Chapter 17 - Silence Is Never Good
The silence in the arena was deafening.
Paul's hazel eyes widened. Did Colby really just strike a member of the announce team? He didn't even see it coming. He didn't even see the ex-shield member remove his belt. "ROLLINS!"
Everything moved in slow motion as Alison spun around on her heels pushed her fist forward and ended up punching Colby in the mouth; afterwards she turned and left the ring. The arena was still eerily quiet the fans almost couldn't believe what they saw.
Colby had his hand over his mouth as Paul walked up and off mic pointed towards the back. "Get out of this ring and go to my office." His tone was low and steady.
Colby rolled his eyes as he slid out of the ring while Paul attempted to joke and get the fans back interacting with the show again as the next segment started and the wrestlers entrance music began. Colby spit blood out of his mouth and onto the ground as he walked up the ramp pushing past the wrestlers coming out.
Joe could not believe what just happened. Did Colby really – Did he just take his belt off and CRACK Alison's ass with it?! He didn't know what the hell was going on with Colby and Alison, but he was damn sure going to find out as soon as they got to the back. Joe watched from backstage as they exited the ring. 3 seconds after they were in the back, Joe suddenly grabbed Colby's vest and slammed the smaller ex-Shield member against the wall and pinned him by the throat with his forearm, scowling. "What the FUCK is your problem, man? How could you do that to Alison out there?!" He demanded in a low deadly voice, glaring at Paul when it looked as though the man would interfere. 'Don't even think about it Paul.
Paul held his hands up. "Let's keep our heads cool Joe." He could see the younger man's Samoan temper getting ready to spiral out of control.
Joe increased the pressure of his forearm on Colby's throat. "What the fuck is your problem? What's going on with you? Ever since you started dating Alison you couldn't keep your dick in your pants; then you start taking secret meetings with Paul and the other writers and hand us our asses last night on Raw and now tonight you stuck Alison." His eyes went to Paul. "Please tell me you're not going to let him get away with striking her. I mean forget all the fuckin backstabbing bullshit with him against Jon and I but come the fuck on Alison is not even a fuckin wrestler. She could sue and she would have a damn good case." Joe finally let go of Colby.
Colby scowled, rubbing his throat. "Don't bullshit me, Joe. You've wanted her since day one and you just didn't have the balls to do anything about it!" He coughed violently. "Congratulations, now you can finally have her; have fun with my sloppy seconds BRO."
Joe smirked. "Sloppy seconds? Seems you forgot one thing...I had her first." Joe pulled his arm back and punched Colby in the nose as hard as he could and watched as the smaller man stumbled back until he hit the cinder block wall before sliding down to the floor. "You better watch your mouth when you are talking about her. She might not be my girlfriend yet, but I will defend her until the last breath leaves my body asshole."
Paul watched as the giant Samoan walked away before his hazel eyes turned to Colby. "Lopez - my office now." He stated as he pointed down the hallway. Again Paul watched as Colby rolled his eyes, but complied.
Paul was second guessing his decision to push him now. He was going to have to call a meeting with Vince and Stephanie. Colby assaulted a co-worker on national television and now it had to be determined on what the proper punishment would be; they would also have to take into consideration Alison's feelings as well.
it was going to be a long night.
Joe was concerned about Alison. She hadn't said much since they left the arena and said even less when they flew out of Ohio. He did however enjoy the fact that when she fell asleep on the plane her head was resting on his bicep. He didn't dare move or complain. He knew she was sore and sleeping on an airplane would definitely be a little easier; than in a bumpy car.
Once they landed in Florida it was about 4 AM. It took about forty-five minutes to get the bags loaded into Joe's black Chevy Tahoe. Joe sat behind the wheel and just let the Tahoe cruise to his house. Joe liked the fact that Alison offered the front seat to Jon. They both knew Aria and Jon were going to butt heads over the next few days; Joe and Alison wanted to make both feel comfortable.
Joe reached behind him and touched Alison's knee. She reached out and touched her fingertips to his. It was an olive branch and Joe wasn't going to refuse it.
Once they got to Joe's; Jon looked in the back seat and noticed Aria was asleep. "She's going to have a fit but don't wake her Alison; I'll carry her inside and get her bags. I'm sure you are tired; if you and the big man wanna head in I'll grab all the bags after I get Aria in one of the spare rooms."
"You know for someone who seems to be so high on Aria's shit list; you sure are sweet Jonathan Good." Alison stated as Joe opened her door.
""I'll always admit I'm not infallible." Jon stated before he got out and opened aria's door and carefully slipped his arms under the emerald eyed beauty before lifting her and walking into Joe's house and picking a spare room on the second floor.
Alison stopped in the hallway as she watched Joe's best friend handle her best friend with kid gloves. She watched as he pulled the covers back and gently pulled her shoes and socks off before he slipped the covered up over her body. She felt a warm hand in the middle of her back as she smiled and allowed Joe to guide her down the hallway. She stopped when she looked up and saw a picture of her and Joe from the Halloween party in 2005.
"Gosh, I can't believe you still have that picture." Alison chuckled.
"My favorite picture of us." Joe stated softly against the shell of her ear before he brushed a kiss on her temple. "The big question now is: do you want to sleep in a guest bedroom or do you want to come camp out with me in my room?"
"I should honestly choose the room furthest from you, but if I do I have a sneaking suspicion that I'd wake up with a visitor in my bed." Alison stated as she felt Joe take her hand as he stated leading her down the hallway a little further to his room. As Alison was looking around Joe's room, he had joined Jon in grabbing everyone's bags. She looked up as Joe walked back in and placer her bags in front of his closet before he walked back over and closed his bedroom door.
Alison watched as Joe moved around his room before he pulled his t-shirt off and tossed it into the hamper in the corner. He kicked his sneakers off as well as pulling off his socks and dropping them in the same hamper. He walked back over to the foot of the bed and crocked a finger at Alison. She smiled softly as she walked over and stood in front of Joe. She pulled the elastic out of his hair as she began to slowly comb her fingers through his long raven tresses.
Joe sighed heavily. "You know what I'm going to say right babygirl?" His hands started at the back of her knees before they slowly slid up her thighs to the outside of her hips; he didn't dare touch the sore parts of her rear. He loved when she would comb her fingers through his hair; there was something so relaxing yet still loving at the same time about it. She shook her head negatively. "I want these jeans off you and I want to see the damage. I want to get some salve on that cute little rear-end of yours so it doesn't hurt you to sleep tonight; in case you roll over by accident. Plus it will help you heal faster."
Alison felt so embarrassed. A part of her body was violated on national television and she knew it was going to look bad. Just to make matters worse if Joe saw it he wouldn't be able to be held responsible for what his Samoan temper forced him to do to Colby the next time he saw him. She also knew there was no arguing with Joe. She knew he was worried and concerned for her all at the same time. She also knew he would work at her pace. Alison licked her suddenly dry lips as she lifted her left leg and placed it in the pit of Joe's crotch.
Joe smirked. "Okay I can do it your way Babygirl." His hands went to her knee as he unzipped her boot and gently pulled it from her foot, while also taking her sock as well. He watched as she changed feet and he repeated his actions with her right foot. His eyes locked with hers as his hands moved to her jeans. She swallowed hard before she nodded her head in allowing him to go further. He unsnapped and unzipped her jeans before he gingerly slid them down both legs before taking her hand and helping her step out of them.
Joe stood from the bed and watched as Alison backed up with her back and rear against his wall. "Don't worry. I'm gonna get you a shirt to sleep in before I tend to you." He walked over and grabbed one of his black v-neck t-shirts before he helped her out of her normal shirt and slipped the t-shirt over her head. He groaned softly as he watched her slip her arms inside the shirt and quickly removed her bra before tossing it onto the chair where he had placed her clothing. He jerked his head to the side. "Across the bed babygirl; stomach down."
Alison was hesitant at first but then slowly moved over and crawled across the bed and laid on her stomach. She felt him crawl up behind her and lift her shirt. She wrapped her arms around his pillow and buried her face in it. "Relax Ali, I'm not going to hurt you." She wore boycut panties so he pulled them up a little more and immediately felt sick to his stomach. The bruise was across both of her butt cheeks; it was dark purple and blue with some parts of a blood bruise. It was about 6 inches long and an inch wide on both cheeks as well.
Joe leaned over and grabbed the salve and carefully began rubbing it on every place the bruises covered. "I'm so sorry babygirl."
Alison sniffled a little before she shook her head and lifted her face from the pillow. "It's not your fault Joe; please don't blame yourself for any of this."
Joe carefully moved off the bed as he discarded his jeans and slipped some basketball shorts on as he climbed into bed and grabbed the spare pillow. He had the curtains in the room open and the moonlight lit his room perfectly. He could see Alison's tears as she moved to face him.
She swallowed hard as the tears continued to slide down her cheeks. "You're doing what I need you to do right now - take care of me and I couldn't love you more for it. There's always been something about you that makes me feel safe and protected. It all goes back to Halloween night 2005. I knew as soon as we bumped into each other; I could trust you and I knew no matter what happened that night you were someone I was completely safe with. When you asked me to go with you to the haunted house and you offered me your arm. It was right there the same feeling. It surrounded me like a protective shield. Maybe that's why your group was called the Shield. You may have protected people from injustice but you've been protecting me for a lot longer."
Alison's hand reached out as she caressed his cheek. "I love you so much Joe. I never stopped; even when I was with Colby. I never loved him. I never fell in love with him; there was always something there under the surface that wouldn't let me love him the way I love you." She frowned. "I hope you can forgive me for not returning your calls after you graduated. I don't want you to think that once I left I never thought about you again because believe me I thought about you every time I breathed in and out."
Joe shook his head as his hand covered hers against his cheek before he turned his face and kissed the palm of her hand. "No, once you explained it to me you were right. Getting married at 19 would've been like prison for you before you had a chance to finish college. Besides marrying that young would make you into a human baby factory and we'd end up hating each other after a couple of years and I can't imagine ever hating you babygirl."
Joe leaned over as his forehead touched hers. "I'm still going to marry you; I hope you know that."
Alison smiled softly. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Alison was completely in Heave as Joe wrapped his arms around her and they drifted into a peaceful slumber.
So ending a potentially terrible night in the arms of the man you could never stopped loving for the last nine years turned it into a semi half good night.
The following morning, Aria sat across from Alison with her mouth hanging open as she listened to her best friend explain how Mark Calaway - the WWE Undertaker was her REAL father and not the man who perished in the plane crash 10 years prior.
"I'm speechless...I don't even - I can't even form a straight thought right now." She opened and closed her mouth a thousand times. "I can't - It's not..."
Alison could help as she laughed. Her amber eyes went to the doorway of the den as Joe stepped down into the room before handing over two mocha frappes to the girls and then leaned down and accepted a soft kiss from Alison. "Thanks handsome."
Aria sipped the iced goodness. "If I ever need caffeine big guy right now is the time."
Joe chuckled. "Anytime ladies." Aria he had always been used to with the two best friends constantly sharing a hotel room while he dated Alison in college. Joe was no fool he could tell Jon had a thing for the emerald eyed beauty; getting back in her good graces was an entirely different subject. One he would NEVER discuss in front of either girl. Their bond was definitely to never be broken. Everyone always need a best friend in life. Jon just happened to be his; even if he was a knucklehead and his mouth and brain had a zero filter policy.
Joe sighed heavily as his cell phone started ringing. He looked at the name that flashed across the screen and physically cringed; hitting the answer button. "Hey Mark, how's it going?"
"Don't hey Mark me Leati Joseph Anoa'i." Mark demanded. "I want to know if my daughter is okay and she had better be at your house because I'm about to be there."
"Mark - that's not necessary...Mark? Mark?"
Silence on the line is NEVER a good thing.