"What do you mean I'm defending my title in a ten diva Battle Royal?" CJ asked from where she walked on a treadmill while talking to Paul. She was initially trying to run a mile in under six minutes, but Paul had called with the awful news shared on the WWE twitter account so she slowed down the treadmill so she could speak with him comfortably.
"The good news is that it's an over the top rope Battle Royal. Now, CJ, I don't want you fretting over this. I have a strategy that has you coming out of this the champion. We'll talk details when I see you on Monday, if and only if, I can't get us out of it."
"Alright. Thank you, Paul."
"I'll leave you to work out in peace." Paul said before hanging up and CJ put her phone back in the water bottle holder when Brock walked up.
"What happened to breaking a six minute mile? Was it your knee?"
"I wish my knee was my biggest problem." CJ muttered, speeding up the treadmill so she had to jog. "Paul called so I had to slow down a bit."
"Is everything alright?" CJ had to admit she had no clue that Brock was capable of caring for his coworkers. She didn't even remember him paying attention while she was talking to Dean on the phone during a show about breaking a six minute mile. Knowing about her knee was a different story because she was running in a knee brace and had tweaked it on television and had to limp out of the ring.
"I have to defend my title on Monday in a ten diva Battle Royal."
"Over the top rope?" Brock asked as he got on the treadmill beside CJ's and she nodded. "Just slide under the bottom rope and wait it out."
"That'd be easy to do if every diva on the roster didn't hate me for no reason. Even my so-called friends turned their backs on me when I won the title." CJ mumbled, noticing Dean eyeing her carefully from where he was spotting Roman on a weight bench on the other side of the gym.
"That's what the championship does. But sitting at the top of the mountain makes it so you don't need friends in your division. Friends will find you and, if the looks we're getting from those two Shield kids are anything to judge by, you've got two guys who are willing to go to bat for you." CJ looked away from Brock to see that the two "Shield kids" were indeed Seth and Dean. She knew that Dean was more interested in Brock's close proximity and Seth was interested in the sports bra and yoga capris she was wearing.
"They're great guys, that Shield." CJ praised, sending a smile in their direction so Dean knew that she was fine.
"Something tells me that there's more to it than just being 'great guys'." Brock pressed, looking at CJ as she checked her phone.
"When did you become my counselor?"
"Since you became a Heyman Girl." Brock answered and CJ took a deep breath as she slowed down her treadmill again.
"So say that you're a girl, hypothetically, and you've got these two guys that you're...'involved' with."
"Define 'involved'?" Brock asked, mimicking CJ's air quotes and she but her lip as she considered how to word it.
"Technically you're screwing both of them even though only one has got it in." CJ waited for Brock to nod his acknowledgement before continuing. "Now, you're not a relationship type of girl but you're starting to feel serious things for both of these guys. One you only started hanging out with because he's on some mission to protect you and the other you'd been friends with benefits with since the power went out and you were both stuck in an elevator so you fucked to pass the time."
"How am I screwing both when only one got it in?"
"There was sexual contact with the other, but he didn't get it in because he was focusing on getting you off and being very generous about it." CJ explained, checking to make sure that Dean and Seth were still working weights with Roman. When she saw that Seth was spotting Dean she mentally thanked the heavens before continuing. "Other than that, he hadn't really made any advances other than heavy flirting."
"What about the friend with benefits?"
"He's a great guy and you know that he genuinely cares about you and that he wants a relationship with you, but you're afraid to get into a relationship."
"Why am I afraid?"
"Because you're afraid that you'll get attached and then he'll abandon you once he figured out that people can't be fixed and realizes that he can do better."
"Why do I think that?"
"Past experience." CJ said simply, looking down at her Nike's. "I could use a new pair of running shoes."
"Don't change the subject, Chris. I'm certain that there's more to this whole thing." Brock prompted, redirecting her attention up to him.
"Do you feel as if you're leading them on? I mean, the one who you haven't technically had actual sex with said that he wasn't a relationship kind of guy and understands that people can't be fixed and his best friend happens to be the other guy."
"You sure know how to get yourself into predicaments, don't you?" Brock asked with a laugh, shaking his head slightly. "Both knew what they were getting into when they decided to do this with you, right?"
"Yes."
"Then you're not leading them on." Brock said simply, looking CJ dead in the eye. "You say that you're starting to feel serious things for both of them?"
"Yeah. But I don't know what to go because they're best friends. Brothers, really. I don't want to be the reason that they break that bond. They shouldn't be so willing to share me with one another, should they?"
"I'm certain that one of the two alpha males will- never mind. One already did." Brock observed, eyeing the bruise on her shoulder.
"I have a hickey?"
"On your shoulder. How did you not notice?" Brick asked as CJ opened her camera app to investigate her shoulder.
"Fucking Dean and those magical fucking hands. Fuck me." CJ muttered as she looked at the mark he had left behind. "What happens in Vegas definitely didn't stay in Vegas this time around."
"Like I was saying, one of them will decide that he's done sharing and want you for his own. Then you'll have to pick one or be stuck with neither."
"But how do I know who I want?" CJ asked, desperation evident in her icy blue eyes.
"The only person who knows the answer to that question is you." Brock stated, looking to Dean as he walked toward CJ.
"You ready to go your highness? We're all getting hungry."
"Uh, yeah. I could go for some brunch." CJ spoke with a nod, shutting off her treadmill. "Just let me wipe this down, and-"
"I've got it, Chris." Brock cut in, smiling down at CJ. "You go eat."
"Thanks, Brock." CJ spoke, hoping that he knew that she meant for the advice, as well as wiping down her treadmill.
"Anytime, Y2-Junior." She only waved as Dean took her hand in his, but she had to wonder how such a nice guy like Brock made Dean's watch list.
"Did you beat your six minutes?" Dean asked and CJ shook her head, absently stirring around the spinach leaves that made up most of her salad. She was sitting in between Seth and the window with Dean sitting directly across from her and a Roman sat next to Dean.
"Paul called to tell me that I was being forced to defend my title in a ten diva Battle Royal on Monday night." She mumbled before picking up a single spinach leaf and putting it in her mouth.
"Is that why you're all moody?" Roman asked and CJ shrugged.
"I'm not trying to be moody. I'm just tired."
"You slept pretty heavy and you got to sleep in, babe." Colby observed and CJ nodded.
"I'm fucking tired of all the bullshit. There's obviously somebody out to get me, I have no friends with vaginas, The Authority obviously has it out for me on top of everything and for once in my life I want normalcy." CJ rambled and all three men watched as she pushed her plate aside and laid her head on the table. Dean had never seen her break down before, so he didn't have the faintest idea what to do, but watched as Seth only rubbed her shoulder in some massage looking manner. "Being the champion isn't fun when everybody hates you for it."
"Everybody doesn't hate you." Roman argued her point, offering a smile when she finally picked her head up. "You've got us, right?"
"I guess you're right."
"And the way you're being treated is an injustice, CJ, and The Shield is going to take care of this." Dean assured, reaching across the table and patting her cheek before wiping away the lone tear that had fallen. "Champions should be celebrated, not forced to jump through hoops."
"You guys are busy fighting everybody else's injustices, mine aren't-"
"CJ, yours take precedence. Especially since this guy is hellbent on protecting you." Roman spoke, giving Dean a gentle nudge.
"Damn straight."
"You guys are too nice to me." CJ mumbled, looking out the window to see that it had started raining. "Way too nice."
"What makes you say that?" Seth asked, using his hand to bring her attention from the window and back to them.
"It's not important. I need to get a box for my salad." CJ hoped that they'd understand her way of telling them that the conversation was over. She'd already poured her heart out to Lesnar unintentionally, the last thing that she wanted was to unintentionally pour her heart out to the guys who would actually try to do something about what she was feeling. Her feelings were her battle, and she couldn't tell them about it because Dean wanted to fight her battles for her while Seth was trying to step into the protector role and she knew that he was doing it so that way she wouldn't need Dean. Like Brock said, CJ knew how to her herself into predicaments.
When Dean walked in from the bathroom and saw CJ staring at her championship he knew exactly what she was thinking. She could act like she didn't really care for the title and was bored of being the champion all she wanted, but he knew that she was really terrified of losing the belt. He knew this because he went through this with the United States title on occasion and had a match coming up that he wasn't 100% sure he'd win. He knew that she was asking herself if tomorrow night was the night she lost what she had worked so hard and suffered for.
But Dean wasn't going to let it happen. Just seeing the way that she looked at the belt as if she'd already lost it drove him crazy. Her losing the title tomorrow night would be an injustice; so he, Seth, and Roman were going to make an appearance and ensure that she didn't lose the title. Seth and Roman didn't know this just yet, but he'd be sure to run it by them at the arena tomorrow night. He was certain that they wouldn't have a problem with saving her title.
"It's bedtime, your highness." Dean spoke softly, gently prying the butterfly belt away from her hands.
"I can't lose the title, Dean. It's the only thing that makes me feel like I'm worth something."
"You won't lose it." He assured as he tucked the belt into her suitcase before making his way to the bed.
"I won't?" CJ asked, looking back at Dean before he pulled her back against his chest.
"I won't let that happen, CJ." He whispered in her ear before pressing a kiss to her shoulder. "Now get some sleep, sweetheart. Tomorrow is a big day for you."
"Do you have a match tomorrow?"
"Me and Seth against The Real Americans. Dealing out justice where it's due. We can talk about it in the morning, though. Night, CJ."
"Goodnight, Dean."
The minute CJ was spotted by Paul Heyman, she was whisked away and Dean couldn't help but feel empty with her absence. It always happened after he got a good night of sleep with her in his arms. He felt lost the second she walked away from him. But he'd be with her soon enough, because Seth and Roman had agreed to his idea of showing up during the Battle Royal so they would be there to save her neck should she need it. Of course, she didn't know this. She didn't need to. All she needed to know is what he told her the night before: he wasn't going to let her lose the title like that.
"How are we going to make this work, Dean?" Seth asked and Dean shrugged as he taped his wrists.
"If she goes over, catch her and hang onto her until more are eliminated."
"Sounds simple enough." Roman said with a nod. "We're walking those stairs quite a bit, boys."
"At least our actual match is after the Battle Royal." Seth commented, looking at the card. "We can just stay in the ring while the show cuts to commercial. Does CJ know about this?"
"No. I told her that I wasn't letting her lose the title like this, but I didn't tell her my plan because I wanted to run it by you guys first." Dean said as he checked his tape job and put on his jacket. "Think she'll be pissed?"
"I'd send her a text and let her know." Seth suggested. "Tell her to act surprised, too."
"Good idea."
When CJ got around to checking her phone she was already at gorilla and waiting for her music to start. Everybody else was already in the ring, including AJ, and CJ's nerves were killing her until she read the text from Dean. She showed it to Paul, who nodded before taking her phone and slipping it into his pocket while he adjusted her jacket.
"You are going to walk out of this the divas champion. Remember, once that bell rings you hide in that corner and hang onto that ring post. You can be a fighting champion at WrestleMania, tonight is about survival." Paul reminded her as her music hit before they walked through the curtain, Paul holding her belt up high as they walked down the ramp.
Once she got in the ring, handed her jacket over to Paul, and the ref took her belt, CJ took one good look at all the women staring her down as she backed into the corner. Once the bell rang it seemed like everybody charged for the champion, but CJ rolled underneath the bottom rope for a breather. Natalya and Summer Rae went right after each other and CJ looked at AJ, the Bellas, Emma, Eva Marie, and the Funkadactyls. She knew then that surviving was going to result in bruises and plenty of them. Once Nattie eliminated Summer Rae and Tamina slid into the ring to take out Emma before all the "Total Divas" jumped on Tamina, CJ slipped back into the ring. The mass of bodies in the middle of the ring separated her from AJ, but that didn't stop AJ from using somebody as a springboard to jump on CJ and start wailing on her.
"Sierra. Hotel. India. Echo. Lima. Delta. The Shield."
CJ had finally kicked AJ off of her and looked to see that the guys were taking their time as all the action in the ring stilled. CJ held her left side as she stood and drop kicked Eva Marie in the back, successfully sending her over the top rope. The bad news was that she attracted the attention of everybody as The Shield surrounded the ring. Seth was standing in front of the commentary table, Roman stood by where they hopped over the barricade, and Dean was on the opposite side of Roman.
Nattie caught CJ off guard and tossed her over the ropes, but Seth caught her. Paul watched closely, making sure that her feet never touched the floor while Seth held CJ in his arms.
"I've got you champ." Seth spoke softly, not making any attempt to put her back in the ring while Dean and Roman moved to stand beside him. Trying to sell the shock factor, CJ looked between the three men as women continued to be eliminated, and it seemed to her like everyone in the ring thought that she was eliminated until everyone else was gone and Natalya was working on eliminating Nikki. It was then that Dean and Roman created a space between the middle and bottom rope large enough for Seth to set CJ down in the ring gently and she stood, glancing at them briefly before she tipped Natalya over the top rope which eliminated Nikki in the process.
Once the bell rang Paul grabbed the belt before getting in the ring. CJ was on one knee, the other causing her too much pain for her to even try standing up just yet. Paul was eyeing The Shield suspiciously while CJ kissed the title, more than excited that Dean had come through on his word. She'd have to kiss her boys as her way of thanking them for the assist. She wasn't sure what she'd do for Roman.
"Your winner and still the Diva's Champion, CJ Jericho." Just hearing that one sentence brought a proud grin to her face. She beat the odds somehow, and she couldn't feel any better about it.
"We did it!" Paul cheered and CJ looked up at him briefly before smirking at Natalya and Nikki Bella.
"Better luck next time, ladies!"
"Excuse me!" Vickie's screeching into the microphone distracted everybody from their current situation and turned to see her at the top of the ramp. "I have just come out to congratulate CJ Jericho for her win tonight. I'm also here to inform you that you will be defending the Diva's Championship at WrestleMania. I'm also pleased to inform you that you will be defending your title against not only Natalya and Nikki Bella, but you will be facing Naomi, Cameron, Brie Bella, Eva Marie, Emma, Aksana, Alicia Fox, Summer Rae, Rosa Mendes, Layla, and Tamina in the Vickie Guerrero Divas Championship Invitational!"
"You've got to be kidding me." CJ muttered as she watched the stage fill up with women. She started to scoot across the canvas, trying not to bother her knee. "Can she do this to me, Paul?"
"We'll just have to milk this injury as much as we can." Paul decided as she slid out of the ring and one of the ringside doctors wrapped the arm not holding the championship around his neck. "Be careful with her, she's precious cargo."
I had this chapter already written out and free time at work so I figured why not? It ended up way longer than I expected, but long is good.
Many thanks go out to TaijiaK, CharismasXe, ChelleLew, UntilNeverDawns, angelsdee327, and AshleighxAwsome for reviewing the last chapter. You guys are awesome.