Chapter Three

Roman comes out of the office a little before Dean. He looks around a moment, then starts walking over towards ring where Kennedy is standing still in the training ring, talking to Lita about possible ways to make her entrance work in NXT.

Dean catches Roman by the shoulder and says something quietly to him, then starts heading over towards the ring on his own.

Roman just smirks and shakes his head.

Dean walks up and leans on the apron, "Ever think of coming down through the crowd?"

Kennedy turns at looks at him. "Uh... Our arena's smaller so we all walk the ramp through the crowd and interact with them every entrance. So yeah, it's part of it."

Dean smirks, "Well, yeah... down here. I'm talking up in the main event."

Kennedy walks over towards the ropes where he is standing outside the ring. "Figure I got time to sort that out and come up with something when I get called up. I mean, need to get one for my debut first here in developmental, right?"

Dean says, "Yeah... or you can just come debut up there." Dean looks kind of amused at her.

Kennedy laughs. "Right... cause Hunter will just let me show up and crash RAW." She shakes her head. "You're funny."

Dean slowly grins up at her. He climbs up onto the apron, using the ropes, then leans against them, "So... what if I told you that the reason we're down here is to look at the talent for our third when we resurrect the Shield. And that third has to be a Diva? And that you beating what's her name's ass then blowing that promo out of the water was your interview?"

Kennedy blinks a few times as if not quite believing him. "What? Wait... you..." She looks confused.

Lita starts laughing and then smiling from ear to ear.

Dean shrugs at Kennedy, "I mean, seriously... Hunter wanted to team us up with 'Get-your-tits-out Barbie: Late edition' over there, but we pointed you out and he gave you a chance. Which you killed by the way."

Kennedy's brows slowly narrows as her do her eyes. "Wait... so you're telling me that was an audition? To what be the arm doll to you and Reigns?"

Lita winces, realizing things are about to go south quickly. "Oh shit..."

Dean looks confused at her, "Oh fuck no. They've got some big stable plot thing coming up with us and the Wyatt's, but we don't have anyone to take on Abigail."

Kennedy doesn't seem to quite hear him. Her eyes are glaringly focused on Hunter standing by his office talking to Roman once more. She moves then to slide out of the ring and stalk towards Hunter. "Can I have a word for a minute, Boss?" She passes directly by Dean.

Lita puts her hand to her head and starts to go after Kennedy. "Kens... Kenny... hold up..."

Dean turns to watch Kennedy go, leaning back on the ropes. He tilts his head looking a bit confused.

Roman sees Kennedy coming, puts his hands up defensively and steps back so she can get to Hunter. He's seen his wife with that look in her eye one too many times to be foolish enough to get in the way.

Kennedy says, "NO really... a minute please... I would like some freaking input on IF I'm really being expected to do this bullshit." Kennedy moves to head into Hunters office as if knowing he's coming.

Hunter chuckles looking over to Ambrose. "Oh... she'll blend right in with you two hot heads." He rolls his eyes and moves to walk in, clapping and rubbing his hands. "What can I do for you Miss Barlow?"

The door shuts and you can hear screaming from Kennedy but not quite make out what she's saying. Hunter's voice is calm and collected, never once raising its tone.

Roman walks over towards the ring and looks up at Lita, "So... we sure we want these two in the same space long term?"

Lita sighs. "She's pissed because she thinks that you all are going to use her for arm candy. It's something that keeps coming up around here about how she doesn't quite fit the mold."

Dean laughs, "Okay, she's pretty fucking hot and all, but if all we wanted was arm candy, there's a lot of people around here who can't wrestle that need the shot while she works her way up herself. We need someone who can actually fight, and she can."

Lita holds her hands up defensively. "Hey... I'm not the one you need to talk to about that, Ambrose. You just need to make her believe that you're behind her actually wrestling. She's passionate about what she does. You should get that."

There is more screaming and sounds like a chair being slammed with the mention of Dean's name.

Dean glances over towards the office, "Yeah... right. Hell, if she wants to DDT Harper a couple dozen times, I'll chill out and let her go."

Lita leans on the ropes. "You know she could easily do that top rope RKO she does if someone was up on Roman's shoulders to hit. Put them up there for a set up like you all used to do the triple power bomb with..." She doesn't finish the sentence. Lita smirks. "Just saying... I mean you're going to need a stable finisher."

Roman raises an eyebrow, then turns and looks towards the back office. After a moment of listening to the yelling in the other room, he puts his hands up to his mouth and howls, "BARLOW!"

Kennedy opens the door long enough to lean out and around the frame. "WHAT? Little busy...big guy."

Roman starts pulling his jacket off and throws it in one corner, "Well hurry it up, we've gotta learn your moves if you're gonna be in the ring with us."

Dean rolls his eyes at Roman and smirks, then starts peeling his own jacket off as well.

Kennedy looks confused a minute and then darts back in the office.

Lita just chuckles and shakes her head. "You're a smart man, Reigns. I think you'll do just fine handling the terrible twosome." She moves to exit the ring.

Roman shakes his head, "Yeah, I've had some practice..."

Lita grins. "At least she won't whine and primp and prance like Rollins."

Dean groans, "Swear to god, I'm never getting in a car with a CrossFit junkie again..."

Kennedy storms out of Hunter's office and over towards the ring. "Now what?" She calls back over her shoulder at Hunter, "Fine! Twenty four hours to think on it... answer 8 am ... got it."

Roman sits on the middle rope and looks over at Kennedy, "Got that all out of your system yet?"

Kennedy shakes her head and glares at Dean. "Not even close..." She moves to stop at the ring and then look to Roman."

Roman looks down at her, "Well, come on. We don't have all day. You wanna fight, then we've got work to do."

Kennedy looks back at Roman and says, "I told Hunter I'll let him know in the morning. I seriously need to think about this. I mean I didn't just bust my ass for all this time to wind up being nothing more than the freaking lipstick on someone's fucking arm because they need a chick since the other guys have one to look cute."

Dean rolls his eyes, then leans over the ropes. He looks straight at Kennedy, then says, "You're wrestling WITH us. Seriously, what the hell? Are you deaf? We don't need some fucking arm candy, we need a damn third for this that can deal with the Wyatts and their head game bullshit."

Kennedy turns and watches Ambrose a moment. "I said I would give it tonight to clear my head and hear you all out and see." She narrows her eyes again at Dean. "You should have said something to me first. I mean it's my fucking career. I should get to know what the hell is going on with it."

Dean shrugs his shoulders, "Well shit. I didn't even know I was doing it until I saw who they tried to weigh us down with. You can pull your own, we saw it. You'd think you fucking wanted the break and shot." It's clear Dean is starting to get a bit irritated as well.

Kennedy blinks and looks at him. "So ...what... I'm your fucking last minute grab and go?"

Dean rolls his eyes and sighs, "No, you're my fucking FIRST choice, not whoever they feel like pushing on us because they spill out of their hot pants."

Kennedy crosses her arms. "First things first... I do this I'm not going out there in bikini bottoms or bullshit booty shorts. Pants or no deal."

Roman just starts laughing, and tries to hide it but fails miserably.

Dean shakes his head, "Nah. I'm not gonna make you strip down to your Vicki's just to kick someone's ass. You want real fucking clothes out there, it'll happen."

Kennedy nods seeming to calm some at that. "Second... we do this, then WE do it. I go down when you all are out and at least one of you is at ringside if I'm in a match, including DIVA's matches."

Dean raises an eyebrow, "Well yeah..."

Roman cuts in, "If you're down there, so are we. If we're down there, so are you. Period."

Roman's answer and how adamant he is about it seems to calm her down finally. "Okay... tell you what. The two of you come out drinking with us tonight and if I don't want to murder both of you by morning... I'll do it."

Dean looks a little confused, but shrugs, "Sure, but if you order an appletini or something after all that ass-kicking and all this, you're never living it down." He smirks a little at her so she knows he's teasing her.

Kennedy looks to Roman, trying not to grin at Dean's teasing. "Okay... if I don't want to kill you by the morning, I'll do it. I know I'll likely hate HIM by dawn."

Lita bursts out laughing. "Wow... is someone immune to your boyish charms there, Dean?"

Dean turns and sighs to Lita, "Had to be one sooner or later, right?"

Roman chuckles, "You get through a night and don't wanna kill me, and don't at least find him a little tolerable, and I'll be impressed."

Kennedy looks at Roman and nods. "You're a guy... I'm sure there are some great redeeming guy qualities about him. As a woman? Man whore." She shrugs as if that sums it all up.

Roman laughs a little more, "Yeah... but he's our man-whore. That's the difference."

Dean feigns insult at Roman.

Kennedy shakes her head and smirks. "Uh... your man whore... I'll go with "big brother"." She grins at Dean sarcastically.

Lita just laughs and has to grab the ropes to stay upright. "This is going to be hysterical."

Dean raises an eyebrow, then shrugs his shoulders. "Yeah Yeah... laugh it up, She-ra." He smirks at Lita.

Lita smirks and just shakes her head. "I may be She-ra to you, but I've touched the one that isn't into you in places you never will, Dean-O." She move to finally get out of the ring and hop down. "You all going to work some today? I'm going to go talk to Hunter about a few things."

Roman holds the ropes open for Lita, "Depends on her. We know all our shit... just have to get used to hers and vice versa."

Dean smirks, "Yeah, assuming she's gonna stay. Might want to, uh... have those drinks first, then beat the hangovers out of each other tomorrow."

Kennedy looks between the two men. "I have both your words this is not bullshit and I won't be used as some ring booth babe?"

Roman shakes his head, "If they wanted to just hook us up with some booth babe, we wouldn't be down here to begin with. No, you're fighting."

Dean shrugs, "Gonna take 'on my honor' as a swear here, or just gonna take my word for it that we're not fucking with you?"

Kennedy holds her pinky up. "Put 'em up."

Dean raises an eyebrow, "You serious?"

Kennedy says, "You want me to do this or you want Barbie from the planet silicon?"

Dean rolls his eyes, then leans through the ropes. He reaches out and hooks his pinky around Kennedy's, marking the first time he's ever laid hands on her, "There. Happy?"

Kennedy looks to Roman. "Waiting..."

Roman hangs off the ropes and reaches down to hook his pinky in as well, "This how Paige, Charlotte and Becky feel every time?"

Kennedy nods. "If you mean it then likely. Anyone breaks their end of the

promise, they get their finger broken. That's how it works.""

Dean raises his eyebrows, "Well, I'm all for not having them broken again, so... sure."

Kennedy nods. "Okay... I'm in. WE can tell Hunter in the morning though. Let him stress it a bit. It's good for him for freaking not paying attention to the rest of us since we don't put our tits in his face."

Dean just cracks up laughing, then swings out of the ropes and hops down to the ground.

Kennedy waits a moment. "So start working tomorrow is that what we are agreeing to?" She looks at them."

Roman nods and picks his jacket back up from the corner he tossed it into, then kicks Dean's over towards him, "That's the plan."

Kennedy nods. "I have to meet with paper pushers at eight a.m. so after that good?" She moves back a bit so they can leave the ring. "And... what time you want to meet up with us, tonight?" She glances at Dean. "Sami will be there too."

Dean raises his eyebrows, then shrugs his shoulders, "Hell, I don't know. Seven or eight work for you?"

Kennedy thinks a minute. "Say eight? I want to grab a shower and food first. I usually head over there with Callahan and Cassidy."

Dean smirks at her while pulling his coat back on, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, "Works. We'll meet you around here."

She shrugs. "If you want or I could just tell you where the bar is. It's not far from here."

Roman climbs down out of the ring, "How about you tell me, and I'll make sure we make it on time without him having to drive?"

Kennedy says, "Sure... here let me text it to you so you can just put the name in GPS." Kennedy moves to grab her phone from her hoodie. It has cat's ears on the hood and paws on the sleeves where they come down over her hands with thumb holes.

Roman takes his phone out, then holds it out so she can see the number.

Kennedy enters his number and then texts him the bar name and phone number. "They have darts and pool so we like it, oh and some karaoke on weekends if you're still around then."

Dean smirks in such a way that makes Roman roll his eyes, "Oh yeah? Cool. Well, if we aren't on the road already, might be cool to check out."

Kennedy nods and then looks to Roman. "You probably want some time back up on the pan handle before we have to be on the road. Family there and all." She nods. "Okay... so... see you at eight... and..." She moves to stand on her tip toes and kiss Roman's cheek. "Thanks for the push... the faith means a lot." She then turns and holds a hand out to shake with Dean.

Roman looks at Dean and chuckles.

Dean rolls his eyes at Roman, then takes Kennedy's hand, "Yeah, well. I saw what you were doing in there, and it was way better than anyone else. You deserved it, alright?"

Kennedy nods. "Thanks... and you're fucking right I do." She moves to start heading for the locker room to shower and throw on her sweats. "Peace...bitches." she throws up to fingers and gestures as she turns and walks.

Lita comes out of Hunter's office and heads over to the boys as Kennedy is leaving.

Dean shakes his head, watching Kennedy walking away.

Lita quirks a brow. "I'd give up on that thought right there if I were you." She puts a playful arm around Dean.

Dean smirks, giving Lita a feigned insulted look, "Trying to get in my head?"

Lita grins and says, "Already can see it in your eyes. I'm not going to even have a chance at talking you out of this am I? What is it the challenge cause she's not interested?"

Dean sighs and shakes his head, "So... what'd you need other than to harass me again like old times?"

Lita shakes her head. "She's looking for the real deal...you've been warned." She roughs up Ambrose hair. "So... I'm doing some things this weekend on Saturday for the children's hospital. We're playing softball against the EMS team. You two in?"

Dean shrugs his shoulders, "If we're in town, yeah. I don't mind playing some ball."

Roman shakes his head, then says, "What he means is... as long as Hunter doesn't pull us out quick to go shoot promos or something, we're in."

Lita nods. "Cool..." She turns to start towards the lockers herself. "Oh... and Kennedy pitches for us." She calls back over her shoulder.

Dean winces, "So you're saying I should expect to be hit by a ball or two?"

Lita laughs. "Maybe..." She shrugs and turns to head in. "Later boys..."