A few minutes later they were all in the girls hotel room, discussing strategy. Ellery sat with her back against Sam's side, his arm around her and his thumb tracing small circles on her hip. She knew it was too soon, but she couldn't stop the way her heart pounded when she was around him.

She looked around at her friends. Laika wasn't touching Cas, but she did notice that they appeared to be sitting closer to each other than they had been before. Lena and Dean weren't hiding their feelings. They were constantly touching each other, little pats and squeezes here and there. She made a mental note to have a talk with her friends, figure out where everyone was emotionally. It had been too long since any of them had had a male figure in their lives.

She roused herself from her own thoughts and concentrated on Dean. He was talking about how to kill witches and what they are capable of. She had been hunting long enough to know all of this. She let her mind wander again. She thought of Sam.

She felt something for him. Was it lust? Love? She wasn't sure. All she knew for sure was he made her feel safe. Not that being with her friends didn't make her feel safe, but this was a different kind of safe. The way he drew her into his arms, her head could rest on his chest. His strong arms hugged her tight, but gently. He made her feel protected. Maybe even content. The contentment scared her more than anything. Hunters didn't do "content", they didn't settle. She knew this wouldn't last. She couldn't think past the here and now. You can never look towards the future when you are a hunter.

She felt Sam's arm tighten around her and felt his warm breath by her hair, she barely suppressed a shiver at the feeling of it.

"What's got you looking so serious?" he whispered softly.

'Witches are serious business." She lied. She wasn't about to reveal the heartbreaking realization her mind had come to. That would be like admitting to her feelings and hunters couldn't afford to have feelings. She leaned her head back against his shoulder and her heart squeezed at the gentle kiss he placed on the top of her head.