We pick up on the phone call Sean just placed to Michelle thousands of miles away from Edinburgh to Los Angeles.

(Sean): Hey babe, it’s me…so I have some news but before I tell you, please don’t freak out….

(Michelle): Hey sweetie, I was just thinking about you. I’m watching footage from some of the old Ring Masters. This is grueling Sean, its brutal really…I know you’re disappointed in possibly missing it but, looking at these matches…I really do think this rehab thing is for the best.

Michelle squeals involuntarily so and covering her mouth as she watches the screen.

(Michelle): Oh…I wish I could have met Eddie Phoenix, he just jumped…I’m sorry…I got call caught up in this. What’s going on, you had some news? Is it something….sweet? Is it a surprise? Maybe something about….Ohhhhhh I don’t know….our first Valentines Day together next week?

Michelle was grinning ear to ear, and her heart began racing. She’d been so excited about Valentines Day recently, not only was it her first one with Sean, it was the first that she’d ever really celebrated. She had a feeling he was planning something, but didn’t want to pry or pressure, but her excitement got the better of her. Back in Edinburgh, Sean screws his face up, knowing the disappointment he was going to drop on her. It was true he had something planned for Valentine’s Day for them. Maybe he could speak to Dr. Metcalfe to see if they could move his surgery back to after Valentine’s Day. He made a mental note to speak to him directly after the call.

(Sean): Yeah…about that… listen so I’m in Edinburgh…at a private hospital…I just spoke to the same doctor that operated on Butch’s knee years ago and he said he can do a procedure that would mean I would be able to compete at Ring Master…

It was almost as if she didn't hear a word he said. It seemed like a flood of incomprehensible information thrown at her all at once, like she was meant to speed read. She stood up from the couch to try and sort it out.

(Michelle): Wait...you're where? What doctor? Sean...what are you talking about?

Her heart went from racing with thoughts of Valentines Day, to thumping with anxiety. Sean pinched the bridge of his nose, sensing the change in Michelle’s tone. He held his free hand up in a calming motion.

(Sean): I took a really early flight. Please don’t be mad or worried, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. Just…I know you, Butch and Wisdom were so adamant about me not getting my hopes up about Ring Master. But I can’t miss this opportunity, Shell. I can get surgery next weekend and I’ll be fit enough to compete for Ring Master. It’s the same surgeon who operated on Butch years ago, he’s the best in the world at this kinda stuff….

There was a long moment of silence that followed. He couldn’t tell if Michelle was angry, sad, disappointed, worried or an amalgamation of all four.

(Sean): Please don’t be mad, babe…

She was shaking but didn’t realize it. She couldn’t find the words.

(Michelle): I know what that announcement meant to you, I saw your face, especially after your interview with Matt and Jeremy…but you went behind my back Sean. You hopped on a plane and didn’t say anything to anyone because you had already made up your mind and you knew what we’d have to say. You shut me out and broke your promise to be open and honest with me.

Now she was crying, she tried to muffle it, but she knew he could hear her sob, and she recognized now that her hand was shaking as she held the phone.

(Michelle): I know it’s your body, and I have no right to tell you what to do with it, but…I only want what’s best for you. We talked about this before Havoc. You were fine with the rehab, how many doctors did you see here? Half a dozen with all the same different options rehab vs surgery? Surgery was a quick fix and had its own potential complications long term. But here comes this Ring Master announcement and the moment that screen lit up, you knew exactly what you were going to do and shut us all out.

Sean it’s 3 months away…3 months!!! Even if you do get surgery, there’s still rehabbing to do. I’ve seen these matches Sean, I’m looking at them right now. What’s the point in pushing yourself to make it to this tournament, only to put yourself at risk for injury all over again. What if you get hurt…then what?

The sound of Michelle’s muffled cries were like someone had just dropped an anvil on his chest. The weight of the pain he had caused her hit home like a freight train and he hated himself for it.

(Sean): I won’t be injured again babe. This procedure is groundbreaking and would mean that it would be virtually impossible for the ligament in my knee to tear again.

Sean stopped for a moment, running his hand through his hair.

(Sean): I feel horrible for not telling you. I haven’t signed or committed to anything. I can come home and we can talk it out.

(Michelle): You and I both know that's not true Sean, please don't lie to me too. I know you, you may not have signed anything, but you're already committed in your heart so what's there to talk about? What can I say to you now, that I didn't say before the announcement? Even if I were by the grace of God able to convince you not to do this supposed "groundbreaking" surgery you'd regret it come Ring Master where you sitting there watching, and you'd hate me for feeling I forced that decision on you.

Michelle sits back down and rubs her fingers through her hair, she feels a headache coming on. Admittedly, she's starting to get a little angry with the situation.

(Michelle): So no...you do what you went there to do. You go have this miraculous, ground breaking surgery and when you come home to rehab I'll be here waiting. As a matter of fact we can train together because as of this moment...I'm going enter the tournament too. How bad can it be right? You're always telling me how good I am so why not? God help me, because I'll probably need it.

Hearing the anger swell in Michelle’s voice tore at Sean’s heart.

(Sean): Babe, I would never hate you for anything, I love you! And I’m not staying over for over a week when I could be at home with you, and enjoy our first Valentine’s Day together. Let me come home and I can talk the whole thing through with you. Because I don’t want to do this unless you’re on board with it. Let me do what I should’ve done to begin with and involve you in this decision. Please, Michelle.

(Michelle): It's not my decision Sean, it never was. I'd never want to stand in your way from pursuing your goal…you know that. I love you so much, I just....

She starts crying again, more audibly than before and doesn't hold back.

(Michelle): I just want you to be healthy for once. You're injured in the first place because of me, defending me, the last 7.......8 months you've pushed yourself to the limits. It's just like Jeremy said about Maniac...these people.....him and Fallen....that's what they do…force people to the extremes. Look at you, look at poor Matt. I just don't want you rushing things along that shouldn't be, just because you're.....hold on....

Michelle looks at her phone and tracks down a text message chain from Sarah.

(Michelle): ...because you have FOMO. Did I say that right?

(Sean): It’s not because of you, don’t be silly! You didn’t force my hand and you certainly won’t stand in my way of this; we’ll talk about it together. I want you to understand why I need to do it, because I want you there by my side. I know it’s scary what Matt is going through but I promise you that won’t be me.

(Michelle): You can't make that promise Sean....you know you can't. You don't know what can happen in the ring, we hope for the best every time we go out there, but we don't know. You didn't plan to jump off of a cage at Fallen, but there you went. I've seen these matches, its right there in my screen. Eddie and Talon in a Japanese Death Match, darn near killing each other…and they were best friends right? You can that won’t be you now, but when it comes down to it...I know you'll do anything to win....its just who you are. It’s just who they all are.

She sighs deeply. She doesn't like this. She doesn't like any of it. Is this what army wives feel when their husbands go off to war, standing in the doorway with that "I wish you wouldn't, but I understand" look on their face as he leaves. She feels defeated, she knows the road he's on and he's not about to slow down or take an exit.

(Michelle): Sean just......

Her voice is smaller now, meak...

(Michelle): ....just do what you need to do. All I can do is pray for God to watch over you. Pray that this wonder surgery works and you heal well, and pray that we make it through this tournament uninjured......I said "we"....I know I spoke in a little anger before but I mean it....I'm going to enter too. If you don't think it’s a big deal rushing your knee back to health and going into tprobably the most rigorous event in wrestling then why should I?

(Sean): I know you well enough by now to know I can’t talk you out of this if this is what you want to do Michelle, just like this surgery but this isn’t some life-saving treatment I’m going through, it’s literally a ligament reconstruction but on a much larger scale. The only caveat is that I’ll be in an incredible amount of pain for a few weeks and then rehab vigorously, but I want you there with me through it. If you’re insistent on entering Ring Master, I’ll stand by that decision and I’ll support you through it.

She was in no way satisfied with his decision, or how he went about it, but she couldn't dwell on it at the moment, she wanted to try and lighten the mood. This was as close they'd come to having an argument and she really didn't like it.

(Michelle): So are you ready for the first HWA Champion of the modern era being a woman then?

She smiles for the first time in this conversation since the subject of this surgery came up. Sean also knew what Michelle was doing and given how the conversation had gone, he wasn’t going to argue.

(Sean): Sweetheart, if you won the HWA Championship, I’d be the happiest man in the world. Now, I’m going to book a flight home and we’re going to have an incredible first Valentine’s Day together.

(Michelle): Hurry home then.....and Sean?.......I love you!

Sean can’t help but smile.

(Sean): I love you too! I’ll see you tomorrow?

They ended their call, each feeling the heaviness of the matter continuing to weigh on them. They knew they’d agree to disagree on the subject of this surgery, but that in the end…they would stand with one another. Sean needed to wrap things up here and hightail it home, Michelle wasn’t the only one he needed to break the news to, but she was the one whose reaction he had been most worried about. After the call, Michelle couldn’t watch any more Ring Master, it was literally making her stomach uneasy. She laid on the couch and curled up, soft tears slowly trickling her face as fear and worry overcame her…and she wished Wisdom had never made that announcement at Havoc. Wished she never heard the name…Ring Master!

Fade to black.