A/N: It's been a very, very long wait, and I apologize. I hope to finish this up real soon, though!
The title comes from an old 80s song from, I believe, Breath. It's cute, you should check it out.
Stay With Me
By: chocolate rules
CHAPTER FOUR: Hands To Heaven
Dean followed Amy's car all the way back to her apartment. He had had to wait for her to finish off her day and then had met her again as she left for the day. Unfortunately, she had bought herself a car in the months that he had been away and he had to follow her instead of giving her a ride.
They reached her apartment building and after Dean went around the block he found a parking spot he headed inside.
The second he stepped inside of apartment 2A he was overcome with a smell of cinnamon and ginger. Glancing around, he saw the living room to his left and stepped to it.
The living room was filled with pictures of Amy and her class. There were different kids and different events, so Dan figured she'd taken them from all her years teaching. She didn't even look old enough to have what he saw to be eight years of teaching.
Right along side the montage of cheerful children were pictures of who Dean assumed to be the real Amanda 'Amy' Ruiz, his Amy's mother.
He picked up an older photograph of Mrs. Ruiz in which she couldn't have been more than 25 years old. She looked exactly like her daughter.
"Yeah, spooky huh?"
Dean turned around, smiling as he saw Amy leaning on the couch besides him.
"Spooky how?"
Amy scoffed, rolling her eyes. She had changed out of her work clothes and had slipped into some jeans and a loose button-up shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to her elbows and her hair was up in a loose pony tail, stray stands of hair falling on her face.
She looked down right gorgeous.
"Well, no one wants to think of how much they look like their parents, now do they? Least that means that we'll grow up to be just like them."
Amy put on a look of horror. Dean laughed.
"Yeah, guess so."
Amy hopped up from her perch on the couch and stood beside him. She lightly fingered the picture.
"Now, don't get me wrong, I love my mother. She was a wonderful woman, very loving and caring. Really smart too. Smarter than me by far."
Dean was about to comment, but then she leaned her head on his shoulder and she looked so peaceful and in thought, that he just didn't find the words. He was far to lost just looking at her.
"I'll never be half as great a person as she was. Looking like her is just a tease."
Dean replaced the photograph on the shelf. He turned to Amy and wrapped her in his arms.
"I think you're pretty damn amazing."
Amy wrapped her arms around his neck. She stood on her tip toes and leaned forward to give him a kiss.
Dean melted into the sensation. Closing his eyes, he remembered the first time that he had kissed her. It felt so damn right to have her so close to him.
"You have to say that to get me back in your good graces."
Dean laughed softly against her lips. He loved the vibration her words had made on his lips and never wanted them to part ways. He might never even need to breath again if she could just stay right there, how she was at that very moment.
Amy leaned back and looked into his eyes.
"This is the quietest you have ever been since I met you," she said with a smirk.
Dean met her joy filled eyes with his own lusty ones.
"I missed the sound of yours too much, to have it interrupted by mine."
He was being truthful, but it sounded like such a cheesy line.
"Okay, that was pretty damn cheesy," Amy said in mockery.
Dean rolled his eyes. He smiled down at her about to make a smart comment to redeem himself, but instead he just leaned forward and kissed her again.
"I just remembered that you talk too much for your own good," he commented against her lips.
He felt the giggle shake her body within his arms. No longer able to hold it of, she threw her head back and laughed. Really laughed.
To Dean, it was the sweetest sound in the world.
She pulled herself closer to him, wrapping her legs around his waist.
"Smart asssss," she hissed as she twisted to kiss behind his ear.
"But what a fine ass it is," Dean commented, earning him a teasing bite to his neck.
"Indeed."
Amy grabbed at his hair and twisted his head until they locked eyes again.
"What?" he asked softly once her lustful eyes meant his.
"I've missed you."
Dean genuinely smiled at that. No one had ever said that they missed him and truly meant it. Except for Sammy, and maybe Dad after a difficult hunt. But they were family, and Amy was…was…
Amy was so damn beautiful.
"I've missed you, too," he said, not knowing when he'd ever said that to someone and ever meant it as much. Again, except for Dad and Sammy.
♥♥♥♥♥♥
The second day of Dean's vacation started out much like any other f his days did. Too freaking early.
However, this time he was happy for it.
Dean had meant Amy while she had been out for breakfast at a diner so many, many months ago. He had also had her over his hotel room a few times. In all that time, and with all that take out, he had come to the conclusion that either Amy was not a fan of, or rather good at, cooking or just didn't have the time.
So Dean decided that he might as well make the best of his freaking early assed internal clock and get her some breakfast started.
To Dean's surprise, the kitchen seemed fully stocked. Now it seemed like either cooking really was her hidden forte or she had someone over frequent enough to leave all their cooking things there.
He really should have had insisted on the boyfriend issue before.
Deciding that Amy wasn't that kind of girl, was better than those type of girls, he continued to gather up what he would need to pull off the Dean Winchester Five Star Special.
By the time he had the coffee brewing its second pot, because he is a fiend, and had a pretty decent batch of chocolate chip pancakes set aside a sleepy little miss was lured into the yummy smelling morning.
"Hey babe," Dean said with a wide smile as he saw her appear through the swinging kitchen door.
"Mmmmmm," Amy mumbled her reply.
Dean laughed. He had learned in all his time knowing her that Amy was not a morning person.
"Good morning to you too. Care for breakfast?"
Dean watched Amy eye all the things he had laid out on the breakfast counter. Not only were their two plates filled with the pancakes, but there were fruits and fresh juice and whipped cream (for the pancakes). There was even a batch of scrambled eggs and toast there as well.
"Wow," she said to the food.
Dean shook his head. For such a smart and articulate person that she was, the early morning really reduced her to few words.
"You said it babe. Hope your hungry!"
Amy stepped to him, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him tight. He hated to think it, but he loved the feel of those arms and the time spent within them.
"So nice," she commented.
Dean kissed her quickly before turning to flip the pancakes. Sure, she was hot and down right yummy, but he hadn't caused a kitchen disaster in over ten years, and he didn't feel like starting now.
"Likewise."
Dean turned off the stove and tossed the last of the pancakes onto their plates. Amy sat on one of the two seats and Dean sat besides her.
"Damn." She looked at the place setting in front of her and smiled.
Dean poured her some coffee and left it to her to add whatever else she wanted it with. It didn't surprise him, however, when she immediately set to drink some. Her head really wasn't the same as she began to awaken.
A few sips later and Dean noted her grimace with a smirk of his own.
"God! That's awful!" she grimaced about the plain black coffee.
"Well, that's what the cream and sugar are for there, brainiac."
"Haha," Amy said, tossing a few spoons of sugar into her coffee and knowing she had no better comeback.
"Now," Amy started after taking a safer sip of caffeine. "Tell me really where the hell all of this came from."
Dean tried to look offended.
"Are you saying that you don't believe I created this marvel of a meal just for you? I'm appalled!"
"Not with what I have here, it's all cursed!"
Dean stilled. He watched as she took a bit and moaned her pleasure.
"Oh yeah, way too damn good!"
"What," Dean scoffed, trying to not seemed as freaked out as her previous comment had made him. "What do you mean by cursed?"
Amy grabbed the whipped cream bottle and began to drown a few flapjacks with it.
"Well, they're broke or something, cuz they never work for me like they're supposed to."
Dean watched her closely, wondering if she was overlooking an actual curse or not.
"You use that all?"
Amy nodded, devouring her meal.
"Could say that. I bought every single Martha Stewart utensil there is. I watch the show when I'm off and do exactly what she does, but it never ever turns out edible and I end up ordering take out anyways."
Dean laughed.
"Hey!"
He reached over and wrapped her in his arms and kissed her syrupy sweet lips.
Not only had she calmed his fear that their might be someone other than her that owned those kitchen things but she had also repaired his belief that she had never come into any contact or harm from something from his other life.
"You going to eat that? Or do I have to eat it all myself? Cuz, damn this is so good! I think that I can!"
"I'll eat. Just give me a moment, okay?"
♥♥♥♥♥♥
The third and fourth day there, Dean tried to teach his little chef want to be a thing or two.
Dean had been cooking since he was around seven, having opted to do something about his father not so great cooking skills and their lack of healthy food intake. Since then, he hadn't really thought too much about cooking. If they had the money to buy him material and supplies, then he would make something. Dad and Sammy were pretty good at pulling together some money after a few weeks of endless takeout.
Dean had tried to teach Sammy some, but the kid's attention span went from there to blank in less than five minutes. Where Dean's was usually the same way, cooking had always giving him a sense of worth and calm. He had managed to teach the littler boy how to bake a few pies and cookies, and their father had taught them both a thing or two about pasta as well.
Amy proved to be as stubborn as a Winchester, and attentive as a young Sammy, and as talented as William Hung.
But they'd had a hell of a fun time together.
Nothing looked hotter to Dean at that moment on the fourth morning than a flour-covered Amy.
"You know, I have enough of that batter on me to just step into the oven myself?"
Dean laughed as he handed her a wet towel.
"Yeah, I noticed that."
"Think we still have enough left to actually eat any?"
Dean glanced at the bowl they were mixing in. After Amy's "I see a bee!" flint, there really wasn't that much left.
"Depends, you're not really hungry, right?"
Amy used the wet towel to smack him upside the head.
"Hey!"
"Take out it is! I know the number!"
Amy leaped off the counter where they were both perched up on and dashed over to the telephone. Sure enough, she did know the number to a breakfast delivery place, even pulling out a menu from her drawer.
"They'll be here in ten minutes! Actually, I timed them once, and they took twelve. I should so have gotten that meal for free, don't you think?"
"You timed them?" Dean asked teasingly as he folded his legs underneath him and picked the chocolate chips out of the batter.
"What? I was hungry and desperate. And they had my salvation!"
Dean shook his head as he reached over to give her a hand back up onto the counter besides him. Together they ate the chips as they waited on their breakfast.
♥♥♥♥♥♥
Sammy called on the fifth day. Dean was just stepping out of the shower as Amy tossed him his cell, making a dash into the bathroom herself. The pair had spent a little too much time with breakfast that morning.
"Lo?"
"Dean you ass!"
"Dean's not available for the sass this early morning. If you care to leave him a message, however, he'll make sure to not give a damn and never call you back after the beep!"
"Dean!" Sam yelled out for the fourth time.
"Morning Sunshine!" replied Dean in a cheery voice.
"Dude, you said you'd call! It's been like a week already man!"
Dean sighed. He hadn't really said that he'd call the younger boy back, but he hadn't gone more than three days before calling him since Sam had gone off to Sanford. Except of course for the last time that he had spent with Amy.
"Dude, it's been like four days! Sorry though, I planned to call ya, soon."
Sam scoffed.
"You found that whore house didn't you?"
"Hey! No, Samuel. Thank you very much. And it hurts me to think that my own brother, little brother at that, would think such a thing about me!"
"Only because I know you, Dean.
"Really though, you're okay?"
"God, yes you housewife, you! I'm fine. Don't worry your bitty lil head about a thing. I'm fine."
"Where are you?"
Dean sighed. He wasn't sure if he wanted Sam to know. He was sure that Sammy would recall his last stint there and would pull two and two together.
"Vegas, man!"
Sam scoffed.
"Liar!"
"Am not, I'm hitting the crap tables big lil brother!"
"Yeah, sure, okay."
"And all those showgirls love me man!"
"Okay, yeah, I believe you."
"Why don't you believe me?" asked Dean knowing full well that if he had never had an Amy in his life, he would have most instantly of made his way over to the Sin City. And it was also pretty near to where Sammy was staying.
"You wouldn't be that close-by and not come see me," Sam said confidently.
Dean bit back a groan, hating how well the younger boy knew him. Missing him all the same for it.
"I'm going to do that later. I thought that you didn't want me over your shoulder so much."
"I don't, but I know you."
"Aww, how sweet," mocked Dean. "Now, seriously, I'm fine. I know you're fine because you're all whiny and whatnot. So I'll talk to you later. Promise."
"I'm not whiny!" whined Sam.
Dean tried unsuccessfully not to laugh.
"Dude, you're the Queen of whiny."
Dean could hear the deep sigh of repressed comeback.
"So, you're not going to tell me where you're at?"
"All you need to know is that I'm fine. And I know you're fine. So, we're good. Okay?"
"You only know I'm fine because you know where I'm at. If you didn't know that, you wouldn't think I was fine."
Dean rolled his eyes, knowing that Sammy couldn't see him.
"Fine, Princess, you win. I'm on a singles cruise trip to Acapulco. Now don't go telling on me, because I faked my passport and told all the girls here that I was a rich American Ambassador's son."
"Dean. For the love of - Can't you ever just be straight with me?"
"Dude! I'm as straight as they come! Whatever you've heard something from is lying! Give me their names, I'm kicking their asses."
"Cant you ever be serious?"
"Now, what fun is that? You only get one chance at life, Sammich. I, for one, do plan to actually enjoy it."
Sam sighed.
"Fine. Whatever, don't tell me then. But at least keep in contact with me or Pastor Jim, before he decides to send someone after you."
"You talked with old Jim?"
"Dude, he'd kill you if he heard you call him that. And yeah, he called me yesterday, wondering if I knew anything about you."
"Sound worried?"
"Nah, not really. You know he always sounds pretty calm."
"Yeah, alright I'll give him a ring and then the two of yous can breathe easy again."
"Ha."
"Bye, Sammy," Dean said smiling proud at himself at being able to irritate his brother from miles away.
"Bye. Call me soon, though. Because if I think you're dead, I'm pulling out a search for the Impala."
"Its mine bitch! She'll never be yours!!" Dean said into the receiver.
He heard Sam's laughter and then dial tone.
♥♥♥♥♥♥
Dean had a long talk with Pastor Jim. About responsibility and keeping your family on the know-how. At least, that's what Dean thinks they were talking about. He toned the older man out once that stern tone started reprimanding, something he had picked up on at a tender age of twelve.
Three days later, and after having spent one amazing weekend with Amy, Dean was reading to leave.
My stood leaning on the doorframe of her room.
"What's all this?"
"My things. Somehow, they scattered all over the place. I really tend to, uh, spread out huh?"
Amy was watching him intently, Dean could feel the heat of her eyes on the back of his neck.
"Got to get back to work?"
Dean nodded, still refusing to look up from carefully folding his clothes. Normally, he'd just roll up the jeans, and stuff the shirts into the extra space. Now, however, he needed the mundane task to clear his mind. Concentrate on something other than the rich scent of her skin, the soft tussle of her soft long hair.
"You're not really an electrician or whatever, are you? Because I've never heard of a traveling electrician."
Dean stilled. He had been dreading this conversation all week long.
Glancing over to her, he saw her look longingly back at him.
"Amy-"
"What is it? What could be so bad that you have to actually lie about it? And let me tell you, I know seven year olds that can pull off a better lie than you."
Dean softly smiled.
"Amy, I can't."
"Sanitation."
"Huh?"
"You work in sanitation. That's it right?"
Dean smirked, he walked over to her and sat down, pulling her onto his lap.
"That's not it babe. I way too hot to do that. This face needs to be seen, not avoided."
Amy responded by wrapping her arms around him.
"You're underground work for the President, that's it right? I mean I'd be embarrassed. Might even have to dump your Bush-loving ass."
Dean scoffed, leaning back against the headboard.
"I voted independent. Power to little underdog," Dean said, making a power fist."
"Maffia, Tobacco company, Dr. Scholls, illegal Nigerian slave trader?"
"What? Maffia?" Dean laughed, shaking his head. "Babe, do I look rich to you?"
"You hide it well. The whole, hotness factor blocks out the obvious."
Amy leaned into him, kissing him deeply.
"And seriously, Dr. Scholls?"
"What?"
"A foot guy? Serious?"
Amy leaned back and laughed. It was such a sweet, entrancing sound.
"Illegal Nigerian slave trader it is."
Dean kissed her teasing lips.
"I'm not even too sure where Nigeria even is."
♥♥♥♥♥♥
He should have left that day. He knew that his father had made an exception for him, given his longer than the man was comfortable with. But he just couldn't help himself.
She was just so perfect for him.
He noticed just how perfect she was on the eleventh day when she had managed to wake up before him, slip out of bed virtually unnoticed and was awoken to the sweet scent of toast and scrambled eggs.
Burnt toast and half runny eggs.
"And!" She pulled out a Sierra Mist from behind her. "There's no juice either! Aren't I just great at this?"
Dean took the knife and butter, coating his toast enough so that it could be somewhat edible.
"You truly are magnificent. A wondrous chef in the making."
Amy smiled.
Taking a bit from the toast, Dean tried not to choke out.
Amy watched his every move, smiling despite his obvious discomfort.
"You like?"
Dean forced his smile.
"Oh...yeah, babe."
Taking another bite, Dean forced himself into actually swallowing this time.
Amy leaned over the tray, kissing him softly.
"You're so sweet!"
She sat back onto her heels.
"So, you ready to go dig into the takeout?"
"You already ordered?"
"Figured I'd call ahead, before I started cracking eggs."
Dean laughed, accepting the napkin as a token of truce. Spitting what he had left of the 'meal' into it, he hoisted himself off the boy and tossed her over his shoulder.
♥♥♥♥♥♥
Sammy called that night. Pissy as usual and sounding mighty sleep deprived.
"Wha?"
"Said, 'ere the fuck 're you?"
"And good afternoon to ya too."
"Dean! Seriously, now, what happened?"
"Sorry, I forgot to call."
"Forge' that. Pastor Jim said that Dad's getting angsty. I thou' you only had a week?"
Dean groaned.
"Aww man I forgot to call him!"
Dean had thought that he should call on Jim to inform the older man that he wasn't heading back. He knew how his father was, knew how the man took to his sons and knowing their whereabouts.
Truthfully though, Dean wasn't even sure yet if he even wanted to go back.
Here, he had Amy. Here, he didn't need to watch his back and worry if he had enough information and training to survive another day.
Sure, here he didn't have his father or Sammy. He didn't have anyone that he trusted with all his life like he did Pastor Jim, and Joshua and Caleb.
But he had Amy.
"Yeah, I 'oticed."
"Dude, is your mouth stuffed or something?"
"Huh? No, 'm sleeping."
Dean scoffed. He held back from saying that he had been sleeping.
"Why're you calling?"
"Jim called. Dad sent Joshua after ya."
Again, Dean groaned.
"No way."
"Yeah way. Jim said that Dad said that Josh said you were probably in Kentucky or something."
Dean froze, how in the hell had Joshua known.
"Why, uh, why does he think that?"
"Who?"
"Joshua."
"Joshua? You talked to Joshua?"
"What? No!"
"Oh, cuz he's going to go get you. Thought you might've talked with 'im."
Dean groaned again, hating how hard it was to talk to a sleepy Sam.
"Sammy, what else did Pastor Jim say to you when he called?" Dean asked as clearly as he could.
"Huh? Who? Oh, Jim, right. He said, uh, said that Dad was worried and that Josh was going for you and that Josh'd call ya when he got there, and that there were ducks in the lake now, and Critter had puppies and - " Sam yawned.
Dean rolled his eyes.
"How does Josh know where I am?"
"Found your car probably. Not too hard really. Oh, and I think Dad's got you followed. I know he sends people to follow me. I think my professor, Aidiv, knows Dad."
"Aidiv? Doesn't ring a bell."
"Whose Aidiv?"
"You just said!"
"Oh, I meant Dave. Professor Bernard Dave."
Dean sighed.
"Where was Josh coming from?" asked Dean, trying to find out how much time he had to go and get himself ready.
Last thing that he needed was for the man to find out about Amy, and then report that back to his father. He didn't want to be forbidden to see.
Because, he wasn't sure he'd be able to follow up on that order.
"From Dad, he sent him. That's what Jim said."
Dean nodded, not sure if he should try and bang his head against the wall.
"And where were they?"
Silence followed, and Dean was pretty sure that Sam had shrugged, knowing the kid as he did.
"Sam? Sammy? You know I can't see you right?"
"Oh, right. I dunno where they're at. Hey, Dean?"
"Yeah, kiddo?" answered Dean, rubbing a hand across his face,
"Think I can go back to sleep now?"
Dean laughed.
"Yeah, kid. Go ahead. Thanks for the heads up."
"Night, Dean."
Dean heard the click of the cell shut and flipped his own shut.
Leaning back against the wall, Dean glanced around the hall he was currently standing in.
Sighing, he pushed himself to movement, ceasing all thoughts of escape and resistance.
He was foolish to think that he could walk away from the life, walk away from the family.
He gathered up his things, stuffed them back into his duffle.
"Dean?"
Dean turned to see Amy sitting up on the bed.
"What is it?"
He sighed, going over to sit besides her.
"Babe, I got a call. I've stayed too long, they need me back."
"Whaat?"
Dean sighed, he leaned over and gently kissed her lips.
"I've got to go, Amy. I'm needed back at home."
"Stay with me, please Dean."
Dean leaned his forehead against hers.
"I wish I could."
Amy's arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
"Wait til morning, at least."
Dean shook his head.
"I've got to go. Need the extra time for the drive up there."
"Where you headed?"
"Minnesota, maybe. Otherwise, I'm not too sure. Might hit California for a day if I can make it away. Who knows really."
"Why not just stay here?"
Dean sighed.
"Amy, I know you like having me around, but I've got to do this."
She leaned her head against his shoulder.
"You'll call this time? At least once a week?"
Dean tightened his hold on her.
"Like clockwork."
He kissed her again, placing to memory her sweet taste and soft touch.
He closed his eyes as he stood, hating to see the sad look in her eyes. Grabbing his duffle, he headed out the door.
At the front door, as he undid the locks set on the door, he felt a slim hand wrap around his wrist. He turned around, ready to beg Amy not to ask him to stay again. He knew he wouldn't be able to say no much longer.
Instead, Amy kissed him deeply, invasive tongue memorize his taste.
Finally, she came up for air.
"Don't forget me."
Dean tilted her chin, staring deeply into her eyes.
"I could never forget you."
She smiled softly, reminding him of the first night she spent with him, coming in from a stormy night.
"I love you Dean Winchester."
Dan nearly collapsed, feeling the overwhelming emotions from the declaration, the truth behind the words, and the matching passion within him.
"And I love you, Caroline Amy Ruiz."
And then he was gone
♥♥♥♥♥♥
Dean sped away in his vintage 1967 Impala. The scent of cinnamon still lingered in the passenger seat.
He pulled out his cell phone and sped dialed a number.
"Yeah," replied a gruff voice.
"Josh, its Dean."
"Winchester. Bout time."
Dean sighed.
"Yeah, listen."
"Diner on Maple in ten."
"What? Joshua?"
"Kid, don't start. I'm guiding your ass home. Maple in ten. Bye."
Dean sighed. He wasn't sure how the hell Joshua knew where he was, but he knew better than to evade.
"Yessir. I'll see you there."
To Be Continued...
Next Chapter: I Call It Love (AND, it should be the last one :D)
I just love my Sam conversations! Hehe. And Amy, she's sooo dedicated to my sister (because the girl can't cook to save her life no matter how hard I try to teach her). And my Sleepy!Sam is for my friend Nid, who can't ever remember the conversations we have when she's half asleep.
SHAMELESS PROMOTING!: The SPNL book, Nevermore, is out, and I'm almost done mine, so if you haven't gotten it yet, you really should! (Here's a thoguht, if you're in a bookclub or something, maybe you can suggest the book and get all those people hooked onto Supernatural as well!!!!)
I really hope that Amy isn't turning into a Mary Sue, because I tried to make her lovable. Anyways, please review! And have a Happy Day!!