Kimber looked back and forth between the smirking Natalya to the sleeping Sheamus. It was like someone had stolen the air from her lungs. She couldn't breathe. Why couldn't she breathe?
Stirring came from the bed and her eyes instantly went back to it. She looked on as the Irishman raised his hand to his face, rubbing it over his closed eyes. He let it drop beside him in a huff, the blue depths opening and blinking. He looked around for a moment, brows knit with confusion.
Groaning, he sat up and instantly his eyes went to the door, to where Natalya gazed at him with a Cheshire grin and a stunned Kimber stood, tears beginning to rise to her eyes.
He studied them for a moment, not sure what was going on.
"Kember?" he asked in confusion.
That single word, her name, seemed to bring her out of her stasis. Without a word, the reporter turned and bolted down the hallway.
Sheamus surged from the bed, swaying slightly when his feet touched the floor. What the hell was going on?
He slowly sat back down, scrubbing his hands over his face as he tried to think. The last thing he remembered was being at that club, drinking a pint. And then. . .
He blinked, eyes narrowing as he tried to recollect. He couldn't remember. Everything after that was a blur.
The Celtic Warrior once again rose to his feet, thankfully not dizzy this time, and began to pull on his jeans.
His eyes went to Natalya, who was leaning against the closed door and looking at him with a bright smile, hand loosely holding a sheet around her naked body.
At the sight of her, anger began to well up inside his chest.
"What've you done?" he practically snarled as he seized his t-shirt and put it on.
Natalya's smile faltered as she stepped away from the door, "We made love last night."
She began to grin, her eyes clouding over dreamily, "And it was even better than I remembered. You were an animal."
Sheamus took a threatening step towards her, "What did you do to me, Natalya?"
"Nothing!" the Diva huffed, "I didn't do anything. Don't blame me because you couldn't keep your hands off of me."
The Irishman raked his hands through his hair. It was either do that or, he feared, he'd use them to throttle the blonde.
"Look, why can't you just believe that maybe, just maybe, we're not as over as you'd like to think?" the Diva pressed, "I mean, you were pretty anxious to sleep with me last night."
Sheamus turned his back on her, again rubbing his hands over his face. He couldn't believe this. This wasn't possible. He couldn't have. . .he wouldn't have willingly cheated on Kimber. Not Kimber. He loved her too much. She was the only woman he wanted to be with. The only woman he wanted.
He turned, glaring down at the blonde. At his fearsome expression Natalya took a step backwards, swallowing nervously.
"Sheamus-" she started but the Irishman cut her off.
"Ah'm gonna figure out what you did." he muttered, tightly leashed rage dripping from each word, "And then Ah'm gonna see you pay for it."
"It's not my fault you got drunk last night and cheated on your girlfriend." the Diva countered, trying to appear brave, "The only one you can blame for that is yourself."
Sheamus felt a pain go through his heart at her words. He couldn't have done it. He didn't care how drunk he might have been, he never would have cheated on Kimber. Never.
"Get yer clothes on and get the hell out of my room." he growled as he stalked towards the door, "Ah mean it, Natalya. Stay the hell away from me or else."
And then he was gone.
.
.
.
.
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Kimber was fighting to hold back her tears, but it wasn't easy. She could feel the dam crumbling and she knew it wouldn't be long until it finally broke.
She saw her room up ahead and her pace quickened, the young woman fumbling to pull out her room key. She finally managed to get it free from her pocket just as she reached the door.
Not wasting any time, she quickly slid it through the slot and hurried into the room just as the first tears were beginning to fall.
Josh emerged from the bathroom, toothbrush in his mouth, as Kimber stumbled into the room. One look into her tear filled eyes and he was instantly on alert.
"What happened?" he asked, slowly removing the brush.
"I. . ." Kimber began to cry as she threw herself into her friend's arms.
Josh's arms immediately tightened around her. He pressed a kiss against her forehead, worried.
"What happened?" he asked her gently, "Kimber, talk to me."
"I just. . .I went to Sheamus' room. . ." she struggled to talk through her tears, "Oh, Josh! I can't believe he would. . .do this to me. I thought he cared about me!"
Josh gently took hold of her shoulders and pulled back, searching her face, "Kimber, what did Sheamus do?"
"I found him and Natalya!" the reporter looked up at him, heartbroken, "She answered the door, wearing a sheet, and he was asleep on the bed. They were both. . .he'd. . ."
She buried her head against his chest, shaking as sobs racked her body.
Josh blinked, stunned. He couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe that Sheamus would sleep with Natalya. He couldn't believe he would sleep with anyone who wasn't Kimber.
He knew how much the big guy cared about her. Anyone with eyes could see it. So how in the world did he and the blonde Diva end up in bed together.
"Kimber, there has to a logical explanation for this." the announcer spoke up, trying to be the voice of reason, "Come on, it's Natalya. Sheamus can't stand her. Are you sure-"
Kimber pulled back, glaring through her tears, "I know what I saw, Josh! She was naked. He was naked. And she had this. . .this sly little smile on her face. You can't misinterpret that!"
Josh was at a loss. He didn't know what to say, let alone think. He still couldn't believe that Sheamus would cheat on Kimber. He would never have fathomed-
At that moment pounding came from the door.
"Kember!" Sheamus' voice, beseeching, called out, "Kember, open the door!"
Kimber looked towards the door, pain and fear in her eyes. She shook her head and took a few steps back.
"I-I. . .I can't!" she whispered hoarsely and turned, darting into the bathroom. A few seconds later Josh heard the sounds of the lock turning.
He looked at the door and hesitated, not sure what to do. Finally, carefully, he approached it.
"Sheamus!" he called out over the larger man's unrelenting pounding and calling, "Sheamus, just go away, okay? She doesn't want to see you!"
"Open the door, Josh." by the sound of the Celtic Warrior's voice it was clear that he was prepared to kick the door in if the other man didn't comply.
Josh scrambled to open the door, but he only opened it a tiny bit and kept himself in front of it.
"Now isn't a good time." he told the wrestler.
"Step aside, fella." Sheamus' face was flushed, his eyes determined.
"Sheamus-"
"Step aside." the wrestler said quietly, "Or Ah'll move ya."
Josh swallowed and took a step back. Sheamus entered instantly, his eyes darting around as he tried to spot Kimber.
He noticed the closed bathroom door and closed his eyes, scrubbing a hand over his face. He exhaled and opened his eyes, the blue depths filled with pain and shame. He approached it, hand pressed against the cool surface the wood.
"Kember." he called out gently, forehead against the door, "Angel, please, open the door. Let me in."
He could hear sniffling from the other side and it tore through his heart. What had he done? How could he have hurt such a wonderful woman?
"Please." he pleaded, voice breaking with emotion, "Please, you have to believe me, Kember. Ah don' know what Natalya did to me, but Ah would never purposely hurt ya. Please, open the door so we can talk about it."
"Go away." the words were softly spoken, but held so much anguish that Sheamus wanted to roar in pain.
Josh stepped forward and, placing a hand on his bicep, quietly suggested, "Maybe you should leave."
Sheamus wheeled on him, practically snarling, and the announcer immediately let him go and backed away. He raised his hands in the air, his eyes wide with fear.
The Irishman stopped, telling himself that the lad hadn't done anything wrong. That he was only trying to protect his friend.
He uttered a shaky sigh and relented, eyes cast to the ground, "Ah'm sorry, Josh."
He turned back to the door, feeling helpless and hopeless. He wanted to beat on it until his hands were bloody. He wanted to beg and plead for her to let him in. He wanted to take her in his arms and tell her how much he loved her and how sorry he was; that he would have never willingly slept with that banshee had he been in his right mind.
But he did none of those things. He took a few steps back, raking his hands through his hair.
"This isn' over, lass." he promised as he slowly turned and began to make his way out of the room, "This isn' over."
He left, closing the door quietly behind him. After he was gone Josh let out the breath he didn't even realize he had been holding and walked over to the closed door.
"Kimber?" the announcer carefully knocked, "Kimber, he's gone. You can come out now."
There were a few anxious minutes where only silence greeted him. Then, at long last, the door swung open.
The reporter stepped out, tears trailing down her cheeks. Her red, puffy eyes met her friend's and her face crumbled.
"Come here." Josh instantly hugged her, pulling her tightly against him.
She practically clung to him, shaking as sobs coursed through her.
"I thought I could trust him." she wept painfully, "I thought I was safe with him."
He was the last person she ever thought could hurt her. If anyone had told her he would have she would have laughed in their face. Sheamus? Hurt her? Inconceivable!
How could she have been so wrong about him?
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The arena SmackDown was taking place in that night was a bustle with activity. Crew and wrestlers were running this way and that, either preparing for matches or trying to keep the show running smoothly.
Unfortunately, it was also ripe with gossip. By now all of the SmackDown roster had heard about what had happened between the Celtic Warrior, the reporter and the Diva. Thanks in large part to Ms. Neidhart, who unabashedly told everyone she saw that she and Sheamus had spent the night in his hotel room, locked together in unbridled passion.
Kimber made her way down the halls, eyes straight ahead. She could hear the whispers, she knew that everyone was talking about what had happened. She felt her face redden but she kept her chin held high. There was no way she was going to shrink back and hide away. She was not at victim. Hadn't been for five years and would never be again.
She rounded a corner and drew to a stop as Layla and Kaitlyn approached her. Both Divas regarded her with sympathy and Kimber instantly tensed.
"No." she warned before either could speak, "I'm not talking about it. Not now. If you're not here for an interview then move on."
The Divas blinked, surprised by her cool attitude.
"All right." Layla sighed, relenting, "But don't shut us out, okay?"
"Yeah." Kaitlyn added, gentle, "We're only here because we care about you."
For a split second Kimber's carefully applied mask began to crumble. The two women could see the pain laying just below the surface.
But instantly the mask once again slipped back into place and the reporter was all business.
"I appreciate that." she stated, eyes going to the ground.
The two Divas looked at one another, uncertain of what to do. At last Kaitlyn shrugged and they turned to walk away.
"Wait!' Kimber turned back to them, the reporter feeling guilty.
They slowly faced her. She regarded them hesitantly, unsure of what to say or do.
Without a word the Divas approached her, giving her a hug. Kimber closed her eyes tightly, fighting not to cry, as she returned their embrace.
"I'm sorry." she whispered.
"We are, too." Layla told her as they drew back.
She gave the reporter a kind smile, reaching out to stroke her hair.
"For what it's worth," Kaitlyn spoke up cautiously, "I don't believe that Sheamus would cheat on you. Not on purpose, that is."
Kimber closed her eyes and took a shaky breath, fighting to keep her emotions under control. She couldn't break down. Not now. Not there at work. She had to stay professional.
She at last opened her eyes, wiping at a few stray tears. She gave them a small smile and stated, "Okay, enough of this. Layla, you have a match to prepare for. Kaitlyn, go cause some trouble."
The Divas began to laugh before giving her another hug.
"We'll talk after the show." Layla promised.
"Yes." Kimber agreed, knowing that it needed to happen.
She bid them goodbye and continued on through the hall. As she rounded a corner she could see Joel checking out his camera. Zack Ryder was standing beside him.
"Zack." Kimber made herself appear casual as she approached the wrestler, "I'm ready for your interview whenever you are."
Zack slipped off his shades, nervously toying with them, "Um, cool. Listen, Kimber-"
"I'm all right." she tried to assure him, even going so far as to give him a warm smile, "So let's do this interview, okay?"
"Yeah." Zack slipped the shades back on and nodded, "Sure. Whenever you're ready."
Kimber turned to Joel, who raised his camera. He held up one finger before pointing it at her, signaling that they were live.
"Zack," Kimber was all smiles, "In just a few short minutes you'll be facing Antonio Cesaro for a shot at his United States Championship. What are your thoughts going into this match?"
"It's gonna be sick!" Zack grinned into the camera, "The Internet Champion is about to become the Untied States Champion again for a second time! Woo woo woo!"
He took off his shades and winked at the camera, "You know it!"
"Thank you, Zack." Kimber replied sincerely, "And good luck."
Zack pattered her on the shoulder and headed down to ringside for his match.
"We're clear." Joel stated as he lowered the camera.
The cameraman stepped up to her, offering a nervous smile, "So how are you doing?"
"Don't start." Kimber sighed, eyes going to the ceiling, "Look, I appreciate that you care. I do, Joel. But I don't want to deal with that right now. I just want to do my job and get the hell out of here. That's all."
Joel gave her a kind smile, patting her arm, "I understand. Okay, I'll shut up now."
"Thank you." the reporter breathed.
Joel turned to head off when he drew to a stop, his eyes locking in on something down the hall.
He turned back to her and frowned, "But, um, I don't think he will."
Kimber followed his gaze and froze, her eyes landing on Sheamus. He was standing a few feet away, staring at her, his blue eyes intense.
She found herself shaking her head and taking a step back. She couldn't do this. Not there. Not now.
She turned and started hurrying down the hall. At her retreat the Irishman took off after her.
"Kember!" he called out, desperate to talk to her, "Kember, at least talk to me!"
She said nothing, her feet hurrying along the corridor.
"Kember!" Sheamus barked, the sound like a gunshot.
Her footsteps faltered, the young woman coming to a screeching halt.
She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, mentally building up her armor. She didn't know if she could do this. She didn't know if her heart could take this. Why couldn't he just leave her alone?
But even as she thought that she knew the answer. Because that wasn't who Sheamus was. He would keep going, keep fighting, until there was nothing left. He wasn't just called the Celtic Warrior for nothing.
She kept her back to him but as Sheamus approached he could see her shoulders rising and falling rapidly. Could hear her breathing speed up a little. He knew this had to be hard for her.
Part of him had told himself to leave her be, give her time. But he couldn't do it. He couldn't stay away from her. He had to get her to see that he hadn't meant to hurt her.
He still couldn't figure how it had happened. He had been fine at that bleedin' club. So how had that little banshee gotten to him?
He came to a stop behind her and everything in him was screaming for him to take her in his arms. But he didn't, forcing his hands to stay at his sides. He knew she wouldn't allow it, the action might even frighten her. And that was the very last thing he wanted to do to her.
"We need to talk." he murmured.
"There's nothing to talk about." her voice tried to appear strong, but he could hear the catch underneath.
"Kember-"
"No!" she snapped, spinning around to face him, her eyes burning, "We're not doing this here! I can't. . ."
Her voice hitched and tears began to shine in her eyes. At the sight of them Sheamus reached out to brush one away.
She recoiled from him, pain and fear on her face. He felt his heart clench and it was all he could do not to growl.
"Don't. Touch. Me." she hissed, wiping at her eyes as she took a few shaky steps back, "Don't touch me. Don't talk to me. Just leave me alone! I don't want anything to do with you!"
And with that she turned and darted away.
He started to go for her when he made himself stop. Angrily raking his hands though his hair, he turned away. He glared out at nothing, face red and chest heaving. He had never felt so enraged, so helpless, before.
He turned and stormed off in the other direction. At the sight of him crew and wrestlers alike quickly scurried out of his way. A few of them began to grow uneasy. The last time they had seen him like that was a few years ago, when he had been a cruel and vicious newcomer. They feared that maybe he was going to be that way again.
He was just about to go into his locker room when he heard a voice. A very familiar voice.
Slowly turning around, his eyes burned on a monitor a few feet away. There, on the screen in the middle of the ring, was a beaming Natalya.
"I just wanted to be the first one let all of you know," she announced with a happy sigh, "That Sheamus and I are back together."
The crowd began to boo, a few of them chanting that the Diva was pathetic. Her smile slipped for a second at that before coming back full force.
"It's true." she stated with a sly look in her eyes, "Last night I met up with Sheamus at a club and we had a few drinks and a few laughs."
She looked around the arena and sighed, "And it was like old times. As the night went on we began to realize just how much we still meant to one another. He took me back to his hotel room and. . ."
Her eyes grew dreamy, "All I can say is, it was a wonderful night."
She pointed to the Titan Tron and added, "Just see for yourself."
Sheamus' eyes narrowed as he saw security footage of the outside of the club. Suddenly the front door opened and out he and Natalya came. More so, out he stumbled. He was walking behind the Diva, arm wrapped around her shoulders from behind.
The Irishman leaned in closer, studying himself. He was practically on top of the woman, no question. But it looked more like he was hanging on her for balance than because he wanted to. Even his face looked slack, his eyes unfocused.
He felt his anger start to come back and he stormed off down to ringside. At the sight of him the fans began to cheer, while a few even started to boo. He paid them no heed as he continued towards the ring.
Natalya watched him approach and her smile faltered as she took in the way his eyes were narrowed and the tension in his features. She began to wonder if maybe this wasn't the best idea after all.
Sheamus climbed into the ring and made his way past her, noting how she flinched as he came closer. He walked over to the ropes and asked for a microphone. Lillian gave him one with a frown, the ring announcer stepping back.
The Irishman turned to the Diva, studying her in disbelief. She was more delusional than he thought.
"Yer off yer nut." he said at last, earning some cheers from the fans, "Are you honestly gonna stand out here and tell these people that what happened between us last night was a hundred percent consensual?'
"Yes!" Natalya snapped, stomping her foot, "You wanted me and you know it!"
Sheamus scrubbed a hand over his face before taking a threatening step towards her, "You put somethin' in me drink last night, Natalya! Just admit it!"
"I didn't!" the Diva protested, "I didn't do anything!"
"You did!" the Celtic Warrior bellowed, causing the blonde to cringe, "Ah didn' have that much to drink last night. Certainly not enough to black out."
He sneered at her as he added cruelly, "And the only way Ah would touch the likes of you is if Ah was on somethin'."
Natalya gaped up at him. Tears of humiliation began to well up in her eyes but the redheaded man didn't care. He didn't give a shite for her pain. Not after all the pain she had caused Kimber.
The Diva dashed the tears away and began to snap, "Oh, so you cheat on your girlfriend and suddenly I'm the bad guy?
"Face it, Sheamus, if you cared about Kimber at all you never would have had anything to do with me last night." Natalya stated triumphantly, "That's what you're really angry about. Not that we were together. But that your so-called relationship wasn't as strong as you thought!"
"I'm not your average type of girl,
I'm gonna show the world,
the strength in me that sometimes they can't see.
I'm about to switch my style,
And soon things may get wild,
But I will prove that I can conquer anything.
So from my head to toe,
I'm taking full control.
I'll make it on my own this time!
Better watch me shine!"
The fans erupted as Kimber stepped out onto the stage. Looking both angry and embarrassed, she stormed down the ramp and towards the ring.
She couldn't believe that this was getting aired for all the world to see and hear. She had never felt so humiliated in her entire life!
Sheamus watched as she approached, trepidation welling up inside him. She looked like she was hanging on by a thread, her nerves frayed.
Kimber climbed up the steps and made her way out onto the apron. As she approached the ropes the wrestler instantly came forward, holding them open for her. She glared up at him for a few moments, hesitant to entire.
"Come on, Kember." he sighed, "Ah'm gonna help you in whether you like it or not."
She thought a few more seconds before finally slipping into the ring. She stormed right over to Natalya and yanked the microphone out of the surprised blonde's hand.
Sheamus couldn't help but smirk at that. His girl could be a real hooligan when she wanted to be.
But when she fixed her cold gaze on him his smile faded away.
"Stop it." she snapped before turning her attention to Natalya, "Stop it, both of you! I don't want to be involved with any of this! And I cannot believe that you would come out here and announce this to the world!"
"Kember-" Sheamus started but she cut him off.
"No!" she snapped and just for a second her mask began to crack.
She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, willing herself to be strong. When she turned back to him she was once again set.
"I don't trust you." it killed her to say those words, that much was obvious to everyone, "And I don't believe anything you have to say."
That was it. Sheamus had had enough.
He stalked over to the brunette, glowering down at her, "After everythin' we've been through yer just gonna write me off like that?! Kember, you know me! You know this is a set up! How in the hell can you even stand there and believe anythin' this banshee is sayin' now?"
Kimber looked up at him helplessly. The truth was, it was hard for her to believe Natalya. And she did want to believe him. She wanted to believe him so much. But she couldn't. Something inside of her just wouldn't allow her to.
"Ah know the real reason why yer so quick to give up on us." Sheamus accused, taking another step towards her, "We're gettin' closer and that scares the hell outta you. So you feel like you have to do somethin', anythin', to push me away. Well now you've found a reason, only this way Ah'm the one who looks like the bad guy instead of you."
Kimber blinked, taking in his words. Could that be it? Was that the truth? Was she doing all of this because she was simply afraid?
The reporter turned away and scoffed. Sheamus reached out and grabbed a hold of her arm, spinning her back around to face him. She promptly yanked her arm free from his grasp, her eyes flashing like fire.
"It's because I found you in bed with Natalya!" she snapped., unwilling to even consider that he might be right.
"And Ah'm sayin' that somehow she drugged me!" Sheamus growled, "Kember, Ah can drink most fellas under the table. You know that! All the lads in the back know that! But after two pints Ah'm suddenly too drunk to function?"
He took a step back and shook his head, "No. No way. She did somethin' to me."
"No, I didn't!" the Diva argued, "I didn't do anything to him! He wanted me and we slept together!"
Sheamus wheeled on her, looking like he wanted to throttle her with his bare hands. At his intense expression the blonde quickly backed away.
Kimber looked back and forth between them. She couldn't believe this. She couldn't believe all of this was happening.
Her eyes searched out the arena, taking in the fact that the fans were watching all of this, chanting and cheering, and she felt her face redden. And to do this in front of them! She couldn't. She couldn't be out there anymore. She needed to get away.
Without a word she turned and quickly climbed back through the ropes. She hurried across the apron and down the steps, making her way towards the back.
Sheamus realized she was gone and he spun around, calling out, "Kember! Kember, don' do this! Don' walk away from us!"
She ignored him though. Wrapping her arms around herself she continued on, needing desperately to escape.
The Irishman stared after her, a maelstrom of emotions tearing through him: fury, pain, helplessness, desperation.
But one, above all others, pushed it's way to the forefront. It roared through his veins, making his heart pound furiously in his chest.
The Celtic Warrior watched the reporter drawing farther and farther away from him and something inside him snapped.
He rushed to the ring ropes, gripping one of them tightly in his large hand, as he raised the mic and called out without thought, voice filled with conviction, "Is tú mo ghrá! Ah love you!"
The fans were on their feet, screaming and cheering. Natalya looked at the Irishman in anger and disbelief.
On the ramp Kimber's steps instantly stopped, the reporter's eyes widening in shock. Soon tears began to pool in those green depths as astonishment flowed through her. She was completely rocked to her very core.
Shaking, she turned around to look back at him. Uncertainty was written across her pretty face.
Sheamus wasted no time and quickly climbed out of the ring. He stalked towards her, determined and unrelenting, his eyes never leaving her face.
"Ah love you." he repeated, a wealth of emotion in his words as he approached, "Ah've loved you for so long now, Kember."
The reporter blinked, her tears spilling down her cheeks. She found herself shaking her head. He didn't. . .he couldn't. . .
"Ah love you." he stated before dropping the microphone.
He was before her in an instant, grabbing her up in his arms. He lifted her high against his chest, his lips crashed against hers in a soul searing kiss.
Sheamus tightened one arm around her waist, the other gripping the back of her head, as his mouth ravaged hers. He slipped his tongue inside, caressing and lapping at her own.
Kimber whimpered, her face wet with tears. Her hands gripped at his biceps and she began to give in to his sweet assault.
Sheamus wanted to roar with triumph. The feeling of her sweet body against his own, of her returning his kiss with just as much passion and fire. . .he couldn't believe how fortunate he was to have gotten her back. His love for her seemed to go up another notch as he deepened the embrace.
Something clicked in Kimber's mind and suddenly she was back to that morning. Of standing in front of his door, ready to tell him she loved him. Of the door opening and having all of her hopes dashed as she took in the sight of him and Natalya.
"We're gettin' closer and that scares the hell outta you." his words echoed again and again in her head.
"No." Kimber cried against his lips, the hands once holding onto his biceps now using them to push herself away.
Sheamus heard her protests, felt her struggling away from him. He didn't want to let her go. He wanted to keep holding her, keep kissing her, until she believe in him, in them, again.
"No!" Kimber managed to wiggle out of his arms, her feet hitting the ramp, "No, I can't! I can't do this!"
She took a few shaky steps back, fear coursing through her body. She looked up at him, taking in his heaving chest and tightly controlled expression. It was all he could do not to launch himself at her again, she knew it. She could feel it.
But she couldn't allow him to do it. Because if he did, she might be able to resist him a second time.
With a strangled cry the reporter turned on her heels and fled. Sheamus started to go after her when he heard Natalya call after him.
He slowly turned around, scowling up at her. He didn't think it was possible to hate anyone as much as he was starting to hate her. The depths of his rage for her was even beginning to scare him a little.
"See! Do you see that?!" the Diva pointed up the ramp, where Kimber had left, "She doesn't care about you! You just told her you loved her and she ran away! How can you want to be with her?! I would never leave you! I would never walk away if you told me you loved me!"
"If you don' tell the truth, so help me. . ." Sheamus had to stop and gain control of himself, "Ah mean it, Natalya. Tell the bleedin' truth!"
He turned and stalked back up the ramp. As he made his way he could hear the Diva yelling after him, "You know what the truth is! Stop pretending otherwise!"
Sheamus ignored the rest of her tirade and made his way to the back. He began tearing off down the hallways, trying in vein to spot Kimber.
He rounded a corner and ran into Bobby. The crewmember grunted and backed up a few steps, wide eyes staring up at the imposing man.
"Where is she?" Sheamus demanded, "Where is Kember?"
Bobby let out a shaky sigh, fidgeting under the wrestler's intense gaze, "She, uh, she left Sheamus. Kimber's gone."
Sheamus took a step back, raking his hands through his hair. He gripped it tightly, eyes constricting and teeth grit. Bobby, taking in his reaction, quickly darted away.
With a roar, the Irishman turned around and drove his fist against the wall. He felt pain wash over his knuckles and up his arm but he didn't care.
It paled in comparison to the pain in his heart.
.
.
.
.
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Sheamus stood at the window of his hotel room, looking out over the night sky. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against he cool glass, trying to get a handle on his emotions.
He had gone back to the hotel after the show, hoping to catch up with Kimber. To his great anger and disappointment he had discovered that neither she nor Josh had checked in with the rest of the SmackDown roster. The two were nowhere to be found.
Something clicked in his mind and his eyes shot open. He knew just who to go see for answers.
He grabbed his room card and left the room, making his way through the hallways. It wasn't long until he found himself in front of a door, banging on it.
A few moments later it opened, Layla standing there gaping up at him.
"Hi." she murmured hesitantly. She knew it was only a matter of time before he came to see her.
"Where is she?" Sheamus got right to the point.
Layla nervously glanced over her shoulder, eyebrow arched in silent question.
"Kember." Sheamus wasted no time, pushing past her and into the room.
To his surprise, though, it wasn't the reporter sitting there but instead Kaitlyn. The Diva stood up, eyes widening slightly.
"Sheamus." she greeted him with a frown.
Sheamus looked back and forth between the two women, demanding, "Where is she, Layla? Kaitlyn? Ah know you two know."
The Divas looked at one another with uncertainty. It was clear that neither one was up for talking.
"Please." the Irishman sighed as he settled onto a chair in the corner, scrubbing a hand over his face, "Please, Ah got to know where she is. Ah got to talk to her."
Layla and Kaitlyn took a seat on their respective beds, both fidgeting and nervous.
"You know me." he told them both, "You know Ah would never purposely hurt her. Ah love her. Please, tell me where she is."
"I. . ." Kaitlyn swallowed as his gaze swung to her, "I don't believe you would sleep with Natalya on purpose. I believe you when you said she must have set you up."
"I do, too." Layla agreed, "It's like you said, you'd only had a few drinks. There's no way you would have been drunk enough to go to bed with her."
Sheamus leaned forward, running his hands through his hair. Their words should have made him feel better, but all they did was make him angrier.
He glared at them, muttering, "How is it that you two can believe that but she can'?"
It hurt him more than he wanted to admit, even to himself. How could she have been so quick to believe Natalya's lies? He thought she knew him better than that. Hadn't he proved to her over the course of a few months what kind of man he was? Didn't she know his character by now?
Layla took note of the hurt laying beneath the anger and she stood, making her way over to him. She knelt down in front of him, taking his hands in her own.
"I think you were right," she replied gently, catching his eye, "When you said she was scared. I. . .we. . .know about her past."
Sheamus' eyes widened slightly at that.
"She told us not too long after telling you." the Diva offered him a small smile, "I think it was your reaction that gave her the courage to tell us."
"You've been like a rock for her." Kaitlyn agreed as she climbed off her bed and came to lean against the wall beside his chair.
"Some rock." Sheamus scoffed with a cold chuckle, pulling away from the brunette, "If Ah'm such a rock then how come she believes Ah'd jump right into bed wit' Natalya. Where's her so-called faith in me now?"
"It's like you said, she's scared." Kaitlyn piped up, "The last guy she was with didn't exactly treat her the best, ya know."
"But Ah'm not him." Sheamus growled, causing the two women to flinch in response.
"I know that." Layla told him, "And I think that deep down inside Kimber knows that, too. But, Sheamus, you have to see it from her point of view.
"After all of this time, she's finally allowed her walls to come down." she went on, "She's let herself fall for a man. And just when things are starting to get serious she finds him in bed with another woman."
"Even though it's not your fault." Kaitlyn interjected when it looked like the Irishman was going to protest.
"She's confused right now." Layla went on gently, "Hurt. She just needs time to think everything through. When she does I'm sure she'll start to see things clearly. She knows you. She really does. And I know she knows that deep down inside you would never cheat on her. Especially not with Natalya."
Sheamus exhaled, hands raising slightly at his sides. He looked completely lost.
"We were gettin' so close." he shook his head, "Ah just. . ."
He stared deeply into their eyes, imploring, "Ah need to know where she is. Ah know you two can tell me."
Layla bit her lip and glanced up Kaitlyn. The other woman shrugged, not entirely sure what to do.
"She made us promise not tot tell." Kaitlyn replied tentatively.
Sheamus surged from the chair and Layla quickly scrambled away. She joined Kaitlyn at the wall and the two women watched him pace the length of the room. He seemed to grow more and more enraged with each step he took.
Suddenly he drew to a stop, something flaring in his eyes. When he turned back to the two women there was a hint of a smirk dancing on his lips. The sight of it made the Divas uneasy.
"What about Josh?" he asked softly and they realized what he was getting at, "Ah bet she didn' make you promise not to tell me where he was."
"Sheamus, I don't know. . ." Kaitlyn glanced over at Layla for support.
The other woman was thoughtful, though, silently debating with herself.
She knew she might have been overstepping her bounds. And the last thing she wanted to do was betray Kimber's confidence in her. But looking up at Sheamus right now. . .she knew without a shadow of a doubt that he loved her friend and that he had been set up.
"Okay." Layla sighed, ignoring Kaitlyn's pointed gaze, "Okay, I'll tell you."
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.
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Kimber leaned back against the headboard, watching as Josh strut around the room, clucking like a chicken.
She wanted to smile. Heck, she wanted to laugh. But the feelings just would come. Would she ever feel like laughing again?
Josh stopped, taking in her expression. Sighing in defeat, he flopped across her bed.
"Okay, I'm out of barnyard animals." he threw his hands up into the air, "I don't know what else to do."
Kimber inhaled and stretched out beside him. They stared at one another for a few long moments, each silent.
She reached out and ran her hands through his hair, shaking her head sadly, "You don't have to do anything. Just be here."
"I'm always here." he told her with a sweet smile, reaching over to pull her into his arms.
Kimber leaned into his embrace, head pillowed on his chest. Why couldn't it have been him she had fallen in love with? Her life would have been so much easier, so much simpler.
But no. No, she'd had to fall in love with a man who had broken through all of her walls. A man who had made her feel. . .well, he had just made her feel. She had finally allowed herself to fall in love again and then, just as she was about to confess it, he had pulled the rug out from under her.
She blinked back tears, fighting not to cry. She didn't want to do this again. Why couldn't she be all cried out by now? She was honestly surprised she wasn't, all the tears she had shed since this morning.
A knock came at that moment, bringing her out of her thoughts.
"I'll get it." Kimber volunteered as she rose off the bed, "Room service was quicker than I thought they'd be."
She walked over to the door and threw it open. The pleasant smile she was wearing at once died on her lips as she took stock of who was standing outside the room.
Sheamus looked down at her, resolved.
"We're gonna finish what we started back at the arena." he announced.
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For those interested, Kimber's theme is Watch Me Shine by Joanna Pacitti. A great song and complete perfect for our plucky reporter. :)