The woods were clouded over with more fog than was normal for a night in the summer. It was pretty, but eerie at the same time, because it felt…almost ominous in nature. But Sam and I trudged on, despite both of our better judgment, and after a mile or so, my poor feet were throbbing to the point that I thought any more walking would cause my ankles to give way. I paused and leaned my hand against a tree, putting my weight against that, instead of on my poor toes. Yes, it was stupid of me to wear heels outside of the house, but I didn't know I was going to almost be killed by a werewolf and suddenly have a very tall, dark and handsome man walk me home. Had I know that, I would have searched through the closet for a pair of hiking boots. Or at least flats. I probably looked like a prissy little princess, and Sam was probably having an inward laugh fest at my expense. I sighed and watched as Sam turned to look at me. "I'm sorry, Sam. Really. I know I'm an idiot for wearing these shoes. But I had no clue that I was going to be--"

He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, smiling at me. "I know you didn't. We can take a short break. I need to make a phone call, anyway," he said softly, taking his cell phone from his pocket, and pushing a button.

I huffed out a relieved sigh and plopped onto the nearest tree-stump, taking my shoes off and bending, then flexing my feet. It felt almost like a massage in itself. I took a glance at Sam, and then looked back down at the ground. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, really, but there was no one else to talk to, and I wasn't going to talk to myself, so it sort of came across that way, even though I really, REALLY wasn't.

"No, Dean, I am not going to…SHUT UP!" he shouted in frustration. I'd thought initially that he was going to call his girlfriend or something, but when he said the name Dean? Roommate, maybe? "Dude, I'll be back later tonight, okay? SHUT UP! Yeah. Whatever. Later," he closed his phone and looked back at me, red rising into his cheeks. "Um. Sorry about that."

I shook my head and watched as he made his way toward a rock that was close to the tree stump that I was on and practically plopped onto a rock a couple feet from where I was sitting. I smiled at him. "Nothing to be sorry about. Best friend?" I asked him as he put his cell phone back into his pocket.

He shook his head and laughed a little, and part of me wondered what was so funny, but I wasn't going to ask, especially since he opened his mouth to answer as soon as I thought of asking. "No, no. It would make life easier, though. Big brother. He thinks every time I talk to a girl I'm going to…um…forget I said anything…" he bit his lower lip as a bit of red rose to his cheeks.

I laughed a little. "It's okay. A lot of people think that about me, really…" I leaned down and took my shoes off again. Since we were sitting here for awhile, I figured that then was as good of a time as any to let my poor feet breathe. "I'm not a bad person, though. I mean…" I paused. What was I doing? Why did I feel…comfortable telling Sam things that I hadn't told anyone in my entire life? I chuckled. "You could have shut me up at any point there, you know that, right?" I half-smiled, looking down at my feet.

He shook his head and smiled a little. "No, that's all right. And I don't judge people. Dean does, but I don't. Dean's my brother, by the way…" he smiled. He was still looking at me. And though it was strange, it wasn't exactly unwelcome. What kind of woman would I be if I didn't welcome an attractive man looking at me? I was about to open my mouth to respond when I heard a loud howling from behind us. Close behind us. I didn't need to be told what that was, given that it was a full moon, and what had just happened to me, and the second I heard it, I was cramming my feet back into my shoes, and Sam and I were up and running again. I'd gotten quite efficient in running in heels over the years, I had to say, and I managed, somehow, to keep up with the taller, stronger Sam.

I heard him shoot his gun behind us and started running faster, trying to keep away from the werewolf that was apparently closing in. And as I paused in a panic when I saw that we were coming toward a river. "Sam!" I shouted, trying to call his attention from the werewolf behind us. I heard him shout out in both fear and aggravation, and then felt a sharp tug on my arm, as he made me change direction. Now, we were running off the beaten path, chased by a crazed, bloodthirsty werewolf. And it was becoming more and more obvious by the second that I wasn't going to make it home that night.

I was still running, intent on keeping it that way, when I felt Sam practically pummel me to the ground and sneak into what looked almost like a foxhole beneath a giant tree. I don't think I'd ever been so thankful for fox in my life, because as we sat underneath the tree, the werewolf kept running, and when I saw the feet pass by us, I momentarily tensed up. I stayed tensed, even after it continued by, and my tension only increased when I heard it howl--which was closely followed by a chorus of more howls. "What do we do now?" I asked as I looked at Sam. Now, I may not have been a snooty little princess, but sitting underneath a tree, in very cramped, dirty quarters with a total stranger until the sun came up was not near the top on my list of things to do in my life. So, if he said anything like that, I'd be liable to slap him. If I could make my hand turn that way, that is.

He turned his head to look at me and bit his lower lip. "Well, we can't stay out there all night…we need to find a safe place to hide, I think…and I'll take you home in the morning…" he offered, peering his head out of the foxhole and looking around.

I turned my body and followed his lead. If there were any bystanders, that would have been extremely amusing, I was sure. Two heads poking from beneath a tree, neither of the attached bodies moving from their spot. But, I continued scanning the area, until my eyes fell upon a rock formation…with what looked like a cave inside. "I wonder if that cave is empty. I mean…it may not be a nice warm bed, but it sure as hell beats a foxhole, doesn't it?" I asked as I pointed toward the formation and looked at him hopefully. I was almost sure that it was a stupid idea and he was going to shut it down, but he actually seemed to be considering it.

He nodded his head and got out of the foxhole, reaching his hand down to help me out, too. I took it and crawled out, then looked at him, somewhat surprised. "We'll just have to be on the lookout for animals, is all. Like bears or wolves or things that live in caves. That means sleeping in shifts. Or not sleeping…" he shrugged his shoulders.

I looked at him and sighed a little. "I don't think I'll be sleeping anyway. I mean, tonight has been an ordeal. I think it'll be a miracle if I sleep for the next three years. I'll be like Al Pacino in Insomnia. I can stay awake, if you're tired…" I thought about the situation, then ran a hand through my hair. I had never handled a gun in my life. I'd wanted to learn, but daddy had said it was unnecessary. I brought up the scenario of a robbery, but he put his foot down. "I mean, I probably would be of no help whatsoever, since I've never handled a gun in my life. But I'll…" I sighed. "I'm so sorry, Sam."

He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. "Don't be, okay? You're not doing anything bad. I'll stay up with you…" he smiled sweetly. "It wasn't like you knew this was going to happen, right? I'm kind of an insomniac, anyway. It's no big deal, and I offered, so really, I don't mind. Let's just make a run for it, okay?"

I nodded, and we did. We ran a little slower now, though, as there was no giant werewolf on our tails. It was more of a 'fast jog.' Once we got to the mouth of the little cavern, I looked at him and half-smiled. "We made it alive, what do you know?" I presented the cave to him with my hands. "After you."

He chuckled and climbed into the cave, and though this, too, was a little cramped, the entrance was too small for a werewolf to climb into. He reached his hand through after he got in and helped me climb up and through the hole, which was good, because with high-heels, there would have been no hope for me on my own. I put my feet down on the other side and looked at him, as he smiled sweetly. "Safety. Quite an odd concept, wouldn't you think?"

I laughed and looked around, though I couldn't see a thing. "Yeah, though some light would be fab--" I paused when I saw Sam's face suddenly light up, and looked down to his hand to see a miniature, pocket flashlight. "Okay, that works, too. So, what now?"

He shrugged and looked around. "I mean, we might want to sit, but not on the floor…and we might want to keep quiet because…" he pointed the flashlight up to the ceiling, and I wanted to gasp. Bats. Dozens of bats.

I hated bats. I was bitten by a bat when I was five, and had to go to the hospital because of some disease transmitted through the bite. "Oh my God…" I backed toward the exit. "Okay, I need to look for another place for us to…I can't do this…" I was freaking out, but I really couldn't help it. I felt Sam's hand on my arm and calmed down a little, but not enough. "I…have to…"

He shook his head and showed me a slightly concerned look. "Relax, okay?" he whispered with a half-smile. "The more you panic, the more likely they are to freak out on you. Just…let them go about their bat sleep and we can just…keep our voices like this."

I swallowed hard and nodded my head, following Sam's lead to a spot on the rock that looked like a chair. We both sat, and although I barely knew him, I felt a little safer leaning against him. So, my head was against his shoulder, though my body was still tense and my heart was still pounding. "Thank you…for everything. Really, Sam…" I said gently to him.

He shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "It's nothing. Everyone needs someone to help them once in awhile, right?" he leaned back against the wall of the cave and sighed softly. He really felt like this was nothing? Really? Because it was something…and something huge. No one had ever been this kind to me without an agenda. I'd just have to repay him. Somehow. I was sure I could find a way.