A few weeks later.
"Katie it's so great to have you back to work." Brandi said as they were walking back stage at Daily's Place. "How are you doing darling?"
"It's good to be back. I am doing well. Better now than I was." She admitted.
"Just know that I am always here to talk. We are two women in a male dominated industry. So we need to stick together. So never feel like you can't come talk to me about anything." Brandi said.
"Thank you Brandi that means a lot to me. Just to know that I have a friend."
"How about tonight after the show we grab a late dinner? You, me, Cody? Maybe Mox? I know the Young Bucks and Omega said something about trying out this Brazilian steak house." She said.
"Yeah maybe. But gonna be honest I've kinda been avoiding Mox." Kate said softly biting her lip.
"What? Why? I thought you two were hitting it off? That man would move the world for you Kate 10 times over." Brandi said.
"It's actually a few reasons. I am just confused. Seth and I have to seriously think about what we want to do. Is it fair to Jon for me to start a relationship with Jon when I am still married to Seth. Not to mention I am just not in the mindset right now for a new relationship." Kate said.
"Have you talked to Mox about any of this?"
"No. Like I said I've been avoiding him. He's texted me and I've been veg about a lot of things. I just don't know if I can open this door with him. Not to mention Renee." Kate stated.
"What about her?" Brandi asked.
"I know they were together here in Florida a few weeks ago. Also I heard since she's left WWE she's been spending more time in Vegas even after she moved back to NYC." Kate said. "If he wants to get back with her then I can't open my self up. I've been through a lot and I know I am damaged I don't blame him for not wanting me any more like that."
"Awe Katie listen to me. You are not damaged at all. You are strong and powerful you are a survivor. Never let anyone make you feel like you are not good enough. I mean no one. I think you should just talk to Mox. Let him know what you are feeling let that man in. As far as Renee goes I have it on good authority that he didn't know she was gonna be here. She just showed up here and he wasn't to thrilled to see her."
Kate just nodded. "Thanks Brandi."
"Any time." Brandi smiled slowly hugging her friend before walking away.
Kate went into the trainers room and was greeted by Dr. Sampson and a few of the other trainers who were so happy to have her back. Over the next few hours Kate kept herself busy reorganizing the medical supplies and taking inventory. While giving pre-match examines to a few of the talents. As the show started Kate went go get some water while some of the talent was watching the show on the screen.
"Well hello there Katie. I heard you were back." Kenny smiled coming up to her. "How are you doing?"
"I am doing well thanks Omega. How are you?"
"Good. Gonna be on commentary tonight." He smiled.
"Yeah I saw that you and Hangman are a tag team no more." Kate said giving him a small smile.
"Time for me to go solo babe. Entertaining that tournament gonna win and make a run for that shiny platinum title. You gonna root for me sweet heart?" Omega asked with that smile as he gentle tucked a piece of hair that had fallen out of her pony tale behind her ear. Then touching her cheek softly. Kate's body tightened up as she stepped back away from Omega.
"Don't fucking touch her Omega!" Jon growled as he had him pressed against the wall his forearm across his throat.
"Dude what the hell?" Kenny choked out.
"Kate are you OK?" Brandi asked going over to check on her.
"Yeah fine. I just what the heck just happened?" Kate said looking over at Jon and Kenny. As Cody was over their now trying to split them apart.
"Jon man ya gotta let him go? What the hell is this all about?" Cody asked trying to pry Jon way from Kenny.
"Back off Kenny. I don't know what the hell you think you are doing but leave Kate alone. Or next I wont be so damn gentle." Jon growled.
"Dude I was just talking to her. There is no crime in talking to a pretty woman. Just because you can't have her doesn't mean I can't try." Kenny chuckled.
That was all it took for Jon to go at him again.
"You sick fuck. Do you realize the hell she's been through? She's doesn't need your games Omega. I will kick your fucking ass. Leave her alone." He growled.
"Jon! Please stop!" Kate said going over to him and touching his arm.
As the Young Bucks were pulling Kenny away from Jon.
"Jon look at me." Kate said her hand on his arm. Jon took a deep breathe and the moment his eyes connected with Kate's his body calmed and he took a deep breathe staring at her. "Let' go talk please?"
Jon didn't say anything as he just nodded took her hand as they walked to his locker room.
"Tony get him under control." Kenny growled.
"I'm on it. I will talk to him." Tony said.
"But Kenny leave Kate alone." Brandi added. "She doesn't need your games."
As they got into the locker room Kate slowly shut the door as Jon tossed the title to the couch with a growl as he was pacing the floor. His hands went from rubbing the back of his neck to his face to his head and back to his neck.
"What the fuck is that assholes problem?" Jon growled. "He's lucky I didn't choke his ass out."
"Jon?" Kate said softly but he was still pacing. She sighed as she looked at him then down on her hands as she was rubbing them together. "Jon please look at me."
Jon slowly looked up and over in Kate's direction he could tell she felt bad for what had just happened as he had noticed when lately she would avoid eye contact and ring her hands together when she felt scared or uncomfortable.
"Oh Kate babe. I'm sorry." He said slowly going over to her. "I shouldn't have over reacted but when I saw him touch you and that look on your face. I went for him he didn't need to be touching you."
"I'm sorry I was just talking with Kenny. I wasn't expecting him to touch me and I just freaked a little and stepped back." Kate said looking at Jon.
"Like I said he should know his boundaries. I couldn't protect you before but I will be damned if I ever let that happen again." Jon stated.
"What do you mean?" She asked as Jon slowly moved closer to her as they both sat down on the couch.
"Kit I never should have let you drive to Jacksonville that day on your own. If I would have waited one damn day and followed you. I hate what he did to you and I hate myself for not protecting you. I should have protected you." Jon admitted looking down.
"Jon I asked you to leave the day before me so you were there when some of our things go there. It wasn't on you to protect me. This isn't on you at all. This was all Trent and me. For the choices I made in life." She explained.
"Kate all I do is blame myself. Hell even if you wont admit it you blame me. Even if it's just a little bit it's still there fuck you shut me out of your life for the last several weeks." Jon stated with a bit of sadness in his voice. As he looked up at her.
Kate felt that deep in her heart. She just needed time to figure out her life she never meant to shut him out that way.
"Jon I am so sorry. I am a horrible person." Kate said trying not to cry. "I never meant to shut you out. I just needed time. I feel like I am in a fog most days. It's hard for me to put into words. I just feel worthless like no one wants me or like I am now damaged goods or something. Those feelings just got stronger after I saw you with Renee. I felt that maybe you just didn't want to be around me any more so you were getting back with her. Again I wasn't trying to shut you out. I just needed time to figure out me to work on me." Kate said looking up at him.
"I've never not wanted you Kit. You are not damaged to me at all you are perfect." He told her as he softly took her hand. "I know you needed time and I've tried to give you that but I felt you were shutting me out. That you were choosing to get back with Seth and I just couldn't stomach the thought of that either. I admit I did hang out with Renee a few weeks ago but I didn't know she was going to be here and it was after you told me you needed time. But the only thing I could think about was you. I told her there was no chance in hell we were getting back together. She asked me why and there was only one thing I could tell her."
"What was that?" Kate asked.
"The truth. I told her that I was in love with you."
"As a friend right? You love me as a friend?" Kate asked looking up at him.
"No Kit Kat not just a friend. I don't know how you can't see how I truly feel about you? I've wanted to tell you for a long time now. But I just couldn't seem to put into words what I was feeling. But after almost losing you I thought what the hell I needed to say it but then you started to push me away. I tried to respect that and give you the time you've asked for but when I saw Kenny and that look in his eye I fucking lost it. I wont let anyone hurt you again Kit I hope you know that. Please tell me you love me too?"
"Jon I do care about you and on some level I do love you and you know I am attracted to you. But I am still married to Seth. I can't in good consciousness start anything with you until I get things straight with Jon I can't ask you to wait for me to figure all that out. I can't ask you to help me heal what another man broke." She said holding on to his hand.
"All I ask Katie is that you let me in and not push me away or shut me out. The rest we can work on together." Jon told her as he leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. "What is it that you want? I guess the better question is who do you want? Will you give me this chance or are you gonna stay with Seth?"
"Seth and I aren't really together now. He's been staying at the rental house and he's went to California every Tuesday after Raw to see Becky." Kate said biting her lip.
"Even when he has it all he still wants more that asshole." Jon scoffed shaking his head.
"We had a deep conversation before he left this last time. He can't have it all he broke me in a way I never thought he could. Honestly Trent hurt me physically and emotionally for many years before I got out of that hell. One I never wanted to relive but I survived. Seth I never thought he would break my heart and hurt me in the way he did. It was hard to forgive him and I don't think I fully have. I told him he had to finally make a choice. It had to come from him first this time. He had to be the one to make this choice he did the most damage."
"If he chooses Becky then what you give me a chance but if he chooses you, you stay?" Jon asked.
"I didn't mean it to sound like that. I feel like I am always trying more than Seth so this time he needs to make the effort. Being honest there is no repairing what he broke. Jon I am broken because of all the crap Trent put me through and even more so because of what Seth has done. He tried for a few weeks when I got home things were good. We had a schedule he even went to a few therapy sessions with me. But when he came to me and said he felt like he had to be there for Becky and I felt like I was back to where we started. I also knew it was gonna be like that from here on out. Me and the kids verses Becky and their child. What kind of marriage is that?"
"A shitty one. You should never be anyone second choice." Jon stated.
"Thanks Mox. Like I said I can't ask you to wait until I am healed from all this hell you are a nice guy but I am just to damaged. You need to live your life." Kate said. "I am just not the girl you need Jon. I am not saying this to hurt you but I need to be honest I hope you can understand."
"Let me be the judge of who I wait for." Jon said taking her hand and kissing it softly.
Later that night.
"What time is your flight home tomorrow?" Seth asked as they were face timing so Kate could say goodnight to the kids.
"7 am." Kate answered. "Are you planning on going back to California?"
"No not this week. I talked to Becks and said I needed to be here in Iowa this week." Seth said as he was laying back on the bed.
"Did she asked why?" Kate asked watching him as she got comfy as well.
"Kinda I just told her I had a lot to do at home and that I missed the kids so I wanted to spend time here. She seemed pretty cool with it." Seth said. "Hey you alright? Need to talk?"
"No I'm good just tired is all. We can talk when I get home. Have a good night." She said as she ended the call.
Kate laid back on the bed a few thoughts running through her mind. Her phone buzzed as she looked at the text it was from Seth.
"I love you."
"Love you." She sent back.
Kate got comfortable in bed as she was flipping through the channels. When grabbed her phone and called the one person she hadn't talked to in awhile but needed to talk to in this moment.
"Hello?"
"You weren't sleeping were you?" Kate asked.
"Not at all. How are you sweet girl?" Shane asked happy to hear voice.
"I am doing better than I was. I did want to say thank you again for the flowers you sent me. They were beautiful and my favorite of course."
"Gerber Daisies. How could I forget." Shane smiled.
"That was one thing about you Shane no matter the crap going on around us you always made me feel like the only girl at the ball." Kate smiled remembering her time with Shane.
"What can I say I am a romantic." Shane chuckled.
"Oh I remember." Kate smiled.
As her and Shane began to talk about the memories they had when they were together. Kate began to open up about her being in therapy and about how she was feeling since the Trent situation.
"Katie I am so sorry you had to go through all that. I wish I could have done something."
"It's alright Shane you just listening to me is helping. I forgot how much I missed talking to you and well your voice always did a little something for me." She giggled.
"Oh I still got it." Shane said cocky. "Listen I am always gonna be here for you. Wild idea why don't you and the kids come to the Hamptons next weekend. I have the boys and the fall colors should be at their peek. Maybe we can go do a few fall things." Shane offered.
"Oh I don't know Shane." Kate said with hesitation.
"Just promise you'll think about it. It will be fun promise."
"We could use a little fun." Kate smiled as she was considering this offer for her and the kids.
Thank You HB, Heather, Torrance, Hazel, CooLow, Swaylow, Ant-I95, Eric, Jan, Blaze, New England, Vegas, Lisee, WWEBat85, jessica619, jjd022980, labinnacslove for your amazing comments and reviews. I can't say it enough but thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. I enjoy reading all your thoughts and ideas. You are amazing.
Thank you to all who continue to read and follow this story! I appreciate you all.
