I stayed out late last night
But nothing I could drink *
Could help me drink you off my mind
Everywhere I looked, (oooh) I saw your face *
And I wonder, and I wonder
If there still might be
A little space in your heart for me
'Cause I'm so cold, I'm so alone
And I miss you, babe

So won't you come to my rescue
Shake this pain from my soul
And take this fool back in your heart baby
I'll go crazy if you don't
'Cause I'm a mess here without you
Ain't no pill for this pain
So please, please come to my rescue baby
Make it right away

I was a fool to leave
Leave behind everything that meant everything to me
Every day and night (mmm) my heart pays the price *
And I'm out here, stranded out here
On this lonely road, I'm so lost won't you lead me home
I need you back, need one more chance
And I miss you, babe

So won't you come to my rescue
Shake this pain from my soul
And take this fool back in your heart baby
I'll go crazy if you don't
'Cause I'm a mess here without you
Ain't no pill for this pain
So please, please come to my rescue baby
Make it right away

I'm drowning baby
I need you to save me, yeah
Don't leave me like this
Throw me a line, baby one more time

Won't you come to my rescue
Shake this pain from my soul
And take this fool back in your heart baby
I'll go crazy if you don't
'Cause I'm a mess here without you
Ain't no pill for this pain
So please, please come to my rescue baby
Make it right away

Make it right away
Make it Right away *



Randy sat nodding as he listened to Vince and JR repeat the plan that he and Shawn had presented them. "Kid are you sure this is what you wanna do?" JR asked and Randy nodded. "I'm sure Rossy. I mean, I know I can earn another shot at the belt. You know and I know and everyone else back here knows that I got what it takes to be the next one to lead this company. I ain't afraid to admit that the fans weren't ready to see me as their champion yet, but they will… eventually with the help of Shawn. But I ain't gonna get anywhere without someone big by my side and I ain't gonna feel right if one of the guys that helped me get here today is left behind just because Paul is too selfish to give him the chance he deserves."

"You know that is my son in law you are calling selfish," Vince pointed out and Randy turned his gaze to Vince. "I know exactly who the bastard is, but I ain't gonna pretend he ain't what he is just cause he's related to you now." Vince nodded smiling slightly then stroked his chin. "This wouldn't be because of the relationship you and Batista had would it?" Randy blushed lightly and getting up headed for the door. Before opening it he turned and looked at Vince. "It has everything to do with it… everything in the world. Do we have a deal?" Vince and JR both nodded and Randy smiling happily left the room.

Later that night Batista was sitting in the Evolution locker room staring off into space when Jay burst into the locker room. "You get lost punk?" Paul asked snarling, but Jay just ignored him unafraid of the big bully. "Bats you might wanna come out and watch the Highlight Reel." Batista turned his gaze to Jay frowning at the twinkle in the man's eyes. He knew that Jay and Randy were buddies and the blonde hadn't spoken to him since his breakup. "Why?" Jay giggled and looking from him to Paul and back looked like the cat that ate the canary. "Just trust me will ya? This is going to be most… profitable for you." Intrigued Dave got up and followed Jay out with Ric and Paul following closely. Reaching the monitor he saw Randy heading to the ring with a clipboard and some papers in his hand. "What the fuck is he up to now?" Paul growled and silently Dave wondered the same.

Out in the ring Randy stood listening to Chris to his thing and bounced nervously hoping Jay had done his job and Dave was watching. "So Junior what do you wanna talk to me about?" Chris asked and Randy put on his trademark smirk looking at the smaller man. "Here in my hand I have the signed contracts for my rematch with Paul. I wanna make a trade with you. You get my shot at Paul and you give up a shot at your IC belt."

The arena buzzed as the crowd tried to figure out what was going on. In the back Paul was laughing sure that Randy was giving up. "See I told you the kid didn't have what it takes. He's afraid to face me again." In the ring Jericho played confusion. "Lemmie get this straight Junior, you wanna give me your shot at Hunter and in return you want to wrestle me for my Intercontinental Championship? Not that I'm gonna complain, but uhh why the downgrade?" Randy smirked looking at the camera directly hoping he was looking right at Dave in the back. "I never said that the shot at your title was for me Jerky Boy."

Chris played interest for the crowd barely suppressing the laughter that was trying to come out and wished that he would be able to see Paul's face when he found out what was going on. "Well now I am intrigued Junior. Do tell, who is the shot for?" Randy smiled. "See Jerky boy I am a man who remembers the people who have helped him and it occurs to me that in my rise someone has gotten left behind. Someone that I have noticed over the last several weeks hasn't been quite into his… shall we call it his Enforcer role."

In the back Paul looked at Dave and started growling as people began laughing. Out in the ring Randy continued his bargain not knowing that Dave had moved closer to the monitor. "So Jerky Boy I want to give you a shot at Triple H for his title and in return you grant Batista a shot at your title and not just any match. No see I wanna make sure all these people know what the big man can do. So to insure Flair can't interfere, cause we know Triple H don't give a shit enough to help any cause that doesn't help him, we're gonna make this a Hell in the Cell match. You, Batista, and the cell for the IC belt, Whaddya say Jerky?" Chris laughed and held out his hand for the clip board. "Where do I sign Junior?"

In the back Paul grabbed the closest thing he could reach throwing it as he cursed loudly. Dave on the other hand remained quiet as he slowly lifted a hand and touched the screen. He didn't know what this meant, but he wasn't going to let this chance slip through his fingers. Somehow he was going to figure out how to make up for all the mistakes he had made.

Later that evening Randy smiled at Shawn, who was wishing him a good night before slipping into the darkness of the night, heading to his car. Moving automatically Randy's mind was on the night's events as he wondered if this would prompt Dave into acting. Spotting his rental he frowned as he saw a paper bag sitting on the hood. Speeding up he quickly reached the car not bothering to get inside before he looked in the bag. Spotting the contents he smiled big laughing as he grabbed it and after unlocking the doors put the present on the passenger's seat. Then after storing the remainder of his things in the trunk Randy got behind the wheel and set off.

He had a long drive alone, but he didn't mind. He knew that most of the guys were betting he would never reach his home as he was known to be somewhat directionally challenged, but Randy needed the time alone. Shawn had flown into St Louis and had driven the two of them to the show driving Randy's car. This meant that Randy would have to drive home himself. He figured that he had three days before he had to be thinking about getting anywhere and hoped that he could find his own house in that time especially since it had only taken Shawn three hours.

Digging his hand in the brown paper grocery bag Randy used his hand to rip open the box digging out a ding dong. Smiling he bit half of it off thinking his favorite chocolate snack had never tasted this good. Randy's choice in snack food wasn't exactly a secret backstage. Paul often gave him a hard time about his Doritos', Ding Dong's, and water snack trio saying that he would get fat. Of course Randy always pointed out that it hadn't happened yet so he wasn't going to worry about it. Maybe it was intuition, maybe it was optimism, or maybe it was just wishful thinking, but Randy knew whom the gift was from. Only Dave had a reason for doing something like this secretly. Knowing Dave he was sitting on pins and needles hoping that Randy made it home alive. Randy had to admit he was hoping the same thing.

Turning the radio on he sang along for awhile before letting his mind drift to his frequent road trips with Dave. Usually it was just the two of them. Since they were Evolution they weren't allowed to travel with anyone outside of their group and Ric and Paul refused to travel with them saying that Randy was too juvenile and Dave too lenient with his charge. Not that it had hurt their feelings any if anything Randy had made sure that he was being extra bratty any time that they DID have to travel together just so the older two men wouldn't want to do it often.

Randy and Dave had taken the opportunity to get to know each other better. Randy had learned about Dave's childhood and heritage and Dave had been entertained with all the stories Randy knew of his father or grandfather. At nights they would be free to stay in their room watching a movie and hanging out together often forgetting to watch the movie because of other things that… came up.

Randy squirmed in his seat as his body reacted to the memories as he remembered just how good those times were. Dave may be more than just a good body, but Randy wasn't gonna be fool enough to ignore his more obvious strengths either. The man was a walking fantasy. Every inch of his body was toned and hard, and while Randy didn't need to go all night every night it was nice to know it was possible on occasion.

Dave had this way when they were together of touching Randy as if he was something special to be treasured and adored. He didn't treat him like the typical "hey look I'm bangin' the pretty boy" fuck that he got from most other guys. When he looked at him he knew that Dave didn't think he was just some pretty face and while he was known to tease Randy about being brainless he knew Dave didn't really think that. If nothing else he knew that Randy understood the business and valued his opinions and ideas. They hadn't just been partners or lovers or friends they had been a team and Randy wasn't sure what he would do without Dave if this plan of his didn't work.

He wasn't used to being the idea man. Dave always took care of the mental tasks. That was another thing that Randy had loved about Dave, he had as many brains as he had muscles only it wasn't something that he advertised. Randy always joked that Dave's brains were their secret weapon, but now he wondered if the brains he valued so much had gotten scrambled with too many chair shots.

Randy felt lost out in the world without Dave. The older man had been taking care of him long before they had become a couple beginning when they were together in OVW and carrying over to their shared time on Smackdown. Just because they hadn't gotten together as a couple until they had been recruited into Evolution though didn't mean that Randy hadn't obsessed over Dave before that. Dave had caught his eye the first time he'd seen him flex and he'd won his heart the first time he'd protected him from the trouble that Randy always seemed to find himself in.

He needed Dave back. That was all there was to it. Without him Randy was pretty sure he wouldn't survive in the world and was even surer he didn't want to. He only hoped that his big demon lover would regain his senses and come rescue him from the cold reality of life alone.

The End… for now.

Read Story #4 Stranger Inside