90
The next day Candy and Slade were sitting backstage in the Retribution locker room, preparing for the show. All the other members were out chatting with other wrestlers, so the room was unusually quiet. Candy sat studying Slade’s face as he got in the zone to head out to the ring. Not sure why, but she felt the need to study every inch of him. Something felt off and she couldn’t put her finger on it, so she chalked it up as baby hormones.
He wrapped the sports tape around his wrist, glancing up without lifting his chin. He went back to wrapping his wrist and shook his head. He knew she was worried but had never seen Candy act this way. She was a daredevil in the ring and was virtually fearless, so it made no sense for her nervousness.
“Sprinkles. I’m going to be fine. Gage and I have been in a cage match before.”
“I know. I just have this odd feeling tonight.”
Slade stood up and pulled her into his arms. “After tonight is over, we'll be on the first flight out to start our honeymoon. I think it’s just the dark theme that Davis chose for this show tonight that has everyone on edge. It’s not just you. Colt has been acting weird tonight too.”
She shrugged as she ran her hands over his chest. “I guess you’re right.”
“Slade Logan! Five minutes to showtime!” someone yelled from the hall.
“Walk me to the stage.”
They walked hand in hand to the stage curtain, waiting for Slade’s intro music to begin. Gage took a little longer during his stage entrance, allowing Slade some time to get in the right headspace. He bounced around just outside the stage entrance, bobbing his head and punching at the air to gain momentum.
Even Candy couldn’t deny Slade was on fire, and the match hadn’t even started yet.
As his music rumbled over the arena, he leaned over to Candy. “Kiss for luck?”
“Sure. But you don’t need luck, remember? You have me.” Candy kissed him. “Go kick his butt, baby.”
Slade winked. “Damn right. I’ll bring that title back for you.”
“I’ll be right here when you get back. Be safe. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
After Slade went to the ring, Candy went and sat beside Isis near the monitors, set up backstage for the talent to watch the show. Isis looked just as scared as she was. No matter how many times someone had been in that cage, it was still dangerous. Isis’s eyes didn’t leave the TV screen when feeling her best friend reach for her hand. Isis was shaking like a leaf, and Candy sighed, knowing she felt it too.
“Are you scared too?”
Isis took a deep breath, not realizing she had been holding it in. “Terrified.”
Sahara sat down with them, and the three girls sat watching together. If people didn’t know better, they would think the girls had separated at birth with the way they were so bonded to one another.
As the match started, the girls calmed down, and things seemed to be business as usual in the ring. They started chatting and casually watching the match as it went on.
In the ring, Gage at some point ended up with a small gash over his eyebrow, and Isis cringed, seeing the blood from the superficial wound run down his face. After about twenty minutes, the match had reached a high point. Gage and Slade were fighting harder than they had in years. It was becoming one of the biggest matches in IWX history. The men looked like the stars they were and had the crowd on their feet. Taking more of a beating than anyone half their age could tolerate, they fought to the brink of exhaustion.
As time ticked by, Isis realized it was past the thirty-minute mark of the match. “It’s running pretty long. They have to be tired.”
The only way to win tonight was count-out or the last man standing. Both men looked exhausted, and everyone backstage wondered how much more they had in them.
At some point Gage had ripped open the cage door, making his way outside the ring to catch his breath. Slade was in the ring, struggling to get to his feet. Gage drug his weak body outside the cage, panting for breath. He had wedged the sports announce table into the doorway, blocking Slade’s exit so he could get a moment to plan his tactics for a win.
Finally, Slade made it to his feet.
They were pros and knew the plan, but Slade had other ideas about how to get out of the ring. He would make this match the best he could; his way. He and Gage were known for throwing the plans out the window if it meant putting on a good show, and tonight would be no different.
Slade made his way to the top of the cage, as Isis pointed at the monitor backstage. “No! Slade, don’t. Push the table out of the way and go through the door.”
Candy froze in fear. Slade was a high flier, and she knew what he was planning.
Gage was leaning over the barricade, grabbing a folding chair to head back to the ring. When he looked back, Slade wasn’t there. He slowly looked above, finding the crazy man with no fear at the top of the cage. Everyone in the stadium was yelling for him not to jump. Gage dropped the folding chair to the ground, and Slade dove toward him.
On the way down, it was clear. Slade was off his mark to land. There was no way for Gage to catch him in midair, as he had done so many times before when Slade did his high-flying moves.
Slade’s weak body from the brutal match had made him lose his strength. When he went to leap, his body shifted before his feet went into motion. Slade’s body fell twenty feet straight into the crowd barricade to his back.
Gage went over, pretending to go to hit him when he realized Slade was down on the floor, not moving.
“Gage. It’s my back. Stop the match. I’m hurt. It’s bad.”
Gage looked around to the referee and stopped the match. “He’s hurt! Get the medics!”
The whole arena was silent. The only sounds were the desperate screams coming from backstage as his terrified wife witnessed her husband laying on the floor. Candy struggled to get to the ring while Colt held her back.
“Let me go, please! Slade!”
Candy watched as her father, who was in the front row, jumped the barricade, trying to help his son-in-law. Kevin was waving over the EMTs, yelling for them to hurry. Time seemed to move in slow motion as the medics brought Slade backstage.
Once the gurney passed through the curtains, Candy ran to his side. “Baby. Talk to me.”
Slade looked up, trying to break a smile. “I’ll be okay, Sprinkles. It’s just a scratch.”
“Shut up. You’re hurt.”
Gage pulled Candy to his side. “We have to get to the hospital.”
Candy agreed, following the EMTs as they loaded Slade into the ambulance.
She attempted to climb in before the EMT stopped her. “Sorry, miss. We can’t let you ride with him.”
Candy went into full mother hen mode. “That is my husband, the father of my unborn child. Now, unless you want me to kick your ass all over this arena, I’m going!”
Candy pushed the man aside and hopped in the truck, plopping down next to her husband while reaching to hold his hand. The EMT didn’t argue. He shut the door and told the driver to get rolling.
On the way to the hospital, Candy sat and prayed while Slade closed his eyes, trying to keep calm. “I’m hurt badly, Candy. I think I broke my back.”
“It’s going to be okay. I’m here.”
The EMT was checking his legs. “Slade, can you feel this?”
“Fuck! Yes. How about you don’t do that again or you’ll feel my fist in your face?”
“Sorry. What about this?”
“Yes.” Slade held his breath.
“Can you wiggle your toes for me?”
He did.
“Good. Looks like you can move. That’s positive. We’ll get you took care of.”
***
Once at the hospital, the doctors asked Candy to wait in the waiting room until he was stable. Sitting in the waiting room, she held her head in her hands until she heard the commotion of her crew of friends, along with Davis and her family, rushing in.
She stood and ran into her mother’s arms. “They think the fall broke his back. I called his father and sisters. He asked that you or Dad keep them informed. I can’t concentrate right now.”
“Oh, sweetie, we’ll take care of it. Just give us the number. It’s going to be okay. We are here for you. You just focus on Slade right now.”
Candy started crying. “What if it killed him? I can’t live without him, Mom.”
Her father rubbed her back while kissing the top of her head. “You know the risk of this business, Pumpkin. We all take a risk in the ring.”
Colt walked over with tears streaming down his face. His best friend was hurt, and it was killing him too. Their entire career had been together. Candy went to Colt, hugging him; and they just held each other in silence. It wasn’t until that moment that she realized Colt had become like a brother to her.
“He’s tough, Candy. He’ll get through. He’ll be back out there in no time doing the same stupid shit he always does.”
Candy chuckled half-heartedly. “You’re probably right.”
A nurse stepped up to the group, asking, “Missus Logan?”
“Yes.”
“Your husband is asking for you. He’s resting.”
“How is he?” Gage asked.
“I have to let the doctor tell you details. I’m sorry.”
Sophie took Candy’s hand. “Go on, baby. We will be right here.”
Candy followed the nurse, and when she got to the room Slade was listening to the doctor.
“So, will I wrestle again?”
The doctor chuckled. “You just got here from having your back broken and you are asking me this now? Let’s see how your recovery goes first. I’ll refer you to a specialist near your home.”
Candy walked over to him, noticing they both seemed calm. “Retribution never backs down from a fight. Right, baby?”
“Right. The doctor says the fall broke my back, but it’s not too bad considering the bump I took.”
“Babe, that was no bump. That was a nightmare.”
“Eh. I guess. He was watching my match with some nurses and saw the whole thing. I’ll be out for a few months, but if I take it easy, I’ll be okay.”
The doctor wrote a prescription, and Slade looked over, watching him. “No.”
The doctor looked up at Slade, confused why he would refuse pain meds in his state. “Excuse me?”
“No drugs.”
“Son, you are on morphine right now and not feeling much pain. When that wears off, you’re going to need something. You’re lucky. This could have been much worse, but with your physical condition your body was an asset in this case.”
“I’m an addict. I’m over a year sober. I can’t.”
The doctor shook his head and looked at Candy. “He won’t be able to handle the pain when the adrenaline wears off.”
Candy looked at the doctor and went back to Slade. “Write it. I’ll administer the meds.”
“Candy, you have to work. I won’t ask you to take time off to care for me.”
“You’re not asking. I’m your wife. I only have to work for televised shows. Dad or Mom can help you when I’m gone. Don’t cross me, Slade Logan. You’re not in the position to argue here.”
Slade looked over at the doctor and laughed. “Got anything to deal with a mean pregnant wife?”
The doctor patted his hand. “Not even I have a prescription for that. Congrats on the baby. I’ll have the hospital set you up in a room. You’ll be here a couple of days and then we can send you home.”
The doctor left the room, leaving the couple in silence.
Candy kissed Slade, and a tear hit his cheek.
He smiled up at her, reaching to squeeze her hand. “Don’t worry, Sprinkles. I’ll be better in no time. When has anything ever been easy in our relationship? It’s just one more hurdle to overcome. One more kink in our handcuff line.”
Candy looked sadly down at him. Reaching over, she grabbed something from her purse. Holding the handcuffs in her hand, wiping away her tears.
“Together.” She gently attached the cuff over Slade’s wrist and then her own. They held hands as Candy closed her eyes, taking a slow, deep breath.
Slade squeezed her hand once more. As a tear trailed down his cheek, he said softly, “I always loved you, Candy. I never realized until now how important those cuffs are to both of us.”
He turned his head to her as Candy ran her hand over the cuff. “Our lifeline in a way, I guess.”
“We don’t need handcuffs for that. We have an invisible line right here,” he said, pointing to her heart.
Candy smiled and laid her hand on her belly. “And here.”
“Right. No matter what, we have each other. From now until forever.”
