**I own nothing from Charmed or Supernatural.**
Chapter Ten
Melinda hit the ground as Dean threw her down, facing the demon that had just shimmered in. Melinda scrambled to get up, and deflected a fireball the demon threw at Dean. He pushed her behind him, and reached in the pocket of his shirt, but nothing was there. The demon pushed Dean back, over the table, and turned to Melinda. She threw up her hands and the demon exploded. She let her hands drop, breathing hard, then ran around to Dean. He groaned, holding onto the upper portion of his right arm, blood seeping through his fingers.
Dean winced, hissing out a breath as Melinda poured peroxide on the gash on his bicep. She bit her lip.
"You know, I could go wake Chris up."
"I'll be fine. Keep going."
"I'm not stitching this up. I barely sew fabric, much less flesh."
"It doesn't need stitches, Mel. Just bandage it."
She let out her breath, pressing a cloth to the cut again. She rolled out the gauze, wrapping it around his arm, and taped it. Dean sighed, flexing, and Melinda quickly turned to put the first aid kit back together. The sight of Dean's arms, how strong and muscular they were, did things to Melinda, made her feel things she didn't want to be feeling. She was supposed to hate him, right? Fat chance of that. He stood up, going to slip his shirt back on, but decided against it. He rolled down the sleeve of his t-shirt and turned to Melinda.
"Thank you."
"Just call me Dr. Halliwell."
She turned to leave the kitchen, and Dean followed her, glancing behind him and switching off the light. She climbed back onto the couch, and Dean took his seat again in the chair.
"What kind of demon was that?"
Melinda covered her legs with a blanket.
"I'm not sure. I think it might have been just your basic lower-level demon, but…"
The Book of Shadows appeared in Melinda's lap, and Dean smiled.
"Let's find out, shall we?"
Dean leaned over as Melinda opened the book, and she looked over and smiled at him.
"You could come sit here, you know."
"On the uncomfortable torture couch? No thanks."
Melinda laughed.
"No, that couch over there is the torture couch. This one feels like it was made out of angel-wing feathers."
Dean raised an eyebrow, causing Melinda to laugh some more.
"Then why did—"
"Oh, you didn't think Peyton would share all the state secrets, now did you? We had to make you suffer a little bit."
Dean shook his head, smiling anyway, and sat on the couch beside Melinda.
"Wow, I see what you mean. Holy hell, this couch is amazing!"
Melinda just laughed as she flipped pages in the Book.
The next morning, Peyton stood in the doorway between the dining room and the living room, chewing on her lip. She'd gone to Melinda's room, knocking gently on the door, but Melinda wasn't in there. Nor did her bed seem to have been slept in. Peyton had come downstairs, to the kitchen, and found it empty. She did find a half-pot of cold coffee, and poured it out before making a fresh pot. She went to go to the living room, and stopped in her tracks when she'd seen the couch. Peyton looked up when she heard footsteps, and Sam stepped off the stairs, smiling when he saw Peyton. She put a finger to her lips, and a puzzled look crossed his face. He stepped over beside her, his eyes growing wide when he saw what she was staring at.
Melinda was sound asleep, her head on Dean's chest. Dean was stretched out on his back with an arm around her, and his other arm, a big bandage around it, was behind his head. The Book of Shadows was on the floor in front of them. Peyton sighed, shaking her head. She looked up at Sam, whispering quietly.
"What are we supposed to do?"
"Should we wake them up?"
Peyton looked back at the couch, and Sam went on.
"We really shouldn't leave them like this for everyone else to see."
"Good point. You get Dean, I'll handle Mel."
Sam nodded, and stepped over to the couch. He gently shook Dean's shoulder, whispering to him.
"Dean. Hey, wake up."
Dean's eyes slowly opened, and when he saw Melinda on his chest, he looked up to Sam. Sam shrugged his shoulders as Dean let out a quiet groan. He glanced at his watch and rubbed his eyes. With Sam's help, he maneuvered Melinda off of his chest, leaving her still sleeping on the couch. Sam smiled as he slapped Dean's shoulder, and Dean yawned as he went to take a shower. Peyton sat next to Melinda and gently rubbed her back.
"Mel. Melly, wake up. It's morning."
"Peyton, I'm sleeping."
Peyton smiled as Melinda turned her face into the couch.
"We need to talk, sister."
Melinda opened an eye.
"I need coffee before I talk."
"It's brewing as we speak. Let's speak about something else, shall we?"
"No, Peyton. Coffee."
"No, Melinda."
Melinda groaned and rolled over, turning her back to Peyton. Peyton smiled.
"Let's talk about the fact that I walk in here this fine morning, only to see my favorite cousin and best friend sound asleep, wrapped in the arms of one delicious-looking demon hunter."
Melinda flipped over in a flash, her hair falling in her face.
"What?"
"She lives!"
Melinda pushed her hair out of her eyes and sat up.
"What are you talking about, Peyton?"
Peyton smiled.
"Thought that would get your attention. You and Dean were asleep right here on the couch, all tangled up together, and the Book was on the floor. Our family's sacred book, lying on the floor, but I digress."
Melinda was still for a minute, only blinking her eyes.
"Earth to Melinda. You there, kid? Last I heard, you and Dean were basically ripping each other's throats out."
Melinda shook her head, then glanced at Peyton.
"We must have fallen asleep after the demon."
"Demon? What demon? Mel, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. It was nothing."
"Nothing?! A demon attacked you! Why didn't you wake us up?"
"Dean and I handled it."
"That's how he got the bandage on his arm?"
Melinda nodded.
"Yeah, looks like you handled it, all right."
"Peyton, don't."
"You could have been—"
"I know, okay? But I wasn't. We handled it. I'm fine, Dean's fine."
Peyton blew out her breath. Changing the subject would be the best thing.
"Looked like that wasn't all you handled."
Melinda's cheeks went rosy and warm. Peyton grinned.
"Oh, we're a tiny bit embarrassed!"
"Stop empathing me!"
Peyton giggled.
"Come on. Let's get some coffee and you can tell me all about it."
They walked into the kitchen and did just that. Melinda told Peyton that she and Dean had hashed it out the night before. It was long and it hurt, they both cried, but Melinda thought they now had a better understanding of each other.
"So he wants to make amends?"
"Yes. He knows he can't make up for it, but he wants to do what he can to try to make it right."
"And you're going to let him."
Melinda sipped her coffee.
"Yes, I am."
"What about James?"
"Who?"
Peyton's eyes grew wide and her mouth dropped open, and a second later, Melinda did the same thing.
"Oh my god, that did not just happen."
"Melinda!"
"I didn't say that, I swear."
"Prudence Melinda Halliwell, I cannot believe you!"
"Oh, come on!"
Peyton leaned back in her chair, looking up at the ceiling.
"I knew you still loved him, but I didn't know you were still in love with him."
"I'm not!"
"For God's sake, Mel, I'm half-cupid. I know love when I see it. Not to mention I'm an empath, so I know when you're lying to me!"
Melinda covered her face with her hands.
"What am I going to do?"
"I'll tell you what you're not going to do."
"I know what you're going to say, and don't."
Peyton sighed, and Dean walked into the kitchen.
"Morning, ladies."
Melinda shot Peyton a look and shook her head, and Peyton leaned over, her voice a hiss.
"We are so not finished talking about this!"
Dean walked to the coffeepot and poured himself a cup. He turned around as he sipped it, seeing Peyton glaring at him and Melinda watching him with a funny look on her face. He swallowed.
"What?"
They both muttered "nothing", turning their attention elsewhere. Dean shook his head.
"Hey, Sam said something about going for breakfast. Has he come back yet?"
Peyton looked over at him.
"I don't think he ever left."
"That's weird. He took my keys."
Sam came into the kitchen then, sighing as he shrugged off his jacket. He turned to Dean.
"Don't freak out."
"What is it, Sam?"
Sam sighed, looking over at the girls, then back to Dean.
"We've got a problem."
He pulled the keys out of his pocket, and Dean set his coffee down, worrying coloring his face.
"Is it Baby? Is she okay?"
Sam shook his head, and Melinda bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud. Dean looked so worried. Sam sighed again.
"I'm afraid not."
Dean took off out the back door, and Melinda lost it. She fell out laughing, and Sam shook his head as he laughed with her. When they had composed themselves, they all walked outside after Dean.