After the boys left, Grace helped Bobby get the word out to a few trustworthy hunters on what was about to go down. They needed to be prepared.

Sam and Dean were gone for a little over a month before they called to check in. Grace was more than relieved when Dean called Bobby one night around 11:00 to let him know how things were going. Bobby put him on speaker so Grace could listen in.

"This guy is all over the place," Dean said. "I've never seen someone travel so much in my life."

"You mean other than you and Sam who spend all day, every day in a car?" Bobby asked sarcastically.

"You can't count us, we're not normal people. The worst part is this guy is flying everywhere, Sam and I are trying to keep up in the car. We make it to the town he's in and he's already flying out. Tonight's the first night we actually made it in just about an hour after he did. He has a room in a hotel I'm staked out in front of now. Sam went up the street to another motel to get some sleep. He's not staying long in each stop. Good news is I used that listening device you gave us, Bobby, and I was able to pick up something as he was going into the hotel. He was on his cell, talking about regional inspections. I think that's what he's doing... checking on the progress for the big boss."

"Well, that's something," Bobby said.

"That's not all. He mentioned where he'll be going to give his report. Now, I can only guess he'll be reporting to Elistarr."

"I'd say that's a pretty good bet."

"So I'm thinking me and Sam should just go there and wait for him. We can follow him around, and hopefully he'll lead us to Elistarr."

"Sounds like a plan, son. You let me know if you need anything once you talk to Sam."

"Sure thing, Bobby. Hey, Grace?"

"Yeah."

"I need your help with something. I'm gonna call you on your cell so we don't keep Bobby's tied up."

"No problem. I have it right here."

"Later, Bobby."

Dean disconnected and Grace's phone rang a moment later.

"What's up?" she asked.

"What color underwear do you have on?"

Grace tried really hard to hide her shock and the big grin that was fighting to get through.

"Ummm... Yeah, I think I have that book up in my room. Give me a sec."

She said goodnight to Bobby and headed upstairs. Once her bedroom door was closed she put the phone back up to her ear.

"Are you crazy?!" she asked, half laughing.

"Probably. Answer the question."

"What makes you think I'm wearing any at all?"

Dean groaned. "You're killing me."

"Maybe you should come and do something about it."

"You know I can't."

"Why didn't you call sooner?"

"Honestly? So you and I don't blow our cover. Bobby's not our mother. We don't check in. Sometimes we don't get to talk to him for months, especially in surveillance situations. And if I would have called your phone directly it might have raised some flags. Not to mention this is the first time I've been alone for the past month."

There was silence for a moment, and then Dean whispered, "Say something that really makes me want to be there."

Grace laughed, "The no underwear thing wasn't enough?"

Dean let out a chuckle. "Fine, say something to let me know you want me there."

"What makes you think I want you here?"

"Call it a hunch," he said with a smile.

She hesitated, then closed her eyes and said very low, "My body really misses your hands."

She heard him groan again, "Baby, my hands miss your body."

"The way they caress my face, and your fingers in my hair."

"What else," he whispered.

"The way they felt on my thighs the last time we were together. And I miss your lips."

They were quiet for a few minutes, lost in the memory of their last time together. Finally Dean spoke again.

"Do me a favor?"

"Yeah?"

"Next time you take a shower... imagine my hands."

Grace smiled, "I'll go take one right now."

"Awesome. I'll be thinking about you. Just keep that in mind. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

She hung up the phone and grabbed a change of clothes. Dean thinking of her while she's taking a shower... he didn't have to tell her to keep that in mind. How could she get it out?

The next morning she was fixing breakfast when Bobby came in from outside.

"Mornin'"

"Mornin', Bobby. You want some?" she asked, motioning to the skillet.

"Naw, I ate already. Dean called again this morning. He and Sam were only about a day away last night when he called. They're headed here now. Should be here late tonight."

It was hard for her to hide her excitement, but she managed.

"I thought they were heading to the final stop for the demon?"

"Dean said something about needing help. They're probably gonna drag my tired, old ass to wherever they're goin'."

So, they weren't staying. Grace mentally scolded herself. What they were doing was important. Dean couldn't just be with her all the time.

She tried to distract herself for the rest of the day, unsuccessfully. It was a little after 10:30 when Sam came through the door with his duffel. Grace was sitting on the couch watching tv. Sam closed the door behind him. After a few minutes Grace had to ask.

"Where's Dean?"

"Downstairs trying to figure out what's making noise under the hood." He sat on the couch next to Grace. "What are you watching."

"Nothing on, really." She handed him the remote. She really wanted to see Dean, but she knew it would look weird for her to go out for no reason. A little later Sam had his feet up, and was starting to doze off when his phone rang.

"Yeah?... Okay, I'm coming." He turned to Grace as he got up. "Dean needs an extra flashlight."

Grace grabbed his arm. "I'll bring it to him."

"No, it's okay."

"Sam, you just got back from a month on the road. Just because Dean's not ready come inside from playing doesn't mean you can't. You rest... I'll get it."

She grabbed a flashlight and headed downstairs. Dean had his head under the hood. She walked up behind him and leaned in close to whisper in his ear.

"Did you enjoy the shower scene last night?"

He turned around and smiled at her. "You bet I did. When do I get to see the live show?" He reached out to pull her to him, but she backed up.

"What's wrong?"

"Your hands are covered in grease."

"So?"

"So... you'll ruin my clothes. Not to mention, if I walk back up there with grease stains all over, especially with where you like to put you hands..."

"Alright. Did you bring the flashlight?"

She held it up.

"Good. Come shine it right here for me."

Grace stayed with him until he finished working on the car. He used the outside faucet, and some cleaner Bobby kept handy outside to clean the grease from his hands. He walked over to Grace with an eye on the front door. He held is hands up in front of him.

"All clean."

"You know, seeing you under the hood, your hands all dirty... kinda hot."

He put his arms around her waist and kissed her. When she pulled back, he could tell something was wrong.

"You okay?"

"Bobby said you told him you needed help, and you were probably gonna drag him off with you."

"Yeah."

She pulled away from him.

"Dean, you can't leave me here by myself."

"Wait..."

"No. I've been in this house for months... months... with just an occasional trip to the store. The only time I didn't really mind being cooped up was while we were here together. But now you've been gone for a month."

"Grace..."

"I'm sure you found a girl or two to keep you company..."

"What?"

"But the only person I've been in contact with for more than two seconds is Bobby. And I love the guy, but..."

"Wait a minute!"

Grace finally stopped talking, and she saw the hurt look on Dean's face.

"First of all... I'm gonna need turpentine and a scrub brush to get that image out of my head. Second, you think I was picking up women while I was on the road?"

"I don't know. Isn't that what you do when you're on the road?"

"Well, yeah, but not when I'm... Look, I might be a lot of things, but I don't cheat."

Grace blinked. "You would consider it cheating?"

The look he gave her was silently asking if she was stupid.

"Dean... Look, I didn't want to get all girly and have the 'where is this going' conversation, but it looks like we at least have to figure out where we are now."

Dean pulled her back into his arms and looked into her eyes.

"I don't really know where we are, but whatever it is that we have going on... It's just you and me. Even if we're apart for a while."

He kissed her gently on the lips.

"And we're not leaving you behind."

"No?"

"No... We were going to talk about it in the morning."

She grabbed his face and kissed him hard. He backed her up against the Impala and ran his hands down her torso. Her hands went to his pants, but he grabbed them.

"One of them is going to come out here if we stay gone much longer."

She moved her hands into his hair and kissed him one last time as he pulled away.

He motioned to the door. "You go in first. I need some time... to recover."

Grace laughed and grabbed the flashlight before heading back inside.