Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, other than Brielle.
Rated: M
Warning(s): Slash, Het, Strippers, Exotic Dancing, etc.

"You really didn't have to do this for me." Adam assured him. "I know my way around this town like it was the back of my hand. I'm sure that I would have made it home okay."

Randy looked at him out of the corner of his eye, before he turned his attention back to the wheel. "I just have a little bit of a sore spot for careless drivers out after dark."

Adam immediately fell silent and cursed his foolishness. "I'm sorry. I didn't think about that."

Randy flashed him a careful smile. "Don't worry about it. It's not like you were the driver that killed her." A pause. "Now, which road should I turn down?"

"You should make a left onto Ninth Street and then it will be the house all the way at the end." Adam told him. "Won't Alannah be worried about the fact that her Daddy is out so late?"

Randy's smile broadened at the mention of his little princess. "Alannah? Nah. She's used to the fact that I'm out at all times of the day. I think that it is because she understands that I suffer from IED."

"IED?" Adam looked at him, clueless.

"Intermittent Explosive Disorder. It started around the time that Sam died. I take medication for it and all that, but sometimes I have to remove myself from a situation and walk it off before I do or say something I'll regret."

"I think that we all have moments like that in our lives." Adam said. "But we don't always take ourselves out of them."

Randy smiled as he made the left turn onto Ninth Street and stared to look for Adam's house. "True."

A comfortable silence fell over them. Adam looked down at the clock. It was time. Brielle was now in the midst of the operation that would save her life. A rush of relief washed over Adam as he leaned back into his seat and closed his eyes. He was so thankful to John Cena for what he had done for him and his baby; he couldn't express it in words. Brielle would have a second chance at life now. For once, life hadn't totally screwed him over.

Randy pulled into the driveway and turned off the car. The comfortable silence continued. Adam fumbled in his back pocket for the keys to the front door, and when he found them, he slid out of the car and shut the door behind him. He made it all the way to the door before he remembered his manners. It was a horrific hour and Randy still had to drive all the way across town to make it home. Maybe he would want another cup of coffee for his efforts?

Adam unlocked his front door, went inside of the house, and unlocked it from the inside. He then tossed his keys onto the table on the inside of the door and walked back outside. Thankfully, Randy's car was still out there. It actually looked like he was trying to find the best way to turn around and head home from where he was. Adam put his best smile on his face and knocked softly on the door of Randy's car. Randy nearly leaped out of his skin.

"Would you like some coffee?" Adam offered him. "I mean, I know that we just came from the coffee shop and all… but you have a long drive ahead of you and I wanted to offer it to you anyway. Free of charge this time."

"I don't want to intrude. Besides, I don't want to feel like you're wasting your coffee on me." Randy told him. He set his map down and turned to face Adam fully.

"It's not a waste." Adam assured him. "But if it really bothers you so terribly, consider it me saying 'thank you'."

"I still don't know." Randy hesitated for a moment.

"I insist." Adam told him.

Randy shook it off. Adam seemed totally trustworthy, and besides, he really liked him. Maybe this could be the opening that he needed to ask him out sometime. "Okay. But just one cup of coffee."

"Oh, I'm sure that I'll be able to change your mind. I make the best Cup O' Joe in the entire tri-state area, and you can quote me on that one." Adam smiled confidently.

"I just might have to." Randy chuckled, before he followed the taller blond inside.

Adam's house was rather modest. It looked to be in a state of considerable disrepair, but at the same time, was incredibly neat and orderly. In order for him to turn on the air conditioner, he would have to turn the heat on as hot as it would come and then slam it toward the 'cool' notch. Several of the outlets in the house didn't work. There were cracks in the walls. It was incredible sad that this was considered 'habitable'.

Adam led him into the kitchen. The kitchen was a little bit better. On the far wall, there were counters with a built in sink, but there wasn't a dishwasher or a trash compacter. There were a few cabinets, which had frosted glass on the door, and Randy could see that they weren't very well filled. In fact, most of the food looked like it would be better suited for Adam's child, Brielle. All that was there for Adam was coffee.

Adam started to brew the coffee. He turned around and saw that Randy was about to sit at the table. "Wait! You don't want to sit there." Adam assured him.

"Why not?" Randy looked confused.

"The chair is actually broken. Most of the furniture in here is broken, actually." Adam rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Most of it has been fixed up from the junkyard. I don't really have all that much money, so…"

Randy shook his head. "I understand. You don't have to explain it to me. I'll just take a seat at one of the barstools by the counter. Are they okay?" Randy asked.

Adam smiled and nodded, thankful that Randy hadn't asked any questions. "Yeah. They're fine."

Adam fixed Randy his coffee the same way that he had had it in the coffee shop and set it in front of the younger man. The two talked for a little while about anything and everything. Randy delved a little bit into Adam's history and tried to find out about why Adam lived in that horrific house, but Adam didn't answer many of his questions and Randy didn't want to press. Finally, Randy realized what time it was.

"I didn't realize how late it was. I need to head home to Alannah." Randy set his cup into the kitchen sink. "Do you want to meet up at a restaurant tomorrow for dinner?"

"Are you asking me out on a date?" Adam asked, wide-eyed.

"Yeah." Randy confirmed. "I guess that I am."

"Then, yes. I would love to." Adam said.

Randy nodded. "Okay, then. I'll be over to pick you up at six-thirty."