[b]MIKA[/b]

For Mika, it was incredibly hard to talk about what she experienced when out cold for days way back when. Even into adulthood, she didn't know how she survived something that she never should have. Just like how Duke felt, she took felt she should be dead and have stayed dead. It took her years to accept she was alive but by being alive, something in her changed. She never wanted Duke to go through that closed off, fearful stage now he took, had experienced being dead temporarily. She wouldn't wish that on her worst enemy truth be told. It was the worst feeling to be alive and feel like you didn't deserve the second chance, or that what you experienced inside your head was either not real or it was and you were taken from that moment of bliss and tranquility. She hated that because of it, she spent so long hiding from the one person she loved, doing all she could to make him never find her, only to find she constantly kept running to him. She hated that eventually, her antics and running away from being happy with Dean drove him into the arms of another for a good year. It was still so soul destroying and she refused to let Duke go through any of that. 

He was too good a soul deep down for any of that to become his life and she would do all she could to make sure he got through this moment without going down that rabbit hole. Seeing him sniffle at hearing more of her story, brought some kind of different sadness to her. She couldn't explain what the exact emotion was, but she didn't want him feeling sorry for her. She just wanted him to know he was not alone. Mika found herself briefly widening her eyes when she suddenly felt him hug her of his own free will before she held him all the more securely. She felt like he was just that kid hugging her all over again, needing the kind of comfort that only she could give. Mika knew instantly that him barrelling back into their lives was the best thing that could have happened, and she only truly realized it now. She really had missed him a great deal. 

After she pulled away for a moment, she ran her fingers through his hair, letting him speak some more but what next came out of his mouth absolutely destroyed her. For all of Dean's faults, he would have [b]never[/b] wished Duke stayed dead. She saw for herself how distraught Dean was when they thought they lost him for good, Dean wouldn't have come back from Duke's death for a long time. “now you listen to me mister” she began scolding, making him look at her, “don't you EVER say that again. Ya hear me? Dean may say some hurtful shit to you or me or anyone, but he would NEVER be disappointed you survived. When he thought you were gone for good, he was absolutely broken up. I don't think even I could have brought him back to reality. He could barely get the words out to me. 

He doesn't want to ever lose you Duke. Dean loves you, he's just really crap at showing it. And if he did express otherwise you can bet your ass I would kill him myself for thinking such a thing. Or I'd kick his butt to Timbuktu and tell him to re-evaluate his life” she told Duke sternly but lovingly, meaning every word she said even if the last bit was an amusing thought. She removed a hand from Duke to wipe her eyes as she felt tears wanting to fall down her cheek, then pulled him into her once more. “no one wishes you stayed dead..not him, not me, no one. We are beyond glad you're back with us. I know he doesn't always make you or anyone feel like it, but he is. So as difficult as it is right now, I need you to not think he wishes you were dead, trust me I know that's really hard right now. I thought the same years ago for a while but it's not true. In no way or universe is it true” She explained. 

She let her words sink into his mind for a moment before stroking his cheeks with her thumbs, “so…how about I see to these ripped stitches and check the rest of you over before Bobby comes in and fusses you like a child?” She gave him her reassuring smile in the hopes it'll help him, “but remember I'm here if you ever need to chat or need advice. Right now, we got even more in common than you know and if telling you secrets of how I dealt with this will help? I'll tell you everything”. 

[b]NATALIA[/b]

Cason's voice broke through to her, making her look up at him. “Sorry…old habits die hard I guess” she replied, knowing that the biggest reason for getting ahead of herself was purely out of habit. She was used to having to deal with these moments on her own more times than not and she just started undressing slightly as if she was on autopilot. So she took the scolding from Cason without any snarky comeback. 

She let him come over and sit in front of her before she felt his hand brush some of her hair out of her face and down onto her chin to move her head side to side. She remained pretty silent as he looked her over thoroughly, the only time she winced slightly was when he hit a bruise and not dried blood on her cheek. She let him run his fingertips over her shoulder that had been badly broken, watching his face as he focused so intently on her. His sigh of relief bringing a tiny brief smile to her lips before he continued down her body and eventually to the back of her head. 

When he turned her head to face him, making her look at him once more, she gave a nod. “It weirds me out too…” she admitted, deciding that was better than saying ‘told you so’. It took her a few seconds to clock he called her sweetheart again, and when she did she just wanted to wrap her arms around him, but she refrained from doing so. She tried to remain well behaved even though she felt like being clingy on him. “I know I've said it before, but I'm so grateful you came for me. I really didn't think I'd ever see you again, or any of those chaotic lot out there. I was ready to just give up fighting until you pulled me out” she finally admitted. She knew it wouldn't be easy to hear, but she couldn't pretend she was only almost ready to give up when she had gone so far passed that point in the pool. 

Sighing, she looked down, ready to just lay down on the bed, even if she was covered in dried blood and dirt and fall asleep. “I know you don't sleep…but I really need to…” she commented, shifting her body to start laying down as she just wanted to sleep and not see any more water. 

[b]SAM[/b]

Sam let her cry on his shoulder, knowing she needed to just let it out. If he wasn't out of tests, he would have cried with her as he hated seeing her go through all this and no doubt feeling like she was being pulled from every direction. He knew he could tell her she wasn't a monster until he was blue in the face but that wouldn't just magically wipe away how she felt inside. All he could do was keep telling her and hope that even if it made her less monstrous for a little while, then it could be enough. He wanted to make her feel as much joy or hope as he could, even if it felt like it was harder to do with each passing day. 

He glanced down without moving his head as she let go of his arm with one arm and wiped her face before clinging onto him again. He let the tiniest smile appear as he just saw the Anna he had always known in that one little action. For the briefest of moments, he saw the Anna he met when they were kids and when she was upset, she'd do the exact same action to try and pretend she wasn't crying. She was still in there deep down and he wasn't going to give up on trying to make her feel her old self between the hard times. 

When she said she didn't know why he was all in but was glad he was, he looked her right in the eyes back and smiled softly at her. “I'm all in with you because I know what you're going through and I've lost you once…I'm not losing you again. I should have never let you go all those years ago, so I wanna make up for that” he told her honestly, returning the kiss when she placed her lips on his. He reached one hand up to under her chin and held it between his index finger and thumb. He didn't want to pull away but when she did, he did too, opening his eyes as she placed her hand on his cheek to feel his heartbeat and center herself. “I love you too, always will” he replied.