TLC

The morning after TLC 2017

His phone vibrating wildly against the nearby nightstand, waking him from a very peaceful, deep sleep was enough to put Roman Reigns in a foul mood. The pounding headache and soreness all over his body from his current illness resuming upon his awakening, however, pushed him from merely angry to pissed. Glancing briefly at the blinding picture on the screen, he growled audibly as he put the phone to his ear.

"Your ass better be in jail or dead." The Samoan warned, pushing back a strand of his long, black hair with his free hand.

"Someone's bitchy." Dean Ambrose chuckled from the other end. A mischievous grin appeared on the brown-haired man's face as he leaned back against the headboard of his hotel bed. "You know that you worry about me if I don't check in."

"Not enough to have you call at 2 in the fucking morning, idiot." Roman smiled slightly himself. Although, it was more of a half of a smile and half of a wince due to his head and body aching. "Where's Rollins? I thought he knew that it was his turn to watch you."

"Cross Fit Jesus is in the shower." Dean shrugged, twirling the empty beer bottle in his free hand casually. "How you doing, Uce? You catch any of the show tonight?"

"Nah, man." Roman apologized, remembering that the TLC pay per view had taken place. "I've been out of it most of the day."

"No worries." Dean replied, "Sleep's probably good for you."

"I think it's these pills they gave me," Roman continued, "Knock me on my ass! Angle do all right?"

"Yeah, he did great." Dean replied, hearing the shower come to an end. "We even got him to don Shield gear. Still, it wasn't the same as it would have been with you. Docs give you any kind of an update as to when you'll be back?"

"Nah." Roman sighed, "Still too early to tell, but it should only be a few weeks. This shit sucks though, D. Everything from my head to my toes hurts! I feel like I've been through back to back Hell in a Cell matches, followed by a TLC match."

"Damn." Dean winced as Seth walked back into the main room.

"Who in the hell are you talking to?" Seth raised a suspicious eyebrow, "It's 2 in the morning."

"Ah, just some phone sex chick." Dean smiled, turning his phone on speaker. "She sounds fucking hideous though! Not sure that I'd recommend…"

"Oh, God damn it." Seth interrupted upon recognizing the laughter coming from the other end of the phone. He put a hand to his forehead and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Big Dog! Turn my back on him for one second, and this is what he does."

"Eh, no worries, little brother." Roman waved off, knowing that if there was a way to cause mischief, Dean Ambrose would find it in less than a second.

"Told you that she sounds hideous." Dean continued to laugh.

"Definitely doesn't sound like my type." Seth agreed, sitting down on his bed. "How you feeling, brother? We missed you tonight."

"Feel like shit." Roman sighed, taking inventory. "I was just telling Mr. Ambrose that I've been out of it most of the day. Probably going to pass out again after I get off with you two clowns. Been camped out in the guestroom; Galina thought it'd be better that way."

"Yeah," Dean nodded, "Don't want the wife and kids getting sick."

"Definitely." Seth agreed.

"How'd the match go?" Roman asked, curious about Seth's opinion.

"Went great." Seth replied, looking over at Dean with a teasing smile. "Would have been better if someone would learn how to break a table."

"I'm telling you it was a conspiracy!" Dean replied, narrowing his eyes. "The Table Gods had something against me tonight!"

"Table Gods?" Roman raised an eyebrow.

"Hey." Dean warned, "Don't doubt the mighty Table Gods. They are very fickle creatures, who smite those that—"

The brown haired man found himself being interrupted by Seth throwing a pillow in his direction, hitting him in the face.

"No more beer for you tonight."

"How many has he had?" Roman wondered.

"Just one actually." Seth replied, dodging the pillow Dean had thrown back in his direction. "And before you ask; yes, he has taken his meds today."

"Let's just chalk it up to you guys having a good night." Roman shrugged.

"Not the Shield Reunion that we had planned," Dean nodded, "Still a good night though, despite the Table Gods cursing me."

"At any rate," Seth said, thinking about debating the existence of Table Gods with Dean but deciding to save it for another time. "Braun had a message that he wanted me to pass on."

"Oh, yeah?" Roman replied, his curiosity peaked at what his on-screen worst enemy could possibly have to say.

"This is a direct quote." Seth grinned, "Ahem, roses are red. Violets are blue. Get well soon, because I'm not finished with you."

"Beautiful poem." Dean remarked as all three men laughed.

"I'll have to text him when I feel better." Roman smiled, wishing that he was sharing the hotel room with Seth and Dean, and not bedridden. He missed his two surrogate little brothers.

"You'll be back before you know it, Big Dog." Seth replied, picking up on the longing in the other man's voice.

"Timing just sucks." Roman groaned, "Right as we're about to have our first match back as The Shield, I go down with this crap." He paused momentarily. "I swear to God, D, if you say anything about this being because I somehow upset the Table Gods—"

"Oh, no." Seth moaned, falling back onto his bed. "Now, you're talking about stupid fucking Table Gods."

"I will get out of this bed," Roman continued as if he hadn't heard Seth, "fly out to wherever you clowns are, and Superman punch you in the face."

"Ha! Empty threat, big man!" Dean countered, "Number one, they wouldn't let you fly in your condition, and number two, Vinnie Mac would go nuclear on your ass if you showed up here still sick."

"He's got you there." Seth said, sitting back up again.

"Occasionally, he makes sense." Roman laughed as the door to the room opened. His wife, Galina, poked her head inside and put a finger to her lips, telling him to quiet down. An apologetic look immediately shined in Roman's eyes. "Sorry, baby girl. It's Seth and Dean."

"Uh oh." Seth remarked, exchanging a glance with Dean. "Busted.

"Why you got to throw us under the bus, Big Dog?" Dean exclaimed, "Galina, I swear that we're innocent!"

"You're supposed to resting." Galina remarked, leaning against the doorframe. "Tell your road wives that you'll talk to them later. Otherwise, I might change my mind on that nurses' outfit I bought the other day and that sponge bath I promised." A teasing smile appeared on her face. "Believe that."

"Now," Roman smiled back at her, "how am I supposed to rest with THAT image, baby girl?"

"Roman," Seth replied, exchanging glances with Dean. "I swear that if you do NOT hang up with us right now and mess that up, I will—"

"Don't worry, little bro." Roman chuckled, "I may not be feeling 100%, but the brain still works. Peace out."

"Big Dog trying to get him some." Dean grinned widely after Roman hung up, doing a little dance in his seat. "Nice."

"Sounds like he's in good spirits at least." Seth nodded.

"Speaking of spirits," Dean continued to grin, "You want to hear more about the Table Gods?"

"Fuck my life." Seth sighed, falling back against the bed.