"I'm feeling good enough to be moving on, I think." Jimmy announced after dinner.
Lauren chuckled. "Yeah, you'll live." She grabbed an empty dish and put it in the sink. "Are you going to take my advice?"
Jimmy sighed. "It's time I think. If I keep going I'll just end up like poor Mike. Maybe if I retire I'll live long enough to pass on some of what I've learned to someone else."
"That would be good." Sam piped up. "I know there've been times when we had to turn to someone and find out how to fight a new creature."
"The only regret I have is that I never got to start a family." Jimmy shook his head. "I'll never hold my own babe."
Lauren put a hand on his arm. "It's not too late for a wife though. You go find your happily ever after."
Jimmy nodded. "I'll do my best. Thanks girly." He stood and hugged her. Then he turned to the brothers and held out his hand. "Thanks for coming to my rescue, boys. Best of luck."
After Jimmy left, the three were each lost in their own thoughts for a moment. Lauren sighed softly. "You guys want a piece of cake?"
"Sure." Sam said, carrying his dinner plate and Jimmy's over to the sink.
"No thanks." Dean said. "Think I'm going to go clean my gun."
Still standing near the table, Lauren watched Dean carefully as he walked away. Finally she took a deep breath and grabbed another dish, turning to find Sam watching her. "What?" He asked.
"I think we're into stage 3." She answered sadly.
"What does stage 3 involve?" Sam took the dishes from her and put them in the sink.
"It's kind of like waking up from a good dream. You still feel kind of happy, but reality is trying to poke into your thoughts. And you end up just feeling dazed and confused. Not really in love anymore, but trying not to let those feelings go." She turned to clear the rest of the table. "He will probably keep to himself, or maybe want to have a heart to heart with you. But he's done with me, and when you suggest getting back out on the road to clear his head, he'll be happy to go along with it." She took a deep breath, swallowing all the hurt that threatened to take over her. If only she had know that the kiss that woke her up that morning was really a goodbye kiss she might have savored it more. "And when he's ready to go, you shouldn't wait long because I'd rather not see stage 4."
"Stage 4 is that bad?" Sam asked gently.
"It'll be fine for you. But if you're still here it will be bad for me. All the confusion turns to anger at the person you were in love with. He's going to hate me with ever fiber of his being."
"You don't think he'd actually hurt you?" Sam said.
Lauren shrugged. "There's really no way to know. But he's at least going to be as nasty to me as he can." She closed her eyes against the pain that filled her heart. "Do me a favor and take my number out of his phone before you go too."
Sam stood quietly for a minute. "I'll go talk to him."
Lauren strained her ears trying to hear the guys talking in the other room. Every now and then she'd hear their voices but never caught the words they said. As she put the last clean dish away, Sam returned. "We'll leave in the morning."
"I'll make some sandwiches to take for lunch." Lauren said dully.
"Thanks." Sam said. "For everything." Then he went to pack up.
As she wrapped up sandwiches and cookies and filled some empty water bottles with sweet tea, Lauren felt dead inside. She was mad at herself for falling for Dean when she knew it wouldn't last. But it had been so nice to be loved! Now it was over and life would go back to normal. More or less. Definitely less.
In the morning Lauren got up early and made the boys a good breakfast. They ate quietly, but Lauren was glad to see that Dean wasn't agitated with her yet. When they were done eating the boys packed the car. Sam came back alone to grab the lunch that Lauren had packed. "He's not sure how to say goodbye so he's not going to." He told her apologetically.
With a shrug, Lauren handed him the stuffed cooler. "That's about what I expected."
"I'm sorry." Sam said and put the cooler down to hug her. "In a few weeks I'll tell him all about it. He owes you big time." He looked back out the door. "Right before we met you we were going through some really dark stuff, Dean especially. I can't begin to tell you how bad he got." A shadow crossed his face as he remembered. "Falling in love with you was the best thing that could have happened. It gave him some peace and hope again." He hugged her again.
"Happy to be of service." Lauren laughed and hugged him back. "Call me if you need healer help and you guys are always welcome to stay over if you're hunting nearby." Sam nodded and stepped back. Lauren followed him out to the porch and stood holding Bear back and waved as they pulled away.