HWA Message Board: Crude Awakening

The Day After Fatality- UT Southwestern Medical Center – Dallas, TX

Hospitals had unfortunately become a familiar place for Michelle. Since joining the professional wrestling world, she’d been in and out of them for various injuries over the last few years from minor scrapes and scratches to more severe things that still gave her nightmares. She sat in the lounge chair next to Sean’s bed where she’d sat vigil the last 12 hours. Butch, Wisdom, and her own mother had all been there, and offered her a reprieve but she refused to leave Sean’s side. She wanted to be there when the deep sedation wore off.

She wanted to believe what Butch told her about Sean and Azami, but he didn’t have the whole truth. The fact was that only Sean and this woman from his past could tell that tale and she had already more than shared her side. His eyes…his eyes last night pleaded with her, desperate to explain but he didn’t have the chance. She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t hurt, surely her own eyes told him that much as she looked back into his green orbs looking for reassurance, wondering why, how, he could allow her to be blindsided in this way.

And poor Sensei…his own daughter. There was so much from Fatality she hadn’t even had the time to process, from Hans and Wolfy…Sensei. Right now she could only think of Sean. She had so many questions, but she wasn’t sure she wanted the answers. They say the truth hurts, and she was so tired of being the target for pain. She looked at Sean asleep in bed. There was a gentle rise and fall in his chest. Was this her future? Injuries and hospitalizations? Secret revelations? A peaceless existence? Sean was a top talent in the industry, he’d always be a target? Wasn’t there always someone trying to dethrone the greats…Butch, Flair, Hogan, Buff Bridges? Someone was always next in line or lurking in the shadows to take them down competitively or covertly.

The doctors had been in numerous times earlier having explained to her and Butch and Wisdom that Sean’s surgery was a success and outlined his recovery, his last visit an hour ago noted that Sean should be coming around soon. From the movement of his eyes behind his eyelids she figured he was just about there. Was he dreaming now? Was he having a nightmare about last night? Would he even remember anything, she wondered. His leg moved and she jerked up from the chair, he shifted slightly…he was waking up.

(Michelle): Nurse?

She called out to no one, then pushed the call button and hurried to the door looking down the hall. She grabbed her phone that had been brought along with their belongings and called Butch. He was probably still downstairs or had mentioned going to see Sensei. It rang a few times before he answered, his voice was gruff and weary and she excitedly proclaimed “He’s waking up!” when he answered. She didn’t wait for a reply, she ended the call and turned back to Sean’s bed. She wanted to be the first thing he saw instead of the horrible image of what he saw last. She took his hand and felt his fingers move slightly in her palm. Her heart raced and she began to cry as she stared into his face. Moments later the nurse came in, she looked at his vitals on the monitor nodding her head and scribbled something down on his chart.

(Nurse): The doctor will be in shortly. Don’t overwhelm him, he’s still in serious condition, he shouldn’t be overstimulated right now. I’ll be right back.

Michelle nodded then turned right back to Sean. She’d lost count of her prayers. Her mom had prayed over him Sesn her, she asked all the questions to the doctor Michelle couldn’t or didn’t know to ask. She treated Sean like a son, she wished he could have seen her in action. His mouth was now agape, and his lips smacked together slowly. She was so anxious for him to be awake, but things had to be taken slowly. He still have a severe concussion, she didn’t know if he could even talk with the tearing in his esophagus…his throat might be too sore. His eyes began to flutter a little, any second he’d be awake, she held his hand with her good one.

(Michelle): Sean? I’m here…I’m here…everything’s ok.

She looked on in anticipation as his body awakened little by little. She looked at the IV drip of morphine, at least most of his pain would be masked. The world around him was hazy. His throat felt…scratchy… like he’d swallowed a packet of razor blades. A light cough escaped his throat and it hurt like hell. As his eyes started to open, Sean winced, the bright lights of the room making him squint, and the room began to move in circles. He tried to speak but it was so hard but as he squinted through the bright lights, a beautifully angelic face started to come into view.

(Sean): M-M…. Michelle?

She smiled as tears streamed her cheeks and she gripped his hand.

(Michelle): I’m here…I’m here sweetie.

She brushed his matted hair with her hand as she gazed into his eyes trying to adjust to wakening.

(Michelle): The doctor will be in soon, but you’re not to move. Just be still and relax. You’re all hopped up on meds and…

She looks him over. His shoulder is heavily bandaged, the doctor said they’d be putting him in some shoulder adduction brace to stabilize his muscles as he heal. He was still badly bruised but it was his concussion that worried her the most. She thought of Matt, and tried quickly to push the thought of that outcome out of her mind.

(Michelle): …you need to rest.

The room was spinning even more now to the point Michelle looked like she was on her side. Sean scrunched his eyes shut, the wave of his concussion crashing over him. Then it happened. The rising of the bile in his stomach. It was out before he could stop it as the vomit poured out his of mouth. Sean tried to sit up but the agony in his shoulder immediately pulled him back down to the bed like he wearing a seat belt. So much pain racked his body. The pain in his throat like he was eating gravel, the pain in his shoulder like he’d been shot and the pain in his head like someone had just shoved a hot poker through his forehead.

(Sean): Gaaaahhh!

(Michelle): Oh No!

Michelle jumped up and scanned the room before running to the bathroom and returning with a wet cloth and began to wipe Sean’s mouth.

(Michelle): Just lay back, lay back…don’t move…I’ll get the nurse.

She hit the call button staring into Sean’s face at the misery he was in. She returned to the restroom a few times wiping up as best she could and a few minutes later a nurse was in, assessed the situation and was preparing to bring in new bedding and a fresh gown for Sean to change in.

(Nurse): He’ll need help changing, we’ll have an orderly assist in a moment, we’ll change the bed while he’s up and the doctor will be right in as well. I’ll advise him of the vomiting, his dosage may be too high and needs adjusting.

(Michelle): Thank you!

The nurse leaves the room and Michelle looks back at Sean. Again she scans the room and finds the small pitcher of water and a cup and pours a glass. She wasn’t sure how he’d tolerate it but he must be thirsty or at least want to get that taste out of his mouth.

With his better arm, Sean took the glass tentatively from Michelle and tried to drink. It was so painful, but at the same time, the cooling liquid felt soothing on the inside of his throat. Squinting as he still tried to readjust his eyes to the light, he looked down at the bandaged wound, tentatively touching it and flinching at the immediate pain he felt coursing through his entire shoulder. He tried to move it in small circles but it was too much. In an instant he was back in the ring, lying on his back, his own blood blurring his vision as Azami stood over him, Masamune; beautiful Masamune whom he’d cherished for years, held high above her head before plunging her blade through his shoulder. It was like a phantom pain, as if he’d been impaled by her all over again. He looked at Michelle.

(Sean): wearily I…I’m sorry… I’m so sorry….this…is…all my fault…

She couldn’t deny that she felt a pinch of pain, there were so many questions but now was not the time. What was most important now was Sean’s recovery.

(Michelle): Shhhhh….just lay back….we’ll have time to talk later.

She stroked his hair. He probably wouldn’t notice the small quiver in her hand. She was scared. Scared by the doubt that Azami cast upon her, that Erica yet again made a fool of her. Scared that she was asking…No…questioning why God would allow this.

(Michelle): The doctor will be in any minute, they have to get you up and out of that gown. I called Butch he’s probably on his way up too. We’ve all been…

She was on the verge of breaking down again but held it together, barely.

(Michelle): ….I’m just glad you’re going to be okay.

Sean felt his own emotions bubbling to the surface. Despite the pain and discomfort he was in, as well as the morphine being pumped through his body, the gravity of what had happened was beginning to flood back to him, like a cold glass of water being thrown in his face. He tried to sit up but it was still too much.

(Sean): You’re…you’re not ok though… what she said…. I want you to know…. I didn’t…

The energy it was requiring him just to talk was becoming apparent, each gap between his words getting longer with each labored breath.

(Sean): You know I’d never….never lie to you…. please….p-p…please believe….believe me…. I swear…. I swear to….. to God….. it’s only ever….ever going to be…. going to….to be you….

He seemed half delirious trying to speak, and still batting his eyes to adjust them. She heard what he said and it gave her some comfort. In her heart she knew he’d never deceive her, but her own insecurities were controlling her fear. Seeing Starlight…Azami, for the first time without her mask on….she was a stunning woman. It was hard not to imagine her past with Sean being more….intimate. There may be parts of his history he hasn’t told her, but that didn’t make him a liar. Still, when he was ready…when his body was ready…perhaps he could put all her doubts to rest with the story she both wanted and didn’t want to hear could be told.

(Michelle): I should be the one apologizing.

She mutters under hear breath.
Sean tried to shake his head but it only seemed to worsen the disorientation he was feeling from a combination of the meds he was on and his concussion.

(Sean): No… you have… nothing…. To be sorry for….

It then dawned on him all of a sudden.

(Sean): Sensei…. what happened to…. to Sensei?

The fact of the matter was she also felt ashamed, throughout this time she’d focused entirely on Sean when Sensi was just as embroiled in this disaster. She lowered her head before looking at him.

(Michelle): I don’t know…they wouldn’t tell me anything. Butch went to see him, he may know something.

She sees the panic start to set in on him, and tries to reassure him, putting the palm of her hand on his chest to also keep him laying in position.

(Michelle): I’m sure he’s alright he wasn’t as badly injured as…..

Her own screams echo in her head. Erica’s tight grip on her hair yanked at the roots as she forced her head up to see Azami run Sean through like a butcher flashed in her mind.

(Michelle): ….he’s going to be alright…you both are. Just lay back and relax….the doctor said so.

(Sean): I need to…. I need to see…. see him…

Sean attempted to sit up again but a combination of disorientation, the pain meds and Michelle’s gentle yet firm hand on his chest forced him back down. His eyes flooded with tears, scorching his cheeks as they dripped down.

(Sean): F*ck! F*ck! F**ck! I’m….so sorry…..this is all my fault….all fault….

He then noticed Michelle’s bandaged hand and wrist for the first time and grimaced.

(Sean): What… what…h…h…. happened? Was that… her?

Sean reached out with as much strength with his good arm as he could, gently pulling Michelle towards him and he buried himself into her, tears in full flow.

(Sean): I’m so….s….s…..sorry….

(Michelle): I’ll be alright.

She tried to reassure him. She was in pain, but nothing on the level of his. The skin around her wrist had been cut trying to free herself from the handcuffs. She’d pulled so hard in her desperation the skin had begun to peel back…almost an inch the doctor said. She had stitches all the way around. She was mortified at the prospect of permanent scarring and tried her best to hide her own emotions with humor and a weak smile.

(Michelle): Maybe this year for Halloween I’ll be Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas….it might fit.

From the look on his face she didn’t think her attempt worked so well.

(Sean): When is doctor going…. going to be here? I need to know….whats next? Michelle, what if I can’t use my…. my arm again? My head…. it’s like a hammer….knocking inside…. what if I end up like Matt?

His question slammed into her. What if he ended up like Matt and his career was finished? It would have ended right there in front her while she sat there on the mat with her hand cuffed to the ropes looking like that lady from the 80’s…a helpless Miss Elizabeth. She’d spent months befriending Starlight. She knew what it meant to be a stranger in a new land, how hard it was for her to leave her community and come to Los Angeles of all places. But Starlight, wasn’t even Starlight and she’d been made a fool of.

God help her, but it made her angry. Angry at herself for not seeing this coming, for not being able to help Sean when he needed her the most, for thinking Erica could change. Hearing Sean right now, she understood Jeremy perfectly clear and felt ashamed for not recognizing his suffering sooner and supporting him.

(Michelle): Sean…please…just relax. Right now we just have to…

(????????): There he is…good morning Mr. Parker.

A doctor walks into the room midsentence and Michelle quickly stands as he enters eager to hear some good news as he steps next to the bed and looks at Sean.

(????????): I’m Dr. Krekorian, your Orthoscopic Surgeon. You had quite the night there didn’t you? Let’s get you looked at.

The doctor starts going over Sean’s post-operative chart and notes. His face gives nothing away to Michelle’s anxious disappointment, he simply nods and makes marks of his own on the chart then turns to the nurse.

(????????): Let’s bring the morphine down to 2mg, and I’d like to add Zofran, 8mg. It’s been 10 hours…I want to schedule another CT as well.

The nurse nods and exits the room to carry out the doctors orders. He turns his attention back to Sean.

(Dr. Krekorian): Well then…lets bring you up to speed young man. You came in with sharp force trauma that penetrated your acromial…

The doctor stops and laughs to himself seeing the confused look on Michelle’s face.

(Dr. Krekorian): Forgive me, we tend to easily revert into medical jargon. How’s this? You came in with a shoulder injury reportedly from a sword that penetrated your shoulder through your upper back. The good news is that no major organs were injured. There was of course remarkable tissue damage to the pectoral, teres, and rhomboid muscle regions. Because these muscles and tendon fibers were severed, surgery was required stitching them back together.

There was also the issue with a foreign object apparently forced down your throat. That soreness you feel right now is just the sting of the damaged lining of the esophagus. It will heal on its own in about a week, and you can help that along by staying away from acidic and spicy foods. This can be trickier than you think so I’ll have our nutritionist draft you up list of things to avoid.

Now the not so good news. You’ve got a grade 3 concussion. Right now you’re going to have headaches, maybe a bit of dizziness, memory loss isn’t uncommon as well as difficulty focusing and prolonged fatigue. I’ve ordered something for the nausea while you’re here and I’ll write a prescription for when you leave. The thing is, the risk of long-term or even permanent symptoms is high so I need you to follow the recover plan we lay out for you exactly.

As for that shoulder of yours, you’ll be nursing an immobilizer for a few weeks. We need time for your body’s natural healing process to do its thing before we start any physical therapy. I know you’re a young athlete but its important that you don’t rush this. I see too many young adults push their recovery and it typically leads to incomplete healing with semi to permanent results. In short…don’t be a hero, you’ve got a bit of a road ahead of you! Now…are there any questions you have?

Sean felt completely overwhelmed by everything Dr Krekorian had just thrown at him. He already felt exhausted and stringing together full sentences felt like he’d just run a marathon; tying into what the doctor had mentioned about the prolonged fatigue.

The sheer volume of information about his recovery, the warnings, his concussion and everything that accompanied it terrified him. Sean couldn’t help but well up again, trying to stifle it as best he could but he couldn’t help it. The medication he was on along with the exhaustion probably weren’t helping either. Noticing how emotional he was getting, Michelle came closer again to his bedside, stroking his hair. Truth be told, he wasn’t even sure he could even contemplate his career right now. Azami being Starlight Kid all along ate away at him like a cancer. What she did, not just to him but Michelle and Sensei as well, he still couldn’t quite believe.

(Sean): How…. how long…. how long….are we….talking for my….my…. recovery?

(Dr. Krekorian): Let’s just take things one day at a time Mr. Parker. Like I said, I imagine you’re eager to get back to business but the better you rehabilitate the better your end results will be.

Michelle looked at the doctor.

(Michelle): Thank you, I’ll make sure he follows whatever regiment you give him.

Sean doesn’t say anything, he turns his head again looking out the window almost as if he were lost. She can see the distress in his face and body language or it could just be the lingering effects of his medication as his eyes continues to flutter.

(Dr. Krekorian): Those tests are getting ordered as we speak. The nurses will be back in a moment and we’ll get you cleaned up, adjust those meds and leave you alone for a bit to rest. I’ll be back this evening to check on you as I finish rounds, but if anything comes up just have one of the nurses page me.

Sean’s head is still turned looking out the window. She isn’t sure he heard what the doctor said or not.

(Michelle): Thank you doctor.

As the doctor leaves the room Michelle moves closer to Sean continuing to gently stroke his hair with her good hand, her bandaged one on his chest. It was another reminder to them both of the damage Azami caused and Erica aided.

(Michelle): We’ll get through this together….you and me. One day at a time, just like the doctor said.

It looked like his head was nodding in response but she wasn’t sure. She just held his hand that he raised to his lips, kissed, then leaned his head back on the pillow as the scene faded to black.