Betrayal is never easy to handle and there is no right way to accept it - Christine Feehan
September 21, 2014 - 5:30pm - Nashville General
Roman woke up slowly, mind hazy and feeling like he'd gotten run over by a Mack truck. He went to stretch but aborted it quickly, hissing as a searing pain engulfed his entire abdomen. Something soft covered the aching area and on instinct, he slowly circled his arms around it, curling protectively into it. That definitely helped a little but he still felt like death warmed over. Must have had one hell of a run in with a chair or someone's foot during his match.
But he couldn't remember any shots that were stiff enough for him to feel like this.
Unless him and Dean had gone to a bar and gotten into a brawl.
"That's good sweetheart." A comforting voice encouraged. "I know it hurts. Just move slowly and hold that pillow to your stomach."
His eyes opened and landed on the face in front of his, his expression twisting in confusion. What the hell? There was no way what he thought he heard and what he believed he was seeing was real. "Mom?"
"It's me baby." Her hand stroked his hair away from his forehead. "When you're recovered, you owe me and your father an apology for almost scaring us to death."
Everything around him came into focus and he realized that he was in a hospital room, not the hotel room where he'd been hanging out with Dean a little while ago. How the hell had he gotten there? "What happened?"
"They said you might be a little fuzzy when you came to." She gave a good natured but tight smile. "You, my son, had a very serious hernia that you apparently ignored for a while."
A sheepish look passed over his face. He hadn't even realized that that thing was hernia, let alone that it was something to be concerned about. Figured it was just one of the many lumps and bumps that came along with his job. "I didn't know what it was or that it was something serious enough that I had to worry about it."
"Well thankfully, Dean was sharing the hotel room with you and he has common sense. He woke up to find you passed out on the floor, covered in sweat with a high fever and realized that that the lump the size of a baseball protruding from your abdomen was something to be worried about. Managed to get you here before things got worse and the doctors removed it." A shaky exhale followed that. "If he didn't wake up when he did or notice…"
As his mother explained, he could recall brief snippets of the scene she described. They were hazy, vague but he could vividly remember the excruciating pain that had wracked his body. Damn, he was really lucky that Dean had surprised him this weekend. If he hadn't been there, there was no telling what could have happened. "I guess I owe him big time for this."
His mother nodded her agreement of that statement. "That we do."
He'd make sure to get his brother a case of his favorite beer and a few bottles of Jack as a thank you. That was probably the most the other man would allow him to do. Hell, knowing Dean, he might not even accept it if he knows it's a thank you gift. The dirty blonde hated when people made a fuss over him. Maybe he could pick up the eccentric man's bar tab the next time they closed down a bar together while they were on the road-
It hit him suddenly and he tried to slowly struggle into a sitting position, his heart hammering nervously in his chest. "The pay-per-view…"
"Your father already called and told them what's going on."
"Where is he?"
"Dad's getting something to eat down in the cafeteria, everyone else is back at the hotel right now. Well except the twins who headed to the arena." She patted his forearm gently, her expression relieved. "The rest of us are working in shifts. Didn't want you to be overwhelmed or your daughter seeing you until you were feeling a little better. It'll be easier for her to deal with it that way."
"Smart." He shifted, clutching the pillow tightly to his abdomen. "Plus, she'll love getting to spend time with Dean. Always says his story voices are way better than mine."
His mother blinked, "Honey, Dean's not back at the hotel."
"Damn, he's still here?" He shook his head. That was just like the stubborn man. "Send him in. I need to show him I'm alright so he'll go back to the hotel and finally get some rest."
"I made him leave last night." She smiled. "He tried to tell me he was fine but I know that he's still recovering himself and told him that I wasn't taking no for an answer. Of course, he was right back here this morning as soon as visiting hours allowed."
"Sounds about right." A tired chuckle escaped his mouth. "Someone better get him before he manages to hit on every female in this hospital and we end up getting chased out of here by a mob of angry husbands."
"No worries, he was getting anxious just sitting around so he decided to go with Jimmy and Jey to the arena."
Little alarm bells started going off in his head. "He did what now?"
"Oh honey, calm down." She tutted affectionately. "I know you're worried that he's still recovering and rightfully so but he's a grown man. He can go hang out with the twins and watch the show if he wants."
His mother had long since fallen under the spell of Dean's innate ability to charm women into thinking that what he wanted them to. He had her wrapped around his little finger the second he flashed her those dimples and started calling her Mama Reigns. Because of that, she was completely blind to that fact that there was no way in hell that he'd just sit backstage and watch. Especially when going to the arena wasn't in his original plans. That if he suddenly changed his mind and decided to go to the show, there was something else going on.
But what changed his mind?
He needed to get to the bottom of this. Now. That way, he had enough time to try to put a stop to whether the dirty blonde was planning. "Mom, is my phone here?"
"No, why?"
Damn it. Not what he wanted to hear. Lying to his mother was something he hated to do but in was a necessary in this case. The truth would not get him anywhere. He sighed, putting on his best pout. "I've probably got a mailbox full of messages from co-workers. I want to let them know that I'm alright and wish them luck in their matches tonight. Maybe update my twitter while I'm at it, let the fans know that the big dog is on the mend."
"I think Dean or one of the twins had it." She reached into her bag and pulled out the IPAD he had bought her for Christmas. "You can use that if you want but don't wear yourself out. You need to take it easy."
"Promise."
She seemed appeased by that and stood. "I'm going to go find your dad and let him know you're awake so you can have privacy."
He waited until she was out the door and logged into his Skype account. He pressed the contact info for Jimmy, intending to get to the bottom of things. It went unanswered. Got the same result when he tried Jey's phone. Dean's didn't even connect when he tried it which meant that it was either turned off or dead. That wasn't exactly a surprise since the younger man wasn't good about remembering to charge or turn it on.
That left him one option, the person who always knew the backstage happenings. He hit the contact information for Dolph and waited, hoping that the show-off would pick up.
"Roman!" Dolph's grin greeted him. "Heard about what happened! How you feeling man?"
"Hurts like hell but I'm on the mend." A ghost of his usual grin clung to his lips. "Of course it sucks that this happened now. Was looking forward to slaying the viper but what can you do?"
"I called you yesterday and Dean answered. Never mentioned what was going on." The blonde shook his head. "Just said you were busy and couldn't talk."
Typical Dean behavior but there was something else to discuss. "What were calling about?"
"Oh!" The show-off rolled his eyes. "Well, my source told me that they were bringing Rollins back a day early. I figured that it had something to do with your match with Randy but they probably knew by then that you were off the show. Guess they needed him to kill time so he'll probably be cutting a promo."
Roman had to fight to keep what he was feeling off his face. "You happen to mention this to Dean?"
"Yeah."
Everything clicked into place. That was why Dean suddenly changed his plans and tagged along with Jimmy and Jey. A chance for revenge was something he wouldn't pass up and his cousin's wouldn't try to stop him. It also explained why those fools were ignoring his calls. They knew that he'd chew their asses out for this shit.
"Listen man, do me a favor?" He stared as hard as he could into the show-off's eyes, hoping to relay exactly how urgent this was. "When you see them, I need you to tell Jimmy or Jey to Skype me. As soon as possible. It's important."
"Will do." Dolph promised. "I got to get going. Got an segment to tape then I'll track them down and let them know."
"Thanks man, good luck." The screen went back to the menu and he set the IPAD down.
This was not good.
8:00pm - Night of Champions
The show was just getting started, pyro exploding. Seth stood behind the curtain, waiting for his cue to go out there. His stomach was in knots, nerves threatening to jump out of his skin. Not in a good way though. He was more worried about the reaction from the crowd and whether or not he could ignore it, if he could keep his face from showing what he was feeling when they hurled insults at him.
There was no chance they wouldn't. After what he'd done to Dean the last time he was on TV, it was going to be brutal. But that wasn't enough for Triple H and Stephanie. Not at all. They wanted to make the most of his return, really amp up the shock value and remind the audience of what he was capable of.
They would definitely get that with what he'd been told to go out there and say.
He hoped that security could hold back the angry fans who wanted his head.
Vaguely, he could hear the commentators informing the viewing public about Roman's surgery. They must have been showing it on the screens in the arena too because the crowd was reacting in time with it. Great. Them already being pissed off pretty assured him that he was going to get eaten alive. He'd just have to keep his guard up, eyes open and make sure that he moved fast enough to avoid anything that may be thrown at him.
"Seth, you're on." Michael Hayes informed him.
Taking a deep breath, he squared his shoulders and forced that familiar arrogant sneer to form. The boo's were deafening as his music hit and he stepped through the curtain. Curses showered him as he made his way down the ramp. Someone flicked water on him as he passed them on his way to the stairs. He managed to ignore them as he climbed into the ring and walked over to the corner, requesting a microphone.
The fans were really enjoying the asshole chant that rained down on him. Instead of getting weaker, it was getting stronger. He shifted uncomfortably, trying to maintain the smug twist to his lips. But it was hard. All he wanted to do was throw the mic down and hide in back.
That wasn't an option.
He had a job to do.
Clearing his throat into the microphone, he looked directly into the camera and spit his opening line as venomously as he could. "Good to see you missed me while I was unfairly suspended."
The response to that was a symphony of unbridled hatred.
"Yeah," He crowed outwardly, the picture perfect scumbag, even though his was cringing internally at what he was about to say, "You should be booing the fact that you were deprived of the future of this company for the last month. It wasn't fair to suspend me for finally ridding the WWE universe of that lunatic."
It was riotous inside the arena.
Seth just managed to dodge the cup that came hurtling toward him. He shook it off and forced himself to continue. To get through this before he lost his composure. "Dean Ambrose is done. I caved in his head on a pile of cinderblocks and he'll never get in my way of fulfilling my destiny ever again."
"It's his fault that he's somewhere with a scrambled brain." He swallowed thickly, wishing he could stop. "All he had to do was let it go and none of this would have happened. Accepted the fact that I destroyed the Shield. But no. He had to keep coming, thinking he was indestructible. I guess now he knows that he's not."
The crowd was turning hostile. Things were being thrown regularly toward the ring. Security was closing ranks around the barricades as people rushed toward them. Yet he couldn't leave. Not only was he only half way through the promo but he had to kill time to make up for the match that was lost.
"Enough about someone who no longer matters, who never really did." His voice was starting to shake. "And onto something that does. The only thing that has ever mattered to me."
He had to twist away from another projectile.
"My future."
God, they were loud.
Obscenities and death threats being shouted at him.
"In case anyone had forgotten, I'm still Mister Money in the Bank." He paused, needing to collect himself. "Which means that without Ambrose standing in my way, I'm free to cash in whenever I want."
The boo that followed that almost shook the building.
"Maybe it'll be tonight. Might be tomorrow." He pondered, this part significantly easier to get through. "But it will happen. When it does, I will be your new WWE Champion."
He preened as they jeered that.
Something hit him from the side, barreling into him and knocking him to the canvas. He grimaced, struggling to breathe. Fists struck him, hard and heavy, intent on inflicting as much damage as they could. He put his arms up in an attempt to block the flurry of blows but it didn't stop his attacker. Those fists still battered him without hesitation, knuckles meeting his forearms.
Why wasn't security putting a stop to this?
They should have intervened by now.
"Stop!" Stephanie's strident suddenly voice rang out. "Stop this right now!"
That didn't help though.
The fists didn't slow down in the slightest.
"I mean it!" She shrieked, voice sounding much closer. "Let him up!"
Suddenly the fists stopped but before he could uncurl his position or open his eyes, hands closed over his ankles and roughly dragged him to the edge of the ring. He felt as his arms were twisted up between the second and third rope, trapping him there. Trying to get them free only made it more painful.
"Don't do it!" The billion dollar princess's voice exclaimed. "Ambrose! Don't do it."
Seth's eyes flew open at that and he stared up in horrified fascination.
Dean stood on the floor, towering over his prone form, dressed as a security guard. There was a cinderblock clutched tightly in his hands. His chest rose and fell rapidly, hair wild and eyes that were ice cold. He didn't look the least bit concerned about Stephanie's presence or the security guards that were flanking her. A smirk twisted his lips and his eyebrows rose.
"I mean it Ambrose." She informed him coldly. "If you do that then you'll be leaving me no choice."
"Oooowwww." Blue eyes rolled and the cinderblock rose in the air. It didn't take a genius to figure out what he planned to do and he braced himself for the inevitable impact. "I'm so scared."
The security guards were slowly creeping closer.
But he knew, they wouldn't make it there in time.
"Do it." Seth murmured so that only they could hear it, hoping that his former brother could read the sincerity in the words. It was the perfect payback for what he'd done. "I deserve it."
"Shut up." The hiss was savage.
That momentary distraction cost Dean. Security rushed in and tackled him, the cinderblock narrowly avoiding Seth as it crashed to the ground in scrum. They quickly grabbed the fighting lunatic by his torso and his legs. Plastic zip ties came out and wrapped around his wrists, restraining him. Then they carried him off, ignoring his cursing, kicking and promising all the guards a horrible death the entire way.
Seth's arms were freed from the ropes and he sat up, his entire body shaking.
"Are you alright?" Stephanie inquired quietly, hand on his shoulder.
He wasn't naïve enough to believe that she was concerned about his well-being. She wanted to know if he could still do the second part of the authorities plan. A part of him really wanted to lie and say that he was injured. To be put on a plane and sent home for a week so he didn't have to deal with this. But instead, he just nodded and slowly got out of the ring.
Jimmy turned his attention away from the monitor in the dressing room and looked at his twin, shaking his head. "I need to stop listening to you man. It always blows up in my damn face."
"You ain't really trying to blame me for this, are you?" Jey huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "I didn't do a damn thing."
"You're the one who talked me into letting little Uce come with us even though we knew when the big dog woke up that he's be pissed off!" He stared at his brother in disbelief, wondering if his parents had dropped his younger brother on his head. "Said he was just planning on hanging out backstage, catching up with some people and watching the action."
"Cause that's what he told me."
He face palmed, "You actually believed him?"
"Well yeah." Jey shrugged. "Who knew that the traitor was going to be here?"
"Dean knew." Jimmy said slowly. "Obviously."
Brown eyes lit up as the pieces finally clicked into place. "Oh damn, think that's why he broke Uce's phone after that call yesterday?"
"Roman better kill you first." The older twin sighed.
"He's not gonna kill us." Jey waved a hand in dismissal. "Big Uce knows little Uce gets."
"Whatever man." Jimmy figured that there was no point in further talking about this. But he knew that Roman was gonna have their heads. "We need to get out to the curtain cause our match is gonna be starting soon."