I don't owe anything or anyone of WWE. I owe Braeden. I used the lyrics of a song: Alanis Morissette "Ironic". I haven't asked for permission. Thanks for the lovely reviews. Thank you so much my one and only beta reader, rkolove.

The light in the bathroom was just right, not too bright. Quiet music came from the water resistant radio.

"… it's a death row pardon, two minutes too late, isn't it ironic? Don't you think? …"

I stood in front of the huge mirror and smiled bitterly, as I plaited my chestnut-brown long hair to a pigtail. I wore a red tank top and dark grey sport shorts. I was getting ready for my physiotherapy. Today it was with Kevin Donovan. We had a good time during our last exercise sessions - he motivated me, made me go to my limit, but always made sure that I didn't push myself too much.

45 minutes later, I was lying on my back, on a physical exercises mat with my left foot on a gymnastic ball. I tried to make it roll closer to me by moving my knee. I worked the ball countless times, again and again and again.

"That's enough for today," Kevin decided and took the ball away.

"Kev, I really can do more. You know I can. Again! Please!" I begged him to let me go on with the exercise.

"Braeden, you'll do more tomorrow!" he promised, trying to convince me that he was right. And I knew he was. So I stood up, carefully and slowly, and went to get my bag. I was trying to put my splint back on, when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Kevin answered immediately.

I didn't look to the door because I was still fighting with my splint.

"Good afternoon Doctor Carter," Kevin said surprised to the manager of Grey Rehabilitation Centre. "What brings you here?"

"Good afternoon Mr. Donovan. Am I disturbing you right now?" he asked politely.

They looked at me but I was finally done with my splint, took my crutches and turned around. I just smiled and walked to the door. Someone was standing behind Doctor Carter.

"I have a new patient for you."

I didn't really care but it wasn't possible not to notice him. He was tall with sturdy shoulders. I just glanced briefly at him when I passed. A new patient. And Doctor Carter himself used his precious time for him? It was obvious that he wasn't just a new patient, but a special patient.

The next morning I felt very good. Silence surrounded me again. I listened to myself gasp and felt my heart thump. The feeling of weightless was unimaginably and to move was so easy. I didn't feel pain in my leg when I glided through the water of the swimming-pool that belonged to the rehab centre. I went there every morning and tried to leave the world outside.

I was done for the day and walked away from the pool area. I stood in front of the big glass door and stopped to search through my bag for my room keys. The door was opened but I was still searching for my keys. Surprisingly, I didn't hear steps or the door closed. When I finally found my keys I saw why. Someone was patiently holding the door for me. I smiled.

"Hi!" he smiled back.

It was the new one, the impressive one. That he was tall I noticed the day before, but standing directly in front of me made me realized how tall in comparison to me. I guessed that he was Adam's height, who towered over my 5'9 self. And he didn't only have sturdy shoulders - he was well built all over. He had tanned skin and striking blue eyes. He wore a t-shirt and I could see his tattooed arms. His right arm stuck out of a sling.

"Thanks!" I just had nothing more to say before I turned my back on him.

Two hours later I was hanging around the lobby with Susan and waiting for my doctor to go to a separate part of the gym with me to do some medical tests there.

"Don't stare at him!"

"Why would I?" I asked a little offended because Susan just caught me staring at the new one. Oh damn! Susan's watchful eyes missed nothing. But despite being caught, I couldn't stop.

He had just come in and looked over to the reception, when Carter walked across the lobby towards him. The new one put his left hand in his jeans pocket. Just his thumb stuck out and played with the loop. He bobbed with his feet and his eyes roamed around the lobby. Carter talked to him and he gave him patiently very short answers. He didn't look very comfortable.

I had to think about Adam and what he told me about his time here in rehab. He was one of Carter's special patients too. In the beginning, Carter visited him every day. He was getting on Adam's nerves and Adam tried to avoid him but it was almost impossible to get rid of him. Carter just cared a lot about his special ones. But what was so special about this new one?

"Doctor Carter," Susan suddenly called for him "I have important information for you."

Carter stopped talking and turned around. Susan looked at him encouragingly. Carter turned back to the new one. I caught his eyes and as I started to make gestures for him to leave, I mouthed the word 'go' without speaking a sound. When Carter came over to the reception, the new one smiled gratefully and before he left he mouthed 'thank you'.

After my medical tests, I had an exercise hour with Kev. I left his room and closed the door slowly behind me. With my head down, I stared on the floor. Thoughts were running through my head about the medical results. I threw my crutches away and fell onto the couch that stood next to Kev's room. Disappointed, I put my face in my hands. Someone was sitting on the couch, but I didn't care.

"Hi!" he just said.

"You've already said that today!" I sighed.

I didn't mean it in a bad way. I just didn't want to talk or listen. I was drifting through my thoughts. He got up without saying anything else. I sighed again as I rubbed my face with my hands. I moved my head slowly to look up and stared into his face. He crouched in front of me holding my crutches. I was surprised but without thinking I reached my hands out.

"Thanks …"

A grin flickered around the corners of his mouth. Just a small one. It was short, but I saw it. It took a moment but then I realized.

"Eh … I've already said that today, huh?"

He didn't need to answer. The amused look that came over his face was enough. I was such a fool, but I couldn't help but laugh – a laugh that felt so good on this frustrating day.

"What's wrong?" he asked, serious again.

"Aawwww … " I let out a deep breath. "It's not so bad."

"But bad enough to be on your mind."

"It just might sound pathetic to someone else."

"Try me."

I didn't want to embarrass myself. I didn't want to make a fool of myself. Well, I'd already done that, but I didn't want it to make it any worse. If that was possible. But I wasn't sure if I wanted to talk to someone whose name I didn't even know. I could talk later to Adam or Nat or Jay or … nobody. I looked at him, at his arm in the sling. Maybe this was my only chance to talk. Maybe it wasn't such a stupid idea just to talk to someone who was in a similar situation, at least in the same situation. I didn't know him but it felt like I could just tell him. Like two shipwrecks on a lonely island. It was really strange but it was worth a try. What could happen?

"Why not?" I started "I had this week's progress check. Well, secretly I try every day on my own to see where I stand. And it's good, because you can't lie to yourself. If it aches, it aches. And you know that. But the official check is a little different. Your progress is official. The success is measurable," I paused.

"And it wasn't successful this week?" he asked.

"It was! It was okay, but I expected more for some reason. It's just so disappointing. The progress seems to be minimal."

"I know what it's like to work hard and you know what you've done but nothing seems to get better. It's just frustrating."

I looked into his eyes and smiled thankfully. He really did understand.

"Feel better?" he asked softly.

"A little," I answered as I got up. So did he. "By the way, I'm Braeden."

Kev opened his door and looked out. "Randy."

"That's me!"

I held on for a moment and took a few deep breathes, in and out. The fresh air was so pleasant. I had just stepped in the huge park that belonged to the rehab centre. I wanted to go for a walk. Like I used to, every afternoon. Now, I had an aim.

I walked for a while before I was almost there. During one of my first days in rehab I decided to discover the huge park. All of it. On my own. It took me some time but I was used to that. At the other end of the park, hid behind some shrubs stood a single bench. No one was around. I hadn't seen anyone when I was walking there. It was really like being in the middle of nowhere.

And now I was close to my rest again. Just behind the few shrubs. But when I passed by I could see through them that there was someone sitting on the bench. As I got closer, I saw that this 'someone' was Randy. He was more hanging then sitting on the bench with his long legs stretched out and his head leant against the back. It didn't look very comfortable. The bench was definitely not built for his size. His eyes were closed and his face turned towards the sun. He looked so relaxed, and that in rehab. He had his sling off. It lay on the top of a pile of stuff next to him. There was a laptop, a cell phone and a bottle of water. I didn't want to startle him. So I made a few extra-loud sounds when I finally got to the bench. He opened his eyes and blinked in the sunlight.

"Do you mind if I rest here?" I asked sweetly.

"How could I say 'No'?" He slid over to the right side and grabbed his stuff.

I sat myself slowly down on his left. I leant my crutches against the bench between us. I took the bottle of Ginger Ale out of my small bag and took a sip before I took my splint off and stretched out, too. We sat there in silence.

"I hate rehab!" I stated after a while.

"Me too," he opened his eyes again, moved slowly and turned towards me. "Why do you hate it?"

I stared at him. "Doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and worst, injured people all around. 24/7! No escape!"

"Erm … You're injured!" he grinned.

"That's not funny!" I smirked.

"I'm injured!"

"Exceptions make the difference."

"Oh, thank you!" he laughed. "And because of all these people you walked the whole way over here? Must have taken you …" he looked at my knee and the crutches, "half an hour."

"Longer, but it's worth it. I like it here. It's so quiet and secluded. No one used to be around here … until today."

We smiled at each other like two shipwrecks on a lonely island again.