John was just finishing a workout in the hotel gym. His cell phone started to ring.

"Hello?" He said.

"Hi." Brie said. "Is Nikki with you?"

"No."

"You said I could talk to you anytime."

"Yeah." "What's up?"

"I'm sorry I just didn't know who else to turn to." "Normally I'd call Nikki but given our situation, that's not a good idea."

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah." "I'm thinking about asking Daniel for a separation."

"Really?" "Have things gotten that bad?"

"It seems like every day we drift further and further apart." "What do you think?" "Am I being stupid?"

"I don't think so." "I think if you think that's best you should talk to Daniel about it."

"I don't want to do this but he's not the same person anymore."

"I know what you're going through." "When I started having problems in my marriage I went through the same thing."

"I knew you'd understand."

"Sure I do."

"I just don't know if or when I'm gonna do it." "I'm so stressed out."

"I know." "Sleep on it if you need to."

"I will."

"I gotta go but I'll see you at work later."

"Ok bye."

"Bye."

Later that night everyone was at the arena. Nikki went into John's locker room.

"Hey." John said.

"Hi." They kissed. She smiled

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Tell me."

"I can't." "You'll get mad."

"Just tell me."

"I was smiling because of what I have planned for Brie."

"How much longer is this gonna go on?"

"I knew you would do that."

"Nikki it's been weeks." "Give Brie a break."

"I can't believe you're on her side."

"I'm not on anyone's side." "It's just time for this to stop." Nikki left without saying a word.

Two days later Brie went home. She walked through the door. Daniel came down the stairs.

"Hi." He said.

"Hi." "Daniel we need to talk."

"I'd like to but I can't right now."

"Every time I wanna talk you're to busy."

"We'll talk later."

"No Daniel now."

"Ok what?"

"I think we should separate for awhile."

"Why?"

"To reevaluate our relationship."

"What would we be reevaluating?"

"Well for you it would be your life and whether or not you still want me in it."

"Still want you in it?" "Brie, I love you."

"Yeah?" "Well these last couple of months it's been really hard for me to tell." "I don't want our marriage to completely fall apart." "So I think we should give this separation thing a try."

"I'm not gonna get divorce papers in the mail in a few days am I?"

"No this is only a separation." "I don't want to get a divorce." "That's why I'm doing this." "Hopefully over time we can work out our problems."

"Where will you stay?"

"My mom's condo in LA."

"There's nothing I can do to talk you out of this?"

"No." "Whatever you said now would just be words to keep me from leaving." "I think time apart will do us some good."

"Ok." "If this is really what you want."

"It is." "I'm gonna go pack." She went upstairs.