Title: What Is And What Should Never Be

Summary: They always say be careful what you wish for; however nobody seemed to ever mention this to Dean Ambrose.

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Chapter 4

"What the hell did you just call him?!" questioned Seth alarmed as realization of what was happening dawned on him. He grabbed Dean's torso trying to push him out of the ring toward safety, but failed miserably at his attempt to save his older brother from the destruction bound to happen if the two ex-best friends met in the ring and tore down the arena. Dean stared Roman right in the face making eye contact with the monster, trying to see what everyone in this universe was so afraid of. Then he saw it again, the cold hatred burning in Roman's eyes, but Dean was not afraid of Roman like everyone else.

"Brother," Dean spoke slowly and solemnly looking Roman right in those dark, hate filled eyes, "It's what he is and should always be especially to us."

"Roman, please listen to me," Dean started as the angry Samoan only glared at the other wrestler in a silent rage, "This isn't you. You aren't whatever this is!"

The monster surely wouldn't listen to reason. He never had in the past. What made Ambrose think he would listen now? Cena smirked while standing on the outside of the ring knowing full well his creation would never turn back to his so called brothers of the Shield. Rollins had scrambled out of the ring and now stood idly watching from the apron on the outskirts of the ring while clutching his rib cage afraid for Dean's wellbeing and not wanting to lose his brothers again. Ambrose was going to attempt to talk sense into Cena's pet like he was convincing the man to take candy from a baby, this was going to end badly, and Seth could sense it.

"You and I," Dean said pointing between the two of them as they stood in the middle of the ring, "We're brothers. Brothers don't treat each other like this. You once told me because we're family you will always have my back whether I wanted you to or not and I believed you then. Do you hear that, Uce? I believe in you, still have, and always will. Seth is our brother too. We're the best kind of family, Roman and that's chosen family. Chosen family is always there and they don't turn their back on you. I know deep down you still care about the two of us. You aren't whatever this whole façade is. You're our big brother. You can believe that!"

Roman's hardened face looked as though it had softened somewhat by Dean's statement. The monster was considering and trying to digest what Ambrose had just called him. After everything he had done to the Lunatic Fringe, the man still considered him his brother, but how was this possible? He had taken time off of his career. He had put him on the shelf. They had gone to war with each other.

It wasn't normally in the Lunatic's nature to be forgiving, but Roman knew deep down a part of him still wanted to be with his little brothers. He wanted to protect them from the big, nasty world out there. He wanted to protect them from the fiends who would come after them like John Cena and The Authority. He wanted to always be there for them, but that was why he had turned his back on them to begin with. In order, to protect them from reality, he had to be the villain, their villain.

The crowd was deathly silent as the trio stood in the center of the ring. Dean stood with a pleading look etched across his face while Seth looked terrified of what sort of confrontation the two wrestlers might engage in. The young high flier had seen their battles first hand many times and they never ended in peace, just someone skulking off with a broken body part. Now in these times things had become worse because Roman went all out and the screams of his enemies were his life blood encouraging him to continue to tear their body's limb from limb.

Cena stood on the outside worried his creation, his monster, was finally going to see the light. If Ambrose sparked something in Reigns tonight all his work would be a waste and he would be back at square one! Surely, he'd lose control of the WWE allowing for someone else to grab the reins of power from him in a blink of an eye. What would he do without his monster to keep others at bay? Was everything he had worked so hard for about to crumble at his feet just because Dean Ambrose thought he could get through to his monster? All this work would be null and void if that happened.

As the silence erupted throughout the arena once more, Dean's head fell in sadness. Maybe this universe didn't want him to reunite his family? Maybe this wasn't what he was supposed to do after all? Maybe Seth had been right when he called Roman a vicious and deadly beast who was just out for blood?

Just as Dean was about to give up hope and leave the ring did Roman's voice break through the silence.

"Brothers," Roman spoke for the first time in what seemed like years while looking directly at Dean and Seth. Cena had instructed him to never speak; it would add more to the ambiance of his intimidating presence, but god damn Ambrose had broken the wall of silence with his soliloquy about family and brotherly bonds. The word brother tasted different to Roman now having finally spoken it aloud. It was as if he was putting thumb tacks in his mouth and chewing on them like it was some knock off brand breakfast cereal. The Power House turned back to Ambrose whose fist was out stretched in the symbolic gesture wanting… no, hoping to pick up the pieces of the shattered brotherhood and somehow glue the remnants of the Shield back together. Broken things though were never easy to piece back together because there would always be cracks and sometimes they were so destroyed the object had to be discarded.

"We aren't brothers, not anymore," Roman spoke solemnly before an evil smirk played across his lips chuckling vilely at the other two wrestlers, "Brothers believe in each other. These people never believe in me. The idiots in the back never believed in me. You two certainly didn't believe in me. This is why we never will be brothers again is that clear?"

The crowd erupted into boos and jeers as the smirk simmered across Roman's face trying to showcase his evil intentions to the world. The Power House found it oddly amusing. These people and his brothers wanted him to go back to being in the shadows. They wanted him to be the silent goodie two shoes. He wasn't going back there not after everything he had gained since turning on his brethren. He had become their villain and he liked it that way even if it had become a sad and only road.

"You don't get it," chided Roman as he shook his head while staring at Dean and Seth, "You two held me back. You always held me back. These people held me back. Hell, the whole roster was holding me back. It just took somebody who actually believed in me to show me what I was truly capable of."

"But Uce," Dean tried to reason as Roman shot him the dirtiest look the universe had probably ever seen come from the man, "Uce…"

"You don't get to call me that, not anymore, not ever again," chided Roman as he flew across the ring faster than Dean could blink, was he speared into oblivion by the Samoan, "We're not friends, brothers, family, any of that bull shit. You got that, you little nut job? I'm done with you, now and forever."

Reigns dusted himself off as he left Dean lying in a crumpled up pile on the ring mat, however the Samoan wasn't done as he saw Seth Rollins rush over and fall to his knees to check on Ambrose.

"Lose the dead weight, Rollins," Roman advised The Architect, "Once you do that, you'll be a real threat to me and this business, but until then be sure to stay out of my way."

Seth gulped as he watched Roman leave the ring beckoning Cena to his side. The two men marched up the ramp together not looking back at the destruction they had left in their wake and gloating in it every step of the way as they smirked sickly before rounding the curtain.

"Come on, Dean, snap out of it," Seth tried as he shook the Lunatic's shoulder, wanting, no needing, his big brother to get up. He couldn't go through this again. With several shakes and a deep groan, the young man came to and stared up at Seth who was helping to support his aching body by propping him up in the middle of the ring.

"Well that didn't go as planned," mumbled Dean frustrated and angry.

"I tried to warn you," reasoned Seth as he slowly helped Dean to his feet in the middle of the ring as the crowd cheered for the duo, "He's gone, Dean. You have to accept that. The sooner you do the better. You just need to realize the Roman we knew is dead and he ain't coming back… ever."

Dean chewed on this thought as he watched the crowd scream in appraisal of him getting to his feet after Roman delivered a devastating spear to him. Sure, Dean had gotten his wish of Seth never turning toward the dark side in this universe, but was it truly worth it to lose the other brother instead? The Lunatic frowned as he looked at the young high flier.

His friendship with the Seth in his world had meant so much to him. On the night of the young man's betrayal, everything in regard to their friendship had gone out the window. Seth Rollins hadn't cared about who he hurt once he joined the dark side, but in recent months the champion had started to show signs of his old self. There seemed to be light still in his old friend, maybe there was good in his Seth Rollins after all? Dean sensed the Seth of his universe, his Seth was starting to pick up the pieces and was going to make everything right once again. Surely, there was given the Seth of this universe was still as much a saint as ever.

This Roman though, had a dark and cold heart black as night. There was no way he would ever return to his brothers and Dean didn't know if he could live in a world where family and his brothers meant nothing.

"I can't live in a world where Roman won't come back around and be my… our brother again," Dean said as he let the tears trickle down his cheeks onto the mat, "I just want to go home where in my reality I know good still resides in my Seth, the conniving weasel he is. I know he isn't what you are yet, but I know for a fact if you exist in this universe you must exist somewhere inside of him in mine."

Seth laid a gentle hand on his brother's shoulder with a sad smile of his own trying to provide the elder man with some form of comfort. Sure, Dean was still talking nonsense and gibberish about this other universe, but brothers needed to be there for each other. Just like Seth had promised Dean on the night of Roman's betrayal, they would be brothers through thick and thin, nothing was going to stop them.

"I love you, big brother," Seth said as he wrapped his arms around Dean. The elder man stiffened in response to not having felt the sensation of Seth hugging, let alone touching, him in eons. It took a moment or two, but soon enough Dean was returning Seth's hug and embracing it full on. Sure, it had taken this weird situation for him to see everything from a different perspective, but still he had Seth back for the time being. At least, he had one brother with him.

In his mind, no matter what universe he was in, he'd never truly be alone as long as he had a brother.

"I love you too, little brother, always will," Dean answered as his voice trembled around the lump in his throat not wanting any more tears to fall in fear Seth would tease him about it later. Ambrose realized something in that moment as he hugged Seth, he didn't need a wish to bring his brother back. His brother, one of them at least, would always be right beside him.

Several moments passed before Dean realized he was drenched in complete darkness. No Seth. No wrestling ring. No stadium. No crowd. No, it was just him and his thoughts in complete and total darkness before he heard a voice calling to him, beckoning him to get up?

"Come on Sleeping Beauty, up and at 'em," called a distinctly cheerful voice. Dean squeezed his eyes shut and slowly willed himself to open them as the voice kept nagging and yelling at him to get up. The darkness didn't last much longer after that as he slowly opened his eyes.

He opened his eyes to find the dim light of a hotel room lamp illuminating part of the room while sunlight was starting to stream in through the window blinds. Suitcase and clothes littered the floor while several empty containers of takeout food sat on the table. The TV was playing highlights on SportsCenter as the anchors talked idly about the recent night's sporting events.

Roman Reigns stood beside him with annoyed look on his face having ripped the covers off of Dean's bed in order to attempt encourage the man to get moving. The Samoan stood with a tooth brush in his mouth with toothpaste running out down his cheek. Dean blinked in confusion wondering where he was and then realized he was back in his original universe as he saw the picture Roman carried of his wife and daughter propped up on the end table next to his bed in the hotel room. Roman always put it up so he could fall asleep with them next to him when they were on the road. It was a symbolic ritual Dean had seen the Samoan do thousands of times before they went to bed every night while they were on the road.

"ROMAN!" Dean shrieked as he jumped into the other man's arms in happiness realizing Reigns was no longer Cena's heartless monster but the man who was his brother in arms, "You're you! You're not Cena's bitch! You're you, good; old I can and I will fight justice, believe that, Roman Reigns! I missed you, big brother!"

Roman quirked an eyebrow unsure of what was going on, but with a lunatic like Dean, who would ever truly know what went on in the man's head and who really wanted to know?

"Uh… Are you feeling okay, uce? You're acting really weird, weirder than usual I may add. I mean, I know I went out last night with the other guys and you weren't feeling good, but still I thought that Thai food I brought you back wasn't that sketchy looking," Roman said as he picked up the toothbrush that had fallen on the floor after Dean's hug attack, "Maybe I shouldn't have brought you Thai food. What happened to you anyways? You were acting like you were having a nightmare?"

Dean said nothing before encapsulating his brother in another hug, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Roman rolled his eyes as he escaped from Dean's hug and began to back away from the man he called his best friend, slowly, "Well, okay then. We need to get on the road if we're going to make it to the next show on time since somebody thought it was a good idea to sleep in this morning."

The Lunatic dramatically rolled his eyes and flopped back onto the hotel room bed happy to be home. He could tell by the look on Roman's face, the man was confused as to what the hell was going on, but Dean decided today was not the day to tell Roman of what had happened to him, maybe someday, but certainly not today.

There was something else Dean needed to do to make sure the universe… his universe had righted itself. Quickly, he grabbed the hotel room phone and dialed the front desk explaining who he was and why he needed the number he requested. He gave the concierge some bullshit excuse, but the young woman was happy to provide such prestigious guests with this information plus Dean managed to turn on his full charm which the girl couldn't resist. Once he was done with that phone call, he punched in the numbers for the room extension he had requested.

"Hello," answered a groggy and sleep laced voice signifying the other individual wasn't fully awake yet.

"Hey Seth, good buddy, good pal of mine, I just wanted to say good morning to you and tell you, you are still the scum of the earth and a traitorous little weasel in my opinion."

The line was oddly silent as Dean waited for a response from Seth and just when he thought the man was about to hang up, did he speak, "Right back at you, Ambrose! And who gave you this number?! I'm going to tell Hunter and Stephanie! They'll find a punishment suitable for you, so I don't have to, but you know what since I like you so much…"

Before more words could be exchanged between the two did he hang up surely leaving Seth stunned by the buzzing and beeping noises of the dial tone; Dean flopped back onto his bed with a smile on his face. The universe had put him back where he belonged.

After what had happened to him, he had learned to be careful for what you wish for and as much as a person desired something to happen the outcome could be cataclysmic. He had been shown two universes both lose-lose scenarios in his opinion, but in this one he knew Seth could be… no, Seth would be family again, even if it did take some time.

For now though, the memory of good guy Seth would live on with him as he stared at the picture on his phone of Seth, Christian, and Edge goofing off, a smile a crossed The Lunatic Fringe's face just thinking about happier times.

Although, he couldn't have the best of both worlds where Seth and Roman both stood by him reunited right now, someday, maybe a week, a month, a year, five years, from now they would stand in the ring reunited and together call themselves brothers once more. Who knows, they might even pick up where they left off to become the hounds of justice once again and thus protect the WWE from all tyrants?

The thing was Dean didn't know if it could ever happen and he was fine with not knowing. Just having one brother there with him would be enough. But the hope and possibility of his brothers reuniting to become family once more would be what got him through in the end.

The End

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