Chapter 17 - All You Never Say

She had thanked God the first time Odyn made it out of the hospital with just a prescription...She thanked God again after he lived through both of his surgeries...Now she just wanted God to take mercy on her son. She wanted God to leave her son alone and move onto someone else. Odyn had been through enough the last few months.

She really wished God would start listening to her.

Her knee was bouncing up and down uncontrollably. She couldn't get her nerves to calm down; even if she had a gun pointed at her head. They'd been sitting in the Emergency Room for the last 2 hours.

Just waiting...

And waiting still...

And waiting some more...

Eventually she stood from the uncomfortable cushioned seat and decided pacing would hurt her backside less. She could feel Roman's eyes on her as she paced back and forth. She honestly wasn't sure if she could take much more; between the bullshit with Roman and his silence to Odyn and his health problems to getting the kids ready to go back to school and AJ wouldn't stop texting her because he wanted to get back together with her - Ayana was ready to lose her mind.

If her hair didn't turn grey on its own soon she would be pleasantly surprised.

The fact that AJ didn't understand the word no was grating on her last nerve. It had been fun while it lasted, but she was seriously done. She'd been selfish and got what she wanted and hurt not only herself but her husband in the process. She had only been thinking of herself and not even noticing her husband was going through something because she was too focused on the kids and herself. Maybe if she had forced Roman to talk about what was going on between them they wouldn't be at odds two years later.

Roman's grey eyes watched as his wife walked back and forth. He was honestly worried about her; she looked like she hadn't had a good night's sleep in weeks. Not that his stupid ass was helping any. Getting suspended was the last thing he needed her to stress over; especially since his mother had called two hours ago and told them Odyn's lips had turned blue. They both automatically knew it was his heart again. The doctors had him in the ER working on trying to figure out what was going on before they even attempted to come to him and Ayana with any answers to their millions of questions.

Roman's eyes went to Braden and Max; their faces were filled with just as much worry as he felt himself. Samaria was clinging to his right arm with her face buried in his bicep. She reminded him so much of Ayana. When she was pregnant with Braden and scared as hell she was sat next to him with her face buried in his shoulder - clinging to his right arm as well.

Ayana's head snapped up as the ER doors swooshed open and Dean and Nala came jogging in. Nala was already wrapping Ayana up in her arms tightly as Dean approached Roman.

"What's going on? What happened?" Nala asked.

Ayana frowned. "I don't know all the details yet. The kids were over at Lisa and Sika's when Odyn's lips started turning blue again. They called 911 and then us. They've been back there for 2 hours and they haven't come out yet."

Nala scoffed. "Yea well they better get out here and start chatting you guys up pretty damn quick before I give someone a free flying lesson off the helicopter pad of this joint."

Ayana smiled softly. No one in Ayana and Roman's life cared more about their kids than Nala and Dean...Except Lisa and Sika and of course the rest of Roman's overly large family. She knew if Nala was up to threatening a free flying lesson then she was on the verge of taking charge.

"Calm down Rocky Marciano." Ayana joked. "As much as I want them to come out now; I don't want them to rush and not have enough answers for my questions." Her head snapped around as the double doors opened and she watched as Dr. Libman came out of the ER. He had been taking care of Odyn since he'd first come into the ER months ago. Ayana would refer to him as the GREATEST Pediatric Heart Specialist alive.

Ayana stood still as she watched Dr. Libman walk towards her. She was suddenly aware that Roman was directly next to her within seconds. Dr. Libman stopped to shake both of their hands. "Okay Dr. Libman what is going on?" She asked with concern and worry in her voice.

Dr. Libman sighed heavily. "Well for right now Odyn is stable. It would seem the extra valves we placed in his heart are not working properly. I added Odyn's name to the United Network of Organ Sharing. He is going to need a full blown heart transplant. If we don't do one now there's a good chance he won't make it to his 11th birthday. The valves aren't keep up with his heart. I know this is a lot to taken in right now, but I want to give it to you straight. I'm not going to stand here and blow smoke up both of your asses. Frankly I'd be too worried that you'd sick Mr. Reigns on me." The man was a monster of a human being; he could easily break someone in half.

"How soon can we expect the transplant...like ball park figures." Roman asked curiously.

Dr. Libman shook his head negatively. "It can happen as soon as tomorrow or even as long as a few months away. It all depends on when a heart can become available. As you know someone with Odyn's blood type and size would have to pass away in order to pass the heart along." His eyes danced between the two parents.

Ayana felt discouraged. They had to play the waiting game once again. "So when can we take him home?" She asked softly.

"We would really like to keep him for a couple of days and then once we do release him we are going to have to ask that he stay on strict bed rest and we will also be sending you home with a heart monitor. We'll show you what kind of readings to look for in case he gets into any sort of distress. He doesn't need any more strain on his heart so he really needs to stay immobile. Which I know is next to impossible with an almost 10 year old, but it really has to be done for him to make it to the surgery without staying in the hospital. If he can't maintain then we'll have to keep him here until the transplant and I know that would be even more impossible."

"I don't care if we have to duct tape him to a chair, couch or bed. He will stay put as long as you need him to." Ayana stressed truthfully. She wasn't taking any chances with Odyn's life. She couldn't handle losing another child. "When can we see him?" She asked curiously.

Dr. Libman smiled softly knowing Ayana and Roman would follow his instructions to the letter when it came to their son's life. "They are putting him in a room right now; so probably in about 15 to 30 minutes." He smiled as he reached out and squeezed Ayana's shoulder. "I'm confident Odyn will be just fine until we can do the transplant as long as you keep him as immobile as possible."

"Thank you Doc." Roman stated before he shook the doctor's hand again. He watched as Ayana turned on her heels and walked back over to where Nala was sitting as Roman took his seat next to Dean again.

Dean's icy blues watched the way Roman interacted with his wife. "So apparently Aya isn't too happy about your suspension." It was more of a statement than a question.

Roman gave his brother an incredulous look. "Are you shitting me? We already had it out. Let's uh...let's go outside for some fresh air." Roman looked at Braden. "Watch Max and Samaria while me and you're uncle step outside." He watched as Braden nodded before he stood and followed his friend out the door.

Dean leaned against the hospital outside wall as he kicked his right foot over his left before showing his hands in his front jean pockets. "Well what happened?" Mild curiosity was setting in; especially if they had to come outside to talk openly.

"She gave me an ultimatum." Roman mumbled as he leaned against the opposite wall facing Dean with his arms crossed over his chest.

Dean's eyes shot open. "What do you mean she gave you an ultimatum; You're not too good with those bro."

Roman shook his head. "Yea don't I know it. She is giving me the 30 days of my suspension and then she said I either have to tell her what has been going on with me so she can fix the marriage or she's leaving me...and taking the kids with her."

"Jesus Christ Roman. See I was afraid this was going to happen. You've kept yourself closed off from your wife for so long she's had enough of your stubborn tight lipped bullshit." Dean stated honestly. "And I can honestly say I don't blame her. I'm sorry bro, but I'm on her side with this. I've been telling you for weeks to talk to her. Hell, the twins your own flesh and blood have been telling you to get your head out of your ass and talk to your wife because you're not talking to us about whatever is going on in that thick melon of yours. And now you're in danger of losing your family because you won't open your mouth."

"I don't know if 30 days if going to be enough time. I can't force myself to do something I already know I'm not ready to talk about. Fuck, trying to force it will only make me not want to talk about it even more and giving me an ultimatum is making me just want to tell her to go fuck herself." Roman stated truthfully.

"Are you really willing to risk losing your wife and kids? Ayana has been by your side from the beginning. You guys bonded together even before she got pregnant with Braden. You guys were 15. I can't even begin to think of one person before I met Nala that I wanted to spend 15 years of my life with; let alone the rest of my life." Dean said.

"She screwed around with AJ for months bro. I never would've ever thought Ayana would've been capable of that." Roman pointed out. "And watching them dance together a few weeks ago set it in stone. I knew she was cheating on me before I started screwing Sasha on the road, but I didn't want to believe it; not until I saw it with my own eyes." Roman sighed heavily.

Dean shook his head. "What did you expect to happen bro? You, yourself said you haven't touched your wife in 2 YEARS. I can barely go five days without banging my wife; how you got by for 2 years without her is beyond my comprehension."

"Dude everything about her screwing AJ pisses me off. I probably wouldn't have given a shit if it was some no named idiot she met at the grocery store, but AJ Fuckin Styles bro!" Roman stressed. "He's eight YEARS older than me, he's shorter than me and he's damn sure not as big as I am. My wife made the decision to bang my co-worker and he doesn't even come close to filling my pants or lacing my big ass boots. I get that he's a veteran but fuck why him?" Roman questioned through clenched teeth.

Dean scoffed. "Because you fuckin idiot, you basically alienated your wife and guess what - AJ saw that as an opportunity; he has been split from his wife for MONTHS. Everyone in the back knew that but I don't know how you didn't. His wife left his ass and took his kids with her and now he can't find her anywhere. He hasn't seen his kids in forever."

Roman growled. "Well that's just great. So what? He see's my wife looking lonely and decides he's going to lay some pipe with her and then move in on my kids? Fuck that. If I have to break his old ass in half I will. Fuckin Vince might love him to death right now, but he won't love him so much when he's missing his head." Roman snarled.

Dean chuckled. "So you would honestly feel better about Aya having sex with some dude off the street than a co-worker. I'm sorry but I'm calling bullshit right now. I don't care who you are; if you are a red blooded male and you find out your wife is banging someone no matter who it is you're going to have a problem with that. He's laying stake to your claim. She's been your girl for 15 years, even before the diapers, marriage and problems. I get that it probably hurts, but you have no one to blame but yourself big man and you know it."

"And I'll tell you something else you don't want to hear. If at the end of these 30 days that she's giving you; you haven't opened your mouth you are going to lose her and I'm almost pretty sure you won't be able to get her back. But hey, if you are ready to be single again and you want to lose everything you worked so hard for then you go ahead and keep tearing down this silent path." Dean shrugged his shoulders. "Because I'll bet you any amount of money in the world, Ayana is not going to stand around and wait for you to come back to the marriage. She's been waiting for 2 years...how much longer do you think she really wants to wait before she walks away and gives up everything. She's like every other woman in America and every other country she just wants to be loved. Don't get it twisted she can be alone if she wanted she doesn't really need a man, but she WANTS one and all signs are pointing to her husband."

Dean leaned forward as his eyes locked with his best friends. "That's you if you didn't know; you stupid shit. So take your 30 days and then stop fucking around and get your wife back. This is your chance. All you never say; it's time to be said."

Dean pushed off the wall. "But that's just what I would do. I'm just sayin' bro." They started to walk back into the ER when Dean stopped and looked back at Roman. "Nala and I are taking the kids for a couple of days so you and Aya can stay here with Odyn until he's released."

Roman hated it when Dean was the voice of reason.