Chapter Nine

Warning: Same as always!

Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognize.

"Down goes Ambrose! Cassie has turnedon Dean Ambrose and joined the Authority!" Michael Cole screeched into the headset as Cassie gave Dean a slap across the face. The two were standing in the ring, Rollins on the apron. Boos all around, Cassie slid out of the ring and headed up the ramp. With Ambrose watching, she cupped Rollins' face and began to pull him down…

And suddenly got him with a right hook. Everyone was stunned, before the crowd exploded. She backed up the ramp, watching both men rub their faces with a smirk. She looked at the crowd and shrugged, grabbing a mic and holding it up to her lips.

"I don't play well with others, I guess." She said, laughing. She dropped the mic and headed backstage.

It had been months since the confrontation in the hall between Jon and Cassie. She hadn't spoken or looked at him unless it was storyline related. She refused to. He dropped the ball. He'd tried to talk to her, tried to apologize on several occasions, but she just walked away.

She was in hell, though. She couldn't stop wondering how it would be if she just gave in, and let it all go. What would it be like? Would Jon finally grow a set and make it official? Or would she be deemed "fuckbuddy" and be nothing better than a ring rat?

Cassie sighed roughly and raked a hand through her hair. She crossed her arms over her chest and ducked her head, heading down the hall toward her lockeroom. She unlocked the door and went inside. Showering and changing into jeans and a faded Merle Haggard t-shirt, she grabbed her duffle bag and headed outside toward her rental car.

"Cassie!" She heard a voice yell her name and stiffened. She walked faster. "Jesus Christ, it's been six fucking months, can you just stop and listen to me for a goddamn second!"

Finally, Cassie snapped. She whirled around to look at the blonde Cincinnati native for the first time in months, her blue eyes on fire, yet freezing cold. "What, Jon, what the fuck do you want from me?"

It was silent for a second. Jon ducked his head, his hair hanging into his eyes. He tugged at his sweatshirt pockets. Finally, he looked at her, his crystal eyes meeting her ocean blue ones. "I just really fucking miss you, and that will never change."

"You did this." Cassie shook her head, turning to walk away. To her surprise, she heard footsteps retreating. She glanced back and saw that he was walking away. And then, her vision got blurry, and she felt something roll down her cheeks. She sucked in a breath and dropped her duffle, turning back to his retreating figure. "I still wonder if you could've been the one." She called to him, her voice breaking in the last word.

She saw his steps falter and he stopped, turning to look at her. His jaw tensed as his eyes scanned over her face, and he saw the tears rolling down her cheeks. In a few strides, he was in front of her. Her duffle slid from her fingers and she was pulled into his strong arms. She felt his face press into her hair and her hands balled up in his hoodie, holding him to her. She sobbed into his chest.

After a moment or two, when she calmed a little, she heard Jon clear his throat. "I, uh…I'm gonna go take some time off. Talk to some shrink or some shit."

She was silent for a second, absorbing what he was saying. She slowly pulled back and looked up at him. "W-What?"

He flashed her a crooked smile and wiped the tears off her cheeks. "You know all those times you'd come around and I'd be off... Somewhere else, in my head?" His expression, and his voice turned somber. "I'd always say I was okay, but you knew somethin' was wrong." He shrugged, ducking his head. "You know me better than anyone. I'm fucked up, Cass. Like, real fucked up. And I'm finally acknowledging it. So I'm takin' a month or two off to go fix myself."

"Where are you goin'?" Cassie asked, her voice heavy with emotion. They'd just…well, reunited, you could say, and he was already leaving?

"I don't know, doll face." He said, before he let out a deep breath of release. "Fuck, you have no idea how good it feels to call you that."

Cassie hid the faint blush on her face expertly. She wasn't used to that, anymore. "Check in with me, yeah?"

Jon paused, his lips pursing, before he grinned crookedly again. "You want me back in your life, I'm assuming."

"Don't get me wrong, it ain't just gonna go back to how it was, Jon. But you're gonna fix yourself. And…I really fucking miss you, too." Cassie gave him the faintest of smiles. Jon smiled and leaned his forehead against hers.

"Don't forget me when I'm gone. I don't want some dumb fuck like Jake Hager stealing you from me." Jon smirked.

Cassie laughed softly, rolling her eyes. "Yes, because the moment you leave Jake'll be on one knee in front of me."

Jon pulled back and raised an eyebrow at her, his head tilting just slightly. "Why wouldn't he be?"

"Uh, well, Jon, I'm not your stereotypical Diva. I'm not some pretty Barbie Doll. I'm pretty jaded, rough around the edges." She shrugged as if it didn't bother her, but it was easy to see through, especially for Jon.

His eyes narrowed slightly and he chuckled, shaking his head. "You don't know how beautiful, how fucking amazing you are, do you?"

"I am not." Cassie joked it off, shaking her head.

"I'm bein' serious." Jon told her, contrary to his chuckles just a moment before. "You are, Cass. Why do you think I haven't been able to get you outta my goddamn head since I met you? Ain't anyone on this earth like you. And that's what makes you even more beautiful, more amazing."

"Enough chick flick moments!" Cassie laughed, shaking her head. She pulled away.

"One day, I'm gonna make you see." Jon crossed his arms, a faint smirk on his face. "And you're gonna realize you're way too good for my sorry ass."

"So," Cassie subject changed quickly. "When, uh, When are you leaving?"

"Tonight." Jon answered, raking a hand through his hair with a rough sigh. "Flyin' to Vegas. I'm gonna stay there for a day or two and head out somewhere."

Cassie mulled over a few things in her head. She pursed her lips and sucked in another deep breath, looking down at the ground. She scuffed her boots against the pavement before she looked up at him. "Can I come with?"

She saw the shock cross the normally tough, unshakable man's face. He blinked wildly for a moment or two, clearing his throat. "What?" He asked.

"I'm off for a week. Was originally gonna go visit my family in New York, but they're headin' down to Florida to see my aunt. So, why not come with you? One week, then I'll be out of your hair."

A wide, childlike grin crossed the twenty eight year old's face and he nodded emphatically. "Of fucking course you can come with me! I can show you my house, show you all around Vegas, my Vegas! Maybe I can take you back to Ohio, show you my old stompin' grounds, and I-"

"Jon?"

"Yeah?"

"You're rambling."

A/N: Alright, guys, gave you an extra-long one. As I said in the note in the previous chapter, I feel super guilty about just not posting for a month or so. And so, not only did I write more than I have this entire story, but I pushed our lovely couple back together!

Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorited, followed, and all that!

This chapter was very heavily inspired by Theory of a Deadman's song The One. I actually made a video to that song for Cass and Jon. Check it out! /-44IP6EIB6A

Also, if you're an Orton fan, check out my other brand new story Angel. It's based off another Theory of a Deadman song, titled 'Angel'. It's set during Cassie and Jon's off time, and stars my other OC Jessa, Cassie's best friend. Cameos by Jon and Cassie will be made. :D

Stay Awesome, guys!

Oh, and, just an FYI, I have decided that I will be making a sequel to this story when it ends. I'm shooting for fifteen chapters to end this part, and it's gonna be super dramatic.

Thanks, ya'll!