Welcome to the Alphabet Quest! A fun, creative challenge for writers, gif makers, artists, video editors, and aesthetic makers.
Run by @princessmisery666
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Supernatural (TV 2005)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester, John Winchester
Additional Tags: Reading, Zebras, Weechesters, zoos, Promises
Series: Part 26 of 2024 Alphabet Quest
Summary:
Sammy discovers Zebras and desperately wants to see them.
Summary: When Sam gets to pick what he wants to do for his 14th birthday, he decides he wants to celebrate May the Fourth at Bobby's, which means Dean gets to spend an unexpected weekend with his girlfriend. Set in May 1997.
Part of series Hexed and Held — for which I still need to make a masterlist 😬but the other posted fic, Piece of My Heart, can be found here — but written as a oneshot and can absolutely be read on its own
Rating: T
A/N: This was written for the monthly challenge hosted in the Fanfic Writers of the SPN Fandom discord server (join here!), using prompt "May the Fourth Be With You." Star Wars Day is May 4th! How would Dean and/or Sam celebrate?. This is also my seventh submission for @jacklesversebingo, using the prompt "I have a surprise for you", and a submission for @alphabetquest, using the prompt fluff.
Thank you @justwhisperingfantasies for being my beta and for all your support! ❤️
Warnings: Mild language. Fluff. Established relationship. Implied underaged smut where the one character is 18 and the other is about a month shy. Light angst? Maybe? References to parental neglect. Teenagers being teenagers. I think that's it but please let me know if I missed anything.
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"First nice weekend in months, and I'm going to be stuck inside for all of it working on this damn paper," Beatrice complained as she and Lainey shouldered their backpacks and joined the throng of students making for the exit while the final bell echoed in the background. Lainey Hollings shot her friend, her one and only friend in the whole stupid school, a sympathetic smile.
"That sucks," she said simply, opting not to rub it in that her own workload was on the lighter side and had been for the last month or so. "Aren't the teachers supposed to know we don't give a shit anymore?"
Beatrice rolled her eyes. "Apparently mine didn't get the memo. 'Course, not all of us have had the luxury of early freaking acceptance. Little easier to check out when you already know what your plan is for the next four years."
Lainey shrugged good naturedly but didn't argue the point. Beatrice wasn't wrong — her path had been decided for months by then, even if she still wasn't sold that it was the right one.
"Yeah, well, it's not like you're hurting for options or anything."
It was hard to maintain a real conversation while they navigated the masses, but it was a skill they'd mastered in their time together at Sioux Falls High, and by the time they'd made it out of the building, Beatrice had moved onto asking Lainey about her own plans for the weekend, since her own calendar was mercifully free of schoolwork.
That didn't mean, of course, that she would be free from having to keep her own nose buried in a book. Lainey knew it would be a cold day in hell before Bobby stopped getting calls from other hunters, looking for help on cases whether it was with research or backing up their bogus fake IDs, and Lainey had been living with him long enough to help with all of it. Not that she minded — she'd embraced hunting and all that came with it a long time ago. Her stint in foster care after her dad had died only served to reinforce what she'd already suspected… that ‘normal’ wasn't for her.
It was Bobby's idea that she should go to college. And after everything he'd done for her, Lainey wasn't about to argue… but she still had her doubts about how it was going to go. As far as she was aware, there wasn't a Hollings that had yet to so much as attend college, let alone graduate. Her skepticism, she felt, was warranted.
They were only a few steps past the door when Lainey felt Beatrice elbowing her side, interrupting the rambling explanation Lainey had been giving about helping Bobby out around the house. She shot her friend a quizzical look, to which Beatrice just nodded in the direction of the parking lot, a wry smile on her face.
"Pretty sure you're gonna wanna ask the old man if he'll cut you some slack this weekend. Looks like you're gonna be busy after all."
Lainey was on the cusp of asking what the hell Beatrice was talking about when her eyes finally found what had elicited such a reaction. Because, despite the crowd of buses and students swarming the area, there was a black '67 Impala parked front and center that Lainey would have recognized anywhere. The car's owner was leaning against the side, equally recognizable to Lainey, his attention clearly split between scanning the crowd and chatting with his younger brother, who was camped out on the hood.
Lainey found herself slowing down, coming pretty much to a halt in shock as she took in the scene. Next to her, Beatrice came to a standstill as well, amusement clear on her face even from Lainey's peripheral. "I take it this was a surprise then?" she snorted.
It was at that moment, however, that Dean seemed to notice them, and Lainey watched as he straightened up, a wide smile spreading across his face as he nudged Sam. Without a thought, Lainey took off, making her way towards the Winchesters as fast as her feet would carry her. As she neared, Dean opened his arms, catching her easily and with a laugh when she hurtled into them.
"Dean!" she cried. "What are you doing here?"
She could feel the laughter still rumbling through his chest as he hugged her tightly, lifting her just enough that her feet left the ground, making her squeal.
"What? I need an excuse now to come surprise my girl?"
He didn't give her a chance to reply, however. Next thing Lainey knew, her feet were back on the ground and Dean was dipping his head, pressing his lips to hers in a kiss that had Sam groaning from his spot a couple feet away. Lainey ignored him, too focused on reciprocating and caught up in the feel of being back in Dean’s arms, his solid warmth under her own. It had been a while since they'd seen each other — too long, if you asked her — and she hadn't been expecting to see him for a while still.
"Never," she mumbled as they pulled back, "you know I'm always happy to see you."
Dean's arms were still holding tightly around her waist, but he leaned his forehead against hers, and the way her hair fell around them like a curtain, for just a moment, Lainey could almost pretend it was only the two of them in their little bubble.
"Good," he said, his voice low and quiet. "Missed you, Hollings. Been too damn long."
Lainey couldn't help the soft smile that tugged at her lips. "Right back at you, Winchester."
When their lips met again, Sam's patience seemed to finally snap. "I'm right here, you know," he complained. "Do you two always have to be so gross?"
Lainey felt one of Dean's hands leave her back, and she didn't have to look to know he was flipping his brother off. But as happy as she was to be reunited with her boyfriend, she'd missed Sam too, and Lainey broke off their second kiss, gently holding Dean at bay as he chased after her lips.
"Aw, don't worry, Sammy," she teased, stepping fully out of Dean's embrace and reaching for the younger Winchester. "I didn't forget about you."
She reached for a hug, which he made a show of pretending to duck for half a second before he let her catch him. Behind them, she heard Dean give a snort of laughter, and Lainey made sure to ruffle Sam's hair as he pulled away — the kid was growing like a weed, and it struck her that she might not be able to pull the same move off much longer.
"Better not have. It's thanks to me he's here, after all."
Lainey looked between the boys with raised eyebrows, and when she caught Dean's eye he shrugged, hands already in his pockets as he nodded towards Sam. "Dad's hunting with Caleb and we had a long weekend. Kid got to pick what we did for his birthday. He wanted to see you and Bobby."
Her eyes widened as she turned to Sam for confirmation, her heart warming despite the fact that it shouldn't have been surprising — regardless of her relationship with Dean, the Winchesters had always been family and Sam was like the little brother she never had. He was certainly more of a brother than the one she actually had. Sam, though, rolled his eyes.
"And rent Star Wars," he added to Dean's explanation, with a pointed look in his brother's direction before turning back to her. "Sunday's the fourth, and Dean said we could watch all three of them to celebrate."
"Did he, now?" Lainey asked, pivoting once more to Dean. He shrugged again, but this time he was saved the trouble of having to come up with an answer by Beatrice, who had finally caught up, a fond smile on her face even as she shook her head at both of them.
"Already traumatizing the youth, I see?" she quipped. Dean smirked back, reaching out to wrap an arm around Lainey's waist. She let herself be pulled against him, settling into his side as if she belonged there and smiling when he pressed a kiss to her temple.
"Always, Bea,” Dean said easily. “You know that."
Beatrice snorted, and Sam sent her a pleading look. "Make them cut it out."
"Like I have the power to do that," Beatrice laughed. "Besides, if you think this is bad —"
"Don't finish that thought," Sam interjected quickly, "I don't need to know."
"When did you become such a prude, Sammy?" Lainey couldn't resist needling, and she felt more than heard Dean's snort of laughter when Sam's cheeks flushed pink.
"I'm not a prude," he protested, "it's just… you two."
"Yeah sure," Dean dismissed. "One day soon enough you'll get it."
Still in Dean's arms, Lainey twisted her neck to look back at him despite the awkward angle. "Bobby know you guys are here yet?"
"Mmhmm," he hummed while pressing another kiss to the top of her head. "We got to town around noon."
"Dean was too excited to wait for you to get home from school," Sam offered, and Beatrice laughed.
"That sounds about right," she said, and Lainey watched Dean narrow his eyes without any real heat.
"Yeah? Keep it up and I'll let your ass walk home." It was an empty threat and they all knew it. Lainey wasn't sure that Dean or Beatrice would consider each other friends, but Lainey knew they had a soft spot for each other.
They'd all been fifteen when Beatrice's family had moved into the house next to Bobby's. Lainey had still been new to town, an outcast in a school of kids that had seemingly known each other since they were in diapers, and had finally found a friend in the other out-of-towner that didn't quite fit the mold everyone else did. Dean and Sam had been staying with Bobby at the time, left under his care while John had been on a particularly long hunt, and despite his typical anti-social tendencies, Dean had taken an immediate liking to the brunette when Lainey had dragged her along to their daily lunch date. He'd never admit it, but Lainey suspected he'd been too happy to see her making friends to muster up his usual complaints about ‘other people’.
Likewise, Beatrice had been grateful to be accepted into their circle, however small, so quickly. And even after Dean and Sam had left town, not all that long after the girls had connected, Lainey knew she hadn't forgotten the gesture.
"Fat chance," Beatrice scoffed. And sure enough, a few minutes later all four of them were piled into the Impala — Dean in the front seat with Lainey riding shotgun next to him while Sam and Beatrice climbed into the back.
The ride towards Singer Auto Salvage was short went by quickly, all four of them catching up as Dean drove — though the topics, Lainey noticed, were kept decidedly light and the boys took care to steer clear of any mentions of hunting or the kinds of things most people thought were just fodder for nightmares.
"Happy Birthday, dude!" Beatrice had exclaimed when she was filled in on the reason for the Winchesters' visit, earning a bright ‘thank you’ from Sam. "Fourteen already?"
At that he rolled his eyes. "Yeah, Bea. It's not that big a deal."
"Still, you'll officially be a high schooler next year. Shame we won't be there to see it. You ready?"
In the front seat, Lainey had quietly slid her hand into Dean's lap and, without a word, he had dropped his own from the wheel to twine their fingers together, his lips curling into a warm smile even as he kept his eyes staring out the windshield.
"Already can't keep your hands off me, huh?" he remarked quietly so that only she could hear him. Lainey let out a puff of laughter, tuning out the conversation happening behind them.
"Just wait till I get you alone," she promised, and Dean smirked, giving her hand a squeeze as he turned the car.
"Yeah well, fair warning, Bobby already gave me the no closed doors talk."
Lainey shrugged. She and Dean had only been "official" for about a year and a half, ever since Bobby had helped John get his hands on a new (or at least, new to him) truck and John had given Dean the Impala, but they'd been… involved in some way for longer. Bobby, and John when he was around, trying to keep them from sneaking off was far from new.
"Like that's ever stopped us. How long do we get you two this time?"
For a fraction of a second, Dean's smile slipped, an uncomfortable expression passing over his face so quickly that if Lainey didn't know him so fucking well she'd have missed it.
"Uh, probably Tuesday night. Maybe Wednesday morning. Could drop you off at school before we hit the road."
Lainey quirked an eyebrow. "What's with the face?"
"No face," he insisted, but Lainey's gaze held steady.
"Dean…"
He glanced over his shoulder quickly, eyeing Beatrice and Sam almost nervously before turning his attention back on the road.
"It's not a big deal, alright?" he said gruffly, dropping his voice so even she had to strain to hear him. "When Sam told me what he wanted to do, I called and gave Bobby a heads up, and he set it up so I could sit for the GED test on Tuesday."
Lainey blinked in surprise. Both of them had always ‘embraced the life’, as they called it… hunting had been inevitable for Dean from the moment his mom had burned on the ceiling and John had decided he need a soldier more than a son, and Lainey couldn't remember a time when it hadn't been her norm — her dad had been a hunter before she'd even been in the picture. But while Lainey had always kept some vague semblance of balance, especially since she'd ended up with Bobby, Dean had always been happier on the fringes.
Or at least that's what he wanted everyone to believe. It was certainly what he wanted to believe. And when John had told him back in August that he didn't need to finish school, Dean had jumped at the chance, more than happy to hunt more and let his attendance drop to sporadic bouts when he or John were concerned about one of them having closer eyes on Sam.
But Lainey had noticed the tightness in the smile he'd plastered on when he'd told her about it… had noticed the edge in his voice when they talked about her own future… seen the insecurity flash in his eyes whenever her impending graduation was mentioned. Not that Dean would acknowledge any of it.
She smiled, tightening the grip she had on his hand and leaning in and kissing his cheek despite the audience they had in the backseat.
"That's great, Dean," she murmured, and that vaguely uncomfortable expression was back on his face.
"C'mon," he pretended to complain, though the flush on his cheeks betrayed him, "I told you, it ain't a big deal."
Before she could say anything, however, Sam’s annoyed voice was calling out from the back. "Really?"
They dropped Beatrice off first, with Lainey passing along her condolences on the crappy weekend she had coming and Beatrice teasing her and Dean about trying not to corrupt Sam's virgin eyes as she climbed out of the car and began heading towards her own home. Bobby's was only a little further down the road, and Lainey spotted the old man moving around inside the house through the window as Dean pulled up and parked. The pot roast Bobby made whenever Sam and Dean came to visit could be smelled as soon as they opened the door, and for the rest of the night, Lainey found she couldn't stop smiling.
She loved living at Bobby's. Growing up, Lainey had never known a real home, and until Bobby had taken her in and she'd managed to actually settle, Lainey hadn't realized what she was missing. Their lives had always been unconventional, but when her dad was alive he'd been warm, bright, and full of love despite the darkness he was constantly battling waist-deep, and being with him and Kyle had always been enough for her. She still missed her family — always would — but she'd found a rhythm and a lot to appreciate about her life at Singer Salvage too.
There was always something extra special, though, when the Winchesters came by, regardless of whether or not they were joined by John. It would have been easy to chalk it up to a teenage girl being happy to see her boyfriend, but Lainey knew Dean was only a part of it, and that his "boyfriend" status was even still only a part of that. They were best friends first. Always. Anything else was secondary.
Still, it was about more than Dean anyway. The house was always more lively, and though it always held a certain warmth for Lainey that had nothing to do with the actual temperature, it was even more true when they were all under one roof. Bobby pretended to complain but was always pleased to have them around — Lainey could tell from the smiles she'd catch him wearing when he took a second to observe Dean while he was working on one of the cars, the way he'd laugh when he tossed a ball around with Sam, or even just the simple fact that, despite bitching about their selection 85% of the time, he hardly ever rebuffed an offer to watch a movie with the three of them.
Sam and Dean, and even John, were family. And Lainey was always happy to have them around. God knew family was something that had always been in short supply in her life, and she'd learned the hard way not to take the people she loved for granted.
There was an undercurrent of excitement throughout the night, and Lainey reveled in the easy conversation and light laughter that filled it. In the safety of Bobby's house, the boys took their time catching her and Bobby up on what they'd been doing lately. There was a nasty poltergeist Dean had helped John with not too far back, and Sam had been in a play at the last school he'd been to — Our Town, he told them. And even though Dean gently ribbed him, Lainey could tell he was pleased Sam had gotten to do something that made him happy.
In turn, Lainey and Bobby caught the boys up with the goings on of Sioux Falls. Earlier that week Bobby had taken a drive to go check out rumors of a demonic possession (demons were Bobby's specialty) and was currently working on some research for a buddy of his that was tracking a string of weird deaths in Santa Fe. Lainey, meanwhile, had definitely been fighting a case of senioritis and was eager for the end of the school year, though decidedly less eager for what she knew was coming after.
She and Sam cleaned up after dinner while Dean followed Bobby out into the yard to check out one of the cars Bobby had towed there recently, and while Lainey normally hated doing the dishes, with Sam for company it didn't seem as bad. He asked her a lot about high school, trying to hide what she could tell were nerves behind polite curiosity. She could also tell that the constant moving around was wearing on him even more than usual, and suspected there was something else nagging at him he didn't want to talk about just yet, but she made a mental note to check in with Dean.
They were finished and sprawled out in the living room by the time Dean and Bobby made it back into the house. Bobby settled in at his desk, waving off Lainey's offers to help when he started leafing through one of his books — researching, she knew, the stuff for the Santa Fe case — and pouring himself a whiskey while Dean dropped onto the couch next to her, easily pulling her into his arms despite their audience. Sam rolled his eyes, but they were still full of affection when he shook his head, and Bobby gave them a pointed look but didn't say anything, his warning clear despite his silence.
"C'mon, Sammy, pass over the remote," Dean demanded when credits started rolling on X-Files — Sam's pick for the evening. Sam looked back at his brother skeptically and only moved the remote further away. Dean, who had his arms around Lainey while she was half lying in his lap, wasn't in a position to easily move for it, which Sam seemed to realize.
"Are you kidding? It's my birthday. No way do you get to pick what we watch."
"Yeah, but we're celebrating on Sunday, bitch," Dean pointed out.
"Doesn't change that today's my actual birthday, jerk," Sam countered. Lainey was on the cusp of speaking up, telling them both to shut it and demanding the remote for herself when Bobby stood and stretched, his eyes darting towards the clock.
"Oh would you two quit your bickerin'? 'S gettin' late anyway. You kids should get to bed. Dean, you mind salvaging whatever parts you can off that Charger in the morning? I'm gonna need to run to the library."
"Yeah, Bobby, no problem," Dean agreed easily as Sam turned the TV off and pushed to his feet.
Lainey reluctantly climbed to her own feet, holding a hand out to Dean even though he didn't need the help up. He smiled at her, mischief clear in both his eyes and his smile as he accepted, pulling her immediately into a hug as soon as he was standing.
"What do you think?" he murmured, his breath hot against his ear and voice muffled by her hair to everyone else. "An hour?"
Lainey smiled even though he couldn't see it. "Forty-five minutes," she countered and then felt his low laugh.
"That impatient for me, huh?" Dean didn't wait for an answer though — they'd already been taking too long — and pulled back, pressing his lips against hers in a kiss that was appropriately chaste considering their audience. "See you soon, Hollings," he whispered as he broke apart, and then went to follow Sam up the stairs. Lainey's gaze followed him but then caught Bobby staring pointedly in her direction and she raised her eyebrows.
"What?" she asked innocently, and Bobby shook his head, waiting a moment for Sam and Dean to make it further up the stairs.
"What," he parroted back in disbelief, though there was no real anger in his voice, just mild exasperation. And exasperation was something Lainey could live with. "You two idjits think you're so subtle. I may have been born at night, missy, but it wasn't last night."
Lainey fought not to smile as she shrugged her shoulders. "Don't know what you're talking about, old man."
Bobby pressed his lips into a thin line, shaking his head again. "I'll give you the same speech I gave Dean — no closed doors and no sneaking around, I mean it. My house, my rules."
"Aw, c'mon, Bobby," Lainey protested. "We would never —"
But Bobby's scoff cut off the rest of her sentence. "My ass," he disagreed, and in all fairness, Lainey knew he had the history to back the sentiment up, even if she wasn't going to outright admit it. "Now get to bed. And don't think you can just wait until I fall asleep and sneak into the basement. I'm onto the both of you."
Lainey smiled sweetly at him as she slipped past to the stairs. "Right. Night, Bobby!"
She felt his eyes on her as she made her way up the stairs, and when she passed by Sam and Dean's room she caught Dean's eye, winking and earning herself a smirk in reply as she continued down the hall to her own room.
Despite Bobby's warning, 43 minutes and 20 seconds later, Lainey carefully slipped out of her bed and eased open her bedroom window. There was a tree that was both sturdy enough and close enough to the house that she'd perfected using it to sneak in and out of the house when she wanted, and soon enough her feet were carrying her on autopilot towards the beat up old Continental rusting away at the edge of the property. It was completely hopeless and had been at Bobby's longer than Lainey, but she and Dean had been thrilled to find it as it suited their needs perfectly. The interior was still relatively intact, despite the overall disrepair the vehicle was in, was far enough away from the house that it was private, and had a back seat large enough to fit them both and provide shelter from the elements… though she and Dean had learned the hard way that it was still far from ideal in the wintertime.
Tonight, though, the skies were clear and the air warm, and Lainey couldn't help but grin as it came into view. Dean was already there, leaning against the frame of the car waiting for her. He smiled and stood up straight when he spotted her.
"There you are," he called out quietly as she approached, eyes twinkling in the moonlight. "Was starting to think you stood me up."
As soon as she was within reach, he wound his arms around her waist while her own came up around his neck. Lainey snorted, holding her watch up for emphasis. "What're you talking about? I'm right on time."
"Hmm," he hummed, already claiming her mouth in a deep kiss. "Felt like longer than forty-five minutes."
"That impatient for me, huh?" she echoed his earlier teasing. Dean growled playfully and reached behind him for the car door.
"Damn right," he confirmed even as he kissed her, and before she knew it, they were tangled in the backseat, clothes shed and windows fogging as they came together in a reunion that was more than a little desperate.
They were both breathing heavily by the time they finished and Dean reluctantly pulled out, though neither of them were in a rush to go anywhere. The backseat was large but still cramped with the two of them stretched across it, which worked for them just fine. Space was always the last thing they wanted, especially after the longer stretches apart, and Lainey wasted no time nestling into Dean, their sweat slicked skin be damned. She could feel his still racing heartbeat thrum beneath her ear, and the feel of his arms locking around her, holding her close, sent shivers down her spine.
"We can't fall asleep this time," she mumbled, smiling when Dean chuckled, knowing where his mind had gone.
"That was your fault, sweetheart," he retorted with no real heat. Lainey snuggled in closer, her grip tightening and smile deepening when Dean dropped a kiss to the top of her head and began running fingers through her hair.
The last time he'd come to visit they'd wound up in the same spot, as they often did, and it had in fact been her fault that they'd fallen asleep and almost gotten caught as a result. Dean had gone to get up and cajole her back into the house at least three times, and at each one she'd pled for more time, not wanting to leave the safety and comfort she felt in his arms. The sun had woken them up the next morning, or more accurately it had woken Dean up, and they'd had to scramble to get back to the house before anyone realized they were missing. Bobby had already been in the kitchen when they'd approached, and while Lainey managed to scale the tree to get back to her room, Bobby had come outside before Dean could manage the same. He'd quickly had to reroute to the Impala before Bobby spotted him, and made up some story about needing to check out some noise he'd heard driving her the day before.
Lainey doubted Bobby had bought it, Dean did too, but Bobby hadn't pressed past a skeptical look and a few prodding questions about the car. And keeping a closer eye on them the rest of Dean’s visit.
"Gonna be your fault if you keep that up," she said simply, already feeling her eyelids drooping between the lullaby Dean's heartbeat provided, the soothing sensation of his fingers, and the high she always felt in the aftermath of their coupling. She felt more than heard Dean's soft laugher and let herself continue to relax into the bubble they'd created.
"Five minutes and we're going back in — ten minutes tops," he added quickly when she opened her mouth to protest.
"Yeah, okay," she snorted, already knowing that when the ten minute mark rolled around she'd plead for more and Dean would cave, and the ten minutes would turn into twenty which would bleed into more until they either went for round two or one of them legitimately started to doze off and necessitated their retreat back inside.
She became dimly aware of Dean tracing mindless patterns along the bare skin of her back and pressed a kiss to his chest.
"It really is good to see you," he eventually murmured, cutting through the haze that had started settling over her mind and bringing her back to their reality. "That stretch we were on the east coast for fucking sucked."
Lainey hummed her agreement. The distance was always rough, but different time zones only ever added to the complication. "Lucky us Sam wanted to spend his birthday here."
"Yeah, kid really came through," Dean mused. "Not surprising this was his choice though, especially once we knew Dad wasn't gonna be around. You know how much he loves you and Bobby."
"Yeah," Lainey nodded. "We love him too." Her brow furrowed then, curiosity pricking at her contentment. "Where is John, anyway? You said something about hunting with Caleb…"
"They're somewhere out in Wyoming. Dad's been pretty tight-lipped about it but he's been checking in here and there."
Dean masked it well, but after ten plus years of knowing him, she could read the tension in his voice anyway, and she shifted her head to look up at him. "What's wrong?"
"What? Nothing, what are you -"
"Dean." There was a pause during which their eyes met, and after a moment Dean finally took a deep breath, deflating as he exhaled.
"Nothing," he repeated, this time sounding almost worn down. "He just promised not to miss Sam's birthday this year is all. No biggie. Definitely nothin' new."
Lainey frowned. It definitely wasn't anything new, but that didn't make it any better, and she found that curiosity turning to something sharper, threatening to shatter the peace they'd managed to find in each other. It wasn't anything new, but that didn't make it any better in her opinion.
Dean didn't need her animosity though, or her anger. It wasn't for him, and she knew he struggled enough with his own. So she swallowed it down, reaching up instead to cradle his face. When she had his attention she craned up, seeking his mouth out for a kiss that was decidedly chaste relative to the ones they'd already shared that night.
"Fuck him," she said simply as they pulled apart, eyes still locked on his. "We don't need him. The four of us'll have a great weekend, and Sam's gonna have an awesome birthday."
For a fraction of a second a genuine smile spread across Dean's face and his eyes filled with the kind of warm expression that never failed to take her breath away before he masked it with feigned annoyance and an eye roll.
"Yeah, awesome," he grumbled. "Kid's such a nerd. Whole day of Star Wars… he kept talking about how perfect it was that the fourth fell on Sunday because we could celebrate May the Fourth be with you."
Lainey couldn't help the scoff that escaped her lips, and arched an eyebrow skeptically when Dean looked back at her with clear confusion. Her boyfriend was a lot of things — tough, sarcastic, a little dark, loyal, protective, cocky at times, stubborn as hell… but closet nerd was definitely one of those things too.
"What?" he asked, and Lainey shook her head.
"You've got no room to talk, babe. Not with the way you make me watch westerns. And definitely not considering you love Star Wars too."
Even in the moonlight she could see the subtle flush of his cheeks at being called out.
"Yeah, well… kid's still a nerd. And you don't hear me going around talking about celebrating May the Fourth…" he groused.
"Of course not, baby," she agreed in a patronizing tone she knew would get a reaction.
Sure enough, within seconds, Dean had muttered something to the effect of 'I'll show you nerd' and Lainey found herself on her back, laughing while trying to fend Dean off as he tickled her mercilessly, using his heavier weight to hold her down — even though they both knew she could have thrown him off if she really wanted.
"Dean, stop!" she half cried-half laughed, but Dean continued his assault.
"Take it back," he demanded, but she only laughed harder when he found a particularly ticklish spot.
"But I'm not… not… wrong," she gasped.
They wrestled a bit longer until eventually they were both out of breath again and tears were leaking from both their eyes. "You're such a pain in the ass," Lainey complained lightly, mirth still coloring her voice as they settled back into the position they'd found before. Dean snorted.
"Right back at you."
She tilted her head, intending to bite back with something sarcastic but the words died in her throat before she could even fully form the thought. Their eyes had met and she was struck all over again by how much she'd missed him… how much she hated that it couldn't be like this all the time… and how lucky she was they got to have this. Dean didn't let his guard down like this with other people, except maybe on occasion with Sam… didn't look at other people with the same tenderness and affection she seemed to manage for her… and it never failed to light something inside of her.
Something must have resonated with him too because they both paused, almost as if they were frozen in that moment while some sort of understanding passed between them. Smiling softly she craned her neck just enough to brush her lips against his.
"I love you," she told him quietly.
It was far from the first time they'd said those words to each other, but they still held a weight Lainey didn't take for granted, and it always cost her something to say them. She realized that to the casual observer, it would probably seem juvenile… like puppy love… but Lainey knew better. What she had with Dean wasn't normal, just like the rest of her life wasn't normal.
And at first there was a stillness between them, neither of them moving, the sounds of their breathing slowly returning to normal being the only thing to punctuate the silence. Then the smile on Dean's face shifted to a cocky smirk, and Lainey caught the spark of mischief in his eye just before he opened his mouth.
"I know."
Lainey blinked back at him stupidly before her brain caught up to what he'd just said, at which point her expression morphed into one of skepticism and she arched an eyebrow.
"Are you fucking serious?" she asked, torn between amusement, irritation, and exasperation all at once. Dean chuckled.
"What?" he asked with faux innocence, and Lainey shoved at his chest even though she already knew it wouldn’t move him anywhere.
"You're sitting here trying to call Sam a nerd and you just quoted Han fucking Solo to me like it's not the lamest thing you could have done in the world."
The laughter he was trying to stifle bubbled out and danced in his eyes as the sound bounced around the car. "Yeah, well, I don't do chick flicks," he retorted and Lainey found her exasperation winning out.
"You're fucking impossible," she muttered, rolling her eyes as she turned her head back away, huffing a bit while she did. Dean was still laughing, but seemed to realize quickly that, even though she wasn't mad, he'd pushed her further than he'd meant to.
Within seconds, before she realized what was even happening, Dean was cupping her cheek, turning her head back to look at him. The teasing smile had been replaced once more with that same serious expression that had struck her to begin with, and then he was leaning in, molding his mouth to hers in a kiss that left no room for misunderstanding as to what he was trying to convey. It was slow and deep, and Lainey let out a surprised moan when he rolled his tongue against hers before really letting herself settle into it and reciprocate in kind.
When they broke apart, Dean didn't move his hand away from her face, holding her in place and resting his forehead against hers, staring her dead in the eye with a seriousness even she didn't often get to see.
"I love you, Lainey," he murmured, his low voice sending shivers down her spine and threatening to melt her insides. "More than anything. You know that, baby."
That was when she noticed the twinge of concern and realized he was worried. Lainey nodded, bringing her own hand up to rest along his jaw as she leaned in to reassure him the way she knew best.
They finally made it back to the house a little while later, pausing at the base of the tree for one final kiss before Lainey started her climb back up to her room and Dean, after watching for a moment to make sure she had her footing, snuck towards the door to make his own efforts at getting back in undetected. Slipping back under the sheets of her bed, it didn't take long for Lainey to start drifting off, her dreams full of green eyes, warm skin, gentle smiles, and a low voice that made her blood sing.
It was late by the time Lainey rolled out of bed the next morning. Never having been an early riser, she tended to sleep in as late as she could on the weekends to make up for the hell her weekdays were thanks to school and its ungodly start time. Dean and Sam's door was already open, their room empty, when she ventured out, and she came across Sam stretched out on the couch watching cartoon on her way to the kitchen.
"Morning," she grunted, and Sam watched her pass by in amusement.
"Late night?" he asked. Lainey flipped him off.
"Need coffee."
His laughter followed her into the next room, where she found Dean looking far too awake and already covered in grease and motor oil, his t-shirt clinging to his frame in ways that shouldn't have been allowed that early in the morning. He'd been bent over, grabbing a bottle of water from one of the lower shelves of the fridge, but straightened up when she entered, smirking as he took in her appearance.
"Morning, princess," he quipped. Lainey glared and he just chuckled, stepping aside without being asked to let her at the coffeemaker.
"'S too early," she whined, already measuring out grounds from the canister. Dean watched, eyebrows raising as he silently counted along with her.
"Jesus, Laine, you tryin' to wake the dead with that shit?"
Lainey narrowed her eyes without any real heat and continued scooping. "Leave my coffee alone."
He shook his head affectionately, ducking his head for a quick kiss before twisting the cap off his water and taking a drink, muttering something that sounded an awful lot like insane under his breath.
"Where's Bobby?" she asked once she had the pot brewing, realizing she hadn't seen or heard any sign of her surrogate father yet.
"Still at the library," Dean informed her. "Finished taking care of that Charger he asked me about, but I noticed he had some other stuff that needed taking care of so I'm gonna get back at there. And by the way, what the hell is wrong with you?"
Lainey tilted her head, shooting him a quizzical look even though she suspected she already knew where this conversation was going. It was a familiar one that happened any time Dean went out and got his hands on the cars.
"Absolutely nothing," she chirped, and Dean rolled his eyes.
"Your car's a fucking disaster, Laine. I mean, seriously, what did you do to those tires? Your brakes are totally fucking shot too."
"They are not," she protested. "The car still stops, doesn't it?"
Dean shook his head, genuine exasperation showing through that Lainey tried not to find amusing, but she had trouble truly suppressing her smile. "You're gonna be the death of me, sweetheart. What I really don't understand is how Bobby lets you drive around like that. I'm guessing you haven't changed the oil since the last time I was here either, huh?"
Her smile was answer enough and Dean groaned.
"You're lucky you're cute," he told her. The smell of coffee was already filling the air, which, coupled with hers and Dean's banter, Lainey found to brighten mood considerably. She batted her eyes at him and reached up on her toes to give him a peck on the lips just before he started to make for the door again.
"Among other things," she teased, and despite his frustration, Lainey saw the corners of his mouth tugging upwards.
"Yeah, yeah."
Lainey chuckled to herself, watching as the door shut behind him and then turning to finally fix herself her first cup of coffee for the day. A minute or two later she was settling down in front of the TV with Sam, clutching at the mug and savoring every drop as she drank it down and the caffeine started to make its way through her bloodstream. Sam's gaze darted over in her direction, eyebrows raising almost immediately.
"How much of that stuff do you drink?" he asked, and Lainey just shook her head.
"Don't start with me, kid. One day, you'll understand."
Sam just shook his head and turned his attention back to the TV, settling into a comfortable silence while Lainey worked through her coffee and slowly got herself mentally prepared to fully join the land of the living.
The day turned out to be rather uneventful, but Lainey didn't mind — if anything, she liked it that way. Dean spent most of the day working out in the yard, first on her Galaxie, then tuning up the Impala, and then moving onto some of the other junkers Bobby had towed in recently. Bobby made it back eventually, but after a quick check in and lunch, he trekked out to work with Dean, leaving her and Sam to their own devices. So, despite the Winchester’s unexpected visit, Lainey found her Saturday going much the way she had originally anticipated: manning the swath of phones Bobby had set up in the kitchen and passing the time working on research for hunters.
Sam's company, however, was a welcome addition. Despite being between schools, as Lainey understood it, he'd still come with his own study materials and they traded off throughout the day — Sam lending an extra pair of eyes on some of Bobby's books and Lainey helping him work through some of the more challenging assignments he was attempting. It was a familiar arrangement, one they often found themselves slipping into when they were together, and Lainey enjoyed the easy rhythm that came so instinctively.
There were moments that it reminded her of her own early teenage years, when she'd been so like Sam and so content to stay in her own brother's orbit. Kyle had never been particularly academic, but had always supported and encouraged her curiosity and interests. They'd often traded off the same way she and Sam did, Kyle willing to be patient and slog through schoolwork for her in a way he wouldn't for himself, and always more than happy to work through lore and case notes with her. Those were memories better left untouched though, and so anytime Lainey felt them threatening to infiltrate her mind she'd take a breath and force them back into the box she liked to use to keep them locked away.
It was nearing dinner time when Lainey stood up, stretching before reaching for her keys and looking to Sam. He looked up at her questioningly and she jerked her head towards the door.
"C'mon," she said like it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Let's go get the movies for tomorrow. Maybe we can pick up dinner while we're out too."
Sam was on his feet almost before she was even done speaking, all smiles. "What?" he teased. "No home cooked meal tonight?"
Lainey scoffed. "Please. You know Bobby's pretty much a one trick pony when it comes to the kitchen and I ain't exactly a chef. I'm thinking Chinese."
Sam's eye's lit up. "Yeah, let's do that!"
Outside they said quick goodbyes to Bobby and Dean, filling them in on their plans for dinner and asking for any requests. Dean, gripping her hip and holding her close with one hand, quietly suggested she grab something for them to watch after dinner. He then kissed her, chastely enough to not draw any complaints from Bobby or Sam but with just enough heat to stir something inside her.
"You two are kind of sickening, you know that?" Sam pointed out as she pulled out of the driveway and directed the car towards town. She wouldn't admit it to Dean, but she could already feel the difference in how her dad's old Galaxie was running and she made a mental note to at least thank him before the night was over. At Sam's comment though, she spared a glance in his direction, arching an eyebrow.
"Why's that?" she pushed, and Sam scrunched his face.
"I don't know, you both always get these stupid smiles around each other, and he still gets all nervous when we come to see you and Bobby — just like you still get all flustered around him sometimes. But, like, it's just Dean. I don't get it. You guys have known each other for, like, a million years. What's the big deal?"
Lainey smiled and shook her head, taking one hand off the wheel to reach out and ruffle his shaggy hair. She opted not to dig into the reveal that she still had the ability to make Dean Winchester nervous, but quietly filed the information away for later. "Guess you still haven't found anyone that gives you butterflies yet."
Sam made a face, though Lainey noticed the telltale flush of embarrassment on his cheeks, and shook his head. "No."
She shrugged. "Yeah, well, come back and talk to me when you do."
The Blockbuster was in a strip mall next to the Chinese place they usually ordered from so they stopped in to place their order before heading over to find the tapes they needed for the rest of the weekend. Sam had no trouble finding all three movies — A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi — and caught up to her browsing some of the other titles, clutching all three to his chest, as well as an array of junk food, with a wide smile on his face.
"What're you thinking of grabbing for tonight?" he asked, seeing that her eyes were still squinted, scanning the titles.
"Not sure," she hummed. "Don't want something new."
"You never want something new," Sam teased, and Lainey shrugged. Kid wasn't wrong, she was notorious for wanting to rewatch her old favorites over and over again and was generally only persuaded to see something new on the rare occasion they splurged and went to see something in theaters.
"Godfather's too long —"
"And boring."
"Your brother hates Hook —"
"Yeah, he really does," Sam agreed, and she figured he was remembering the last time the two of them had tried to watch it. Dean had come in about halfway through, complaining loudly for about five minutes before Lainey told him to go away.
"So I'm between Jurassic Park and Heathers," she finally finished, and Sam looked at her incredulously.
"That isn't even a question," he said. "Jurassic Park. You'll never get Dean to watch Heathers. Besides, Heathers sucks."
Of course, the twisted part of Lainey's brain that couldn't resist a challenge had her hand immediately reaching out for Heathers.
"It's a classic, Sammy," she argued, earning an eye roll.
"It's garbage," he retorted, but Lainey ignored him and started toward the checkout counter and he followed along. "And you still aren't gonna be able to get Dean to watch it."
"Wanna bet?" she smirked just before turning her attention to the cashier.
By the time they made it back to Singer Auto Salvage, Dean and Bobby had both cleaned up and come inside, and they wasted no time helping them unpack the food. While they were gone, John had called to wish Sam a happy birthday (a day late, but Lainey kept her mouth shut) and left a number he could be reached at for the next few hours. When he stepped away to make the call while Dean stepped away to run to the bathroom, Lainey did catch Bobby's eye, shaking her head when she saw her own exasperation mirrored back.
"Don't start," Bobby told her, even as his own frustration with John peeked out. Lainey shot him a skeptical look, putting one of the plates on the table a little harder than necessary.
"It's ridiculous, Bobby," she pointed out. "He —"
"Does the best he can," Bobby cut her off, having already listened to one too many tirades from her on John Winchester and how he treated his sons. "And Sam and Dean don't need you mouthing off about him. Would it make you feel any better if Dean went off half-cocked every time that fool brother of yours called?"
Lainey bit the inside of her cheek, her nostrils flaring as she took a deep breath. "No," she bit out, already knowing Bobby was right.
"Exactly. You think he doesn't want to? But he knows you don't need to hear it, so give them the same respect."
Before either of them could continue the conversation, Dean was back, looking between them with wide eyes as he noticed the tension but moving to pour drinks instead of calling them out.
Despite Lainey's frustrations with the man, John's call seemed to brighten Sam's already high spirits, and he was all smiles through dinner. Like Sam had predicted, Dean complained when Lainey announced her movie selection for the night, but just like Lainey had predicted, he relented to watching it without much fuss. Sam, of course, begged off, and when she looked to Bobby he scoffed.
"I think I'll sit this one out. Heard from Carlos down in Santa Fe and sounds like he ran into another monkey wrench with that case he's working."
"You'll be around for Star Wars tomorrow though, right?" Sam asked, and even though Lainey could see how much Bobby didn't want to, he nodded.
"'Course, kid. Wouldn't miss it."
After dinner, Bobby settled in with his research, Sam slipped upstairs to settle in with a book, and Dean and Lainey settled into the couch, curling into each other instinctively with a bowl of popcorn on the end table next to them. They both knew better than to push any boundaries being so out in the open, but Lainey still reveled in all the small touches they allowed themselves — the warmth of Dean's arm draped around her shoulders, the solid feel of his body pressed against hers, the little kisses he would drop to the top of her head, the way he's intermittently run his fingers through her hair…
It was with reluctance that they separated as the credits rolled, Lainey needing to go get a shower before bed and Dean vaguely saying he had a few things to take care of before he did the same. She raised her eyebrows in a silent question, but he shook his head, giving her a simple goodnight kiss instead of elaborating.
"Nothing important. Go get your shower."
She knew him well enough to recognize when it wasn't worth pushing and padded up the stairs without argument, already looking forward to hot water and clean pajamas after what had felt like a good but long day.
About forty minutes later, she got her answer anyway. Lainey had been about to climb into bed when she realized she was thirsty — the kind of thirsty that would distract her from actually falling asleep — and she had retreated downstairs for a glass of water. The house was mostly dark, quiet aside from the typical settling sounds and creaks of the old appliances. A light was on in the kitchen, however, and she paused in the entryway, finding Dean hunched over the table with all kinds of books and papers spread out in front of him, a pencil in his hand and a look of serious concentration on his face.
"Dean?" she asked tiredly, moving slowly towards him. He looked up, eyes wide almost like a deer caught in headlights but still holding that unmistakable warmth he always had for her.
"Hey baby, I thought you went to bed."
Lainey came to a stop next to where he was sitting just as Dean pushed his chair back a bit. He reached up almost automatically to touch her waist, drawing her in, while she ran her own fingers through his hair, resting her hand on the back of his head. "Wanted water," she murmured. "What're you working on?"
She saw the reluctance flash across his face, watched his eyes dart between her and the table, and could tell the moment he realized it wasn't worth trying to hide anything — not with her. "Studying for the GED test," he admitted, tossing the pencil aside, a hint of frustration coloring his tone. "Figured it'd be good to not completely embarrass myself when I show up on Tuesday."
Her eyes had started scanning the materials he had spread out as soon as he said studying, but at his second comment she frowned, turning her attention back to him with a serious look on her face.
"Don't talk like that," she told him firmly, her voice losing some of that sleepy quality. "You'd never embarrass yourself, even if you didn't study."
"Oh c'mon, Lainey. We both know I don't have yours or Sammy's brains."
Her frown deepened, and this time her eyes narrowed. "That's not true. Just because Sam and I got more out of school, that doesn't make us smarter. You're brilliant, Dean, and I'm so proud of you."
Just like he always did when she was complimentary with him, the tips of Dean's ears started to turn red and he got that flustered, uncomfortable look on his face, suddenly seeming to struggle with holding eye contact with her.
"It's really not a big deal," he tried to mutter, turning his head back towards the table. But Lainey wasn't having it and reached out a hand, pulling him back around and forcing him to look at her.
"No, it is a big deal," she corrected. "You listen to me, Dean Winchester. Whatever happens on Tuesday, I am so proud of you for doing this for yourself. And you can sit there and put yourself down all you want, or act like you don't care, but I know you do and I know you're gonna kick ass, just like you do at everything else. And I'm here to help you however I can, and I'll be right here when you're done to celebrate with you. You got it?"
The flush of Dean's skin had only deepened and spread as she spoke, but when she finished he gave her a reluctant but amused smile and pulled her down, capturing her lips in a soft, but deep kiss.
"Yeah, baby," he murmured, his fingers tangling in her hair as his hand landed on her neck, their foreheads bent together. "I hear you."
She smiled and kissed him again, letting this one go just a bit longer before she pulled back, this time straightening back up to her full height. "Can I help you with anything?"
Dean seemed to consider her offer for a moment, his thumb absently rubbing circles where it rested on her hip while he glanced back over to his books. Eventually, though, he shook his head, turning his gaze back up to her.
"No, I got this. I think it's something I need to do myself for right now. But I appreciate it Lainey. Really."
She smiled, running her fingers through his hair one more time before dropping her hand and stepping back, out of his embrace.
"You know where to find me if you change your mind," she reminded him gently, finally moving to get the glass of water she'd originally come down for. Dean smiled, watching her over his shoulder while he pulled his chair back in.
"I do. Thanks, sweetheart."
She squeezed his shoulder as she passed back by, and within minutes of making it back to her bed, Lainey found herself nodding off, a gentle smile on her face, simultaneously looking forward to the next day and already regretting the weekend was going by so quickly.
It was early when her alarm sounded the next morning — too early in Lainey's entirely unbiased opinion. But she quickly shut it off before it could rouse anyone else, even as she groaned at the sunlight hitting her eyes, and forced herself to push up into a seated position. More than anything she wanted to flop back down and go back to sleep, but this morning she had plans.
Plans that were more important than sleep and necessitated consciousness as the ass crack of dawn if she wanted to pull them off.
Just as she hoped, the house was still quiet when she exited her room, Bobby and the boys still asleep as she passed by their rooms. Sunlight was streaming in through the kitchen windows, illuminating the space in way that made her blink and hold a hand up to temporarily shield her eyes. Lainey moved towards the coffeemaker on autopilot, breathing easier as soon the pot began to fill and the aroma hit the air.
It was while it brewed that her eyes landed on the kitchen table and she spotted Dean's study materials still spread out. Smiling to herself, she went about tidying them up, wondering how late he'd stayed up and knowing he had to have been exhausted if he hadn't put them away — he wasn't hiding what he was doing, but Lainey recognized all the signs of Dean Winchester trying to play something to close to the vest and she wasn't dumb enough to think it was an accident that he'd waited for everyone else to go to bed before getting into it the night before. She was just finishing up when she heard the coffee gurgling in the way it always did when it was almost done, and she quickly scribbled a note on a post it for Dean to find later, sticking it where he'd left off in his notes and closing the book up before setting the stack of everything off to the side and out of the way.
Coffee mug in hand, Lainey finally started going about her primary goal for the morning: baking Sam a birthday cake.
She wasn't much of a cook, but since settling in at Bobby's, she'd been surprised to learn she wasn't half bad at baking. It was almost soothing for her, even. And she suspected Sam could probably count on one hand the number of real birthday cakes he'd had.
Bobby was the first one awake, and the kitchen was the picture of chaos when he came in, but he caught onto what she was doing pretty quickly — his eyes scanning the mess of ingredients on the counter, the various bowls she'd pulled out, the cookbook propped open against the wall, and her standing in the middle of all of it with flour and cocoa powder smudged on both her face and the apron she'd had the forethought to pull on. He smiled, tousling her hair affectionately as he went to make his own coffee.
"You're a good kid," he gruffed, and Lainey smirked.
"Don't tell anyone," she quipped. "Can't have that getting out or you'll screw up my reputation."
Bobby rolled his eyes and shook his head, but was clearly not awake enough to fully engage.
She had just managed to get the last dish put away, the cake — poorly decorated but Happy Birthday Sam! still barely legible in blue icing on top of the vanilla she'd covered the actual cake in — safely stashed away in the cooled oven to maintain the surprise, when she heard the boys coming down the stairs. Grabbing her mug, already onto her third cup of the day, Lainey quickly leaned back against the counter, bringing it up to her lips and trying just a bit too hard to look casual. Sam seemed to buy it, but Dean was watching her with a certain amount of suspicion almost immediately.
"Morning," she greeted when they appeared, lowering the coffee mug and trying to imitate the sleepy quality her voice would have had if she'd just gotten up.
"Morning, Laine!" Sam chirped, always annoyingly bright in the mornings, passing by her on his way for a box of cereal.
"Morning, sweetheart," Dean murmured, his hand finding her hips as he pressed a kiss to her temple and reached around her to grab for his own coffee mug. She smiled up at him, tilting her head and pushing up on her toes to capture his lips instead. "You seem… unusually awake," he added, quietly enough so that only she could hear him.
Lainey blinked back innocently. "Maybe you're just unusually tired."
Dean squinted at her, the wheels in his head clearly turning, then shook his head. "Nah, know you too well. You're up to something."
"No, you're just paranoid," she teased, lightly bumping him with her hip as she ducked away, leaving him to fix up his coffee.
They ended up having a lazy morning, waiting for Bobby to wrap up a project up he'd apparently started the day before to get started on Sam's movie marathon. And despite Dean's grumbling on Friday night, he was just as enthusiastic about celebrating May the Fourth as Sam was, just like Lainey had expected. He and Sam both watched with rapt attention, quoting their favorite lines, fiercely debating details Lainey couldn't be bothered with until it got to the point that they were rewinding to fact check each other — at which point she and Bobby both put their foots down — and munching away on the snack foods Sam had thought to grab the night before when they'd dropped by Blockbuster.
"Fucking nerd," Lainey whispered in Dean's ear after he finished a particularly heated debate with Sam about whether Vader knew Leia was his daughter during Empire Strikes Back — though it hadn't been nearly as intense as their argument over whether Han shot first. That one had gotten Lainey rolling her eyes until she found herself begrudgingly joining in to agree with Dean that he absolutely had.
Dean pinched her side, growling in her ear playfully. "Don't start with me, Hollings. I'm not the one that asked to go to the fucking medical museum for my birthday last year."
Lainey rolled her eyes, biting back her retort and instead shaking her head as she turned her eyes back to the TV.
"Whatever you say… nerd," she couldn't help muttering one more time, smiling when Dean pinched her again, and letting her head loll against his shoulder.
She was relieved when credits rolled on Empire Strikes Back and Bobby called for a pizza break, insisting they all needed to stretch their legs and eat some real food. Sam, of course, started to point out that pizza wasn't much better than the junk they'd all been eating throughout the day, but Lainey and Dean quickly shouted over him, and no one complained when they sat down around the table a little while later.
They were finishing the last few slices when Bobby shot her a pointed look and Lainey shifted in her seat, feeling suddenly self-conscious for no logical reason. She swallowed it down though, and glanced towards the oven, already preparing to get out of her seat
"Oh, Sam," she said awkwardly. "I have a surprise for you."
Sam raised his eyebrows questioningly, but instead of giving him an answer, Lainey stood and padded towards her hiding place, bending over and pulling out the clumsily decorated cake.
"Happy Birthday," she said, placing it down between all of them but mostly in front of Sam. His eyes went wide as saucers and he looked up at her in awe.
"Did you make this?" he exclaimed, and when she nodded he shot up out of his seat, all but tackling in her hug. "That's amazing, Lainey! Thank you!"
She could hear Bobby chuckling behind her and felt her own laughter bubbling up, even as her own arms came up to return his embrace. In her peripheral, she noticed Dean staring at her with a mix of surprise, awe, and something else that made those butterflies she'd mentioned the night before swarm her stomach.
"Of course," she tried to dismiss, "'S not every day we get to celebrate your birthday with you."
"Hang on," Bobby spoke up. "Pretty sure I got some candles lying around here somewhere."
Dean was still giving her that look when she sat back down in her seat, and Lainey steadily avoided his eyes, feeling the heat rising in her cheeks.
After fumbling around for a few minutes, Bobby did in fact manage to find a few candles, sticking them into the cake and lighting them up so the three of them could sing Happy Birthday. Sam smiled through all of it, blowing them out easily when they were all done, and Bobby cut slices for all of them.
Dean had snapped back to himself but was still regarding her with that… softness… when the four of them trekked back to the TV to finally pop in the third movie. Bobby lingered in the kitchen to make a call and Sam went for the VCR to switch over the tapes. That was when Dean finally found his moment, despite Lainey trying to avoid it. She'd just taken her seat on the couch next to him, curling into his side instinctively while his arm immediately took back up the space it had been occupying earlier draped around her shoulders, and he ducked his head.
"That was a really nice thing you did," he told her, his mouth close enough that she could feel his breath on her ear. "For Sam, I mean. That was what you were doing up this morning, isn't it?"
Lainey bit her lip but nodded, twisting her head just a bit to be able to meet his eye.
"Yeah. It was no big deal, though. Really."
Dean, of course, didn't buy it and kept on staring at her with that soft look in his eye. "Yeah it is," he whispered, bringing his hand up to brush some of her hair back from her face. When he was done, he left it there, rubbing his thumb over her cheekbone. "Thank you. For always looking out for us… for him. Means the world."
The heat that had been finally ebbing came back to her face full force and Lainey let her eyes drop to her lap. "You guys do the same for me. It's nothing."
"It's not nothing," he insisted, shaking his head. Then after a beat, only once she looked back up and met his eye again, he smiled at her — warm and without any of his normal cockiness. "I love you."
For a moment, Lainey felt frozen, held in place by Dean's stare and the slow burn that was making its way through her body. Everything else fell away and it was just him, invading her senses and every corner of her mind, threatening to turn her brain to mush the way only he'd ever been able to manage.
But then a thought occurred to her, and the smile on her own face morphed into something else — a smirk that resembled the one he sent her way so often, and she turned her head back towards the TV, where Sam was still monkeying with the VCR.
And with just a hint of laughter in her voice she opened her mouth and said, "I know."
**********************
Tag List (let me know if you'd like to be added): @mrsjenniferwinchester @0ccvltism @chevroletdean
Special thanks to @copperboom82 for your beta skills and all the support. Love you!
“Oh of course,” she said looking down as S. Winchester flashed across the screen of her ringing cell phone. “Why is it when things are going good your name pops up somewhere?” she quipped, putting the phone up the her ear.
Sam chuckled. “I missed you too, Em.”
“Yeah, yeah, what’s up?” She tried to forgive and forget, but it was kinda hard when your best friend falls off the face of the earth and doesn’t call you for a whole year.
“Okay… right down to business then,” Sam said somberly. “Well, I know how much you love the South, I got a favor to ask.”
“You call me out of the blue with a favor? I guess I should be more surprised huh?”
“Are you gonna do it or not?” Sam snapped, growing tired of her attitude.
“Call me a sucker, what do you boys need?”
“How close to Louisiana are you?”
Emma’s eyes narrowed as she watched him walk into Guidry’s Cajun Café; she had learned a lot in the last few weeks. Benny, the vampire she still couldn’t believe Dean had befriended, went by Roy around here. And she had to admit he was pretty domestic for a bloodsucker - when she first started following him, she thought Sam sent her on a false witch hunt. It wasn’t until she caught him sipping on a blood pouch in his rickety old truck yesterday she had accepted the truth.
Every evening she followed him here, just as the sun started to go down. She inhaled deeply when the scent of gumbo and shrimp floated into her truck, her stomach let out a growl. “Alright, you win,” Emma sighed. “I guess tonight is the night we finally go in,” she told herself, climbing out of her truck.
A smile spread on Benny’s face when the bell hanging over the door rang through the air.
“I sent Anthony home for the night, so the kitchen is all yours,” Elizabeth told him, gathering her things as she walked past him. “And be sure to lock up the door, set the alarm, turn off the A/C, check the burners, check the griddle, and-”
“And clear off the cold table.” Elizabeth smiled when Roy finished her sentence. “I got it, now go on.” His eyes glanced over at the new face, then back to Liz.
“Thank you, Roy.”
“Of course,” he told her, noticing one of their regulars checking her out.
Elizabeth stopped half way to the door and turned back to him. “Oh, and don't forget to Z out the register-”
“And batch out the credit-card machines. I know. Darlin', it's not my first rodeo.” He smirked and picked up an empty glass, putting it under the tap before pulling the lever. “Now go!” he ordered.
“Ok. I’ll see you tomorrow."
“Hell of a girl, that Elizabeth,” Hank said, raising his coffee mug to his lips.
“She sure is,” Benny agreed, making his way around the bar.
“You guys got anything going on?” Hank questioned, making Benny stop in his tracks.
“Nah Hank, she’s like a little sister to me.”
“So you don't mind if I take a shot?”
“She’s all yours, chief,” Benny told him with a chuckle, before swaggering across the room.
“I see you decided to come in tonight…” Benny smiled, sitting the beer he had just poured in front of her. Sure, she looked different tonight - jean jacket on instead of the leather one she always wore and her long blonde curls cascading over her shoulders, free from the bun she usually had them twisted in - but Benny would recognize his little stalker anywhere.
“Um, yeah. I’ve been debating on coming here for a while now. I heard the food is good, but gumbo really isn’t my kind of thing,” Emma stammered out.
“Hmm,” he hummed, sliding into the booth across from her. “Ya know, we do have other choices.”
“You don’t say,” she quipped as she grabbed the glass in front of her. “What’s in here? Roofies? Cyanide?” She raised the beverage, inspecting the amber liquid.
Benny chuckled. “You just watched me pour it. You were watching me, weren’t ya?”
She rolled her eyes. “You know I’m not going to drink this…”
“Fair,” Benny said with a shrug. “Not the real reason I came over anyhow.”
“Okay, Roy is it?” He nodded at her snide question. “What is the real reason you came over?”
Benny leaned forward, staring into her dark brown eyes. “I want to know why a hunter has been following me for the past two weeks,” he whispered with a smile.
Benny’s brows raised when she raised the beer to her lips. “Well, the jig is up. Chances are if you want me dead, I’m dead. Might as well enjoy one last free beer.”
“Hey Roy.”
Benny looked over when his fake name caught his attention.
“Can we get some more coffee please?”
“Yeah,” Benny shouted back, rising to his feet. “You hungry or not?”
She smiled up at him. “I’ll take some gumbo.”
“And you're certain?” Sam asked into his phone as Dean plopped back into the driver seat, sitting the cardboard tray holding their food and large drinks on the seat between them. “Okay, just hang tight until you hear from me.”
“Who is it?” Dean whispered, getting just a second finger gesture from Sam.
“No! Listen to me damn it. I said hang tight.” He scoffed just before hitting the end call icon. “We gotta get.”
“Um, can I at least finish my burger?” Dean huffed.
“We got a vamp kill, Dean,” Sam explained. “Carencro. Louisiana.”
“Well, it has been awhile since I had some étouffée. Who’s the source?”
“Martin Creaser.”
Dean stopped mid-chew and swallowed. “I’m sorry for a minute there, I thought you said Martin Creaser.”
“I did.”
“Crazy Martin, from the loony bin?”
“Glendale Springs discharged him last month, he reached out wanted something to help ease him back into the game. So I asked him for a favor.” Sam told him. “He seemed okay – mostly – so I've had him tracking Benny for the past week.”
Dean’s face went hard. “You put 'mostly okay' Martin on Benny?”
“Yes, when Emma stopped returning my phone calls…”
“You roped Emma into this too? Wow Sam, I can not fucking believe you.”
“Oh grow up, any hunter worth his salt isn’t going to just let a vampire run around freely,” Sam countered. “And right now it’s lookin like I made the right call.”
“So the dead body, was it-”
“No, it wasn’t Emma. It was a regular from a restaurant Benny has been working at.”
Dean let out a sigh of relief.
“But that doesn’t mean she’s not dead, Dean,” Sam muttered.
“And Martin thinks Benny did this?”
“Yes.”
Dean nodded; he didn’t want to believe one of the only two people he trusted right now could be dead and the other guilty of her murder. “Okay.”
Sam’s brows raised. “Really? Okay?”
“Em is missing, Benny could be draining folks,” Dean said, turning the key of the Impala “We are going to Louisiana.”
Benny stared at the screen of his cell phone. He didn’t have to listen to the new voicemail to know who it was. He let out a sigh as he shut the phone and shoved it back into his pocket, his eyes shifting back to the body that laid in front of him. She was covered in blood, throat slashed, eyes still open and full of terror.
“Please tell me that’s not Emma,” Dean murmured as he stood behind Benny, machete in hand.
“It wasn’t,” Benny replied, turning to face him. “Trust me, if it was, I wouldn’t be burying her.”
Dean furrowed his brows.
“I’ve been around a long time Dean, I know hunters want burned, when they go.”
“So, who was that?” Dean asked. “And where is Emma?”
“A waitress from the diner downtown,”
“And?”
“You wanna safety that and we can talk?” Benny said, looking down at the blade in Dean’s hand.
“I’m all ears.” Dean crossed his arms in front of him, machete still gripped tight.
Benny clicked his tongue. “Well all right. Rogue vamp came into the café a couple nights ago, youngster goes by the name of Desmond,” Benny explained, his eyes falling to the ground. “He uh, he said he remembers me from the good old days.”
“The good old days?”
“I know, it’s hard to believe, Dean, but I haven’t always this cute and cuddly.” Benny quipped, washing his hands in the trough full of water. “He is chasing a memory, that’s all. He is crewing up a new nest, he came around asking for me to join or give him some cred. I told him no.”
Dean could see the tears starting to well in Benny’s eyes. “Ok, so far so good. Let’s get to the part with the dead bodies and one of my best friends missing.”
Benny nodded. “He didn’t want to take no for an answer, trying to roust me out. He, uh,” Benny paused, pursing his lips together. “Well, he took Emma and he’s been leaving dead bodies in his wake.”
Dean let out a breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding.
“I’m gonna get her back. If it kills me, I’m going to get her back, Dean.”
Dean’s head tiled as his eyebrows snapped up. “You love her… Don’t you?”
“Yes,” Benny confessed, with a slight smile. “I made her the second time I saw her, though I didn’t confront her until two weeks after. I liked her being around. One night she finally came in for some gumbo and I sat down. That little firecracker has had me wrapped around her finger ever since.”
A soft chuckle pushed past his lips. “She’s pretty feisty.”
“You can say that again,” Benny agreed. “I’m not gonna lie, it’s been hard, walking the line here. After all those years in purgatory. But when I’m with Em, I finally feel like I got a handle on things.”
“A handle on things? Benny you have two stiffs on your hands, one missing hunter and two more on your ass,” Dean contested.
“Oh please, the half-wit that came to town looking for Emma?” Benny questioned, walking to his truck. “I’ll take my chances-”
“That half-wit was sent by brother. And trust me, my brother is not someone you wanna mess with,” Dean explained, following him.
“I don’t have time to worry about them, Dean.” Benny glanced over his shoulder, hand on the door handle. “I got to get her back.”
“Benny, If Sam and Martin see you, they aren’t going to care if you are collecting for the March of Dimes. They are going to slice first and ask questions later,” Dean huffed. “Let me convince them to go after Desmond. We will bring Em back.”
“And you really think they are going to go for that?”
“Vampires pick people off from the outskirts of town, okay?" Dean sneered - he had been prepared to argue, but he didn't expect a fucking battle.
“Jesus Christ,” Martin blurted, leaning up against the stove in his rented room.
“Not in the cafés that they work in with their great-grandkids,” Dean explained, his eyes shifting to Sam. “In fact, killing any human… it's not his style.”
“Not his style?” Martin’s voice got louder with every word. “Not his style?”
“Dean, we came here on a dead body, you asked for some time, now there is another dead body, and who knows what the hell happened to Emma… Are we going on trust here?” Sam asked, his voice softer then before.
“Yes.”
“You know we’ve killed for a lot less, and you know how these things turn out for us…”
“Sam, I do – too well. In fact, every relationship I have ever had has gone to crap at some point. But the one thing I can say about Benny, he has never let me down."
Sam scoffed, “Well, good on you. Must feel great finally having someone you can trust after all these years.”
“Look, I’m saying is Benny is innocent.” Dean looked back up to his brother. “He loves her, Sam.”
“He’s a fucking vampire. Incapable of love,” Martin shouted.
“Dean,” Sam murmured, rising to his feet. “Maybe you're too close to this.”
“You're not gonna find him. And if you do, I'm gonna tell you this. You'll be lucky to get out alive. And you,“ Dean pointed to Martin. “If you go with him, you're a dead man… period.”
Martin marched over to the sink, sitting his glass down inside before picking up the bowie knife that laid on the counter.
“Are you really willing to risk her life, Sam?” Dean challenged. “After she’s pulled you out of the fire I don’t know how many times.”
Sam let out a sigh. “We don’t even know if he’s telling the truth Dean. What if Benny has her? Are you willing to risk her life on Benny’s word alone?”
“Damn right I am.”
Martin’s tempter boiled over. He raised the knife and brought it down handle first as hard as he could on Dean’s forehead, knocking him to the floor.
“What the fuck was that, Martin?”
“Dean made his choice. Let's go do our job.”
Benny’s thoughts raced as he looked at the picture of Emma on his phone. “Just hang in there, sweetheart. Someone will be there soon.” His brows raised when Dean’s name flashed over her face. “Well, what did they say?” Benny asked, putting the phone to his ear.
“They didn't go for it. They're on their way to you. I'd get scarce.”
“No offense, Dean, but your little brother doesn't exactly put chills up my spine.”
“Benny, listen to me. Do not underestimate my little brother, okay? He can and will kill you given the chance.”
“All right. So, what now?” Benny asked, pacing in front of his truck.
“Now, I go find Em. And kill Desmond.”
“I’m going with you.”
“I just told you, the best thing for you is to lay low.”
“That ain't gonna work this time, bub. You take me with, or I just go there myself.”
“Wait, you know where he is?”
“I told you I was going to get her back and stop the body count. I called him and told him I was in.”
“Benny…”
“Dean, I am going, now are you in or are you out?”
Dean grabbed an extra burner out of the glove box and typed out a text message. “Go, I’ll follow you.”
The engine of the Impala let out a low growl when Dean put her in park, after pulling beside Benny’s truck in the shipyard.
“This is the place, huh?” Dean asked climbing out of his car, machete in his hand again.
Benny nodded. “Yep.”
Dean made his was to Baby’s trunk. Propping the false bottom up, he grabbed two syringes filled with dead man’s blood. “So, what’s the plan? I hang back while you guys do some trust falls and binge drink?”
Benny chuckled. “Man, if I didn’t know you better, I’d say you have an extremely low opinion of us vamps.”
“Pssh,” Dean pushed air through his lips as he closed the trunk. “Call it heathy skepticism.”
They entered the dark shipyard building, the beam from Dean’s flashlight roaming the empty room. He ventured to the right and gestured for Benny to go left.
Benny nodded; he didn’t really have time to argue. He stalked in the darkness, knowing Emma was close - he could smell her. That sweet scent had become one of his favorite things.
Dean spun on his heels, feeling a presence behind him, but found nothing. He continued forward, rounding the corner, gripping his machete tight, and there she was. Beaten and bloody, her screams muffled by the gag that was tied around her face. But Dean could tell by the look on her face there was someone behind him. The vamp caught his arm when he swung, not fast enough this time.
Emma tried to scream again as her eyes watched Desmond throw Dean across the room.
“Benny never told me he was bringing a friend,” he sneered, holding Dean’s throat as he loomed over him.
“Aw, you’re not gonna talk a lot are you?” Dean quipped. “I’ve has enough crazy, I’ve been dealing with it all day.” Dean rummaged in his pocket, pulling out one of the syringes. He tried to shove the needle into Desmond’s arm. But, again, not fast enough. What the fuck was this guy on?
Desmond squeezed Dean’s hand, shattering the glass vial.
“Fuck!” Dean cried out when he felt Desmond claws slash through the flesh of his neck. Desmond brought his blood covered finger tips to his lips, growling once he got the taste of blood, he dipped his head, fangs descended and lunging at Dean’s throat.
Benny pulled him by the hair of his head just in time, slicing his blade through Desmond’s neck.
“Son of a bitch…” Dean huffed, holding his handkerchief to the gash in his neck. “Fucking took you long enough.”
“You lost a step my friend, time to lay off the junk food,” Benny teased holding out his hand. He watched as the blood ran down Dean’s cream colored skin, his mind going hazy as he fell into a slight trance.
“Hey, Benny, you good?”
Dean’s voice snapped him back to reality. “I’m fine… Emma.” Benny turned, his heart sinking into his stomach when he saw her, and he rushed over. She breathed deep when he ripped off the fabric from her face. “Em, I am so sorry,” he whispered, kneeling in front of her.
“Don’t,” she told him, wrapping her arms around him once he freed her hands from the cuffs latched to the chair. “It’s not you fault.” She squeezed as hard as she could.
He lifted her off the chair when he rose to his feet, carrying her weight with ease. “You should probably go get checked out, sweetheart.”
“Benny, just take me home.”
Dean couldn’t help but smile as he watched the two of them - Benny was so cautious and careful with her. He could see how much the vampire really did love her. And by the look in Emma’s eyes it was a safe bet that she felt the exact same way.
“Do you need anything?” Benny asked, examining her wounds after sitting her on the tailgate of his truck.
“Benny, I told you, I am fine.” She smiled. “I’m guessing Sam still isn’t your best fan?”
“You don’t need to worrying about that right now.”
“He’ll get over it,” she said, laying on her back. “Thank you.”
“For what exactly? Getting you kidnapped?”
“You saved me though. That deserves a thank you.”
Benny rolled his eyes.
“Could you just said you're welcome?”
“Any time, darlin’.”
Benny grumbled when his cell phone started to ring, earning a chuckle from the hunter cuddled up next to him in his bed. “Oh, hang on,” he said looking at the front screen of the flip phone. “Hey, Liz.” He smiled when Em started trailing kisses up his neck. “How’s your shift going?”
“Hmm.” Benny’s face went hard, hearing Martin’s voice on the end of the call. “I’d say she is covering for you just fine, Benny. But us regulars miss you.”
“Who is this?”
“Benny what’s wrong?” Emma asked.
“Oh, I think you know who this is. Do tell Emma I said hi.”
“How the hell did you get her phone?” Benny questioned.
“Did you enjoy your cherry pie?”
A growl rippled through Benny’s chest when he heard Elizabeth’s voice.
“No!” Martin snapped. “Sorry hon, not quite done yet.”
“Oh. Did you, uh, reach your friend okay?”
“I did, thank you.” Martin told her. “I can't believe I left my cell on the bus. Wife says I'd lose my own head if it wasn't screwed on. I'll just be another minute.”
“Take your time.”
“Thank you.” Martin watched as Liz walked away. “She's a nice girl. Takes kindly to strangers.”
“You leave her the fuck alone,” Benny snarled, sitting up.
“How far away are you?”
“Not far.”
“You have 15 minutes.” Martin smiled. “And Benny, come alone.”
“Stay out here.” Benny demanded, climbing out of his truck.
“No way!”
“Em, don’t fight me on this one.”
Emma nodded, stopping on the porch of the gumbo shack. “Okay, just be careful.”
Benny slipped through the door into the dimly lit restaurant, finding Elizabeth tied to a chair.
“Lay down your arms, you unholy thing!” Martin shouted from behind her, placing a knife next to her throat. “Where’s Emma?”
“She stayed behind.” Benny raised his hands in surrender. “You got me here alone, just like you wanted. Why don’t you just let her go and walk away?”
“I don’t think so.”
“You do realize, I’m not asking?” Benny threatened.
“I realize that completely.
“Roy, what’s going on?” Liz whimpered, the cool steel blade starting to dig into her skin.
Liz cried out again when Martin’s hand tightened on the blade.
“Oh come on now,” Benny pleaded, slowly moving closer. "I got no beef with you, you got no beef with me.”
“I got plenty of beef with your kind.”
“All right, that may be so, but not for anything that happened here. I did not kill those people.”
“I heard. You and Dean had a little purgatory reunion. How touching,” Martin scoffed.
“Roy, please just tell me what’s going on here,” Liz whined.
“Please, I’m asking you not to do this. The bad guy is gone? Okay?”
Martin let out a small gasp. “She doesn’t know, does she Benny?
“Roy? Who's Benny?”
“Oh, who’s Benny? Let’s find out shall we?” Martin exclaimed, slightly dragging the knife.
Elizabeth cried out as the drop of blood ran down her neck,
Benny’s breath came short and struggled as he fought his thirst.
“You see that? Dilated pupils! Hair standing! Signs of hunger!”
Benny turned away, his fangs descending on their own accord.
“Don’t worry, He probably won’t feed off his own flesh and blood.”
“Flesh and blood?” Elizabeth repeated Martin’s words.
“Tell her, Benny. Tell her how you're her long-lost grandpappy. Tell her about all the dead you left behind. Tell her about the monster that you are!”
Benny fought the monster inside of him, turning back to them when he finally over came it “What do you want?” Benny snapped
“Isn't it obvious? I want your head.…”Martin shouted, pulling out a machete. “...on a stake.”
Benny nodded, walking over to the counter, he laid his head down. “Here, just let her go.”
“No!” Elizabeth screamed.
“I’m so sorry Lizzie,” Benny murmured, his eyes full of tears.
“Welp, hope they're saving a special place for you... wherever it is you come from.”
“No!” She screamed again as Martin lunged.
Benny closed his eyes, ready for the end again, instead he heard three rapid gun shots ripple through the air instead.
Emma raised her hand in front of her eyes when Dean pulled the Impala in front of the the cafe, sitting on the top step with Elizabeth. She knew if anyone was going to understand why she had to do what she did, it would be Dean.
“Em, what the the hell happened?” Dean asked, rushing to them.
“Martin came back, took Elizabeth, threatened her and Benny’s life,” Emma explained, staring up at him. “He didn’t give me a choice.”
“You killed Martin?!”
“He was going to kill Benny. I shot him as he was swinging the machete.”
“You ok?” Dean asked. She had known Martin probably longer than he had.
“I don’t know.” Emma shook her head, “But I would make the same call if I had to.”
Dean nodded. “I know. And I don’t blame you. I warned him,” he told her. “And how about you?”
Elizabeth looked up “I’m good…”
“Give her a minute, she did she just learn her great-grand father is a vampire,” Emma quipped, earning a chuckle from both of them.
“Speaking of, where is Benny?”
“Cleaning up my mess. I told him I would do it, but he wasn’t havin’ it.”
“Yeah, he’s a good guy.”
“Eh, for a vampire.”
Dean laughed again, making his way towards the door. The bell rang through the empty dinning room.
“Emma, I told you-”
“Now I am nearly as pretty as she is.”
Benny scoffed a laugh. “Not even close.”
Dean lit the match and tossed it onto the pyre he and Benny has built for Martin.
“So, what now?” Benny asked, watching the wood go up in flames.
“Now… you have two reasons to keep your nose clean,” Dean told him. “And you better take care of them, or I will hunt your ass down.”
Benny gave him a smile back. “You ain’t gotta worry about that, hoss.”
Dean took a deep breath letting it out in a sigh when the phone in the glove box started to ring. He didn’t look at the screen, he didn't have to. “Hey.”
“Sam, I need your help. Come quick.” Sam read the words from the text message Dean had sent him. “Swapping Amelia’s phone number with one of your burners, when did you do that?”
“While back, in case I needed it. Looks like I made the right call. So, did you see her?”
“I did, turns out she is doing great, but you already knew that.”
“Actually, I didn’t,” Dean huffed. “It was the only way I could get you to lay off.”
“Is Emma ok?”
“Yep.”
“And it’s over?”
“Yep.”
“Any casualties?” Sam asked.
“Martin.”
“Did Benny kill him?”
“No, Emma did. To save Benny and Elizabeth’s life.” Dean told him. “She's staying with him.”
Sam scoffed. “And you're ok with this?”
“Yeah, if that’s what she wants.”
“Unbelievable,” Sam said, right before hitting the red icon on his phone screen.
“Sam?” Dean looked down at his phone when it beeped, call ended flashed on the screen. He tossed it into the empty passenger seat of the Impala. “Damn it.”
Summary: An old thing brings forth unwanted memories.
Character(s): Crowley, Fergus MacLeod
Tags: Character Study, Angst, Mentions of self-harm, past alcohol abuse
Words: 958
Prompt: "Angst" for the @alphabetquest
Crowley looks down and turns the metal in his hands, ignoring the slight burn of the iron against his skin. A faint, bitter smile on his lips as he examines the object. He remembers it. He’d done his best to forget, of course, but certain things… certain things clung to him, in spite of his efforts.
The same things that made him recognise this relic from another life.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Supernatural (TV 2005)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester, Original Female Character(s)
Additional Tags: Yearbook, Teenager Sam Winchester, High School, Angst
Series: Part 25 of 2024 Alphabet Quest
Summary:
Sam wants something to remember his senior year by.
Written for the @alphabetquest, inspired by the prompt "Demon's Day Off".
Summary: Dean and Cas need help. Crowley is on a break. It goes just as well as you can imagine.
Warnings: none
Words: 1,2K
Crowley rolled his eyes, smirked to himself and made sure that his sunglasses covered his face. He left his near-empty glass on the tiny table under the parasol and waited.
Moments later, as expected, Dean marched through the ordered rows of sunbed on the hotel’s rooftop, with Castiel in tow.
They did make quite the spectacle: a disgruntled hunter with a flannel shirt over a dark t-shirt, and a earth-bound angel, impassible in trench coat drooping on top of a rumpled shirt, both challenging the heat of an early summer day in Southern California. The multicoloured reflections from the pool only increased the bizarre quality of the scene.
Prompt:
Person A: “As they say, sharing is caring.”
Person B: “I don’t think it applies in this situation”
Summary: While it's good to have a new ally, Dean can't help but notice that Crowley's methods are a little... different.
Words: 483
Warnings: none
"Come on, Squirrel, take a look. As they say, sharing is caring!" Crowley exclaimed, handing over the bowl. His sleeves were rolled up and he was wearing an apron, careful to keep his suit well shielded from the current operation.
The second the smell hit his nostrils, Dean had to make a conceited effort to hold down his breakfast.
"I don't think it applies in this situation. What's that?" he asked, covering his mouth and taking a step back from the revolting thing. "Wait. Did it move?"
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Supernatural (TV 2005)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester, Original Female Character(s)
Additional Tags: Valentine’s Day, School, xoxo, Valentine’s Day Cards
Series: Part 24 of 2024 Alphabet Quest
Summary:
Use the prompts to create something using these characters and fandoms. Creativity takes time, so post your creation whenever you are ready. It doesn’t have to be in the same month.
Remember, this is a fun, creative challenge for writers, gif makers, artists, video editors, and aesthetic makers. There is no pressure to post anything.
There are 9 prompts for each letter with a mixture of tropes, scenarios, songs, lyrics, and dialogue.
The source is linked if prompts were taken from elsewhere.
Y
You Broke Me First by Tate McRae
You Know What by Craig David
Z
Zephyrus by Bloc Party
Zero by Chris Brown
Note(s): Use lyrics from the song or the feel of the song.
Y
“You can't say you love me for the first time and then walk away."
"You honestly believe I can't see the truth beneath all of your lies?" source - @deanwinchesterswitch
Z
"Zany? You think I'm zany? What the hell does that mean?" source
Note(s): Dialogue can be tweaked, but please keep it as minimal as possible.
Y
Yawning
Yearbook
Z
Zebra
Zodiac Sign(s)
Zombie
Zorro Costume/Mask
Note(s): Can be used as the title, dialogue, part of a scene, or concept.
Y
Yacht Party
Z
Zipper breaking at an inconvenient time. Source
Zoom call that goes wrong.
Y
"Your eyes are staring at my sins." - source - Unstable by Zak Abel
"You make me wanna leave the one I'm with…" - source - You Make Me Wanna by Usher
Note(s): Please do not tweak lyrics. They should be used in their entirety without change but can be used in any way.
Before posting, please read the Guidelines/Rules and the FAQs. If anything isn’t clear, please DM or ASK.
Discord is not required to participate in the event, but it will be a good place to interact with other participants, bounce ideas, and ensure submissions are received. Please let me know if you would like to be added to the server.
Please mention @alphabetquest in the Author’s Notes.
Use the hashtag #AlphabetQuestSubmission in the first five tags.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Supernatural (TV 2005)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester
Additional Tags: Wishes, Future Plans, College, acceptance letter
Series: Part 23 of 2024 Alphabet Quest
Summary:
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Supernatural (TV 2005)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester
Additional Tags: Visions, Confessions, Secrets
Series: Part 22 of 2024 Alphabet Quest
Summary:
Summary: Dean and Katrina take a moment to enjoy the day together
Set early season 8 of SPN, and part of the Long Winding Roads collection (masterlist here), but can be read on its own.
Rating: T
A/N: This was written for the monthly challenge hosted in the Fanfic Writers of the SPN Fandom discord server (join here!), using the prompt "I missed feeling the sun on my skin." and for @alphabetquest prompt Quality Time.
Thank you @justwhisperingfantasies for being my beta and for all your support! ❤️
Warnings: This is pretty much just fluff. Um. Established relationship. Some language. If I missed anything please let me know.
*******************
The concept of relaxing was not one Katrina Black had ever been truly familiar with.
Constantly moving and keeping busy had been her way of life as long as she could remember. She’d started picking up odd jobs from neighbors before she’d hit double digits, picked up her first part time job before it was really legal, worked her way through college, and she’d been balancing some combination of work, school, caretaking, and hunting since she was at least eighteen. It wasn’t that it didn’t burn her out, because it did, but it was just always how she’d coped. It was all she knew, and it had gotten her this far, so Katrina wasn’t about to poke too hard at it.
Still, when her first day off in at least a week rolled around, and it happened to coincide with what was quite possibly the last sunny day they’d have until Spring, even she found herself craving a break.
That was how she found herself stretched out on the hammock in her backyard, sunglasses obscuring a large portion of her face, a glass of spiked iced tea sweating on a table that was close enough to reach if she really wanted to, and a worn paperback by her head that she’d tossed aside about ten minutes prior in favor of her iPod. Her eyes were closed while she soaked in the rays, but she still sensed the shift when a shadow came to hover over her. As the light dimmed, she stirred from her half-asleep state, blinking while she pushed the sunglasses up the bridge of her nose and pulled out one of her earbuds.
“The hell are you doing?” Dean asked when he saw he had her attention, and Katrina quirked an eyebrow at her boyfriend.
“You wanna try that again?”
Dean rolled his eyes, but Katrina could see the smile tugging at the corner of his lips and there was no mistaking the fondness in his gaze when he looked back at her.
“C‘mon, it’s the middle of the day, and we got shit to do. Kevin ain’t gonna find himself, and we still got a demon tablet to track down, and Crowley. Plus there’s a -“
“If you don’t shut up about demons and quit blocking my sunlight, I don’t care how much I love you Dean Winchester, I will kick you in the balls.”
Dean looked torn between exasperation and amusement at the threat and shook his head. “Kat -“
“I’m serious. It’s called a day off, and you should try it sometime.”
For a moment she was nervous she may have said the wrong thing, knowing that Dean was still bitter about Sam’s year off. But then his previous amusement seemed to win out and the smirk that had threatened to make an appearance finally spread across his face.
“Serious my ass,” he scoffed. “Kicking me in the balls is about the emptiest threat you could’ve come up with.”
“You wanna bet?” she challenged, shifting where she was lying to turn more fully towards him. Dean moved in closer, his green eyes dancing with a mixture of laughter and heat that she could’ve drowned in.
“Careful, sweetheart,” he teased, leaning down just far enough to catch her lips in a kiss. “Don’t wanna do anything you’ll regret. What was it you were saying this morning? Something about -“
An almost growl vibrated in her throat before she stretched up and cut him off with another kiss. She could still hear his laughter, feel it rumbling through his chest, even as he reciprocated enthusiastically. When they broke apart only a couple of seconds later they were both still smiling, perhaps a little breathless, and there was a softness around Dean’s eyes Katrina was still getting used to seeing.
“My point still stands,” she mumbled against his lips just before settling back fully into the hammock. Her hand, however, trailed along his arm as she shifted down, finally twining their fingers together when she reached the end, still instinctively seeking that closeness even as she allowed the distance between them.
“Yeah, well so does mine,” he countered, his thumb rubbing circles into her skin. Katrina suspected he didn’t even realize he was doing it. “It’s been a few days, maybe we’ll find something if we look into the credit cards again.”
Katrina frowned up at him and tugged at his hand. “My thing’s more fun. C’mon. Kevin’s still gonna need finding tomorrow, Crowley will still need killing, and whatever other bullshit you were gonna tell me about will keep too. Take a break with me. How many more nice days are we gonna get like this?”
It took a little more cajoling, a little more of the playful back and forth banter they’d perfected through their years of friendship, but Dean ultimately relented, climbing up next to her and holding a little tighter when the hammock swayed from the movement. Katrina wasted no time curling into his side and offering up the loose hanging earbud she had yet to replace in her own ear.
It was still new, this thing between them, and Katrina constantly found herself marveling at the fact that it was real, that it wasn’t too good to be true. Being tangled up in each other managed to be electrifying and steadying all at the same time, the excitement of being with Dean like this still being new enough to make her head spin while the comfort and safety his presence had provided her for a long time already was just as grounding as it’d always been before.
They traded slow, deep, lazy kisses, taking their time to explore even though they’d done little else with their free time lately. Katrina carded her fingers through his short hair and he splayed a hand across her back, holding her to him while his other skimmed her side as if he were trying to memorize every dip and curve. Each roll of his tongue against hers sent currents down her spine and left her aching for more.
Eventually they settled in, content to just be in the moment with each other. Dean’s arms were wrapped around her while she nestled against his chest, her head tucking in under his chin and one of her arms securing itself across his waist. The Henley he wore was soft against her skin and smelled like him, and between the heat of his body and the sun beating down on them, Katrina felt herself pleasantly warm, like she were cocooned in an invisible blanket. His one hand played with her hair, and the feeling of his fingers running along her scalp was soothing, lulling her deeper and deeper into a state of relaxation she rarely reached.
The only sounds around them were a few birds chirping in the nearby trees, and noises from the road that were extremely muffled thanks to the distance. Katrina found herself on the edge of sleep when Dean’s low voice penetrated her thoughts, quiet but almost loud because of the way she was pressed against him. She could feel him speak as much as she could hear him.
“I missed this.”
“What?” she laughed lightly, “making out in my backyard? Pretty sure we didn’t use to do this.”
“No, smartass,” he scoffed. “Just being with you. And the sun. I missed feeling the sun on my skin. There, uh… there wasn’t any in Purgatory. Not really… not like this, anyway.”
The admission was somewhat sobering, and Katrina frowned, her fingers unconsciously twisting tighter in his shirt at the reminder of their time apart… of the months she’d worried she may never see him again. Dean didn’t talk much about Purgatory, but she’d done what she could to be there for him when he was willing to. Mostly that happened in the middle of the night, when he woke up from a nightmare, or in the quiet moments like this when it was just the two of them, or sometimes if he’d had a little too much to drink - though with Dean’s tolerance, those occasions were exceedingly rare.
She waited, giving him the space to keep talking if he wanted, but when he seemed content to leave it where he had she turned her head - just enough to press a gentle kiss against his chest before pulling him to her tighter. His own fingers hadn’t stopped their movements, still soothing her in a way few other things could, and Katrina felt him drop his own kiss to the top of her head.
“And you wanted to spend the afternoon hunting demons,” she teased. Dean let out a bark of laughter that carried through the yard, squeezing her as he did before planting another kiss - this one less tender but still carried all the same warmth and affection.
“Yeah, you got me there,” he admitted. “I guess your way wasn’t so bad after all.”
Katrina smiled, her eyes fluttering shut while her breathing leveled out to match his. The sound of his heart beating beneath his ribs was an extra reminder that he was safe, that he was there with her… it was a sound she’d come to appreciate more than she ever thought she would.
“Don’t know why you ever bother arguing with me,” she quipped. “Should really know by now that I’m always right.”
“Oh god,” he complained dramatically. “What the hell have I gotten myself into with you? Is this how it’s always gonna be?”
“Better get used to it,” Katrina smirked, though she doubted he could see, given how they were positioned. “You’re stuck with me now.”
And despite the teasing he’d just done, Dean tightened his arms around her and buried his face in her hair. He held her that way for a moment, only moving just enough to make himself audible when he spoke again. “Guess that makes me the luckiest son of a bitch in the world. I love you, Kat. Always. That’s never gonna change.”
Coming from anyone else, those were words Katrina probably wouldn’t have trusted. With Dean, though, she knew they were real. Yeah, this thing between them was new, but it was built off of something deep, and real, and lasting. The feelings there weren’t fast or fleeting, and she was still terrified of what complications that would bring them considering the lives they led… but she didn’t doubt them.
So Katrina smiled, even though he couldn’t see her, and pressed another kiss to his chest because it was the only place she could reach without disturbing him, and she wasn’t ready for the embrace to end.
After all, being in Dean Winchester’s arms had been her favorite place to be far longer than they’d had any sort of claim on each other.
“I love you too,” she murmured.
They stayed like that a while longer, wrapped up in each other and savoring the last nice day of the season. Dean had been right that they had things to take care of - Kevin, Crowley, closing the gates of hell, and all their normal crap too - but for at least the afternoon, it could wait.
Katrina wasn’t great at relaxing, and she knew neither was Dean. But being around each other made it almost easy. And as the hours ticked by and the sun slowly began to set over the horizon, Katrina couldn’t bring herself to regret a moment of it.
***********************
Tag List (let me know if you'd like to be added): @mrsjenniferwinchesterhester @0ccvltism
Summary: Beau is tired of seeing your heart break. This time will be the last.
Word Count: 1,780
Special Thank To @copperboom82 My Forever Beta Bestie 🫶
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Beau looked over as you turned your phone screen off with a sigh. “Let me guess,” he spoke up.
“I don’t want to talk about.”
“He can’t make dinner,” he continued, ignoring your protest. “Not surprised, although it is your what? Two year anniversary?”
“I said I don’t want to talk about, Beaufort.”
The engine of his Land Rover filled the silence as the tension floated between you. You looked at the clock of the radio.
“So, explain it to me again…”
“Wow, managed to keep quiet for a whole two minutes,” you quipped, giving him a smile. “What is it, Sheriff?”
“He cancels plans, flirts with other women, always going out with the guys, some nights he doesn’t even come home,” Beau rambled on, though it wasn’t anything you hadn'theard before.
“So you were eavesdropping?”
“No, not eavesdropping,” he grinned
You rolled your eyes. “Oh, my mistake.” He opened his mouth but shut it when you continued. “I guess me talking to my best friend alone in my office was an open conversation.”
“My point is… why do you stay with him?”
You sighed as you eyes shifted to the greenery out the car window. “It’s not all bad.”
“I just don’t get it, Rouse,” Beau whispered, stopping at the stop sign, with only one more block to go, Maybe if you ignored the question, he would just let it go - probably not though. “You deserve someone better,” he said, proving you right. “A good guy, someone that would treat you right and put you first.”
“Well, if you happen to meet prince charming, go ahead and give him my number,” you quipped, earning a chuckle from him.
“What if he -”
“Why is Emily here?” you asked cutting him off, hoping to change the subject.
“Hm, not sure,“ he said as his brows furrowed, finding his daughter sitting on the bench outside of the Sheriff’s station. “Let’s go find out.”
“Hey Em, you ok?” Beau asked as the two of you walked up the sidewalk.
“Hey dad,” she greeted him, wrapping her arms around his middle. “I’m fine. Though I’m actually here to talk to y/n.”
Beau’s eyebrows raised. “Really? Something you can’t talk to me about?”
”It’s more of a feminine question.”
“Ok, I am out,” Beau announced as his cheeks got red. “I’ll be inside if you need me.”
You both watched as he disappeared through the door. “Alright, what's up?” you asked turning back to Emily.
Your office door creaked as Beau knocked and he poked his head in, dramatically scanning the room.
“What are you doing?” you asked him as his head kept swiveling.
“Just making sure I'm not walking in on a private conversation,” he smirked.
“Oh my gosh, you're freaking hilarious.” He chuckled at your sarcastic tone.
“So...”
“So...” you echoed as you continued writing your notes from the traffic stop this morning.
“You gonna tell me what my daughter wanted to talk to you about?”
“Haven't you learned your lesson about private conversations?” you quipped, making him sigh. “She just wanted the number for a nice drug dealer.” He bit back a smile. “Don't worry I steered her away from the cartel and gave her Stabby Joe’s number.”
Beau’s head lifted as his laughter rippled through the air. “Yeah, Stabby Joe was definitely the way to go.”
“I know,” you chuckled.
“Seriously though, she’s ok right?”
“Yes Beau, I would tell you if it was major.” His eyebrows raised still trying to pry the subject from you. “Our little Emily likes a boy.”
“God, please tell me you didn’t give her boy advice.”
“And just what the hell do you mean by that?” you asked leaning back in your chair as your arms folded across your chest.
“Well y/n, you don't have the best track record in that category.”
“And you're one to talk, Beaufort.”
His brow quirked. “Somethin’ you wanna say?”
“Actually-”
“Arlen, y/ln!” Jenny shouted as she rushed into your office. “We got ‘em”
You jumped to your feet, Beau already on his. “Let’s go,” he ordered.
“Here,” Beau said handing you a bullet proof vest from his backseat.
“Beau, this is gonna be way too big on me,” you argued, looking at the size. “Wait, you keep a vest for me in your truck?”
“Of course I do,” he chuckled, his eyes staying forward and a smile spreading across his face. “Have you met you?”
“I got shot one time…”
“Well, that will be the only time, if I can help it.” He looked over, his face hard. “That’s an order deputy.”
You pulled the vest over your heard with an eyeroll. “Yes sir.”
“Thank you,” he said pulling into the apartment complex.
“Number 14, second floor,” Jenny's voice came though the walkie.
“Copy that,” Beau responded, strapping his vest “You ready?” You gave him a nod after strapping your won vest on. “Alright.”
Beau walked ahead of you - of course he would go first, he always went first - his pistol securely pointed at the ground. He reached his hand behind him brushing your thigh as you approached the door.
“1… 2… 3…” Beau whispered right before kicking in the door. You were right behind him, gun drawn scanning the room. “Clear, going right.”
“6,” you shouted, letting him know you were behind him.
“Going left,” Pop cried out, and Jenny responded to him same as you.
Beau reached the hallway, looking back to you before he rounded the corner. “Clear.” You followed behind him, stopping at the first door. “I'll take this one, you take that one.” He said, gesturing the second door.
You nodded and continued on your way. You opened the door and your vision went white; you gasped for air as something hit your chest. Then again as you fell to your back.
“y/n!” Beau’s voice a whisper over the ringing in your ears.
‘Breathe, just breathe’ Your lungs relaxed once they started getting oxygen again.
“Jenny! Pop!” you heard Beau’s frantic voice. “Rouse, tell me you’re ok.”
You opened your mouth, trying to yell back at him, but nothing came out.
“Beau, we’ll cover you, get her the hell out of here.”
Gunshots fired over the now dull chimes. You felt something pull on the shoulder straps of your vest “Y/n, open your eyes,” Beau pleaded, the gunshots getting softer as you felt the carpet stinging your limp arms. “Open your eyes damnit!”
“Can you… stop yelling at me,” you managed to croak out.
Beau sighed in relief, “You scared the shit outta me, Rouse.” He sat up, your back against something hard - you guessed the outside wall of the complex. “Were you hit?” he asked as his fingers fumbled with the straps of your vest.
“Chest... hurts.”
“Well, that’s to be expected.”
Opening your eyes you looked up at him, not being able to stop the smile from spreading across your face. “Beau.”
“Come on, I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“No.”
“Don’t argue with me right now.”
His fingers stopped when your hand cupped his cheek. “Beau, I’m not hit. The vest got it.”
“You’re sure?” His eyes searched yours for some sigh of doubt, maybe? “I think you should still go.”
“I am fine. A little sore. Go help Jenny.”
“Not needed,” Jenny contested, pushing the perp through the front door in handcuffs. “We got him, you take her.”
“You’re going,” Beau demanded as a groan pushed past your lips.
"I told you I was fine," you smarted, climbing into the Land Rover's passenger seat. Beau nodded, staying silent as he starred out the windshield. "What's wrong?"
He cleared his throat "Nothing. Am I dropping you off at home?"
“Yeah… Are you sure there’s nothing wrong?”
“Yep.”
The rest of the drive was quiet. You knew he was lying, but you decided not to push. You had been through enough for the day and he had just saved you, he deserved to be cut some slack.
“Who’s car is that?” Beau asked, snapping you out of your thoughts as he pulled into your driveway.
“Um, not sure…”
He nodded. “Call me if you need me.”
“Ok?”
“I just got a feeling.” He grabbed your hand as you started to turn toward the door. “ I love you, Rouse.”
“I love you too, Beaufort.”
Beau tossed the remote on the couch with a huff; he couldn’t focus, couldn’t think. Well that wasn’t true - there was one thing that managed to keep his attention. He sat up reaching for his phone on the coffee table. Before he could stop them his fingers opened their text conversation and started typing.
Hey hope everything is ok, by the way who
“No,” he said out loud holding the delete button down, he thought for a second and started typing again.
Rouse, I’m sorry I was such a dick, I was just scared to
He let a growl as he held down the delete button once more.
How are you feeling?
He nodded hitting send. The three little bubbles flashed on the screen within seconds.
Are you home?
Yes.
The bubbles disappeared, his eyes moved to the clock in the top right corner of the screen. After 5 minutes past he started typing again.
Are you ok?
No bubbles, no reply. He waited 10 minutes this time.
Could you answer me
Just as he hit send there was a knock on his door.
“I brought tequila.” she said, holding up the bottle. His heart sank, her eyes red and puffy, her makeup smeared. Still as beautiful as ever though.
Beau gestured her inside, opening the door all the way open. “What did the son of a bitch do now?” he asked shutting the door.
“We don’t have to talk about it.”
“Y/n,” Beau whispered
“You were right, ok?” she said voice cracking as tears welled in her eyes. “Is that what you wanna hear?”
“Hey,” Beau said as he stepped over to her, wrapping his arms around her. “You know better than that, sweetheart. Tell me what happened.” He could feel the dampness through his shirt as she sobbed into his chest.
“That other car was Amy - some slut he’s been hooking up with.” She mumbled. “I just don’t get it. All men do is break your heart and do you wrong. I am so sick of it.”
“Hey, hold up there. There’s still some good guys out there...”
“Oh yeah? Like who?” she asked looking up at him.
Beau took a deep breath, “Woman, you’re so damn stubborn.”
“Right back at cha bucko,” she smarted, making him chuckle. “Seriously though, Beau Who?”
“You know,” and his fingers traced up her neck, stopping at her chin, “I would never do you wrong.”
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