After a few days spent at home with his girls, Mike flies out to Canada. He greets Maryse with a faint smile and nods at Heath before turning his focus to the events that are to come. His match against Sami Zayn, being successful for Smackdown, keeping the title where it belongs, with him, on the blue brand. The continuance of counting down this run as Intercontinental champion. He watches closely when Maryse sticks another little WWE logo on the title belt, the two of them making lovey dovey faces at the camera aimed towards them and giggling to themselves once the show is over and they can go back to being themselves.
It comes as no surprise when Mike beats Sami Zayn at Survivor Series that Sunday. He hadn't been scared, he hadn't doubted himself. It's easy, almost laughable. Unfortunately Daniel doesn't feel the same so, after everything Mike's accomplished for him, he places him in a match against Kalisto that Tuesday. Again, another laughable opponent, almost like Daniel is giving him these softballs on purpose, as if he wants to see him succeed secretly.
Of course, Mike hits it out of the park- as he always does... just to get knocked loopy by a cheapshot from Dolph Ziggler, sending him face first onto the entrance ramp where he'd been celebrating yet another victory. Maryse is squeeching overhead, making Mike's head throb even worse, but she quiets as soon as Dolph leaves and Mike grips her hand, pulling himself up. "Oh my God, I can't believe that!" she cries out, rubbing some of the marks the grates had left on his skin with her soft fingers. "Poor baby, let's let the trainer look you over!"
He's fine, he can tell, but he obliges her, stumbling into the office and letting the man fuss over him, running a couple of quick tests on him just to rule out concussion. Once everything comes back normal, he smirks grimly. "Told you. I'm fine." He gets to his feet gingerly and cups Maryse's hand, squeezing her fingers. "Come on, let's get out of here."
Heath and Rhyno are talking intensely at the end of the hall and Maryse freezes when she sees them, glancing over at Mike. He nods at her, encouraging her to go ahead, and she quickly rushes over to see what's going on. He watches for a few moments, how she runs a hand down Heath's arm and interlaces her fingers with his, how Heath relaxes at her presence. Smiling, Mike turns back into his own locker room and finds his phone, dialing home. "Hey, sweetheart. No, I'm ok," he insists as AJ questions him worriedly.
As he sits down to talk to her, hear about her day, his eyes slip closed and he smiles.