A/N: Sorry I haven't updated lately. I recently came down with the flu and am just now recovering. I'll try to update more and more often. :/ PS, the review button likes you. :D
I was thinking about her, thinking about me.
Thinking 'bout us, what we gon' be.
Opened my eyes, yeah. It was only just a dream.
So I travelled back, down that road.
Will she come back? No one knows.
I realized, yeah. It was only just a dream.
Just a Dream – Nelly
"So," Dean said as Sam and Elena pulled into the driveway, in the Impala. It'd been two days. Sam and Elena had taken turns driving. Now, Dean stood, his arms crossed and his expression disapproving.
"We had to get the Impala?" Elena offered, shrinking in her seat. Dean had remained silent. His emerald orbs hardened. "Mm-hmm," He took a step back, shaking his head, "I'll have you know, that having Jenna come home to find me naked with no explanation of why wasn't nearly as fun as it sounds."
Elena erupted into giggles; she waved her hands, flailing helplessly. "I'm sorry! But – " She broke off, hiccupping and laughing. Sam slapped the steering wheel as he roared with laughter. "I'd have given anything to have seen that." Elena chortled, squirming in her seat as she cackled.
Dean rolled his eyes, shifting uncomfortably. "So, where'd you get –" Elena gestured to the long-sleeved shirt and jeans Dean was wearing. "I borrowed them from Jeremy." Dean said before turning and walking to the trunk, opening it and grabbing his duffel before trudging into the house.
Elena and Sam climbed out of the car, the both of them still guffawing as they walked into the house after the oldest Winchester. Elena walked into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of grape juice, drawing in a deep breath.
"Elena," a voice behind her breathed. Almost dropping the glass, Elena turned. Jenna was standing directly behind her. Her aunt was gaping at her, surprise and relief etched into her porcelain features. "Hey," Elena began.
"Where were you?!" Jenna thundered. "Well…" "You've been gone for two days." "I know –""And I haven't heard anything!" "Jenna –""I had to get a call from school saying you skipped classes!" "I'm sorry," Elena said with a sigh. "I'm sorry. I just don't know what else to say."
"You can start by telling me where you were. And why you took off for two days!" "Jenna," Sam's voice reverberated through the room. Both women turned to him. "It's my fault. I asked Ellie to come with me. I had some business to take care of and the car broke down and I'm sorry." Somehow when Sam said it, it made sense. Elena felt relief wash through her. "Yeah," Elena said, nodding.
Dean wandered upstairs, his duffle bag strung over his shoulder. "Hey, man," A groggy voice called to him. Dean turned, seeing Elena's younger brother, Jeremy, standing in the doorway of his room. "Hey," Dean replied with a nod.
"What's going on?" Jeremy glanced to the stairs, indicating the raised voices coming from downstairs. "Your sister's home," Dean said offhandedly. "She is?" Jeremy responded, happiness clear in his words. "Yeah," the older man said before turning and walking into the bathroom.
Jeremy bounded down the stairs excitedly. "So," He heard as he rounded the corner and ventured into the kitchen. Elena was holding a glass in her hands as she leaned against the counter. "So?" Sam inquired; his brow furrowing.
"I've been thinking," Elena continued, "I want to hunt. With you and Dean." Sam raised his glass to his lips and almost choked. "No." He said finally. "Not no, but hell no." The words came from the entrance to the kitchen.
Dean stood in the doorway, wearing his trademark brown leather jacket and jeans. He was also wearing a stern expression. "Dean," Elena began. "No." Dean cut her off. "I'm going, Dean." Elena scowled at him. "Like hell you are." The hunter fired back.
Elena glared poisonous arrows at him. "I am. And I'd really like to see you try to stop me." "Then you will. Because you're not going, Peaches." Dean said. "Umm... guys?" Jeremy said faintly. "What?" Elena and Dean yelled simultaneously. "
Well, I think –" Jeremy began. "She's not going." "And who the hell do you think you are?" Elena shrieked at him, "Bossing me around like this! I'm going, Dean. And you can't stop me." She brushed past him, her head held high.
"I'll be damned if that'll ever happen!" Hissing in a breath through gritted teeth, Dean turned to Jeremy, who stood, dazed. "Well, I can just say that I missed that." Jeremy said ironically, "All that yelling. Yep. It just doesn't feel like home without it."
"Jer," Dean began. "No, no." Jeremy continued, holding his hands up. "Just continue with the yelling. I'm sure we have neighbors across town that haven't heard you and Elena yet." With that the young man turned and walked out of the room.
After night fell, Elena crept downstairs, her bag strung over her shoulder. "Where do you think you're going?" The voice came from her right, making her jump. Dean leaned against the archway, his arms crossed. "Hunting," Elena held her chin high.
A ghost of a smirk tipped the corner of Dean's lip up. "And just what do you expect to do to whatever it –" "Vampires, Dean. I'm hunting vampires." "Right. Vampires. What are you gonna do? Give 'em a makeover?" Dean finished, with a snort.
Elena's amber spheres narrowed at him. "No. I'm going to kill them." "How and with what?" Dean inquired. "This," Elena hefted an ax. It was a beautiful weapon. The blade was curved and sharpened to a deadly edge.
The handle was grooved and carved for a sturdy handhold. Squinting, Dean saw that Elena had drawn flowers and hearts on the wooden handle. "Really?" Dean said, amused. "You're going to go after the vampires with the 'pixie ax'?"
Elena shot him a searing glance. "Goodbye, Dean." She announced, walking to the door. Dean paused, shaking his head, before following her out. "Lena, wait." "No, Dean. I'm not waiting. I'm not waiting for you try to talk me out of it."
Dean grasped her elbow, his sea green hues narrowed at her as he tugged her closer. "Fine," He snapped. "You want to hunt? We'll go hunt." His vise grip on her arm tightened as he dragged her towards the house.
"Dean," Elena began, attempting to dig her heels into the driveway. But, it was fruitless. Dean hauled her back into the house. "First, let's research." Dean said sharply, annoyance tainting his words. "Okay…" Elena said slowly, perplexed.
Dean grabbed Sam's laptop and opened it. Before he could touch the keys, Elena took the laptop, saying gently, "Maybe I should do the research." "Oh, okay." Dean said gruffly.
Elena sighed softly as she accessed their wireless internet and began a search for attacks with neck ruptures. After a moment, Dean sat beside her and read the news articles. "Wait," He began. "Go back." "Where?" Elena asked, puzzled.
Dean took the laptop and went back to an article of an 'Animal Attack'. The boy had been attacked. His throat was torn open and his body was drained of blood. Dean glanced at her, "Bingo." Was all he said.
Minutes later, Elena, Sam, and Dean were in the Impala. "Are you sure about this, Dean?" Sam asked, tentatively. "It's what 'Lena wants," Dean replied tersely, casting her an icy glance in the rearview mirror.
Elena gazed out the window casually, pretending that she didn't hear them. Sam uttered a low sigh, lifting a brow, "So, you two gonna tell me what the hell's going on?" "What do you mean?" Dean asked offhandedly.
"Well, you're both not talking. At least, not to each other." Elena shook her head, finally saying softly, "We just had a disagreement, Sam. That's all. It'll be fine." That's what you think. Dean thought spitefully.
The car cruised into the driveway of what appeared to be an abandoned farmhouse. At one time, it probably would've been a beautiful house. Spacious. Palatial. Elena's cerise lips parted in surprise at the sight of it.
Now, it was covered with vines. The windows had been shattered, and then boarded up. The paint had peeled. The porch was rotted and cracked. The front door was barely hanging on the hinges. It was a wreck.
Dean opened the car door, swinging his long legs out. For the first time, Elena really took in how tall the eldest Winchester is. Sure, Sam's taller. But, Dean was the one that seemed to be the most... involved. Especially when it came to Elena.
She followed him out. Dean strode towards the door, easing it open with a soft creak. Sam lingered back with the car, unearthing a pair of machetes. Elena slipped into the abandoned house quietly.
She looked around warily as both Winchesters followed her into the house. Dean had just pressed his finger to his lips to signal "silence" when the entire scene turned to chaos. A gust of wind blew into the room and knocked Elena flat on her back.
It was if she'd been hit by a steel wrecking ball. Her breath left her in an explosion. Looking up, she looked into the feral ochre globes of a boy, not two years younger than her. He bared his fangs with a low growl.
"Dean!" Elena shrieked, forcing the handle of the ax between her and the young vampire. Sam lurched forward but was stopped when Dean threw his arm out to stop his younger brother. The youngest Winchester's eyes widened as the elder shook his head silently.
Elena twisted the ax as the boy grasped the handle, slamming him onto his back. She raised the bladed weapon into the air, tears forming in her eyes as she swung it. The steel glinted in an arc before it ended in a disgusting squelch.
Elena's eyes widened in horror as she realized that the vampire was still alive. His legs twitched as he gurgled through his severed neck. Oh, god… She thought, horror-stricken. She dislodged the ax from the wood, raising it and striking again.
Dean flinched slightly as he watched Elena swing the ax repeatedly, tremors racing through her petite form as she sobbed. Sam's face contorted with sympathy as he looked away. Finally, Elena dropped the bloodied weapon before collapsing into wracking sobs. Dean stepped towards her, kneeling beside her.
"Lena," He began gently, "This is exactly why I don't want you to be a part of this life." Elena looked up at him, her chocolate orbs filled with outrage. "You set this up?" She asked, her voice quivering. Dean's malachite optics widened, "What?"
Elena rose to her feet, saying slowly, enunciating each word with rage, "Did. You. Set. This. Up?" "I wouldn't. And you know I wouldn't." Dean said slowly. "This isn't the life for you, 'Lena. You know that. I don't want you to be a part of this."
"Did you ever think that maybe I do?" Elena said, wounded. "I did. But I don't want you in this, 'Lena." "Why?" "Because I love you!" Dean thundered, shocking her into silence. Elena's lips parted in surprise.
Dean shook his head, glancing at Sam who gave an It's-About-Time-You-Admitted-It shrug. "Let's just go." Dean said gruffly, walking out of the abandoned farmhouse. Elena looked up at Sam, her face streaked with tears, blood and grime.
"Sam…?" She asked timidly. Sam just nodded in response. She followed Dean out slowly, swallowing thickly. Elena heard Sam behind her, a distant part of her mind replaying what Dean had said, "Because I love you."
His words shook her, sent her reeling and short-circuited any and all brain activity. Elena felt numb. Once outside, Dean glanced back at Sam and Elena, noting that Sam had his hand on Elena's elbow to stabilize her.
"We should get you cleaned up before we take you back," Dean said indistinctly, not meeting Elena's curious gaze. He turned and climbed into the Impala quickly. Elena cast Sam an exasperated glance before climbing into the car.
The motel looked at skeevy as its clientele. Elena rolled her eyes as she climbed out of the car, shaking her head. "You know, I'd have expected better of you, Dean." She said dryly, "You see, you're not supposed to take me to seedy motels until the third date."
Dean snorted, rolling his eyes at her. "And you'd be lucky if either of us survive until the third date." He quipped sardonically before walking into the office. Sam walked to the trunk of the car, grabbing their duffel bags, ignoring Elena and Dean's sarcastic banter.
Sighing lowly, Elena crossed her arms, walking over to Sam, biting her lip. "Sam, how long do you think this thing with Dean will last?" She asked hesitantly. "You mean the thing were you talked him into allowing you to hunt? Or the thing where he admitted that he loves you?"
"Both. Neither. I don't know." Elena combed her fingers through her auburn locks, looking bewildered; "I just don't know what to do anymore." "We're in room seven," Dean's voice said from the walkway. "Alright," Sam called back, nodding.
Elena shook her head, following Dean into the room silently. "You okay?" Dean asked absently as he shucked his jacket off, tossing it onto one of the beds. "Yeah," Elena replied softly. Sam entered the room, throwing their things on the floor.
Glancing between Dean and Elena, he said as nonchalantly as he could muster, "You know what? I'm going to get – yeah. Anyone need anything?" Elena shook her head quickly as Dean shrugged slightly, amusement etching into his features.
With a hasty nod, Sam departed from the room. "Well, subtlety is not his strong suit," Dean mused. Elena huffed, "Dean, we need to talk." "About?" The Eldest Winchester responded, clasping his hands together as he lounged in one of the kitchenette chairs.
"About what you said." Elena said shyly. Abruptly, Dean was on his feet, slipping past her. "No. We don't." He said, his words chilling her to the bone. "Dean –" She began. "Look, you need to be home soon. Otherwise Jenna might put an APB out on me." Dean interjected, "The shower's that way."
He jabbed his finger towards the bathroom. Elena shot him a searing glance before turning on her heel and stalking towards the bathroom. Cursing Dean under her breath, she shrugged her jacket off.
Her hands trembled violently as she tried unbuttoning her blouse. "It's the shock," Dean said quietly. She looked up, seeing him standing before her. He reached towards her, saying, "Here." He deftly unbuttoned her shirt before turning away.
Flames erupted in Elena's cheeks as she turned her back to him, undressing and stepping into the shower. She heard Dean clear his throat awkwardly, "You okay in there?" Elena sighed softly, "Yeah. I'm fine." "Okay. I'll be out… here then." Dean said uncomfortably.
Something in Elena wrenched violently as she raced to the shower door, opening it and poking her head out. "I wished you wouldn't." She stammered, causing Dean to halt in his tracks. He turned and looked at her quizzically.
Something charged the air between them, electrifying the atmosphere. Elena swallowed hard as her heart thundered in her chest. Dean surged towards her, clasping her face in his hands as he shoved her against the shower wall, his lips colliding with hers.
Elena stood on tiptoe returning his kiss feverishly, her fingers brushing through his hair. The sound of the motel room door slamming shut jolted Dean and Elena out of their reverie. "I'm back!" They heard Sam announce.
Dean pulled away from Elena, glancing at the bathroom door, frowning slightly before he turned and exited the bathroom. Leaving Elena confused and dazed.