Chapter 18
A/N: That's right! An update! And guess what? The next one is almost done too. Yep, we're time jumping, folks, because this thing cannot last forever. In fact, it has another chapter, maybe two to go before it is put to bed. Enjoy and leave your thoughts!
It had been a hell of a few months; busy both in the ring and out. Randy finally found a house not far from his sister in the same gated community and; with the help of John and the former Shield boys, moved in before he got too comfortable in Jon's former home. Between Cena, Syd and himself, they furnished and fully decorated his new home and the guest condo.
Jon and Syd christened every room and durable surface – except the ones designated for the girls and the Anoa'is – in their house. He didn't think it was possible for him to love his Kitten more.
The two of them were so in tune with each other that they finished the other's thoughts, or held their conversations silently. They were in real life like Jon was with Colby and Joe in the ring; a well-oiled machine.
On the work front, Jon and Colby were involved in an amazing feud before Jon had to be written out to film the latest 12 Rounds movie, Lockdown.
Syd was antsy about leaving Joe and Colby in the hands of the company trainers and doctors but she couldn't be separated from Jon for that long, so she went with him to Vancouver.
As usual with her boys, they tended to do over the top shit that damn near drove her insane; one of those spots was the way Jon would go out on injury.
At Raw on August 18th, the crowd didn't know just how real her attempt to physically harm Glenn and Colby was after Seth curb-stomped Dean into a pile of cinder blocks. Jerry Lawler could be credited with saving their lives when the woman rushed to check on her man; pushing both men aside to get to him.
King's gentle squeeze and whispered words of reassurance kept her focused on the downed superstar long enough for The Authority members to leave ringside. Even with Jon constantly whispering that he was fine, Syd was thoroughly shaken with the spot, and her emotions got the best of her.
That night Jon had to sleep on the couch with Joe, and Colby was stuck riding with Randy when Syd told Frank not to stop to pick him up. The look on his face when their bus passed Randy's parked one was heart-wrenching.
She slept behind a locked door alone in the bedroom.
The boys were definitely in the doghouse.
On August 25th, Joe and Colby were on the receiving end of an extreme ass-chewing from Syd while with Jon in Vancouver.
They watched the show and Jon saw his lady visibly pale when they held a eulogy for him. That in itself disturbed her enough to cuddle into Jon's chest and clutch on to him like he'd disappear on her.
"I don't like this at all. It's fucking creepy." She whispered against his flesh, shivering at the whole funeral vibe of the segment.
"It's okay, baby. I'm right here." He ran his hands along her back; gently kissing the top of her head.
"No, I don't like it. The thought of you – no." She shook her head; her voice breaking with emotion.
Jon didn't have time to calm her down before Joe appeared and tore the set apart, going after Glenn and Colby with a vengeance. Joe threw a cinder block at Colby's head; hitting the ring post instead when he ducked, and that was enough to swing her mood.
Jon bit his lip to keep from laughing while his lady paced and bitched nonstop until she was capable of reaching them by phone after the show.
"Mama Bear, I had it under control. There's no way I would've hit his head," Joe sighed, dropping his head back against the couch to stare at the ceiling.
"I trust you! It's the pup I don't trust! He's always landing on his head. He can't help it. His head is a fucking magnet for pain," she ranted into the speakerphone.
"I resent that," Colby piped in when he walked out of the bathroom.
"Joe, smack him on the back of his head for rolling his eyes at me."
"How did you know? Ow!" Colby frowned, rubbing the back of his head. "First you're worried about my head and now you have him hit me on it? Come on, Syd," he whined, pouting at the big man.
All he heard was a disconnected line after she hung up on him.
"Syd?" Jon called out when she dropped her phone and ran to the bathroom. He followed her in; furrowing his brow in concern when he found her on her knees, emptying her stomach into the toilet. "Kitten!" He knelt beside her; gathering her hair back into one hand while gently running his free palm over her back. "Are you okay?" He rasped softly, flushing the toilet while he helped his shaky woman to her feet.
"That eulogy…" She stuttered out on a sob, trembling uncontrollably while he held her steady at the sink. "The thought of you dead…" She gasped in between each handful of water to wash out her mouth.
"It's okay, Kitten. I'm right here." He wrapped his arms around her abdomen, resting his chin on her shoulder while she brushed her teeth.
"It's not okay, Jon. I can't fucking live without you." She turned and fell into his arms. "I wouldn't want to." She cried into his chest; holding on to him when he swept her up off her feet.
"You won't have to, Kitten." He kissed the top of her head; cradling her to his chest while he carried her to bed.
On September 8th, Joe and Randy sat back in the locker room, doing their absolute best to hide their laughter while the younger Orton tore Colby a new asshole yet again.
"Are you trying to give me a heart attack? I mean, really, Pup! You almost became a Colby-kabob!" Syd once again paced their hotel suite, tears trickling down her face while she ran a hand over her temple.
"Syd, come on, it wasn't that bad."
"You just stomped your foot, didn't you?"
"How did you know?" he answered a few seconds later, glancing at Joe and Randy to make sure they weren't on their phones, sending her pictures or texting her information.
"Because I know everything about you, idiot! And don't tell me it wasn't that bad, I fucking saw the damn thing right above your back! And you two better shut up!" she snapped at Joe and Randy when they finally couldn't hold back anymore once Colby stood there like a scolded child. "Don't make me fly down there for a day just to kick your asses. You won't like what happens."
And with that, she hung up the phone, leaving her brother and two friends silently staring at each other with wide eyes.
"Come here, baby," Jon pulled her into a tight hug, running one hand soothingly through her hair while she cried. His kitten flipped back and forth between panic, anger, horror and sadness so fast it made him nervous. "I know you worry about us but you've been riding them pretty hard since we've been away. Are you okay, Kitten?"
"I don't know what's wrong with me, Jon. My moods have been off the hook lately," she burrowed into his chest when he swept her up in his arms and settled down on the bed.
"Everything will be okay, baby. We'll be back soon and they'll be in your care again. In the meantime, I've got you and I'm never letting you go," he rolled, settling over her before cradling her face between his palms and taking her mouth in a deep kiss. "That day I bought your anklet from the jeweler I uh, saw something else that caught my eye, and I picked it up for you," he pulled his hand out from under the pillow beneath her head and handed her a small box. Brilliant cerulean eyes met shining obsidian before he smiled softly and jutted his chin towards the box. "Open it. If you like it and want to wear it, a perfect day would be on the 15th. I made a reservation for us at The Giacomo in Niagra Falls when I was first told about the movie. We'll have four days to ourselves in a romantic suite with zero contact to the outside world. I love them but I want this just between us. Is that okay?"
Tears filled her eyes when she opened the box, smiling softly at the contents before darting up to see the worry in every fiber of his being.
"Are you sure? This is kind of crazy even for us." She bit her bottom lip; darting her eyes between his.
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life." He smiled; tucking her hair behind her ear to clearly see her eyes. "You're the one." He cupped her chin; wiping a tear from her cheek with his thumb.
She pulled the item from its pillowed cushion within the box and put it on while staring unflinchingly into his eyes.
"It's a date." She slipped her hand along his nape and pulled him into a kiss that he soon took control of.
They made their return to the company on September 20th in Nashville, Tennessee one day before the Night of Champions PPV. Their immediate destination upon arrival was the TriStar Skyline Medical Center. They booked the earliest flight possible upon receiving the call from Colby the night before, telling them that Joe was rushed to the hospital in horrible pain in his lower abdominal area.
He had just got out of surgery for an incarcerated hernia and was recovering in his private room when they walked in. Syd had his chart in her hand, looking it over before sighing heavily when her gaze settled on his guilty expression. She looked absolutely gutted; her pain blanketing the room, and Joe couldn't stare into those eyes for a second longer.
"How are you feeling, man?" Jon cut the uncomfortable silence between them by taking the chair at his bedside and squeezing his hand.
"Like I got kicked by a mule but a hundred times better than last night," Joe smiled softly at Jon, darting his eyes at Syd and frowning when she stared at the floor. "Baby girl…"
"You knew and kept it from me, and I didn't catch it." She ran a hand over her forehead; massaging the headache forming while she paced at the foot of his bed and read the notes on his chart. "Doesn't say much for my ability to take care of my clients does it?" She sounded impossibly lost and if the big man could move, he'd get up, embrace her and beg for forgiveness.
"Syd," Joe called to her in a strained voice when she dropped his chart on the table and walked out.
"Let her go, brother," Jon patted his arm and sat back, releasing a heavy sigh. "You knocked her on her ass, you know?"
"I know; I was just worried about losing my spot. I didn't think it would get this bad," Joe slowly ran one hand over his hair before gingerly lowering it back to his side.
"You could've died, man. We could have lost you. This fucking job is not worth leaving Gal without her fiancé, JoJo without her father and the rest of us without our brother. Don't ever pull this shit again," Jon snapped at the crestfallen man in the bed, taking in his shaky nod. "Now while she's doubting her ability to effectively be your physician, she's worked it out with Gal and made arrangements for you three to stay with us in Vegas while you rehab so get ready for one seriously moody Syd," Jon chuckled at his brother's sad pout.
Upon Joe's release, the Anoa'i family followed Syd out to a waiting limo. The driver loaded his personal items into the trunk with his ladies' luggage while Gal and Syd helped him get out of the wheelchair and situated on the plush and spacious seat.
"What?" Syd arched a brow and shrugged after JoJo sprawled across her lap on the seat opposite from her parents. "You're a big man that just had major surgery. You don't need to be stepping up into a SUV or crammed into a car. You need space to be comfy," she argued the unspoken question, tracing her fingers through her niece's hair while staring out the window.
"It's just to the airport. I could've managed just fine," he cut off his sentence when she shot a glare his way before returning her gaze to the passing scenery.
"That's a good boy," Gal chuckled softly, patting her fiancé's thigh. "Learn to keep your mouth shut when you have no hope of winning an argument."
"Humph! Keeping his mouth shut is why he's in this predicament to begin with," Syd grumbled before a soft smile crossed her face when JoJo snuggled into her lap.
"This is going to be a long rehab," Joe sighed; unused to the cold treatment from his friend.
"You have no idea," Syd fired back nonchalantly.
"I can't believe you left Jon alone to stay behind with us," Gal spoke up a few minutes into an uncomfortable silence. "I want to thank you for that and taking on his rehab while we stay with you."
"Jon is a big boy that won't do anything too over the top to worry me, and hopefully will keep Colby in line while I'm away. He should be arriving home right after we've settled in so I won't go into withdrawals too badly," Syd laughed with a blush before a glint entered her dark eyes.
"As for your boy there, he'll regret the day he was born by the time his rehab is over. In fact, he'll be in a rush to tell us if he stubs his toe in the future," she smirked, sliding her gaze to the thoroughly chastised Joe.
"You angered the wrong Orton, big man. You see, I can keep up with you in the gym and the ring. I will get you back on your feet, work you out in the gym and beat your ass in the ring until you're in the best shape of your life. Hide anything from me again, Joseph, I dare you," she drew out his name and the following threat in an eerily calm tone.
"I won't, I promise," he shook his head, lowering his eyes to his lap.
"Daddy's in trouble," JoJo sang; breaking the tension between the adults with a playful giggle.
"Honey, I'm home!" Jon laughed; glancing back at Frank after he shut the door behind them.
"I can tell you've always wanted to say that. Don't even deny it, man," Frank shook his head; grinning at Jon's bashful smile.
"Honestly, I never thought about it once until I met her. The idea of falling in love and settling down wasn't in the cards for me," he shrugged his shoulders, pulling his luggage behind him through the foyer.
"Guess you just needed the right woman to come along; that someone special that was made just for you," Frank nudged Jon's side with a playful smile. "I never was a big believer in soulmates until I met the two of you. You and Syd piece together to complete the same puzzle; the picture is pretty damn special. You both are very lucky. Others wait a lifetime to find what you have."
"Thanks, man," Jon couldn't stop the smile if he tried, and sure as hell couldn't stop the rapid beating of his heart when Syd appeared; throwing herself into his chest. "Miss me, Kitten?" he whispered against her hair, holding her close.
"I don't like being away from you," she mumbled against his neck, kissing the flesh up to his ear.
"It drives me insane to be away from you. Are you sure you can't just throw Joe to the wolves and come with me?" he asked while pecking her lips.
"Very tempting but no, he needs me for a bit. I can rejoin you for Raw and Smackdown in about two weeks and then come home to work him out. Will that do for now?" she grinned when he sighed dramatically with a roll of his eyes.
"I guess but I reserve the right to be an asshole to him when I get home. He is costing me road sex and subjecting me to Colby with no buffer," he laughed with Frank; catching her hands before she could swat him, and pulled her flush to his body. "You don't know how hard it is, Kitten."
"No road sex or being alone with Colby?"
"Both!"
"I can fix both of those right now, my Prince." She hopped up, wrapping her legs around his waist, placing kisses and bites along his throat to his jaw.
"I love the way you think, baby. See you later, Frank!" Jon shouted back while he swept his lady up the stairs.
On September 26th, Joe and his ladies watched Jon in a match with Mike "The Miz" Mizanin. Syd stalked around the ring by the announcer's table, observing the action. Towards the end, Seth and Kane strolled down the ramp while Dean was covering Miz for the win.
"Watch her! Here she goes!" Joe chuckled when Syd slid into the ring to assist Dean.
He struck out at Kane while Syd whipped Seth around and slapped a quick RKO on him. She ended on one knee, smirking devilishly before Dean grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. He had snatched Seth's Money in the Bank briefcase during the scuffle, swept his lady from the ring, helped her over the barricade and they took off into the crowd with their prize.
"You two are a wicked combo." Joe grinned at Jon and Syd; curled up together in a recliner.
On September 29th after Raw, Colby exited the bathroom on the bus and scowled at the cuddling couple on the couch. "I've washed my hair and beard five times and I can still see that green goop in it." He threw his wet towel at Jon when he couldn't stop laughing at him.
Over the next few weeks, Syd split her time between traveling with Jon and Colby for Raw and Smackdown, and nursing Joe back to health. Once he was deemed stable enough, they began a light workout regime in her gym.
October 29th the two were quietly engrossed in their weight-lifting; stepping up Joe's workout to heavier weights and more intense cardio to drop the extra pounds he picked up during his recovery.
He had to admit the program Syd put together for him was not only getting him ready for the ring but he was on his way to being in the best shape of his life.
At that, he silently scrutinized his companion and thought on his earlier conversation with Jon. His brother was worried about her. Syd had always been a moody individual but over the past few months, she had taken that to a whole new level.
Even Galina and JoJo had noticed her crying bouts. When they asked her about it, she claimed she missed Jon but Joe knew his friend; he knew there was more to it than that.
"I couldn't help but notice you getting more worked up than usual during Jon's match at Hell in a Cell, baby girl." He glanced at her briefly while he curled some dumbbells.
"I hate cages. I can't get to him fast enough if he needs me. The two of them act like kids when they feud. They get so competitive that they push the envelope and I end up nursing them back to health." She growled out, pushing the bar off her chest, in the middle of a rep.
"And the eulogy?"
"That fucking killed me, Papa Bear. It shook me so badly that I got sick." She placed the bar back in the cradle and covered her watering eyes with her hands. "He was in my arms while we watched it but the image; the thought of him being lost to me, it was too much."
'Ah hell.' Joe dropped the dumbbells; rushing to the weight bench when he heard Syd's shuddering sobs, and pulled her into his arms. "Shh, it's okay, baby girl. He's not going anywhere. I'm sorry I mentioned it." He rocked her back and forth for several minutes until she began to settle.
"I can't believe how fast that came on." Syd sniffled against his tank-covered chest.
"That was a pretty quick shift there. Is your monthly visitor stopping by soon, Mama Bear?" Joe chuckled softly; a smile pulling at his mouth when she snorted a small laugh before a jolt tensed her body. "Syd, what is it?" He asked when she pulled from his grasp and ran into her office. "Mama Bear? What's wrong?" He called out to her through the now locked door.
"Nothing; I'm fine." She called out with a shaky voice, sitting at her desk and shuffling through a stack of unopened mail. She drew in a sharp breath when she found the envelope she hoped wouldn't be there, tore it open and clenched her eyes after reading it. "Son of a bitch." She sighed, burying her face in her hands.
"Syd?" Joe knocked on the door after hearing the soft sounds of her crying once again. "Baby girl?" He took a step back when the door swung open, and a visibly spooked Syd emerged. "Syd, where are you going? What's wrong?" He started after her when she rushed out of the gym.
"I need to see my brother." She mumbled; wiping the tears streaming down her face before she sprinted out of the yard, outrunning him once she hit the driveway.
"Joe? What's the matter?" Galina asked her fiancé when he rushed in the front door.
"Something is up with Syd. She just took off crying to Randy's house. I need to get Jon." He bent over, gasping for breath.
"What did you say to her?" Jon snapped from the top of the stairs; practically flying down them to get to the front door.
"I talked about her mood swings like you asked; she started crying over that eulogy segment and, when she calmed down, I jokingly asked if she was PMSing." Joe held his hands up in his defense when Jon stood before him with a glare that could melt steel.
"Oh!"
"What?" Both men asked Galina who stood between them with a surprised expression on her face.
"I don't think she's PMSing." Her features softened; a smile blooming when she turned shining eyes to Jon. "Just think about it." She poked Jon's shoulder; flashing a beaming smile when his face lit up. "Now you got it."
"We need to get to Randy's. I need to get to my Kitten."