Dean and Carolyn sat around the terminal as they waited for their respective flights; he moving on to the next destination for Raw while she was going home to New York. She had managed to worm her way out of having to stay for overnight observation after the prognosis, not wanting to stay in a hospital any longer than she had to. It wasn't as if she hated doctors but more often than not they had been the bearers of bad news. As it was they had wrapped her in enough tape and bandages to resemble an impromptu mummy; right wrist, left bicep and her chest were all covered in the pristine white material. Ambrose was grateful for the last night they would spend with each other for a while, even though it hadn't been the best night worth of rest. His own body felt like it had gone through a grinder and she hadn't been able to find a spot comfortable enough to fall asleep in for more than a couple of hours at a time. As a result he had been dozing for the past thirty minutes.

Dean's eyes snapped open at a sharp hiss of discomfort. Carolyn had moved to find a more comfortable spot but her ribs were protesting the idea and he could see the frustration becoming evident. "You need to take it easy, Princess."

"Probably," She reluctantly agreed before settling back against him.

"Not probably. Definitely."

"Fine." She managed to stop fidgeting and was silent for a moment, "You broke the work rule."

He smirked at the sudden comment while adjusting him arm around her shoulders, "I'll do it again too, the look on your face was worth it."

She wanted to laugh at his self satisfaction but quickly thought the better of the idea, battered bone and bruised muscle playing the role of the fun police, "Christ, it feels like I stepped in front of a truck. I think the Tramadol is starting to wear off."

His smile faded at the reminder that she was now out of commission for a at least two months due to a multitude of cracked and broken bones, the majority of them being her ribs. Considering some of the more serious alternatives that could have happened and how awkwardly she had hit the table, Ambrose guessed he should be thankful that she got away with what were mild injuries in comparison. He only could have guessed at his reaction if she had wound up with a broken neck. He wondered if her current state was his fault but almost immediately dismissed the idea; the only one to blame here was Ziggler and his inability to let go. While Dean could admit he hadn't always treated women as well as he should have in the past, he wouldn't have thrown any of them off a fifteen foot cage like that either.

Roman and Seth appeared bearing hot drinks just she had fished out the small box of pain killers, popping a few out of the protective plastic bubbles and swallowed them. Taking the cup Seth offered and thanking him she sipped at it, enjoying the sweet taste of chocolate and added sugar. There wasn't much talking going on, it was far too early to try and get brains into gear for any real conversation. Eventually the boarding announcement for the flight the guys were booked on came over the PA system and all four of them stood up. Rollins and Reigns said their goodbyes, Carolyn almost swallowed whole by Roman's huge arms as he carefully hugged her, then took off toward the gate.

"Guess this is it," Dean said, though was reluctant to go; the idea of going back to having hotel rooms to himself felt surprisingly weird.

"Don't worry, you'll be so busy that the time will fly by." Reaching out she brushed the unruly dirty blond hair from his face, only to have it fall back across his eyes. He grinned at the futile attempt, kicking up that slightly dishevelled charm up a notch like he knew it would. "If there was enough time I'd make you go change your flight."

"Can't live without me, huh?"

"I choose not to answer that," Carolyn replied, "If I did you'd have to book an extra seat for your ego alone."

"Please, woman, you can't hide the truth from me," Dean answered, said ego swelling just a little at the unspoken implication, "I know what my lady likes best." Wait, where the hell had that last part come from? While his brain had firmly claimed Carolyn under the 'mine' category, he had actually managed to refrain saying anything as such... until now.

"'Your lady' huh?" Her expression was neutral for a moment, one brow slowly creeping up as she watched him. She almost laughed when he began to fidget under the mock scrutiny before giving him a smile to show she was simply teasing him, "I think I'll let you get away with it... for now. But only because you have a great ass."

They were skirting around it again, both knew it but neither could actually bring themselves to broach it. The game was brought to an abrupt end by the PA system, this time announcing the boarding call for her own flight back home.

He kept himself from heaving a resigned sigh, the whole situation simply sucked. His hands cupped her face and tilted her head up, planting a long, lingering kiss on her lips. He didn't let it go until he had managed to drag a small pining noise out of her. Yep, definitely his. "Be good for me, Princess. I want you ASAP."

"Shouldn't that be you want me back?"

"I know what I said."

"You are a bad, bad man. My mind is now thoroughly entrenched in the gutter."

"Perfect," He grinned, "Maybe next time it'll be you, me and twenty feet of chain."

"Strike you being bad, you're just plain evil."

They finally headed to their separate gates, but not before Dean gave Carolyn one last kiss that had her starting to lightly rake her nails down his chest through his shirt. Two months alone was definitely going kill him; he was positive he'd die of blue balls before she could get back.

By the time the taxi finally pulled to a stop in Manhattan, Carolyn was more than a little grouchy and physically exhausted. Between the previous night's lack of sleep, a couple of obnoxious wealthy brats in the seat behind her chattering and cackling away like hyenas then getting jostled through LaGuardia airport she was quite positive she would strangle the next person to push their luck; broken wrist or not. To top it all off the cabbie had zoomed off before she could get him to give her a hand hauling her luggage up the stairs. It was just not her day it seemed. When she finally got inside she left the bags beside the door, to tired and sore to deal with them at the moment. That was when she heard the shower upstairs running and realised that the alarm hadn't gone off, despite her not having punched in the code to disarm it yet.

Who the hell is in my house?

Abruptly the water cut off and she carefully picked up a baseball bat that she kept just behind the front door and crept up the stairs, avoiding the ones that made any noise. Whoever the son of a bitch was they'd regret breaking into this particular home. Who breaks in to have a shower anyway? God damn weirdos. Wait... Christ tap dancing on a cracker, please don't let it be him.

As the bathroom door opened she swung on instinct, hearing a male cry of surprise but not managing to connect with anything but the frame when he leapt backwards. With space between them she actually had a second to take stock and recognised the familiar face.

"What are you doing here?!"

The Shied were in the bowels of the building somewhere, standing around in the half dark with a camera to kick off the beginning of Monday Night Raw. Ambrose was standing in the centre with Reigns flanking him on the right and Rollins the left.

"Last night we proved without a shadow of a doubt that when it comes to thriving under pressure, nobody does it better than The Shield. We took back and kept what was ours, just like we said we would; but really, that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Tonight however, we have a new problem to solve." Dean's face then went from his casual cool to something darker as he continued, "Dolph, you not only put your hands on the Women's champion, you actually threw her off the cage and into the announce table. The second you did that you provoked the hounds, and we're not just interested in justice any more."

Roman jerked the bottom of the camera lens to face him, his expression cold and stoic, "We're out for blood."

Seth was more animated as he delivered his part with a little more zeal, "There is nowhere you can run, nowhere you can hide that we won't find you. Everywhere you turn we'll be there, making your life an absolute living hell."

The camera panned back onto the US champion and he offered up one of his trademark smirks, though the dark intent in his eyes still remained. "Don't think we're going to make this short and sweet either, Ziggler. We're gonna have our fun hunting you down. We're going to make you scream and beg and plead. Then... who knows, maybe we'll finally out you out of your misery." Just as it looked like he was finished Dean decided to add one last thing, "And as for all you little rabbits running around the women's locker room, don't get too comfortable. Our She-Wolf maybe be down at the moment, but I can assure you, she's certainly not out."

With that they left the camera on the floor, the last shot being three pairs of boots striding past with a purpose.

Very short, I know, but I feel like teasing you guys a little :P