CJ was so uncomfortable out there and Dean knew it. Chris did most of the talking, but that was because he said he would and wouldn't really need her, so she did exactly what he said to do. Sit on the ropes and be pretty. She had a mic in her hand, but she had only spoken about four words and Dean knew that she was probably more comfortable with what she was doing than having to do more.
She hated her father and everything to do with him. She didn't want to work with him, let alone how closely they were working. She didn't like any of it. Her plans weren't exactly going according to plan, and she wasn't sure what to do about it. But Dean was going to do everything he could to help her out.
"It's funny that you're saying all of these things that are meant to be offensive, Chris." Stephanie stated, looking between Chris and CJ. "When you could- and probably should- be helping your daughter get ready for her match tonight."
"That's right, Steph." Hunter cut in, smiling at his wife before looking around Chris to CJ. "CJ Jericho is in a match tonight for the number one contender's spot for the Diva's Championship match at WrestleMania."
"Those fuckers." Dean grit, looking down at his sleeping daughter before heading for the door. Jay was on the other side, but Dean didn't really have the time or energy to worry about the Canadian. "Can you watch her?"
"Won't CJ get-"
"She'll get over it." Dean assured, handing Olivia over before leaving the room in search of a certain Authority member who was surprisingly absent from the Highlight Reel. He figured that Seth didn't want to be face-to-face with CJ for some reason and he wanted to know why, but first he needed to know what the Authority was playing at. They knew CJ already had a tag match at WrestleMania with Chris, so why put her in two matches that night? It didn't make sense.
He didn't bother to knock on Seth's door, instead just pushing the door open and seeing Seth leaning against the wall in his gear but not at all looking in condition to be wrestling. The fact that the younger man hadn't noticed him enter the room was what sold Dean on that fact, and the blonde just sat down beside him to see that Seth was watching the Highlight Reel.
"She's so beautiful." Seth whispered, briefly glancing to Dean before going back to the television. "They're making her wrestle now instead of later. Can she-"
"She's wearing jeggings, so she's gonna be okay, Seth." Dean assured, his eyes not leaving the screen. "She's been worried about you, though."
"She has? Why?"
"Because you haven't been around or calling in to check on Olive." The blonde explained, looking to Seth momentarily before looking to the monitor as CJ had the Walls of Jericho locked in early on Alicia Fox. "She's thinks you're mad at her."
"I honestly thought that it would be best that we kept our interactions to a minimum while we're all on the road." Seth reasoned, looking to Dean and keeping his gaze locked on the blonde. "I've stayed sober."
"But you look like you haven't slept in weeks."
"I don't sleep too good these days."
"Come home with us." It wasn't a question, not a suggestion, but a soft spoken demand. Seth knew this. Dean didn't "suggest" things when it came to CJ. "Spend time with our kid, spend some time with her. She misses you, Seth. Won't admit it, but I see it."
Seth didn't know what to say to that. He couldn't believe that she missed him. But Dean could see right through her sometimes and Seth knew that Dean wouldn't lie about that. He wouldn't lie about her, ever.
"I... I've gotta think about it, man."
"That's fine. Talk to her tonight at the- the fuck is Chris doing?"
Dean's question brought Seth's attention back to the monitor in time for the replay of Chris pulling CJ out of the cover by her ankles. Seth couldn't believe that he would stop his own daughter from getting a title opportunity, and it was obvious that CJ was pissed off if the way she looked at her father meant anything.
"Maybe I shouldn't see her tonight."
"No, you definitely should."
"I've been working on your plan."
"I've noticed. Thank you."
"I want them gone just as much as you do." Seth mumbled, wincing as Alicia landed the Northern Lights Suplex. CJ kicked out at two, and Chris didn't look too pleased. "If she wins this then the Diva's Title match is at the beginning of the show. If she loses, then she gets a title shot at a later date."
"Hunter promised her a guaranteed title shot."
"And he's not interested in going back on that word. If it were anybody else, maybe. Not her."
Dean only nodded, watching as Chris intentionally tried to distract her. Dean couldn't believe the asshole antics going on at ringside and, if CJ wasn't so intent on handling her father her way he'd be dealing with Chris his way. She didn't deserve this, not after everything Chris had put her through.
"She isn't going to let you handle this, is she?" Seth asked, looking to see Dean shaking his head.
"She wants to deal with him." The blonde informed, watching as another distraction from Chris got CJ kicked in the face and pinned. "She's going to be hard to deal with tonight."
"If anybody can deal with her, it'd be you."
"I should get back. Seeing Jay in our locker room may push her over the edge." Dean stated, patting Seth's shoulder before standing and leaving the room. He could feel himself growing anxious about what was to come, but he knew that he had to be strong and let her get out what she needed to get out.
"Junior, I need you to see the bigger picture here. You can't be double booked at WrestleMania." Chris spoke calmly, following his pissed off daughter through the curtain. He knew that he was in the wrong and he knew that he should've apologized, but he couldn't. Not yet.
"I would've handled it just fine." She muttered, trying her best to keep from snapping. She was so close to the edge, though.
"I'm sure you would've. But we need to be certain of a victory at WrestleMaina. We can't be certain with you double booked."
"Well, we're certain now, aren't we?" She asked, turning around to look him in the eye.
"We are. Just relax for the night, okay? I don't need you ringside, but commentary would be nice."
"I'll be there." CJ stated before walking away from her father and bumping right into her boyfriend. "Dean."
"Hey, baby. How are you feeling?"
"My head hurts, Dean. Really bad."
"You're okay, CJ." He tried to assure her, rubbing her back gently. He kept her head over his heartbeat, trying his best to calm her down. "You're going to be fine. Wanna go see the trainer?"
"Yeah. But where's Olive?"
"She's taken care of." Dean mumbled, being intentionally vague because he knew that she didn't want Jay to be "bothered" in dealing with their little family. Telling her would make her not want to see the trainer and Dean couldn't have her with a potential head injury and refusing to get it checked out because Jay was with their daughter. "Let's go, your highness."
"Dean you shouldn't be lifting me." CJ protested as he scooped her into his arms, but Dean wasn't having it. Wrist injury or not, he was going to cater to his Queen while she was in need. "Your wrist-"
"Is supporting your legs and will be fine. Nothing is going to stop me from tending to you."
"You're too good to me, Sir Ambrose." She murmured, leaning her head against his shoulder and pressing her lips to his neck.
"There's no such thing." Was all he said, kissing her head as he carried her through the halls to the trainer's office.
Once inside, Dr. Sampson was quick to come to her aid and check out her eyes before ushering her over to do an impact screening. Dean hoped to God that she came out clear despite how hard she hit her head, because then she would be absolutely devastated. She needed WrestleMania. It wasn't a want anymore, it was absolute necessity now that Chris intentionally screwed her out of a title shot for such a selfish reason. He knew she wouldn't bounce back from such a harsh blow, either. She needed to screw her father over and Dean wanted that for her. He wanted her to have that match with Chris so she could get her hands on the bastard and make him feel the brunt of her emotional pain. She needed this.
"Good news, kiddos. It's not a concussion, but you're not getting in the ring for a couple weeks just to be on the safe side." Sampson stayed, bringing a smile of relief onto Dean's face. She was okay and she still got to have her WrestleMania. That's all that really mattered to him right now.
"Let's go get Olive and lay you down, okay?" Dean suggested, lifting CJ off of the table and onto her feet. As much as he wanted to carry her, his wrist was really starting to hurt. "We'll get all snuggled up with Olive and a blanket, and it'll be great. Alright?"
"Yes, please." She murmured, waving her thanks to Sampson before letting Dean lead her out of the room. They didn't make it far before they heard Renee Young trying to get their attention for a backstage interview and Dean sighed. "Can you deal with that?"
"Of course."
"Dean, CJ, I was hoping to ask you a couple questions about what just happened out there." Dean had to give it to her, she was being professional and doing her job, but they had things to do.
"Renee, you're just doing your job and we get that. But we don't really have time, because we've got things going on and a baby to get back to. So can we just not?" Dean asked, making eye contact with the short blonde and not missing the way she glared at CJ before looking back up at him and nodded. Dean grinned and ushered CJ away, making no other stop on the way. It was the moment of truth and he wasn't ready to see how much angrier seeing Jay would make her.
But what he was rewarded with was Seth holding Olivia and singing something to her, Jay Reso nowhere in sight. Dean held in his sigh of relief until CJ had stepped away from him to sit on the small couch with Seth.
"She's missed you." The blonde commented, bringing Olivia's attention to her momentarily before her eyes jumped back to Seth.
"I've missed you, too, sweetheart." Seth cooed to the infant, kissing her cheek repeatedly to make her giggle. "And I've missed you guys, too."
"Then why haven't you been around, Seth?" CJ asked, accepting the two pills and water bottle from her boyfriend. "It's not like we're hard to find these days."
"I know. I just thought things would be easier if I wasn't around often." He gave his best explanation, letting Olivia gnaw on his hand. "I was stupid for thinking that, because I love you guys and this little lady, and I'm sorry."
"You're our idiot and we've addressed that it's okay to be our idiot." Dean stated, since CJ was drinking water at the moment. "Are you coming home with us?"
"If it's alright with CJ, then I'd love to."
"It's fine with me, Seth." She assured before standing and looking at her phone. "I've got to get ready to be at commentary. But first, have either of you seen Jay around?"
"Check catering." Seth suggested, not wanting to hint at the fact that Jay was watching Olivia before he ran to step in to save Dean's sex life. He could see the relief on Dean's face as she left the room, and smirked up at the older man as he sat down on the couch. "You officially owe me."
"I don't owe you shit."
CJ spotted Jay as he was leaving catering and briskly walked to catch up with him. Once she had fallen in pace with him, he looked over to her curiously but kept walking. His hand brushed against hers as they moved, then gently grasped her wrist to lead her along. Not a word was spoken between the two, but none was needed until they reached their destination: the loading docks of the arena.
"I'm going to assume that you're ready to hear me out?" He asked, watching as she looked everywhere but at him. "I need your eyes, sweet pea."
"Yes, I'm ready to hear you out." She whispered, making eye contact with him for the first time in a week.
"I know I hurt you and I'm sorry, sweet pea, you've got to realize that it had to be that way."
"Why?"
"Denise, that's why. She's on me for everything and tracking my phone logs because she's convinced that I'm having an affair with somebody and you're suspect number one." He explained, his voice telling her just how bothered he was by it all. "I had to get her off my back and that was the only way."
"I would've liked to have known this at the time. In fact, I deserved to have known at the time so I wasn't worrying myself sick over you!"
"I know and I'm sorry, Princess. You have to know that I'm sorry." Jay murmured, taking her hands in his in a last-ditch effort to get her to see just how sorry he was. "It hurt me, too, because I knew that I was hurting you. You've gotta believe that."
"Jay, I just don't know how I'd get by if you pulled that shit again."
"You have my word as a man that I wouldn't." He whispered, releasing her hands so he could cup her cheeks and reinforce eye contact. "I love you too much to lose you, Christina. I can't lose my Tina."
"Stop doing stupid shit and you won't have to worry about losing me." CJ whispered, her eyes telling him that she meant it. "But I need to know, do you love me or are you in love with me?"
Thank you to JermsenKay, ChelleLew, Imagineer1392, Sarcastic Nightmare, CarolReigns, ItReignsJustice-619, and UntilNeverDawns for reviewing the last chapter!