A/N: Thank you for reviewing!

DISCLAIMER: I only own Nina, the plot, her Australian and American family and friends! The rest is WWE's!

Chapter Twenty-nine: Don't Let Go

The machine's beeping was the only sound in the room as Jon stared at a pale Nina blankly. The Doctor's said the next twenty-four hours would be crucial as to whether Nina would survive the damage inflicted to her body. The good sign, said the doctor, was that Nina was managing to breathe on her own, however they did have her hooked on oxygen as her broken ribs made her breathing shallow.

Along with broken ribs, she had stitches to the gash on her cheek, internal bleeding in the abdomen, which the doctors had found and stopped, a sprained ankle and fractured wrist. The drug injected at a high dose had been GHB. Jon didn't know how they did it, but they managed to stop it from causing any severe seizures, however Nina did have one in the ambulance but the damage done won't be known until she regained consciousness.

Jon brushed his thumb over Nina's fingers and looked over at the doorway, standing up as Frank and Trudie rushed in. Both looked sleep deprived and travel worn.

"Oh my baby!" cried Trudie, stroking Nina's face, "Jon!"

Jon hugged Trudie as Frank pressed a kiss to his daughter's forehead, and then gave Jon a hug also.

"Monty spoke with us – he picked us up from the airport," spoke Frank seriously, "They are having a hearing tomorrow. The seriousness of it had made the all those criminal experts deem it urgent enough."

"I know," said Jon with a nod, "But they still haven't caught his brother's."

"They will," said Trudie with a firm nod.

Jon simply gave a nod and looked back at Nina in silence. He took hold of her hand again and swallowed a lump in his throat, however Trudie caught his heartbroken expression.

"Oh Jon," said Trudie giving her son in law a hug, "Nina is a fighter."

"I couldn't protect her… I couldn't keep him away from her," said Jon monotonously.


"Jon doesn't want to live there anymore," said Joe to Colby, Nicholas, Ettore, Bryan, Brie, Saraya and Tenille, "I don't blame him either."

"This whole situation is just shit," said Saraya, stabbing her piece of chicken forcefully, "The bloody judge should be shot."

Colby gave Saraya's hand a gentle squeeze before speaking, "I say on Wednesday we fly to Vegas and pack their place up. It will give them one less thing to do when moving."

"We have no key," pointed out Bryan.

"Renee does."

The group looked over to Renee, who was speaking to Natalya and Nikki at another table. Renee felt their stares and Joe gestured for her to come over. Renee excused herself from the conversation and walked over to the group.

"Yeah?" she said.

Colby and the other's filled her in on the plan and Renee agreed whole heartedly.

"Brilliant. Looks like we are going to Vegas, baby," said Bryan with a cheeky grin to Brie.


Two days passed with no change. Jon barely left Nina's side – only leaving to shower when Trudie politely told him he was a bit on the nose.

Monty had won the hearing, with Domonick being locked up for life, with no chance to appeal the case or any chance for parole. His brothers were still evading capture, but the police were hot on their trail and believed they would be captured in the next two days.

"Good morning, Jon," greeted the nurse.

Jon lifted his head from the bed, "Oh, hey Beck."

"Hello, Nina," said Beck kindly, "Let's just check your vitals."

Jon watched silently as Beck, Nina's day nurse, set about checking everything.

"Oh that is good!" said Beck, "Her blood pressure is improving and she is breathing in more oxygen."

Jon smiled, for the first time in days and pressed a kiss to Nina's good hand, "You will beat this, Babe."

"She may even wake up today," said Beck brightly before leaving to see her next patient.


Nina didn't wake up that day and the next day she showed no further improvements. Jon stood up to stretch and looked at Nina in frustration. He walked back over to the bed and gently sat beside Nina and leaned forward. Gently he pressed his lips to hers and rested his forehead against Nina's.

"Wake up baby, please," begged Jon, "I need to hear your voice, see your eyes… your smile. I need you to know that I love you more than life itself."

"Jon, we need to redress her wounds," came the Doctor's voice, "Why don't you go get a spot of fresh air?"

Reluctantly, Jon left the ward.


"… that should do it."

Nina winced at the bright light, her vision clearing as someone in a white coat left the room. Nina scrunched up her nose in irritation, before moving her hands, only one felt constricted. In confusion she lifted her hand to find her left hand in a cast, with her other one dealing with a catheter. Nina carefully raised the hand and pulled the oxygen tubes from her nose and tried to sit up, only her ribcage and stomach gave shots of pain in protest. Nina let out a pained gasp and slumped against the pillows as she tried to remember how she wound up in the situation.

Her memory was blurry. She remembered tumbling into bed with Jon, in a moment of heated passion. She remembered getting up and everything thereon was blurry.

Nina looked around her ward and spotted Jon's leather jacket on the back of a chair. Her heart lurched that he was at the hospital. Again, Nina tried to sit up, ignoring the pain as she gingerly moved a leg out of the bed, followed by another. Nina looked at the catheter in her hand and breathed in as she unhooked it from whatever was being pumped into her. Carefully, Nina stood, wincing at her sore ankle. She grabbed Jon's jacket and pulled it on, over the flimsy hospital gown and with her broken wrist held against her stomach, limped towards the ward door. She needed to see Jon, touch Jon, hold him – just be near him.

Nina stepped out of the ward and looked around. She felt weak and knew her body would collapse at any moment, but she just wanted to see Jon.

"Nina?"

Nina turned and let out a raspy cry. Jon ran towards her and within seconds, his arms were around her, holding her gently against him. Nina looked up and touched his face with her unbroken hand and his lips were instantly pressed against hers.

"You're… awake," murmured Jon between kisses.

"I'm sorry," whispered Nina leaning back before Jon kissed her again, this time with more passion.

"Mrs Good! You're awake!"

Jon reluctantly leaned away from Nina and looked at the nurse, Beck, "I just came back from a walk and she was standing in the corridor."

"Mrs Good, you must lay down. You could tear your internal stitches."

Jon helped Nina back into the bed, but Nina refused to let him go so Jon settled down beside her, his hand lazily trailing up and down her arm.

"I'll get the Doctor," said Beck, "But please, drink some water – slowly."

The nurse handed Nina a cup of water and Nina sipped it, sighing as her throat felt less dry.

"Why did you do it?" asked Jon softly.

Nina placed the cup on the tray and placed her free hand on Jon's chest, her head tilted towards him, "I wanted him gone… I knew he would already be in Jersey… I just… I wanted to draw him out and end it. I was sick of running scared and sick of him terrorising everyone I love and care about."

"He was terrorising you, babe… Nina… we all thought you were going to die. He drugged you with GHB – overdosed you on it… you had a seizure and internal bleeding."

"I'm sorry… I thought I could handle it."

Jon sighed and pressed a kiss to Nina's forehead, "Well you did get him with your knife… across his hands and face… oh and they caught his brothers – you broke one's nose and the other one has damage to his throat from your hit to it."

Nina's eyes widened and Jon chuckled.

"My wife – ass kicker."

Nina managed a chuckle as the Doctor arrived.


After another weeks stay in hospital, Nina was allowed home. Again, thanks to Domonick, Nina was out of action for the next few weeks and then she would be eased back into wrestling. Nina's parents flew home the day before she was released from hospital, after being reassured she was fine.

"I… I got us a new home," said Jon as Nina and him arrived at the airport.

Nina looked at Jon with wide eyes, "You did?"

"I couldn't live in that unit… and I knew you wouldn't be able to. Colby, Joe and the other's packed everything up for us… everything is waiting at our new home."

Nina smiled and kissed Jon on the lips, "You are the world's best husband. And you know what is even better about that?"

"What?" queried Jon as he placed their luggage on the trolley.

"You are all mine and mine alone."

Jon grinned and pulled Nina towards him, his hand slipping down to her jeans covered backside, "If you weren't healing, I would find us a nice cosy spot and take you right then and there."

Nina laughed, "You get horny so easily."

"Well with a hot wife, it's not hard to get like that."

Nina chuckled and the pair headed inside to check in for their flight.


"Really?" laughed Nina as Jon tied the blindfold over her eyes as they got into his car at the airport.

"Yep," answered Jon.

Nina sighed and rested her head back in the headrest. Jon started the car and slipped one hand over to hold Nina's as he drove, listening to the radio.

"So… are we still right in Vegas?" asked Nina curiously.

"Nope."

"Are we heading up Las Vegas Freeway?"

"Nope."

Nina hummed in thought, tracing patterns on Jon's palm as a song by Evanescence played, "Bruce Woodbury Beltway?"

"You are too clever."

Nina chuckled and sighed, "I'm glad we get a fresh start."

"Me too, babe."

Nina brought Jon's hand up to her lips and kissed it before settling in and enjoying the ride.


About twenty minutes later the car slowed and Nina listened as Jon spoke to someone. The sound of gates opening made Nina tilt her head to the side curiously. Jon drove in the gates and up the road, turning right, followed by a left shortly after. The car turned again, this time into a driveway.

"Just wait," said Jon jumping out of the car and rushing around to Nina's side and opening the door.

Jon helped Nina out and removed the blindfold.

Nina blinked rapidly as her vision got used to the bright sunlight of Las Vegas. They were in a gated community and Jon turned Nina around to face a red stucco building with a teal coloured wooden door. Nina gripped onto Jon's hand as he led them to the door.

"Wait a second," said Jon as he unlocked the door and opened it a bit.

With a cheeky grin he lifted Nina up into his arms and carried her inside, with Nina laughing at his antics.

"It's tradition to carry a bride over the threshold, is it not?" said Jon as he set Nina to her feet.

Nina laughed and looked around with a gasp. They were standing in a large tiled living room. Their furniture had been set up, with Jon getting Nina's stuff out of storage. Her white lounges were arranged around Jon's rug with the glass coffee table sitting in the middle with a small glass vase with fresh flowers. Their television was up above the white mantel piece from the fireplace, with their wedding photos printed on canvases and on the walls. To Nina's left was a carpeted staircase and directly across from her was an archway. The archway led to a hall, with glass double doors leading to a courtyard. The opposite side led to the kitchen, which was tiled also. The benches were a reddy colour with wooden cupboards and a walk in pantry. Off of the kitchen was a dining room and in it was a long, new dining table set.

"Our wedding gift from Vince," said Jon as Nina looked at it in wonder.

"Who set everything up?" asked Nina looking around.

"Our friends. They didn't want you to stress… Brie was in charge."

Nina smiled, "I figured."

Nina and Jon continued through their new house finding a bathroom and separate toilet downstairs, along with a study. Upstairs there were four bedrooms, two with ensuite's. The master bedroom was larger then their old room, with brown carpet and light brown walls. They had glass double doors out to their own private balcony. The other room with its own bathroom had been made into a guest bedroom, with the other two empty.

"So," said Jon looking at Nina nervously, "Do you like it?"

Nina smiled, "I love it… can we afford it?"

"We both earned a killing at Wrestlemania, babe. Plus, you did that movie, so we had plenty saved up, then some."

Jon sat on the bed, pulling Nina to stand in front of him so he could check her stomach's small stitches from the keyhole surgery to fix her internal wounds.

"How much was this place?" asked Nina, shivering slightly as Jon's fingers trailed over her skin.

"Five hundred and eighty-five thousand."

Nina looked at Jon with wide eyes and he shrugged in response.

"This will be our family home, babe. When we start a family we will have a safe place to raise them and the schools near here are the best in Vegas."

"A family…"

"I don't mean now," said Jon hastily, "We both have busy careers."

Nina scoffed at that, "Mine likes to take plenty of hits."

"Not your fault, babe."

Nina gave a small nod, but she didn't know if she would every get back to where she was again.


Five Months Later…

Nina paid the taxi driver as she arrived outside the SAP centre in San Jose. She slung her bag over her shoulder and pulled her hoodie over her head, tucking her long brown locks behind it. The winter breeze bit at her skin as she hurried into the building and headed for where Stephanie had asked to meet her.

"Hello Nina," greeted Stephanie warmly.

"Hey," replied Nina as she placed her bag beside the seat and sat down, removing her hoodie.

"So, all reports I have received state you are fitter then ever before."

Nina nodded, "I want to be at my best and only my best. Things have been far from easy and I cannot thank you enough for everything."

Stephanie smiled warmly, "You have a massive fan base Nina and we are looking forward to having you back in the ring."

Nina grinned, "I am itching to get back."

"Well tonight is your comeback. We are turning the Diva rivalry back into a three way. You against Paige, the current champ and Eva Marie. Your training with her has really paid off – she has improved a lot."

"Oh thank you."

"Which brings me to say that whenever you feel it is time for you to step away from full time wrestling, we would love to keep you on as a trainer for our NXT centre."

Nina gave a small smile, "I'm not even thirty yet Steph… I really want a good run with this Domonick stuff done with."

"I know – I'm just putting the offer out there for whenever you want to start a family."

Nina gave a nod, "So – what's my role tonight."

Stephanie handed Nina the script and Nina left. She was returning with a new theme tonight, one of her choosing – a remix of the Britney Spears song Kill The Lights. The WWE had spoken with Britney and her reps and they had agreed to it with no hesitations. The theme would start right from the chorus, with the chorus being mainly used.

Nina headed to the change room to drop her bag off. She headed to the catering section and walked in, finding it mostly empty. She had arrived early but had hoped Jon or some of her friends would be there. She hadn't seen Jon in three weeks with him being on the road and on the chase for the WWE Championship belt against Joe.

Nina grabbed a salad and water and settled at the table, sending off a few emails to her family and friends as she munched on her salad. She gave a sigh to her salad.

"Needs beetroot," sighed Nina closing up the container and standing up.

A glance at her watch told her it was nearing five thirty. She decided to go visit Jenny and find out if her new shirt was ready. Nina had a new range of merchandise going out.

She was using the colour purple as well now and her slogan was also 'Don't like me? Don't matter!'

The design was similar to her last lot and the Beg for Mercy slogan was being included in the new lot of merchandise as well.

"Hey Jenny!" greeted Nina.

"Nina!" grinned Jenny hugging the returning diva, "You look good!"

Nina thanked her and the pair caught up before Jenny handed Nina her shirts, new purple lace gloves and her jeans.

"Thanks," grinned Nina before he turned and headed for the dressing rooms, spotting her husband walking along the corridor with Ettore, "Woo! Sexy!"

Jon and Ettore looked up in confusion before Jon grinned. Nina put her stuff aside and ran to Jon, jumped into his open arms.

"Hello," grinned Jon before Nina kissed him thoroughly.

"I have missed you so bloody much."

"I can tell," replied Jon in a husky tone.

Ettore wandered off, leaving the couple to catch up.

"So, glad to be back?" asked Jon, his hands resting on Nina's thighs, as her feet crossed behind him.

"Yes. I got my new ring gear and jump into the title picture."

"Steph said she is determined for you to have a strong and long title reign. The fans want you back on top – from what her and her team have been reading online."

"So long as I get to wrestle, I am a happy woman."

Jon set Nina down on the ground. Nina quickly grabbed her gear and the pair walked towards the locker rooms catching up and feeling content to be in each other's company.


Nina entered the locker rooms and was greeted with hugs and welcome backs from the divas. Nina looked around in confusion, spotting someone missing.

"Where is Brie?" asked Nina.

"Brie is out of action," spoke up Nikki from where she stood by her bag of gear.

"Oh no. What did she do?"

"Brie is pregnant."

Nina's mouth fell open in surprise, "Oh… oh wow."

Nikki nodded and turned to her bag, saying no more on the topic. The rest of the diva's, including Nina continued to get ready and Nina left the locker room with Natalie and Saraya.

"So Nikki isn't happy," stated Nina.

"She is happy for Brie," replied Saraya, "But I think she is worried about her career. I mean she is nearly thirty-five and apparently John still won't budge on the baby factor and with Brie pregnant… it's making her wonder if love is enough."

Nina gave a nod as the divas reached the guerrilla backstage section. Raw was set to start in five minutes with the diva's opening up the show.

"I feel so nervous," said Nina, "Is my scar showing?"

Nina still had a slight scar from the gash to her cheek. It was fading slowly but Nina refused to have it as a talking point of her return. Natalya and Milena had applied her makeup, assuring her it was invisible.

"Trust me," said Natalie, "No one can see it."

Nina let out a deep breath and nodded.

Natalie flipped her hair over her shoulder and she was suddenly Eva Marie – WWE's sassy diva.

Her theme music hit and she strode out to the ramp being greeted by the WWE Universe in attendance.

"Welcome to Monday Night Raw! We are coming live to you from the SAP Centre in San Jose! My name is Michael Cole and I am here with JBL and Booker T… it appears Eva Marie has something to say."

"Eva Marie is making a stand. I bet it's to put Paige in her place, Michael," commented JBL as Eva Marie stepped into the ring.

Eva's music stopped and she stood in the middle of the ring, her red lipped smirking grin on her face, "I am out here to speak for everyone when I say that we are all sick of Paige and her drama. For weeks Paige has been grating on my nerves and I am done! I nearly had you beat at Royal Rumble Paige but you ran away like a scared little girl."

The crowd reacted in agreement.

"So really, I should be the Diva's Champion. After all, silver always compliments all things red! And I would be the world's best divas champion."

At this the crowd booed, with Eva merely rolling her eyes at them.

"Oh please," scoffed Eva, flipping her hair over her other shoulder, "Like I care what you all think. I am the better Diva compared to Paige-"

Paige's theme hit and the anti-diva strode out, holding the title up high before she skipped down the ramp towards the ring where an irritated Eva Marie stood. Paige walked around the ring, glaring at Eva Marie and jumped up onto the edge of the ring and stepped in, taking a microphone placed in the corner.

"You think you're a better diva compared to me?" laughed Paige, walking a circle around Eva Marie, "Why? Because you flip your hair back and forth and only ever wear red?"

"Beats being in black."

"It matches my soul, Eva, why else would I wear it?" retorted Paige sarcastically, "But seriously – you are no comparison to me! I own this house, I own this title and I am the best diva there is in this company! Nobody will ever compare to me!"

Then music hit that no one had heard before, causing both diva's to look up at the ramp in confusion.

A/N: Oh, you want to see Luce's comeback? Well review dearies and that will happen!