Chapter 16
A short while into their drive to the next city, Syd woke up completely worn out but on a mission. She rolled out of bed, padding over to the door and quietly opened it. None of her boys were in the bunk area so she silently made her way down the aisle and found them sprawled out on the extended couch. A sad frown pulled at her mouth while she watched Joe shift uncomfortably on his stomach. He didn't like sleeping on his stomach but had to due to his lacerated back.
Sighing, she turned to her medicine cabinets and pulled some peroxide, antibiotic cream and more ice packs down. She opened the packages, grabbed some gauze and took her handful of items to the bed. He was lying on the far right with Jon in the center and Colby closest to the bunks. The pup was just as hyper in sleep as he was awake and she assumed Jon took the center to protect Joe from flailing limbs. She exchanged a sad smile with Frank while she placed her supplies down on the side table before inspecting the condition of Joe's back. Shaking her head, she straddled the big man; hovering over his ass, and doused some gauze pads in peroxide, dabbing at his abrasions.
"Shh, Papa Bear, I'll make it better," she hushed him when he woke with a hiss. "You know the routine so just hold still until I'm done working my magic," she whispered and continued her work.
"You woke up just to take care of me," he mumbled sadly.
"Of course I did; I love you and would never leave you in pain all night," she tossed aside the used gauze pad and snatched up a tube of triple antibiotic. "I'm sorry I fell asleep when Phil and April put me in bed or I would have taken care of this sooner, big man," she said softly, gently applying the cream to every mark with her fingertips.
"I had it coming with my part in all of this," he shook his head, feeling like crap for her breakdown.
"You never deserve to suffer just because you upset me, Joe. Even if you weren't my client, you're still my best friend, my big man and Papa Bear, and it was wrong of me to let Phil take care of you in this half-assed way while I threw a pity party in the bedroom. Shit, you should be sleeping in there to be as comfortable as possible," she said guiltily, snapping the ice packs and placing them on his back.
A soft gasp from her lips had Joe looking over his shoulder to find Jon's hand settled on her thigh. "Well he hasn't been groping me in his sleep so I'm going out on a limb here and saying he's drawn to you even when he's out like a light," he smiled at her, taking in her blush.
"I love you. Please stay with me," Jon mumbled in his sleep; his hand caressing her soft flesh.
"He really loves you, baby girl, and I know he didn't mean to hurt you with the living together thing," he whispered; smiling at his little brother's sleeping face.
"It doesn't matter; I'm a relationship fucktard and moved too fast. I shouldn't have asked," she shook her head; tears building while she wiped her hands off on a wet-nap.
"I don't believe that for a second," Joe rolled over and sat up; ignoring her frown when the ice packs fell on the bed, and lowered her on to his thighs with a grip to her upper arms. "I believe Jon would stay with you on this bus, at home, or in a tent forever if you asked him to. He loves you, Syd; he's loved you for a long time," he gave her a small smile while drying her tears with his thumbs. "Come here, baby girl," he pulled her into a hug, running a hand down her hair while using the one across her back to keep her secure to his chest. "While you're crying, I just want to apologize again for keeping you in the dark about the match. It was, uh, mainly my say that kept those two quiet," he tightened his hold when she struggled, muttering curses into his chest. "It was on me, Syd; I took the worst of it and I didn't want you getting into a big fight with Creative over it. Mama Bear, I know you worry and I love that you love us that much to fight for us but we have to cut our chops just like everyone else," he murmured into her ear, relaxing his hold a bit when her tension began to fade.
"You forget I've been in this business longer than you, big man, and I know those fools can take shit too far. I cannot in good conscience leave your wellbeing in the hands of suits that have never been in the ring. You're my responsibility; period, end of story," she placed a finger over his parted lips, arched a brow and smiled when he gave up. "Now lay your big ass down so I can repack you," she slid to his side, waited until he was situated and replaced all the packs on his welts.
Joe's eyes snapped open when Syd let out a squeak and smiled when Jon tugged her body close to his chest. "Mine," he purred in her neck, snuggling her within his frame. The smile dropped and Joe rolled his eyes when Jon settled his right hand over her left breast and drifted back into a deep sleep.
"He better be sleeping," the big man shook his head with a smirk.
"You better be a heavy sleeper. You'd be surprised of the things he does to me while sleeping," Syd winked at her friend and allowed herself to relax into Jon's embrace.
"Can I go sleep in the bedroom then? I don't want to wake up to him fucking you next to me," Colby mumbled into his pillow.
"Hush up, Pup," she reached over Jon's side and gave Colby a pinch.
They settled down to sleep their pains away; Jon draping half his body across Syd, his hand still grasping her breast while Joe set his palm over her left hand that lay between their heads on the pillow. "Does he really keep his hand there all night while he's sleeping?" Joe asked after a few minutes of silence.
"Either there or between them," she shrugged while running her fingers through his unruly curls. "He says he likes to feel my heartbeat while he's sleeping. It keeps the nightmares at bay and grounds him enough to sleep through the night."
"He's always been a horrible insomniac and when he does sleep, it is erratic and disturbed. It just reinforces my belief that you two were made for each other," the big man smiled softly, kissed Syd's hand and kept his hold on it while they drifted off to sleep.
June 2nd, 2014
Indianapolis, IN
Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Monday Night Raw
The guys sat on the couch, shifting uncomfortably in silence while trying to discuss the elephant in the room. Syd was currently showering, Frank was drinking coffee while reading the paper in the kitchen and a PA had just left after delivering tonight's script to their bus. Gray, blue and brown eyes met, drifted to the ceiling and closed several times while they dealt with their internal struggle. It wasn't until a distressed whine erupted from Colby's throat that the silence finally broke.
"I don't want her to know before," he shook his head, lowering his sad eyes to his lap.
"You know she's going to ask, Colbs," Joe turned his sympathetic gaze to their youngest.
"I can't have her look at me like I'm the fucking devil all day. I'd prefer to face her wrath all at once at the end," he choked out.
"You can't ask us to keep the script from her, especially after last night," Jon said softly, watching his friend's internal struggle.
"Please don't tell her," Colby glanced between his brothers; pleading with his hurt expression before looking up at Frank when he moved to leave.
"Sorry, guys, but I can't lie to her. If she comes out of the shower and asks me what I overheard, I'll tell her so I think it's best if I split until after the show," he smiled tightly, leaving the bus and disappearing into the arena.
Silence fell upon the three men once again. Jon and Joe exchanged telling glances while Colby miserably kept his head down, staring at the floor. "Alright, I realize asking you to keep her in the dark for my benefit is unfair," Colby sighed; clasping his constantly fidgeting hands between his knees to keep them under control. "She's still hurting over what we did last night, and Joe, I know you're trying to make amends with your best friend over that. Jon, she's your lady; your love, and you're worried about where your relationship stands right now. I can't ask you to put your heart in jeopardy for my sake. I am going the chicken-shit route and hiding from her until it's over but I have a favor to ask," he lifted his sad chocolate eyes to his friends. "Tell her I'm sorry," he whispered with watery eyes.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Colbs. It's the job and if anyone would know that it is her," Joe placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You know damn well she loves you too. Hell, she worries about you more than either of us. She won't look at you like you're the devil, bro."
"Joe, it isn't that I'm the one," he shook his head; pushing his hair out of his eyes. "The two of you are going to be in some serious pain tonight and most of it will come from my hands. We all know she hurts when we hurt so her pain will come from my hands tonight. I'll be the one to wreck her, not just you two," he wiped his cheek of the errant tears that fell before the sound of the shower turning off forced him to his feet. "Tell her I'm sorry and try to get her to stay in the back until it's done. I don't think I can go through with it if I have to look at her when I make my move," he rambled quickly, grabbing his bag and exited their bus in a rush.
Once again, the two men found themselves surrounded by silence; only the muted sounds of Sydney drying her body in the bathroom to break the spell. Even capable of hearing her movements in there, they still managed to jolt when she walked out in a short robe with her long, wet hair hanging loose.
"What's wrong?" she asked after taking one look at the two of them.
Joe saw Jon begin to fidget and; knowing his friend was still trying to repair his relationship with her, decided to be strong for his family. "Come here, baby girl," he held his hand out for her; solemn gray eyes meeting worried obsidian, taking her slender hand when it rested in his palm and pulled her to sit beside him. "A PA brought by tonight's script while you were in the shower," he kept his tone calm, handing her the papers that lay beside his left thigh.
Jon shot off the couch, pacing the aisle and chewing on his thumb nail while she read through it. They still needed to talk about his fuck up over moving in with her, and he still owed her an apology for his part in keeping the Payback script from her. The last thing he needed was the explosive split of their faction causing another problem for them but apparently he was being tested in his ability to tame and pacify Sydney Orton's insecurities.
"Where is he?" she asked shakily; the script scrunching in her hands.
"He's hiding from you. He wanted us to tell you he's sorry for the pain he's going to bring you tonight," Joe wrapped a comforting arm across her shoulders when they began to shudder with her tears. "Come here, sweetheart," he scooped her up to settle on his lap, letting her cry into his chest while holding her securely. "He wanted us to ask one thing, baby girl," Joe swallowed past the lump in his throat. The emotional woman on his lap and his petrified best friend were really tearing through his strength, turning him into a raw nerve too. "He'd like you to stay in back until it's over. He doesn't think he can stay in character if you're out there." When she lifted her sad eyes to his, he could tell she wanted to argue but conceded this favor to their little brother with a slow nod of the head.
"Of all days for my pup to hide from me, it has to be the last one we'll travel together," she mumbled tiredly. "What? You didn't know?" she glanced between them, getting to her feet. "He's turning heel and will undoubtedly be feuding with one of you. The company won't let you be seen together anymore," she wandered over to her cabinets, checking her supplies, not seeing the sad looks on her boys' faces. "I need to restock this shit before tonight. Fuck, your poor back, Joe, and you," she turned to Jon with tears in her eyes, tracing her trembling hands over his golden skin. It didn't take long before she was on her way to a panic attack.
"Breathe, Kitten," Jon cupped her face between his palms when she was on the verge of hyperventilating. "Come on, baby, breathe for me," he turned her back to his chest, using a hand to slow her heaving chest while whispering soothing words of love into her ear. "I've got you, baby; I've always got you and I'm never letting go. Just calm down for me, my Queen," he swept her up into his arms and carried her to their bedroom.
Joe stood, watching Jon set Syd down on the edge of the bed and briefly met his eyes when he turned to close the door. 'This is a mess,' he sighed, snatching up his iPod and turned on his music before settling back down in his bunk on his stomach to rest up.
Jon jumped a bit when he turned to find his girl standing right behind him, looking up at him with wide, vulnerable eyes. He cocked his head at her, about to speak when she took his hands and placed them on the tie of her robe. "This isn't the way you told me to request a scene but I'm yours and need you badly, Jon," Syd lowered her eyes to his abdomen, feeling a flush of heat suffuse her cheeks.
"How do you need me, Pet?" Jon rasped out while he pushed her robe from her shoulders, clenching his teeth when his dick sprang to life. This isn't how he wanted to comfort his girl. He didn't want her to depend on the D/s aspect of their relationship to deal with her rampant emotions. But damn, if he could resist her when she came to him like this. He almost hated himself for it. Almost.
"Any way you want; every way you want, Sir."
"That's my girl," Jon purred. "On your knees, Kitten," he gently pushed on her shoulders; his eyes focusing on the top of her head while she gracefully knelt, pushed his shorts down and mouthed along his cock. His eyes fell closed when her tongue bathed his length, rolled to the back of his head when she sucked each of his balls into her mouth, and flew open to stare at the ceiling when she took him to the back of her throat. "That's my good girl; loving my cock like that," he pet her hair with one hand while settling the other on the back of her neck; holding her mouth flush to the base of his cock for a few seconds before pumping in and out, and doing it again. "My beautiful baby looks so hot with her mouth stuffed full of my cock," he groaned; biting his bottom lip when her hands gripped his ass and pulled him to her. "Fucking hell, Kitten! Stand up," he slipped his hands to her torso and easily lifted her to her feet. "You almost made me cum, Pet, and I can't have that, not yet."
"Sorry, Sir," she panted, licking the taste of him off of her lips.
"On the bed, Pet," he swatted her ass to get her moving and growled low in his throat when she settled into the position he uses to mount her. "Are you trying to tell me something, baby?" he asked in a sing-song tone; two fingers delving into her weeping pussy, gathering her creamy essence and spreading it up to her pink pucker.
"Just making myself available for your possible wants, Sir," Syd gasped; her toes curling and a keening whimper rising in her throat when he drove one wet finger in to the knuckle.
"Oh fuck," Jon groaned; fisting his rock hard cock in his free hand while he added a second finger to stretch her ass. "Such a good pet trying to please her Master," his hand moved from his cock to her pelvis, lifting a bit and drove balls deep into her. "This pussy was made for me; it's mine. I want you to listen to me, Kitten," he grunted near her ear; keeping his fingers in her while his pelvis slapped her ass with each thrust. "We're going home tomorrow and after we wake up from an after-sex nap, we're going to my condo, packing my meager belongings and returning to our home together. Do you understand that I can't be without you for a minute?"
"I understand, Jon," Syd stuttered out when he continued to pound her pussy.
"Fuck, your pussy feels amazing," he mumbled into her shoulder; his hips relentlessly working her towards orgasm. "I feel like I can't breathe if we're apart. Did you know that, Syd? I fucking love you so much and I don't want to sound like a needy prick but you'll need a restraining order to get rid of me. Cum for me, baby!" he clenched his teeth, holding back his release while she gripped him like a vise within her. "That's my Kitten," he stroked oh-so-slowly into her, riding her through her orgasm. "I know you're hurting, baby. I know you're sad but I want you to know that I'm here to support you just like you've been by me since the beginning. Your pup and the big man love you too. The four of us and even Frank; we're family and always will be," he eased out of her pussy; his cock soaked in her essence, and gently worked it into her loosened backside.
"Oh Jon!" she threw her head back, eyes clenched tight.
"Easy, baby, just breathe," he rubbed her lower back, purring words of love to her until he was buried deep within her. "Come here, sweetheart," he lifted her upright until her back was against his chest, sitting on his cock. "I love you, Syd," he kissed along her neck, dropping the scene long ago and just letting his emotions go. "I'll never get tired of this, baby, not ever," he crossed his arms over her breasts, rolling his hips to thrust into her tight ass. "I love you, Kitten," he whispered against her shoulder, trailing kisses up her neck.
"I love you too, Jon," she keened when he slid in to the hilt. "How is it you always manage to get your way when we're making love? Oh!" she arched her back when he rolled her nipples between his skilled fingertips. "Is fucking my ass considered making love?" she moaned, rolling her head on his shoulder.
"Fucking your ass is definitely making love. I'd be devastated if you didn't give me all of you, including this delectable ass. I am very much in love with this ass. And I get my way because you can't argue with my cock," he bit down on the sensitive skin of her neck, sucking the blood to the surface. "You're very stubborn and give me hell but my cock always wins our negotiations. In fact, I think I'll name him 'The Negotiator'," he chuckled in her ear before he picked up his pace while moving a hand down to her clit. "So beautiful, my Queen," he nuzzled her cheek, enjoying the little spasms that shot through her body with each strum of his fingers on her tiny bundle of nerves. "Kiss me when you cum," he purred in her ear while his hips and fingers got busy.
Not even five minutes later, Syd and Jon were moaning into each others' mouth while their bodies shuddered together.
"You two do realize that I'm stuck out here in pain, right?" Joe called from his bunk. "The Negotiator? Really, Jon?" he laughed but hissed when it jolted his back.
"Where's your iPod?" Jon chuckled into her hair while she hid her face in his neck.
"Battery died."
"Better get that taken care of before tonight," he mumbled in between kisses to her forehead.
"Nuh uh, we're getting a suite tonight," Syd eased up while Jon pulled The Negotiator from her body. "And you two aren't working tomorrow night's taping," she crawled off the bed, snatching up her robe and pulled it on. "I'll make sure you're as comfortable as possible for the night before we go home tomorrow so Joe," she opened the bedroom door and walked out, "you better change your flight now," she cocked her head at him before disappearing in the bathroom.
"Jon, is she sure?"
"I'm not arguing with her, man, and The Negotiator needs a few minutes before he can do anything," he smirked, breaking down into laughter with his friend.
"Where are you going, Kitten?" Jon asked his lady when she emerged dressed after another shower.
"Into the arena to tell Paul all three of us will be out until next Monday," she grabbed her cell and slipped it into her back pocket. "Did you book your flight, big man?" she asked Joe who nodded. "Do me a favor and call Frank to book us a two room suite and two singles; one for him and one for Colby. I'm sure the pup doesn't realize he has to start doing that shit on his own now. I'll tell Randal I'll send the jet back for him after we get home," she glanced at Jon.
"Are you going to tell Randy?" Jon looked at her hopefully; his fingers rubbing at his collarbone.
"Yeah, Jon, he's my next stop after Paul and then I need to hijack another trainer's room for later. I'll see you two in there," she sighed, moving to the stairs and quickly leaving the bus.
"I hope Colby isn't with Paul or Randy," Joe said with a worried expression. "I'll call Colbs," he pulled out his phone.
"And I'll call Randy to keep her with him until it's time," Jon hit the speed dial for her brother, biting his thumbnail while it rang.
Syd stood at Gorilla watching her boys come through the audience on a monitor, glancing at brother when he placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know it's stupid to ask but are you going to be okay?" he asked when he saw her watery obsidian eyes.
"No, my boys are going to be hurt and I'm losing my pup. I don't even know how we'll function without him traveling with us," she looked up at him when his hands cupped her face and he kissed her forehead.
"John's keeping you company until you're clear to go out there," he smirked at her when she cracked a small smile.
"You sic'd Cena on me to make sure I don't bring the show to a crashing halt huh?"
"Your brother is very transparent, Peanut," John wrapped an arm across her shoulders, holding her tight to his side.
"Not that transparent," he glared at his best friend before smiling softly at his sister. "I love you, Syd, and I'm sorry for my part in this," he kissed the top of her head and walked towards the curtain to wait on their cue.
"I'll be damned," John stared in the direction Randy went; a perfect mirror of her confusion on his face. "Who would've thought Good fucking you would improve your relationship with your brother?"
"Shut up, dick," she elbowed his side with a slight smile.
"He looks sad," Syd said softly while watching Colby say his piece. "His voice sounds flat, his laugh is fake and his smile isn't reaching his eyes," she snuggled into John when he adjusted his arm from her shoulders to her waist.
"This has to be hard on him even though it's necessary," he said solemnly, already hearing the hitch in her voice.
John felt Syd tense when Colby rolled out of the ring to collect two chairs and her entire body jolted against him when it impacted Joe's back. By his fourth hit to Jon, her face was buried in his chest and she flinched with every metal clang and smack.
"Don't, Syd," he warned her too late when she glanced at the monitor to see him Curb Stomp Jon onto the chair. "Sshh, Peanut, it's okay," he whispered into her hair while she sobbed into his chest.
By the time her brother took his turn on Joe, John had to physically restrain her from running out there. "Goddamn it!" she shouted when he stripped his vest and shirt off of him, his bruises and welts from the night before showing on his caramel skin. Her knees almost buckled when Randy RKO'd Joe on the chair. "They need me. I have to go!"
"Hold on, sweetheart," John kept a grip on her until Raw went off the air but she made a break for it when it switched over to Backstage Pass on the Network. "Oh shit," he grimaced when she was seen on camera bolting down the ramp and slid into the ring.
Hunter, Randy and Seth were still in the ring, staring down at Roman and Dean when Syd instantly hit her feet, standing between the three men and the down superstars.
John smiled when his best friend stayed in character but avoided looking at her to do so. Colby kept his eyes down the entire time, standing stiff as a board when he felt that dark gaze on him. "She has them pissing their pants!" he laughed when the woman wouldn't back down even as the trainers and ringside doctors saw to her clients behind her.
"Did Booker just say her name and relation on the Network?" Michael Hayes asked from his monitor.
"He sure as fuck did! I think he's trying to explain why she's still fronting them off this long into the after-show but Randy is gonna be pissed," John grinned, watching Syd step towards her brother and he smoothly spun on his heel, wandering off to the announcers' side of the ring. "I swear to God, I think Paul is the only one not shaking in there and even then, he has to be on the inside, hoping she doesn't snap in front of the audience," he bent at the waist, almost in tears from his laughter.
"If she does, it will make Vince a very happy man that he'll finally get her in a ring and not just as a doctor," Michael wagged his brows with a smile.
"Syd can't fight Divas though. She'd break them. That would be a nightmare for Vince to book her against men. He loves her too much to risk it," John waved him off before he started laughing again. "She just told Paul to 'fuck off out of here'! I read that plain as day!"
"Correct me if I'm wrong but the poor fella looks like he's gonna be sick," Stephen Farrelly pointed at Colby on the monitor he was watching with Claudio Castagnoli.
"He does look green, doesn't he? She doesn't exactly see reason when her boys are hurt though. Ha! Randy is leaving the ring!" Claudio chuckled when her big brother tried to move Paul along quicker. "Paul really wants to draw this out but she ran the fucking Viper out of the ring and Colby looks like he's about to cry or pass out."
"Yeah, I think I'm in trouble," John rubbed the back of his head when the three men finally started up the ramp and Syd got to work, looking over her men. "Sorry, bro, she's a slippery little shit," he shrugged his shoulders at Randy with a thin smile.
"Shit, she is lit the fuck up! I can't believe she held it together out there," Randy ran his hands over his shaved scalp, focusing on the monitor and his little sister. "Damn it, kid, you hit Jon's arm more than a few times," he shook his head at the quiet ex-Shield member before looking at his sister cradle his arm between her hands.
"Man, Booker said her name and that she's Randy's sister on the Network," Stephen stepped up to his workout partner, Paul, with raised eyebrows.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Randy shouted over Paul's shocked "what?"
"She was fronting you three off for a long time, man. I'm sure they felt they needed to address who the crazy lady in the ring was before fans started to dig. You know how they get?" John patted his shoulder, trying to calm him down. "And you made her squeeze bleed with that Curb Stomp so I'd continue hiding if I was you," he directed at the still shell-shocked Colby. "In fact, you marked up her big Samoan so I'd hide with him if I was you," he smirked at his best friend.
"Here are your bags if you want to make a break for the hotel, Colby," Frank placed his luggage down against the wall.
"Why do you have my bags?" he asked in a daze.
"She had me book us all suites since they are going home tomorrow afternoon. Yours is under your name," he stood next to John, waiting until the three of them made their way up the ramp so that he could assist his boss.
"I'm not rooming with them?" he trailed off when Frank met Syd and the aching Joe and Jon at the curtain, draping Joe's arm over his shoulders.
"You can't be seen with us anymore, remember?" Syd answered the question that was on the tip of Colby's tongue. "You're a heel now so maybe if you skulk around with my brother, we can see each other again when he rents out a gym," she pushed Randy aside to help Jon along, followed by Frank helping Joe to the trainer's room she commandeered.
"Syd," Randy called out, feeling bad for the kid when he clasped his hands behind his head and sank down to a crouch.
"Not now!" she shouted before kicking the door shut behind them.
"You should have told her, Colby; spent the day with them instead of hiding out in here. She wouldn't be as hurt if you were there," Paul shook his head and went to stand outside of the trainer's room, waiting to see if Jon and Joe were alright.