In college no one would have called Ainsley a party girl. Yes, she had been in a sorority. Yes, she had gone to the occasional party before basketball games. But she wasn't very good at drinking and not becoming a bit sloppy. She enjoyed dancing and socializing, but not the hangover that came the next day. So when some of her sisters asked if she'd like to come back to Lawrence for a mixer she had no hesitation in saying yes. She loved Sam and Dean but living in a glorified basement without windows had really made her want to get out into the world, and not just to stay in a crappy motel. The boys reluctantly agreed to let her go, but asked if she wouldn't mind one of them driving her back to her campus, not to be a chaperone, but to be there just in case something happened.
Sam decided he had reading he wanted to get done and the idea of a quiet, empty bunker appealed to him so Dean and Ainsley packed their bags and left for Lawrence Thursday evening.
Much to Dean's chagrin, Ainsley convinced him that she would pay for the room for the weekend, so instead of staying at a roach motel she found a place that had a suite style room. They each would have their own bedroom, there was a large bathroom with a whirlpool tub and a kitchenette that didn't look like it should be condemned by the Health Inspector.
Thursday night was just like any other night for the pair; crappy television and an extra cheesy pizza.
Friday, bright and early, Ainsley was wide awake. She dressed for a run and left Dean a note on the coffee table she'd be before lunch time. She loved seeing the place that had been her home for 4 years in college.
She came home and found her pseudo-roommate had gone to a local market and picked up the essentials; bread, milk, sandwich meat, microwave popcorn, beer, and chocolate. Always could count on Dean to be the mother hen of the group.
She thanked him for the turkey sandwich and made her way to the bathroom. Undressing while eating her sandwich was tricky, but she managed and started the hot water running in the tub when there was a knock at the door.
"Just a minute." She pulled a robe from the hook on the back of the door, not wanting to be in her birthday suit when Dean entered.
"Come in."
The door opened and there stood Dean, hand over his eyes, "You decent?"
She giggled, "Yes."
"Damn, was hoping to sneak a peak," he winked at her.
The tub was full of hot water and bubbles now so she made a 'turn around' motion with her hand. He did, and she slipped off the robe and sunk into the hot water.
"You're safe." She said, and he turned back to face her.
"Oooooooh, that looks relaxin'. Can I join you?"
Her face went blank, then turned bright red. As much as she tried not to flirt with the the brothers, she couldn't deny that sometimes butterflies appeared in her belly around Dean.
"No." She told him rather unconvincingly. This made him chuckle, which of course made the butterflies in her stomach do backflips.
Ignoring her embarrassment he sat on the counter next to the sink, "Tell me about the game plan for tonight, I don't wanna be overbearing, I just wanna know you're safe."
"Right, yeah, well, the girls are stopping here first to make sure we're perfect and pretty. After that I think we're having dinner before meeting up with the big group at the Kappa house around 7, probably leave for the bars around 9. I don't want to be out too late, so hopefully I'll be back here by midnight. 1 am at the latest."
"And you'll keep your phone on you at all times."
"Yes, dad."
"And no going home with strangers."
"No promises," she winked.
"Ainsley, I'm not joking. I hate letting you out like this. We don't know if there are any remaining vampires from when Matt was-" He stopped realizing he'd said too much.
She broke their eye contact and he could tell her eyes were watering.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart, I didn't mean to make you cry." He hopped off the counter and knelt down next to the tub, putting his hand under her chin, bringing her eyes back into contact with his, "It's just Sammy and I've become very attached to you and if anything happens because I let my guard down, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."
She nodded, "I think I'm just gonna soak here for a while. Lizzy and Beth will be here around 4:30." She caught a glimpse of his watch, it was already 1:45.
"Sure thing, AJ. You okay?"
She nodded again and he made his exit.
By 2:30 he heard her moving around the bathroom before she went to her bedroom. Fifteen minutes later she emerged with her hair wet but combed through and a robe wrapped around her tiny frame. Her hair smelled like strawberries and he had to focus on other things to keep his arousal from growing in his jeans.
"Wanna queue up and episode of Gilmore Girls on my iPad while I make some popcorn?" She asked him ask she rummaged through her purse.
While Dean would never admit it to anyone, he and AJ had been watching the series together for a few weeks now. While he wasn't over the moon about the show, he loved hearing her laugh and the way she always seemed to end the episode snuggled up to him on the couch.
They settled into their usual places on the couch and started watching. Her laugh made him smile and his mind wandered to how he was going to protect her tonight. Not just from any supernatural evil that was on the streets of Lawrence, but also the guys he knew would be looking at her. Dean wasn't good at sharing, even if Ainsley wasn't his to share.
They finished the episode and started another, knowing they wouldn't finish by the time her friends arrived. When a knock came at the door Dean stood up and started toward his room. He placed a quick kiss on her forehead and gave her a look that said, 'be safe, and have fun, but call me if anything happens'.
He shut the door behind him just as the eruption of laughter and giggles started.
An hour later the room was quiet and he went back to the living room.
To no one but himself he mumbled, "this is gonna be a long night."