Mike sits rigidly, tapping his fingers against his arm, and stares ahead quietly. The flight after Smackdown had been brutal, John was still in a lot of pain, gritting his teeth at any sign of turbulence, and no amount of painkillers could really seem to touch the worst of it. He sighs and kneads his forehead, glancing over at his best friend. They'd landed after what felt like forever and departed, Mike grabbing John's luggage for him, and Taya had greeted them immediately, curling her fingers around John's arms and staring into his eyes before gently guiding him outside to the waiting car.
So now they're all back at the house, he and AJ, John and Taya, the kids, curled up on two of their couches, and although it's obvious John is still hurting, he seems more stable than he had been. Mike thinks about the hospital, getting him tests and scans to figure out what's going on with his neck, but John doesn't seem eager to accept anything that would make him move from where Sara Louisa is cuddling against his chest and Taya is holding him from behind, so Mike just sits and waits and watches.
AJ shifts next to him and leans up, kissing his jaw. "He'll be ok," she murmurs into his skin, and Mike glances down at her.
"I hope so," he breathes back and she smiles sadly at him, carding her fingers through his gel-free hair, enjoying how she can manipulate it right now without all of that product in it. "I wish he'd let us take care of him more."
AJ nods slowly, glancing over at where John's laying in a half-doze, fingers lazily stroking up and down Sara's back. "I know," she whispers. "But at least he's here, right now, where we can help him if he needs it. It's better than sometimes."
John has a tendency to shut out the world when he's hurting physically or emotionally, Mike knows this. Remembers many times in the past having to chase him around rocky terrain and in weird spots off of the beaches around his apartment just to talk to him whenever something bad happened. "True," he concedes, smiling down at her. "How's my little man doing?" He decides to change the topic, because ultimately, she's right. John's only a few feet away, and he seems to be doing ok, all things considered.
AJ giggles and runs a finger down George's nose, watching as the little boy shifts and lets out a quiet whimper before settling back to sleep. "He's perfect," she breathes, the adoration clear in her deep, dark eyes. "Misses his daddy, I think, but yeah, he's been doing really well." She hoists him up and soothes him when he fusses, gently settling him against Mike's chest.
"Aw," Mike murmurs, kissing the baby's forehead. "I miss you too, every time I have to walk out that door. I hope you never forget that." He looks over at AJ with a small smile. "He's getting so big. God, they both are." He looks over at Sara, shaking his head. "It's amazing."
"I know, it feels like just yesterday we were bringing Sara home," AJ murmurs, rubbing George's back as he breathes deeply against his father's shoulder. She looks up at Mike with a smile. "I never really thought I'd have a life like this, you know? My romantic life was such a mess for so long. But now I'm stable, and happy, and it's... it's all thanks to you." She leans against him, careful not to crush George, and sighs happily.
"I feel the same way," Mike says, stroking her neck with his free hand. "I'd be lost without you and the kids." She smiles up at him and settles her head down on his shoulder, eyes fluttering shut after a few moments.
Taya glances over at him and they share a grin, glancing back down at the sleeping people in their arms. "Pretty good life, huh?" she whispers.
"Yeah," Mike murmurs. "It really, really is."
Days pass slowly, the weekend coming and going at a speed that neither John or Mike particularly care for. Monday comes around and Mike once more thinks about taking John to the hospital. It's bright, the sun still fresh in the sky, when he approaches the guest room John and Taya's been sleeping in. He knocks lightly and, when John answers, Mike motions him out, not wanting to disturb Taya.
They go outside and sit on the patio, Mike searching John's face the entire way. He's able to walk further on his own now, that's a good sign, Mike thinks. He hopes. Once they're settled, he reaches out for John and exhales when John easily slides his hand into Mike's, not resisting any of the early morning check up that's become common between them since returning home. "Can you feel this?" he asks, trailing his fingers up John's palm and smirking a little when he twitches.
"Yeah," he mumbles. "C'mon, Mike, that tickles, god." Mike motions for the other hand, and John reluctantly obliges him, huffing out a displeased laugh when that same ticklish sensation makes him jerk. "Yeah, yeah, I feel that too. Can't you find some other way to test my nerve relays?"
"Nope, the more obnoxious the better when it comes to your relays, buddy," Mike tells him with a satisfied glint in his eyes. "So all in all, how are you feeling?"
"Better," John hedges. "I mean, sometimes I get random pains when I turn a certain direction, but it's a lot better than it was. I can walk on my own now."
"I've noticed," Mike says quietly. "So you won't want to go to the hospital to get further tests?"
John exhales. "No, I don't think they're necessary." He looks at Mike. "Listen, I know you're worried, but I know what it feels like when I'm sore versus when I'm injured, especially when it comes to nerve damage in my neck. This isn't that. I was scared at first, of course, but now that I can feel again, yeah... Whatever it was is healing on its own and I just want to leave it at that for now."
Mike nods. "If that changes..."
"You'll be the first I come to." John pauses, and lifts his eyes skyward for a moment. "Well, the second I come to."
Mike sighs. "Fine. But hey, take it easy on Smackdown, ok? No death defying acrobatics."
"Scouts honor, man."
Mike rolls his eyes at his awkward attempt at the scouts hand signal. "You were never a scout, John."
"Nah. But still," he says with his usual confident grin.
Mike buries his face in his hands and lets out a laugh. "Why do I even bother?"
Later, once the kids are asleep, and John and Taya are settled in the main room, watching a movie and tossing popcorn back and forth at each other, Mike ponders what to do next, with his phone in hand, and stares at the blank email field on his screen. His fingers move quickly as he begins to type, his thoughts running almost as quickly.
John Morrison is doing better and intends on being at Smackdown this week. I'm asking for a simple segment, a MizTV or something along those lines. Please no matches, he doesn't need to be doing anything physical. And if the WWE trainers and doctors could look him over once more, just to ensure his neck is doing alright after last week, it'd be greatly appreciated.
thank you,
Mike Mizanin.
It's not his usual style of flamboyance or cockiness. He barely sees anything of himself in these words, but it's what needs to be said, and done, to protect John, so he's alright with doing it. Presses send after a few deep breaths, still not really fond of the idea of John being there, around so many combative situations. If not for Braun being lost somewhere in the Wyatt swamp, he definitely never would've even agreed to his friend coming along.
His nerves are soothed, he breathes and even sleeps easier after the promotions for Smackdown begin trickling out and they say he'll be hosting MizTV with John by his side, Naomi their guest. "This is good," he sighs, leaning in to kiss AJ after reading it out. "Just what I'd hoped for."
She strokes his jaw and kisses him back, pressing close to him. "I knew it'd all end up ok," she breathes against his mouth. "John will be fine, you'll see."
Mike nods, determination in his gaze. "Of course he will, I'm there to make sure of it." As she straddles him and brushes her hair aside to kiss him again, his hands smoothing up and down her back before eventually resting at her hips, he sighs and closes his eyes, relieved to take this short reprieve before real life intrudes once more.