It was a small, quiet town, he wasn’t even recognized putting on a hat and sunglasses leaving Michelle in the car just long enough for him to checked in. He got her upstairs to their room and laid her on the bed. She had stopped crying about half an hour after they left the arena, just a few sniffles since then, but neither had said a word and she remained drawn into herself physically and seemingly mentally. The evening had drained her and within minutes she was fast asleep. Sean sat on the floor next to the bed like a watch dog. His arms folded across he kneed and head resting on them, he eventually succumbed to his own fatigue and nodded off into a light sleep. It was near midnight when Michelle stirred. Sean was conscious of her subtle movement but didn’t disturb her. He knew she was in a fragile state, and wanted her to lead as not to upset her further. Like a jolt of electricity, everything within him came to life as her delicate, sorrowful voice called his name.
(Michelle): Sean?
Sean spun around, coming to his knees at the edge of the bed, his eyes wide searching her face for any clue of how she might be doing. He wanted to take her hand, but she was still curled up into a ball, her arms folded up around her.
(Sean): How are….I mean…what I can…
He was flustered. He wanted to get out, he could barely form words in his mouth for a coherent sentence.
(Michelle): I………..I’d like to take a bath.
(Sean): Okay…..alright, I draw it for you.
He sprang to his feet hurrying into the bathroom where water began to run. She could hear him fumbling around the sink trying to find bath accessories and returns looking regretful.
(Sean): They just have these little soap bars and a tiny shower gel.
(Michelle): It’s ok, I have some in my bag, do you have it?
(Sean): Yeah!
Sean hurries across the room to their luggage and opens her bag. He finds a plastic ziplock back with her toiletries inside, including a bottle of Gingham Gorgeous from Bath & Body Works. He returned to the bathroom emptying a good amount into the tub that starts to foam up a little. He comes back out and Michelle is starting to sit up, scooting to the edge of the bed, turning her feet out towards the floor. If he could just touch her. He wanted so desperately to hold her but thought better of it. This forced separation was killing him inside. She rose from the bed, her hair a mess, head down taking delicate steps towards the bathroom. She goes inside and starts to close the door, and with just a crack remaining she peeks her head out looking at Sean, the pain in her eyes just unbearable for him.
(Michelle): I won’t be long.
(Sean): No, take your time.
She closes the door and Sean puts his hands to his head, pacing the floor. He was struggling to control himself, a rage unlike anything he had ever felt was slowly eating away at him. He finally looks at his phone at the dozens of missed calls and text message, Butch, Wisdom, Matt, Jeremy, Sarah, Alexis, Hans, Red Dragon…everyone had either called, texted or both, but he didn’t respond. He didn’t know what to say, he didn’t even know the details of what had happened, what was he supposed to be able to tell anyone, he thought. Moments later he could hear the swish of water as Michelle entered the bath. The water wrapped around her like a blanket, parts of her body ached and were sore where Fallen had hit her but she wasn’t in any serious physical pain thanks to her conditioning as a wrestler. She dipped her loofah in the water and pulled it up over her head letting the hot water cascade over her tender scalp where her hair had been yanked several times. A few moments in and she began to cry again, recalling in her mind the terrible assault. Sean rushed to the door, putting his hand to it as if he she might feel his touch. The fragrant aroma of her bath, coupled with the sound of her crying was misery. He thought, how could such sweetness converge with such sorrow…it wasn’t fair, and she of all people in the world, didn’t deserve it.
Sean sat on the side of the bed waiting patiently as she finished her bath. He had lost track of time, ten, fifteen, maybe twenty or thirty minutes later he heard the sound of the water draining from the tub and Michelle stepping out. Not long after the door cracked open and she stepped out with a hotel robe on. She walked across the room to her bag and reached in for a few items of clothes and returned to the bathroom, closing the door to change. She emerged shortly after and he remained there on the side of the bed, waiting patiently. He was literally shaking, quivering in emotions that he hurriedly pulled together as she came and sat beside him on the bed. They sat there for what seemed like several minutes before she spoke.
(Michelle): I want to tell you what happened.
(Sean): Ok?
She lifts her head, finally look up into his eyes for the first time, and his heart sank in his chest like an anchor.
(Michelle): But, not for you to do anything, just…because we promised not to keep secrets.
He nodded, but didn’t respond verbally. He recalled their conversation, about their relationship, their careers. Over the course of what was an eternity to him Michelle recounted the events of what took place in Stu-E’s locker room, where Fallen and Legion found her and Laney, what he said to her, how she tried to protect Laney, how she tried to escape, how she tried to fight back, how he hit her, how she pleaded with him, and how he violated her. Sean’s fists were clenched to white knuckles, and tears streamed his face as she finished the account. He clears his throat which feels dry like sandpaper at this point.
(Sean): Its my fault, I should have been there. This never would have happened if I…
(Michelle): Its not your fault Sean. You couldn’t have known.
(Sean): I already had my match, if I hadn’t gone out there to help Stu-E…
Michelle cuts him off again.
(Michelle): You did the right thing, you couldn’t let him go it alone like that, and what about Laney, she couldn’t be out there by herself like that.
(Sean): We should have returned straight to the dressing room, the trainer could have waited, I should have checked in on you.
Michelle reaches up, tears in her own eyes, but she brushes those on Sean’s cheek away.
(Michelle): You were injured, we saw you in the match…you were following protocol by going to the trainers first.
A brief silence returns between them. Dare he reach out for her hand? The fear of her rejection was crushing earlier in the arena, even though he knew that she wasn’t aware it was him at the time. He moved his hand in his lap caught by her eyes and ever so slightly almost undetectably he could feel her flinch from the bed shift just a little, and he knew he had been right to refrain from reaching out to her.
(Sean): I think Butch fired them. I was a little preoccupied, but I’m pretty sure I heard him say they were fired.
(Michelle): Oh!
(Sean): I’ll find him. I’ll find him and make him pay, both of them. He’s going to regret this until his dying breath.
(Michelle): Sean No, you can’t, you’re going to get yourself in trouble.
(Sean): I don’t care.
(Michelle): But I do, this is in God’s hands now.
(Sean): Well God isn’t here right now, I am.
He regretted the words the moment the syllables formed in his mouth and expressed themselves in air.
(Sean): I didn’t mean that, I meant…
(Michelle): I know…
An uncomfortable silence returns between them, which he’s eager to break and change the subject.
(Sean): Are you hungry? I can get something.
(Michelle): No. I’m tired, I just rather go to sleep if that’s ok.
(Sean): Of course, of course you’re tired…I’m sorry I’ve kept you up talking.
(Michelle): No, you didn’t.
(Sean): Please, try and get some sleep.
Sean gets up from the bed and goes over to cut the lights out. The only illumination in the room now, the dim glow of the streetlights outside. Michelle climbs under the cover as he walks over to the closet grabbing a blanket and extra pillow.
(Michelle): What are you doing?
He points to the floor beside the bed.
(Sean): There’s just the one bed, I was going to…
(Michelle): That’s silly, you can’t sleep on the floor Sean.
(Sean): It’s ok, I’ve slept on worse.
(Michelle): It’s not okay.
Michelle pats the bed, facing him. He wanted to be next her but the awkwardness of it all terrified him. What if his elbow touched her, or his feet and she freaked out. What would he do then. He went into the bathroom to change, and returned moments later hesitating as he sat on the edge of the bed before swinging his feet under the covers. He scooted back as close to the edge as possible facing her and the door so her could be alert if she stirred.
He layed there wide awake for a few minutes, both of them in fact.
(Michelle): Sean?
(Sean): Yeah?
(Michelle): Thank you for taking care of me.
(Sean): I’ll always take care of you Michelle, I promise.
It was tiny, but her lips curved just a little into what might be considered a wry smile. She scooted back, drawing her frame up close to his. She reached behind her taking his hand and pulling his arm across her like a blanket. A tear formed in his eye and feel down onto his pillow. He hadn’t lost her. He hadn’t lost her but she still had a long way to go before she was herself again, and he would be as patient with her as she needed. They lay there in silence, until soon the sound of her breathing changed and Sean knew she had fallen asleep. It gave him permission to finally do the same. The warrior, and the ferocious lion inside him hungry for blood would have to rest as well. They would need their strength for the hunt, and the fight he intended to take to Fallen, even if meant “getting into trouble” like Michelle said. He would do it. He would do it for her, he couldn’t let it go, he wasn't going to and nothing was going to stop him from finding a way. Sean closed his eyes, feeling her warmth in his arm and allows sleep to take him as well as the scene fades to black.
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