"Are you excited?" AJ asks, bopping Sara on her knee as the little girl squirms and babbles on, trying to get free to play on the grass.
Mike exhales, looks over at her. "Kind of? I'm also kind of nervous. I'd never admit it or show it to Shane, but he is kind of right. We've never teamed up together, and much as I admire him, he hasn't wrestled since November, so..."
"Well, sure," AJ says slowly. "But you have to figure when he did, he won. No prep, just entered the match, kicked ass, and there ya go. Besides, it's not like you and John had much experience as a tag team when you two won the tag titles all of those years ago."
Mike smiles a little. "You know, you're right. I shouldn't doubt him, or myself. We're gonna wreck this thing. Isn't that right, Sara Lou?" he asks, holding his hands out to his daughter. When she stares up at him and awkwardly slaps her palms against his, he laughs and leans forward, kissing her on the forehead before kissing AJ on the lips. "I love you, sweetheart," he murmurs against her.
"Good to know," AJ says dryly before laughing. "I love you too. You and Shane are gonna be tag champs this time next week."
Mike's eyes gleam and he nods, kissing her again before getting up. "I should start packing, it's gonna be a long week." From Smackdown to media to Axxess to the Rumble itself, Mike isn't sure if he'll ever have a few moments just to breathe this week, but he knows that he'll keep his head above water and make it out to the other side, hopefully with Shane by his side, tag belts held over their heads successfully.
He pauses and stares at himself in the mirror, exhaling quietly. "I hope so, at any rate," he mumbles before grabbing a few suit bags and placing them carefully in his luggage, quietly reciting the list of everything he will need for the next week as he gets more and more of his things packed up.
His doubts, however, return quickly come Tuesday. Shane, bless him, tries to help during Mike's match against Cesaro, trying to keep Sheamus back, and everything else, but The Bar haven't been tag champions so often for no good reason, and the match ends in a win for Cesaro. But things aren't done there, and The Bar make quick work of both himself and Cesaro.
Then it all gets even worse. Mike feels himself getting sprawled out over the commentary table and the next thing he knows, Cesaro and Sheamus have hoisted Shane up as high as they can get him, slinging him down upon Mike's prone form. It feels like he's just been stabbed through the chest, Shane's full body weight crashing down upon him. His ribs, his sternum, everything is just a burning coil of agony. All he can do is stare up at the lights overhead and struggle to breathe as referees and members of the medical staff begin to bustle around him. He feels Shane move and it's a relief, as terrifying as it is, the pain stabbing up his body so intense that he thinks Sunday may not happen, tears filling his eyes at this thought.
He's sure he's broken a rib or two, done something there at any rate, based on how sharp and intense the pain feels. He thinks about Sunday, how slim their changes truly are, as he and Shane are helped to their feet, making their way backstage with help, referees and staff on either side of them, helping them backstage for a proper, more thorough examine from the trainer. It's not a surprise to Mike when, after doling out a liberal amount of painkillers to Mike, the man then presses into his midsection.
He writhes and fights against the well-meaning hands trying to sooth him afterwards, struggling to take in a full breath. "Shane," he chokes out, breathing just a little easier when he finally hears Shane's voice, faint and a little breathless, but solid. Strong, He finds comfort in it.
"We're gonna be ok, Mike," Shane says quietly. "We'll come back stronger than ever, kick both of their asses, and claim those tag belts."
He sounds so confident that Mike drifts off, in badly need of rest with those words replaying in his thoughts. He believes him, he just hopes they will both be cleared in time to finish this at the Rumble.