Lyssa sipped her coffee and walked across the parking lot. It was eight o'clock and the sun was making its way across the sky. She had seen it rise. She had been up for four hours already.

She juggled the box of donuts and the tray with the three other coffees on her knee as she unlocked the motel door. She quietly walked in placing the coffee and donuts on the table. She shut the door and saw Dean still asleep. The blankets were twisted around his legs. She smiled sadly and pulled off her hoodie.

She had laid in bed next to Dean for what seemed like hours feeling him toss and turn in his sleep. She had finally rolled over and wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled close to him. His back to her chest. He had finally settled down and fell into a peaceful sleep. She on the other hand had tried to sleep but had had nightmares. She had gotten up at four and began to read the file Jo had given.

Interesting stuff. Three men had disappeared by the docks as their boats came in. They had turned up later missing certain body parts; eyes, ears, noses and most note worthy, their genitals. Something told Lyssa that Sam and Dean wouldn't be getting into the water anytime soon.

Dean rolled over and went to pull Lyssa in his arms. He found the place next to him empty. He opened his eyes. Lyssa was gone. He sat up and saw her standing by the table glancing at the file.

"You're up early," he said getting up and climbing out of bed.

"Yeah decided to get to work. Brought coffee and donuts," Lyssa said trying to avoid looking at Dean who was only in his boxers. Did he have any idea what he did to her?

Probably hence why he's doing it, she thought.

"Really? Thanks."

Dean walked up to the table and grabbed a coffee. He opened the box of donuts and selected a glazed one. He bit into it. He turned and saw Lyssa head for the door.

"Where you going?" he asked his mouth full.

"To wake up the two love birds. So they can have some donuts before you eat them all," she said smiling.

"I would not eat them all."

"Yeah, you would. And get dressed."

***

Artie moaned and pulled the blanket over her head. She heard Sam walking around the room. She didn't want to get up. She wanted to sleep in and stay in this warm bed.

Sam ran the towel though his hair again. He turned and saw Artie still in bed. He walked over and shook her.

"You going to get up?" he asked.

"Tomorrow," came the reply.

"You'll miss out on your first job."

"Probably just going to be research anyway."

"True but... It is exciting."

"Who are you kidding, geek boy."

Artie felt Sam pull the covers down. She smiled at him when he could see her face. He leaned in and kissed her. She kissed him back.

"Alright, you two rabbits, I brought breakfast so come and get it before Dean eats it all," Lyssa said banging on the door.

"Coming. Artemis refuses to get up," Sam called.

"Artie, roll your ass out of bed already. Who do you think you are? Cleopatra?"

"Yes!"

"Please. Get up."

Sam smiled when Artie gave Lyssa the finger, not that her sister could see. She then shoved Sam aside.

"I' can't believe you squealed on me," she pouted.

"Sorry but I'm hungry. Burned off those burgers hours ago."

"Thanks. Gives me up for food. What a great guy."

"Nope, I'm just a Winchester. We have these rules; family, hunting, food, girls. Sorry, I didn't make them."

"And a smartass too? I hit the jackpot."

Artie smiled when Sam laughed. She reached by the side of the bed and grabbed his t-shirt. She pulled it on then climbed out of bed. She walked over to her duffel bag. She grabbed a fresh pair of underwear and jeans. She pulled both on in front of Sam. She grabbed her sneakers and slipped them on.

"Ready," she said opening the door.

"You serious?" Sam asked.

"Dude, I'm going to have breakfast with you, Dean and Lyssa. You guys aren't exactly royalty. No matter what my sister says."

"Alright."

Sam followed her. Artie was so different from Jessica. Jess wouldn't leave the apartment without lip-gloss and mascara. Sometimes Sam would have to wait for her for hours. Artie just rolled out of bed and wanted to go. He'd need some time to adjust.

***

Lyssa grabbed the pictures from a now fully dressed Dean and sat on them. He glared at her as he ate his third donut. She didn't want him to see the pictures of the bodies. They were pretty graphic.

"Bambi, I was looking at those," he said.

"Not at breakfast you aren't," she said sipping her coffee. She had looked at the pictures and lost her appetite. Looking at the donuts now her stomach did flip flops.

"Lyssa, give me the pictures."

"How about no?"

"Lyssa."

"Dean," she said sweetly asking herself why she was protecting him anyway.

"Give me the pictures."

"No. Eat your breakfast."

Dean was seriously getting frustrated. He ate the donut and drank the rest of the coffee. He stood up and threw the cup in the garbage. He held his hand out to Lyssa. She just looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Pictures now," he told her.

"Dean, I... They aren't pretty," she whispered.

"Oh, I know. But I need to see them to see if I can-."

"Have more nightmares about Hell and torturing the souls? Sure, why not. Have fun."

She grabbed the pictures and shoved them at Dean. She stood up and walked to the couch. She sat on it and pulled her knees up to her chest. She heard Dean looking though the pictures. She closed her eyes. Only a few hours of sleep made her bitchy; she needed more coffee.

Dean looked at the pictures. He glanced over at Lyssa but decided to leave her alone. He heard the door open. He looked up and saw Sam and Artie walk in.

"Hey, are there any donuts left?" Artie asked.

"Here on the table," Dean said going back glancing at the pictures again.

"So, you got the file from Jo?" Sam asked.

"Yeah. Sammy, look at these. What do you think could do this?"

Sam grabbed one picture and stopped reaching for the donuts. The picture was one of a naked man. There was a bloody patch where his genitals use to be. The shot was close enough that Sam could see the bite marks that had ripped off the guys nether parts.

"Thanks, Dean. Just what I wanted to see with my morning coffee," Sam said dryly.

"Glad I could help."

"Ewww. Gross, what would do that?" Artie asked looking at the picture.

"Mermaid," Lyssa answered from the couch.

"Mermaid? No way. The Little Mermaid did this?" Artie asked.

"Walt Disney crap. Mermaids are actually very mean and don't like humans, especially men too much. Except to eat of course."

"So mermaids are real?" Dean asked dropping the pictures on the table. First angels now mermaids; what was next, the Pillsbury dough boy?

"Apparently. The men were fisherman. According to the reports Jo got, the other men on the boats say that all three men claimed to see a red-haired naked woman crying for help in the water. They jumped overboard to save her and vanished," Lyssa explained.

"Until they turned up the next afternoon missing body parts," Dean finished.

"Yep."

"If it's a mermaid, how do we kill it?" Sam asked.

"I started looking into it but I couldn't find anything."

"Lyssa, how long have you been awake?" Artie asked seeing the books and papers on the table.

"A few hours. No biggie."

Sam looked at Dean. Dean looked at his brother with a look of innocence on his face. Sam glared at him. Dena raised an eyebrow.

"What?" Dean finally asked.

"What did you do?" Sam asked.

"Dean didn't do anything. I just couldn't sleep," Lyssa said.

"So, what's the plan now?" Artie asked changing the subject.

"We check out the docks tonight to see if we really are dealing with a mermaid," Dean said.

"And research how to kill it," Sam added.

Artie moaned. She hated research. She drank some coffee and slumped down in a chair.

"Research? Can't we just go out there and shoot it?" she asked.

"No. Welcome to the wonderful exciting world of hunting," Dean said.

"Oh, I can hardly contain myself."

Lyssa sat quietly on the couch. She sipped her coffee and tried to push out the feel of Dean's lips on hers. Or how his body had felt against hers last night. She had wanted so badly to wake him up and tell him she had changed her mind, that she was willing to have sex with him. Then sleep had claimed her and she had been greeted by her usual nightmares.

I can't do it; she thought to herself, I can't just give myself to him. No matter how much I want to. I need the words too.

"Hey, Lyssa you going to have a donut?" Sam asked as the other three settled around the table.

"No, I'm fine," Lyssa said.

"You sure?" Dean asked.

"I'm good."

Artie ate a chocolate donut. She grabbed a second one and watched Dean; she fully expected him to grab another one. He didn't though.

"Sam, you want anymore?" he asked.

"Yeah, one more. Why?"

"I was going to put the rest in the fridge for Lyssa."

Artie smiled. Dean liked her sister. She looked at dean and he stared at her.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing, that's just sweet, is all."

Dean grabbed the box and got up. He placed it in the small fridge under the counter of the kitchenette. He turned and saw Lyssa still staring at the wall. He wondered what was wrong.

A/N: Sorry, I didn't post earlier had a test I needed to take. And I'm sorry if it seems like Dean is well... A little more emotional then he usually is. It's just my take on his character now that he's back from Hell. And in my defence, Season 4 has been like one long chick flick moment so far. At least in my opinion. He isn't the same Dean so, yeah. Oh, and warning for next chapter I make Jo into a real bitch, so just thought I'd tell you a head of time. See yeah.