The feedback and views I'm getting is almost overwhelming, just... WOW! The favourites and alerts are piling in, which makes me smile every single day. Here's Chapter 4, which still doesn't explain why Aria couldn't feel what Dean was feeling, and you'll know why in this same chapter.

Chapter 4

Day One

After what had happened, I locked myself into my room, bringing only Buck Dharma with me, avoiding as much contact as possible from the boys. Carrie tried her best in getting me out of the room, but I told her I won't step out of my room until I find out why my empathy didn't work on Dean anymore.

Day Two

"You're being a bit OTT with the whole situation, Ari." she pointed out. She was at on the floor, her legs crossed, while I was on my bed, Buck next to me, looking through every book she brought me about witchcraft. She was very upset about what happened, and told me she'd go on the road if it meant getting some answers. "Why lock yourself in your room?"

"I don't want to have anything to do with the Winchesters." I softly spoke. "Not for now, at least."

Anger.

"What about Sam's visions huh? Did you forget that's why we all came here in the first place?" she snapped, glaring at me. "Just get out of your room just for that, and then you can crawl back in your bed and be a loser."

"I am NOT a loser!" I yelled back, my face red with anger. "I just—" I paused, calming myself down, by mentally counting from 10 back to 0. "Until I get some answers, I'm not stepping out of this room, especially if Dean's right outside."

Carrie shook her head. "Sam and Dean left early this morning to work on a case one state over. So you can get out of your room... and you will." She stood up and jumped onto the bed. "C'mon, Ari. Let's get some fresh air. You've been cooped up here since yesterday."

I sighed and looked at buck, patting him on the head. "Wanna go for a walk, buddy?" With the word 'walk', Buck hopped off the bed and barked, running in circles. Me and Carrie laughed.

"I swear that dog's almost human when it comes to words like 'walk' and 'bath'." Carrie laughed, and Buck growled when he heard the word 'bath'. "See? I stand by reason."

"Let me take a shower. Then we can go for a walk and eat dinner." I suggested.

"That's my girl!" Carrie gushed.

It was while I took the shower that I realised Carrie was right. I was being way over my head with the whole Dean thing. It could be nothing, really. Just a temporary empathy glitch no one knew about. I decided to call him and apologise to him, but tell him that I still need some space, at least for a few days. But I didn't want Carrie to know I was calling him. She wouldn't let me live it down.

After drying myself, I put on my sleeveless grey maxi dress and gladiator sandals. I pulled my hair up in a messy French bum, letting a few strands loose. I went back into my room, where Carrie was going through some books.

"Shower's all yours." I told her. She looked up and whistled.

"You look really good. Too bad Dean's not here. He'd have his eyes rolling at the back of his head seeing you in a dress." I rolled my eyes.

"Screw you, Carrie." I blushed, but I managed to hide it by rummaging through my wardrobe for a cardigan and bag. Deep down, I missed him. Heck, why wouldn't I? But it was better that I figure out what's wrong with my empathy when it comes to Dean, and then worry about seeing him again. "Like I already said a million times, I'm not ready to see him just yet."

"Whatever, Ari. I'm gonna go shower. Once I'm ready, we can go."

"Okay." I smiled, and she went into her room to get her stuff. I looked back at the stacks of books on my bed. As I was about to grab one of the books, Buck comes into my room, carrying a book in hos mouth.

I'd never seen this book in my life.

"What is this, boy?" I asked him, patting him. "Never seen this one before." I murmured to myself, wiping it clean with a napkin. It was old and dusty, probably centuries old. It had no title, and, looking through several pages at a time, I realised it was written in Theban, the language of witches. I looked back at buck.

Where did he find this book? And why did he bring it to me?

I knew very little Theban; I needed to translate the whole book using a Theban-English dictionary.

Shoot.

"Carrie!" I yelled, already taking my clothes off, changing into my yoga pants and camisole. "Carrie!"

"Yeah?!" she exclaimed from inside the shower.

"I'm making a rain check!" I yelled back. Carrie groaned. "I think Buck found the book with all the answers in it!"

"Wait, Buck did what?!"

"Found a book I didn't know even existed in my bookshop! Weird huh!"

"I swear that dog's psychic if not a human."

Day Two

I barely slept since yesterday. Probably an hour or two in total. I was too caught up translating in the Restricted Section to bother about anything. I had Carrie get me food—and take care of Buck—and to drink. The book, I discovered, contained every ability a witch could have... and more.

I had my business phone plugged in on the table next to mine, so I didn't have to get up myself or bring Carrie down from upstairs.

I was taking a nap when it rang. I jolted, a paper stuck to my face, nearly knocking over the phone. "Mmm, Aria's Bookshop. Ariana speaking."

"Hey."

It was the voice of that one person who made my insides flop. I sat up straighter. "Dean."

"I, uh, I called to, um, check up on you. It's been, well, three days." he explained. I smiled weakly. I still couldn't feel anything, but judging from his tone of voice, he was sorry.

For what I had no idea.

"I'm good." I simply said, and proceeded to continue translating. Looking at my watch, I realised I'd been asleep on the desk for over three hours.

It was already ten in the evening. And I'd barely finished half the book.

"Uh, good... good..." he said on the other line.

"And you?" I asked.

After a brief pause—which I assumed was of surprise—he replied, "I'm good too."

"I'm translating a book that could explain what happened... the other day."

"Yeah, I meant to ask you about that. You freaked out, princess." Princess. "And it... it scared me." Quickly, he added, "I mean us. Me, Sammy and Carrie."

I giggled. "You're adorable, Dean Winchester." Then I cleared my throat and changed subject, not believing I'd just told him that. "I mean... ahem... I should, uh, tell you what happened huh?"

"Yeah. I mean, you and the others kept insisting I didn't say and do anything wrong, so... And they you don't speak to me for over two days, and it worried me." Dean rambled. I chuckled.

"You know how I can tell what people are feeling? It's like I breathe it in..." Pause. "That day, there and then, I couldn't... I couldn't tell what you were feeling, Dean."

"What do you mean? Like... nothing? What about now?"

Even though he couldn't see me, I shook my head and ran a hand through my hair. "Nothing! It's like it turns off when it comes to you."

"Wait, so you can feel everyone but me?" Silence. "That came out wrong." I laughed for the first time since it happened, and Dean couldn't help but chuckle along too. "You have a great laugh, Ari."

I turned bright red. "Thank you."

"So... any theories on why your powers shut off when it comes to me?"

I shrugged, and smiled triumphantly when I turned over the page.

Five chapters down... over a hundred to go.

I sighed. I was so far back! I'd kill myself if I didn't find anything in the first half of the book. I was ready to give up.

"So far, no. but I've this book Buck found yesterday and—"

"Wait, your dog found this book?" Dean asked in disbelief.

"I know it's weird, but sometimes, it's like Buck's... human. Or possesses human traits." I chuckled. "This book has every ability every witch could possibly have. I've to translate it word by word though, and it's gonna take me weeks, if not months, to translate it all."

"How about this... When me and Sam finish up with this case, we'll work on the translation. And at the same time, you could help Sam with the visions. If you want to, of course."

"Yeah, I need all the help I can get. I didn't ask Carrie for help because she doesn't like libraries and books."

Dean chortled. "I can relate to that. But if it means helping you out, I'm definitely up for it."

I turned even redder than before. "Really?"

"Really, Ariana." Pause. "I gotta go. A corpse's waiting to be salted and burnt."

"Call me as soon as you're just outta town."

"I will... And Ariana?"

"Yeah?"

I was really curious as to what Dean had to tell me. I hoped it had to do with what he had to tell me when my powers zoned out for some still-unknown reason.

"Take care of yourself for me."

Click.

…. What was that all about?

Carrie knocked on the door and entered, carrying a tray with a plate of pasta on it. "It's the only thing I could cook within a short time, so don't complain if you think I took so long." She placed the tray next to the book, and sat down. "How far along are you now?"

"Chapter twenty-two." I didn't look up from the translated notes, continuing my work so I could finish the chapter and eat. "Did Sam call you? Or Dean?"

Carrie shook her head. "Not yet. Last time Sam called was just after nine in the morning. Maybe they took a pit-stop somewhere. Hey, why don't you stop until they get back, huh?"

I rubbed my eyes. "Yeah, I guess I need a break. I'll eat the pasta and then go straight to bed."

She nodded, and took the translated notes—about two hundred pages in all—and took a look at them briefly. "So you managed all this in just two days?" I nodded, twirling my fork in my spaghetti. "Damn, girl. You need to sleep for the full nine hours. Or two days."

I grinned. "I did a pretty darn good job, didn't I?"

"I'll say... You did really good, Aria. And all by yourself! This is incredible!" she gushed. I smiled bashfully. "You should be proud of yourself."

I paused, and nodded. "I kinda am, you now? I mean, I barely slept a wink—the longest nap being three hours—and worked on this alone. How could I not be proud of myself? I've never done anything so... so drastic in my life."

"Eat up so you can go shower and nap. You stink like avocados." She wrinkled her nose, moving her chair away. I made a face.

"Why avocados?" I sniffed my armpits, and recoiled with disgust. Yep, I smelled bad, but not of avocados. I loved avocados!

"I hate avocados." she explained, going back to reading the notes I translated.

I dreamt I was in the middle of a field back in Woodstock. I was barefoot, in a long, yellow chiffon dress, with white daisies in my hair. I was walking alone, looking around me, smiling. I was happy for a reason I didn't know. But I was happy. I was alone, recollecting my thoughts when—

Relief.

My eyes flew open and looked to my right, seeing Sam standing by the door. "Did I wake you?" he asked.

Embarrassed.

I sat up, smiling as I shook my head. "Your feelings did. But it's okay, not your fault... Why are you relieved?"

"Because you're okay." he replied, sitting at the far corner of the bed. "I was really worried about you. Dean more than me, but still worried."

I smiled sleepily. "I'm better now. I took a well-deserved break from translating that book." I looked at the digital clock on the bedside table and gasped. I'd been asleep for nearly twenty hours. "Wow. Twenty hours of sleep. No wonder I feel better now." I rubbed my eyes, adjusting to the bright light of the lamp next to me. "Where's Carrie?"

"Asleep."

"Dean?"

"Believe it or not... Downstairs, translating. Or he might have fallen asleep while translating. One of them."

"Dean continued translating while I was asleep?" Sam nodded, and I grinned. "That was really nice of him."

"I was thinking we could... start of the extraction? I know it's early, or, well, late, but the visions... Each is worse than the other. And the headaches are... They're really bad."

Fear.

I nodded. "Bring the silver bowl from under the sink. It has some Theban symbols on it. And something to cut. A knife or razor blade. Or you can use the envelope cuter in the kitchen drawer."

More fear.

"Don't be scared, Sam. You'll be okay."

In a few seconds, Sam was on the floor across me, bowl and razor blade next to each other in the middle of the circle. "Should I get Carrie and Dean?"

I frowned. "I'd hate to wake them up. But if you want them present, go ahead." Sam shot me an apologetic look, which I accepted with a nod and small smile, and he went into the next room to get Carrie. She sat down on the edge of the bed while he went to get his brother.

"Are you sure you wanna do this now?" Carrie asked sleepily.

"Sam asked me to. In my opinion, it's better at night. The darkness and 'Dark Side Of The Moon' will do the trick!" I grinned, switching on the stereo, and reached for my CD pouch, which was at arms' distance, took out the CD I wanted and put it into the stereo, not pressing play.

"Uh, Ari, are we going to remove demon blood out of my boyfriend or getting high?" Carrie asked.

Confusion. Excitement. Nerves.

"Well, the music will make the atmosphere more mystical and mysterious." I explained. "And if you want to get high, we can do so tomorrow. Here's an amazing field in the area of the park we went to the other day. It's perfect for smoking weed."

"Who are you and what have you done to my health-freak witch friend?" Carrie laughed. Sam entered the room, looking confused.

"Uh, before we start, Dean wants to talk to you in the kitchen." he told me, pointing his thumb towards the kitchen's direction. I sighed and stood up.

"Hey, Aria... Will you be okay?" Carrie asked me.

I nodded, and walked into the kitchen. Dean's face lit up when his gaze met mine. I simply gave him a half-smile. Despite the dim-lit room, I could tell he was very tired. "You wanted to talk to me?"

"Uh, yeah. Yeah." He pulled a chair and sat down. I shrugged and sat down next to him. "Even though I didn't do anything wrong, I still feel responsible for whatever happened the other day, Ariana."

I shook my head. "No, Dean. It's not your fault, honest. Still have to find out why it happened."

"Why don't you call your mom and grandmother?"

I bit my lower lip and looked down at my hands, clasped together into the table. "They never wanted me to move out of Woodstock. They wanted me to stay within the witch community." I scoffed, shaking my head, on the verge of tears. "But I wanted to explore the world outside of the witch community, so I moved out. I never spoke to them since. It's been three years since I last seen or spoke to them."

"I'm sorry, Ari." he whispered, putting a hand over mine. The movement made me jolt in my seat and my breath to hitch. "Ariana... I care about you."

I looked up at him. "What?"

"It's what I wanted to tell before you..." he paused, scooting his chair so that he was sitting across me, and cupped my face.

Oh my god. Oh my god.

I wanted to say something, but I couldn't speak. I searched his eyes, trying to read him. I couldn't, of course I couldn't. But he meant what he said. That far I knew.

"Dean—" I started to whisper, but he hushed me.

"Just..." he whispered, sot he others wouldn't hear. He gently bumped his forehead against mine. By then my breath was at its heaviest. He ran his thumbs across my cheeks, his hands still cupping my face, looking into my eyes. Dean smiled softly. "Your eyes are so beautiful, Ariana."

I couldn't control my breathing. And I wanted to look away from his beautiful emerald eyes so badly, but I was captivated by them.

And then it all dawned on me.

ANOTHER SEMI-CLIFF HANGER?! Now you must really hate my guts for doing so... Remember the story will be updated only upon reviews, so if you want more of the story, you better speak up if you want to know what happens next ;)

Yesterday I updated my other story 'I Think I Like It Here', go check it out if you have the chance. And I'll be updating 'Save Yourself', writing the episode chapter for another chapter.

Until next time!