A/N: Set between Payback 2016 and the 5/2/16 edition of RAW where Cass learns he's going to be teaming with the New Day until Enzo returns. Strong friendship vibes. Slash free.

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Big Cass roamed the corridors of the Allstate Arena in a daze, feeling like he'd gotten run over by a truck, his gut churning. He passed piles of equipment and the concerned faces of his coworkers who quickly moved out of his path not wanting to agitate the big man any further than he already was.

But no matter how fast he walked he couldn't outrun the horrific sight of Simon Gotch throwing his tag partner Enzo Amore into the ropes, nor unhear the sickening sound of his smaller buddy's head cracking the edge of the ring being played back in a nightmarish loop-

This can't be happening. Not now. Zo and I've worked too hard for this! The hysteria-tinged thought swirled through his mind blanking out the rational part telling him to calm down, that he was blowing things out of proportion. Any second now a PA would tap him on the shoulder and tell him he was overreacting, that his hyperactive best friend was just playing an elaborate prank on him and the entire world-Zo was good at ribbing people, just like everything else he put his mind to-but this felt different.

It felt like the entire world had listed on its axis, throwing everything out of alignment: the booking, the compelling feud with the Vaudevillians and the New Day, the stories they'd planned on telling after tonight were no more. Ended on a botched rope throw, a simple routine spot all the teams could perform with their eyes closed and yet...something had gone horribly wrong.

It all happened so fast. One minute both teams were kicking off Payback in white hot fashion and the next thing Cass knew was Enzo hitting the middle rope wrong. Falling out of the ring like a ragdoll, knocked out cold-

"C'mon Zo. C'mon Zo, wake up boy."

He ran shaking hands through his long hair, trying to get his ragged breathing under control. Cass remembered panic filling him as he pleaded with the smaller man to open his eyes. Move his arms. Do something instead of lying motionless under the ring apron like he was dead-

The ambulance had left not five minutes ago carting his best friend to the hospital and because he was too big to ride with, all he could do was turn away from the traumatic sight in tears.

Please, he silently begged as he stumbled into his empty locker room and collapsed on the metal bench. Let Zo be okay. Please. Don't let it be a broken neck.

He needed to wake up from this nightmare and soon. Whatever Enzo's injury might be, it changed the landscape of the tag division. Now what'm I gonna do? Would he be placed on the back burner? Dismissed all together? It wouldn't be the first time the powers that be considered letting him go when he'd been in NXT. It was only working with Enzo that he saved his career...but now that his partner was injured Cass wasn't sure if he'd have a job for long-

A soft knock on the door jerked Cass out of his chaotic thoughts. Blue eyes snapped up to see who would dare intrude on his personal space, only to come face to face with the last two men he wanted to see at the moment.

Aiden English and Simon Gotch stood in the empty space between the frame and the hallway. Gotch seemed particularly shaken, wringing his hands and trying not to lose his nerve in front of his taller nemesis. Tension hung thick and heavy between the three men, English ready to defend his partner should Cass decide to attack.

"Cass...I-" the mustachioed strongman trailed off, averting his dark brown eyes wet with unshed tears. "I'm so sorry."

Cass rose to his imposing full height in a single fluid motion. "What the hell we're ya thinkin' man?!" He hissed, worry over his friend's condition and anger that Enzo might've suffered a career-ending injury bubbling over in a fit of heated frustration. "Zo was out cold an' yous went over and picked 'im up by the head-"

"It was an accident." English interjected, quietly stepping between Gotch and the normally gentle, fun-loving giant who at the moment, was very upset and wanting to lash out at something. "He didn't mean to Cass."

Cass pinched the bridge of his nose. Forced himself to breathe calmly. As much as he disliked English, no one was really at fault. He needed to remember Gotch meant no ill-will when he performed the toss.

"I know, I know he didn't...but God, I can't think about this right now. Zo needs me and I'm gonna be there when he wakes up."

Seeing the bigger man wasn't going to lunge for his partner's throat just yet, English saw the perfect opportunity for them to make their exit in one piece. Cass didn't hear them leave. He was too focused on thinking who was going to drive him to the hospital when he remembered him and Zo had ridden to the arena with Kevin Owens.

...

Hotel - later that night

Cass dragged his weary frame through the door of his hotel room located several blocks from the hospital where he learned the doctors had diagnosed Enzo with the dreaded c-word.

Concussion.

After a brief cool shower he dressed in a simple tee and loose sleep pants and trudged across the carpeted floor, cement in his steps as he flopped heavily onto the single bed, the mattress giving an ominous creak under his considerable weight. One hand hung limply over the edge of the bed as the other rested loosely over his stomach.

Empty blue eyes bored a hole into the blank ceiling, as if they could divine a solution to what was rapidly becoming a Big Show sized problem.

His partner had a concussion...God knows how long his friend would be out...and he was left hanging. Like a piece of wet laundry hung out to dry on a wire. Luckily Zo hadn't suffered a broken neck, but then again...luck only went so far in the squared circle. Next time, it might be even worse than a hard sneeze and Cass felt his heart clench as if someone had reached into his chest and squeezed it with an ice-cold fist.

Nope. Don't think about the what ifs. Enzo dodged a bullet and that was a Godsend in and of itself.

The room was glaringly silent without Zo's raspy voice and hyperactive presence filling the void. Cass blew out a heavy sigh, letting his eyes fall closed with the action. Not like his little buddy hadn't tried to come with him after being discharged but the trainers intercepted them before the pair could get very far, stating Mr. Amore couldn't travel much in his condition due to headaches, light sensitivity yada yada yada...

Cass recalled Enzo getting ready to fight their instructions when Dr. Amman offered a compromise. He gave Zo the option of flying back to his house in Orlando right away or wait till Wednesday after the RAW and Smackdown tapings wrapped.

Against his silent wishes, Zo chose to stay. But he had to spend the entire time with the trainers close by so they could monitor the injury for the inevitable side-effects.

Hence the reason he found himself lying in bed, alone without his best friend and fresh out of ideas how he was going to stay relevant in the tag team division-

His cell phone buzzed on the nightstand.

Cass knew he had a choice to make. Ignore it and hope the caller would get the hint he wasn't in the mood to chat. Or it could be the office. A tiny voice whispered. Ya wanna keep yer job right? Oh, Enzo would be pissed if you got yerself fired just cause you ain't 'in the mood'.

The small device kept buzzing and buzzing until he reached over and checked the number, noting the Stamford area code and reluctantly pressed the green button on his touch screen.

"Hello?"

"Hi Cass," came the unmistakable voice of Stephanie McMahon who was in full concerned mother bear mode. "How are you holding up?"

"Still in shock. Like it's happening to someone else, and any second I keep expecting Enzo to bust through the door and bend my ear off." He had nothing to lose at this point so Cass decided to keep it 100 with the older woman. Just like Zo would've done. "So...what's next?"

He braced his legs against the mattress, mentally preparing for the worst. He half expected the 'Billion Dollar Princess' to inform him of his low-card status, drifting in jobber limbo or pull him off TV altogether. Him and Enzo were a package deal when they came up to the big leagues. Two halves of an eccentric yet cohesive whole.

"Well, Shane and I called an emergency meeting after Enzo took that nasty spill." Stephanie began still motherly but Cass heard the businesswoman coming though loud and clear. He swallowed back a lump forming in his throat, suddenly remembering she and her brother had been awarded joint-custody of RAW and Smackdown via their father's decision during the broadcast. "We brainstormed for a spell, until the New Day knocked on our door and made us a proposition. One we'd be stupid to pass up, but they were practically volunteering on their hands and knees to do this. If you're too tired, I can run it by you tomorrow morning-"

Cass sat up on his elbow, phone clutched tightly to his ear curiousity piqued. Wondering what in the world the zany, colorful trio had in mind that prompted his boss's wife to call him at nearly three-thirty in the morning.

"Nah go ahead. What'd they say?"

"They want to work a program where you'll be their tag team partner for as long as it takes until Enzo is medically cleared to wrestle again. Starting on tomorrow night's episode of RAW if you're interested-"

Cass wasted little time jumping on the generous offer. He'd never worked directly with the trio before, but that didn't matter. He'd find a way to make it work and stay relevant all at once.

"I'm in."

"Wonderful. I'll let Hunter and Creative know so they can make the appropriate changes. Expect a text from the New Day soon."

"Thanks for this Steph," the big man whispered, tears pricking his eyelids.

"It's my pleasure Cass. You and Enzo are well-loved by everyone. Get some rest. You've got a long day tomorrow and new partners to work with."

He thanked the woman again before signing off. Hardly had he set his phone down than the thought struck him. Along with him and Enzo, the New Day were feuding with the Vaudevillians. Who would be awarded the decision to compete at Extreme Rules for the Tag Championships via a TKO.

Great.

That meant he'd be in close proximity to Gotch and English for God knows how long. A daily reminder of why he was working with the tag champions instead of competing for the belts. Concussions were strange creatures with no fixed recovery date. Enzo could be hit with a symptom out of nowhere for years after the initial hit.

Thankfully, his phone buzzed with an incoming text, sparing him from the warm tears resting behind the fragile dam of his fleshy lids, the precursor to another crying jag. The last thing he needed was to burden his his new teammates with his wildly fluctuating emotions.

He settled his large frame more snugly against the bedspread, then thumbed the message icon open to a group text from the New Day.

Xavier: Hey, hey Captain! How ya doin'?

Big E: Steph told us the good news. We'll take care of ya man. Just...try not to kill Gotch. Or one of us by accident. Please? That would be awesome.

Kofi: You got no idea how sorry we are man. Enzo's a good guy. But Big E's right. If ya need anything, and I mean ANYTHING, like a listening ear or whatever don't hesitate to hit us up. We're your teammates for life now.

Cass smiled at the men's excitement and concern for him and his partner's health. Rolling his eyes at Big E's text he typed back a response that all three men would receive at once.

I'm hangin' in there Xave. Thanks 4 asking. Biggie, I ain't making no promises on Gotch, but you're all safe. Why the hell would I attack my own teammates? That'd be real sawft. And that's real nice of ya to say Kofi. 'Preciate ur concern 4 me and Zo. I'm just glad it weren't any worse than a concussion. Twisted 2 be thankful 4 that but I'll take it over a broken neck any day of the year.

He fired off the text, making a mental note as he did to check in with his best friend as soon as he could. Zo needed his rest. If he could sleep at all with the monster headache he must be enduring right about now-

His cell beeped and he glanced down at the softly glowing screen.

Xavier: Good ta hear, buddy. We're gonna have a blast! I just know it. What happened tonight was a real case of some serious BOOTY. Buuuut...unicorn magic and the power of positive thinking will prevail against this unexpected dark turn in the Rainbow Trail!

Big E: AWWW YEAAAH! What X said.

Kofi: Three cheers for Big Cass, our honorary unicorn brother!

Xavier: YASSSS. THREE CHEERS FOR THE CAPTAIN!

Cass felt a smile curve his lips, eyelids growing heavier as the draining emotional trauma from the moment Enzo's head hit the mat lulled him to surrender to sleep. After seeing the energetic trio's capslock cheers he tapped in one final message.

Thanks guys. I needed that. But I'm just about to sack out. C u guys later.

GOOD NITE CAP! :) - Xavier

Sleep well man! - Big E

Stay positive, fellow unicorn brother from another mother! C u real soon. - Kofi

Before he took his friends advice Cass shot a quick text to Enzo, yawning profusely. Exhaustion clamored to pull him into sweet oblivion but he stubbornly fought it off.

He placed his phone on his stomach, the only light source in the darkened room.

Maybe Zo was already asleep and here he was possibly disturbing the smaller man, just because he needed to know his crazy friend was going to be okay.

His fears were erased when a simple text popped onto his screen not five minutes later.

Enzo: Heard you was teamin' with the New Day. Happy 4 u, bambino. Don't worry 'bout me. Realest guys in the room's gonna be yous 4 tomorrow nite in the middle of that ring. And I'll be countin' the days till we're a unit again and them tag belts r around our waists where they belong. Stay safe, not sawft.

Cass hummed at Enzo's response. That was all the encouragement he needed.

Until Zo made a full recovery, every match the big man wrestled from then on would be dedicated to his injured tag team partner.

He fell asleep to the reassurance of how much pain he could legally put the Vaudevillians through with the New Day's help.

Because Enzo was family. And those two uppity strongmen had messed with his family.

Both Gotch and English would learn the hard way no one messed with his family without getting severely punished.

And thanks to this arrangement with Xavier, Big E and Kofi he could start on Monday Night RAW.

In less than twenty four hours he could begin serving up retribution.

He'd do anything for Enzo.

Because he knew Zo would do the same for him in a heartbeat.

For family, there wasn't anything he wasn't capable of, no limit to what he was willing to do when they were threatened or got hurt.

And the Vaudevillians had just moved right into his crosshairs.