December 19th, 2011

Stamford, Connecticut

WWE Headquarters

"26...27...28...come on kid, two more, you got it."

Billy Gunn cheers on Seth Rollins as he does reverse pull ups with a cement block tied to his ankles. After hitting 29, Seth musters all of his strength to hit 30 before collapsing on the mat.

"There you go! That's how you do it!" Shouts Gunn.

Seth breathes heavily on the floor, covered in sweat. Dean is nearby, hitting a punching bag. He looks over at Seth and shakes his head. Gunn unites the cement block and helps up Seth.

"You keep working like that and you'll be kicking more ass than Rambo."

"Thanks man. Appreciate it."

Gunn gives Seth a pat on the back before heading to his next client. Seth joins Dean who's throwing combos at the punching bag. Dean hits harder and faster, clearly throwing out some aggression. The expression on his face being one of determination.

"Punching like that is gonna tire you out quickly." Says Seth leaning against the bag.

Dean holds off, unstrapping his gloves.

"I was thinking about our fight with those army chicks. We got destroyed in every way possible. If we ever go up against them again, I'm gonna be ready."

"You better be ready. You were the only one to get knocked out." Seth taunts while jabbing at Dean.

"I'll still kick your ass, Karate Kid. Lets go get something to eat."

They hit the showers and head towards the elevator. While waiting for an open one, Paige yells at them from across the hall.

"GUYS HOLD UP!"

"Great, its Miss Happy." Dean groans.

Paige runs up to them carrying her tablet, kneeling over to catch her breath. Before speaking, Dean flicks her on the ear, messing up her glasses, and they walk on the elevator. Paige grunts and jumps on with them.

"I've been searching all over for you two. Have you heard about Roman?" She asks fixing her glasses.

"What, that he found a new conditioner." Seth jokes.

"No, he quit yesterday."

"WHAT!" Dean and Seth shout simultaneously.

The elevator hits the cafeteria, filled with a few employees eating, and the conversation goes from there.

"Regal told me that Roman went into Hunter's office looking upset. Apparently Hunter sent him on a mission, and whatever happened got Roman twisted." Paige explains.

"What did he do? What happened?" Asks Seth grabbing Paige and shaking her.

"I don't know! I tried calling Roman but I got no answer, and Hunter's keeping it hush." She replied.

Dean stays quiet, scrolling through his phone. Looking as if he has no interest.

"Dean do you hear this? Dean!" Says Seth.

Dean looks around, prompting Seth to do the same. All the attention in the cafeteria on them. The chatter amongst everyone had died down.

"My bad guys. All good over here. Continue eating." Said Seth.

Seth drags Paige over to a corner while Dean goes to get food.

"Is Hunter here?"

"Yeah. I think he's down in the garage right now."

"Well we need to go talk to him. There's got to be more to this."

Dean returns with a hot dog. A very mellow expression across his face.

"Dean come on, we gotta go talk to Hunter." Said Seth heading to the elevator.

"Nah I'm good."

Seth turns around with a confused face. He walks back over, arms folded.

"What do you mean you're good? Were you listening? Our friend just quit!"

"He aint no friend of mine."

Seth and Paige both look stunned by his comment.

"What are you saying?" Questions Paige.

"Roman isn't my friend, he's my co-worker. Just like you are, just like she is, just like everyone else here is. Co-workers come and go. Good luck to his ass. Don't need a quitter around me anyway."

Dean walks off to the lunch tables as Seth shakes his head, mouthing something and looking at Paige before heading back the elevator. Paige looks between them not knowing what to do. She stomps over to Dean, shoving him in the back before he sits down.

"How dare you! After everything you guys went through to get here! You're gonna let Roman leave without checking on him!"

Dean keeps his back turned, staying silent. His hands tightly gripping the table. Ready to burst at any minute. All eyes in the room turning to them.

"You're such a fake. He put his life on the line for you guys, and for you to just-"

"FUCK OFF!" Dean screams in her face.

The room goes completely silent. Paige stands her ground, glaring at him. Dean aggressively shoulder bumps her, knocking her into a table as he walks away. Her tablet hits the floor, cracking the screen. Someone comes over to help Paige as she watches Dean make an exit. Feeling hurt that the fun weekend they had was all a lie.

In the garage, people are at work, modifying some SUV's for mobile combat. Mounted machine guns and bulletproof glass are in the works. The garage itself was large warehouse, carrying different vehicle options. Hunter is talking to a couple of mechanics when Seth interrupts.

"Hunter, dude we need to talk."

Hunter ignores Seth, still talking to the mechanics. Seth taps Hunter's shoulder.

"Dude, we NEED to talk."

Hunter turns around slowly, his face showing irritation.

"Excuse me gentlemen."

Hunter and Seth walk over to the office area in a corner of the garage.

"What happened to Ro-"
"Let me explain something to you Seth. When I'm talking to someone, you wait until I'm finished. Also, don't call me "dude". Now what do you want?"

"Why did Roman quit?"

Hunter closes the office door and sits on a desk.

"He couldn't handle a small job without breaking down. He came to me saying he didn't want to do this anymore. It didn't feel right to him. I can't force him to be here, so I said see you later."

"You let him walk, just like that?"

"Look, I like Roman. If I didn't, he wouldn't of been here in the first place. But this is a tough life, and if you can't handle it then walk away. He knew the risks going in, although what he saw wasn't in the cards."

Seth rubs his hands across his face, feeling frustrated. Hunter is called over by a mechanic through the office window.

"Look Seth, you want to go talk Roman, I'll send you his address. Do what you got to. Don't take too long though. Remember, you still have a job to do here."

Hunter leaves the office. Seth sits down, checking flight times on his phone.

"One pint of lager coming up."
Dean sits at a local bar in Stamford with his head down. A male bartender places the lager in front of Dean.

"You alright man?" Asks the bartender.

Dean sits his head up and shoos away the bartender with his hand. Dean guzzles down the entire beer in one go, burps and asks for another. An older man takes a seat next to him. Wearing jeans and a black shirt. Also rocking a gold chain, while chewing on a toothpick.

"Take it easy there friend. Don't wanna kill your liver." The man tells Dean.

"That's fine, I'm already dead on the inside."

The man orders a soda and taps Dean on the shoulder.

"Take my advice. Drowning problems in alcohol isn't the answer. Usually there's a deep rooted issue going on inside of you."

"Thanks for the advice Dr. Phil, but you don't know me."

"Really? You look like the kind of guy that's been to jail before."

"Lucky guess." Dean says in his head.

The bartender returns with the soda and beer. Dean starts to guzzle the entire pint again, but the man stops him halfway. Grabbing Dean's hand and pushing it back down to the bar.

"Look buddy, unless you want this glass upside your head, don't touch me again." Warns Dean.

"All I'm saying, is that I was in your shoes once. Used to drink Vodka for breakfast. It cost me a lot. Friends and family never looked at me the same. However, I had some good people watching my back, and I was able to redeem myself."

Dean stares at the man in deep thought. He looks into his beer, with a feeling of hurt flowing through his body. Regardless of how he felt, it was never going to show.

"I aint got no friends or family." He mutters.

"Sure you do. We all got people that care about us. Take it from the bad guy himself."

The man pats Dean on the shoulder and pays for the soda and beer. He gets up from the bar, and heads to the door with the soda.

"Hey! What's your name?" Dean asks the man.

"Call me Scotty." He says walking out.

Dean goes to finish the beer as his work phone goes off. A solo mission opportunity pops up. Dean decides to take it, as some time away would be good for his head.

Paige catches up to Seth who's heading outside with his bag packed. Still very angry from Dean yelling at her and cracking her tablet.

"So what did Hunter say?" She asks walking with him.

"He didn't give the reason Roman quit, but I got his address, and I'm heading to Florida to go talk to him."

Seth reaches his car, throwing his bag in the backseat.

"You want me to go with you?" She asks.

"No. Most likely Hunter wants you here, and it seemed liked he didn't care if Roman returned at all. Guess I'm the only one who gives a damn."

Seth hops in and starts the car. Paige scurries over the to the window. Seth can see her red, watery eyes behind the glasses.

"I care. Please bring Roman back. At least for you and me."

Seth mouths "he'll try" and drives off.