Disclaimer, etc., in part 1.

Thanks to everyone giving this one a try.

Part Two

Brie Bella looked up at the sound of the door to the locker room opening, the woman arching a brow as she watched Eve Torres - a woman that had been both friend and enemy in her past but was now definitely a friend - walked into the room. "I'm guessing I already know where you've been," she said quietly, and Eve shrugged her shoulders.

"If you're guessing that I went to the trainers to check on Seth Rollins... Then you would be right," the former diva said calmly... Well, hopefully not former diva for too long. Brie was trying to talk her into coming back, and she was pretty sure she was close to convincing the other woman that it was a good idea. Vince McMahon had already offered her a contract; she just had to decide whether or not to take it.

Brie dragged her teeth over her bottom lip. "Eve, he's a dangerous man."

"Actually, he's an injured man. Bruised ribs and a minor concussion. I'm guessing a spear from Roman Reigns does even more damage when you're totally unprepared to be on the receiving end of one. Not to mention the fact that he was the one that was in the ring for most of the match anyway," Eve replied, and Brie sighed, stepping closer to the other woman. Reaching out, she put her hands on her friend's shoulders, meeting her gaze.

"Eve... He's a member of the Shield. Or he was before tonight. I know you weren't around, but you've seen what those guys have done-"

"I have. And I saw what Roman Reigns did to his own tag team partner tonight," the former three-time divas' champion said. "Look, Brie, I know what it's like to have people think the worst of me-"

"And maybe Rollins deserves it! I mean... I know you didn't have anything to do with the attack on Kaitlyn at Night of Champions last year. You told me that, and I believe you. But Seth Rollins really did go around beating people down," the other woman said, and Eve sighed.

"I know he did. But... I went anyway. And I don't regret it. How can you expect someone to change if you don't give them the chance to do so?" Eve wanted to know. "And what reason would he have to change if everyone just assumed that he wouldn't?"

"Despite the fact that you totally played the bitch for the last year you were here... Sometimes you are way too nice of a person. Which is probably why Zack Ryder actually thought he had a chance with you at one point. You were too nice to say 'go away, you disgust me, ew, you're pathetic' when he kept asking you out," Brie said, and Eve rolled her eyes at that, taking a step back as she shook her head.

"I wasn't a nice girl by the end of that one... I think we can both agree on that. And I think I got ragged on by you and Nikki about what happened with Zack," she said, and Brie snorted.

"Only because you ditching him meant he was bugging us even more," the other woman retorted, then sighed, going over to one of the tables in the room, hopping up to sit on it. "Look, Eve, I appreciate how nice you can be... I mean, Nikki and I did some pretty crap things to you at various times and some of what you did could probably be seen as retaliation, but ... Here we are, friends again despite everything, and I'm glad for it. But I don't... Being nice to Seth Rollins could backfire."

"And maybe someone being nice to him is all he needs. Right now he's hurt... Physically and emotionally. His ribs will heal, and so will the minor concussion. But what happens emotionally? Odds are he's going to get mad, and he's going to want to get even. As far as we know, Ambrose and Reigns are still in Triple H's back pocket. Maybe he's the one that ordered them to turn against Rollins; we don't know. But if all of you have common enemies... Wouldn't it make sense to work together?"

"But how could anyone trust him?" Brie wanted to know, and Eve shrugged.

"He's been a pretty trustworthy partner before. Reigns turned against him, not the other way around," Eve stated, the woman going over to where her bag lay, and Brie frowned as she watched the other woman start to gather her things. Crossing her arms, Brie slid off the table she'd been sitting on, taking a step toward Eve, then hesitating.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting my stuff together. The show's pretty well over, Brie," she said, picking up her purse and pulling the strap up onto her shoulder. The other bag she had with her just had her camera, a couple of books, and her iPad in it... It had been a bit weird to step into an arena without carrying a bag containing wrestling gear.

"I know it is... I just figured that we would all leave together."

"I have my own car," the other woman replied, and Brie sighed.

"Eve, don't go angry-"

"I'm not angry... More like... Determined," the other woman said, then shrugged. "You didn't see him in that trainers' room, Brie. I did. He looked lost and alone and like... He just looked like someone that needed a friend, and even though you say he's dangerous... He didn't seem it. Not then. And to be honest? I can't remember a single instance of him or any other guy in the Shield attacking a woman anyway, so I doubt he would start with me... Especially in the shape he's in."

"Eve, what are you going to do?"

"I'm guessing that the Shield usually arrives together, so I'm assuming he needs a ride. I'm going to offer him one. Shocking, I know... But it just feels like the thing to do."

Brie bit her lip. "Eve, I just... I don't want you to get hurt."

"And I don't plan on getting hurt. I'll call you once I'm safe and sound in my hotel room, okay?" the other woman said, heading for the door of the locker room, nearly walking into Daniel Bryan, who was on his way in. With a smile and a wave, she stepped around the man, then headed down the hallway, and Daniel Bryan frowned as he looked over at his fiancée.

"Where's she going?" he wanted to know, and Brie frowned.

"To adopt a stray Shield member, apparently," she said, and the man frowned.

"What?"

"She's going to check on Seth Rollins. Again. Apparently she feels sorry for him or something. I told her that he's dangerous, but... She's an adult. She can do what she wants. I hope she knows what she's doing," Brie muttered, and Daniel frowned, looking over at the door Eve had just walked through.

"So do I."