Hey everyone! Due to the joy of sending my oldest to school, I am posting a brand new story. Once again, I want to thank NCSUPNATFAN who is once again giving me permission to use Lark. Please enjoy this story. I hope you continue to send comments and follows. So Please enjoy The Soul Eater. -DSCWIN
Chapter one
Dean glanced over at Lark and saw she leaning against the side window dozing. He looked at her profile and studied her features, thinking how beautiful she was. She was one of those women who didn't need makeup of fancy clothes or puffy hairstyles to look stunning. Images of her stretched out on the motel bed still played around in his mind as he tried to remember every little curve and inch of her body. He cleared is throat and pulled his thoughts back to driving. They were about an hour from the salvage yard and Dean would be glad to get there and stop driving. He wouldn't let Lark drive even thought she said she was good. Lark moaned softly and jerked awake going into a defensive posture before grimacing when she moved her foot the wrong way.
"Hey, you okay?" Dean asked because he knew that look and knew she must have had a bad dream.
"I'm fine." Lark huffed relaxing back into the seat and drawing in some slow breaths to slow down her fast beating heart.
"Right." Dean said knowing that wasn't the case.
"Where are we?" she asked looking around as she shook the fog from her brain.
"We're close, less than an hour away."
"Can we make a pit stop?" she asked shyly.
"Your wish is my command." he responded watching for signs so he could stop.
~DSCWIN~
"You need any help?" Dean asked Lark as he pulled into a gas station deciding to fill up his Baby.
"I'm good." Lark huffed as she moved sideways and got her good leg out and used the door for support as she stood on one leg.
"Let me get your crutches." he stated hurrying around to the other side to pull them from the back and hold them out to her. He made sure she was balanced and went in front of her to open the door before heading back to pump his gas.
Lark nodded her thanks and she hobbled to the door and went in glancing around for the restroom. She spotted it back in the corner and moved that way trying to be careful and not knock anything over with the crutches. She was still getting use to using them and was still a little dangerous with them. She took her time in the restroom and wrestled the door open to almost fall when Dean grabbed it and pushed it out of her way. "Whoa dude." Lark fussed seeing Dean standing waiting on her.
"Just wanted to be sure things were okay. I got you a drink and something to snack on." he said holding up a bag.
"Thanks, I think." Lark commented frowning at Dean's actions. She was noticing that he was being a little overprotective and knew how Christy felt now.
"Careful now, watch the display." Dean said trying to guide her through the store.
"I got this Dean, honest." she assured him as she picked her way toward the front door. She let him take her crutches so she could slip into the front seat and get her foot settled back on the blanket he had put in the wheel well for her.
~DSCWIN~
Dean couldn't help but smile as he drove down the long deserted road until he saw his destination just off in the distance. It all seemed like a dream, he thought, as if the night before was nothing more than wishful thinking. That her body wasn't next to his, that they simply dreamed the same fantasy of making love into the wee hours of the morning. He was deep in his fantasy and didn't realize the entrance appeared quicker than normal, making him barely miss it. He cranked hard making Lark wake up gasping.
"Sorry." he muttered embarrassed that he was daydreaming about the night before and not paying attention. "Guess I'm still a little tired and had my mind on other things."
Lark yawned before slowly sitting up to rub her eyes. "Whose faults that?" She asked stretching in the front seat and carefully moving her foot to a better position.
Dean luckily had parked the car so he was able to stare at her body, though still clothed; he could remember every dip and curve and inch of her bare skin. He wanted to lean over and kiss Lark again but the sound of Bobby's front door opening and his loud heavy steps on the front porch made him climb out of his Impala instead.
"Hey Bobby." Dean said walking around to open Larks door before opening the back door to get her crutches. Bobby was shocked to see crutches being pulled out and being handed to Lark.
"What in the...Lass what happened to ya?"
"She hurt her ankle." Dean answered not letting Lark reply.
Lark stopped and looked at him her face showing signs of confusion since she had started to answer Bobby herself. "I'm fine Bobby, a hole and my foot didn't agree with each other." she added.
"Balls..." Bobby grumbled and quickly walked towards her. "Let's git ya inside. Got some coffee made if ya want some." He said over his shoulder as Dean opened the trunk to gather their bags.
Bobby nodded and held the door open for Lark as she hobbled her way in being careful not to hit anything.
"Damn, this hunt did a number on you." Bobby stated setting up a place for her on the couch and sliding a chair over to prop her foot on. "You gonna be a'right?"
"I'm fine Bobby." Lark smiled reassuringly. "It could've been a lot worse."
"Where's Sam and Christy and how did you two end up together?" he questioned Dean who headed into the kitchen for a beer.
"Sam stayed back with Christy for a couple of days so she wouldn't be alone and he's driving Lark's car here." Dean said before taking a long drag on the beer. "Christy is suppose to be heading this way too."
"You're not sharing!" Lark complained from the other room.
"She's got scary hearing." Dean mumbled reaching back in the fridge for another beer.
"You better remember that." Lark teased when Dean brought her a beer. "Thanks." she said taking a small sip and sighing. She didn't drink a lot but the beer tasted good.
"Do you need any pain meds?" Dean asked.
"I think this will do just fine." she replied. "Beside I don't mix alcohol and pain pills."
"Right, do you need me to get you anything else? Another pillow or blanket or something to eat?"
"Dean, I'm fine you don't have to baby me." she chided him not sure about all this sudden attention. He was acting like a mother hen taking care of her young and she wasn't use to that. Lark always took care of herself and never had anyone fawn over her.
"Just want ya to be comfortable." he said leaning over and kissing her cold lips.
"Thanks." she mumbled into his lips and pulled away when Bobby walked in and caught them.
"Hey Bobby." Dean said dropping down beside Lark and slipping an arm around her shoulders.
Bobby looked at the two and saw Lark blush deep red and Dean smirk as he sipped his beer. He nestled her into his side claiming her as his.
"So wanna tell me what happened?" Bobby asked not commenting on Dean's actions. He couldn't say anything; they were consenting adults and were their choice to be more than just friends. He sat down in his recliner and stared at the two waiting for one of them to talk.
"I found the guy who sent me the text to come there." Lark started, trying to act comfortable with Dean's attention. "He was from the Mohawk tribe and there was a creature they called a skin walker, but he wasn't like any walker I've dealt with or heard of. Christy thought it might be a hybrid or had mutated over they years. Seems the tribe had sealed it in a cave and put up warding to keep it trapped there until a kid accidentally released it. It killed a couple before we could stop it. Christy was talking to Sam and getting his help and I guess Dean decided we needed help." she said looking at Dean since she wasn't really sure why they showed up.
"After I got Sam to spill the beans, I knew they needed help. This didn't sound like a hunt the girls could handle alone." Dean filled in. "We had just finished up our own hunt and headed their way. Good thing too after dealing with the beast first hand. It took all of us to bring it down."
"That's where I found the only hole in the damn cave and took a nose dive." Lark said holding up her booted foot for a moment. "Tore the ligaments, sprained and hairline fracture."
"Is it okay if Lark stays with you for a few weeks while she heals?" Dean asked getting a frown from Lark thinking it was her place to be asking that. "I thought I'd hang around to help take care of her so ya don't have to worry about that."
Lark held her tongue since what she needed to say should be said in private, not with an audience. She looked over at Bobby and saw he was studying both of them with knowing eyes.
"You know the lass is always welcome here. I already told her she could stay here anytime she needed to. I'll be needin' to head into town for more supplies since it looks like I'm going to have a few more mouths to feed." he said pushing himself up from his recliner.
"Wait Bobby..." Lark said leaning forward and feeling around in her pockets. "Dean do you still have my wallet?"
"Yeah, forgot about that." he said patting his pockets before producing her worn wallet.
"Thanks." she replied. "Take this to help pay for the extra food." Lark said pulling two one hundred bills from it and holding it out to Bobby.
"I can't take yer money lass."
"Yes you can Bobby and I won't take no for an answer." she stated firmly as she pushed herself up to balance on one foot. "I won't stay unless I can pay my own way. Could you get some yogurt please?"
"Of course, anything else?" he asked finally accepting the money.
"Look just get enough for a couple of days and when Sammy gets here I'll send him into town to get more supplies and we'll pay for those. Lark's right, it's the least we can do after all you do for us." Dean added as he pulled Lark back down on the couch and put her foot back up. She huffed at him and covered her mouth as she yawned widely not realizing how sleepy she was, but that could be because she didn't get much sleep last night.
"Maybe I should check for possession, you're being way too generous..." Bobby mumbled to himself as he head for the door. The front door opened and closed and Dean turned back to Lark to see a hint of anger in her tired eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"Dean, I can speak for myself and I should be the one asking Bobby about staying not you. Look I know you're trying to help and all, but I'm a big girl and I've been taking care of myself for a long time. I'm not used to the attention." she told him trying to keep the anger from her voice because she got the feeling this was how he was with Sam and especially Christina.
"Sorry, I'm just used to taking control of things, guess I did get carried away a bit." he told her pulling her back to lean into his side.
"You gotta remember, I'm not helpless, well, almost anyway." she huffed looking down at the boot on her foot. "If we can't be equals in what's happening between us, then...Maybe we should break it off before it goes any further." she said softly afraid to look up into his eyes.
"We are equals babe, I just get a little overprotective sometimes but I'll work on that. Deal?" he asked tilting her head where he could see her eyes. "I want this to happen between us, I do. And I hope you feel the same way."
"Deal and I do too." she whispered as he leaned closer and brushed his lips across her partly opened mouth before kissing her forehead. Damn, he was so irresistible, she thought feeling a shiver run down her back.
"Why don't you take a nap and I'll go get the spare room ready." he said moving from the couch to push her down on it and putting a pillow under her foot to make her comfortable. "I'll take our bag upstairs and check on you later."
"Mmmm..." Lark hummed letting her eyes close as she felt a blanket being draped over her. She settled down and thought back on the night before and how his hands and lips found the most sensitive places on her body making her want him more than ever. She had never felt this way about anyone before and wondered if they could make it work.
~DSCWIN~
Dean grabbed their bags before heading upstairs to the spare room that had the queen bed. He sat both their bags on the dresser and pulled the spread from the bed thinking it would be a good idea to throw it in the dryer to get the dust out of it. He stepped into the hall to the linen closet to get clean sheets and made up the bed. The air smelled a little musty so he opened the window and turned on the ceiling fan to circulate the air. Dean stepped back from his handy work and thought it all looked good. He grabbed the spread and headed back downstairs. He tiptoed quietly through the living room seeing Lark had fallen asleep and on into the laundry room. Once he had the spread in the dryer, he headed back into the kitchen and took a seat at the table before pulling out his cell and sending a text to his brother to be sure things were okay at the B&B. He knew their sister and she could be ornery and bull headed at times and not listen to reason. He picked up a paper from the table and started to scan through it while waiting for Sam to text him back.
~DSCWIN~
Christina Winchester fiddled with a couple of wires under the hood of a car she had recently fixed before closing it with a sharp thunk. "You should be good to go Sammy." Christina said wiping her hands on a soiled rag she kept in her truck. "Tell Lark that her car will run three times better now than when she first got it."
"Will do; I'm sure she'll appreciate it." Sam remarked from his opened driver's side window. "Anything you want to pass on to Dean?"
"Tell him that I'm staying one more night. I'll be heading out tomorrow afternoon. Should be able to get to Bobby's by Monday morning."
Sam smiled and nodded glancing up at the Bed and Breakfast they had just stayed at to make sure a few last precautions were met before they left. "I'll tell him. Oh I nearly forgot." Sam reached into his pocket and pulled out a twenty from his money clip before handing her the bill. "Your winnings."
"You do know I was just joking right?" Christina said already shoving the money into her back pocket never turning down money. "I really didn't think you'd go through with the bet."
"Well, it's for the bottle of whiskey we drank the other night." Sam smirked and waved goodbye before pulling out of the driveway. Christina waited a few minutes until she saw it disappear around a curve and head down the mountain toward the main roads.
She slowly made her way back inside the bed and breakfast and smiled as she saw Sarah, the young receptionist that was happy to be back at work. "Sorry it's kind of slow here, Sarah." Christina spoke her voice guilty. "But I'm sure it will start picking back up by tomorrow."
"No it's just fine." Sarah smiled at her. "I'm just happy I'm back at work. You know bills to pay and all." She looked up at Christina and then at the door to the private suite behind her. "Do you know what happened here?"
"A bear was hiding out here at the bed and breakfast. We found out that its cave was just a few miles up the north Eastern trail. We tranquilized it and placed it back in its cave."
"Oh " Sarah said slowly nodding trying to see if what Christina had said was indeed true. "Why were the police here a couple of days ago then?"
"Sadly we lost a couple that was staying here." Christina lowered her head as she tried to keep the tears from falling. She hated when she had to lie about how someone died. But was happy the girl didn't ask anything else about what had happened at the Bed and Breakfast.
"Just one more question." Sarah asked her cheeks starting to glow pink under the early morning rays of the sun. "Who was that guy you were staying here with?"
"That was one of my brothers. His name is Sam and he's sadly a bit too old for you." Christina told her knowing Sammy wouldn't look twice at her.
Sarah's head dropped and Christina gently padded the girl's shoulder for comfort before walking into the dining room. The cooks and waitresses who had been working were busy setting up the tables and chairs while also making sure they had enough plates, glasses and utensils. "Hey Jade," Christina walked up as she looked puzzled at the stack of plates and the glasses that were in front of her. "I accidentally broke a plate and a glass a couple of days ago. Devin has a replacement coming should be here Monday."
"Oh that does make more sense." Jade sighed and wrote down a note on a piece of paper. "I thought my mini vacation made me forget how to count." She laughed nervously and Christina chuckled before poking her head inside the kitchen. She knew they had everything in stock because she and Sam went to great lengths to replace all the food they had consumed after everyone was asked to leave.
"Christina." a male voice called to her.
Christina turned around and blushed slightly as she looked at Devin Healing. His handsome features and deep blue eyes made Christina take in a slow breath to calm herself.
"So, you're still staying tonight?" Christina nodded and Devin began to nervously look at his feet. "Well I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me for dinner since you'll be leaving tomorrow?" He winced ready for a rejection.
"Devin I'd like that a lot." she told him giving a soft smile.
Devin was shocked and looked over at Christina who was rubbing the back of her head. "Would you like to meet here tonight at say 8:00 after the dining room is closed? I'll see if I can whip something up for us."
"Actually I was thinking of eating out tonight." Devin blushed and relaxed when he saw her blushing back at him. "I mean I do understand if you say no. I mean I have had lots of practice with rejections like your friend Lark..." he rambled.
"I'd love to." Christina's blush deepened as she couldn't believe what she had said to him.
"Okay great. I'll come to your room at 7:45 and I'll take you for a night on the town." Christina giggled as she looked deeply in his blue eyes. "Do you have a nice dress for the occasion?"
"I uh..." Christina coughed nervously. "Sadly I don't think I do. Didn't really pack for going out on a dinner date." She tried to laugh but nothing came out.
"That's okay, there's a few clothing stores in the next town over if you wanna go check them out. It doesn't have to be anything expensive."
"Trust me, Devin living life as a..." Christina stopped looking nervously at the people who continued to work around them. "Could we talk in your room?"
Devin looked confused but nodded. He led the way to his suite with looks of surprise from Sarah who was on the phone with someone.
"What's wrong?" Devin asked as Christina closed the door behind her.
"Devin, what I was going to say, because I'm a hunter I'm used to shopping at thrift stores and buying clothes for the job."
"Okay, why couldn't you say that in the dining room?"
"Because nobody should know that I'm a hunter. That's the thing. You can't tell anyone what really went on here."
"Why?" Devin asked as they sat down on the couch.
"Well, that's because people who aren't like you and me won't be able to handle the truth. Remember what you were like in the cave?" Devin lowered his head in shame. "Look it's nothing to be ashamed of. I was the same way when I started. But I would understand if you don't want to continue with this date tonight."
"No, I still want to." Devin said grabbing Christina's hand gently and looking into her eyes. "I really want to. I'd like to get to know you a little better. You did save my life and back there and...Well, I want to do something special to thank you."
Christina was slightly taken a back by his honest words and tried not to stutter as she replied.
"Then...Well I guess I need to go shopping." she said getting up from the couch. "I'll see you tonight." she said over her shoulder as she walked out the door wondering what she had gotten herself into.