Flames

On the Line, part 1

"When I call myself The Man, I don't mean it in the Last Man Standing sense. You know that, right?" Becky stood by the bed in the medical office backstage and grimaced as Seth tried to find a comfortable way to sit. He eventually gave up and stretched out on his side, his breathing laboured.

"It's usually true, though." Seth tried to laugh, but his gut was in knots. "You just... can't tell, because you're so short."

Becky's gaze softened, but the worry there was still palpable as she went to the head of the bed and stroked his hair. "The pretty ones always get away with everything," she muttered with a small grin. Then she leaned over and kissed his cheek, pressing her forehead to his. "You're a menace."

Seth reached up and squeezed her hand. "Hey. It'll be fine. You know how this goes. The doctor frowns at me, tests my range of motion, sends me for scans. I put a shit-ton of ice on it and I'm back at it by the weekend." When Becky shot him a glare, he brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. "I'm right, aren't I?"

The strain didn't leave her face, though, and he hated that. Between wrestling, taking care of Roux, and finishing her book, Becky was being pulled in half a dozen different directions and he knew he shouldn't be adding to her stress. "So far," she allowed, reluctance slumping her shoulders. "But you know one day your luck's going to run out. I know you pride yourself on being the workhorse, but you need to rest at some point. How long can you keep this pace up?"

He didn't mean to glance over at the World Heavyweight Title, but Seth couldn't help it. It was a tremendous honour to be the inaugural champion and he knew that. He knew that back in NXT and the only real thing that had changed since then was that he had even more to fight for. It was one thing for people to doubt his sincerity, his resolve; when they started blaming Becky or fatherhood for any lapse on his part, all it did was spark his anger. "I don't know," he said honestly, "but I know I'm making a difference and—"

"You can't save a whole company, love." Becky's voice had softened to a near whisper. "You can't carry it on your back. I know it makes for a great promo, but look what it does to people. Look what it's taken out of Mox, having to always step back in when someone gets hurt or someone fucks up."

Seth paused. His Shield brother was in a similar situation, with a young daughter at home and a drive and love for the business that often outstripped his common sense. He kissed his wife's hand again and kept it close to his chest. "I know—"

"Do you?" For a moment, Seth couldn't tell if it was frustration or tears making Becky's eyes shine, but then he realized it was a combination of the two. "Because sometimes I wonder if it's really sunk in yet. Your back is broken."

Did Shinsuke's promos rattle her that much? The pain and nerves roiling in Seth's stomach soured even more. He hated the thought of making Becky so worried. "I'll be careful. I promise," he said, holding her gaze even though the unshed tears there made him flinch. "I'll get whatever scans they tell me to and—"

"And if they tell you to stop?" Becky's gaze was usually bright and lively, but now it was dark and steady. "If they tell you to take time off or get surgery? Will you actually listen?"

Seth took a moment before answering. There were plenty of loopholes in her questions, but he knew they weren't playing games right now, not with his health and well being on the line. "I'll listen," he promised. "If I don't agree, I'll get a second opinion, like Stone Cold and some of them did, but I'll listen. I swear I will. I know it's not just about me. There's you and Roux...." He took a deep breath as he thought of his daughter. They had both been missing having Roux on the road, but when it came to moments like this, he was glad she wasn't there. His little girl was too smart for her own good sometimes, and she was already showing signs of her mother's inclination to worry.