Okay. Time for a disclaimer. I own none of the talented wonderful men in this story. If I did... Well I wouldn't just be writing about it that's for sure! Officially this is a Dean/OC/Roman story.

A bit of a time skip guys. Loads of drama but also some relief of tension as well. Hope ya'll enjoy!


"I'm sorry that you had to come so suddenly Miss Adams. I just happened to get an opening and thought it'd be best to discuss your worries about Rose now," Cathy White said, settling behind her big mahogany desk.

"It's fine Mrs. White. I'm glad you were able to meet me," Leecie replied, "I know teacher's schedules are hectic."

The older woman flashed a warm smile and nodded quickly.

"They do tend to be. I must say, it's nice to associate with a parent who is not quick to accuse and blame and be, quite plainly put, rude."

Leecie smiled and said, "Of course not."

Cathy cleared her throat and pulled out a manila folder, reading through a page silently.

"Rose is a wonderful child. I'm very glad to have her in my class, and meeting her mother I see where it comes from."

The redhead blushed but simply smiled, unsure how to respond.

"She is smart and very kind. She's the first to welcome new children to the class or share her pencils, but a big portion of the class has become wary of her. I've done the best I could and separated them from her, grouping her with children who are kinder, but it doesn't stop the occasional outburst. Rose is our only child with red hair in the class and one of the kids pointed it out. There were rumors started, and I'm sure you've heard some of the mean things that can be said to people with red hair Miss Adams. The children are disciplined but at times it seems to do no good. Rose is a fighter though, and she keeps proving to them that she won't let their words hurt her. She is still very close with Ava as I'm sure she's told you, but Ava has been having her own issues keeping up in class and it's been tense these past few weeks."

Leecie paused and let the information sink in. She knew the hatred of red heads, or gingers, well. For some people it was a playful joke, but many took it too far. And hearing that Ava, who'd used to visit often, was having trouble made her even more worried.

"Is there any idea what is causing her trouble, Ava I mean?" Leecie asked softly.

Cathy took a deep breath and leaned back, tapping her pen in the table for a bit.

"I had called CPS to conduct an interview with her family but I was told my worries were unprecedented. There needs to be more proof other than failing school work, becoming withdrawn, and showing signs of neglect."

The irritation in her voice was clear and it made Leecie's back straighten.

"I've spoken to her parents a few times when I've picked her up before, maybe I can try to contact them."

"Please, do. I believe that if Ava were more available to Rose, it would help solidify her against the taunting as well. As I've said, Rose is a delight. I've tried to make the environment as conductive as possible, and I'm working on getting the instigator moved to another class, but I also do think this speaks to her character. You've raised a strong, bright, confident girl Miss Adams."

...

Leecie gave Rose a grin as the young girl danced up the side walk.

"Hey there beautiful. How was school?" she asked, crouching down.

Her daughter gave her a hug before pulling away to head inside. Once her book bag was dropped in the corner with her shoes, Rose shrugged.

"It was okay. There was pizza for lunch!"

"Oooh, pizza?! What kind?" Leecie replied as she hung up Rose's coat.

"Just cheese. But it was good. Can we have pizza for dinner?"

Snorting, the elder female ruffled her daughter's curls and shook her head.

"Wellll, what about fish sticks?!"

"That I can agree to!" Leecie replied, "Go pick out a vegetable to go with it."

Watching Rose run around, Leecie could only wonder how she actually felt. Rose was always good about being a calm child, even when things bothered her usually. Just like with her father. She usually didn't cry or mope about, just stated facts about how she felt. Sometimes Leecie forgot Rose was only five and a half, with how intelligently she behaved. Her little girl was smart as a whip and wise beyond her years, growing way too fast. Blinking off the sudden tears, she followed Rose into the kitchen and had to shake her head as her point was further proven. Rose was standing on a foot stool, using the electric can opener to open the can of peas, which she then poured into a bowl she'd set out and put it into the microwave for three minutes. While it hurt her heart, it made her proud.

"Good job Rose," she murmured.

The smaller redhead grinned and said, "I'm getting big mama. Believe... that."

"Oh how I love you child," Leecie chuckled, hugging her daughter tight.

"So, we're watching Raw right?" Rose asked.

Squished and held tight, Rose gaze up at her mother pleadingly. Leecie pretended to think about it, adding a 'hmm' of thought for good measure.

"Mama!"

"When do we ever miss it dork?"

"Good! Because I wanna see da- Roman beat up on Brock again!"

The slip of the tongue was not missed and it made her heart clench. Joe and Jon hadn't been able to come by since Christmas, which was barely almost three weeks ago. She understood, with the royal rumble coming up and all the business, but it did make her question. What if they just didn't want to come back? It was always possible. She got to talk to them on an almost nightly basis though, and Rose got to talk to them ever other day.

"Mama! What's wrong?" Rose asked, making her mother jump.

Leecie smiled and pushed Rose's locks back, taking in her freckled face with its big cherub smile.

"Nothing baby. Just thinking about Roman and Dean kicking some butt," she lied.

Rose giggled and spun around quickly.

"Best. Wrestlers. Ever!"

"I dunno, the Hardy's were pretty great. And what about The New Day?" Leecie replied as she walked over to the freezer.

When she didn't get a reply, she peeked from behind the freezer door and called out Rose's name.

"M-Mama!"

That shriek had her heart plummeting. Dropping the fish sticks, groaning as she bashed her shoulder on the door on the way by, she rushed into the living room just to freeze dead still. Rose's face was a mask of nothing, eyes wide but expression stoic while Leecie's crumbled.

"Let her go," she growled out.

"Now why would I do that Lace? She's my insurance policy," Chuck said with a chuckle, moving the barrel of the gun closer to Rose's temple.

She moved to go forward but he clicked his tongue, shaking his head no, and Rose jumped.

"J-Just lis-listen to him mama," Rose stammered, her only sign of fear.

"Yeah, just listen Leecie."

Breathing in slowly, hoping to control her reactions, she muttered, "What do you want Chuck?"

"I want you to drop all these ridiculous child support charges. I want you to move away and get out of my life. Don't ever contact me again. I want-"

Leecie's phone rang, playing Roman's theme, and she looked over at her cell.

"I need to answer that."

"Fine, not one word about this."

She nodded and snatched up the phone, answering it quickly.

"Hey baby girl, I just wanted to see how you and Rose were doing?" Joseph said.

"Oh is that right? Well thanks for getting back to me," she replied calmly.

"What? Leecie, are you okay? You sound funny baby."

"No, it's no problem at all. I'm sure I can have something ready for you by tomorrow unless something comes up."

Joseph's breath hitched and he suddenly asked, "Is there someone in the house?"

"Yeah. I promise it's no problem. You remember the address right?"

She shot Chuck a wary look and he gestured for her to wrap up the conversation.

"I'll call police for you Leecie. Do you know who's there?"

"Mmhmm, I'll talk to you later. Bye Joe."

She hung up and turned back to find Chuck shaking his head.

"Another man. Why am I not surprised? You always were quite the whore," he said sharply.

Suddenly he shoved Rose forward at Leecie and his eyes narrowed.

"Tomorrow, you call them and cancel the request. You got it? You don't and I will ensure you pay, both of you."

Right as he was about to turn and leave, the sound of sirens became noticeable. He froze and she couldn't stop a whimper at the sudden anger on his face.

"You fucking bitch! You called the cops on me?!"

"'I didn't call anyone!" she shouted back, "You've been right in front of me this entire time!"

"No, you tipped the Joe guy off. Didn't you? You little-!"

As he lifted the guy, she reacted without thinking. Rose let out a scream as Leecie shoved her down behind the couch and dove at him. She managed to get two solid punches against his jaw, her fingers feeling as if they broke doing so. That was all she got in though, because he was bigger, stronger. It didn't seem to take much effort for him to deflect her attacks.

"You hear them?! They getting close Chuck! You're done for!" she screamed, "I fucking hope you get your ass raped in there and-"

The sound of the gun going off had her screaming in fear, looking back at Rose but seeing her nowhere in sight. It wasn't until she spun back to look at him that she felt the pain in her side. His face was ashen white as he dropped the gun.

"O-Oh fuck Lace," he hissed, scrambling back.

Overtaken by the pain, she bit her lip and reached for the side table but missed terribly. Her knees cried out as she fell to the floor on them. She reached down for her side and felt it wet. Unable to bring herself to look at it, she put pressure on the wound even though it stung like a bitch and instead watched him running out onto the lawn.

"Suspect running from the house!" she heard.

She flinched when the yells started and then she heard a gun go off. Footsteps filled the house but at that point she couldn't keep her eyes open anymore.

"Miss Adams? Ma'am, can you hear me?"

She gestured with her free hand and managed to mumble, "Got shot. Find Rose."

That's when it all went dark. No pain, no sound, nothing except utter lack of everything other than her thoughts. Rose hadn't gotten hurt. She'd done all she could to ensure that. Suddenly voices infiltrated the darkness. Each time they spoke, waves of color splashed across the emptiness. They were familiar. She tried to listen, until finally she could make out words and realized it was Jon and Joe speaking.

"If he wasn't already in the police's custody, mother fucker would be dead," Jon said, vivacious reds and sharp contrasting whites moving fluidly in the air.

"Calm down man. They'll take care of him," Joe replied.

She felt her lips try to twitch up at the calm, deep baritone of his voice causing dark purples and bright blues to sway in place of Jon's colors.

"Yeah, their version of taking care of is shit man! He fucking shot her. He threatened Rose. You know prison isn't nearly bad enough for what he deserves," Jon growled, his colors becoming jagged with his irritation.

"Yeah, but its better than you getting your dumb ass locked up for hurting or killing him Jon. Leecie is going to be okay. Rose wasn't touched. All in all, it went a lot better than it could have," Joe said soothingly.

Leecie had to agree. Joe was right.

"Plus you're already on thin ice with Vince after beating the shit out of Renee's boyfriend."

Wait, what?!

"He wasn't her boyfriend when I kicked his teeth in. God I can't believe he had the gall to do that... fuck him man. I should have done worse," Jon snarled.

"No. You know I'm right. Now shut up with this talk. If one of the nurses hears you, you'll probably get thrown out."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever man. You hear from her parents again yet?"

The red and white became much more docile and started to smooth into a grainy creamy painted look.

"Last I heard they were putting Rose to bed, but they should be up here soon. Said something about wanting her to get some rest and food before they brought her up again."

Rose. Leecie wanted to shake her head in worry. She couldn't imagine how Rose felt. She'd be terrified if she was in her daughter's place. She needed to talk to her, assure her she was okay. But the harder she fought, the less she was able to hear, the less she could see their voices. Frustrated, she tried to force her eyes open but alas it ended in the total darkness again.