DISCLAIMER: As much as it breaks my heart to admit it, I do not own anyone or anything connected to Vince McMahon and his awesomeness. I can only claim property rights of OC.

*** A/N – This is Part 3 of 3. ***

Ted's P.O.V. – Early the next morning.

Fuck! Not good, not good, not good! I'm half-way dressed when the door to Claire's room opens. Randy steps into our room and gently closes the door behind him. I can tell from the look in his eyes that he is not going to be answering any questions. Thank God Cody is still in the shower. It would kill him to see Randy coming out of Claire's room half-naked. My eyes take him in. He's wearing baggy shorts and nothing else. He still has a pillow crease on his cheek and his eyes are glassy. Shit. Situation critical. This is the last fucking complication we need. Cody is never going to be able to live this down. Randy turns his back to me and pulls a t-shirt out of his suitcase. Glancing at the bathroom door, I know what I have to do. I move to stand beside Randy, still keeping one eye on the door.

"Whatever you're doing is your business. Try to keep it that way."

Randy pauses in the process of putting on his watch. He looks at me, one brow arched, "Nothing happened."

I don't buy that for a minute. I've known Randy far too long. He doesn't walk out of a woman's room half-dressed without having sampled her charms. It's just the way nature works, "I don't give a shit what you and Claire do. That's your business. But for Cody's sake, don't shove his nose in it."

"Nothing happened." Frustrated, I can only sigh. When Randy doesn't want to talk about something, he's impossible.

"Cody's just a kid. He doesn't know how to deal with things like this. Cut him some slack, okay?"

Randy's eyes burn into me. I know he's trying to keep his temper. If he doesn't like what I have to tell him, too fucking bad. It's the truth and he needs to hear it. Cody didn't deserve to get stabbed in the back. I can tell how much he cares for Claire. If he ever finds out, it will kill him.

"I'm not going to say it again. Nothing happened. End of story. Got it?"

Randy shoves his wallet in his back pocket and strides to the door. The door closes softly behind him. Shit. Now what do I do? I can hear the shower as it's turned off. Maybe the better strategy is to talk to Cody. He might be a hot-headed kid but he is usually reasonable. I think I need to talk to him. Give him so big-brother type advice. That's all I can think to do right now. I pace the room as I wait for him to emerge from the bathroom. He tosses his shaving kit into the top of his suitcase and looks at me. He looks like he's lost his best friend. In a way he has. Randy's done one of the most unforgivable things a man can do. I don't know if they'll ever be able to make things right between them.

"Randy didn't sleep here last night." Cody won't meet my eyes now. He looks so wounded, so dejected. Damn, apparently Cody knows more than I give him credit for. How the hell did he figure it out? Maybe he had seen Randy sneaking into Claire's room last night. All I can think is poor Cody.

"Look, Cody, I know this is hard. . . "

Cody shakes his head, not wanting to hear what I'm going to tell him. His eyes move to the now closed door to Claire's room. The kid is sharp, he doesn't miss a thing. He slowly starts putting the rest of his belongings into the suitcase then zips it closed. He sighs heavily, still unable to look me in the eyes.

"How can he do that do her?" Shit, I didn't expect that. I expect him to be hurt, confused, betrayed. I didn't expect him to blame Randy. In a way it's not too surprising, considering Cody thinks Claire hung the moon. He'd never be able to make himself blame Claire for anything.

"Cody, listen, man."

"What kind of man can take advantage of a woman like that? After what Jake did, how can he . . . ?" Cody's voice trailed off. He can't force himself to say the words. Cody's hands ball into fists. I know he wants to hit something. As long as he didn't take it out on me, everything's cool.

"Cody, don't. Don't torture yourself. They're both adults. Whatever happened is over. It's none of our business." What am I supposed to say to him? How can I explain to him that sometimes these things happen? Nobody ever really plans for them to happen, they just do. If Randy and Claire want to screw like rabbits, they can. I just don't want to see Cody get hurt as a result.

"I wasn't there when she needed me." Cody's gaze again moved to the door to Claire's room, "But I'll be damned if I'm going to stand back and let Randy take advantage of her."

Before I can stop him, Cody crosses the room and flings the door to Claire's room open. Thank God, she isn't still in the bed. I can't help but notice how remarkably tidy the bed is after having been romped in. Cody stands in the doorway, blocking my path.

"Come on, man. Don't do this." Cody looks at me over his shoulder, his gaze full of steely ice. I've never seen that look in his eyes before. It's the same dead-set determined look that Randy gets. It's kinda scaring me.

"Ted, this is between me and Claire. Pack your bags and go check out." Who the hell does he think he is? It's bad enough I take this shit from Randy, I'll be damned if I'm going to take it from him. I pull on Cody's arm, trying to get him back into our room before Claire comes out of the bathroom. He pulls his arm away and turns around to face me. "Today is not the day you want to push me, Ted." God, Cody's voice is dripping ice. He's seriously pissed.

"Don't do this. Please, Cody, do you really want to do this?" For a split second I can see the indecision flicker in his eyes.

"Ted, either you walk away now or I'll . . . " The sound of the bathroom door opening drew my attention away for a second. Cody takes advantage of the situation. He shoves me back into our room and slams the door in my face. It's like a scene from a horror movie as I see the door slam and hear the lock turn into place.

* * * * * * * * *

Cody's P.O.V.

"Why?" I know I scared her. Claire jumps slightly, a soft yelp coming from her lips.

"I didn't hear you knock." She moves across the room and drops her clothes into the open suitcase. She tosses a few more things in before moving to the closet. She starts pulling out her belongings.

"Why?" I ask again. I wish she would stop all the nervous fluttering and be still for a second. She turns slightly to look at me. I can see it in her eyes, she knows exactly what I'm asking. She doesn't want to answer. It takes her a moment before she speaks.

"Why what?"

Her evasiveness irritates me even more. It's just salt in the proverbial wound, "Cut the bullshit. I know, Claire." My Daddy would horse-whip me if he ever heard me cuss at a lady. Hell, after last night, I'm not sure I can call her a lady any more. Claire sighs as she takes a purple shirt from the hanger and starts to fold it. She's stalling for time. Now that just pisses me off. Reaching over, I pluck the shirt from her hands and toss it onto the pile of clothes next to her suitcase. Claire just looks at me.

"What are you getting at, Cody?"

"How could you?" The words taste bitter but I have to ask. I won't have any peace until I find out why. Of all the people on God's green earth, why did it have to be Randy? What makes him so damned irresistible that even Claire has fallen for him? I just don't understand. He could have the pick on any woman on the planet. So why did he have to pick my Claire? Couldn't he just have left well enough alone?

"Could what? What the hell are you talking about?" Frustrated, Claire runs a hand through her hair. She crosses her arms over her chest as she stares at me.

"You. Randy. Last night." How much more simple do I have to make this for her? She knows damned good and well that playing stupid won't work. She's too intelligent to pull that kind of crap. A look of guilt crosses her face and she looks away for a moment. I can tell how much of an effort it is for her to look at me again. We both know what happened between them. The least she can do is give me a reason.

"It's complicated."

"Try me." I take a step toward her. I can see a flicker of fear in her eyes. Apparently, this wasn't the reaction she thought I'd have. Too bad she hadn't given me half a chance. If she had gotten to know me better, she'd know how much I care for her. Maybe then, she wouldn't have fallen for Randy's seduction.

"Last night wasn't supposed to happen." No shit, Sherlock. I can't decide which is worse, Claire's thoughtlessness or Randy's betrayal. It's a toss-up at this point.

"How could you? Of all the people, why him?"

Claire shakes her head slowly, unsure of the answer, "It's not like I planned this."

An angry laugh bubbles up from deep in my chest. I'm pretty sure Randy was the one who planned it. Claire is just the one who let herself be conned into it. They share equally in the guilt. A broken heart and a ruined friendship aren't exactly my idea of the perfect gift.

"How can you let him do that to you?" Not that I really need the specifics. Just the thought of them doing THAT together make me feel sick.

"Do what, Cody? I didn't let him do anything." Claire's getting mad now, too. I can tell by the color creeping into her cheeks.

"Didn't let him?" The words strike me with the same weight as one of Triple H's sledgehammers. What the hell does she mean? What didn't she let him do? I can't let myself think of what else it can mean. Before I can stop myself, I cross the room to stand in front of her. Claire's eyes widen in surprise as she looks up at me, "Did he hurt you?"

Claire shakes her head, her lips pulling into a thin line, "It's nothing. . ."

Rage washes over me. If Randy hurt her, I'll kill him myself. Slowly. Painfully. I swear I will!

"Tell me, Claire. Did he hurt you?" She only shakes her head and tries to step around me. I reach for her, grabbing her by the shoulders. I turn her to face me. Looking down into her dark blue eyes, I can see the hurt and uncertainty.

"Tell me." She doesn't answer. My fingers tighten on her arms, shaking her slightly. She has to answer me, even if I have to shake it out of her. The silence is killing me.

"I'm not telling you a damned thing. Let me go." She starts to struggle.

"I swear to God, Claire, I'll kill him if he hurt you."

I know she's struggling to stay calm. She looks into my eyes as she raises her hands. With all of her strength, she shoves me backward. I take a step away from her, my arms falling to my side. "Randy didn't DO anything. Nothing happened."

"It's one thing for you to be with Randy. It's something else for you to treat me like I'm stupid. I'm not a kid, Claire. If you slept with Randy, at least be decent enough to own up to it."

I take a deep breath and try to swallow the bile rising in the back of my throat. If she can just be honest with me, and herself, maybe we can try to put it behind us. Everybody makes mistakes. Maybe she let Randy sweet-talk her when she was too emotional. God knows, Randy does have silver tongue' part of his snake-like charm. He can talk anyone into doing anything. Apparently.

"You think Randy and I . . ." Claire couldn't even finish the thought. "Even if something did happen, do you really think I'd tell you?"

She has a point there. I don't understand what's making me do this; what's driving me to demand answers. All I know is that I've lost my best friend and my girl. A man can't face something like that without at least trying to get to the bottom of it. All at once, I can feel the anger just drain out of me. Once again, I have to sit back and watch Randy steal what he wants, no matter who it rightfully belongs to. It's almost more than I can take. God, I just wish I could die. Shaking my head slowly, I can't force myself to look at Claire again. It's just too painful and my heart is already broken.

"So that's how it is, huh? Randy just walks in and steals you away from me. You just let him sweet talk you and you just gave right in. I hope you can live with yourself." I hate the way my voice is starting to break. I can feel the burn of tears. It takes everything I have to keep them back. "I love you, Claire, but I guess that isn't enough."

I have to leave. I can't stand here anymore, knowing that my whole world is gone. I've lost every thing that I gave a damn about. Turning to the door, I don't even take a step before Claire is standing in front of me, blocking the doorway, "Cody, listen, please. . ."

"Move, Claire." God, please don't let me have to physically move her. I don't think I'm strong enough to touch her.

"Don't walk away like this." She reaches for me, trying to wrap her fingers around my wrist. I take a step back, my arms raising in the air in an attempt to keep out of her reach.

"It's over. There's nothing to talk about." Amazing, isn't it? That's what I had been after when I'd shoved Ted back into the room. All I had wanted was a chance to talk to Claire, to try and make sense of it all. Now, all I want is for her to get out of the way and let me leave. I've run out of anger and words and any desire to stand there and listen.

"Why do you want to make such a big deal out of nothing?" Nothing? Breaking my heart is nothing? Killing all my plans with a few words is nothing? That's just a low blow and it hurts. Now I can see Claire for the person she really is. She does belong with Randy. Neither of them give a rat's ass if they hurt someone. Finally, I've had enough of standing here and letting Claire rip my heart out. Without looking at her, I move past her to the door. She starts to say something but I can't hear it over the sound of the door slamming.

***A/N – Please read and review. ***