"He's stabilized." I held onto Hunter's words as hope as we rushed to the hospital. "The Doctors are saying its a hell of a brain bleed." The news hit all of us like a lead pipe. "Go be with him and Renee." We threw our bags together. Colby and I made sure we packed up Jon's and Renee's stuff for we reached the hospital, our stomachs got the ultimate sucker punch.
"He got sent to the O.R." The receptionist gave us directions to the waiting room. Renee was a mess as she paced around.
"Renee?" I stood at the door with the guys at my side. She turned and almost tackled me to the ground. The guys hugged us both.
"He was responsive for a bit. Something got missed. Jon flatlined." She sobbed, "They got him back and rushed him up to surgery."
"He's a stubborn s.o.b." Joe looked around at the other people in the room. "He'll elbow drop the Reaper just to get back to you." She chuckled slightly. Before we could sit, a doctor came to the door.
"Mrs. Good?"
"Is he okay?"
"He's in the recovery room. I'm having the nurses monitor his condition before we move him to ICU upstairs." He cut off Colby and Joe from questions, "It's just precautionary. We had to go in and put a drain to get the blood off his brain."
"What are his chances, Doc?" I stood there. "Of living like a normal person?"
"I'd say 30-45 percent chance." I gripped Renee, because I felt her shake from fear. "If he beats these odds, he won't be able to go back to the ring." Colby and Joe hung their head.
"Thanks Doc."
"Can I go be with him?" Renee asked.
"If you all want to go see him for a bit. He's unconscious. The thing I could highly recommend is go get sleep. If any changes, I'll have the nurse call right away."
"We do need to go talk to our bosses anyway." I quipped. "Thanks again." He led us to the recovery room. A nurse encouraged us all to talk to him. Even though he was unconscious, he could hear us. We all gave words of encouragement to get his ass back awake. I encouraged the guys to let Renee have the room. She came out a little later.
"I need a freaking drink." I wrapped my arm around her and laughed.
"You're crashing with me tonight, okay?" The unit nurse felt bombarded as we all made sure our cell numbers were attached to his file. "Backups just in case." I shrugged. Before we could leave the hospital, Hunter and Stephanie walked up to us.
"How is he?" Stephanie was legitimately worried. I gave her the cliffnotes that we'll see in morning.
"As soon as they're able to, we'll make sure he gets sent to the hospital in Alabama." Hunter said, "Take all the time you need, Renee. Be with him. Okay?" He turned to the remaining Hounds. "I already have the creative team working up new storyline for the Shield reunion. Consider it as thirst for Justice of Jon is driving you three to band back together."
"Only one way that gets to fly." Colby looked at me, "She gets to use Moxicity on whichever bonehead should had seen Jon was in trouble."
"At the same time he uses Hook and Ladder on the bonehead's partner." I pointed back at Colby.
"Well it was the Bar that jumped you two during the match." Hunter scratched his head. "You two already think this out?" Stephanie elbowed him in the ribs.
"You do realize who you just asked that?"
"Would be a great part." He shrugged, "I'll talk to the creative team and the Bar is going to have to get over it."
"Can we talk about this more later?" Joe asked. "It's late. And she does need to try to get some sleep."
"Right." Hunter and Stephanie let us go back to the hotel.
The next day, Renee was rushing to go back to the hospital. "Hey. I'll take you over."
"But your flight out to the house show?"
"Cards always subject to change. Besides," I held my phone up, "Hunter text messaged sometime in the night. The 'Shield' needs to take separate flights to Indianapolis for Monday." I knew the guys were still asleep, but I wasn't going to let Renee drive to the hospital on her own. We got there with coffees and was told to go up to regular room floor. "Didn't the Doc say he was going to ICU?" We got off at the floor and the unit nurse looked up at us. Renee immediately started questioning the nurses about Jon's condition. She led us to a room, where we froze as the body moved.
"Jon?" Renee's voice was music to his ears. His hand reached out for her as she ran to his bedside. "Babe? Can you hear me?"
"Try to discourage talking. He ripped the airway from his mouth. The tube irritated his larynx." The nurse gave him a stern look, "He woke up not long ago. Like he knew you were coming."
"The guys are going to want to see you're okay." I face timed Colby. Last night was long as we texted fearing Jon was brain dead. Colby answered half awake.
"Where are you?" I smiled through tears.
"Someone wanted to say hi." I hit the camera switch button. Colby freaked out seeing Jon awake and moving.
"I knew he wouldn't stay down for long!" Colby shouted through my speaker. "I'm grabbing the Big Dog and coming over." He hung up. Renee's hands were holding Jon's hand that was wrapped with IV tube and an oxygen monitor. I snapped a picture of their hands and sent it to her phone. She smiled at me after seeing it. With how quick her hands were moving, I knew it was going up on one of her social media pages. Jon grunted.
"You don't realize you were number one trending?" Renee looked pale, thinking back to the moment his bloody hand flashed across the screens. "All I'm putting up that he just defeated the doctors odds." Jon looked at me and motioned for a pen and paper. I placed the pen in his hand for him.
How long have I been out? The writing was a bit choppy, but still legible.
"Fourteen hours?" I turned to Renee. "Give or take a minute?" He looked at Renee and a tear crossed his cheek.
I'm done with ring work, ain't I?
"We got to take one day at a time, okay?" She kissed his cheek. The guys must had sped past red lights, they ran into the room.
"He lives!" Joe's face brightened the room. Before Colby could approach the bed, Jon was scribbling across the paper.
I'm sorry about the tag titles, man.
"Don't worry about those things, man. Knowing you're awake is all that's needed right now." Jon nodded.
"Hunter said as soon as you're stable enough to move. They're sending you down to the Alabama Hospital." I told him.
"When I can, I'll go get Blue and go find a place to rent out. So I can be with you while we get your health back up." Renee was trying to be encouraging.
What about work?
"Stephanie and Hunter is going to work out some time off so I can be with you." Renee gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. Jon looked at the three of us remaining.
The Shield reunion is happening without me, ain't it? I motioned at Big Dog to close the door.
"They're making it to where Justice for Jon is our reason for reuniting." Colby said.
I don't like it, but I get it.
"You might like the fact Hunter agreed on a spur of the moment idea. Colby's pulling your move 'Hook and Ladder' while I'm doing 'Moxicity' on members of the Bar." That got a chuckle from Jon.
I'll be sending grades on the performances. Both of yours.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." I laughed. Joe motioned to both of us.
"We'll check in later, okay? You and Renee should have time alone." Colby said as we lined up to hug him. Before I closed the door behind us, Jon scooted himself over and motioned to Renee. She curled up next to him, careful not to lay on any important cords. I wiped a tear from my eye and turned to see Colby had admired the same moment. "Speaking of the Bar, we need to meet up with them at," He pulled out his phone. "Hunter paid off a local gym to use their ring to practice the moves for Monday."
"As in, it'll only be us?"
"Yep."
"Awesome. Cause my flight out for Indianapolis is tomorrow night." I suddenly had a funny thought about us getting revenge. "What do you guys think of this? Think Hunter would let it fly?"
After a few days of training, we all flew out one by one. To keep WWE Universe on their toes, and make them question the rumors. Charley stopped me as I entered the arena with Hades. "I heard the good news about your cousin. How are you doing?"
"I'm in the mood for one thing, and talking ain't it." I continued onto the locker room. The guys and I kept our distance, getting into work mode our own way. Raw started off with MizTv award show. I took Hades to Gorilla Point with me. A stagehand looked terrified as I watched Miz mock the Shield.
"I told you we were going to decimate the Shield for good!" Miz was thanking the Bar for helping and gave them a Mizzie award. "This next Mizzie, goes to Female Fighter of the Night." Maryse acted shocked as he handed it to her. She gave a bullcrap speech as to how my time had come to an end. I motioned at La Bamba.
"Well, well, well. Did someone not have enough of a beatdown last week?" Maryse mocked me.
"Shut up!" I yelled in the microphone. "You know I had a feeling. That you were behind some bull crap, Miz." I started my nervous tap. "So I'm giving you all one chance. To get out of the ring."
"You're going to talk tough from up there?" Miz continued to insult right up to where he said what the rest of us expected. "Do us all a favor. Tuck your tail between your legs and go to the back, find Jon and Seth..."
"Jon's in the hospital." Axel reminded his boss.
"Oh right." Sheamus and Cesaro did a stupid secret handshake. "Let's just say clearly the rumors of the Shield reuniting are exactly what Roman Reigns is; nothing but hype." I gave them my lunatic smile.
"Who said anything about rumors?" I dropped the microphone. Roman's music hit. He walked out and stood on my left. The crowd got on their feet and chanted for Seth. They screamed 'Burn it Down' along with the music.
Seth walked out with Hades just behind him. Hades took up position between my legs, watching for a command. Miz and his wife suddenly realized they were in trouble. The Bar and Curtis Axel egged us to go down to the ring. Seth looked between all of us, "Roman take left, Dee go to the other side from me. Hades. Go right." We stormed to the ring and took our positions.
"Look who's ready for round two." I mocked Maryse as she stood back to back with The Bar and Miz. Seth practically jumped into the ring. Curtis Axel tried to take out Roman. Their fight spilled outside the ring. Maryse attempted to shove me off the apron. I thrusted my shoulder into her stomach. She stopped in her tracks. I grabbed her by the hair and launched her over the ropes. Seth had Sheamus in a chicken wing armlock. He turned to Big Dog who had a hold of Cesaro. The Swiss Cyborg got whipped straight at me. I grabbed him and spun him around for a side slam. Roman laughed at the fact I was in full lunatic mode. Seth shouted at the crowd. Sheamus and Cesaro rolled out of the ring to recuperate. I turned to see Miz and Maryse were cornered by Hades.
"Someone get this mutt!" Maryse screamed as Hades watched them cautiously. I motioned to Seth and we rolled out on opposites sides.
"Hades." I whistled. He immediately stood on point between my legs, watching for my next order. "What'd you call my dog?" Maryse tried to get on my good side. Miz left his wife high and dry as he slid into the ring. The crowd jumped and cheered as I dropped Maryse with Dirty Deeds on the mat. At the same time, Roman speared Miz in the middle of the ring. Hades followed me into the ring as I was hyping the crowd up. "Let's turn this notice on full blast." I turned to Roman and gave the motion for a triple powerbomb.
"Got one in you?" Colby smiled at Big Dog. Roman did his war cry and Miz was placed on his shoulders. Hades went on point beside us, keeping Axel and the Bar at bay. Miz slammed hard against the canvas. I kicked his hand away as I gave Hades a good boy rub on his ear. Seth looked at all of us and made a fist. I looked to Roman and walked up to his right side. Hades went back on point, waiting for a command. Without even looking up from Miz, Roman put his fist out. Seth and I joined with him.
"That was for Jon!" Seth sneered as I was going crazy towards Miz.
"Who's nothing but hype now?" I leashed Hades and slid out of the ring. Roman and Seth walked beside me up the ramp as 'Special Ops' played over the speakers.
"Hounds of Justice." The crowd clapped and kept repeating our nickname. We walked up the ramp and Seth wrapped one arm around me. A camera caught up with us backstage. Charley stopped us.
"With a triumphant return, how are you guys feeling?"
"Minus Jon not being able to help, it was almost like old times." Seth laughed as Hades let out a weird yip. "Don't worry boy, there's a special treat for helping us out tonight."
"Let's keep this short and sweet. The workhorses are back." Roman growled.
"So bring on any team of any size. We'll plow through them as we always have." I walked away and heard Seth snicker.
"Believe that." He chuckled at me as we continued back to our locker room. The merchandise people stopped us.
"About time we get to unveil these." They handed over shirts for us to change into for our last segment. "Also after his big debut." They handed me a tactical vest with SHIELD patches on it.
"This is awesome!" I immediately bent down to Hades and slid it on. "Thanks ladies!"
"Hades just turned into a bad ass." Joe laughed. We hung out backstage as Hades ate up some loving from Natayla. I looked up in time to see Braun Strowman was going against Matt Hardy.
"Hey, should we get to Gorilla Point?" Joe and Colby agreed. We were walking away, and I turned to see Hades still in Nattie's lap. "You coming or what?" He huffed and jumped down. The match was short, and Braun wasn't done with his terror. He picked up a lifeless looking Hardy, and hauled him to backstage. Braun froze as we slowly met him on the ramp, with Hades just behind us. Some of the crowd commented on his vest. Hardy used the distraction and jumped down from Braun's shoulder. "Check on Matt." I told Hades. He jumped off the ramp. Braun targeted Roman. We all attacked Braun. Seth and I pulled Braun back enough, to give Roman the chance to spear him. I looked over at the announcer's table.
"No Deanna!" Corey Graves tried to scold me. Hades jumped on to the table from out of nowhere. I flipped the top border off and slid the tablets off the table.
"I suggest we move gentlemen." Michael Cole instructed the others. I went over to help the guys drag Braun to the table. Hades jumped down as we stood by the table.
"He's a three hundred pound monster!" Graves shouted. "You're not going..." Seth and I got the Monster on Roman's shoulders. We were going to pay for this, but the crowd was eating this up. Braun dropped through the table and rolled straight to the cement floor. Hades jumped in front of us as we threw our fists out one last time of the night.
"The Shield has just put the locker room on notice." Michael said stupidly.
"I'm more afraid that Ambrose just assisted picking up Strowman!" Corey said. "Be afraid Women's locker room. Be very afraid!" Our music played as I gathered Hades again. We hyped the crowd up as we went backstage.
"Buckle up WWE Universe! We're back!" Seth shouted. I went to my locker room and Hades snout immediately went to the air. Thankfully the guys were behind me. "Stay back, Babe." Joe shoved me into a corner. They opened the door and checked the room. Joe stuck his head out and motioned it was okay.
"Alright, we got to come up with a plan." More black roses on the counter.
"Who is doing this?" I felt fear start to rise up. Colby grabbed the roses and took them to the hallway. "What are you doing?"
"I'm done with whoever is doing these shenanigans. I'm getting the bosses in on this. Cause if it's Derek. I think this can be consider as breaking restraining order." I went to argue. "No I'm done arguing about this, cause if I even catch a glimpse of him. I'll curb stomp him through a real set of cinderblocks."
"This is my fight." Colby gave me a look as he went to his locker room. He came back shaking his head and holding up pictures of us.
"No. It's our fight."