Chapter 7- No strings Attached

Sam's head was still throbbing where the vase had hit him when he got back to his motel room. It had stopped bleeding over an hour ago, and he could already feel a difference from when it had first happened. Even as he relaxed, lying on his bed, and listening to the water running in the bathroom where Dean was taking a shower he could feel his headache soothing.

The only thing keeping him from resting was the prodding question in his mind that Dean had asked back at the house. Why would the spirit go off pattern to hit him? It was definitely weird. Sam never was a fan of loose ends, and he had the feeling that this was becoming one. Did they miss something? The only other person who had been in the basement with him was Alex. Sam's head began to throb harder.

The water stopped and Sam could hear Dean moving around trying to get dressed.

'It's over now anyway,' he told himself, 'over and done with. Just enjoy the rest of the night.'

He stood up and walked over to his suitcase to get out his deodorant. They were getting cleaned up to go out to a bar just outside of town. A few drinks and Sam's head would be good as new.

The sound of a hairdryer could now be heard in the adjoined room. Sam chuckled quietly to himself. Sure Dean was a little obsessed about the way he looked, but any other night he would have allowed his hair to dry on its own. Not tonight. Sam knew that he was trying to look extra good tonight. Jo had gone to wash up in her own room in a little motel up the street, but not before Dean had asked her if she wanted to have a few drinks with them.

Sam had known for a while now that Dean had some deep, secret feelings towards Jo, even if he didn't know it yet himself. But Jo was different than most girls, and Dean knew it. Dean could hook up with a girl anywhere he went, but he knew that he'd be gone in a few days and that was all. No strings attached. Just sex.

With Jo, both brothers knew that leaving would not be as easy. They knew Jo, they were friends with Jo, with her mother. Sam knew that Dean wouldn't want to stick around for too long, it wasn't his style. In the end, someone would be hurt, and Sam had a sick feeling that it would be Jo.

Sam stopped for a moment and sniffed his tee-shirt. Urgh... yet another wonderful perk to living out of a car. He pulled the shirt off over his head and groped around in his suitcase for another shirt. Upon finding one and buttoning it up, Sam walked back over to his bed and picked up his laptop from the bed side table to do a bit of research. He knew Dean would soon be looking for an excuse to leave town.

Sam also had something else Dean had wanted him to do, but he wouldn't do it tonight. Not tonight. He didn't want to do anything tonight that played along with Dean's stupid suspicions. Alex had done nothing to arouse any doubts about himself, and Sam could see no threat in him. The problem was that he was too much like Dean for Dean to like him. Also, Sam suspected, Dean's feelings towards their new friend was more in the form of jealousy then anything else. Jo seemed to really like this new guy.

A pop-up flashed up on the screen of the computer to let Sam know that he had a new email. This surprised him since nowadays Sam's email seemed to be as barren as unholy ground. Curious to see who the message was from, he clicked on the box to see who had sent it. Dean was taking so long in the bathroom.

"Ellen," Sam said out loud, "What are you sending me?"

Sam opened the message and could hardly believe what he was reading.

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It was relaxing and refreshing to have the cool water run down over his body. Especially on his ankle. The blue flame had not burned the flesh like real fire would have, but it did manage to leave a red loop around his joint, which was still smarting. Another long lasting mark to remind him of the dangers that his job made him face. Another mark to remind him what happens when to get distracted.

"What's wrong with you Dean, come on," he said to himself.

There had defiantly been something else on his mind tonight. It had prevented him from giving his full attention to the job. Jo hadn't answered him after the flames had erupted, and he had been so afraid that something had happened to her. But it was what had happened after that which bothered Dean the most.

The sight of Jo lying there, not moving, not breathing, had sent Dean's heart straight to his throat. It had shaken him more than being nearly barbequed. For a minute he had even thought she was dead. For a minute his entire body had gone numb.

'It's because we're friends, that's it,' Dean tried to convince himself as he climbed out of the shower and began to get dressed, but he knew that whatever it was, it was more then that. 'No…no, it wasn't.' Dean turned on the hairdryer and began to comb through his hair. After a moment or two he looked at what was in his hands and turned it off.

"This is ridiculous," he said out loud, but remembered that Sam was just outside the door in the other room.

He couldn't have feelings for Jo, he just couldn't. For one, Ellen would kill him. Two, Jo drove him crazy and wouldn't listen to a single word anyone said. She was just too stubborn. And for three, Ellen would kill him.

Dean put his hands on the sink and leaned in, looking at himself in the mirror. Besides, he thought, if he did try anything with Jo, who's to say that it would work, and the last thing he needed was another Cassie. But what was he thinking, Jo probably doesn't even like him. No. What he needed was to avoid any real relationship. One with no strings attached.

"Dean, get out here and take a look at this," Sam called out, starting Dean.

"Coming," Dean called back and splashed some cold water over his face.

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The next chapter will be: Email from Ellen