Chapter 13

"So wait, you're starting the match ON TOP of the cage instead of inside it? Isn't that a little…crazy?" Aya frowned, not liking the thought of her current client possibly falling off a cage and killing himself.

"Crazy is my middle name, Aya, or haven't you figured that out yet?" Dean remarked with a grin, having an extra kick in his step today.

He was looking forward to bouncing Seth's head on every portion of the huge cage. It was a cage match with the volume turned up and Dean wanted to do something different. Granted, he had stolen the idea from Mick Foley, the Hardcore Legend, who had done an unforgettable segment with him and Seth that past Monday. Dean would never forget it and, although he looked calm as a cucumber, on the inside he was marking out. The atmosphere was electric and the segment created even more intensity for this upcoming fight. Seth had destroyed the Shield, all for his own personal gain and wealth, and he would pay for it all tonight. Dean knew the goon squad would show up in J&J Security and already had a plan for them, hoping they did join their leader.

Macaria was worried for Dean's safety, but hadn't voiced her concerns because of Aya. Even though she had blackmail on the woman, she was still the boss and her rules still stuck like glue. No fornicating with the client. It made sense because, if things went sour between her and Dean, there would be massive repercussions. Aya was protecting herself and her company; it wasn't vindictive the way Macaria originally thought. As much as she wanted to be with Dean, even if it was for only one night or the months she was here, Macaria didn't think it was a good idea to get involved with someone she had to work closely with. Feelings and all that malarkey would eventually surface, rear its ugly head, and she didn't need the drama.

While Dean taped up his hands, Macaria snapped some shots of the technique and smiled at the eyebrow raise he shot her. She smiled back at him, waiting for him to continue and snapped some more, making sure the words written on the tape were clear. CHOOSE HELL. CHOOSE was written on his left taped hand and HELL on his could tell he was ready for this and stepped back to allow him to do his pre-match stretches and warm up. Why he did pushups on his FINGERTIPS was beyond her, but it was incredibly sexy to witness. It also showed his strength and she was tempted to snap photos of those bulging arms, but refrained.

When it was time to head to gorilla position, Dean slid the kendo stick holding over his head to strap across his chest and headed for the door, but Macaria stopped him. "What is it? You can't go out there tonight…it's gonna be dangerous." Even if the Authority told her it was all right, Dean would not let her get hurt and had pulled her aside quietly to talk to her about it earlier.

"I know, I just…" Macaria hated the feelings she was developing for him because she couldn't act on them. Jade green eyes full of concern locked with twinkling pale blues and Dean reached out to glide a finger down her cheek. "Be careful out there. Come back in one piece, okay?"

Dean hadn't meant to touch her, especially in front of Aya, but he couldn't help himself. That damn magnetic attraction had grown stronger the longer he was around Macaria. "I got this, Maca. You have nothing to worry about. I'll be okay. Cheer me on, babe." He kissed the top of her head and stalked out the door, getting into character on his way to the ring.

"You know that's not going to end well, right? And my rules still stand." Aya reminded her in a patronizing voice, folding her arms in front of her chest. "Besides, why would he want a thing like you when he's surrounded by more beautiful and successful women?"

"I already told you I'm not interested. He's a friend and I'm worried about him. There's nothing wrong with that." Macaria retorted, grabbing a chair to plant in front of the monitor to watch Dean's match. As much as it bothered her, Aya did have a point. She was just a 'thing' and had zero success in life, besides this internship with Aya, which would be terminated once the blackmail was destroyed.

"Keep telling yourself that. I'm not sure if you're trying to convince me or yourself with that bullshit, Mac."

"It's Macaria, Maca or Caria. I don't like being called Mac. I'm not a fucking computer." With the blackmail, Macaria had no fear in telling her boss what she really thought and scowled, reaching over to turn the volume up on the monitor.

"Fine, fine…Mac." Aya couldn't resist and smirked, wondering if the woman would be petty enough over a nickname to reveal what she'd done with Seth Rollins.

Ignoring her, Macaria turned her attention to the monitor just as Dean came out to the ring. He went inside the cage and then walked back out before beginning to scale it. Macaria hadn't paid attention to his talk with Aya, tuning them out, so she had no idea he was starting this match ON TOP of the structure. The anxiety she felt for his safety had increased tenfold and Macaria suddenly wished she hadn't eaten in the cafeteria earlier.

Insane was the only word to describe the match itself. Macaria nearly lost it when both men soared about 16 feet from the side of the Cell onto the announcer's tables. Simultaneously. Without realizing it, tears formed and slid down her cheeks as Macaria watched both Dean and Seth be put onto stretchers. The match was over. It had to be. Macaria could only watch as they lifted the cell up enough to wheel their bodies around the cell toward the ramp. That was when Dean suddenly got up from his stretcher and went after Seth, their bodies not strapped down since they wanted to get them out of the carnage of the announcer tables.

"How the HELL are they standing after that?!" Aya squawked, staring at the monitor in shock with wide eyes, covering her mouth with her hand.

Macaria had the same expression on her face.

Even the commentators were astounded by the passion, desire and thirst from Dean Ambrose.

They both cringed when Dean slammed the door shut, after tossing Seth inside the cell and screamed for the officials to lock it. They were having this match, regardless of going through the announcer tables! All Macaria could do was silently pray, not believing the intensity of this match and could tell even Aya was engrossed in it. Dean looked right at home in that cell while Seth was merely trying to survive.


Meanwhile, in her office, Nyla could only watch with abated breath, knowing what the outcome of this match would be. It wouldn't be good either. Dean didn't receive a copy of the script revision, so he thought he would win this match. No, the Authority wouldn't allow their golden boy to be beaten by Seth. She didn't know how it happened, but toward the end of the match, Dean brought out two cinderblocks. The same kind that Seth drove his skull through to send him packing to shoot a movie. The blocks had been pre-cracked beforehand, to make them crumble easier, but Dean still suffered head trauma, thanks to Seth not doing his curb stomp move correctly.

Suddenly, the lights went out just as Dean was about to curb stomp Seth through the blocks, having positioned his head just right. When they came back on, there was a lantern in the middle of the ring with smoke billowing out of it…and a hologram. It looked almost like a ghost, even though people knew better. The sounds of someone's voice echoing around the arena blasted through the speakers and Nyla had a hard time hearing what was said. It sounded like some kind of gibberish.

Her eyes shut when Bray Wyatt came up from beneath the ring and bulldozed Dean, knocking him flat. The lights remained off with just the lantern as he delivered his move Sister Abigail to Dean, driving his head to the mat. Then he backed up and allowed a wary Seth to cover Dean for the victory, the fans all staring on floored, pissed off and shocked. Nyla couldn't help it; she started crying and buried her face in her hands, knowing it was because of her this happened. She could've denied Stephanie's request to change the outcome of the match, but had done it to protect herself and her family.

This was the only way for the Authority to get Dean Ambrose's mind off Seth Rollins for a while. To protect their golden boy from the Lunatic Fringe. Dean was leaps and bounds better than Seth Rollins in every way, but the Authority wanted to keep him down and away from the backstabber. The whole time Nyla revised the script, she cried and had to force herself to keep going, force her fingers to keep typing on those keys. She didn't want to screw Dean, she didn't want to help Seth, but what other choice did she have? Stephanie had her over a barrel with her secret and the father could never find out the truth. He would never leave her alone and would pursue her, even try to take Neela way from her, if he was vindictive enough.

That was not a risk she was willing to take.

The crowd was unhappy, booing heavily and Nyla had to turn the monitor off, not interested in watching the aftermath. There was no way Seth would be in any condition to have sex tonight after all the hell Dean had put him through. There was at least one silver lining to this horrible night. Deciding to head out, before Dean could hunt her down, Nyla packed up her things and rushed out of the arena, heading straight for the hotel.

When Seth came for her and saw Nyla was nowhere to be found, he actually breathed a sigh of relief, too tired to chase her down. Stephanie would have to get over it for a night. He was hurting from the top of his head to the tips of his toes from crashing into that announcer's table, along with everything else Dean had done to him.


"What is god's name are you doing here? No, better question, what in god's name are you doing out of bed?"

Dean smiled sheepishly, trying to ignore his body screaming at him and held up some boxes of pizza, along with a six-pack of beer. "Figured we could both use a drink after tonight. And I know you haven't eaten yet." They had their own hotel rooms ever since Aya got her head out of her backside and started doing her job.

"Christ, get in here," Macaria mumbled, taking the pizza from him and let him carry the beer into her room, kicking the door closed behind her. "You should be resting after that hellacious match tonight."

"Yeah well, I told you I'm indestructible." Dean had been through worse than what Hell in a Cell had to offer and sat down on the bed, grimacing at the pain zipping up his side. "I'm fine…"

"You're not a very good liar, Deano." Macaria smirked at his groan and leaned back against the headboard, taking a slice of pizza from the box.

Dean chuckled, scooting back on the bed to sit beside her and ate his own piece of pizza. "Deano, eh? Hey, that dinosaur was awesome, so I consider it a compliment." He winked at her eye roll and finished off his first slice before cracking open a beer, handing one to her.

Why was he here? Why did he want to hang out with her, of all people? Macaria still didn't understand it, not after being around him for a straight month and couldn't help letting Aya's words enter her mind. She was a nobody, a thing, and had nothing to offer him except herself. Hell, she could barely afford the one bedroom studio apartment she had in Vegas.

Dean could feel the unease oozing out of her pores and turned his head to fully look at her, seeing she had taken her hair down. "What's wrong?" He set his third piece of pizza back in the box, after taking a bite out of it, not caring since it was just the two of them. "You're anxious."

"It's nothing." Macaria went to take another bite and sighed when he took it away from her, also setting it in the pizza box beside his piece.

"Try again."

Macaria shook her head, sipping her beer and refused to talk about what was on her mind.

"Maca, I thought we were getting to know each other and you trusted me enough not to lie to me." Dean tried not to sound hurt, but he couldn't help it and sighed heavily, taking a long pull from his beer.

"That's just it. Why DO you want to hang out with me?" Now her jade eyes were observing him, a slight edge to her voice. "You just went through hell, literally, in that match and yet, here you are eating pizza and drinking beer with a nobody like me. I don't get it…"

"A nobody like you? Macaria, is that what you think of yourself?" Dean had no idea why, but that severely pissed him off. He set his beer down on the nightstand beside him and took hers, to do the same, before yanking her by the upper arms against him. "I'm only gonna say this once, so pay attention, darlin'. You are NOT a nobody to me. And I like you. I thought that was more than obvious. That's why I'm here instead of laying in bed with the aches and pains. It's better to relieve them with someone instead of doing it alone. Don't ever call yourself a nobody because you're FAR from it."

Startled, Macaria felt tears swell in her eyes and fought with herself to throw caution to the wind and kiss him. Just to feel his lips against hers once would be enough. "I-I'm just a photographer though. I'm not successful and I'm only average as far as looks go. I don't wear makeup or wear fancy designer clothes…"

"Woman, you think I do? Have you SEEN what I wear to the ring?" Dean laughed humorlessly, not releasing her and only slightly decreased the hold on her upper arms, his pale blues building electricity. "Maca, I wear the same fucking shirt day in and day out, sometimes a straight week, just because I don't think to change. Same with pants. The only thing I DO change is my boxer/briefs and that's because I practice good hygiene." He hoped anyway. "Look, I don't know who put these thoughts into your head, but you are NOT a nobody. Not to me."

"Dean…" Macaria wanted to believe him and reached up to caress his face with the back of her hand tenderly, seeing the truth swirling through his beautiful blues. "You're not nobody to me either, just so you know."

Dean grinned, feeling better and slid his hands down her arms to squeeze her hands briefly before grabbing their food to resume eating. "You know, just because Aya isn't MIA anymore doesn't mean we have to stop rooming together. I actually don't like traveling alone." That was a confession he'd never admitted aloud until now.

"It can get lonely, huh?" Macaria leaned her head against his shoulder, once they were both seated back against the headboard again and finished their slices of pizza. "Okay, but we need separate beds. We can share this one tonight…one night only. Deal?"

Dean smirked, having a feeling before she left, they would be sharing more than one bed together, but kept that to himself. "Deal."