Time for Lauren to show her balls again (however briefly) she's growing folks!

Skovko, Her clumsiness is totally my own. I always feel like people must be watching me and so therefore I must be graceful and swanlike...which makes my clumsiness about ten times worse! I threw a chocolate across the room today in an important management meeting. I'm so not cool!

Moxley Gal1, I feel it's going to be an important part of Lauren and Dean's story, but the Shield breaking up sucks in any universe! Although, with that being said, heel Seth was gloriously evil and it allowed us lots of lovely Roman and Dean brother moments...so I'm a little bit torn!

Mandy, But Seth was so good evil! Plus, I can't deny it happened and I'm sort of following the storylines so maybe I have to? But I figure he'll always have a soft spot for Lauren. Is it wrong that I miss heel Seth? When Dean comes back to TV, I hope Seth turns again instead of him. Swerve!

Rebel8954, Maybe I can do a twist? Or maybe Lauren can get involved and derail Seth's heel turn. But then we would miss out on all that great Seth vs. Dean stuff that followed, along with protective Roman. Gonna have to put my thinking cap on for this one I think *dusts it off*

Raze Olympus, You're right, I think I'm just gonna have to go for it and follow history as it was laid out. The Bray stuff can easily have got to Seth, even though Dean has a right to hate Wyatt's guts. Plus Seth does have reason to be annoyed in this chapter, although both of the guys are…

Minnie1015, I know, I can't get my head around the new year either! I'm pretty set on covering the Seth betrayal somehow, can't not really, although I hate to see (or write) them breaking up! My Shield Reunited stories are pretty much my way to right the wrongs (then do worse to them!)

TheSilverWolff, Yay! I'm so glad you enjoy these crazy stories! I never know if I've done too many and scared folk off! Don't worry, Lauren will never be totally ballsy, she's too clumsy and chaotic to go the whole way! There is more Seth/Roman/Lauren to come too. You must have known!

Guest, Oooh, thank you so much! I'm really glad there's still love for this pairing even though I've done a lot of stories about them now. It's lovely reviews like this that drive them on! Hope you enjoy the rest of this story (P.S. The next story is my current favorite in their arc, coming soon!)

Debwood-1999, Well, it's probably as close to a showdown as she will get and naturally things don't go quite to plan! As for the next bad guy? You may be right on that...or maybe not! Definite hints in this chapter though, confirmation later then a new story after that! This thing is rolling!

Lauren v. Bray, here we go...

I Will Follow

The fans who had been positioned by the exit doors were unexpectedly having the show of their lives. By the time I got there, Bray and Dean were all out brawling and it was scrappy and ugly and totally unhinged.

Skirting an untidy mess of beer and popcorn, I looked up just in time to see them slam into the doors. The release bar gave way beneath their dual burden and flew open with a clatter, essentially tipping them straight through.

They went down in a tangle of bodies, mercifully with Dean on top. A member of the arena staff skittered towards them and then stopped uncertainly, not wanting to get involved. What she did do however, was start to hound the crowd back but she wasn't expecting me and so I blistered straight through,

"Dean – ,"

I arrived in a skid in the plain backstage corridor and then almost instantly ground to a halt. In the seconds it had taken me to cross the space towards them, both Bray and my boyfriend seemed to have got up and moved off. The giveaway however was the sound of hits and grunting and I followed it – exhausted – around the corner to my right.

Sure enough there they were – the pair of them still scrapping – but now that I was with them, I had no idea what to do.

Momentarily it didn't seem like Dean even needed me, as he drove his kneecap into Bray's features and snapped the cult leader's head right back. He careened into the wall and fell against it panting, tentatively touching his lips through his beard. A thought ghosted over me and I frowned but went with it.

I hope Dean had knocked out the asshole's teeth.

My heart was thumping hard against my ribcage as my thoughts chased back to the night months ago, when I had been stood in a corridor very much like it and Bray had shut the lights out and carried me off. It lanced a shiver of terror right through me but I fought it down.

Dean was here this time.

No way would he allow anyone to get to me, although it was hard to protect me when he didn't know I was there. Stepping forward to call him, or grab him – or plain drag him away while his enemy was down – I stopped short as Bray suddenly seemed to rear up again and charged across the space to drive Dean back hard.

My boyfriend's head collided with the wall heavily and then bounced forward as his body went limp. For a horrible second I thought he was unconscious, but as he crumpled to the floor, his eyes were still bright.

"Dean – ," I offered uselessly for a second time, but this one was louder and driven by concern. As it echoed more startlingly than I had banked on around the corridor, both men turned to look at me and I baulked a little,

Crap.

Dean's eyes were glassy and barely comprehending, but Bray's were sharp and narrowed with glee. Dropping Dean in a heap against the concrete, he stepped in towards me and chuckled darkly,

"My, my, my – Little Bird,"

I swallowed down the nausea and balled my fists tightly, trying to look imposing,

"L-leave him alone."

Oh good, a stutter, that would frighten him and predictably my command was followed by a snort.

"You come to save your sweetheart Mockingbird?"

"Don't call me that," I shakily chattered out. From the floor, Dean let out a grumble of confusion and rolled onto his stomach like a puppet without strings.

Time to get up now.

I psychically sent him, praying that we had some telepathic link. I was an idiot to think that I could honestly defend him. All I had done was put myself in harm's way. Ironically that was the one thing Dean hadn't wanted and so in trying to protect him, I had enabled his worst fear. The only saving grace in the whole thing – if you could even call it that – was that considering he was virtually comatose, he wouldn't have to watch me being beaten down.

Or dragged off or whatever Bray had in store for me.

I swallowed down my nausea.

Oh god, oh god.

As Bray stepped forward, I promptly skittered backwards and collided with a piece of equipment on wheels. It scooted back and crashed into some scaffolding and there was an almighty clatter as everything fell. Even backing up I could somehow still cause chaos and Bray grinned widely, as if thinking the same thing.

"So much trouble for something so small – ,"

He reached out his hand and I stumbled away from him, wanting to run but not prepared to turn my back. From experience I knew that Bray was much faster and so I kept my eyes on him and continued to step off.

"Dean – ," I whispered, fighting fearful tears back and watching as he moved just a tiny little bit. Bray stepped across to block my view completely and I sucked a shrill gasp in and then nearly tripped. Some of the debris that I caused to fall earthwards was blocking the corridor and my feet got caught up. Stumbling a little, I banged into the wall sideways but as Bray advanced forward, I ducked down and grasped at straws.

The item my hands fell on first was a microphone, which had fallen from the case and then rolled across the floor, but I abandoned it as soon as I noticed the metal tubing and I grabbed it and then straightened, holding it up like a club.

Lauren Hope, in the corridor with the lead piping.

I was like a cut-price version of a wrestling Cluedo game.

"S-stay where you are Bray," I ordered in a whisper. I had meant it as a growl but my throat had seized up, "I – I mean it, don't make me use this."

My tormentor merely chuckled,

"You wouldn't know how."

Then, without warning he lunged across the space at me and despite feeling ready, I squeaked and tensed up. The pipe lowered down to my side as I huddled and I shut my eyes pitifully.

Some brawler I was.

Any second I expected to feel his girth pile into me but although there was a thud and a growl, I never got hit. When I tentatively unscrewed my eyelids, it was to the sight of Bray lying prone at my feet. A breathless and panting form stood over him, holding the microphone – which apparently was the better choice. His blue eyes were dull and pained but triumphant and as he looked up at me, the pipe slid from my grasp.

"Lauren? You okay?"

I surged in towards him, stepping over Bray like he was a puddle on the floor. Without even a word I flung my arms around him and rocked onto my tiptoes to bury my head against his neck.

"Dean," I breathed, "Thank god you're alright."

His arms came round to circle me dazedly as his poor jumbled brain tried to join the loose threads,

"What the hell are you doin' back here? Why aren't you on commentary?"

"I – I came to protect you."

He blinked at me for several seconds of bewilderment before frowning in confusion,

"You came to protect me?"

"I didn't want Bray to get you on your own and Seth was out and Roman was still fighting and no one else was coming so I – I just went. I mean, I know it was probably stupid and reckless and I shouldn't have done it and I could have gotten hurt, but I couldn't stand the thought of what he might do to you and you were going through the crowd and I – ,"

"Hey, Lauren, slow down."

Reaching up, Dean cupped my face gently and forced me to look at him. I was babbling again. It was something I did whenever I was nervous, or when I was excited or anything in between. Over the months he had learned that the best way to deal with it was to simply stop me in the midst of my drift and at the feel of his taped-up hands on my cheekbones, I did as expected and quickly shut up.

Well, almost.

"You're not – you're not mad at me are you?"

Dean snorted softly,

"Kinda."

"Oh."

"But mostly I'm just fuckin' surprised you came after me."

"Why? I love you."

"Fuck," Dean pulled me close. His body was sticky and damp and I liked it, I liked how it mixed with his aftershave scent. His arms folded round me and I buried my head into him, almost struggling to breathe he was holding so tight, "Fuck, what did I ever do to deserve you? I mean, you faced your worst nightmare because you were worried about me. I've never had anyone love me that much ever. Don't leave me Princess."

I clung on tighter,

"I won't."

Below us on the floor, Bray let out a grumble and started to roll slightly like a turtle on its back. Dean spun me around away from him quickly and then gave him a none-too-gentle kick to the ribs.

"Come on."

Taking me by the arm he began to lead me away again and not just away from Wyatt either but away from the crowd and the ring and the stage. He moved like a rabbit through the warren of passages, pushing through doors and half-dragging me along.

"Uh, Dean," I whispered not wanting to break the silence, like the pair of us were somewhere more refined than an arena, like a library or a museum or a really expensive shop, "Where are we going?"

"I'm takin' you somewhere safe, alright?"

"Me?" I blinked at him, "Um – what for?"

"Lauren, you just stood up to Bray fuckin' Wyatt, you really think he's gonna let that shit go? I gotta get back out to help Seth and Roman but no way in hell am I leavin' you ringside alone."

"You're going to lock me in the dressing room aren't you?"

"If I have to."

I sighed,

"Yeah, I know."

As we slalomed around the corner however, we collided with someone we didn't expect and while Dean managed to slam his brakes on quickly, I wasn't so fortunate and banged right into their chest. There was a grunt as Kane stood a tiny step backwards and then glared down at me, full of intent. He didn't even blink for the first ten seconds and then Dean snarled at him,

"Wanna get out of our way?"

Kane's eyes didn't leave mine for a second but he responded to my boyfriend nevertheless.

"I've been looking for you two."

"Yeah?" Dean slung back, "Can't keep away can ya?"

"Hunter sent me."

"Dad?"

At my use of the familiar – and not inaccurate title – Kane's dark expression clouded over even more. Given that he already hated me, reminders of who my father was probably didn't help. Essentially if I wasn't related, I think he'd have fired me many months ago.

"Yeah," he ground out, unhappily, "Your father. He was worried about you."

"Oh, well, I'm fine."

"He wants me to take you back to his office. Thank you Ambrose, I'll take it from here."

In response to the directive Dean snorted wryly and brushed away the other man's outstretched hand. Kane had been reaching to pull me away from him but there was no way in hell he was letting that go down.

"Yeah, thanks boss but I think I got this, I'll take her there myself."

"But the match – ,"

"I got this."

Dean's expression was a dangerous glower but then so was Kane's and neither man was backing down. Eventually however I sucked a deep breath in and turned to Dean to place my hands across his chest. His blue eyes flickered down at me, but only for a second. Mostly he was fixated on Kane.

"Dean," I began, trying to sound confident, "I don't mind, really. I – I'll go with Kane. You need to get back to help Seth and Roman, they need you more than I do."

"Lauren – ,"

"I'll be fine."

He stood for a second debating the options and clearly not wanting to leave me behind. His eyes slid up to Kane's and a warning rippled through them, passing a silent message along.

If anything happens to her, I'll make you pay for it.

Kane smirked back.

Alright tough guy, bring it on.

Tiptoeing up as I continued to push Dean backwards, I gently pressed a kiss to his lips. The action drew his focus back on me and I stared at him worried,

"Hey, be safe."

With Kane watching closely – and therefore ruining the moment – Dean chose not to deepen the embrace, instead planting a peck on the top of my forehead and then stepping away from us.

"Get to Hunter, alright Lauren? Then stay there. I'll come and get you when everything's done."

With one final loaded death glare at his superior, Dean turned and jogged back the way we had come. Somewhere his teammates were still taking a beating and I didn't want to be the reason they were a pivotal man down. Unfortunately however, that left me with Kane and as Dean rounded the corner, we were suddenly alone. The silence was deafening and seemed to stretch on forever and I sucked in a deep breath and looked up,

"So – ,"

I startled as I realized he was already looking – I had kind of assumed he would be busy watching Dean – but sure enough the cold eyes were fixed on me and I shuddered lightly and quickly dropped my gaze.

"Come on," he grumbled, blowing a breath out that made his nose whistle, "This way. Stay with me."

Then he spun away with me trotting alongside.

It briefly occurred to me as we were walking, that if he wanted to do away with me he probably could. Although I was fairly au fait with arenas, I still wasn't as confident backstage as he was. He could have walked me straight into a cupboard or a quiet little side room and finished me off. As luck would have it however, he did neither and after what felt like about four hours – but was likely four minutes in the grand scheme of things – we arrived at the room where Vince had screwed me over and Kane knocked briskly and then marched us both in.

Hunter was upright and pacing the room angrily, but he stopped on seeing us and sighed,

"Thank god."

In the blink of an eye he was across the space in front of us and pulling me into a bone-crushing hug. It was the second time in the space of ten minutes that someone had squeezed me and it was beginning to hurt. My face was buried in the folds of his jacket and I moved my head sideways in order to breathe.

A third figure was standing against the wall by the doorway, leant back casually, arms folded across his chest. Randy Orton was never far from my family since having become The Authority's pet, so it shouldn't have surprised me to see him in the office but at the same time – I'll be honest – it kind of did. Not so much his physical presence but his expression which was a cold but twinkle-eyed smirk. What exactly did he think was so funny?

Maybe I amused him?

I usually did.

"Thank god," Hunter blew out again from above me, finally releasing me from the weave of his suit, "You alright? Did Wyatt hurt you? What the hell happened out there? Where did you go?"

"Uh, that's a lot of questions – ,"

Kane let out a growl. It was getting so frequent I was beginning to wonder whether it was conscious or whether it was some sort of messed up breathing thing. Perhaps he had a collapsed nasal passage or a jacked up trachea or really poor lungs. Maybe he'd drawn a really bad hand in life and ended up with a terrible mix of all three?

"She went after Ambrose and Wyatt backstage. I found them together."

I frowned,

"Actually Dean was bringing me to the office to find you. He told me to stay here until it was safe."

"But you still went after him?" Hunter rumbled darkly and as the storm clouds descended, the atmosphere grew tense, "You left your post on commentary and went after Bray?"

"No, I went after Dean."

"Same thing Lauren."

"No it isn't – ,"

"You could have been hurt."

"Well I wasn't, alright? I'm totally fine. Besides, Dean was there – you know he protects me. He wouldn't let Wyatt get anywhere near."

My reaction was passionate and as fierce as I knew how to be but Hunter merely responded with a growl. Randy meanwhile threw a wry snort in and I glared at him bitterly.

Why was he even there?

"Ambrose shouldn't have been backstage in the first place," Hunter snapped and – okay – he had a point, "What the hell was he thinking Lauren? Leaving his teammates? Fighting through the crowd?"

Randy's smirk promptly widened in pleasure and it made me bristle,

"That was Wyatt's fault. He's the one that pushed things too far, he's the one that got me involved. I don't know if you were watching but Bray dragged me into it. He was going to put me through the Spanish announce desk – ,"

Hunter closed his eyes very briefly. Evidently he had been watching the whole thing. The image of me crashing backwards through plywood was clearly an image he didn't really need and he raised his hand and massaged at his brow line, hoping to stop me,

"Lauren – ,"

"He was. The only reason I'm not broken in half right now is because Dean came through for me – like he always does. I wouldn't even have been out there in the first place if Vince hadn't come up with his genius scheme. Dean was doing his best to keep me safe out there. He was protecting me, okay? Don't put this on him."

As I finished the room fell awkwardly silent while everyone paused to drink in my speech. I hoped it meant that they realized I was right but as Randy chuckled lightly, the prospect faded fast,

"Not sure his teammates will be so understanding considering he left them high and dry."

"Are you still here?" I threw back sharply and Randy smirked coolly. In fact he looked borderline turned on. The hunger in his gaze made me physically shudder but I tried to downplay it as Hunter blew out a sigh,

"Look, we're just saying that Ambrose is a hot-head. I don't think you can honestly tell us he's not. Now I don't doubt that he does his best to protect you, I just worry that one of these days his temper will get you hurt."

I blinked at him in astonishment,

"Meaning?"

"Meaning that sometimes he just doesn't think, he goes crashing into these feuds without preparing and that's not always the best way to get these things done. He needs to be aware of the people around him and the consequences of – Lauren? Wait, where are you going?"

I was halfway out the door before he realized I was moving, my fists clenched angrily,

"Anywhere but here."

"Whoa, hold on a minute," Hunter surged towards me but it was Randy who grabbed me and pushed shut the door.

"Get off me," I snarled, ripping my wrist away from him and inadvertently stumbling into Hunter's outstretched arms. They folded round me quickly yet soothingly and despite myself I stood and accepted his hug.

Ugh.

It was all so unfair – the whole sorry evening – from Vince, to being on commentary, to Dean getting heat. I was still shaken up from my encounter with Wyatt and my emotions were jumbled and fractious to say the least. Sucking in a breath, I tried to force the tears back but there was a lump in my throat that wouldn't go away. Sensing it – with his newly honed fatherly instincts – Hunter shushed me gently and let me get control,

"Hey, it's alright. I shouldn't have said that. I know how much Ambrose means to you Lauren and I also know how much you mean to him. I'm sorry kiddo, I didn't mean to upset you. Let's just pretend it didn't happen, alright?"

I nodded against him somewhat numbly, trying to banish Randy from my direct line of sight. Kane was standing sentry-like over by the window but he too was frowning at me. In fact they both were. Clearly the fact that I could get around Hunter by being tearful wasn't something they much liked. But what did I care? He was my dad and I was emotional. Neither of those facts were things I could help.

"Alright," I whispered, pulling away from him and Hunter cupped my face and gave me a grin,

"Good. I don't like when my baby is mad with me."

I shrugged my shoulders absently,

"It's okay, I'm not."

With the truce newly brokered, Hunter stepped away from me, moving towards the desk and snatching up his phone. It was always surprising how quickly he could alternate between caring father and no-nonsense boss man. Sometimes I found it hard to keep up with, which was why his next order took a while to sink in,

"I'll have my driver take you back to the hotel – you'll be safer there with Wyatt still around."

Huh?

I blinked,

"But Dean said – ,"

"You're going. This isn't a request Lauren. I don't want you sticking around here tonight. Ambrose can join you as soon as he's finished but I want you out of this place within the hour."

"Don't worry," Randy smirked and just the mere sound of him made my grit my teeth together tight, "I'm sure he can get a ride with his brothers – if they're still conscious and walking of course."

As Kane snorted in what I assumed was amusement, I bit down on my tongue but didn't say a word. I honestly didn't know what it was with them. But the three of us had just never gotten along. It was partly because they looked down on The Shield boys as nothing more than tactical muscle for hire but it was also deeper and more instinctual than that – like a natural reaction or a chemical response. From the moment I had met them, I just knew I didn't like them and more than that, I knew I never would. Kane and Randy were not my sort of people and quite evidently I was not one of theirs. Fortunately however my internal musings – and Hunter's barked phone call – were interrupted by the door. There was one brisk knock and then the handle twisted and opened right up to reveal the man himself.

"Dean," I grinned, ecstatic to see him, but my smile quickly faded at the look on his face. He seemed exhausted and slumped and defeated and it made me catch my breath, "Are you okay? Hey, what's wrong?"

His eyes flickered up to the other men around us and then he shook his head minutely at me.

Not now.

"Ambrose," Randy smirked, "Wow, bad night, huh?"

Dean glared back silently then simply reached for my hand. I wrapped my fingers around his tightly and the second they were locked I could feel myself start to calm down. I mean – okay – so something was clearly off with him, but he was there and that was enough in itself.

"I'm having my driver take Lauren to the hotel," Hunter put in flatly, "You're welcome to go along."

Dean nodded mutely and dragged in a breath, although whether through weariness or biting down a comeback I wasn't quite sure and neither was anybody else. Instead he turned and pulled me behind him and I followed him willingly, throwing a final look at my dad. Hunter's expression was severe and unblinking and it wounded me slightly.

What had Dean ever done?

The last face I caught sight of before I stepped into the corridor, was Randy's and sure enough it was still wearing a big smirk. He almost felt like some annoying stepbrother that had been brought into my family and was now tagging along. I wondered if I would have to share Christmases with him, or buy him a birthday gift or share a damn room.

Seriously.

His devoted obsession with my father was as deeply irritating as it was kind of weird. What the hell was wrong with him and where did he get off being such a dick?

As we rounded the corner away from their glares, I let out the breath I'd been holding the whole time and shook out a tremor.

"Wow, thank god I'm out of there. That was awkward, I mean, really awkward. Being trapped in a room with those two is not fun. I think I would even prefer a bikini wax, or colonic irrigation or a lobotomy, you know? Anything to take away all the torment. Dean? Are you listening? Um, hello?"

Dean stared dead ahead and kept on walking, faster than usual which meant I was forced into a jog. I didn't believe he was actually ignoring me but it was almost like he'd forgotten I was there and as he swung us tightly round a corner, I banged into a wall which parted our hands.

"Ouch."

"Princess?" Dean was in front of me instantly, his blue eyes worried, "Fuck. You okay?"

"Uh huh," I nodded, rubbing my shoulder, "I'm good."

I was lying – it was going to leave a mark – and whirling away from me almost like he knew it, Dean kicked a door and then wearily dropped his head. He cupped it in his hands and then stood there for a moment before sweeping them upwards and carding through his hair.

"Fuck."

"Dean?" I whispered, reaching out towards him and taking his hand, which he thankfully let me do, "What's wrong? What happened? Where are Seth and Roman?"

He glanced across defeatedly and shook his head,

"Not here, alright? Not here. I just – we'll go back to the hotel, okay? I'll tell you there. I just – I can't do this now."

"Alright," I nodded, moving in towards him and cradling his face with my palms, "It's alright."

He let his face drop heavily into them and then stood there letting me essentially hold him up. His hands dropped down to grip my hips lightly and he shut his eyes briefly.

"Lauren – ,"

"It's okay, I know."

As footsteps came towards us round the corner, he suddenly snapped upright and grabbed my hand again. It was almost like he hadn't just broken and it both impressed and saddened me that he could conjure up that front. Whatever was bothering him, we would have to talk about it but before that we needed to get back to the hotel.

"Come on," he sighed, tugging me gently and I followed in silence, feeling oddly disturbed.

What on earth had happened when he'd left me?

Where were the guys?

What on earth had gone wrong?

So, time to turn the tables next chapter and have Lauren comforting Dean for once. He can't be the tough guy all of the time!

Thanks for your reviews guys, they always make a long day so much brighter!