Part 17

Randy paused as he came down the stairs. He could hear a commotion in the back yard but what caught his attention was the lone figure lying on the couch in the lounge. Chris had let his head fall back and his hair had fallen over his face. It was obvious just from the careful way he was breathing that he was in pain and Randy didn't like that. While he and Chris might not be as close as others, he was still pack and seeing a pack-mate in pain upset Randy. Shifting Alanna onto a more comfortable position on his hip, he padded down the stairs and into the lounge. With a slight smirk he called, "Lex worn you out again?"

Chris didn't even open his eyes, he simply flipped Randy a two fingered salute, replying with a chuckle, "Fuck off, Orton."

"Hey!" growled Randy, glaring at his injured pack mate.

The snarl in his voice was enough to make Chris pay attention and as he snapped his eyes open he swore again, holding up a hand when Randy growled at him, offering quickly, "Sorry I didn't realise you had Alanna with you." He gave an apologetic smile before gazing fondly at Alanna and asking her warmly, "Hey princess, have you been a good girl for your daddy?"

"I'm always good," corrected Alanna, smiling sweetly as she snuggled into her father's embrace. Then before either adult could reply she added proudly, "I can go furry. You wanna see?"

"You can go furry?" asked Chris looking at Randy for confirmation. He gave an impressed huff when Randy nodded and lowered his now wriggling daughter to the floor.

Without even hesitating Alanna screwed her eyes shut and within seconds a little black pup was yapping around Randy's legs, play pouncing his bare feet.

"When the hell did that happen?" asked Chris swearing under his breath, "And how?"

"The when, two nights ago," rumbled Randy moving to join Chris on the sofa, "The how –I've no idea," he shrugged in response when Chris frowned at him. "Honestly, I don't know. Evan and I had an argument and..."

"You and Evan argued?" interrupted Chris, his voice hardening slightly. He was immensely fond of Evan and it was no secret he'd counselled the little wolf to be very careful in his dealings with Randy. He had even gone so far as to suggest that the little wolf ignore the mating call and try and find happiness with someone else, which resulted in him setting Evan up a few dates during their time working away from the pack. It was something Randy had never quite forgiven Chris for, despite the fact that he himself had ignored the mating call and married Sam.

"What sort of argument?" probed Chris, shifting slightly on the couch, hissing as pain flared through his injured leg.

"A stupid one," snarled Randy not wholly comfortable talking about the inner workings of his relationship with Evan to Chris but somehow talking to someone he wasn't that close to within the pack seemed to help. "He told me something I didn't want to hear and I…I lashed out at him."

"Lashed out?" snarled Chris, his wolf growling in alarm at the idea of Randy hurting Evan. "What made you lash out?"

"He told me Hunter had called a full pack run and I..."

"Wait - a full pack?" asked Chris reaching over to lay a hand on Randy's arm, "Full pack as in..."

"As in I have to face that bastard - yes," growled Randy not really paying attention to Chris, his eyes were glued to Alanna, who had turned her attention to the thick rug in front of the open fire and was practising her pouncing skills on the fringing.

"Shit," hissed Chris, shaking his head in disbelief.

He fell silent for a moment, letting his mind wander. He knew if he had to face the person who had robbed him of a loved one and nearly ripped his world apart he'd have been a wreck. So he could only imagine what Randy was going through at the prospect of coming face to face with the man who had done just that to him. Tightening his grip on Randy's forearm he felt his wolf reach out. His own wolf nudging Randy's sulking beast, offering him a little pack comfort. For a moment Randy's wolf didn't respond then slowly it responded, the more powerful wolf allowing Chris's lupine half to offer him the much needed comfort.

After a few moments Chris broke the contact and leant back with a weary sighed. It wasn't often he and Randy bonded but the few times they did it had always left him breathless. As another wave of pain shot through his leg, he hissed in response, his whole body tensing as he tried to hide the extent of his injury.

It didn't work. Not with Randy. The more powerful wolf cocked his head and looking directly at Chris he rumbled, "Quit trying hide. I know you're in pain." He levelled Chris with a knowing glare asking gruffly, "Who did it?"

Chris held his gaze a moment his own wolf snapping at the challenge he could see in Randy's eyes. He knew Randy outranked him but that didn't stop him trying to resist the urge to obey. But in the end, he relented and figuring it was better to tell Randy than Hunter who had hurt him, he finally confessed, "Styles."

He took a deep breath then continued bitterly, "He moved at the last moment. He knew what was coming and the bastard moved. I didn't have a chance to correct and I went knee first into the mat. I can still hear his snigger when I landed," he paused then flicking Randy a knowing glance he added bitterly, "It fucking hurt. Sorry," remembering all too late the little pup playing at their feet.

"I wish Hunter had let me take that bastard out," snarled Randy.

He hated Styles. He had hated him ever since he'd learnt what the apparent golden boy of TNA had tried to do Evan during their time together at RoH. Even after all those years the knowledge that Style had not only laid a hand on his mate but that he had also tried to hurt Evan in the worse way possible made Randy's blood boil and tested his limited control to the maximum. And now to hear that Styles had purposefully injured Chris magnified that anger to a near psychotic rage.

"Yeah well I think Lex wants the honour of wringing that bastard's neck," snapped Chris, trying desperate to lighten the mood and to stop Randy from killing something.

"If I get my hands on him first I don't promise to leave anything for Lex to play with," growled Randy, his eyes almost black with anger but the slight smile curling his lips did ease some of Chris fear.

Chuckling at the sentiment Christ sniggered, "Yeah well I think Lex will beat you to it if the chance came to teach that bastard a lesson. Took me long enough to stop him hunting Styles down and ripping him apart the night it happened."

Randy glanced at him and offering an understanding smile he murmured, "Guess that was hard for you? Trying to deal with that hot head when he is one of his rages?"

"You know, Lex," shrugged Chris, his eyes dancing with delighted pride at just the mention of his mate's name, "He doesn't do anything by half."

"That's very true," grinned Randy. They settled into a comfortable silence watching as Alanna bounced and rolled around on the rug in front of them.

"He was so scared," confessed Chris softly, his voice breaking the silence. "I know he thinks I don't know but I could tell. Just the way he moved…" his voice caught in his throat and for a moment he didn't say anything else. Then pushing a hand through his hair he added miserably, "I couldn't change. He tried to get me some space and time but they just...they wouldn't leave me alone and…"

Randy let his hand drop onto Chris's thigh. It wasn't much of a consoling gesture but for a wolf who usually walked away from anything remotely emotional it was as near a declaration of unconditional friendship as Chris had ever seen and it meant the world to him. Biting his lower lip he reigned in his emotions and after a few moments he chuckled to himself, asking warmly, "So how does Evan cope when you fly off into a rage?"

"Honestly?" rumbled Randy offering a rather self-mocking smirk.

"Yeah," grinned Chris, "Honestly."

"He normally smacks me around the head, tells me to grow up and then withholds sex until I calm down."

Chris stared at him for a moment before bursting out laughing sniggering, "Oh man I have got to try that on Lex! For real? He withholds sex?"

Randy nodded, his wolf chuffing happily at the sudden joy lighting up Chris's otherwise worried face, "He's a stubborn little sod when he wants to be."

"I know," giggled Chris, shaking his head at the mental images running through his warped brain, "I used to work with him remember."

Randy nodded in response. Reaching down he retrieved Alanna from where she as trying to chew the edge of the carpet. Nuzzling his face against her soft black fur he glanced at Chris and seeing the look in his pack-mates eyes, he offered, "Do you want to hold her for while?"

"Do you mind?" asked Chris genuinely touched at the offer.

"N'ah," replied Randy settling the wriggling pup on Chris's chest. For a moment Alanna froze, her little nose working overtime as she took in all the new smells. But then as she realised the body she was standing on was pack, she gave a happy little yip and bouncing up Chris's chest, she pressed her little paws to his neck and lapped at his face.

Grinning like the proud uncle he was, Chris stroked the little pup, running a finger along her back and tickling her ears, noticing the way the normally formidable Orton seemed to melt with pride as he watched his daughter explore her newly discovered lupine side. And for a moment nothing seemed quite as bad as it had a few minutes ago. For just a second Chris could almost forget the anger and pain that had coloured his life during the last few exhausting days.

TBC