Over the years, Mike had forgotten what exactly it felt like to stand on the sidelines, unable to help while your tag partner was targetted, injured again and again. Yeah, he's had partners since John had initially left WWE, but none made him like this, with his hand over his mouth, clutching the phone so tight with the other one that he hears the case creak warningly. "A- AJ, I have to go," he forces out through gritted teeth. "John's in trouble."
Her response barely registers with him and he's dropping the phone, dashing out of the locker room, through halls, avoiding people and things and whatever else he just barely notices in his peripheral before he's at gorilla, running down. Retribution seems to be gone already, and he skids to John's side. "Are you ok?! John?" he demands, touching his arm and trying to look at his face as he gasps against the barricade wall, flexing his hands into fists.
"Mike," he mumbles, turning his head slowly towards him.
"Yeah, man, I'm here, it's ok. It's gonna be ok." Mike drags him forward carefully and tucks him in closer, stroking his back. "I'm sorry, I should've-"
"No," John groans, curling his fingers around Mike's collar as he tries to sit up fully. "I'm glad you weren't out here. Ow."
Mike wraps his hand around John's, not even caring about how badly they're stretching out the shirt he has on. "C'mon," he breathes out. "Let's get you to the trainer's office, get you looked at." He slowly stands, wrapping John's arm around his shoulders, and they slowly trudge along the ramp to the backstage area, where he leads John to the assigned room for medical issues and injuries. The entire arena is tense, everyone's gaze darting around, looking for any further sign of the hoodlums determined to ruin each show, even just a little.
Mike, in any other situation, might have been doing the same, but his entire focus is on John, and he waits anxiously as the trainer examines him carefully. It's so soon after Braun's attack, John's agonized whisper that he couldn't feel his fingers fresh on Mike's mind, but John's grip remains strong, his gaze is certain, and the pain levels he mentions are low, about standard for someone who's been wrestling for the better part of 15 years.
Mike exhales roughly when the trainer clears him to try to compete against Big E again later, and John claps him on the back. "Told you I'd be fine," he says with one of his smiles, Mike shaking his head.
"Ridiculous," he mumbles. "You really wanna try to finish your match against Big E? Even with Retribution still out there, waiting to do who knows what?"
John sits for a minute, clearly thinking about it. "Yeah," he says softly. "I do." His lips quirk. "I'll be ok, Mike. You'll be out there this time, guarding over things. What could go wrong?"
Famous last words, Mike thinks. But he finds himself smirking too. "Wouldn't miss it for the world, Johnny."
Later, when John and Big E return to the ring to finish what they'd started earlier, Mike does make it, sitting in on commentary and doing his best to ignore Cole's pathetic jabs towards him. He jumps to his feet when the lights begin to flicker again, John and Big E both freezing and looking around. Nothing further happens, however, when the Smackdown locker room rushes down, guarding the ring and allowing the match to carry on finally.
This only lasts for a few minutes before they realize Retribution has shifted their focus backstage, brutalizing referees and other workers back there, the group of wrestlers dashing back there to help, leaving Big E and John to finish off their match without further drama. Mike's so focused on what's going on in the ring that he barely registers Cole nagging him for not going to help backstage as well. "The only thing I care about right now is John Morrison!" he snaps back, hands clenched at his sides as he watches John try to keep ahead of Big E's ridiculous agility and strength.
Ultimately, John loses, and Mike sighs as disappointment for his friend mixes with the relief that Retribution hadn't come out to further their attack on him after earlier. "C'mon, buddy," he says, guiding John out of the ring once more. "You good?"
John's hair tickles his neck as he leans his face on Mike's shoulder, catching his breath. "I guess," he mumbles. He starts to chuckle, a little, and Mike looks down at him with concern before he shifts and their eyes meet. "Nice job on shutting Cole up," he says and Mike grimaces.
"I forgot that commentary is piped through the whole arena."
John's teeth flash. "Yeah, but that's ok. I'm glad I rank above saving the company from Retribution." He pulls away gingerly and swipes some hair out of his eyes. "It's been a hell of a month, huh?" he asks quietly as they turn to walk side by side backstage.
"It definitely has been that," Mike confirms, quietly reaching out and poking at John's hand until he grips Mike's fingers back, squeezing tightly.
Mike smiles.