AN: Thank you for all the reviews, favorites, follows, and such. You guys are great! So this chapter starts with a flashback, so you can see the very beginning of Charlotte and Jonathan/Dean, hope you all enjoy! Please feel free to let me know what you think!

Cincinnati, Ohio-2001

''Charlotte! Charlotte Elizabeth Warren! Get your ass down here!'' For some reason mom thinks it necessary to constantly yell. I roll my eyes, sliding my headphones off my head. God only knows what she needs now.

When I get to our small living room my mom is sitting with a tv-tray in front of her. I discreetly sniff and wrinkle my nose, meatloaf again. ''Yeah mom?"

Her eyes don't stray from the repeat SUV episode, when she responds, ''Your father forgot to take himself dinner when he left for work. There's some in a Tupperware container, take it to him.''

''Mom, I have homework to do.''

''Did I ask for excuses?" She snaps back.

''You're not going to drive me?"

She shrugs, ''You can ride your bike.''

''It was stolen last week.''

With a sigh my mother finally turns away from the tv, ''You wanted a bus pass, we got one for you. This would be a great time to use it. Honestly Charlotte, your father and I work hard to give you what you want and then you act like an ungrateful little brat.'' She burps. ''How old are you now? 15? 17?"

''I'll be 16 in January.''

''Eh, I was close. Now go, I don't want you to keep your father waiting.''

I walk into the kitchen, my foot catching briefly on the upturned linoleum and look for my dad's leftovers. Sitting on the counter next to three empty wine coolers, is my dad's dinner. I grab it and for good measure take a coke from the fridge. Upstairs I grab my coat and homework before heading out the door, ''Bye!''

There's no response.

I hurry to the bus stop, hoping that I can catch the 5 o'clock. It's cold and dark, typical of mid-November Cincinnati. Luckily though, no one bothers me waiting for the bus. I sit silently for the twenty minute ride. When I get to the precinct it seems pretty slow for a Wednesday. Regardless, I walk in like it's my second home. "Hello, Miss Warren, how's your night?"

''Pretty good, Officer Daniels, yours?" I lean against the front desk, and Daniels discreetly hands me a mint. ''Thanks.''

''Slow, thankfully. What brings you here?"

I hold up the food, ''Dad forgot dinner.''

''Typical James,'' He unlocks the divider. ''Go on back, hun.''

''Thanks!'' Confidently, I walk through the room of mostly empty desks until I reach my dad's office. I knock. ''Hey dad!''

He looks up from his paperwork, ''Hey sweetie, what a pleasant surprise!'' We hug, tightly. ''Shouldn't you be doing homework?"

''Well I would be, but someone didn't bring food to work today.''

''You're too good to me,'' He takes the food and sits back down. ''Is your mom in the car?"

''She didn't come.''

Sharply my father looks up, ''Your mother sent you here, alone?" I nod. ''Unbelievable.''

''I brought my work, so I was wondering if I could just stay here, and then we could go home together?" My dad just looks at me. ''I brought you a coke…''

He sighs, looking through the window out into the mostly empty room, ''It's a slow night and the captain isn't in, so it wouldn't hurt anything. You know the rules, don't bother anyone and stay quiet.''

''Thanks dad!''

He laughs, ''I can't say no to you.''

''I know.''

I'm sitting at any empty desk, working on a few math problems when there's a commotion near the front of the room. I glance up and three police officers are escorting three kids my age into the room. They push them into chairs at the desks near me . ''Wait while we call your parents.'' Officer Piero looks up at me, ''Oh hey there Charlotte.''

Instantly all three kids look at me. I swallow, then respond. ''Hello Officer Piero.''

They leave and it's just the three kids and myself. I try to focus on my homework, but I can feel them staring at me. ''Must have done some pretty bad shit to know the cops by their names.''

One of them is talking to me, but I know I shouldn't respond. It would just be a bad idea, all around. Another one speaks. ''What'd you do?"

Still I don't answer. ''Hey, we're talking to you.''

Now I look up. ''I didn't do anything.''

They look confused. ''Then why are you here?"

Before I can answer Officer Piero comes back, ''Trevor, Justin, your parents are here.''

I watch as Trevor and Justin, I assume, stand and leave without a second glance at their leftover partner. The one remaining sinks deeper into his seat, admiring the dirty floor. I take a moment to look at him, his hair is horrendously messy, and his jeans are dirty. He looks young though, he can't be much older than me. Strangely, he doesn't look too uncomfortable sitting in a police station. He looks up, straight at me. Quickly, I look back at my homework.

''So, why are you here?" Still, I don't respond. ''You were staring at me, the least you could do is answer.''

''I'm doing my homework,'' I don't look up when I answer.

''In a police station? Are you part of some after school program? You know one of those shitty things that help 'in-need kids' with 'promise' overcome their unfortunate circumstances.'' He cocks his head to the side, 'You don't really look like one of those girls though, but I could be wrong."

''No, I'm not in a program.''

Before he can ask another question Officer Piero comes back, ''Jonathan, do you have another number I can call?"

''Nope, but you can just let me go on my merry way, I promise I'll run straight home.''

''Nice try, kid. We'll wait till we hear from your family.''

''Whatever.''

Officer Piero looks at me, ''And, don't bother Miss Warren, got it?"

Jonathan smirks, ''Yes sir.''

He leaves and Jonathan remains quiet for all of two minutes. ''So, Miss Warren, huh?"

''Yes.''

''You wouldn't be a relative of First Lieutenant Warren, would you?" Jonathan nods to my dad's door.

''You know my dad?"

He smirks, ''Your dad, huh? Interesting.''

I roll my eyes, ''Can I do my homework now?"

He holds his hand up in mock surrender. I return to my work.

Three problems later when I glance at the clock I notice Jonathan walking over to me. I whisper, ''What are you doing?"

''I'm bored.''

''And?"

''I wanted to see what you're working on.'' He looks at my paper, even though I try to hide it. ''What is this, Latin?"

''It's calculus.''

''Calculus?" He whistles. ''How old are you anyways?"

''I'll be 16 in February.''

''Damn.'' He sits on the desk, and I sigh. ''So, do you have a boyfriend?"

I try not to blush, but I'm sure I do. ''You should really leave me alone.''

''It's a free country.''

''You're in police custody, I don't think that applies.''

He repeats my words, mocking. ''You're cute.''

''And you're annoying.''

''Ouch, babe, that hurt.''

I grit my teeth, ''I'm not your babe.''

Jonathan leans in, and I notice his pale blue eyes. ''Your loss.''

I blink rapidly. ''Good!'' I jump at my dad's voice booming from his office. Jonathan does too, but he turns slowly. ''Yes, Lieutenant?"

''Why are you harassing my daughter?"

Jonathan shrugs, ''She was helping me with school.''

My dad just raises an eyebrow, ''You're in Calculus?"

''Damn, that must be why I was having such trouble with it.''

I expect my dad to blow up at Jonathan's flippant attitude. To my surprise, my dad just laughs. ''Get your ass in here Good.''

Jonathan salutes with a smirk, ''Yes sir.'' He looks back at me and winks. ''See you later Char.''

Present Day

''Excuse me, could you direct me to the legal offices please?" It's my first Monday as an official employee of the WWE. I'm in the arena and clearly don't belong out here. About twenty guys are setting up the ring and lights and such, but I need to find my makeshift office or desk or whatever.

The security guard gives me directions and I thank him.

Backstage, it's even more chaotic. Slowly I make my way through the labyrinth, trying to follow the directions. I bump into someone, ''Oh, I'm sorry about that.''

I look up and see a man in a Hawaiian shirt and a fedora, he tips his hat. ''Ain't no problem Miss. I was probably in your way anyways.''

The man's heavy accent creeps me out. I step back, trying to smile. ''Regardless, my apologies. Have a good day.''

''Wait,'' Begrudgingly I stop and return to the strange man, ''You dropped your pen."

Our hands touch as he hands it to me. His hands are cold, really cold, as if I wasn't creeped out enough. He holds on just a second too long. Rather harshly I disengage my hand, ''Thank you.''

''You're new here.''

''Yes.''

''Allow me to introduce myself, ma'am, I'm Bray Wyatt, and you are?"

''Charlotte Warren, I'm in the legal department.''

He just stares at me, eyes wide. Uncomfortably, I shift backwards. ''I'll be seeing you around, I suppose.''

God, I hope not. ''Well, unless you plan on getting injured.'' He shakes his head. ''And I'm sure you don't plan on injuring anyone else.'' I pause, waiting for him to refute my last statement. He doesn't. I back farther away. ''It was, uh, nice meeting you.''

''Likewise, Miss Warren.''

I walk away quickly and finally find the small area reserved for the legal department. I set my things down and get scheduled. Really, I just need to work on getting caught up on all the current claims within the WWE. Judging by the stack of papers next to me it might take a while.

Hours later, I get a phone call. Apparently I'm needed in the trainer's office. I walk, suddenly regretting my choice in shoes for the evening, but I arrive. One wrestler is on the bench. ''You needed me?"

''Yeah, we just need you to approve this, make sure it's legit.''

''Of course,'' I take the paperwork and sit, glancing over it. It's pretty standard stuff. In the room they have a monitor on, showing the action from out in the ring. I'm trying to focus on my work, I really am, but I hear a familiar voice. It's raspier than normal, but I know it well. ''Last night I went straight to hell, and I love every minute of it.''

I roll my eyes, he would say something like that. Shaking my head, I focus back on the paperwork. A few lines still permeate my concentration. ''You don't screw with Dean Ambrose.'' I smirk, well he's right there. The crowd starts cheering his name and I have to watch. I look up and watch as Jon or Dean or lunatic fringe or whatever the hell he goes by beats up the other guy. He's frantic.

In disbelief I watch as Jon tears this man apart. He doesn't seem like the guy I knew, he seems larger than life. And as I hear the crowd cheer for him once again, I'm immeasurably proud. He did it, what he always wanted to do. I smile.

''Bray Wyatt, why don't you come out here so I can kick your ass?" Dean snarls. The name rings a bell, and I remember my uncomfortable conversation from earlier today. Bray Wyatt was the creepy dude I ran into.

The forms I was supposed to be filling out are forgotten as I focus entirely on the monitor. Bray appears on screen in a cloud of smoke, ''Every time I look at you I can't help but see my own deranged reflection glaring back at me. We are both victims of a system that make men tortured.''

''Things that would make others cringe and grimace excite people like you and me,'' I want to disagree or deny Bray's assumption, but I realize I don't know Dean anymore.

Bray ends with, ''I am you.'' And that I know I can deny. Dean isn't anything like that psycho, even ten years separated I know that.

There's a cough, ''Charlotte, are you finished with those papers?"

''Sorry, yeah one more second.'' I pause when I go to hand them over. ''What's going on between Dean and that Bray guy?"

The trainer shrugs, ''It's really above my paygrade, and yours, but no one really knows. All that we know is that Bray interrupted Dean's match with Seth Rollins.''

''Why?"

''That's the big mystery. If you ask me, I bet the Authority is behind it all.''

""Hmmm, interesting," I hand over the papers. ''Here are the forms.''

''Thanks,'' I walk towards the door. ''Can I give you a piece of advice?"

I nod, ''I could use all of it I can get.''

''Stay away from those two guys, they're both insane.''

I leave, thinking over what I've seen and what the trainer said. I'm starting to believe that this place might be dangerous after all.

An hour later, I'm packed and ready to leave. My first official day wasn't a total disaster. Walking to my car I notice Dean a few paces ahead of me. I know I shouldn't, but I walk a little faster. Once I'm next to him I open my mouth. Dean speaks first, growling from the side of his mouth. ''Don't.''

''Dean, I was just-'' I start, but Dean stops walking. He looks around us then grabs my arm, pulling me into the shadows.

''What don't you understand about pretend like you don't me?" His fingers tap his forehead. ''You are supposed to be the smart one!''

I hate when he yells at me, he knows that. All it ever does it make me angrier. ''Hey, hey! I was just trying to make sure you were okay. It looked like you tweaked your wrist a little tonight.''

''Please, you know I'm tougher than that!'' He rolls his eyes. ''Where were you last night when I fell from a goddam cage?"

''Wait, what? You fell from a fucking cage?'' I punch his chest. ''Why in the world would you do that?"

Dean's about to answer when his eyes go wide. He shoves me against the wall, putting his hand against my mouth. ''Shhh, someone is coming.''

I roll, my eyes. Then listen, someone is coming. I recognize Stephanie's voice first. ''Great job tonight Seth.''

''Thanks, Stephanie. I appreciate it.''

''You didn't happen to see the newest member of our legal department around did you?"

''No, why?"

''I just have big plans for her, that's all. Have a nice night, Seth.''

I hear them walk away, but Dean doesn't remove his hand. Naturally, I lick his palm. He jumps back. ''Ladylike.''

I stick my tongue out, ''See if I ever come check on your well-being again.''

''Good! I told you, I don't want you near me. Did you hear what Stephanie said? She has big plans for you, which probably is going to have some effect on me."

'You really think that me working you is part of some elaborate conspiracy against you?" I snap back.

''You don't think she hired you just by coincidence do you?"

''No, I think she hired me because I'm good at what I do.'' I step away from Dean. ''I'm glad you think that she just gave me this job to fuck with you.''

''Char…'' Dean reaches out, clearly aware he's messed up.

''Stop. Maybe the trainer was right, maybe you are crazy.''

Dean doesn't try to say anything else as I walk away. When I get to my car I sigh, there went my uneventful, peaceful first day.