Things are about to get a bit... intense. Just a warning there. Manda seems to have landed herself in one of those drunken situations - obviously with how she was kicking 'em back. She's a bit of trouble sometimes, and this is one of those times.
There's some mild swearing, a fight and well... yeah, you'll see.
Also, there's a big shift in Dean's behaviour. Hopefully you like what I've done with him... and that it's not completely out of character given the situation he finds himself in with her - but of course it's just my take on parts of him. He's not my character after all... so it's hard to guess. Hope I haven't butchered him.

Dean walked into the bar and knew he'd guessed right almost instantly. Pat Benatar's 'Love Is A Battlefield' was playing on the jukebox. He knew it was no coincidence. Benatar was the name Manda was using as an alias this week. And it'd be typical of her to pick something that might be a cheesy cliché of how she was feeling and yet fit perfectly for her. Well, he wasn't sure she had put it on, but if he had to bet on it… he was probably right.

Dean looked around, scanning the bar to find Manda. If she had picked this song, then he knew she was drowning herself in a bottle somewhere in here.

The lyrics dug into him and swirled through his head as he walked around and looked for her face. If she was feeling this way, then he knew he'd hurt her, but couldn't she have picked something else besides this song?

Dean didn't see Manda anywhere, but that didn't mean she wasn't here. She could have been in the bathroom, and there were a few people he hadn't seen yet because their backs were turned. There was also a couple going heavy on the PDA by one wall, but he didn't think that she was part of that.

He ended up at the bar and ordered a beer. He'd have one while he waited for a few minutes and kept looking around to see if he could spot her.

Dean had a few sips of his beer and then stopped the bartender to ask him if he'd seen Manda. He gave a short description of her and included that she would have been drinking heavy and hard. The bartender said he'd seen her here and confirmed that she had been drinking pretty hard, but he hadn't seen her in awhile and guessed she'd went home with the guy that had been sitting with her earlier.

That stuck with Dean and pierced through his head. Manda was with guy? She had picked up a guy after a fight with him? She couldn't have been too hurt after all if she'd picked up some random dude. But if she was as drunk as the bartender implied, then the guy had probably picked her up. Or it was possible that Manda had just flung herself at someone trying to forget him.

So much for her being missing, as Dean now knew she'd come here to get wasted and then end up with someone for the night.

He knew it wasn't like Manda to go home with just anybody though. She had told him that almost all of the time the guys who hit on her weren't worth the time, and while she might flirt with them a bit, she only did the one night stand thing once in awhile.

He finished his beer and was getting ready to leave when he noticed her finally. The couple who'd been all over each other had broken apart, and it shocked him a bit to see that she was part of it.

"You gotta be kidding me," he said under his breath as his jaw clenched a bit.

Dean left his empty bottle on the bar and walked a bit closer to where they were to get a better look. Manda was really trashed and it was obvious. She could barely stand up and just didn't even look like she was there. There was something vacant about the way she was looking at things and he wondered just how much she was aware of what was going on.

Dean knew that if this guy that was with her took her home, she'd be passed out before they even got there. And that was something he couldn't stand to think about. He wasn't very keen on guys that still took girls home who were that drunk. It just wasn't right.

His hands curled into fists as he watched the guy say something into Manda's ear and she just nodded at whatever it was he said. Then the guy groped her a bit as he went to help her walk, and she sort of pushed him off of her to walk by herself but started to stumble before the guy helped her up again.

Dean felt the anger rise in him because he knew that this ass was going to lead her out of here and take her home even though she was in that kind of shape. And there was no chance in hell he was letting that happen, so he followed them, knowing it was better to wait until they were outside in the darkness of the night and away from all these people where he could get her away from this jerk and take her back to the hotel where she'd be safe.

Dean was still walking behind them, but not too closely. He stopped when he realized they had reached the guy's car. It was at the far end of the lot, and he had stopped by a car which was parked a few spaces away.

He watched how the guy leaned her up against the side of the car by the hood instead of getting her into the car and then kissed her. His hands started out on her ass and then worked their way up and to the front of her. Then the guy started pushing off the coat she was wearing as he leaned her down back against the hood.

Dean's hands were tight fists as he watched all this. His eyes glared and wouldn't turn away from what he was seeing.

He wanted to move but he was frozen, not believing this was happening in front of him. He was watching this guy who seemed to have the intention of just screwing Manda on the hood of his car and then probably leaving her passed out on the ground when he was done.

Dean just didn't believe this was happening or that she was letting it. Or that she could turn him away, but then up with a jackass like this. It made no sense to him, and his anger level increased a little more.

His eyes narrowed and focused on the scene in front of him as Dean watched the guy start to push her up just a little further up on the car's hood. And then he saw Manda struggle a bit as she must have finally realized what was happening to her. He watched her try to sit up, but the guy just pushed her back down and laughed obnoxiously.

Dean saw her stiffen for a moment before she wiggled a bit, kind of pulled the guy down to her as she pulled her legs up between them and then jabbed him in the stomach with a knee and shoved him backwards with her arms and legs as hard as she could manage. She hadn't pushed him far, but at least it was a few steps back. Then she yelled out a "fuck off" and started to sit up. That was the Manda he knew – tough and able to fight.

But the guy had recovered from the jab and the push already, and his face went dark. He backhanded her quick and hard. She fell back against the hood and he grabbed her arms and pinned them above her head to keep her down as she struggled under him.

That was it, as soon as he saw the smack, Dean's feet were no longer frozen and his eyes were no longer glued to the scene. As he ran over he heard the words "feisty little bitch" come out of the guy and "you're fucking dead" come out of Manda. And she was right, this asshole was going to be dead or near it when Dean was done with him.

He stopped just a few steps from them at the front of the car. "Hey!" Dean shouted loud and angry, knowing it would surprise the jerk that was all over her. "You want to get off of her by yourself or should I help you?"

The guy kept her pinned down but turned his head and looked towards Dean. "How about you mind your own fucking business?"

Dean kept his eyes focused on the guy, but he could see Manda was still struggling. Then she went slack and he wasn't sure if she'd passed out or just given up. He couldn't bring himself to look directly at her though, because if he did that right now he'd lose whatever control it was he had left. "Now see, I could do that, but seeing as she is mybusiness… well, that makes it kind of hard to do." He smirked unsympathetically.

The guy didn't move or budge, just stared at Dean. "You can have her back when we're done. Now fuck off."

Dean gritted his teeth and stared at him. This guy was asking for it, and he wasn't sure he could hold off much longer. He wanted to deck him, just one good shot and this dick would be on his ass. "I'm not a fan of sloppy seconds or sharing with another dude… but you have till the count of five to get off her." His tone had been calm and collected, even if he wasn't.

"And if I don't?" The guy stared back with a challenge in his eyes.

"Time's up," Dean said as he lunged forward, yanked the guy off of Manda, and started throwing punches at him.

He let the anger take hold of him as he slammed the guy up against his own car, gave him a couple good jabs to the ribs, and then punched him in the face again. Dean let the guy start to stagger and fall forward a bit before he pulled the classic behind-the-legs foot sweep strike to take the guy down.

Dean held back then and waited for the guy to get up. He wanted to keep going, but he was going to give this guy one chance to just try something on him.

"You're gonna fucking regret that," the guy spat out the words and some blood before he rose to his feet and faced Dean.

"Can't say I will, but if you think you can make me… go ahead, try." He knew the guy would try and then it would be another excuse for Dean to continue to kick the crap out of him.

The guy took a moment to figure out his approach. He laughed. "I should make you watch what I'm going to do to her." Then he attacked.

Dean took the blow, but that was all he was letting this guy have. His tossed the guy up against the car again hard, and let his fist meet with the guy's face a few more times.

The guy was almost out, and Dean just held him there by the collar of his shirt looking at his bloodied and battered face. "Nope, don't regret it at all." The words were said coldly but scarily calm.

And then Dean threw most of his weight behind a punch that knocked the guy out cold.

He didn't even bother to watch the guy fall to the ground, but took a few steps towards the hood of the car and focused on Manda. She was on her side now, almost curled in to a ball with her face looking at windshield and her feet dangling over the side.

"Manda?" He put a hand on her shoulder and shook her but not too hard. "It's Dean… you're safe now."

But Manda didn't move and she didn't answer, so Dean gently rolled her on to her back and let her legs fall down the side of the car. He looked at her face and saw the redness on her cheek from where the guy had smacked her and a bit of blood that trickled from the split lip she had from that same smack. "Son of a bitch," he growled into the night air as he looked back for a second at the guy who was still out flat and cold on the ground.

Now he knew she had passed out before when she'd stopped struggling, and Dean wasn't sure that was a good thing. He could smell the alcohol on her and wondered just how much she had had to drink. He didn't want to smack her to try and get her to wake up, so he tapped the side of her face that hadn't been hit with the back of his fingers. "Come on, Manda, time to get up and tell me what an ass you think I am."

She moaned a bit and started to turn on her side again. Some part of Manda was still there at least, so Dean took it as a good sign. Then he stopped her from rolling over and leaned down and in to pull her up to a sitting position.

Dean pulled the sleeves of her coat back up from around her elbows. Then he pulled down her shirt that had been pushed up quite a bit. The thought of that guy's hands on her flashed in his head and he grimaced at the bad taste it seemed to leave in his mouth.

He tapped her on the face on again. "Where's all the yelling? Last time I was this close you saying all sorts of insulting things... I'm waiting."

She groaned again and her head drooped even further forward.

He had to get her out of here, and there was no other choice but to lift her up and then carry her away. Dean almost wanted to laugh, because if she knew this is how it had ended up then there'd be no shortage of sarcastic remarks from her.

"Okay, ignore me even when I was just your white knight, sweetheart," he said as he wondered what would be the best way to pick her up was.

Dean decided it would be better not to throw her over his shoulder which would happen if he lifted her up straight now to get her standing for a second. So he put her legs up on the hood as he slid her so she was parallel to car's hood now and instead of to him. Then he made sure her legs stayed bent at the knees before he crouched down just a bit to put her arms around his neck before slipping one of his arms around her and the other under her knees and he picked her up.

Holding Manda close and tightly against him as he carried her across the parking lot to the Impala, Dean was kind of glad she hadn't come to yet. He wasn't sure she could handle being this vulnerable in front of him.

*

Dean parked near Manda's room. He checked her pockets for her room key, and was glad to find it in one of the ones in the front of her coat. He figured the best way to do this was to go unlock her door, leave it open and then come back for her, so that's what he did.

He was just about to start lifting her out of the car when she started to come to a bit.

"No," she protested, twisting left and right. "Get off."

Dean let go of her but stayed bent down. "Manda, can you hear me? You're safe now."

She still twisted and struggled even though Dean had taken his hands off her and tried to reassure her everything was okay.

He tapped her on the face a few times. "Manda… look at me, it's me, Dean. I'm taking you to your room so please don't fight me on this. You're okay now, trust me."

Manda's eyes finally opened, but barely more than a sliver. Then she went still in the seat. "De-Dean," she whispered, and looked at him with faint recognition in her drunken state.

"Yeah, it's me." Dean thought she looked fragile, broken even as he looked back at her.

She reached out, touched his face, and sort of smiled sadly. "Y-you… I-I just wan-wanted you… but c-can't… and y-you…" she mumbled with an obvious drunk slur and stammer.

It didn't make any sense to Dean. "Um… you want to try that one again?"

Manda's hand fell from his face and her eyes shut. The alcohol had taken hold of her consciousness again.

Dean sighed, lifted her out of the car this time and carried her into her room.

He put Manda on the bed, took off her coat and shoes for her, and then tucked her in under the blankets on her side with her head hanging a bit over the edge of the bed. Then Dean went and got the small garbage can out of the bathroom and placed it on the floor directly under her head in case she got sick. He knew it was going to happen sooner or later since Manda was too drunk for it not to and he didn't want her choking on it when it did happen.

Dean didn't think he would end up taking care of her after the fight they had, but that's what was happening. He felt a bit responsible for her current state. And even though he hadn't forced her to drink, he knew he had driven her to it by pushing the wrong button earlier in their fight.

His phone went off with Sam's ringtone just as he pulled up a chair next the bed, so he picked it up.

"Did you find Manda?" Sam asked right away.

"Oh I found her all right," Dean answered him.

"So she was at the bar then… is she okay?" Sam wondered just how drunk she'd gotten over his brother.

"Yes and no." Dean sighed.

"What's that mean?" Sam wasn't sure what that could mean.

"She might think her name's Amy Winehouse." Dean's tone was serious even if he was making wisecrack.

Sam tried not to, but he laughed a little. "Jesus, Dean… what did you say to her? Think you should take her to get her stomach pumped? She might have alcohol poisoning."

"Guess I said something wrong. And no, she managed to come to for a moment, but I'm just going to stay with her and make sure she doesn't sign up for Rock 'n' Roll guest list to Heaven." Dean sighed quietly.

"I can do it if you want," Sam offered.

"No, I got her," Dean said abruptly. "I'll stay."

Sam didn't believe it, Dean wanted to stay and look after her when he should have taken the out, but he knew this was different for him. His brother was showing that side of himself now that only he really got to see. "Did something else happen?"

"There was a guy," Dean grunted it out low and annoyed.

"Dude… what guy?" Sam knew then that Dean had another reason for staying her.

"I don't know, but he was all over her, Sam, and she was barely conscious." The distinct sound of disgust was in Dean's voice.

"Shit, what he'd do to her?" Sam had to ask even though he already knew what the answer probably was.

"She won't remember it, but he was about to assault her. He had Manda on the hood of his car… even backhanded her pretty good before I stepped in. I swear I could have…"

"He hit her? What'd you do to him, Dean?" Sam knew his brother would have gone off, not just because the guy had no respect for a woman, but also because it was Manda he had been about to attack. Maybe Dean didn't want to admit it out loud, but he cared for her a lot more than he was letting on, and Sam knew it.

"I hit him." He sounded satisfied, and he was. "Somebody had to."

"She's really messed up if she was letting that happen to her." Sam knew Manda enough to know that she would never let a guy hit her, never mind anything else that went beyond that.

"Don't have to remind me," Dean sighed again.

"Well, let me know if you need anything or a break. She'll be out for awhile, and remember to keep her from lying on her back so she doesn't choke when she throws up." Sam knew Dean would be there until she woke up, but he still had to offer to help.

"I will and I know," he replied.

Manda groaned in the background and Sam faintly heard her. "Have fun. Oh, and don't forget to hold back her hair." He had to joke to lighten the mood a bit for Dean.

Dean laughed. "Haven't I done enough for her yet?"

"You tell me," Sam posed the sort of question.

"Look, I better get her split lip cleaned up and check on her." Dean had told Sam enough for now. He didn't really need to check on her though since his eyes hadn't left her since his brother had called, but he did think he should clean her up a bit.

"You lost it on him didn't you?" Sam asked even though he knew the answer.

"Yeah," Dean uttered quietly. "But the dick had it coming."

"Let me know if you need me."

"Uh huh."

Both of them hung up.

Dean went back into the bathroom to get a wet towel so he could wipe the dried blood off of Manda's chin and clean her up a bit. He noticed a hair clip on the counter next to the sink and grabbed it. He wasn't really the type for holding back a girl's hair, but this was the least he could do. She'd already been through enough and waking up to have vomit caked in her hair would only make her more humiliated and vulnerable in front of him.

He walked back to the bed and sat back down in the chair he'd put beside it. He gathered up most of Manda's hair that had fallen over her face and clipped it back. Then he lifted up her head and looked at her.

"Damn it, Manda… what the hell were you thinking?" he asked her as he started wiping and gently cleaning up her face – smudged makeup, dried blood and all.

It was going to be a long night, but it didn't bother Dean too much. She needed him right now and he wasn't going anywhere.

There's the shifts in Dean. So maybe he wouldn't be exactly like that, but that's where I took it. I'm sure he'd kick the crap out of a guy like that if he saw what he did. As for when dealing with Manda, well... hard to say. But if he cared, then perhaps it is what he would do. Again... hopefully I didn't completely butcher him with this.
Hope you're still liking the story, if not, well then... sorry! If you've made it this far... thanks for reading :) Hope you're enjoying it!
Comments/thoughts/reviews welcomed and appreciated.