Esme continued to sleep soundly until Dean slapped the side of the truck, causing her to jump slightly as Duke rolled over to look at Dean. She half opened her eyes to see Dean looking down at Duke as the two of them bickered. It was all she could do to hold her grin and laugh at bay as it brought back similar memories of when it was just the three of them traveling and hunting. But instead of her wrapped up in Duke’s arms, she was in Dean’s arms, sometimes in the same attire she was in now. She was also pretty sure that Dean would have killed Duke if he ever found them like this when they were a team, but she would have never done that then to keep from hurting Dean and causing tension between them. Esme loved them both back then, and she was sure both of them knew that, but her heart had fully belonged to Dean, there wasn’t any questioning it. If she was being honest with herself, she missed those days, and still mentally kicked herself for leaving the way she did. She knew there was a better way of going about it, but the next step Dean wanted and was willing to take in their relationship scared the hell out of her at the time. There had been so much she still wanted and needed to take care of, she had feared it wouldn’t get done or even get Dean killed.

Duke rolling back over and curling back up to her pulled her from her thoughts of the past. She was about to snuggle back into him when she heard Dean tell him to get up and he was going for food. Duke’s next words caused her to laugh softly, breaking the illusion she had been asleep the whole time. As Dean walked away, Esme rose up and propped herself up on her arm, being careful to not let the blanket fall from her shoulder and chest. “Hey, Dean?....... Do you think you could pick me up some clothes while you’re out? Please?” she asked him. Before waiting for an answer from him, she settled back down next to Duke, snuggled up to him once more, and adjusted her head to where her nose was just inches from his. “So, how did you sleep?” she asked Duke as she softly nuzzled his nose with hers. She barely heard Dean walk past the truck to go talk to Sam. In the back of her mind, she thought it was someone else even if she hadn’t heard the Impala’s engine roar to life. As she waited for Duke’s answer, she got lost in his baby blue eyes. 

She was pulled back by a gentle nudge to the shoulder by Sarah. Adjusting herself so she could see her, Sarah turned her head to look over the side of the truck bed. Raising up and holding the blanket in place, Esme looked over the side of the truck to see Dean, Mika, and Sam talking just outside his and Anna’s room. Sam had a look of extreme worry plastered on his face. The peaceful look that was on her face was now gone and replaced with concern for Sam. Esme sighed heavily as she turned back to look at Duke. “It looks like we may have a situation this morning.” she told him sadly. “I think we should go over and see what’s going on.” With that said, she reluctantly slid from Duke’s arms and scooted to the tailgate, and off. All the while being careful not to pop one of her stitches or lose the blanket. Once her bare feet were on the cold cement, she held the blanket tighter around herself and waited for Duke before making her way over to the group. She was aware of the growing emotions as she closed the gap between herself and them, she took a deep breath to help herself keep herself from getting overwhelmed this early in the morning. 

“What’s going on? Is everyone alright?” she questioned in concern when she had closed the gap. It was on seconds after she asked the questions, she felt the emotions from the others fade and a slight pressure against her side. Sarah had gotten out of the truck and followed her over, then sat down by her side as an emotion shield and in a protective manner.