[h2]Esme[/h2]
Esme continued to lie in Duke’s truck bed with Sarah, staring up at the stars and making out the constellations. At one point, she lifted herself up off Sarah to look over the sides of the truck bed to check on the others. They looked to still be in deep conversation. Whatever it was about seemed to have them all on edge, but that was only a guess, since she couldn’t feel any emotions from anyone being close to Sarah. She then settled herself back down against Sarah, making herself comfortable by snuggling into the Hellhound. Which made Sarah curl around her more and rest her chin on Esme’s arm. Esme tilted her head to look at Sarah, giving her a tired smile. Pulling her free hand from under the blanket, she shifted so she was laying more on her side, then placed her hand on Sarah’s head. She lay there in silence for a bit, just looking at Sarah as her mind and body relaxed from the silence that surrounded her from the Hellhound. She noticed Sarah was watching her as she looked at her as if she were making sure she was really doing okay. Esme gave her a reassuring smile and a scratch on the head to let her know her presence was helping her out.

After a moment of silence and staring at each other, Esme sighed softly before speaking to Sarah in a soft whisper. “I know you’re still unsure about Duke since he seemed to have shown up out of nowhere and joined up with us.” she started, then paused for a moment. “But he’s a good guy and I trust him with my life. Years may have passed since we’ve seen each other, but nothing has changed between us. He’s still the same man I knew back then.” she smiled as she scratched Sarah’s head. “Give him a chance and please don’t do anything to him.” Esme watched Sarah take in her words and then sigh heavily. She then nuzzled her as if saying okay. “Thank you.” Esme smiled. She continued to scratch Sarah’s head as she tilted her head to look back to the sky, a tired smile still resting upon her lips. She knew Duke was wary of Sarah, but she hoped he could get used to her being around and get the opportunity to prove themselves to one another. She didn’t like the tension Sarah caused between everyone, but she also found herself not wanting to be without her. Esme sighed and let the thought slip out of her mind and made herself relax again.

As she lay there, fully relaxed now, her mind drifted off to another time she was in this truck bed. It had been a long day of working a case involving a couple of elusive Wendigos. Just when Esme, Dean, and Duke thought they were on top of them, they vanished without a trace and they would have to start over again. After finally finding their lair and torching their bodies after a good fight, the three found themselves in a field, taking a breather. She and Dean used the stream nearby to clean up a bit before they both hopped into the truck bed of Duke’s truck. Then they laid back staring up at the darkening sky wrapped up in each other's arms. His cheek rested against her head and her head on his shoulder while Duke cleaned himself up. As the memory played out, her eyelids grew heavy. She tried to fight against the sleepiness to wait for Duke to get back, but she lost the fight, and the memory played on. After some snuggling, making sure each other was good, and a couple of kisses on top of her head, Duke showed up and sat on the tailgate. “Alright, lovebirds. Break it up.” Duke teased them. Both Esme and Dean laughed as they sat up, an arm still wrapped around one another. “What? Too much affection for you to handle?” Esme teased back before Dean could say anything. Both men laughed and Duke shook his head. “No, I’m starvin’ and it’s Dean’s turn to make a food run.” he stated flatly with his signature smile.

“Oh, that so? I’m almost sure I made the last run.” Dean told him, eyebrows raised. “In fact, I know I made the last food run. What are you planning?” “Nothing.” Duke replied quickly. “Fine….. I just can’t see well enough to drive after taking a blow to the head.” he admitted. Dean released a heavy sigh through his nose and agreed he’d make the food run. Before Dean pulled himself away from Esme, he gave her a one-armed squeeze and a kiss on the head, then told her he wouldn't be gone long. She nodded and watched him leave before making her way out of the truck bed and walking around to the passenger side of Duke’s truck. Opening the door, she reached under the seat and pulled out the first aid kit he kept there. Esme could feel Duke’s eyes on her the whole time. Closing the door, she made her way back and sat next to him on the tailgate, placing the kit next to her. “Alright, let me have a look.” she told him after looking at his eyes for any sign of a possible concussion. When he turned, removed his Stetson, and showed her the spot, she got up on her knees to have a better look. She carefully moved his hair away from the spot and examined his head. There was a clear lump on his head, but no broken skin. She gave a sigh of relief that she didn’t have to stitch him up for once after a case. 

“I think you’re going to live.” she teased him as she put his hair back in place. Taking to her feet, she walked to the front of the truck bed and to the cooler he kept there. She opened it and pulled out a bandana from her pocket, knelt down, and laid it out over her leg. Grabbing a couple of handfuls of ice, she wrapped the bandana around it, then grabbed some water before closing the cooler and made her way back over to Duke. Esme placed the makeshift ice back on his head and waited for him to take it before sitting back down next to him. She then pulled some painkillers from the first aid kit, opened them, and handed them to him, then the water after opening it for him. “What a day this has been.” she sighed heavily. Some time went by and they talked about the Wendigos and if she was alright after being knocked around some, at one point they moved so they were resting against the side of the truck bed with their legs stretched out to the other side.