Chapter 2

Randy watched Rob miserably as he bid their friends goodbye in front of the hotel. He and Rob had decided Rob should take a cab to the airport so they would say goodbye here, thinking it would be easier at the hotel, less crowded. Randy guessed it probably was better without an audience because when he finally wrapped his arms around his lover for a last kiss, he could not bring himself to let go again. "Please, Rob, don't go."

"I don't want to, Tiger, I have to."

"I know, but...I can't do this."

Rob kissed him softly, sweetly. "I love you, Randy. I'll be with you again as soon as I can. For now...tell me you love me and give me a kiss to last until then."

Randy stared down into Rob's hazel eyes and saw his pain at the separation reflected there. He really should not add worry to Rob's pain. "I love you. Forever." Their mouths met one last time and Randy could feel his eyes burning as they parted and the strong hard body of his lover slipped out of his arms. He heard the cab door close then drive away but did not open his eyes. He simply could not watch Rob leave.

A large hand fell on his shoulder causing him to look over into Dave's sympathetic, dark eyes. "Let's go inside and move your stuff."

"Move?"

"Yeah, you agreed to travel with Bubba now. Don't you remember? Rob asked and you nodded."

Randy shrugged. He vaguely remembered being asked something but the details were blurred by a haze of misery. Still, it made sense. Rob would not want him to be alone, at risk, and Bubba had not had any traveling companions since he had `instructed' D-Von and Tommy in the error of their ways.

Dave wrapped an arm around his shoulders comfortingly. "Come on let's get you moved then we'll leave you alone, ok?"

"Yeah," Randy leaned on his friend. "Ok."

In the room, though, it was Dave and Spike who did most for the work packing as Randy sat on the bed, hand caressing the sheet and pillow as if they could still hold the heat from his missing lover's body. He never noticed the concerned looks his friends shared. So, he was actually surprised when Spike sat on the bed, grabbing the pillow.

"Hey, is this the pillow Rob was usin'?"

Randy nodded sadly before raising an eyebrow as Spike sniffed at the pillowcase.

"Cool, it still has his scent." He reached over and pressed it into Randy's arms. "Take it with ya. It'll help, trust me."

Laying his cheek on the pillow, he found that it, indeed, still held Rob's musky scent in its threads. He smiled over at Spike sadly. "You would know, wouldn't you?"

"Yeah. It sucks not bein with someone ya love, `specially when it ain't your fault but there's nothin' ya can do about it." Spike reached up and rubbed his back.

"So, how do I do this? All I can think about is how much I miss him and he hasn't even been gone an hour."

"Ya just do, Randy. Don' worry. I know ya feel really bad t'day so we're gonna leave alone today `less ya say otherwise so you can mourn. Ya need to. But, tomorrow, we're not gonna let ya fall into depression. You're gonna hang out with us, have fun, eat `nd have stuff t'tell Rob when ya talk t'him. It ain' gonna stop hurtin', Randy, but ya cain't let it stop ya from livin'. It's not good for ya and it'd hurt your friends and it'd hurt Rob."

"Thanks, Spike."

"No problem. Jus' remember, ya got friends t'help ya through this." The small blonde hugged him tightly and Randy gratefully returned the embrace. "Now, come on `nd let's get your stuff moved. Bubba shoulda' cleared off the second bed by now. He tends to spread his things all over the place without thinkin'. So, don't be shy `bout tellin' him to move his shit if it's in your way."

Spike kept up a string of chatter as the three of them walked through the halls and Randy was more than happy for the distraction. He was also grateful when they left him alone in his new room a short time later. He simply did not want company at this time. Sitting on the bed, he held the pillow to his chest, breathing in the lingering scent of his lover.

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That night, Spike lay curled up in Dave's arms, fingers tracing abstract designs over his large lover's deep chest. "Do ya think Randy'll be ok?"

"We'll make sure he is. I'm just worried about what Hunter's going to do."

Spike lifted his head to look at Dave curiously. "Why? Ya think he had anythin' t'do with this?"

"I'm sure of it. He's been too quiet since our fight."

"We can' let him mess with Randy no more. `Specially not right now when he's hurtin'."

Dave tightened his arms around his small lover. "We won't, Spike."

Read chapter 3 of 11 of Silverahra's Promises