A/N: Thank you for the reviews! Please take the warning into consideration. If the scenes disturb you, please skip them. I do not go into any form of graphic detail, it is dimply implied.
WARNING: Mention of sexual assault in this chapter!
Chapter Four: Tarnished
Present – Denver, CO
"Err, wrong show?"
Saraya rolled her eyes at Jon as she sat with him in the catering section a few hours before that nights Smackdown, "I got bored and Al is away with his kids, so I figured I would come and visit all my favourite people."
Jon gave Saraya a disbelieving look, "Subtle was never you strong point, you know?"
"You need to talk to her."
Jon said nothing and focused on mixing his chicken into his salad.
"Quinn won't approach you. She thinks you hate her – and she knows you have every right to hate her – but if you would just listen to her and hear what happened I swear you will understand, Jon. I was so angry with Quinn for what she did but now that I know… I get it."
"Then you tell me."
"No," said Saraya adamantly, "You need to talk to her first and you know I'm right."
Jon sighed as Saraya stood up and left. He glared down at his salad as if it were to blame with the issue Saraya had just applied more pressure to.
14th March 2012 – Tampa, FL
"What are you doing?" laughed Quinn as Jon tied a blindfold across her eyes as she sat in the car.
"Can you see anything?" replied Jon.
"No!"
"Good. Now, I'm going to help you out of the car," said Jon as he guided Quinn out of her seat, shutting the door behind him, "Do you trust me?"
"Always."
Jon smiled and took the chance to kiss Quinn with a burning desire only she had ever managed to create within him. Pulling back, he slipped his hand into hers and led her along the pathway they soon went from cement to dirt. Quinn gripped onto Jon's hand tightly, feeling a bit disorientated with not being able to see where Jon was leading her.
"Ooh, I smell water," teased Quinn.
Jon chuckled and spotted what he had set up before Quinn's arrival. He breathed in nervously and led her across the cool grass before stopping and standing in front of her.
"I'm going to remove the blindfold now," said Jon softly, his breath tickling Quinn's neck.
Quinn nodded slightly, placing her hands on Jon's arms as he undid the blindfold and pulled it off. Quinn blinked to readjust her vision and Jon stepped to the side. Quinn gasped, seeing the picnic blanket, pillows, basket and candles lit up around the set up.
"Oh wow… oh Jon," said Quinn in amazement.
"It's been a month since I could call you mine… I wanted to do something nice for you, to show you how much you mean to me," Jon moved closer to Quinn, brushing a loose lock of her curly hair from her face. Quinn looked at him, an awed look still on her face, "Quinn… I love you."
Quinn felt her heart slam against her ribcage at Jon's admission and smiled at him, "I love you too."
Present – Denver, CO
"Penny for your thoughts?"
Jon looked up at Renee and gave her a small smile, "Nothing major. Just the usual schedules drilling over and over."
Renee nodded as she picked up her fork to eat her own salad, "I saw Saraya just before. She must be bored to come hang out here."
"Probably misses her friends. Most of you Total Diva women are all on Smackdown."
"True. So... do you know Quinn? I heard from Trinity she trained with you all in your FCW days."
Jon was thankful he wasn't eating or drinking in that moment as he knew he would have choked on that mouthful. Instead he stabbed some chicken with his fork and gave a careful answer, "I vaguely remember her. We didn't cross paths much."
Renee nodded, "She seems lovely. I think Nikki wants to invite her to a girl's weekend."
Jon nodded, shoving food into his mouth to avoid having to speak.
"Oh, there she is. Hey! Quinn!"
Jon couldn't help but look up and over to where Renee was looking. Quinn was standing in the doorway dressed in her usual combination of skinny jeans and a dark blue singlet top with simple black flats on. Her hair was loose and in its normal curls. Beside her stood Saraya, who linked arms with Quinn and literally dragged her across the room to Jon and Renee's table. Jon's grip on his cutlery increased to the point he had to put his fork and knife down to move his hands to underneath the table.
"Hi Saraya!" greeted Renee, jumping up to give her a hug, "How's the injury going?"
"I should be back in two weeks with any luck," replied Saraya, "So you know my good friend, Quinn?"
"We've chatted. How are you enjoying Smackdown, Quinn?"
"It's great," answered Quinn quickly, with a nod and slight smile to Renee.
"So Jon said you and he didn't cross paths much at FCW?"
Quinn shot a quick glance at Jon before looking at Renee, "I guess so. It was so long ago. Umm… I'm just going to grab a drink and go get ready."
Before Renee could say anything Quinn hurried away. Jon looked at Saraya who shot him a quick look, telling him what he already knew and couldn't avoid forever – he needed to speak to Quinn.
Quinn leaned against the wall, holding the bottle of water against her chest as she willed her heartbeat to slow down. She let out a slow breath and blinked rapidly to stop her tears from threatening to fall.
"Get a grip of yourself," Quinn muttered to herself, "So what if he said we barely crossed paths."
Quinn pushed herself off the wall and headed along the corridor knowing she needed to get ready for her appearance on the show that night.
There was no way she was going to continue stewing over Jonathon Good and what he thought about her.
The stadium went dark and glow sticks appeared in the crowd as Naomi's theme struck. She bounded out to the ramp and amped the crowd up with her dance moves and glowing outfit and hair.
Once in the ring the music ended with her opponent's music coming on.
Alexa Bliss walked out, the air of confidence as she made her way down to the ring, glaring at Naomi. As she stepped into the ring another theme hit. Becky Lynch's music started and the Champion walked out to a huge pop from the crowd. She made her way down the ramp and glared up at Alexa Bliss, their feud still continuing on if Alexa could beat Naomi and retain her Number One Contender's position.
"Becky Lynch will be joining us on commentary throughout this match between Naomi and Alexa Bliss," said Mauro, "Thank you for joining us, Becky."
"Thank you for having me," replied Becky with a big smile.
Quinn watched the screen as she warmed herself up with a quick set of star jumps and stretching out of limbs.
"We need to talk."
Quinn froze midway through an arm stretch as her heart thudded against her chest. She swallowed the non-existent lump in her throat and lowered her arm, "I'm about to go on."
"After."
Quinn rolled her shoulders and moved away, giving her head a quick shake. She couldn't let this shake her up.
"You can't ignore me forever."
Quinn kept her eyes on the black curtain, "I can and I will."
As Naomi whipped Alexa across the ring the music of the one called Harley started. The crowd started murmuring as Harley walked out with the same smile as last week and the twirls occurring. Naomi glanced up from slamming a boot into Alexa's chest as Harley stood at the end of the ramp and looked at Naomi in amusement.
"Just what is going through Harley's mind?" asked Byron, "Is she out here to taunt Naomi and help Alexa win?"
"This needs to stay a fair fight," said Becky.
Harley walked around the ring and came to a stop in front of Becky. Becky stared at Harley uncertainly but was suddenly taken aback when Harley curtsied low.
"Queen Becky," said Harley as she stood upright and took a step back towards the ring.
Harley was grabbed from behind, forcing her to turn around. Leaning between the second and top rope was Alexa Bliss, an angry look on her face.
"Get out of here! She is not the queen! I am!" shouted Alexa.
Harley looked from Alexa to where she had been grabbed by the woman. Without hesitation, Harley grabbed Alexa by the hair and yanked her down, forcing the woman's upper body to slam against the rope.
The referee witnessed the interference and called for the bell, much to the anger of Naomi. Harley stepped back with a twirl as Naomi jumped out of the ring and yelled at Harley for ruining the match. Harley gestured towards Alexa and gave a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders.
Naomi shook her head in anger and stepped forward, shoving Harley back onto the announcers table. As she turned away, Harley stood up, jumping onto the table. She ran along it and jumped off it, slamming a hit into Naomi's back, forcing them both to tumble to the ground.
Naomi stood, along with Harley and the two entered into a match of slugging it out back and forth as the theme of Natalya started.
The Canadian wrestler ran down the ramp and yanked Harley away from Naomi and slammed her into the side of the ring. Harley slid to the ground but managed to roll to the side as Natalya aimed a kick at her. Naomi yanked at Natalya, yelling at her for getting involved in a fight that wasn't hers. Harley carefully moved to the staircase and climbed up it only to be met with Alexa Bliss waiting for her. Alexa aimed to hit Harley but Becky Lynch grabbed her feet from outside the ring, forcing Alexa to slam onto the back. The altercation caught the attention of Naomi and Natalya. The pair quickly moved towards Harley but she jumped from the side of the ring, crashing down onto the top of them both. Harley rolled and stood up as the music of Smackdown's General Manager sounded.
"Enough!" yelled Daniel, "Next week on Smackdown we will start to sort this out with an elimination match between Naomi versus Natalya versus Alexa Bliss versus Harley! The winner will face Becky Lynch for the women's title at Survivor Series!"
With a grin, Harley twirled and headed up the ramp as her music began to play throughout the stadium. The question remained though – was Harley a babyface or heel?
Quinn hurried along the corridor and rounded the corner, shoving the women's locker room door open. She earned a few surprised looks but ignored them as she hastily changed out of her ring gear and into the clothes she wore to the stadium.
Quinn moved to the mirror and wiped her face clean of the make up and let her hair out of the two side buns and brushed her hair into a ponytail. Once done she moved back to her bag and packed everything into it, zipping it shut as Saraya entered the change room.
"Quinn?" she said worriedly, "What are you doing?"
"I-I need to go. I don't feel well. Migraine or something," said Quinn, not looking Saraya in the eyes.
"Ick, I hate those," said Leah as she laced her boots up for her match against Nikki, "The doctor should be able to give you something for it."
Quinn gave a short nod and murmured a thanks as she picked her bag up and made her way for the door. Saraya followed Quinn out, nearly jogging to keep up with Quinn's quick stride.
"Quinn! Please! Stop and talk to me!" begged Saraya.
Quinn shook her head and focused on the ground.
6th August 2012 – Tampa, FL
Quinn gave a groan and hit the button of her alarm, smiling as warm arms slid their way around her naked torso. She turned on her side and met Jon's lips for a long, sensuous kiss.
"As much as I would prefer to stay in bed with you all day, I have an early training session today," sighed Quinn as she slowly sat up.
Jon sat up with her, trailing his lips up her spine as one hand moved its way up her inner thigh. Quinn went her pulse quicken and reluctantly moved from Jon's reach, grabbed her panties from the ground and pulled them on.
"What are you doing tonight?" asked Jon curiously.
Quinn looked over her shoulder at Jon as she pulled her sports bra on, followed by a singlet, "Probably nothing. Why?"
"Did you want to come to the bar with me tonight? It's pool night and Leighla will be the only woman. Plus, any time I get to be around you is a bonus."
Quinn grinned and slipped her sneakers on. She walked around the bed and leaned down to kiss Jon on the lips lightly, "Sounds good. Text me the time and I'll be there. Love you."
"Love you too, sexy."
Present – Denver, CO
Saraya grabbed Quinn by the arm and pulled her to a stop, "What the fuck is going on?"
Quinn's lips trembled as her hands began to shake violently. Saraya snatched the keys from Quinn's hand and pulled her friend into a hug.
"You can't drive in this state. Let's get you a strong coffee and maybe you can tell me what's happened," said Saraya as Quinn nodded weakly.
6th August 2012 – Tampa, FL
Quinn walked into the bar and spotted Jon's arse as he leaned forward to take a shot at the pool table. Quinn grinned to herself as she walked over, smiling and giving Leighla and wave before cheekily pinching Jon on the butt as he stood upright.
"Shit!" he yelled, whirling around to a laughing Quinn, with Joe, Colby and Leighla joining in.
"When you are bent like that there is no humanly way possible I can ignore my chance at payback," said Quinn, stepping forward and slipping her thumbs into the loops of Jon's jeans.
"Payback?"
"All the bloody times you've pinched my arse, Mister."
Jon chuckled and kissed Quinn on the forehead, "You're cute when you're feisty."
Present – Denver, CO
Quinn stared at the table blankly as Saraya went to get her the promised coffee. With trembling hands Quinn grabbed her phone from her pocket and unlocked it and hit the message app, followed by selecting her sisters name.
I saw him.
Quinn hit send and looked to where Saraya was. Standing next to Saraya was Jon, who was looking over at Quinn with a frown. Saraya looked over and Quinn shook her head vehemently, silently begging Saraya to not say anything that would peak Jon's curiosity of her current state.
6th August 2012 – Tampa, FL
"I'm just going to the bathroom," said Quinn to Jon.
"Want me to wait outside for you?" replied Jon, glancing around at the rowdy bar.
"I'll be fine. The guards know us so you know they'll make sure no one bothers me," said Quinn before pressing a kiss to Jon's cheek.
She weaved her way across the bar and into the dimly lit hallway that led to the bathroom. Quinn let out a sigh of relief when she noticed there was no line up. She walked in and quickly went to the bathroom, exiting half a minute later to find she wasn't alone.
"Umm, I think you'll find that the men's bathroom is next door," said Quinn feeling uncomfortable, her hand brushing over her pocket where her phone was.
"I think you'll find I'm right where I want to be," he replied with a leer.
Quinn quickly stepped to the bathroom door and pulled at it only it didn't open. Quinn let out a cry as she was slammed against the door, the man's body pressing against her as one hand gripped his hair and the other dug into her hip harshly.
"Don't even think of fucking screaming. No one will hear you."
Present – Denver, CO
Quinn stood up and grabbed her bag and left the catering area. She would just call herself a cab and go back to the hotel. There was no way she would speak or be near Jon in this state. She didn't know what would come out of her mouth.
"Quinn."
Quinn whirled around and shook her head, "No. Get the fuck away from me."
"You can't ignore me."
Quinn turned away and hurried down the corridor, checking the signs that would take her to the nearest exit. She didn't care where she went, so long as it was far, far away from anyone she knew.
6th August 2012 – Tampa, FL
Quinn sobbed silently, a small whimper escaping her as he grabbed her face roughly and forced her to look at him.
"You tell a fucking soul and I will ruin you. Understood?"
Quinn nodded and was finally alone. She slowly dressed and picked up her shoes. It felt like she had been in the bathroom for hours but in reality it was only ten minutes. Quinn pulled the door open and slowly walked down the corridor. She looked over to the pool table and saw Jon and her friends laughing. She couldn't face them. She couldn't bear to be near Jon. He would instantly know something was wrong.
Quinn walked to the bar, buying a bottle of vodka and exited the bar, opening the bottle as she did so. Quinn savoured the burn as she downed half of the bottle in one go. She climbed into her car and sped out of the parking lot, suddenly becoming overcome with emotions as she turned onto a busy, main road.
"FUCK!" screamed Quinn hitting her steering wheel, "FUCK, FUCK, FUCK!"
Her tears blinded her vision as she reached for her bottle of vodka. Quinn glanced away from the road, wiping her tears away and finding her drink. As she looked up she let out a scream at the sudden lights of an oncoming truck. She turned the steering wheel violently, her car spinning out of control and then everything was blissfully black.
Present – Denver, CO
Jon looked at a shaken, pale Quinn as he approached Saraya who was making two cups of coffee, "Saraya… is… is everything okay?"
Saraya looked over at Quinn who was looking at her phone, "I-I don't know. She's shaking and not talking. Shit, Jon, she broke down in tears and Quinn never cries."
Jon looked over at Quinn and saw she had noticed him. Her vision was like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Something bad happened to her, Jon," said Saraya.
Jon looked away from Saraya at the sound of a chair falling and saw Quinn bolting out of the catering room.
"Quinn!" yelled Saraya running after her.
Jon looked over at where Quinn had been and saw Quinn had left her phone behind. He walked over and picked it up, reading the last text Quinn had sent her sister.
I saw him.
Jon frowned until Hanna's reply came through.
The guy who raped you? Aren't you in Denver? Quinn, call me!
Jon felt anger pulse through him as he left the catering area and looked around. He headed right and looked around him continuously, turning another corner and another until the sound of sobbing reached his ears. Jon followed the noise and finally spotted Quinn sitting in a dark corner with her legs pulled up to her body tightly.
Slowly, Jon stepped closer until he knelt down in front of her, holding her phone out. Quick as lightning, Quinn's hand reached out and snatched the phone from him. He watched her read the message and look at Jon with wide horrified eyes.
"Is this why you left that night?" asked Jon in a surprisingly calm voice, "Why you drank and drove? Why you lost control of your car and crashed? Why you nearly fucking died?"
Quinn bit her lower lip and took in a shuddering breath, "Yes. It was my fault. I-I fucked up. I fucked up. I fucked up."
"Who was it?"
Quinn shook her head no and Jon closed his eyes and took a deep breath in an attempt to keep his temper in check, "Quinn-"
"No. No. No, okay? It's in the past. All of it. You and me are in the past and if you go chasing it, it will make a huge mess of everything. Now you know why I left. Why I kept you away."
"No I don't. I know something… something fucking awful happened but that doesn't answer everything, Quinn."
Quinn leaned her head back against the wall and blinked back tears as she stared at the ceiling to answer Jon, "I couldn't let you see me… or near me. I don't… didn't… deserve you, Jon. I'm dirty, tarnished… ruined. I didn't fight… I'm not worthy of love. You're better off without me and I know I made the right choice by you. You have Renee and she makes you happy. I can see that."
"That wasn't your choice to make," snapped Jon furiously as he stood up and walked away, stopping at the end of the narrow corridor to say one last thing, "When I find out who hurt you – and I will – I will make them fucking pay."
A/N: Now you all know Quinn's reasoning for leaving... how will the reveal play out? Review to know!