Chapter 26

As Leah watched her father drive away, she felt both a sense of relief and guilt. Relief that he was leaving and the battle could be put on hold and guilt because she felt relieved that he was leaving! It was times like this that made her wonder if she ever wanted to become a parent.

She went back inside and locked the door, set on taking a long hot bath. After that frightening dream, she'd woken up late and was in fact still dragging even though it was nearly five o'clock. Although she'd missed out on her usual exercise routine over the past several days, the extreme fatigue she was experiencing was strange. It was something she'd ever dealt with before and she wasn't sure what to do about it.

Hoping the bath would reenergize her, Leah filled the tub, then eagerly stripped off her clothes, prepared to surrender to a much needed half hour of self indulgence. Just as she dipped one foot in the tub, she heard her cell phone ring from the nightstand.

A loud grunt of frustration burst from her lips as she stomped into the bedroom and grabbed the phone. A quick glance told her who was interrupting her pleasurable escape.

She flipped the top and headed back to the bathroom. "Dean, darling, how are you?" she asked sarcastically as she sank into the hot water.

"Okay, I know you're mad. Just give me a range so I know what I'm working with here. On a scale from one to five, what are we talking about? One is you only wanna give me another black eye, five is you want shove things in places where I don't want things shoved."

Oh God! How could the crazy man make her want to laugh when all she'd wanted to do over the past few days was kill him? Well, she was not going to let him joke his way out of this one. He'd gone too far this time. Two days of arguing with her father and someone had to pay.

"Don't get cute with me Winchester! I'm not in the mood." She swirled some more lavender into her water and breathed in deeply. It was her favorite scent and always helped to calm her.

"Now, babe, you know I can't get any cuter. So? What's the number? You're about a, what? A two right? Cause you know you just can't stay mad at me."

Leah rested her head on the back of the tub and closed her eyes. After dealing with her father she did not want to get into this discussion with Dean, but if he really wanted to push the issue, fine. "Try about a five. Babe. So help me Dean, you show your face around here and I will find the biggest object I can and shove it right up your..."

"Whoa! Okay, got it." Dean hurriedly cut her off. "You're not liking me too much right now."

"No! I'm not. How could you do that? What were you thinking, Dean? My dad? Come on, we're not kids anymore. Honestly, you're like a little boy sometimes. You need to grow up."

What did he say to that? Hell, she was right; he did need to grow up in a lot of ways. But he didn't think calling Ed was a childish stunt. Leah loved and trusted her father and he just thought that if anyone could talk her out of doing something dangerous it would be Ed. Why was that such a bad thing on his part?

"You're absolutely right. I do need to grow up. But so do you. You're not a hunter, Leah. It's not the life for you, it's not what you're meant to do and if my calling your dad pissed you off than I'm sorry, but I'd do it again if I had to. You won't listen to me on this and I know I'm right. I figured Ed might be able to get you to see it the way I do."

Leah sat up in the tub, a sudden burst of energy engulfing her. Whether it was Dean or sheer anger that was responsible, she couldn't be certain. Probably both. "That's what this is all about isn't it? I can't believe you! See things the way YOU do, don't hunt because YOU don't want me to. Why is this all about you and what you want? There are two of us in this relationship, Dean. If that's even what we have. I don't know. Maybe this was just one big mistake."

Dean felt like he'd just been gut punched. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Just what is sounds like. Look, I need time to think about all of this. I've been so wrapped up with my dad I haven't even been able to figure out just what it is I'm feeling where you're concerned."

"Leah, listen. I know how mad you are right now. I get it. I do, but I don't think you get where I'm coming from on this. I'll be back soon and we can talk about it. Doing this over the phone isn't working. Just wait for me to get back and we'll figure it out."

"Talk? Once upon a time I would have loved to hear you say that, but from what I've seen so far your idea of talking has been you telling me what is and isn't allowed. Well guess what, Dean? That's NOT talking. I don't need you to tell me anything and I don't need you to help me determine my own feelings. I'm capable of doing that on my own. And where you're coming from isn't the point anymore, it's where you can go."

Leah hung up the phone and tossed it onto the pile of clothes lying on the floor beside the tub. She was so mad at Dean she wanted to scream at the top of her lungs. It was as if nothing where that man was concerned was in moderation. Every emotion she could possibly feel - lust, love, happiness, anger - it was all at maximum intensity and it was beginning to scare the hell out of her because she wasn't sure how to control it anymore.

TBC