Two days later, Seth is still in the hospital, but in a regular room. "Everything's still looking good." says the doctor, looking at Seth's chart. "No signs the spleen injury is getting worse."
"So can I get out of here soon?" Seth asks.
"Another day or two." the doctor answers. "But no strenuous exercise or wrestling for at least a couple of months."
Seth smiles. "In the past if you told me that I'd go crazy, but now I think I can I handle chilling out for a while."
The doctor exits and Frances sits on the foot of the bed. "I'm glad to hear that. The reason you've got that nasty scar on the back of your neck is from being stubborn after your neck surgery." she reminds her son.
"I'll behave Mom." Seth insists. "I have more reason to now. My focus is different. Though I am curious exactly what WWE is gonna have the Shield do without me for a while."
"We're working on that." Celeste says, entering the room.
"Hey Sparky." Seth says.
"Hey." she replies.
"So that was the phone call you said you had to make?" Frances asks.
"Yep. There were ideas of having Dean be in two matches, or not having Roman in a match. They even brought up having you and Roman vacant the tag team championship."
"And what did they settle on?" Seth inquires.
Celeste smiles. "I said that since Dean already has to defend the United States championship that he shouldn't have to do two matches. I also reminded them that technically there are four members of the Shield."
"You suggested being Roman's partner against Daniel and Randy?" Seth asks.
"I did. It took some convincing, but everyone finally agreed." Celeste explains.
"Including Vince? He jumped on us for that little stunt you pulled in the last mixed tag match." Seth recalls.
"I didn't run that by him before I did it. He's on board now." Celeste says.
"Ow!" Seth exclaims as he eases into the recliner beside the bed.
"You should have taken the pain medicine before you got in the shower." Frances chastises.
"Your mom is right." Celeste affirms.
"I'm weak, ladies. You don't both need to fight me." Seth sighs.
"I'll go tell your nurse you're ready for some medicine." Celeste says.
At the nurses' station Seth's nurse, Leslie, asks, "Regretting not taking his medicine?"
Celeste laughs. "Yep."
"Hey." says Susan, standing behind Celeste.
Celeste turns. "Hey."
"Is Seth okay?" Susan asks,
"Yeah. He's just gonna be really sore for a while is all." Celeste explains. "How's your dad?"
"Getting better. They put a couple of stints in and he's in a step down unit now." Susan answers.
Celeste watches as Leslie heads toward Seth's room, then turns her attention back to Susan. "Do you want to meet Seth?"
Susan is taken aback. "I…. Are you sure it'd be okay?"
Celeste nods. "Come on."
"Is it okay if I just chill here in the recliner for a while?" Seth asks Leslie.
"That's fine." Leslie says. "Let me know if you need anything else."
"Thank you." Seth says, as she exit's the room.
"Seth." Celeste says softly. He looks toward the door. "This is Susan."
There is an awkward silence for a moment. Finally Seth speaks, "Hey Susan."
"Hi." she replies quietly.
"You can come closer. You won't break me." Seth teases, with a smile.
The females all laugh.
Frances holds out her hand. "I'm Seth's mother, Frances."
Susan shakes her hand. "Nice to meet you." She slowly walks over and sits on the bed and stares at Seth for a moment. "I am so sorry."
"I know." Seth insists. "Is your dad getting better?"
Susan nods. "Yeah. I told my mom about the accident, but we decided not to tell Daddy until he's a bit stronger."
"Susan, what you did wasn't right. But I can't hate you. I've been stupid enough to drive like a NASCAR driver when I didn't have the excuse of needing to get to a sick loved one." He grimaces when a twinge of pain hits. "Don't beat yourself up, but don't drive crazy anymore. Okay?"
Susan smiles. "Okay. Can I give you a hug?" she asks cautiously.
"Yeah, just don't squeeze much." Seth answers.
Susan laughs and leans over. The two share a short, but sweet hug. "I better get back to my parents.
"Is your cousin Robbie here?" Seth asks.
"Not right now." Susan answers.
"Bring him by when he gets here. Not fair to meet three-fourths of the Shield, but not all of us." Seth says.
Seth was released from the hospital on Thursday and spent a couple of days at Pastor's Mac's home. Pastor Mac and a few of the church members had visited Seth during his hospital stay. Seth had also gotten to meet Robbie shortly before his release. It's now Saturday, Seth, Celeste and Frances are on a WWE cooperate jet headed to Philadelphia. Seth is sleeping soundly and Frances watches as Celeste spreads a blanket over him. He slightly flinches as Celeste loosely tucks the blanket around his ribs. Celeste looks concerned for a moment, then lovingly strokes his hair.
"You really do love him." Frances proclaims.
Celeste takes a seat across from her. "I really do."
"You have to understand why I'm cautious." Frances says. "I saw a lot of tender moments with Claire and then she ended up betraying him."
"Frances, my father cheated on my mother and my high school boyfriend cheated on me. I despise that kind of behavior." Celeste leans back against the seat and sighs. "I know that I messed up with John. I shouldn't have been with him when we weren't on the same page spiritually. I do admit I was attracted to Seth while with John, but I never considered crossing the line."
Frances leans over and pats Celeste's on the hand with a smile. "I believe you."
Celeste, Roman, Randy and Daniel go over the match with bookers in a secluded room. The plan was to make everyone think Dean was going to be Roman's partner and have Celeste be a surprise.
Seth is relaxing in catering when John approaches. "Hey man." John says.
"Hey." Seth replies.
"How you feeling?" John asks.
"I've been better." Seth smiles. "Just grateful it wasn't any worse."
John nods and is quiet for a moment. "So word you that you and Celeste are legit now."
Seth sighs. "John, neither of us planned it this way, but when I was lying there…"
"I understand." John says. "Really I do. I just wanna give you some advice."
"Okay." Seth says.
"Number one: If Celeste cooks you steak, know that it will be well done. She refuses to try it any other way."
Seth laughs causing slight pain to his abdomen. "Ow. Okay thanks for the warning. What else?"
"I don't think I really need to worry about this-but, if you hurt her I will make getting hit by a car seem like a pleasure." John warns.
Seth nods. "Duly noted. You're right, you don't have to worry."
Celeste approaches. "Hey guys."
"John was just warning me that I'll never be able to get a rare steak from you." Seth says.
"If you want that yuckiness that's what restaurants are for." Celeste responds.
The men laugh. John leans close and whispers, "Be careful out there tonight."
Celeste furrows her brow. "How do you know…?"
"I know you." John insists. "It wasn't hard to figure out."
"I'll be careful." she insists.
Celeste and Seth share a sweet kiss before she, Dean and Roman head up to make their entrance.
"You know what I just realized?" Seth asks.
"What's that?" Celeste asks.
"As many times as we've kissed before, they're so much better now that they're real." he answers.
Celeste smiles. "Yeah, real makes it a lot better."
Seth kisses her forehead. "Go kick butt."
Celeste usually dressed with at least a bit of color to stand out from the all black attire of the Shield. Tonight however, it was shiny black leggings and a form fitting black tee. Her ring gear usually contained stars, but for the surprise she thought she'd leave those off tonight. She, Roman and Dean make their way through the crowd. Roman and Dean are holding the tag team belts.
"Here they come." announces JBL.
"Good to know that Seth is recovering well from his injuries and Celeste can be here to support the rest of the Shield." says Cole.
"Looks like Dean is in for a rough night fighting two matches." adds King. "Wait a minute…!"
Dean hands Seth's belt over to Celeste, gives her and Roman fist bumps, then hops back over the barricade to leave.
"What the hell?" JBL wonders. "No way!"
"It…it looks like Celeste is taking her boyfriend's spot in this match." Cole says.
"Well I guess Freebird rules can include her." King suggests.
The match has lots of back and forth by all four opponents. It was planned for Celeste is to take down Daniel with a tornado DDT, be unable to get a three-count, then they would tag in Roman and Randy to finish the match. Things didn't go exactly that way. Celeste landed too hard on her already sore left elbow. She immediately knew something was wrong, but cover Daniel anyway. She breathes through the nausea as she watches the match's finish from the ring apron.