Title: If the Stars Fall
Author: Dana
Rating: PG
Warnings: None except the usual wrestling violence
Summary: When things go wrong, the Shield stays united even at the expense of their own jobs. And one of them feels so alone.
Author's note: This starts out during Money in the Bank 2014. Everything after the press conference at Payback is AU.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone you recognize.
Dean Ambrose was beyond angry when he stormed backstage at Money in the Bank. He had just lost his match to Seth Rollins after interference from Triple H. He knew he had Seth beaten. He should have expected it. He went backstage to where Roman Reigns was preparing for his match with Randy Orton. "Where were you?" Dean asked. "Getting ready," Roman said. "What happened? Did you win?" "No. Triple H hit me with a pedigree when the ref was distracted. I thought you said you'd have my back." "I'm sorry man," Roman said. "I guess I missed it. I would've been out there if I saw it." "Fine," Ambrose said. "I…" he was interrupted by a production assistant telling Roman his match was next. Roman left and Dean never felt so alone as he sat in the locker room alone. DDD
Seth sat down in a chair utterly exhausted. It had been a long couple of weeks. He had just flown in after spending a couple of days with his family in Iowa. It had been his mother's birthday and he had wanted to see her. After he had been unceremoniously fired the week before due to more 'budget cuts' which both Roman and Seth took as Hunter not wanting to deal with the situation. The hilarious part was Dean Ambrose wasn't listed on the first or second round of firings. Hunter could be really mean when he wanted to be.
He closed his eyes as he started to remember three weeks ago.
Ambrose had been quiet after the left the ring at Payback. He had been able to walk backstage and to the room where the press conference was being held. He had put his head down on the table and only sat up when Roman nudged him.
After the press conference the trainers examined Roman's back and arm. Dean refused to let them check him for a concussion saying he was just really tired and his head was just fine. He left the trainer's room and went to the locker room to change before a trainer could examine him.
Seth wondered if things would have gone differently if the trainer had examined him.
Dean had been quiet the whole way to the hotel. He and Seth were sharing a room while Roman was sharing a room with Goldust.
Seth let Dean take the first shower as he settled down in front of the TV looking for something to watch. All of the local news channels were talking about the Blackhawks losing game seven to the Los Angeles Kings. He had just found a CSI rerun when he thought he heard a thump.
"Everything okay?" He asked.
All he heard was the shower running.
Ten minutes later there was a knock on the door. Seth got up to answer it and found Roman.
"Dustin and I are going to get something to eat. You guys want to come?"
"Let me tell Dean." He said and walked to the bathroom door and knocked. The shower was still running. "Dean," he called loudly. There was no answer. He tried the door and found it unlocked. He opened the door slowly and then threw it open when he got a look. He hurried over to Ambrose who was lying unconscious on the floor. There was a blood smear on the tub where Ambrose had hit his head.
Roman appeared in the doorway and then quickly dialed 911.
The doctors guessed the initial head injury came when Triple H had hit Ambrose in the head with a sledgehammer. He most likely had a concussion and had lost his balance or passed out in the bathroom and cracked his head on the bathtub. There was a skull fracture and swelling to the brain. The doctor had said he was lucky he hadn't been killed instantly.
Neither Seth no Roman had gone to the RAW that night and had read online that Triple H had bragged about it.
WWE at first had been very understanding but then ordered Roman and Seth to be at RAW in Minneapolis. They didn't like it because it meant no one would be with Ambrose if he woke up or…
RAW ended up being a tag match between Seth/Roman/John Cena vs. The Wyatt Family with the two remaining members of Evolution coming out and making it a five on three brawl.
After the show they approached Vince and asked for time off which was granted to them. Two weeks later they were both fired.
The third member of the Shield, who may not wake up again, was still an employee of the WWE. Neither Roman nor Seth found that funny at all.
DDD
Notes: Sorry for any confusion. This fic is going to go back and forth between reality and what's going on in Dean's head. Dean's head will be in italics.