Chapter 10

Beth put the final touches on Roman's makeup, leaned back and assessed her work. In the two weeks since she'd become their personal hair and makeup artist she'd made great headway with Roman. Though with tonight's match she was pretty sure her work would be for nothing. "There," she sighed. "Done."

He looked down at her and narrowed his gaze. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She shook her head as she turned on one leg to place the eyeliner back in the case.

"Uh, oh," Seth said from where he sat lacing up his boots. "When she says nothing like that it means something."

Roman's fingers curled around her elbow. "Sweetheart, look at me."

She flicked her gaze upward, meeting his stare. "Something is bothering you. What is it?"

"It's no-" The words died in her throat as he leveled one of his I'm-not-taking-any-shit looks on her. "You can't do anything about it anyway."

"Wanna bet?" He grinned.

"I'm worried, is all," she finally said as she reached for her crutch. With the swelling on her ankle nearly gone she'd slowly started introducing some pressure back onto it. The process eliminated one of the crutches, making it much easier for her to balance now.

"About," Seth asked.

"You're match tonight." She turned to look from Seth to Roman. "The only way this match could be worse than what it's going to be is if it was a Hell in the Cell, match." Emotion welled in her throat as she thought about either of them getting hurt.

Over the last two weeks she'd grown so close to Seth and Roman. She'd even managed to spend some serious time hanging with Dean and Punk and she'd grown to care about them in a way she hadn't thought possible.

Seth frowned. "You're worried about us getting injured?"

Hearing him say the words caused a lump to form in her throat and Beth nodded in response. It didn't make sense for her to have this emotions when she didn't know them that well. Yes, they'd spent nearly every waking hour together since she'd been injured and she'd certainly grown accustomed to waking up in Roman's arms. Still, to be so worried, so frightened for them seem dramatic. These men were professionals at what they did. They knew the risks and knew how to perform high risk moves without getting injured. She needed to trust that they knew what they were doing.

Despite the logic running through her brain, she still couldn't stop tears from forming.

"Oh baby, don't do that." Seth pushed up, walked toward her and wrapped Beth in a hug. Being in his arms felt good and she didn't want to let go.

"I'm sorry," she murmured against his riot gear. "I know I'm being an emotional baby, but I can't help it."

He stroked a hand along her back as he peppered kisses against her hair. "Don't be sorry. It makes me feel good to know you care this much."

"Me too," Roman said from behind her. A moment later she felt the warmth of his hands on her shoulders. She closed her eyes and tried to think good thoughts as she simply enjoyed the feeling contentment and safety she got from being wrapped in their embrace. "We'll be fine." Roman kissed the back of her head.

"Promise?" she murmured against Seth's chest.

"Promise," Seth replied as he curled a finger beneath her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "Though I wouldn't object to a good luck kiss from my favorite girl." He grinned. "That is if she's willing to give me one."

She didn't need to be asked twice. Beth leaned forward and brushed a soft kiss across his lips. Seth replied by covering her mouth with his, immediately deepening the kiss. Swept up in his passion, she parted her lips, granting him the access he craved. He groaned as he gathered her closer, pressing her against him.

"Easy there fly boy," Roman's voice rumbled. "Save that passion for the ring."

Seth pulled back and grinned down at her. "Now that's a good luck kiss."

For a moment she returned his smile with one of her own, only to realize she'd kissed him like that in front of Roman. Oh God! What have I done?

Tentatively, she turned to chance a look at Roman. Would he be angry with her for kissing Seth? Not a hint of anger shown in his eyes, instead she saw hunger staring down at her. How could he not be angry at her? "Do I get a good luck kiss also?"

Feeling trapped by the situation and just a little confused by his reaction, she nodded and allowed him to pull her close. She lifted her chin and parted her lips as he brushed a gentle kiss across her mouth.

The differences in these two men were down right amazing to her. So much restless energy and passion flowed through Seth, even when he kissed her she'd felt his intensity. Whereas Roman, while also passionate was more purposeful and patient in his actions.

He pulled back and pressed a soft kiss to her nose. "You need to find your way up to Punk's box seat."

She nodded as dread, recently chased away by their kisses, now returned in full force, settling directly in the pit of her stomach. She positioned her arm under the crutch and started for the door. "I'll meet you guys backstage when it's over."

"We'll be there," Seth replied. "And don't worry. Nobody can hurt the Hounds of Justice."

His declaration did little to assuage her fears as she made her way through the outer hall and to the elevator leading to the box seats above. She'd seen them wrestle at least a half dozen times over the past two weeks, and even more than that before she'd become personally invested. Still, she couldn't shake the ominous feeling seeping through her veins.

She hobbled off the elevator, showed the security guard her pass, then made her way to Punk's box seat. He sat with his leg propped up on a box, crutches leaning against the back wall. "How's the knee?" she asked as she slipped into the empty seat beside him and set her crutch on the floor.

He nodded. "Good considering just a few days ago the doctor was playing around inside there."

She shuddered at the image his statement conjured. "I don't know how you guys take that kind of thing so easily. Surgery is a big deal."

Punk nodded. "It is, but it's also part of the business."

She glanced down at that ring as she thought about Dean's reaction to Punk's surgery. Unable to be there with him, Dean had worked himself into a frenzy waiting for the phone to ring. He'd refused to talk to anyone, instead working out for hours in the gym until he damn near collapsed. The look of relief and dare she say love, on his face when he finally spoke to Punk on the phone betrayed his true feelings for the older man.

Would she feel that same way if Roman or Seth had been in that situation? Damn right she would and that realization scared the hell out of her.

The announcer's voice broke through her thoughts as the bell rang from below. This is the first ever six man tag team tables, ladders, and chairs match. There will be no count outs and no disqualifications. The only way to win is by pin fall or submission.

Immediately, pyrotechnics began and Kane's music started. Beth took a deep breath and fought to get a grip on her nerves. This was just another match. She'd seen them wrestle in plenty of matches.

A warm hand came down over hers and she looked up at Punk. He smiled at her. "I know you're worried. I am too, but you have to trust them. They know what they're doing."

She gave him a small smile. "I know and I do, but that doesn't stop the worry."

"You really care about them, huh?"

Beth considered Punk's statement as Special Ops began to play. Her heart jumped at the sound of their music and she looked down to where they were making their way through the crowd. "Yeah," she finally replied as she follow Seth and then Roman with her eyes. "I do."

That admission wasn't nearly as difficult to say as she'd expected.

The guys jumped the barriers and immediately the fight ensued. Punk's fingers curled around Beth's and she took strength from knowing they shared the same concern. It wasn't long before Kane introduced the first ladder into the match and Beth's anxiety ratcheted up another notch.

As the match wore on, she watched, her attention riveted on the men as they hit each other with chairs and wielded the ladder like a weapon. Her body jerked when Kane tried to smash Seth inside the ladder's legs. She sucked in a quick breath as Roman took a direct hit with a chair and she felt the jerk in Punk's hand when Ryback double flipped Seth and Dean onto the ladder laying on the mat. Their body's crunching against the metal as they hit.

She glanced at Punk. Despite his calm request earlier to relax, his face betrayed his emotions as he grimaced at the sight below. Worry lines crinkled around his eyes and for the first time since finding out about Dean and Punk, Beth understood just how deep their relationship ran.

"We want tables," the crowd chanted and cheered even as Beth prayed the match would end soon. Instead it seemed to drag on and on; an emotional rollercoaster of highs and lows as The Shield gained control, only to have it ripped away again and again. Slowly the men made their way up the ramp, taking advantage of the tables and chairs props as they went.

She watched as Seth started up on of the highest ladders on the stage. Oh please no! He waved Roman and Dean away and Beth held her breath. Damn him for insisting on being a high-flyer. The man, she was coming to realize, carried a reckless abandon about him that lead him to do moves most men would think twice before trying.

Ryback started up the ladder after Seth and she shook her head, willing him to find safety. No! No! No!

Instead, Ryback grabbed Seth by the belt. Seth lost his grip and fell backwards off the ladder. His head smashed against the stacked tables below. A scream tore through the air and it took a moment for Beth to realize it had come from her. She watched him, praying he'd move even as she heard the ref's count from inside the ring. Special Ops blared through the speakers, but she couldn't find the joy within her to celebrate their victory, not when Seth had yet to stir.

"Come on," Punk urged. He let go of her hand and reached for his crutches. She did the same, her body nearly numb from stress. "Let's get backstage and see how badly they're really injured," he said as he hobbled out of the box seating. Beth followed as a new sense of urgency coursed through her. If Seth was seriously hurt...

As they stepped into the elevator, she sent up a silent prayer. Please let him be okay.