Demetria woke up and looked around confused. She was in what appeared to be some sort of hospital bed but not in an actual hospital. It took a few seconds before she recognized the doctors' station backstage.
"My head," she mumbled.
She reached up and felt stitches in her forehead.
"Don't touch them," someone said.
She turned her head and noticed the doctor in the room. She didn't believe she knew his name but that didn't matter right now.
"How many?" She asked.
"14," he answered. "He got you good."
"Anything else?" She asked.
"No, you're good except for the usual bruises. You passed out from blood loss but we got you back on your feet," he said.
"What the hell happened out there? I don't remember half of it," she said.
"I'll show you," he said.
He handed her a tablet so she could rewatch the match. He left the room and she pressed play. She remembered everything up to Brock opening her forehead. She watched herself being lifted up on Brock's shoulders. Out of nowhere Roman came diving in with a spear which automatically made Brock throw her forward as he got the air knocked out of him and flew backwards.
"No way," she said lowly.
She couldn't help but smile as she watched Roman look over at her.
"Demetria!"
Roman quickly moved from Brock to her to try and get her to stay awake.
"Stay awake! Come on, Demetria, stay awake. Open your eyes. Fuck! We need help!"
The referee threw the dreaded X with his arms, and doctors came into the ring. She got carried out on a stretcher with Roman following right behind.
"I was scared," Roman said.
She looked up surprised. She hadn't heard him enter the room. He smiled warmly at her and walked over to the bed.
"You saved me," she said.
"Of course I did. I was standing in gorilla watching it all go down. I'm proud of you, tigress. You didn't lay down for the beast. I warned you about him punishing you in the ring but I didn't think he would take it this far," he said.
"I now know how it feels to die," she said.
He laughed at that. He leaned down and carefully placed a soft kiss on the other side of her forehead, the furthest away from the stitches.
"Doctor says I'm okay," she said.
"I know. I've been hounding him for answers. He was about to call security on me," he said.
"Why though?" She asked. "I know we're friends but you don't have to stay behind and wait for me. You don't have to care this much about me."
"I can't help it," he said.
He took her hand and caressed it. She looked down at their hands and then back up at him. Her dark grey eyes suddenly looked scared. In that moment it was clear to him. She was feeling the exact same as he was but she was scared to be rejected.
"Fuck it," he said.
Instead of telling her how he felt, he leaned down and kissed her gently. It took a second, and then he felt her fingers run through his hair. He smiled against her lips and slowly pulled back.
"I had no idea how to tell you. I hope you get the point now," he said.
"So when you said in catering that you like me," she said.
"Yeah," he grinned. "I really, really like you. A whole damn lot."
"Damn! And it only took a beast to leave be bloody in the ring for you to tell me. I should get beaten up more often," she said.
"No, you should not!" He laughed. "I forbid it."
"I hate to tell you but it kinda comes with the job," she said.
"Alright, but no more playing around with beasts," he said.
"Talk to Vince about it. It was his idea," she said.
He kissed her again. Her lips curled up in a little smile against his lips.
"I already have," he said. "I ripped him a new one for putting you in danger like that. He knows what Brock is able to do when he's angry, and he also knew Brock was angry before going into the match. He actually apologized. I'm sure he'll call you tomorrow to tell you he's sorry too."
"Thank you," she said.
Someone cleared their throat. They look towards the door where the doctor was standing.
"What's the verdict, doc? Can I break her out of here?" Roman asked.
"Sure thing," the doctor answered. "Keep an eye on her though. I feel like she's already ready to get into trouble again."
"I hear you," Roman grinned. "Alright, tigress, let's get you back to the hotel. My room or yours?"
"Damn, you got high hopes. Take me on a date first," Demetria said jokingly.
"We'll be sleeping with clothes on," Roman laughed. "I'm not taking any chances on letting you be alone tonight. Not after what happened. I was fucking scared."
She smiled at him and held her hands forward. He helped her out of bed and placed an arm around her shoulders. He gently escorted her out of the room. The hall was almost empty except for Seth who stood there waiting.
"Hi, Seth," Demetria said. "Why are you still here?"
"Roman and I share a car. I wasn't about to leave him or you behind," Seth said.
"I'm sleeping in her room tonight," Roman said.
"You're already so damn cute together even with stitches in your hair and blood on your clothes," Seth teased. "So are you ending Brock next Friday?"
"I sure am," Roman said. "Or we are. I convinced Vince to let us run wild together like in the early Shield days. Bad ass heels fucking over everyone. First victim will be Brock Lesnar."
"Sweet!" Seth grinned.
"What about me?" Demetria pouted.
"Boys club only," Seth joked.
Demetria looked from man to man and chuckled.
"I get it," Demetria said. "I'm done getting in the ring with big men. Fuck, I hated it. I didn't want to do it in the first place. Nah, I'll take ten kicks from Asuka straight to my head instead. That's more pleasurable than what I experienced today."
"You're fucking weird," Roman chuckled.
"You're the one who wants me so what does that say about you?" Demetria asked.
"Touché," Roman said. "Keep being weird, tigress. Don't ever change a damn thing about you."