Where do I begin?
I'm so sorry about the terribly long wait for this chapter, a series of events in my life that included a nice dose of writers block and a broken computer hindered my writing, and I honestly can't apologise enough.
Anyone who's stuck with this story and is still here reading I can't thank you enough. This chapter was really tricky for me and I'm still not happy with it but wanted to get something out before another month passed without me realising.
Also anyone who read's my other Ambrose story Slave to a Grind, I haven't forgotten about it, it's just this story only has a few more chapters left and I really want to get it finished and I think I'll do that quicker if I focus just on this for the next few weeks.
I'm going to be really cheeky and ask for your thoughts on this. I'd love to hear from you and to see if anyone is still interested in this, so please review!
Athena knocked the door to the Authority's office door, her hand coming up and running through her tangled curls before she knocked again becoming more and more frustrated with every passing second.
She checked her watch and tapped her foot irately on the floor, she'd seen Stephanie McMahon enter the office minutes before so she knew that Steph not answering the door was a ploy to irritate the waiting member of staff.
Athena really didn't need to participate in Steph's childish play for power, she had far too much on her mind. She had to get home. Her grandmother had phoned her just before Raw had begun hysterical; Luke had been in a car wreck whilst out spinning around wasted with his friends, and while everyone involved were fine, it opened a window for Athena's grandmother to tell her that Luke's behaviour had been worsening for months, and he seemed to be on the brink of going off the rails.
She needed to fly out to speak to him. To tell Luke did he realise the stress he was causing their grandmother and get to the root of why he had started acting out. Every time she'd been to visit her family or spoken to her grandmother over the last few months, Ruby had made out that Luke's behaviour was just the same as every sixteen year old that was trying to toe the line, but it seemed she had been keeping the extent of his rebellious behaviour from Athena.
And as if that wasn't enough on her mind neither Roman or herself had heard from Dean. They'd flown to Las Vegas to search for him and had headed straight to his apartment to check if he'd returned home, only for his neighbour to inform them that he'd left with a bag and fresh stitches in his head a couple of hours before. Athena had been relieved that he wasn't dead in a ditch, Roman was beating himself up for leaving Las Vegas to find her thinking that he should have waited outside his apartment so he would have been there when Dean had come home.
Athena wondered where Dean was and how he was doing. She didn't quite know how she felt about him; as angry and humiliated she felt by his treatment she couldn't just turn her feelings off, as much as she wanted to, and Roman had said that Dean loved her. She really didn't know how to feel about that.
On one hand, Athena simply didn't believe Roman. She didn't think Roman was lying, she thought Dean was lying to Roman. It's not like it would be the first time he'd lied, he'd lied throughout their entire relationship. But then they'd had times together, times where looking back she was sure she'd seen love in his smile and eyes. Those moments couldn't be faked, could they?
She pushed the internal dilemma to the back of her mind; it was irrelevant. He had betrayed her and now he was gone.
Knocking for a third time Athena decided enough was enough and began to shout through the door. "Steph I know you're in there. I've got a family problem I need to sort so I'm going to have to fly out and miss the radio interview I've got scheduled. Oh it's Athena by the way," she turned and made her way down the hallway.
"Athena!" Steph's shrill voice called after her.
Stopping in her tracks Athena almost smiled at the predictability of Steph. Athena could guarantee that it was the knowledge that Athena was going to miss a media appearance rather than she had a family emergency that got Steph to open the door.
"My office, now." Steph turned and headed back into the office leaving the door open for Athena.
So now she was worth Steph's precious time, Athena thought irately as she quickly rushed towards the office. Steph sat behind a desk, her hands folded in front of her. Hunter was sitting on a couch a glass of Champaign in his hand and sitting next to him was Seth whose hair was tied back, a glass of Champaign in his hand and his dented Money in the Bank briefcase at his feet.
"Attie," Seth said nodding towards her. "It's good to see you."
"Close the door, Athena," Steph said sharply. "I'm sorry I didn't answer the door sooner," Steph said as Athena closed the door. "We were in the middle of a business meeting."
"It looks like it," Athena replied her voice soft.
Steph's jaw became hard and she tilted her head slightly to the side as Hunter smirked into his glass. "Now," Steph began. "Tell me why you were banging on my door so impatiently," Steph said as if she hadn't heard every word Athena had shouted through the door.
"I've got a family emergency and I need to get home; I'll have to miss the radio interview I've got scheduled tomorrow."
"Is everything okay?" Seth asked, sitting up straighter.
Steph interrupted before Athena could speak. "Would you mind telling us what this family emergency is?"
Athena explained what had happened to the three members of The Authority. Seth looked genuinely concerned, but Athena knew better than anyone else how deceiving Seth could be; Hunter was looking down at his phone looking relaxed and unconcerned, and Steph seemed emotionless.
"Unfortunately," Steph pursed her lips together and tried desperately to look sympathetic, though she failed miserably. "Athena, your little brother acting out does not construe as a family emergency," she shrugged her shoulders.
"He was in a car wreck-"Athena interrupted.
Steph placed her hands out in front of her. "And you said yourself he's fine. I'm sorry Athena, I can't authorise you to miss your scheduled interview and the SmackDown before Night of Champions."
Athena rubbed her brow as she took a deep breath. She had to get home to talk to Luke and see if he and her grandmother were okay. Athena knew how hard it must have been for Ruby to open and admit that she couldn't cope with Luke's behaviour. Her grandmother was in her seventies and had taken them in immediately after their parent's deaths; she'd worked two jobs well into her sixties to support the three of them and if it wasn't for Athena signing to the WWE she would probably still be working two jobs. She didn't deserve to have the stress of Luke acting out, it worried Athena that she had so much stress on her shoulders. Athena needed to speak to Luke before his reckless behaviour killed himself and their grandmother.
"And what happens if I just don't show?" Athena asked, exasperated.
Steph smiled. "Well you'll be fined and subject to a disciplinary process that could result in-"
Seth interrupted knowing where Steph was going, he stood quickly, his palms outstretched. "Hey, hey," Seth began looking between the two women. "I'm sure we can arrange something, alright? We can work something out. Look, Attie what time's your interview tomorrow?"
"Three fifteen," she replied.
"Look," Seth looked at everyone in the room. "I've got interviews all morning, I'll be finished by half one. I could fill in for Athena, and I've seen the card for tomorrow night and Athena doesn't have a match."
Athena's eyes were wide, she had not expected Seth to do that for her.
"No, no, no," Steph began. "They're expecting Athena."
"And no offence Athena," Hunter spoke for the first time, slipping his phone into his pocket. "But Steph, I'm pretty sure they won't be disappointed to get Mr. Money in the Bank instead."
"Please," Athena pleaded, her voice soft and gentle.
Steph stayed silent for what felt like an eternity before she nodded grumpily. "You better be back on the road by Wednesday."
Athena smiled as she let out a relieved breath. "Thank you," she went to turn to leave quickly before stopping to face Seth. "Thank you," she said genuinely.
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"You don't have to do this," Luke said, shaking his head slightly. "I know Athena put you up to it."
Roman flashed a bright smile to Luke. "Athena's family, so that makes you family." Roman shrugged his shoulders. "And I like having my family work out with me." Luke snorted and rolled his big blue eyes earning a sharp shot of a glare from Roman. "You can laugh, this is a privelige-"
"What? Because you're Roman Reigns?" Luke asked with an attitude of an unimpressed teasing teenager.
Roman laughed, curling the heavy weight in his hand. "No because I don't let many people work out with me, they're distractions I don't need. I work out with Athena because she's quiet, I work out with Cesaro because that dude is strong and makes me want to work harder, and I work out with Ambrose because when I want to give up he makes me laugh and I can keep going." Roman brushed a bead of sweat of his forehead. "And now you."
"I do make a pretty good water boy," Luke said sarcastically as he sat on the bench next to Roman, though he made no attempt to pick up a weight. He leaned forward his elbows resting on his knees as he fiddled with his phone; a deep frown appeared between Luke's startling blue eyes as his thumbs texted furiously before finally letting out a loud groan. "I am missing two parties this weekend; two freaking parties to be on the road with Athena."
"A lot of people would be thrilled to be travelling with the WWE," Roman muttered as he curled the heavy weight. Athena had realised the moment she'd seen her grandmother's strained and lined face that a day of her lecturing Luke wasn't going to correct his wayward behaviour and it certainly wasn't going to get to the root of the problem as to why he was acting out.
After Athena's arrival at her childhood home it hadn't taken her long to find out the extent of Luke's bad behaviour, how he was out all night almost every night, he'd dropped out of school, how Athena's grandmother had found weed in his bedroom. It had shocked Athena, she hadn't realised the extent of Luke's behaviour and it hurt her that her grandmother had kept it from her.
It hadn't taken long before Athena had been packing Luke's bag and announcing he was going on the road with her for a couple of weeks.
"I'm not one of them," Luke muttered ungratefully, still texting his friends.
Roman put the weight he was using down and wiped his face was the towel he had next to him. He turned in his seat so he was facing Luke. "You know your sisters been going through a pretty rough time these last few weeks-"
Luke scoffed. "Yeah, she has terrible taste in men."
Roman continued as if Luke hadn't interrupted him. "She probably brought you on the road with her as much for her own benefit as yours, dude."
"No, she brought me here to piss me off," Luke responded not looking up from his phone.
Letting out a long sigh Roman hoped to God that when his daughter, Tia, turned Luke's age she would have a better attitude than him. The way Luke was acting he couldn't be behaving in a complete opposite manor to Athena; Athena was always polite and humble where Luke had been nothing but rude and ungrateful. Roman could see that Luke was obviously acting out and he truly believed that Athena had brought him out on the road with her as much for his benefit as her own, and as much as he hoped the kid got his act together he didn't want to let Luke hurt Athena with his brattish attitude.
"She didn't, bro. She's trying to help you," Luke rolled his eyes. "Seriously, Luke, I don't think you realise how much you're hurting your sister and your grandmother." Luke looked up at Roman, shooting him a glare that screamed for Roman to shut up. "Now I don't know your grandmother, but from what Attie says she sounds like a great lady, but I do know your sister." Roman hoped Luke's silence meant the teenage boy was listening. "And she is a great woman. She cares about her family and her friends so much I know it's killing her seeing you and your grandmother hurting-"
"God if you think she's that great why don't you shack up with her? Then she would have had all three of the-"
"Dude," Roman interrupted sharply and Luke avoided eye contact, as if he'd realised what he'd said was wrong the moment he'd said it. "That's not cool. She's like a sister to me, you don't know how lucky you are to have her as your sister."
A pregnant silence ballooned between the two men, the only sounds coming from different machines within the gym and grunts and groans from several gym members who were all too consumed with their workouts to notice Roman and Luke sitting on the weight lifting benches silent and unmoving.
Roman hoped that whatever was going on with Luke, he would get his act together, for Athena's sake as much as his own. But he hoped Luke's rude obnoxious behaviour wouldn't cascade against Athena. She didn't need Luke saying something he didn't mean, or worst something that he did mean; over the last few weeks since the video of Dean making vulgar comments about Athena had surfaced she had become a running joke in the locker room, the Authority hadn't given her any matches out of fear of what the crowd might chant but she was still forced to go the arena's every night and sit back and watch everyone else do what she loved whilst they all talked behind her back.
She was having a tough time and the last thing she needed was her bratty brother making her feel more terrible than she already did.
Roman wipes his sweaty palms into his shorts. "Look dude, there is obviously something bothering you-"
"Yeah I'm stuck here-"
Roman continued as if he hadn't been rudely interrupted. "I don't know what it is, but I know your sister and she's not going to rest until she finds out. If I were you, I'd talk to her, that's the quickest way you're going to get to go home."
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"Roman just text me," Athena said slipping her phone into her jean pocket. "His surgery went well." She sat down in a chair next to Luke who was shovelling food into his mouth unceremoniously. "I still can't believe one minute he was fine and the next he's having a serious hernia operation."
Luke swallowed his food, his eyes fixed on one of the screens that were in catering. It was the Night of Champions Pay Per View and as Athena had expected, she didn't have a match. She hadn't had a match for weeks and it was eating her up inside. All she wanted to do was be in that squared circle but the Authority wouldn't let her, she'd even contemplated speaking to Seth but didn't want to owe him another favour after he'd helped her out the week before with going home. So she was stuck in catering in regular clothes with her sourly brother who would barely speak to her.
"Karma," Luke muttered to himself, his eyes never leaving the screen.
"What?" Athena asked sharply.
"Roman was all up in my business the other day, this is his karma for it," Luke shrugged.
"Are you serious Luke? Roman has had a serious surgery-"
"I'm kidding," Luke defended, his eyes following Paige who had entered the catering area.
Athena's attention was grabbed as Seth's thunderous music hit and out walked Seth holding his MITB briefcase in the air, a huge grin on his face. He was obviously ecstatic that he would no longer have to face Roman in light of his injury, but Athena didn't understand why he was making his way to the ring when he didn't have a match.
Roman had begun a campaign of terror against Seth since Seth and Kane had put Dean's head through cinderblocks. Athena knew from the moment that Seth had turned on the Shield that he wasn't the person she'd thought he was, but she'd never thought Seth would be capable of such evil. He'd cornered her a week after the attack and told her he'd done it for her, as payback for Dean deceiving her. It had made her sick, the thought of Seth doing something so horrible in an attempt to win her affections back.
"I'm going to the bathroom," Luke said just as Seth brought the microphone to his lips.
"Isn't it amazing how life works sometimes, I mean it's crazy?! One minute you're on top of the world," Seth waved his hand around in the air as Athena watched the screen intently. "And the next…. You're Roman Reigns." Seth chuckled happily as the crowd booed him. "Now my former partner and brother in The Shield was scheduled to be here tonight to face me in a one on one contest, well I got word yesterday that Roman was rushed to a hospital here in Nashville." Seth became silent for several seconds. "But emergency surgery is no excuse for not showing up here tonight!"
Athena scoffed mortified at Seth.
"But in the interest of fairness and the interest of justice I'm going to give Roman Reigns a chance, I'm going to give Roman Reigns ten seconds to get here and face me, otherwise I'm going to have to accept Roman Reigns' forfeit, and have my hand raised in victory." Seth turned smiling to face the referee. "Referee if you would be so kind to ring the bell."
Athena couldn't believe it. Was he really going to do this? Knowing there was no chance of Roman showing up. Did he really think he'd get away with it? Once Roman returned Athena knew Roman would dole out the justice he deemed fit for Seth.
The referee began counting as Seth stood smiling. Shaking her head Athena pulled her phone out and began texting Roman as the count went on. The bell finally rung and Seth was declared the victor but Athena didn't look up from her phone, she continued typing a heartfelt message telling him not to worry about it, that he'd get him back once he'd recovered.
Seth continued yelling into the microphone as Athena did her best to ignore him, her attention only going back to the screen as Seth issued an open challenge to anyone in the locker room. Athena hoped if anyone did accept, it would be someone who would teach Seth a lesson or two.
The crowd waited impatiently for a challenger to appear all chanting different superstars' names until the screen in the arena cut to the gorilla position and a yellow cab turned up.
And out marched Dean Ambrose.
The crowd roared its cheers as Dean charged through the curtain and his music hit. Athena stood, not knowing what to do as her stomach flew into her throat and her heart fluttered at a million miles per hour. She raised her hand to her mouth in shock as she watched Dean rush to the ring.
She hadn't expected to see him, she didn't even know if she'd ever see him again. But he was back and he wanted his revenge on Seth.
Dean wore a short sleeved black T-shirt that showed his muscular arms perfectly and a pair of old worn jeans, his hair had been cut and he looked like a man who was ready to go to war. Running towards the ring Dean slid in and knocked Seth from his feet, throwing punches over and over again. He knocked him out of the ring before throwing Seth over the barrier and into the crowd. Following him Dean began throwing punches at Seth in the middle of the crowd as Seth desperately tried to get away. Dean punched Seth viciously down the stairs before grabbing his hair and dragging him through the crowd once more; Athena could see Dean was yelling at Seth but she couldn't hear what he was saying over the ecstatic crowd.
The Authority rushed out as Dean and Seth fought their way through the crowd.
Standing Athena paced back and forth running a hand through her auburn curls; he couldn't be there, she couldn't see him, she wasn't ready to see him. What would she say to him? What would he say to her? She couldn't see him every day in work and act as if she'd never loved him, as if she didn't hate him for what he'd done to her. She couldn't pretend he hadn't broken her heart and then ripped it into a thousand pieces when he'd disappeared without a word.
Looking back at the screen Athena watched as security attacked Dean, desperately trying to pull him away from Seth as he crawled away with J and J security shielding him. Breaking away from the security Dean continued his brutal attack on Seth as Athena continued pacing. Dean threw the timekeeper off his chair and folded it up quickly as he made his way into the ring after Seth only for J and J to grip both of his legs tripping him to the mat. An army of security dived on top of him, holding him down away from Seth.
Athena gasped lightly as Hunter passed cable ties into the ring for the security to tie Dean's hands behind his back; the security knelt on Dean's lower back and body painfully as they secured him and Athena found herself wishing that someone from the locker room would run out and save Dean. The security team carried Dean who was kicking and yelling away from the ring and out to the back.
Athena looked around quickly desperate to leave but aware that Luke had yet to return to catering. She marched to the doorway and peeked out, planning the moment Luke got back to catering for them to head straight back to the hotel. The last thing Athena needed was to become face to face with Dean that night, she needed time to think and to get her head straight.
She waited nervously for several minutes until she saw Jimmy Uso coming towards her. "Hey Jimmy," she smiled, trying to act casual. "Have you seen my brother?"
Jimmy looked her up and down, clearly not buying her attempt at playing it cool. "I saw him about ten minutes ago, he said he was heading outside for a cigarette."
"Shit," Athena cursed, hoping that they didn't toss Dean out into the staff carpark where Luke would certainly be. "Thanks Jimmy," she said as she rushed off to the Talent's exit where she knew her brother would be having his smoke.
She jogged through the corridors in an attempt to not look too panicked, keeping an eye out for Luke and Dean. She really didn't think she could handle seeing Dean that night, being that close to him after not seeing him for a month and not being able to touch him. She didn't even know if she wanted to touch him.
Her mind was a boggled mess and all she knew was that she wanted to be back in the hotel behind a locked door away from the world, where she could bury her head in the sand and pretend Dean wasn't back and her life wasn't a complete mess.
The heavy fire door thudded as she pushed it open forcefully, her wide blue eyes scanning the lighted area with no sign of Luke being there. Moving forward the door closed behind her with a bang and she made her way around the ostentatious WWE trucks and busses, peeking down the narrow gaps between them.
Her feet clipped against the floor as she rounded the last of the busses to hear a soothing familiar voice that made her breath hitch in her throat.
"Listen kid, now isn't the time-"
Athena stepped forward to see Dean standing there facing her, his hair a sweaty curly mess and his large hands now free of the cable ties. Luke stood in front of him, his back to Athena. Dean's light blue eyes flicked from Luke upwards meeting Athena's gaze.
"I told you," Luke's sharp voice pulled Athena's eyes from Dean's. "That if you hurt my sister I'd beat the shit out of you."
Athena was expecting Dean to laugh when Luke threw a punch quickly, it landing squarely on Dean's jaw. Athena ran forward and grabbed Luke's arm pulling back as Dean rubbed his jaw.
"I deserved that," Dean said, his hand running over his stubbly jaw, a small smirk appearing on his lips.
"Come on, we're leaving," Athena said pushing on Luke's chest now, though fully aware Dean was standing less than a metre behind her. "Before you get into trouble, let's go." She pushed her younger brother, relieved as Luke began to step backwards before turning and walking away.
Taking a deep breath Athena began to follow her little brother.
"Red," Dean's gravelly voice called after her. She didn't turn though she didn't continue walking. She closed her eyes, letting his unique voice wash over her when he gently placed his large hand on her upper arm. Before she knew what she was doing she was spinning around her fist curled and filled with her pent up rage and it was flying towards his face, hiutting him in the exact same spot Luke had earlier hit.
Dean's head snapped to the side with the force but he didn't stumble or fall.
"You don't get to touch me," Athena yelled, pointing in his face, seemingly still far more angry than she'd originally thought she was. "Ever!"
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