Chapter Ten
Emma stands outside of the locker room she knows belongs to the Shield and lets out a soft breath. How can she face Dean after her outburst? She was ridiculous for blowing up at him like that. But like she's done before, she let her emotions get the best of her. She finally reaches out and knocks on the door.
"Hang on," the reply from inside calls. It's Dean, Emma would know that voice anywhere. "Shit." The door opens after a moment. "Hey." He sighs. "Come in." He reaches out and takes her rolling bag from her. "It's going to be a few."
Emma frowns as she steps into the locker room. "You okay?" she asks.
"Yeah, just hate dealing with hotel reservations." He looks at her. "How's the shoulder?"
"It's okay. Sore." She licks her lips. "I'm sorry about before. I just…" She shrugs a little. "Let my emotions get the best of me. I tend to do that. Especially when I start overthinking the situation."
He nods. "It's okay. I understand. Believe me I do." He sighs. "But at the same time, I worry. It's not because you're a girl. Well, okay, it kinda is. But it's not because I don't think you can handle yourself or whatever. I'm well aware that you're a big girl and can take care of yourself. But I've seen things that I still have nightmares over. And while I know what goes on out there isn't the same thing, it doesn't mean I don't worry about someone, a woman, getting hurt."
Emma stares at him. "Dean…"
"My sister's ex beat her their entire relationship. It wasn't until he actually put her in the hospital that she woke up and realized what that ass hole was doing to her. So I guess I get overprotective of those I care about."
She smiles a little. "You care about me?"
He zips his bag. "Obviously." He looks over at her. "Like you didn't already know that."
"I didn't. I mean, I know we've become friends."
"I don't let just anyone stay in my hotel room." He grins as he lifts his bag off the bench.
She watches him. "So we're okay?"
He nods. "Yeah, we're fine." He grabs his back pack. "I just really hope they give you a few days to rest your shoulder. Being out there is one thing, but I don't think any of us can take seeing you cringe anymore."
She smiles. "That's kinda why they did what they did. Joey said that I'll still be at the shows, but I won't be wrestling for the next week or so."
"What changed their minds?"
"I talked to them about it earlier."
He looks at her and raises an eyebrow. "What'd you say?"
"That it's bothering me more than I figured it would. Having had shoulder issues before I didn't want to chance it getting worse."
He nods. "Good. We'll ice it again when we get back to the room."
She nods. "Okay."
Dean locks the door behind him after he returns from getting ice. He pours it onto the plastic covered towel he'd laid out. "Is it the same shoulder that you hurt before?" he asks.
Emma nods. "Yeah," she answers. "I guess that's good, right?"
He nods a little. "Yeah, I suppose." He ties off the ends of the towel. "All right, sit up so I can get this on you."
She raises an eyebrow as she does as she's told. "What exactly is your plan with it?"
"Securing it so you don't have to hold it on. I've done this plenty of times." He gets the towel in place before grabbing the ace bandage and wraps it around. "Don't move." He walks over to his bag and grabs the tape he uses for his wrists.
"You're trapping me."
He laughs softly. "If that's the way you see it." He tears the tape off after he finishes what he's doing. "There, you're set."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." He tosses the tape back over to his bag. "Should be good for a while." He sits down beside her. "You on the same flight we are tomorrow?"
"Probably. One?"
"Yeah." He looks at her. "You look tired. Get up, I'll pull the bed out."
"You aren't going to argue with me and tell me to sleep in the bed?"
He chuckles. "I figured it's pointless to argue with you right now. So you win this round."
She smiles at him. "You know, you aren't the hard ass everyone thinks you are."
He shrugs as he helps her to her feet. "Yeah, well they all see the one side of me when I'm at the arena."
She nods as she watches him pull the cushions off the couch. "Why are you like that the entire time?"
"I'm focused." He shrugs. "Everyone always assumes it's because I'm an ass hole who doesn't care. But that's not the case. Okay, yeah, I can be an ass hole. But I've had to be to get where I am today. Didn't exactly have it easy."
She nods. "I'm glad I get to see this side of you."
He glances over after he pulls the bed out. "Don't go getting all sappy on me."
"I'm not." She smiles at him. "Just stating a fact."
He gestures toward the bed. "Go on. I'm going to hit it too." He pulls the blankets down on his bed.
"Good night, Dean."
"Night." He turns to find her standing there. "You okay?"
She nods before leaning up and kissing his cheek. "Thank you."