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Chapter 46

"I should go prepare, we're supposed to have some guests coming over. Look! I even bought you a dress!" Phil said standing up and going over to her old cupboard. He threw the doors open and in it hung a single black dress. Scarlett groaned in abhorrence as he held out the little black dress (literally a little black dress as it would barely come to mid-thigh) with thin straps.

"I knew you'd give me that expression but because I enjoy seeing you squirm, I had to pick this one up," he shrugged and hung the dress back inside the cupboard.

"I'll come back in an hour to get you ready to meet our guests. You're a special prize after all," was all he said before he left the room.

Scarlett watched the door shut and she lay in her old bed staring up at the familiar ceiling. Her vision was blurry from the tears but all she could do was think of a way out. She gave an experimental tug on the bonds and hissed when the rope dug further into her skin.

She'd have to think and she'd have to do it fast. Time was of essence.

The more she tried to think of her way out, the more pain she felt in her heart as she thought of reuniting with Dean. Regardless of the strong front she was putting up, Phil had effectively planted that seed of doubt in her mind. If anything happened to Dean, somewhere along the way, she would be at fault too.

Looking up at the ceiling, Scarlett shut her eyes tightly and took several deep breaths to calm herself.

Come back to me.

His words rung in her ears and her eyes snapped open. She tugged at her bindings again, the ropes bit into her skin and she let out a loud yell when the skin tore. This was the only way. She bit her lip to stop herself from making any noise as she continued to pull at her bonds. The rope wedged itself tighter around her wrist, staining from the blood that was oozing down her wrists. She could feel it trickling down her arms as her wrists throbbed in agony.

"Here I-What the fuck are you doing?" Phil screeched rushing towards her and undoing her binds. The moment she felt the ropes pull loose, Scarlett pulled her arm back and swung at him. She felt her fist connect with his jaw and while he grabbed is jaw, Scarlett jumped onto her feet and rushed towards the door. But she was too slow. His hand shot out and gripped her arm in a vice like grip.

"Oh no you don't!" He growled, yanking her arm towards him and shoving her body against the wall. His phone began to ring and before she could struggle, he shoved a hand against her mouth and pinned her body with his much larger one.

"Punk."

His dark eyes gleamed and he turned his attention to her as he listened to the caller. His hand was pressed firmly against her mouth and Scarlett was trying her level best to get herself free. Her wrists were stinging and the skin was tearing further as she abused them with all the movement. Fresh blood kept oozing out of the wounds and stained the wall and their clothes.

"Sorry, Roman. I have no idea where Ambrose's girlfriend is," he said. Scarlett's eyes widened and she doubled her effort in trying to get her voice across to Roman, to let him know that she was right here. But his strength was overpowering her.

"Don't worry, Dean. If I hear from her, I'll let you guys know," he said, a grin spreading across his face. At that moment, Scarlett found and opening and she snapped her jaw shut, her teeth baring into the flesh of Phil's palm.

"Motherfucker! You bitch!" Phil screamed as his phone dropped from his hands.

"HELP ME! DEAN!" She yelled at the top of her lungs when his body swayed away from hers. Scarlett shoved him away and shot out the door, bolting it shut behind her and sprinting to the front door.

There was one place that she knew she could hide but she would have to buy herself time to get there. Only Scarlett knew about the attic upstairs and in order to get there, it was imperative she had some time to herself to get to her hideout and lock herself in. But she would need that phone first. Working purely on the adrenaline and the need to survive, Scarlett's mind hatched a quick attempt that she hoped would work.

Scarlett threw open the front door and made sure to smear her blood on the door handle before clutching her wrists close to her chest. She heard Phil banging against the door and knew it was only a short amount of time before he made it out. The bolts were old and they wouldn't hold up forever.

Sneaking into the kitchen, Scarlett grabbed the old tablecloth and split it into two before tying the pieces tightly around her wrists tightly. Just then, she heard the loud bang of the door breaking off its hinges and she snuck into the pantry.

"There's nowhere to run, Scarlett! We're in the middle of nowhere and I will easily find you!" He yelled. She heard his footsteps as he trudged straight to the front door. She heard him growling and held her breath. When she heard the footsteps crunch on the gravel outside, that was when Scarlett made her move. Sneaking out the pantry, she saw Phil's back as he made his way towards the garage from the kitchen window.

She rushed back to the bedroom and scanned the room quickly to see where he'd dropped the phone, praying that he hadn't picked it up. To her luck, she found the sleek black iphone near the foot of the bed and she snatched it up. Scarlett raced back out the door and her heart stopped when she heard Phil's footsteps returning to the house. Mustering up all the strength she had, she sprinted up the steps, skipping two and three at a time to get to the second floor.

She managed so slip into the farther room at the back of the hallway and quickly opened the door of the cupboard with her foot so as to not stain the wood. Shutting it behind her using the same technique, Scarlett reached up towards the ceiling to find the loose board that was the entrance the attic. Pushing it to the side, she scrambled up the hole in the ceiling just as she heard the footsteps come up the stairs. Scarlett quickly slid the board back in place shut and latched it shut from the inside before leaning against the wall.

The attic was cramped but it had a small window to her right and there was a hole in the wall from the old ventilation system. The vent casing was still there but there was no ventilation and right now it acted like a hidden surveillance hole from where she was. She'd primarily used the attic as a storage for old linens that she didn't need and she'd forgotten to clear them out when she sold the house. The beddings and the linens were still there and Scarlett pulled them together to create a makeshift mattress so she could give her body a rest.

It was then did she focus her attention on the phone in her hand. First thing she did was switch the vibration on and then tried to unlock the device. When she failed twice, Scarlett let out an exasperated sigh and waited, hoping that Dean or Roman would call again.

She heard the door to the room swing open and peeked out from the vent and saw Phil enter the room. He looked around the room then zoned in on the cupboard. Scarlett covered her mouth with her hands and held her breath when he slid the door open. The board looked just like a regular ceiling but if he reached up to feel it, he would notice the way it wasn't glued shut.

Scarlett bit down on her fist, the coppery taste of her blood invading her mouth, to keep herself from making any noise as Phil surveyed the cupboard. He let out a growl and stomped out of the door, slamming the door shut behind him. Only then did she let herself breath and dislodged her teeth from her wrist.

With a shaking hand, Scarlett turned her attention back to the phone in her hand. There was a loud yell and something breaking that made her jump; she looked through the hole again to make sure Phil wasn't coming in the room again.

"I WILL FIND YOU! YOU'RE MINE SCARLETT! MINE!"

Scarlett squeezed her eyes shut and covered her ears. She would need to find a way to contact Dean, she couldn't stay locked up here forever. Opening her eyes, she looked at the phone in her hand. Taking a deep breath and going off by Phil's behavior, Scarlett typed in her birthday. The phone buzzed and the screen flashed with the "One attempt remaining" sign. Gritting her teeth, Scarlett rapped her knuckles against her forehead.

"Think, Scarlett! Think!" She muttered softly to herself.

"Describe the best day of your life," Scarlett asked Phil once they settled down to watch the NFL game. Phil had asked her if she wanted to watch the game together and she'd agreed since she didn't have anything else to do that day.

"That's easy. It's the day I met you," he said to her. Scarlett laughed and shoved his shoulder playfully.

"I'm serious, Phil," she said. He laughed and focussed his attention back on the screen. With the game starting, even Scarlett dropped the question and let her attention fix on the TV.

Scarlett gasped and then looked down at the phone. It couldn't be. She'd thought he was joking at the time but what if it was? He'd referenced the day they'd met in many of their conversations and Scarlett had always brushed them off thinking that he was just teasing her. At that time, she hadn't known that Phil would turn out to be this way. Sending a silent prayer up to whoever was listening. Scarlett opened up the number pad and with shaking fingers, typed the date in.

09-01-15

Scarlett almost dropped the phone when the screen unlocked but recovered quickly. Opening up the call log, Scarlett found Dean's contact, but before she could press 'call', the phone began to buzz as the word "Boss" flashed on the screen.

"Boss?" She whispered in confusion.

~oOo~

Dean didn't know how in the world he got there but right now he was sitting in the hospital along with Seth, Roman, Randy, and Hunter. They were waiting on an update for AJ and Stephanie had wandered off to attend some calls and handle the PR department. Randy had been sending silent glares to Dean and for the first time, Dean couldn't find it in himself to fight the guy.

"Hunter? What are you doing here?" The voice was all too familiar and Dean's gaze snapped up.

"Callihan, surprised to see you here," Hunter said as he shook the man's hand. It was only then did Dean see him turn to look at him.

"Holy shit, Ambrose?" Sami asked, staring at him in surprise. Dean was winded and speechless as he stared at his former best friend. Sami Callihan hadn't spoken to him in over five years and Dean was surprised to even see him.

Sami had a look of surprise on his face, one that suited him much better than the utter rage and hatred he'd last seen before Sami had shut the door in his face all those years ago. He noticed Seth and Roman look between the two, both tense as they waited to see what would happen.

"You don't look so good," Sami said in wonder as he approached Dean. "You okay?"

The sheer concern on Sami's face and the lack of Scarlett's presence near him made him snap and Dean let out a groan before he dropped his head into his lap, his fingers digging into his hair.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he kept mumbling.

"Hey, what's wrong? What's wrong with him?" Sami asked, looking up at an equally surprised Roman. The Samoan couldn't find the words but Randy on the other hand had no issues speaking up.

"What happened is that Ambrose couldn't protect AJ like he always boasted he could," he spat. Sami looked at Randy cautiously before he looked at Dean. An emotion passed over Sami face that both Seth and Roman failed to identify due to how quick it disappeared.

"Hey, sit up straight," Sami said softly, nudging Dean into a seating position. Dean leaned back against the back of the chair and Sami took a seat next to him.

"Why are you here, Sami?" Hunter asked him, trying to diffuse the tension that seemed to be building within the waiting room.

"I suffered a concussion few days ago so had to get some tests done. But it seems like I was needed here," Sami said. He placed a reassuring hand on Dean's shoulder, letting go when Dean flinched from his touch.

"You hate me, remember?" Dean muttered. Sami sighed and shook his head.

"You're my best friend, Dean. I could never hate you."

"You said you never wanted to see me again."

"Dean, I was angry. I was angry about everything that had happened. You always protected Isabelle and when she married that douchebag, I trusted you to make the right decision for her," Sami explained, exasperated. Randy scoffed in the background but let out a small 'ow' when Seth socked him in the shoulder.

"You knew how much I loved Isabelle yet you kept me away from her because you didn't want her married life to go into shambles. I could've helped Isabelle, showed her what true love really was. But you told me she was in love with her husband regardless of the beatings and the affairs so I took a step back."

"When she took her life, Dean, I lost the only woman that I'd ever loved. My natural instinct was anger towards you for failing to protect her. I said what I said to you because I was angry and I felt as if someone had stabbed me right in the heart."

"It was only later that I realised that I was blaming the wrong person. You tried to do your best with Isabelle. In my own pain, I forgot that my best friend had lost the only family he had left in this world. By the time I realised my error, you'd already left the city and I couldn't find a way to contact you. I never hated you, Dean. I only wanted to ask for forgiveness," Sami finished, his voice a low whisper. Dean was watching him with a blank expression on his face and Sami tried his best to make sure his best friend knew he was being as sincere as he could be.

"Don't blame yourself over something you had no control over, Dean," Sami assured him.

Roman watched the entire scene in silence along with Seth. They both knew the entire story and they'd seen what Dean had become when Isabelle had taken her life. And right now, history was repeating itself. Dean was back to where he'd started all those years ago and Roman hoped that his best friend made the right choices this time around.

"AJ's family?" The doctor asked coming in to the waiting room.

"Yeah," Randy said quickly standing up.

"I just wanted to let you know that she's out of danger. We've cleared out any remnants of the drugs in her system. She's still sedated but should come around within the hour," the doctor said, smiling at everyone.

"Thank god," Randy breathed, running his hand over his face. "Can we see her?"

"Sure, I'll have one of the nurses lead you to her room," he replied before heading back out.

"One of your employees overdosed?" Sami asked Hunter in wonder.

"It was apparently a suicide attempt," Hunter replied, pinching the bridge of his nose. When the nurse asked them to accompany her, Dean was the last one to follow, choosing to stay behind to spend a moment longer with Sami.

"I did try my best to protect her," Dean said to him. Sami smiled and pulled Dean into a hug.

"I know you did, pal. I know you did," he said patting Dean's back before letting him go.

"Come see, AJ," Dean said, pulling at Sami.

"That's not my place to int-."

"Come on, Sami. You might just find Isabelle in her like the way I did," Dean said. Sami chuckled but followed Dean out the door as they made their way to where the group was already heading into the room.

When they stepped in, Dean's gaze went to AJ as she was hooked up on several contraptions with a steady beeping in the background. She was still unconscious but the fact that she was alive and would be okay made Dean's breathing quicken.

Randy rushed to her side and gently took a seat next to her, lifting her hand in his and pressing his lips against her small fingers. Dean watched the exchange quietly from afar.

"Wake up so I can tell you how much I love you. Please AJ, wake up and let me take away all the pain," he whispered against her hand. Dean looked at Sami and saw him smiling at the scene before him. Guilt gripped him and Dean ran a hand across his face. Sami could've had that with Isabelle. AJ was being given a second chance and she'd get to be safe with the man who truly loved her, but Sami had been forced to watch the casket of the woman he loved lower into the ground, never to be seen again.

"Let go of the past, Dean. Isn't that what you always tell Scarlett?" Seth asked, looking at him. Dean couldn't bring himself to meet his eyes but nodded. His fingers clench and unclenched as he remembered Scarlett. She still hadn't called and when he'd asked Roman whether or not she answered, he'd skirted around the topic.

"Did you manage to call her?" Dean asked looking at Roman. As was expected, Roman fidgeted uncomfortably.

"Dean…"

"What?" Dean asked, his heart skipped a beat as he looked at Roman's face.

"There could be a chance that Scarlett was the 'other woman' that AJ's note mentioned," Hunter said blankly. Dean's gaze snapped to him and his face contorted in rage as he snarled at Hunter.

"You-."

"What Hunter means is that it is a possibility since….well…since Scarlett didn't make it on the plane to Portland," Roman interjected. Dean's focus shifted to him and he questioned him what that was supposed to mean.

"Dean, don't get me wrong. Until AJ wakes up, we can't know for sure what's going on," Roman said, holding up his hands.

"You might not trust her, but I trust her with my life. She wouldn't do this to me," Dean snapped at him. Roman shook his head but was interrupted by Seth.

"I made the mistake once and I'm not going to do it again. You should trust her a bit more, Rome," Seth said, shaking his head in disappointment.

"You got a girlfriend, Ambrose?" Sami's amused voice caused Dean to glare at him before he held up his hands in defense.

"Look, we can't say anything until AJ wakes up. For all we know, Scarlett might not have anything to do with this," Hunter said.

"And if that's the case then where the hell is my woman?" Dean snarled at him. There was a small groan and the six men stopped what they were doing to look at the bed. AJ stirred before her eyes blinked open, slowly.

"AJ?" Randy whispered gently. Her brown eyes looked around the room before settling on Randy.

"R-Ran?" She croaked, her voice hoarse from the lack of use. Randy smiled brightly at her and kissed her hand twice before leaning over to kiss her forehead.

"Thank god you're awake."

~oOo~

"Hold on a minute, who the fuck said I tried to commit suicide?" AJ snapped. It had been just over half an hour since she'd woken and already the fiery personality was returning. They all stared at her as she glared at them.

"You left a note," Hunter said simply.

"I left a…are you mad? Why the hell would I try to commit suicide?" AJ screeched. The men shared a startled look, sans Sami, who was lounging on the couch reading a magazine on home décor.

"The note said you were tired of Punk's infidelities," Seth said, a bit unsurely.

"He's having an affair? Thank god, gives me an excuse to file for divorce," AJ said in relief. The tone caused the men in the room to look at each other in alarm before Roman quickly fished out his phone.

"They said you OD'd," Sami piped up from his seat on the couch.

"OD'd? I don't even do drugs. Hell, I was eating donuts that Scarlett made before I started to get a stomach ache and went black before I woke up here," AJ said shaking her head.

"Punk."

"It's me, Roman. We can't get in touch with Scarlett, do you know anything about that?" He asked.

"Sorry, Roman. I have no idea where Ambrose's girlfriend is."

"Punk, if you hear from her, let us know immediately please."

"Don't worry, Dean. If I hear from her, I'll let you guys know."

There was some rustling on the other side before a loud yelp sounded from the phone causing the occupants of the hospital room to jump in surprise.

"Motherfucker! You bitch!"

"HELP ME! DEAN!"

Well I hope this answers some much needed questions. We're at a very important part of the story so please, do leave me reviews and let me know what you're thinking!

Cheers!

- K.