Notes: Introduction of a new (to this fic) character. I didn't think I'd be able to get him into this fic, but I did. Sorry for the short chapter. I'm hoping to start working on Silence again soon. Muses…I swear.

Dean sat in the ring corner and let out a sigh. He wasn't paying much attention to the action in the ring as he was too lost in thought. He couldn't shake the conversation he had with Roman. Something seemed off. He knew he and Roman hadn't talked in some time, other than the chance meeting at Royal Rumble, but he was pretty sure he knew him well enough to know he was lying.

"Penny for your thoughts Deano?" a voice said. He looked up to see the Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens standing there.

"Hey Kev. Didn't think you'd be back here now that you're on the main roster." He pulled himself up to a standing position and exited the ring.

"Joey asked me to come by and give some pointers since I was in town. You seemed kind of lost in thought."

"Yeah sorry. I was just thinking about stuff. How're Owen and Elodie?" Dean asked referring to Kevin's kids.

"They are good," Kevin said with a smile on their face. "I almost brought them but I thought I'd be too busy."

"Tell them I said hi." Dean saw Joey was signaling to him. "I'll talk to you later." He said and walked away.

"Sure Dean," Kevin said and went up to where Matt Bloom stood.

Dean walked over to Joey.

"Everything okay?" Joey asked.

"Yeah," Dean answered.

"How did your conversation with Roman go?" Joey said as they started to walk out of the main training room.

"He told me we will never be friends again. He told me that I needed to get it through my crazy mind and let it go. I know he's lying about something."

"Wait he said you needed to get it through your crazy mind?" Joey said starting to seethe. How could Roman say that? He wondered.

"Yeah. Is it crazy to want to be friends again? Did our friendship really mean nothing to Roman? We don't have to be around each other all the time to be friends."

"No, it's not." Joey said trying to keep his voice even. He didn't want to tip Dean off that there was something wrong with all of this. It wasn't his fault. "That totally sucks man. I'm going to talk to Roman about this."

"Maybe he's right. Maybe we should just let it go. My ankle won't let me in the ring again. I don't want to remind Roman of my failures."

Joey was surprised by what Dean was saying. It wasn't much different than what he was saying before Wyatt cleared his memory. Dean hadn't wanted to be with Seth and Roman anymore. He didn't want to be reminded of what happened to him.

"I'm going to head out," Dean said as he went over to grab his bag from Joey's office. "I have an appointment with Dr. Andrews tomorrow. See you later." He said and left.

Joey watched him go and looked at his watch. He headed to his office. He was going to have a word with Roman. He had barely opened the door when a fist hit him out of nowhere and he fell to the floor out cold.

The large man stepped out of the shadows and reached into Joey's pocket and pulled his cellphone out. He pocketed it and slipped out of the Performance Center without anyone seeing him. Or so he thought.

DDD

End notes: I was not referring to Kevin Owens. You'll see who stole the cellphone and why soon