[h2]Esme[/h2]
Esme listened as everyone got out of the Impala but didn’t take her eyes off Duke as he woke up.  The small smile she had on her lips faded when she saw him frown, making her wonder what he was dreaming about. And even though his eyes were open, did he still think he was dreaming? When he rationalized, she softly nodded her head. “Yes, we’re at Bobby’s.” she replied. She let her hand fall from his face as he looked out the window and sat up. Her slight smile returned when he ruffled his hair, a small sign of him being himself. At his gesture, she turned and opened the door and slowly got her sore and stiff body out of the car. Esme stifled a hiss as she stretched a bit, then turned to Duke as he stepped out of the Impala. The smirk she saw playing at the corner of his mouth brought a new smile to her lips as she took his outstretched hand. “You and me both.” Esme responded after Dean agreed. She pulled her gaze from Duke to Mika as she asked her question. “Yes.” she said with a nod at the same time Dean answered. 

Before she could turn her attention back to Duke, Sam and Anna pulled in with Sarah coming in behind them. She trotted over and sat next to Esme, who rubbed the back of her hand against her. Esme watched Anna get out of the truck, make a beeline to Cason, hug him, say a few words, and head back to Sam. Before she made it, Esme heard Dean call out to her. The conversation caused her to wince at the harshness, but she couldn't blame Anna. It was Dean who told everyone to leave Cason to die in the barn that night. Pulling her attention back to Duke, giving him a warm, tired smile, and interlocking her fingers with his. “You ready to head in and have Bobby fuss over us?” she asked. “Then we can grab that beer and relax.” She hesitated briefly before walking towards the door. Bobby had never seen her this busted up and tired, except for maybe that night she met Duke. Esme felt she looked a lot worse off than she did that night, and she felt a lot worse too. She thought back to what she did those days. 

Yep, today was a lot worse than that day. That day consisted of a handful of demons and four ghosts, two of which gave her hell before she could get their items salted and burned. She unconsciously gripped Duke’s hand tighter as the entire memory invaded her mind. She softly shook her head to clear her thoughts after she brought her free hand up to it. As happy as she was to see Bobby, she felt that she looked like she’d been put through the wringer almost every time she walked through his door. She could only remember a handful of times she had walked through his door unscathed or with only a few scratches and bruises. Esme sighed heavily as they reached the door and then stepped into the house, pulling Duke inside with her.