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*February 2003*
"I've got some really, really bad news."
Amy looked up abruptly as Jay entered the room. He'd stopped by to spend the night with her at her house, as he had tomorrow off. She, on the other hand, had some announcing to do for the Sunday Night Heat tapings.
She frowned as she met her boyfriend's gaze. He looked so very serious - grave, even. Rarely did Jay Reso don such an expression on his normally merry face. So, she braced herself, knowing that, whatever he was about to tell her, it was even worse than 'really, really bad,' as he'd put it.
"What is it, Jay?" she asked, puzzled.
The blond man shook his head and sat beside her on the couch. He leaned forward, holding his hand in his hands as he spoke.
"Adam's neck is broken... He needs spinal fusion surgery."
Amy's entire body went completely numb. And then, she felt absolutely frozen to her very core.
'No,' she thought. 'Not him!' This was the absolute worst news she had ever heard in her life. Hell, she would rather have heard that the tall blond man was reconciling with and remarrying Torrie than hear this! She couldn't believe it.
"Oh, my God..." she breathed. "Jay, are you - are you sure?"
He nodded.
"I didn't just come straight here from the arena - I... I visited Adam first," he admitted. "He sounded so funny over the phone when he said he needed to see me - so I went."
Amy was breathing a slight bit faster as she listened. She blinked with emotion, worried she would start crying right now. But she didn't - not just yet.
"He just went to see a doctor," Jay continued. "And he has some ruptured discs in his neck. They told him he needs a two-level fusion."
"Right," the redhead said softly, knowing every last little detail of what the tall blond man was enduring. She herself still wasn't sure exactly when she'd be cleared to return to the wrestling ring. She shuddered at Jay's last words, knowing full well that if Adam had needed a *three*-level fusion, that would have been it - his career would have been over.
"When?" she asked in an oddly calm voice. She knew exactly what the tall Canadian was going through. She felt horrible that, in essence, he was pretty much going through it alone. Yes, Jay had just come back from visiting him, but Adam didn't have anyone there by his side all the time... Someone who could offer him tender, loving support and encouragement - boost his spirits. Damn it, how she wished to be able to play that role.
"Well, of course he wants it done sooner rather than later," Jay replied. His expression remained somber as he shook his head. "It's crazy... This sort of thing is getting to be almost... dare I say *routine*." He ran both hands through his long blond hair.
Amy kept her head down, still terrified of tears coming. Yes, she was still deeply and madly in love with Adam Copeland... But he was her boyfriend's best friend - what would Jay think if she broke down and sobbed over his *best friend*?
"Anyway," the Canadian continued, "Adam's having the surgery on March tenth."
The redhead nodded, that date echoing through her head. March tenth... March tenth... She'd had her own neck surgery in April of last year. It was damn eerie that the man with whom she was so deeply, yet secretly, in love, would be having the exact same procedure just shy of a year after her own ordeal.
"I... I want to go visit him." She barely realized the words had left her until Jay nodded.
"Of course, sweetie."
Amy was silent for a beat, her thoughts consumed with Adam. How her heart went out to the tall blond man. Again, she wished she were with him right at that very moment, to comfort him - to give him nothing but loving support.
Before Jay could make a move toward her, she rose calmly and retreated to the hotel bathroom. Once inside,
the redhead closed and locked the door behind her, her back pressed against it. She sank to her knees as the
tears finally broke free, silent sobs wracking her entire body.