[h3] Anna [/h3]

“Do you remember the demon from Bobby’s? The one that made me drink all the demon blood and made me go all…crazy?” Anna asked Sam, as they walked toward the bus stop. She glanced around her frantically, her paranoia at an all-time high, now that it was evident Hell was in her mind. She paused for a long moment, and then finally took a deep breath. “I don’t think it’s only Lilith that wants to get to me. I hate sounding like the special child of the universe or whatever the hell, but I’m having hallucinations.”

Admitting it out loud just made her feel more crazy. The idea of having hallucinations this far out of drinking any demon blood was terrifying. It was a spiral that she hadn’t planned to have for a while. The closer they got to the seals being broken…and if they couldn’t stop them from being broken, she and Sam would both be targeted more. Knowing what they knew, at this point, either the seals were being shattered left and right, or this was just some wicked pre-game by the demons to tear them apart…to tear her mind apart.

“That woman back there was speaking in tongues. From the way you reacted, I’m assuming you didn’t hear it, which means that she was specifically sent to me, for some reason. I have a weird feeling it’s something big. That’s why I need to talk to Cason. I need to know what he knows about Alastair, and how I can kill him.” 

As she finished, she shuddered at the idea of taking on Alastair again, considering how powerful he was. She had beaten him before, only to hear the laughter in her nightmares for months. He seemed excited that she could hurt him. He seemed to want her to be that powerful. Maybe, with Sam, she would be able to kill him…

…but only with demon blood.

She needed to see Cason.

Just as Cason’s face flashed in her mind, a man stepped out from around the bus terminal, as the bus approached. Anna stopped her steps, staring at the man as a quiet hiss could be heard (she wasn’t sure if it was in her brain or not). The hiss was almost rhythmic as if a heart was beating, but so fast that it made a buzzing noise. Was she hearing his heart beating? Was he a demon? The man simply stepped onto the bus as the doors opened, and made his way casually to the back, as Anna stood frozen next to Sam.

“And I think we have company.”

[h3] Dean and Cason [/h3]

Cason’s instincts were to reach out and grab Nat’s arm as she pulled from him, but he stood still, just letting her say her piece. It was obvious that nothing he could say would change Dean’s mind about him. But maybe Nat could get through to him. However, when she brought up the asylum, his blood ran cold and he swallowed heavily. His role in the asylum was a sore spot in his mind, considering how much was taken from him. His rank, his titles, all ties to other demons, and his reputation were carved out of him, one slice of flesh at a time. 

Dean narrowed his eyes, watching both Cason’s reaction to the mention of the asylum and also scanning his eyes over Nat’s face. The way she stared down, as if she was terrified of him, made him feel nauseated and if he was honest, broke his heart. Hearing that Cason had risked his own life softened his expression, and the realization that Nat’s attachment was deeper than just ‘fun with a demon’ hit like a truck. She trauma bonded with the guy. He understood that kind of bond better than almost anyone. He had seen it in hundreds of hunter couples. They were the least likely couples in the world, but because of trauma and a shared connection that no one else could see, they worked together. So did Nat and Cason, even if it wasn’t romantic. He sighed, turning his eyes down from her face, to the floor, weighing the options of what to even say in this moment.

Before Dean could even speak up, Cason cleared his throat and chewed at his lip, causing Dean to flinch at the sudden breach of quiet. As Dean raised his eyes from the floor, to look at Cason, his expression neutral and for the first time since they met, not aggressive, Cason spoke for himself.

“I have never lied to you about my intentions with Nat,” Cason said simply. He shrugged and chewed at his lip for another few seconds. “I told you that I would take care of her. I told you that I wouldn’t let anything hurt her. I told you that I would protect her from herself if I had to…and even from you.”

Dean flinched visibly again, and his expression flickered with anger but Cason didn’t give him a chance to respond. He simply reached out and brushed the back of his hand down Nat’s arm.

“I meant what I said. I’ve lost everything. I have nothing to lose by…being a rebel, I guess. I don’t like any of you. I think you’re a lost cause that will only end in misery, pain, and heartache for anyone who ever gets close to you. I feel it from your cowboy down the way, right now. But, I want Hell in ruins, just as bad as you do. If I have to be [i] good[/i] to make that happen…so be it.”

Dean sighed and scrunched his nose to pull back his frustration and emotion. After a moment, he placed his hands on his hips and nodded softly, “Alright.”

“Alright?” Cason asked, urging him to continue, for Nat’s sake.

“I don’t like any of this. I don’t like that he was there…when none of us even knew you existed. It’s not fair. It’s not right. But I…I can accept his existence, until the end of this. You’re willing to die to keep her safe?” Dean turned his gaze to Cason, who muttered ‘yes’ without hesitation. Dean nodded again. “You’re a means to an end. We’re not friends. I don’t want to be your friend. If she ends up hurt…at all, you’re finished. You’re mine. Do you understand?”

Cason nodded and shrugged, even though he knew Nat wouldn’t like the agreement, “Seems fair.”

“Good. Come here…”, Dean gestured to Nat, holding an arm out for her to hug him and squash all of this animosity. This wasn’t being the bigger person. This was creating an insurance policy and making sure that at least Nat would stay. He needed some time to process what Cason meant to her. Helpful or not, getting involved with demons wasn’t high on his to-do list.

[h3] Duke [/h3]

Duke stayed completely still as Esme began to approach him. He didn’t know how to react to her staying silent. It wasn’t in her nature to just kick his ass, but it crossed his mind. The thought almost made him smile under the cover of his hat. But then he felt her warm hand against his cheek, and his breath hitched. He trailed his eyes up until he could see hers, and melted into her touch a bit as she began to speak. She wasn’t forcing him out. She wasn’t pushing him away. Instead, she was, with her body language, inviting him back in. He was almost emotional with his relief, letting out a shuddered sigh as she kissed his face.

“Esme…”, Duke whispered, involuntarily arguing with her kindness as his eyes fluttered closed for a split second. He opened them, just taking in her words. It was possibly the first time he could remember another human having any faith in him, whatsoever. It was the first time another human was willing to let him try to take care of something, with no disregard for his feelings or what he wanted. For that, his heart nearly exploded. The overwhelmed feeling only grew as Esme wrapped her arms around him, and the warmth of her body flooded through his numb and cold chest. He wrapped his arms so tightly around her that he was almost afraid he would hurt her.

“I don’t know that I’m the most trustworthy person to try and help anyone. I mean, Bobby says all the time he wouldn’t trust me with a puppy, much less another human. It's why I prefer to do things alone, most of the time.” Duke spoke softly, feeling rather small in his vulnerability. But the longer he held Esme against his chest, the closer to real everything felt. But then an idea that had been nagging his brain crept in again.

“We could leave together.”, he whispered. His heart began to hammer in his chest the second the words left his lips. The idea of running away together was not likely to go over well. Esme was close to Dean again. Together or not, they were on the same path…again. He squeezed her a bit tighter for a few quiet seconds and then pulled back from her, holding her by her upper arms, as his sad and teary eyes met hers. “We could take care of each other and we wouldn’t…we wouldn’t be in danger all the time. You know, just straight demons and vampires without all the angel stuff. I thought about it while I was drivin’ and I don’t…I don’t know if I’m any good to them.  But I can be good to you…”