[DarkDreamer1982...-HUGGLES- You're a gem! The answer is that Riddick used to look like an Alien from Aliens lol And to everyone else...-Tackle Hugs- Everyone's been incredibly awesome^_^ Even you lurkers out there ;) Now...if you've been waitin' for some 'romantic action'...well, in the installment, you get a Taste of it -Grins- and there's a scene comin' up that you may find hysterical... Okay, I shoosh -Is jazzed about Supernatural's Season Five Finale that'll be showing in 3 hours- Enjoy!]

With the grace of a feline, Cat dodged back and forth until she spotted a familiar shape in the surrounding darkness and dove behind it, got into a crouch and leaned her back against the thick bark of the ancient tree. She closed her eyes and willed herself to ease her breathing. After a moment of concentration, her breath was as silent as the world around her when she honed in on Sam's bare feet crushing against the lush grass just ten feet from the very tree she had hidden behind. As though becoming apart of the devouring shadows around her, she kept perfectly still as Sam edged closer, slowing in his movements.

Sam stalked forward carefully, knowing that if he wasn't paying attention he'd end up scraping or bruising something…especially since he was only wearing a t-shirt and his boxers. Keeping his breathing as quiet as possible, he got the feeling he was heading in the right direction when the outline of a massive tree filled his sight. She's gotta be back there… He thought with a smile pulling at his lips and decided to move to the right of the tree, changing direction.

Cat furrowed her brow when she sensed his presence shift. Opening her eyes, she stood crouched on her hands and feet; her knees bent in a way that caused her muscles to restrict, ready to spring at any given moment. Very carefully, Cat peeked out to where Sam had originally been approaching from. Not seeing or hearing him anywhere she slid back into her hiding place and caught a strange feeling to her right. Without a second thought she pushed herself off the ground and used every ounce of power from her lower body to propel herself through the air until she physically slammed into her objective…

Sam didn't even get the chance to let out a sound as a shape darted out from in front of him and he was suddenly flat on his back, the wind completely knocked out of him.

"Oh shit, are you okay?" Cat asked with a hint of concern dancing in her voice. "Sam?" She looked at his face as he coughed and heaved, struggling to get the air flowing again.

"Yea…" He replied in a gruff voice, coughed a few more times and just looked up into the outline of her face. "Just wasn't expecting you to pounce me."

Cat sighed and stood up, her legs on either side of his hips. "You know, for a Hunter, you're instincts kinda suck." She teased and offered him her hand, which he took gratefully with both hands, and before he could get his footing, she jerked him upright.

Sam flew up but sadly, lost his balance and fell to the ground, landing right on top of Cat. They hit the earth with a soft thud, and started laughing hysterically at their moment of grace. "And you were saying?" Sam managed between laughs as he looked down into her smiling face, visible from the light from the patio that bled between the trees around them.

"Shut up!" She retorted and smacked him on his chest as he held himself off the ground with his hands on either side of her laughing form, his bent knees to the right of her legs.

"What? You didn't warn me!" He said in defense, still laughing, as she rolled her eyes at him. "How was I supposed to know you're a lot stronger then you look?"

Cat just smiled and shook her head at him, "incase you haven't noticed by now, I have a big ass and thick thighs. I just used my lower body and the momentum to pull you up. But of course, you're about as graceful as an elephant on a tight wire…damned lightweight." Cat replied giggling and found herself drain of humor at the sight of him studying her eyes. Please don't use the alcohol in your system as an excuse to try and kiss me…don't care how disgustingly adorable you are… Kissing me would be a very bad idea… Because I don't think my reaction would be the one you want… Cat thought within her secret depths at the intensity of his expression.

Sam was silent for a moment as he searched the amber depths of her cat like gaze. The thought finally hit him that he was alone with her…basically pinning her to the ground. His face became serious as he swallowed the small lump of anxiety in the back of his suddenly very dry throat and sat up. "Here." He said softly and gave her his hand, which she took and allowed him to help her onto her feet.

"Thanks…" Cat replied barely above a whisper as his hand slipped from hers and went directly to her back, where he gently began wiping away leaves from their time on the ground. "Oh it's okay…"

He cut her off. "No, don't wanna hear it." Sam chuckled and removed some leaves and a few random twigs from the messy bun on the back of her head.

"Aw damn it." Cat growled and undid the rubber band from her hair and shook her head, allowing her wild mane of flames to freefall down her back. Placing the rubber band between her teeth she went to pull her hair up when Sam's hand to her right hand made her stop.

"Don't…" He protested in a low, almost husky voice and watched her raise an inquisitive brow. Sam had to find an excuse…and fast. "I…I'd like to see what it looks like down." Okay, so the poor guy had his honest filter on. But when it came to Cat, honesty was always a plus.

"Oh," her voice was muffled as she dropped her arms and took the rubber band out of her mouth and slipped it onto her left wrist. "Okay, fine with me." She said with a shrug and smiled. "Now turn around."

Both brows shot up at the comment when she just gave him a look and he immediately got what she meant. Sam let out a slightly embarrassed laugh, "right." And turned his back to her.

Giving his back a look over, she made a point to get all the leaves from his shirt and just for shits and giggles…gave him a quick slap on the ass for good measure. "That's for not watching Aliens." She announced as if that explained her actions.

Sam whipped around and put his hands on his hips. "You sure? Or did you secretly just want to touch my ass?" He shot back and thoroughly enjoyed the look on her face.

Sam's comment threw her off guard and her jaw dropped, a smile still dancing on her features. "Where would you get a silly notion like that?" She retorted with ease and closed her jaws in a sly grin. "Or maybe you wanted me to touch your ass."

"I see what you're doing…" Sam chimed, dropped his hands and started walking toward her, causing her to instinctively back up.

"Oh you do, do you?" Cat murmured defiantly, a crease in her brows as her footsteps met the ground in silence, sensing the presence of a tree behind her. "And what would that be?"

The most devilishly seductive smile ate at his lips and caused her chest to flutter at the very sight of it. Sam saw the reaction in her eyes and ran his tongue slowly over his lips, distracting her long enough until she was suddenly backed up against the tree. After a silent moment, the rich sound of his husky voice poured from his lips, "Check mate."

In a flash the humor melted from her eyes, replaced with an expression that Sam couldn't place. Her face had become solemn, almost as though she were stone as she stared at him with an emotionless gaze. This drained the fun out of him causing concern to ripple through his blood.

"Cat…you okay?" Sam asked, noticing how she was completely rigid, as though her mind had suddenly shut off. "Aiden…hey," his worried voice trailed off into the air around them as he brought a hand to her face, his finger gently brushing along the left side of her jaw line. He tried again, "Aiden I'm not going to hurt you."

She blinked, and for a moment…Cat's eyes sparkled back to life. And in that short amount of time, it revealed a tortured spirit hiding just beneath the surface. She looked terrified.

"Hey, you okay? You had me scared for a second there…" Sam explained in a low voice, his right hand now resting on her left shoulder.

"No…I'm fine." She said in a small voice, her arched brows furrowed as she said the words, almost not believing them. "I'm sorry." She apologized in a broken tone, cleared her throat and brought a hand to her face, acting as though she was rubbing her temples when she was actually hiding her gaze from him. She just couldn't look at him…not with the way he was peering so deeply into the endless abyss of her shattered soul.

"Stop saying that." Sam replied and wore a very worried expression. "You don't need to keep apologizing when you haven't done anything wrong…"

"I know," She replied, dropped her hand away from her face in defeat, slumped back against the base of the tree and tilted her head to the left, closing her eyes. "I know…I can't help it." Cat concluded with a sigh as she opened her eyes and averted her gaze to the ground, unwilling to meet his worried expression.

Sam hated the thought…but had to say it. "Are you…afraid of me?"

The very sound of his tortured voice brought her eyes to his within the instant it hit her ears. "What? Oh gods no." She stated with a look of compassion on her face. "Why would you think that Sam?"

Sam swallowed the hard lump from the back of his throat and replied, "Well, the visions…and the way you responded to me when I backed you up against the tree…"

Cat shook her head and took his hand away from her shoulder, holding it in both hands. "Sam I want you to know something." She said softly and looked up into his guilt ridden eyes… It almost appeared as though his heart was breaking right in front of her. "I'm not afraid of You, understand? I've always been weary around men," she trailed off and decided to add, "no matter how cute they are."

Sam gave a small smile at her compliment but swallowed as a sting started to enter his eyes. "Damn…that whiskey was a lot stronger then I thought…" He exclaimed in a chuckle and shook his head. "To be perfectly honest, I'm never this assertive with women."

"That's why it's called liquid courage." Cat mused, "I'm also being a lot more playful and open if you haven't noticed…" Sam nodded and she gave a smirk. "If we would've been stone sober, this wouldn't have happened…"

Sam's eyes shimmered with curious confusion when she gently tugged at his hands. Not sure what she was planning he leaned down to her, almost awkwardly until their lips were a mere breath away from each other. He was about to ask what she was doing when very carefully, she left a soft kiss on his lips.

Breathing in the essence of him, his scent a blinding presence swarming her blood she allowed him to tease her mouth with flutter like half kisses, causing the nervous tension in her stomach to erupt into chaos. Just for a moment, she let herself drown in his petal soft lips. It was amazing, as though the world and everything in it had been swept into a blissful silence, giving them just this one small moment of peace from the pain that followed their every day lives.

When she sensed his heartbeat increase and felt his breath become sharp bursts of primal desire…she broke the kiss…and found herself panting.

There were no words as they rested their foreheads together, hearts racing, breath quick…hands held as though for dear life. Both hadn't planned on this happening. Hell Sam was just as surprised as Cat. After a pause to get their bearings back, as if linked, they pulled back to look each other in the eyes.

It was Cat that spoke first. "Thank you…"

Sam canted his head to the side slightly at the purr of her voice and blinked. "For what?" He asked in a breathless whisper and watched as she struggled with herself to respond.

"…for understanding…and not judging me." Cat managed to say and let out a rush of anxiety filled air, pushing it out of her lungs.

He knew right then and there that the kiss she had given him, had been her way of thanking him. A beautiful smile stretched the valley of his lips as he leaned forward and pressed a kiss on her forehead and whispered, "you're welcome."

Cat reveled in the feel of human affection before she snapped out of the tender moment and backed away. "Before this gets out of hand…" She said but didn't have to finish.

Sam nodded, perfectly aware of their situation…and his level of intoxication, when a thought struck him. "Hey," He said, his thoughts becoming words, "where's Dean? Knowing him, he would have come out here looking for us by now."

"Just so he could rub it in our faces that he caught us making out?" She chimed and Sam gave a knowing laugh. "Well, how about I sneak through that patch of trees over there and see if I can spot him?"

"Want me to wait here?" He asked, his eyes swimming with a silent longing as he held her gaze.

"Only for a second, 'kay?" She said with a sweet, reassuring tone and didn't wait for a response as she crept off in the direction she indicated earlier to Sam. Cat was thankful for the moment to herself but became a little unnerved at how the patio was completely void of life and caught the slight hint of echoing laughter coming from inside the house. "Coast is clear, you can come out now hot stuff." She called over her shoulder and walked out onto the grass, a crease in her brow.

Sam appeared to her right, held the same expression on his face and asked, "Where'd everybody go?"

Cat's voice dropped an octave. "I have a feeling Riddick and Dean are bonding." And with that said, she started toward the house with some ferocity in her gait.

By the time Sam had caught up with the fast little vixen, she was unmoving as she stood in the kitchen peering out into the living room; arms held firmly across her chest. He didn't even need to ask when he saw what she was glaring at.

Dean was sitting on the floor, the bottle of Jack just a few sips shy of empty with the large black wolf Riddick sitting right across from him, a small glass with only a line of the dark liquid at the bottom. Sam couldn't believe what he was seeing…his own big brother had gotten shit faced with Cat's guardian Riddick. He'd never thought he'd see the day, when Dean found a drinking buddy that happened to be an abnormally large wolf with an attitude a kin to his own. Things just couldn't get any stranger then that.

Cat stood there for a few minutes, waiting to catch the two drunks attention. When they were just too involved with whatever the hell they were laughing about, she made her presence known.

In a clear voice, she exclaimed, "Riddick, what did I tell you about drinking my whiskey?"

The laughter immediately died as their glazed eyes rolled in her direction. It was more then clear that Cat was not a happy camper.

"We wurr just shootin' the shit." Riddick's voice boomed with a slurred tone as Dean leaned forward, an incredibly stupid smile plastered across his face.

"Well therr ya'arr, Sammee!" Dean exclaimed, slurring as he spoke in a very happy tone and staggered onto his feet, swaying back and forth as he walked toward them, reminding Cat of Jack Sparrow as he stood in front of his taller younger brother and ungracefully, slugged Sam playfully in the shoulder. "I'm drunk."

Sam just held the grin inside, nodded, and replied, "I can see that."

Dean blinked and grew a scowl as he looked to Cat, "Why aren't you guys drunk?" he muttered, realizing that she was standing there.

"Because we only drank enough to get buzzed, not sloshed." Cat replied in an even tone, restraining the small fire burning in her chest. "After running around like a bunch of big kids, it quickly went through our systems."

"Uh huh…" Dean said slowly, swayed a little and used Sam to keep himself upright. "Yurr no fun."

Sam could sense the anger starting to radiate from Cat's intense gaze and patted Dean on the back. "Come on Dean, let's get you to bed." He said in hopes Dean would just comply.

"Whoa now, I'm not *yawn* tired." Dean protested with a yawn and gave Sam an extremely cheesy grin as he, very sloppy mind you, patted Sam on the head. "I'm so proud of ya Sammee…"

Sam's face was straining to stop the onslaught of laughter rising up in his throat as he swallowed back the urge and started walking Dean toward the stairs. "I know Dean." His voice cracked for a second but his big brother was pretty tossed at this point and hadn't noticed.

Cat watched as Sam took his slurring and very happy drunk of a brother upstairs to his room and once they were out of sight, she walked toward Riddick and just gave him a look. "What the hell were you thinking? You know what that shit can do to you." Her voice was laced with a dark worry, one filled with the concern of his very well being.

Riddick growled deeply in his chest, stood up on all fours, started to lean sideways and managed to bring himself up onto the couch without falling off in the process. "Stop worrying so much Aiden." Even though he was pretty drunk, he still sounded sober. "I just need some sleep."

She shook her head and sighed. "You throw up in this house and I swear to the Goddess Bast your ass will be outside for a week." Cat grumbled while picking up the mess they left her; which was a small glass and an empty bottle of Jack. "G'night fur ball." She added softly, the anger leaving her voice as she went into the kitchen and set the objects next to the sink.

The soft tapping of claws caught Cat's attention as she looked to the floor and saw Ripley gazing at her with motherly concern. "Everything okay honey?" Her voice rich and loving as she peered up at Cat.

"Did you see Riddick?" Cat asked in a low voice and saw Ripley nod.

"Hicks is making sure he doesn't do anything stupid during the night…" Ripley replied and grew an odd emotion in her lupine eyes. "I wanted to mention that…you handled the situation with Sam very well."

Cat's eyes widened and she felt her blood hit her face with a vengeance. Fighting the lump of embarrassment in her throat, she managed a squeak of a reply, "You saw?"

"Yes I did, and no I didn't tell the others." Ripley said simply and gave her a look of understanding. "You know I wouldn't do that Aiden. Besides, you two had been drinking and were playin' grab ass. Not a big deal."

Cat left out a soft, embarrassed laugh. "Thanks Mom…I appreciate it." She finally allowed herself to call Ripley mom again, now that she knew the brothers were upstairs.

Ripley's dark eyes lit up, "You're welcome honey. Now give me a hug before you get your ass to bed." she said and gave a motion of her head for Cat to come over.

Cat shook her head smiling, crouched down and wrapped her arms around the dark brown wolf in a loving hug. "Night Mom." She said softly as Ripley gave her a very small lick on her cheek, and nudged her with her cold nose to start toward the stairs. "Alright I'm going." Cat giggled and started walking to the stairs.

Once at the top, just entering the hallway she paused for a moment when she saw that the door to Sam's room was cracked. Holding her breath, she tried to move as silently as possible toward her bedroom, just got the handle turned when a voice caused her to exhale.

"Going to bed?"

She turned her gaze and saw Sam leaning half way out of his room…completely and utterly bare from the waist up. "Uh, yea…" She murmured softly and had to clear her throat at the way the beautiful lines of his chest made her breath quicken. "What happened to your shirt?"

"Dean…didn't quite make it to the toilet in time." Sam explained, partially self conscious but still buzzed enough not to let it bother him. "He's still in there right now." He indicated at the sound of poor Dean heaving in the small bathroom in Sam's room.

Cat frowned, "We'll he be okay?" she asked and knew he would be…but had to ask the obvious…seeing as she couldn't help but enjoy Sam's company.

Sam shrugged as if it was nothing new. "Who Dean?" He said and smiled, "Oh yea, he'll be fine. He'll probably sleep in 'til about five in the afternoon tomorrow and then bitch about having a hangover."

Cat gave a hint of a smile and leaned against the frame of her now open door, her voice flowing into a gentle lull as she spoke, "Sounds like this is a normal occurrence with him. That's gotta suck for you because you're the one that gets stuck taking care of him."

"Doesn't bother me too much. He's my brother, it's in the job description." Sam replied and stepped away from his room and leaned against the wall, just five feet from where Cat was standing. "Besides, he'd do the same for me."

"Really?" She murmured, slightly surprised and took a few steps toward Sam until she was only within a foot from his shirtless self. "I would've pinned him as being too much of an ass to give a shit about anyone other then himself." Cat was just joking, and Sam also knew that…but it was her way of getting Sam to talk a little longer…to delay the moment…

"He's really a good guy, he just doesn't show it to most people. Sometimes I have to drill him until he finally blows up on me and tells me what's wrong." Sam explained, enjoying the fact that she wanted to stay in his company just for a little longer. "Dean's actually very sensitive, he just has a funny way of showing it."

"Sounds like he's been through a lot." Cat said softly, thinking about how that reminded her, of herself. "That's why I had to drink earlier…at first I just wanted to drink until I was nice and tired, but then you joined me right when I was relaxed and more at ease. I'm a lot like your brother in the sense that it's hard for me to let people in when I first meet them."

"You won't…" Sam's voice became no more then a whisper as he closed the distance between them and looked down into her big eyes. "…regret any of this tomorrow…will you?"

Cat just couldn't help the warm smile that had spread across her face at how innocent and adorable Sam suddenly seemed. "No honey, I don't believe in regrets." She replied softly, took his hand in hers and gave it a quick squeeze…

"Sam! Sammee? You still here?" Dean's wail broke their attention and Sam gave an apologetic look.

"It's okay Sam, go take care of your brother." Cat said softly, smiled and started to walk away when she stopped and looked back at Sam, "by the way…" She paused again…let the moment stretch, and just when she was sure Sam was about ask… She bit her bottom lip and purred, ever so softly, "I was completely sober when I kissed you."

With that, she vanished into her room and closed the door behind her.

He couldn't help the way his jaw dropped at her comment and found himself smiling, despite what he was about to deal with for the rest of the night. "I'll be damned…" Sam thought aloud, lips curved slightly and went back into his room to take care of his big brother.

-End Chapter Nine-