The elevator doors pinged open and Seth hobbled out onto his floor. Sleep starting to get the better of him, his eyes drooping as he tried to register which way his room was.

"Night buddy" Roman called as the doors shut behind him. He shuffled down the hallway towards his room, craving his bed more than ever. His crutch wedged firmly under his arm aiding his every step. As he grew closer to his door he was aware of a figure hovering outside. A feeling of dread washed over him as he recognized the man in an instant.

Dean stood casually, leaning against the doorframe to his hotel room. The sole of one scruffy black boot pressed flat up against the wall while his fingers drummed idly on his knee. He wore those same old tatty blue jeans with the rip in the knee, the complete contrast to the obviously brand new shiny black leather jacket. His eyes, deep blue, turned slowly to fix on Seth's presence, brushing back the messy light brown curls out his eyes, he pushes himself off the wall. A large duffle bag sat at his feet. Seth's heart stumbling inside his chest, this was not what he needed right now.

"Shouldn't you be in Minnesota?" Seth passed comment. Hobbling closer producing his card key out of his back pocket. Dean picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder.

"Shouldn't you be at home resting?" he replied his deep gravelly voice prying. Holding the door open for Seth as he limped over the threshold.

"Don't start. I'm tired" he muttered. Seth's overnight bag sat at the edge of the double bed in the centre of the neat, tidy hotel room. "You could have just called y'know"

"And would you have picked up if I did?" Dean asked. A pang of guilt spread through Seth knowing full well he wouldn't have. The door shut behind them with a soft clunk.

"Sorry. Just been busy." Seth lied. He hopped over to the bed. Leaning his crutch against the wall he tosses his cell phone onto the night stand before collapsing awkwardly onto the bed. Sweet instant relief as his back hit the mattress.

Dean snorted "Doing what? Not like you can go very far." He dropped his bag, kicking it under a small wooden desk that lay to the side of the room while perching himself on the edge. He eyed his friend warily crossing his arms.

Seth stared up at the ceiling, his fists resting on his forehead, feeling Dean's gaze on him. Trying to ignore the warm comforting sensation filling his chest knowing that he was here. "What do you want Dean?" he asked, albeit a little more sharply than he intended.

He shrugged "Can't I take an impromptu trip across country to see my buddy?"

"No" Seth snapped

"Hungry?" Dean continued, ignoring him. "I'm gonna order room service"

"You're paying for it" Seth muttered. Dean mocks his voice in a high pitch squeak making Seth hum a small laugh. He sat up, dragging his body further up the mattress. Leaning back, he came to rest against the wooden headboard taking in his first real look at the man since his arrival. Dean was studying the glossy laminated room service menu, scratching his unshaven chin he pursed his lips as he decided what to order. He looked as tired as Seth felt. Heavy dark circles drooped from under his eyes. His hair looking like its usual unkempt hot mess. And the way he held himself up, shoulders drooping, almost like his hunched over screamed exhaustion.

Seth gaze scanned over to the TV. The small alarm clock that sat above it flashed 11.45pm. It was late, and he really should be in Minnesota right now. Smackdown Live was being taped tomorrow and it was a nearly 7-hour drive to get there from here. Seth shook his head. He was making good progress with his lack of communication with the man (or so he thought). Then tonight of all nights he turns up at his room ruining everything. 'Damn it, Dean, you really shouldn't be here.'

"Did Roman send you?" Seth asked. Recalling the conversation he had with Roman earlier. Dean's eyes flicked up. Lips, still pursed, formed into a smile. "He told me not to come" he admitted

A small amused smile twitched the corner of Seth's lips, he yanked out the hair tie letting his long wavy black hair fall to his shoulders. Running two hands through his mane ruffling it aggressively. Why was he not surprised? "Nice to see you took his advice." Deans smirk became a full-blown grin. A row of pearly whites shone over the menu. If he was honest he wouldn't have expected anything else from the Lunatic.

The brace wrapped around his knee was starting to get uncomfortable, the tightness of its plastic casing digging into his leg. He fumbled with it, finally releasing it. There came a brief moment of relief until Seth flexed the joint un-aided. The pain instantly shot through his leg and he hissed, sucking a pained breath through his clenched teeth making Dean flinch.

"You ok?" Dropping the menu to the desk he was at his side in an instant.

"Yeah, just aches." he flexed his knee slowly.

"Where does it hurt?" he sat cautiously on the bed next to Seth. His hand hovering just over his knee. As if he was going to touch him. Seth tried to move away quickly. The sudden jerk just brought more pain, enlisting a yelp and another hiss from the man. Dean rolled his eyes "Quit being a baby. I ain't gonna hurt ya."

He took a hold of his leg stretching it out over his lap. His hands wrap around his injured knee with the most surprising tenderness that he didn't think Dean could possess. He began to rub soothing circles around his tired sore muscles, massaging and gently kneading the sore joint. The heat of his touch spread like wildfire across Seth's body. It actually felt nice, comforting. Seth bit the inside of his lip trying to suppress the burning desire to let out a sigh. So hard in fact he could taste the coppery tang across his tongue of his own blood. "That feel ok?" he asked in an almost whisper, making the whole deed much more intimate than it should be. Seth nodded, afraid that if he opened his mouth that gasp would escape. There was silence that stretched out between them like there was something unspoken lingering in the air.

"I need to do this Dean." Seth finally said but Dean just smiled to himself, focusing all his concentration on Seth's injury.

"You don't gotta do shit." He muttered almost amused

"I have to"

"Why?" he huffed cutting him off instantly. His gaze casting up at Seth's, his face all hard lines and serious. A side of Dean that Seth wasn't used to. "To prove yourself? You don't need to prove nothing to nobody. Your Seth freakin' Rollins! Hell, you could take that corporate suited bastard any day of the week with one leg and your hands tied behind your back"

Seth panted a confused laugh "If you're not here to talk me out of it… then, why are you here?"

Dean stopped massaging, twisting his body to look at the man. He offered him a lopsided smile, even though his eyes were still every bit as serious as they had been seconds ago. "Because you're an over emotional jack ass who makes stupid ridiculous decisions in the heat of the moment. I just wanted to make sure you weren't… making another one."

Seth's heart sank. Now he could see why he was here. It had been nearly 3 years since that night. A night that Dean still hadn't fully recovered from. A night that Seth regretted every day. Maybe he did have a tendency to over react to situations, but this was not one of them. "I got this Dean. I know what I'm doing." He said softly.

Dean shared a small soft smile and nodded "I know, I can see that." He slipped Seth's leg from off his lap pushing himself further down the mattress. Stretching his arms out behind him to use for support as he leaned back. "You and I are a lot alike Davenport. And I'd be damned if I wouldn't do the same thing. Your passion, it's what gets you in to trouble. But it's also what I love about you." 'Love?! Did – did he just say?' "So, how 'bout somthin' to eat?" Dean continued. Slapping his thighs as he pushed himself off the bed, completely disregarding the comment he made. He strolled over to the desk picking up the abandoned menu. Seth felt speechless and was only able to limply shake his head "Fine, I'll eat in the morning."

It took Seth longer than it should have to register Deans next movements. After discarding the menu, he strolled coolly to the empty side of the bed. Slipped off his leather jacket and tossed it to the floor. Rolling up his dark grey t-shirt and deposited it on top of the jacket. Surprising Seth enough to snap him out of his little day dream.

"Wh-what are you doing?" Seth asked as his brain kick back into gear. By which time Dean had sat on the edge of the bed, kicking off his boots.

"Come on, it's a long drive to Minnesota, I need to get some shut-eye before I hit the road. I'm exhausted." The bed sheets beside Seth were ripped back as Dean re-arranged the pillows and slipped under the covers. He shuffled further up the bed matching Seth's position. 'Holy shit… he's serious?!'

"No, no, no" he repeated "this isn't happening Ambrose. You are not sleeping in my bed!" he said with a bemused chuckle.

"It's ok, I'll let you be the big spoon if you want." Flashing him a big mischievous grin and a wiggle of his eyebrows. He pulled the covers up his body, coming to rest just beneath his perfectly smooth chest. It was official, this was hell. Pressing the heels of his palms into his eyes, Seth rubbed vigorously and let out a tired amused groan. 'This had to be a dream, no, a nightmare, right?' He knew deep down he should have kicked him out. Sent him on his way before he even set foot into his room. But his stubborn subconscious was over the moon he was here right now. He needed this, more than he wanted to admit. He'd missed this. This stupid goofy buffoon of a man.

Dean slid down the bed, going deeper under the covers. His messy brown curls splayed across the pillow next to Seth. His perfectly rounded shoulders and smooth back facing him. Seth stared dumbfounded as he watched them bob up and down as Dean shrugged. "It jus' be couple hours, honest." he yawned "I'll be gone before you even wake up" he pulled the covers over his shoulder and let out a tired sigh.

That thought shouldn't have saddened Seth. He didn't want him to go. Seth chuckled with no hint of amusement. "You're an idiot."

Dean rolled onto his back to look up at Seth "I know, but I'm your idiot." he flashed him yet another dazzling smile. 'No… You're not' Seth sighed as his thoughts haunted him. Seth leaned over to the night stand and retrieved his phone. Debating whether to rat Dean out to Roman. But instead decided to check his social media accounts. Having him here was kind of nice, just the two of them. Roman would only enter Big Brother mode and complain about how stupid Dean was for turning up here. Which he totally was.

They lay like that side by side for a moment or two. Deans arms coming up to rest on his pillow. The back of his head lying in his knitted fingers staring up at the celling. He fidgeted trying to get comfier, his face screwing up adorably as he dug his shoulders into the mattress. His one hand releasing his head and falling to his side brushing softly against Seth's. Dean didn't even acknowledge the touch nor the movement, like it was completely normal for him. To Seth however, it was something unmissable. He was unable to concentrate on anything else. His bare skin touching his, the warmth he felt from it, how right it felt. He knew if Dean wasn't going to pull away then he should have. But he didn't.

"Why the silent treatment Seth?" Dean asked unexpectedly, surprising Seth. His eyes filled with what Seth could almost mistake for sadness, blinking up at the man from his horizontal position. "I mean I haven't heard anything from you since San Antonio. I thought we were -y'know- brothers again."

"We are – I just… got a lot on my mind."

"Yeah, I bet. You'll get through this. This isn't the end buddy." Seth let out a small gasp of surprise as Dean's hand, shaded by the bed covers, came up and rested on his leg. Patting him caringly, friendly.

"It's not just–" Seth pushed his hand away "Dean you really shouldn't be here. I think you should go"

"Go?!" he questioned almost sounding hurt "I just got here" he rolled onto his side and propped himself up on his elbow.

"I mean it Dean. You can't be here right now."

"Well, I am. So, deal with it." He offered him a cocky smirk before rolling back over. Presenting Seth with the back of his head.

Seth let out an exasperated irritated sigh. "Fine" he muttered pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and middle finger and screwing his eyes shut. He wasn't up for playing nicely with stubborn Ambrose. He pulled his t-shirt up and over his head and tossed it to the floor next to his crutch. Wrestling with the bed covers while still sitting on them he slid underneath resting his head on the pillow. He too lay with his back towards Dean staring at the wall opposite. He leaned across the night stand, dropping his pone back onto the plastic surface before switching off the light. Plunging the room into darkness. "But when your girlfriend finds out, I'm not going to back you up." A little more spitefulness added to that word than Seth originally intended. But it was too late.

A tenseness spread through the air that Seth instantly regretted. 'Me and my big mouth!' That same uneasy feeling he felt that night in San Antonio, the combination of anger and guilt surged through him with a mixture of something else. Something Seth couldn't quite name. A feeling, a terrible guttural feeling that Seth would quite happily ignore. He felt the bed move and dip beside him as Dean rolled over. "Seth. I – I was gonna tell you" his confession came as a whisper through the darkness.

"It doesn't matter" Seth lied. Pulling the sheets further up his body. Right now, all he wanted was sleep. There was another movement and something warm and heavy lay across his body. The lights flicked back on stinging Seth's eyes momentarily. Dean retracted himself from the light switch to loom over him, his hand pressed to Seth's shoulder for leverage.

"Are- are you mad at me?" Seth ignored his piercing gaze staring down at him and the warming pleasant tingle from his touch. Trying to focus all his attention on the annoyance he felt due to him turning on the light. All he wanted was sleep. Seth shrugged him off and Dean rolled back on his side of the bed propping himself up on his elbow again "Seth come on, I'm sorry. I didn't think I would need to tell you, it's not like it's a secret" Dean scoffed. That much was true. Dean was a regular feature of the WWE's own reality TV show Total Divas. Where he and Renee displayed their relationship, there beautiful house in Vegas and there damn cute bulldog to the entire world.

"Whatever. At least she knows about me." There was another moment of silence that made Seth feel slightly uncomfortable. Dean looked sheepish. His eyes darting away as a nervous hand ruffled his shaggy brown locks. Disbelief rose in Seth. "…Right?"

"She -erm- doesn't know about you either." he finally admitted

Seth snorted, rolling over to stare at the man. "So, all this time we've been calling, texting. She's never once asked who it was?"

"I told her… you were Roman"

The feeling of the entire world came crashing down on him "Are you fucking kidding me?! You lied to her?"

"Please Seth, don't be mad–"

"MAD?!" he yelped angrily "I feel like I'm your cheap one-night stand right now!" That warmth he was ignoring in his chest started to burn hotter, spreading further across his body. That idea should not have excited him. "In fact, I'm not even sure what I should be angrier at!"

"I'll make it right."

"Do what you want I don't even care. Carry on lying, don't tell me shit, whatever. I'm going to sleep." Seth rolled over again to switch off the light

"Come on Seth don't–" A forceful hand pulled his shoulder stopping his movement, pulling him down to the mattress. His back flush against the hotel sheets. Deans questioning baby blues staring down at him again "Is this why you've been ignoring me? Because I never told you?"

"No." Seth's turn to advert his gaze.

"But you have been ignoring me." He didn't need to say a word, Dean knew. His face hardened as his brow furrowed in confusion, hurt. "Why?" His soft eyes searching Seth's for some kind of sign, some tell. But Seth didn't want this conversation right now. He scrubbed his face with his hands, too tired for this crap. Sighing he rests his balled-up fist atop his forehead tensing his jaw.

"Can we not do this now? I'm tired. This can wait 'till morning"

"No, it can't! I've been losing my fucking mind over this. What have I done? Do you really hate me for not telling you?"

"I don't hate you Dean. In fact…" Seth wet his lips as he felt the last of the anger drain from him. His tongue darting across as he rattled out a shaky breath. Avoiding Deans sad gaping stare, he screwed his eyes shut. "…it's the complete opposite." His heart hammering in his chest as the realization that he was about to confess all to him. Seth opened his eyes. Dean was now kneeling beside him. His eyes wide, confused. Looking like a little lost puppy. Seth sat up, resting against the headboard. Beating his head softly against the wood. "That night at the bar," he continued. "That was when I found out about Renee. The fact we talked nearly every day and you never once mentioned her. It came as a shock"

"I didn't mean – I'm sorry" Dean looked away guiltily. Scratching the back of his head again.

"That's not it Dean." Seth offered a small sad smile, his gaze dropped down to his lap, his balled up joined fingers resting there. "I wasn't looking for anything that night between us. I had no intentions of starting up where we left off. But when I found out about Renee, it hurt. Hurt me harder than I ever thought it would. The fact that you had moved on and I… I haven't."

Dean stared at the man. The look of bewilderment etched across his face. "What are you trying to say Seth?" he asked softly.

What was he trying to say? Seth clammed up, his lips coming together in a hard line. He felt ridiculous saying it out loud, and even stupider thinking it 'I love you'. Adverting his eyes, looking anywhere he could that wasn't at Dean. He couldn't let him know the truth, what good would it do? "Are - are you jealous?"

Seth's gaze snapped up at him in shock "What? No! That's not –"

"Your upset because she got there before you did?" Dean asked sharply.

"Why are you saying this?"

"I'm just trying to understand why my friend would completely ignore me for the best part of a month" he replied almost angrily. His brow creasing inwards in a half frown.

"Because you were flirting with me Dean." Deans eyes widened reminding Seth of a deer caught in headlights. "You made me think that there could be something more between us–"

"I'm sorry. Flirting?!" Dean questioned angrily cutting him off mid-sentence. His soft tone becoming a lot harsher "I was not flirting"

"You were all over me in San Antonio Dean. How was I supposed to think otherwise?" Seth whined. Feeling even more embarrassed. The red heat flushing to his cheeks the longer the man stared at him. Maybe he had got it wrong… again.

"you're fucking serious. You really thought that I was–" Dean laughed a hard-hearty guffaw. The red warmth growing in Seth's cheeks was replaced by the slow-burning anger the longer he laughed. It travelled up his body like lava bubbling inside a volcano. Slow and deadly. There he was pouring out his heart to the man and he was laughing in his face!

"Well, maybe I should ask Renee!" His anger erupted from him. His unforgiving furious tone surprising himself "See what she thinks abo–"

"You leave her out of this!" Dean snapped instantly, glaring at Seth. His face contorted into a scowl at just the mere mention of her name. "She can't know" he growled as he rolled and fell off the bed. But with his cat-like reflexes was back on his feet pacing. One hand pulling his hair by the roots, the other spread across his collar bone, his fingers tapping at it rhythmically.

"Why not?!" Seth's anger cracking through again as he watched him pace back and forth "I don't get why it's such a big secret"

"Because she knows Seth!" he snapped pausing mid-pace to yell at him "She knows what your betrayal did to me. All the shit you put me through, all the heartache you caused. She's had to pick me up and dust me off more times than I care to imagine because of you!" Dean turned to the window to gaze out at the dull city night scape "She knows that I loved you" he muttered.

"And what? Are you worried she won't let you talk to me? Jesus. Never pictured you as an "under the thumb" kinda guy" Seth snorted. He knew the comment was childish and juvenile, but he couldn't help himself.

"Only because she knows what a heartless bastard you are! How you'd turn your back on your brothers." His temper starting to flare up again as he turned to face him.

"And why did I do that Dean?! That was on you too!" Seth's anger matching Dean's pitch perfectly, as his memories took him back to that night in that motel room. Bringing up that cascade of emotions once again. Irritated by the whole situation he huffed and muttered: "I'm starting to see a pattern here."

"Oh, here we go again." He flailed his arms in mock surprise "Poor Seth Rollins, blaming everyone else for his actions but himself. Dean made me turn of my family, Triple H made me do his bidding, blah blah blah. How about you man up for once and admit what's really going on here!"

"Oh yeah. What's that?"

"you're jealous!" Seth scoffed, muttering 'Oh come on' under his breath "Your jealous that we're happy. You're trying to sabotage this relationship, you can't have me so no one else can, is that it? – That's why you made up this little sob story to make me feel bad for you. Well, I don't! This is all on you."

"Your ridiculous" Seth rolled his eyes

"It's the truth and you know it!" Dean growled.

"Truth?!" Seth spat, his anger now reaching fever pitch "You can't even tell your damn girlfriend the truth! Besides you're the one who came looking for me!"

"I came here to make sure you weren't being an over-emotional jackass!"

"I don't need you of all people coming to look after me! Didn't have you there the first time, don't need you now!" Seth crossed his arms, blatantly lying to himself.

"Fine!" Dean laughed irritably, waving his arms in protest "Fuck your knee up. In fact, fuck both of them up, ruin your career. Go Ahead! Just don't come crying to me when you do."

Seth seethed, his jaw clenching "Oh, trust me you would not be number one on my list Ambrose! At least I would tell you if I was in a relationship"

"Maybe you should get one Seth." Dean chuckled threateningly. The man's emotions changing quicker than a traffic light. As if he was enjoying this little back and forth between them. "Then you would get some action, help get rid of that boner you get every time you see me." A big shit eater grin spreading across his face

"Fuck you!" Seth roared at him. If he still had his phone in his hand no doubt he would have launched it across the room at him.

"You… Wish." He murmured cool and deliberately as he swaggers away from the window.

This man was infuriatingly exhausting. He needed something to get back at him. He wasn't going to let Dean win. Hell, even if it wasn't true something to provoke a reaction. When inspiration struck. Something that Seth truly wished for. "I know exactly why you haven't told her." He tried to come across cool and bold. But was pretty sure it came out sounding like the complete opposite, which only seemed to peak Dean's interest. Raising an eyebrow and tensing his jaw he encouraged Seth to continue. "You knew what you were doing that night. You knew exactly what buttons to push, what words to say. Because… you get off on this." Dean's eyes widened. His annoying smug amused expression all but drained from his face. A new wave of courage washed over Seth as he continued "I mean you are the one who came to my hotel room, alone. Wanted to spend the night with me… in my bed–"

"You shut the hell up!" The amused smirk crossing Seth's lips only adding to his annoyance. Just the reaction he was looking for.

"Why? The truth too much for you Dean-o? Admit it. That's why we have our little private chats. Why you're here right now. Why you didn't retaliate after we kissed at Survivor Series…" Dean scowled at the floor, lips pursed into a tight pucker. "You like having me as your dirty little secret… You want me just as much as I want you."

Seth felt pretty good about his little retaliation. But his confidence slowly fizzled out as the uneasy silence between them stretched out. Dean didn't say a word. He cracked his knuckles as he continued to glare at the carpet, his jaw physically clenching and relaxing. Dean was a wizard on the mic, he always knew what to say. He was used to the enraged, firing on all cylinder with one hell of a comeback Ambrose. But this angry silence was new. Seth had clearly struck a nerve, something that took him by surprised and he didn't like it.

Seth cleared his throat awkwardly looking away "Dean I–"

"You really think that little of me Rollins?" his voice dark, calm sending a chill down Seth's spine. His eyes rose from the floor to stare at him. His glare matching his tones intensity perfectly. Reminding Seth of the Deadman more than the Lunatic Fringe. He bent down and scooped up his t-shirt and began to dress.

"I didn't mean–"

"You think that I would throw everything away… for you?" His shirt was now back on as he stomped his boots onto his feet "I finally found someone who makes all that pain, that heartache that you caused go away. And not you or anyone can destroy that!" He was yelling now. As he ripped his leather jacket from the ground and stormed over to his bag yanking it harshly onto his shoulder. Grabbing the door handle, he pulled the entry open so aggressively he almost ripped it off its hinges. "Y'know," he glanced over his shoulder at Seth, that aggressive snarl curling his lips "we aren't all cheating scumbags like you..." He spat with such venom it made Seth physically shudder "…At least my dick isn't all over the internet!"

The door slammed, shaking the walls. Dean was gone. 'What the hell just happened?' Never in a million years would Seth have expected that kind of reaction from him. And that comment. That wasn't said to gain a reaction, it was said to hurt him. And hurt him it did. Seth had gone too far. "Damn it" he muttered. Siding out of bed he hopped across the room to the door pulling it open. "Dean?" he called but was just met with an empty hotel hallway. Not a sight nor sound of him.

Seth was pretty sure that this time he had lost him for good.