Chapter 11

The canvas rushed up to meet her opponent as he crashed to the floor from a drop toe hold. But there were no cheers from the crowd, no screams or yells. Because the arena was empty, the person now on the ring floor was Triple H. He seized the chance, and pulled Rebel in to a roll up, counting aloud to simulate the referee's three count. Rebel couldn't kick out in time, and swore aloud as Triple H released her.

"For fucks sake!" she exclaimed, laying flat on the canvass of the ring, slamming her fist on it as Triple H sat up.

"It's ok, Rebel. You'll do better at Mania." He assured. "Calm yourself, you're letting your emotions get the better of you." Rebel sat up and put her head in her hands.

"I know, I know...I just...I know I can do this, I know I've got this, and I keep making stupid, stupid mistakes against you. How am I supposed to beat Roman if I can't beat you? I'll never be able to show my face at RAW the next day." She stood up, walked over to where her water bottle was and took a long drink from it, leaning on the ring ropes as she did so.

"You will, stop being a dumbass." Hunter said, rolling his eyes.

"Is there nothing more I can be taught? Nothing else that's going to give me an advantage over Roman? And hell, a face vs a face? Yeah, Roman and I kissed and made up so to speak, but..." She paused and took a drink again.

"You are reading way, way too much in to this, Rebel." Hunter said, joining her as she shook her head Hunter, also leaning on the top rope. "But, perhaps..." Rebel looked at him her brow creased. "I've got an idea. I need to make a phone call, but I might know someone who can give you the edge you need."

"I bloody hope so, H. Because if I don't figure something out soon, I'm fucking screwed."

It was now down to two weeks before Wrestlemania. Rebel spent little time with Roman, both agreeing it wouldn't be a good idea to be overly familiar with each other before the event, allowing Rebel to get her head in the game. She instead spent a lot of time with Dean, Seth spending time with Roman. Randy Orton, wary of the threatened suspension so close to the show of shows, was keeping his distance. His lackeys, however, were not. 16th of March saw Dean and Rebel locked in a side room together, trying to beat down the door. Dean finally got fed up of the struggle, and put his shoulder to the door, breaking it off its hinges...and revealing a chair had been put under the handle on purpose. Fuming, Dean swore he would rip Randy a new asshole, but Rebel told him to leave it alone.

"what? Why?" he asked in disbelief as they picked up the door and its debris, and set it aside.

"Because it probably wasn't Randy, it was more likely to be either Rusev and Lana, or Fandango and Rosa. Think about it. He'd be more of a fool than we think he is to risk suspension so close to the event." Rebel said, her voice measured and even. "If I find out who it was, and I'm sure it will be clear in time, I'll deal with them."

"I don't like it, I don't like any of this, Rebel." Dean replied as they walked towards backstage, where they were to start filming that night.

"I know you don't, Dean. If it's any consolation, neither do I. Truthfully, if I knew how much shit I was going to suffer because of my win, I'd have jumped out the ring as soon as it got down to the last six." She shook her head, scowling.

"You don't mean that, Rebel, surely." Dean said, stopping her dead to look her in the eye.

"I do. I wish you'd been allowed to be an option to headline with me. Then I wouldn't be in this mess."

"Rebel...shut up." Dean said, shaking his head. "You're going to Mania. You're winning. You'll come to RAW the next day with that goddamn belt. Now stop second guessing yourself."

"I'm not second guessing myself Dean...I'm more trying to pre-empt someone trying to stop me."

That evening she had a match with John Cena. She was looking forward to it, John was a good challenge and she hadn't had a chance to face him since winning the Rumble. Dean, as expected, was ringside for it. The match got underway, the crowds chanting for either Cena or Rebel. After a nasty suplex, Rebel hauled herself to her feet just as the crowds began to roar. Wondering what was happening, she braced herself for the onslaught from John, but when nothing but the sound of chair on flesh came, Rebel scowled and turned round. To her horror, she saw John laying on the floor, Rusev stood over him with a twisted smile on his face, chair in hand. He beat down on the helpless man, and Dean ran around to pull John free. Dean found himself victim to the chair too, and was sent sprawling as it collided with his head, cutting open his forehead. Something inside finally broke, it was like a switch being flipped, after so long of being beaten down, and Rebel let out a guttural yell, before running at him. She released a devastating spear, knocking him to the floor momentarily. Rusev wasn't done, however as he brought the chair home in to her gut, and then on her back. He then swung at her head, colliding with her face and giving her a gash to her own forehead, not unlike the one Dean was now sporting. She could feed the crimson liquid starting to run down her face, and again, the guttural scream she had held back for so long was released. She got back to her feet, blood dripping now on to her t-shirt, on to the canvas, and as Rusev swung the chair down again, she let him have a vicious upper cut. The chair fell from his hand, and Rebel grabbed it quickly, watching as the Bulgarian brute stumbled backwards. She swung the chair and it connected, making the crowds roar with delight. Dean watched on as the chair was slammed in to Rusev's ribs, and found himself realising that yes, Rebel had finally snapped. As she dealt him a nasty DDT on to the chair, Dean was now finding himself worried. Rebel paused, and then slipped out of the ring as Rusev lay on the mat. She pulled up the ring apron, searching underneath for something, no-one knew what. A chair came out, followed by some kendo sticks, then another chair, and then finally, she stood, a sledge hammer in hand. The commentary team looked at her horrified as she stood, covered in her own blood, in front of them. Jerry Lawler yelled at Dean to do something, anything, as Rebel got in to the ring where Rusev lay. Rebel stood above him, and looked at the sledge hammer, then at Rusev again, a twisted smile dominating her features. The crowds roared, this was a side of Rebel they had never seen and they were clearly loving every second. As Fandango came haring down the walkway, Rebel raised the hammer high. She went to swing it down on Rusev, except when she swung, the hammer was yanked from her hands.

"What the hell?" she exclaimed, turning round to see Dean had stolen it. Rebel held her hand out for the hammer, as behind her Rusev was yanked from the ring, and helped backstage. John Cena was pulling himself up on the ring apron, finding the scene in front of him unbelievable.

"Dean. Give me the hammer." Rebel said evenly, though her voice was shaking with anger. Dean shook his head, holding the sledge hammer away from her.

"No Rebel...this isn't you!" he exclaimed.

"Give me the god damn hammer!" she yelled, lunging for it, and Dean sidestepped. Rebel turned round and glared at her friend, her eyes ablaze. "Give it to me!"

"Or what Rebel? You're going to take it from me?"

"If I have to beat you to a pulp to do it, I will," she growled. Dean shook his head.

"No, no you won't. I don't want to hurt you, Rebel, but if I have to knock some sense in to you right now, I will do." He said as John got to his feet.

"How about we put that to the test?" Rebel said, stepping closer to Dean. "Give me the hammer, or I will break you in two!" Dean looked at her, looked her dead in the eyes, brought the hammer up...and snapped the handle like a twig over his leg. Rebel snarled in anger, the pieces of the handle and hammer now discarded on the floor. Unable to do anything else she stormed out of the ring, shoulder barging in to Dean on purpose as he stood there. Dean grabbed her by the arm as she went past him.

"You are very, very lucky you are my friend right now, Rebel, because I do NOT take the shit you just pulled," he said, a note of warning in his voice. Rebel pulled her arm free and gave Dean the filthiest look she could manage.

"Fuck you," she growled, before spitting in his face. Dean looked after her in shock, her blood now on his own face, as she walked off up the walkway and to backstage. He didn't know this Rebel, and he didn't like it one bit.

The arena was empty. Empty except for Rebel, sat on a turnbuckle with the splintered handle of the sledge hammer, the only sound her thoughts whirling in turmoil around her brain. Dean had been right to stop her, she knew that. But at the same time, she wished he hadn't. She wished that it had been someone else instead. She was ashamed of herself, of her actions, and the fact she'd behaved so disgustingly to Dean. Now the pair were scheduled to fight on Smackdown that week. Dean's voice echoed in her mind as she stood, reeling from the news in front of Vince and Stephanie.

"Are you happy now, Rebel?" he'd yelled. "You happy with what you've managed to do? With what we now have to do to each other?" She had stood mute, unable to really believe what she'd managed to do, as Dean was ushered away by Roman, her brother in all but blood shaking his head at her in disbelief, and if she wasn't mistaken, disgust.

"What the fuck have I done? Am I going to drive everyone I care about away from me? This fucking win is cursed, I swear." She said to herself, realising how much trouble she had caused.

"Well, you managed to put everyone on notice, didn't you?" asked a voice and she was surprised to see not Hunter, Roman, or Seth, but Dean. He didn't look as angry with her as he was earlier, but he still looked pissed.

"come to give me another bollocking?" she asked. "Look, I know what I did was completely out of character for me..."

"Out of Character? Rebel, you about gave John Cena a god damn heart attack, that's how out of character you were." Dean exclaimed, looking at her in disbelief. "Roman is livid with you, so is Seth, Rusev about wet himself, Vince, Steph and Hunter are being gracious enough to let this lie, and have us resolve it on Smackdown. And they've put Roman as special guest referee."

"I'm screwed. Everyone knows he'd favour you over me." She replied, looking back down at the splintered handle in her hands. She was surprised when Dean's hands took it from her, and took her own in his.

"I think you got something to say to me, haven't you?" he asked. Rebel looked up at him, saw the cut on his head from Rusev's chair. Her heart caught in her throat.

"I'm sorry, Dean. For everything." She managed. "I shouldn't have done what I did to you...i shouldn't have acted like that." She never saw Dean bite his lip momentarily, as if there was something else she should have said.

"It's ok, Rebel. I forgive you. After the shit you've been through, it's a wonder you haven't snapped sooner. Roman said he'll wait for you to get a lift back to the hotel. He's pretty pissed at you right now." He said, as Triple H came down the walkway.

"Like I'm not in enough shit." She replied. Dean clapped her on the back and said he would see her back at the hotel, before saying hi and bye to Hunter as he climbed in the ring. Rebel ran a hand through her hair and shook her head as Triple H came near.

"Well, that went well didn't it?" he said, leaning on the rope next to her as Dean left the arena.

"Yeah i know, I fucked up," she began, but Triple H laughed.

"Not what happened on RAW. What happened just then. You friendzoned him so hard, you might as well have knocked him in to next week." He replied, and Rebel groaned, putting her hand to her forehead.

"When he said I had something to tell him, he didn't mean me saying sorry did he?" she said, looking at the COO as he stood, a smile on his face. He nodded and Rebel groaned again. "I just fucked up so hard."

"Yep. Not gonna lie, you did. Listen, I need to drive you to the next venue tomorrow. I've got a few guys I want you to meet. They might just give you the edge to get through Wrestlemania."

As Rebel approached the car Roman was waiting in, she could see the look on his face. It wasn't pretty. Her heart clenched unwillingly, she was in a whole world of hurt when she got in that car. Aware she had no other choice, she carried on. As she came closer, Roman's face changed from angry to puzzled, and then alarmed. A split second later, something hit her on the back of the head and Rebel got a face full of car park. There was the sound of a car door opening, but not before whoever it was that hit her began to unload. Dazed, Rebel curled in to the foetal position, unable to defend herself against the sudden attack. Next thing she knew, Roman had leapt at whoever it was, and had knocked them to the floor. Curses and threats accompanied the sound of punches, and Rebel hauled herself to her feet to see Roman and Rusev going at it. Roman backed the man in to a nearby equipment truck, pinning him by the throat, before Rusev, now sporting a bleeding lip kicked out at him. It connected briefly, allowing the man time to escape as Rebel came over.

"You ok Bro?" she asked as he leant against the truck. He nodded, flexing a hand with a curse.

"I'm good. Sis, if you win at Mania, you gotta do something for me?" he said, looking at her.

"Name it." She said as they began to slowly walk back to Romans car.

"Don't ever, EVER, let them have that belt from you. No matter how much hell they put you through. And if you have to snap like you did today to do so…let's just say I won't stop you." He replied.

"Dean said you were pissed with me,"

"Yeah, I was. Not so much now."

The following day she rode with Triple H to the next venue well ahead of everyone else. There was some light hearted teasing from Hunter about her situation with Dean, and annoyance from Rebel that he wouldn't tell her who they were headed to meet. Arriving, she was told to get changed asap, and meet him in the ring. Rebel went to question it again, but was told to shut up and get a move on. Coming down to the ring, she was alone and began to warm up. Just who did he have in mind to be able to teach her…well, whatever it was…that she was lacking? That would give her the edge? Rebel found herself running through lists of wrestlers in her mind, wondering what it could be, and who she would learn it from. So involved in her thoughts was she, that she barely heard the voice of Hunter as he came down the walkway with two very familiar faces.

"You off in your own little world, Rebel?" he asked. She smiled as they got to the ring.

"Something like that."

"Rebel, meet the two guys I think you'll learn a lot from. Razor Ramone, and Kevin Nash." He said gesturing to each guy in turn. Rebel blinked in surprise, before shaking hands with each man.

"Hunter says you're looking for that little bit of an edge to win at Mania," Said Razor Ramone. "Between the pair of us, I'm sure we can do that."

"Hunter…I don't understand…"Rebel began.

"It's like you said, Rebel. We've got face vs face. After last night, you're well poised to play as dirty as you'd like to win this. And these guys are the guys to help. Now, let's get to work, and see what we can do." He said with a smile, as the three men got in the ring.

Almost all that day, and all week leading up to Smackdown, Rebel found herself under the tutelage of the two hall of famers. They made her work hard, and in turn, taught her every dirty trick they knew. As Kevin told her, she would need to get past the feeling of betraying her brother, of committing the ultimate sin. If she really wanted that belt, she had to do anything she could get away with in that match to win. It was an alien feeling, Rebel thought as she contemplated the situation before Smackdown that week. She felt so…disgusted by the idea of playing dirty against Roman. It made her stomach churn, her whole career so far she had been a good guy, a nice person. The crowds loved her, they were going to hate her come the first RAW after Wrestlemania. As she sat thinking about things, someone came and sat next to her.

"How you feeling Bel?" asked a voice, and she turned to see Dolph Ziggler next to her.

"Sick. Shit. Under too much pressure…take your pick," she said, putting her hands in her hair and raking them through. Dolph put an arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze.

"It's ok. They think you should play dirty next week huh?" he asked. Rebel gave him a so-so smile.

"They think it's another tool I can use to win, but I don't want to win anything like that. Not a damn thing, and sure as hell not against Roman. He'd hate it, then there would be the fans…I can't let them down that badly." She replied. "I can't let myself down that badly. And I've got to win, I have no choice, I have to. If I don't…I'll never hear the end of it."

"You're doubting yourself again." Dolph said, shaking his head. Rebel shrugged her shoulders. "Yes, you are sweetheart. You know you are, I know you are. I've not spent years pining after you to not know how you work by now."

"Then what do I do, Dolph? How do I get through this? Because this is going to be hell, it really is." She looked over at him, the Show Off gave her a small, gentle smile.

"I don't have the answer to that, Rebel. I really don't. But your win will taste sweeter if you fight like you've always done, with courage, honor and integrity. It's what I like about you."

"It is?" Rebel looked at him with a frown, confused.

"You might be able to kick someone's ass, Rebel, but I've never seen you cheat to do it. And I don't believe you ever will. You're too honest, to yourself, and the fans." He said.

"Thanks Dolph."

"Don't you worry. Good luck tonight, Rebel. Dean's a hard hitter." He added, before getting up and leaving her sat thinking his words over.

She was still thinking about them when it was time for her match with Dean. Roman waited in the ring, Dean came in first, then Rebel. The two faced each other, and Rebel took a breath. This was her doing, and she would now suffer the results. She nodded, signalling that she accepted her fate as well the two guys knew. The match got underway, and before long, Rebel and Dean found they were enjoying themselves. The crowds were in to the chemistry they had together as opponents. Even Roman was enjoying himself. It was starting to look like it would be a really, really close call between the pair, when an entrance theme rang out. Dean, Roman and Rebel looked up, and all three cursed as they saw Rusev, Fandango and Randy Orton come out.

Of course, Rebel realised. He could be suspended for attacking her backstage, but there was nothing stopping him from attacking her at an event, in front of cameras. Roman scowled, and the three braced for an attack. As the three men got down to the ring apron, Triple H came out.

"Well, seeing as you three like to interrupt things, this match has now been upgraded to a six man tag team match. Randy, Fandango and Rusev, versus Dean, Rebel and Roman. Get another official out her, let's get this going!" he said, gesturing to the back for a new referee. Rebel could sense the unspoken warning in Hunters voice, and spoke to the other two.

"We've got to win, this, we absolutely, 100% have to win this, We can't lose, because if we do, Randy will annihilate any chance I've got of getting to Mania. And if he cant go after me, it's a matter of time before he goes after the two of you." She said, as the three huddled in the corner of the ring.

"Let us do the most work then, Bel," Dean said, making Rebel begin to protest. "No, hear me out. Then, when we've decimated them for the most part, you come in, pin that son of a bitch Orton, and take the win. Embarrassing for him, looks good this close to Mania for you, and you're going to be in good shape to face Roman."

"That's kinda lazy and cheating, Dean," Roman said, removing his referee t-shirt.

"I kinda agree, but they will be looking for me to come charging out the gate, considering it's me they all have issues with. Let's follow Dean's plan for a little, then I'll jump in after a bit and decimate them." She smiled.

"Decimate them how?" Roman asked.

"I've learnt a few dirty tricks or two this week. And let's face it, I showed the other day I have an evil streak. Let's use them." She grinned.

And together, the three of them pulled the kind of dirty tricks that made the Shield great. Seth came running down to the ring to help out, his presence ringside providing a further distraction for the reff and for the three men on the opposite team. Distractions, raking eyes, full use of the five count on the ropes, faking something in their eyes, all were used freely and clearly. Roman had just tagged in Rebel against Fandango, when Seth jumped up on the apron, distracting the referee. Roman took this moment to Superman punch Rusev and Orton off the apron, while Rebel did her own special move, Wild Thing, and claw punched Fandango, dropping him to the floor. Roman tapped the reff on his shoulder, making him turn as Rebel covered the body of Fandango for a three count and picked up the win for the team. Randy and Rusev were on the apron in seconds, while Dean, Roman and Seth jumped in to the ring and stood side by side with Rebel, signifying that there would be no attacks on her that evening, before putting their hands together in the signature gesture of the Shield, Roman nudging Rebel and indicating she should do so as well, before the show went off the air to thunderous cheers and applause.

It seemed to take forever, but finally, Wrestlemania weekend came. Rebel spent the day before the event doing nothing but press, posing for pictures with Roman, doing interviews, signing autographs. Then they headed to the arena, getting a glimpse of the ring before the place filled with people the following day.

"How you feeling, Sis?" asked Roman, as the pair went and sat in one of the lower tier sections of seating. No one else was with them allowing the two to speak freely with each other.

"Nervous. Scared. Stupid." She said, her arms balanced on her knees. "More stupid than anything else."

"It was a knee jerk reaction, Sis, you weren't stupid. What's going on between you and Dean, that's stupid." He said with a smirk.

"You know about the whole friend zoning incident don't you?" she asked. Roman nodded, and Rebel groaned.

"Just ask him out already." Rebel shook her head.

"Can't. I like him, sure, but I'm not sure I like him enough to take that step yet. I've got a LOT going on upstairs right now, Bro, I can't afford to make a rash decision and end up…end up…"

"Fighting Dean at Summerslam?" He said, making Rebel give him an elbow in the ribs. "Alright, I get your point, I won't bring it up anymore. Just…don't take too long making up your mind, ok?" Rebel nodded, and then silence fell between them for a while. They sat and watched as final preparations were made around the ring, technical checks were done and people scurried here and there running things about.

"You got a game plan for tomorrow?" asked Roman.

"Don't get speared." Rebel said with a shrug. Roman looked at her and shook his head, before returning to what was going on below.

"I don't want to lose tomorrow Rebel," he began, and paused as Rebel nodded.

"I know you don't."

"But I want you to lose even less." He finished, putting a hand on her shoulder. "However much it would hurt me to lose, it will hurt me even more if you lose instead." Roman looked down at her, and Rebel put her hand on the one on her shoulder.

"Spoken like a true big brother," she said with a smile. "But seriously, Roman. It's not like you can throw the match. And I wouldn't want you to."

"I know." He pulled his hand free and they returned their gazes to the arena. "And besides, I promised you I'd let you see what you could do against me. I'm not going to break that promise." Rebel stood and stretched herself, before putting a hand on his shoulder.

"That's all I ask," she replied, before leaving him to his thoughts and walking off.

It's almost D-Day for Rebel! Hope you've enjoyed the story so far, please leave a review if so! Zelkina xx