Hello, lovely readers!

I hope you are all well today and ready for another chapter. Holly is gonna finally take a stand this chapter and deal with things in her own way. But first, we need to see what happens with Sheamus…

Raquel the writer – Well you're about to find out

Debwood-1999 – The meeting will be an interesting one but it should give everyone a definitive answer. And they are complete children. Its an ego thing. Both are dominant males and both are blatantly interested in the same girl, so it's a constant competition between them to see who is on top

Rileyjade – Not long now, my dear

Ambrose-kohli-girl –Oh wow, thank you so much! That's so lovely of you to say. And the tension is insane! You will see Hunter's reaction now

KairiAnneYukari21 – She's taking the leap. I think both Dean and Randy feel justified. Randy is mad at Sheamus and Dean doesn't want Holly affected. They're both on the same page but are too stubborn to see it.

Irishblue69 – It certainly is. We all know what Triple H is like and how he protects his family. He won't be happy.

Beautifultragedyxxx – I agree. There's only so much Holly is going to take from Dean and Randy before she's had enough of the bickering and tells them where to shove it.

Tantoune – I agree haha! Randy can try all he wants but we all know Dean is her true protector. You will see Hunter's reaction now so I hope you like it

Calwitch – Holly is surrounded by three very dominant and headstrong males, all of who she knows are going to get mad and lash out. You cant blame her for wanting to hold back, so I agree, she's very brave for telling her brother. Of course she worries for Dean, he's her saviour and (pardon the pun) her shield. But we will see how Hunter reacts now

Lola – Yeah, even though Dean is a total basket case at times, when it comes to Holly, his softer and sweeter side manages to come out

Dutchangel1979 – We will see. He won't be happy his sister has been hurt, but I don't know how Holly will cope with more violence.

LadyShadows410 – The testosterone is crazy right now! And yes, Randy needs to accept Holly isn't that into him. Only as a friend. I think shit might hit the fan when he does discover her true feelings

Minimary16 – Aww thank you!

MissyInTheMiddle – Yes! That's exactly what I want. I think it's because he's a father so he'll naturally be a carer and look after people.

Vertigo Venom – Hunter had perfect timing! Those two will just never get on. Sheamus is the worst, and he needs punishment for everything he has done. And I agree, Holly never can catch a break, but as you'll see she takes matters into her own hands now

This chapter is named after 'Miss Independent' by Kelly Clarkson

Holly Helmsley's Point Of View

We all silently entered my brother's office like naughty children who had been called to see the principle, taking our seats one by one. Hunter sat at his desk whilst I sat in front of it, Dean and Randy seating themselves either side of me. Hunter had called for Steph to join us, so we were simply waiting for her to arrive before we began the very meeting I had been dreading.

Even though he seemed tense, Hunter idly busied himself with paper work as we sat there, Randy flicking through his phone, his fingers gripping the arm of the chair tighter than normal. I could tell he was still on edge from the argument in the corridor, but I knew by telling my brother and sister-in-law the truth, it would ease a lot of worry in a lot of people.

Dean and Randy could hurt Sheamus all they wanted, but the only two people who could truly do anything about him was Hunter and Stephanie. Only they could fire him, only they could take away his job, only they could ensure he didn't grace the doorway of WWE again and give him a suitable punishment. And after saying exactly what had happened, a punishment would certainly be coming his way.

So by having this meeting now, it was a good thing, a positive thing, something that could only end well. Sheamus would be gone, I would be safe, and we could all move on with our lives. But as with any perfect plans, there's always a downfall, a problem, a thing that could stop us. Our Achilles heel, our kryptonite, our 4 foot wide hole in the Death Star.

And that problem was Sheamus himself.

There was a lot he could still do to continue causing issues for us. He could refuse to leave, he could cause a fuss, and he could very easily go to the police about the beat-down Dean had given him. I had yet to see him at the arena, but he would have no doubt gone to a hospital or used something to clean himself up after what the lunatic had unleashed at him. He'd be covered in cuts, bruises and scars that would be very visible and easily explained to the police.

They could have Dean in an instant and there would be nothing we could do about it.

So whilst this plan was a good one, it still had its hiccups. I just hoped Dean had put the fear of God into him to the point where he would never dream of speaking of the incident again.

The atmosphere in the room was not a good one so I closed my eyes, trying my very hardest to keep my breathing calm, knowing how nerve-wracking and anxiety filled this conversation was about to be. Hunter was going to hit the roof, he was going to go fucking crazy. I'd already had to deal with Dean's reaction last night and Randy's only moments ago. I couldn't bear to think about how my brother would react.

Sensing the obvious tension radiating from my body, I felt a large yet warm hand slip into mine. I followed the arm it connected to, seeing the hand belonged to Dean. He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, his face offering me a comforting smile as he looked down at me. I returned it, half-smiling back, his eyes silently telling me that everything was going to be okay, that this would go smoothly, that this was needed in order to put things right.

Stephanie finally entered the room, Dean's hand quickly leaving mine as she took her seat beside my brother, my heart pounding nervously as I bit my lip. Once she was settled in her chair, two pairs of eyes settled on me.

"So do any of you care to explain what that little incident in the corridor was all about?" asked Hunter. His hands were linked together, his chin resting on top of them, staring at me eagerly.

Releasing a deep breath, I sat forward in my chair and slowly unwound the scarf that had been around my neck. My hands were trembling but I managed to remove it smoothly. I dropped it to the floor, my bruised neck open for all to see. Steph's eyes widened in shock, her hand clasping her mouth…

Hunter's brow frowned in anger transforming from my brother into the cerebral assassin we all knew in the ring. I just prayed there wasn't a sledge hammer nearby.

"Oh my god, Holly," whispered Steph, not quite able to believe it.

"Who did that?" Hunter asked deeply, his eyes instantly going between Randy and Dean. His eyes were dark, savage, cold… My brother was pissed.

His eyes flickered between the two men, his anger rising faster and faster, his nostrils flaring. I was slightly bewildered at first, but then it dawned on me what he was thinking. The argument in the corridor, the shouting, the screaming, the way I got myself involved… He obviously thought one of them did it.

"It was Sheamus," I quickly interjected, making sure neither Randy nor Dean got a single ounce of blame. "Sheamus did it."

Hunter's eyes rested on mine, confusion etched on his face. "Sheamus? When? He isn't supposed to be allowed anywhere near you."

"Last night," I answered. "I went to a bar in the city with some friends. I went out to grab some air but he managed to corner me in an alleyway."

"And he did that?" Steph asked, referring to my throat.

"Yes," I nodded. "Thankfully Dean was able to come out in time."

"I'm gonna kill the cunt," Hunter shouted, standing up from his chair, practically throwing it behind him. "Steph, get your dad on the phone. I ain't accepting a suspension this time. I want the bastard fired."

Stephanie began dialing on the office phone as Hunter marched to the door.

"Wait, where are you going?" I asked, all eyes on him, my voice laced with worry.

"To finish what Randy and Ambrose clearly wanted to finish before I interrupted them," Hunter said. "Nobody lays a fucking hand on my sister."

I groaned internally. I knew Hunter was going to act like this, but a scene and a commotion was not what I wanted. I began to panic as Hunter grabbed for the door, knowing a full blown fight would be on my hands. If I thought Dean was bad enough last night, Hunter would murder the Irishman for sure. However, Dean must have sense my anxiety because he quickly stood and walked towards my brother.

"There's no need for that, sir," Dean explained. "I think I managed to do that last night."

Hunter stopped and turned, staring at my friend. "What do you mean, Ambrose?"

I looked at him in confusion.

Hang on… he isn't… he isn't going to…

Surely he wasn't going to admit the truth, surely he wasn't going to tell my brother the extremes he went to in order to protect me from the situation. Dean had already been called up once over his violent behaviour. Another strike and he'd be out. He'd be fired.

"I took care of Sheamus," he said. "I know it wasn't the best tactic to use, but I did what I thought was right, I did what I had to do to get Holly to safety. I beat him, sir. I kicked his pathetic little ass."

"You used violence again?" Hunter asked.

"Yes, sir," said Dean confidently. "I did what I had to."

"Even after you were warned?" my brother asked.

Dean nodded and I rose from my seat. This was what I wanted to avoid. Not only was Hunter going to cause a scene and hit the roof, but now Dean had dropped himself right in the shit and there was no escape from it. This was it.. he was going to get fired…

They stared at each other for a few moments, the silence tense and awkward.

My mouth dropped when Hunter suddenly held his hand out for Dean to shake. "Whilst I don't condone it, I understand that you did what you had to in order to protect Holly. And I appreciate that."

Dean took my brother's hand, the two of them shaking in agreement.

"Thank you, sir," Dean replied.

"But I meant what I said before," Hunter said. "I don't want to hear about you involved in any altercations again. I may not be so sympathetic and forgiving next time."

"I understand," Dean replied.

I dropped into my chair, relief flooding my body, a huge weight lifted from my shoulders. Dean was in no trouble, Hunter was not going to beat on Sheamus, and everything was finally out in the open. All the worry I previously held had been washed away, and I felt confident now that this could all get solved and fixed properly.

Steph finally put the phone down. "My dad is on his way," she said.

"Good," said Hunter. "I'm not playing games this time. I want this finished and sorted NOW."

xXx

Christmas came and went, the idea of returning to work for Raw after the festive period a little easier than it had been last time I had been there.

Vince had met with my brother and sister-in-law that evening at Raw, and everything was discussed and put on the table. All three of them saw only one option after the meeting was finished, one way out of this problem, and that was to have Sheamus fired.

So he was.

He was asked to leave the very next day. No pay, no references, and no friends. He had gone way too far this time and he was getting the ultimate punishment for his stupidity. It was one thing to attack an employee in the ring, but Vince knew he had gone too far by attacking one in public, especially when that employee was the little sister of his son-in-law.

But what ended badly for him ended well for me. I no longer felt threatened or scared. Sheamus was out of my life and I could go on without eyes at the back of my head. And for the first time in a long time, Raw went without a single hitch for me. It flowed perfectly and the smile was tattooed on my face.

The only problem I had was what came after the show.

We knew that, even though he was no longer part of the company, Sheamus was still out there. And if he was willing to act the way he had whilst he still had a job, lord knows what he could do to me now he had nothing holding him back. So I had been given a room beside my brother's and Steph's at the hotel for security reasons. And whilst that happily pacified me, there were certain people who were still unsure of my safety. So as I returned to my room that night, eager for a hot bath, my bed, and a rom-com on the TV, I was instead thrusted into a warzone.

No sooner had I entered my room was I quickly followed by Randy, Dean and the rest of The Shield, the first two men having very strong opinions on their mind.

I hardly had time to think before they had begun yet another one of their stupid and pathetic arguments.

"So what's the plan?" Randy asked as he closed the door behind him. Roman and Seth made themselves comfortable on the sofa whilst he and Dean remained standing. "Sheamus is out there and he's gonna be more pissed than ever. Now he has no job, he has no restraints. He'll happily come after her now."

"I'll be fine," I smiled. "Hunter is only next door so-"

"I think she should come with me and the boys," Dean interrupted. "Safety in numbers and all that. We can protect her."

I tried again. "I really don't think-"

"I'm not sending her with you," Randy said, glaring at Dean. "As we have proven, you're far too violent for her to be around."

I sighed, my hands on my hips. "Guys, I-"

"So what do you suggest?" asked Dean. "That we send her with you?"

"That's exactly what I'm suggesting," Randy replied. "She'll be much safer that way."

"And why's that?" Dean asked, his arms folded. "Every time she's been left in your care, she's been hurt or threatened. I can't say I trust you."

"Guys, I'm fine where I am. Honestly," I tried, but they simply ignored me.

"And every time she's been with you, you've done something that had scared the living daylights out of her," argued Randy.

"Guys, please," I tried again.

"At least I've managed to keep her fucking safe whilst she's in my care," Dean argued.

"And how many times has Hunter warned you about your methods?" Randy challenged.

They were arguing back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. So I threw my arms up in defeat, not really caring anymore. I was clearly being ignored, and they had eliminated me from this conversation as if I wasn't even in the fucking room. So I gave up, walking away from them and going to sit on the sofas by Roman and Seth.

"I know Randy is stubborn but is Dean always this bad?" I asked them as the other two continued arguing in the background.

Seth chuckled. "You know Dean. Once he has his mind set on something he never gives up and he never lets it go."

"They're talking as if I'm not even here," I said as I rested back along the comfy sofa.

"They're only doing it because they care," suggested Roman.

"Ignoring me? Fighting over me? Acting as if I'm not in the room? They have a funny way of showing they care," I said.

They were pissing me off now. This had become less of a conversation about my safety and more of a competition between the two men. If they gave a damn, they would involve me, they would ask my opinion, they would not be interrupting me mid-sentence. All they wanted to do was boost their egos and come out on top. Neither man really liked each other, and I was their only common interest really. So I ended up being the subject they fought over.

And I didn't like this.

I wasn't even sure why this conversation had started in the first place! Maybe I didn't want to go with Dean or Randy, maybe I was perfectly happy and comfortable having Hunter and Steph next door. To me, that was sufficient protection and they provided me ample safety. Why was there any need to go with Randy or Dean?

In my opinion I didn't need to. Having Steph and Hunter next door was fine with me. So to have them fighting over me, choosing my future, and in my fucking hotel room when all I wanted was a quiet night in… well it pissed me off.

"I don't think I've ever seen them in a room together without an argument breaking out," chuckled Seth.

"Tell me about it," I said, rolling my eyes. "It's getting beyond annoying now. They're like a pair of children! Look at them!"

I could still hear them arguing in the back ground.

"She's coming with me," Dean said.

"I don't think so," Randy replied. "If she's going anywhere, it'll be with me."

"Are they seriously still fighting?" asked Roman.

"Yep," I said in annoyance. "And it's pissing me off."

"This is what happens when two head strong men clash," Seth suggested.

I sighed in frustration. "Well fuck this shit, I don't want to be around them whilst they're like this." I grabbed my phone and stood up, both Shield members watching me. "I'm not sticking around because in all honesty I don't want to go with either of them. If they manage to come up for air, tell them I've gone. I don't need saving and I've made the decision they clearly couldn't."

And with that I walked out of my hotel room. They were so self involved that neither looked up from their argument to see I'd walked out of the room and closed the door behind me. I walked down the corridor, knowing I'd go to Sasha's room for the night. At least I'd get some peace and quiet there.

Pissed off wasn't the word. I was raging! How dare they act like that! How dare they think they can control me and dictate who I stayed with and where I went. I was my own fucking person and I controlled my own life. I was a fucking Helmsley and I didn't get ordered around.

Well no more, I was now doing what I wanted. I was tired of their stupid arguments, I was sick of them acting like children, I was bored of them not getting on. They were grown men, for fucks sake! So as long as they were acting like that, I wanted nothing to do with either of them. I'd stay with Sasha until they'd calmed down and realised there was more to life than making petty fights.

I reached Sasha's room and knocked on the door until she answered.

"Oh hey, Holly," she smiled brightly. "You okay?"

"Can I stay here for a few days?" I asked.

"Sure," she said without hesitation, letting me in. "Why?"

"Because there's a pair of bickering kids in my room that I can't stand to be around," I said. "Can't say I wanna see them right now."

"Randy and Dean?" she easily guessed, an amused smile on her face.

"Got it in one," I said, dropping onto her bed, running my hands through my hair.

"Well you can stay as long as you need to," she replied.

"Thanks, Sasha," I smiled. "And if they come knocking, asking where I am, I'm not here."

"My lips are sealed," she grinned, pretending to zip up her lips.

I stared up at the ceiling.

I'd already had enough issues with Sheamus, and now these two idiots were making it worse. I understood that they were doing it because they cared and I appreciated that, but the way they were going about it was all wrong. I wasn't someone to fight over, I wasn't a prize for both of them to gain, and I refused to be their constant reason for arguing. I'd tried for so long to make them get on, but neither had listened. It was pathetic and childish. They were grown men, they worked together and they were supposed to be on the same fucking team. Their rivalry was beyond boring now, and I was bored of dealing with it.

So until the manned up and until they realised what a pair of fools they were being, I'd have nothing to do with them.

Again, a huge thanks to Raquel the writer, Debwood-1999, rileyjade, ambrose-kohli-girl, KairiAnneYukari21, irishblue69, beautifultragedyxxx, Tantoune, Calwitch, Lola, Dutchangel1979, LadyShadows410, minimary16, MissyInTheMiddle and Vertigo Venom for their reviews. I love you all!