Wade closes his eyes, reflecting on the last few days. The news isn't good- of course. He will need surgery, and has already given up the title, despite how ill it had made him feel when the belt had left his grip. WWE, in the meanwhile, will be holding a battle royal at the next PPV to determine who will be champion. Interim champion, he tells himself. Until I'm back and can reclaim what's mine.
Heath's dozing next to him, eyes fluttering now and again in the July heat. "Feels like we've been here before, huh?" he sniffs at one point, pressing a lazy kiss to Wade's good shoulder.
"Hm," Wade mumbles, remembering the last time. When they'd barely been something, before Heath had wore him down to make this a thing. He honestly can't imagine going through something like this again without Heath's warmth against his side and Boodah's soft snuffling on the floor next to the bed. "Are we going to have another DVD marathon this time?" he wonders with a soft smirk.
"If ya want," Heath sighs. "There's a couple'a years of flicks we gotta get caught up on after all."
Wade groans. "Why do I encourage you?" But they fall silent now, Heath aware that Wade needs rest. His surgery will be in the morning, and Heath will be by his side, as always, keeping up with everything that's going on, making sure WWE's staff is well-informed of whatever may arise from it all. These thoughts pingponging around in his skull, he closes his eyes, tightens his grip on Heath's side and falls into an unsettled asleep.
He's not well rested the next morning, but Heath has enough bustle for the both of them, getting him juice and water- promising him as much coffee as he wants once he's out of surgery and the doctor says it's ok- setting out Wade's clothes before changing into his own and helping Wade into his shirt and jeans, tying his sneakers for him. "Everything feel alright?" he asks, putting Wade's sling around his bad arm and making sure it's secure, but not too tight to be uncomfortable.
"Yes. Thank you." He gets himself up and walking and before either of them are really ready for it, they find themselves at the hospital, Wade settling on a cot and Heath getting walked back to the OR waiting room, where he's an expert by now with the phone and everything else going on. He drifts for awhile, watching the news channel droning on on the TV over his head, getting up every time the phone rings and calling out the names he hears until he hears Barrett. "Yep, that's mine," he says without hesitation.
"Mr. Barrett's surgery is complete, we'll be moving him to recovery shortly, and then a nurse will come and bring you back to sit with him."
"Thank you," Heath says, relieved that it's over and done with. A little more sitting and he finds himself walking down long hallways after a nurse until he's sitting next to Wade once more, fingers playing with his hand as he slowly comes to, blinking groggily. "Hey, Brit," he whispers. "Ya did good, man. All's repaired now, so ya just rest, and we'll be back home 'fore ya know it."
Wade hums sleepily before reaching out for Heath, his boyfriend leaning in to hear him when he starts to mumble sleepily. "Get in that battle royal, ginger. And eliminate someone for me... say..." His voice starts to slur as exhaustion overwhelms him again.
"Sure, anyone you want," Heath whispers when Wade drifts off, blinking when Wade jerks awake a few minutes later.
"Elim'ate Cesaro," he says, staring up at Heath like the interruption to their prior conversation hadn't happened. "Alright? Cesaro. Don't forget."
Heath laughs affectionately, carefully kissing Wade. "Sure, I'll eliminate Cesaro for ya. Don't worry about a thing." He doubts he'll even get close to that match, but thankfully Wade's so out of it from the drugs and surgery, he figures this conversation won't even be remembered. "Just another thing for us to laugh at later, when it doesn't suck so much, huh?" he wonders softly, stroking Wade's hand once more while watching him sleep.