Aside from her shithead ex-husband, AJ really, REALLY fucking hated hospitals. The white walls, the shitty pop music in the waiting room, the nonchalant attitude the ER nurse gave AJ when she showed off her busted finger really made AJ want to rage. But because she had too much pain from her shattered bone, AJ decided to let the woman off with a dirty death glare.
The second worst part of the night came when the doctor, a rather handsome man that bore an odd resemblance to EC3, numbed her injured appendage and forced the finger back into place. AJ looked away and nearly broke a few of Dean's fingers squeezing them with her good hand, but the sound her bones made being forced back into place made her skin crawl and nearly caused her dinner to make a surprise second appearance.
"Ok, this should heal nicely," the doctor told AJ, showing her the x-ray of her finger. "The bone luckily snapped clean in half. Keep the cast on for three to four weeks and then come in for a second check-up. Nothing to worry about."
AJ looked in disgust at the cast she was forced to wear. Why did it half to cover her entire hand but only the one broken finger? It just seemed totally unnecessary and just another way to bleed money from her.
AJ had suffered far worse, yet this made her the most scared. Not because she was worried about the bone breaking again, but the backlash she was going to get from backstage. Triple H told her to go to the hospital, but he seemed a little more than upset when he said that. Maybe he was pissed at Nikki and inadvertently let some of the frustration transfer to AJ. Or maybe he was furious with AJ and wanted her gone as soon as possible. Just thinking about it with a busted finger made AJ's brain hurt.
"It actually looks a little badass," Dean gently held AJ's injured right hand and inspected her brace. "Get you some flame decal stickers. Maybe sign it."
"It's not that kind of cast, dude," AJ unstrapped the velcro on the canvas cast and made it a little snugger. "I can take this off if I want. I just... don't."
Dean smirked. "I saw the receipt you gave Nikki. Hitting her back was just too boring? You had to punt her head into the third row?"
AJ shook her head. "That bitch has worse coming. She's lucky I didn't beat her to death with Michael Cole."
"She is," Dean agreed. He stood for a second to give AJ a kiss on the cheek. "You're a bad bitch, babe. I'm proud of you for being so tough."
"Don't be such a girl," AJ chastised with a half-serious frown. Macho Dean Ambrose being a sweetheart to and strictly only to AJ was still such a weird thing to see.
AJ gazed at her injured body part some more. She figured Nikki broke it to send a message about her distaste for the whole storyline going forward. That being said, AJ wondered why Nikki had to go and do something like this instead of doing herself and everyone else a favor by retiring from the WWE and never coming back. AJ wondered if this would've happened if she herself never returned to WWE. No, AJ quickly concluded, things would've been far worse for her had she stayed in Chicago. She'd still be with Phil, she never would've gotten together with Dean, and she never would have wrestled again. Call her crazy, but maybe a broken finger wasn't as bad as it seemed compared to how it could be right now.
"Think Hunter is gonna be pissed?" AJ asked Dean, looking at him for an answer.
"About the kick? Fuck no. Nikki acting like a cunt and breaking your finger? He fuckin' better be," Dean hissed bitterly, shaking his head slowly. "I'm tellin' you, man. Drop out and come with me to Jacksonville. They have no women's division right now. You could be the top for YEARS."
AJ shook her head. "I'm fine with WWE, babe. They help feed my comic book obsession and keep me close to my wife-for-life. Plus, I can afford to fly to Vegas every week under WWE payroll."
Dean snickered. "That's true. I'll keep the puppies warm until their mama comes back."
AJ leaned towards Dean to give him a quick smooch, but a sharp knock at the door stopped AJ and made her turn away.
A business suit-wearing Triple H stood in the doorway. "Don't mean to interrupt. Just wanted to check in on AJ."
AJ waved with her casted hand. "Present! My hand fucking hurts but the doctor promised me a pretty cool prescription for pain killers."
Triple H closed the door and took a seat across from AJ. "Listen-"
"Please don't fire me," AJ blurted out. "I didn't mean to hurt Nikki. I acted on first instinct and that told me to kick her in the face. But she broke my finger and I didn't know how to fully handle that."
Triple H held a hand up and shook his head. "I'm not firing you. I'm actually not punishing you in any way. What Nikki did was beyond unacceptable. Going out of your way to intentionally hurt a fellow Superstar is not going to fly these days. Nikki is being fined and she will be suspended after she drops the title."
"Is she going to drop it tomorrow on RAW or something?" AJ asked, her attention being taken fully by the breaking news. Her joy was begging her to throw a party and run through the halls screaming at the top of her lungs, but she remained at attention and didn't succumb to her desire.
Triple H shook his head a little. "She can't. Because your kick concussed her and she cannot perform until she passes a concussion test. Which will take about a month? Which is how long you will be out. Luckily, we can still build to your match with backstage promos and things like that."
"I'm still having the match?" AJ asked.
Triple H nodded. "Yes. Elimination Chamber will still be Nikki Bella vs AJ Lee for the RAW Women's Championship. We haven't decided what will happen, but she will drop the title either that night or the night after."
AJ's insides caught fire. Triple H, smirking because he knew what just happened to AJ's brain, basically just heavily hinted at AJ possibly winning the title again.
"I'll leave you to it," Triple H said, standing up. "You can't compete injured, so we'll have to scrap the house show matches. But you can take the night off tomorrow. Vince has plans with Corbin that make me... I'll just get angry if I talk about it. Stay safe, AJ. Dean."
AJ's head snapped to look at her boyfriend. Dean was staring at the floor like he didn't just hear what AJ did, but his efforts to hide a smile basically said he heard Triple H loud and clear also.
"Babe... call me crazy. And I'll let you do it this time," AJ began. "But did our boss just kinda sorta hint at me being champion at Elimination Chamber?"
Dean shrugged. "Uh... it definitely did not NOT sound like that."
AJ screamed, then quickly quieted her voice. "Dean! Holy fucking penguin shit! There's a chance I might be the champion again! If Dr Sexy hadn't given me a few happy pills I'd be doing laps around the hospital right now."
"Dr what now?" Dean asked with a smirk.
AJ threw her arms around Dean and finally gave him a big kiss to the lips. "Jesus fuck! AND I get to spend the week with you. I have a feeling shit's about to go downhill fast. Maybe the Bellas shoot down our plane tonight and I just die a happy woman tonight."
"Wouldn't be the worst thing," Dean said, pecking AJ again. "I'd die a happy man if my plane got shot down with the next RAW Women's Champion sitting next to me."
AJ blushed with a smile. "That is the nicest, weirdest thing someone has ever said to me. How about we check out of this bitch, get me some mind-numbing drugs, and go home? Home-home. Where our hairy babies are waiting."
"I like the sound of that, darlin'," Dean agreed, kissing AJ one more time and helping her off the observation table.
Dean and AJ caught a late flight to Las Vegas. Dean could've driven the four-hour trip but he struggled to keep himself awake just driving to the airport. AJ got a few confused looks from passersby when she traveled through the airport on account of still wearing her ring gear since she never got a chance to change before going to the hospital.
AJ and Dean flagged down an Uber driver after their flight. The young man had to wake them up after arriving at Dean's house. Dean carried his and AJ's bags into the home and dragged them up to bed. AJ had to decide between taking a shower or going straight to bed.
"AJ, I love you and I want you to bankrupt me with a divorce one day," Dean said, yawning loudly. "But you need a shower. Carlos is freaking out, man."
AJ chuckled. "You really know how to sweet talk a woman."
Dean grinned. "It's why I'm divorced, baby doll."
AJ suddenly got an idea. "Fine. If that's how it's gonna be," she stood up with a smile and her back turned to Ambrose. "I'll be in the bathroom."
In one movement, AJ removed her top and bra and dropped it on the floor behind her. The bra strap caught on her nose and made AJ panic for a second but it came loose before she either threw a fit or made herself look like a total idiot.
"Can you turn around quick?" Dean asked.
AJ, without responding, shut the door and locked it behind her. AJ burst into a fit of giggles when Dean yelled out in frustration and fell on the bed.
Starting the shower, AJ took a peek at herself in the mirror. She flexed her arms, then traced her fingertips over her toned midsection.
"You'll have to try harder than that, Ambrose!" AJ yelled back with a giggle. "I'm sexy as fuck!" AJ winked at her reflection. "You kick ass, girl."
The following morning, AJ woke up in puppy heaven. Being mindful of her injury, AJ took time to pet, scratch, and hug each puppy. It wasn't until Salt and Pepper hopped off the bed did AJ realize Dean wasn't snoring right next to her. He didn't have to be on the road and neither did she, so it was a little peculiar as to why he wasn't still asleep.
AJ put on her glasses as she ventured downstairs, still in her pajamas. Sitting at the dining room table in his own pj's was Dean. Dean looked up from behind a glass of orange juice and smiled.
"Hey, there you are," Dean greeted the girl venturing slowly into the room. "Good thing you got up. I made you breakfast but I was worried it would get cold before you got up. Made you scrambled eggs, bacon, and hashbrowns.
AJ took a seat. A red heart made with some kind of condiment covered her hashbrowns. AJ laughed. "Is this ketchup?"
"Tobassco," Dean clarified. "Gives the potatoes a little kick."
AJ nodded approvingly and mixed the hot sauce with the hashbrowns. "Ok. What's with breakfast? Are you hoping I finally put out?"
Dean shook his head. "No. I just thought I'd be nice and make you some food. Plus you know I'm totally cool with waiting that shit out. Don't need to rush into everything we do."
AJ nodded, appreciating Dean's thoughtfulness. "It's great, babe. Thank you so much."
"And it's a little cheat meal in celebration," Dean added. "There's a chance that you might be champion again. It's a thing to celebrate. You kept busting your ass even though they said it was never going to happen. Now look where it got you."
AJ covered her face with both hands, fighting back the blush spreading across her cheeks. "Dude, I'm five seconds away from kicking you in the vagina."
Dean smirked. "I'm just sayin', darlin'. Anyway, what did you have planned for today? We can do whatever you want."
AJ shrugged. "Probably write for a bit. Try to get a workout in even though my stupid finger is broken. Then maybe just sit and watch a movie or something. I'm still super tired from last night."
Dean switched chairs and sat right next to AJ. He carefully loosened her cast and took it off. Her finger wasn't swollen anymore and looked about as good as it really could at this time.
"Does it hurt?" Dean asked, safely securing AJ's cast again.
AJ shook her head. "Just a pain in the ass. My foot hurts like a mother fucker though."
Dean expressed confusion for a moment, then laughed heartily. "You are wild, babe. I still can't believe you got away with that. What do the fans think?"
"The usual Bella Army bullshit," AJ rolled her eyes. "I had it coming. I had no right to kick Nikki. I should douse myself in gas and strike a match. Nothing new."
Dean scoffed. "At least you have the suits on your side. I'd hate to see what's going on with Nikki and Brie."
"Don't know, care less," AJ said with a shrug, deciding to get into her food before it got cold.
Dean let AJ take a bite of food, then he turned her head towards him and kissed her. "You taste like hot sauce and badassery."
AJ chuckled. "Yeah, well, that's what I'm made of. Hot sauce, badassery, social anxiety, and bad ideas that'll get us both killed."
"How about we head into town later?" Dean asked. "Find something to do. I'm sure there's gotta be a thing you wanna do in Vegas."
AJ thought for a second, enjoying her food, then nodded. "I wanna try a casino. I've never been to one."
"Wanna try your luck? Alright, we can do that after our workout," Dean stood and kissed AJ on the top of her head. "But I'm not letting you spend more than a hundred bucks. That shit can bankrupt someone in an hour."
"Thanks for the heads up, babe," AJ said with a laugh before digging into her breakfast.