Title: Reflections Road

Author: Izzychase

Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill, Supernatural, or any of its characters. This is purely a work of fiction.

Category: One Tree Hill and Supernatural AU/Crossover

Pairings: Rachel/Dean

Feedback: Is certainly welcome (I like constructive comments), but no flames please! If you don't like this pairing to begin with, you can click the 'back' button, but if you have an open mind, you might enjoy this too. 

Timeline: In this AU/Crossover, I would say that the two met in around S1 of Supernatural and S4 in One Tree Hill, just because I like to keep things relatively simple.

Dedication: To all my fellow Rachel/Dean fans over on FanForum (particularly Alex and Bru), who've been motivating me to write and whose love for the couple is my strong inspiration to write and not procrastinate, and to Kara who writes Rachel/Dean as a couple really well.

Part Two: Dean

Dean Winchester is happy. Classic rock is playing softly in the background, they're heading to investigate a haunting that Bobby gave them a tip about, the windows are down and fresh mountain air is coming in, the landscape is soothing and gently winding down the western Appalachians, Sammy is busily typing away on his laptop, and Rachel is sitting beside him in the front seat with her hand resting gently on his thigh, looking gorgeous as the afternoon sun brings out the bright hues of her magnificent red hair. Moments where he feels absolutely content and at peace with the world around him are rare and far between, so he tries to enjoy them as much as possible. He knows that once they reach their destination he'll be back in work and survival mode, but for this fleeting afternoon, he wants to hold onto this moment just for a little while. He looks at the rear view and shoots Sammy an easygoing smile and returns his gaze to the road, satisfied when Sammy smiles back. Rachel leans over and plants a gentle kiss on his cheek and his grin widens as her body brushes with his, evoking responses in both of them. He feels the excitement rush through his body at the contact and even though it's the middle of the afternoon he already wants her again and if her increased heart rate is any indication, she wants him too. He feels confident, powerful, and alive, and in times like these, life feels simple and defined- he loves his family, he loves his girl, and he loves his car.

Ever since he's been raised to hunt and he's travelled all over the United States to do this, he's also wanted a normal job and a family, and while he doesn't have a normal job right now, he's got everything else. He's got a younger brother with whom he gets along great most of the time and he's got a girlfriend who is his equal, even if she wasn't raised as a hunter. Together, the two of them bolster him; they keep him sane when the hunt gets to be too intense and dark and they ground him just by being who they are. Sammy's family; there's nothing he wouldn't do to protect him and keep him safe, and as for Rachel, he's decided that even if he may never get the chance to have a 9-5 job or a cute house in the suburbs or the proverbial 2.5 kids, he wants to stay alive long enough to give Rachel everything he can, because she's proven to him that she's worth it. He used to make fun of guys who were into all that touchy-feely chick flick crap (including Sammy), but he's realized that he's fallen just as hard, even if he knows that having soap opera moments isn't really his and Rachel's thing. He doesn't tell anyone, because this isn't freakin' Romeo and Juliet or a Hallmark channel movie, but he's even started to squirrel some money away to buy her an engagement ring, especially on nights when he's cleaning up at the poker table. In this chaotic life he leads, filled with unanswered questions, unexplained phenomena, danger mixed in with excitement, and unexpected circumstances and people, she provides him with an anchor into the non-supernatural world and to his own humanity, partially because she didn't grow up in his world but she is still similar to him in her no-bullshit personality, love of danger and risk-taking, and overall gumption.

In this past year, he's watched his girlfriend mature into a better person and become comfortable in her own skin. What started out as a connection based upon physical attraction and chemistry has deepened into a relationship grounded in respect and love. He's 26; he's been with girls before and a pretty girl has always been a nice distraction from his otherwise chaotically inconsistent life, but it takes a special girl to make him want to commit, and in her own completely unique Rachel Gatina way, she's earned that place in his heart and she'd done a pretty good job of keeping it. She's 21 this year, but she's always been sophisticated and it doesn't feel like there's much of an age gap between them at all.

It was a typical Friday night in New York. The music in the club was pounding loud and there's lots of people out on the dance floor, but Dean and Sam were just nursing their first shots, content to just watch the action for the moment when she walked in. She was breathtaking, with bright auburn hair that fell straight down her slender shoulders, a halter top green dress that ended just before her knees, giving Dean a nice look at her cleavage and her slender long legs, and she's carefully made up. Her gaze swept around the room in a casual way, and when her brown eyes met his green ones, he knew that she's seen him and she's checked him out in the same way he just did. He got up from the table to join her on the dance floor, and his moves to seek her across the club were as deliberate as the ones she makes to place herself within the centre of his line of sight. He likes a girl who's direct and knows what she wants, and at this moment, they've both made up their minds. Dean went up to her, giving his signature rakish smile and he's a good observer; he's seen her draw a quick breath before settling back down into supposed nonchalance and he knows that he's having an effect on her. As he got closer, Dean noticed that she's even hotter up close, and her looks, body, and dance moves are all as intoxicating as the shot of whiskey he just had. An hour later, they find themselves making out in the back corner of the club on a chaise, unable to get their lips or their hands off one another and Dean knows that he has to get back to Sam because he promised him they'd still meet up at 1am, no matter what happened. He ends up bringing Rachel back to the table with him (they're already holding hands at this point), and introduces her to Sam as they sit for another round of drinks.

"Are you guys visiting in New York?" Rachel asked, sipping from her martini.

"Yeah, we're looking forward to some down time. Sammy here likes to work but I can use a break, especially with a pretty girl like you." He gave her a wink as he easily slid an arm around her shoulders. She gave a slight roll of her eyes but she didn't tell him to move his arm, so he figured that it was okay.

"Well, I think it'd be great to check out the Metropolitan while I'm here," Sam chipped in. "I'm thinking of even making a day trip out of it. Dean you wanna go?"

Rachel must have seen the bored look on his face at the mention of an art gallery, so she did something that surprised him. She reached into her clutch purse and took out a key card.

"Here," She slid it across to Sam. "The hotel I'm staying at is a quick walk to the Met. I can probably find a way to keep Dean from being bored while you're enjoying art. Why don't you just sleep in my room tonight so you can get an early start, and I'll just stay with Dean?"

She's definitely stated her intentions and both of them just stared at the key card in slight shock for a moment, him especially because while he definitely knew that she liked him and was probably interested in doing a lot more than just make out, he didn't think she'd be so upfront, but he liked it. She tugged onto the lapels of his leather jacket to bring him closer to her, and gave him a searing kiss that left him wanting more.

"Do you think that's a good idea?" She asked him in a soft and seductive voice, bringing her body so close to his that there's barely any room left between them. He barely gave a coherent reply, able to only nod before pulling her back to him. At some point, Sam told him to answer his phone if he called but Dean vaguely heard him, and then it was just the two of them, engrossed in one another.

He felt like he was living in one hot New York minute for the entire week- they had gone through the entire box of condoms that he had stashed in the Impala, and for the first two days Sam had to practically break down the door to take Dean's attention away from Rachel. It had never felt so good with any girl before: her delicate curves were a nice contrast against his muscular frame, she fit exactly into his arms, her kisses left him breathless, and her energy levels and enthusiasm matched his. Dean was usually more like a "love 'em and leave 'em" type, but Rachel brought out something else in him. She was bold, confident, but also brash; and because Dean was a good observer he also saw hints of insecurity and Rachel's desire for someone to love her just for her, and not just her face, body, or money.

It was in the middle of the week that he also realized that he enjoyed her company just as much as he enjoyed her looks and body and had started to confide in her. It was when they started spending more time together than either of them expected that Dean realized he had found someone whom he not only enjoyed making out with, but could also spend down time with. She was an intriguing mixture of being extroverted, witty and sarcastic mixed in with the ability to be sweet and generous, and he saw glimpses of these different facets of her personality throughout the week when they would be having conversations on the ferry, playing pool, or even just having pie at a diner on Staten Island. She made him grin with her bold flirtatiousness, laugh when she made a wisecrack, and she made him smile when she did something unexpectedly tender, like getting him an extra large cup of coffee made just the way he liked it first thing in the morning.

He wasn't exactly a romantic type of a guy normally, but Dean found himself holding her hand while they were walking around Manhattan and placing an arm around her shoulder when they went sightseeing. It just occurred very naturally, they had begun to hold hands in order to navigate through the busy streets of New York together, and now it became a part of their interactions. It was one morning when Rachel had been feeling completely comfortable dressed only in her jeans and a pretty patterned bra while she was brushing her hair, and he had emerged from the shower with only a towel on and had placed his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck that Dean realized he had fallen so hard for this girl that he wanted her in his life even after they left New York.

When he had told her what he did and the look of disbelief had appeared on her face, Dean had been positive that the week had come to an end and he was being rudely awakened back into a reality where he had one night stands and having a girlfriend was a luxury that he couldn't afford. He thought she would just be like Cassie and fight with him and eventually reject him, so he had been surprised she was still there when he came back after he and Sam had disposed of the demon they had been tracking. He had looked at her suspiciously, almost not believing her when she told him that what he did didn't matter to her but when he looked up into her unwavering gaze he saw the truth behind her words. That took courage, and Dean had always been impressed by courage. He opened up his arms back to Rachel, and as she returned into them, Dean felt a sense of completion that he hadn't felt in a very long time. Later that night, when he had been on top of Rachel in bed and was kissing her, he took another glance and saw all of her in that moment: beautiful but broken, bold but vulnerable, sassy but also insecure, and all with the underlying current of being a person who had a better self underneath. He found himself whispering those three words "I love you" in that moment, and he didn't think she had heard, but she had whispered them back too, and they had lain there, sated and entwined in each others' arms, both of them navigating through a new emotional level that neither of them were naturally comfortable with.

After they parted ways in New York, Dean had been in love with Rachel but wasn't naive enough to think that having a relationship with her could realistically work out. After all, he travelled all over the country while she lived in North Carolina; and she had never come across the supernatural threats he faced on a weekly if not daily basis, even if she insisted that she was okay with it. They called and texted each other occasionally, but for Dean, it was such a weak replacement compared to what they shared in New York. He initially tried to get his mind off her by flirting with other women, but when the moment came where they were inviting him to stay the night or to do more than just flirt, an image of Rachel came uninvited into his mind, and all of a sudden, he didn't want those other women any more.

He's always liked pretty and attractive girls; and Rachel does not disappoint. Rachel's fiery red hair that he loves to run his hands through, pretty face with beautiful brown eyes and soft lips, taut and toned body, a rack he can't keep his eyes off of, slender and shapely legs that go on forever, and cute derriere are all enough to drive him crazy and he can't get enough of her. She looks just as good whether she's wearing a party dress like when they first met; or in one of his t-shirts when they're going to sleep; or jeans and a top and her leather jacket when they're on the road or hunting. Every place they go, Dean is prepared to give his best "She's my girl and don't mess with me" glare to other guys because he knows how guys think and he doesn't want other guys checking out his girl or thinking dirty thoughts about her. She's confident of her own looks and sexuality in the same way he is; but the fact that he's the only one she dresses to impress now and she's the one he saves his most charming behaviour for makes the physical aspect of their relationship even more passionate than ever.

He and Sam were at a bar in Kentucky when he had suddenly left after declining an offer from a pretty blonde and he had just stood next to the Impala, wondering what happened to him when he heard his brother come up behind him.

"Dean, what's wrong?" Sam had asked.

"I can't stop thinking about her," He had blurted out. He leaned against the Impala and took in a deep breath. Sam didn't have to ask who it was to know who Dean was talking about.

"Yeah, I noticed that you haven't been flirting with many women since," Sam had offered. "And Dean, it's okay to admit that you're still in love with her."

"Every time I look at another woman, I compare her to Rachel." He had confessed, putting his head into his hands, "And every time, they don't match up. I thought that I could put her behind and move on, like I always do, but this is turning me into some freakin' sap, for crying out loud."

Sam stood beside him in companionable silence, sensing as if he just needed to sort out his thoughts.

"I loved Cass, y'know? When we broke up I didn't want to let anyone else in because in the end, I always leave and they always end up hurt. Rachel was supposed to be a one-night stand; a hot girl in a club in New York that was just supposed to be a fling and a week later, I told her that I loved her and I meant it, Sammy. I saw the real Rachel, and being with her reminded me that if I was a jerk and if I pushed her away, I'd lose her just like I lost Cass all those years ago. She still wants to keep in touch and now I can't stop thinking about how much I want her, but she'll never share our life. I just want to move on before it hurts too much, but I can't." Dean realized he was rambling, but he didn't care.

Sam gave him a rueful smile. "You know, most of the time you choose bimbos, but I actually like Rachel. She's a sharp girl; the kind who keeps you on your toes and she can actually stand up to you and call you out on your crap, even though she cares about you. I saw how the two of you looked at each other when we were in New York and I can see that you still want to be with her. You know, Dean, maybe you should be telling her all of this instead of me."

"What would be the point Sammy? I can't drag her into this and the second she sees what we do and is a part of it, her life would be in danger." He replied bitterly. "I can't let her share in this world Sammy, because the second she does, her life changes and it's not fair to her. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to her because of me."

He had been about ready to drop the conversation when his cell rang. He recognized her number as soon as he saw it, and he picked up.

"Hey," She started the conversation in a flirtatious voice, and he smiled.

"Hey, babe," He returned. He couldn't help it, but a grin appeared on his face.

"Dean, I miss you and I love you," He heard her say on the other line in a soft voice, "and I would never ask you to do this if it wasn't important, but we need to talk. Could you please come to Tree Hill?"

Dean paused for a moment, as he heard the seriousness in her voice.

"I miss you too," He admitted. "I haven't been able to get you off my mind."

He saw Sam give him a "I told you so," look so he shot back to Sam, "Sammy, go play with your dolls and stop laughing at me."

"I want to see you and I'll make it worth your while, I promise." She continued.

"I know you will, babe, and I have a few ideas about how you can start," Dean joked. Joking helped him deal with everything else in life, including more difficult conversations.

"So can you come to Tree Hill?" She asked, wanting to make sure he was okay with it.

"Yes," He replied. "Let me and Sammy wrap things up here and I'll stop by Tree Hill when we're done. Give me a week or two."

"Perfect," He could almost see her smiling on the other end of the line. She gave him her address and they exchanged some other brief news, and when Dean hung up, the grin widening on his face, Sam simply smiled.

"I'm guessing Tree Hill is our next destination?" Sam asked, already knowing the answer. Dean gave his brother a brief nod, before opening the doors to the Impala. He's forgotten all his previous doubts and concerns for now, and he's focused on finishing up the hunt so that they can reach Tree Hill.

"Got an early day tomorrow, Sammy, if we want to finish up here in Kentucky," He grins as he starts the engine and listens to his car purr, almost as if in agreement.

Until they arrived in Tree Hill, he hadn't been aware of how acutely he had missed Rachel's presence, and until he saw her again and they fell back into their rhythm of flirtatious bantering, passionate physical intimacy, honest conversation and even moments of comfortable silence and introspection. Being with Rachel in Tree Hill had felt so safe. It felt great to be able to sleep in without worrying about hunting for just a few days and it felt even better to have Rachel curled up against him in her comfortable bed.

Dean had a brief flash of what their life might look like if they both could have normal lives one morning when he headed downstairs to find her and Sam in the kitchen; his brother was reading the paper with an empty plate and a mug beside him and Rachel was standing at the kitchen island, making one of the largest sandwiches he had ever seen. The scene looked so comfortable that Dean forgot about how hungry he was, and he just stood in the doorway, absorbing it and filing it away in his memory for later.

"Morning," Rachel had looked up and given him a smile. It wasn't her seductive smile or her "everything's fine" brave smile, but it was a genuine smile that reminded him that underneath all the walls she placed around herself was a girl kinder and gentler than most people would give her credit for.

"Morning Rach; morning Sammy," He greeted them, and as he walked over, he gave his brother a pat on the back, and when he reached the counter, he gently placed his hands on Rachel's hips and gives her a fond kiss on the top of her head. "That looks good."

"I figured you'd be hungry," Rachel replied with a wink. He watched her put the finishing touches on the sandwich and it struck him that even though they've only spent one consecutive week together, he's already comfortable with her that it feels like it's been longer than that. When she finished, she handed him the plate but he placed it down beside him before gathering her into his embrace. He's missed being able to do that; she's always felt a bit fragile against his stronger frame, but her curves fit into his body in all the right places, and she fit nicely within his arms. "Thanks babe."

He saw Sam smiling from the corner of his eye knew that Sam was going to tease him later about being exactly the kind of guy that he makes fun of Sam for, but Rachel makes him happy.

Dean does not see himself being Mr. Domestic; he's always been more comfortable being a bachelor. However, he has noticed that since Rachel's been living and travelling with them and they've been together as a couple, he has adjusted some of his typical guy habits, like no longer leaving his muddy shirts on the floor and not picking them up until he absolutely has to. They occasionally bicker good-naturedly about why he still leaves his stuff strewn all over their side of the room, and she points out that Sam can neatly put his things away while he counters in his own bantering way that Sam's always been a girl, but overall, they manage. They've even managed to fall into some couple-ish domestic routines, such as Rachel leaving him short messages in the steamed up mirrors of the bathroom while he's in the shower and him cleaning their hunting equipment while she takes care of getting the mud and stains out of their clothes. He wouldn't admit it out loud, but once in a while when he and Sam go on hunts that he doesn't allow her to go on because she's still too new at this, and he comes back and he sees her doing something semi-domestic like folding his clothes and putting them neatly into his bag, he gets a brief fantasy in his mind that one day he can come home from his normal day job and she'll have dinner ready and they can just be one of those normal couples whose dinner conversations don't involve paranormal predators.

That week, he told her a bit about his travels and his hunts, and she took him to meet her friends and out around Tree Hill. He liked meeting Brooke and Mouth; he could definitely see how much they cared about Rachel. When he met Mouth, Mouth had given him the weary once-over look, and Dean had understood. Mouth cared about Rachel as much as he did and he hadn't wanted Rachel to get hurt. He had also noticed Mouth checking Rachel out discreetly and Dean wondered how much Rachel knew that one of her best friends had fallen so hard for her. He doesn't normally have 'bro-mance' types of moments, but one evening, he joined Mouth at the bar at Tric while waiting for the drinks they were going to bring to the girls.

"I'm not going to hurt her," He started off. Mouth gave him a surprised look but was quiet. "I love her and I know you do too, so neither of us wants to see her get hurt."

"How did you..." Mouth trails off into silence.

"The way you look at her is the same way I look at her, man."

"Look, Dean," Mouth sighed. "Rachel's really vulnerable emotionally, especially when it comes to taking a chance on her feelings and trusting others. It took her so long to open up to me and Brooke. I just don't want to see her hurt. It's not that I think you're a bad guy, Dean, it's just that this happened so fast and she came back from being in New York for a week and then she told us that she was in love with you and wanted to be with you. We had no idea who she was talking about until you showed up."

Dean was quiet for a couple of moments, just absorbing Mouth's words. "You're afraid I'm going to break her heart."

"Yes," Mouth admitted. "I am. I'm sorry, Dean, but it's true."

He nodded. "I'd do the same if I were you. Fair enough. You can even ask my brother Sammy, and he'll tell you that I've never fallen for another girl the way I've fallen for Rachel. I'm not going to ask for your blessing or even approval, but I want you to know that I would never want to hurt her."

"I know you would never willingly want to hurt her, but Dean, the reality is that we're the ones left picking up the pieces if anything ever happens. Brooke and I have watched Rachel get hurt by other people before, and we just want to make sure we're looking out for her. Rachel told me that you travel a lot in what you do, and she doesn't want to hear this from me, but that's going to affect your relationship. Listen, Dean, Rachel is one of my best friends and I just want to make sure that if she's going to choose someone, she's not going to be disappointed in her choice."

While Dean knew that what Mouth was saying was probably true, he was starting to get irritated that Mouth was so stubborn in thinking that the only thing Dean could do was hurt Rachel. He also couldn't resist being slightly jealous of how well Mouth knew Rachel; they had their own jokes and dynamics, and Dean was slightly jealous that Mouth got to share in those day-to-day moments with Rachel and have a completely normal life with her while Dean had to resign himself to being okay with phone calls and text messages. However, Mouth wasn't sharing a bed with Rachel and Dean was. Luckily before he could reply, Rachel had walked over, looking gorgeous in a white skirt and a pretty lavender halter top that set off the soft tones of her red hair and she had given him her trademark seductive smirk. He smirked back as an automatic reaction, but Rachel's smirk fell when she saw the tense body language between the two guys. She gave Mouth a look that seemed to be slightly stern, as if realizing what the topic of conversation between Mouth and himself had been, but when she crossed over to Dean, she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a quick kiss.

"I was wondering if you boys decided to go out of state to get those drinks," She teased. She tugged on his hand, "C'mon, we've gotten a table and we're ready."

Mouth took some of the drinks and left a few for Rachel and Dean to carry, walking ahead of them to give them some space. As they walked back, Rachel said in a lower voice,

"Dean, Mouth and I are just friends. You have no reason to be jealous. You're the one that I love and want to be with. I know he's probably being protective, but I told him that this was my decision to make and that I wanted him to at least give you a chance before judging you. "

Her ability to read him so perfectly threw him off a little bit, so he covered it up with his trademark cockiness.

"Babe, I'd never be jealous because I know you'd pick a hot guy like me every time." She rolled her eyes, and his tone grew more serious. "He's just afraid that I'm going to hurt you, and he doesn't trust me, not that I expect him to."

"He and Brooke have just been my friends for so long and they've seen me go through a lot," Rachel explained. "They just want to protect me. But they know that I care about you a lot and they both know that I wanted them to give you a fair chance."

They'd reached the table where the rest of her friends are sitting, and Dean didn't want to continue this private conversation in front of a crowd. He just smiled at Rachel and pecked her quickly on the lips, drawing a squeal of excitement from Brooke. Brooke at least seemed to be more encouraging of his relationship with Rachel, not that Dean needs their approval or blessing. He just wants Rachel to be happy and he knows that her friends mean a lot to her.

That week in Tree Hill also showed him how selfish he was going to be if he asked her to come with him. He had seen the privileged and upper-middle class lifestyle she had, but when she was so hospitable to himself and Sam, he had been touched by her generosity. He also felt guilty that if she ever decided to come with him, her standards of living would dramatically change.

He's always known how to take care of himself and Sam, and to live without a lot, but ever since Rachel's been with him he's always felt a bit bad that he's not able to give her the kind of lifestyle that she's used to. For her sake, he's less reckless with money, especially when playing pool and poker: he still plays to win and he often does due to his skill, but he's also cognizant of the fact that he's got a girl he loves that he wants to take care of. He knows that she loves him enough to share his life with him, but he's not naive enough to think that making that the transition was an easy one. Rachel's adjusted surprisingly well though, and outside of the initial shock of sleeping in the first seedy motel room they did after they left North Carolina, when he had felt her tossing and turning beside him on the lumpy mattress before he had finally pulled her into his arms and she had fallen asleep curled up against him, she's been pretty cool about it all. She's grown up moving to and settling down in different places, but he knows that doesn't make it any easier. She's learned to live with less, and Dean saw another side of Rachel when she loaned a sweater to a girl they had helped and had told the girl to keep it because the sweater looked even better on her. In those moments, Dean sees beyond her 'pretty and popular party-girl' persona to see someone who wants to do the right thing and wants to be a good person, and that earns her points in his book.

That spring night on her porch when she had told him that she wanted to go with him, Dean somehow knew that this moment would eventually come in their relationship, but he had always put it off. When Rachel had told him that she wanted to come with him and Sam, his initial answer had been no. She had pushed and asked, but he had refused. That conversation ended with him basically taking off, and later on, when he had been wandering aimlessly around Tree Hill, it basically struck him that their relationship might end very quickly if he kept saying no. He didn't see their relationship lasting very long if the only way they could see each other was if he kept returning to Tree Hill. As he drove through the quiet streets of Tree Hill, conflicted between his desire for Rachel to be in his life and his desire to keep her safe, the more he drove, the more he realized he was making a mistake. Out of all the women he had been with, not one of them had ever asked to come with him after they found out what he did, and certainly none of them had made him feel the way that Rachel had made him feel. Basically, the girl he had fallen for had asked to share in his life and had done so despite knowing of the danger that accompanied it, and he had been getting ready to potentially shut her out of his life forever. That night the walls he had previously placed around himself began to come down. He drove back to Rachel's place, and he simply asked her if she meant it, and he had held his breath while waiting for her reply, but Rachel confirmed what she said earlier. As he wrapped his arms around her waist and as they spooned together in her bed, Dean felt as if a huge burden had been lifted and it was a defining moment of their relationship.

Rachel is gutsy- she knows what she wants and she goes after it. He was impressed by that move, and it turned out to be the move that led them to staying together. This courage still impresses him, and he's seen different versions of it since then- once in Tree Hill when they had gone to Tric together and they had found some guys harassing her friend Mouth and some of his friends and she had jumped in with Mace when she saw Mouth in the middle of the confrontation, and other times when they're in a hunt together and she acts upon her instinct to join the fight, despite going against a bigger and more fearsome opponent. Before she joined them, he and Sam had to train her. With his years of hunting experience, he was able to train her in all the basics of self-defence and he discovered that she had good aim and was very agile, most likely because of her experience in cheerleading. She wasn't as strong as he and Sam were, but she compensated for that with her quickness and good aim. Best of all, she was a quick learner. They've adjusted their hunting approaches slightly since Rachel's joined them: she plays more of a sniper role and while he and Sam are more comfortable with fighting hand to hand, and Rachel's made a specialty of being able to sneak up on their opponents to try to help bring them down. He makes her practice and train whenever they're not actively hunting, and he now trusts her aim almost as much as he trusts his own. She's as a tenacious hunter as he is; her willingness to take these kinds of risks scares him sometimes, especially when he's worried about her safety, but he'll never be able to say that she doesn't try.

"Rachel! What were you thinking? Do you know how dangerous that was?" He yelled as he picked himself up off the floor. He's all right, but he's still breathing a bit heavily from the fight with the demon they had been tracking for about three days. "If that son of a bitch even saw you sneaking up on it, you'd be seriously injured by now."

She's still holding the shotgun and she shrugs. "You taught me that stealth is valuable."

"Rachel, I had that situation under control," He argues. He can see Sam from the corner of his eye with a 'I'm not even going to wade into this one' look that he gets whenever Dean and Rachel are arguing.

"Dean, what is your problem? I just killed the demon we were going after. Sam was knocked off to the other side of the room, and your gun wasn't within reach when you were struggling with it." She shoots back. Her hand not holding the shotgun is on her hips and he knows that's her classic defensive posture.

"My problem is that I told you to stay back there until Sammy and I had the situation under control!" He shouts back, dusting himself off. "Why can't you listen to me and keep yourself safe? This isn't the first time you've done it either- are you trying to worry me to death?"

"Dean, I just made your life easier and all you do is ask why I didn't follow your orders! If I had listened to you, your life would've been in more danger than it already was!" She's yelling back now. In these situations, they're both fiery and spirited and it's hard to get them to calm down. He can see Sam looking back and forth between the two of them, wondering if it's time for a referee, but Dean's not about to drop the point.

"Rachel, I've been hunting for most of my life- I can handle these situations, and if I needed you to help, I would've hollered for it. You jumped in despite knowing what the plan was and you put yourself in danger. I already have enough to worry about without worrying about you on top of all of it." He angrily picks up his gun off the floor and he starts looking around to see if anything else was dropped in the heat of the fight. He loves her but he still wants to be calling the shots. Maybe it's because he's always had to take care of Sam and he's used to being responsible for other people, or maybe it's the fact that he's so scared about the consequences of losing her.

"Our lives are in danger all the time! I was trying to buy you and Sam some time at the very least and it ended up being an accurate shot right to its heart. Dean, I was just trying to help. You don't have to be such a jerk about it." Rachel comments bitterly. She's looking downcast now, and she drops the argument as she starts to walk back towards the Impala. Sam shoots him a knowing glance but Dean just raises his arms up in frustration.

"She drives me crazy when she does this," He rants to Sam as they walk back to the car, Rachel walking far ahead of them and giving him the silent treatment. "She's going to get herself killed one day."

"Dean, if you had a perfect shot and that had been me or Rachel on the ground, would you have taken it?" Sam asks.

"In a heartbeat," Dean snaps back. "It's the two of you we're talking about here."

"Well, maybe Rachel took that shot because she doesn't want to see you get hurt any more than you want to see her get hurt, and she was thinking that you were more important than the risk, Dean." Sam claps him on the back, before catching up with Rachel. He sees Sam speak softly to her, Rachel's head shaking angrily as she responds and he catches the glimpse of her brilliant red hair in the moonlight and he sighs. It's no use talking about this with her right now, he knows that it always takes them some time to cool off. Later on, when they get back to the dingy motel they're staying at, he crawls into bed beside her after a shower and he reaches for her, but she doesn't turn around and he sighs deeply.

"Rachel, baby, next time, please don't give me a huge scare like that," is all he manages to come up with. He's tired and he doesn't want to end the night on an argument.

"Why is it okay that you and Sam get to risk your lives and I don't?" Rachel's voice is quiet. She remains distant, as if she's trying to curl up as far away from him as much as possible. She always does this when they're arguing- it's as if she's afraid to let him in. "Is it because you don't trust me?"

"No, that's not it." His reply is emphatic. He touches her shoulder and slowly turns her around so she's facing him. She looks upset and a few unshed tears are present in her eyes, and he regrets some of the harsh words he's said earlier. He brushes some of her hair out of her face and he tries again, "I was upset because I saw the huge risk in what you did and I don't want to see you get hurt."

She looks at him silently for a moment before saying softly, "I don't like watching you fight alone while I'm forced to sit on the sidelines, knowing that your life is in danger and mine isn't. I'm going to jump in if I think you're going to get seriously injured and I can do something to prevent that. I know this isn't what you want to hear, baby, but I can't stop myself from doing that and I won't."

A smile unknowingly creeps up on his face, but he doesn't want to just let it go at that. "Rachel, what you did was very brave, but also very risky, and every time you do something like that it worries the hell out of me because I don't know if it's going to work, but I know that I can't stop you."

"Dean, I know that if it was Sam or I in danger, you would've done the exact same thing, even if it was risky for you. I did what I did because I feel the same way. I know I can't stop you from worrying about me," She replies, putting a finger on his lips. "I can't promise you I'm going to play safe if it's your life, so let's just try to make it work the best we can, okay?"

He realizes that they're both right and they both have great reasons.

"C'mere," He manages to get out, wrapping his arms around her as she scoots over next to him. He pulls the blankets over them and Rachel whispers that she loves him before she settles into sleep. Whenever they end a serious argument, she ends up telling him that she loves him, as if she's unsure of whether he knows that, but he finds it to be reassuring. He always tells her that just because they argue doesn't mean that it's over. They've been through enough together that one argument doesn't end the history and the experiences they've shared. He's up for a few moments afterwards, and before he falls asleep, it struck Dean how much courage Rachel has developed.

Having Rachel share in his life with him also meant that she had to learn how to deal with how dangerous and dark their lifestyle was. He had warned her that being with him was not going to be like the week in the New York she had spent with him, and while Rachel had understood that, it wasn't until that she started living and travelling with them that she could fully grasp what he was talking about. He didn't think she really understood the intensity of their lifestyle until she lived it. He remembered that the first time she had gone on a hunt with them, while her second shot from the crossbow was enough to disable the demon and allowing him to dive in for the kill, she had stood stunned for a few moments just absorbing what she had seen and coming to terms with the new life she was now leading before he had crossed over to her and gathered her in his arms. She had clung to him for a few moments while he had stroked her hair while holding her wordlessly. Their first couple of hunts had been the rites of passage that transformed her from being a carefree teenager to a more serious young woman.

Dean was roughly awoken from his slumber when he was hit in the side by an arm. His eyes immediately snapped open and he took a quick glance around as he sat up, only to see Rachel thrashing around in her sleep, mumbling incoherent words while her face was twisted in fear.

"Rachel!" He grabbed her arms, trying to still her, but she was having none of it. He could hear Sam waking up with a groan in the other bed, trying to figure out what was going on.

"Baby, it's all right, I'm here." He held on more firmly to her arms and he tried again. The thrashing in his arms stilled, even if she was still shaking her head in her sleep and murmuring what sounded like "no". Sam took a seat beside him on the other side of the bed, looking down at Rachel with a mixture of sympathy and concern.

"Baby, you're safe now," Dean said in a softer voice, closer to her ear. A few seconds later, Rachel's beautiful chestnut brown eyes stared at him in confusion but also relief. "It was just a nightmare."

Rachel slowly took in the sight of him hovering over her with his hands on her shoulders and a look of concern on his face, and Sam sitting on the other side of the bed, holding onto her hand that he had clasped.

"Dean?" She asked, sounding unlike the proud and confident Rachel that he knew.

He gathered her in his arms, stroking her back and patting her hair and whispering over and over again, "I'm here, baby, it'll be okay."

"Oh my god, Dean, it felt so real," Rachel gasped, clinging onto him. She usually never clung onto him like that, but Dean could see that she was still shaken up. "I dreamed that the yellow-eyed demon killed all of us and we all died. I couldn't do anything to stop it when it went after you."

"Rachel, it's over now, you're here with us." Sam gave her hand a squeeze as he smiled at her. Dean had never been so grateful that while Rachel and Sam didn't always agree on everything, Sam treated her just like she was a Winchester and was there for Rachel when she needed it the most.

"Baby, you're safe." He repeated, pulling back from his embrace of her to make eye contact. Rachel's eyes didn't lose their sadness, however.

"We're never going to be safe, are we Dean?" She asked him in a voice barely above a whisper. "We're still hunting that yellow-eyed demon and there are always more threats out there, even if we eliminate it."

He's quiet for a moment, acknowledging the truth of her words. She's right- they may spend their entire lives hunting that yellow-eyed demon and its offspring, and they may never be able to settle down and have a normal life. In this moment, he doesn't have it in him to lie to her or to tell her that it's not true.

"Maybe not," He replies, staring deeply into her eyes. He reaches up to gently lift up her chin and brushes a soft kiss across her lips. Dean's normally not this kind of guy and he doesn't normally do this, but Rachel brings out his softer side. "Maybe we won't ever be safe, and I don't want to lie to you because I love you, but you will always have me, Rachel. "

He repeats himself for emphasis. "You will always have me."

He's not embarrassed that Sam's watching both of them, impressed by what he's seeing. Rachel continues to gaze into his eyes for a few moments while she's letting that sink in, and suddenly her arms are around his neck and she's kissing him like she's never kissed him before, and he returns her kisses, passionate, hungry, and wanting.

"I feel safe when I'm with you, Dean," She says softly after their kiss ends. Sam is standing up now, giving them their space, but he and Rachel still have their arms around each other and faces so close that their foreheads are gently touching.

"I sometimes still feel scared when we're on the hunt, but I love you and I don't want to ever leave you." She adds and his heart soars with a tingly feeling that he's not used to having. He's never loved or treated any girl the way he treats Rachel and has certainly never bared so much of his heart or been so honest with anyone, except maybe Sam. He's never felt so complete and he definitely knows now that he didn't make the wrong decision when he allowed her to be part of his life.

However, the hardest part of having Rachel with him is that he hates seeing her upset when he's hurt. Before, if he got seriously injured, Dad would just drive at top-speed to rush him to a hospital while Sam would keep him calm and that was a way of life, but the first time Rachel and Sam helped him to a doctor when he was hurt pretty badly Dean saw how scared she was. If it's relatively minor injuries that requires nothing heavier than a dressing, it's fine; he actually likes it when Rachel fusses over him and cleans his wounds, and he can't resist teasing her about how he has a hot nurse fantasy involving her, but for serious-looking injuries, she seems to be more afraid for him than he is. The first time they had gone to a doctor to check out a serious-looking wound, Rachel had looked like she was close to tears and he could see that she was doing everything she could to not completely melt down. His wound had hurt like hell, but it wasn't life-threatening, but seeing the tears in Rachel's eyes and seeing her so upset worried him even more. Rachel doesn't say it very often, but he knows that she's terrified of losing him every hunt they go on, and even though they've been together for more than a year now, he knows that this fear is still lingering at the back of her mind. He doesn't know how he can ever alleviate that fear from her, except that it gives him an extra incentive to stay alive for as long as he can and to be more careful when he's hunting.

Over time, Rachel's gotten better at adjusting to the physical realities of their lifestyle, but their relationship was certainly tested over the emotional scars he still carries inside him. He hadn't been prepared to tell her everything about Dad and his family. He had told her bits and pieces of what he knew about his father's disappearance and a little bit about how he lost his mother, but he could never tell her the entire story in one sitting because it hurt too much. Rachel had also grown up with absentee parents, so she understood a bit about what he was going through, but it wasn't until a rainy morning in the Pacific Northwest opened up her eyes to some of the pain that he's had to live with for at least a year now.

He's pacing around outside in the parking lot trying to have a conversation with one of his leads; it's a chilly day in November and they're in Portland in Oregon, and he's not having a good day. One of his leads won't give him any further information on Dad even though Dean's pretty sure that he's not being told everything, and all the clues they've come up with so far have led nowhere and they don't make sense. Worse of all, he hasn't been sleeping that well because dreams that he had thought were gone and buried in the past had come back to haunt him, and even though he wakes up and all that remains is the sound of Sam's soft snoring in the other bed and the sight of Rachel curled up beside him, he can't shake off the uneasy feeling that there's something going on with Dad that he doesn't know about and it probably has to do with the yellow-eyed demon who killed Mom. He knows he hasn't been the best brother or boyfriend in the past couple of days; he's been more sarcastic to Sam than usual and he's been snappy towards Rachel. He can see that they're both worried about him; Sam has been talking to him in that soft 'Dean, it's okay to talk about your feelings' voice, and Rachel has been alternating between kissing him to get him to focus on something other than his nightmares or reminding him that he has to snap out of this funk eventually. He wants to hunt something; even just to get the sense of closure and accomplishment that he's one step closer to finding Dad and figuring out what is going on. Sam is at the public library, trying to get some research done and Rachel has volunteered to go get supplies while he's having this conversation, walking around in an empty parking lot, dressed in his rainproof outdoor jacket over his normal flannel button-up shirt and jeans.

"Fine, if you're not going to tell me, I'm going to have to figure this out myself." He finally closes the conversation, sick of the minimal response at the other end of the line. He places his arms on the Impala and he even takes a few moments to just take a few deep breaths.

"Dean," Rachel calls behind him. He turns around and she's walking towards him holding two cups of coffee, and she looks a bit worried as she registers the look of frustration on his face. He opens the door for her and she slips him a grateful smile as she gets in. He gets in on the other side, but he's silent for a few moments as she removes her hood and puts down her backpack after handing him his cup. He sips it: it's nice and hot and strong, just the way he likes it. He notes that even though she's not dressed like when they had first met in New York, he's still finds her just as pretty. These days she's decided to go for practical clothes like corduroy pants, hiking boots, and her winter jacket on over her sweater instead of the designer clothes she used to wear. She reaches over to squeeze his hand; hers is nice and warm from being indoors and holding coffee, and Dean just lets the warmth seep slowly through his body and he lets out a sigh.

"He won't tell me anything, babe," He admits in a tired voice. "Dad's told him something or he's figured something out, and he's not willing to tell me, though God only knows why."

She puts down on her own cup and she slides across the seat to gently place her arms around him. It's like she can sense that he'll open up to her when it's time, and they sit there for a few minutes in the quiet. It feels good to have her warm body wrapped around his, and he likes that she doesn't push him to talk.

"I'm so tired of this, Rachel. I hate running around in circles and I hate that all of these clues lead nowhere. I really miss Dad and I just want to find him. I can't do this all by myself and I really do need him back." He finds that his own voice is husky and low from the unshed tears that are gathering behind his eyes and he just puts his head in his hands. He normally doesn't let these feelings overwhelm him, but right now he's just feeling exhausted and he just doesn't care. His relationship with Dad had always been complicated: full of expectations on his father's part, and Dean trying to prove to him that he's worthy of his trust and confidence, despite having this nagging feeling at the back of his mind that Dad loves Sam more and he's just using Dean because Dean's available. In spite of all of this though, Dad's been one of the few people who understood his lifestyle and his choices, especially before he had reunited with Sam and before Rachel.

"I know, baby," Rachel says softly. Her arms are still around him, but one of her hands reaches up to rub slow circles at the back of his neck. She doesn't say anything else; she just lets him have his private moments and she stays there with him until he feels like he's ready. When they're back on the road and he's just driving quietly, not being his usually loud and boisterous self, Rachel opens up her backpack and tosses a bag of Peanut M&Ms on his lap before giving him a soft smile and he smiles back, touched by her thoughtful gesture. Later on, he actually apologizes to Sammy for being such a dick in the past few days, and he gives Rachel a soft kiss and says "thank you", those two words and his expression speaking volumes.

Sometimes listening to him is all she does and that's good enough for him. She doesn't nag and she doesn't keep insisting that he open up; instead she eventually tells him to snap out of it when it's starting to put a real strain on their interactions and Dean always thinks that she sounds like him with that "I'm not putting up with your crap anymore" attitude. He eventually opens up to her and he always finds her to be a better listener than would be expected. Sometimes these conversations have taken place as they're driving, or at night when they're just cleaning their gear and doing research, or even when they're about to fall asleep and he decides to let everything out and collapse into her arms. He's been surprised to even find that he's hidden and repressed more feelings and anxieties away than he thought, and a few times when he's been in her arms he's even cried. She doesn't tease him for being a sap when he cries; instead, she hands him some tissues or even quietly wipes the tears from his eyes and pecks him softly and talks about it with him. Dean is impressed with how she demonstrates how much she cares about him just by being there for him when he needs her the most.

That's one important thing about their relationship- they've been vulnerable with each other and told each other things that they've never told anyone else, and even now, Dean's still amazed at how far they've come from having a purely physical relationship in New York to one now where she's sharing in his life and his calling. She's actually one of his closest friends, besides being his girlfriend and his lover. He's given her his heart and all of who he is, and she's done the same. He's never been so happy and he's never felt as complete as he does now. He's ready to face whatever life throws at him and he's never felt as confident as when she's by his side and he knows that she loves him and supports him.

They're sitting around a campfire that they've set up while travelling through a national park in Colorado. The night air is crisp and fresh and the shadow of the Rockies jut up against the glittering multitude of stars in the night sky. They've just finished a hunt and it was a particularly difficult one. Dean feels relaxed, he's leaning back against a log, Rachel's resting her head on his shoulder, and Sammy's across from them, and they're all sipping a beer each. Sammy's telling a story from his Stanford days while he and Rachel are just listening and they're all enjoying each other's company. He's got one arm wrapped securely around Rachel and every once in a while he brushes a kiss across her hair and she nuzzles his neck. Not far away, a tent is set up and they're going to flip a coin to see who sleeps in the tent and who sleeps in the Impala.

"That's a great story, Sammy," Rachel gives a genuine smile and sits up to stretch after the story's done. Dean notices that stretching her arms gives him a peek of her toned midriff and pushes her cleavage up even higher and he can't help but check her out; she's gorgeous and they both know it. "I feel like it's been a very long week and I'm getting ready to turn in."

"It was," Sam agrees. "I think we all worked very hard."

"I think you both did a great job and should be proud of yourselves," He's proud of both of them- Rachel for becoming much better at moving stealthily and quietly and Sammy at hand to hand fighting. Sammy gives him a shy smile while Rachel simply beams at him, pleased by the compliment. She's also looking up and down at him and he knows what she's thinking because he's thinking the same thing. They've been so focused on the hunt for the past week and a half that by the time they get to bed, they're both exhausted and all they want to do is get some sleep. The fact that they've been sharing a room with Sam for two weeks also meant that they couldn't do much more than sleep when they're in bed together. Dean's getting a bit impatient with only being able to kiss and spoon with Rachel when they both want to do so much more.

"I think we should turn in," Rachel suggests and she's wrapping her arms around him and giving him a soft kiss on the cheek. Her hand slides up underneath his shirt and caresses his muscular back.

He can't stop the grin from appearing on his face and he turns to Sam.

"Sammy, why don't you take the tent tonight? You can have it all to yourself." He asks him. Now that the pressure of the week is gone, he's thought of a perfect way to end this week- making love to Rachel and falling asleep in her arms. Nothing turns him on more than making love to his girl in his car and even though it's a bit cramped in the Impala's backseat for both of them, Rachel loves it too because it means they can have an excuse to stay in each other's arms without admitting that they just want to snuggle.

Sammy begins, "Well, the tent's bigger and there's probably more room for all of us since the car won't be very comfortable," And then he stops when he realizes what Dean is really asking and his eyes widen a bit. Dean can't help but affectionately roll his eyes; he and Rachel have been together for a year and sometimes Sam still doesn't clue in as to when they want alone time.

"We'll be fine," Rachel assures Sam, giving him a smile. She lets go of Dean and starts cleaning up, and they all help, Sam because he's actually tired and wants to go to bed, and Dean because he can't wait to be alone with Rachel. They put out the campfire and put away their things, and Sam bids them goodnight.

"Thanks Sammy," Dean gives his brother a smile.

"No problem," Sam returns. "Although, if I were you, I'd pick the tent."

With a quick grin, Sam lopes off to the tent, and Dean turns to Rachel with a huge grin on his face.

"That took way too long," Rachel teases as she wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him in for a kiss. Dean eagerly kisses her back and he feels the tension slide away from both of them as they share their kiss. He picks her up and Rachel lets out a surprised by excited squeal of delight as his strong arms wrap around her waist and his hands settle on her butt, and she responds by quickly wrapping her legs around him to keep herself from falling, even as they continue kissing. He walks them to the Impala with ease, and he opens the door before gently carrying her inside and setting her on the backseat. He looks at her and admires her for a few seconds before she's tugging him closer for another kiss. Her response is just as passionate and she's running her hands all over his back and up his shirt as he slowly lowers them both down, and he knows that this isn't just a physical act for them anymore- it's an act of emotional intimacy. He can't help but kiss her everywhere: on her lips, nuzzling her neck and kissing it, making his way down so that he brushes kisses on her cleavage and skin; basically letting her know how much he wants her. Within the next few moments, he's let Rachel strip him of his jacket and his t-shirt, while he's unbuttoned her cotton cardigan top and taken off her tank top to reveal her toned midriff and a simple but pretty black bra. Before they go any further, she twines her fingers with his and they smile at each other before she pulls him down by clasping both his hands and tugging him down until their chests are touching and he lies on top of her trying not to crush her with his weight as they lie there, holding hands. He listens to her quickening heartbeat for a couple of moments before she moves to kiss him again, and this time the kiss is gentle, careful, and accepting. As he returns her kiss, Dean can't imagine how he ever got this lucky.

"I love you so much," Rachel whispers in his ear. He can't stop grinning, and he briefly takes his eyes off the road to look at her long enough to make eye contact and he simply replies, knowing that he doesn't need a lot of words for her to understand the message behind them.

"I love you too, babe."

And he means it.

THE END

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Author's Note: This finishes off my "Reflections Road" two-parter, but Reflections Road is just the beginning of another AUverse for Rachel/Dean, so this won't be the last, I promise. :)