[h3] Dean and Duke[/h3]

Dean watched Mika as she walked over to stand in front of him and Duke, echoing Duke’s advice. Dean agreed that he would probably feel better if Nat didn’t go to bed hating him for all of this. He would at least feel better if they were just…okay. Then, he had a lot of work to do with Sam. But first thing had to come first…the catalyst of all this, Natalia. He had never been good at showing Nat that he cared about her. For a while, he chalked the behavior up to not believing she was real. He held her at arms length. But the time for not getting close to her had passed a long time ago. She had been right there, every step of the way, for a while…and Dean never acknowledged it.


Duke’s eyes widened at Mika’s words and the look on her face. He wondered how much Dean had actually told her about his relationship with Esme. Surely, she wouldn’t be so calm and collected and non judgmental if she knew everything…right? But he didn’t speak on it, just in case Dean had conveniently left out parts. He just turned his attention back to Dean and took a deep breath.

“So, should I go, now?” Dean asked, his eyes turning to the floor, as Mika’s hand began rubbing his back, and the fear of approaching Natalia at all filled his chest. It was strange how afraid of confrontation he was, considering his job. He could handle almost anything, except apologizing for being legitimately wrong. That was scary. Demons? Nothing. Accountability? Terrifying.

“Go now. Go later on…but don’t leave it sittin’.” Duke chimed in, glancing at Mika again, before reaching up, grabbing the back of Dean’s neck in a movement that instantly made Dean feel calmer. He turned his face to look Duke in the eyes, which was what Duke was signaling for him to do. “She’ll forgive you. I’ve been on this side of the Dean Winchester apology tour…and I forgave you. Mika forgave you. Just make sure that whatever you’re tellin’ her is the truth and you ain’t gonna stab her in the back later on…”

“Like I did you.” Dean muttered and Duke shook his head.

“This ain’t about us. None of it is. Me and you can have that conversation later.” Duke spoke calmly, tilting his chin up to show Dean with his body language that he was fine…they were fine.

“Alright. I’ll go.” Dean sighed, and Duke released him, stepping back for him to walk around. Dean turned and pressed a kiss to Mika’s lips, pulling away pretty quickly and just walking toward the back door. As Dean disappeared out the door, Duke turned to Mika.

“So…you and Dean are good, I see…”, he awkwardly addressed to Mika, pulling his phone from his back pocket, and texting Esme. He typed quickly wanting to head her off and just sent a simple.

‘Dean’s on his way out. He’s more civil and he wants to talk to Nat. I’m in the kitchen.’

Dean stepped onto the lot, his boots feeling a million pounds as the cold air hit his skin. He glanced toward his car, his brow furrowing at the fact that Bobby had to replace another window on the Impala. A tiny bubble of anger rolled into his chest, but he pushed it down, taking a deep breath as he stepped forward, his eyes set on Natalia.

He slowly walked over, and Cason’s head perked up, as he was walking back over to the girls. He approached Dean, placing a hand on his chest without thinking and Dean stopped in his tracks. Dean glanced down at the hand, and then back up at Cason’s serious expression, realizing that Cason was protecting Natalia…from Dean.

“I’m not coming to fight.” Dean said simply, looking Cason in the eyes. Cason watched his face for a few moments, saying nothing. But then, Cason dropped his hand, and turned to let Dean by, walking close behind him as he passed. Dean approached Natalia as if she was going to explode, the second that he got to her, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Can we talk?”

[h3] Anna [/h3]

Anna followed Sam to Mika’s car, holding his hand loosely as she did so. She felt safe with Sam…but after the last time they left, she didn’t know if she felt safe away from the group. But there was no way she was going anywhere near Dean Winchester. When Sam opened her door, she got into the car, placing her hands on her lap and staring at the glove box in front of her. The car was eerily similar to Dean’s car, and the thought made her almost smirk. Dean and Mika were a lot alike. It made sense that they were essentially soulmates.

As soon as Sam was in the car, and he spoke up, Anna couldn’t help but notice the smile he put on for her. He was already working to diffuse the situation, and she couldn’t help the polite tug at the corners of her mouth, “I like relaxing…”

Anna felt tension leaving her shoulders almost immediately when they passed under the ‘Singer Salvage’ sign and onto the road. She didn’t feel the need to talk, just staring out the window as pastures and warehouses  passed in the foggy night air. But when they pulled into the parking lot of the B&B, Anna’s shoulders tensed a bit. The last time she was in a hotel situation with Sam, all hell broke loose and after the warning from Cason about Ruby, Anna was a little more than nervous about being in Ruby’s presence. She always seemed to be right around the corner…

When Sam spoke up, Anna nodded, glancing down at their hands as she laced her fingers with his. She didn’t expect him to fix anything. She just wanted him to be…with her, while she navigated all of this. And it seemed he would be. She didn’t say anything, only squeezed his hand back and turned to open her door. Before she could fully open it, Sam was already helping her out of the car, and handing her the car keys.

“I can get the bags. Go. Get the room. Let’s get to quiet.” Anna reassured Sam, taking the keys from him and walking around to the trunk. She quickly popped the trunk and grabbed both their bags, slinging them over her shoulders, before putting the keys in her jacket pocket. She walked toward the reception area, and quickly stepped up close to Sam, her shoulder nudging his side.

After a little bit, when Sam had the key to their room, Anna sighed, and looked up at him, “Thank you by the way. I really don’t want to be alone, right now…”