Kimber slipped into her apartment. As she tossed her bags onto the floor she cross through the living room and practically dove onto her couch.
"Ahhh." she sighed loudly, arms and legs stretching out before her.
To say she was happy to be home was an understatement. She was thrilled to be back in Colorado. Thrilled to be back in her own place and able to sleep in her own bed.
She settled deeper into the couch, a frown beginning to turn down her lips.
Especially considering that letter she had received.
She shivered at the memory of it, her eyes traveling to her purse where it still resided.
She closed her eyes and shook her head, pushing the thoughts away. She didn't want to deal with that now. Especially since she had just gotten home.
Home.
"Four days." she murmured with a growing smile.
Squealing, she jumped to her feet and hurried to retrieve her cell phone. She promptly punched in a number and began to grin when she heard a familiar voice answer.
"Cass? It's me." she told her best friend, "I'm home. Wanna go out to lunch, say around one?"
"Of course!" her best friend's enthusiastic voice filtered into her ear, "I can't wait to see you! We have so much to catch up on!"
"You, either." Kimber told her with a laugh, "See you then."
She hung up the phone and looked around her apartment. She had a small list of things to do before her lunch. No time like the present to get started on it.
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Kimber walked into the quaint café at promptly 12:50. As she made her way through the booths and tables she spotted her friend, Cassidy Desmond, sitting at a window booth. The young woman already had her nose buried in her menu, her fingers absently twisting her shoulder-length, ash colored curls.
"If you keep doing that, you're going to end up pulling your hair out." Kimber called out to the other woman.
Cassidy's head jerked up, brown eyes lighting up. Practically squealing, she jumped out of the booth and enveloped her best friend in a tight hug.
Laughing, Kimber returned the embrace. Oh how she had missed Cass.
"How are you?" Cassidy questioned as she pulled back and all but dragged the other woman over to the booth.
"I'm good." Kimber told her as they slid into their seats, "How are you? How is everything at the hospital?"
"Awesome!" Cassidy answered, "I love being around all of those babies! Ugh, they are so cute I just want to eat them up!"
Kimber laughed at her best friend's exuberant nature.
"So come on." Cassidy prompted her, "Talk to me. How is life on the road, Ms. Famous Television Star?"
"Hardly." Kimber giggled and shook her head, "Not even close. But it's good. I love being out there, seeing the country side. We're even going to Europe in a little over a month. I am so excited about that!"
"Ugh, and I am so jealous." Cassidy sighed wistfully.
She began to smile slyly, a mischievous light shining in her eyes, "So, tell me about all those gorgeous men! Correction. All of those tall, muscular, sweaty, gorgeous men."
Kimber's eyes widened and she began to giggle, "Cass!"
"Cass nothing." Cassidy ordered, "Start talking."
Kimber looked down at her menu, her cheeks reddening, "There's nothing to talk about. Really. I hang out with Josh mostly and it's. . .well, it's Josh."
"Josh is cute." Cassidy smirked, "For, ya know, being Josh."
She leaned back in her seat and regarded her friend closely as she asked nonchalantly, "And Sheamus? How is he?"
Kimber's eyes narrowed in what she hoped passed for confusion, "Why would you bring him up?"
"Don't do that." Cassidy pointed her finger at her, "Don't sit there and try to act all innocent. I know you too well. You and the Irishman. Talk."
"There's nothing to talk about." Kimber laughed, "Seriously."
"Liar." Cassidy murmured with an easy smile, "I saw the way he stood up for you with the Big Show. By the way, Big Show's a jerk."
"He was just being nice." Kimber shrugged and once again returned to the menu, "Honestly, there's nothing much to talk about. We've gotten to know one another over the past couple of weeks. I was a little leery of him at first. I thought he was someone he wasn't. But I was wrong and we've reached a sort of understanding.."
"And that's it?" Cassidy arched a delicate eyebrow.
"That's it." Kimber tried to assure her.
"I don't believe you." Cassidy shook her head, "I don't. I know you. You like him, I can tell."
Kimber remained silent.
"Come on!" Cassidy called out loudly, garnering attention from a few of the other customers, "He's gorgeous. He's got a body to die for. He's got this whole sex-god-warrior thing going on. Tell me you're not into that."
Kimber laughed at her and shook her head, "Calm down, Cass. You're going to cause yourself to spontaneously combust or something."
Cassidy let out a sigh, relenting, "Fine. Fine. Deny it all you want, that's fine. We both know the truth."
They looked at their menus for several seconds. As Kimber did so she bit her lip and glanced over at her friend hesitantly.
"There is one thing." she murmured at last.
"I knew it!" but the second she looked at her friend's serious face Cassidy's smile instantly vanished, "What is it, sweetie?'
"I don't know. Maybe it's nothing." Kimber pulled out the note and handed it to her, "Maybe I'm just overreacting."
Cassidy read it over a couple of times, her brows knit.
"It's nothing, right?" Kimber implored her friend, "Tell me it's nothing."
Cassidy looked up at her and shrugged, "It could very well be nothing. I mean whoever it was, they didn't write anything threatening. They just said they thought you were beautiful. It could just be a fan."
"But it wasn't signed, though." Kimber played devil's advocate, "Why wouldn't they sign it if it was just a simple fan letter?"
"Now don't jump to conclusions." Cassidy replied reasonably, "Maybe they forgot to sign it.
"Hey, it could happen." she went on when it looked like Kimber was going to protest, "Maybe they were too embarrassed to sign it. They could just be a very shy person. It's probably nothing to worry about."
"Maybe." Kimber murmured.
"Did they send it to your apartment?"
"No." Kimber shook her head, "No, they sent it to the WWE."
"Well there you go." Cassidy told her with a grin, "Nothing to worry about. Okay? Don't start jumping to conclusions unless you get another unsigned letter."
"Okay." Kimber sighed, offering the other woman a small smile, "Thanks for talking me down off the ledge."
"Eh, it's what I do." Cassidy gave her back the note with a grin.
She started to pick up her menu when she paused, thoughtful.
"Of course, if it is something serious," she looked over at Kimber and began to grin, "You could always hire Sheamus as a bodyguard."
Kimber stuck her tongue out at her and laughed.
"For the last time," she replied, "There is nothing going on between me and Sheamus. I don't even like him like that."
"Liar!" Cassidy sung out.
"I am not." Kimber shrugged and casually returned to her menu.
"Are too." Cassidy leaned forward and confided, "Whenever you're trying to hide your feels you get this blank expression on your face and you act like there's nothing going on."
Kimber laughed, "Maybe because there really is nothing going on."
"Nope, I don't buy it." Cassidy returned to her own menu, "You like him."
Kimber looked down at her menu. Okay, she was lying.
She slowly began to frown. Not that it mattered anyway. She wasn't going to do anything about it.
She couldn't. She was much too afraid to try and be romantically involved with him. With any man really.
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Sheamus' breathing was deep and even. He felt the muscles in his arms strain and burn, but he continued on. He kept pushing himself farther and farther. Never stopping. Never giving up.
Slowly he raised and lowered the barbell, his movements smooth and easy. He continued on for seventeen more reps before he finally slipped the bar back onto the stand and sat up.
He reached over and grabbed a towel, scrubbing it over his flushed and sweaty face. As he stood he collected his bottle of water, popping the cap and draining it of every last drop.
He could feel the adrenaline flowing through his veins, coursing through his body. It wouldn't be long. Just two more weeks and he'd have his match with Del Rio. He couldn't wait.
And that was just one step closer to Big Show.
He began to smile evilly as he made his way through his home gym and into his kitchen, tossing the empty bottle into the recycling bin.
He couldn't wait for the rematch with Show. The match they'd had at Hell in a Cell, despite the outcome, had been the favorite one of his career. He could honestly say he had gone toe-to-toe with a giant and gave it all he had.
He wanted to get his title back. He knew he could beat him, he just needed that one shot.
Sheamus walked over to the fridge and opened the door, looking for something to eat. His smile turned ravenous as he pulled out the ham he'd had for dinner the night before. As he began to make himself a sandwich his mind began to wander.
To her.
He paused, knife poised over the mayo, as he conjured up images of Kimber.
He couldn't get her out of his head no matter how hard he tried. No matter how much he told himself to stop.
What was it about her that affected him so deeply? Why was she so different from all the other women in his past?
She was beautiful. Probably the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. But it was more than that. She was driven and passionate about her job. Something he respected her highly for. But still there was more to it.
But what?
Maybe it was the fact that she didn't seem interested in him because of who he was or his status in the company. So many other women in the past had only been drawn to his star power and money. They had never taken the time to really get to know the man behind the Celtic Warrior status.
But Kimber was different. She seemed genuinely interested in him. She seemed to value what he had to say.
"Ugh." he groaned, dropped the knife into the jar, "Yer just foolin' yerself, fella. The girl is just tryin' to be nice to you."
He rubbed his hands over his face and leaned over the counter, elbows on the surface and chin in his hands.
After their talk at the café he had felt the change between them. The tension that used to come from her was gone. He was sure of it. She no longer looked at him in fear.
But what if all she felt for him was friendship? What then? Could he really only settle for that when he wanted more?
Ya don' have a choice, lad, if that's what she wants, he thought sadly.
He tried to tell himself that if the only way he could have her was as a friend then so be it. But the truth was he didn't want to be her friend. He wanted more. He wanted all of her.
He just didn't know if she did, or could, feel the same way.
"Enough!" he snapped, shaking the thoughts away as he righted himself, "Ya got yer match with Del Rio to deal with. Think about that and forget the girl."
If only it were that easy, though.
He finished making his sandwich and, slapping it onto a plate, he took it into the living room. He grabbed his remote and turned on the television, cueing up his match last month with the Big Show. The fellas backstage were nice enough to put it on a DVD for him to review and study.
The Irishman took a monstrous bite as he watched the match unfold before him. It was the real life telling of the unstoppable force vs. the immovable object.
It eventually came to the last five or six minutes of the match.
He watched himself as he picked the Big Show up, setting him up for White Noise. He could still remember the strain he felt at lifting that mountain of a man. But he had done it. He had pushed down the fatigue and the effort and he had done it. The truth was, he hadn't even thought about it. It was just instinctual. Primal as he was fighting for his life.
And then Show had kicked out. Sheamus couldn't help but grin at that. He respected the fact that the man was able to fight through that and come back.
He had then gone for the Brogue Kick. But he had been too slow, wasted too much time. He could see that now.
No wonder Show had managed to stop him and deliver his knockout punch.
He absently rubbed at his jaw. Even though it had been a month ago sometimes he thought he could still feel those big meaty knuckles of his slamming into his jaw.
And like a sack of potatoes he had hit the canvas.
He could still hear the sounds of the ref's hand slapping against the mat. One! Two!
And somehow, from deep inside, he had managed to find the strength to kick out. It was just the warrior burning deep inside him, he supposed. That part of him that wouldn't let him give up. The part that had to fight.
He had struggled to his feet. Oh, he'd had to use the aid of the ropes, but he had done it. Show had come at him, so sure he was going to knock him out with another of those deadly punched. But he had found his bearings and managed to Brogue Kick him.
Sheamus watched himself as he pinned the Big Show. He could still remember what he had been feeling in that moment. So sure. So confident. So proud of himself that he had managed to take the best the Show had thrown at him and still come back to win.
But Show had kicked out.
He remembered the frustration, the anger, he had felt when Show had kicked out. He had let it distract him, make him sloppy.
He watched as he lined up the larger man and take off for the kick. He watched as Show had waited till just the right second before he had leveled him with another knockout punch.
A few weeks ago that would have made him smile. But not now. Not after what the bastard had done to his good friend, William Regal. No, now when Sheamus saw it he could only feel rage.
His eyes narrowed as he watched the Big Show cover him for the win.
The Celtic Warrior seized the remote and hit pause, Show's large, sweaty, grinning face filling his big screen television.
Sheamus set the plate on the coffee table, the Irishman no longer hungry. He could only stare at the picture of the Big Show with wild, angry eyes.
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Kimber emerged from her bedroom about ten o'clock that next morning. It felt so good to sleep in for a change.
Stretching, the young woman made her way into the kitchen. She began to smile as her nose picked of the fine aroma of freshly brewing coffee.
"Ahhh." she sighed happily, reaching across the counter to get her mug.
She had just finished pouring herself a cup when her land line began to ring.
Groaning at the thought that her morning coffee would have to wait, Kimber walked over to the phone and picked it up.
"Hello?" she answered, her eyes locked on her steaming mug.
"Kimber? It's Stephanie." the boss' daughter's voice rang in her ears.
"Ms. McMahon, good morning." Kimber greeted the other woman.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you at home but I have an assignment for you for when you get back."
"That's no problem." the coffee was instantly forgotten in the wake of her news, "What sort of assignment?"
"I would love for you to do a new series for our WWEFanNation YouTube channel." Stephanie explained, "Sort of like Outside the Ring. Basically it'll be a week's worth of interviews and behind the scenes goings-on with a different Superstar every week."
"Sounds great." Kimber replied, instantly interested, "Whom do you want me to start with?"
"I'm glad you're so on board with it." Stephanie laughed good-naturedly, "Actually, we'd love for you to start with John Cena. You can meet up with him Monday morning and follow him around. Capture his day-to-day schedule and interview him."
"Sounds good." Kimber replied, "I'll start doing some research and see him first thing Monday."
"Great. And, Kimber, good luck. I honestly think you're going to do great with this."
"Thank you." Kimber replied sincerely, touched by the other woman's vote of confidence, "And thank you for giving the assignment to me."
"Well we've all been so happy with your work. I'll talk to you later."
"Thanks again. Goodbye."
Kimber hung up the phone and sighed happily. Things were really starting to come together for her. She just couldn't believe it.
Her mind began to race as she started to think about what she would ask John. She grabbed her mug and went into the living room, retrieving her lap top. She sat the coffee on the end table and got comfortable on the couch, starting up the computer.
It wasn't long before her fingers were flying over the keys, the eager reporter doing research on one of the WWE's biggest stars. She read about his dedicated charity work with the Make a Wish foundation. She wrote down a few questions about it, the young reporter really wanted to talk to him about that.
She also read about his love of cars and his extensive collection. That was definitely something that would be interesting to film.
It wasn't long until she found herself on YouTube, checking some of his matches. Well, those that the WWE hadn't had taken down yet.
While doing so her eyes kept traveling to the right of the screen, where the other suggested videos were located. She noticed a few of them were of Sheamus and his matches.
She tapped her fingers against the couch cushion, thoughtfully. She really should get back to her research on John. After all, she did have to start interviewing him Monday. She needed to be as prepared as possible.
But she couldn't help the curiosity that bubbled up inside of her. It wasn't that she hadn't watched one of his matches before. She had watched quite a few. But when she had looked at them it had been through the detached eyes of a reporter. Not the eyes of someone who knew the man. Who was starting to think of him as a friend and. . .
And she really wasn't sure she should finish that thought.
Unable to keep her curiosity at bay any longer, she clicked on one of his bouts. It was a title match against Dolph Ziggler from this year's No Way Out.
She settled back against the couch cushions, her eyes locked on the screen. An involuntary smile found it's way to her lips as she watched Sheamus make his way through the curtain and head down the ramp. She had to admit, he looked very good in his red tights.
"Ugh, stop it." she chastised herself, "You're not watching this to ogle the man."
Although. . .
At that moment Dolph's music hit, bring her out of her thoughts. Seconds later the bleach blonde Superstar and Vickie appeared.
She couldn't get over the arrogance of the man. And she didn't quite understand what he saw in the shrewish older woman. She had to remember to ask him if he was a fan of The Graduate the next time she interviewed him.
It wasn't long until the bell sounded and the match began.
Ziggler called Vickie up onto the apron. They exchanged words and he had her plant a kiss on his cheek, something she looked quite happy doing.
The arrogant wrestler then turned around and ducked out of the way seconds before Sheamus could land the Brogue Kick.
Ziggler rolled out of the ring and it was clear that his confidence had taken a hit.
He climbed back into the ring, the two men having words before Ziggler began to complain to the ref. He suddenly turned, meaning to attack Sheamus, but stopped short and fell onto his behind when he realized the Celtic Warrior was waiting for him. He once again slipped out the ring, the sounds of fans booing accompanying him.
He got back into the ring and, at last, the action began.
The more Kimber watched the back and forth action the more into it she got. During one point in the match Sheamus was on his knees in the corner. Dolph continued to ply him with blow after blow after kick.
Kimber found herself cringing, unable to watch the vicious attack.
She finally peeked back at the screen and let out a cheer as Sheamus managed to get the upper hand.
"Oh!" Kimber cried out, her hands flying to her mouth as she watched Dolph grab Sheamus and slam him into the ring post. He landed on the floor, clutching at his shoulder.
"Come on, Sheamus." she murmured, eyes locked on the fallen man, "Come on."
Ziggler rolled Sheamus back in to the ring. As the Celtic Warrior rose on unsteady legs Dolph jumped up, arm around the back of his neck, and drilled his head into the canvas with a cruel DDT.
Kimber flinched, the young woman instantly feeling sick over the brutal hit.
Ziggler rolled onto the fallen man and the ref began to count. One! Two!
"Yes!" Kimber cried out, arms raised in the air, as Sheamus kicked out.
What followed was a long series of back and forth.
Soon Sheamus had Dolph up for White Noise. Unfortunately the bleach blonde wrestler hammered the other man with a series of elbows to the face. Sheamus had no choice but to let him go.
Dolph landed in the corner and Sheamus turned, ready to drive his shoulder into him. Dolph ducked out of the way at the last second and Sheamus' shoulder hit the ring post with unrelenting force.
"Oh no." Kimber breathed, aghast.
As the Irishman staggered away Dolph came up and jumped, the back of his leg slamming to the back of Sheamus' neck.
He hit the mat and Ziggler was quickly on him for the pin. One! Two! And Sheamus kicked out once again.
Kimber couldn't cheer. She couldn't even find her voice. Hands covering her mouth, she found she could only watch with baited breath.
There was another short back and forth and both men ended up on the top rope. Ziggler grabbed a hold of Sheamus and jumped, causing the red headed warrior to slam face first onto the canvas. He went for another cover and was, again, thwarted.
Both men staggered to their feet and Dolph dove at Sheamus. But Sheamus was able to catch him and lift him up into the air before driving him down onto his knee for the Irish Curse.
"Come on, Sheamus!" Kimber found herself practically screaming at the computer screen, "Come on, pin him! You can do it!"
She let out a gasp as the camera went close up on his face. She could see blood slashed across the bridge of his nose. Distress instantly welled up inside her chest.
Sheamus cross the ring to get to Dolph, who was on the apron outside. The Irishman dragged him to his feet and bent him back over the ropes. He began to pound the man's chest with blow after blow, the crowd counting along.
Kimber flinched at the shots and felt a fleeting stab of sympathy for Dolph. But to her surprise she didn't feel any animosity towards Sheamus. Maybe it was because he didn't continue with the rough treatment and got back to trying to win the match.
There was a quick back and forth and Dolph once again launched himself at Sheamus. The Celtic Warrior grabbed him, throwing him across his back and delivering White Noise.
Kimber actually began to smile as the Irishman went to the corner and began to pound his chest, calling for the Brogue Kick. And when he hit it she felt a rush of excitement.
He pinned the bleach blonde and Kimber began to eagerly count along with the ref, "One! Two! Three!"
The bell sounded and she leaned back against the back of the couch with a sigh, emotionally spent.
Her eyes stayed locked on him, taking him it. He was flushed, breathing heavily, hair mussed and sweating. But his grin was electrifying and it, in turn, caused her to smile.
The video ended and she sat the laptop on the coffee table.
As she settled back against the cushions she wrapped her arms around her middle, the young woman deep in thought.
He was a brawler, yes. That couldn't be denied. But when the match was over he was done. He was able to turn that part of himself off when there was no longer a need for it.
That thought gave her comfort.
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Kimber went into the hotel bright and early that Monday morning. She had talked to John on the phone and he had invited her to meet him in the dining room for breakfast. She had promptly jumped at the chance, anxious to get started on the interviews.
Joel was walking quickly beside her, the tall man almost struggling to keep up with her pace while juggling his camera.
"Why do you have to walk so fast?" he questioned, but did so with a grin.
"It comes with being short." the 5'3" SmackDown reporter told him with a smirk, "You learn to try and keep up with the bigger kids."
"Well I am a bigger kid," Joel huffed, "And I'm struggling right now."
Kimber reluctantly slowed her pace, looking sheepishly over her shoulder, "Sorry."
"It's all right." the cameraman assured her, chuckling, "Just remind me to stay out of your way the next time you get a tip on a big story."
Kimber giggled and made her way into the dinning hall. She could see John seated by the big picture window, his ballcap pull low on his head and his nose buried in his menu.
"John?" she called out to him as she approached.
He looked up and promptly stood, extending his hand, "Kimber, hi. Good to see you."
"Good to see you, too." Kimber shook his hand, offering him a warm smile.
He motioned for her to sit down. As soon as she slid into the chair across from him he took a seat and handed her another menu.
"This is kind of weird." he said as he glanced over at Joel, watching the other man set up his camera, "I'm not used to being filmed while I eat."
"If you'd like to wait until afterwards. . ."
"No, no, it's cool." John joked with her, "Might as well show everything, including my lousy table manners."
Kimber laughed at the charming Superstar.
"I'm ready whenever you are." Joel told her as he raised the camera and adjusted the viewer.
"Okay, thanks." Kimber turned back to John and smiled, "John, why don't we start from the beginning. Have you always been a fan of the WWE?"
John began to grin, his eyes clouding over, "Yeah. Yeah, since I was a little kid. I, uh, I even made my own WWE championship belt. I used to wear that thing around the house all the time. . ."
After their breakfast together they hit the hotel's gym.
Joel filmed John as he went through his workout routine and Kimber would ask him questions about it.
It soon came time to take a break. As Joel checked the camera John bought himself and Kimber a drink and the pair took a seat and chitchatted.
"So after this you have a radio interview, a television interview and a Make a Wish." Kimber shook her head in wonder, "And all before the show tonight. Wow."
John shrugged good-naturedly, "Hey, it's all a part of the job."
"True." Kimber nodded thoughtfully before she began to smile, "So who is the child you're meeting with today?"
"Oh!" John's eyes lit up, the big wrestler suddenly very excited, "She's a great kid. Her name's Chelsea and she's seven. They're coming to the show tonight and I'm also gonna surprise them with tickets to Survivor Series."
"Aww, I bet she'll be so excited." Kimber gushed.
She grew serious and asked gently, "What's wrong with her?"
"Leukemia." John's own smile faded away, "But she's a tough kid. She's always telling her mom, 'I have cancer, cancer doesn't have me.'"
"She sounds like a very strong little girl." Kimber murmured thoughtfully.
"Ya know, that's one of the things that always amazes me about these kids." John shook his head in wonder, "I mean, I always thought I was pretty tough. But I'm a wimp compared to what they have to go through every day. And they don't even complain."
Kimber put her hand on his arm and smiled, "I wouldn't call you a wimp."
"Well thank you." John grinned down at her.
Sheamus entered the gym at that moment. He started to make his way over to the weights when he paused, a frown coming to his lips.
Kimber was standing a few feet away, her hand on Cena's arm. They were grinning and talking to one another. In fact, they looked pretty close. Cena said something and Kimber's laugh, that deep belly laugh that Sheamus usually found so infectious, flittered over the room. She removed her hand and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
He felt acid begin to churn in his gut at the sight of them. He could feel it burning and slowly rising up to his chest. He had to close his eyes for a moment and count to twenty.
It was none of his business why she was there with Cena. He had no claim on her, despite what he was feeling.
He forced the jealous down and turned away, getting back to the reason why he was there in the first place.
He stormed over to a barbell and put on a considerable amount of weight. He prepared himself and then, hands locked around the steel bar, he began to lift.
He could still feel the anger but he kept hold of it. He let it drive him, used it to push himself.
He had been lifting for about twenty minutes when John suddenly stepped into his line of vision.
"Wow." Cena whistled at the substantial weight in his hands, "Getting ready for your rematch with Big Show early?"
"Hmm." Sheamus muttered low in his throat as he continued to raise and lower the bar.
He did a few more reps before dropped the bar with a 'thud'. He took a step back and snatched his bottle of water, uncapping it and chugging it until it was gone.
John glanced over at Kimber, who was talking to Joel.
He turned back to Sheamus and nodded in her direction, "So have you heard about Stephanie's new brainchild? I think the name their tossing around is called One Week With. . . Kimber's supposed to spend a week with a different Superstar, interviewing them and filming their day-to-day activities."
"Sounds interestin'." Sheamus murmured offhandedly as he grabbed his towel and wiped his sweaty face.
Inside though he felt a little relieved. At least he knew that she was there with him because of a show. Of course it didn't stop the envy he felt at seeing the two look so friendly.
"She's definitely a lot cuter than Josh Mathews. A step up." John teased, grinning at the other man, "But not a ditz, ya know? She's been asking me a lot of tough questions."
"Good for ya." Sheamus practically growled as he seized the weight and began lifting again.
John paused, taking in his reaction. His grin slowly turned mischievous.
"Yeah, she's pretty all right" he sighed, nonchalant, "I was thinking of asking her out to dinner tonight after the show."
Sheamus yanked the bar up to his chest, his eyes narrowing. He lowered it and promptly raised it again. Though his breathing was deep and even there seemed to be a slight. . .rumble deep in his chest each time he did a rep. Almost like a muffled growl.
"I can't do it anymore." John shook his head and started to laugh, "I'm just playing with you, fella. Look, I'm not interested in her, okay?"
"It doesn' matter to me if ya are or not." Sheamus muttered as he continued to work out.
"Yeah, sure." John nodded with a smirk, "That's why you look like you're about ready to throw that barbell across the room just before you rip my head off."
He began to smile, "You don't have to be jealous-"
"Ah'm not jealous." the Celtic Warrior snarled.
"Okay." John took a step back and raised his arms in surrender, "Anyway, I just wanted you to know."
At that moment his cell phone began to ring. Sheamus paused in mid rep, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the ringtone. He knew that theme song.
John looked down at the phone before turning back to the Irishman with a grin, "Besides, there's someone else I've got my eye on."
Sheamus sighed, eyes locking with the other man's, "Sorry about that, fella. Ah shouldn'a bit yer head off like that."
"No problem." John smiled before turning away and answering the phone, "Hey, AJ. How are you?"
Sheamus went back to his weights. He raised the bar but slowly began to lower it as he noticed Kimber approaching.
Her eyes were locked on the massive amount of weight, her expression equal parts impressed and concerned
"Mornin', lass." Sheamus called out as he raised the bar again.
"Hi." her eyes slowly traveled up to meet his, "That's an awful lot of weight."
"Don' worry, Kember." Sheamus grinned over at her, "Ah can handle it just fine."
"So how was your time off?" the SmackDown reporter asked as she took a seat on the floor in front of him.
"Good, thanks." Sheamus nodded, "It felt good to sleep in my own bed for a change."
"Oh, I agree." Kimber sighed wistfully, "As much as I love being out on the road, it doesn't beat being back in my own home."
"The road's not always so bad." Sheamus stated as he set the weight on the ground, "Especially when you have good people wit' you."
Their gazes locked and held for several seconds. Kimber was the first to break contact as she looked away. Sheamus felt himself grin as he saw her cheeks redden and a slight smile touch her lips.
"Well, I-I should be going." Kimber explained, "Work never ends, you know."
She started to get up when she found a hand in front of her face. She looked up to see a grinned Sheamus before her. She glanced down at the hand for a moment before taking hold of it.
She tried to ignore the rush of sensation that coursed through her arm as she allowed him to help her stand. When she was back on her feet she slowly removed her hand and took a step back.
"Um, well, I guess I'll let you get back to your work out." she replied, "Oh, are you going to be at Raw tonight?"
"Wouldn' miss it for the world." Sheamus murmured, his gaze never leaving her face.
"Oh. Well. . ." Kimber ducked her head as she felt her cheeks heat up, "I guess I'll see you there."
And with that she turned and began to walk away.
"Kember?"
She paused and turned back to him expectantly.
"Have a good day." he told her with an easy smile.
She began to grin, "You, too, Sheamus."
He watched as she walked across the gym and once again met up with John. The wrestler said something to her and she giggled, shaking her head. John motioned towards the door and they headed out.
Sheamus watched after them but this time he didn't feel jealousy. Only a wistfulness at not being the man with her.
.
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After a very long, but interesting, day it was finally time for Raw.
Kimber and John sat at Catering that night at the arena, discussing how his recent Make a Wish went.
"Oh, Chelsea was so sweet!" Kimber gushed as she speared a cherry tomato with her fork, "And her face when you told her she was going to Survivor Series! I've never seen a little girl look so happy before."
John chuckled and took a drink from his bottle of water, "She's a great kid. Hey, remind me to grab a bunch of shirts and posters and pictures for her and her family before I meet up with them tonight after the show."
Kimber shook her head, touched, "You are so amazing."
"Yeah, isn't he?"
The pair turned and discovered AJ Lee standing behind them. She kept looking back and forth between the pair, her brown eyes uncertain.
At the sight of her John quickly stood, offering her his seat, "Hey, AJ. Why don't you join us. I'll just go grab another chair."
The female wrestler sat down and watched as John crossed the room to get an empty chair. He ran into Kofi and Zack Ryder and the three of them began to talk.
AJ slowly turned back to Kimber, a tiny smile on her lips. Kimber was a little nervous, having heard how unstable the young woman could be. And it was clear to anyone with eyes that she wasn't happy at seeing Kimber with John.
"It's good to finally meet you." Kimber jumped right in, wanting to start off on the right foot, "It's funny, here we travel with one another for months at a time but we never really get a chance to get to know one another."
"Yeah. Funny." AJ agreed, trying to appear nonchalant but not quite pulling it off, "So you and John seemed to be getting to know one another."
"We have been, yes." Kimber thought honesty was the best way to go, "I'm working on a new show for the YouTube channel. I'm supposed to spend a week with a different Superstar; film their day-to-day lives and get to know them. A way to show the fans another side to the wrestlers.
"John's my first victim." she teased.
AJ didn't share her grin though and Kimber glanced down at the table, nervously clearing her throat.
"He really is an amazing guy." she went on, "We were just talking about his latest Make a Wish. The sweetest little girl you would ever meet named Chelsea. He has done so much for her and her family today. I. . .I'm really impressed by his selflessness."
That seemed to crack the Diva's shell and she began to smile gently, her eyes softening, "Yeah, fulfilling those wishes really mean a lot to him."
"You do, too, you know." Kimber confided as she leaned in closely.
"I do?" AJ looked like she wasn't sure if she could, or should, believe her.
"Mmm-hmm." Kimber's voice dropped as she began to smile, "When he saw you had called him early today his face just lit up."
"It did?" AJ was hesitant.
"Yes!" Kimber grinned, "And did you see how he jumped at the change to have you join us? Face it, the man clearly adores you."
"You're just saying that." AJ ducked her head and blushed, an embarrassed smile flittering across her features.
"No." Kimber shook her head, "No, I'm serious. I can see he really cares about you. And I think you really care about him."
"We're just friends." AJ shrugged it off.
"Maybe." Kimber caught her eyes and grinned, "But that doesn't mean something more couldn't happen."
"Why are you being so nice to me?" the Diva asked her, confused.
"Because I don't want you to get the wrong idea about me." Kimber replied truthfully, "And, ya know, I don't want you to body slam me through this table or anything."
AJ threw back her head and laughed. It caused Kimber to giggle, as well.
"I'm really sorry." AJ apologized, "I jumped to the wrong conclusions about you."
"Forget about it." Kimber waved it off like it was nothing, "I already have."
"Thanks." AJ smiled warmly at her, the Diva appreciative.
At that moment the sounds of shouting and crashing could be heard. The two women jumped to their feet and followed the other wrestlers as they raced down the hall.
"Oh!" Zack Ryder let out a whoop, "Damn, that had to hurt, bro!"
Kimber and AJ pushed their way to the front of the crowd, coming to stand by John.
"Sheamus!" Kimber cried out in alarm, garnering a confused glance from AJ.
Sheamus and Alberto were trading blows back and forth. Sheamus managed to shove the other wrestler back into a set of trunks. Ricardo used that opportunity to jump into the large Irishman's back. Sheamus easily flipped him over his shoulder, though, and he glared heatedly at the two men, his chest heaving.
"Excuse me! Excuse me!" Vickie's shrill voice suddenly filled the hallway.
At the sound of it the wrestlers began to scatter. Soon Sheamus, Kimber, John, AJ, and the slowly rising Alberto and Ricardo remained.
"Since you three can't see to keep your hands off one another," Vickie announced as she glowered up at Sheamus, "I think I found the perfect solution. Sheamus, you're going to face Alberto and Ricardo in a two-on-one match. And it's coming up next."
The Mexican aristocrat and his personal ring announcer grinned like a couple of Cheshire cats and walked off to get ready.
Vickie sent Sheamus a parting, cold smirk and started to walk away.
"This is unbelievable!" Kimber couldn't help but complain, "How can she be so grossly unfair?"
"Excuse me!"
The four turned to find Vickie watching them coldly.
Her eyes landed on Kimber and she began to smile sweetly, "You know what, Kimberlynn, you're absolutely right. I am being unfair."
Sheamus' eyes constricted. What did the old witch have up her sleeve now?
"A two-on-one match just isn't right." Vickie stated as she approached them, her eyes darting to Sheamus, "I think Sheamus should have a tag team partner."
John and AJ exchanged uneasy looks. They didn't like where this was going.
"In fact, Sheamus will have a tag team partner tonight." Vickie announced, a devious light shinning in her eyes as she turned back to Kimber, "You."
Kimber looked at the older woman in stunned silence.