Furtive eyes glanced toward the door. Once. Twice.

"Where the hell is he?"

"Relax, champ. How would it look if he just jumped up off the canvas and strolled backstage? He's doing what he's supposed to be doing. And if he's learned anything from either of us...he's selling like a bitch."

Hunter grimaced at Ric's choice of words. "Yeah....maybe. But you didn't see the look on his face," he countered. "And all I could do was stand there and watch."

He leaned down to ease the knee pads from his legs and almost instantly felt the white hot pain from his injured groin flare up. "Damn it." he growled, slapping both hands down on to the bench in frustration.

Seeing the problem he was having, Ric rushed over to help. "Why don't you just ask?"

"And why don't you make yourself useful and see what's keeping Randy?"

He immediately regretted his tone. He would have slapped another guy for that kind of disrespect. But the combination of pain, anxiety… and plain fear had left him with no ability to censor his thoughts.

Luckily for him, Ric was very much in tune with how he was feeling, and chose not to comment. He merely straightened up and nodded silently.

As he disappeared out the door, Hunter released a weary sigh. Like a cheap movie, his mind continued to replay what had just occurred. Randy once more taking the blows meant for him. Suffering the pain and humiliation that Bill was saving up for their match at Unforgiven.

If there was going to be a match.

Between the damn groin and his own misgivings, the match had been pushed off more than once. But now it looked like, injury or not, come September 21st, he was going to have to go through with it.

It wasn't that big of a deal really. It wasn't like he hadn't given up a title before. Hell...the best part would be taking it back anyway. But this time was different. His opponent didn't quite seem to grasp how things were done here. He seemed to be taking things a bit too personally and since he couldn't vent his anger the usual way… he chose an alternate route....through Randy.

Their relationship was no secret backstage, and much to the younger man's credit, he never used it as leverage for anything. He knew he was young. He knew he was there to learn. He didn't expect special treatment...and he didn't ask for it.

But Hunter would have bet his precious gold belt that another thing Randy didn't expect was to be sacrificed night after night. Served up to Hunter's enemy like a token prize. Placation to dissuade him from getting his hands on Hunter before the big night.

It was all part of the storyline. All a typically scripted angle, But watching his young lover writhe in distress on the hard, unforgiving canvas as Bill gloated over his fallen body wasn't part of the script. He knew a stiff blow from a scripted one. Everyone in that audience must have heard the air rush from Randy's lungs when Bill's shoulder met his midsection.

There were probably those who simply thought he was a good actor. But not Hunter. It killed him to stand outside those ropes and see his love's face contort with pain. To see his eyes flutter open and look at him pleadingly. He forced himself not to look again as he picked up his title and headed up the ramp, He kept telling himself over and over that Randy would be right behind him.

That was ten minutes ago.

Pushing the ever present pain to the back of his mind, he struggled to his feet and hobbled to the door. When there was still no sign of either man he returned to the arduous task of undressing. He was finally down to his shorts when both men returned. Randy clutching at his painful ribs and Ric holding his arm as he spoke quietly to him.

Hunter knew he was saying all the right things to him...and part of him was grateful for that. But he needed to be alone with him. Needed to explain. A simple glance in Ric's direction was all it took for the older man to get the message. "I'll meet you two in the limo," he said. And giving Randy another reassuring pat on the shoulder, he grabbed his bag and left.

Without saying a word, Randy pushed the door closed and headed to take a shower.

"Wait," Hunter called. "What took you so long? Are you all right?"

The pause that Randy took before replying seemed to take an eternity. Finally, he responded. His voice low and filled with an emotion Hunter couldn't name.

"I'll live."

"Of course you'll live," Hunter laughed, desperate to change the mood. "You did a hell of a job out there."

"It's what I'm supposed to do....isn't it?"

He finally turned so that Hunter could look into his eyes. And gone was the scared, pleading young man. In his place was someone who had just learned a valuable lesson. And maybe someone who had aged just a bit.

"Well..yeah," he replied. "But you do understand why I couldn't....."

Randy held up a silencing hand. "You don't need to explain it to me. I understand everything."

Hunter longed to reach for him. Take his hand and pull him into a comforting embrace. It had been so long since they had shared a moment like that. He could barely remember the last time they had made love. His body ached to be touched again. He yearned to be buried deep inside his beautiful lover. His velvety heat surrounding him. He had almost forgotten what it was like to be so lost in simply kissing him, that minutes somehow became hours.

Once more he silently cursed his body's betrayal and forced himself back to the reality of the present.

"Why don't you grab a shower and we'll go out for dinner...my treat?" He knew it was a poor attempt at apologizing. But it was the best he could do. He was stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place. The last thing he wanted to see was Randy in any kind of pain. But his whole reason for even being here was tied up in that belt. And he would do what he had to in order to keep it as long as possible.

Randy released a short breath that was almost a laugh. "Sure Hunter...whatever you say."

And as he turned, Hunter smiled and went to retrieve his clothes. When he moved, his foot hit the bag that he used to carry his world title. Stumbling slightly, he cursed as yet another pain sent waves of discomfort rolling through him.

Randy simply stood and watched as Hunter tried to regain his composure. As the larger man attempted to slow his breathing, his eyes came up and met with those of his lover.

A wry, crooked grin appeared on Randy's face. One oddly devoid of humor. With a flick of the hand he gestured to the bag Hunter had just tripped over.

"You probably should be more careful with that. You never know where it will end up."

Then he walked into the bathroom...shutting the door. And leaving Hunter uncharacteristically....speechless.

Read Story #7 A Glimpse Into The Future in the Game Plan Series