Disclaimer: Alright I think that this is my first WWE story on this site. I have it posted on Wattpad and on Mibba, so if you think that you've seen this before, you probably have. I do not own the WWE, or any of it's properties. I do not own any real people, places or things mentioned. All trademarks and copyrights belong to their respective owners. The following events are fictitious and even real events and people are being used in a fictitious manner. This story will contain foul language, mature themes, and mentions of mental illness as well as physical injury and chronic illness. Read at your own discretion, and do not waste you're time to lecture me on why I shouldn't say fuck so much. I think that's all.

"Levy," Nikki sang, sitting next to me in catering.

"Hey, Nik," I greeted.

Being a part of the medical staff meant that I had to be at that night's venue, before all of the talent in order to get the room and equipment set up. That meant that most days I was able to get away from the boys for a while. If I was really lucky like I was today, I got some time to myself with everything set up and very few members of the roster in the building, none of which had required any medical attention yet.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Nothing, Brie and I had a shoot, and there was no point in going back to the hotel. She and Bryan went to lunch, so I'm solo."

I chuckled. "And you're so desperate for company that you had to turn to me? Nikki, I'm so touched."

She rolled her eyes, but laughed. "Well I would hang out with you other times, but you never come out with us," she said pointedly.

I groaned. "I know. I know. I'm a piece of shit."

"What's been up with you? You've been weird lately. Are you alright?" she asked.

I sighed. "I'm fine. I've just been stuck in my own head I guess."

"Hey if you need to talk about it, I'm here. Brie too."

It probably would help to get it all out, turn my jumbled thoughts and weird feelings into sentences, and to have an objective opinion. Someone, who wouldn't over think. I knew Nikki and Brie would give me their opinion, straight up. I'd have to explain everything to them first, which wouldn't be pleasant, and I really didn't want either of them to change the way they interacted with me. No weird adoration for my bravery, no pity and most certainly not weak. Colby saw me as fragile enough for everyone on the roster.

I looked at Nikki. "I was born with a disease..." I started. I spilled everything to Nikki. Hospital stays, transplants, the abnormality of my case, the guilt, the fear, phone sex operator and even my weird thing with Jon. I teared up a few times, and so did she. She never interrupted, save to ask for further elaboration or a definition. She sat their listening attentively.

By the time I was done, I felt like a massive weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

"I just don't know what it is, but when I'm with my family I can't say no to shit like that. Like I have no problem calling them out for their shit and letting them know, when they're being stupid, but at the same time, I still go with what they say, and I don't know why it's just now bugging me."

"First off, holy shit," Nikki said.

I snorted. "Ever so eloquent."

"Secondly-" She pulled me into a hug. "I can't believe that you've been holding all of that in. I would've exploded by now." She let me go.

"I know. I know. I have a therapist, but like it's always about being sick with them."

"But that's what this is," Nikki said.

I froze. "What?"

"Lev, you were sick. You were dying for fuck's sake. You're family took care of you. They were there for you as long as you needed them. They made you comfortable, kept you company, kept you entertained, made sure you got all of the medical care you need and the education that you wanted. Lev, you can never tell them no, because you feel guilty."

I just looked at her, not sure of what to say. Was it really that simple?

"Do you want to disappoint them?" she asked.

"No," I answered automatically.

"Why?"

I thought about it. "To make them proud," I answered.

"And why do you want to make them proud?" she asked.

Who didn't want to make their family proud? I mean obviously those families with issues, but still... "Because I owe it to them," I said, realization dawning on me.

"Yes," she said.

"Levy, you got a second chance to live, to live your own life, not to just to live up to other people's expectations."

"You're 100% right."

"You sound surprised."

While I had expected Nikki to give me her honest opinion, I didn't think that she'd be so right, so insightful. I was shocked, which I knew sounds mean, but come on now, it's Nikki Bella. The twins were a bit ditzy.

It made sense, and of course I rarely noticed it, because I spent long stretches away from my family, so the pressure of being around them, just seemed like your standard stress from transitioning from solitude to family, like when you come home for the summer in college and it's irritating and awkward, because you're used to living your own life and now you're back under your parent's rules.

"There's no clean answer, so I'm just going to not say anything."

"And the whole keeping it bottled, so that people won't treat you different thing, fuck that. No one would see you as some sick little girl. No way. And if people want to treat you like a fucking warrior, let them, because you fucking deserve it."

I hugged Nikki. "Thank you," I said.

She returned my embrace. "You're welcome."

I let her go. "I should probably get back. I told the guys I was gonna be like fifteen minutes."

She laughed with me. "Just tell them that you were having a feminine emergency. Used to work for me."

I snorted. "They're doctors, they're not going to be freaked out by a period."

I went back to work. No one questioned my extended absence. There was also no one there to be treated yet. As it got closer to the show more and more of them would start to file in.

"Hey, Levy."

"Hi Jon. What's up?"

"Can you check me out?

"Yeah sure, have a seat," I said, giving Jon a look as I pulled on a new pair of gloves.

He ignored me, starting to rant. "Drive all night to get here at two in the morning. Then I had a radio interview at seven. Go here and there and here all day long. Now wrestle."

"Before you continue, can you tell me what's wrong?" I asked.

"Shoulder again," he said, before continuing his rant.

"When's your next break?" I asked.

"I get a break from live events this week and next," he answered.

"That's good, because, while you're clear for tonight you are not to put any heavy strain on this shoulder until I give you the go ahead. It needs a break. Why don't you take a vacation or something?" I asked him.

"Vacations are always so stressful with the planning and hotels and traveling and-"

"You can't crash at a friend's or something?"

"I've got a friend in Miami," he said.

He kept his tone normal, but I knew he was teasing.

"Why don't you see if you can stay with them or something?" I asked.

"Kind of rude to invite yourself over," he said.

"Since when has rude mattered to you?"

He grinned. "Good point. I guess I'll have to call them later."

"You should do that. Make some plans. Take it easy," I stressed the last part. "Careful out there tonight," I said, and as soon as your done get showered and everything and I'll see what kind of saran wrap miracle I can work to get you iced."

"Thanks, Doc," he said, getting up, and leaving.

That night I rode in the back. The ride to the next city for Smackdown was short. I wasn't on live event rotation this week, so after the show, I was flying back home.

"Was that an invitation?" Jon texted me.

I sent him back a confirmation.

"Guess I'm gonna have to change my flight," he sent back.