Author's Note: Long time, no update. Sorry about that. Real life got a little busy, work was crazy. Plus I went through a couple of versions of this chapter and wasn't happy with most of them so there was a lot of rewriting. Still don't love it but it definitely works much better. Hope you enjoy this and Extreme Rules tonight!

"It was a mistake," you said. But the cruel thing was, it felt like the mistake was mine, for trusting you." ― David Levithan

September 21, 2014 11:35pm- Bridgestone Arena

Seth was one of the last superstars out of the arena after the show. It had turned out to be a crappy night. Between enduring the surprise attack from Dean, Cena thwarting his attempt to cash in his briefcase and the debacle that was the Authority explosion once their plans were ruined, his night had sucked. After being dismissed, he took his time showering and getting dressed.

Mostly because he wanted to avoid anymore encounters with the Authority. He could not sit through anymore of Triple H's insufferable ego, Stephanie's shrill outrage, Kane's mocking comments or Randy's pointed jabs at his ability to get things done. Every condescending remark made him question even more the choices he made. Part of him longed to tell them all exactly what he was thinking. But he'd be giving up guaranteed success for something that no longer was available to him.

So he kept his thoughts and opinions to himself, pretended to care about their ideas and seldom given praise.

A sentence of misery was the perfect punishment for the crimes he'd committed against the men he looked at as brothers.

Some fans were still clustered around outside, hoping to catch an autograph from whatever stragglers remained. He wasn't in the mindset to deal with any of that tonight though. His mood had long since soured. Pulling on his glasses, he made sure he had put his hood up before he headed out into the night, covering his head and focused all his attention on wheeling his suitcases. Even in his quasi-disguise, they still recognized him and clamored for attention.

Several called his name. Hopeful that he really wasn't the bad guy he presented himself to be on their television screens every week. That there was some part of him that remained the affable guy he'd been in the shield. Most just called him names. A lot of those names were far more vicious and malicious than the usual traitor or sell-out.

That onslaught of hatred made him straighten up and his shoulders stiffened defensively. He quickened his pace with eyes firmly locked on his rental car just a few feet away. It was a beacon of safety in his extremely volatile world. His guard could finally come down when he was locked inside and on the road again. Lose himself in music and leave tonight in the rearview.

Make him forget, for a little while at least, that he was the most hated man in the WWE.

Allow him to ignore the little voice in his head that told him that those people were right to hate him.

He quickly opened his trunk and threw his bags inside, almost slamming the trunk down when he was done. The strides that took him to the drivers side were hurried, almost anxious as the voices of those fans who remained grew louder with every curse lobbed at him. His hand shook slightly as he opened the door, scrambled inside and slammed it shut behind him then thrust the key into the ignition. As soon as the engine turned, the radio sprang to life and drowned out the remnants of the voices outside. Throwing the car into reverse, his eyes went to the rearview mirror and he froze.

Because it didn't show what he expected it to show.

Instead of nothing but the scenery outside his back window that he was anticipating was a sight that he hadn't been.

Sprawled out across the backseat, as if it was perfectly normal, was Dean. He swallowed thickly, eyes locked on the reflection in the mirror, wondering if this was a hallucination. Not that he'd admit it but several times since the Shield split, he'd visualized his former brothers in the car with him as he traveled to the next town. Guess it was his way of seeking comfort in the chaos of life in the authority. This didn't feel like one of those times though and he knew that there was only one way to find out for sure.

Steeling himself, he took a deep breath. "W-w-what are you doing here?"

"Don't worry about that." Well unless he was actually losing his mind, his mirages didn't usually speak. That meant that Dean was really there, in his car, when he had no business of being there. To make matters worse, there was an edge of something unidentifiable in that graveled tone that sent a chill down his spine. "Just act like everything's normal and drive."

"Where should I go?"

A sneer twisted the dirty blonde's lips, "When you pull outta the lot, take a right and head back toward the hospital."

He licked his own lips nervously and nodded, backing out of his spot and pulling out of the parking lot with the aid of the police holding back the remnants of the crowd. A sigh of relief left him because obviously, the fans were out of the equation now and it seemed like the eccentric dirty blonde was just using him as a ride back to see Roman, but his eyes returned to the mirror. "Then what?"

"You hit up the first drive-thru you see."

"Huh?" He blinked, caught off guard by that request, as he steered the car into the slight cluster of traffic going the way he was instructed to and had to push the brakes before he ran into the back of the car in front of him. His eyes drifted to the mirror again as he waited for the light to change, catching the blue orbs framed in it. "A drive-thru?"

"You know, those places that you drive into, order food at a speaker then pick it up at the window."

"I know what they are smart ass but-"

"Listen," The tone was tinged with annoyance as was the expression on the other man's face. "I had to avoid backstage and most importantly catering, just so no one would know that I was at the arena and rat me out to anyone in the Authority. Because of that, I'm fucking starving and if I don't get something to eat soon, I won't be held responsible for what could happen. So spare me your lecture on how unhealthy that shit is."

"Yeah, ok, but I don't remember passing any drive-thru's on my way to the arena." His thumbs tapped impatiently on the steering wheel as he slowly made his way in the post show traffic. "I mean there were tons of restaurants and bars…"

"Then stop at a fucking restaurant and I'll get take out." There was a disgruntled huff that followed the irritated snap. "I don't know why you always gotta be such a fucking princess about things."

"I'm not being a princess!"

"If the crown fits…"

"Ha, shows how much you know! Princesses don't wear crowns." He smugly cut the other man off, smirking in triumph as he pulled into the parking lot of the first bar and grill he came upon. Turning, he offered his former brother a superior smirk. "They usually wear tiara's!"

"Yeah bro, you're know not really helping your case by saying shit like that or by pitching a bitch-fit about it." The dirty blonde rolled his eyes. "If anything, you're proving my point and making me wonder why the hell you know that shit."

Seth grit his teeth, "You know what? I find it really funny that you seem to think that I won't leave your ass at the restaurant when I absolutely will."

"Nope, you won't."

Dean sounded really confident about that. Way too confident. That made him extremely anxious. There had only been a couple of times where the other man had been so sure of what he said and that hadn't ever worked out well for him. Like that time they were on the road and he almost ended up spending a night in jail…

He shook that thought off and turned to stare at his former friend. The older man looked just as confident as he sounded and he released a shaky breath, steeling himself. "Why won't I?"

An all too familiar grin tugged at his lips and those eyes flashed triumphantly which immediately confirmed that Seth had every reason to be worried. A square black object materialized before his eyes and he felt his stomach sink as it disappeared back into the pocket of the other man's hoodie. "Cause you know I ain't got a problem handing all your cash over to the first homeless guy I see then paying for everyone in the restaurant's dinner and drinks with your card."

Seth pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head slightly as he turned away from his former Shield brethren and looked out at the parking lot instead. Not that there was anything to see. It was just a trick he employed to try to calm down and not give the infuriating dirty blonde the satisfaction of knowing exactly how much he'd gotten to him with this latest stunt. "You stole my wallet?"

"When you say it like that, it makes me sound bad." Dean's words didn't reflect anger at that. In fact, it sounded like he was completely at ease with what he'd done. "I prefer to think of it as ensuring your cooperation."

"But how-when…"

There was a chuckle, "You know I ain't gonna answer that."

Seth sighed heavily and turned his focus back toward the man in the backseat, frown on his lips and brown eyes narrowed. "How could I not have noticed?"

"Let's put it this way, a fucking toddler could've taken the damn thing. It wasn't exactly like lifting it from Fort Knox." The eccentric former member of the Shield informed him gruffly and clucked his tongue sardonically. "Seriously man, you're a pick-pocket's wet dream. Might want to consider putting your stuff someplace safer cause the next pick pocket ain't gonna hand it back over after."

"Go get your damn food." His hands tightened on the steering wheel, knuckles going white from the grip. "Then I can drop you off at the damn hospital and get on the road, forget this night from hell ever happened."

That smug, infuriating smirk reappeared. "Now, why would you be dropping me off at the hospital?"

"Because Roman's there?"

"Ha," That mocking chuckle was like nails on a chalk board, "In case you haven't noticed, it's way past visiting hours."

His patience was wearing thin and there was a strange, almost rhythmic throbbing right behind his left eye. This whole situation was probably giving him an aneurysm. It wouldn't surprise him at all. Be the perfect end to the perfect evening. "Then why did you have me drive this way?"

"Cause the hotel's this way."

"You're going back to the hotel?" The words were tersely bitten off, gritted out between clenched teeth. "Why don't you just get room service then?"

"And pay twenty bucks for a crappy sandwich?" A roll of blue eyes followed that sarcasm laden question. "I don't think so."

"Just go get your food."

Dean opened the door but paused, eyes locking on his. "You want anything?"

Seth sighed heavily, his head falling back against the headrest. "For you to hurry up so I can drop you off at the hotel and be on my way to Memphis."

"Right, sure, I'll do just that." The dirty blonde's eyes narrowed then he exited the car, closing the door loudly behind him.

Another sigh escaped him. Great, just great. That had obviously come out of his mouth in a way he hadn't intended. But obviously his exhaustion and frustration had boiled over into his words. Now, knowing Dean like he did, he was going to take his time just to spite him.

Probably have a few drinks before he even placed his order.

Maybe some more after.

His aggravation grew every minute that he sat there with the engine running, waiting for his former brother to get back to the car. There was a part of him that was tempted to drive away and leave him there but he knew that would be a big mistake. Dean would do what he said he would do without the slightest hesitation. Probably even take selfies while doing it that he'd have Roman post. Not to mention that the way Seth's luck was going, he'd get pulled over and tossed in jail for not having his license on him.

Just when he was really starting to question if allowing a pissed off Dean in a place that served alcohol by himself was one of his more intelligent ideas, the dirty blonde emerged from the restaurant with two bags. He opened the back door, settled his purchases inside then shut the door, leaning into the window of the driver's side. "Scoot over, I'm driving."

"Uh…" He blinked owlishly, thrown off by the demand. "No, no you're not."

A gruff chuckle followed that response, "I think I am."

Seth rolled his eyes and held his ground, in no mood to be indulgent anymore than he had already been to his former brother. "Well, I really don't know why you'd think that since it's my rental car."

"Because that's what gonna happen if you ever wanna get your wallet back." A victorious smirk twisted his lips. "But if you don't then just say the word and I'll chuck it into the rancid smelling dumpster over there. Be a lot of fun for me to watch you go diving into that to find it."

Muttering curses under his breath, he pushed open the door and made his way around to the other side of the car. He ducked into the passenger side, pulling on his seatbelt harshly. Folding his arms over his chest, he threw a sneer at his tormentor, who looked entirely too comfortable as he got himself situated behind the wheel. "Can we just get this over with?"

"Sure thing princess." With that, Dean started the car and tore out of the parking lot at a speed that would make a race car driver nervous.

Seth quickly unfolded his arms, gripped the dashboard for dear life and pressed his feet into the floorboard as hard as he could. It had been a few months since he'd been in a car with the other man behind the wheel and he either forgotten or repressed the knowledge that he tended to drive like a damn maniac. Visions of past experiences were rapidly dancing before his eyes and his nails dug in deeper on the dashboard. "Slow down, I don't feel like joining Roman in the hospital!"

"Relax, nothing to worry about." A grin that wasn't the slightest bit reassuring spread across the lips of the mad man behind the wheel as he darted around a car that was moving too slowly for him. Thankfully, he didn't take his eyes off the road. "I'm only occasionally seeing double."

His heart started to pound in his chest as his head whipped in the direction of the other man. Did that mean that he'd passed time waiting for food by downing a few drinks? Or did it mean that he hadn't been cleared by his doctors and was still suffering effects from his concussion? "I-You-What?"

"I said, I'm only occasionally seeing…"

"I heard that part!" His words were rushed, tense and worry poured through them. "I just don't know what that means. That your way of saying that you've been drinking?"

"Nope."

That pit of dread spread through his stomach and he swallowed thickly as his worst fear was all but confirmed. He wiped his suddenly clammy palms on the thighs of his jeans and took a deep breath before he asked the question that he really didn't know if he wanted an answer to. "Y-y-you haven't been cleared by the Neurologist yet?"

No answer was forth coming, not that he really expected confirmation, as the car took a sudden, tight and terrifying sharp right turn into the parking lot of the hotel and screeched to a stop. The engine was cut then there was nothing to keep those cold blue eyes off of him now. Dean cracked his neck then gave him one of those slightly crazy looking smirks that he usually directed at him in the ring. "Get out of the car."

Seth's anxiety level rose at the cold tone being directed at him as he saw his former brother get out of the car and pocket the keys. He wet his lips but it didn't stop the words from coming out of his mouth very weakly as he slowly made his way out of the vehicle and tentatively shut the door on safety. "I mean, yeah, I have to get out. Obviously. You know, so I can get back into the driver's seat and you can give me back my wallet then be on my way to Memphis."

"Nah, we won't be doing that right now." Something flashed in those eyes. "Maybe later."

"What do you mean?"

"You're not tracking real well tonight huh?"

A mirthless chuckle escaped his mouth, "Well, it's been a night of surprises."

"Anyway, here's what's gonna happen." There was something heavy in that disconcerting steely blue gaze. "You're gonna come up to the room, eat the food I was considerate enough to get you and then, you and I are gonna have a little chat about the last few months."

"I got to get on the road."

"Oh, you will," That alarming smirk grew wider, "After we've had our conversation."

Seth really didn't want to have this conversation even though he knew that he owed answers to the other man. Not just for ripping away the only stability Dean had ever known but also why he decided to involve himself in the dirty blonde's recovery when he was the one who caused the injury. He just wasn't ready to say any of those answers out loud yet. Needed to think things through and come up with responses that wouldn't end up getting him punched.

But one look at his former brother and he knew that there was no way he was going to escape this situation without doing what the eccentric man wanted.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Your choice how it goes down man." Dean straightened from his perpetual slouch, drawing himself up to his full height. He tilted his head slightly and cracked his knuckles before those hands curled into fists. "But either way, it is going down tonight."

"Fine, we'll talk about this but I want you to agree to something first."

"Oh yeah, what's that?"

"That no matter what, you'll let me talk." He held the other's unwavering man gaze. "No letting your temper get the better of you and hitting me before I'm finished."

The dirty blonde shrugged. "Long as hitting you ain't off the table completely, I can agree."

"Alright," With a resigned sigh, Seth nodded. "Then let's do this."