Ricardo had decided to fly to Pennsylvania for two reasons- to watch Alicia in the rumble, and also to do things for the Icons of Wrestling event. It feels surreal to know that the next time he's in Florida, it'll just be to collect his car to begin the long road trip cross country to eventually take him home to California. He's just wrapped up the second day at IoW when he realizes his phone is buzzing nonstop in his pocket. Trying to smile politely at the last bunch of fans, he waits until they're out of sight to grab his phone and stare at whoever's being so annoying, just to realize it's a series of texts from Alicia.
Was training to prepare for tomorrow, the first reads. I hurt myself. Doc isn't sure how bad, but I need to get out of here, have some tests run. Ricardo- can you come? I don't remember when you said... He doesn't bother reading any more, just grabs his things and leaves, waving down the first taxi he sees.
She's laying mournfully on her stomach, jaw resting against her forearms, when he finds her, resting a hand between her shoulderblades. "What's wrong? What did you do?" he demands, kneeling down to look her in the eye.
"Doc thinks I fractured my tailbone." Ricardo's eyebrows lift and she scoffs out a laugh of her own. "I know. What a thing to break, this weekend no less." Tears fill her eyes and he quickly loses any maudelin humor at the situation, leaning closer and stroking her hair out of her face as best as he can, kissing her.
"I'm sorry, Alicia." She rests her forehead against his, breathing heavily against his face as he tries to comfort her as best as he can. "What do you need me to do?"
"Take me with you," she says through gritted teeth. So he does.
They fly together back to Florida, where they wait long enough for the tests to confirm what the WWE doctors assumed. Then he gently bundles her in the backseat of his vehicle, relieved that the backseat is wide enough that she fits comfortably enough, and tries to pack the backseat full of everything she'll need for the drive. "Here we go," he says once everything is sorted, relieved that he'd planned a number of stops before they'd arrive at California so she won't be stuck back there in pain the entire way.
Louisiana is the first stop, he gets her a hotel room and holds a training seminar at one of the nearby indys. Afterwards, he brings her some food from a nearby diner and they eat, then he passes out for a few hours, while she watches TV. When he wakes up, they hit the road again and drive down to Texas, where he has more training scheduled. She giggles helplessly when he plays 90 boybands and sings along to them, watching her in the rearview mirror with a soft smile on his face.
Another stop in Houston, another few hours of sleep for him, and then he's off to Booker T's facility to do some more training while she dozes in the hotel room, trying to ignore the pain flutuating throughout her lower body. He does some tourist-y things without her- touring a baseball stadium, seeing Space Center Houston, things of that nature, but she doesn't mind, glad that at least one of them is enjoying this trip.
He's humming to himself as they return to the car for a quick drive to San Antonio for more training seminars and a meet'n'greet. Before he starts driving, she reaches out and takes his hand, smiling up at him. "You seem a lot lighter since we made this whole move thing work out." She lifts his hand, kissing his knuckles. "I'm glad about it, Ricardo. You had me worried there a little bit."
He exhales and nods. "I know. I'm sorry, Alicia. I do feel better knowing soon I'll see my madre and sister again soon." He smiles at her. "Are you comfortable? Need anything before we go?"
She shakes her head, eyes already heavy with a need for more sleep, and he lightly slips his hand free from hers. "Wake me up when we arrive," she requests and he nods.
"Of course, you know I will. Rest well, Alicia."
San Antonio goes well, and then it's on to El Paso, just to be that much closer to leaving Texas. They sleep there and then hit the road again once Alicia's had some painkillers and he's had some coffee. The drive through New Mexico is boring and with very little to see outside of other cars and weird billboards every now and again. It's almost a relief when they get stuck at a tourist trap first place they stop in Arizona, just for something different to see.
She laughs at the look on his face when they finally get out of the car, his helping her to yet into another hotel where she limps over to the nearest bed and slumps down on her stomach, sighing softly. It's quiet and they both actually get a full night's sleep for the first time in awhile, leaving Ricardo in a positively good mood as he goes for his next seminar and wrestling event, which Alicia actually sits through, a pillow protecting her spine from the cheap chairs usually used for these things. As soon as his tag match finishes, she slips away, but it had meant so much to him that she was there to watch him- and for one of those all too rare victories of his, no less.
He returns to the hotel afterwards and rubs her back slowly, kissing her. "Are you ok?"
"Mm hmm," she says sleepily. "You know I hate being injured, and I hate having to miss out on the Mixed Match Challenge and the first ever Womens Royal Rumble because of it, but I have to say... it's been nice being able to travel with you again." She grins and cups his face gently. "I can't wait to start our lives in Califonria together."
He beams." Same here. It's going to be great."
"I think so too," she says, before reaching out towards him and drawing him in to lay down next to her and doze. "Get some sleep, baby. We have a lot of stuff to do the next few days."
She's right. As always. So he closes his eyes, presses his face into her arm, and falls into a deep sleep.
