Chapter 17

"I am. Tonight was busier than I anticipated, but we were short-handed, so we did the best we could with just two of us." Hopefully, Tabitha was feeling better in the morning or else they'd really be screwed since it was Summerslam tomorrow. "I couldn't even get out here to have a cigarette break until now."

She flicked ash away from him, wondering what was going through his mind because he had this intensity in his eyes she couldn't explain. It wasn't an anger so much as just…intensity. Maybe the adrenaline from his match was still pumping through his veins.

"And you can bug me anytime you want, Colbs. All of you can, we're friends. And you really helped me out last night, whether you believe it or not. I needed to get that off my chest, to tell you what happened, because keeping it bottled up inside all this time wasn't good for me mentally, emotionally or physically. Tonight, I don't even want to stop at a liquor store for Vodka. That tells me right there that telling you guys was the right thing to do."

Joe inwardly sighed in relief. Maybe she hadn't gone down the alcohol route as much as those quick shots in rapid succession last night had indicated. He knew if she was a true alcoholic, going without for extended periods would mean withdrawal, cravings, and all that other fun stuff. He hadn't been down that road, but in this line of work, he had seen it once or twice. It was inevitable.

She also still had vodka at the hotel so there was also that, not that Jon was going to mention it. He was smoking quietly, listening as the other two chattered at her, and the turned with an eye roll when he heard that accented, Scots voice calling out a 'goodnight lass' to her. What the HELL, who said that?

Tressa waved in return at Andrew, not seeing a problem with it, and flicked her cigarette away. "Goodnight, Andrew, thanks again!" He waved back at her and she shouldered her purse, feeling a lot better now that she had her cigarette.

"Okay Tres, what's up with that?" Colby demanded before Jon could, folding his arms in front of his chest. "You cheating on us now?" That was a joke and she rolled her eyes at him to show she knew it was.

"Oh yeah, sure, I'm all up in Andrew's grill, didn't you know?" Tressa's voice dripped with sarcasm, shaking her head. "He actually saved me from being plowed over in the hallway tonight on my way to catering. People just don't watch where they're going, especially when they're running. And then, he saved me a couple of bucks by banging on the water machine to drop two waters, so that's why I was thanking him."

"Ohhh…so that's why you came into catering with him…"

"Yeah, he was just helping me, and being as big as he is, nobody can mow him down unlike me." Tressa knew she was tiny, feeling like an ant compared to the Shield boys. "He was perfectly pleasant and polite. If he wasn't, I would tell you guys." Not likely, but that seemed to put relief on both Colby and Joe's faces.

Jon was standing behind her, so she couldn't see his face at the moment.

She was lying and Jon knew it. Tressa had been maybe not afraid of Andrew the night before, or was it the other night, but he had definitely intimidated her enough to give her a slight tremble. Hell, maybe he was overthinking this entire thing. The man was a monster compared to her tiny ass, she didn't know him that well…it was natural to be a little nervous, a little anxious, right? But if something was wrong, she wouldn't tell them, at least not without a four-month waiting period. That was an unkind thought and he felt like an ass for it, bending down to rest his chin on her shoulder.

"She's cheating on us." He sighed dejectedly, snorting when he got her cigarette smoke blown right into his face.

"I am not, you ass!"

Tressa felt his hands on her waist and leaned back against him, finishing her second cigarette. She needed two in a row because she'd gone over 8 hours without one. Andrew did intimidate her because of his size, but he hadn't been mean to her or anything. He hadn't spoken to her in a weird way, so it was all in her head.

"Look, the man is huge. He's bigger than Joe and Joe intimidated me at first. Hell, look at the Undertaker, okay? Perfect example, that man TERRIFIED me when I first met him because of his size, but he was perfectly polite and very nice. It's just the size that gets me, but he helped me and I appreciate it."

"Hell, who ISN'T intimidated by Taker?"

Joe smirked, folding his arms in front of his chest. "Even I was at first, but working with him at Mania closely the way I did, and actually defeating him…" He wasn't intimidated by the Deadman anymore.

"Something you didn't want to do. Vince forced that on you."

"True." Joe had fought to make Taker go over in that match, but Vince was against it and Taker had assured him it was fine. WrestleMania no longer defined who he was or his legacy.

"Don't worry, you boys are still my favorites and always will be." Tressa heard Jon snort in her ear and kissed his cheek, smacking him on the back of the head. "Ready to go, Mr. Jealous?"

"Jealousy implies I've got a claim on you, kitten." He rumbled in her ear, feeling her body shiver against his, and smirked, stepping away to give her space. "You look like you need a long hot bath and a solid 8 hours sleep, Tres." But she also looked better than she had the other few nights. Maybe last night had been good for her since she'd gotten things off her chest with Joe and Colby.

"Wow Good, way to tell a lady she's not looking her best." Colby snorted, ducking when a mock punch came his way, and began doing a boxer shuffle, fists up.

"Oh no, not tonight." Laughing, Joe broke up the fake tussle, shaking his head. "Enough, children."

"Gee, thanks." Tressa laughed at their antics, pulling the keys out for her rental. "You riding back with me or are you going with the boys, Jon?" A hot bath did sound nice.

"He's riding with us. We got some things to discuss. You go and relax and don't worry about how you look, baby girl. You're still beautiful as ever." Joe kissed the top of her head, gesturing for the others to follow and Colby did while Jon stayed behind.

"I'll be there in a minute, Uce." Jon called out, watching the Samoan wave at him, and turned his attention to Tressa.

They were alone now and Jon had that intense expression on his face again. "Are you feeling better after your minor freak-out earlier, Daddy?" She asked, trying to lighten the suddenly tense mood between them, and wondered if he was truly bothered by the fact Andrew had helped her. Why would he be, though? They weren't together or in any kind of relationship, only fooling around every so often. "Jon, what is it?"

"Just tired is all, kitten." Jon blatantly lied, deciding for now he wasn't going to say anything because he wasn't even sure what was going on between him and Tressa.

Well, they were friends. Friends with serious mental damage and equally serious chemistry. He knew he was pushing her too fast sometimes, or maybe too hard, and then she'd do something like kissing him. It made him wonder if maybe he wasn't pushing hard enough.

"I'll text you and let you know what the what is." Depending on if Joe let him leave anytime soon.

"Okay." Tressa didn't know why he couldn't come out and say what was on his mind right now, but maybe he needed time to mull things over. Whatever he needed she was fine with. "If I don't answer you right away, I'm either in the bath or sleeping." She informed him softly, placing a hand against his chest, and looked up into his eyes. "Goodnight, Jon."

Walking past him, Tressa headed toward her car and felt his eyes on her the entire time, fighting the urge to look back at him. Slipping behind the wheel, she fired the ignition up, remembering when Jon hopped into her rental the night of his return and realized this would be the first night she slept alone, without him, since Monday. She would have to get used to sleeping alone since she no longer had a husband and she had done it for so long while working for the WWE anyway. It wouldn't be that hard to get back into the swing of things as she pulled out of the parking lot and headed off to the hotel.

Jon had no intention of letting her sleep alone, not so soon anyway, maybe once she needed him less. Or when he needed her less, if that ever happened. He was just being held hostage by his friends. Joe was a lot smarter than his career choices sometimes indicated and that accident spillage with the water bottle had been like some clue or something to the inner workings of Jon's mind. He imagined Joe catching a glimpse of Tressa leaving the cafeteria earlier had helped him out. Sourly, he slid into the backseat.

"All right, Papa, let's get it over with."

"Don't call me that…"

"What the hell was that about tonight in the cafeteria, man?" Colby blurted out the question before Joe could, sitting in the driver's seat while Jon was in the passenger and Joe was in the back.

"Yeah, you SOAKED me with that damn water bottle by squeezing the life out of it." Joe grunted, glad it was only water and nothing that would stain since the shirt he had on was white at the time. "We know you're bothered by McIntyre being near Tres."

Hell, they were too. McIntyre was not a very nice guy in the locker room and thought he should have been treated the same as the likes of John Cena. He didn't believe in paying his dues and that was a problem for a lot of boys in the back.

"He's a scumbag." Jon said flatly, knowing bothered was not the term for it.

Andrew was playing nice and that was all well and fine, but the man was not to be trusted. He was arrogant and had no respect for those who had come before him or who was around him. Entitled, that was the word, the jackass felt entitled.

"He also has every right to use the seamstress station." Joe pointed out.

Jon grunted.

"And if Tressa wants him to back off, she'll make it known." She was a tiny little thing, but her vocal chords were quite loud when she got in a mood.

"She's also too nice for her own damn good." Joe knew that couldn't be argued against either. "We'll just have to keep an eye on things around her for a bit until he either backs off or something happens."

"Without her knowing, right?" Colby didn't think that would go over well, glancing at Jon. "Does she know you two are feuding right now in the ring?"

"Now why would she know that when she's a seamstress? They don't have time to watch the matches, man."

"Good point." Colby turned red, turning left to head to the hotel. "We'll have to be sneaky about it because you know how Tressa is. She'll accuse us of being overprotective."

"And overbearing."

"And just jackasses in general."

"Hey, we're not the ones crushing on her, so it's not like WE'RE going to be the ones in the shit if this goes south." Colby teased, shifting in his seat to look back at Jon. "You're timing sucks though, man."

"Don't I know it." Jon sighed, slumping back in the seat and bringing his hands up to his face. "Is it wrong?"

"Well…yes and no, she's a widow, so it's not like you're stepping on toes, but…she's grieving and you're either going to ruin your friendship or you'll be a rebound, and then you both will get hurt."

"If he waits long enough, he won't be a rebound, but he has to WAIT," Joe emphasized that word strongly, narrowing his dark brown eyes at his friend in the rearview mirror. "You have to give her time, bro. She lost not only her husband, but her unborn child too." That was still a tough one for him to swallow. "Be there for her, but…sleeping together in the same bed and holding her…you know it's going to lead down a road neither of you is ready for. She's definitely not ready to sleep with anyone." Joe did not know Jon and Tressa had already crossed a line back in Vegas. "If you don't want to be a rebound, and if you don't want your heart ripped out, you gotta show a little restraint and patience."

Colby didn't see that going over well.

Jon didn't either and groaned. "Someone take my phone…"

Colby snatched it, a bit surprised. "Uh… should I tell her you're having a guy's night?" He offered a bit sympathetically, knowing that was the best reason Jon could give and it would be true. He had his best friends, his bros, watching his back and if that meant helping him restrain himself -because Jon didn't know the meaning of the word- then so be it.

"For tonight at least, yeah…"

Maybe they were right. Why did it feel wrong then? Abandoning her like this? Jon knew, rationally, that was a stupid thought given she had done this for months on her own, but what if she fell back into that pit?

Hanging with the boys tonight. Talk to you later.

Tressa went to respond and didn't, instead tossing her phone on the bed. If Jon wanted to hang out with Joe and Colby for the night, or any night, who was she to stop him? Pulling her hair up in a clip from her bag, Tressa slid the robe from her body and padded into the bathroom to sink into the tub, the hot water soothing her instantly. Instead of Vodka, she opted for wine tonight and had the bottle on the side, her glass half filled. Sighing heavily, Tressa closed her eyes and tried not to let the tears sting her eyes as Joseph popped in.

Work and the boys were a distraction, but now that she was alone, again, the grief was threatening to overtake her all over again. Taking a few deep breaths, she whispered how much she loved and missed her husband, took a drink of wine, and let a few tears slide down her cheeks. It wasn't full-blown sobbing, but crying was also a release she needed, knowing holding everything in would only be detrimental to her own health.

This was how Joe knew Jon needed a night away from Tressa. He kept badgering Colby to check his damn cell. Colby had contemplated giving it back to Jon, but then passed it to Joe. Jon had badgered once, Joe had thumped his head. They had dug out Colby's gaming console and were co-opting on a shooter, Joe had naturally suggested football but been shot down.

"She's fine. You haven't even been back that long – damn it, watch your six! – and you're already probably crowding the hell out of her."

"Shut up, Colby, your ass man, watch your ass!"

"Is that what 'six' means?"

Jon turned to find Colby in-game and began wasting ammo on trying to kill his buddy. Of course, it didn't do jackshit, friendly fire was off, but it was therapeutic anyway.