Courtney's POV

This would be an easy bet to win. I've been the best pool player since my uncle had taught me how to play 4 years ago. I let Dean break, just to be nice. He landed a striped ball in the pocket. The game went on for a long time; I won't bore you with details. I caught Dean staring at me several times; it was strange for a man who said it was too dangerous to be in a relationship. It was like there was an internal conflict going on inside his head.

I cued my last ball into the pocket. I laid my cue on the table.

"I win, Dean." I smiled.

"So, you get your kiss." Dean replied coyly.

We stepped closer to each other; I placed my arms around his neck, resting on his shoulders. His hands went to my hips and I could feel them shaking slightly. I put my lips close to his; close enough to feel his warm breath come in staggering patterns. And I knew he didn't want to kiss me, he had just lost a bet. It wasn't anything more. I lowered my arms and pulled away from him, registering the look of surprise on Dean's face.

Dean's POV

I lost. She won the game. And she didn't collect her prize. That's a little disappointing. Her lips were so close to mine, her body fit mine so perfectly, like the missing piece of a puzzle. I could feel her breath on my lips. I was thinking "Please! Just kiss me!" But when she pulled away…the hunter in my soul told me it was better this way.

"Don't you want your kiss?" I asked her, trying to sound indifferent.

"I don't want to take something you don't want to give." She replied, stepping back. I put my hands in my pockets, even though I didn't want to let her go yet.

"I'll just go to bed now." Sam said and looked around for a place to sleep.

"Here." Courtney tossed him a sleeping bag. "You can use this. I'll be sleeping upstairs. There's a pullout bed in the couch over there. Or you can use the sleeping bags. Whatever you want."

She started to walk up the stairs. I followed her and grabbed her elbow gently.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, looking at the ground.

"For what?" I was confused.

"For loving you." She looked at me with tears in her eyes. "I know its dangerous and we could never be together, but I love you, David. I can't get you out of my head. It's like I've met you before."

"Don't be sorry." I held her gaze and then, nervously, put my arms around her. Her hair smelled like pomegranates. So many times I had held her this way, only to have her ripped from my grasp. So many times I had loved this girl and she slipped away.

A single tear rolled down my cheek.

Sam's POV

WTF IS GOING ON BETWEEN THEM?

Courtney's POV

I wanted to kiss him so badly. And then I apologized for loving him. STUPID STUPID STUPID!!! Why am I so stupid around David?! I guess I should call him Dean. He's holding me in such a caring way. Wait. What just fell on my cheek?

I touched my cheek to feel something wet. I looked up and saw a tear trail on Dean's face.

"Why are you crying, David?" I didn't want him to cry. Not if I could help it. "Please tell me."

"I'm not crying. I got dust in my eye." Dean released me immediately. I didn't want him to. He smelled like leather and a musky scent.

I followed him with my eyes as he looked out the window.

"David, I really am sorry that I love you. What do you want me to do? I can't change the way I feel."

"Its too dangerous. Things come after me because they hate me. If they knew that we love each other you would become an instant target, to get to me."

'We love each other'….I caught those words.

"I have to do all I can to protect any and all people. My duty as a hunter is to protect." Dean said, trying to convince himself, it sounded like.

"I understand. I just wanted you to know how I feel, David." I ignored the pangs in my heart. "Can we still be best friends?"

"Always."

"Night, David."

"Night, Courtney."

I walked up the stairs and shut the door to Nicole's room…and cried softly.

Shapeshifter's POV

This is the time to strike. Perhaps I'll wait a bit longer to let him fall in love with her a bit more. No. This is the perfect time to strike.

Courtney's POV

The eyes glowing the dark surprised me. Then I realized what it was and threw a pile of blankets over Nicole.

" DAVID!!!! HELP ME!"

Dean's POV

No. Not her. Anyone but her. I ran up the stairs and knocked the door down. Courtney was sprawled across the bed, covered in blood. I knew the shapeshifter had done this. To get to me.

And she was dead. My partner in life, if I could take back the moments, I would have kissed her and told her I loved her. But its too late.

I held her mangled body close to mine and sobbed over it.

Sam's POV

Dean's true love is dead.