John and Randy rushed through the doors of the ER department at the hospital, ignoring all the looks they received from passing staff that recognized them.

"We're here to see Emma Blanchard, she was brought in earlier tonight," Randy said as they reached the receptionist.

"And you are?" she asked not willing to give them any information.

"Seriously?" John said his voice louder than it usually was. "You have to ask us who we are."

Randy put his hand on John's shoulder to calm the older man. At any other given moment, he would find it hilariously funny, the most well-known WWE superstar, John Cena himself, was losing his rag.

"Mam, we're friends and colleagues of Emma. I believe there are already a couple of our colleagues with her, Cody Runnels and Ted DiBiase," Randy said, his hand now resting on John's upper back.

The receptionist turned her attention back to Randy after staring at John. He could see the shock register in her eyes that John could possibly speak to someone in such a manner; right now though, he was more concerned with Emma.

"I believe she was taken in for surgery about twenty minutes ago, Mr Rhod… I mean Runnels went with her while Mr. DiBiase was seen to," she explained.

Now he knew she was a fan. He made a mental note to come back at some stage and smooth the waters for John. It would be just their luck if he didn't then she would start talking about it on the internet and John would get a reputation for being an ass.

"Wait… Ted was hurt?" Randy asked when the receptionist's words registered.

"Not that bad, don't worry," came a voice from behind.

Randy spun round to see Ted stood waiting for them to finish. He looked as though he'd been kicked a couple of times in the head and the light cast on his wrist suggested he may have fractured his wrist.

"It looks worse than it is," he said as he saw the worry etched across their faces. "Em's worse than me. Come on, I'll explain on the way up."

They all started moving to the elevators that would lead them to the ward Emma would be on after her surgery. Before they got too far away, Randy turned back and thanked the receptionist for her help. She smiled at the kindness Randy showed and nodded in reply.

As they rode up in the elevator, Ted explained that Josh had somehow got passed security and onto the floor of the hotel they were staying. Ted had been walking Cody to the elevator to say goodbye, the younger of the two men heading over to Smackdown, when it had happened.

The two men heard a scream and ran back to the hotel room. As they got there, Ted got in a scuffle with Josh and when he fell to the floor the man had starting kicking him. Before he could do anything else, security was coming along and Josh managed to get away. When they got in the hotel room, Cody was pressing towels to Emma's stomach trying to stop the bleeding while calling for an ambulance.

They reached the waiting area of the ward and found Cody sat looking shell-shocked. His clothes showing how much blood Emma had lost before an ambulance arrived.

Randy watched as Ted comforted his boyfriend and pulled him into a tight embrace. They may be hardened wrestlers but they weren't used to this. This wasn't the norm for the tour. The last time anything remotely close to this happened was when Emma had been beaten last time she'd seen Josh.

Randy felt a large pair of arms wrap around his waist and pull him against the strong chest of his lover. It was perfect timing. He needed to feel safe, and John's arms did just that.

Just as he was relaxing into the hold, he heard the elevator doors open again and Vince exited with the security people that were supposed to be protecting Emma. Randy automatically pulled out of John's arms, their relationship still not public to anyone but Emma, Ted and Cody.

A pang of jealousy ran through his veins as Ted and Cody continued to embrace, having 'come out' not long after Ted's public argument with his father.

"Gentleman, how is she?" Vince asked.

"How is she?" Randy snapped. "She was stabbed. How do you think she's doing?"

"Randy," Vince tried to stop him.

"And what about your crack pot security team? They were useless. They weren't anywhere near the hotel room. First chance he got, he was in there."

"Randy, I understand you're upset, you and Emma are close but,"

"Upset," Randy laughed maniacally. "I'm beyond upset. One of my closest friends was just attacked."

Randy turned his back on Vince and walked away from the situation, feeling his blood boil from the anger inside him. Randy prided himself on not being an angry man but when his friends and loved ones were in trouble he was 'The Viper' he portrayed on TV.

He kept walking until he found a quiet spot to rein himself in. He could hear quiet footsteps behind him but didn't look back; he knew it would be John checking he didn't do anything rash.

He found an empty visitors room and went in leaving the door open for John to follow.

"You know, it's isn't a good idea to blow up at the boss," John said trying to sound light but Randy could tell he was also telling him off for doing just that.

"It was a stupid question to ask," Randy replied without turning around.

He closed his eyes as John's big arms encircled him once more, trying to protect him from the outside world.

"What can I do to help?" John whispered into his ear.

"Turn the clock back," Randy said.

"To the beginning of the night?" John asked.

Randy shook his head. He wanted to go back further, back to when things were simpler.

"When do you want to go back until?"

"How about when we were in OVW?" Randy suggested.

Life was much simpler then. John and he were just friends, he didn't know Sam, he could just get up, go to work, train, and then do whatever he wanted with his spare time. There were things he'd miss, Alanna obviously, he'd miss Emma, Ted and Cody… but he'd have John.

"You mean, before we were together," John said.

Randy felt John stiffen behind him as he spoke the words. Randy turned his arms, wrapping his own around John's neck bringing him in close.

"I mean before we got contracts," he said trying to explain. "You told me you were about to admit to me how you felt before I was called up. What if neither of us was called up. We'd still be wrestling for OVW and we could be together, no drama. No families to break up with; no worries about who knew we were together; no friends getting attacked-"

"You couldn't live without Alanna," John said bushing away the few tears that were starting to fall from Randy's eyes. "You love her."

"I love you," Randy said simply.

"I love you too," John said. Randy's heart leapt at the lack of hesitation in John's voice. He was starting to believe John when he said the words but he still wasn't sure. Randy rested his forehead against John's reveling in his touch.

"You never answered my question from earlier," John said running his fingertips up and down Randy's neck causing him to shiver.

"What question?"

"Is it okay to kiss you?" John whispered, his lips mere centimeters from Randy's.

"Guys, I'm sorry to interrupt," Ted said, doing just that from the doorway.

"What is it Ted?" John said squeezing his eyes shut in annoyance.

Randy laughed inwardly as they were interrupted at the same point as last time and by the same person.

"Em's back from surgery," Ted explained.

"Thanks Ted," Randy said not taking his eyes from John.

Randy made sure that his tears were wiped away. No one would be concerned over the tears, they were all feeling it, they're best friend was critically ill after all. Randy Was more concerned that Vince would think he regretted his words, and he didn't, Vince should have made sure the security team were up to the task.

Randy felt John's fingers lace with his and then lead him from the room. They made their way back to the main waiting area in silence, neither wishing to speak more until they were alone again.

As they reached the area, the doctor came out from Emma's room, looking solemn.

"Doc, is she okay?" Randy asked, frantic to hear either way.

"You are?"

"We're family," the four men said in unison.

Randy felt Vince's eyes on them. Randy was sure he was unaware of just how close the five of them had come. The four men in the room would do anything for Emma. It was time Vince knew. In Randy's mind, Vince should already know. The tour had always been protective of Emma, from the moment she came over from the UK, before he himself had even thought of wrestling.

"We've managed to stop the bleeding but it was a deep wound. The shock from the events and the loss of blood may have a delayed reaction," the doctor explained to the men. "We'll be keeping a close watch on her tonight but I expect her to pull through absolutely fine."

A collective sigh of relief sounded from everyone in the room and they all turned to each other and hugged.

"I'm afraid you won't all be able to be in her room at once. Only two visitors are allowed at one time," the doctor hinted that some of them needed to disappear.

"Well, since she's fine, I'll leave you all to it. When she wakes up let her know I'll be in contact," Vince said before taking his leave.

The security team stayed but Randy turned to face them and folded his arms across his chest. Before he could say anything, John stepped forward and smoothed the waters suggesting that they leave as well. They would stay and watch over Emma and they could come back in the morning when they would need to leave.

Reluctantly, the men turned around and followed Vince from the hospital and as they disappeared, Randy went up and wrapped his arms around John whispering a thank you in his ear.

"Guys," John said turning to Ted and Cody. "Listen, you should head back as well."

"You can't get rid of us John, we care about her as much as you two," Ted said jumping in at John's words.

Randy walked up to Ted and put his hands on his shoulders trying to stop him being agitated. All their emotions were running wild at the moment and each of them, except for Cody were starting to snap at one another.

"John wasn't trying to insinuate anything, simply that you need to take care of one another as well," Randy said indicating Cody who was back sitting shell-shocked. "You need to get Cody back to the hotel so he can get out of those clothes; he no doubt wants to take a shower."

"Cody," John said walking up to youngest man. "Will you be able to take care of Teddy tonight?"

Cody simply nodded without making eye contact with John.

"I want to see her before we go," he said, barely audible to those in the room.

John and Randy waited outside Emma's room as Ted and Cody went in to check on her. The doctor had advised she would be out for some time and they would be checking on her regularly during the night. As they waited, they started receiving messages from the rest of the tour. Deciding it would be easier to send one message to everyone; they carefully worded the text to put everyone's mind at ease and sent it to the entire roster asking them to forward the message to anyone who wasn't on the list.

"That asshole," Cody bellowed as he walked from the room startling both John and Randy from their thoughts.

They leapt up and went to speak with their friend as Ted followed out the room looking as pissed off as Cody. Randy was grateful that Cody was snapping out of his shock but he wasn't sure his anger was better. Cody never got angry, just a little bitchy, so when he lost his temper everyone got concerned.

"Vince just sent me a message, reminding me I needed to be back on tour tomorrow," he explained as his friends gathered round. "Seriously, I'm still covered in my friends' blood and he's concerned about me being at an event."

As Cody was speaking, the phones of the other three men went off. They all received the same message from Vince.

SECURITY TEAMS WILL DO THERE JOB. MAKE SURE YOU DO YOURS. MAIN EVENT OF THE HOUSE SHOW TOMORROW NIGHT IN KINGSTON.

"Talk about compassion; it's no wonder nobody likes dealing with him," Ted said as he picked up his jacket from the seats. He handed the jacket to Cody who put it on to cover the sight of the blood on his shirt.

"I'm taking Codes back to the hotel to get some clean clothes and rest up. I suggest you two try and sleep tonight as well."

Randy and John said goodnight before making their way in to see Emma. Randy felt his anger rise again as he saw her for the first time. Her face held a deep purple bruise across her cheekbone, and he wondered how it hadn't been broken from the obviously hard impact. He let go of John's hand and made the short distance across the room to her bed. He took hold of her hand as he leant in and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. It was as he pulled back he noticed her split lip as well. Josh had really done a number on her.

He looked back to John who still stood in the doorway of the room, taking on Cody's shocked expression from earlier in the evening.

"Trust me when I say this is nothing," Randy said walking back to John and wiping the tear away from his face.

"She was stabbed Randy," John said pointing out the obvious.

"I know. I just meant the bruises. Last time he put her in hospital her eye was swollen over and she was just a mass of black and blue marks," he explained. "When they examined her, they saw older bruises all over her body. You remember what I told you earlier today?"

John only nodded, closing his eyes at the thought of his close friend being raped. Randy pulled him into a tight embrace and held him for a couple of minutes, letting the truth of the situation settle in.

"I still can't believe you didn't let me know," John said as Randy pulled him down into a seat.

"I told you Vince wouldn't let me. And with Em going straight back to work, I was more concerned with looking after her," Randy explained. "Besides, with how close you are, I honestly thought she would have spoken with you herself."

They sat in the chair holding one another, silently comforting the other. Randy couldn't understand why Emma had gone back to her psychotic ex; he was mad at her for the position he put herself in. he only hoped this time the police would arrest him. At least with it happening in Canada then when he was arrested he would be in a different country as well.

As they sat, holding one another his mind went back to their own problems. John was trying his hardest to prove his love, and the automatic comforting he was doing was starting to work but Randy's mind refused to let go of the fact that John hadn't returned his words. It sickened him to think that he had given up so much for the man only to be ignored when he let his feelings come through.

"Johnny?" Randy said in a tentative voice. "I need to know."

"Know what?"

"Was it because I…" he couldn't bring himself to finish the question. "God, now I really do sound like a woman."

Randy looked away from John, too embarrassed to continue looking at him. He felt John's fingers running up and down his neck as in the visitor's room, trying to soothe his once more.

"Because you what?" John asked barely above a whisper.

"Because I... you know… at the hotel… in St. Louis," Randy stammered not really saying what he wanted.

Randy risked a gaze at John, not wanting to see the reaction on his face. Maybe he would get his answer even if John didn't say anything. When he locked eyes with the older man, all he could see was confusion. He was about to try to elaborate when he saw the look of realization dawn on John's face.

"You mean because you fucked me?" John blurted out in surprise at Randy's insecurity.

"Jesus John say it a little louder why don't you… the guy in a coma on the fourth floor didn't quite hear you."

John scooted from where he sat holding Randy just as a nurse entered the room.

"Sorry to interrupt," she said as she entered. "Just checking on your friend."

John and Randy nodded and let her go about her business. In a couple of minutes, she smiled declaring a slight improvement in Emma's already and then left the pair to the vigilance.

When John was sure the nurse wasn't coming back he turned to Randy.

"Why would you think that had anything to do with it?" John accused him.

"It happened right afterward, most people would take the hint, not to mention we didn't have sex again before you left to go back to work."

"Babe, I…" John was about to explain when his phone started vibrating.

"Ignore it," Randy pleaded needing to know what John was going to say.

"I can't, it's Liz," he said as Randy simply nodded. "I'm sorry, it might be important."

John left the room before taking the call. Randy was grateful when John would do that. He wasn't going to stop John from speaking with his wife, but there were times, on the odd occasion, when he wished he wouldn't take the call. Especially when they were discussing something important.

While John disappeared on his phone, Randy scooted the chair closer to Emma, once again taking her hand. He still wondered why she would put herself back in this situation and wished she would wake up to explain it to him. Ted had mentioned briefly that she realized she needed a life outside of work, but surely, she wouldn't go back to him. Not after what happened.

Randy looked up at the clock to see that nearly an hour had passed since John took his call from Liz. He was starting to worry about John, and hope everything was okay, but he couldn't leave Emma alone. He didn't know what was happening with the police and if they had caught up to Josh but he wasn't going to take the risk.

Instead, he pulled out his phone and rang John. The phone started to ring before going through to John's voicemail. Knowing he was off the phone from Liz made Randy worry more. Was he upset at him for asking the question or did something happen between John and Liz?

Another half hour passed, and then an hour and Randy was continuously ringing John's phone trying to get hold of him. When the nurse came in to check on Emma again he asked if she'd seen him but to no avail. John had disappeared.

He pulled his phone out one more time and rang John, when it went through to voicemail again he started to panic.

"Johnny, please call me, I'm starting to get worried. Where are you?"

A couple of minutes later he felt his phone vibrate and he checked to see a text message come through.

SORRY BABE, ON MY WAY BACK WILL EXPLAIN WHEN I GET THERE. DON'T WORRY I'M OKAY. X

Randy breathed a sigh of relief at finally hearing from John. A couple of minutes later again and a tired looking John came through the door. They wrapped their arms around one another, holding each other close.

"I was worried. I thought something had happened," Randy signed into John's neck.

"I'm sorry; Liz wanted to talk for a while. She felt like we hadn't spoken in a few days. Lectured me on my promise about not flaunting my relationship with you," he said shaking his head.

"We've barely spoken Johnny," Randy said.

"She doesn't know. I don't talk to her about us. She wouldn't be able to handle it," he explained. "Anyway when I was talking I'd wandered at the same time. I realized I was back in the ER so I went to smooth things over with the receptionist. I was rude to her earlier."

"Just a little," Randy teased. "I think I shocked her with my level-headedness. Why does everyone think I'm the same as on TV?"

"You're kidding me right?" John chuckled. "It's because you're hot when you're angry. I reckon a lot of people have BDSM fantasies about you."

Randy just glared at John.

"It's a shame the Orton Glare doesn't work on me," John said placing his hand on Randy's stomach feeling the abs through his shirt. "Otherwise I think I could have a few fantasies myself."

"Johnny," Randy said as a warning not to continue something they couldn't finish.

"Anyway, when I was finished apologizing, the police showed up. Wanted to speak to Em's doctor, so I hung around to find out what was happening," he explained.

"And?" Randy asked.

"They arrested someone but they need someone to positively ID him. I've never actually met him. I put my foot down when they said they would get Emma to when she woke up. Told them she'd been through enough."

"Good," Randy stated. "Did you suggest anyone else?"

"I said to speak to Ted," John said. "I wasn't willing to leave Emma alone tonight. Plus he's the only one to have seen him recently and I didn't want to suggest Cody. The kid's been through enough."

Randy led John over to the recliner in the room and pulled him onto his lap. They went back to holding one another as sleep started to take over their bodies. Both men relaxing now they knew Josh wouldn't be able to come after her.

Randy started to stir when he heard the click of the door. He looked up and saw John coming in with a couple of boxes.

"Hey," John said smiling at him. "Glad to see you're awake."

"How's Emma?" Randy asked as he stretched his body out.

"Improving," John said as he pulled a chair over to where Randy was sat. "Still hasn't woken up yet."

Randy looked up at the clock and noticed it was nearly nine.

"How long have I been asleep?" Randy asked not having noticed the time before drifting off.

"About six hours," John said. "I haven't been awake much longer. I checked on Em and then down to the food court to get us some breakfast."

That being said John handed Randy one of the boxes and they sat eating. It wasn't anything nice, standard cafeteria food waffles, bacon and eggs. As they sat eating, Emma's nurse walked in to check on her. As she was making note of Emma's vital statistics she kept looking over at the pair.

"How's she doing?" Randy asked as the nurse was about to leave.

"She's much better. Hopefully she'll be waking up soon," she said giving the couple another look on her way out the room.

"Why was she giving us a look? She did earlier when I went to get breakfast," John asked.

"I thought I was the one that was supposed to be dumb?" Randy commented. When John looked at him confused still, he continued. "John, she no doubt saw us sharing the recliner when we slept."

Randy watched as John looked over his shoulder at the door the nurse left through and comprehended what happened. Once again the insecurity pitted in his stomach as he realized that John was concerned over the nurse knowing. He put his box down on the floor by his chair and walked over to the window, looking out. It looked to be another good day weather wise, which would make their trip to Kingston better but it would once again be difficult with John.

John was always the one that was sure of their relationship, even when Randy was worried about being open as well as confused over his sexuality. Now, ever since St. Louis, the roles seemed to have reversed and it was confusing and hurtful to Randy not to understand why.

"Is it really so bad that someone knows about us?" Randy asked not looking at John. "Where the hell is all of this hesitation coming from? I don't get it John."

"Randy," John said from behind, sneaking his hands to Randy's sides. Before John could fully wrap his arms around him, Randy tried to pull away. He didn't want to get sucked back in. Before he could get away though, John caught him by the waist pushing him into the wall, claiming his lips in a fierce kiss, which Randy could do nothing but succumb to, feeling the intensity of John's actions.

"Let me finish," John said, breaking away from the kiss. "Firstly, it was nothing to do with you topping."

Randy closed his eyes, trying to keep his composure as John pressed his whole body into him, pinning his arms to the wall so he couldn't attempt to get away. John's lips moved so they were right by his ear.

"That was the best sex I've ever had, and we've had some wild rides, haven't we?" he said continuing to torture Randy.

Randy simply nodded unable to find the breath to speak any words.

"Secondly, I'm sorry that I couldn't say the words right away," he said placing soothing kisses along the collar line of Randy's t-shirt. "I was caught off guard. I don't want you to think that I don't love you. I've loved you for a long time."

"Then why wait three weeks to tell me?" Randy managed to ask as John continued his assault.

"I've thought about that since you asked yesterday. I think because I had to take it in. Babe, I'm in love with two different people. Part of me feels like I should be choosing between the two of you, and I don't want to hurt either of you," John explained as he stopped his attack on Randy's neck as his hands returned to their spot on Randy's hips.

Randy wrapped his arms around John's neck and brought him in even closer.

"You don't have to choose, I would never do that to you," Randy whispered in his ear.

"But with you and Sam over…" John said trailing off.

"Doesn't mean I expect you to end your marriage," Randy said cupping John's face with his hands. "Johnny, even if things hadn't progressed further than that kiss last year, Sam and I would've ended. That kiss woke something up inside of me."

Randy leant in claiming John's lips with his own. He kept it soft, nipping gently at John's bottom lip causing him to moan into the kiss as he soothed the bite with his tongue. When John started fighting for control of the kiss he willingly gave in to John's dominant nature. John took hold of his wrists and pinned him against the wall again, grinding his hips into Randy, never breaking the kiss even as they both struggled for air.

Randy moaned into John's mouth as he pressed harder into him, letting him feel his raging member, pressing to get out of its confines. Finally breaking the fervent kiss, both men gasping for breath, John went straight to Randy's neck, latching on to his skin. Randy, feeling his legs getting weaker, used his upper body strength to lift his legs and wrap them tight around John's waist, digging his heels into John's ass to push him flush to his body. As he rolled his hips, he heard a low growl emanate from John's throat, causing a loud moan to escape his own.

"Are you seriously having sex while I'm in a hospital bed?" a weak voice asked, snapping them from their frenzied foreplay.

11