2
There was no television for her to watch the show. Dottie didn't really like using her cell phone, only for calling Cait if something happened, which usually did.
She would have to go out into the hall, alone, and head to the area that was reserved as catering. Mostly it was the hang out area for superstars, a place Cait always rolled her eyes at if she mentioned it. Rami had showed her on his phone Fergal's loss at the pay-per-view, she would have to go watch the show on television in the catering room.
Dottie poked her head out the door. She hated the lights. She blinked under their glares as she watched Cait walk towards the catering area. Even from where she stood she could hear the roar of the crowd and it made her skin crawl. There was no work to be done and since she was the only one in the costume department, Dottie took a deep breath and walked out of the room.
Her need, her obsession to watch Fergal perform sort of overrode the fear of leaving the locker room. Hugging the wall, letting her fingers run over the individual bricks, Dottie walked down the hall, her eyes focused on where Cait was going.
"There you are, babe." Nick Nemeth called out.
Cait shook her head. "What do you want, Nemeth?"
"I heard that you got a babysitter for that sister of yours. Maybe we could…" he started, his body coming closer to hers. "You know, have our own night tonight?"
Drew had been standing nearby. "Hey, Nemeth, that's no way to talk to her."
"Yeah, Nemeth, that's no way to talk to me." Cait moved away from him.
Dottie looked around the area, her shoulder pressed into the wall for support. There was a television on the far side, which was showing the match she was looking for. Finn, Braun Strowman, Kevin Owens and Baron Corbin were out there performing.
"Dot?" She jumped at the voice to her left. "Hey, what are you doing out here?" Colby asked.
He was shirtless, still in his ring pants. Behind him was Joe Anoa'i, or Roman Reigns, but he was talking on his phone.
"I, I wanted to see Fergal's match. Where's the belt you have?" She asked looking at his shoulder.
"Oh, I had to drop it to Ziggler. Cocky asshole has been beaming about it."
She hadn't seen it with Nick Nemeth when he was talking that way with her sister. Biting at her lip, Dottie looked around for Cait, who was talking to Pam, or Bailey. The television in the corner drew Dottie's attention again.
"Want to get a better look at the match?" Colby asked.
"Sure."
"Follow me."
Dottie thought they were just going to walk up to the television, she hadn't expected to walk across the room and to the area where a curtain was located.
"We're behind the stage." Colby said. "You're doing good."
Her hands were shaking and she was looking around. The crowd was louder as something happened out in the ring. A little further away, down a far side, Colby pointed. Dottie's mouth fell open. She could see the announcer table where the three men were located next to the stage. She could see passed them at the ring.
Braun lifted Finn over his head and threw him out onto the floor, on top of his opponents. The crowd yelled loud, super sonic loud and Dottie threw her hands over her ears, turning away from everything. She could still feel the surging pulse of the crowd in her chest and she wasn't even anywhere near them.
Colby's hands grasped her arms and pushed her back the way they came. The roar dimmed somewhat as they returned behind the main stage and headed back to the catering area.
"I'm really sorry, Dot. I didn't think it would be that bad." She sat and rocked.
"What the hell happened? Dottie, what are you doing here?" Cait jogged up to the table Colby had her sitting at.
"I took her to the side stage to see the action. I didn't think it would freak her out." Colby said.
She rocked, taking short and rapid breaths. Dottie was staring at the television, the only thing that she could focus on was the man she had wanted to see perform. But how could she if she freaked out.
"Sounds freak her out, loud sounds. She was kept in a room of twenty people, God." Her sister sat down next to her. "Dottie, sisser, please don't melt down."
She hadn't had one, not in a while. She did when she first started working with Cait because the change was so drastic. Instead of a meltdown, she shut down. Her rocking soothed her, her eyes focusing on the one thing that seemed to calm her down. Though the twisting of her fingers did bring some comfort.
"Cait, I'm really sorry." Colby said. "I thought she would like it. I mean, she left the lockerroom."
"I know, I have a feeling why." Cait sighed. "We'll wait for Fergal here."
"Did you want us to wait with you?" Joe asked.
"No, you guys have to get out of here when the show is over. I'll just stay here and make sure Dot is okay."
On the television, Finn's smile was nice. But her chest ached when Baron pushed him off the top rope and got the cover for the pinfall. A slight sob escaped her mouth. Again, why again? Can't they do anything that won't make him lose a match? Her lips trembled and her breathing picked up as Baron Corbin and Kevin Owens got the win over Finn and Braun Strowman.
Thinking of all his losses, thinking of all the times he had to lose and not make it in the WWE hurt Dottie in the chest. It stabbed at her, the tears gathering in a heated puddle at the edges of her eyes as her vision blurred.
"What happened?" Fergal's voice asked a little while later. "Dottie, are you okay?"
She stared at him. He was sweating from his match, his hands resting at his sides but his face wasn't smiling. She liked his smile a lot but it hurt her when he lost his match again.
"Sensory overload. Colby took her to the side stage during your match." Cait said. "And I think she knows you lost said match."
"Oh, Dot. I told you, it's not the end of the world." He pulled the metal chair up to her. "Come on, Dottie, you know it's entertainment. I don't care if I lose a match. I make people happy."
His hand rested on her knee. His hands weren't overly big, not like Drew McIntyre's. Drew's hand engulfed hers when he greeted her the first time. Fergal's hand was just right for him.
"I make you happy." Fergal added that.
Her eyes lifted. Though her breathing had eased off some, she didn't know what to say. There were words but the function to say them weren't working. Instead, the rocking back and forth eased some of the tension that was building in her body.
"Is the baby crying again?" Nick Nemeth asked.
"Shut the fuck up." Colby seethed as he and the others turned to look at the man.
"Hey, you broke her." The new IC champion said. "And really, why bring something broken on the road?"
"What the hell is going on?" Kurt Angle asked as he approached.
"Sorry, sir, we're having a little issue." Cait said standing up. "Come on, Dottie, let's get you back to the locker room."
"The adult baby is having a problem. You know the same thing every day." Nick said.
Fergal took her hand in his. "Come on, Dottie. I'll take you back with Cait."
"I find it funny you actually want something to do with a retard." The word made everyone in the room stop, even Dottie.
Her reaction was to hide, and the only thing close enough was Fergal. Body sweat and all, it didn't bother her as she looked for the comfort in her obsession. She pressed her body to him and squeezed her eyes closed.
"You fucking asshole!" Cait yelled.
"Nemeth, the hell is your problem?" Mr. Angle yelled. Dottie covered her ears, pressing her face into Fergal's shoulder so she wouldn't have to see or hear what was going on.
Fergal wrapped his arms around her and began moving. He took her away from the drama of what Nick Nemeth had started. Even if she had her hands over her ears, her eyes saw everything in front of her as he moved her through the catering area.
"Sit, Dottie." Fergal instructed, pulling out one of the chairs in the costume department room.
She sat down, hands shaking and her upper half still rocking. Dottie watched Fergal, him turning to Cait as she walked in with Colby in tow.
"What's going to happen now?" Colby asked.
"I think it's best to change plans," Fergal said. "Just a little. Can I travel with you and Dot, Cait?"
"Why?"
"I don't want to see her like this, I don't want to leave her like this." He motioned to Dottie. "Can I travel with you two to SmackDown Live?"
"If you're not busy tomorrow, sure. But we're leaving tonight after the show. We'll get something to eat on the way out."
"Great." Fergal sighed as he ran his hands over his face.
"Cait, I'm really sorry about all of this. I really am." Colby said. "I didn't think it would mess her up so badly."
"I know, you were just trying to help her Colby." Cait looked at him.
Dottie saw the weird way Cait pushed her hair behind her ear. The way her eyes darted around Colby when she turned to look at him. It didn't make any sense, but it was the same way she had been looking at Fergal.
"Everything will be okay." Fergal ran his hand over the top of Dottie's head. When she looked at him he gave a sort of smile. "I'll go get changed and be back to help."
"We have to get our stuff ready to go." Cait said.
Colby looked at Dottie. "I'm really sorry, Dot. I didn't mean any of this to happen." When he knelt in front of her he ran his finger over the back of her hand. "I'm really sorry, Dot."
She nodded. She looked away, watched as Fergal left the room.
"I'll be back after getting ready to go." Colby stood up. He followed Fergal out.
"Come on, Dot. We need to get ready to go." Cait said.
The other costume department workers, some only PAs, came back to help. All Dottie did was pack up her sewing machine and the backpack she always brought with her, which included a sewing kit, extra threads and a book she found at an airport.
As she stood up with her sewing machine in her right hand and just getting one strap of her backpack over her shoulder, Fergal returned. He had a rolling suitcase in one hand and a backpack of his own.
"Ready to go?" He asked.
She nodded, eyes shifting to look at Cait as she was telling one of the PAs where some of the stuff was going to go.
"Hey, Ferg. Yeah, we're ready to go. Thanks guys."
"Did you want to head out right away or are we going to get something to eat?" Fergal looked at Dottie but she didn't answer. "Dottie?"
"She's suffering from selective mutism, Fergal. She's not able to talk. Give her some time."
"I feel like such an ass." Colby said when he stepped up besides Fergal. "I started all of this."
"Don't be, something like this would have happened anyway. We'll work on it." Cait said. "And stop blaming yourself, Rollins. And I'm not heading for dinner. I have to get over to SmackDown Live fast. You're going to have to take her, Fergal."
Dottie almost dropped her sewing machine as she looked at her sister. Cait walked up to her and took the sewing machine case from her.
"You'll be fine, Dot. You're in good hands."
Dottie looked at Fergal's hand. He wasn't touching her at the moment, so no she wasn't in his hands.
"You'll be okay. Fergal will take you out to dinner and then you guys are heading to SmackDown Live. You'll be there tomorrow some time." Cait said. "Okay?"
She nodded, not really sure of what else to do.
Fergal took her hand in his, threading his fingers with hers, and smiled. "Come on, Dottie. Let's get you out of here."
So she followed him. There was nothing else she could do, and in the fog of her brain, some part of her was happy to have his hand in hers.
