Disclaimer: See chapter 1

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CHAPTER TEN

Cool, Calm, Collected And In Control

So all the memories fade
And the days go by
Forget the lonely yesterdays in mind
I know it's never gonna be the way you like
I know you don't wanna think about the endlessness you find
You wait forever blind

Days Go By – Lifehouse

Sharika

I have been in this hell for three and a half hours, talking to these air headed people, for three and a half hours. Let's just say listening to them talk about how large certain areas of them have grown – when they are actually twigs – does not inspire any sort of affection.

I mean, I didn't even get to see my fiancé all night. I missed him. Which was an odd thing, he was in the same room as me and I missed him. Is that normal?

I could be with him right now if I could find that blue man.

WHERE THE HELL IS THE BLUE MAN?!!!!!!! I HATE THIS, I HATE IT, HATE IT, HATE IT!! I, of course, hid these feelings of resentment from everyone. I really didn't like being here, at all. No one, I repeat, no one seems to understand this. And…and it brought up bitter sweet memories of the past. Memories I had forced myself to forget.

Concentrate! We need to get this guy, we can not blow this! Don't screw up the one chance you have because you're feeling sad, irritated, tired and reverent. Control yourself! I had to be mega-bitch, cool, calm, collected and in control.

"Isn't that right honey?" Dean asked me.

I looked up at him and smiled. "Yes, totally." Cool, calm, collected and in control.

I had no clue to what he was talking about. I'd stopped listening a while ago. I think he might have been telling them how 'we hooked up'. Everyone we've talked to asked us only two questions, 'Like, how did you two guys meet?' and then followed it up with 'Oh, how sweet, like, how did he propose to you?'

I wanted to throttle them. They were absolute cows to me when I worked at the Dome, and here they were, acting like we were long lost friends or something. It irritated the hell out of me.

And I didn't want to tell anyone about Sam's nude proposal; it was private and extremely personal. Dean, luckily, came up with two scenarios that I wouldn't have even thought of. He could actually think tonight, which was an extremely good thing. All my brain cells were being sucked out by these models. Thus the reason I kept overusing the word extremely tonight. And, I have to admit, the scenarios he came up with were quite good. Really romantic, I hope that this is something that runs in the family.

I suppressed my many, many, many urges to sigh, also the fact that I was I was impressed and even slightly amazed by Dean's improvisational skills.

Wonder how many times he had to do that…

I've spent the past three and a half hours stuck to his side, pretending to be his loving bride-to-be. Not that I would have minded in any other situation, (I mean spending time with him, not faking to be his fiancé). This wasn't a particularly hard task, considering I was actually a 'bride to be'. But it would just have been easier with my real fiancé, not a substitute, who, by the way, was only keeping up this act to annoy Lauren. And by the looks of things he was successful.

She was sitting at the bar, now on her god-knows-how-many glass of liquor. Staring at the wall in front of her, impervious to the flirtatious glances the males at the bar sent her way.

One positive point though, Dean and I've actually become closer. He feels like a big brother to me now – what a funny way to forge a relationship. He was sweet underneath this macho image he was successfully creating; it was obvious once you spent a bit of time in his company. Anyone could see that, except for those sometimes over-analytical and overly cynical people who were now sitting drunk at the bar.

He was extremely protective and had a deep concern for everyone he loves. Especially his father and Sam, well clearly, they were the only family he actually had, and he knew that. A family that one day I'll join…

I hope that he thinks of me as a sister now, well not right now seeing how he's 'reliving' our 'first date'. At least part of their family and not as an intruder interfering with his life…

The Winchester clan. You're making them sound like the Brady Bunch. I thought to myself. I knew they were nowhere near the perfection of the Brady Bunch, but they loved each other. That's all that counts.

Sharika Mesba Winchester…that doesn't sound right. Sharika Winchester Mesba, no that sounds even worse, Sharika Winchester…Nothing goes with my crappy name! Why did my parents give me such a stupid name? Honestly, Sharika Winchester didn't sound that bad. But if anyone were to pronounce my first name properly then it would sound weird.

For some reason people enunciate my name as Sh-er-rika, instead of Sh-ah-rika. Well not everyone, just people in America, Australia and England. Others, who have the same heritage as me says my name right. It's just the accent, I guess.

Sh-er-rika Winchester sounds the best, and that's not even how you pronounce my name. This is one of the major drawbacks of having an unique name. I'm going to be nice to my kids and give them good names, not weird ones such as Sharika, or, god forbid, Nainita! (That's my Bengali name, Nainy for short. Only my father calls me that.) What would I name them? I've always loved Samantha, so I'll name my daughter that. What about my son? Darren? Damon? It's too close to the word demon though…Darrel? Daniel? I'd like my son's name to start with a D, always have…Damien?

"I looked across the room, and there she was, curled up in a couch reading a book," Dean paused, almost as if he were gathering his thoughts. "And instantly, there was this spark that ignited within me…"

I occasionally tune in and tune out of the conversation, so I wouldn't be at a loss of what to say when people ask me questions.

Where's Sam? I haven't seen him since Clause mistook Dean for Sam…

I craned my neck and searched the room with my eyes.

He was supposed to be looking for the blue man, seeing how Dean and I were preoccupied with this charade and Lauren was getting drunk at the bar. Did she even know she was drinking wine? Or did she think it was Ribena…no, she had had to have known its wine, there was not a person in this world that was thickheaded and gullible enough to believe wine was Ribena. It would just be way beyond the absurd amount of stupidity at least one third of the models here possessed.

"She told me that the name of the protagonist of the book she was reading was Sam…" Dean continued with the story.

Sam, just his name made me feel happy, and warm. A tingling sensation flowed from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet when I even think about him. You don't want to know what happens when I actually see him.

I always used to laugh when people talked about feeling this way. I thought it was a major exaggeration of what they were truly feeling. If said exaggerations did not exist actors such as Hugh Grant, and novels from companies such as Mills and Boon would never go into business. These 'feelings' and 'emotions' were only created so a profit could be made for a few wealthy individuals. Women, and even men, would read these types of books, watch these movies and then would try to relate the feelings the characters have into the real world and be tremendously disappointed. What else would you expect?

But with Sam, I actually know what they are talking about. My cynicism about love disappeared. I love Sam so much, I wish I was with him alone in the living room, cuddled up and watching a comedy rather then at this glitzy party talking to people I've never wanted to see again. His smile, his laugh, just everything about him made me sure that when I spent the rest of my life with him, that I'd be very happy. And that, in the immortal words of Harry Burns, when you realize when you want to spent the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

Look! He was even making me repeat sappy lines off even sappier movies…not that I actually saw the movies. Only heard bits and pieces from Lauren who had watched the movie and then told me all about it, she sometimes watched those movies. I hated them, found them boring.

I smiled to myself, as these emotions that I once ridiculed swept through me, thinking about how lucky I was to have a man such as Sam to –

Flirt with random models…

∞∞

Sam

Three and a half hours later and no such luck. I've been searching for this blue man and only caught a man who was wearing a blue tux. And he definitely wasn't the guy we were looking for. That was evident in the way he was stumbling all night, tripping over peoples feet and dropping whatever was in his hand.

I resigned myself to a corner when two women approached me, and I've been talking to them ever since.

"So, what do you do?" Kirsten, or was it Kelly, asked me as she held onto my shoulder.

"I'm a private detective," I answered back. I gave them a charming smile before I took a sip wine. That was the closest I could come to telling the truth. I couldn't tell them I was a lawyer, seeing how I haven't even got my degree. And demon hunting did require a lot of detective work.

"Ooh, sounds fascinating," Ally…Amanda…Alex…commented. She giggled and clutched my other arm, bringing me down slightly. She stood up on her toes, and brought her lips next to my ear. "I've always wondered where detectives draw the line at privacy, I mean, would you ever watch people get undressed?" She whispered, occasionally brushing her lips up against my ear lobes.

My mind reverted back to last year, when I was following Meg around in my car; I thought that she was a demon, or at least working for one. I trailed her until she went up to her apartment. She stripped off her shirt, allowing me a very generous view of herself...which was ruined later on because she was actually possessed, and tried to kill me and Dean – and then there was the woman who caught me watching her and called me a pervert. That was embarrassing…

I lifted my gaze from the floor to across the room at Shar and Dean, and then noticed Sharika staring at me. She quickly turned her head away, and back into the conversation she, or should I say Dean, was having, as soon as our eyes met. What was that for?

"Come on," Alex said once she was on her own two feet again, she didn't let go of my arm. "You're drink is almost gone." She giggled again as she started to lead me to the bar.

I didn't resist, even though I knew they were flirting with me. It was apparent. Not that I particularly minded…

∞∞

Sharika

Those two, Julia and Mandy (two of the biggest sluts here), were all over him! Like parasites! What man could resist two beautiful women practically throwing themselves at him? Even if that man was Sam, MY FIANCE! Mandy clutched his arm and brought him down to her level. She whispered something into his ear. He grinned as a dazed look landed on his face momentarily, he then turned slightly red.

WHAT THE HELL IS SHE TELLING HIM?!?!

The same thought that I've been having all day flew through my head once again.

Why does he want to marry me when there are so many beautiful, better women out there? I knew it. I'm not good enough for him. Why? Why would he choose me when he could so easily get a girl like Jessica, or any of these models here? Seeing how the last relationship he had was with that Sara girl I'm not a rebound. Why did he lower himself from women of Sara's standard to me? Sara was gorgeous, not to mention TALL! He didn't have to continuously bend down to kiss her. And when he is like fifty he'll have back problems and it'll be entirely my fault!

Sam looked up and our eyes met, I panicked and looked away. God, please tell me that he didn't see me glaring at those two bimbos! I looked their way through the corner of my eye.

They were heading in this direction, Mandy walking in front of Sam with too much flounce in her step and Julia attached to his other arm, her head leaning on his shoulders. It was obvious that their intention was getting my fiancé to the bar. Those two parasites wanted to get him drunk I bet, so they could lure him away from me. And why would he stay with ugly, short me when he could have them?

Do SOMETHING! They'll have to pass by you to get to the bar! NOW MESBA! My mind yelled at me, now in panic mode. What do these leeches hate? I quickly gathered my vast knowledge, well at least all I knew from the past, on these two people and reviewed as fast as I could. They were getting closer and closer to me. Quick!

"Excuse me," I said, as I turned away from the group around me and faced Sam with polite disdain (he was now right in front of me.) "I'd like a white wine spritzer please." I turned back, with an air of arrogance surrounding me. I'm so sorry Sam!

I could practically feel Sam standing there, his mouth slightly hung open and his eyes burning a hole in my back.

"You heard the lady!" Dean told Sam rudely; when he noticed that Sam hadn't moved. "Stop ogling at my fiancé and step on it."

Sam shot him a look that shouted 'Dude, you are so going to pay for that', and stalked towards the bar. Mandy and Julia, upon hearing me give my order to him, softly emitted a 'Eww, he's a waiter, god yuck!' in unison and walked off together in disgust, not so softly discussing about how all men were liars and cheats.

"So, like, how, like, did you propose to her?" Cindy asked Dean, flicking her hair behind her.

"Ah, that is one of my favorite stories," he said, as he adopted a far away gaze into his eyes. "I took her to the planetarium, that's where we had our first date."

He was interrupted with a chorus of 'Aww's' that erupted from the gaggle of models.

"She walked in," he continued, "and I had the room filled with roses, her favorite flower. Then, Frank Sinatra singing The Way You Look Tonight came on the sound system, and the lights came down. And I got down on one knee, offering her my mother's ring and written across the dome in the stars were the words 'Will you marry me?' She couldn't resist me, just as I can't resist her." Dean grinned down at me, and before I knew what was happening, I was dipped over his arm in a dance pose, and was being thoroughly and romantically being kissed by my fiancé's brother.

Well, as much as I was reluctant to, I couldn't just stand there stiffly and not move, the other models would realize something wasn't quite right. I did the one thing I could do in that situation.

I kissed him back.

Just as I closed my eyes and rested my hand on his neck, I was submerged in a sensation that was like none other I've ever felt before, and never wanted to feel again. It started off with a shiver of awareness going up my spine, like someone was walking over my grave. Then I was immersed by a sudden coolness, almost as if I was dunked into a bottomless pit of cold hard water. Then I went numb, not physically but emotionally, yet at the same time felt a hint of happiness and nostalgia. What was going on? It can't be Dean; no way…this feeling was just way too intense.

Dean helped me back to my feet, his face smiling, his eyes cautious. Over his shoulder I saw a figure walking past.

The set of shoulders, the color of his hair, something about him kept my eyes on him. Who was he? I know I know that man, at least I presume it was a man by the length of his hair, I couldn't make out what he was wearing due to Dean's shoulders blocking my path. Who?

∞∞

Sam

Oh, my brother is a dead man. Do you hear me? Dead…

∞∞

Lauren

I felt warm and fuzzy as I looked around the room again. Everything was kind of blurred at the edges, like chalk drawings on the street being rained upon.

Almost four hours of non-stop model company had done this to me. I'd collapsed by the bar a while ago; but the bar tender kept the Ribena coming, so I could stand it for a –

Oh. My. God.

Dean and Sharika – were doing the – they were – the thing…

Kissing. That's the word.

How could they?!

Sharika and Sam, not Sharika and Dean…and yet – I thought – but I –

Furious, and confused, I got to my feet.

OHhhhh… My high heels seemed to have grown an extra four inches since I've been here – when did the ground get so far away? And how did Santa Clause buy that effect, the one where the room was spinning? I suppose it would cost a lot…

I shook my head, and clutched a hand to my temple. Everything was woozy. I should have eaten something here, or before I guess… but I'm not hungry…

I headed outside – fresh air would be good… good… I started to giggle. If you draw the word 'good' out it sounds really funny…

At the French doors leading outside I looked back. Then forwards again. At least outside I wouldn't be able to watch Dean with his tongue down Sharika's throat.

It's all because she's taller than me you know. I knew it would be trouble…

∞∞

Dean

I lifted my head from Sharika's and my eyes arrowed straight to where Lauren had been drinking for half the night. I'd staged this whole scene to get a reaction from her; I found it enjoyable, the way she got all uncomfortable, and she rambled on, her face getting pinker and more confused as every second went by. However, my satisfaction was short lived, as I had failed to notice one thing.

She wasn't there.

Mentally I shook my head. This could not be a good thing. She was drunk off her ass, presumably mad, and models that she'd been eyeing like they had the plague all night were in easy reach – as were sharp items of cutlery.

Sharika was looking over my shoulder somewhere, probably wondering if Sam had seen what we'd been doing. As to that – I had no doubt.

I leant in and pretended to nuzzle Sharika's neck. Instead I whispered into her ear, "Lauren's gone. I'll go look for her. You stop Sam from throttling me."

I stepped back a little, and she smiled up at me, pretending in her turn to be flustered. "I'm going to go look for that drink of mine." She waved a hand in front of her face, fanning herself. "Is it hot in here or is it just me?" she asked the models, and they chittered as she left the group.

"It is a little stuffy," I said at large. "I'm going to go get some fresh air." Must find Lauren before she can do any permanent damage. I would have gone looking for Sam, and have Sharika look for Lauren; but seeing as how Sam would most likely hold my head under water for ten minutes straight…it was better to let me get what seemed like the less harmful option – not by much, but still…– yeah, I'll get Lauren. Sharika can brave Sammy's sulk.

"Oooh, can I come with?" one of the models, Cindy I think, who'd been eyeing me all night asked me. She turned huge brown eyes on me, her bust seeming to swell beneath the limited constrains of her dress. The look in her eyes alone would have sparked my interest – on any normal day, when I wasn't trying to stop Lauren killing herself, or Cindy. Damn it.

Just another thing to get mad at her about.

I smiled, and declined, heading outside alone.

When I had reached the gardens, I searched the grounds, and saw a green-clad, weaving figure heading towards the fountain.

She was obviously blind drunk.

I ran across the grass to her, and just before I reached her she spun around, arms raised and face set. If she hadn't been swaying from side to side, I'd have thought she was ready for combat.

"It's me!" I said, and raised my hands in a peace gesture.

"You – you! Sharika and –"

It took me a moment to understand what she was talking about. Why was she acting so weird? Was she jealous? It's not like I particularly wanted to kiss her – I mean, it would just be strange. Sharika and me? I knew from the first few minutes after meeting her that we would be wrong for each other. She's one of those organized types, who goes in for the long haul every time they start a relationship. Not my type at all.

I didn't regret kissing Sharika though, as strange (I didn't think she'd kiss like that, what has Sammy been teaching her?) as it had been. It made me realize something – that even while I was kissing my brother's fiancé, I was thinking about the crazy woman in front of me, and comparing everybody to her.

"Sharika does kiss really good – and I mean really, really good. But I prefer your kisses –" I thought aloud. She wasn't listening, which was probably a good thing, considering. Taking a step forwards, she swung a fist at me. And missed by a mile.

I caught her as she keeled over, the combination of momentum and wine tripping her up. She ended up in the same position as Sharika had been a couple of minutes ago. It was much more comfortable with Lauren in my arms rather than Sharika – even though she was struggling to get away from me and stand up by herself. She was a perfect fit, almost as if she'd been made to – Sharika was too…skinny, and light, for me at least (She wasn't anorexic looking or anything.) Lauren had the perfect proportions of softness and muscle for my likings.

"Lemme go!" she slurred, pushing at my hands as I steadied her. She stumbled a few steps closer to the fountain, almost running into its side, but turned around just in time. "You –" she managed to get out, and then she held a hand to the side of her head. "Hurts."

"I know –" I tried to sympathize. The amount of alcohol that tiny woman had consumed would give a three hundred pound, hard core alcoholic nightmares.

"No!" she shouted, eyes screwed tightly shut. "Hurts!" and she pressed a hand against her chest. "Don't." She swayed backwards on her feet. "Uh…"

I didn't even act as if I knew what she was talking about. "Look," I told her. "You stay here, and I'll get Sharika and Sam, and we'll go home and you can sleep. Just stay right there."

"Sleep…riiiight…" she said, and gave me a beatific smile. How was I supposed to stay sane when she looked at me like that? My mind drifted, and I imagined her smiling that smile as she – "Staaaay…."

I shook my head and turned around. This woman –

SPLASH

Oh f-

I ended up doing a three sixty, and running over to the fountain, where water had sprayed up.

Lauren was lying beneath the water, not even making an effort to get herself out of it. She was unconscious, curls coming out of that high hair-do to fan about her hair and writhe like tendrils of golden seaweed. Her pale face shined ethereally through the water, and blinking away the sudden comparisons to mermaids, I reached in and made a grab, intending to fish her out. Instead, I lost my footing on some grass, and ended up in the water next to her. Great. Just great.

Now my suit was soaked through, and though I'd be more than happy to throw it out, Sam would insist on dry cleaning – why was I thinking about my suit when she's dying???

I picked Lauren up around the waist, and towed her out of the fountain. Placing her carefully on the grass, I checked that she was breathing. She was. I heard muffled noises behind me; I presumed it was people passing by trying to get to their cars. Breathing a sigh of relief, I picked her up again, slinging her over my back in a fireman's hold. I was in no mood to be romantic right now.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your view, this put a particular part of her nicely rounded, soft anatomy right next to my face. Probably not the time to notice such things, but I couldn't help myself. Her dress had gone practically see through – and I was a male.

∞∞

Sharika

"Sam?" I called out in the court yard. I spun around looking for him. "Sam I know you're here."

Oh crap! What have I done now? This is entirely my fault.

I followed him here after the believable stage kiss, hoping that he wouldn't be too pissed off at me to at least talk. I really wanted to apologize for my behavior; I acted like a complete bitch towards him. I wouldn't blame him if he didn't even want to see me. I deserved it after all.

I did trust him; I know he wouldn't ever cheat on me. He is not that type of man. But, sometimes I feel overwhelmed. This is only my first relationship, people keep forgetting that. This is still all new to me. And even though we're destined to be together, it doesn't prevent normal couple issues to get in between us. I knew something like this would happen.

And then Dean took it too far by kissing me. Why did he do that? Probably to get a reaction out of Lauren, he is in worse denial then I can get into. If he just admitted he liked her, and Lauren did like wise, I wouldn't get into so many idiotic situations.

"Sam!" I yelled, getting desperate. What if he is so mad at me that he breaks off the engagement? He wouldn't do that, would he…? He is…why wouldn't he? He wouldn't want to spend the rest of his life with a mean horrid old lady.

And when he did break up with me what happens? He would obviously go back to his room and Lauren would move back. How do I convince Lauren to do that though? She clearly likes Dean that much is apparent. But she's still in denial about it, so there is a good chance she'll move back in before I even finish asking her. And do I have to give the ring back to him now or later -

"I'm here," his voice answered from behind me.

I winced, but managed to refrain from crying out in surprise, and then turned around to face him. "SAM! I am so sorry; I didn't mean to be a bitch to you when I said 'White wine spritzer please'. It's just that those two pests were around you, and I know their game. They've been doing that since I first met them. I didn't want them to do that to you, and they always get what they want unless someone else interferes. But that doesn't excuse the fact that I was horrible to you. Sam I am really, really sorry! I am so sorry!" I rambled, without taking a breath. My heart pounded in my chest, awaiting his 'I'm sorry Sharika, this just isn't working out' speech.

He started laughing. I looked up at him in confusion. Was he going to mock me before he broke it off? That's just cruel. And so unlike him, at least I though so…

"You talk to much Shar," he commented, before he swooped down and kissed me.

I stood there, shocked for a moment. I didn't expect this reaction. Stop thinking you dolt! Kiss him back!

I placed my hands in his head, drawing him more into the kiss, which slowly grew from a simple, chaste kiss into a more passionate one.

"And besides," he added after we ended the kiss. "I wanted to get rid of them. One of them was going on about hair cuts from nineteen ninety eight."

I smiled up at him. "That's just like Julia."

I looked into his eyes, and the feelings that I was experiencing before I caught Julia and Mandy all over him surged through my body once again.

"Sam, I love yo-"

A loud splash interrupted me from finishing my sentence. I looked over to see Dean struggling to fish out a green blob from the water fountain. …Was that Lauren?

"Is that?" I heard Sam ask from behind me.

"Yeah, I think so," I replied.

Hand in hand, we both walked towards to fountain, keeping our minds open, considering that this was Lauren, anything could have happened.

Three quarters of the way there we saw Dean fall in himself; he got up after a few moments, picked up Lauren, and deposited her gently on the grass.

"Dean, is she ok?" I wanted to know.

I heard him sigh in relief, he picked her back up, but this time in a fireman's hold.

"Dude?" Sam asked.

We exchanged looks of confusion before returning our focus on Dean, who was now staring at Lauren's butt.

"DEAN!" I cried out. "You can check out her ass tomorrow, as of now we need to get home."

Dean looked at me, guiltily at first, then back at Lauren's ass, and then at me again with his face redder.

"It's not what you think," he blurted. "I…uh-"

"Sure dude, you do realize that you've effectively signed your own death warrant," Sam grinned to show that he was kidding…for the most part.

"Yeah, looking forward to that, can we get to the car already? I'm not particularly enjoying having this woman's ass right next to my face," Dean lied.

"Right," I patronized him.

When will they get it together? Lauren will get over her denial soon enough, but Dean? He'll take at least a few weeks. But I can't really blame him for that; he was spurned by love before. It became clearly apparent when he came up with those scenarios, especially the proposal. Something told me he didn't just make it up on the spot. The proposal was just too sweet and romantic. He'd planned to ask someone like that before. While he was talking, I'd searched through his past to confirm my theory. And I did.

Her name was Cassie; she broke it off with him one or two months before he could ask her. Leaving him with a scar, emotionally of course, this affected his willingness to enter into a relationship that had the potential to grow into something meaningful and –

"Sammy! Check out that one's rack!" Dean interrupted my train of thought. Nudging Sam and pointing to a stick insect with enhanced features (i.e. plastic surgery.)

Spurned by love, spurned by love I thought to myself over and over again.

Sam sent him a face that conveyed 'Dude, my future wife is right here'.

I took out the keys from my purse and handed them to Sam. "Here, get ready. I have to farewell Clause."

He took the keys and the threesome left for the car.

I hurried back into the Manor, smiling and nodding at everyone whom I passed.

"Sharika, leaving so soon?" Clause asked me once I reached him.

"Oh yes, something has come up unexpectedly," I answered. I hugged him and air kissed both his cheeks. 'Thank you Clause, for everything you've done for me." I really meant it, if it hadn't been for my model weeks, I wouldn't be as strong as I am now. And, the Dome, England, they did leave an impression on me. A good one, no matter how many bad events may have occurred.

Memories, pleasant and not so pleasant, arose to the surface at this place, and whether I liked it or not, those were memories I was thankful for. They, those events I mean, did shape me into the person I am today.

"Dahling, it was but my duty." He smiled as he held my hands in his. A pang of sorrow hit my heart. I can't believe it. I'll actually miss him, this place. Funny the way realizations can hit you.

I returned his smile and tenderly squeezed his hands one final time, before turning away and heading back towards the car. Wow, last time here ever, but then again, that's what I presumed the last time. And it was me, who knew what could happen…

"…finally got that bastard behind bars. Damn straight, been stalking us since the Dome…" I heard random tid bits of conversation as I passed along.

I arrived at the car, Sam was in the passenger seat, Dean at the back with Lauren propped up against the door.

I opened the door and went inside the car.

"That didn't take long," Sam commented. He handed me the keys.

"Yeah," I replied breathlessly, feeling ecstatic and slightly nostalgic. I drew my eyes up once again to the large, impressive manor. "Good bye," I whispered.

With a final wistful smile I started the car and drove off.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

AN: What a sappy ending. XD Personally, Dean and Sharika kissing, and Lauren falling into the fountain were MY favorite bits. Peace7 isn't here to comment. (sniggers)

Anyways, hope you guys enjoyed it, as always. Review!