Disclaimer: I only own Stephanie, because she's me. Even though I wish I owned those sexy Winchesters...I don't. Boo-hoo!

A/N: Okay, My deepest apologies for this update being a day late...I tired to post last night but fanfiction decided to hate me. Ain't life grand? lol

SciFiRN- Thank you sweetie for all your help; with this story and with everything in general. It sounds a bit pathetic that I've never met my best friend, but I don't care. You are my best friend, I can't help that I've never met you. lol

When Sam finished Stephanie moved to the other bed and picked at the sandwich Sam had brought back for her as she finished off the beer Dean finally gave back to her.

She yawned and tossed the sandwich onto the bedside table. She stretched, grimaced when the stitches pulled and then complained. "Ever get so tired you can't fuckin' sleep?" She glanced to the brothers.

Sam was sprawled across his bed, one foot half hanging off and when he didn't answer she giggled. "Guess not, Sam."

She looked to Dean as he moved from the bathroom.

He nodded and yawned back. "Yeah, but not right now...could sleep for a week." He checked the salt lines and then flopped onto the bed.

Dean rolled to his side, facing Stephanie. He looked at her and realized how pale she was; how young, tired and fragile she appeared. He sighed and brushed hair from her face as he cleared his throat.

She smiled and turned her face toward his hand.

"Steph..."

"Hmm?" She shifted a bit to her side and opened her eyes.

"I'm really sorry..."

She shook her head and frowned. "It's not your fault...you weren't there..but I know what you mean."

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that, but also about earlier." He shifted up on his elbow and looked down at her. "I shouldn't have let things get out of hand like they did."

Stephanie sighed and tensed beside him, as the feeling that she had finally got through to him sank away. She frowned in disappointment.

"I took advantage of the situation. You were hurting and confused and you'd been drinking. I was an ass to take advantage of you and I'm sorry." He paused and watched her face. "Steph, look at me."

She sighed and looked up at him. "Please Dean...don't...." She shook her head. "Just stop."

Dean reached out, his hand hovered before he dropped it with a sigh. "I need to apologize. It wasn't right, in fact it's all kinds of wrong."

Stephanie suddenly sat up, gasping when her side ached. She grabbed at it with one hand and punched Dean's arm with the other. "Fuck, I can't believe how dense you are." She glared at him. "Haven't you got it yet? Damn it. I wanted it. You didn't take advantage of shit."

"Shh, baby..." He couldn't help but smile at her anger as he reached up to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Just calm down and listen to me." He sat up and gently held her arm. "Right now you're still drunk, we're both exhausted and later you'll see what I mean. You're more than ten years younger than me, your uncle trusts me to keep you safe and then when you have an emotional crisis I dive right in and start foolin' around with you." He ran a hand through his hair. "That's fucked up, Steph."

Her eyes narrowed and she shook her head. He was so damn stubborn and stupid and, she turned toward him. "Oh...you're such an idiot." Her voice rose with emotion. "Fuck you. I want more than what we just did, but hell, if you think you took advantage of me then..." She swallowed and moved away from him. "What would you've thought if we would've actually fucked?"

Dean watched as she moved away from him and saw the sadness on her face. He closed his eyes and rubbed at the back of his neck. "Stephanie, I'm only trying to think about what's best for you." He gave her a small smile. "With the shit I'm dealing with you have to know that getting involved with me isn't best for anyone...not by a long shot. I don't want to hurt you."

Her feet found the floor and she stood inhaling deep breaths while her eyes flamed at the man in front of her. "You didn't answer my question and damn it, I'm not talking about a relationship. What would've happened if we would've fucked, Dean?"

He sighed in defeat, his eyes drifting to the comforter. "I don't know. I wish I had an answer for you, but I don't. I just don't know."

She glared at him, still angry. She refused to let him win. "Well you better fuckin' figure it out because there is one thing that's not gonna change." She slid onto the bed on her knees, moving until she knelt in front of him. She rested her hands on his shoulders and she leaned in close, just barely brushing against him.

Her eyes found his as her hands brushed along his collarbones. "I want you, Dean; and nothing you say is going to change that."

Dean ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "Steph..."

She shook her head and covered his mouth. "Shut up, it's your turn to listen. I want you and I plan on having you. You can fight it if you want, but it's not because I'm drunk, or emotionally unstable or tired." She let her fingers drag over his lips, watching as his full lips fell open. Then she bent and brushed her lips against his making sure her teeth nipped softly as his bottom lip. "What we did earlier...god, that felt great, but it's not what I want..." Her hands drifted into his hair. "It's not what I need and it's not where I want things to end." She kissed him again, this time using her tongue to tease open his lips and then pulling back just as he started to kiss her. "I promise you one thing, Dean Winchester. Not now, and maybe not tomorrow, but one day and one day soon..." She pressed a kiss to his lips, her tongue moving into his mouth, tasting him. Her voice was heavy and thick when she continued. "You and I are gonna fuck." She pulled back, caught his eyes and flashed him a dangerous smile. "And I always keep my promises."

Dean growled and rested his forehead against Stephanie's. "You are too stubborn for your own good." He chuckled and then kissed her forehead. "Fine, if that's the way you want it, but I'm gonna play hard to get."

"Yeah, yeah...Dean Winchester, hard to get. I've heard that about you." She snorted and rolled her eyes before letting herself fall back onto the bed. "Right now though...I'm exhausted."

Dean laughed and stretched out beside her. "Me too, just stick to your side of the bed, Jackson...got it? And don't go stealing all the blankets like last time. I almost froze to death."

She snorted and pulled the blanket up to her waist as she rolled to her side to face Dean. "What's with you and Sam callin' me by my last name?" She watched him shrug and she rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Winchester." She leaned close to his ear. "And you have no reason to worry, baby. I'll keep you warm. If I steal the blankets feel free to snuggle. I promise to share my body heat, and if you're lucky my hand might wander." She winked, kissed his cheek and settled into her pillow. "G'night, Dean."

Dean couldn't help but smile. "You're a smartass, you know that? Now shut up and go to sleep." His eyes drifted shut and he rolled to face the door as he pulled the blankets up to his shoulders.

Then Stephanie's cellphone started playing Creedence Coldwater Revival's 'Fortunate Son'.

Dean groaned and threw an arm over his eyes, he was never getting to sleep. "Who's that?"

Stephanie slid off the bed and started looking for her phone. "Uncle Bobby."

Dean snorted a laugh. "That's the ringtone you have for Bobby?"

Stephanie sighed when she pulled the black phone from the pocket of her jeans that were laying on the floor. "Yeah." She slid the phone open. "Hey, Uncle Bobby."

'Hey, kid. How ya been?'

Stephanie could hear the smile in his voice and she couldn't prevent the smile that curved her lips, even as she sighed and layed back on the bed beside Dean. "Well, we got our first job wrapped up."

'Good job, Killer. What was it?' She could hear the pride in his voice.

"The spirit of a preacher that abused his daughter was guttin' people and hangin' 'em with their intestines. Sounds fun, huh?"

'Y'all make out okay?'

Dean glanced at her. Even he could sense the concern in Bobby's voice, and he couldn't even hear him that good.

Stephanie sighed and stretched. "Oh no, we're fine. I got 82 stitches up my right side, a rune carved into my forearm, the brand of a perverted-ass preacher burned into my inner thigh and a pretty nasty bruise on the side of my face. But other than that, I'm just peachy."

Dean groaned and covered his eyes again.

'Damn it, Stephanie. I told them boys to take care of you. I told YOU to take care of YOU.' He sighed, long and weary. Stephanie could see him dragging his hand across his beard. 'You sure you're alright, Hun.'

Stephanie snorted a laugh. Bobby only called her 'Hun' when he was really worried about her. "Yes, Uncle Bobby I'm fine. I promise, wouldn't lie to you, ya know."

Bobby sighed again, but this time it was a convinced sigh. 'Well, about all I can do is take your word for it, huh?'

Stephanie smiled into the phone. "Guess so. Look Uncle Bobby, we haven't been to bed in a couple days and we were just layin' down when you called-"

Bobby interrupted her. 'Say no more. I'll call in a day or two, but let me talk to one of the boys before you go.'

Stephanie sighed and glanced to Dean. "Sam's sleeping already, but Dean's still up."

"Well he'll do. Put him on the phone...I love you, kid."

Stephanie's eyes lit up a little when she smiled. "I love you too, old man." She held the phone out to Dean. "He wants to talk to you."

Dean groaned and shook his head. He knew Bobby was going to bitch him out about something. He mouthed, "Do I have to?"

Stephanie rolled her eyes. "Talk to him before he starts to get susupicious." She hissed, as she pressed the phone into Dean's hand.

He grabbed the phone and then lay back onto his pillow. "Yeah Bobby, what's up?"

Bobby grunted forcefully in his ear. 'You're supposed to be keeping that girl safe.' He growled with anger. 'So, how'd she get cut up so bad and who the hell patched her up?'

Dean rubbed tiredly at his eyes. "The spirit we were after only attacked girls who were-"

Stephanie was suddenly in Dean's face. Her eyes wide with panic. She shook her head side to side, whispering, "No, no...he doesn't know, Dean...remember?"

Dean nodded at her and held a finger to his lips to quiet her.

'What the hell was he after, Dean?' Dean was shocked to hear how frantic Bobby's voice got. 'Shit boy, what the hell's wrong with you?'

He watched Stephanie's face while he answered. "Yeah, the preacher went after girls who were in their teens and he attacked Stephanie while she was doing the ritual to get rid of him. Sam's the one that patched her up."

Bobby sighed. 'She okay then?'

Dean drew his eyebrows together and pulled his face the way he and Sam did when they imitated Bobby. He shook his head and frowned when Stephanie started to giggle. "She's good, really. She's sore and shook up, but she's fine, Bobby. I wouldn't lie to you." He glanced to Stephanie and nodded.

'Boy, you better not be makin' that stupid ass face.' Bobby scolded, reminding Dean of when he was twelve and got caught smoking in the junkyard.

Dean snorted and cleared his throat. "Bobby, I uh, don't know what you're talking about."

Bobby's gruff voice all but cut him off. 'Yeah, like hell, son. Just remember. She better be okay, you better keep her safe, Dean. I don't need to tell you how much she means to me, do I?'

"Nah, I got it." He caught Stephanie's eyes. "She's special."

'So, you guys getting along?'

Dean yawned and stretched. "Yeah, we're good...a little adjusting, but we're figuring it out."

Bobby paused and Dean could hear the hesitant smile in his voice. 'Alright then, stay safe...all of you. I'll check back with you in a few days. See ya, Son.'

"Yeah Bobby, see ya." Dean slid the phone closed and tossed it to Stephanie. "Now, I'm sleeping. Nothin' is keeping me from sleeping. I don't even care if Angelina is in the backseat of the Impala. Just take a picture and I'll appreciate it later."

He sighed and curled back onto his side, hand beneath his pillow resting lightly on the handle of his knife.

A/N: Well, gonna let me know what you guys think? Reviews have been a little slower than usual lately; hate to think I'm starting to lose my touch.