After all the tribulations that had passed over the weekend, Aidan was not looking forward to returning to work Tuesday night. Her argument with Punk and the drunken night out that followed seemed to be hot topics floating through the WWE rumor mills. She could feel the questions burning within them when she entered the Diva's dressing room that night. Thankfully, no one seemed brave enough to ask her about what had actually happened. They all greeted her with sheepish smiles and tentative glances her direction as if they were even more embarassed about the situation than she was.

Things with Punk were still somewhat strained and uncomfortable. Despite his insistence that "everything will be fine", she still felt doubtful. He seemed overly calm and aloof, behavior that was not typical of him. Even so, all of this was hard to focus on with the growing thorn in her side that was AJ Lee. Since her talk with Drake, she'd been fighting the urge to hunt AJ down and ask her why exactly she'd taken it upon herself to try and ruin her relationship with Punk. It was unsettling that this person she barely knew had placed herself directly in the middle of her private life.

Even more unsettling was the fact that she hadn't seen or heard from Dean since the argument he'd had with Punk. An image of his expression that morning-one filled with great anger and sadness-stayed with her and haunted her. She wanted so much just to talk to him, to thank him for being there for her at a major low point in her life. She supposed she wouldn't have to wait much longer to tell him all of this. NXT would be filming that night and Dean was one of three contestants left. She smiled a little thinking how far they'd come when she was convinced in the beginning that they wouldn't make it outside of the first week. The reality that he could win the competition was a real one now.

Time marched on and before long it was time for the show to start. She was pacing around backstage behind the curtain. There hadn't been any sign of Dean. As time ticked away, she began worrying that she may have to go hunt him down yet again. However, as the director was ushering her out to the stage along with the other pros, she glimpsed him take his place alongside the other rookies. He seemed unaware of her existence, staring straight forward at the stone wall before him.

The show started off with a match between Derrick Bateman and Johnny Curtis. Aidan found herself distracted as she sat up on the stage between the two remaining pros, Daniel and R-Truth. Strangely, she had the feeling someone was looking over her shoulder. She kept glancing back at the empty stage behind her.

"Are you okay?"

Daniel had whispered the question to her, a glint of concern in his eyes.

"I'm fine," she said with a forced smile.

The match seemed to stretch on forever. She feigned interest in the two rookies battling it out for their spot on the roster. Neither one seemed willing to relent. Despite her efforts, she found her attention drifted elsewhere out into the sea of people. The crowd seemed genuinely interested in the match that was unfolding before them. From her seat on the stage, they were like an indistinguishable patchwork of bodies and faces. All of a sudden, it seemed like they were all looking her direction. They burst into a roar of excitement. Aidan looked behind her to see Dean running down the ramp and sliding into the ring. The two other rookies were just as shocked as everyone else when he proceeded to beat on both of them unprovoked.

The referee had long since rung the bell but he continued on and on. Aidan watched in disbelief as three more officials jumped into the ring to pull Dean off of the defenseless victims of his attack. She hurried absentmindedly down the ramp and slid under the bottom rope, joining in on the fray. As soon as she stepped foot inside the ring he became motionless. He held his hands up and the officials backed off, each tending to the downed opponents.

"What are you doing?" she mouthed to him silently.

Dean gazed at her, a strange look in his eye. It was similar to that look he'd given her the morning she last saw him.

He motioned for a microphone and one was quickly handed to him. He stood there for a moment, his eyes never leaving her. When at last he spoke, his voice was low and terrifying.

"Pardon the interruption, but I have an announcement to make."

She watched on, unable to speak-hardly able to breathe.

"What you've just witnessed is the end of Dean Ambrose's reign here. My time on NXT is over."

With that, he unceremoniously dumped the microphone onto the mat and climbed out of the ring. Aidan stared after him in shock. That was not part of the program. The audience was mumbling in confusion. She glanced at the announcer's table where a quiet panic had set in. By the time reality caught up to her, he was already at the top of the ramp, heading backstage. She slid out of the ring and ran after him.

He was walking so fast she'd almost lost track of him. He was making his way through the winding backstage area, oblivious to all that stared in wonder.

"Dean!" she called after him, but he didn't stop, nor did he acknowledge her.

She had to break into a sprint to close the gap between them. He was walking out the exit door when she finally caught up. She grabbed his arm and he went stone still. She drew her hand back in surprise. He went on standing there not saying a word. Softly and hesitantly, she spoke.

"Will you look at me?"

He stood there a few moments longer before he answered.

"Don't try to stop me, Aidan. It's over."

"What do you mean 'it's over'? Why did you do that?"

"I did what I had to do."

Aidan shook her head.

"I don't understand."

He finally turned to look at her. His flat blue eyes were filled with regret.

"One day you will."

He started off again out the door and into the parking lot. She followed after him pitifully like a lost child.

"Where are you going?"

"Home."

"You can't do this. You can't just leave without telling me why."

He kept on walking, ignoring her pleas.

"Please don't go!"

He stopped once more and turned to face her. He stared at her for a long time. He seemed at war with himself over something. He reached a hand up to touch her face but stopped himself.

"It's best you forget about me. Whatever happened in the past is over now. You're better off not knowing me."

"How can you say that? You saved me."

"I didn't save you. I guided you down the path to destruction."

"What are you talking about? You were there for me when no one else was. You took care of me when I couldn't even take care of myself. If anything, I owe you."

"You don't owe me anything. I failed you."

"How could you think that?"

"Whatever. It doesn't matter."

She stared at him in disbelief.

"Why are you acting like this? Did Punk say something to you?"

He scoffed in disgust.

"I don't care what that mother fucker says. In fact, I hope you enjoy your life with him! The best of luck to the both of you."

She winced in pain at that harsh statement he'd left her with. This time as he walked away she didn't try to stop him. She watched him go with a pain in her heart and she felt that a piece of it went with him.