Sleep doesn't come easily, for Mike anyway. He lays and watches AJ breathe, worrying his lip. He's not sure how he's supposed to leave, focus at all on Clash of Champions, on becoming champion again. It feels meaningless right now, when so much is at risk. He tries to sleep, or at least relax, but it's not working. He eventually slips out of bed and checks to make sure he hadn't woke AJ before slipping out of their bedroom, relieved that the door is quiet for once as he creeps down the hallway.

He sinks down onto the couch and closes his eyes, burying his face into his hands. The last pregnancy had gone smoothly, and the last thing he'd expected had been a problem like this, especially this far into things. He grimaces, hating himself even more for putting AJ through so much the last few months. The sudden idea to move, everything with Shane and then Ziggler. Of course she would start to have blood pressure issues, the WWE doctor had told him his had been elevated too during the worst of it, and he wasn't even pregnant. "Mike," he mumbles to himself, "you are an idiot."

He's still sitting there, nails biting into his skin, when he hears a soft shuffling of footsteps coming down the hall towards him. He freezes, hoping it's not AJ, but when he looks up, it's a weary looking Ricardo leaning in the doorway, staring at him. "Want some company?" he asks quietly and Mike nods, a quick, jerky kind of motion. Ricardo's lips twitch and he walks over to the couch, sitting down with a soft sigh.

"Can't sleep?" Mike asks him, searching his face.

"Mm, no," Ricardo mumbles. "I didn't want to disturb Alicia, so here I am."

"That was my motivation with AJ," he exhales, leaning back against the plush cushions.

Ricardo smiles slightly and looks down at his hands, not reacting to Mike still examining him.

"So," he says carefully. When Ricardo finally looks over at him, Mike sighs. "I appreciate you being here, it's awesome, but I thought... you were kinda permanently in Mexico. Did something happen?"

Ricardo shrugs. "I thought so too, for a little bit." He grimaces. "Well, I think Alberto is more focused on his MMA aspirations and lost interest in the wrestling side of things again, for now." He smiles wanly. "He couldn't give me a straight answer on when the next event would be, and there were mounting issues internally. Besides, my being there and Alicia still being in Texas was really wrecking things between her and I."

Mike nods. "So, you're here now."

"Yep." He exhales. "Well, she was probably going to move to Mexico City eventually, but when she got this call from AJ, she decided to come up here and I... I decided she needed me more than Alberto, so I came with her. Alberto was a little overprotective because I've been having back issues lately, so he only let me referee for the most part." Ricardo shrugs. "I've already put some feelers out to get booked at some of my old haunts around the area, some people seem interested so we'll see. Either way, I'm here for you guys, whatever you need. Even if it's just an insomnia-based discussion in the middle of the night."

Mike laughs and wraps an arm around Ricardo's shoulders. "I'm glad you're here," he mumbles.

"Hey, me too, mi amigo," he says, leaning into Mike's loose embrace with a smile.

Leaving AJ and Sara still stings, but knowing that John, Taya, Ricardo and Alicia are there to help AJ with whatever she needs helps. Mike stares up at the arena Clash of Champion is being held in and shakes his head.

"Hey, man," Heath greets him outside of the locker room and Mike turns to look at him. "How're things?" His eyes are large, dark and deep with sympathy and Mike exhales shakily.

"Not great," he admits. "AJ..." Words fail him as he stares into Heath's compassionate gaze and he feels tears fill his eyes. "Shit."

"Hey, hey," Heath mumbles, reaching out and gripping him, tugging him closer. "I gotcha, it's ok." He squeezes Mike. "She's gonna be fine. You'll see, our four kids, they're gonna be the best of friends. Drivin' all of us nuts, runnin' around underfoot."

He nods, blinking fresh tears away before mumbling, "How's Maryse doing? Everything ok?"

"Yeah, man," Heath says, voice low and soothing. "She's fine." He rubs Mike's back and waits until finally Mike pulls back and straightens his shoulders, Heath reaching out with a tissue and wiping at the few signs of tears still left on his cheeks. When Mike glances at him, he laughs sheepishly. "Sorry, Monroe's still at that stage where she gets really messy really quickly and I just kinda always have something on me for a quick fix."

"I do too usually," Mike chuckles, glancing at his gear.

"Competing against Shinsuke, huh?" Heath says. "Good luck, man. I know you'll kick his ass and reclaim that belt."

"Thanks," Mike tells him. "For everything, Heath. I'll see you later, ok?"

"Yep, see ya man, I gotta go get ready for the Watch Along."

Mike watches him go and shakes his head. Heath should be on the card too, not just relegated to some youtube thing... Closing his eyes, he braces himself once more and turns for the gorilla position, needing noise and activity nearby to keep his thoughts from running wild while he waits for his match to begin.

The match does not go well. His heart is not in it, his mind is in California, and although he tries, it all falls flat and Sami's grating voice at ringside the entire time does not help at all. He loses and as he lays there, listening to Sami's rambuctious celebration, he realizes. It's almost a relief.

He's up and backstage within minutes, ignoring everyone who try to talk to him afterwards, interviews and all of the "better luck next times" meaning very little as he collects his things, gets dressed, and heads out to see if there's a red eye out to California so he can be with his wife, not interested in hanging around for Raw or Smackdown this week.