The hallway stretched out endlessly before him. He had done everything he could to avoid going back to the dressing room. But even he knew that sooner or later he'd have to face him. Face what he had done. Or in this case what he had failed to do.

No one was supposed to lay a hand on Hunter. It was to be Randy's job to make sure that he not only walked out of the Elimination Chamber with his World Title, but that he walked out untouched. Much to his relief...and with a lot of help from Ric, they had managed to save Hunter's belt. But not before he had nearly been taken out by Goldberg.

Randy reached a hand behind him and gingerly rubbed his sore lower back. Chances are it would hurt a lot more in the morning thanks to that out of control idiot. But he would gladly have suffered pain much worse if it meant that Hunter wasn't going to hold it against him.

He paused just steps from the door to their shared dressing room, every possible scenario racing through his mind. And none of them were good. He reached for the doorknob and just as suddenly drew back.

"Hey...nice work tonight." The feel of a hand slapping none too gently against his aching back made him wince with pain. "Oh wow man… I'm sorry. Guess I wasn't thinking." Randy took a breath and forced a smile to his lips. "No problem Christian."

Christian looked past Randy to the still closed door. "Hunter ok?"

Randy could only shrug. "Guess I'm about to find out."

He once again reached for the doorknob only to have it removed from his grasp as the door flew open. "There you are," Ric said. "Hunter was just about to send me searching for you."

"Is that him?" a deep voice called from the room.

Ric looked at him pointedly. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he whispered. "Answer him."

"Uh...yeah...it's me," he said.

"Well get the hell in here," Hunter responded gruffly.

"Good luck man."

Randy nodded as Christian gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder and headed off. Ric went to follow him but Randy frantically grabbed at his arm. "Where are you going?"

"There's going to be a birthday surprise for Vince. You and Hunter better be out there in five minutes."

Nodding silently Randy turned and stepped into the small room.

Hunter's head came up slowly. His hair was still wet from a hastily taken shower and a bandage covered the cut on his head. A cut courtesy of either Shawn or Bill. At this point, it hardly mattered. "Where have you been?"

The tone was questioning...but not angry.

"I was talking to Christian," he responded quickly, hoping that it would suffice as an excuse for his absence.

"C'mere," Hunter said gently holding out his hand. "With all the chaos, I never got to ask you. Are you ok?"

"Me?" Randy nearly squeaked in shock. "I'm fine. It's you....."

A quick flick of the hand, silenced the younger man.

"I'm fine," he said impatiently. "I've taken harder shots than anything he could dish out."

"But you shouldn't have been taking any shots," Randy offered reproachfully. "I messed up."

"No you didn't," Hunter said soothingly. "You did fine." With a tenderness that Randy found totally disarming, Hunter rested a hand against his lower back and massaged gently. "You had some pretty stiff competition out there," he pointed out. "I'm not sure I would have done so well. At least not feeling as lousy as I do."

A look of alarm filled Randy's eyes. Hunter's injury. In the midst of all the doubt and confusion, he forgot to ask about it. "You didn't.....I mean...it isn't worse...is it?"

"Nah… it's fine," he said. "It'll be sore tomorrow. But I'll worry about it then. The important thing is that we both came out of that hell hole in one piece...and this...is still mine." His hand fell to the side and rested on the gleaming gold surface of his world title belt that lay on the bench next to him.

"I'm glad you aren't mad," Randy sighed in relief.

"At you? Never."

His strong arms circled Randy's waist and pulled him close. A genuine smile touched his lips right before he pulled his young lover into a soft, slow kiss.

Randy raised his arms and wrapped them around Hunter's broad shoulders and as they embraced, he glanced down to where the title belt laid. He looked at it carefully as Hunter held him tightly. He knew it was wrong...and he knew he had no right even thinking it. But just for a moment he wondered what it would feel like to hold that title above his head. Claim it as his own.

He was still lost in what was probably only a fantasy when Hunter pulled back. "We better head out to the party or we'll never hear the end of it." Randy smiled in response and stood to follow Hunter out the door.

"Damn....do me a favor will you Randy?" Hunter said as they stepped into hall. "Go back and get my belt. I forgot it."

He hurried back inside and lifted the title from the bench. As always, he was surprised at how deceivingly heavy it was. But there was another completely different feeling this time. Holding it in his hands he was overcome with a totally new sensation.

It felt so....right.

Read Story #6 A Matter of Priorities in the Game Plan Series