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Chapter 11

The sound of someone rapping at her door woke Scarlett up the next morning, rubbing her eyes she glanced at her watch on the side table; the hands pointing to a perfect 7:00 AM. Scarlett looped the scarf around her face and head quickly before heading to the door, sliding up her gloves as she walked. She opened it and let out a surprised gasp when she came face to face with Seth's smiling face.

"Good morning!" He said, his smiling widening further as he held out a Starbucks cup for her.

"Seth, what are you doing here?" Scarlett asked, blinking and rubbing her eyes to get rid of the sleep.

"Brought you coffee. Are you packed? We're going to leave soon and both Roman and Dean entrusted me to get you to the hotel on time," he said, craning his head around her to peak into the room.

"What is going on?" She asked, confusion building up within her.

"RAW tonight is in Iowa and since we have you here, we want you to come with us," Seth said.

"What? No! Seth you know I can't. I have to get back!" Scarlett said, immediately shaking her head, she would suffer so much if she spent more time away from the B&B. She was already running low on cash with only $60 left.

"Come on, Scarlett. We've got you the backstage pass and everything, you won't have to pay a single dime!" He said, handing her a small bag with the WWE Logo on it.

"And who exactly came up with this idea?" Scarlett asked as she took the bag and peered into it.

"Well Roman suggested it and I was on board with it," he said.

"And Dean?" The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them and she winced slightly. Seth glanced at his watch then looked up at her.

"I'll give you half an hour and if you're not in the car by then, I'm going to come in here and carry you out, whether you like it or not," he told her. Scarlett was gobsmacked by this because the way he said it told her clearly that he was dead serious in his threat.

"Clock's ticking," he said then grabbed her shoulders and turned her around, giving her a gentle push into the room. Scarlett turned back to tell him she couldn't go but he was already halfway to his car. Vitani slinked up to her and Scarlett looked down at her. The look on the cat's face made her burst out into laughter for it looked a lot like her cat was saying "You're an idiot if you don't go".

"I'm going to have to hike prices once I get back in order to keep us both fed, you know," she said to Vitani as she transferred her into the cat carrier. With minimal clothes came light packing so Scarlett was packed within 10 minutes. But hesitated before leaving the room. Trudging back around to the bathroom, Scarlett looked at herself one last time, making sure her scarf was wrapped tightly and properly around her face. She had just gotten to see them again and Scarlett wasn't ready to have them running away if they accidentally chanced upon her grotesque face.

Once she was sure she was properly covered, Scarlett slung the duffel bag over her shoulder as well as the bag Seth had given her before she picked up Vitani's carrier.

"We're up for a long ride. I'll let you out in the car if you get too agitated," she said softly. Vitani held her paw up against the cage and Scarlett touched it. Her familiar was the only one she could count on to never leave her regardless of her appearance. Glancing quickly around her room, Scarlett cursed herself for taking yet another impulsive decision that would cost her heavily, and headed out the door.

"One more minute and I would've barged in true to my word," Seth told her as he waited for her next to the Volvo. He opened up the boot and placed her duffel bag in and closed it. He looked down at the cat carrier and a light smile came on his face.

"I was going to ask her where you left her," he said bending down to peer into the cage. Vitani meowed in appreciation and Seth laughed while Scarlett let out a chuckle as well.

"She remembers you," she told him. Seth took the carrier from her and placed it on the backseat before he opened the passenger door for her.

"My lady," he said. This made Scarlett laugh wholeheartedly and she slid into the car. Once seated, she took the cup and inhaled the smell of the coffee he had brought for her, letting out a content sigh.

"I didn't know whether or not you liked Lattes," he said earnestly as the engine roared to life.

"It's been…awhile," she answered solemnly. Five years to be precise. Not wanting to damper her mood, she placed the cup of coffee into the cup holder and folded her hands in her lap, looking out the window as Seth weaved in and out of the early morning traffic.

"Use your fucking indicators!" Seth growled at one particular driver when he merged into the lane that they were in. Scarlett calmed him down and let out a sigh of relief when she saw the hotel they were staying at come into view. Had they spent more time on the road, Scarlett was sure Seth would've gotten out of the car and hit someone.

"Road rage much?" She asked as they pulled into the parking.

"People who don't know how to drive shouldn't own a car," he said simply. And just like that he was back to his old self. The man could switch his anger on and off like a switch and that quality amazed Scarlett.

Scarlett took Vitani's carrier out when she got down and Seth led her to the lounge in the hotel where they both waited for Dean and Roman to show up. Scarlett checked on Vitani, who was watching her surroundings with her golden eyes, before she set the carrier down and took a seat on one of the couches. They didn't need to wait long for the trickle of superstars began to emerge and headed to the parking with Roman and Dean coming up shortly after them.

"Morning Babygirl," Roman said giving her his signature one-armed hugs as he held his phone in his other hand.

"Good morning," she said politely, not quite sure what to make of the nickname. She turned to face Dean but he had turned his back to her and was talking to one of the hotel personnel. Scarlett's smile faltered under her scarf and she looked away, pushing away the slight disappointment that had crawled into her. Being ignored was the feeling that she loved the most however right now; Scarlett hated the feeling with a passion.

"It's about a five hour drive from here to Des Moines, if we leave now we should be there by about one-thirty," Roman said checking his watch. Once they had checked out, the four of them (along with Vitani) headed to the parking and Roman and Dean dumped their luggage into the boot.

"Joining us again?" Roman asked grinning at Scarlett.

"She was with us last night, at least give poor Sethie a chance to spend time with her," Dean said. This was the first time he'd spoken to her this morning and Scarlett looked at him as something twisted painfully in her stomach.

"Deano's got a point. My turn now," Seth said before he ushered her towards the car and Scarlett once again found herself seated in Volvo with Vitani placed in the backseat in her carrier.

"Seth?" Scarlett said softly once they'd gotten onto the highway.

"Hmm?"

"Does Dean get mad often?" She inquired, earning a chuckle from Seth.

"Dean's got a bad temper, but I've only seen it come out when he truly gets pissed off about something. However, I have to say he's been on edge since Wrestlemania as he's hardly gotten time off," Seth said, a small frown flittering across his face.

"They've been making Dean work live shows as well as house shows and that definitely has put some strain on him," he continued.

"Surely you guys get holidays?" She asked, remembering Dean's behaviour from the night before.

"We do but being the top star of the company doesn't leave many options for holidays," he told her. Scarlett fell silent as she remembered how tired and worn out Dean had been looking recently.

"But he's gotten some time off so he'll be heading back to Vegas to spend some time off."

"Vegas? Dean lives in Vegas? I thought he would go back to Ohio," Scarlett said, surprised at the newfound information. When Seth didn't answer, she let the subject drop. Seth pumped up the music and Scarlett leaned her head back, watching the scenery pass by as they went down the highway. It had been years since she had left Illinois and she wanted to soak up as much as she could. Who knew when she would ever be able to leave again?

Her eyes followed the plains and the scattering of houses here and there. The bright blue sky contrasting with the fields down below creating a simple serenity that she found alluring. The sun was shining bright, but slowly the light was diminishing. Darkness was slowly edging in, covering the fields completely before fire burst in front of her eyes. A terrible scream echoed in her ear and Scarlett felt her throat beginning to clog up as her mother's face appeared between the flames. She was reaching out towards her but the orange flames were licking up all around her.

Scarlett wanted to scream, she wanted to run, but she was helplessly trapped within the fire. She felt the heat begin to kiss her aura, warning her that it would soon be too late but Scarlett couldn't escape. Her mother was on the other side of the flames reaching out to her and Scarlett wanted to go to her mother while at the same time she wanted to get away from the fire. But the heat, it was so close. She could feel the ever so slight lick of the orange flame on her face. Burning hotter, and hotter, and hotter, and…

"SCARLETT!"

Scarlett jerked awake violently and a choked gasp escaped her lips, her breathing was shallow and she was covered in cold sweat.

"Scarlett," Seth said again and Scarlett looked at him blankly before she gathered her surroundings. Seth had pulled into a gas station and was parked next to the convenience store.

"Scarlett, hey, talk to me," Seth said, his worried brown eyes focussed on her as she took several gulps of breath to calm her racing heart. Seth reached over and took her gloved hands in his, trying to calm her down.

"I-I'm sorry," she whispered out hoarsely after a few minutes. Inside, Scarlett was scolding herself furiously. Sleeping for her meant an onslaught of nightmares that she could not control, exposing a weakened side of her completely.

"Hey, no need to be sorry," he said, his grasp on her hands tightening. Scarlett stared down at her hands in his while her brain reverted back to her dream. The fire had been there, her mother had been there, but this time the pain was there too. The physical pain that Scarlett had felt when she had first felt the naked flame blast her skin as her mother's eyes had filled with horror before her consciousness left her.

"I'm fine," Scarlett said shaking her head to clear her thoughts and looking up at Seth. He looked apprehensive but he let go of her hands and Scarlett looked out at the convenience store.

"Mind if I make a quick bathroom run?" She asked.

"Go ahead, I was going to go pick up some snacks while Dean and Roman catch up," he told her. They got out of the car and Scarlett made her way to the bathroom. Once the door was shut and locked, Scarlett turned on the water and splashed her face with cold water after unwrapping her scarf. Placing her hands on the basin, she looked up at herself in the mirror.

There was only so much the doctors could fix. They gave her back her face but they couldn't bring back the nerves that had been impacted by the third degree burns. She had no feeling on the left side of her face or some parts of her body where the burns had been severe. Scarlett was thankful that both her eyes had been saved from the flames for if she could not feel, she could at least see. Sighing, Scarlett wrapped her scarf around her face securely once more and headed out of the bathroom. Seth was talking with the pretty blonde cashier who was giggling and blushing, no doubt flustered. Scarlett couldn't help the small chuckle and she left him to it, heading to the car and sliding in. She glanced at Vitani back in her carrier and her golden eyes peeked out at her.

"I know that look," Scarlett said before she pulled out the leash from her duffel bag and attached it to her collar through the bars. Scarlett opened the carrier and took her out, hugging her familiar close to her chest. She looked out the window and saw Roman and Dean pull up next to where Seth had parked the car.

"Feeling alright?" Roman asked. Scarlett's sense went on high alert as she looked at Roman. Had Seth called them and told them about her nightmare problem?

"I'm fine. Completely fine," she responded. When Roman gave her a thumbs up and walked into the store, hitting Seth upside the head causing the younger man to rub the back of his two toned head and glare at the Samoan, she let out a breath that she hadn't realised she was holding. Scarlett turned to look at the fourth member and found him still seated in the car with his headphones plugged in and head tilted back, resting against the headrest. She frowned and clutched Vitani closer to her instinctively as she remembered the way Dean had been acting with her. Had she somehow insulted him? But what insulting thing did she say? Her brain couldn't find a plausible reason to figure out what had caused him to act so…cold to her.

"If Pretty Boy is done flirting in there we've got about another two and a half hour drive," Roman said returning from the store with two bottles of energy drinks and some snacks. He tossed the bag into the backseat of his car and climbed into the driver's seat.

"We'll meet you two at the hotel," Roman told her before he reversed out of the parking and headed out of the lot. Scarlett could've sworn that she had seen those ocean blue eyes watching her before they drove off.

It was another fifteen minutes when Seth made his return and got into the driver's seat. Scarlett saw the smirk on his face and she let out a laugh.

"What's so funny?" He asked raising an eyebrow at her.

"You are such a dork," Scarlett said before she began laughing again when he pouted at her.

~oOo~

"You do know that one end of the earphone goes into a music player right?" Roman asked glancing at Dean as they drove towards Des Moines. The other man's eyes snapped open and he sent a cold glare towards Roman before pulling out the headphones.

"Why the fuck do you have to be so observant?" Dean asked.

"You really think you're that good at hiding things, Ambrose?" Roman fired back. "Seth and I both noticed the way you've been acting since yesterday."

"And just exactly how have I been acting?" Dean retorted.

"Like somebody shoved a cactus up your ass," Roman said simply. Dean growled at him but the man took no heed.

"And what's with ignoring Scarlett?" Roman asked. The question threw him off and he went silent, not knowing how to answer him.

"I'm not ignoring her," he lied. Roman threw him a glance that clearly told Dean that he saw through his lie easily.

"Really? You, the man who immediately knew who she was with a single glance and watches over her without even realising it, aren't ignoring her? You didn't even greet her even when she turned to you this morning," Roman told him.

"If you're trying to make me feel guilty-."

"You're damn right I am. Dean, I know you. The only women you ignore are the Divas and Scarlett is not a Diva," Roman continued.

"Why the hell do you even care about her so much?" Dean asked heatedly.

"Because I see what I saw in your eyes the first time I met you back in FCW," Roman told him, effectively killing all arguments that were forming on his lips.

"The look of someone who is being haunted by the ghost of their past but covering it up so effectively that one can't even pick up on it until a small slip happens. And she slipped Dean. Her façade slipped when you turned your back to her," Roman told him earnestly. Roman's guilt trip was working and Dean felt the sickening feel of regret settle deep into his stomach.

"I know we haven't known her for long but we, and I speak for both Seth and myself, feel protective of her," Roman said, his voice dropping slightly.

"Look, I don't know what happened between you two but all I'm going to say is that just try and be nice to her would you?" He asked. This was why Roman was the man that kept both him and Seth grounded. His calm intellect and his ability to analyze situations was what came in handy both inside the ring and outside of it.

"I am nice to her," Dean said quickly. Roman rolled his eyes and with a final pointed look at Dean, he pumped up the stereo and sped up along the highway, leaving Dean deep in the whirlpool of his thoughts.

Sigh, ever the calm and collected Roman Reigns. Updates will be slow as exams are coming up. Who are you all supporting at Takeover and Wrestlemania? And was anyone else blown away by last night's episode of Supernatural? Let me know in your reviews!

- K.

To Dawnie-7 - Haha! Glad you enjoyed the chapter. And yes, I understand what you're saying when you say "frustratingly entertaining". Lol, Roman can't ALWAYS be right so maybe this time it was his turn to accept his defeat. Hope you enjoyed this chapter too! Take care and love. x

To Seth Rollins Babe - Another Seth-centric update, eh? He's just too adorable and I can't help myself. Scarlett needs friends and I feel Seth is going to be around her more than anything. x

To Marina - I had to end it somewhere, haha. Miscommunication happens anywhere. Hopefully this update gave a little more insight to Dean and remember how you said it was high time Scarlett got some real friends, hopefully this update allowed some new friendship bonds to be formed. :P Unfortunately the boys won't be at Comic Con but maybe next year. *fingers crossed* Thanks so much for the love and support! x