Notes: I'm starting with the happier version of how it could have ended. Also, I rewrote how the outside of the match went back when Dean kayfabed got hurt. Joe actually did the exact opposite in the match.

Dean waited until Seth and Roman had walked away. Roman had just done the toughest speech he had ever done. Dean still wasn't sure how he had gotten through it without crying. He had placed a hand on the back of Seth's head while he hugged Roman. He had to be the cornerstone he had been known for. No matter the hell he had been through for the past 365 days first not breaking a table and messing up his arm. Then Joe slamming his arm in a crate that put him on the shelf for eight months. He never once blamed Seth. It was bad timing as Joe had pushed him in the way to take most of the brunt of Seth's body.

Then there was almost dying. Roman had been there as much as he could. Seth called and texted but he and Seth hadn't been that close ever since Seth broke up the Shield. They'd probably never be best friends again, but Dean was okay with that.

He unfolded the paper and read it.

Dean,

I know it's been a tough year for you. Please know that even though I'm not with you on the road, I'm wish you in spirit. Take care of Seth.

That was so Roman. Dean thought as he pocketed the note. Always thinking of him and Seth instead of himself.

He went through backstage looking for Roman and Seth. He found Seth standing in the locker room. He was putting on his Shield vest. "Roman's gone back to the motel," Seth explained. "He said he'll be

Dean nodded as he changed out of his black tank top and into his Shield shirt. He looked at the vest that was lying on the top of his bag. He sometimes wore it to ringside but he took it off before the match. Tonight, he really didn't feel like wearing the vest and the dog tags. He put his dog tags on.

"We should strategize," Seth said.

"You are the architect. You plan and tell me what we're going to do. I don't want to talk about it. I don't even want to do this match."

"We gotta win the titles for Roman."

"Are you serious?" Dean asked staring at Seth as if he had lost his mind. "Is the gold all you care about Seth?"

"No," Seth stuttered. "It's just something we have to do."

"Yeah whatever. I'm going to get something to eat." Dean said and stormed out of the locker room.

He headed for catering and found it mostly empty except for wrestlers who had to be backstage but never really got matches. He sat down and picked at his food.

"Tough break man," a familiar voice said.

Dean looked up and saw Kevin Owens standing there. The Canadian sat down across from him. Could tonight get any weirder? Dean wondered.

Dean got ready to get up but Kevin said, "you don't have to get up. Look I know we've had our problems, but I see you need a friend. Not of the Seth Rollins type it looks like. He's probably trying to figure out how to carry both titles."

Dean cracked a smile. "Yeah I've seen what you do to your friends." Dean shot back.

"Well Jericho had it coming." Kevin said with a shrug. "Yeah well okay we'll never be friends but you look like you need to talk to someone. I had my problems with all three of you, but it really sucks what happened to Roman."

"He never led on that he wasn't feeling well," Dean said. He hadn't wanted to talk about it, but he had no reason to put up a wall with Kevin.

Kevin nodded.

"Now he's just gone. Seth wants us to win this for Roman but I don't…" he couldn't finish that sentence. It wasn't that it was too hard to finish, he just wasn't willing to open up completely in front of Owens.

"The title isn't everything?"

Dean nodded.

"I get it man. Personally, I don't agree but I'm not you. Thank God." His phone started ringing. He looked down and a smile crossed his face. "Sorry it's Karina." He said getting up and walking away.

"I leave you alone for five minutes and you're suddenly buddy buddy with Kevin Owens?" Seth asked from behind him.

"Nah," Dean said.

"Well Charley wants to interview us about tonight."

Dean sighed. He might as well get it over with.

DDD

Dean stood on the apron watching Seth get the three count after Braun had chased Drew away. He got into the ring and tripped over his own feet. He hit the mat with his hand. He wasn't sure how he felt about this win. It really felt bitter sweet. Too bad Roman wasn't out there with them to celebrate. He looked behind him almost thinking Roman or someone would come in the ring but no one was there.

He got up and hugged Seth.

Dean dropped his hug and just let Seth hug him. he put a hand to the back of his head. he started to move away but Seth pulled him back into a hug.

"We did it." Seth said into his ear. "Roman's going to be proud. "We did it." Seth said into his ear. "Roman's going to be proud.

He dropped the title on the mat.

"What are you doing?" Seth asked.

"It's yours." He said and walked out of the ring.

"Dean it's okay." Seth called picking up the title to hand it back to him. "I didn't mean…"

Dean looked at him before shaking his head. "It's all you care about."

He looked at Seth one more time before walking away.

Once he got backstage he pushed Baron aside. "Ambrose!" Baron yelled. "You can't just…"

"Watch me," he yelled back as he kept walking.

After showering, Dean stood in the back at the end of the show. He still couldn't believe what had just happened. He felt someone staring at him and he turned to see Roman standing there and his best friend grabbed him in a hug and whispered the same words he had heard earlier tonight from Seth Rolliins. "It's okay."

"I don't want to do this as some kind of tribute to you. No offense man."

"None taken." Roman said rubbing a hand over Dean's shaved head.

"When did you get back here?"

"Right before your match. Someone called me saying you might need someone to talk to."

"Owens?"

Roman nodded.

"I didn't want to be in this match. I only stayed in the Shield after SummerSlam because you asked me to."

"I know man."

"We don't have to be tag champs Dean," Seth said stepping out of the shadows. "We'll tell Baron that he can stick them up his ass."

"God you sound like my cousin." Roman said shaking his head.

"Shut up," Seth said biting back a smile. "We can go our separate ways. Tell me what you want to do Dean."

"I don't know."

He really didn't.

DDD

Notes: I just realized this chapter is not going to be a simple three-chapter story! Each story may branch int its own. Let me know what you guys think of that possibility.