to ear, "But are your ribs going to be okay? They look pretty banged up." He'd more than noticed their bruises earlier but of course more so as they'd rolled and romped around and as much fun as they were having he would completely understand if Randy wanted to slow it down a bit...

Randy shrugged. And didn't seem surprised that he'd asked. "They're little sore but they're alright." Then again why would he be surprised? They were pretty noticeable and even though Randy tried not to let them slow him down they had and they'd definitely peeked Cody curiosity.

Cody glanced at them again as he nodded slightly.Ouch. His face softened with concern as he trailed his eyes over the dark brown and purple lines and spots of his bruises. Fuck they looked nasty. "What happened?"

Again Randy shrugged and it was a simple, graceful movement that probably caused him more strain than he let on. Randy was just proud like that. As most men are. "It sounds bad but Jason, Adam, and John beat the hell out of me to make Michael think they were dirty cops. They wanted it to look real so we staged it in my apartment and they "broke in" and jumped me...Again it sounds terrible but it worked. Michael bought it."

"Wow so that's why Michael was bragging about having the LVPD under his thumb the other day." He scoffed slightly at the memory, rolling his eyes as he pictured Michael's smug face and wished he'd had the balls to slap it from him. "I thought he was exaggerating about the work he was forcing you to do." The concern rose in his voice again and titled his eyes in a frown, "Damn baby I can't believe you let your friends hurt you like that."

"It had to be done." Yet another shrug. "And besides it's not like I wasn't due for a good ass-kicking you know? I think the guys actually kicked some sense into me because after that every did become a whole lot easier... Well not everything. I mean everything became real clear in my head when it was so detached before." He paused, his eyes distant in thought as he seemed to search for his next words. "It's hard to explain. I knew what I had to do I just had to face it and that was the part I was stuck on. Before I didn't know what the fuck I should do. I was totally lost when Michael ripped us apart. And then everything happened so fast and I just let it...I fucked up all over the place and didn't even know where to start when it came to fixing it... I guess that makes me weak..."

"No." Cody disagreed firmly, "It doesn't. You're anything but weak Randy."

"But I'm easy."

Cody stiffened, "What do you mean?" Fuck this wasn't turning sour was it? Randy wasn't about to turn on him again was he?-! Oh god he just couldn't take that! He just couldn't bare it!

"I'm easy." Randy said again with a nod, "You were right."

"That doesn't make you a weak person Randy. You're one of the strong ones and even the best of them have their weak moments...Some just last longer than others. Especially when they've been threw what you have. Losing your father at a young age. Losing your relationship with your mother. Becoming a detective at a young age. Getting involved with a worthless stripper, etc etc."

"Don't say worthless." Randy warned, "Don't even go there Cody."

"You know what I meant."

"Yeah, I do. And I don't like it. You're not worthless and you never have been so don't even try to slip something like that by me." He started to turn, putting himself on his side with Cody's head resting on his arm that was comfortably curled around his backside and gave him a tender kiss on the lips. It was over in seconds.

"I want things to be different, okay?"

Cody nodded slowly with half lidded eyes, smiling a little. "Me too." He really did. He really wanted to forget about everything that had happened. And this time without the use of any drugs or alcohol. Because he didn't need all of that mess when he had Randy. That shit was nothing. That shit couldn't even touch how wonderful being with Randy made him feel!

Randy nodded, "Good...But...We got this far so...What do we do now?"

Good question. Score one for Randy for stepping up and having the balls to ask it out loud. What DID come next? What now? Cody didn't know. He was just as lost. He just wanted to stay in bed like this forever and he hadn't thought passed the edges of the bed since they'd climbed into it hours ago. Why would he?-?-?

Oh yeah.

They were still totally fucked. The past several hours in bed together hadn't fixed everything despite how much Cody wanted to believe that it had or would. They still had to deal with fucking Michael and the rest of the real world that was seemingly out to get them.

But still, he was hopeful. For the first time in a very VERY long time...

"I think we'll be okay if we can get away from Michael." He finally replied softly, nuzzling Randy's soft, warm shoulder. So comforting. Just like he remembered.

"Speaking of getting away from Michael you're not really going to make me go into the Witness Protection Program are you? I mean I don't want to start a fight but I'm not going. I'm not leaving you."

"Cody-"

"No!" He pushed up onto his elbow, turning and staring down at him firmly, shaking his head. "I won't do it!" He said that a bit loud and didn't stop; "I would go insane worrying about you and then not being able to be with you would be just-just-No. NO. I'm not leaving!" He glared down at Randy's handsome face who looked surprised by his outburst. His eyes wide and his mouth open just slightly. So Cody grabbed his chin and gave him a firm kiss; long and deep just the way they liked. And when he came back up they were both slightly flushed, panting softly. But Cody pushed the words out. He spoke without and between breaths. "I'm. Not. Leaving. You." He released him and gave a tight nod. "We'll deal with Michael and his bullshit together."He watched him carefully and almost jerked back as Randy's lips suddenly spread into a smile. A strange subject to give a silent smile about but at least he wasn't angry!

"Deal."

"Good." Seriously?-! Did Randy just agree without a fight? Did he really just trust him like that?-! "Now that that's settled we can talk about the rest." Oh god yes he did! He did! Oh fuck yes he wanted to kiss him again so bad! So he did and it was marvelous and breath taking. Just the way they liked!

"The rest is a bit of a story." Randy said after they slowed down once more, wrapping around Cody so tight it hurt them both. But neither seemed to care. "Michael's had yours truly selling his shit all over the place AND helping with the shipments getting over state lines but John and the others are working security and selling in the casino's. Meanwhile John sent a couple of his friends that he could trust to keep an eye on my family so when we do get our shit together and go after Michael he won't be able to hurt anyone."

"So you think." Cody voiced his concern softly, almost afraid to explain why he felt that way and tried to hide it with a nod. Because although Randys and his friends had a good idea Cody knew Michael enough to be certain that he wasn't going to go down without a fight. Oh no that sick bastard still had something completely awful left in his bag of tricks and he wasn't going to come out with it until the worst possible moment. And knowing Michael that moment was rapidly approaching.

"You know that son of a bitch is certifiably insane don't you? He's a fucking sociopath Randy. An honest to god kill his own family for no reason type of psycho. And baby if you think even for one second that you've won before the game is over you've already fucking lost. Because that's what Michael thrives on. Other people's arrogance that blinds them enough for him to gain the upper hand one last time."

Randy nodded slowly. "Perhaps so but with your help AND if we do this right we can put the bastard away for life. Right now John and I are trying to think of a way to get the word out to the squad without Michael getting wind before he should. We still don't know who's dirty in the precinct but so far its a lot more than I'd care to count."

"I don't think you guys will even have the chance to figure that out before Michael's on you like white on rice. Like seriously no joke Randy time is of the essence. Michael's always one step ahead. Always."

"I know I don't believe so either but it was worth a shot and gave us another option. And really all of this is like, one step at a time you know? We can't do too much without getting busted so what we have done has been very little and very careful."

"So you've been busy?" Cody eased the moment with a smile and carefully snuggled even tighter around Randy's warm soft body and gave his shoulder a lingering kiss before resting his head there, his heart content. It just made him feel so good that Randy was actually trying to save himself from all of this. He wasn't completely broken and he hadn't given up. For weeks Cody had worried that he'd ruined him. He'd cried that he had destroyed such a wonderful, strong human being who only wanted to live the good life with someone he could be utterly devoted to. It was just so stellar that after all that worrying and anguish he was still safe and sound within his strong arms and snuggling so close they could barely breathe.

Home sweet fucking home.

"Not as busy as I should have been apparently because Hunter put in for a new partner assignment." Randy's voice fell and became very sullen, "He's never been that mad before..."

"Does he know about any of this?"

"Any of what?"

"This." He craned is head up to look at him as he made a wide gesture with his hand over the room, "The whole bit from Michael to you and me right here?"

Randy blinked, "Um...No."

"Well then that's your problem right there baby. You think Hunter doesn't know how to read you but I've met the guy and he's real good at summing people up so you might want to think twice about what he may or may not suspect. And baby if he's that mad its because you made him that way by keeping him out of the loop."

Randy's eyes went wide. "You think he knows?-!"

"I think he has an idea that something is big going on." He smirked, pausing as he gave Randy a suspecting look. "Why do you need me to tell you this? Come on Randy you know the guy better than I do!"

"I know." He said with a sigh. "I'm sorry. I'm just dragging my feet because he's going to punch me in the face when I DO tell him. And not only that but he's just a tough guy to face with the big stuff. Even if he doesn't hit me he's not going to let me off easy for any of this. And he'll probably never trust me again either."

"I know you enough to say this to you and hope that you'll listen. You should try actually trusting your partner Randy. Just call him baby." He encouraged gently, carefully watching his face for any unwanted changes "Call and tell him before he finds out on his own and shit gets really bad." He reached up slightly and cupped his cheek, pushing for a comforting smile as he stoked his jaw with his thumb. "No more running remember?"

Randy nodded slowly, staring up at him like he was impressed and started to reach for the edge of the sheets around their hips to throw them off. "You're right. I'll do it right now."

Shit. Hang on! Cody caught his hand and yanked it away, "No baby not now! Later." He nodded quickly with a laugh, "AFTER the sex baby. AFTER."

Randy laughed but quickly turned back into him, his arm slipping around his back and pulled their chests to touch. "Yikes make up my mind would you?-!"

"Hey I said do it but not this very second when we're all cozy and such!" He snuggled closer. "Hunter can wait another hour!"

"Mmm I love it when you tell me what to do." He teased with another laugh and silenced Cody's outrage with a hard but swift kiss. "Damn I missed this."

"Me too." Cody nuzzled back with a sigh, squeezing Randy tight. "I wish we could stay like this. We could just...stay here in bed...Forever."

"Wouldn't that be nice?" Randy agreed with a nod and a kiss. "I swear the moment we're safe from Mizanin I promise you we'll get the hell out of this town and go some place where we can really start fresh. Somewhere much, MUCH quieter and civil."

Cody's smile grew. He really liked the sound of that. "You got some place in mind?"

"I do." He nodded. "I want to move back home."

Oh...Shit. HOME?-!Cody's chest tightened with the familiar rush of anxiety and he forced himself to take a breath that he let out quietly against Randy's chest. Move to Missouri?-? Fuck fuck fuck! Moving to say Phoenix or hell even Flagstaff would have been reasonable but moving ALL the way to Mossuri? He just didn't know about that. Shit or maybe he was just freaking out because it would mean they were really in this now. Meaning there was a real commitment being made and just like Randy had wanted to Cody wanted to run from it. He wouldn't; Randy was the one okay? He wanted to be with him forever but putting that very thing into action was a HUGE step and after everything they'd only JUST been threw...

Cody just needed to catch his breath. He could do this just so long as he could fucking breathe and chase the fuck away the self deprecating mentality that would force Randy from his life all over again. And he COULD do it. With Randy by his side he could do anything he set his mind to.

He blinked and focused on Randy's face, forcing a smile as he gazed into his beautiful bright blue eyes, "That sounds nice..." He was sincere because fuck it REALLY did sound nice. Yes he was still anxious but home with Randy was anywhere they could lay just like this and whisper to each other between the "rowdy romping" as Cody had so called it behind Randy's back. Home was where he would have the love of his life all to himself. Fuck he wanted that. Yes he was scared but he was a whole hell of a lot more eager than anything else!

He nodded, "Take us home baby."

Randy grabbed him up harder than before and crushed him down to the bed with his lips, forcing his way on top of him with an excited snarl that let Cody know just how happy he was to be there and drove body between his legs with a sharp thrust. "Oh I'll take us home." Randy assured in a deep growl, forcing Cody's legs wide with another thrust. "But not before I pound your tight ass." He clawed his hands into his outer thighs as he ground his cock in the soft crevasse of his buttocks. "I won't be gentle."

Cody squealed slightly, lost his breath in a hard gasp, and quickly sought something, anything, to use as leverage above his head. He settled on the headboard; curling his finger around the bottom so that they touched the back and secured his grip. Fuck he was so excited! He didn't want Randy to be gentle. He didn't want a soft touch. No he wanted Randy to fuck him as hard as he could! Even if it hurt! Fuck the pain! It felt good if it was done right and he was certain that Randy had it in him to wrap his fingers round his throat and choke him while he came. He had it in him to tie him up and whip him until he was just about to cry mercy and ravage his body in a wonderfully, beastly manor. Oh yes Randy had it in him to fuck him in any which way he asked him to. And he so would! "Go for it baby." He encouraged in a breathy tone, arching more and spread his legs as wide as they would go. (Which of course was considerable since he was incredibly flexible. One of the very few plus's of being a stripper.)

Randy started on his neck, sinking his teeth into the meaty muscle there first and moved downward quickly. Too quickly for Cody to catch his breath in fact, forcing him to pant and whine when he wanted to moan and beg for more. But more was already on Randy's mind it seemed because he went lower, bit harder, and let his hands glide over his body with a possessive fingers that clawed and firmly groped his skin in all the right places. Cody was putty in his hands. He couldn't move. Couldn't think. He was just so overwhelmed with arousal and desire he could barely breathe around it and it took everything in him just to hold on to the headboard. Fuck Randy was so good! He dug his fingers in as he drew his lip between his teeth as Randy's mouth found his nipples and went to work swirling, gliding, slipping around and teased them into their hardest state they could reach. Fuck they were so hard it almost hurt!

"Oh my god baby." He gasped, body tensing with hard quivers. "That feels so good."

Randy grunted softly, biting a stiff peak and clawed harder into his thighs. "Just getting started."

"Mmmyes that's it baby." Cody rolled his body into Randy's touch, so fucking eager for more. "Hurt me! Fuck I love that!"

Beep. What the fuck? Beep. Beep?

Something tore his attention away. Stole him from the passion. It was a strange sound. Something beeping.

He lifted his head, focused and after a few seconds realized it was a phone. "Baby?" He whispered, "Your phone." It had to be. His was out of ear shot in the other room.

Randy didn't seem to notice as he continued on his path, kissing and sucking his chest, paying special attention to the stiff firm peaks of his nipples. "Hmm?"

Cody brought his head up higher, "Your phone baby. You gonna get that?"

"Nope." Randy shook his head and didn't so much as loosen his grip around his thighs.

"Baby." He hated to do it but if Randy's phone was ringing over and over he should probably answer it! "You know you have to."

"Fuck." Randy huffed, his mouth leaving his skin and he sat up. "Damn it I know." He let out a sigh, "I was trying to make them wait but apparently it's important." He sat up further and spotted his pants beside Cody on the floor and gave him a gentle nudge, "Hand me my pants?"

Cody turned and had to slide to the edge of the bed to reach them but he got a good hold and yanked them onto the up, handing them over and let Randy fish his phone from them on his own. Randy turned and dropped his legs over the edge as he flipped it open and pressed the speaker to his ear, "Hey Hunter what's up?" Cody sat up at the mention of his partners name; scooting close behind him and kissed his shoulder to let him know he was there before sliding his arms around his waist and hoped Randy took this as a sign of support he hoped it conveyed.

"Dude. Stop yelling." Randy said and sighed already as he shook his head over and over. "Dude I can't understand you when you scream like that...Yes I know I didn't show up yesterday but I left word with Layla...Okay-STOP YELLING. I can't fucking hear you!...NO! Don't talk shit!... Damn it dude shut the fuck up for ten seconds and let me fucking talk!" Randy's voice rose to a firm shout and Cody squeezed him tight, nuzzling his neck to calm him. And it worked. Randy let out a heavy sigh and relaxed, leaning back into his hold. "I'll make this quick, Hunter. There's a lot of shit going on around here that you need to know about and I know you'd respect me more if I told you to your face so either meet me at work or-...Fine. FINE!...See you in an hour." He hung up, cursing as he snapped the phone shut and tossed it onto the nightstand beside the bed. "Fucking hell he's going to hit me so hard."

Cody frowned hard. "What? Are you serious? You really think he will?"

"I know he will." Randy said as he got up and grabbed the rest of his clothes from the floor, pulling on his jeans first and carefully zipped them up before grabbing his smoke and brought one to life.

It was a bad time probably but Cody almost smiled as Randy walked to the sliding glass door, concentrating on the sweet curve of his hips and well muscled back that sadly ended at the waist band of his jeans. But no worries there. Randy was definitely the type of guy who looked just as good in clothing as he did out. Fuck he was gorgeous! "I hope you're good at ducking." Cody replied absently as gazed at the length of Randy's torso, closely admiring his well-toned abdomen that twitched and tightened with every movement. Fuck he wanted him so bad! God damn it why did Hunter have to fucking call and ruin their good time?-! Fuck. Fuck fuck FUCK!-!-!

Randy brought the smoke to his lips with a quick laugh. "Ha! Not as good as I'd liked to be!" He blew out a fine line of smoke, shaking his head slowly, "Hunter's pretty tough."

"So are you."

"Not like Hunter." He shrugged, "But he's bigger so he's slower so maybe I'll get lucky."

"Right! Yeesh that dude is huge. He's so fucking beefy. Big ol'd beefcake who can't fit threw the average door!" Cody laughed at that as he got out of bed; strolling over to Randy in the door way and plucked the smoke from his mouth and took a quick drag before carefully placing it back. "You want me to go with you?"

Randy frowned but nodded quickly, "Of course I do." He mumbled around the cigarette before hitting it and quickly snagged it between his fingers. "I want you to meet him...again."

"He's not going to punch me too is he?" He had better not or Hunter would be picking his fucking teeth up off the ground! "I'm not going to let me him talk shit to me either-not after how badly he treated me during my arrest." He flinched as the last part seemed to slip out. Shit why did he fucking bring that up! Things were going so well!

Randy frowned and already he regretted mentioning his it but the second he saw the curiosity rise in Randy's eyes he mentally kicked himself. The LAST thing he wanted to do was tell Randy how his arrest REALLY went down but there was turning back now. He'd mentioned it and now Randy was going to want the truth. He would surely ask!

"What do you mean?"

See?

Cody felt himself flinch again, momentarily avoiding Randy's gaze as he tried to think of something quick to say. Fuck this wasn't a good time for this. But then again there really was no good time to tell Randy that he'd been arrested for was there? There wasn't a good time to speak of any of the horrible shit he'd done!

"I lied about my arrest before." He decided to just come clean and summed it up the best he could, "Short version? I was trying to help my friend but I left out that part where it was a John that fucked him up and that I was so high when your partner showed up that I offered him a free go if he let me walk away. Of course he said no and shoved me into the back of the car with the cuffs so tight my hands were completely numb by the time I reached the intake where he told everyone in the drunk tank with me that I was a cock hungry faggot." He swallowed hard, the memory still so fresh in his mind it gave him chills. "Instead of seeing what I did as a cry for help he made that one of the scariest nights of my life."

"Did anyone hurt you?"

Cody blinked. He was a little surprised by that. "Almost." He answered hesitantly. As nice as it was that Randy wanted to know it was also water under the bridge and he really hoped Randy wasn't about to flip out over something that happened so long ago. In fact that only person who was allowed to flip out about it would be Cody seeing as how he was the one who'd been thrown into a drunk tank with six inebriated homo-phobic guys looking for trouble! But he didn't want to do that. And he woudn't just so long as Hunter didn't run his fucking mouth.

He chased the memory away quickly and gave a slight shrug. "A couple of the other guys in the tank tried to start a fight but some other guys pulled them off of me before it got too bad...That was really the worst of it." Even though he was freaking out the whole time worrying those asshole would come back for more. "It was no big deal...I just thought you should know that if Hunter punches me I'm not going to stand for it. I owe him one as it is."

Randy shook his head as if he'd been thinking hard and was trying to clear it. "You don't have to see him again if you don't want to. I'd understand."

Cody nodded slowly. But his stomached fluttered. "I want to go." He wasn't afraid of seeing Hunter. No that wasn't it at all. "I'll be alright." He just really didn't want to be separated from Randy again. Not so soon after getting him back.

He started to lean in for a kiss but stopped abruptly when someone gave the door a soft knock and startled them both. Shit! His heart was the fuck was that?-! "Stay here." Randy told him before diving down to the floor and pulled one of his high powered brownings from beneath he bed and clicked the safety off. "Be ready to run."

Cody nodded quickly, frantically checking the floor for his clothes before he remembered the robe and found it at the foot of the bed and yanked it on. Bullshit Randy was answering the door alone!

He followed him; holding his breath as Randy dared to check the people hole silently. Fuck fuck fuck! It was probably Michael! Fucking shit they were so fucking screwed! He started to reach for Randy to pull him back, shaking his head as his heart pounded with fear. But just as he did Randy left the peep hole with a relieved sigh and lowered his gun to his side. "Fuck dude It's Tristan. Shit I forgot that he was bringing our stuff over." He opened the door and quickly ushered the smaller man inside and locked it shut tight before anyone had a chance to say a word. Tristan stumbled slightly with two over stuffed bags over his shoulders and throwing him off balance until he let them drop to the floor.

"Hey guys."

Randy was already frowning, peeking out into the hallway threw the peep hole one more time. "Where's John?"

Tristan rubbed his shoulders, grimacing slightly as he rotated his arm to work out the stiffness. "Michael called him so he had to leave. I was okay by myself and I checked, no one followed me."

"Why didn't he give me a heads up?" Randy was angry, glaring down at Tristan as if he were a child who'd just been busted coming in late after curfew.

"I don't know." Tristan looked puzzled. "Was he supposed to?"

"What the fuck Tristan of course he was! And you shouldn't be going out by yourself right now!" Randy scolded him hard, his face flushed with heat and anger. "God damn it you fucking know that!"

Tristan jerked back slightly, eyes growing wide. "O-Okay-Okay. I'm sorry. I thought it would be okay if I came alone-"

"Jesus Tristan you are seriously pissing me off! You're lucky that nothing happened but I'll be damned if you're going to make that mistake again! You can stay in Cody's room until John gets back." He moved away from the door and angrily snatched the duffle bags from the floor to put them away and didn't look back. "Thanks for bringing our stuff."

Cody watched Tristan's face fall and shot Randy a glare. For fucks sake why did he have to be so hard on him? Tristan was only trying to help! "Hey Tristan." He gave him a warm smile with the gentle greeting. "Everything else besides that grumpy dick going okay?"

Tristan shook his head, "No." And he drew his lip between his teeth. "No it's not okay...John turned me down."

"He what?" Cody came closer, voice soft with concern. "What happened?"

"I-I don't know. I-I thought he liked me but when I asked him where we would be after all of this he said nowhere. He said I'd seen too much...He said I... knew too many."

Cody frowned. "Knew too many what?"

Tristan brought his head up with a sad, broken look and lifted a brow, "You know..."

No. He didn't know. What did Tristan know too many of? The kid had nothing but his clothes and a bed at the Underground. He didn't have much of an education so he didn't really know much of anything. So, what the fuck was he talking about? He continued to wrack his brain over and over until it finally hit him and his eyes narrowed to sharp points. "You know too many men... He called you a whore." Not directly but in so many words..."Jesus Tristan I'm so sorry. Fuck that sucks so hard." He gathered the smaller man into a hug and stroked his head, helping him burry his face into his neck. "You didn't deserve that Tristan. You're so much more than all that bullshit and if he can't see that then fuck that asshole."

"I barely knew him but still that hurt so bad Cody. I don't know why but that hurt me so fucking bad! I've never felt so worthless!" He was crying, clinging to him as hot tears spilled from his eyes. "God I'm so stupid! I should have known no one that decent would ever want to be with a pathetic whore like me!"

"Hey?" Randy was suddenly beside them, his voice much softer than before. "I'm sorry kiddo. I didn't mean to make you cry."

"It's not about you." Cody shot him another glare. "Although you could have been nicer."

Randy nodded, putting his hand over Tristan's shoulder and stroked it tenderly, "Well if it's not me then what's going on? Why is he so upset?"

"Nevermind Randy." Tristan sniffed, "You wouldn't understand."

Randy looked to Cody nervously. "Did something happen?"

"John doesn't want me because I'm a whore okay?-!" Tristan burst out against Cody's skin, "There! Jesus are you fucking happy now?-!"

"What?-!" Randy's voice rose once more. "He fucking said that?-!" His hands cured to fists as his sides before Tristan could even answer. And his answer didn't help, "He might as well have!"

"Shit." Randy said threw his teeth an punched his fist downward slightly with a huff. He pulled Tristan away and forced him to turn around. He grabbed his chin and forced his head up, wiping away some of his tears with his thumbs. "I'm not going to let this stand, alright?" Tristan nodded, sniffling, his little body trembling. "I mean it you'll be getting an apologee from that prick and I'm so fucking sorry that I set you up with him." He pulled him into a hug and kissed the top of his head, "Really I'm so sorry sweetheart. The last thing I wanted to do was to cause you anymore heartache."

Cody stepped away, searching for a smoke. He wasn't at all threatened by Tristan now that he knew the truth about their relationship so seeing him cling to Randy didn't bother him in the slightest. Randy loved him and he was sure of it so no threat there. No what bothered him was how lucky he really was to have someone like Randy who accepted all of the horrible things he'd been forced to do. Not held them against him. And strangely that bothered him. Why? Because fuck that was terrifying! It meant so much! It just touched him so! And fuck he was so afraid to lose that! And he'd only just received it! Shit he was walking away and it looked bad. But he was so lucky to have Randy back and he couldn't comfort Tristan when he only just barely found Randy. It just didn't seem right; almost like he would be rubbing it in Tristan's face that Randy didn't want him like that either.

He found Randy's pack of cigarette on the table and quickly stole one and his lighter and headed out to the balcony before lighting up. This wasn't running; don't get the wrong idea. He was just giving them some privacy and taking a moment for himself to have a smoke. Nothing wrong with that!

He was almost finished when he heard the family tune of his phone screaming from within his room and debated on answering it before flicking his smoke aside and retrieved it from the table. It could be Justin calling to check in. He'd probably be doing that a whole lot more now...

The phone went silent as he picked it up, a small beep sounding from the speaker to let him know he's missed the call a she snapped it open and scanned over the small screen. Shit. It wasn't Justin. It was Michael. He started to hit the call back button but the screen brightened and Michael's number flashed over and over. Fuck he was already calling back! Not good. Not fucking good!

"Hello Michael."

"You're avoiding me again."Michael declared with a sigh and Cody found felt hsi stomach tightening with fear. "I am extremely disappointed."

"Take it easy." He told him calmly. "I'm not avoiding you. I was in the hospital okay? Don't take everything so personal Michael."

"Oh? Were you sick?"

"Obviously."

"And now? Where are you? I know you're not at the club."

"I'm at a hotel. Where else would I be when I'm not on my knees at the Underground?"

Michael let out a hard, sarcastic laugh. "My my Cody! Someone's feeling brave."

Cody scowled, returning to the balcony for the fresh air that would hopefully calm his trembling nerves. "Why not be brave? You're going to kill me soon anyway right? Might as well go out with a fight instead of acting like a little bitch who can't tie their own fucking shoes."

"Is that what you think?" He seemed surprised. "Hmm I can see why you would. You have been quite a let down recently."

"Even though I did everything you ever told me to do I'm still a let down? That's fucked up Michael. You want too much from me."

"You've fucked up just about every job I've put you on whether it was that mess with Detective Orton or working the stage at the t-strip. You are a regular pain in my ass Cody...But, still, you know you're my favorite trick. You make me more money than anyone else I put on stage and I can't deny that you don't bring back the customers. SO. As much as you are a pain you needn't worry about being disposed of just yet. I'm not even finished with you."

Cody was shaking his head, pacing back and forth and barely noticed that Randy had come to stand in the doorway. "You could have fooled me."

"Listen if you are that ill go ahead and take the week. Enjoy it and get some rest because I need my favorite trick at his best for the auction next week."

"Michael-"

"Just relax Cody it's not what you think. Its high bidders who are much more civil and refined than Andrew ever was so you needn't worry about much. Just get some rest and come to the Underground on Friday. Be there by seven. Don't be late." He hung up.

Cody turned to Randy, "I don't trust him. He's up to something." He didn't even have to explain, he knew Randy would follow.

"Are you sure?"

He nodded rapidly, shoving his phone into his robe. "He was too nice, something's up."

Randy looked down at his watch on his wrist, cursing softly,"Shit. We have to meet Hunter in half an hour, maybe we should head out now?" He stepped away and Cody followed him into the room, eyes wide as Randy dug into a duffle bag he'd set on the bed and pulled out a small silver handgun. "Here. I want you to have this."

"No way!" He jerked back with a scowl. "I don't even know how to use that thing!" Not only that but he was terrified of guns. Too many Johns had stuck them in his face nor worse, his body and just the thought of touching one made his knees feel weak. But...If it would save their lives...

"Please just take it?" Randy came towards him with it, butt first, "It would make me feel better knowing that you have some kind of protection with you...Just in case." He paused and motioned to his other hand that held a small black set of straps and a small holster. "It's not too heavy and I could put it on your ankle?"

Cody debated for a long minute on whether or not he should take it before he finally nodded and plopped down on the edge of the bed. Fuck he hated guns. Especially since he didn't know how to use one! "Alright." He agreed softly, staring up at Randy who's eyes were so hopeful there was no way he could ever say no. "How do I put it on?"