14

It was weeks before the haze off happiness cleared and Nina was forced back to reality. Sam had found another job for them. It was just a few towns over but they would be leaving. Again. She tried really hard not to focus on that part. Instead choosing to think about how brave they were and how noble it was to want to help people. To save people. And how selfish she would be to ask them not to go. To not ask him not to go. Dean. Her Dean was going to leave her. It didn't matter that it was only for a few days. Routine haunting Sam had called it. None of this was routine to her but if Sam was confidant then Nina would find comfort it that.

She lay in Dean's arms that morning before they headed out. Listening to the slow rhythmic beat of his heart, she smiled softly. He was everything to her. "love you." she whispered the words softly.

"What are you thinking about gorgeous?" She pulled back at his words. She had been sure he was still asleep.

"You'll be careful?" Fear crept into her voice despite her best effort to sound calm.

"Don't I always?" She gave him a look that made him smile. She didn't like when he answered her questions with a question. That deflection might work on Sam or Bobby but she had his number. "Okay sorry, Yes I will be careful."

"Promise me Dean." the fear was lessening.

He stopped rubbing slow circles on her bare back and took her face in his hands. Staring into her golden eyes he smiled. "I promise Nina." He sealed his words with a kiss. Wanting her to feel his sincerity. He had been reckless and a risktaker in the past and he supposed that would never completely go away. It was as much a part of him as the flirting and the sarcasm but that was all before her. Before he had something to come home to. Before her face lit the way back. "I will always come back to you."

Nina smiled back at him. She knew how hard it was for him to have these" chick flick" moments as he called them. He wasn't big into telling her how he felt. But she didn't care because he showed it to her in a thousand ways everyday, "You better or I will kick your ass."

There were all standing on the porch an hour later. No one said the word good bye. It wasn't necessary. Nina waited as Dean whispered something to Bobby she couldn't quite here. Not that she needed to. They had avoided the topic but they were both thinking about it. With Dean gone would her nightmares return? She could guess that Dean was telling bobby in no uncertain terms that he had better be kept in the loop. Nina had assumed that would be the case and that was why she had no intention of letting bobby know about her nocturnal patterns this time.

She hugged Sam tight. "Keep him safe." He smiled at her. Amused that for once he wasn't the only one worrying about Dean.

"Really? You think so little of your man that you need to tell the jolly green giant to look out for him?" Dean came forward and swept her into his arms. Uncaring of who could see him. He had broken his own rule of PDA rather quickly. It was just too dam hard to keep his hands off of her. Even if it was only to brush a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Not to mention if he had to drag her out of the room every time he wanted to kiss her he would never be able to finish a conversation with Sam or Bobby.

With his face hovering over hers suggestively he smirked. "Am I not Dean Winchester? Slayer of Evil?" She giggled. It was a line from one of Chuck's books that she had quoted to him whenever he was being unbearable cocky.

"Yeah you're a Jedi knight." She leaned forward and kissed him. She refused to think about anything but happy thoughts. There would be time to mope after he was gone but before he and Sam drove away he would see her smiling face. "Love you." She whispered the words into his mouth as he pulled away.

Dean gave a brief glance over to Sam and Bobby and then looked back at Nina. "Yeah me too." His words were gruff and quiet. But Sam didn't miss it. He kept the shocked look off his face by coughing into his hand. "Get in the car before I kick your ass."

"Whatever you say tough guy." Sam smiled brightly as he slid into the passenger seat.

Dean didn't look back as he drove away. They would be back in a few days. Nothing but a simple salt and burn job. So what did it say about him that for the first time in maybe his entire life wasn't looking forward to being back on the road? He sighed to himself. In the span of a few short months Nina had turned him into a regular Nancy boy. She had him wrapped around her little finger. Of course he wasn't going to complain. She made him happier than he had ever though possible. She loved him, damaged goods and all, Just the though of it made him smile again. He shook his head. Time to get his game face on. There would be plenty of time to show her how much she meant to him when the job was done and he was back home with her.

Dean felt a chill go down his spine at that thought. Home? No place since Lawrence had fit that description. Sure they had stayed in actually houses before but a home was so much more than just a place to lay your head. Home was a dream Dean vaguely remembered before the YED had killed his mom. Home was something normal people had.

"so we should check out the house tonight." Dean was forced back to reality by Sam's voice.

"Yeah that sounds like a plan Sam." God he was such a freaking girl.

"We will be back before you know it Dean."

"Did I say anything Sammy?" Dean was annoyed. Sometimes it was a huge pain in the ass that Sam knew him so well.

"You know you don't always have to be the tough guy." Sam knew there was no point in pushing Dean but sometimes he couldn't help it. He just needed to be sure Dean knew he was here for him.

"I really don't want to talk about this Sam." Dean's voice was deep and dark and held a note of menace but Sam wasn't fooled. He knew the bravado hid Dean's fear.

"All I'm saying is I would miss her too if I were you." Sam kept pushing. Sometimes he wondered if he was a masochist.

"Yeah well I'm not you."

"No kidding." Sam mumbled under his breath

"Dammit Sam. Don't you think I know she deserves better? Why couldn't she have fallen for you? You would know the right things to say and do and you would be able to tell her the 3 little words she wants to hear but instead she got me. Broken, stupid and not anywhere near good enough."

"Dean that's not what I meant." Sam was apologetic. The only thing worse than Dean not talking was Dean selling himself short.

"Maybe not Sammy but it's the truth." Dean's voice was soft.

"You're right you are stupid. Stupid not to see how wrong you are. Stupid not to be able to see yourself. Dam you for making me say this. You think she deserves better than you? I wish I was half the man you are." Sam looked away embarrassed.

"Aw Sammy, Aren't you just the sweetest little thing," Dean singsonged the words at his brother. It wasn't the best answer but it broke the tension in the car.

"Bitch" was Sam's only reply.

"Jerk" Dean couldn't help but smile.

AN more than half way. WHAT WILL HAPPEN dun dun dun…. Que evil music.

Reviews please. So many of you are reading. How about letting me know what you like and what you don't like? Please, Please. Please. Why must you make me beg! Cruel!