**Nothing from Charmed or Supernatural belongs to me.**

Chapter Twenty-Six

Dean and Melinda stood there for the longest time, just holding each other. Finally, their tears slowed, and Dean loosened his hold on her. He kissed her forehead and backed away.

"I'm sorry, Mel."
"Don't be sorry."

He shrugged his shoulders as he sat back on the couch. He shook his head.

"I can't believe that I broke your nose."

Melinda glanced down at the floor.

"I'm so sorry, Mel."

She let her eyes close, as her heart was absolutely breaking. She knelt in front of him, moving between his legs, as he ran a hand over his eyes.

"Hey. Hey, you. Look at me."

He let out a breath, then brought his eyes to hers. She smiled, but tears gathered in her eyes.

"This was not your fault."
"Melinda, get real."
"Okay, did you go to bed last night deciding on exactly how you were going to break my nose?"

He blew out his breath, looking away, and she took hold of his chin, bringing his face back to hers.

"You were asleep, Dean. You weren't thinking it was me. I shouldn't have grabbed you the way I did."
"You stop that right now. This is in no way, shape, or form your fault."
"Take your own advice, Winchester."

Dean hung his head, letting out a long breath. Melinda reached up and ran her fingers through his hair.

"Dean, I don't hold you responsible for this. I've already forgiven you. Baby, forgive yourself."

He shook his head, and she cupped his face in her hands.

"Not just for this, honey. Forgive yourself for what happened all those months ago."

He closed his eyes, and Melinda went on.

"You were put into horrific, unimaginable circumstances. And you held out longer than any normal person would have. The things you did… You really didn't have a choice, Dean."
"I did. I did have a choice, and I chose to torture those souls."

He absently reached up, rubbing the burn on his arm. Melinda smiled, then reached up, covering the handprint with her own. He looked to her, finally meeting her eyes.

"You are a good man. No matter what you say, I know that is true. And obviously, God believes so, too. You have things to do, Dean. I don't know what those things are, but they must be important, for God to have sent His angels to pull you out of hell."

Dean sighed, and Melinda raised her hand, resting it on the side of his face. He let his eyes drift close.

"I love you, and I wish you would just see yourself the way that I do. I wish you could believe in yourself the way that I believe in you."
"I can't just forget, Mel."
"I know. It's going to take some time. And you won't ever be able to forget. But I'm here."

She shrugged her shoulders, and he opened his eyes, seeing her smile.

"I'm not going anywhere, Dean. Even if you break my nose, you're stuck with me."

He shook his head, but he smiled.

"Either I'm incredibly lucky, or you're …"
"Incredibly stupid."

He laughed, and the sound sent hope through Melinda's heart. She leaned up and kissed him, and he was so careful not to touch her, to only move his lips. She pulled back, smiling. She stood up, holding out a hand to him. He reached up to take it, and stood, following her to the bed. She climbed in it, and he followed her. The love they made was careful, and gentle, and it soothed the pain they were both feeling.

Dean was holding Melinda, running his fingers through her hair when she sighed. He smiled, kissing her head.

"What's on your mind, pretty girl?"

Melinda shook her head, snuggling closer to him.

"I … I talked to an angel, Dean. A different one."

He moved back, looking at her.

"What?"

Melinda sighed.

"Last night, when … You know. I was trying to get out of bed, and I got all tangled in the covers. I fell, and hit my head on the nightstand."
"Mel."
"I'm okay. But…"

She shook her head, trying and unable to find the words.

"I called Jenny, because Wyatt and Chris were mad at us and refused to come help us. She took me home, and I stayed there. I slept for a long time, and Mama said that Peyton brought you, and when you saw me, you just … broke. And I didn't hear from you again. Peyton came home, because Sam cheated on her with Ruby, and we spent Christmas without hearing a word from you. Bobby called on New Year's Eve, to tell us that you and Sam were hurt."

Dean was rubbing her arm, confused, but letting her go. She took a shaky breath.

"I saw you, in the hospital. You kept saying that you weren't getting out of this one, and we lost the bond somehow. I didn't even know… Bobby had to call and tell me. And you died on me, Winchester. Sam, too."

She kept shaking her head, staring at the wall.

"I left you, and you died."
"Mel, I…"

She shrugged her shoulders, pulling the blanket tighter around her.

"Turns out, it was all a dream. A premonition, handed to me from the angels."

Dean let out a sigh.

"You're kidding."

Melinda shook her head.

"Nope. Zachariah was this one's name. He let me know that everything I had seen was just a vision, and none of it was really true. You were fine, asleep. Peyton and Sam were asleep. Zachariah said I had to get you to talk, or else the vision would come true. I couldn't lose you, Dean. I—I can't."

He nodded, pulling her in to kiss her temple.

"I'm glad you did, Mel. It feels a little better, to have it off my chest."

She sat up, smiling at him, and he let out a laugh.

"I know, I know. You were right."
"Damn straight."

Dean laughed again, pulling her back to him. Melinda moved over, where she was in a better place to kiss him.

"Oh, Mel. You're going to wear me out, aren't you?"

She smiled at him again, gave him a wink.

"Damn straight."

That night, for the first time in a long time, there were no nightmares. Dean slept soundly, holding tight to Melinda all night long. The next morning, everyone converged in Bobby's library. Peyton smiled at Melinda, letting out a happy sigh when she felt the emotions between her cousin and her fiancé. Melinda nodded, still holding onto Dean's hand. Peyton nodded back at her, and Melinda sighed. Dean bent to kiss her forehead, trying to ignore the deep bruises around her eyes.

"I've been checking some reports on a possible situation in North Carolina. Chapel Hill."

Melinda nodded at Bobby, then looked to Dean.

"Don't even think about it, Winchester."

Dean sighed, keeping his mouth shut. Peyton, Sam, and Bobby tried to hide their smiles, and Bobby turned to Dean and Sam.

"I could use a hand here."

The boys nodded, following Bobby outside. Peyton sat with her head tilted, until Melinda looked over to her.

"Peyt, what is it?"

Peyton shook her head.

"I don't know. I just have this feeling like I need to go home."

Melinda's face changed.

"Well, go. I learned a long time ago to listen to your intuition, O Great One."

Peyton smiled, then nodded. Melinda reached out and they grasped hands for a moment.

"Call me if you need me."

Peyton nodded, then disappeared. Melinda let out a breath, taking a seat on the arm of the couch. Sam came back in, brushing snow off his shoulders.

"They don't really need me. Where's Peyton?"
"Oh, she had a feeling that she needed to go home. Something I learned to trust in a long time ago—"
"When Peyton has a feeling, just go with it."

Melinda smiled and nodded as Sam took his jacket off. He went to sit behind the desk, picking up a book, and Melinda sighed.

"Sam, can we talk?"

He looked up at her, nodding as he set the book aside. Melinda took in a breath.

"Is everything okay, Sam?"

He gave her a funny look, then smiled.

"Yeah. Why wouldn't it be?"

Melinda nodded, looking down. Sam leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.

"Mel, what's going on?"

She sighed, then decided to just bite the bullet.

"I saw you."

Sam's eyebrows furrowed together.

"What?"

Melinda sighed again.

"I saw you, before we took Anna to Kentucky."

Sam thought back, and his heart dropped. His face fell when he brought his eyes back to Melinda's.

"You and Ruby seemed pretty close."

Sam swallowed.

"She's my friend, Mel."
"You kiss all your friends like that, Sam? I'm your friend, and you have never kissed me like that."

Sam was trying his damnedest not to show any emotion. How the hell could this have happened? He and Ruby had been so careful… He took in a breath.

"Mel, listen—"
"I don't know what's going on. I don't know what you're doing, Sam, but you need to stop. I can only guess that it can't be anything good, since you know, Ruby's a demon."

Sam sighed, ran a hand through his hair as she went on.

"That's a nasty little habit of hers, isn't it? The way her eyes tend to black out?"

Sam looked over to her, and Melinda shook her head.

"Open your eyes, Sam."
"She's my friend, Melinda. She helped me out when no one else could."
"I get that, Sam. I do."

She stood up.

"But Sam… Ruby is a demon. That will never change."
"So, what, I should just cut her off, because, as you said, her eyes tend to black out?"
"I'm just saying, when have you known a demon to be completely honest? To not have a hidden agenda?"

Sam blew out his breath and stood up.

"You don't understand. She saved my life, Mel."
"And I think we've repaid her for that, don't you?"

Sam shook his head, running his hands through his hair. Melinda sighed.

"I talked to some angels, Sam. They told me that I need to stop you. Now I don't know what exactly it is that I need to stop, but if the angels are worried about it, it's obviously something important. You're a smart guy, Sam. Stop letting your emotions for this girl get in the way of what you know is right and wrong."

Melinda turned around and left the room. Sam closed his eyes, feeling ripples of anger flow through him. Who the hell did she think she was? Telling him he needed to stay away from Ruby? They didn't understand. None of them. Ruby helped him when no one else could. She taught him so much, and he owed her. He … Sam's eyes grew wide when he realized it. He needed Ruby. He ran his hands through his hair. Something was going to have to give, and Sam knew just what he'd have to do.