"Well, you look like hell wound over, what happened?" Dean greeted them.
"Nice seeing you, too." June remarked and kicked off her heels. "We know who the Ruguru is."
"That was quick."
"That's because I'm extremely capable."
"Actually, you're just a freak of nature happening to be able to sense supernatural creatures," Sam remarked dryly.
"Whatever, ends up being the same," June shrugged. "Besides, unlike other freaks of nature in this room, I have a soul."
Dean groaned and ran a hand over his face. 'Here we go again…'
"Not like you use it much."
"That's because no human soul could possibly stand spending just one hour with you."
"I recall you being quite enthusiastic about spending time with me, and for longer than one hour, too."
"Alright, guys, why don't you interrupt your kinky talk and let us take out the Ruguru first?"
June shot Sam a final glare, then turned to Dean: "It's the chef of that restaurant."
"How'd you know?"
"Felt it."
"Care to elaborate?"
"Nope."
Dean turned to Sam exasperatedly. His younger brother, or the guy pretending to be him, anyways, raised his eyebrows. "See what I'm putting up with all the time?"
"As if you're any better," June snapped and darted into the bathroom.
After the door had fallen closed behind her, Dean asked: "Seriously, though, what happened?"
Sam sighed. "She had like a seizure, or attack, or whatever, and then she just knew it was that guy."
"I thought her freaky gift thing only worked on Alphas."
"Apparently not."
"I don't like this. I mean, where'd she get that from?"
"No idea. It doesn't sound like something Azazel would have done, you know, same deal as me? I don't think demons want anyone able to track them down."
"So if it isn't demonic, then what is it?"
"You got me."
"You know… there might be other stuff going on with her, too."
"Yeah, so?"
"Oh, right, I forgot you're into freaky and possibly evil girls, no pun intended."
"Ha-ha. Now that we've all had a good laugh, you mind elaborating?"
"Sam, we've got no clue what her angle really is! This girl suddenly developed a freakish radar for monsters, and we're not going to question that? I'm sorry, but June's taking this all a little too calmly for my comfort."
"That's because she doesn't care, Dean. Not any more than I do."
"Oh, there goes comfort of the year." Dean snapped sarcastically. His brother's soul was on the line here, and he wasn't willing to take people on board he wasn't sure about whose side they were on in the end.
Truth be told, he didn't think June was anything like Ruby, stringing them along to some evil master plan; no chick who listens to ACDC and drives a Chevy Impala could be downright wrong.
However, unless proven otherwise, Dean would not trust her 100%.
Smart girls who knew how to handle a weapon were generally on his 'Don't turn your back on them' list, and June was ranking especially high.
And women Sam found interesting were definitely on that list, too.
#
Sulking, June lay on the motel bed and stared up at the ceiling. Sam and Dean had gone to catch the Ruguru while she'd been ordered to stay behind; the official reason being that she was too strung out to hunt. June held the suspicion, though, that Dean didn't want to have her along; she couldn't even blame him for it. She didn't expect him to trust her fully, and it was his brother's soul this was all about. June wouldn't trust herself if she were in Dean's place, either.
With a sigh, June sat up, ignoring the protesting ache in her stomach, and flipped on the TV. For the first time in a long while, she actually longed for some luxury; a hot bubble bath sounded like a damn good idea right now. Maybe a massage. Ah, sweet luxury…
40 million dollars.
Even if she'd live to see her 70th birthday, which, taking the current circumstances into consideration, seemed damn unlikely, she'd never be able to spend that all; a short calculation told her she'd have to spend over 2000 dollars a day to be bankrupt at the age of 70. Not counting in the fair amount of interest that would be piled on top of all that.
'Money isn't worth anything…' June thought darkly, in a seldom moment of melancholy, 'Just like life is. Worthless, if there's no one to spend it with.'
Now, June couldn't exactly complain about a lack of suitors; ever since news about her father's death had spread and people thought her brother to be gone for good (as they rightly did, still June thought it very morbid) there were countless men just dying to put a ring on her finger and receive a credit card to her well-filled account in return. Did any of them care that she was merely 18 and had just lost her entire family? No.
Money could apparently heal anything; she had to learn that after her mother's alleged death thirteen years back.
She received ten calls a day from 'old friends' who 'just wanted to see how their dear friend June was doing'; in short: Money stunk to the heavens and called out all the suck-ups.
June knew all she had to do was choose her pick; she could have anyone she wanted.
James Morton, 23, good manners, decent taste when it came to art, gentleman and a considerable amount of money on his own (which he wouldn't mind doubling by marriage).
Sir John Fitzgerald, 22, volunteered in orphanages, of the English nobility, not wealthy but not yet poor. Somehow related to the English crown.
Basil Ivancan, 23, oil money, no outstanding personality other than he likes showing his wealth and likes spending his vacations on a yacht near Greece. Oh, and donates a dollar or two to some non-profit organisation. Said to be very charming and loving.
Yeah, there were a few others like them lined up, and June could have any one of them.
It just sucked ass that the only man she could ever think of wanting was a penniless hunter ten years her senior, whose greatest assets were his body and his smart mouth, and who wasn't precisely known for his tact, wealth or his commitment to the upstanding society. Oh, and he lacked his soul, since it was sharing a cell in hell with Lucifer and Michael.
June let out a rough laugh at the thought of showing up at a gala dinner with Sam at her side.
Her phone ripped her out of her contemplations: "Yeah."
"Pack up, princess, we got the Ruguru and are going to take him to Crowley straight away."
"Really, I thought we'd go to Disneyland first."
"If you don't watch it, we'll hand you over to Crowley, too."
"Aww, you'd really share your toys with the King of Hell? Now, that hurt, Sammy. But I completely understand you'd like temptation out of the way." June purred the last part.
"You know, with all your lusty, promiscuous and wannabe witty attitude, you'd really make a good demon, June."
"I've heard you liked screwing those, so I suppose I would make a good demon, yes."
June 2 – Sam 1.
#
June waited in the car while Sam and Dean delivered the Ruguru to the demons waiting outside.
Demons.
June shivered from the feeling they sent down her spine; kind of like the sound of nail on chalkboard, but sensual and not audible. She clenched her teeth together so tightly her jaw hurt, and hoped to heavens they'd be done here quickly.
The Winchesters, however, thought it suitable staying for a little chat.
Eventually, they came around and got back in the car.
"From your amused faces, I take it they didn't tell you where Crowley is."
Sam smiled sarcastically. "My, aren't you just the sharpest tool in the shed."
"Please. My sharp tongue is my best asset."
"Debatable."
"Have any other suggestions for that place, Sam?"
"None, actually. I've got several candidates for your worst attributes, though."
Dean frowned sceptically, but didn't interrupt their bantering for once. He began to have doubts; doubts about June's will to help them getting Sam's soul back.
'That girl's so screwed to hell, she's actually enjoying bickering with soulless Robo-Sam. No way would she want normal Sammy back.' It occurred to him as he steered the Impala back on the road. 'Then again: She doesn't know how my Sam is. What she doesn't know needn't concern her.'
June wouldn't be June, though, if these very thoughts hadn't occurred to her already. She decided postponing a decision until opportunity presented itself. For now, her main concern should be why she was having these feelings.
The crawling feeling the demons' presence had left on her skin still hadn't disappeared when they returned to the abandoned, ramshackle hut in the middle of nowhere they had made their shelter for the time being.
June had to admit that it was touching the limits of what she was willing to tolerate. Never would she admit, though, that she almost missed the perfect comfort of her millions-dollar mansion.
'What can I do, I'm just a girl, too,' June stepped out of the Impala and followed the Winchesters inside. 'I've got needs.'
She scratched her tingling spine. "Guys…"
"That's it, I'm done," Dean complained.
"With what?" Sam asked.
"Working for Crowley!"
"Guys." June started again.
"We're hunting, Dean, just like before."
"Yeah, with the difference being that now, I need a daily rape shower!"
"Guys!"
"What?" They asked simultaneously, equally unnerved.
"Something's wrong."
"Yeah, tell me about it." Dean huffed.
"No, I mean, like, wrong, here, now."
"Care to be less cryptic?"
June narrowed her eyes. "No need to take that snappy tone, Sam."
"I'll play a whole other tone if you don't talk business."
Dean shot a look at him, wondering again how any girl could fall for that cold-hearted son of a bitch next to him. June was seriously damaged.
"Cute, Sam. I'd love to see that, but I'm afraid it'll have to wait until you've taken out the demons next door."
Sam and Dean looked at each other, the younger brother quietly pulling out the demon-killing knife. "How many?"
"Do I look like an X-Ray machine to you? I've got no freaking clue." Not quite the truth, but there was only so much June was willing to share.
"B minus for you, Hallberg." Sam glowered and brushed past her, Dean closely following behind.
"Go wait outside, June."
"But-"
Dean glared at her, and she bit back a hiss before storming outside. It occurred to her – again – that she shouldn't have agreed to the terms of hunting with them so easily. She wasn't used to being ordered around, and much less was she used obeying.
After twenty minutes of counting stars – she reached 12 before losing her patience – and kicking up dirt, June grumbled: "Sod this." and marched back inside.
Just to find the Winchesters tied up nicely, facing each other and not looking all too pleased.
June laughed hollowly. "Well, look at that, Christmas came early this year."
"Not a word, Hallberg."
"Or what? You seem in no position to do anything at the moment." She smiled smugly. "Do tell me who I have to send the flowers to."
"When I come free of these ropes, June, I swear to God I'll tie you up and hand-deliver you to Crowley."
"The tying up part doesn't sound all too bad, Sam, I mean, I'm all for kinky sex, but there'd be that little problem with the Crowley part of finding him. Unless the demons who overpowered you just now happened to be able to tell you where he set up 'hell base camp'."
Dean rolled his eyes, making a mental note to give Meg an extra-painful death for making him sit defencelessly in the sexual tension between his brother and June.
"Not quite," He decided to interrupt this conversation before he'd be forced to witness any more of this talk. Or worse; actual action. June really would make a good demon, and that thought was way too uncomfortable to fully appreciate her untying him first.
"Thanks," He pressed out anyways. The second he was free, he left the room to clear his head.
"You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Oh, totally. It's like Christmas and Birthday together on one day." June smiled and slowly stepped closer towards Sam.
He hunched his broad shoulders and tried shaking the ropes off, but they were too tight as that he could dispose of them within seconds.
"Your time will come, princess, and when it does, don't count on me to untie you."
"Who said you'd be there, Sam? Seeing me tied up isn't a privilege granted to just anyone, you know."
"Oh, I'll be there."
"And you know that how?" June straddled his legs, provocatively pressing her body against his and brushing her lips over his jaw so faintly they didn't even touch it, just left behind the tickle of her breath.
Where that seductress in her came from, she had no idea, but she wouldn't go poking.
June teasingly ran her hand through his hair and looked into his eyes. Her lips hovered inches in front of his, and both of them were struggling to not lean forward that extra inch and meet the other's.
"Because I'll be the one tying you up."
"Promises, promises." June chanted mockingly, ran a fingertip over his lips.
They gazed into each other's eyes for a while, waiting for another to give in first and kiss the other, but they were both too damn proud for that. At least, for now.
"You know, the ropes aren't tied in front of me, June."
"Hm. My mistake." She breathed, then abruptly got up and rounded him. Her slender fingers nestled with the knots, and as she bent down, Sam could feel her breath on his neck. He wondered how Sam's soul would feel about June, and was almost scared of the answer.
He enjoyed June's company; as far as he could enjoy anything these days. The thought of missing it, of not being able to appreciate it, made the prospect of a soul much less appealing.
"So what now?" June inquired as she let Sam's restraints fall to the floor.
"Now we'll call Cass, then we'll hunt down Crowley."
"Who was Cass again?"
"The angel."
"Ah, right," June nodded, silently wondering when things like 'Oh, he's that angel I told you about' had started to sound normal.
The irony behind it all was that she had no use of angels anymore. The moment she had lost her faith in love, honour and family, her faith in God had gone, too. It was hard to believe in a good-hearted power when all you really saw was evil.
"And how you're going to find Crowley?"
"We're going to ask Samuel. He ought to know."
"I bet he's just dying to share, too."
"Well, if you were just a little more capable, you could tell us where Crowley was hiding out, but since you're not, we'll have to resort to other means."
"I'm so sorry that I have no clue how to work this monster radar thing, I must have forgotten the manual in my Gucci handbag back at home. Oh, wait, I never got one!"
"Guess you got to figure it out on your own."
"Suppose so. But if you want any of the apples of my tree, you better help watering it."
Sam turned around and looked at June, one eyebrow arched and amused smile playing around his lips. "I was under the impression that I've taken care of the watering already. You seemed wet enough."
"Oh, sugar, this so wasn't what I was referring to. Someone apparently was asleep during grammar class and missed all the action about metaphors. So let me help you translating: You better help me figure this stuff out, or you can go soul-searching all on your own while I ask dear old Crowley for a little guidance on how to work this thing."
Sam's eyes twitched. After a short moment of contemplation, he just said musingly: "The title 'demon whore' does suit you."
"You're the expert, Sam, you would know."
June 3 – Sam 1.
###
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