Joe turned, her eyes never leaving the hunter. He was strolling across the room as if he owned the place. She had been pursuing Dean Winchester since she had first laid eyes on him. Unfortunately, she could never get near him without her mother or Sam being present. As she watched him walk towards the bar she vowed that tonight would be the night she got the handsome hunters attention.
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Catherine sat at the bar, arm brushing Sammy's shoulder as she talked with Ellen and the younger Winchester. She didn't need to use her abilities to know that Dean was quickly approaching her. It had been so long since she had been with him that she could practically feel the heat rolling off of him.
As Dean sat down on the other side of Catherine, she looked up into his eyes and nearly lost her breath. The intensity of his green eyed gaze was enough to burn her where she sat. Dean broke eye contact and looked towards Ellen.
Ellen placed a second beer in front of Dean, feeling relief in her heart because the hunter was obviously interested in Jamie. Hopefully, that would discourage Joe's attempts at hooking the young man. "Dean Winchester, this is Jamie Bell, Jamie, Dean Winchester."
Dean held out his hand to the woman in front of him. His eyes twinkling, best smile firmly in place. "How do you do Ma'm?" he asked.
Catherine looked at the grin on Dean's face and decided two could play at this game. She arched her brow and said "Ma'm, Ouch, that hurts. What's the matter am I too old for you?" Catherine said glancing towards the spot, where Joe was watching Dean with rabid eyes.
Dean's face dropped as he guiltily glanced in Joe's direction, realizing that the young bar maid was staring at him intently. He could have killed Catherine as he felt himself starting to blush.
Catherine's smug smile was quickly replaced with concentration as the door to the bar burst open, and a crowd of rowdy, rough looking men entered. Catherine quickly panned the crowd looking for a specific individual.
Dean sat next to Catherine and immediately sensed the change in her, as the crowd of hunters entered the bar. He quickly caught Sam's eye and both Winchesters stood and turned from the bar keeping their eyes peeled on the hunters as they sat at various tables.
Catherine found the hunter she was looking for, took note of his location and turned back towards the bar. It wouldn't do to show too much suspicion.
It was then that she realized just how tense the two men beside her had become. She would have laughed it off as some macho trip if she hadn't realized just how dangerous they were. She gave Sam's hand a light squeeze and smiled into his eyes as he turned his partial attention on her. Sam nodded at her and sat back down, still on alert but seemingly more relaxed.
She swiftly leaned over and blew lightly on Dean's neck. It had the same effect as a bucket of water would have, he quickly focused his attention back on Catherine. Catherine felt the stare all the way to her boots. She found that she couldn't break her gaze away. It was Sam that finally broke the stare, by knocking Dean on the back.
"Jamie, maybe you ought to head out honey, you know how Jacobs can be. You're better off not having to deal with it." Ellen said as she cleaned the bar with slow circular motions
Catherine made herself more comfortable on the stool, pulled the coke she was drinking closer to herself and said "you know me Ellen; I never do the smart thing."
"Ellen, why should Jamie leave? She's got every right to be here." Sam asked as he sipped from his beer.
Ellen continued wiping the bar surface. "See, the fellow in the blue cap, over by the juke box. He's got this thing for Jamie and no matter how many times she turns him away. He just keeps trying."
"It's getting to be dangerous but Jamie's not willing to involve anyone else. I'm telling you though girl, no matter how tough you are one of these times he's going to corner you and you're not going to be able to stop him." Ellen moved away from the trio, quickly filling the drink orders of the men who had just entered.
Both Winchesters carefully looked over the man that Ellen had pointed out. He was around 45 years old, not very tall, probably a couple of inches shorter than Dean's 6 foot. He was whip thin and wore a blue ball cap and fatigues. His face was worn and had a three inch scar running along his chin. As the boys checked him out, he got up from his seat and started heading towards the three of them.
As he approached he asked "so Jamie you planning on introducing me to your young friends." He leaned over Catherine's shoulder and asked Ellen for a beer.
Catherine could feel her skin crawl where the hunter pressed up against her. She knew though that he wanted her to show fear. So instead she leaned herself flush up against Sam and looked Jacobs in the eye. "Sam and Dean Winchester this is Paul Jacobs."
Dean caught a flicker of emotion in the hunters ice blue eyes at the sound of their names. Dean could feel himself hovering on the edge. He knew it would take very little provocation from Jacobs to make Dean snap.
Paul Jacobs pulled back as he accepted his beer from Ellen. "Dean and Sam Winchester, well I'll be damned, I had heard that you two were following in your Daddy's footsteps. Good man you're Dad, I was sorry to hear about his death." The hunter held out his hand to Dean.
Sam could see that Dean was going to ignore the offering. Sam quickly smothered a slight cough gaining Dean's attention for a moment. They engaged in a quick bout of staring and then finally Dean reached out and shook the man's hand. Sam shook his hand next but was grateful to quickly let go. The hunter just seemed to emanate wrongness.
"Here let's sit and drink to your old man." Jacobs turned heading towards the table when he realized that neither Winchester was following. He turned, eyes narrowed and said "I can't image your Daddy would tolerate rudeness in his boys."
Sam and Dean shared a look and pushed away from the bar. "No, sir" Sam managed to say, as he moved to sit beside the hunter.
Jacobs lifted the beer he had been drinking in the air. "To John Winchester a fine hunter and a good man." Jacobs took a sip and watched as the Winchesters did the same.
"Good, Good now tell me what happened. I find it hard to believe that a man like John's dead." Jacobs leaned back and listened to Sam tell the story.
Dean sat back his gaze coming to rest on Catherine's back as she sat at the bar. Dean nodded in agreement as he listened to Sammy weaving the tale that they had agreed to tell people. First the car accident, how Dean was injured, and finally John dying from a heart attack. Dean's attention was brought back to the man beside him, as Jacobs began to speak.
"Well, now that's a real shame, man like John should have gone out in a blaze of glory. Not a simple heart attack. Oh, well it just goes to show, we're all human in the end. Now boys, I want to ask you a question? Your Daddy, he had a journal that he used to write in. He used to record everything he knew about hunting. I sure would like a chance to take a look in that book. Do either one of you have it?"
Dean could tell that the hunter was trying to appear, simply curious. However, Dean could see the eagerness in his eyes. Dean answered as carefully as possible. "Dad's journal was in his pick up when he died. As far as we know it's still there at impound."
Jacobs nodded, "alrighty then, how about this?. When you boys find that journal you give me a call and we'll hook up."
Sam and Dean looked at each other and nodded. "Yeah, we'll do that." Dean said as he stood. Dean headed for the exit calling out "Goodnight" to Ellen. Sam followed sparing one more glance at the man sitting at the table. Sam repressed a shudder and admitted to himself that he was glad get away from the older hunter.
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"What now Dean, you know Jacobs is going to make problems for Jamie." Said Sam as they headed for the Impala, even out here in the parking lot he was careful to not to use Catherine's real name.
Sam put his hand in his pocket as the men walked towards the car. He quickly felt something in his pocket besides, the keys for the Impala. He pulled the object out and took a look at it. "Well, at least now we know where we're sleeping tonight." Sam laughed as he tossed the Impala keys towards Dean. He turned the motel key over in his hands noting the name of the hotel and room number.
Dean gave Sam a sly smile and said "I could have told you that the girl's got great hands." Dean started the engine and left the parking lot. He was so intent on finding the hotel and meeting up with Catherine, that he never noticed the pick up truck that tailed him out of the lot.
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Joe watched as the boys entered the Impala and took off into the night. She didn't regret the decision to follow Dean. She knew she just had to get him on his own. Then she could make him understand that they were meant to be together. She followed behind, noting the Motel parking lot that they turned into. Joe was careful to pull past the lot and didn't double back for over a half-hour. She wanted to make sure they didn't know she was there.
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Catherine called out a goodbye to Ellen and headed for the exit. As she left the building she went on full hunter alert. The older hunter seemed to be obsessed with the younger woman, he had tried to jump her before. Luckily Catherine had always been able to deflect his attack and he had never tried to pursue her farther.
It was just as she reached the jeep and was beginning to open the driver's side door that she heard a faint rustle behind her. She quickly turned; the blow that would have landed on the back of her head just grazed her cheek instead. She quickly punched out hitting her attacker square in the throat, just as she had intended.
Catherine watched as Jacobs dropped to the ground. His facial expression a mixture of hatred and pain. Catherine blew him a small kiss and got in the Jeep. Catherine knew the only reason he didn't pursue 'Jamie' was because of his vendetta against Catherine. Cat didn't care why, she just wanted to go. Suddenly, being with Dean was the only thing she could focus on.
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Dean and Sam had quickly gotten set up inside the small shabby room. Then Dean had proceeded to stand by the open door and wait. She was coming he could feel her getting closer. He turned to Sam and lifted a brow. "Dude, when Catherine gets here can you split for a bit."
Sam smiled and said "no problem I'll do a food run. I'm starved." Sam gathered the Impala keys and grabbed his jacket.
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As Catherine parked next to the Impala she could see Dean's silhouette in the doorway. She felt a thrill shoot up her spine. God, how she had missed him. She pushed aside her fears that she may endanger the Winchesters by being with them. She tried to relax. They deserved some time together.
Sam watched as Catherine approached the door. He walked past his brother who seemed frozen in the doorway and wrapped his arms around the tiny hunter. "God, I missed you." Sam eased back and smiled. "That was some trick dropping the key in my pocket. Is that a another gift, being a pickpocket."
Catherine smiled up at Sam and laughed. "Well, I might have picked a few pockets in my day. Girl's gotta eat you know."
"Well, speaking of eating. I'm going to go out and pick us up some food. Other than some soda, do you need anything?" Sam asked as he moved towards the car.
Catherine was no longer looking at Sam, she had eyes for only one person and he was in the doorway of the motel leaning against the doorframe. "Nope, just bring anything back Sam, I'm easy you know." Catherine said waving over her shoulder at the younger Winchester.
As Catherine approached the doorway, Dean reached out and pulled her to him. "Katie, girl there ain't anything easy about you." Then he lowered his head and kissed her. Catherine didn't know how long the two of them stood in the doorway. She only knew that her senses were reeling and she couldn't focus on anything other than the man holding her.
Dean finally came up for breath and realized that they were still standing in the open doorway of the motel room. As he pulled slightly away from Catherine a shadow on the ground caught his eye. Dean quickly looked up and into Joe's wide and tear filled eyes. He pulled farther away from Catherine and pushed her slightly behind him.
Joe, stood there, tears rolling down her cheeks. Hands fisted at her sides as she screamed at Dean "How could you? How could you treat me like this? I loved you. I would have done anything for you. How dare you stand here with her? She's nothing. She's no one."
Dean felt Catherine pull at his jacket as she nudged back around him. "Listen Joe, and listen good you're a child. Dean's not interested and never will be you need to get that thru your head." Catherine put as much contempt as she could in her voice. She knew she was being rough but she couldn't let Joe continue this way. Better to hurt her feelings in the real world than let her live in her fantasy. "Go home, Joe, go home and grow up."
Catherine held out her hand to Dean and turned away. She heard Joe's footsteps as she ran into the dark night. Catherine walked into the room and moved towards the front window. She twitched away the curtain and peeked out. She could make out Joe climbing into the cab of a pickup and driving away.
Dean stood facing Catherine hands out and said "I never, I would never have done that, Katie. Never. Not even on my worst day, would I have led on one girl while with another. I never promise what I can't deliver." His eyes pleaded with Catherine to believe him.
Catherine walked into his arms and smiled softly. "Dean, I never, would have believed her. I know you, I know you better than you know yourself, and although I know you were never a monk I also know you would never lie about your intentions." Catherine leaned up and kissed him fully.
Ten minutes later, Catherine suddenly pulled out of Dean's arms and stood quickly moving towards the second bed and sitting down with her head in her hands. Dean lay trying to quiet his heart and started to ask what was wrong. Catherine simply pointed at the door as Sam knocked and entered the hotel.
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Sam entered the room and immediately noticed the tension. Catherine sat on the side of one bed, head in her hands, while Dean lay on the other bed legs crossed eyes closed. Sam noted that he seemed to be talking to himself.
Sam set the food on the tiny table in the corner of the room and turned towards the other two occupants. That's when he noticed how disheveled Dean looked and that Catherine's pants seemed to be unbuttoned. He looked towards the door; deep in thought. He knew that he had approached the door quietly. He had detected no noises before he had knocked on the door. And yet obviously they had known he was back. His eyes suddenly turned angry. He turned towards Catherine and said "you lojacked me. Dammit Catherine don't do that."
Catherine raised her head and focused on Sam. Her thoughts were still scattered and she was trying to gather them together. "I What?" Catherine asked going toe to toe with Sam.
Dean suddenly realized that this was not going to end well. He watched as the diminutive hunter faced up to his little brother. A man that was about a foot taller. Dean was pretty impressed Catherine actually looked meaner.
"I lojacked you? What the hell, is that supposed to mean?" Catherine yelled arms crossed, eyes blazing at Sam.
"Don't change the subject. I'm mad at you. You have no right to follow me, without my permission." Sam said trying his best to loom over Catherine.
Catherine suddenly kicked Sam in the shin, quickly bringing him down to eye level as he sat on the bed massaging his shin. She poked him hard in the chest. "I will lojack you whenever I feel like it." Poke. "Do you understand?" Poke. "If I want to tie a god dam string to your ass I will." Poke. "I love you dammit and I'll be damned to hell if I'll let you get snatched by some evil son of bitch on my watch." Poke. "And who the hell thought up the name lojack?" Catherine said suddenly looking at both Sam and Dean at the same time.
Dean hung his head in shame and raised his hand. It had been an inside joke between Sam and him. It referenced the tracking equipment that were put in vehicles in case of theft.
Catherine suddenly stamped her foot, threw back her head and yelled "AHHHHHHHHH." She stamped her foot again and grabbing her bags stormed into the bathroom.