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Chapter 13

By the time she had finished getting ready, there was a knock on her door and Scarlett finished up pinning her scarf before she opened the door.

"Hey Babygirl," Roman said strolling in to the room after her.

"You ready to go?" He asked, bending down to pet Vitani.

"Yeah."

Scarlett picked up her small bag and dumped in her necessities before allowing Roman to lead her out the door. She had, as promised, worn the shirt in support of Dean and was thinking over what had happened earlier in the day.

After she had told Dean she would wear his shirt, he had looked at her with an emotion that she could not place. A look that was piercing but gentle at the same time, one that made a shiver run up Scarlett's spine while at the same time she felt a flutter of something in her heart. He was scaring her but simultaneously he was making her feel safe. Something that she had never felt in a long time.

"Scarlett?" Roman's deep voice distracted her from her thoughts and she turned to look at him as he sat behind the wheel whilst he drove them towards the arena.

"What did you say to Dean?" He inquired.

"What?" She asked, momentarily surprised. Roman frowned and he glanced at her.

"Something clearly happened between the two of you. He's been acting strange since you two got back and won't say much to us either," he told her.

"He has?"

"Babygirl, I know Dean is a tough one. He's the one with the shortest temper between the three of us, but he's also the smartest one of us. He understands people better than me and while I don't want you getting hurt, Dean is my brother," he said to her. His voice was serious and while it was polite, Scarlett definitely heard the underlying threat. She swallowed tightly as his talk could only mean one thing. Scarlett had hurt one more person just like she'd hurt her mother.

When she didn't answer him, Roman turned his head to take a quick look at her and found her staring out the windshield with her eyes unfocussed. Something was clearly going on in her head and while Roman knew there was no way this woman could hurt Dean, he was worried equally for both of them.

"Babygirl, hey, listen to me," he said reaching for her hand. She jerked violently when his hand enveloped hers and looked at him almost as if she was seeing him for the first time.

"Ro, we were fine when we came back," she said to him softly. Knowing a lie when he heard one, Roman frowned but didn't press further. He would have to get it out of Dean eventually and Scarlett didn't seem as if she wanted to talk about it. He was about to let go of her hand but she tightened her grip on him as she leaned her head back and closed her eyes tightly. He returned his attention on the road while he let her hold on to him, Dean had been right since the first time they met her six months ago, something big had happened in Scarlett's life. Something that had broken the girl to pieces.

~oOo~

Dean froze when he saw Roman walk into the building from the parking with Scarlett's hand wrapped in his. A fire built within him and his gaze turned icy as Roman and Scarlett approached, the latter looking around the building in curiosity as they walked.

"What took you two so long? Went on a date or something?" He asked, his voice was gruffer than usual and Roman had picked up on it for he sent a glare towards him.

"Dean," it was her voice that calmed the beast that was rearing its head within him and when he looked down at her, his gaze softened immediately. Her eyes weren't sparkling like they did when they were happy, rather there was a touch of sorrow, something that hadn't been there when he'd dropped her off. His eyes snapped to Roman and they hardened once more.

"Scar, mind waiting here for a moment while Roman and I have a quick chat?" He asked. She shrugged at them and once again resumed looking around the empty building, no doubt wondering where they were going to go, while Dean pulled Roman to the side.

"What the fuck did you say to her?" Dean hissed at Roman, his voice loud enough to get his anger across while at the same time quiet enough so Scarlett didn't hear them. The Samoan crossed his arms and glared at Dean.

"What did I say to her? I didn't say anything, Dean. All I told her was that whatever happened between you two should be sorted out before someone gets hurt," he snapped.

"Between us? Roman, nothing happened between us. Technically, I should be asking you what happened since you're the one that pranced in here holding her hand," Dean fired back.

"Enough, Dean. Something did happen between you two because I know you man and you are never that quiet even when Seth chomps on his gum in that annoying way of his," Roman said.

"What, am I not allowed to think anymore?" Dean asked.

"Dean, come on man. You're acting strange ever since Babygirl-."

"Scarlett," Dean corrected.

"-Scarlett showed up. I swear to God, Dean. If you hurt her," Roman left the sentence hanging and while Dean got the hint, his anger was also rising.

"Why do you care about her so much anyway? You said you were protective but right now it sounds more than just protectiveness," Dean said, his blood boiling at the image of the two holding hands.

"Dean! All I'm trying to do is look out for you both. You're my brother and she's-."

"Dean?" Scarlett's voice broke their argument and the duo turned to look at her as she wandered over to them, looking utterly confused.

"Everything okay?" She asked, noticing Roman's clenched fists and Dean's tightly clenched jaws.

Dean visibly relaxed and he went to her, his anger subsiding when she allowed him to place a hand on her back and steer her towards catering. Roman followed them silently and Dean was glad because he wasn't sure how to handle one of his best friends at the moment.

"Are you sure I'm allowed back here?" She asked when they entered catering. The tables were littered with Superstars, some of whom looked up at her curiously, causing her to move closer to Dean.

"You're with me," he told her simply.

"Scar!" Seth came bounding towards them and took her in a hug, swinging her around, causing her to squeal and then laugh.

"Seth! Put me down!" She said, laughing.

"I'm the only one allowed to call her that!" Dean called, but smiled to himself when he heard her laugh, he wanted her to have a good time tonight. While she was busy chatting with Seth, he turned back to Roman after heaving a sigh.

"No, I'm not angry anymore. And yes I get what you are talking about. The reason I've been quiet is because I want to take her with me to Vegas. She let it slip earlier how much she'd wanted to go but didn't since she couldn't afford it," he told Roman sincerely, his anger with the man evaporating. Roman looked at him shocked before he hit him upside the head.

"You ass. You could've told me, you know?" He said chuckling as Dean rubbed the back of his head.

"And hear you lecture me about how I should be careful with inviting a stranger to my house?" Dean asked.

"She's not really a stranger anymore now, is she?" Roman asked, the two men turning to look at Scarlett as she was listening to Seth talk. Dean moved towards her and his hand once again found its place on the small of her back. She looked up at him and Dean finally saw the clear happy eyes that were sparkling once more. Seth continued blabbering away to her as they walked to an empty table and took a seat.

"And then obviously you'll get to meet everyone backstage, the interviewers, announcers, oh! The NXT crowd will be here too for their tour so we'll get to meet them too!" Seth told her.

"NXT?" She asked confused.

"Developmental. Before you come to the main roster, you get trained properly at NXT," Roman told her. She nodded in understanding and listened as Seth barreled forward.

"Hey you three."

Dean looked up as AJ approached and gave the woman smile, earning one in return as well. Scarlett tensed up next to him and he glanced at her to see her watching AJ cautiously, practically retracting within herself as her walls came up in self-defense.

"AJ, I want you to meet the newest addition to our group: Scarlett," Roman introduced.

"She's one hell of a cook!" Seth chimed in, earning a laugh from AJ.

"Nice to meet you, Scarlett. I'm AJ," AJ said smiling politely at the girl sitting between Dean and Seth.

"Pleasure," Scarlett replied. Realizing that this would be the best time, Dean cleared his throat and stood up.

"Will you keep her company AJ while we go and change?" Dean asked. Scarlett's head snapped towards him and he could almost see her pleading, but Dean disregarded it because if there was anyone else in this business that he wanted Scarlett to trust, it was AJ.

"But I don-Ouch!" Seth rubbed his shoulder where Dean had socked him. Getting the hint, he stood up to follow Dean, mumbling obscenities under his breath while an equally confused Roman agreed to go get ready.

Once the three men were gone, Scarlett turned her attention to AJ, who was smiling kindly at her. It had been a long time and while Scarlett's people skills needed some serious brushing up, she was waiting for the insults and snide remarks to come her way.

"You look tense. Relax, we're all pretty much harmless here," AJ said moving around so she was sitting in the seat Seth had been occupying earlier.

"So how come I'm only hearing about you right now?" She asked. Scarlett pondered how to answer the question. AJ shook her head as she leaned back in her chair.

"Those three," she said tsking. "I thought I was the only woman they were close to."

"I'm not with any of them. I swear," Scarlett blurted. AJ gave her a look before her eyes widened and she shook her head rapidly.

"Oh God no. I'm married, jeez," she said sticking her hand out to show the diamond ring sitting peacefully around her ring finger. Scarlett felt embarrassment fill her and she looked away, cursing herself for jumping to conclusions and making a fool out of herself.

"I only wondered because those three, especially Dean-," Scarlett gave a start at his name as AJ spoke. "-rarely seem to get along with some of the women they meet as most of them are very keen on just sleeping with them."

"And he, I mean, they don't date very often?" Scarlett asked, correcting herself midway.

"Nah, Dean's a tough one to handle," AJ replied. Scarlett let out a soft chuckle at that and AJ smiled at her.

"He isn't tough to handle at all. He just likes having the attention on himself, not to mention his ego gets inflated to the size of Jupiter if you ever give him a compliment," Scarlett said letting out a laugh as she remembered her time spent with Dean.

AJ on the other hand was smiling like a proud mother as she listened to Scarlett talk about Dean. She wasn't stupid, she'd seen the closeness between the two when they had entered catering. Dean's protective hand on her back, him bringing his chair closer to her when they sat, her leaning towards him subconsciously, the crestfallen eyes when he left with Roman and Seth. Both of them didn't realize that they felt something for each other and that thought made AJ feel a burst of joy. Scarlett hadn't even realized that AJ hadn't even mentioned Roman and Seth's dating life.

"AJ?" Scarlett said, breaking her train of thought. AJ snapped herself out of it and returned her gaze to Scarlett, but she caught some movement out of the corner of her eye and AJ braced herself.

"Associating yourself with the sweepers, AJ? Didn't think you'd sink so low," Nikki stated as her and Brie, along with Summer and Renee appeared next to the table.

"Ooh, using big words now are we?" AJ responded sarcastically.

"What's with the scarf? Too ugly that you had to hide your face?" Summer asked Scarlett. AJ noticed Scarlett freeze and her anger flared.

"She's doing you a favor," AJ snapped. "Keeping her beautiful face covered gives you all a chance to whore out."

The four of them glared at her but AJ rolled her eyes, reaching for Scarlett's hand underneath the table and giving it a reassuring squeeze. The girl had nothing to worry about if AJ was there.

"Just look at her eyes. If her eyes are so gorgeous, imagine what she really looks like," AJ said. All five of them turned to Scarlett, who was sitting as still as a statue, with her big brown eyes widened in shock. Noticing the stares, she immediately lowered her gaze to the table.

"All okay here?" The women looked up as the trio returned and Nikki and Brie shot the other two a look before they scurried away.

"Dean, hi," Summer said, her voice going husky as she moved around the table to meet Dean, but AJ being AJ stuck her foot out and the blonde's foot got caught sending her to the floor. Her arms flailed out and she reached for Seth, who at the last minute had a sudden urge to fix his hair, but ended up grabbing thin air.

"Summer!" Renee exclaimed, rushing around to help her friend up.

"Owww. My ankle," Summer groaned. Renee helped her up and the two sent a loathing look towards AJ, who was humming a song under her breath.

"I'll see you later, Dean," Renee said giving Dean a look and then helped a limping Summer towards the medical room.

Dean ignored her mostly because he had noticed Scarlett's rigid back and her lowered gaze. The stiff posture could only mean one thing. Gaze hardening, he reached out and placed a hand on Scarlett's shoulder causing her to jump.

"What did they say?" He asked coolly.

"Ah come on Dean. You know they're incapable of saying anything intelligible," AJ said waving him off, hoping that Scarlett wasn't too upset.

"Besides, Scar-."

"Don't call her that!" Dean snapped.

"Fine. Jeez. Scarlett and I were just talking about boys. You know, the usual girl talk," AJ said. Dean rolled his eyes and took a seat in his chair once more, letting his hand drop from Scarlett's shoulder to her hand. But instead of loosening up, Scarlett tensed even more.

"You okay?" He asked her. In response, she gave him a curt nod. Dean felt his anger flare and he turned back to AJ to know exactly what had transpired.

"Dean, relax. Scarlett's got me and while I'm sure she appreciates you three acting as bodyguards, girls need their girlfriends," AJ said. This seemed to have done the trick as Scarlett's hands loosened and she looked up at AJ, the corners of her eyes crinkling with the smile that she was giving AJ underneath her scarf.

"Thanks AJ," Scarlett said quietly.

"No need. You're one of us now," AJ said before she got up, bid them adieu and headed off. Dean noticed Randy's head turn towards the smaller woman as she walked out of Catering and he sent the man a hard glare, one that was returned just as coldly.

"Stop it," Scarlett said to him, tapping his fingers that were covering her hands with her thumb.

"I didn't do anything," Dean said innocently. She gave him a look and Dean smirked at her, earning a sigh.

"Sorry about those four. They act like they run the place," Seth said frowning.

"It's alright," Scarlett mumbled quietly.

While she was grateful that AJ was there, something that AJ had said had put Scarlett's mind in a state of chaos. If her eyes are so gorgeous, imagine what she really looks like. What she really looked like. That was something Scarlett knew people would question, something that she couldn't hide forever. Scarlett didn't even want to think of the outcome of her ever revealing her face to them. The four women that had lashed out at her were stunning and Scarlett had felt that small agony when she looked at their perfect bodies and skins. How could any man ever want her when there were creatures like them that roamed this planet? Most importantly, why would Dean even think about her when there were clearly two women vying for his attention?

Dean was talking to Roman when he felt her grip on his hand tighten and he glanced at her to see her staring down at their hands with a glazed look, hinting that she was deep in thought. Wrapping up his discussion quickly, he tapped her palm to get her attention.

"Give that brain of yours a little break and focus on having fun tonight. I'll have Don take you to your seat in a few minutes and you better wear that shirt with pride," he told her. He could see the conflict clearly in her eyes and Dean was already looking forward to getting RAW over with so he could really focus on making her happy.

I hate exams.

But Scarlett's found a new friend in AJ! What do you think? Was AJ's assessment correct about the duo's feelings? Is Dean going to turn his back on Scarlett? Will he actually manage to get her to Vegas? Talk to me lovely people. Tell me your thoughts, hurl them at me because after that Physics exam, all I want to do is yell "FREEDOM!" at the top of my lungs.

Love,

- K.

To Dawnie-7 - Not a directly Dean-Scarlett centric update but we definitely got some moments here and there. The elevator scene, I felt, was important to show that while she's comfortable with Dean (and the other two), they still have a long way to go. Let me know what you think! Oh lord, Mania was dominated by heels and honestly I enjoyed RAW after Mania more. I was convinced Shane was going to win but when he lost I was upset because I didn't understand what the whole hype was behind that. HBK coming out to his theme had me squealing in joy. Had the hugest crush on him when I was a kid, lol. And then Austin's "Glass Shatters" had me screaming in joy. That entire segment with all three legends made my night. Hahaha, Steph took the spear wonderfully and Roman delivered it to perfection. xo

To Actinggoddess - Welcome aboard the K9 Express! Glad you're enjoying it :). I'm happy that it's refreshing!.Let me know your thoughts about the work as I love hearing from my readers. Thanks for the support! xo

To Marina - I'm really trying to give all three men equal time with Scarlett and due to me missing Seth so much, I always find myself gravitating towards more scenes with him and Scarlett; hence why he was the first one to witness her nightmares. But then the rational part of my mind kicks in and I balance it out, lol. Debt isn't fun and for Scarlett, she's built her life back up with little money so all this luxury that she's getting is making her worried. Dean's a "tough one" as AJ put it so he's never going to force her to do anything. Plus, I wanted that elevator scene to happen to show that while she's comfortable, they're just not there yet. Let's see what happens! Let me know your thoughts and thanks for all the love M! xo

To Seth Rollins Babe - Glad you enjoyed it! Poor Scarlett indeed but don't worry, she's now got a friend in AJ. :) xo