Hey, guys! Hope you are enjoying it so far. I like to take things slow as you can tell with Jade and Jon, but I hope it's all worth the wait. :)

Sunday, March 6th, 2016

Jade's eyes fluttered open to focus on the wall of her hotel room. She laid there for a moment piecing together the nightmare from last night. It wasn't a dream, though, and she winced when she tried to move her legs to a more comfortable position. It was all too real. Her knees were killing her, but otherwise nothing else seemed to hurt.

"Morning."

Jon's voice almost made her jump out of bed. She sat up and looked at him clutching the blankets over her. He was sitting in a chair he had dragged to sit in front of the TV. The volume was so quiet she could barely hear it, and he was still wearing the same black t-shirt and jeans from the night before.

"Hey." Jade said quietly. She desperately tried to smooth her hair down that was no doubt unruly and wiped the sleep from her eyes.

Jon had brought her to her hotel room last night and gotten her ice, but she was out like a light after crawling into bed. Jade expected him to take off after she fell asleep, but he didn't.

"I hope I didn't wake you." He said glancing back at the TV while she primped.

"You didn't." Jade shook her head. "Did you get any sleep?"

"A bit." He shrugged glancing back at her. Even first thing in the morning he thought she was beautiful. And she was so caring. Rage burned inside him thinking of why someone would want to hurt her.

"I can't believe you stayed." She smiled lightly at him, the expression quickly replaced with a grimace as she pulled her knees out from under the covers. They were bruised, a small one on each shin as well, but they didn't look as bad as they felt.

"Jesus." Jon shook his head. He couldn't help but stare at her legs, but his eyes soon drifted up to her arms where bruises had formed overnight. "Jesus fucking Christ. Jade, how could –" He couldn't finish his sentence, and he couldn't bring himself to look back at her either.

"What?" Jade looked down at her biceps and ran her fingers over them. The bruises were shaped like the asshole's fingers, his grip on her leaving a hideous mark.

"I'm gonna kill him." Jon's voice cracked looking back at her again. "I'm gonna find that guy and fucking kill him."

"Hey." Jade said sternly, his eyes jerking up to hers. "You nearly did last night. Please don't do this." She swallowed the lump that had formed her in throat. "This entire situation got out of hand. Everyone is going to be talking about it, and I'm sure the bosses aren't going to be happy about it."

"They'll be fucking happy you're okay, that that creep didn't get away with what he did." Jon frowned. He was getting that glaze over his eyes that he usually got when he was pissed off, a look she unfortunately had seen before.

"I know. It's just – I don't want to be a big deal. Okay?" She stared into his eyes and waited for him to answer.

"Okay." He finally retorted. "But that shit –" He nodded down at her wounds. "That shit isn't ever happening again. Ever."

"I know." Jade nodded.

"Because I won't let it happen." His voice was emphatic, and Jade could see he meant it. It didn't take long for Jade to feel the butterflies in her stomach looking into his blue eyes. After their short kiss last night, she found herself wanting more, and the way he looked at her told her he wanted it too.

"Come snuggle me." Jade moved over and patted the bed beside her. Jon didn't move right away, his hesitancy making her smile, but then stood and sauntered slowly towards her.

"I don't snuggle." He said convincingly as he sat down on the bed slid under the covers. His heart pounded as he lifted his arm to rest on her pillow.

"You already are." Jade laid her head on the crook of his shoulder and rested a hand on his strong chest. She could feel his heartbeat through his shirt, her own racing as he laid a hand on her arm and pulled her close.

"Thank you." She said quietly. Jon didn't answer, his embrace around her enough of a response, and he pulled her in to kiss her again. This time it wasn't short.

He held her close, both arms encircling her as he rolled to his side. Jade felt the butterflies eating a hole through her stomach as his hands rested on the small of her back, and she wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer.

"You taste so good." He said between kisses. Jade felt her heart flutter when his hand slid down and pulled her leg up to rest on his hip. She winced when her knee bent and tried not to let it show as he kissed her, but he noticed and loosened his grip on her.

"I'm sorry." He mumbled into her mouth. Jade pulled away for a moment and straightened her leg out to a more comfortable position.

"Don't be sorry. Just kiss me." She pulled him close again and tried to continue where they left off, but Jon took her hand from around his neck and held it in his own.

"You should get to Craig." He was the head medical attendant on the road with them and would have a multitude of medical supplies that could help her throbbing legs. As much as he was enjoying this moment, he knew her injuries were more important that his libido. Yet it was taking every ounce of strength in him to not ravage her right there. His pants throbbed under his stiff jeans, and his lips continued to peck hers in an effort to get one last taste before she could agree and get out of bed.

"He's gonna ask questions." Jade said quietly before sliding her tongue into Jon's mouth. A passionate kiss would shut him up. His eyes rolled back into his head as she sucked lightly on his bottom lip, and he cupped her perfect ass in his hand when she let go.

"You are making it so hard to be a good guy." He groaned. Jade smiled when she saw the desperation in his eyes and kissed him once more, her lips pressed against his as she spoke.

"We both know you're not a good guy, Jon."

"He nearly killed him, Jade." Paige shook her head as she spoke. "And now I know why." Her eyes filled with tears as she stared at Jade's arms and the bags of ice taped to her knees.

"I can't believe you guys saw it." Jade held her face in her hands. She was sitting in the medical office of the arena where they were airing RAW tomorrow night, and Craig had done what he could for her without asking too many questions. Apparently word had already spread throughout the crew and talent of what had happened, thanks to the crowd of people that came outside when Jon went back for round two.

"Everyone saw it. Colby, Victoria, Mike, Joe, Nick. Austin and E pulled Jon off the guy before he –" Paige cringed as the scene replayed in her mind and reached out to rest a hand on Jade's knee. "I should have come out with you. If I did I could have –"

"Don't even start with that shit." Jade looked up at her. "There's no way you could have known this would happen."

"I was fucking hanging out with Colby while you were being attacked." Paige looked paler than usual, and her eyes were wet with tears as she spoke.

"And that's where I wanted you to be. I'm not angry with you for having a good time." Jade said sincerely before letting her face fall into her hands again. "Jon is getting dragged into this. The bosses are gonna freak. My dad is gonna freak. I've already gotten texts from three people wanting to know what happened."

"Hey, Jade. Listen to me." Paige consoled her. "You got away from the guy, and Jon kicked his ass, plain and simple. You know you're not in any trouble for any of this. At all. So don't worry. Okay?" Paige's soft voice made Jade force a smile, the effort of her friend making her feel better despite the circumstances.

"I know." Jade nodded. More than anything, she just didn't want the attention that came with this kind of situation.

"Jon really cares about you. At least that's what it seems like." Paige treaded lightly. Jade gave her a look, and the champion continued. "I just want you to know you can talk to me about it, Jade. I know now's not the time, but some time. Okay?"

"Yeah. Take me back to the hotel." Jade nodded towards the door. She went to stand off the table she was sitting on when her phone buzzed loudly beside her. Glancing down, she cringed when she saw the text and leaned back into her seat.

"Scratch that. Paul's on his way here."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Paul shouted. He nearly fell over when he saw Jade's arms dotted in bruises and her black and blue knees that Craig was rubbing pain salve over.

"Paul, it's –"

"Who did this? Did you call the police? How did this happen?" The barrage of questions and him grabbing her arms to inspect made her clam up. He was always protective of her, and save her dad and now Jon, he was the next person in line to overreact when something like this happened.

"Stop!" She cried pulling away from him when he grabbed her chin and turned her head from side to side looking for anything more.

"Jade, this is fucking serious. Did you call the police?" He repeated. His brow was furrowed so deep she could barely see his eyes underneath his bulging forehead, and his t-shirt and jeans made it obvious he had rushed here as soon as he heard the news.

"No. I didn't call the police." She finally spat out.

"Why the fuck not?" He shouted. Craig finally finished and got the hell out of dodge leaving Paul more room to freak out.

"Jon was there. And in case you haven't heard, he beat the living shit out of the guy once I got him off me." Jade was sure to accentuate the part where she got the creep off.

"Jon? Jon Good?" Paul asked to which she nodded. "That isn't the police."

"I really don't want this to be a big deal." Jade shook her head as she rolled her capris back down to hide the bruises.

"It is a big fucking deal. When your dad hears about this, he is –"

"He is not going to hear about it. At least not from you." Jade took a deep breath before continuing. "I was attacked. Yes. I was outside getting some air at a bar where everybody was hanging out, and some asshole thought he could manhandle me. I gave him a Stunner, or at least my version of it, and then Jon came out of nowhere and beat the living shit out of him." Jade was so matter of fact about it. At this point, the only thing she could do was be honest about everything, and she knew Paul wouldn't settle for anything less than the truth. "I think the guy learned his lesson. And if you don't believe me, ask Colby, Paige, or Austin and E."

Paul exhaled loudly and took a few steps away from her. His eyes grazed over her arms and back to her face. She knew he had always looked at her as a daughter, or maybe a niece, and it must have killed him to see her like this. But she was grown up now, and she could take care of herself. The last thing she needed was for her RAW performance to be overshadowed by some stupid idiot outside a bar.

"You take tomorrow off." Paul said holding a hand up to stop her from objecting. "You take tomorrow off and that's final. We'll see how you feel for Tuesday." Jade groaned out loud and hopped down from the table.

"Fine."

"And I'm talking to Jon." Paul ran a hand over his short hair.

"Why? Leave Jon out of this." Jade pleaded with him.

"Hey. He was there, and he helped you. I want to thank him." Paul reached out and set a hand on her shoulder. "It could have been much worse."

"I can protect myself." Jade said defensively.

"I know. It's just—" Paul trailed off and exhaled deeply. "You're like a daughter to me. Knowing this happened to you, it's hard. I'm just happy you're okay."

He hugged her, tears stinging Jade's eyes for a moment before she willed them away. She always looked up to Paul, and to know he was only concerned about her safety regardless of anything else warmed her heart.

"Steph is pissed." Paul said with his chin on her head.

"God." Jade sighed. They pulled apart, and Paul knocked her on the cheek lightly with his fist like he had since she was a little girl, something that made Jade roll her eyes a bit.

"Let's get you back to the hotel."

"Jade, I heard what happened. What the fuck is going on? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, dad. It was just –"

"It doesn't sound like you're fine. Stephanie called me in a fit ten minutes ago."

"I wanted to tell you so you wouldn't freak out."

"Freak out? Some asswipe puts his hands on my daughter, and you think I'm not gonna freak out?"

"Calm down. Everything is okay. My friend was with me and – well he beat the guy up pretty good for it."

"That doesn't make me feel better. Did you call the police?"

"No. We got outta there pretty quickly."

"Who was with you?"

"I was alone. Jon saw it happen. Jon Good."

Dad?"

"I'm glad someone was there to help. Have you talked to your mom yet?"

"I'll call her after we get off the phone. She's gonna flip."

"Of course she is. I'm gonna book a flight and catch you in Detroit."

"Dad, you don't have to do that."

"I want to. I need to see you and know you're okay. Go call your mom. I'll see you in a few days."

"I love you, dad."

"I love you too, darlin.' Text me later tonight."

Wednesday, March 9th, 2016

Paul wouldn't let Jade compete on Tuesday despite the fact she was feeling fine. No amount of pleading could change his mind, and now that Stephanie had flown out to Detroit where Smackdown was taped, she had both of them breathing down her neck about the whole situation. They wanted her to file a police report, but she refused. After seeing the bloody pulp Jon left the guy in, she had a feeling he would change his mind about assaulting women in the future. At least she hoped.

"When does your dad get in?" Matt asked from his corner of the couch. They were sitting in her hotel room watching TV, and Jade's heart skipped a beat thinking of what was to come.

"He's on his way here now." Jade sighed.

"Good." Matt was furious that he didn't go out that night and had heard all about it by the next morning. "He's gonna flip."

"Thank god the bruises are gone." Jade glanced down at her arms that were now back to their original colour.

"If I was there when that happened –" Matt trailed off.

"I handled it." Jade scoffed.

"Jon handled it. What's going on with you two anyway?" Matt raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing. I mean, I don't know. I don't think anything." Jade lied. She didn't want to be in a relationship right now despite her strong feelings for Jon, and he had been busy since their make out session in her hotel room on Sunday morning. She missed him.

"That's not what Paige said." Matt smirked at her earning a kick in the foot.

"Paige is fucking Colby, so like she's one to talk." Jade rolled her eyes. This wasn't news to him, and he chuckled out loud at her diversion.

Just then there was a knock on her door. Jade's eyes flew open as the realization that it was her dad came over her, and Matt quickly stood to his feet in anticipation of him coming in.

"Here we go." Jade sighed as she walked to the door. She opened it wide, and there he stood.

"Jade." Shawn gasped as he reached out to grab her. His hug squeezed all the air out of her lungs, and she coughed when he finally let go.

"Hey, dad." She said with a low voice.

"I've missed you so much. I can't believe this happened." He had tears in his eyes. Jade was taken aback by this, her dad never really being an emotional guy, and she felt and her throat catch when she spoke.

"Come in. You know Matt." Jade nodded at her friend that was anxious to leave.

"Mr. Michaels." Matt addressed him confidently and held out his hand.

"Shawn." He replied shaking it. "Good to see you again, kid."

"Definitely. Have a good day, guys." Matt smiled at them both and left the hotel room to give them some privacy. Jade grinned back and watched as the door shut behind him leaving an awkward silence between her and her father.

"How was your flight?" Jade asked sitting down on the edge of her bed.

"Good. So when do I get to meet Jon?"