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Chapter 30

Seth was the one that chased after Scarlett as she rushed out the door leaving Dean frozen in shock on the dance floor. She reached the car and leaned against it, bending over as her arms wrapped around herself.

"Scarlett?" Seth asked hesitantly as he approached her slowly.

"Can we go home?" She asked, refusing to look at him. Seth swallowed then accepted telling her he'll just go get Dean.

Half an hour later they reached home and Scarlett was the first one out the car and into the house. By the time they came in, a door slammed shut and Seth rounded on Dean.

"What the fuck did you do?" He asked. Dean glared at him but glanced upstairs.

"As much as I appreciate your concern, the fact that your anger is directed at me is annoying as fuck. I don't even know what went wrong," Dean replied.

You kissed her. That's what went wrong.

~oOo~

Up in her room, Scarlett changed into more comfortable clothes and grabbed a pen and paper; someone had to put an end to this. An hour later, she pressed her ear to the door and when she didn't hear any noise, Scarlett grabbed her bags and placed Vitani into her cat carrier, hushing her. Her heart pounded in her chest as she slowly crept down the hall and down the stairs, stopping ever so often to listen to any movement.

It was only when she'd slowly closed the door shut behind her did Scarlett let out a breath she hadn't even realized she'd been holding and continued on. She glanced back once more to see the house looming in the darkness of the night; the light to Dean's room was on and Scarlett fought herself to make sure she didn't do a one-eighty and return to the house, to him.

The walk to the bus stop was tiring and upon checking her watch she realized she'd been walking for an hour. Once she reached her destination, Scarlett set Vitani's carrier down and took a seat on the bench, breathing heavily. At this point, she was relying on pure adrenaline…or was it panic? Scarlett had to get away. She needed to be far away from all this.

Taking the bus back home from Vegas was probably not the smartest idea but it was the most affordable one. The trip would take a little over a day but at least she'll be in Chicago and back home soon. She looked up when the bus's engine roared to life and gathered up her belongings. At this time of the night, very few people were getting on and the driver eased her small bag into the storage below.

It would be a six and a half hour ride from Las Vegas to Richfield, Utah from where she faced another four and a half hour ride to Grand Junction, Colorado. Once she'd reach Denver, from there it was only a matter of ten hours to get to Kansas City, Missouri and another seven hours to get to Chicago. The journey would be long, but it was taking her away from the one thing she knew she could never have.

She wasn't running away, she was protecting herself. If there was anything Scarlett was sure of, it was the fact she didn't want whatever little happiness she had ripped away from her. Dean made her too happy and that in itself was a problem. Her heart just didn't know how to keep her feelings in check but her mind was stronger and knew what she had to do.

So here she was. On her way back home.

~oOo~

She spotted the familiar Dodge parked in the driveway to her B&B when she got down from the bus across the road. Confused, she made her way quickly down the driveway and up the front stairs to get to her door.

"There you are!"

Scarlett turned around as she unlocked the door and found Phil walking towards her from the other side of the house.

"What are you doing here?" She asked. Vitani began clawing at the door and Scarlett stepped inside, flicking the lights on before bending down and opening the door. Her familiar dashed out the door and slinked excitedly about the house.

"I came here last week but there was no sign of you. Thought you'd left me," Phil said, grinning at her.

"Don't be silly. I took a vacation. I couldn't leave this place, it's home," she told him, leading him to the kitchen.

"Tried calling too, either went to voicemail or was busy," he said.

"My phone's dead. Didn't get a chance to charge it since day before yesterday," she replied, flicking the switch and sighing as the kitchen flooded with light. Phil took a seat at the table and Scarlett opened the cabinet to find her kettle.

"Tea?" She asked.

"Please."

She could feel his gaze on her as she removed the kettle from its storage spot and headed to the sink. She twisted the tap and when nothing came out, heaved a sigh.

"They cut the water supply," she groaned. Phil edged off his seat and came around to stand next to her.

"Would you look at that? I guess this is a sign that you and I are destined to go out for a drink sometime," he told her. Scarlett couldn't help the laugh that escaped her. His good natured flirting always did entertain her and no matter how many times she declined his offer for a drink, he kept asking.

"Come on. I'll call a friend who handles the water supply on the way. He'll get your water running by the time we return," Phil told her.

"I swear to God, Phil. You're a life saver," she said gratefully. And he truly was. He delivered groceries to her every week to make sure she was fully stocked and had the best connections. Scarlett didn't even know how she'd ever been so lucky to befriend him.

"What would I do without you?" Scarlett asked sighing.

"Still be heaving groceries from the city out here in the bus all by your onesie," he offered. The two of them laughed and Scarlett hollered a bye to Vitani (she'd found her favorite toy and was playing with it) before heading out the door with Phil.

"Never thought I'd see the day where you would grace my car's passenger seat with your presence," he said dramatically.

"Oh shut up."

Laughter filled the car once more and the ride to the city was filled with Phil telling her about how he'd been coming to her place everyday wondering where she'd disappeared off to

"I tried calling you but either you never picked up or were busy. Almost debated calling the cops," he said. Scarlett winced and shook her head.

"I took a vacation," she repeated simply.

"Don't get me wrong, Scarlett. If there is anyone that deserves a vacation it's you. But disappearing like that? That was completely unlike you," he said to her as they approached a Starbucks.

"I do appreciate the concern, Phil. I really do, but does this talk really need to happen right now?" She asked letting out an exasperated sigh. Phil quieted and a silence fell over them, only the two doors slamming shut as they stepped out. Pushing open the doors of the coffee house, they stepped inside and headed for the line.

"You sure you want tea?" Phil asked sparing her a glance as he scanned the menu.

"Hmm. I really just want to get home and get some sleep afterwards," she said nodding at him. The cashier called them over and Scarlett reached for her bag.

"I accept payment for the groceries, but this is on me," he said winking at her. She tried arguing with him but he didn't hear it and paid for their drinks after he ordered. Finding a table in the corner, Scarlett set down her cup before taking a seat herself and wrapping her fingers around it.

Phil fished out his cellphone and scrolled through it, a thoughtful expression on his face. It morphed into triumph when he found what he was looking for and excused himself.

"I'll go fix out your water issue," he said as he disappeared.

The fatigue of such a long journey was finally catching up to Scarlett and the mint tea she was sipping on was seductively pulling her into drowsiness. There was no energy left to think or to make sense of what had been happening. Her mind was at ease with only the desire to crawl into a bed and go to sleep.

"Your water will be running by the time we get home," Phil said, as she took the final sip of her tea from under her scarf. He stared at her for a couple of minutes and then held out his hand to her.

"Come on, let's get you home," he offered. Scarlett was grateful to the support he was lending her as he helped her to his car. Her body was almost in the midst of shutting down and she could barely form coherent sentences. She heard the faint slamming of the door on her side and the darkness consumed her.

~oOo~

Scarlett woke up with the bright sun streaming into her face and Vitani tapping her on the nose. Blinking against the sun, Scarlett sat up and ran a hand across her face. The feeling of her scarf against her face unloaded memories on her and she remembered falling asleep in Phil's car after her tea. He must've carried her to her room for as she looked around, she found herself in the surroundings of her room.

After having spent two weeks in spacious hotels and what not, Scarlett began to notice just how difficult her room was to live in. A wooden cupboard, a bed, and a sidetable was all that decorated her room. The mattress was hard and lumpy as opposed to the soft and plush one she'd been sleeping on in the hotel and at De-No. Don't go there.

Pushing the covers off her body and placing Vitani on the floor (she jumped back on the bed again), Scarlett made her way to the small toilet that could barely fit the shower. Brushing her teeth quickly and splashing cool water (she made a mental note to thank Phil for fixing the water issue) on her face, Scarlett wrapped herself in her scarf again and went out the door. She heard the sizzling of what she assumed was bacon from the kitchen and sure enough as she stepped closer, the smell of bacon and omelets reached her nose.

"Tommy's got six string in hocks, he's holding in what he used to make it talk."

The laughter burst out of her mouth before she could stop herself and Phil turned around, his eyes going wide in surprise. An apron wrapped around his middle and the tongs in hand, he'd been lip syncing and dancing on the Bon Jovi tune that was playing on the radio. The image was enough to set her off and she doubled over in laughter as he sent her a half-hearted glare.

"You weren't supposed to be up so early," he said, frowning. Scarlett's laughter subsided into chuckles and she stepped further into the kitchen to help him.

"Were you making breakfast for me?" She asked in amazement. Phil grinned at her sheepishly and nodded.

"Shouldn't you be at work right now?" She asked, leaning over the pan to check on the bacon and flipping the omelet, taking the reins from him easily. She missed Phil flinching as she said the word "work" but by the time she looked at him, he'd schooled his features into a frown.

"Is it okay if I go?" He asked.

"Phil, I'm fine. I'm back home. Don't miss work because of me," she said placing a gentle hand on his arm. An odd expression came over his face as he looked down at her hand. Before Scarlett could remove it, he'd taken her hand and wrapped it in both his.

"You have no idea how worried I became when there was no sign of you," he said softly. Scarlett bowed her head in a silent apology but let out a yelp when she felt herself get pulled towards him.

"Phil, what ar-."

"So worried," he whispered, burying his nose into her hair as he hugged her tightly.

This doesn't feel right. Not one bit did the hug feel right. Her body felt weird being held by him. It just didn't feel like the hugs she'd shared with D-DON'T GO THERE! Scarlett jerked away from Phil and turned her back, quickly masking her sudden movements under the pretense of looking at the bacon in the pan once more. She let out a tense laugh and looked at him from over her shoulder.

"I'm sorry. Won't happen again. Go on, go to work," she said nodding at him. Phil remained standing in his spot for a couple of minutes before he sighed and turned on his heel.

"I'll be back in the evening with fresh groceries," he said over his shoulder.

Scarlett waited until she heard the rumble of the Dodge's engine disappeared before removing her scarf and letting her body relax. A horrible feeling was slowly making itself known as she weighed Phil's reaction to her disappearance. Surely she was just gauging it as something more right? Phil had always been kind to her but his flirting had always been for fun…hadn't it?

~oOo~

"What do you mean you don't know where she went?" Dean's voice boomed throughout his Las Vegas house as he stood in the room Scarlett had been occupying. When he'd woken up that morning he had felt something was wrong but had pushed it aside. It was when he'd arrived in the kitchen did he realize something was wrong with the worried looks on Seth and Esme's faces.

Then on, things became ugly when he'd sprinted to Scarlett's room and found it empty. The cat carrier, her bag, everything was gone. There was no trace of her anywhere in the room. Except, there, on the bed had been an envelope with a signed blank cheque and a note reading:

Dean,

I've signed the cheque and I'm leaving the amount empty. Fill in the amount I owe you for the hospitality and deposit in the bank account. I should have enough to pay you back. Thank you for being so kind to me and inviting me into your home. I can't thank you enough for this.

Pass on my goodbyes to Seth and Roman.

Take care,

Scarlett

Dean's blood had run cold at the thought of her traipsing around Las Vegas or anywhere alone. And now, here he was, standing in her room the next day since she'd disappeared with an annoyed Seth glaring at him.

"Dean, I'm not a psychic where I'd just magically know where she went," Seth snapped back.

"Would you guys stop arguing?" Roman's voice came from Seth's phone. Roman had called when Scarlett hadn't answered and that was when Seth had informed him of what had happened.

"I've tried calling her a thousand times Rome, her phone is switched off," Dean said exasperated.

"I can't even think of where she would go," Seth said sighing.

"Chicago?' Rome offered. Both Seth and Dean looked at each other and shook their heads simultaneously.

"No. The journey's way too long. No way," Seth replied. A frightening thought entered Seth's mind and he let out a choked yelp.

"You don't think something's happened to her do you?" Seth asked. Dean saw the raw panic in Seth's eyes and pushing away the drabble of fear that had fluttered within him, he reached out and grasped his shoulder.

"Nothing happened to her, Sethie," he said firmly.

"I think we should notify the cops," Seth said looking unconvinced.

"Hold on, before you do that. I want to go to her place near Chicago," Roman interjected.

"She didn't go to Chicago, Rome. The journey is way too long without a plane and I'm not sure if she has enough money to take a plane ticket," Seth replied shaking his head. Dean remained silent for a few minutes before he sighed and let Roman's words sink in.

"Fine. You go see if she's there. We'll wait until tomorrow before heading to the police," Dean said softly.

"De-."

"Seth, just let me see once. I'm closer to Chicago than you two and I'll be there within three hours if I leave now," Roman told him reassuringly. The duo nodded before they ended the call and looked at each other.

"She's going to be okay right?" Seth asked.

"She's fine," Dean said quickly. No. Nothing would happen to her. Dean had hardly slept since they'd found her missing and the only thought that kept running through his head was her pushing him away after their kiss.

Dean hadn't thought twice when he kissed her but the moment his lips had touched hers, he'd known bliss. He had leant towards giving whatever they had a go, but her reaction solidified what he'd always known: she didn't want him. He'd once again misjudged and had flung himself into something that was only one sided. No girl wanted anything permanent with him and Scarlett didn't seem the type to just have a fling. He'd made a big mistake kissing her and now he was suffering from the consequences. She was gone, and he had no idea where she went.

~oOo~

If there was anything Roman Reigns was good at, it was knowing where someone would go when they were hurt. Especially if that someone was named Scarlett. He'd been in Rockford, Illinois for a house show when he'd called Dean and Seth about Scarlett. The moment he'd been told she went missing, he had had a gut feeling that she'd returned to her B&B. It hadn't taken him long to pack up his bags in his car, bid adieu to his friends and was zooming down the road towards Chicago.

Two hours later, he turned his car onto the road that led to her B&B. The very one they'd broken down on during the winter and had met her. The old house came within his view and Roman couldn't help the small smile on his lips when he saw the lights on and the "No Vacancy" sign blinking at him.

Pulling into her driveway, he parked the car and exited it. Making his way up the stairs, he pushed open the door and stepped into the cool house; a welcome change from the heated temperatures outside.

"I'm in the kitchen!"

If possible, his grin widened as he heard her voice. Knowing exactly where to go, he made his way through the small hallway and towards the kitchen. The fantastic smell of her cooking greeted him and Roman's gut twisted and rumbled; signaling him for the food it had been deprived of.

"You're back early. Everything okay?" She asked, her back to him as she leaned over the pan and stirred its contents. Roman leaned against the doorframe and watched her in silence.

"Phil, everything okay?" She repeated. His brows furrowed and he cocked his head to the side.

"Who's Phil?"

What happened next had him lunging towards her so she didn't fall back against the stove and injure herself. Scarlett whipped around and let out a shocked yell as she lost her balance and her body began to tip backwards. An arm around her waist was all it took to steady her and Roman looked down at her with a concerned look on his face.

"Rome?" Scarlett asked disbelievingly, her body trembling ever so slightly against him.

"Hey babygirl," he said gently. She let out a gasp and the next thing he knew, she'd wrapped her arms around his waist and was hugging him tightly.

"I can't…oh my god…I can't believe you're here," she breathed out. She said something else but he couldn't understand anything that she was saying. Her face was pressed against his chest and she was mumbling away. Slowly, Roman pulled back from her and rubbed her shoulders.

"Slow down," he told her gently before he took her hand and turned off the stove, leading her to the island making her take a seat on the stool.

"I…I can't believe you're here," she repeated dumbly, staring at him. Roman frowned and squeezed her hand.

"I wouldn't be here if you were still in Vegas with Dean and Seth," he told her. In that moment, he understood what Dean had meant when he'd said that he never needed to see her face to understand what she was feeling. Her eyes spoke volumes even when she tried her level best to hide it. The disappointment and sadness was powerful and his frown deepened.

"I had to come back," she replied softly.

"Without letting anyone know?" He asked.

"I let Dean know," she said, then flinched when his eyes narrowed.

"Scarlett, what's going on?"

30 Chapters now and 100 reviews! Thanks so much everyone! Keep them coming! I love reading what you all have to say. It makes me so happy.

A lot of you had been asking for Roman so here he is. Also, I am aware Roman's eyes are brown but I personally wanted the change in eye color. :P

Reviews are love! Muah!

- K.

To Marina: It's okay! Life happens. But you got a chance to read it so yay! Haha, well we needed Roman to make an appearance so voila, here is Dean and Scarlett's knight in shining armor! I am beyond excited for Survivor Series and TakeOver. It's going to be one hell of a weekend. Thanks for reading and letting me know! I love hearing from you! xoxo