Chapter Thirty One

A/N: Sorry this is a bit rushed!

"Wow...So..." Hunter said after a long moment of silence, his brow arched slightly as he toyed with an empty sugar packet on the small round top black marble table within a small diner. Thankfully it was quiet there with only the faint sound of dishes clattering as they were being cleaned somewhere within a dish-pit and they were comfortably alone in their corner. It was a small, rundown old dinner in the middle of the bad part of downtown Las Vegas and as to why Hunter picked it Randy didn't know but he was glad he had because it was completely deserted.

They were towards the back, safely tucked away to speak freely. "You're a faggot?" And they HAD spoken freely. Well, Randy had anyway as he told Hunter the quickest version of the situation he could come up with. And even then it took a few minutes and he was just lucky that Hunter even stayed quiet that long. He looked fucking pissed. Like he'd blow any second! But, he just, sat there and said nothing for a long time until finally he opened his mouth and asked the dumbest fucking question he could have. What a huge disappointment!

Shit maybe this wasn't such a good idea?

Randy let out a heavy sigh, falling back into his dark green dinner chair and had to fight not to reach across the table and knock the shit out of his partner. "Jesus Hunter." He shook his head as he glared at him in disbelief, "After everything I just said to you you're hung up on THAT?" Honestly they had bigger fish to fry! It took him years to think it but, what the fuck did it matter if he was gay?-! It was none of Hunter's fucking business! They'd come there to get this shit sorted out not make them worse! Fucking hell they'd only been there a grand total of twenty minutes and half of that was spent in silence because all Hunter wanted to do was sit there and fucking pout. With a sour scowl of course. But, honestly, he looked tired more than anything else. His eyes were dark around the edges; stress lines creasing the skin around them. His forehead was crunched in a tired but angry expression that seemed to be stuck there since he hadn't wiped it away not even for a second since they strolled in. And it looked like he hadn't been home long enough for a decent shower or shave in days. His clothes were dull with use; his dark green shirt was lame against his chest and wrinkled from wear. His hair was sticking out of his usually neat pony tail and he had more than a six o'clock shadow darkening his cheeks and chin and throat. Hunter was definitely tired if he walked around looking like this. Like a mess!

"Hey shut up." Hunter snapped bitterly with a deeper scowl. "I have a right to be hung up on whatever I want." He gave a firm nod as he dropped the sugar packet and returned a glare of his own. "And fuck dude maybe this is just the easiest bit of news that I can deal with right now?" He sat back into his chair with a deeper scowl. "I need a minute for the rest of it to sink it. Give me a fucking break." He crossed his arms briefly, sitting back with his back pressed tightly to the chair and seemed to hold his breath as he flicked his eyes about them both. Mostly Randy who didn't so much as flinch or blink. Hunter just didn't shake him like that anymore.

"But..." Hunter began and trailed off as he leant forward slightly and his face finally did grow calmer. But only slightly. "Man you being a fag-uh...gay guy?... That explains a lot."

Randy's eyes narrowed slowly, "Like what?" Really what the fuck did that explain? Nothing that was Hunter's fucking business that's what!

"Like the fact that I NEVER see you with women. NEVER. You're always alone and moody about it but shit dude I've seen women practically throw themselves at you and you never once took any of them up on the offer."

"So? Maybe I didn't like pushy women?" He had slept with plenty of women and it was true, he didn't like it when they were pushy like that. Not every man prefers the easy lay over the one you have to work for. And Randy was just that type of guy anyway. Gay or straight.

"No you just don't like women period." His brows arched. "There were plenty of others that you turned down that were normal, nice girls who would have been proud for you to make them bare footed and pregnant. YOU just didn't want them."

"So?" Randy sighed again but this time rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest, fighting to prolong his patients. Fuck this wasn't going to get them anywhere. Hunter just needed to fucking drop it. "Why are we talking about this as if I'm th'e one who's just found out about my sexuality? Seriously Hunter get over it. We have other important stuff to talk about and not much time to talk about it."

Hunter's look changed and put Randy on edge as his partners eyes narrowed."Like what? The fact that John's a pillow biter too? Or the fact that all of you kept all of this shit from me when we could have brought Mizanin in weeks ago!" He slammed palm down onto the table; jolting it's contents into the air. Cody jumped but Randy didn't as everything landed with a loud, sharp clatter. Hunter came closer, his rage narrowing his eyes to fine black dots. "Do you know that I have been working double shifts every fucking day because of the four of you?-! Do you know that I was left picking up the fucking bodies and trying to put it all together all by my fucking self while you guys were out doing this shit?-! I can't believe none of you fucking told me!"

"Fucking hell dude we couldn't tell you because it was never safe! Michael has our homes and office fucking bugged Hunter. Like our entire fucking floor at the precinct is covered with microphones and with all the dirty bastards under his thumb there was no way to tell you or anyone what was going on without Mizanin finding out! He knows EVERYTHING Hunter! He's fucking EVERYWHERE! We didn't have many options! Everything had to be done carefully and since I was all by myself at first I was pretty fucked! Dude I couldn't do shit. Then finally Jason busted me and now I have help and the back up I needed to take this risk. Be pissed off all you want but I did what I had to do Hunter." He gave a hard shrug and shook his head. If Hunter wanted to be pissed off then fine, he could be pissed off. But Randy wasn't going to sit there and listen to him bitch and moan when he had other more IMPORTANT things to do. Either Hunter got on board or he didn't. And he either understood and accepted; or he didn't. "None of this was something that I wanted but I had no choice. I did what I HAD to do and don't judge me when you have no fucking clue what it's like to have everyone you love caught in the cross fire. No. Fucking. Clue."

Hunter just sat there quietly for a long minute, glaring, seething, turning red and pursing his lips; whatever wanted to come out he obviously didn't want to say but he just might lose the fight from the looks of it. And with that Randy was seriously about to give up on this idea. At least then they could get the fuck out of there and back to the safety of the hotel where not only could he have some peace of mind but he could also be in bed with Cody. That would be MUCH better than this. Much MUCH better.

"Dude-"

"Fine. You were totally fucked, I get that." Hunter cut him off and spoke threw his teeth. Positively seething threw them. "But, what the fuck did you bring him here for?-!" He gestured to Cody without even looking at him and Randy felt Cody stiffen beside him instantly. And Hunter wasn't even finished. "Tell the bitch to take a hike!"

"HEY!" Oh hell fucking no Hunter was NOT going to sit there and call Cody a bitch! "His name is Cody!" He shot out in a deep growl, his heart already pounding wildly from the nasty dig. Hunter had better tread carefully. "Watch your fucking mouth because he's not going anywhere. He's here because he's my lover Hunter-"

"You're lover?-! You've got to be kidding me!" His color grew darker, his voice was louder and his face was crunched in a hateful glare, "Shit all I see is a dirty prostitute who works for the enemy! Jesus Randy you know he's Mizanin's bitch don't you?-! We have a whole file on his sorry ass back at the precinct and it's filled with pages and pages about his involvement with that sadistic bastard!"

"Shut the fuck up!" Cody finally just snapped and voiced his outrage; leaning over the table towards Hunter with a brave frown, "He already told you who I am so just fucking deal with it! I'm here and I'm not fucking leaving!" He moved closer. "Stop taking your shit out on me because you didn't realize your best friend was gay when it was so fucking obvious and staring you in your big ugly face!" He was going to knock that son of a bitch on his ass! Oh god he was going to fucking hurt that stupid ignorant fucking BIGOT! "Grow up you stupid prick!"

Randy quickly ducked his head to hide a smirk. Holy shit, go Cody. Hunter looked so surprised. His eyes had never been that wide! "You-"

"What?" Cody cocked his head to the side, squinted his eyes and pressed his tongue to the back of his teeth for a second. Hunter had no idea just how fucking HARD he was about to hit him! "Me? This is about YOU isn't it? Bringing you into the loop so you can help your best friend and the LVPD out of a tight spot? That's what this is about right?" His hand curled into a fist against the table but Randy's quickly covered it and pulled it down, held it tight. Fuck that was close.

With a deep breath he came back into his seat, relaxing as Randy's warm hand curled around his even tighter and turned into it, squeezing back. It was very calming. "Let me put your mind at ease you ignorant bigot." He focused on Hunter who still looked so stupid shocked. "Don't worry about me. I'm not what you think I am and Randy wouldn't be with me if I was. You know him well enough to know that so just cut the shit and leave me out of it."

Randy nodded, quickly backing Cody's words and added more of his own. "He's right." But fuck they were wasting time going back and forth like this. Even if Hunter was getting put in his place they were wasting time every minute they weren't talking about Mizanin and their next move. Time was seriously of the essence! He had to push this. He had to say something to get things going in the right direction! "Look Hunter if you don't want to help then don't. But we're wasting time and the shit with Mizanin is going down with or without you." He paused and gave his partner a hard, calculating stare. If Hunter was going to be sore about everything he'd kept from him then so be it. But if he wanted to be a good cop, a decent friend and a city hero? He needed to man up and put his emotions aside to be dealt with later. Right now they needed to come together as the strong team they were and get down to business. No more fucking around.

But, could he do it? Could Hunter suck it up and put aside his personal issues to get the job done? Randy used to think so but now...Well now just he wasn't so sure...

"Honestly dude," He let out an exasperated sigh, sitting up to leave if it came down to it. "You know I'd rather you join us but if you really can't accept all of this-"

"NO. I WANT to help."

"Then stop fucking with us and lets get down to business already! We've wasted twenty minutes on this shit!"

Hunter nodded rapidly but the anger was still there; burning bright within his eyes but it dulled some as if he'd pushed it down within himself. Something was all too familiar with. That's why they got along so well. And that was why they didn't get along so well. They both dealt with their anger in the same way and often clashed or bonded over it. As Randy watched Hunter go threw the familiar process he wondered if it burned the same? Did it tie his stomach into knots and cloud his brain into a guilty mess?

Randy watched Hunter push the rage down into the pit of his stomach, hold it there, and let it simmer into deep seeded resentment that would resurface later. Later when he was ready to deal with it. Later when it was a better time...

Randy knew this all too well.

"Yeah okay." Hunter hoarsely agreed after a long moment. Maybe it had burned? "Tell me about the set up again. Slower this time."

Randy squeezed Cody's hand beneath the table as he explained to Hunter the rules Mizanin had put in place, giving details he'd left out in his haste before that brought Hunter up to speed enough to become outraged all over again. Hell outraged didn't even begin to cover it. Hunter was fucking livid. "We have to stop that son of a bitch." He shook his head violently, eyes ablaze, face flushed red with rage, his jaw trembling. "He's gone too far! We gotta stop him! We gotta fucking kill his ass fucking dead before he kills us!"

"I know dude this guy is a fucking psycho. Like seriously we have to be quick Hunter. Cody talked to him right before we left and got the feeling that he was up to something. Not sure what exactly but something's about to go down."

"How bad?" Hunter surprisingly directed his question to Cody who's face fell into shock for a few seconds before he recovered with a quick nod. "Oh uh, BAD. Really bad." He gave another nod for emphasis. "Trust me I know him well enough to know when he's up to something. He is."

"What do you think he will do?"

"I can't say but it won't be good. Then again it could only be directed towards just me..."

Hunter shook his head with a disapproving frown, "That doesn't make it any less important."

"Oh." Cody's head jerked back slightly. He was even more surprised by that then the fact that Hunter was even speaking to him. "I was just adding that because Michael likes to fuck with me pretty bad and it's been a good few days since he's been able to so I'm about due on that...You guys know how twisted that creep is..."

Hunter nodded, his gaze softening slightly. "Yeah...But not like the two of you do." His eyes closed and he let out a heavy sigh before his face disappeared into his hands for a seconds and came back out tired. So very, very tired. "Jesus this is a mess. I hate to say it but...But-But I don't think you and I are going to get anywhere with just the three of us. We should get John and the lab rats in on this too."

"I was just going to say that." Randy was so relieved. They more help the better! "How about tonight we all meet up at the precinct and my friend Tristan will show us where the safest place to talk is? I think that would be our best option if we don't want to draw any unwanted attention."

"Sounds good. I'll be there already-got the night shift again tonight." As he finished he pushed his chair back and started to get up, "Just come by around nine or so and we'll just...You know. Go from there." Randy stood with him, reaching across the table and held out his hand for Hunter to shake, "We'll be there."

Hunter didn't hesitate as he returned the respect and shook his hand before stepping back to leave. And he shook Cody's hand as well.

"I have to get back to work before anything looks suspicious. Take it easy guys." He looked back and forth as he spoke, his hand fishing a set of keys from his jacket, "Stay safe."

"Same to you dude. Watch your back." He watched him go, swallowing hard as a huge load of weight seemed to slip from his shoulders and almost made him stagger back to his seat. He caught his balance on the table. "I can't believe that went so well."

"Yeah no one got hit." Cody added with a smile, getting up and pushing his chair in, "And it looks like you two might be able to fix things after all."

"Fuck I hope so." He nodded, breaking away from the table as he put his arm around Cody's waist and gave his cheek a kiss. Fuck he was so happy to be able to do that anytime he wanted. Cody had no idea how good it made him feel. "And hey thanks for stepping up for me like. You being here made all the difference." It really had. Randy wasn't sure he could have done this with Hunter without him. He just made everything...worth it. Cody was worth the fight, the struggle, the anguish. Anything that came his way Cody was fucking worth it. But you've probably guessed that much by now...

They were careful as they returned to the car, watching their backs and being quick to get inside the safety of Randy's Bentley that Tristan had been so kind enough to bring along with him. It wasn't the safest car to take but on such short notice they had no other choice and Randy didn't want to be without a car. Not now when they might need to get away. Not now when their lives might depend on it.

"I can't wait until all of this is over and done with. I just want us to have our lives back." Cody statement snapped Randy's attention back to reality and he gave his gorgeous lover a quick glance in the passenger seat. Shit he should be paying better attention that he was. Now was not the time to be zoning out Randy! "Me too babe. Me too..." He reached over and put his hand on Cody's knee, squeezing gently before rubbing and stroking him there tenderly. "But let's just try and try and focus on the now okay? The later will drive us crazy if we fuss over it while we can't really do anything about it."

"Yeah you're probably right." Cody said and let out a sigh, leaning back and dropping his head on the head rest, closing his eyes. "I should focus on something else."

"There you go." Randy smiled and squeezed tighter, giving him another glance and caught that his eyes were closed. "You okay over there?"

"Yeah I'm fine." Another shrug and a sigh. "Just hungry."

"Hungry?" He almost laughed, "Babe we were just there! Why didn't you get something to eat at the dinner?"

"Are you serious?" Cody's eyes reopened, "Did you like, smell that place? It was so pungent that I could taste it!" He let out a disgusted scoff. "So gross. I couldn't eat there with that stench."

Randy started to laugh, checking the rear-view mirror for any unwanted followers. The coast was clear. He gave Cody his full attention again. "Aw shit babe I'm sorry I didn't even ask before we left. I forgot that we hadn't eaten in...hours." And not only that but yeah he had smelled the foulness of the dinner and the only way to describe it was to say it smelled like pure time. The building was so old, so stained with age, so dull and bland that it all combined and created the musty scent of time mixed with the scent of decay, grease, copper, and generic cleanser. How the locals ate there and kept that place open Randy wasn't sure of but one thing he did know was that he couldn't blame Cody for not wanting to eat there. Room service would have to do.

"We'll get something to eat when we get back." He started to pull his hand away but Cody caught it and entwined their fingers together gently. "You don't need this back do you?" He asked as he brought it up to his lips, giving it a lingering kiss before placing it back down in his lap and held it there. "I kinda like it here if you don't need it back."

"Nope." Randy replied and smirked, relaxing his hand against Cody's and struggled to keep his eyes on the road as Cody stared at him sideways threw half shut lids. "It's all yours babe."

Cody started to turn, pulling his hand into his crotch against his black jean clad bulge, "Before we eat would you mind if we picked up where we left off earlier? I'm hurting over here baby."

He swallowed hard as a shudder tore down his spine. Oh fuck that's what they needed to do. Food and everything else could fucking WAIT. He nodded quickly, trembling in anticipation. "Yes but if you keep that up-" He stopped, his breath catching in his throat as on their own accord his finger cupped themselves around Cody's sex and groped his firm shaft. "Fuck we may not make it back." His tone was breathy and he couldn't stop his tongue from flicking out and wetting his lips. Fuck just one touch and Randy was fucking ready. That's what Cody did to him with just one fucking touch.

"Damn baby that's hot." Cody moaned hard, rubbing against his hand, giving him a good feel of how hard he was. Fuck he was throbbing. Randy could feel it. "I can't believe that you'd fuck me in your Bentley baby. Oh my god you have no idea how fucking HOT that is to me."

"Cody-" Fuck he was getting dizzy, Cody was so hard, so thick in his hand! "We're going to get scraped to death by our zippers if you don't stop-" He snapped his mouth shut, his focus now completely on a car he spotted in the rear view mirror that was coming up on them. Rather quickly. It was black, sleek and from the distance looked expensive. Michael's goons? Shit shit shit.

"Baby?" Cody called gently as if he were afraid to startle him. "Hey baby where's the fire?"

"Huh?" He glanced away but only for a second. The car was so close now but it slowed down and kept a safe distance. Not so strange on any other day probably but today to Randy it seemed suspicious.

Cody turned and looked over his shoulder and out the back window, his eyes growing wide. "Are they following us?"

"I don't know." He just wasn't that sure. They'd done nothing wrong but drive up behind them on a busy road. And yet something just seemed...Off. He couldn't put his finger on it but something wasn't right. Fuck or maybe he was being paranoid? All this fresh air was fucking with his head and now everyone was a suspect? Shit calm down Randy. Really what was so suspicious about it? The car behind them was one of many others so what was he stuck on? "I'm sure it's nothing." He had no prof other wise and he didn't want to worry Cody anymore than he already was so he tore his eyes from the mirror and gave him a reassuring nod. "Besides we're almost to the hotel and we'll be safe in the hotel." Or so he hoped. Fuck he really hoped.

Cody nodded but took a few more seconds to hesitantly turn back around in his seat and let out a long sigh. "Fuck I hate this shit." He let go of his hand, crossed his arms and set his eyes to glare out the side window. "I can't tell if they were following us but that car looks so familiar."

"Hang on-look-They're turning." They were slowing down for a red light and the black cars turn signal blinked rapidly before and as it switched lanes. It passed them and stopped a few cars ahead. "See babe? It was nothing." Thank fuck.

"Yeah." Cody said but didn't sound convinced. "Can you speed up or something? How far away are we?"

"About ten minutes." Randy answered in a careful, gentle tone. But he did press the gas a little harder when the light turned green. "I'll be as quick as I can." The streets weren't too cluttered with traffic but there was enough that he couldn't soar about the roads like he owned them. Especially since it was about to rain. And pretty badly to boot. The clouds looked angry; black, round, billowing on for miles and miles. A mighty storm that looked nasty and long lasting. From the trees and shrugs along the roadside he could see the wind was strong as it whipped them about mercilessly and tore off and sent their leaves and smaller branches flying about through the air. Fuck they needed to get back to the hotel!

"Hope we get back before the storm hits." He commented as he gazed up at the clouds briefly. "That looks pretty nasty."

"Shit I was just thinking that." Cody broke his gaze from the window with a worried, frantic nod. "The last thing we need is rain slowing us down."

"I think we'll make it. It's just a few more blocks until we reach the stip. Just over the bridge in fact." They were so close. All they had to do was cross the bridge over the river and they were home safe. Well sort of. They still had to drive a couple of blocks to the hotel but it was way too crowded for any of Michael's tricks there. That was the whole point of staying there!

"Thank God." Cody sighed again as Randy guided the car into the turning lane to turn towards the bridge, "I never thought I'd be so happy to see the lights of the casinos." He relaxed further as he turned towards him in his seat, pulling on his seat beat so that it gave him slack enough to move. "Sorry. I'm anxious."

They turned onto the bridge. "It's alright Cody I'm just as anxious as you are. I thought it was them for a second there too." Fuck yes they were on the bridge! "Don't worry babe we're almost there." Close. So close! "We'll be alright."

He checked the mirror. Coast was still clear and there was no one beside them either. "See? No one around-"

"RANDY LOOK OUT!-!-!" Cody screamed as his arm shot forward, his hands out as it they could stop the oncoming car that was barreling towards them. They wouldn't. It was another black car like the one from before only this time it had a fine gold trim and darker windows. And it was speeding towards them in their lane instead of the opposite. Randy swerved but the bridge was too narrow, only two lanes and no matter where he went the car was going to hit them. No matter what they were going to crash.

He started to it the brakes but just as he did something hard and heavy jolted the entire car from behind and shot them forward.

SHIT SHIT SHIT!-!-! It was another fucking car!-!-! The same one from before he couldn't tell but it sure as fuck looked like it!

He swerved as the car pushed them forward and tried to brake free with careful jerks and swerves. But it was no use! Oh god fuck NO!-!-! They were fucking TRAPPED!

"RANDY!" Cody screamed as he hit the gas to drop the car behind them from their bumper and looked up just as the car ahead closed the distance. Fuck they were going so fast. So fucking FAST!

"NO!-!-! RANDY DO SOMETHING!"

He panicked a Cody let out another scream. It was an instant reaction. He jerked the wheel hard. Too hard. The car shot violently to the side, bouncing against the barricade and soared into the other lane towards another.

Randy tried desperately to regain control but they hit the concrete barrier too hard and as pain splashed over his body they smashed threw the barricade as if it were nothing; sailing into the rapidly flowing, deathly cold water of the Colorado river.

They landed with a bone vibrating, cold splash.