Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.

Chapter Ten: Conquering Demons

Uninterrupted sleep is a rarity for me. Whether I find myself awakened by nightmares or needing to be on the move for a hunt, it hasn't happened nearly enough for me to recharge. Dean would probably try and laugh it off, saying there's no rest for the wicked and that we could sleep when we were dead. That isn't comforting given we've both died more than once.

I feel relaxed, but there's a tickle under my nose. I don't open my eyes, instead reaching to brush the cause out of my way. Citrus with a hint of mint hits my nostrils and I blink awake when my fingers tangle in a head of soft hair.

Halley. It isn't any wonder I managed to get through the afternoon and early evening in a deep and dreamless sleep. Her curves press into my skin and my arms curl protectively around the warm body draped over mine. She fits to me like a puzzle piece, the yin to my yang. Small but not fragile, she acts almost as a blanket.

I haven't felt this kind of security in a long time. Certainly not since before the pit and maybe not since Jessica. There may or may not have been a fleeting moment with Madison, but Halley is different. She makes me feel different.

We both needed this. Something to hold onto. Someone to make us feel safe. I see that now, I get that it isn't all about her. It never was. It's about me, too.

Maybe this isn't really about the Lazarus Demon. Maybe it's about shedding my fears about having been a monster. Seeing naked trust in the eyes of a woman who in my dreams was afraid of me. Hearing Halley's viewpoint and feeling the way she responded to my touch.

It's possible to overthink sex. It's also possible to lose yourself in someone so completely, you don't have to think about anything but the noises she's making and the feel of her skin on yours. The afternoon started as one and faded into the other. It's starting to get dark now, the light getting in through breaks in the curtains pale in its glow.

My lips drift across her forehead and she sighs so sweetly I want to bottle the sound and keep it for later. Her blue eyes shine when she looks at me before shyly tucking her face against my jaw. "Were we asleep long?" Voice soft in the quiet, she whispers open-mouthed kisses along my neck. "Guess someone wore me out."

I chuckle with a shyness of my own and rub her back. Only Halley could be bashful yet sound confident. It's sexy and my lips find hers, hands skimming over her sleep-warmed skin. I could get used to this, the closeness and physical contact. She's broken down the barrier of my fear and made me crave more.

Turning on my side, I face her as we share a pillow. My fingers smooth through her hair and my tongue rolls over my lip on reflex. "You hungry? We could..."

The smile and the blush that spreads across her delicate features has me leaning in for a kiss. Her laughter is musical, like her limbs it wraps around me. She tugs me down to her and the sheets start to slide off the bed. "If you think..." she hums against my lips, squirming beneath me. "I can move after..."

Stiff, muscles tight from use. But that isn't what she means. I vaguely remember her mumbling something about how her legs were made of Jell-O as we nodded off. Thinking of keeping her that way - kitten weak and completely satisfied - makes me grin against her mouth.

The color in her cheeks and the depth of her blue eyes are so vibrant it makes me glad to be alive, to be the one with her. My lips twitch, my body responding as I move teasingly against her.

"You have a habit of making me lose control," I murmur over her lips as my hand tightens in her hair. Like now. I could easily take her again, right now, in this moment. I could lose more than just my hold on the situation. I could lose my pain in her sweetness and bury my sins in her body.

"Seemed like you were in control to me," she hushes back, nipping my lip and tangling her arms around me. Come closer, her body invites. And I do. I go willingly into her embrace and let her chase away some of the darkness that clings to me and won't let go.

The life I've lead and all the things I've experienced have taught me not to take the little things for granted. Things like soft touches and tenderness, the ability to stay in bed with someone and relax. I don't want to forget a moment with her or the peace she's unknowingly given me.

Months from now when I'm on the road with Dean again, I want to look back and remember the crazy version of normal Halley and I shared, even for a little while. This? Laying here talking with her? It's the most ordinary thing I've done in what feels like forever.

"We could order in?" I suggest. "There has to be someplace that delivers." I love the way she tries to hold me and keep me in bed, how her eyes follow my body when I get up and pull on my shorts.

There's a phonebook on the dresser, I grab it and settle at the end of the bed marveling at the way she immediately hitches the sheet around her body and puts her chin on my shoulder. Warmth spreads through me and I lean against her, turning my face to catch her lips in a gentle, lingering kiss.

It's nice. It's more than nice. And I'm not sure how I'm gonna give it - her - up.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Supernatural ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

We settle on pepperoni pizza and Halley puts on a cooking show I never caught the name of. I'm distracted by the how my flannel shirt looks on her with its sleeves rolled up and her hair loose around her shoulders. Seeing her tiny white panties peeking out from the hem as she lays across the foot of the bed on her stomach is enough to make me know I'll always think of her if I ever wear it again.

After dinner, she sits behind me and rubs my shoulders as I look through one of the books I brought with me. It's a simple act that makes it easier to believe our cover story, especially after what happened last night. I wish we were just a couple on a road trip and that the book in my lap was something I was studying.

We both startle when my phone starts ringing. My heart sinks when I see Dean and I try to hide the disappointment in my voice. "Hey," I answer. "Any luck?"

"Gee, Sammy, for a guy who was in a hellfire hurry to get this thing, you sound upset to hear from me," he says. There isn't much I can hide from him. "You and Blondie have a thing, don't you?" Laughter tumbles over the line. "It's okay if you wanna take some time off. Have a sleepover. Watch some chick flicks. Do whatever it is you do when you're alone with a girl."

I chuckle dryly. He's such a jerk. "You got it then? You think it's safe to take her home?"

Growing serious, he grunts his agreement adding. "We've got one more thing to check up on, but the bones are salted and burned. Should be good to go tomorrow."

My throat feels tight, the words sticking as I feel Halley's hand curling into mine. "Okay. We'll catch up with you at the house then."

When I disconnect the call, Halley moves into my lap. Her legs snake around my waist, a hand cupping my cheek as she tips her head to look at me. Dean is right. I wanted this to be over. And now that it is, I'm not sure I'm ready to move on.

"We've got tonight, right?" she asks. There's no fear in her voice, no quiver of doubt. She accepts me and my life as is and without question. "And if it's gone..." Her hand presses to the center of my chest and my heart beats rapidly beneath her palm. Our eyes hold and I swear my heart is breaking. "We can just be Sam and Halley."

The idea of not being on alert and enjoying the time we have left is appealing, but not nearly as attractive as the blush on her cheeks and the way her lashes dip as she looks at me through their veil. Her timidness is back but if she's concerned I'll reject her, she's got nothing to worry about. If holding on tight means letting go tomorrow, I'm going to hope I have the strength she appears to.

"Just promise me..." she whispers, brushing her mouth to mine. Making promises is dangerous. I don't want to leave her empty.

But she surprises me and says something so unexpected it has me laughing and pressing her into the mattress with a groan. "If this is our last night together, promise me you have more than chick flicks in mind."

A/N: Ten was originally planned to be the final chapter... but there's a little more story to tell. I hope you'll stick with me and that you'll like what I have in mind. Review?