Flames

Creating and Evolving, part 2

Becky shook her head. "Nah. A new face will brighten his day. I think he's getting sick of me asking how he's feeling every five minutes, but I worry. His knees are already in such rough shape...."

"He's got you and Roux, and the best doctors in the country are going to be looking at him," Naomi pointed out, standing off to the side as Becky knocked on the door. "He'll come through."

"Come in!" Seth straightened up a bit on the couch where he had his injured leg stretched out. "Hi, sweetheart. Hey, Naomi. Good luck tonight."

Naomi went over to give him a hug. "Jade's going over, but I get to cash in at the end of the night," she added with a wink, putting a finger to her lips, "so I'm good."

Seth's eyes widened a bit. "Already? I thought you'd want to draw it out since you just got your custom case done up...."

"Nah. Now I can be over on RAW with Becks." Naomi straightened up and kissed Becky's cheek before gesturing at Seth's brace. "I know you're anti-sparkle, but if you didn't want to come to the craft weekend, you could've just said so. You didn't have to be so dramatic."

Becky wasn't sure how Seth would take that at first, but he burst out laughing. "If I hurt myself every time I saw some glitter," he replied, "I'd be in a full body cast by now. Whoever invented glitter glue should be paying for my therapy."

Naomi went back over and gave the knee brace an experimental poke. "You know, I'm sure Roux and I can decorate this really nicely for you. Lots of colour and sparkle. I've got rhinestones—"

"No embellishments," Seth said quickly. "Doctor's orders. They could... uh, harm the integrity of the hinge." He pointed to his crutches, propped up against the wall, with palpable reluctance. "We can decorate the crutches, I guess."

"Perfect candidate for caution tape," Naomi mused, grabbing one of the crutches and giving it a once-over. "Wrap it around like a candy cane...."

While Naomi was brainstorming ways to decorate the crutches, Becky crouched down and hugged her husband. "Hello, love. How are you doing?" She patted his good leg and added, "I know you hate being cooped up. If you'd be more comfortable on the bus, I'm sure the techs can get something set up with a live feed...."

Seth shook his head. "I want to be here when you get back," he replied, "and Roux will want to hang out with everyone." Then he laughed. "Besides, if I use my Bambi eyes, as you call them, maybe I can convince someone to get me a coffee rather than struggle with the crutches."

"Is that a hint?" Becky teased. Glancing around the small room, she spotted an empty coffee cup. "We should have made some on the bus." At Seth's groan, she rolled her eyes and added, "I'm not going to make you walk all the way back. I'm just saying. I'm sure they can spare one of the interns to do a coffee run for you."

"Or Jimmy would," Naomi piped up, setting his crutches back against the wall. "He'll want to be back for my match, but Jade and I are going on fourth or fifth, I think."

"I'm not trying to be a bother," Seth insisted. "I know there's a coffee machine in the viewing area. That'll be fine." Seth gave Becky a kiss before reaching for his crutches. "Is my bag over there?"

Becky felt around until she found his cross-body bag, half-eclipsed by a pillow. "Got it." She helped him get it in place before she stood. "Anything else?"

Seth took a quick look around the room before shaking his head. "Nah. I'll probably come back here after your match and chill for a bit. I know everyone means well," he said with a grimace, "but after a while all the questions get to me."

"It's okay if you want to be on the bus. Really." Becky watched as he positioned his crutches and stood. He was far more graceful with them than she would be, but she still liked to be close at hand in case he needed help. "You'd be more comfortable and Roux would have all her stuff. She can invite a few people back, if you're up to having company...."

"Are you worried your hot husband is going to see me and kick my ass?" Once he had his crutches steady, Seth held out his arms for a hug, and Becky cuddled up to him gently.

Naomi cackled. "Hot husband? Let me at him. No one's coming for my Becks." She propped the door open wide so Seth could get through. "Mind you, I probably don't have to worry. You can just send Roux after people. She's a little toughie."

"That she is." Becky tried to take a subtle last look around to make sure Seth hadn't left anything important behind while he shuffled into the hallway. "Coming," she said when she noticed Naomi watching her. "Thanks, Naomi. If you have to take off, that's cool. You've got a big night tonight."

"You're not getting rid of me that easily, my Man. I'm watching your match for sure, and since Bayley's in it," Naomi pointed out, "I won't have to fight her for Roux time either."

"Roux thinks there should be all-girl events all the time so she can see all her aunties at the same show," Seth reported, glancing back at Becky and Naomi. "She said I would be allowed to come, but I'd have to stay in the back."

Naomi's laugh filled the corridor. "You and Big Jim can watch us take care of business. Sounds right."

"We should have all-women's events more often then." Shaking one of his crutches, Seth added, "I'd be less likely to get injured that way."

"Don't be so sure. If our Becks is Becky Hogan and Bayley's the Macho Man," Naomi mused, "then you can be their Miss Elizabeth. You've already got some fancy clothes you could wear...."

Becky fell back a step, and not just so she could watch Seth to see if he was tiring out and needed a wheelchair instead of the crutches. It was wonderful to see him chatting backstage, being goofy. She just wished he was able to enjoy it more. Lately it seemed like if he wasn't injured, she was, and she wasn't sure if that was a sign of some kind. They both still had so much more they wanted to do, so much left to give, and Evolution was proof of that, at least for her. Becky wanted to leave the business better than it was when she started, and there was still so much work to do. It was daunting at times and definitely disheartening, but the sparks of improvement made her want to be there for when the flickers of hope became a full-fledged fire.