When Kathleen woke up the next morning she had a headache. Seeing that she was still in her clothes, she grabbed a few things from her bag and went to take a shower. An hour later, she was dressed and heading down stairs. She found Sam asleep on the floor and Dean on the couch. Dean was awake, and he turned his head as she walked in.

"Hey," he said. "How you feelin'?"

"Headache."

"I'm not surprised."

She went into the kitchen and found a bottle of aspirin. Dean followed her, but stood in the entryway, leaning against the frame.

"Did you at least sleep?" he asked.

"I did sleep. I don't think I woke up once all night."

"Well, that's somethin'."

"I don't feel rested, though." She looked at Sam, asleep on the floor. "Where's Bobby?"

"Still asleep. Why?"

"Can we go for a little walk around the yard?"

"Sure."

They went out through the kitchen door and started making their way through a maze of old, rusted vehicles. Neither of them said anything for a few minutes.

"I wanted to thank you for last night," Kathleen said.

"For what? Getting you drunk?"

"No... after that."

"After?"

"When we got back here."

Dean stopped walking. "You actually remember what happened when we got back?"

"It's a bit fuzzy, but yeah."

"So, I put you to bed. It's not a big deal."

"I'm not talking about that, and you know it. You had the perfect opportunity to get what you wanted and you were a perfect gentleman."

"You were drunk."

"Some men wouldn't care."

Dean started walking again. "Well, I knew you didn't mean what you were saying anyway. It was the alcohol talking."

Kathleen hadn't moved. "I meant it, Dean."

Dean stopped and turned around. "What?"

"I meant what I said last night." He walked toward her, and she took a step back.

He stopped walking again. "You got a funny way of showing it."

"That's just it... I don't want to show it. I'm attracted to you, and I feel safe when I'm with you. But I don't wanna feel that way. I don't want to feel safe enough to let my guard down."

"Why do you feel like you have to be on guard with me?"

Kathleen took a deep breath. "Just before I turned fifteen, I started dating this boy. He was a good guy. My parents loved him. We went out for almost a year. I had about three months before I turned sixteen, and he started hinting about sex. Just sort of joking at first, but a few weeks later he started getting serious. If I loved him I would sleep with him... that sort of thing. I told him to let me think about it. A few days later I decided to do it. He came over while my parents were gone... some event they went to every year. We were on the couch, getting pretty hot and heavy. He had my shirt open, and he was undoing my pants when my parents walked in. They came home early." She paused, taking another deep breath. "I told you the rest of the story last night."

"Your boyfriend was possessed by the demon that killed your parents?"

"I watched my boyfriend slaughter my parents. And the last thing they saw, was their daughter... on the couch with the monster that killed them. Can you imagine how I felt when I found out what it was? I almost had sex with a demon... in the body of my dead boyfriend." Dean made a face without really meaning to. "Yeah," Kathleen said. "It had killed him before taking over his body. We realized that later after it smoked out. I told myself I'd never be in that situation again. If I find a man attractive, I avoid him. If he doesn't take the hint, I act like a bitch. Sound familiar?"

"So, when I asked you about blowing me off at the bar..."

"I wasn't lying. I wouldn't have given you the time of day. But it's not because I don't find you attractive. It's because I do."

Dean ran a hand over his face, not sure what to say. No wonder she acted so tense around him. "I guess I didn't make the situation any better by hitting on you."

"No, you didn't."

"You know, if I had known..."

"I know, but seriously... do you think it's easy for me to talk about?"

Dean shook his head. "So, you've never let another man near you?"

"No."

"So, then, you've never..."

"That's right."

Dean was trying to take in everything she was telling him. He understood better why she was always on edge around him. "You have to know, that won't happen with me. I know how to keep from being possessed." He pulled his shirt aside so she could see his anti-possession tattoo. "Do you know what this is?"

"Yes. I have one on my hip."

"Your hip?"

"A place no one would ever see it. Didn't want anyone thinking I was a devil worshipper."

Dean nodded. He could understand that.

"This doesn't change things for me, you know," Dean said. "I'm still interested in you... despite your bitchy attitude." Kathleen kind of laughed, so he continued. "And now that I know you're interested in me, well, that's a game changer. But so is everything you just told me. I'm not gonna push you. So, you're gonna have to let me know when you're ready."

"Dean, I don't think..."

He held his hand up. "I'm gonna come a little closer, okay?" As he started walking toward her, she forced herself not to move, fighting against every instinct she had. He took her hand. "One thing you have to know, is that even if you're never ready, you can always do this." He pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head. "You're always safe here."

She wrapped her arms around his waist and held him tight. "Thank you." She pulled away, and Dean let her go. "Can you do me a favor? Don't tell Sam or Bobby."

"I don't think you need to..."

"You're the first person I've ever told."

Dean looked at her in surprise. "Okay. It's our secret."