My heart pounded in my chest. It really was them, I couldn't believe it. In the last 10 years I would sometimes ask about them, but never in detail, it just hurt too much, and I think Bobby could sense that because he would say they are still around and keep me updated. I had hoped Dean would maybe write back to me, but after the 3rd unanswered letter, I gave up. He didn't care about me the way I had thought he had. For him it was all business, kill the monster and move on. Phantom was still barking like crazy.
"Uhh...hole on just a sec." I put my gun back in my bag and peered at myself in the mirror next to the door and took a deep breath to calm my nerves.
I unhooked the chain and unlocked the door to see both boys smiling brightly at me, a shy smile on my own face. Phantom crouched down and started to growl at them as soon as the door opened up.
"Phantom sit." I said sternly and he immediately stopped growing and sat. I opened the door wide and invited them in.
"You sure Kujo won't bite me?" Dean asked with a chuckle.
As soon as I closed the door I felt arms wrap around me, and I stiffened up slightly and Phantom went into a protective grouch again, but then I wrapped my own arms around Sam who lifted me up off the floor and spun me around once and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Sam! Look how tall you are now. The last time I saw you, you were all lanky and knobby." I laughed and my feet touched the ground once more. He broke out in big smile. I snapped my fingers at Phantom and he laid down once more.
"Sorry, we don't get much company and he's very protective of me." I explained.
I turned my gaze to Dean who opened his arms slightly, inviting me in for a hug. I stepped lightly into his embrace on my tiptoes and he held me close. My chin fit perfectly on his shoulder and I turned my face up slightly. He buried his face in the bend of my neck. He smelled just like I remembered and my heart thumped painfully in my chest. I let my eyes slip close, those brief memories of light kisses came back to mind.
When I pulled back I willed the pinkness to leave my cheeks and I ushered them into my front room. "Wow, when I talked to Bobby yesterday I never thought he would send in the Winchester family." The boys settled on the couch and I took the chair. Phantom rested his head on my seated legs and I scratched him behind the ears.
"Your right, he is protective." Sam chuckled.
"So uh, is your dad here as well?" I asked them.
Both boys shifted in their seats and the atmosphere changed drastically in the room. I've learned to pick up on these uncomfortable pauses with what I do and Phantom whined briefly, he must have felt it too. "Sorry, sore subject?" I guessed.
They looked at each other briefly. "Were actually looking for him." Sam said rather coolly and I let the subject drop, there was obviously a lot going on there and I didn't want to pour salt in the open wound.
"Okay, well down to business, your told Bobby you think these kidnappings could have something to do with what you went through?" Dean asked.
I took a deep breath, "well yeah, I mean this is the 3rd kid to disappear this month, it just seems fishy." I explained getting up and grabbing the papers that had the articles in them handing them to the boys. "I don't know, it just rubs me the wrong way." Every time I moved, Phantom was at my heels.
When I got upset, I paced, so Phantom paced right along with me. "Look, I know I'm not a hunter, I never wanted to, but Todd and LeAnn taught me well, I can take care of myself now. I'm not worried about me, I'm worried about the kids. Someone or something is taking them, maybe it's not vampires, it could just be regular sick people, I just don't know, but someone needs to take a deep look at everything. I don't want another kid to go through what I had to, that was just too horrible." I rambled, yet another thing I did when I got upset.
Dean got up and blocked my pacing around the room laying his hands on my shoulders. Phantom growled softly and I looked down at him and told him to shush. "You know when Bobby called, he gave us all the details."
"Oh. Well sorry for the recap then." I murmured going red.
Sam chuckled lightly on the couch, "see, she still blames everything on herself."
I looked at Sam then back to Dean confused. "We just wanted to se you. After we left we made sure to ask Bobby how you were from time to time. When he told us who it was that called we immediately got in the car and drove here." Sam explained and left me confused, Bobby never told me the boys asked about me.
The blush on my face deepened. I felt completely flabbergasted. I assumed once they left, that was it for them and they never gave me another thought.
"For the record, we do think there is a case here." Sam informed me, which left me feeling better. I wasn't as crazy as I thought I was. I gave Dean another shy smile and took a deep breath.
"Were gonna look into everything in the morning, we just wanted to swing by, see if you wanted to catch up. Grab a bite to eat maybe."
Honestly 20 minutes ago I wanted nothing more than take a long hot bath, but given the chance, I actually wanted to go out, which was not like me. April always wanted to go out on the town, but I always turned her down.
"Okay." I said and bit my lip. I was so unsure of myself. I looked down and realized that I was still in my white button down shirt and dress pants. "Give me a sec to change?" I asked the boys who both smiled and nodded. I walked quickly into my bedroom and closed the door behind me. I took another deep breath and let it out. I never cared how I 'looked'. I dressed nice for work and had jeans and tee shirts, but I actually wanted to dress up. I never realized how much I actually missed the Winchester boys. As quickly as I could I went through my closet and found a red top April had bought me for my last birthday. She said she was tired me seeing me in either business wear, or baggy tee-shirts and jeans. I pulled that on quickly and found my favorite dark jeans. I looked at myself in the mirror again and thought I actually looked okay. I reapplied some blush and took one more steadying, deep breath.
When I stepped out of my room both boys looked at me in surprise. "What?" I asked suddenly feeling self conscience.
"Well we just figured we would be waiting like an hours." Sam replied and I laughed.
"Sorry to disappoint, I'm not too fussy about that type of things."
"We didn't even get to snoop through your stuff." Dean remarked with a grin. I opened my closet and grabbed a light jacket since it was kind of cook out tonight. "You wouldn't find anything good except my weapons." I replied shrugging into my jacket.
Dean scoffed, "Yeah, I bet.
I looked at him with mild irritation. My closet was still open so I grabbed my shotgun, cocked it, and pointed it at Dean, his grin vanished almost instantly, thought Sam burst into laughter. "She showed you!" Sam gave Dean a shove.
"I bet you could search my whole place and not find all my hiding places."
Dean seemed impressed. "I told you I can take care of myself now. I'm not just some girl who can be taken lightly anymore." I informed him.
Since I was standing near the door, Phantom was ready to leave, but I thought it would be best to leave him at home. "Sorry bud, you gotta stay home tonight, but keep an eye out for me," I said while scratching behind his ear. I grabbed my purse and turned to the two waiting boys. "Ready?" I asked feeling shy all over again.
They left and I locked the door behind me. I followed them out to the parking lot and was shocked. "Is that your dad's car?" I asked.
Dean broke out into a huge grin. "Yeah, that's my baby." Sam looked at me and rolled his eyes. I had every intention of driving myself, but as I moved towards my car, Dean grabbed me by the shoulder, "oh no, don't think your not gonna ride in her, you get shotgun."
So that's how I found myself riding shotgun next to Dean going for a night on the town. I felt every bit of 16 all over again.
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Thanks for the awesome reviews guys, I get surprised every time I check my email and I see them in there, they really do mean a lot to me.
Desiree'