A/N: I have done my research on the shoulder surgery & physical therapy but I'm not a doctor so if anything is inaccurate my apologies. Hopefully you enjoy the story! Let me know!

/

Sami isn't usually one to complain - especially about menial things - but wow he hates this sling. After two months straight of wearing it all he wants to do is tear it off, shoulder be damned. But he knows he needs to follow doctor's orders or his chances of getting back into the ring are going to plummet. Its what keeps him going. The doctor okayed him to run and so every morning after reminding himself he needs to stay in shape for not if, but when, he returns to action, he gets up and goes jogging.

He tries his best not to time himself. He takes his usual route around his neighborhood then down to the bike/jogging path not too far from his apartment complex. Sami's music blares in his ears egging him to keep going even though his muscles ache. He's becoming accustomed to sitting on his couch.

He hates it.

This feeling of uselessness. He should be the ring, he should be at the performance center right now with the early risers like Bayley, Charlotte and Finn.

But no. Sami is stuck where he is. The only thing that will help him heal is time.

Although, later today he starts physical therapy which will help to not only move the process along but see how much damage was really done. He does his best not to think about that last part.

He can only think of progressing. He can't think of not wrestling, not doing the thing he loves the most, sitting in a nearly empty apartment save for his dog-

Sami turns his music up louder to drown out the thoughts.

/

"Hey man whats goin' on?" Enzo is enthusiastic as ever to see him walk through the performance center doors, having just gotten back from a break himself. "You supposed to being walkin' around without your sling, man?"

Sami gives him a one-shoulder shrug. "I have to take it off to drive but I'm about to get some physical therapy so I left it in the car. Not much can be done if I'm wearing it."

"Glad ta see you here though. Gets pretty borin' without a little ginger in the mix."

That earns a chuckle from him. "I thought that meant I don't have a soul?"

Enzo scoffs. "Soul, schmoul. Whateva. As long as you bring some awesome beats ta listen to here I don't care if ya got tar in ya instead of a soul. Speakin' of, you bring your iPod? Any new stuff?"

Never one to disappoint his friends Sami pulls it out of his back pocket. He hands it and jokes, "Be careful it was in my back pocket while I went on my run this morning. Could still be sweaty."

Enzo makes a show out of pretending to gag while holding it out as far as he can reach. Even with things looking so glum right now the man still knows how to make Sami laugh.

The red head checks his watch. "I got to get going to the medical office. Have a good work out, 'Zo."

"Hell yeah."

Sami is cheerfully greeted by many others while walking through the halls. Even though he might not be here every day anymore he's still part of the group and he's glad they do their best to make him feel included. He's still invited for friendly dinner outings (although they're few and far between, everyone has been very busy) and Bayley has made sure to pencil a couple visits into her busy schedule to see how he's holding up. She always brings nutella as a gift so he really can't complain.

He stops on his way, having a conversation with the best bringer-of-gifts Bayley when someone slams into him as they're passing in the hall. Thankfully its his good shoulder but it still jerks his bad one, causing him to hiss in pain.

"C'mon man, watch it," Sami says.

He only catches a glimpse of the man as he continues on without but a word but it isn't someone he's ever seen before. Sandy blonde hair, an angry expression on his face. Not someone Sami is going to get an apology from anytime soon it appears.

"What was his deal?" Bayley huffs apparently upset on his behalf.

"Dunno. Guess he's not Dropkick Murphy's fan or something," Sami responds giving a pointed glance to his band t-shirt.

"So can I come visit my favorite puppy dog tonight? I'll even bring you more nutella to bribe you if I have to."

Giving a cartoonishly heavy sigh, he says, "I suppose. But don't even think about giving him more dog treats. He's gained more weight than I have."

Sami barely makes it on time but when he enters the office the head physician, Craig, is standing there with someone he doesn't recognize. He waves him over and gives a quick introduction, "Sami, this is Anika. She'll be helping you with your physical therapy."

Sami gives her a quick once over as Craig leaves them be. He wouldn't mind staring at her for one hour a day, at the very least. Long black hair, pale, wearing black glasses and has a nice smile. He silently thanks whoever hired her.

"Nice to meet you. Fan of your work," She says politely, holding out a hand. She then gives him a confused look. "You're out of your sling?"

"Um, yeah."

"Thats good. I'm not sure if you knew it or not but when you begin physical therapy there isn't much point in wearing it. If its comfortable for you still its okay, but it may be counterproductive after a certain point." She stops for a beat then queries, "Do you prefer Sami or should I be more formal? Sorry, kind of new here."

"Sami is fine."

"Okay Sami, follow me. Hopefully, I'm not so new I've forgotten where the equipment is at. Can't have you lifting brooms in a closet."

He smiles, following her. When they begin his actual therapy he immediately wishes he were back in his sling. The pain isn't so horrible that it has to stop, but his shoulder isn't used to moving. And all theyr'e doing is having him stretch it.

"Don't do it past your comfort point. You don't have a quota to reach," Anika is quick to remind him, seeing the flashes of pain in his face. "And if you're trying to hide the pain from me you should know I've had grown men cry in front of me before. So I'm not judging you for more than forgetting to put on deodorant this morning."

Sami stops where he stands and sniffs under his arm. "Oh god, my bad. Woo. I swear I took a shower this morning."

Anika laughs and moves a step away. "I'll just stop standing down wind."

"If we could stop for a minute that'd be great."

"Sure, I'm not in any hurry. We're almost done so maybe one more stretch after this."

When he sits down in a chair nearby Sami hears a very familiar theme fill the empty air - its Mankinds theme "schizophrenic".

"Guess you are a fan," He says, trying his best not to massage his shoulder since it never really helps.

The woman doesn't reply. She seems suddenly distracted, pulling out her phone to then put it on silent. With a forced smile she says, "It was unprofessional of me to pull out my phone. Sorry, I thought I had it on silent."

"Its no problem. I'm going to assume you have a social life outside of these walls. Unless they herd the staff into the basement after hours."

Anika takes a seat next to him and wraps her long hair into a ponytail. He notes that her leg keeps bouncing up and down very quickly - a sign of anxiety."Yeah I wasn't told that was part of the deal when I signed on. But thankfully I have my own cot and everything."

"So you said you're new here? Where were you before?" Sami asks, trying to keep a conversation going. She seems grateful for a conversation, her nervous leg slowing down.

"Kentucky. I moved here a year ago which should probably mean I'm not new, but I haven't gone out much. I'm happy I got this job though, everyone has been really nice so far."

"You haven't gone out much? What, did you get mono or something?"

Anika starts wringing her hands and shrugs. "Just . . . haven't, I guess."

His friendliness gets the best of him and before he can even think about it Sami offers, "You could come over tonight."

The young woman looks rather shocked at this. Sami is about to backtrack and fast when she replies, "I, um, can't. I have something tonight with family. But maybe another time?"

Its unexpected but when she smiles up at him he can feel his heart starting to beat faster.

Oh no, oh no. Not now. Not when he's trying to focus on getting back in the ring, not when he's honestly in a slump where his day-to-day is depressing him. A sudden crush is not what he needs.

He realizes he's taken far too long to answer he and stumbles, "Yeah, yeah, sure. So should we get that last stretch in so I can collapse on the floor in pain?"

"If you don't cry by the end of this session I'll be sorely disappointed."

"Just turn on the first ten minutes of Up that should do the trick." He feels satisfied when she rolls her eyes at him.

/

"Piiiiickle!" Bayley yells, stretching her arms out so the german sheperd can jump up into her arms, his tail wagging in pure delight. "Your daddy told me no treats, boy, but maybe I'll sneak some into this prison next time."

"Yeah, yeah, he's truly suffering," Sami monotones. "Did you bring me my treat atleast? I'm the injured one."

Bayley pulls a jar of nutella out of her heavy bag hanging off of her shoulder. "Wouldn't dream of wasting your time without it."

"I'm going to have to run twice as long this week because of you damn it."

The dark haired woman takes a seat next to him on the couch. Pickle squeezes in between them, his tail thumping Bayley on her side hard enough to be uncomfortable.

"Its your fault for playing the 'I'm so helpless' card by the way. You picked the wrong person to do that with because I will comfort your sorry butt with food for weeks," she remarks.

"I need something to keep me going. It gets kind of old, sitting in my apartment watching my entire dvd collection over again. Completely forgot I own the crappy teenage mutant ninja turtle movies. Still crappy, if you're curious, but fun."

"You'll be hanging around the center more often though with your physical therapy," reminds Bayley with a sympathetic smile. "We've missed you, Sami. Its not the same pranking Sasha without you."

Sami is very grateful for her words. He was concerned - no matter how silly the concern may be - he would slowly fade from their memories. He knows Kevin is going to be around for him no matter what happens but there are plenty of new friendship he's made where they could easily cross him off of their friends list.

"How was today?" Bayley asks, digging out two spoons for their nutella. Sami happily grabs one for himself and they dig in.

"Good. My shoulder hurts from being so stiff, but I'm on the right track." Sami scoops some out with his spoon and contemplates a second beore adding, "Plus the girl is pretty cute."

"Ooooohhhh?"

"Oh no Bayley, don't use that tone-"

She repeats it, only longer this time. "Ooooooooohhhhhhhh?"

"Ugh. I knew I shouldn't have said anything."

"Don't sulk, Sami. Tell me her name. Maybe I can get her number for you."

"She's 20 at the most, Bayley. And she probably has a boyfriend," Sami mumbles around his spoon.

"And I probably won't get to eat half of this jar but damned if I don't think about the prospect. Did she seem interested?"

"I dunno. I invited her over after she mentioned she really hasn't done much in the last year but oddly enough, on the one day I do invite her, she has something with her family. So probably not." Sami feels a little foolish for feeling as rejected as he does. So what if she said no? So what if she's not interested? He barely knows her.

The thing is he would like to know her more. Thats what gets him.

"Probably nerves so she backed up. You should try and stop being so hunky, might've intimidated the poor girl." Bayley gives Pickles a few scritches around his ears and tries her best not to continue in this direction. But its been so long since Sami has shown any interest for a woman she wants to pounce on this chance.

She doesn't even have to try because her friend speaks up. "I think it might have been an anxiety thing. She got pretty nervous after her phone rang."

"I think we should ask Pickles his opinion. Pickles, do you think Sami deserves a chance at a love life? Don't say a single thing if you do." When the dog doesn't let out a single peep Bayley grins. "See? Pickles thinks you should try."

"You say that now but if I ever pay attention to anyone more than him he gets jealous. He separated us for a reason."

"Just try talking to her more, Sami. If it doesn't work out don't get discouraged. I know things are pretty crappy right now, but you've got me, Enzo, Sasha, and everyone at the center. We're here for you, okay?"

She reaches over and squeezes his hand that is holding the nutella jar as a comforting gesture.

"Don't try and grab the jar after this. I know you have ulterior motives." Sami holds it further away from her.

"Defeated yet again!"