ONE NIGHT BEFORE CROWN JEWEL
There was still two hours before the Smackdown show would begin. Roman had finished sealing a couple of envelopes as Sami joked with Jimmy and Jey.
"Hey, Roman, we're hitting catering. You wanna join us?" Jey asked as the three men stood.
"Nah, I'm good," Roman answered. He watched as they started for the door. "Sami, a moment, please?"
"Sure." Sami glanced at the twins. "I'll catch up."
When they were alone, Roman sat back in his chair. "Can you find Paul and ask him to come here?" As Sami nodded, he added, "It's not business…a private matter."
"Sure, Roman," Sami happily smiled. "I'll do that right now."
"And Sami?" When Sami looked back at him, he continued, "This all has been a real blast, you know?"
Sami's dark eyes studied the other man, then he nodded. "It sure has. Just make sure Jey stays Usey for us."
Roman chuckled and nodded. His smile faded when the door closed behind Sami. Everyone who was making the trip to Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel had been briefed earlier that day about the potential threats and given instructions as to the safety precautions being taken. Roman had then spoken quietly but calmly about how they'd done shows in war zones and everyone had come home safely. This would be no different.
He just wished he could understand this feeling of foreboding. He glanced at the envelopes on the small table next to him. One, a large manila envelope with his wife's name carefully printed on the front, held letters to his wife and to each of his children. The other two letters were to his brothers.
Dean. 'If I don't come back and Seth does, make peace with him. So I can be at peace. So the two of you can be at peace. Don't let it go like I did. When I said I hated him, I was so angry at him. Now I'm wishing I hadn't lost my temper. Galina told me I'd regret it, and I do. I don't hate him…I hated what he was doing. Remember, we don't know how much time we have. Tomorrow's not guaranteed. I love you, my brother.'
Seth. 'If I don't come back and you do, make peace with Dean. When I said I hated you, I was so angry at you. Now I'm wishing I hadn't lost my temper. Galina told me I'd regret it, and I do. I don't hate you…I hated what you were doing. Make peace with Dean so I can be at peace. So the two of you can be at peace. Don't let it go like I did. Remember, we don't know how much time we have. Tomorrow's not guaranteed. I love you, my brother.'
Roman looked up at the knock on his door. "Come in."
Paul Heyman stepped into the room. He widely smiled as he closed the door behind him. "Sami said you wanted to see me. More Usey business?"
Roman snickered. "We're never going to hear the end of that, are we?"
"Probably not," Heyman agreed as he sat down.
"I need a favor," Roman began. "A personal one. Actually, two of them."
Sobering, Heyman silently nodded.
"If I don't come back…."
"No, Roman, don't say that," Paul groaned.
Roman leaned forward and patted Paul on the knee. "I have to," he quietly interrupted, then pointed to the envelopes on the table. "Can you hand those to the proper people?"
Sighing, Heyman leaned forward and took the envelopes, glancing at the names.
Galina. Dean. Seth.
Not surprised at any of the names, Paul nodded. "You have my word. But when you come back, I'm giving them back to you."
"Fair enough," Roman smiled. "The second favor is please do for Sami what you've done for me."
Heyman knew damned well Sami didn't need any help on the mic. He understood it was help with the backstage politics that Roman was talking about. "I promise I'll do my best. And I'll try to keep Mr. Rollins from making any stupid mistakes."
Roman chuckled. "Thanks…and good luck with that, by the way."
"And I'll keep an eye on your other brother." Heyman innocently smiled. "I might have a connection there as well."
Roman looked puzzled, then nodded. Claudio had once been a 'Heyman guy'. He stood and held out his hand. "Thank you, Paul."
Heyman took the envelopes in one hand and stood to hold out the other. "My pleasure." He held up the envelopes after they shook hands. "But you'll be getting these back."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
'Thank God this is over. A few more hours, and we'll be out of Saudi airspace.'
Roman casually glanced around the private lounge at the airport. Most people were relaxing in comfortable chairs. Others, like Roman, were standing, knowing they'd be sitting for the long plane ride home.
As he glanced around the room, he saw Seth getting up from a nearby chair. The two locked eyes, then Seth grinned and waved his fingers at Roman. The lighting, usually dimmed, but now at full brightness as a security precaution, reflected the parts of Seth's newly colored blonde hair.
Roman simply rolled his eyes. He was still trying to plan how to make peace with Seth but didn't want to interact with him just yet.
So, of course, Seth began walking in his direction.
Roman could swear he could see the wheels turning in Seth's head and braced himself. Then he saw Seth's dark eyes flicker away from him. Just as Roman started to turn his head to see what had caught Seth's attention, he heard screams and a bellowed command of GET DOWN.
"ROMAN!" Seth speared Roman to the floor just as two gunshots were fired.
"Seth?" Roman muttered as Seth lay motionless on top of him. He slowly rolled Seth to one side then saw one of the uniformed guards pointing a gun at him.
Then the guard was tackled to the ground by Solo.
Roman bellowed a Samoan war cry. "Tatou o tatou tau!" Close by, he heard a bottle breaking and Alexa Bliss scream, "It's water, asshole! Not liquor!"
The Samoan culture would sing songs of the battle that raged. Songs of the Tribal Chief and his warriors who used guns, lamps, chairs and whatever they could put their hands on to defend themselves and their friends.
The Samoan culture would sing the song of the Tribal Chief who knelt and took the lifeless body of his brother into his arms…who had sacrificed himself for his brother.
Not even Solo or the twins dared to approach Roman as he screamed for his brother to open his eyes and look at him…then cried with a broken heart when it never happened.
Finally, Jimmy cautiously approached. "Uce? Use?" He glanced over at his shoulder at Jey and Solo who took a few steps forward. He took a deep breath then spoke louder. "USE!"
Startled, Roman's eyes flew open and he looked around with a wide-eyed stare. Plane?
"Uce, we're on approach to land," Jimmy gently spoke. "I just wanted to wake you before we started bouncing on the tarmac."
"Landing…Saudi Arabia?" Roman stammered.
"Yeah." Jimmy put a hand on Roman's shoulder. "You okay, Uce?"
Roman rubbed his face. "Yeah. Just having a real vivid dream. Got kinda startled when you woke me."
"Need some water?"
Roman shook his head. "No. Sorry about that, Jimmy. I'm fine."
Jimmy didn't look convinced but nodded and returned to his seat two rows back.
Roman didn't have to look over his shoulder to know that Jimmy was telling his brother what had just happened. He stared out the window, not really seeing anything.
'It was a dream. Nothing more.'
Distantly, he heard Seth's cackling laugh and almost shuddered.
'Remember, we don't know how much time we have. Tomorrow's not guaranteed.'
Roman squared his shoulders and tightened his seatbelt. He needed to get through Crown Jewel. Then maybe he could start looking for his youngest brother again.
