25

"Peace offering." Dean stated, handing the plate to Abbie.

"You didn't need to." She looked up at him, he cursed himself for not seeing how stressed she was.

"Least I can do after eating your lunch."

"Sam told you." She laughed. "Peace offering huh?"

"I shouldn't have walked out earlier." He sat down beside her on the bed. "I'm sorry."

"It's ok." Abbie took a bite of her sandwich. "'Thanks for the sandwich."

"Sorry I ate yours." Dean smiled, "You know, it wouldn't have happened if you'd eaten it."

"Wasn't hungry."

"And I'm so resisting the urge to lecture you about looking after yourself. You know, things will be easier if you don't make yourself ill." Abbie raised her eyebrows at him, "Lecture over. Did you know about Sam's plan?"

"Plan?" Had Sam told Dean about the crossroads plan?

"He's going to stick with basic hunts, salt and burns, poltergeists. We continue our break and let him know when we want back in."

"You guys are splitting up?"

"Just for a couple of weeks, he wants back out there and I don't right now. He'll be fine." Dean assured her, "He's leaving in the morning."

"Is this because of today? You and Sam aren't talking to each other because of me?"

"No, Sam and I are fine, this is about me and you, and making this work. I'm not used to the whole relationship thing, you know? And I need to learn not to just walk out when things are hard." Dean admitted, "So, for the next while, it's just me and you."

"Seriously?" Abbie asked.

Dean nodded, "Let's get those sutures out, hmmm? Promise I'll be gentle." Dean worked quietly, removing the sutures, then looked up at Abbie with a satisfied grin. "All done. Nice scar you got there."

"I'll live." Abbie commented. "You ok with letting Sam go off and do this?"

"You know what, I think I am." Dean answered, "He's a big boy and I won't be around forever. I'm sure he'll be fine."

"Just make sure he knows to check in with us regular, even if it's just a quick phone call."

"Man, you sound like my dad." Dean had to laugh. "Sam knows to check in, we've been doing this all our lives."

"I know, I just worry, that's all."

"I'm sure Sam appreciates it." Dean told her, "You get some sleep, I'm just going back down to see Sam, k?"

"Sure." She handed him her empty plate to take back downstairs. "Night Dean."

Dean walked back down to where Sam had settled himself on the sofa. "You know, there's two beds upstairs. No need to wreck your back."

"You and Abbie ok?" Sam asked, surprised to see Dean back. "Did she throw you out?"

Dean presented the empty plate as proof they were ok, "Took her sutures out, made her eat something, apologised. We're fine."

"Wow, you apologised?" Sam smirked, "You are so whipped."

"Am not." Dean mumbled, sitting on the recliner.

"Are too, Dean, when do you ever cook for anyone? Ok, grilled cheese isn't a fancy dinner,but still."

"You'd have starved if I didn't cook for you growing up."

"That's not what I'm talking about." Sam laughed, "Whipped."

"I'm whipped, huh?" Dean commented, "You need to check in with us everyday you're out hunting." Dean grinned, "Abbie's orders."

"Dean..."

"Hey, you don't check in, she stresses and I get it in the neck..."

"K." Sam admitted defeat.

"Whipped." Dean declared smugly, "You coming upstairs? You got a long drive ahead of you tomorrow."

"Sure." Sam answered, following Dean upstairs, to where Abbie was already asleep.

"You're sure you want to do this, Sam?" Dean asked, quietly, "Don't feel you need to just because of me and Abbie. We like having you around."

"I'm sure, Dean. You enjoy the down time, ok?" Sam told him, climbing into the empty bed.

"Oh, I intend to." Dean laughed, climbing into the bed beside Abbie. "Bobby's got a '65 Cougar he wants me to help him fix up."

"Does Abbie know that your break is going to be spent under the hood of a car?" Sam asked, laughing.

"I won't be working on the car 24/7!" Dean protested.

"Yeah, you'll be stopping for food." Sam answered, smirking. "Night Dean."

"Night Sammy."

(Next morning)

"Morning Abs." Dean walked into Bobby's kitchen, seeing her at the table, with a coffee and a newspaper. "On your own?"

"Sam and Bobby are in the yard looking for a car that Sam can use." She explained, putting down her paper. "Coffee?"

"That would be great." He grinned, walking over to Bobby's door to the yard.

"I'll bring it out." Abbie smiled, standing up to make the coffee.

"Yeah, I think this one would be good, Bobby. Not like the soccer mom mobile we had before." Dean could hear Sam and Bobby laughing. "Hey." Sam greeted him with a smile. "What do you think of my new ride?"

"Nothing compared to my baby." Dean laughed, while Abbie cleared her throat behind him. "You're not jealous of a car, are you? You know the Impala's my baby." Abbie raised her eyebrows. "You're my sweetheart."

"Yeah right, I know I'll always come second to that heap of metal." She smirked.

"You did not just call her a heap of metal. Seriously." Dean frowned, while Sam and Bobby watched the exchange amused.

"You're on dangerous ground there, girl." Bobby warned her.

"I know, but it's fun to tease him." Abbie laughed, handing Dean his coffee.

"Is that how it's gonna be, huh?" Dean asked, "Sammy, room for one more on your salt and burn?"

"You love it, Winchester." Abbie told him, laughing and walking back inside.

"Well, I think I'll get headed for North Dakota, good luck playing referee with these two, Bobby." Sam laughed.

"I'll try my best." Bobby replied, "You take care, call us, ok?"

"You know the drill, lil bro. You need anything, you call us." Dean told him, giving him a quick hug. "Abbie, Sam's leaving." He called to her, she joined them in the yard.

"You're sure about this, Sam?" She asked him, feeling partly responsible. He nodded, and hugged her, "Take care of yourself, ok?"

"I will, and I promise I'll call." He smiled, before she could remind him to, he let her go.

"Ok guys, I better get going." Sam climbed into the car, and started the engine, pulling away, watching as Dean wrapped his arms around Abbie and rested his chin on her head, and Bobby went back inside.