"Get up, Toby. Can't win a match lying on your back."

He sucked in a breath, trying desperately to get some oxygen to his screaming muscles and lungs. Getting to his feet was his only priority right then, but he couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Just a winding, though. He'd recover, and quickly. He just needed a second.

"Cale, get up! Come on!"

A surge of fresh air found its way to his lungs, and Tobias rolled to his feet a moment later, arms raised defensively as he locked eyes with his opponent again. Or, rather, his trainer.

"You need to learn to recover a lot faster, Toby."

"It's my first day, Paul. I'll pick it up."

"You've only got three months. I'm not going easy on you."

"Not asking you to. Just..."

"Making excuses."

Paul rushed forward again, and Tobias was forced to duck under the extended forearm, attempting to sweep the leg out from under the other man, but Paul was already too far away. When he hit the ropes and rebounded back, Tobias had less than a second to prepare himself, grabbing Paul's arm and dragging the man over his shoulder. Paul hit the mat hard, but he didn't need any time to recover, instead climbing to his feet less than a second after he went down. Once again, Tobias was on the defensive, struggling slightly to keep up with the pace of the assault, not to mention trying desperately to remember exactly how to perform each grapple correctly. But for everything that he came up with, Paul had a counter attack, and Tobias was pretty sure he spent more time on his back than he did on his feet.

After a Spinebuster, Tobias found himself unable to rise yet again, but this time there was an extended arm above him, and he grasped Paul's hand, using the other man's strength as much as he own to get to his feet. Not for the first time that day, he was regretting ever signing that time sensitive contract. But he was here now, and tomorrow would be better... hopefully.

"Come on, Toby, you look like you need a break. We'll grab something to drink, then hit the gym."

He groaned, but Paul just laughed, leading the way out of the ring, and into the house. Training outside in the middle of January was not exactly the most enjoyable of experiences, thanks to the weather, but it meant that he was jumping in the deep end. Might not get him in up to standard faster, but it would certainly toughen him up to take the hits, even if he might not be able to fight back so convincingly.

It was only when they were in the kitchen that Tobias realised exactly how much time they'd spent outside. No wonder he felt like shit; they'd been training for over three hours, but he still wasn't feeling any better about his performance. In time gone by, he would have been able to keep going even longer, not to mention putting up a better fight. Paul mentioned something about having a shower and disappeared upstairs, leaving Tobias to find himself something to drink, and an apple to snack on while he struggled to catch his breath again. The gym would be a return to what he knew and was comfortable with, but it was more the kindness of Paul's heart than anything else that had them moving there. Tobias needed to get better in the ring, and they both knew it.

It felt like he'd been staying at the house a lot longer than just the past three days. The meeting with Vince, Stephanie and Caleb had been a week ago, and the next day he'd gone to the gym that had employed him as a personal trainer since his dismissal and had quit. He'd spent the following three hours packing up everything in his small apartment before jumping on a plane to Connecticut, and moving in with Paul, of all people, who was taking a break from his alter ego, after another injury scare with his quad. They really weren't going to take chances with someone who had such a large fan base, especially since that fan base was more than willing to part with their money each and every week for anything that had his name or likeness on it.

They should have started training the second he arrived, but someone, most likely Caleb, had commandeering his first two days in order to record some interviews and finish up the DVD they were releasing. Tobias had to admit that it looked rather good, despite the fact that they glossed over everything that had happened after that fateful Wrestlemania. Then again, it was hardly a fresh start if he forced them to apologise for what they'd done in a DVD released under their own name. Not that it wasn't tempting, of course.

"Are you sure that eating was a good idea, Toby?"

Paul had returned, his hair still dripping from the shower, but with fresh clothes, rather than his usual ring attire. For whatever reason, he'd deemed it necessary for them to be wearing nothing more than their usual ring clothes, despite the distinct chill. It was a good thing that Tobias had kept his old pair, though he would need a fresh pair before he actually wrestled in front of a camera. They hadn't exactly been a priority, and, because of that, they'd become a little threadbare. It was more than Paul had been wearing, though.

"Just an apple. Besides, I figure you're going to keep me in the ring for a few hours, so I thought I'd need some energy."

Paul narrowed his eyes for a moment, then he grinned, glancing quickly around the kitchen and adjoining rooms before a fresh idea seemed to strike him. Tobias was at the mercy of whatever Paul decided to do, since his training and readiness was entirely in the other man's hands now, and the man didn't really seem like someone to set up a routine.

"Maybe you do need a bit of a break, if only to get some blood back to your fingers. When was the last time you watched an episode of RAW, or Smackdown!, for that matter?"

Tobias raised an eyebrow, then shrugged, not entirely sure he wanted to be honest at that moment. Then again, though, sure Paul would understand him not wanting to watch any wrestling after the way he'd been treated by the WWE while injured. Actually, no, Paul had always remained employed despite injury.

"To be honest, I don't think I ever saw a full episode, employed by the WWE or not. Before, there was always something else to watch. During, I rarely had the time. After... well, you can understand that, I hope."

"I get it, yeah. It means that you don't know what's changed since you left though."

"No, I don't. Is that a problem?"

Paul smirked, and Tobias immediately regretted his question. Over a much heartier lunch than an apple and water, Paul led him through the events that had happened in the WWE since his departure, after sending off an email to someone, requesting tapes of every week's show, for both Smackdown! and RAW. The idea of spending hours and hours watching the tapes didn't exactly appeal to Tobias, but it was going to give him an excuse to sit down every once in a while.

Following lunch, they went down to the basement, which had been turned into a gym, if only a small one. Due to the limited space, each machine was designed to raise muscle mass, rather than simply acting as a cardiovascular exercise, or something to build stamina. It was clear that, if he hadn't felt sore enough after constantly being thrown onto his back, he was going to feel even sorer still once Paul was done with him, but it was necessary. It was all necessary. At his former place of employment – the gym – Tobias hadn't needed to look like an entrant to the Mr. Universe, and even though he'd tried to keep up his strength, he'd felt himself struggling during the fight with Paul earlier.

Unfortunately, though, it didn't get easier the next day. Or the day after that. Even the next week, he felt like he'd been hit by a train, and he was starting to look like it, too. Fresh bruises were beginning to appear, mostly on his back, but there were some forming on his arms and chest, thanks to Paul's suggestion that they start using the ropes and turnbuckles as part of their training. If possible, it seemed like he was getting worse, but that could be blamed on the weight training. Not that Paul was going to allow any form of excuses, that smug grin almost always on his face. Somewhere along the time, Tobias had given himself a mission of sorts; determined to knock that grin clean off, though that didn't exactly seem possible just yet.

More weeks fell off the calendar, and still Tobias struggled, trying desperately to get back into shape, but still seemingly going backwards. Hell, the only thing he was even marginally successful in was watching the tapes and learning about the people he'd soon be facing off against, and that wasn't exactly something to be proud of. It put him on par with the fans, and, while he certainly wouldn't look down his nose at them, it didn't do anything to promote his qualifications for the job he was undertaking. Quitting wasn't an option, though, and Tobias simply kept telling himself that next time, the next day, next week, he'd feel better, fight better.

The day before the Royal Rumble, his DVD was released, and Paul decided to celebrate by waking him up at six in the morning for a double session in the ring outside. There was still snow on the ground, and some on the ring itself that they were forced to clean before they started. The icy texture of the ring's mat made every fall all that more painful, and, after the third time he found himself on his back, his resolve hardened, even as his back froze. The one improvement he had managed to make was his recovery time, no longer spending up to a minute lying on his back, and he was doubly fast with the ice and cold. Paul was still grinning, but that grin began to fade as he felt exactly how cold the ring mat was. By the time he'd hit the mat the eighth time, there wasn't even a trace of a smile on his face, replaced with surprise, mixed with amazement. If it weren't so freezing cold, Tobias might have taken time to wonder exactly why Paul was amazed, but every second was necessary now. In a televised match, there was a certain amount of scripting involved, which meant that everyone in the ring knew what was coming, and had time to prepare. Now, though, Paul could change his mind mid-attack, which meant that Tobias had to be constantly on the defensive. Or, rather, it would have. Now, though, he was on the offensive, for the first time in almost two months, not that it made him feel any more secure. In fact, he was probably more terrified of a counter attack now than he had been when he was playing defence.

It was the turning point. After that, the days were warmer, so there wasn't a constant fear of the ice, but Tobias was still able to hold his own, matching Paul rather than being overwhelmed by him. Paul had learnt from that especially cold day not to underestimate Tobias, but the battles were far more even now than they had been. Longer, too, but not as draining now that they weren't fighting the elements as well. His technique was growing more and more refined with each day, which meant that he wasn't putting unnecessary stress on his muscles, not that they'd really feel it now. The hours spent in the basement had hardened them to the point where they were almost completely numb, and almost three times stronger than they had been when he'd started. It didn't seem possible, but Tobias still hadn't reached his former strength, though it was unlikely that that particular hurdle would be mounted before he made his return to the WWE. It was a good thing he still had the muscle memory, otherwise he would have needed a hell of a lot more training than he was getting right now, though it could be argued that Paul could train up just about anyone if he really put his mind to it.

No Way Out came and went, though this time Tobias witnessed the event, having finally caught up with his viewing of the shows for the past several months, and, while he should have been interested with what he was seeing, it didn't mean a whole lot. No Way Out was a Smackdown! Pay Per View, so he wasn't going to gain very much from the three hours, but part of him did enjoy watching his old hunting ground, and seeing who held the power now. Unfortunately, he wasn't going to have the satisfaction of returning and showing Batista, the current champion, exactly who deserved to hold top spot. Winning the Money In The Bank would be enough, though. If they did decide to hold up that side of the deal. He'd have to be in shape for that to happen, though. His contract stated that he'd need to be found fit by the week before Wrestlemania, otherwise his return would be delayed, possibly indefinitely. Maybe Stephanie was right. Maybe there just wasn't enough time, even though he was improving in leaps and bounds now.

"Why did you decide to come back?"

Despite the fact that they'd been training together, and living together, for nearly three months, he and Paul hadn't really had that many conversations, at least not about their personal lives. In the beginning, they hadn't really had the time to, since Tobias had been sleeping when he wasn't training, but after that, they'd simply fallen into the habit of appreciating the silence. Still, though, he wasn't going to ignore the question, regardless of where it may lead.

"They presented me with an offer that I couldn't find any immediate fault with."

"An offer you couldn't refuse?"

Tobias raised an eyebrow, not entirely impressed, but he couldn't help but return Paul's grin before going back to the small meal in front of him.

"I could have refused it, but where would it have gotten me? I liked working with the WWE, apart from the obvious issues towards the end of my career, so why not come back?"

"You're not a little suspicious that they're just bringing you back to appease the fans, after which you'll be someone's whipping boy for six months then drop off the face of the earth?"

Unfortunately, Paul was reciting nearly every thought that had gone through Tobias' head since he'd agreed to the terms of the contract, and if someone else could see it all as clear as day, what were the chances that he was wrong with his original thoughts?

"They're giving me the briefcase. I doubt that means they'll be shafting me. Besides, isn't this all the outcome of a writer's fantasy script?"

"Scripts can be changed; you know that as well as anyone. Why are you putting faith in the people who already stabbed you in the back?"

He didn't know how to answer that, and so stayed silent, pushing a piece of chicken around on his plate for a moment before actually eating it. Every word that came out of Paul's mouth made absolute sense, and yet, at the same time, he knew he wasn't going to walk away. Was it the money that appealed to him? Highly possible. The fans? Equally as likely. Had he been a betting man, though, Tobias would have put all his money on the idea that he wanted to redeem himself, and actually do everything right this time. No injuries, no excuse to be let go despite still being a champion.

"I'm not putting any faith in them. The only explanation I can give you is that I know they felt guilty about the decision made. I was scheduled to be out of action for a year after what happened to my shoulder, which made me a liability, so I was released from my contractual obligations. Business wise, it was the right thing to do, but even so, your wife didn't appear to be all that happy about it during our meeting. People who only want to use you don't tend to look like they're grovelling when they ask you to come back."

Paul remained silent for a moment, then laughed softly under his breath, washing down the remains of his dinner with his beer before rising form the table.

"My wife doesn't grovel, Cale. And neither does her father."

As Wrestlemania grew closer and closer, they stopped working on generalist moves, since Tobias seemed to be excelling in that particular area, and began to focus on specialty moves, in particular his two finishers. Unlike what had happened with some former members of the WWE, Tobias' finishers hadn't been passed on to someone else and renamed, and therefore were his to own once again, though it had been a long time since he'd even tried to perform either, thanks to his shoulder, which meant that the training sessions weren't as fruitful as they had been in previous weeks. Paul was a patient sparring partner, though, and didn't move a muscle while Tobias tried to remember exactly how he locked in the awkward head lock, almost as if he was going for a Rock Bottom, but tighter, grasping one forearm with the hand from the other to make sure his grip wasn't broken.

Standing, this was an easy feat, but when they were trying to work out the Shadow's Embrace, Paul started wearing a padded vest to protect himself from the knee that was supposed to be forcing the air out of him. Too often, Tobias used too much force and momentum, and in the end managed to wind Paul with the knee before he'd managed to lock his arms in place around the man's head and arm, forcing him back down onto his back so fast he had no idea why he wasn't sitting up anymore, apart from the sharp pain. The longer they practiced, though, the easier it became, and before long Tobias could lock in the Shadow's Embrace without nearly breaking Paul's ribs, and he could actually pull off what was now referred to as the Requiem of Shadows without endangering either of their lives and safety. Due to the desire for the initial hold to look like an actual submission manoeuvre in its own right, Tobias was actually standing further around his opponent's body than one would for a Rock Bottom, to the point where one of his legs was actually behind the legs of the opponent. When he converted to a suplex of sorts, he brought that leg back in front of the opponent, so that their bodies were closer together and he wouldn't have to struggle so much to lift them, but the hold was not released until the final moment, since there was a very real danger of damage to the neck and shoulder. No wonder Paul hadn't been all that thrilled when he found out how long it had been since Tobias had last performed the attack.

Two weeks before Wrestlemania, they started playing with the ladders. Suddenly, the falls were that much more painful, and that much more serious. The first time Paul pushed him off the top of the ladder, he very nearly missed the mat, only just managing to avoid crashing down onto the grass, though that might have hurt less. The second time, he did miss the mat, and he most certainly had the wind knocked out of him this time. He was beaten with the ladder, thrown from it, sandwiched between it; anything and everything that might happen in the Money In The Bank match. Every weapon that might appear in the match slowly found its way into the ring, until they were duelling with weapons alone: chair against ladder, kendo stick against baseball bat, trash can against sledgehammer. Tobias hadn't forgotten how to take the hits, though, whenever possible making sure that there was something between himself and the object about to connect with his head. Thankfully, they had an ice machine somewhere within the house, meaning that he wouldn't be covered in bruises, if and when he did walk into the ring at Wrestlemania.