Despite the physical toll, Sean lies in a reclined, seated position in a hospital. His face has a pained expression and his eyes are shut. Beside him, Michelle sits vigilantly. Holding Sean's hand gently in hers, she watches over him with a mix of concern and affection. Still with his eyes shut, Sean speaks.
(Sean): I can feel your eyes on me, Miss Learner. I’m not going to die from a few bumps and bruises.
(Michelle): No, but I might die of guilt.
She turns looking at him with the utmost sincerity even though his eyes are closed as he's been asked by staff and her to "relax."
(Michelle): You wouldn't be in here if it wasn't for me. You wouldn't have even been in that match, but what you did...no one has ever fought for me like that and you didn't have to. I could have...maybe I should have just pressed charges and he'd have been in some jail or I'd have some restraining and he'd still be fired and out of everyone's hair.
(Sean): What is it you’re always telling me? It’s God’s plan. Maybe he put him in my path for the same reason he put me in yours? Maybe to test my ability to look after you? To prove my worth….hm…besides….you know how much you mean to me by now…when you date a Parker, you’re all in…hmm…
Sean grimaces slightly, his eyes shutting tight, as if he’s fighting through a wave of pain. He instinctively reaches towards his knee brace as soon as he touches it, he reacts like he’s just touched a scalding hot tap. Michelle winces as if she can feel his pain. Just seeing him in this agony is painful to her. She looks up at the IV pole and notices that his morphine drip is out. She pushes the button to summon the nurse and waits.
(Michelle): Just relax, Sean, I called the nurse. Your meds are out so you're going to be a bit uncomfortable. I'm sorry I didn't even notice, I'd have got them here sooner.
She sighs as she leans back in her chair.
(Michelle): You don't believe any of that, but maybe you're right. Maybe this is all part of God's plan. I just hope God didn't plan on you having a broken leg. Your X-Rays should be back soon. Are you hungry? Can I get you anything? You want some water?
Michelle gets up like she needs to keep herself busy and help him. She feels like she isn't doing enough, even though there's nothing much more for her to do.
(Sean): I may not believe, but the fact you believe in him ... .so much… makes me doubt my own disbelief if that…makes sense… and my leg feels like it’s on fu-… on fire .…just want…sorry babe…I can’t even think…
He grits his teeth, breathing heavily through his them.
(Sean): I really need someone to either refill that IV, hack my leg off or knock me out…
She smiles at him, even in this state, his jovial nature shines through, despite the near potty mouth slips.
(Michelle): I'm just glad that maybe we can put this all behind us now and move on. Well, most of it anyway.
Her face frowns just a little as if she's thinking about something deeply.
(Michelle): At least you're off the hook with my parents....well maybe not off the hook entirely but they're warming to you. My mom even asked about you earlier when she texted me, so there's that. I have to do something really nice for Mr. Hans, if it wasn't for him...I don't think I'd have made it all the way through last night. I just kept trying to think about the things that he's taught me, I hope I made him proud.
Sean continues to breathe heavily.
(Sean): Where the fu-…fudge is that nurse?! Sorry babe…Your mum seems nice, I feel bad I got my blood on her…. Your dad also has a mean handshake…. He’s almost as scary as Aunt Wisdom… and you know Hans won’t want anything…he’ll be proud of you…just like I am… you even fought back against Fallen…look how far you’ve come…
He reaches up to pull Michelle gently back on to the bed beside him and strokes her cheek.
(Sean): I really want to kiss you right now, Michelle Learner…even though it will hurt like the dickens to move my head…
She lights up inside, a beaming smile on her face as she gets up and leans in giving Sean a sweet and gentle kiss. She cradles his face in her soft hands feeling the hair bristle against her palm.
(Michelle): Nurse Learner at your service!
She smiles and giggles at him in her dainty way just as the nurse comes in.
(Nurse): Someone called?
(Michelle): Oh yes,...his IV...the pain meds have all gone and he's feeling it.
(Nurse): Let me check with the doctor, he has to authorize another dose. I'll be right back. Anything else?
(Michelle): No, I don't think so....Oh...yes...do you know when his X-Rays will be back.
(Nurse): No, I don't, but I can check.
Michelle has him by the hand and the nurse just smiles at the two of them thinking to herself "Young Love” as she shakes her head and leaves the room.
(Michelle): Do you want me to call anyone, what about Butch...he'll want to know how you're doing.
Sean nods as he leans his head back, closing his eyes again.
(Sean): Yeah… I don’t even know how…Matt is…he’ll be busted up more than I am…could you message him or Jeremy?
(Michelle): I texted Jeremy earlier but didn't hear back from him. I can text Matt...I hope he's alright...it looked like he may have gotten burned, I really pray he's ok. I don't like Maniac, he's not a nice person, what they went through...I only saw bits and pieces after we got you backstage but it didn't look good Sean.
Michelle smiles, but she doesn't seem overly joyed.
(Michelle): "Big win?" Thanks, but I don't know about that… I don't know what's wrong with her. She didn't used to be like that, or maybe she was and I was too stupid to see it. We didn't abandon her, we didn't turn our backs on her. It's not our fault that she had to wait longer until she got her papers, why would she act like this? Look at what they did to Hans and Jeremy...I don't feel like I won anything, I didn't get through to her at all.
Michelle looks a bit sad thinking about it all. Sean sees it, even from his reclined position. He reaches out and strokes the back of her hand with his thumb.
(Sean): You’re not stupid, babe…she’s twisted and you can’t fix that…she’s created…this imaginary scenario where the world is against her… you know how much…how much we all tried to help her, make sure she wasn’t left out of things…. don’t you feel any sort of responsibility for what…for what she’s done or who she’s become… she got caught in that little fantasy she’s created with Hans but you…you stayed the course and took advantage…you deserve your win and you deserve… to be happy about it…
(Michelle): I wish I could, but I'm not happy about it. I'm not happy about Erica and all the things she's done. I'm not happy for the new girls interfering in your match. When my folks kept asking me to come home, these are the things I thought about Sean. It wasn't like this before. We used to have fun all of us together, even Erica. New recruits would come in, we honed our skills, everyone helped each other and we had a really nice competitive match...now everything is so....mean and nasty. Sometimes, I don't feel like I belong anymore, but then...….there's you.
She looks over at him, that little smile starting to return to her face.
(Michelle): You're special to me, you mean the world to me and I know how much you love this business and want to be here to support your uncle and I think...if Sean can do it, so can I, but I'm not as strong as you. I don't know, maybe I'm just rambling.
Sean smiles despite the pain coursing through his body. His head is starting to hurt now too as well as his knee.
(Sean): You’re…you’re way stronger than me and you don’t even realize it, babe…you’ve got so much strength in you….I wish I was as strong as you are… and maybe…maybe we should start having…having fun again….go to the Academy more…help Sensei out…do more media stuff…I bet…I bet everyone’s going to want to ask you so many….many questions after tonight….
The nurse comes in with a new morphine drip, just as Michelle was about to say something.
(Michelle): Oh thank God, he's in all kinds of pain.
(Nurse): I know he is, my grandson told me all about it, he must have seen our ambulance on TV and he knows I'm here. He keeps texting me asking me if I've seen anybody.
She chuckles and Michelle smiles looking over at Sean.
(Nurse): I told him "No"...you know HIPPA and all,...we can't do that...not even with family. Alright...there you are...the doctor should be in here in 2 minutes or so to go over your chart. He's just grabbed it from the desk. I think all your scans are back.
(Michelle): Thank you so much!
The nurse nods and smiles as she leaves the room and Michelle looks at Sean with anticipation. He knows that she’s silently praying. He sighs deeply through his nose as he slowly feels the morphine setting in. It was a weird feeling, almost like wetting yourself, a warm feeling creeping over your extremities.
(Sean): There we go…that’s the stuff right there…so…I wonder who I’m facing at Havoc next…
He immediately sees Michelle’s face tense up, her eyes widening slightly.
(Sean): I’m joking! I don’t think Butch would book me even if I was cleared to compete…he’d be too scared of you…
He takes Michelle’s hand and kisses the top of it, nuzzling his face into it, enjoying the feeling of how soft her skin was. He then realized how grubby he was. There were bloodstains on his pecs and torso as well as his ring gear…if he could call it that.
(Sean): Ugh…I could so go for a shower right now…I hope they have one of those seat things. I can’t imagine I’m going to be able to stand in this thing…
He motions to his brace on his knee before looking back to Michelle.
(Sean): Have you spoken to your parents yet? Have I asked you that already? I feel like my head’s all over the place.
She smiles at him...
(Michelle): It's ok...I said that my mom texted remember...asked how you were doing. You'll get to see them again, when we go to Salt Lake, I had no idea they were coming to the ppv. I didn't even send them tickets but someone must have let them in backstage. They came all this way and I didn't spend any time with them. I think they leave in the morning from what mom said.
Her mind wanders back to business...
(Michelle): It's funny...Butch and Wisdom talked about the ppv putting a lot of things to rest and I feel that just as many new chapters were opened as old ones were finished. I can't even say anything is really finished. Where do we go from here Sean?
Sean lets a gush of air shoot out his mouth in contemplation at Michelle’s loaded question as he absentmindedly plays with strands of her beautiful blonde hair.
(Sean): I honestly don’t know. The world is our oyster as they say. I’ll go wherever you are though, Shell. I was serious before. I’d give wrestling up for you. I know it hurts you to see me like this after big, brutal matches. I mean I don’t plan on making a career out of stuff like this. Doing shooting star presses 45 feet in the air again isn’t on my to-do list anytime soon. But if you wanted to go home…back to Salt Lake, I’d drop it and go with you in a heartbeat. This business is important to me….but you’re importanter…is that a word?
Sean furrows his brow and shakes his head, the full effect of the morphine kicking in.
(Sean): That sounds like something David would say…
Sean giggles slightly before looking at Michelle, his emerald green eyes a little glazed.
(Sean): I love you, Michelle, you know that? Have I told you I love you?
She's a lightbulb and just brightens with his words.
(Michelle): I love you too Sean Parker....and I don't want to go back home. I burst that bubble when I left and I can't go back inside. It may not be everything I naively imagined, but I'm doing what I dreamed of doing. Meeting new people, traveling the country...soon we may be even going all over the world, and I want to experience those things with you.
Suddenly she jumps up like something surprised her.
(Michelle): Oh...I know. I can make Mr. Hans my grandmother's famous Carrot Cake. Does he eat sweets? Maybe that's not a good idea, but I can make you one too. Do you like carrots?
Sean nods, looking more tired now, his head tilted right back.
(Sean): I do like carrots, yeah. I’m sure Hans will appreciate that….where is that godda….I mean silly doctor? The nurse said he’d be right in?
(Michelle): I’m sure he’ll be right in Sean, just let your pain meds do their thing.
Just then, as if on cue, a doctor enters Sean’s room, holding what appears to be his chart. Michelle has a smile of relief on her face when she sees him come in and turns back to Sean.
(Michelle): Sean, look, the doctor’s here…oh, you silly goose, Sean Parker…
As Michelle turns round, the pain meds look to have done their job as Sean is out for the count, his head back and his mouth slightly agape. She smiles and gently strokes his hand before turning to the doctor.
(Michelle): He’s been in so much pain, bless him, doctor.
(Doctor): I’m not surprised. Is this your boyfriend, a Mr…
The doctor flips back through the chart.
(Doctor): Parker…Sean Parker?
Michelle nods, gently brushing her fingers through Sean’s hair.
(Michelle): That’s right.
(Doctor): Is this your boyfriend, Miss?
(Michelle): Learner, Michelle Learner, and yes, he’s my boyfriend.
(Doctor): Well, Miss Learner, your boyfriend is very lucky not to have more serious injuries. He has a mild concussion, a sprained kneecap and a couple of hairline fractures on his ribs. He’s lucky he landed the way he did, otherwise he’d be looking at a double leg break and his knee would’ve been smashed to smithereens.
(Michelle): Oh my goodness. What can we do for him, Doctor?
(Doctor): Pain relief and rest, Miss Learner. The concussion is what worries me. From his chart, this is his third in as many months. In your line of work, if he wants to have any normal life after he retires, he needs to rest. His brain needs to recover. Its not swollen but too much physical damage could lead to difficulties later in life for him.
Michelle looks shocked as she cups her face, looking around at Sean.
(Michelle): Oh, Sean.
(Doctor): Now, there’s no need to worry at the moment, Miss Learner. Your boyfriend is blessed with youth on his side. He’s very gifted at what he does, but he just needs to be smarter about what he does and how he does it. We’d like to keep him overnight to monitor his vitals and wait for the swelling on his knee to calm down too.
(Michelle): Of course.
(Doctor): I’ll leave you for now, but we’ll get him moved up to ward shortly. Anything you need just buzz.
(Michelle): Thank you, Doctor.
He smiles at Michelle and takes his leave. She turns and sits on the edge of Sean’s bed and she gently strokes his cheek. He stirs a bit, opening his eyes ever so slightly, groggy. She delicately tilts his head forward, puffing up the pillow behind his head.
(Michelle): Hey, you ok?
(Sean): Uhh…my head is a bit spinny…
(Michelle): Try to get some sleep, they’re going to take you to a room. The doctor wants to keep you overnight, you’ve got another concussion, Sean and he’s worried that’s one too many recently.
Sean mumbles something incoherent before falling back asleep. Michelle leans over and kisses him on the forehead before pulling her phone out and she texts Butch as the scene fades to black.
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