Chapter 7

Dean

Grace has the uncanny ability to make me do pretty much anything she wants me to do. It's a very dangerous power, but good thing for me, she uses it for good and not evil.

Although, evil is acceptable, too.

It only took me twelve minutes to drive home from the shop. I parked in the gravel driveway and jogged up the steps of the porch. As I closed and locked the front door, I headed towards our bedroom, losing layers of clothes as I walked through the house. She was sitting, exactly as I pictured, in the corner of the room. I didn't even say anything to greet her: just crossed the room, wrapped myself around her, and pulled her from the chair, making out with her as I held her against my chest.

It was true, what I told her over the phone. If anything, the hunger I had for my wife had gotten more desperate as our marriage grew older. The recent time we had spent apart had only proven that I no longer knew how to function when I was away from her.

I came up for air and stared into her blue eyes, shaking my head. "I'm going straight back," I muttered, as she attacked my neck.

She replied with a doubtful agreeing sound that was muffled against my skin, and continued to use her tongue to get me to bend to her every will. I sat on the edge of the bed, carrying her with me. We collapsed backwards on the mattress and she straddled me as she pulled off the black tank she wore. Sure enough, there was that pink and black bra, with the tiny black bow between her breasts. I closed my eyes as she undid my belt and pulled off my jeans.

For the next hour and a half, we were a tangle of sheets, blonde hair, and limbs. I couldn't get enough of her and she knew it; that familiar little smug half grin finding her lips periodically. "You look mighty pleased with yourself," I murmured, pushing her unruly blonde hair away from my face.

She stretched, arching her back slightly as she did, pulling the sheet tightly against her body. It drove me wild. That half-smile showed again and she closed her eyes, turning towards me. "Mm-hmm," she agreed, patting my arm.

"What, you drag me home, and now that you've gotten yours, I'm dismissed?"

"Pretty much," Grace whispered with her eyes closed, still grinning.

I laughed and laid back into the pillows, glancing at the clock next to me. "Well played, wife," I said, chuckling. Sitting up, I looked around for my shirt and pulled it on. I could feel the tips of her fingers as she reached for my back, mentally begging me not to go. I glanced back at her and raised my eyebrows. "I have to go back to work," I answered her telepathic plea. "The electricians are going to be there at three." I chuckled and shook my head. "I have fifteen minutes to get back to the shop and supervise and sign off on the inspection."

"Let Stu handle it."

I wanted to lean back towards her so badly, but restrained. "This isn't over, half-angel," I said, shaking my head. "I'll figure out a way to get even."

"Yeah," she rolled her eyes and giggled. "Big talk there, hunter."

I leaned towards her and kissed her deeply. "I'll see you later."

Walking towards the door, I winked at her and I headed back to the shop.

I stopped for coffee at the local gas station and was about two minutes away from the shop when my phone began to ring. I pulled it out of my pocket as I dug for my keys on the other side, trying to balance the cup of coffee on the side of my palm. "Hey, Stu," I greeted, "I know, I'm coming."

"I figured," he replied. "They're unloading now and said you need to sign the invoice."

I checked my watch and shook my head. "Man, they're punctual," I commented as I threw two bucks on the counter of the mini-mart. "I'm just down the street. I'll be right there."

"See you in a bit," Stu said, hanging up the phone.

I pushed the glass door of the mart open with my shoulder and almost knocked down a young woman who was heading towards the entrance, not even seeing her as I struggled to put my phone back in my pocket. "Oh, shit," I said, jumping back. "I'm sorry. Didn't see you."

She glanced up at me and shook her head. "It's okay," she croaked, her voice hoarse. She held herself slightly hunched over, as if she was in pain. I held the door open for her and watched as she hobbled inside, heading towards the pain relievers.

It may have been because I was comparing her with my vision of a perfectly nude and curvy Grace, but this woman looked as if she had been deflated. She was sullen and skeletal, her skin hanging loosely from her body as if she had lost a lot of weight really quickly. She thanked me for holding the door as she moved past me. I lingered for only a minute longer, watching her, but my responsibilities at the shop pressed me in to motion.

I started up Baby and gunned it a few times, backing up and peeling out of the parking lot.

"Yeah, that's fine," I said, shrugging. "I just don't want to blow a fuse ever time we want to run the diagnostics." The crew of workers had been assembling my new fuse box in the back of the shop, running wires all over, making sure each bay had the new ability to run its own diagnostics computer. I grinned as I sipped my coffee. Winchester Family Auto was finally starting to go Big Time.

"Hey," greeted Sam's familiar voice and I turned, gesturing to the crew.

"Look it, Sammy," I said, grinning. "Finally got my diagnostics equipment." Sam nodded and smiled, handing me a pink backpack. I slung it across my back and glanced around for my eldest daughter, whom Sam had picked up from school. "Where's Lib?"

"Out in the front," he answered, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Flirting with the electrician behind the counter."

"I'll rip his lungs out," I said, turning towards the front end of the shop.

Sam stopped me, chuckling. "Shut up," he said, holding out his palm. "She's digging in the back of the Shaggin' Wagon for the sixteen crayons she dropped when we turned the corner. Everett and Glory are with her."

I visibly relaxed and shook my head. "Not funny," I muttered, taking another sip of coffee. "You wanna switch cars or take the twins home?"

"I'll just take everyone home," he said, tilting his head. "Looks like you're still busy here."

I nodded slowly, raising my eyebrows. "Yeah, Grace called me home," I explained, shrugging. "Lost about two hours of work time."

"Why? Is she okay?"

I nodded, pursing my lips. "Horny," I finally answered.

Sam made a face and shook his head. "That was unnecessary."

"Don't be mad because my wife called me home for a nooner."

Backing away from me, Sam held up his hands. "I'm going home," he said, ignoring me completely. "I'll drop off the kids with the girls and then I have to go back to school. Midterms are this week and I need to grade."

"Nooner is a funny word," I said offhandedly, chuckling.

"Goodbye, Dean," Sammy pressed, annoyed.

I followed him out to the Wagon and laughed again, seeing all four of the older Winchester kids rolling around in the back of the truck, fighting over the green crayon that Liberty was holding high above her head. "Lib, if you're gonna tease them, I'm gonna teach them how to kick your butt and even things out."

My daughter rolled her eyes at me, a little too much like Grace, and handed the crayon to her little brother. "I'd still win," she said, pride hinting at her little voice. "They're too little."

"Yeah," I agreed, leaning on the doorframe of the truck. "But they out number you, three to one. They could take you." Lib shook her head and rolled her eyes again. I kissed her forehead and helped her back into her booster seat. The twins both hugged me, wrapping their arms around my neck and I kissed them both as well. They backed away and my nephew Levi stepped towards me, his arms open wide, waiting for his hug. I ruffled his long hair and hugged him tightly. "Hey, buddy," I whispered. "I miss you too."

"Can I help you at the chop?" he asked, still unsure of the pronunciation.

I shook my head, pushing his bangs out of his face. "Maybe next time, kiddo. There's guys here installing electric stuff and it's kinda dangerous."

Levi nodded sadly and headed towards his own car seat. Sam buckled him in and I turned towards my kids. "I'll be home a bit later," I told them, glancing at Sam. "Uncle Sammy's gonna take you home. Help Momma with Faith when you get there."

Liberty nodded, folding her arms across her chest, pouting. I smiled to myself, seeing three more crayons on the carpet under the seat and bent to pick them up, handing them to Lib. "Green for Ev," I began, whispering, "but pink, orange, and blue for Meatloaf." Her green eyes lit up as she glanced at me, holding the crayons close to her chest secretly.

Sam closed the door and turned to me, shaking his head. With the smallest of grins tugging at his lips, he muttered, "They're going to catch on eventually that Lib is your favorite."

"Bite your tongue," I scoffed, taking a sip of my coffee, hiding my grin. "I love all of my children equally."

"I'll see you later," Sammy said, getting back into the truck. "Have you talked to Serra today?"

I leaned in the passenger side window and shook my head. "No," I answered, "I meant to call her to tell her we've only got the rear window to replace and then we can primer and paint." Shrugging, I continued, "But I'll let you be the hero if you want to be."

Sam smiled lightly and nodded. "I'll happily take that job," he said, starting the car.

Backing away from the window, I raised my hand at my kids, who were all furiously waving through the window at me. "I'll see you guys in about two hours!" I yelled, grinning. "Be good."

Sammy drove away and I realized that I was still holding Liberty's hot pink backpack. Shrugging, I turned back towards the shop and got back to work, dropping it behind the counter as I walked passed.