Chapter 1

xXx

"WHOAH! That's a freaking glass coffee table!" Karlee shrieked from her position in the hall of Dean's home. Kaitlyn flipped her off as she carried the table into the spare bedroom where all of Karlee's stuff was being kept. Layla and Roman came in next, balancing the large flat screen TV between them, making the odd notion of pretending to drop it.

"That gets broken and I'll kick you ass into next week!" Karlee warned. She heard Dean chuckle as he came to sit beside her on the large armchair.

"Bored sweety?" He asked in a soothing tone. Karlee nodded and let his hand delicately touch her cheek. Such a small touch yet the surge of excitement she felt was unreal.

After being discharged from the hospital just hours before, the red haired bombshell had no option but to sit and watch as all her belongings were moved into Dean's house. Their house. She still hadn't gotten around to actually making plans so instead everything was getting piled in a spare room.

"I have to go and see Vince on Monday but they're only three hours away. You okay on your own?" He asked, playing with her fringe absent-mindedly. Karlee nodded.

"But could I not just come with you? I mean I'll be okay by then." Dean smiled down at her.

"Babe you just got your wound stapled and stitched up. I really don't want you to have to go through the stress of a car journey and having to go back to work." She smiled at his sweet words.

"I'll be fine. Plus I want to see the girls and the guys. I've missed them." Dean sighed. He knew she was close to everyone she worked with and after they most of her close friends ended up on the road, she never got a chance to see them.

"I'll see what the rest of us think. It's going to be a group decision, take it or leave it." Karlee groaned.

"Fine. Just help me outta this godamn chair." After being in a bed for the best part of a month, her knee injury had returned and she was finding it hard to walk, especially since it was on the opposite side to her stab wound, making it impossible for her to put weight on anything. Just another hindrance to her return.

xXx

Ratings were plummeting ever since Karlee's accident and everyone missed their favourite Diva. Steph faced a dilemma. She was asked personally by Karlee that no one was to find out about the incident and that she would work some sort of illness into her absence storyline. Now Steph just had to figure out a way to keep Sofia in the dark about the whole thing. the last thing they needed was Sofia parading it about as if it were just a silly little fight. Just as she was on the peak of exploding, the door to her office opened and in walked her husband Paul.

"You okay sweetheart? You look a little tired."

"Yeah, I can't think of what to do with the whole Shield situation. We a a company need them back but we can't afford to put Karlee at risk." Paul nodded as he pulled his phone out.

"I'll call Dean and try and sort something out." Steph gave him a warm smile as he typed in his name and pressed the call button, waiting to see if their ratings problems could be solved. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

Dean helped Karlee shuffle through into the kitchen to join the rest of her friends who were all chugging beers around the breakfast bar. Karlee loved that about the house, a lovely big kitchen for socializing. Dean lifted her onto a stool and stood behind her with his arms resting loosely on her thighs as his head gently took place on her shoulder.

"So you guys have to be back for RAW?" Karlee asked and to her dismay they all nodded. Dean had requested a few months leave for both him and Karlee but they weren't allowed it. After explaining what had happened and why Karlee couldn't wrestle, they offered them paid leave plus a week off for their friends and a counsellor. Something of which Karlee had taken up on only to figure out that the man was a complete creep who seemed more interested on what was on her chest than anything else.

"I can't wait till we are all back on the road together. You are coming back right?" Kaitlyn asked, getting worried all of a sudden. Karlee let out a nervous nod.

"Yup, besides Steph was keeping me away until my match with Sofia so all I need to do is wait out a teeny bit longer and then go back and kick ass."

Dean excused himself as he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and as soon as he saw the name on the screen, he knew they were wanting something.

"Hello? Ambrose speaking."

"Hey Dean, Its Paul here. I need to speak to you about your return." Dean sighed and listened to what else he had to say.

"Ratings are plummeting and we can't make them better without the Shield. All six of you."

"You know I need to be there to look after Karlee, plus I'm meeting with Vince on Monday so why the phonecall?"

"We want you back on Monday for a match. Take Karlee with you." Dean's mind immediately switched to the one woman they needed to stay away from. Sofia.

"She better not be there!" Dean warned. Vince sauntered in at that moment, a surprised look on his face as she saw Steph sitting on the couch and Paul dealing with
his agitated talent.

"We just need you back for a match or two, nothing much and we can maybe film a promo with Karlee too?" His voice was hopeful and he wasn't normally this cooperative, especially with a demanding wrestler but with the accident Karlee had, he didn't have much option.

"I don't know boss, she's still in pain and I don't think she wants everyone knowing what happened to her." Paul sighed.

"You know we have to do what's best for business... Don't you? Plus I thought everyone knew what had happened" He reminded him, trying to use his job to encourage his return.

"Trust me, I know that but airing that will put Karlee in a permanent pity place. It doesn't get put into writing unless she agrees to it. Got it? The roster all knows what happened, minus Sofia." Dean was putting Karlee's wellbeing on his priority list as number one. Although thinking about it, she was always number one

"Fine. Steph can arrange plans with you when you get here on Monday but as far as everyone knows, ages severely ill with the stomach flu and can't compete. Just make sure she's physically fit to be here. Got it?"

"Deal. See you Monday."

And with that, Dean hung up. He could hear Karlee giggling along to one of the stories Roman and Seth were telling her. That was his favourite sound in the world: Hearing her laugh. He put his phone back into his jeans pocket and wandered through to the kitchen to find them all crowded around the white chocolate fountain. He reddened slightly as they had found one of his weak points.

"We thought we would set this up for Karlee so she had something to do whilst you worried about her. We even bought the right chocolate." Karlee squeaked as Seth threw a strawberry at her and she dipped it into the flowing lake.

"Well guys, we gotta go and get packed for tomorrow night." Roman clapped his hands together as the girls grabbed their coats and bags.

"Well we'll meet you there. About 4?" Karlee grinned, unaware that Dean had been on the phone arranging an extra little meeting for the next evening. Everyone smiled and nodded, giving Karlee kisses and hugs before whispering in Dean's ear that everything would be safe for her the following night. Layla and Kaitlyn already had Sofia under control and out of sight so all that left was making sure that when superstars came to see her, she wouldn't get too stressed out.

"See you tomorrow gorgeous. Remember, No heels!" Layla called after her. The door shut and the couple let out a deep breath. Damn, Karlee was going to miss her heels

"Finally. Peace." Dean sighed as he wrapped his arms around Karlee and kissed her forehead.

xXx

Well... they're back... I love this couple but I need to find a new 'Karlee' If you picture a celebrity whilst picturing Karlee, send me a submission with her name. Just can't seem to find my perfect fit!

Lots of reviews guys! Just lets me know if its worth carrying on with! And If I get a decent few, I may even stick up chapter 2...

Amanda Xo