Author's Note: I own nothing in this story.

Empty Rooms: Chapter 2

"Roman, thank god. I've been trying to get you all morning. Are you guys OK"?

Roman kept an eye on the man smoking on the balcony before turning away and replying into the cell phone.

"Pretty much".

"I'm sorry, I thought Hunter or dad would have you before the segment", Stephanie apologised. "They wanted a genuine reaction and thought it would be better this way. Are you hurt? It looked like Seth really went to town with that chair. I didn't think they would be so brutal, please don't be angry".

"It's OK Steph, we'll keep it in the ring", Roman promised, praying to all deities that would be the case. He knew from family talk, you had to keep expecting anything in this industry. It wasn't about how well you could perform, it was what you did on the spot. Sure, the creative team planned for the long term, but they wanted, hell insisted, that the talent could stand on their own and think outside the box.

If it wasn't for what Seth supposedly said, and his lack of communication, Roman would have believed that was the case now. Seth was always looking for the next step. Apparently he found it on his own.

"Did you get the revised scripts for Smackdown"? Stephanie's voice broke him out of his reverie.

"Yeah, we did. Looks fine, Dean already has a few ideas about what he wants to say".

"Are you sure he's good to go? If I'd known about his ribs I would have come over myself with Chris to the hospital. I'm so sorry you guys had to go through that".

"It's OK, honestly. He's more pissed than anything else. You know how he gets", Roman downplayed. Really he wanted to shout the truth to Stephanie. Dean wasn't home and he had no idea what to do.

"I told Seth, he just shrugged it off. Are they alright? I thought everything was going well. Seth was talking about moving to Vegas only a few weeks ago", Stephanie pressed, and Roman smiled. This wasn't the woman on camera talking, this was the woman backstage who treated the roster like family and checked in on everyone.

"I honestly don't know", Roman replied. "If he means anything he said to the others, he doesn't want anything to do with us".

"I can't believe that, you three were always so close. What could have changed"?

"Beats me, we were fine two days ago", Roman said mournfully.

"Do you think Dean will be OK to work with him? Hunter and dad want them to feud again, and under other circumstances, I would agree. But I need to know if they can work together or not", Stephanie 's tone had changed. Boss lady was back.

"I would think so, Dean knows it would push his singles career if you are serious about splitting us up as well. I'll talk to him", Roman picked up a few things and tossed them in his suitcase. "Besides, they've worked together for years. They can put on a great match without much planning. I'm sure it'll work out if they don't want to talk".

"I know, I just don't want to see anyone get hurt", Stephanie signed a few documents on her desk. "I need to be sure. Dean can be unpredictable when he's upset".

"I'll talk to him", Roman promised.

They quickly said goodbye and Roman turned to see Moxley stubbing out a cigarette and coming back inside.

"Hmm, I missed those. Why'd you make him quit"?

"Because it's a disgusting habit and it's bad for you", Roman replied sternly. "Come here and sit, we need to talk".

Moxley slumped into a chair. "OK, talk. And make it quick, I get enough of this with Dean". He looked at Roman suspiciously who sat in an armchair across from him. "In fact, Dean gets it from you right? This is the big brother talk"?

Roman refused to dignify that with a response.

"I know he hurt you Mox"-

"You don't know jack shit Romeo", Mox spat out.

"He betrayed me too you know", Roman shook his head cursing the man's stubbornness. He had only dealt with Mox a handful of times and each time usually gave him a headache. "Look, I'm not going to tell you what to do, odds are, you won't listen and to be honest, I don't wanna hold you back. I want him to pay as much as you do".

Mox just grinned. "Highly doubt that Romie"…

Roman ignored the nickname. "Can you just stop and be serious please Mox? This is important, Dean- no you, both of you lost a baby".

"I know", Mox said simply. "Not like it's the first one".

"Why are you so calm about it"?

Moxley broke contact and started fidgeting again, focusing on anything except the man in front of him.

"Please tell me what's going on with you both", Roman pleaded. "I'd feel a lot better if you just told me what's happening and let it out".

"What I need to let out, I'll do it in the ring, and maybe outside of it. Haven't decided yet", Mox said his voice low and threatening, each word calculated, with eyes bordering on insanity. "Dean doesn't want out. That's why I'm here. He wants revenge, I'll get it for him. He can't deal with it. Yeah, we lost a baby, babies if you want to be specific. But I wasn't driving, he was. That kinda thing, messes with your head".

Roman remained silent for a few minutes. "When will he come back"?

Mox just shrugged. "When he feels like it".

"Can I see him? Talk to him"?

Mox shook his head. "He's sorry, but he can't. He won't even talk to me. Right now, he shut me off. Locked in that room until he's ready to come out".

Roman ran his hands through his hair and started pacing. Mox rolled his eyes.

"Listen Rome, we are not gonna sit here and have a kum bye ya moment", he hissed. "I'll spell it out for ya, and you can quit being a pussy. Jesus, no wonder Dean turned soft. You know why I'm here, Seth doesn't. Either stand with me or stay out of my way and go start your singles career. I got no problem piling up bodies on my way to that scumbag. Either find your balls and man up or sit the hell out and quit bitching".

Roman wasn't sure anymore. Moxley was extreme, at the edge of the spectrum and a master at dragging things out. But they saw eye to eye, he wanted vengeance… and he wanted Dean. If this was the way to get it, then maybe it was worth it. He just wanted Dean back with him again.

"You still love him".

"What"?

"You still love Dean", Moxley stood up and walked over to Dean's bags. "Can see it in your face".

"Course I do, he's my brother, my best friend", Roman explained.

Moxley just huffed and let it slide. How could two people who got this far in life be this dumb?

"Then live up to it Rome, Dean and I are one in the same. We know what needs to be done. You want assurance from me? Fine, I won't end Dean's career. Seth's, I make no such promise. But I won't endanger Dean. That cool"?

Roman could only nod.

"Good. Now I don't wanna talk about the kid anymore either. It's done, it's over. It never happened. You ever tell anyone, I will beat seven shades of shit of you and cut you up so small the worms won't have to chew".

"Tell me why you won't talk about it, and I'll never mention it again", Roman compromised.

Moxley turned to the bag and started pulling out random things and stuffing them back in again.

"Because Dean wanted to give Seth a child. Hell, we both did. We put our trust in the wrong one, moment of weakness for me. For Dean not so much. Now his kid is dead before it had a chance. He blames himself, I blame myself. Until we reconcile that in our own mind, there's no point". Moxley tightened his jaw and turned to Roman. "Just be there. He trusts you, don't give him a reason not to".

Roman just nodded, and reached out to clasp Moxley's hand.

They prepared for Smackdown in silence.

Moxley knew. Roman was in love with Dean. It was obvious. Moxley watched Dean's life the same way you would watch a movie at home. He caught some bits and glossed over others. But he saw Roman, every time. Even when Dean didn't. Roman didn't understand it, not really. He was in denial pretty much most of the time. How did they come to this? Did Seth know? If he did, that could have been the catalyst… not that it mattered. Dean had been loyal to a fault. Moxley was still going to destroy Seth as much as possible until only tiny little ashes remained of his life, and he would protect Dean.

At the back of his mind, he felt a small warmth. Dean had picked up on the mama bear vibe. Moxley just shook his head and followed Roman to the car.

Yeah, yeah. Don't read too much into it you loser.