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Chapter 6

He knew he was smiling as they entered the dining hall together and he also knew that the woman beside him was trying her level best to not let her emotions get the best of her. The way she was gripping his hand so tightly was only a confirmation. The reaction was similar. Few people looked up and threw them a smile, few stared before looking away, while others went on about their own business.

Dean knew that while he was used to be stared at, Scarlett wasn't. She was one that blended into the shadows, he remembered the first time he met her all those months ago. She'd disappeared before he was even able to ask her anything; something that had surprised him. She wasn't used to the limelight like he was and thus he understood perfectly well why she was so rigid next to him. Not only that but she had yet to find the confidence to accept herself, something he'd noticed her struggling with since they'd gotten together.

"Dean," she whispered, huddling closer to him. He glanced down at Scarlett and smiled before he led her to where Seth and Roman were sitting, already started on their dinner. Scarlett dropped down into a seat next to Seth while he took the seat next to her. He reached for her and tucked her hair behind her ear, those chocolate pools turning to him with panic evident.

"You're doing great, let's go get some food," he encouraged her. She almost looked like she was ready to decline but he held her chin gently but firmly and smiled at her, the familiar blue boring into her eyes. Scarlett looked at him in silence, her gaze intent and slowly, Dean began to see the fire of determination coming back. With a stiff nod, she stood up with him and together they walked to the buffet table.

"Please don't make everyone lose their appetite, it's just not healthy," Nikki's snide remark made her freeze and Dean shut his eyes as his temper flared. Opening them, he looked at the brunette who was sashaying off with a plate with her twin by her side and joined Summer and Renee at their table.

"I don't think I'm hungry," she said softly. Dean's gaze snapped towards her and he turned to face her.

"You need your strength," was all he said before he guided her along the buffet with a firm hand on her back and made sure her plate was piled with food to his satisfaction. Once they returned to their table, Roman and Seth did an excellent job of distracting her by goofing off and bantering. Under his watchful eye, she consumed everything he'd served onto her plate.

"To be fair though, I think we should at least bring Scarlett to the shows," Seth said with a hopeful look on his face as he looked at Dean. He looked at Seth then shook his head in denial.

"No. She needs rest. The shows can get hectic as it is and I won't be with her throughout it all," he responded, eyes shifting towards the table where Renee and Summer were piercing them with their angry stares. The girl next to him froze and he slipped a hand around her waist, rubbing his thumb over her hipbone.

"Put her out in the crowd, first row behind the hard camera. We'll send Don with her," Seth argued back.

"Why are you so hell bent on making her attend the show?"

"I want her to watch m-us," he said. He noticed the slip up and raised a curious eyebrow but could also feel the tension radiating off Scarlett, so he let it go and continue to rub her skin, hoping she would be soothed.

"I…I'd like that," she said softly, speaking up for the first time since they'd entered the dining hall. The three of them looked at her and Dean didn't need to look at them to know that they were all sporting wide grins.

"Really?" Seth asked, beating Dean with his enthusiastic question. Scarlett nodded and she looked at him, his heart twisting when he noticed she appeared to be waiting for him to decline. It almost made him smile with the way she thought he was too protective of her. He nodded and he finally saw her smile, her shoulders easing and her body relaxing slowly.

"I'll have Don be in charge whenever one of us isn't around," Dean added, fishing his phone out to send word to his trusted bodyguard. His attention was split between Scarlett and his phone and he couldn't help but notice how she kept fidgeting restlessly. Sighing, he stood up and held his hand out to her.

"Come on, it's time we get you back into bed," he said, knowing she was growing wary of the few stared being sent her way. They'd spent about an hour in the dining hall and for the first time since she'd left her scarf off, it was enough.

There was a soft moan of pain as they stepped into the elevator and Dean's senses went on red alert as he swept her into his arms and inspected every inch of her.

"What? What's going on? Where does it hurt? Do you need the doctor? Should I call 911?"

"Relax," she said to him, her hand shifting to rest above his heart. The slight contact was enough to lay off the questions but not enough to stop him from scrutinizing her.

"My ribs are sore but nothing serious," she explained and Dean shifted as he released a breath. He guided her to their room and helped her into bed, tucking her in and kneeling on the floor next to her as she rolled onto her side.

"You worry too much," she said softly. He scoffed and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, the chocolate pools of her eyes warming him up to his core.

"I don't worry enough," he replied, running a hand through his own hair as he heaved a sigh. The soft chuckle from her had him looking up at her just as she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his lips gently. It was newfound courage from her that made him so joyous, the times where she took the first step towards him. Her confidence was slowly increasing and Dean wanted nothing more than to plaster the goofiest grin he could muster on his face. The kiss ended much too quickly for his liking and he ducked his head forward again only to meet her fingertips as she placed them over his lips.

"What?"

"I think it's about time we get into bed," she said, chuckling when he huffed in annoyance.

~oOo~

The next day, Scarlett woke up to the sound of the door banging open and a thundering of footsteps. Naturally, she did what anyone would do when they'd be woken in such a way. She screamed. But before the sound could leave her mouth, a strong hand went over her mouth and her body was pinned to the bed by a larger one. Heart hammering, she looked into the face of…Seth Rollins?

"WE'RE GOING TO EUROPE!" He exclaimed, the excitement clearly visible on his face and Scarlett finally calmed down, her heart still racing from the unexpected visit. Her hand reached out to her side and she was met with the warm back of the man she loved as he was rolled over onto his stomach fast asleep. She glanced at Seth and spotted Roman shuffling towards the couch and kicking his feet up onto the table after he took a seat.

"You almost gave me a heart attack," she breathed and Seth grinned at her sheepishly before he clambered off of her and Scarlett took a few fresh gulps of air to calm herself. An arm went about her waist and she looked to her side to find Dean shifting over to his side.

"He always gets excited like this when we go to Europe," he said, his voice was gravelly and still laden with sleep, which made her reach out and run a hand through his hair.

"The Europe tour is great, we get to meet the fans who are so passionate over there," Seth explained as he sat at the edge of the bed, his hand resting against her ankle over the blanket.

Scarlett gently pulled herself free from Dean's grasp and from Seth's hold on her ankle before swinging her legs over the side of the bed and standing up. The covers slipped from her body and she heard a growl escape from Dean, a sound that startled her. She looked over her shoulder to find Dean glaring at her, Seth staring, and Roman trying his best to not glance her way. It took her a moment to realize the cause and when she did, Scarlett gasped and grabbed a robe to cover herself up. Since she'd started sharing a room with Dean, Scarlett had become more comfortable with herself when it came to just the two of them in the room, especially since she'd found out Dean had a…fascination with lace and silk. Her choice of nightwear was meant to be between Dean and her but alas, it was not meant to be kept between them.

"Scar, bathroom. Now," was all she heard from Dean and she was scurrying off towards the bathroom, grabbing a pair of jeans and t-shirt along the way as her face burned with mortification. One the door was shut behind her, Scarlett leaned against it and ran a hand through her hair before thumping her chest to calm herself. How on earth was she supposed to look at Seth and Roman in the eyes ever again?

All she needed was to glance up into the mirror after taking her robe off to remember that she should be downright ashamed of herself. The golden silk slip did nothing to hide the scars that marred her body and Scarlett realized that the two men in the room probably hadn't looked at her with a shred of desire but rather disgust. The way Seth had stared and the manner in which Roman tried his level best to not look at her only confirmed her suspicions. Mortified, disgusted, and upset, Scarlett headed towards the shower. What a stupid thing to think, she had Dean and she knew he didn't mind them so she'd just have to remember to never let Seth and Roman see any more than they needed to of herself.

~oOo~

Seth felt his mouth go dry when the covers slipped off and he found himself staring at her figure adorned in a golden silk slip that clung to her frame. Did he notice the scars that decorated her skin? Sure he did but he also couldn't help but note the way the silk molded against her skin, outlining her stomach and…holy fucking God.

"Scarlett, bathroom. Now."

Dean's growling words cut right through the desire that was building and just like that it evaded him completely as he tore his gaze from her body and fished out his cellphone from his pocket. At least Roman had the television to keep his eyes on.

She's not yours. Ignore the feelings. Shut them away. He repeated diligently in his head over and over again as Dean too climbed out of bed. Seth had to remember this was his best friend's girlfriend. He had no right to ogle her the way he had been doing.

"Don't give her a hard time. I know she has scars but I don't want to change a single thing about her," Dean said as he heaved a sigh and Seth looked at him, momentarily confused before realization dawned on him.

"Fuck no, Dean. The scars were the last thing I saw!" Seth flinched at his own words and he noticed the way Roman and Dean's heads turned sharply towards him.

"She's the kindest person I've ever met and one hell of a cook. I want you to be happy, man. I won't let you change a single thing about her either because I know…I know how happy she makes you," he continued, trying to cover up his stumble, the last words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. He felt Roman's gaze boring into his while Dean visibly relaxed and nodded.

"Thank you. Pretend like you never saw anything because if I know her as well as I think I do, I know she's in there right now thinking that you two are disgusted by her," he said. Finally, Roman's gaze shifted from Seth to Dean and the latter breathed a sigh of relief surreptitiously.

"With the shit we've seen, scars are the least of our fears," Roman said, his voice held a note of nonchalance and he waved Dean off.

"Besides, it's not like the two of us stared at her shamelessly. We know what you two feel for each other and we respect that."

If Roman's intent was to make Seth feel like even bigger of a douchebag than he felt he was, it was working. We respect that. The words made him want to claw at his face and bang his head against the wall. Hell, he had to keep his emotions in check. He couldn't do this to his best friend. Ever.

"Did Stephanie tell you when and for how long we'll be in Europe for?" Dean asked and Seth almost wanted to kiss the guy for changing the subject so flawlessly.

~oOo~

"I'm supposed to leave her alone for three weeks?" Roman boomed, barging into Hunter's office with a frustrated look on his face. The COO looked up from whatever it was he was reading and then nodded as he understood the question.

"You're still a part of this company regardless of your…other activities," Hunter responded.

"Hunter. She's still recuperating from being kidnapped by Punk, she's in pain once the medicine wears off thanks to her ribs, and she's been on edge since the photo incident. Do you really expect me to g-."

"Yes, I do expect you to come with us. All three of you. As for her safety, did you not assure me that Franco had the entire place under surveillance?" He asked.

"Yes, but-."

"Did you not assure me that everyone that comes to the house has had several background checks done?"

"Yes, but-."

"Did you forget who she really is?"

There was no response as Roman pondered his words, a stony expression on his, and the muscle in his jaw ticking in annoyance. Hunter threaded his fingers together and looked at Roman with a solemn expression.

"Roman. Dean tried to put up a fight with us already when Stephanie and I refused that she couldn't come along so please don't waste your breath," Hunter said. "Dean agree he'll drop her to Vegas next week before he'll meet us in Paris for the meet and greet."

"Is there nothing you can do?"

"I'm afraid not. The company does not need chefs to be travelling with them to every city they go internationally. She'll have to remain behind for the three weeks we spend in Europe."

Roman wasn't liking it at all. He didn't like the thought of leaving her alone one bit and he knew he'd have to give Franco a pep talk and a case of beer to keep her secure. Not only would Dean kill everyone that tried to hurt her, but there was also someone else whose rage was to be avoided at all costs. Those three weeks in Europe would be difficult.

And Roman had a very bad feeling about this.

And voila! Scarlett made the leap into stepping into a room full of people she knew and worked with without her scarf! I sense a change in the weather. A small separation coming up between Scarlett and Dean that will change everyone's lives. Plus, Roman and Seth got to see a bit more of Scarlett than they'd expected to see. So, your thoughts are always appreciated so let me know! Also! Recommend me some good KDramas to watch. I hooked!

Cheers!

- K.