I don't owe anybody or anything of WWE. Just 'Braeden' is mine. I use a song: Foo Fighters "The Best Of You". I haven't asked for permission. Thank you so much, rkolove, my beta-reader. This wouldn't be possible without you.

Hope everybody enjoys!

I sat in the passenger seat of his car and looked out of the window. The landscape flew by as we approached our destination. The sky was cloudless and a mild breeze touched the treetops. I felt the warm sun on my skin, but it dazzled my eyes. I turned the sun visor down and stared into my dark brown eyes in the small mirror. Music played.

"… is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you …" Foo Fighters, as always. I smiled and looked at him. His fingers tapped out the rhythm on the wheel as he sang along quietly. He noticed my gaze and gave me a quick bright smile.

"…it's real, the pain you feel …" I looked down at the splint on my left knee. It didn't hurt so much this morning. I laid my head back on the headrest and closed my eyes.

"Braeden, we're almost there." Adam broke the oppressive silence.

"You should know!"

"The navi knows."

I laughed. Almost from the beginning of our friendship he just knew how to get me. "Thanks for driving me," I said gratefully.

"Don't mention it!" Adam replied, waving away my thanks with his hand. He had no doubt that he would drive me. He invited me. He had a few days off and wanted me to stay at his house in Tampa and drive me to rehab in Miami. I wanted to take a flight from Alabama to Miami but I couldn't refuse his offer because he wouldn't let me. He thought my little accident was his fault, but it wasn't - it was an accident. But the thousand discussions with him about it didn't change his mind. He just didn't want to. So I gave up and let him have his way.

When he had his surgery I was there for him. That was easy because I was part of his medical team. He didn't have many visitors - his friends didn't have much time and he didn't want his family to see him like that. I spent a lot of time with him because I thought I could help him through it. We became real good friends, and now he was there for me. As a German living in the US it was hard, especially when you're injured and in hospital. My family and friends were in Germany and I felt lost; but he was there for me as much as he could. And that was much more than I was for him and our friendship became as close as you can imagine a friendship to be. Maybe his bad conscience helped a little …

I spent a wonderful evening with Nat, Jay and Adam at his house. I got to know the other two when Adam was in hospital. I didn't know anything about wrestling. I just knew they were professional wrestlers, nothing more. I just wasn't interested. I did surgery for some wrestlers and that was enough. I never saw them wrestle live or on TV. It wasn't my world. But I was so happy that I took Adam's invitation because to that evening I didn't know how much I missed having good friends around. And it was great to have them around before heading to rehab.

He took his biggest car and drove me. There was so much space inside. At the beginning of our trip he pushed the passenger seat back for me as far as it would go so that I could stretch out my injured leg.

We drove into the parking lot and he turned the car off. "Wait! Don't move!"

I heard the trunk open and saw him with my huge suitcase and my crutches. He dropped the suitcase on the ground and leant my crutches against his car next to the passenger door. He opened the door as far as possible. I turned in the seat to face him. Adam just smiled calmly, put his hands on my waist and lifted me up carefully. He brought me close to him and I took the chance to embrace him.

"Hey, you're alright?" he asked, sounding a little concerned.

"Thank you so much! This is just what I need right now," I said and slowly let go of him.

He grabbed my suitcase and hand-baggage and we started the slow walk over to the entrance. Adam stayed by my side as I made my way on my crutches. We past the sign that read 'Grey Rehabilitation Centre'.

"Adam, I don't wanna be here! I feel so …" I searched for the right words to describe my dilemma.

"Helpless and weak?"

"Frustrated and lost!"

"No one understands better than me, but hey, don't worry, Brae. It's really great here, like a vacation with exercises. Believe me, I spent most of last year here. Now it's your turn." Adam seemed to read my mind. I couldn't and I didn't want to hide my smile, a little sad but mostly thankful, and got his beautiful one back.

I slipped easily through the revolving door and suddenly stood in the impressive lobby of Grey Rehabilitation Centre. It looked like something out of a movie. Marble on the ceiling, parquet on the floor, paintings on the walls and beautiful plants guided the way to the desk.

"Still cool, eh!" Adam interrupted my stupid goggling.

"Definitely! I've seen this a few times before but it's still so impressive, every time."

We came to the marble desk. The receptionist, a woman around 50, I guessed, wore a dark blue blazer and a white blouse. She looked at us through her glasses. Her name badge said 'Mrs. Peterson'.

"Good Morning. Welcome you to … Adam!" she exclaimed when she saw him.

"Susan!" he grinned, going around the desk and hugged the surprised receptionist. "It's good to see a familiar face here!"

"What are you doing here? Patient again?" she asked, looking worried.

"Nope, not yet and hopefully not so soon again."

"Oh I see, your girlfriend needs medical treatment." We looked at each other smiling.

"Susan, what do you think of me? She's not my girlfriend. You know you're the only one." Adam grinned sweetly.

"You charming liar!" she chuckled.

"This is … ", I cut him off.

"…Doctor Braeden Miller and I start my medical treatment here today," I said politely.

She checked the computer and then she laid a key on the desk. "Here you are. It's room 207. In 30 minutes one of our employees will visit you. The elevator is just around the corner there." She pointed a direction. "But Adam knows everything here. When you need something or want to talk just come around here. It feels like I'm always here," she smiled.

She was so friendly. I felt like home. Ready to start.

Adam took the key and walked me to my room. He unlocked the door, pushed it open and stepped back to let me go in first. It looked like a hotel room. Was I really on vacation? The bed was the kind that you never want to get up from when you finally lay in it. Damn it! I had a huge lack of sleep. I wanted to jump on it, but my aching knee stopped me.

"Do you need anything?" Adam asked considerately as he wrapped his left arm around me and pulled me against his chest. I closed my eyes and heard his heart thumping. Such a familiar sound.

"I don't think so," I whispered not really sure if I had a lack of anything.

He let go off me and put my suitcase on the bed.

"Oh, Brae," he groaned "how many bottles of Ginger Ale do you've taken with you?"

"Probably not enough!" I laughed. "You know that's my weakness, my kryptonite."

"Should I order a delivery service?" He kept on joking about my addiction to this damn good tasty drink. "I would!"

He just stood there, pushed his wild blonde hair back from his face as his eyes rested patiently on me. I hobbled to him to give him what he deserved. The closest hug friends like us are able to give without crossing the border. I clung to him, my cheek against his, his strong arms wrapped firmly around me and my body close to his.

"Bye sweetheart. Just call whenever you want to, day or night. We'll try to visit you, ok?" He spoke his goodbyes and kissed my cheek.

I closed the door and leant against it. I was alone. Silence surrounded me. I took a deep breath and held on for a moment. I hobbled over to the bed and opened my suitcase. My left knee was aching. I looked down at the splint. Just as I was putting some clothes into the wardrobe there was a knock at the door.

"Yes please, come in," I answered it with a little smile.

A woman, around 40, opened the door.

"Doctor Miller," she smiled. "I'm Anne Ferguson. I welcome you to Grey Rehabilitation Centre. It's not a nice reason to welcome you but we'll do everything to make your stay as comfortable and successful as possible. I'll show you the centre, explain your rehab schedule and introduce you to all the people you'll be working closely with, especially the physiotherapists."

When I walked down the halls I realized how amazing this rehab centre was. They had everything you could possibly need. Gym, swimming-pool, spa. Oh, this looked like it could be fun! I was so excited.