The Money In The Bank briefcase meant different things to different people. For some, it was a chance for change, to bring about something unexpected. For others, it was the greatest opportunity they might ever have, a guaranteed World Heavyweight Title Shot…and at a time of their choosing. No having to bow down to the McMahon's whims, no waiting around watching unworthy challengers rise and fall…just waiting for that one exact moment to strike.

For Dean Ambrose, it was much more personal than that.

For months, he'd sat back and watched as his best friend, a man he called "brother" with pride, his former partner in crime reign as Champion. He'd watched Roman's feud with AJ Styles, waited for Roman to call for his aid against The Club, safe in the knowledge that Roman knew that they were always unstoppable once together.

The call to arms never came. Roman had drafted the Usos in to help without hesitation, but not once had he seemed to consider Ambrose an option. They barely talked anymore…Reigns more concerned with actual blood ties than his brother-in-arms. Instead Dean found himself at odds with Chris Jericho over who had the better talk-show. Even Dean, goofball that he was, couldn't understand the significance of Jericho's anger. Ambrose would have been happy to let it slide, but once Jericho brought out that straitjacket all bets were off. He'd hoped that the brutality he'd shown during his Asylum match with Jericho would've been a reminder to Roman that he was a threat just waiting to be unleashed.

Dean never even got a simple "y'okay?" from Roman afterwards. Nothing.

The only concern he received was from Sami Zayn, a man the complete antithesis of Roman Reigns. The man had lost a high-profile match earlier in the night; he should've been upset and angry at the circumstances. But no, he'd actively sought out Dean to make sure Dean was okay, not even expecting commiserations or cheering up in return. He'd sat with Dean throughout his post-match buzz, laughing at Dean's theatrical account of the match, lamenting that the two of them had been separated on television and agreeing that Mitch would have been proud of Dean's actions in the match. And for a while, it didn't matter to Dean that Roman had seemed to forget all about him. Dean actually had a friend who cared about him again, was willing to indulge his ridiculous stories; a genuine person who was willing to be there for him and that should've been enough.

Until the opportunity to be Mr. Money In The Bank came.

Dean had faced Dolph Zigger enough times to have a good enough idea of what to expect from the Show-Off, but even then he almost got caught by that late match Zig-Zag…if he hadn't been that close to the ropes…still, he'd managed to get past Ziggler…and once more Dean Ambrose would be competing in the Money In The Bank match. It wasn't going to be easy…he'd watched on as Kevin Owens qualified against AJ Styles, to join himself, Claudio, Jericho (I'm never escapin' this man, am I?) and…Sami Zayn.

Ambrose had expected Owen to attempt to belittle his chances in the match. Dean could handle that. Del Rio had been an unpleasant addition to the mix, but nothing Ambrose wasn't willing to overcome.

The look on Sami's face after he nearly caught him in the Dirty Deeds…well, that was different. It was mostly a look of surprise, which was exactly the reaction Dean was looking for. The slight look of hurt in Sami's eyes, though…that was something Dean wasn't expecting. It didn't quite register in Dean's mind that of course Sami would be hurt at the potential betrayal from another friend until after SmackDown had ended.

Dean attempted to patch things up on RAW, especially since he was due to be teaming with Zayn and Claudio in that night's main event. It had been fun to banter around with Claudio again, but it did mean he wasn't able to catch up with Zayn one to one. If Sami had been bothered by Ambrose's actions on SmackDown (or by his comments 'bout Canadians earlier), he certainly didn't let it show during their tag match. Dean had made sure to plant Owens extra hard into the mat that night for Sami's sake.

Now he was due to tag with Sami again on SmackDown, against Owens and Del Rio. It was as good a chance as any to clear the air with Zayn before they inevitably clashed at Money In The Bank. Dean walked into the locker room to find Sami kneeling down on the floor, hushed whispers the only sound that filled the room. Dean wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but he instinctively knew he'd wandered in on something personal. He made to leave Sami alone to his ritual, but was stopped by Sami looking up in his direction.

"Hey Deano, it's okay, I'm done," Sami smiled at Dean, standing up and brushing his knees clean, "Was just offering a quick prayer for tonight."

"You think we'll need divine help to beat those two clowns?" Dean tried to keep the disbelief out of his voice, mostly out of respect for Sami's religious beliefs.

"Nah, it was more of asking for protection," Sami shrugged, looking out his gym bag, "Don't want my buddy getting hurt before the big Ladder match."

Dean took a second to process what Sami had just inferred, "You were prayin' for me?! Why not for yerself?"

"Well, a selfish prayer will always go unanswered," Sami replied with a shrug, "So were you wanting to go over the match tonight, or did you just want to hang-out?"

"Since when have I ever needed to strategise?"

"That is a fair point, yes," Sami laughed heartily, "Okay, hanging-out it is."

"Actually, I…uh, wanted to check somethin' with ya," Dean sat down on the bench beside Sami, "About last week."

"Oh?" Sami placed his gym bag down on the floor, sitting beside Dean, "Sure, go for it."

"So…why didn't you kick my head off last week?" Dean asked bluntly.

Sami blinked in surprise, "…uh, okay, wasn't expecting that question…"

"Man, you could've dropped me and said it was just an accident," Dean shrugged, "Woulda believed ya, easy. But you forced yerself to stop. Why?"

"Because I didn't want to unnecessarily hurt a friend," Sami replied, a slight frown on his face, "Why else?"

"Ha, yeah…of course you wouldn't," Dean sighed sadly, "So…you must've been bummed that I nearly dropped you after, right?"

Sami took a deep breath before answering, "Not gonna lie…for a second I was thinking 'someone's taking advantage of my good nature again' but I could feel you weren't trying to cinch it in properly. Too loose a grip. You didn't try to fight me when I backed off. Honestly thought it was more of a warning shot than anything else. Don't worry, when the actual match comes I know you won't hold back, and neither will I. That's just the way it is."

"Right! Exactamundo," Dean nodded feverishly, "So how come you get that, but Roman didn't?"

"Well, I've been wrestling for a lot longer than Roman, so I guess I've got more of a feel for these kind of things?" Sami mused, before a horrified look overcame him, "Wait, is Roman still not talking to you? It's been months, Dean!"

"Yeah well, ever since he became 'the guy'," Dean used the most exaggerated air quotes Sami had ever seen in his life, "It's like I'm the pesky younger brother that he's too cool to be seen with now. 'Course, Rollins comes waltzin' back and immediately gets his attention. At least Rollins was upfront about backstabbin' me…like it or not he at least gave a reason. Roman just blanks me now…"

"Oh Dean, if I'd known I'd have made more of an effort to hang-out more often," Sami looked crestfallen, "Sorry, I should have noticed."

"Dude, you're apologisin' for nothin'," Dean rolled his eyes at Sami, "You got yer own problems you were dealin' with. 'Sides, soon enough he won't have a choice but to talk to me."

"Oh, how's that?"

"The briefcase, man," Dean replied grimly, "That thing might be my last shot at getting in the same ring with Roman ever again. 'Specially if this brand split deal puts us on different shows. Like…all I wanna know is why. Why throw away all those years of brotherhood, why I'm suddenly nothing more than a cockroach…and if I gotta drive your head through the mat to get a chance to know why, then rest assured I will."

"It's fine, I get it," Sami sympathetically patted Dean on the shoulder, "It's the not-knowing that's the hardest thing. I'll never know the real reason Kevin seems to hate me as much as he does, but if there's a chance you can figure out what Roman is thinking, then I'd be a horrible person to say you shouldn't go for it."

Dean let out a small sigh of relief, "See, I shoulda known you'd understand that. I know you won't make it that easy for me come the show, though."

"Hey, that's a guaranteed title shot we're fighting for!" Sami chuckled, "I'm totally going to kick your head into the front row to win that. I promise to feel really bad about it, though."

"Fine by me," Dean offered his hand to Sami, "Winner buys the beers?"

Sami looked none-too-impressed at Dean's offer, "Dean, you are aware I don't drink alcohol, right?"

Dean smirked at Sami before replying, "Is that another Canadian thing?"

Sami nudged Dean none-too-gently, "Shut up, Deano."

Dean let out a scandalised gasp, "Is that any way to talk to your tag team partner before the big match?"

"Nah," Sami smiled warmly at Dean, ruffling his hair a little, "Just to a good friend."

Dean could only smile bashfully in return. Yeah, finding out the truth from Roman was still important…but it wasn't the only important thing in Dean's life anymore. The absolute dork willingly sitting beside him was proof of that. Whatever happened at Money In The Bank, and even beyond that, Dean could go on knowing he wasn't going about it alone.