Wolvena

Supernatural - Hell On The Horizon

Esme

Esme smiled softly as Duke replied to her. She was happy to have him with her in that moment, that he didn't pull away when she felt like she needed him more than anything in that moment. She nuzzled her head against his before he spoke again, and she gave him a little laugh. “That's because it is your love language.” she said softly. She truly believed it was. Everything he made was always delicious and always lifted her mood if she was down or just having a bad day.

The smile remained on Esme's lips when he replied to her ‘be careful’ comment. Before she could respond to his reply, he kissed her, and she returned it. The knock at her office door caused her to flinch slightly, then pull back from the kiss with a heavy sigh.”Looks like we'll have to continue this at a later time.” she said softly. “I know you'll be careful and have your phone, but that still doesn't make me worry about you any less. Lifting her free hand, she placed it on his cheek, her thumb brushing his cheekbone gently. “I don’t know what I'd do if I got the news that something happened to you.” She shook her head to clear it of intruding thoughts, then leaned forward and kissed him sweetly.

Rosie

Just as Rosie predicted, after her rant, Beau declared he was going out to push back the crowd. Just as he stepped up to the door, Rosie, too, heard the reinforcements screaming at the fans out in the hall. “It's about damn time they got here.” she huffed. Then gave a ghost of a smirk to Beau when he playfully nudged her. She watched as he slipped out the door, then stood there a moment, listening as the chaos was being taken care of. Rosie then walked back over to where she had been and picked up her bag and Beau's jacket.

When a path had been cleared, she left the room with Natalia and Cason. As they walked to the green room, her head was on a swivel, looking for anyone who seemed out of place or just looked downright creepy. Rosie was determined to keep this creep away from Natalia, even if this whole situation made her uncomfortable and dredged up things she tried to suppress. If she saw anyone who fit her mental description, she'd alert Beau and Cason without worrying Natalia.

~~~

Once in the green room, Rosie draped Beau’s jacket over the back of the couch, then put her bag on the couch and took out what she needed. She then went about her normal duties, ensuring everything was in order and double- and triple-checking details, all while keeping a close eye on Natalia and those who interacted with her. She cared for Natalia more than she would admit. If anyone were to hurt that sweet girl, they would surely regret it. Rose would beat the hell out of them first, then she'd call for the boys to handle the rest.

If anyone knew Rosie well, they could tell she was on edge just by watching her actions and how tense she seemed, even though she was trying her best to stay calm and in control of her outward appearance; yet it always showed in her eyes. As she went about her duties as manager, her phone buzzed in her pocket from a text. She pulled out her phone and opened the text. Rosie froze as she read the text. ‘Hey, sweetie. It’s been a while. It's quite cute watching you and the boy toys watch over her. I will have one of you or both of you, my little firecracker. I promise you that. If you're all watching over her, who’s watching over you?’

Rosie gripped her phone tightly in her shaking fists. “No, you won't, you son of bitch.” she said under her breath. She then opened her messages from Beau and shot him a quick text so as not to cause Natalia any more stress. ‘Keep your head on a swivel; the creep is watching us.’ She then attached a screenshot of the message before hitting send. Part of her hated having to send the message and having him aware of her stalker incident, because she had never told anyone about it.

Supernatural - Hell On The Horizon

Esme

Esme's eyes never left Duke as he pulled the chair from the other side of her desk. A slight smile tugged at the corner of her lips, as did his usual gesture, as he listened to her words, as if considering knocking some sense into someone who upset her. She nodded to his next words, but she wasn't so sure it was mistakes that led to the big mess, and finally giving them a piece of her mind. It still felt like there was more behind it. It was only Natalia's detail that seemed to be falling through the cracks, and no others; it was infuriating her to no end.

She was pulled from her thoughts when he leaned in and nudged her nose with his. Her smile grew the tiniest bit at his words, and even a small laugh escaped her lips. “You never know. I've seen that fierce look come into those dazzling blue eyes of yours before….. Yes, they should be after that phone call. I can only hope they get down there before things go south much more.” A heavy sigh escapes her nose when Duke places her hand on his neck. It was one of the few things that helped calm her. It was simple, but it worked like magic. At Duke's question, Esme leaned forward and softly pressed her forehead against his, closing her eyes. “Stay.” she breathed.

“Sing, hum, whisper sweet nothings. Just be present. Give my mind something else to focus on if only for a moment, before your captain sends you off to take care of something.” She nuzzled her head against his as she breathed deeply and slowly released it. “If he sends you to Nataila's show…. Promise me you'll be careful. From what her manager told me. It's a madhouse over there right now.” Her thumb strokes his neck soothingly, while her other hand holds his firmly.

Rosie

Rosie looked at Cason when he looked at her, thanking him with a look when he acknowledged her words. Her eyes then went back to Natalia, and she nodded at Cason's next words and listened to Natalia’s response. She sighed, and a ghost of a smile came to her lips at Natalia's apology. “I know, believe me. You spend so much time going through things on your own that when you finally have people you can rely on, you still forget you can lean on them. I still struggle with that myself.” she admitted before Natalia filled her and Beau in on what she told Cason.

She went silent as she listened, her mind taking in every detail and working on a plan until the security detail arrived. “Of course, they didn't give a name. Why would they?” she said under her breath. “It makes it harder to find them. So they can stay in the shadows and watch how things play out.” Rosie clenched her fists as Natalia read the text she had just received to herself. This whole thing dredged up old memories for her. She had dealt with something similar a few years ago, and they never found the creep. Even though she had moved and changed her number, she still gets a text now and then from the creep. She wasn't going to let this creep get away with messing with Natalia; she would let this one get away. She didn't want Natalia to go through what she had and still was.

“I'm with you on that statement. The sooner they get here, the better. A janitor's closet is no place for you to be stuck in for longer than necessary.” she said firmly. “If I have to, I'll go out there and push the crowd back myself so you can get your sound check started.” She pushed herself off the wall and looked around the room for a moment. “I'll push and beat them all off with a broom or mop so you can make a run for it.” Rosie released an irritated sigh through her nose as she looked at the door, then back at the three in the room with her. “This is utterly ridiculous.” she breathed under her breath. If the security detail didn’t get there soon, she would do just as she told Natalia with or without anyone at her side. However, knowing Beau as she did, he wouldn't allow her to go out there without a fight, and then eventually join her.

Supernatural - Hell On The Horizon

Esme

After getting off the phone with Rosie, Esme leaned back in her office chair with a heavy sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose as she closed her eyes. She still couldn’t believe that her request for Natalia had been overlooked again. If this had been the first time, she wouldn’t have reacted the way she had, but this was starting to become something she didn’t like. They had missed or overlooked her requests for Naralia’s security detail far too many times now. Esme couldn't shake the feeling that there was something behind it all, but what it was, she couldn’t be sure.

She was still fuming when Duke entered her office, and she knew it was him by his knock before he spoke. Removing her fingers from the bridge of her nose, she opened her eyes, looking up into his face, and laid her hand on his hand that was on Sarah’s neck. “I’d love some company.” she said with the slightest smile. “The day has already started out rough. I don’t need these sorts of problems or getting this upset so early in the day.” Sighing, she leaned up in her chair and squeezed Duke’s hand. “What can you do?” she repeated softly.

“Would you like to help me knock some sense into the fools who handle sending out the security detail? They once again didn’t send Natalia her security detail. She is currently locked in a room with her two bodyguards and her manager. There wasn’t enough security to hold back the fans and media.” An irritated sigh left her as she squeezed Duke’s hand a bit tighter. “When I called, he said they never received my request for her, which I sent three weeks ago. Then, after he went looking for it, he found it unread. Even though I gave him a piece of my mind over the phone, I still want to go down there and do it in person.”

Rosie

Rosie couldn’t help but smirk a little as she saw Beau beaming at her answer of maybe. He was like a dog that was just thrown a partial bone. She then snapped back into work mode the same moment he did, and sighed heavily at his question. “Once again, we’re flying by the seat of our pants. Someone has really dropped the ball when it comes to sending out the security detail, and it’s not Mrs. Smith. She’s always on top of everything and doesn’t let anything slip through the cracks if she can help it.” she told Beau confidently.

Rosie looked over at Natalia as she spoke to Cason. She had been around her long enough to know when she was struggling with something by the tone of her voice. She could also tell she was doing her best not to alert them too much. “Some creep has been texting you, and you’re just now letting us know about it?” she questioned. “Natalia, how many times have I told you not to hide things from us? I know you don’t want to trouble us with things that seem small, but we’re here for you. We’re here to help you and share and face whatever burdens you come across together.” she said firmly. “I don’t know how to get you to understand you don’t have to go through it alone.”

Supernatural - Hell On The Horizon

Esme

After Esme got off the phone with Rosie, she sighed heavily and leaned against the counter. Tossing her toast on the napkin, she brought her hand up and pinched the bridge of her nose as she closed her eyes. Dean's words and actions replayed in her mind, along with the reason why her security order hadn't gone through. It was downright maddening that they didn't show up, and Rosie, Nataila, and her bodyguards had to fend off the fans and press on their own, and were taking shelter in a room somewhere at the venue. Esme took a drink of her coffee, then set the cup on the counter with a heavy sigh. As she stood there, she racked her brain for a reason why the security detail never showed. Rosie was a good friend of hers, so she personally put in the request for security for Natalila's show. She had submitted the request three weeks in advance to ensure she would have it. Were they really that incompetent down there? The more she thought about it, the more her anger grew. This did nothing to improve her already rocky emotional state. Esme tried to think about something more positive, but no matter how hard she tried, the pressing moment at hand kept relentlessly resurfacing in her mind.

Sarah, sensing Esme's trouble, jumped up on her, whined, and pawed at her arms. Esme, taking the hint, lowered herself to the kitchen floor and leaned back against the counter while Sarah settled down on her legs and rested her head on Esme's stomach. Esme placed a hand on Sarah's head, took a deep breath, and slowly released it. “Good girl.” she said softly. Sarah inched her way up to where she could rest her head on Esme's chest. Esme wrapped her arms around Sarah and rested her head on her as she closed her eyes. Esme breathed deeply, trying to calm herself. She knew the situation wasn't on her, and she shouldn't let it get to her like this, but it was hard not to be affected by it. It was her job to send out security for others, and when something like this happens, which wasn't too often, it tended to get to her. However, this time it hit a little harder since a good friend was involved, and she sent in the request herself instead of leaving it to someone else to do. Hugging Sarah tighter, Sarah nuzzled her affectionately, and Esme soon began to regain herself.

Sighing heavily into Sarah's thick fur, Esme hugged her one more time before giving her a pat to let her know she could get off of her. Once Sarah had gotten off her, Esme pushed herself to her feet, straightened her clothes, and grabbed her coffee cup off the counter. Cradling the cup in her hands, she took a long drink. These were moments she always tried to hide from Dean. Even with their problems, she never wanted him to see her like this, but there were times he could tell she had gone through an episode just by looking at her. Esme hated admitting it, but it was one thing that was just too hard to hide from him. Dean could just about read her like a book when it came to her being upset or angry; a lot of those times, he stood clear of her. Whether it was out of fear, he didn't know how to help her, or he just didn't want to deal with her unstable emotions, she wasn't sure. She just knew that if she didn't have Sarah, she would be struggling a lot more than she was. With how badly this situation was affecting her, she was sure that without a doubt, Dean would notice the signs.

Taking another drink from her cup, she placed it on the counter, grabbed a travel mug from the cupboard, and filled it. “Why do I let these things get to me so badly?” she questioned herself with a heavy sigh as she filled her cup. Sarah came up to her and nuzzled her leg gently, which caused Esme to smile softly down at her. “I know what you'd say if I could understand you. It's because I take so much pride in what I do, and it's because I know others are counting on me to get my job done.” Sarah whined as if she were answering her, and Esme laughed softly. Once her cup was full, she placed the pot back in place and put the lid on her cup. Having lost her appetite from her breakdown, she gave the rest of her toast to Sarah. She then went and sat at the kitchen table, with Sarah at her feet, to wait for Dean to announce that he was ready to go. By the time she finished her mug of coffee and rinsed it out in the sink, Dean had returned to the kitchen and let her know he was ready.

On the way to the office, Esme filled Dean in on her phone call with Rosie, almost getting worked up all over again as she explained everything to him. Sarah, who was in the back seat, stretched her head over the back of the seat and rested it on Esme's shoulder. Esme brought up her hand and placed it on Sarah's head, and scratched it. This kept her from going over the edge again. She knew that once she was at the office, she could set about fixing all of this. Once the car was parked in the office parking lot, Esme wasted no time getting herself and Sarah out of the car before heading inside, where she saw the Rangers. “Good morning, Rangers. Please excuse me, there's something that requires my immediate attention. Mr. Smith should be in shortly.” she said quickly yet as politely as she could. She gave them all an apologetic look, then rushed into her office with Sarah hot on her heels. She hastily closed the door and went to her desk, failing to realize her door didn't close completely. Once in her chair, she went through the phone numbers on her desk, locating the one she desired in no time.

Picking up the receiver, she aggressively punched in the number as she brought it to her ear. The call was picked up after two rings. “Yes, this is Esme Smith. I'm calling about the ETA for security for Nataila's show today.”Esme did her best to remain calm, but the words she heard didn't sit well with her. “What! What do you mean you didn't get a request for security for her?! I personally sent the request three weeks ago!” she replied, her voice rising steadily. “Yes, I think you should! It sounds like someone was asleep on the job that week!..... Yeah, they should have been down there hours ago! What are you going to do to remedy this mistake?!...... Yes! That sounds about right, and I don't want her to have to worry about anything else. If I hear otherwise, you'll be receiving another call from me!” With that said, Esme slammed the receiver back on its base with a huff. “Incompetent fools!” she growled as she slapped something off her desk. Sarah flinched as the object flew off the desk. After it hit the floor, she made her way over to Esme and then gently placed her head in her lap.

Esme softly placed a hand on Sarah's head before pulling her cell phone from her jacket pocket and quickly dialing Rosie Rainbolt's number, then held the phone to her ear, listening for the ringing to stop. Esme was glad she could get it taken care of so quickly, but she still couldn't understand how they missed her request in the first place.

Rosie

As Rosie leaned against the wall, she watched Beau shrug out of his jacket, fold it, pick up her bag from the floor, and then place both on a nearby shelf. As he made his way back to her side, she dipped her head and closed her eyes as she suppressed a smirk that threatened to show itself. He always showed her bag more care than she seemed to. Whenever she dropped it somewhere other than a table or shelf, he would take it upon himself to place it in a cleaner and more convenient place. In fact, even if she hastily draped her jacket over a chair, he’d come behind her and fix it so it wouldn’t wrinkle. Since they first met, he had just about gone out of his way to weasel his way into her heart. Rosie had no idea what she had said or done to even start it, other than actually being polite, telling him her name, and carrying on a true conversation with him. As time passed, he flirted with her more and then began asking her to marry him. In times like this, she would brush off his flirting or throw in some light flirting of her own to throw him off, but in the end would always turn him down.

Maybe it was her agreeing to go out and have drinks with him. Whatever it was, she had definitely caught his attention, and nothing she did or said would deter him from continuing to try to weasel his way into her heart. If she didn’t have so many walls up and so focused on her job, Beau could possibly succeed. Rosie wasn’t one of those who trusted others easily, and even when she did get to know someone, there were still layers you had to get through for her to trust you fully. When Beau settled in next to her on the wall, she opened her eyes, but didn’t lift her head as he spoke. She could almost feel Cason’s eye roll at Beau’s words, which caused her to smirk as Beau replied to him. She had to agree with what he said to Cason, even if part of it was knowing that Cason and Natalia were sweet on each other. Yes, there were rules about relationships between bodyguards and those they guarded, but the heart didn’t always listen to those rules. Rosie had seen it with others she knew, and they would request a replacement so they could delve further into their relationships. Did it always work? No, but it didn’t stop them from trying.

When Natalia spoke to Rosie, she lifted her head and looked over at her with a small smile. She knew where Natalia’s heart was, and she also knew that she’d be safe with Cason if she agreed to join Beau later. “I have no doubt you’ll be in good hands with Cason. I see how he watches your every move and those around you.” she replied to her. Rosie went quiet for a moment, letting things roll around in her mind. “You know what? I just might take you up on that, Beau. But first, let’s get through this before we make any definite plans.” A little time passed before her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she took no time at all to pull it from her pocket. She looked at her phone briefly before answering it. “Hello, Mrs. Smith, please tell me you have some good news for us.” she answered in a calm tone. “What?! You told me you sent that weeks ago. I was told security was already on their way…… Ah, I see. What incompetent fools. At least things have been taken care of, but I can’t help but feel something’s strange about it. How could a company like that completely miss a request for security detail?”

Rosie sighed heavily as she pinched the bridge of her nose, then took a deep, calming breath. She spoke a little longer on the phone, made some plans for later, then hung up. “Alright, looks like things have been fixed. Security should be here soon.” she said as she placed her phone back into her pocket. “It seems the request for Nat’s security detail was somehow overlooked, but as I said, it’s been taken care of. Mrs. Smith took care of it all and made it so that Nat won’t have to worry about a thing, since it was their fault. With the way she put it, it sounds like she put the fear of god in them.” she told them with a light laugh. “So, it won’t be long until we are all out of here, and Nat can get to the green room and prepare for the show.”

All Roads Lead To You

Esme

When Esme stepped around to the side of Duke and grabbed his arm, she could feel his excitement take over, but didn’t pay much attention to it, thinking it was mostly coming from the others around them. His reply to her request for a drink caused another laugh to leave her lips. As they made their way to the bar, she didn’t pay much attention to the women asking Duke to dance, it was as if they weren’t even there. She wanted a drink so she could relax a little more and completely forget about those handsy assholes, and momentarily forget about all the metal down the front of her dress. Mere feet from the bar, she gasped in surprise as Duke pulled his arm from her and scooped her up into his arms, carrying the rest of the way. “What are you…” Duke placed her gently on the barstool before she could finish her sentence. Any problem she might have had with the action faded when she saw his proud smile and heard his comment. “Yes, you did.” she replied with a light laugh. Esme’s attention was drawn behind the bar when the bartender approached them. She left the ordering of the drinks to Duke.

Of course, he’d order whiskey. He wanted to make sure she forgot all about the handsy assholes and wanted to get her drunk. Whiskey was definitely the perfect choice if he wanted to get her good and sloshed. Her attention went back to Duke as he sat on the barstool, moved it closer to hers, and then leaned on his elbow, turning to her and speaking. A grin came to her lips. “Ha, you don’t say. I remember that night as well. And knowing you, I don’t think it’ll matter how fancy a place it is, you’ll always get into trouble.” she teased back, giving him a playful shove. Esme’s gaze shifted to the bartender as they set down their drinks. Her eyes then went to the glass as Duke slid it over to her. After picking it up, she held it up and smiled with a light laugh. “To trouble!”

A little while later

Esme sat at the bar with Duke, listening as he spoke about all sorts of things in his drunken state, all while being somewhat oblivious to him drawing circles on the back of her neck with his finger. She was drunk herself, but nowhere near as drunk as Duke. She knew better than to let herself get completely plastered when she was alone with Duke. The two of them, drunk together and alone, was a recipe for disaster. She knew that. Esme also knew that Dean wouldn't be too happy about it either. She was well aware of how much Dean disliked how close she and Duke had gotten and how Duke was always clinging to her and Dean. She had also become more aware of how much Duke's feelings were changing towards her. It was times like these that she wished she could be oblivious to the feelings of others who were around her. It made things quite awkward, but she also couldn't deny to herself that she enjoyed having Duke around. There was just something about his carefree nature that she felt she needed around her, even knowing that if his feelings for her became stronger, it could make things difficult and even strained between the three of them.

Esme was so engrossed in what Duke was talking about and avoiding eye contact with the hovering men, that she didn't even notice Dean until he stepped up beside her. As he kissed her cheek, she leaned into it with a warm smile. “Of course, I missed you.” she responded softly and warmly before Duke spoke. She shot Duke a look before speaking quickly before Dean responded. “Hey, don't be like that. There's….” Esme sighed heavily as the bickering started between the two boys. If she weren't wearing a mask, she would have leaned against the bar and pinched the bridge of her nose. She didn't need or want this tonight. She already had enough on her plate with fighting off all of the men and avoiding eye contact with most of them in the room. What she needed was for Dean and Duke to be on the same page, but she guessed that was a little too much to ask for with Duke already being drunk. Esme could already feel things escalating and knew if this bickering went on much longer, Duke would feel the need to bolt. Before she could speak up and stop the bickering, Duke announced he had to go to the bathroom, got up, and walked off.

Esme sighed heavily through her nose as she picked up her glass and took a drink as Dean did the same. She knew exactly what Duke was feeling even before Dean spoke up about Duke. “I know.” she said softly as she set her glass down. Turning to Dean, she looked up into his eyes as he spoke. “Me go after him? What makes you think I'll get through to him this time? He's a little worse off tonight than he normally is.” she told Dean. She sighed yet again and nodded, knowing that out of her and Dean, she was the best option to send after Duke. “You put too much faith in me to keep bringing him back, but alright, I'll go after him and try to keep him from bolting, but you're also going to have to do something for me. You're going to have to keep all these hovering men from jumping me as soon as I stand up and leave the bar,” she told him, a small smirk playing at the corner of her lips. “Duke has been holding them at bay after what happened earlier while we were waiting for you. Which I'll tell you about later, if you want to hear.”

Picking up her glass, she downed the last of what was in it, then placed it back on the bar with a sigh. Taking to her feet, she stepped around the stool and then stepped up to Dean and kissed his cheek. “Don't go anywhere, I'll be back soon.” she told him warmly. Giving him a sweet kiss on his lips, she pulled away and went after Duke, dodging men with grabby hands and asking her to dance as she went. Esme pushed her way through the crowd of people that had accumulated in the ballroom until she was finally in the main open area of the mansion. There she saw Duke, looking for a way to get away from everyone. She quickly made her way over to him. ‘Hopefully, I can keep him from bolting tonight.’ she thought to herself. ‘He doesn't need to be going anywhere in the state he's in now.’ After catching up with him, she stopped and took a deep breath to collect herself and catch her breath. “Duke!” she called out to him. “Please don't go. We were having such a good time, don't ruin it by leaving” Esme spoke softly but loud enough for only him to hear her.

Supernatural - Hell On The Horizon

Esme

As Esme waited for her bagel to toast, she cradled her cup and sipped her coffee, sighing softly. Her mind began to drift as she stood there leaning against the counter. Some things were work-related, while others weren’t so work-related. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of things the day would bring, and if it would be a fairly decent day. Things at work had been a bit hectic lately, and she wasn't sure how much more she could take this week if it continued to go as it had been. Most of her problems at work revolved around one person in particular. One person she couldn't even stand to look at and tried to avoid if she could. Esme racked her brain to find a reason the person was even hired in the first place. Yes, she did the jobs and paperwork she was given, but Esme felt they were a distraction in the office and felt they were out to get her. She was pulled from her thoughts when Sarah entered the kitchen, and her toast popped up in the toaster. Sarah came over and sat next to Esme, leaning her head against Esme's leg and nuzzling it gently.

“Good girl, Sarah.” Esme said, patting Sarah's large head. She then grabbed a napkin and laid it out on the counter, pulled her toast from the toaster, and placed it on the napkin. After putting butter on her toast, she walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed some strawberry jelly. Before she could shut the door, Dean came in grumbling about how Sarah had woken him up. “Well, if you'd get up when I told you to, I wouldn't have to send her in to wake you.” she told him as she shut the refrigerator door. “I also know what you're going to say. You own the company, so you can sleep in and go in when you want. That may be true, but you must still set an example for your employees. One of those is showing up early or on time for work.” Esme walked back over to her toast while Dean made his coffee, and doctored her toast while he spoke with a sigh. Esme turned to face him, a soft expression resting on her face. “I haven't made any plans tonight with the Rangers, so dinner sounds like a lovely idea.” she told him in a softer tone. “I think we both need it.”

“It's going well, a bit slow. A few more leads have emerged, but they are not yet concrete. It's like this guy is sending us on wild goose chases. Just when we think we have him, he does something that throws everything we worked on off and we're sent back to square one.” she said, suppressed frustration showing in her tone. “Something feels off about all of it, too, but I can't quite put my finger on it. There's definitely something strange about the guy.” Esme sighed heavily before picking up her toast, folding it in half, and taking a bite. “The way this guy works is unnerving and downright terrible…. Making these poor girls feel like they have to look over their shoulders every minute of the day.” She sighed heavily again, this time through her nose, then took a sip of her coffee. “When this guy is caught, I hope they put his ass through the wringer.” With a small growl, she took a small bite of her toast. She was having to force herself to eat, and talking and thinking about the stalker was affecting her appetite. As she stood there with Dean eating, her phone rang.

Rosie

Rosie took a deep breath as she waited for Natalia to answer her question. When Natalia answered her, Rosie gave a slight smile in return. She could tell that something was bothering her, but she didn't pry; they had other things to deal with at the moment. She made a mental note to ask her about it later. She then turned to Beau when he addressed her in his usual manner, shaking her head lightly when he picked up her hand and examined it. Rosie's eyes darted to Cason briefly as he spoke up about calling security before returning to Beau “You're damn right I did my own security detail.” she told him. “Especially when someone decides they want to fail miserably at flirting and then get handsy. You better believe they are going to get a fist to the face.” Her eyes then went to her hand that Beau was still holding, his words about marrying him echoed in her head, causing a smirk to find its way to her lips. Rosie then pulled her hand from his. “Marry you? In your dreams, Cowboy….. As I've said before, neither of us needs that distraction. Especially when something like today happens.”

Her eyes went to the door and the commotion going on behind it, then back to him. “With the lack of security, we don't need our minds wandering to each other's safety, and straying from Nat's safety,” she told him. Rosie looked around Beau and at Cason, who was still on the phone. “Any luck on getting through to anyone? If not, I can try my hand at it, and see where I can get.” she called over to Cason. As soon as the words left her mouth, she remembered whose number she had in her phone, one of the higher-ups. In all the chaos, she had momentarily forgotten. Stepping back from Beau, she pulled her phone from the pocket of her blazer, quickly dialed the number, and placed the phone on speaker for the whole room to hear. After a few rings, someone picked up. “Hey, Ro…..” A quick pause followed the greeting and the light clearing of the throat. “Hello, Ms. Rainbolt. I hope your day is going well. How can I help you?” asked the voice of Mrs. Smith. If this weren't such a serious moment, Rosie would have laughed hard at the slip-up. “Not great, I'm afraid, Mrs. Smith.” she replied, the irritation was strong in her tone.

“The security we asked for for today's concert hasn't arrived. My client and her bodyguards were nearly overtaken by the press and fans that managed to get through the light security here. We’ve locked ourselves in a room until help arrives. If we can't get anyone to show soon, the press and fans are going to break down the door.” “What! They should have been there hours ago! I put in the request myself weeks ago….. Is everyone alright?” the woman asked. “We're all irritated and disappointed with the security of the venue, but everyone is fine.” Rosie replied. “You have every right to be. And that venue isn't equipped to handle such a large crowd on its own. Give me about twenty minutes and I'll see what's going on. I'm truly sorry you've been put in this situation. Please apologize to the others as well. I'll call you back once I get everything figured out.” she told Rosie. “Thank you, Mrs. Smith. We'll be awaiting your call.” Rosie then ended the call and slipped her phone back into the pocket of her blazer with a light sigh through her nose. She knew Esme was good for her word, and that she would do everything she could to remedy the problem. Moving back to a wall, she dropped her bag on the floor, leaned her back against the wall, and crossed her arms over her chest. “Looks like we’ll be stuck in here a little longer.”

Supernatural - Hell On The Horizon

Esme

Esme saw Duke frown at her two-part answer. She knew that he was worried about the same thing she was, that Mika being back wouldn’t last. It kind of felt like a temporary fix just to mess with them, or if they didn’t do as they were told, she’d be gone again. This wasn’t something she wanted to think about, but it was there nonetheless. She shoved it to the back of her mind, not wanting to give the thoughts the light of day and wanting her thoughts to remain positive. Esme couldn’t bring herself to think about Mika dying again and how it would affect Duke, Dean, and the others. When Duke spoke, it pulled her from her thoughts, and she looked into his eyes, nodding to his words. “That sounds like a wonderful idea.” she responded with a light smile. She followed his gaze as he looked at Dean and Mika, then the rest of the room, noticing the others had left the room. Leaving herself, Duke, and Bobby in the room with Dean and Mika. “Yeah, I think it’s best if we do the same.” Esme returned her gaze to his eyes as he pulled her arms from around his body and slid his hands into hers. As he walked backwards, she followed.

She smiled warmly as he kept eye contact with her and guided her steps to the back door. She followed him through the back door and was blinded by a bright light. When her vision cleared, Duke was no longer with her. Esme found herself standing in a large bathroom, looking at herself in the mirror. She had a full face of makeup, her hair done nicely, and was in a towel. Something felt off, but before she could determine why, there was a whine behind her. She turned and looked at the large dog behind her, a black Northern Inuit Dog with amber eyes. “I’m alright.” she spoke softly, as she reached out and petted its head. Esme then crossed the bathroom and walked out, looking over at the bed when she heard snoring. “He’s still asleep.” she grumbled. Walking over to the bed, she slapped it. “Dean! Get your ass up, we're going to be late for work!” she yelled. She then headed to the closet to get dressed. As she searched for her outfit, she spoke to her dog, who followed her into the huge closet. “Sarah, go make sure he’s getting up.” Sarah barked and trotted out of the closet and over to Dean’s side of the bed.

Sarah barked once before jumping up and planting her paws in Dean’s back and shoving him to get him up and out of bed. Meanwhile, in the closet, Esme had found her outfit, a smoky gray pant suit with a white button-up blouse, and was putting it on. Once dressed, she sat on the chair in the corner and put on her black heels. Picking up her towel, she walked out and straight to the bathroom to hang up her towel to dry. On her way out, she took another look in the mirror, made a few adjustments to her hair and outfit, then walked out. Esme crossed the bedroom and then walked out the door, headed downstairs, and to the kitchen to get coffee. Once in the kitchen, she made quick work of grabbing a cup of coffee that had just finished brewing, then grabbed a bagel and tossed it in the toaster. While it toasted, she grabbed the cream cheese from the fridge and set it on the counter, then took a sip of her coffee while she waited for her bagel to toast.

Rosie

Rosie sat in the backseat of the car, poring over her notes in an open folder on her lap. She grew increasingly irritated as her driver fought his way through traffic. She should have been with Natalia at the concert thirty minutes ago, but the traffic was so heavy they were almost sitting still. Rosie was half tempted to flag down one of the passing bikes or motorcycles that went by. Before she could completely convince herself that it was her best option, the traffic began to move at a somewhat decent pace. Her driver weaved through the cars at opportune moments, then detoured after coming across a traffic officer who opened a barricade for them. They made their way through a parking lot, around more traffic, and then around to the back of the concert building. As the car came to a stop, Rosie gathered her papers, shut the folder, and shoved it into her bag. By the time she had done that, her door opened and she stepped out of the car. “Would you like an escort in, Miss Rosie? It looks like it could be pretty hectic in there.” her driver asked. Rosie softly shook her head with a small, warm smile. “Thank you, Braden, but that won’t be necessary. I’ll be fine.”

Braden chuckled and nodded his head. “I know, but I still wanted to offer. I know you’ll push your way through, and if anyone steps out of line, you’ll give them a “what for.” Rosie nodded, laughing herself. “You’re damn right I will.” she replied. “But if you want to park the car real quick and come with me for backup, be my guest.” “Oh, no. I’m leaving that all up to you. I don’t want to get mistaken for someone who upset you.” They both laughed for a moment, then Rosie put her bag over her shoulder and walked to the door. After showing her credentials, she was let in, and she made her way to where she was supposed to meet Natalia almost an hour ago. She was making her way down the corridor when a woman came up to her and told her that Natalia and her bodyguards were held up in a room waiting for security to control the press. “What? Where the hell is the security we asked for?! They should have been here hours ago!” Rosie said angrily. “I’m sorry, I know they should never have gotten into the building, but security is on the way.”

“They better be! Now take me to where Nat is!” Rosie demanded. “Yes, Ma’am, but it’s going to be difficult getting into the room.” the woman said, a little stress showing in her tone. “You leave that part to me. I have ways of getting through a crowd.” Rosie followed closely behind the woman down the corridors and to where the crowd had gathered to catch a glimpse of Natalia. She sighed heavily in irritation as she looked at the crowd. The chatter coming from the crowd was almost deafening. “Alright, people, move it or lose it!” she yelled over their voices. She then began to push her way through, as she continued to tell people to move. When it got to where no one would move, she pulled out her air horn, held it over her head, and pressed the button. That did the trick; they all cowered and covered their ears from the loud noise. Releasing the button, she pushed on through the crowd, that was until she was stopped by a tall man, who tried to try his luck in sweet-talking her to let him talk to Natalia. When he failed to get the answer he wanted, he tried flirting and getting a bit handsy.

He failed miserably again and ended up getting a knee to his groin and a fist in the face. With the man on his knees, Rosie closed the distance between herself and the door. She knocked on the door a couple of times with her fist. “It’s Rosie! Let me in!” she called through the door, putting the air horn back in her bag. Once the door was opened for her, she walked in and sighed heavily. Rosie straightened and smoothed out her outfit and her hair before looking at the three in the room. “The people here are seriously slacking on the job. I was told security is on the way, but I’m not sure how much I believe that.” she said, mostly talking to the two men. Her eyes then fell on Natalia. “You alright, Nat?” her tone held a mixture of concern and irritation. As Rosie stood there, she brought her right hand up and lightly massaged it and her fingers with her left hand.

Supernatural - Hell On The Horizon

Esme (Collab with Duke)

While Esme continued to look over at Duke, Dean, and Mika, and she zoned out. At first, her mind was blank, and she looked as if she was staring out into space, but then everything that had hit her outside flooded her mind. Before the thoughts could overtake her too much, Duke had come over and pulled her arms from her body, and held her hands as he spoke to her. His voice sounded distant, and she didn’t know he was next to her until she felt his touch. Esme was pulled back with a slight sharp intake of breath. Feeling Duke’s eyes on her, she turned her eyes up to his face just as he spoke again. She sighed softly, knowing she must be extremely pale and look as if she would collapse at any moment. Before she could form words to reply to him, his hand came up and brushed through her hair, her eyes closed briefly at the action. When Duke cradled her cheek, she leaned into his touch and sighed softly as his thumb brushed over her cheek. Esme almost laughed at his remark about having to kidnap Mika to talk to her. It seemed very true at that moment.

“I wish I could tell you I was alright.” she said softly, finally finding her words. “But I feel like I could sleep for a month of Sundays. Sarah is the only thing keeping me standing upright right now. And you’re right, it’s quite shocking. I’m still trying to process that it really did happen.” Bringing her hand up, she placed it on the back of his, turning her head slightly and closing her eyes, she softly kissed his palm. “I know I must be as pale as a ghost right now. That comes with the territory of being overwhelmed with every emotion, every person here felt.” Opening her eyes, she looked up into Duke’s face. “I can’t fight against so many emotions bearing down on me at once on top of my own.” she confessed. “It’s just too hard.”

Duke frowned when Esme stated that she definitely wasn't okay. He had a feeling that was the case. She looked completely washed out and miserable. He kept his eyes on her, watching every facial expression and movement as if he could will her to feel better. Watching the simple show of affection, as she turned her head to kiss his palm, he smirked and shrugged his shoulders, "I wouldn't say that. You still have a little color in those cheeks."

He cut himself off from teasing more and just watched her face as she explained why she felt so terrible, not that he didn't already know.

"Alright. Here's what we're gonna do. I'm gonna stay real close..." Duke spoke softly, bringing his other hand up to pinch her chin, but he didn't move his good hand from her cheek. He watched her face, once again wishing that he could just will her brain into silence, "And you're gonna take a really deep breath with me. Close your eyes and pretend...it's just you and me."

Esme managed a tired smile at Duke’s teasing. Even if he hadn’t been teasing, she doubted she had any color in her face at all with how horrible she felt. In fact, she felt a little sick at that moment. She looked into Duke’s eyes, trying to concentrate on him and not the sick feeling deep in her stomach. On his face, she could see how strongly he wanted her to feel better. It was as if, if he wanted it hard enough, he could will it to happen. Oh, how she wished it would or could work that way.

As Duke spoke again, Esme’s eyes moved between his as she took his words and actions. Her tired smile grew slightly when he pinched her chin. She wasn’t quite sure why, but it always brought a smile to her lips. Giving a small nod, she brought her free hand up and placed it on his chest to feel him breathe with her as he said he wanted her to breathe with him, then closed her eyes as he asked. The moment the words ‘it’s just you and me’ left his lips, everything she felt vanished. Esme almost gasped at how sudden it was, and she didn’t quite believe it happened. “Say it again.” she said softly, her eyes still closed.

Duke frowned with a bit of confusion at Esme asking him to repeat himself, brushing his thumb over her cheek before leaning a little closer to touch his forehead to hers. He took a deep breath, following her breathing, and with a small smile, he repeated himself.

“It’s just me and you, darlin’.”

Esme knew that asking him to repeat himself would confuse him, it wasn't like she couldn't hear him with how close they were. But she had to be sure what she thought happened, actually happened just by Duke saying those five simple words. The moment she felt his thumb brush over her cheek, and his forehead rested against hers, she almost held her breath waiting to hear the words again. As soon as they left his lips, she felt as if she had been thrown into a void. Esme felt at ease and like she could finally breathe. She felt nothing from the others in the room and was only aware of herself, Duke, and Sarah.

Taking a deep breath, she slowly let it out, relaxing into Duke’s touch. It had been so long since she had felt practically nothing but her own emotions. A warm, tired smile rested on her lips, even though her body felt as if it had become lead. “It worked.” she breathed, slowly opening her eyes. “It’s almost strange how nice this feels. It’s like someone hit the mute button on everything around me.” She sighed heavily once again, truly feeling a peace. “You need to remember this little trick.” she added with a light laugh. Esme then moved her hands from his hand and chest, and put them around him. As she pulled him closer to her, Sarah slowly moved out from between them.

Duke could see Esme physically relax as soon as the words left his lips. His smile widened a bit, and he simply watched her take a big and deep breath. All was currently right in the world, but honestly, he wasn't sure why things were suddenly good with Esme. He had questions, but also didn't want to jinx the strange run of good that had happened.

Then she opened her eyes with 'it worked' and Duke tilted his head, ready to ask her what she meant. Then she cleared it up even more, and he tilted his head even further, echoing her laugh with a confused one of his own.

"You mean it actually got quiet in that noggin of yours? And all I had to do was say...concentrate? Well..." Duke chuckled, dropping his arms to wrap them around Esme's waist, "I will definitely have to remember that. And, as soon as I'm sure that all this is permanent...we can get somewhere where I don't have to sweet talk your brain into quietin' down."

Esme pulled back a bit from Duke, just enough so that she could see his face and stay in his arms. The smile still hadn't left her lips, as she was still enjoying the peace of not feeling everyone's emotions. As nice as it was, she was still getting used to it being so peaceful; it felt quite odd, especially with how many years she had struggled to learn how to control her empathic abilities. The silence was almost deafening in a way. With Sarah, everything slowly faded away, and a few things made it through her barrier, but just Duke saying five simple words brought instant silence. Why or how, she didn’t know at the moment, and she was too tired mentally and physically to even try to find the answer in her mind. “Yes, it actually got everything to go quiet. And you know damn well, it wasn’t you saying concentrate.” she said, hitting him lightly on the back. “I’d also like to know if all of this is permanent. It’s so strange, even with everything we deal with. But once we figure it out, I’d love to run off somewhere with you so we can relax for a while.”

Supernatural - Hell On The Horizon

Esme

Esme watched Duke go to Mika without hesitation. Once he had Mika wrapped in his arms, Esme’s legs grew weak, and she sank to the gravel and onto her knees. Sarah quickly moved her body around Esme to keep her from falling forward or back into the gravel. “Thanks, Sarah.” she whispered as she lowered herself onto the gravel and leaned into Sarah. She brought her hand to her aching chest, her eyes never leaving the moment between Mika and Duke. Her eyes slowly shifted to Dean when he moved and joined them. A tired smile came to her lips at the moment between the three. When Duke leaned back and let Dean hug Mika, her smile grew a little more. Esme closed her eyes and leaned more into Sarah, feeling the calm that came with being wrapped with her body. However, she could still feel Duke’s emotions strongly. The question of why she still felt them wasn't even running through her mind; she already knew why. She sighed heavily as she sat with Sarah. The feeling of confusion and relief to have Mika back was more welcoming than the sadness, loss, and grief that had been bearing down on her before.

Esme opened her eyes when she heard Cason step away from Natalia. She watched as she made his way over to the men and Mika, taking it upon himself to get Mika into the house since both men and Bobby were in no shape to do so. Out of everyone, Esme felt that Cason was the best one to get Mika inside out of the cold. When Cason scooped up Mika, she stared past everyone, not noticing when they all headed inside. Her thoughts drifted back to everything that had happened before and after Mika’s fiery resurrection. It all still confused the hell out of her. However, the more the funeral played in her mind, the more the idea of Mika having a Phoenix attached to her made sense. She wished this were the case with her, having some sort of mythical creature attached to her, but she was sure she didn't. It was just something she felt deep down within her. Plus, was it even possible for her to be an Empath and something else? Yes, she knew she wasn't human, but what did that mean she was? She knew she was human before getting kidnapped by the demons from the asylum. What did they do that changed that?

The longer Esme sat there alone with Sarah, the more her thoughts got the best of her. They went between things about Mika, things about herself, and things she had heard from the demons she fought and killed. How much of what she heard from those demons was true, she had no idea, but she was determined to find out if it was the last thing she did. Sarah, sensing something was off, nuzzled Esme’s face, but when she didn’t respond, Sarah nudged Esme’s side, then a little rougher when she didn’t respond. Esme came out of her thoughts with a flinch and a sharp breath in. Gathering herself, she noticed she and Sarah were now outside alone, causing her to sigh heavily. Sarah nuzzled her head into Esme’s stomach with a soft whine, and Esme placed her hand on Sarah’s head. “I’ll be okay.” she breathed. “I should get inside, too. I’m starting to get pretty cold out here.” With Sarah’s help, Esme got to her feet and headed inside, then found a place along a wall that gave Sarah enough room to stay by her side. Crossing her arms over her chest, she leaned silently against the wall, watching as Duke and Dean hovered around Mika.

Supernatural - Hell On The Horizon

Esme

Esme stood close and quietly at Duke’s side, just trying to be of some comfort while also trying to keep herself together. She had wrapped an arm around him to place her hand on his back, while the other rested on his arm. Part of her worried that Duke would bolt at some point; on the other hand, she could tell he couldn’t move as they watched Cason finish the pyre. The loss of Mika weighed down on him, just as it was on everyone else, and kept him rooted to his spot. She wished there was more she could do to help, but knew the best place for her was at Duke’s side. To be there for some comfort, along with Natalia, whom she was sure Cason had asked her to stick close to Duke. Esme welcomed it, since she wasn’t entirely sure she could keep him somewhat grounded alone. All the emotions around her were already pressing down on her, causing her chest to burn and ache and become tight. Out of them all, she felt that Dean and Natalia were the most likely to bolt after the pyre was lit, as that would be the final bit of closure.

Esme pulled her gaze from the pyre when Cason was finished and sighed heavily at Cason’s words to Sam. She knew that Dean wouldn’t be able to carry Mika’s body out. She knew it would be far too much for him. Her thoughts were confirmed when he came out, as if summoned, and told Sam he couldn’t do it. Esme couldn’t blame him for not being able to; she wouldn’t either if she were in his place. An image of her being in Dean’s shoes and it being Duke’s funeral flashed before her eyes, followed by thoughts of how close she came to having to do this for him. She forced the images and thoughts back and put her focus back on the matter at hand. She couldn’t let her mind wander off and get the better of her now. When Sam left to get Mika’s body, she turned her attention to Duke to focus on his well-being. She gently squeezed his arm, silently reminding him that she was there for him and that she wasn’t going anywhere. How much he was aware of what was around him, she couldn’t be sure, but she still wanted to make the effort.

When Sam returned with Mika’s body, Esme took in a sharp breath as she soothingly rubbed Duke’s back. She could feel the tears she had been holding back stinging her eyes as she watched Sam carry Mika’s body to the pyre and place it on top of it. She echoed Natalia’s thoughts about this feeling wrong. It felt terribly wrong, even if she didn’t fully understand why. Esme kept her thoughts to herself as she rested her head against Duke, as Sam went through the motions of lighting the pyre. As soon as the pyre ignited, tears spilled from her eyes and down her cheeks, and she pulled herself closer to Duke, if that was even possible. Esme watched the flames engulf the pyre, and Mika, not being able to pull her eyes away, even with the need to. The sounds from the fire were the only thing in her ears as she silently watched and hung on to Duke. Suddenly, the flames seemed to take on a life of their own as they rose even higher, whipping around the pyre and Mika’s body, forming the shape of a bird. At that moment, the whole atmosphere of the area changed for Esme.

“What the hell?” she said a little louder than a whisper as she pulled her head from Duke’s shoulder. Esme’s body went rigid, and she gripped Duke a little tighter as she started into the flames, feeling how this wasn’t normal. Something other than Mika’s body was in the flames, and it soon became evident as she saw a figure appear in the flames and walk towards them, making her eyes widen. It clearly wasn’t human if it could withstand the flames. Did something take control of Mika’s body while they weren’t looking, or was it something else? Only two creatures came to mind at the moment that could withstand fire, Dragons and Phoenixes, but did those creatures really exist? She had never come across them, only heard stories of them, so she didn’t know the answer. However, it was looking like the stories and myths could be true at that moment, but she felt crazy for thinking it. When Mika’s form came out of the flames, Esme couldn’t hold back the gasp that escaped her lips, but it wasn’t Mika. Something about her was different, she could feel it and see the slight differences as she watched her walk out of the fire.

Mika’s hair was a different color, and so were her eyes. Esme almost stepped in front of Duke protectively when she smiled at him. It was obvious to her that that wasn’t Mika but something else in control of her body. “That’s not her.” she whispered to herself. She watched her in confusion as Mika walked to Dean, not feeling any hostility from her. The words that came from Mika’s mouth confirmed what she was feeling. Something was in control of Mika’s body, and it sounded as if they were acting as some sort of guardian to her, and it was old with the way it spoke. Was something like that even possible? Esme was pulled from her thoughts when Mika collapsed to the ground after backing away from Dean, watching as her hair faded back to its original color and the flames dissipated. She felt the need to run up to her and check her, but she was rooted to her spot after what she had felt. Confusion was slightly taking over her ability to feel that Mika was back in control of her body, even after she called out to Duke and Dean in her voice.

Esme held on to Duke, to keep him from rushing forward, fearing this could be some sort of sick or twisted trick to catch them off guard. Doing her best, she pushed through all the emotions around her and focused on Mika, feeling the fear and confusion coming off her; it truly was her. She was somehow back from the dead. Closing her eyes briefly, she sighed heavily, then looked up at Duke with a soft expression as she slowly released her grip on him. “It’s her.” she told him softly in a tired tone. “Go to her. She’s scared and confused.” Esme gave him a little push toward Mika to get him moving.