A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Sorry for the delay in updating - once the Christmas season is over and done with I should be able to get on top of it all better.
Chapter Seven: Watching
Quinn walked backstage, greeted by a happy Shane and Mark.
"Fantastic," said Shane, "You killed it out there, Quinn."
"Thank you," nodded Quinn with a smile, "It was a fun match."
"You and Jon work well together," agreed Mark, "I definitely think that will be something we will do again in the future."
Quinn just gave a small smile and nod. She headed down the corridor and spotted a table with bottles of water and towels for the wrestlers to use after a match. Quinn grabbed a drink and towel and sat down on a chair to cool down and take in her match.
Even she couldn't deny it was one of her best performances. Quinn sipped her drink and leaned back against her seat. She spotted Jon arrive back stage and stood up to avoid any conversation with him. They may have had to work together that night but she wasn't going to invite any opportunity for him to interact with her and cause any more confusion to her emotions. She needed to remain focused on her goal – survive her six months and prove she is worthy of a long-term contract with the WWE.
Jon spotted Quinn sitting in a chair but she spotted him and was up and walking away. Before he could contemplate her actions, Renee walked over to him smiling.
"That was quite a match," said Renee.
"Yeah, it was," nodded Jon walking over to the table to grab a drink and towel.
"So I was thinking, this weekend we could go for a hike at the Canyon? We haven't been in a while. Plus, it would be nice to spend some time with Blue before we leave for Glasgow."
Jon nodded in agreement, "Yeah, sounds good."
Renee smiled, "Great! Blue will love a weekend with us both!"
Dayton, OH – Present
The wooden door opened and Quinn grinned at her older sister, who squealed in delight.
"Oh my gosh! Quinnie!" cried Hanna unlatching the screen door and opening it so she could hug her sister, "What are you doing here?"
"I have a couple of days down time and thought I would visit my dearest sister in the universe."
"Your only sister."
Quinn laughed as Hanna led her into the living room, "Completely beside the point, Han. How are you?"
"Good. Work is normal – well, we are about to head into the busy season with Christmas approaching. Thirsty?"
Quinn gave a nod and Hanna opened her fridge and pulled out two cans of Diet Coke, "Thanks. What about Freddie?"
"Freddie is away visiting his parents this week. I couldn't go because my bitch of a boss denied my holiday leave."
"What? Han, that's unfair! You've worked four odd years straight without leave. Not even sick leave!"
Hanna shrugged, "Got to pay the bills, right?"
"I think you need a new job."
"Not many jobs going with my skill set in Dayton, Quinn. I suggested to Freddie moving to Cincinnati but he isn't keen on it."
"What about commuting?" suggested Quinn, "I know it's about an hour each way but it beats working for a miserable bitch."
Hanna shrugged and Quinn frowned at her sister. She slid closer to her sister on her seat and placed a hand over Hanna's.
"Han? What are you hiding?"
Hanna looked up at Quinn with tears glistening in her eyes, "I don't think Freddie is visiting his parents."
"What?"
"I think he's cheating on me and I think she lives in Cincinnati. If he were to visit his parents, there would be plane ticket costs on our bank records. There aren't any at all. Driving to his parents would take two days. Freddie hates long car trips."
"Have you called his parents?"
Hanna shook her head and Quinn stood up. She walked over to the kitchen bench and grabbed the house phone and looked through the contacts and spotted Freddie's parents. Before Hanna could protest, Quinn dialled their number.
"Hello Mrs Swann this is Quinn, Hanna's sister. I was just wondering if Freddie was there?" said Quinn politely, "I see… no, no it's okay. You too, bye."
"He's not there, is he?"
Quinn sadly shook her head no as she placed the phone back on the receiver, "So… let's track this bastard down, shall we?"
Las Vegas, NV – Present
Jon sat down beside Renee and took a long gulp out of his water bottle as they took in the view.
"Worth it?" asked Renee with a gesture to the view.
"Always."
Renee nodded, "I sometimes still miss New York… you know, the always being on the go… the quirky stores you find in SoHo or hidden away in Manhattan. But then we come here and I just think myself crazy."
"You should go spend a few days there while I'm on tour after Smackdown. I'm sure Brie or even your mother would go with you."
Renee shrugged before she grinned, "I can't wait for the show in Canada! I'm so excited to catch up with everyone. Mum is planning this massive dinner with all the family. I told her we cannot wait to see them all-"
"When is the dinner?"
"The twenty-first. It was the only night everyone was available," said Renee with a frown.
"That's the live show. Renee, I can't go."
"No, it's a Raw live sho- oh, shoot. Is there any way you can miss it?"
Jon gave Renee a look and she sighed knowing it wasn't possible, "What about the Wednesday?"
"Mum and Dad are going on holidays to Italy for two weeks. I'm sure we can sort another date out," said Renee with a shrug.
Jon nodded as Renee rested her head against his arm, both sitting in silence.
Dayton, OH – Present
Quinn scrolled the screen down on her sister's computer as they both flicked through Freddie's financial records.
"There," said Quinn pointing to a transaction, "Days Inn. That's the cheap hotel in East Cincinnati."
Hanna sucked in a deep breath, "It was made numerous times… look at them all."
"Are you okay?"
Hanna nodded and stood up, grabbing her car keys behind her from the bench, "Road trip, sis?"
"Let's go."
It was nearing dusk as Hanna turned the car into the carpark of the two-storey inn on Mount Carmel Tobasco Road. She pointed to a black BMW with number plates reading FREDSN1 parked outside a room with lights on inside it. Quinn and Hanna jumped out of the car and walked over to the door. Quinn rubbed her sisters back comfortingly as Hanna breathed in a deep breath.
"Okay," said Hanna slowly, "I can handle this."
"You can handle anything, Han."
Hanna gave Quinn a shaky smile and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" came Freddie's voice.
"Room service," said Quinn with a terrible British accent, "I have some fresh towels."
"Hang on!"
A few seconds later the door was opened by Freddie wearing nothing more than his Calvin Klein briefs. He looked from Hanna to Quinn with wide eyes, unable to form a sentence.
"Aren't you going to say hello, Freddie?" asked Hanna.
"Fred, baby, who is it?" came a whiney voice from within the room.
"Ooh, you have company?" spat Hanna shoving Freddie back and walking into the room with Quinn following.
Sprawled on the bed in a loosely tied dressing gown was a young woman with fake tits, a bad hair dye job and orange tan.
"How cliché can you be?" asked Hanna, looking at Freddie angrily, "Your fucking secretary?"
"I-I-I-Hanna, babe-" stammered Freddie only to be cut off with a hard slap across the face from Hanna.
"For months I had been living in denial about you! I ignored the signs and the comments from Marge next door and even my own mother!" shouted Hanna, her anger radiating off her so much that even Quinn took a step back, "Yet here you are in a cheap ass hotel tell, fucking the dumbest bimbo in your office!"
"Hey!" cried the woman.
"Shut up," snapped Quinn with a dirty look to the woman, "Shut up or I will make you regret breathing."
"You know what makes this all the worse, Freddie?" said Hanna, her anger dissipating as a wave of grief filled her facial features, "I was waiting for you to come home to tell you I'm pregnant with our child. But I don't want to be married to a sleazy, two timing, asshole. We are done. I deserve so much better then you."
"Hanna!" cried Freddie as she walked out of the room.
Freddie went to go after her but Quinn blocked his way, "Get out of the way, Quinn!"
"No. You don't deserve Hanna. You fucked up Freddie. You made your bed, so I suggest you get used to sleeping in it," snarled Quinn before she turned and hurried out to the car where Hanna was.
Hanna said nothing as Quinn climbed in. She started the car and drove out of the carpark and down the road, holding herself together until they reached a service station. Only when she pulled into the driveway did Hanna break down in tears, with Quinn comforting her heart broken, pregnant sister.
Glasgow, UK
Quinn stepped out of the bus WWE hired to take all the wrestlers and crew to the hotel they would be staying in. She looked around her in amazement, not daring to believe that she was in Glasgow to do a Smackdown show the next day. Surely she had to be dreaming!
It had been hard to leave Hanna, but their cousin, Ida, was staying with Hanna while Quinn was away and Hanna had been in a better place mentally when Quinn left.
"Quinn! Hi!"
Quinn smiled at a bubbly Renee, giving a general nod in Jon's direction who was standing beside Renee.
"You look a bit stunned?" laughed Renee.
"Ah yeah, I've never been to Glasgow before… actually the furthest I've ever travelled overseas is Hawaii... although that probably doesn't really count. Plus, that was years ago… so this is just," Quinn sighed, unable to express how she was feeling.
Renee chuckled, "One of the benefits of working for WWE. The schedule can be brutal but very rewarding."
Quinn nodded in agreement, "So I am just starting to learn."
The bags were unloaded from the bus and everyone began to head inside. Quinn hung back, taking in her surroundings, a look of complete awe on her face.
"Earth to Quinn!"
Quinn jumped and Nick grinned at her cheekily, "That wasn't nice!"
Nick laughed, "We need to check in. Unless you plan on sleeping on the sidewalk?"
"Hey, I'm in the UK. There is no way I am going to complain about where I wind up sleeping!"
Quinn walked inside with Nick, the pair were laughing and joking together as they joined the line up at the check in.
Jon rocked back and forth on his feet with a sigh. Renee was busy chatting with Nikki and Natalya, comparing cute photos of their pets. A loud laugh caught Jon's attention and he turned to see Quinn with Nick, her face lit up with a smile. He couldn't stop the feeling of jealousy that surged into him. He once made her laugh and smile like that. She did the same for him. He loved it. He missed it. Jon knew he loved Renee but being around Quinn was making him notice there were areas he just didn't connect with Renee like he did with Quinn. Quinn just seemed to understand him. She could get what he was thinking without him needing to verbalize it.
"You right there?" came Renee's frosty tone.
Jon snapped his eyes away from Quinn to a very angry looking Renee.
"See something you like? Or miss maybe?" asked Renee coldly.
"What? Renee-"
"Just don't, Jon… just don't say a word."
It was getting late as Quinn stretched out to her warm up song by Lady Gaga 'Black Jesus + Amen Fashion'. Her and Nick had spent an evening touring Glasgow. Nick had been before and took Quinn to his favourite places. It had been an enjoyable evening with Quinn feeling she hadn't laughed that much in a long time.
Once warmed up, Quinn started strength training, working on making sure her core was still at its peak. She didn't want to risk any weakness putting strain on her back or hip. Since recovering from her car crash and resulting surgeries Quinn had been very focused on remaining as healthy as possible.
She continued through her workout, moving on from strength into light cardio and ending with a cool down run on the treadmill. As she slowed her run to a walk she spotted Jon walk in looking frustrated. He was trying to hide it but Quinn could read the frustration with ease. She looked away and instead focused on the speed and timer on the treadmill, bringing it to a stop and climbing off.
Quinn turned only to slam into Jon's body. She stumbled backwards but he quickly grabbed her, steadying her. His hands rested on her hips and hers on his arms.
"I-I need to go shower," said Quinn without looking at Jon.
"Renee is angry with me."
Quinn said nothing, focusing her gaze on the ground.
"She caught me staring at you earlier. I heard you laugh… Nick was making you laugh."
"Don't."
"I used to make you laugh like that."
"Please… please don't do this."
"I fucking hated watching him make you laugh."
Quinn forced herself from Jon's hold and took off at a run, taking the nearest exit to outside the hotel. She walked along the footpath and stopped, slumping against the wall. What on earth was Jon playing at? She had been doing so well at ignoring him and keeping her distance. Then he has to go and say things like that to her! She was having fun getting to know Nick – she had even told Hanna about him and the possibility of it becoming something more than a friendship.
The sound of the hotel door opening nearby caught Quinn's hearing. She turned and looked, stepping into the shadow to keep herself hidden. Jon walked out and looked around before heading in the opposite direction, away from her. She let out a deep breath and leaned back looking up at the sky.
Who was she kidding? She had never fully gotten over Jon. She compared any guy she had potential with to him. No one measured up in comparison. What she had had with Jon was special and one of a kind. It was a fierce, passionate love and left her breathless the entire time.
Quinn also knew she couldn't and wouldn't hurt Renee. Renee had been nothing but kind and wonderful towards her. Quinn wouldn't be the woman to destroy the relationship Renee had with Jon. Quinn just needed to ignore Jon and move on. Going on dates with Nick would be the perfect way to make sure Jon got the message.
Backstage, Quinn could hear the crowd going insane about Smackdown. The show was about to begin and the arrival of the commentators and Jojo alerted the crowd to that fact. Quinn was decked out in her Harley gear and was warming up. She had managed to avoid Jon since the gym room incident and was feeling quite accomplished at having achieved that.
Once again the women were in the opening segment with Rebecca out of action for a length of time, she had had no choice but to relinquish the title. Naturally, all the women were hungry for it.
"Ready?" asked Nikki.
Quinn grinned and bumped fists with Nikki, "Heck yes!"
The theme for Smackdown sounded with pyrotechnics going off. The Glasgow crowd went insane and the noise level went through the roof.
The noise only got louder as Becky Lynch herself walked out. She grinned at the crowd and held the title up in the air proudly as she made her way down to the ring, where a microphone already lay waiting for her.
"HELLO GLASGOW!" yelled Becky earning a huge pop, "Welcome to Tuesday Night Smackdown! The lass kicking show in all of the WWE!" Becky paused as she pulled the belt from her shoulder and looked at it, "I wish I were here tonight to defend this title. I really, truly do… but unfortunately I am here to relinquish the title. I have suffered an injury that requires I be out of action longer than four weeks."
The sound of the Smackdown General Manager's theme sounded and Daniel Bryan walked out and down to the ring, after doing the Yes chant with the crowd.
"Becky, I understand exactly how you are feeling. I want you to know that when you are able to return, you will automatically become the Number One Contender for the Women's Championship on Smackdown," said Daniel as Becky handed him the title with a sad nod before she left the ring to chants of 'Come back soon!'
Daniel waited a few moments before looking at the belt, "This means the Women's Championship is officially up for grabs."
You can look but you can't touch…
Nikki Bella strode out, doing her dance twirl before she marched down to the ring and flipped into it after throwing her cap out to the crowd.
"Nikki," said Daniel in greeting.
"Daniel. It should be obvious why I am here."
"It is. But you need to know there is already a Number One Contender who still deserves her shot at the title."
At that moment the stadium went black and glow lights came on as Naomi pranced out, dancing her way down to the ring with the crowd holding up glow sticks to join in. Naomi jumped into the ring and the lights soon flickered back on. Nikki nodded at Naomi who nodded back in return.
"I'll face her," shrugged Nikki.
Before Daniel could reply Alexa Bliss' theme blasted and the petite wrestler strode out, shaking her head in disagreement to Nikki. She made her way into the ring quickly, snatching up the microphone.
"Oh hell no! I deserve a shot at the title before you!" snapped Alexa angrily, "I'll face Naomi!"
"You already lost to me once. This will be easy," retorted Naomi.
F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S
Nikki glared up at the ramp as Carmella strutted out.
"I think you are all forgetting about the Princess!" stated Carmella as she slid into the ring, "I deserve that title shot just as much as the rest of you!"
Nikki laughed but before she could speak another theme played.
Natalya walked out without any acknowledgement given to the crowd. She slid into the ring and snatched the microphone away from Alexa.
"I have been here a lot longer than any of you! I am the one who deserves the title shot!" she snapped coldly.
Before Daniel would speak the theme of Eva Marie broke out. The crowd erupted with around of boo's. Eva strutted out and gestured to the women in the ring before walking down in her sultry manner. She stepped up the stairs and into the ring and smirked at Nikki before plucking the microphone from her hand.
"If anyone deserves a championship title shot, it should go to All Red Everything – me," stated Eva.
"Listen-" started Daniel but he was cut off by get another theme of music.
The music of Harley started and the Glasgow stadium broke out into a roar of approval as Harley appeared at the top of the ramp. She grinned down at the gathering in the ring and skipped and twirled her way down to the ring. She paused at the end of the ramp and looked up into the ring curiously before stepping up the steel steps.
She climbed into ring and Daniel looked at her.
"Let me guess. You deserve a title shot as well?"
Naomi handed Harley the microphone and Harley gave her a nod.
"I saw on the TV there was a big gathering happening. I thought I would just come join you all… but yeah. I guess I do deserve a title shot," shrugged Harley.
"Fine. There will be around of matches until we reach the conclusion of the number one contender to face Naomi at Survivor Series for the Smackdown Women's Championship. The first matches to take place will be Nikki Bella versing Alexa Bliss, Carmella versing Natalya and Harley versing Eva Marie. Once the winners from those matches have been decided the three women will battle it out in a Triple Threat match with the winner going on to face Naomi at Survivor Series," stated Daniel, "Nikki and Alexa – your match starts right now."
Quinn sat staring ahead on her, her elbows propped on her crossed legs with her fingers drumming together. She was getting her mind into the zone for her match against Natalie. Her and Natalie had gone over the match basics but would ultimately call the shots in the ring as they went.
"There you are," came a voice near Quinn.
Quinn broke from her train of thought and smiled at Nick, "Hey. How's your night going?"
Nick sat beside Quinn on the table and crossed his arms in front of him, "Yeah you know how it is. Go out, beat up people and head home."
Quinn chuckled, "Sounds like a hell of a good life."
"It is, it is. So, I'm going to take a guess here and assume you haven't been to Barcelona?"
"Naturally."
Nick grinned, "Excellent because I want to take you out and show you the beauty of the place. Say yes?"
Quinn smiled, ignoring the figure standing on the opposite side of the corridor warming up for his match after hers, "Yes."
Nick beamed and grabbed one of Quinn's hands to give it a squeeze, "Brilliant! You won't regret that answer."
"I'm going to hold you to that," Quinn replied as her name was called to prepare to go on, "I better go and beat Natalie up now."
"Have fun."
Quinn winked with a cheeky grin, "Of course I will."
Jon watched as Quinn walked away, bouncing up and down as she did. He glanced over at Nick to see Nick watching Quinn. Jon turned away and let out a deep breath, coming face to face with Allen.
"All I'm gonna say is you need to figure out what and who you want before it too late," said Allen giving Jon a pat on the shoulder, "Because I don't think Nick is looking to just hook up and dump that pretty lady."
Jon knew disputing Allen's assumptions would be a fruitless attempt and instead let out a sigh mixed with a growl of annoyance as he turned to the nearby television to watch Quinn's match.
The music of Harley sounded and the WWE Universe began to cheer. Harley strode out in her usual manner, twirling and skipping every few steps. She grinned at the crowd and jumped up onto the side of the ring and slid in. She stood with a twirl and ran over to a ring post and climbed up it to sit atop it to watch Eva Marie's grand entrance.
"From Concorde, California…"
Eva Marie walked out with her feathered jacket on and made sure to strut out like she ruled the building. She gave Harley a dirty look and stood outside the ring to remove her jacket. The WWE Universe booed her loudly, wondering if she would pull an outfit malfunction or some reason to avoid her WWE Smackdown debut that night.
The bell rang once Eva Marie was in the ring. Harley jumped down from her ring post and grinned at Eva Marie.
"What?" yelled Eva, "What? Stop looking at me like that! You FREAK!"
Harley's grinned snapped away and a look of anger appeared. She charged at Eva Marie, with Eva diving to the side and escaping out of the ring. Harley screamed in rage and stepped backwards before running forward and diving between the ropes and tackling Eva to the ground.
Harley rolled and got back up to her feet and stalked back over to Eva and pulled her up by her red hair.
"No one calls me a freak! NO ONE!" yelled Harley before she threw Eva back into the ring and climbed back in herself.
She forced Eva to roll onto her stomach and quickly locked her into a camel clutch. Eva cried out and Harley pulled tighter.
"I'm not a freak!" snapped Harley only Eva managed to loosen an arm out and used it to help her break the submission hold.
Harley stood and backed up, looking at Eva Marie as she slowly got to her feet. Eva glared at Harley and Harley ran at Eva, only to be met with a foot to the stomach. Harley doubled over and Eva took it as a chance to hit a DDT. Quickly, Eva rolled Harley for the cover.
1!
Harley kicked out and rolled away from Eva. Eva stood and began to yell at the referee about it being a slow count, with the referee arguing back the entire time. Harley stood and moved to the corner of the ring, waiting for Eva to stop arguing. When she finally turned, Harley ran and leaped into the air, hitting a clothesline. Eva slammed back onto the mat and Harley stepped off the ring post and turned, jumping and hitting a leg drop across Eva's mid-section. Harley grabbed Eva's leg for the cover.
1!
2!
Eva kicked out and Harley sat up, looking over her shoulder at Eva in annoyance. Suddenly Eva lurched forward, grabbing Harley's arm and locking her into a cobra clutch. Harley cried out as Eva laughed, taunting Harley.
Harley shook her head as the referee asked if she wanted to give in. Eva made a pull in the move, yanking Harley's arm even more. Harley reached out with her other hand and grabbed a handful of Eva's hair. She pulled on it harshly and Eva cried out. Harley pulled again, yanking Eva down enough to loosen her hold on her other arm and give Harley the opportunity to push her body up and move to behind Eva. Harley rocked back onto her shoulders and slammed her boots into Eva's back, forcing Eva to slam onto the middle rope. Harley slowly stood back, rubbing her shoulder. She looked at Eva and noticed her predicament and marched over and grabbed the top rope with both hands and pressed a knee into Eva's top back.
"Harley! Harley back off! Back off!" yelled the referee pulling Harley away.
Harley moved back and let out a yell, yanking her Harley themed shirt off to reveal a red and black version of her normal ring attire. Harley moved to the nearest ring post and climbed up it, watching Eva Marie like a hawk.
Eva finally stood up and turned with a stumble as Harley jumped from the ring post and hit her finisher perfectly, rolling it into a pin.
1!
2!
3!
"And here is your winner and the third and final participant of the Number One Contender's match – Harley!" announced Jojo.
Harley sat up, shoving Eva as she did so. She did a curtsey as her music played and climbed out of the ring, blowing the referee a kiss as she saw him checking Eva.
A/N: So tension is rising between Quinn and Jon, with Renee taking more notice... but Quinn is also wanting to see where things go with Nick... what's gonna happen?
Review and ye' shall find out!