Chapter 31

xXx

Dark room. No sound and an open window. Karlee sat on the ground with her back against on the wall and her arm leaning on one propped knee. Dean sat on exactly the same position opposite the room, their outstretched feet almost touching. The quietness was a great way to recharge their batteries.

"Game plan?" Dean asked. He very often asked, more for her opinion than an actual direction because she knew how to tell a story and sell it to the crowd.

"Start off with who you want out first, preferably the big guys since your fresh in the ring. Don't sit down for too long because it makes you look lazy. If you don't want to start a storyline with Rusev, let someone else eliminate him. He's looking for a rivalry just now. You okay? You took some beating in that match." He stood up and started pacing.

"I feel different and not in a good way. I need to win this match tonight, it's exactly what I need." Karlee understood. He needed a new challenge and so did she. She needed the pressure to be taken off their impending relationship status.

"Just let's take one thing at a time. You win this tonight and that's you in line for a title shot. You fail? At least make sure people single you out as 'the guy'." Dean nodded, taking her advice on board. She felt a buzz beside her and her phone flashing out of the corner of her eye. A quick squint made her see it was Nikki calling. She picked up, groaning as this was meant to be their quiet time.

"Karlee! You need to help me, AJ has passed out and we were sitting at the curtain. I need an opponent! Fast!" Karlee jumped to her feet and walked to the door, fumbling and opening it successfully.

"Find Sofia and get the producers to push your match back ten minutes. Tell Sofia I'm the replacement. Who was due to win?"

"AJ. It's part of my storyline for my hiatus so it's a straight win for you if you can help." Karlee sighed. She hadn't had time to prepare for a match and Nikki wasn't the easiest opponent.

" tell Sofia and call me back, better that call Alice so I can get ready and I'll meet you out front in ten." Nikki agreed and hung up whilst Karlee ran through the halls, Dean got on her tail.

"What's wrong!?" He was beginning to panic.

"AJ's passed out and Nikki needs a replacement opponent."

"SHES WHAT?" A voice boomed from beside her. Karlee stopped dead and backtracked to the face the voice.

"Nikki called and said she had passed out. She's probably with the EMT's. I'd shift if I were you." Punk looked startled and panicked at the same time. Someone obviously hadn't passed on the message. Dean signalled he would go with him and so Karlee carried on, going to the dressing room to throw on another outfit and get her wrestling boots. Her hair would have to stay how it was. She shot into the room at such a rate, Brie jumped a mile in June air and Alice screamed. The rest of the divas grumbled and groaned.

"Nikki wants me as her opponent and I have less than ten minutes. Alice, take my phone and tell me if Nikki calls." Karlee dove into her bag and grabbed a black lace barely and a pair of ripped black skinnies. She stripped in front of everyone and pulled them on, grabbing a pair of socks and pulling her knee high boots on over the.

"How do I look?" She asked Alice, ignoring the looks from everyone else grumbling how they were ready and could have taken AJ's spot. Alice shushed her as she talked to Nikki on the phone.

"Squash match, you need to make her look bad basically." Karlee nodded, feeling bad as Nikki was one of her friends. Her relationship with John was experiencing new levels so while he was taking time out to get his elbow surgery, so was Nikki to be with him. She had worked hard whilst Brie took time out to get married so now was her time to wind down. She was taking six months out and when she came back, she would return and challenge for the title.

"I need to go and find Dean, see if he wants to come out with me." She grabbed her dark leather jacket and swung it around her shoulders. She headed in the general direction of the EMT office just as she heard Nikki's music playing. She wanted Dean with her.

"Karlee!" She swung round and came face to face with him. Before she could speak a word, he grabbed her hand and hauled ass to the curtain. She had boots on so she ran beside him, her hair flailing as they weaves throughout the people. Sofia was standing at the opening.

"Karlee move!" She yelled. Karlee glared at her as they came to a halt. Dean smoothed her hair for her and queued her music. Sofia grabbed a microphone and walked out onto the stage.

"I hope your all having a great night!" The crowd weren't too please to see her but they kept quiet.

"We have just had words from medical that AJ Lee is not now cleared to compete. So instead, I I listed another diva to take her place." Sofia stood to the side and raised her hand. Karlee gripped Deans hand, for the sake of the cameras and they walked out to the beat of the drum. The crowd were confused as they hadn't expected Sofia to get Karlee to fill the spot. She made eye contact with Sofia and nodded her gratitude. They marched their way to the ring together, Dean standing on the ground and pulling the rope down for her to enter into the ring. Nikki and Karlee shook hands and then she shredded her leather jacket, throwing it to Dean. The Bella rang and they locked up, Nikki getting the upper hand and locking Karlee into a headlock.

"I've hurt my left shin. Apart from that, make yourself look good." Karlee understood how this was meant to go, make Nikki look weak. She raised Nikki's hand above her head and wrenched it down, bringing Nikki to her knees. She pulled her down again, bringing her further down and using her foot to out her chest to the mat. She sat on her lower back, pulling both of Nikki's arms back, enough to strain but not enough to make her tap. She waited for the count and rolled off her, allowing Nikki to get back up but flooring her with a running bulldog just as she got to her feet. Karlee used the time in which Nikki was down to recharge, throwing her arms up to the crowd and doing a little bit of heel-showing. Dean waved her over and she bent down to hear him.

"They're doing the gauntlet after your match. Heads up." Karlee nodded and turned only to duck as Nikki swung for her. She gave her a kick in the back and slowed her down a little. Nikki was getting emotional. She hated doing this to her best friend but she kept the thought of Nikki's hiatus in mind. Karlee picked her up, setting her up for a Dirty Deeds. She slammed Nikki onto the ,at successfully, feeling the adrenaline coursing through her system as she set Nikki up for the pin.

As soon as the ref counted to three, Dean was in the ring holding her hand up, belt too, singing her praise as loud as he could. Their celebration was cut short as someone's theme music cut and the outpost of superstars came to the ring. The match was officially announced and Karlee gripped Deans hand tight.

"Got your back." She mumbled, slapping his back and exiting the ring. She stood at the side, glowering at any superstar who passed her. Lana and Rusev were the last to enter the ring and Lana stood at the opposite side of the ring throwing her evils.

The match started like a gauntlet usually did. Punches flying and everyone targeting the big guys. Five minutes in and five were gone already. Dean had taken a beating earlier in the night but it wasn't showing. When he started eliminating guys left right and Center, Karlee cheered him on, acting proud. Ziggler and Bryan went at, trading lunch after punch whilst Dean leant against the ropes, regaining his energy for a fraction of a second. Karlee was keeping her eyes on the exiting superstars and she never noticed Big Show run down the ramp, right up to Dean and pulling his ankles. He went I fight but Big Show caught his arm and punched him back. Karlee's attention was drawn and her heart thumped as she saw him getting beaten. He was too big to punch on her own but she had to take him down. She skirted the apron and jumped up at the corner, which he had his back turned too. She climbed up, much to the crowds excitement and held on as she arched her back. Dean fought out of his hold and kicked him in the stomach, leaving him dazed. Karlee leapt into the air, angling her feet and drop kicking the side of his head, sending him flying. She landed heavily on her side and winced but Deans arm hauled her up and propped her against the steel steps whilst Big Show lolled around.

Dean went straight back and and kicked ass until it came down to him and Dolph. Even Karlee was chomping on her nails. She loved both of them in the ring and their skill was unmeasurable. They made great opponents. Dolph caught Dean girth a super kick, sending him backwards towards the ropes. In amazing fashion, he bounced back, doing that thing Karlee loved and nailed Dolph with a killer clothesline. The spcrowd started a 'This Is awesome' chant and Dean was thriving off it. He allowed Dolph to get back up and they carried on. Their battle continued to the ropes where both men were teetering sideways over the edge, hitting and kneeing each other, trying to eliminate one another. Karlee slammed her hands on the mat, regretting it as a shot of pain coursed through the side of her body she landed on. Deans leg shot up automatically, catching Dolph on the side of the head and sending him out cold. Dean used it to his advantage and threw him over the top rope, dropping to his knees when the bell sounded.

Karlee hobbled up the stairs and up into the ring, bouncing into Deans arms with a congratulatory hug. He wrapped his arms around her, lifting her into the air and twisting his hands in her hair. He was squeezing tight as Karlee kept her eyes closed, breathing through the pain. She was eventually let down and she held up his hand, holding her side as the pain continued to shoot through. Dean noticed and helped her out the ring, grabbing his belt and walking with her to the back, an arm around her supporting her back.

"Are you okay?" He asked. He hadn't seen her stunt so had missed her landing, just turning around in time to see her sprawled on the floor.

"Yeah...ugh I just need some painkillers and sleep." Her whole left side was a mess of shooting pains and forming bruises. Alice came running towards her with some painkillers and a bottle of water which she chugged back. She had been out here for almost forty minutes and she was so hot under all those lights.

"Thanks honey. You guys have any plans for tonight?" Alice shrugged her shoulders. Kaitlyn and Seth had gone home so it was just the four and they were flying home in the morning.

"What about seeing if we can change the flights for tonight and just go home?"

"That sounds like a great plan. Romans main eventing but the airports only five minutes away and it's where the rentals from so..." Alice sounded chirpy. Karlee nodded.

"I'm going to go see AJ. Give me a shout and let me know the plan." She waved them off and walked away slowly. As she made her way to the EMT's office, she saw Eva walking towards her with a sympathetic smile on her face.

"Was just coming to find you. Could I pick your brain about something." Karlee nodded and leant against a production cart, her hands waving her hair out of her face. Eva noticed she looked sore. She brought her hand up and handed the fellow red head yet another bottle of water.

"Thirsty?" Karlee accepted with thanks and enthusiasm and downed it quickly. Eva looked shocked.

"Everything all right. I watched your match." She nodded and chucked the bottle in the bin, noticing how bitter it tasted.

"I have a signing tomorrow at NXT and I overheard one of the other girls saying I looked trashy."

"Trashy? Honey I wear less clothes than you."

"Yeah, but people respect you enough know not to say anything. What can I wear that says 'don't mess with me." The tears were brimming at Eva's eyes and she could tell it was getting to the new diva. Bitchiness was the ultimate bring down in the locker rooms, especially amongst the females.

"As long as you feel comfortable in what you appear in, never mind what those senseless women are saying. Women will berate each other in order to make themselves feel bigger. As long as you feel yourself, you will feel comfortable. Don't make the fans like you for someone your not." Eva let go and the tears fell.

"Thank you so much. You have no idea how much that means to me." Karlee stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Eva. It was something she didn't do but the poor girl seemed like she needed it.

"Look I have to go find AJ, but if you need me, call me or better yet, come find. Good luck for your signing, and remember to smile!" Eva smiled and waved her off as she continued her search to find AJ. As Karlee kept walking, she noticed Punk walking out of the medics office. Karlee ran towards him, catching sight of a weak looking AJ clinging to him.

"Hey sweetie, you okay?" She looked up and nodded and it was then Karlee saw her drawn out face and the dark circles under her eyes.

"Dehydrated. I'm taking her home and bedding her for a week." AJ lifted her limp hand and slapped him.

" I'm fine, just need something to drink and eat." Punk rolled his eyes and chewed on his lip.

"She's trying to decorate the new house and she's stressed. I'd best be getting her home. I'll get her to call you tomorrow if that's okay." Karlee nodded and hugged them both, Punks a little tighter than his other halfs. She stood back and watched him half carry her down the hall. Punk was such a gentleman and it made her heart drop when she realised what she had missed out on.

"Flight leaves in four hours. We should be home by 2am." Karlee jumped slightly at the sound of Deans voice. She turned to face him and he cocked his head, moving towards her. What a mess they were in. He put his arm around her and moved her in, letting her rest her head against his chest as he wrapped his jacket around her, his arm keeping her close.

xXx

The plane journey home was quiet and it wasn't until they got into their cars that Karlee fell asleep, curled up into a ball in the passenger seat of Deans truck whilst Alice and roman occupied the back. It was handy them all living together but the other pair also made a good distraction.

Karlee was running, screaming. The body chasing her had no face but she recognised the voice that was calling her name. The voice pierced her wall she had worked so hard to build. Then she saw him. Her saviour. Dean. She ran faster, Deans arms open. She was metered away from jumping into his arms, her shield when his face turned to an expression of pure disgust.

"But we're not together anymore." His words rang out and she fell, crumpled into a heap, just as the hands that belonged to the person following her wrapped around her throat and gripped her, not letting go. The last thing she saw while she took her last breaths were Dean walking away shaking his head.

Karlee woke up, thrashing around, a scream emitting from her throat. Her chest heaved as she took a few seconds to realise where she was. In her own bed. Alone. Years streamed down her face as her breathing became erratic. An oncoming panic attack made it worse as she gripped her bed sheets for some sort of support. The door flung open, making her jump and cry out again. Dean looked bewildered as he sprung onto the bed, grabbing her soaking face in his hands and wiping the wet hair from her face.

"Breath... Breath baby, breath." She flung herself into his arms, sobbing as he held her, stroking her back as her breathing eventually calmed down. He pulled her back, making her look him in the eye.

"Nightmare? Honey, your sweating, the beds soaking. What happened." She tried to speak but her sobs broke any effort to tell him what had happened.

"Let's get you into the shower and I'll change the bed." Dean got off the bed, holding her hand as she shuffled off, her shaky legs giving way as she almost hit the floor. Dean scooped her up with little effort and carried her into the en-suite bathroom of the bedroom they used to share. He sat her in the shower, her shirt and underwear drowning in the cool spray he switched on. He stripped off his shirt, left his boxers and got in beside her. She stood up with his help and he slowly pulled her shirt over her head. There was nothing sexual about the act. He just didn't want her to come out and have wet clothes clinging to her. He moved to her panties next as she didn't wear a bra in bed and he fount them out of the cubicle. He turned her around and she laid her face on his chest, as she had done earlier in the night and she sobbed. He kissed the top of her head and just held her as her body shook.

Once he found her silent and the water was running cold, he pulled her away from him, both of them immediately missing the body contact. He held her face, suddenly aware of how vulnerable she was.

"I'll get you a towel and some clothes and you can get dried whilst I change your bed. You be okay for ten minutes." She turned and switched the shower off and climbed out first, grabbing a towel for him which he used to quickly dry off, wrap around his waist and pull his boxers out from underneath them. She picked her own towel and wrapped herself up in it, sitting against to he bat on the opposite wall. He watched her stare at the floor, his mind making him want to ask what made her snap but deciding against it, instead going for what his heart wanted.

He shut the bathroom door, listening for a few seconds as to make sure she didn't start crying again before leaving. He grabbed some clean underwear and stripped the bed, throwing it into a corner of the bedroom. He silently crept through the hallway and into the linen cupboard, grabbing some new sheets. He was just putting covers on the pillows when the bathroom opened and Karlee stepped out.

"Sorry. It's comfortable." She squeaked. She was referencing the shirt had chucked earlier as she was now wearing it. He shrugged as she made her way towards the bed, her movements slow and hesitant. She crept under, keeping to the left side, which was always Dean's. He watched her, her back to him and decided to leave her as she was, whilst she was calm. He had just turned to leave when her voice spoke, broken and full of fear.

"Dean, please stay with me." His body stopped, as did normal brain functioning. He turned to face her and his heart broke. She was on the verge of tears, sitting up in the bed, her hand outstretched. Dean nodded. No words and crawled into bed beside her. She kept a grip of his hand and pulled it around her waist, his arm surrounding her. She let out a deep sigh as she felt his body scoot closer to hers. She felt warm. She felt loved. She felt safe.

Xxx

sorry for the lag in updates. This story is reaching its peak, I promise. I hope you are all still enjoying this story. I sort of don't want to be finished as I love this character and her story. Thanks for all the continued support. It means a lot xoxoxoxoxox