An hour into the house show

I was standing backstage near the gorilla position bouncing lightly on the balls of my feet waiting to hear my name called. I jumped slightly when I did, but headed down to the ring. I sauntered down the ramp like I owned the place. I was wearing a pair of black shredded leggings, a mauve tank top, and a mid-drift leather jacket with a huge dragon painted on the back, and boots to my knees with cross buckles up the side. I rolled into the ring, took my jacket off and handed it to a runner. I started stretching and then started to pace as the ring announcer went through Dean's stats. I smiled an evil smile when his music hit and he swaggered down the ramp to the ring. He rolled in, took off his jacket, handed it to a runner, and came to stand toe to toe with me. He pressed his forehead to mine.

"You sure you're ready for this sugar?" He sneered at me.

"You bet your ass!" I replied and then locked up with him. For every move he had I had a counter. What seemed like seconds, but was actually, minutes went by when I heard the crowd start chanting "This is awesome! This is awesome!" He got a number of hard hits in to my solar plexus hurting my ribs and causing me to suck wind for more than a few minutes. But then I rallied and got some good hard hits to his solar plexus as well as his bad shoulder. The final blow came when I tossed him into the ropes and punched him right in the heart as he came back toward me. He fell face forward, I rolled him over, hooked his leg, and pinned him for the three count. I rolled out of the ring without even getting my hand raised. I half stumbled and half walked up the ramp holding my ribs. I fell into Wade's arms as soon as I came through the curtains backstage. He picked me up bridal style and carried me back to the trainer's room with Roman right behind us. Wade sat me down on the table. The trainer came over, pulled up my tank top, and started prodding around on my ribs. I sucked in a breath every time he hit a sore spot. I was concentrating on breathing when I heard someone walk into the room. I looked up only when Wade and Roman both growled. And there on the table across from me was Dean. He was holding his arm tight to his side as he rubbed his chest.

"Well, Kira. It looks like you have fractured ribs, but I can't tell how many for sure. You'll have to go to the ER to get x-rayed to find out for sure." The trainer said.

"Shit! Really Steve?"

"Yep! You've already got a bruise starting on your ribs." He said as he pointed to my side. Roman growled again and took a step toward Dean. I put a hand on his arm, pulling him to a stop.

"Which one of you wants to take me to the hospital?" I mumbled.

"I will pet!" Wade said.

"Yeah, Wade's going to have to I have a match in a few." Roman said.

"Akira, I'm sorry I let things get so out of hand. You're definitely worthy of this job." Dean said without looking at me.

"It's all right Dean. Is this over now? Can you stop disrespecting me?"

"Yes, Kira it's over now. You've proven your point. I will stop disrespecting you." He replied. I slid off the table with Wade's help and walked over to Dean. I leaned down, kissed his cheek, and then pressed my forehead to his. "I'm not a threat to you Dean. Never have been, never will be. I respect you and only want the same from you." I whispered and left the room.

"She may have forgiven you Ambrose, but I haven't!" Roman spat as he left the room. Roman and Wade each had an arm around me and was leading me back to the locker room. Hunter stopped us half way there.

"Kira, are you ok?" he asked concerned.

"Doc said I have fractured ribs, but have to go to the ER to find out how many."

"Holy shit! I'm gonna kill Ambrose." He hissed.

"Leave him be Hunter. He feels like shit as it is. Wade is going to take me to the ER and I'll be back later."

"Ok Kira. Wade, would you come and let me know how many are fractured once she's back?"

"Of course Hunter." Wade said and led me off toward the locker room again, with Roman a few steps behind us. Once in the locker room Wade helped me get my hoodie on and I grabbed my briefcase with all my medical information in it. I started past Roman when he grabbed my wrist and pulled me to a stop. He pressed his forehead to mine. "Hurry back! And be ok!" he whispered to where only I could hear. I palmed his cheek and kissed his lips lightly.

"I'll be fine Rome. I'm a tough old bird." I whispered back while I smoothed his hair off his face. He hugged me quickly and left.

An hour later in our locker room

I was sitting with my eyes closed and my head resting on the couch behind me when I heard someone walk in and sit down in the plastic chair opposite me.

"I have four fractured ribs and a slightly bruised lung Romie!" I said into the dark room in a ragged voice.

"Kira, I'm sorry again. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I hope I get it." Dean said in a low ragged voice. My eyes flew up and I sat up a little.

"I forgive you Dean. I am here to protect you and help you get farther in this industry and I don't understand why you hate me so much." I whispered.

"I don't hate you Kira."

"Then why do this Dean? Why be so hurtful to me?" I asked as a single tear slid down my cheek.

"Kira! I just.. I can't do this Kira! I can't.." he and stood to go. He stopped at the door with his hand on the doorknob and said " Just know I don't hate you Kira! But that's all I can say!" and then he was out the door.

The hotel after the show

I had just gotten out of the shower when my phone went off letting me know that I had a text. I walked over to the nightstand, picked up my phone, and opened the text.

Dean: Need approval

Me: Send. I walked over to my bag, took out my tablet, fired it up, and opened the finger print app. I flicked through the records.

Me: You're good. I put the table down and got dressed. I picked up the tablet, my phone, and key card and went down to the bar. I had just tossed back my fourth shot of Cuervo when I felt as much as heard someone sit down next to me.

"Hey Kira!" Roman said as he motioned to the bartender.

"Oh! Hey Roman."

"Why are you down here?" he asked and took a drink of his Jack and Coke. I motioned for another shot and tossed it back.

"I'm just trying to relax. It's been a hard day. And well to be honest I'm second guessing my job!"

"What? Why?"

"Dean says he doesn't hate me, but he doesn't trust me either. He constently does things to make me feel like shit. And honestly I don't even know why it bothers me so much." I said and tossed back another shot.

"It bothers you because you're a good woman Angel. You care about almost everyone. You want everyone to like you and it hurts you when they don't." Roman said as he rubbed my back.

"You know for not knowing me that long you sure nailed it." I whispered as I looked deep in those big grey eyes. I wanted to fall into them. I wanted to feel this mans full sensual lips all over my body and knew that it couldn't happen. " I gotta go Rome!" I said and practically ran from the room. Roman sighed and ran his hand down his face. He had just finished his drink when he saw Big Show walk in.

"Hey Show! You had a good night tonight." He said as he patted the taller man on the shoulder after he sat next to him.

"Hey, thanks Roman. You did too. Did I just see Angel run out of here?" Show asked.

"Yeah, you did." Roman said as he shook his head in bewilderment.

"Roman can I ask you something?"

"Sure Show."

"Are you falling for Angel?"

"Um.. Well that's kind of personal show." He said without meeting his gaze.

"That's a yes. Look Roman get comfortable. I'm going to tell you some things that you need to know about Angel."