"Mind if I join you?" Roman asked as he found Pandora in catering at lunch time.
"It's a free country," she answered.
He sat down and looked at the plate in front of her still full of food.
"Are you gonna eat that?" He asked.
"I'm not hungry," she answered.
He let out a small sigh.
"You skipped breakfast too. You gotta eat something," he said.
"Keeping track of me now?" She asked.
"Not keeping track of you. Just caring for you," he answered.
"Well, don't," she said.
He raised his hands up in defeat, and leaned back in the chair. He watched her as she pushed the food around with the fork.
"Where is your mind today?" He asked.
"Somewhere far away," she answered.
"Let me rephrase that. Who is on your mind today?" He asked.
She looked up into his eyes, and he held her gaze.
"I know both you and Dean know. It's not like Seth is keeping that a secret from me," she said.
He reached over and patted her hand.
"Seth is my brother. I don't wanna see him get hurt," he said.
"He's a big boy," she said somewhat annoyed.
"You're my friend too. I don't wanna see you get hurt either," he said.
"I'm a big girl," the annoyance in her tone grew higher.
He let go off her hand, and leaned back in the chair again. He felt a touch of anger and frustration roll through him. He just wanted to grab her shoulders, shake her, and scream at her that she was on a wrong and destructive path with Dolph, that Seth was right there in front of her, right there ready to be with her, but he knew it wasn't his place to tell her these things. Instead he went into papa bear mode as he often did.
"Eat!" He barked.
She looked up at him with a cold look, and pushed her plate away like a disobedient child. She folded her arms over her chest, and just stared at him like she was testing to see what he was gonna do about it.
"What's going on here?" Seth's voice sounded.
They both looked up to see him and Dean walking over to the table and sitting down.
"Miss Pandora, so nice of you to join us," Dean smiled.
Seth had to restrain himself as he sat there next to her. He just wanted to do something, touch her thigh, hold her hand, kiss her cheek, anything at all, but he knew better than that. At work they were professionals around each other.
"She's not eating," Roman filled in Seth and Dean on what was bothering him.
"You're not eating?" Seth looked at her concerned.
"I'm not hungry," she answered.
"You gotta eat," Seth said.
"Why?" She asked.
She stared him down, her eyes challenging him. He opened his mouth to answer, but was cut off before any word came out by the sound of Dolph entering catering as well.
"Hey guys, what's up?" Dolph asked as he reached their table.
"I fixed you a plate," she reached her plate of food towards him.
"Thanks, babe," he sat down and started to eat.
She looked at Roman, giving him an I-win-look, and he looked back at her with anger in his eyes. They both knew she had won this round. They would never dare continue this conversation in front of Dolph even though they all knew he was the root of the problem.
Doph quickly finished the plate, and stood up to leave again.
"Let's go, babe," he said.
She stood up and left together with Dolph.
"One of these days I swear to god I'll kill him," Seth growled in frustration.
"And we'll be right there next to you," Dean said.
She stayed hidden through out the day. As dinner rolled around, only Dolph was in catering to all three Shield members frustration.
"I say we find her, and force feed her," Dean said.
He only got a growl in return from Seth.
"Don't worry, you'll see her tonight," Roman tried cheering his friend up.
They were at the gorilla, watching as Dolph's music hit, and he disappeared out into the arena with Pandora by his side.
"Accompanied by Pandora, here is Dolph Ziggler!"
"Do you think that's why she stays with him? Because she's his valet?" Roman thought out loud.
"What do you mean?" Seth asked.
"I can only imagine one worse situation than the one she's in right now. Leaving him and still having to work with him," Roman answered.
"She could always quit," Seth said.
"And go where?" Roman asked.
"To me. She could go to me. I would take care of her, and treat her like she deserves," Seth hissed through his teeth, trying to keep his voice down.
Roman smiled, and pounded Seth on his chest.
"I know, man. Just checking if you're really in for it if it happens," Roman said.
"I'm in all the way. Whatever she needs. I'll be here waiting," Seth said in a low tone.
They all turned their eyes back to the monitor to watch what went down inside the arena. Dolph was up against Sin Cara. Pandora was standing next to the ring, cheering him on the best she could.
"Something's wrong," Seth said.
"Besides the fact that she's with him?" Dean asked.
"Look at her. She's off," Seth said.
They watched as she struggled to keep a straight face and stay on her feet. She was swaying a bit. Clearly she was dizzy. She held on tight to the ring post with one arm, and tried her best to stay in character and deliver her role.
"I told her to eat," Roman growled.
She was sweating and feeling dizzy. The lights in the arena had her body working overtime. Not only had she not been eating all day, she had forgotten to drink anything as well, and she knew it was the last part that was throwing her off track at that moment. She needed water, but she couldn't run off to get it now. She gritted her teeth, and kept her eyes locked at the match going on, hoping it would be over soon.
"Here is your winner: Dolph Ziggler!"
She raised her fist in the air and cheered him on. He rolled out and put his arm around her, and they made their way up the ramp.
As soon as they reached the gorilla, Dolph removed his arm from her. She didn't take many steps alone before she collapsed on the floor. People were shouting and running towards her. She heard them all, but they seemed so far away. She could see them bend over her, trying to get her to respond, but everything was in a blur. She felt the warm and familiar feeling of Seth's hand in hers, and then everything went to black.
"Where the hell are you going?" Seth asked as he stopped Dolph a little later.
"Out drinking. Wanna come?" Dolph answered.
"Your girlfriend is in need of medical care, and you're going out drinking?" Seth asked shocked.
"She's fine. The doctors are taking care of her. They're keeping her over night, so no need for me to stay here," Dolph smirked, and walked away.
"Unbelieveable," Seth muttered.
Seth made his way to the doctors' station.
"Can I see her?" He asked the first doctor he came across.
"Yeah, she's awake. She's dehydrated, so we're giving her fluid at the moment," the doctor answered.
Seth nodded a thanks, and went into the room she was lying in.
"Hey gorgeous," he said as he made his way towards the bed.
He took her hand, and looked at her.
"You scared me," he said.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"What are you doing here?" She finally asked.
"I came to see you," he answered.
"Why?" She asked.
"Because I care about you," he answered.
"You shouldn't," she sighed.
"But I do. You can't tell me not to," he ran his fingers through her hair.
She shook her head, and moved her hand away from his.
"Please, leave," she said.
"What? No. You need someone by your side right now," he said,
"I don't need anybody. Just leave," her tone was more firm this time.
He reached for her hand again, but she moved it further away.
"Pandora, please," he whispered.
"Leave! Just fucking leave! I don't want you here!" She yelled.
The doctor came running into the room. He gently put a hand on Seth's arm.
"I think it's best if you leave, Seth," he guided Seth out of the room.
As soon as the door closed behind them, she broke down in tears.
Seth threw a lamp through the hotel room in rage. Dean and Roman quickly exchanged a look before Dean tackled Seth down on the bed, and held his arms locked down.
"Let me go!" Seth screamed.
Dean held on tight as Roman made his way over to them. He sat down next to Seth, and looked at him.
"Get your feelings under control, Seth," he said.
"Just let me fucking go! Let me get out of here and find Dolph, so I can beat his sorry little ass," Seth sneered.
"And then what? When he presses charges, and you get fired, then what? How are you ever gonna see her again?" Roman asked.
Seth growled, and then he relaxed his body. Dean let go and helped his friend up.
"You're right. I know you're right. It's just so frustrating right now," Seth buried his face in his hands.
Roman put his arm around him.
"Why doesn't she wanna see me, Roman?" Seth cried.
"She's probably just embarrased right now. She knows she fucked up by not eating and drinking, and on top of that her boyfriend doesn't even care enough to be with her when she needs him," Roman answered.
"But I care. I wanna be there, and she kicked me out," Seth said.
"Give her time. I don't think any of us can imagine how confused she must feel right now," Roman said.