November 6th 2017, WWE Raw, Finn Balor vs Samoa Joe…
It was a painful crash onto the steel ramp… and a decade ago, it wouldn't have warranted such an angry reaction from the audience at Samoa Joe.
But they were booing him louder than a heel character had been booed… and Amanda was struggling to pull herself up.
She did with Finn's help after he had beaten up Joe, the Irishman steadying his injured girlfriend and Amanda rubbing the back of her head as Finn held her closer to him.
To her surprise, Amanda wasn't even crying… and the fans found themselves with a new kind of respect for the brunette after a horrible blow like that.
Finn would've gone through with the rest of the fight with Joe… but instead, he guided Amanda to the backstage area.
And that told Joe just how badly she was hurt.
But unknown to them, Sachael had been watching.
And she didn't like it one bit…
Present time…
Amanda was in the trainer's office, her back having been checked over.
"Okay, how are you not screaming and crying? Because I know you're hurting, love." Finn responded as he lightly rubbed the back of her head.
"I don't know… you're right, I'm hurting. But as for expressing it by screaming and crying… maybe the adreadline blocked that out. Damn… Vince is not gonna be pleased when Raw airs at 8 in Stamford." Amanda replied. "Joe just can't toss me like a ragdoll, I'm gonna go give him a piece of my mind!" She responded, trying to stand up but Finn stopped her when he noticed something she hadn't.
An outline of two tiny hands around her right wrist.
"Finn?" Amanda replied, Finn turning back to her.
"I think your old friend is here…" Finn responded, Amanda realising it.
"Sachael's blocking out the need to scream." Amanda replied before the door opened and they saw Joe walk in.
"You sure saved me the trouble of hunting you down!" Finn responded before he stood up, walked over and punched Joe in the face. "Don't ever put your hands on Mandy again!" He yelled as Joe stumbled back.
"She pulled you out of the way, that was her choice!" Joe responded angrily.
"Va te faire foutre, Joe! C'était déplacé!" Amanda replied after standing up, Joe turning startled as Amanda rarely spoke in French or Irish unless truly angry.
"Uncalled for?! You deserved it, you little hussy! You shouldn't have been sleeping with him in the first place!" Joe responded angrily, Amanda charging at him with a scalpel but Finn caught her by wrapping his arms around her waist and dragged her back into the trainer's office after she had cut Joe and had dropped the scalpel once Joe left.
Finn pulled Amanda into his lap, Amanda resting her head on his right shoulder as she felt the full effect of the pain.
"So much for an unbreakable friendship with him." Amanda responded.
"Hey, Seth didn't like us being together at first but he calmed down about it… if Joe won't, what kind of friend is he?" Finn replied before they kissed.
On instinct alone, the 27 year old attempted to straddle the 36 year old as their kiss turned more passionate… but Amanda cried out in pain as she had jarred her back and Finn held her closer as tears ran down her face.
"It's okay, love, it's gonna be okay." Finn responded in a gentle tone, managing to comfort Amanda.
And that was an indication to them that Sachael had left the room.
Sachael walked around unseen and followed Joe into his locker room.
"Everything was just fine and then they had to go and get intimate with each other…" Joe muttered.
"I find them cute together, actually." Sachael responded, Joe turning around as he heard her but couldn't see her.
And that rattled Joe… but he wouldn't admit it.
At the hotel after the event, Finn helped Amanda pull her coat, Balor Club Worldwide tank top and bra off… and saw the angry looking bruises on her lower back.
"How bad do they look?" Amanda questioned.
"I've seen worse… but I don't like seeing these on you, it hurts me to see you hurting, Darlin'." Finn responded as he helped Amanda strip down and headed to the restroom, starting up a bubble bath as Amanda took her makeup off, clipped her shoulder length hair up and walked into the restroom.
Finn helped her into the clawfoot tub and stripped down before he got in it himself and held Amanda close to him, his arms around her as he lightly ran the washcloth along her body… and Amanda knew why he was doing this.
She had done this for him last year when he had hurt his shoulder.
Amanda nuzzled her face into Finn's torso and Finn lightly kissed her on the top of her head.
"No one's gonna hurt you anymore, love... I'll always protect you." Finn whispered as he felt Amanda's aggravated muscles unknot and felt her calming down.
Once both were out of the bathtub and drying off, Finn had drained the water and helped Amanda finish drying off before she was in comfy pajamas and had let her hair down… Finn had dried off and gotten into pajamas before both finished their nighttime routine.
Amanda was asleep after taking Advil to soothe her injured back… and Finn pulled the covers over them, making sure Amanda wasn't tucked in too tightly before he closed his eyes.
Finn wasn't sure where Sachael was at the moment but he knew one thing about her.
Sachael trusted him enough to leave him alone with her childhood friend.