Lyssa rested her head on the cool glass of the passenger window. Dean had found a field with an old shed on the grounds. He was checking it out while talking to Bobby. She could barely make him out in the predawn light.
She hugged herself and closed her eyes. Tears fell. She thought about Castiel's words.
"You are not to be with Dean physically yet. Not until later. If you do, you will be hurt. Walk away and keep him at a distance for now," he had told her.
"Screw you. I have done a lot of things for you and your God but this...I can't. I want this for me. And Dean...He needs this too," she whispered watching as Dean ran to the car. He came to her side and opened the door.
"You coming in or you want to stay in the car?" he asked holding out his hand.
"Coming," she took his hand.
Dean watched as Lyssa climbed out of the car. She had been quiet during their drive. He wondered what Castiel had told her. He held her hand and led her to the shed. He pushed open the door and let go of Lyssa for a moment. He lit a gas lantern and carried it over to Lyssa.
"Well, it isn't the Four Seasons," Dean said smiling.
"Doesn't have to be, Four Seasons sucks anyway," Lyssa said walking over and sitting on a bag of grain that had been left behind.
"Bambi, you okay?"
"Just peachy. God, why does this crap always happen to me?"
"Welcome to my world."
Lyssa moved over and let Dean sit beside her. She smiled at him. He placed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. She rested her head on his shoulder.
"So, what did Cas tell you?" he asked.
"Ah, nothing important. I'm so tired," Lyssa yawned changing the subject.
"Get some sleep then. I'll keep watch."
"You always keep watch, don't you?"
"Yeah, always."
Dean leaned back. He watched as Lyssa laid her head in his lap. She stretched out her body. He placed the lantern on the ground and started stroking her hair.
"Dean?" she whispered closing her eyes.
"Yeah, Bambi?" he asked.
"Promise me you won't leave."
"That Bambi is a promise I can keep."
"No matter what happens or...what you find out, promise me you won't leave."
"I promise. Now get some sleep."
Lyssa allowed sleep to claim her. She knew she was safe with Dean. He'd protect her.
***
Artie tossed Lyssa's duffel across the room. Lyssa and Dean weren't at their hotel room. She looked up at Sam. Sam sat at the kitchenette the yellow pages opened in front of him. He was calling different motels but so far nothing. Lyssa and Dean were nowhere to be found.
"Well, found them?" Artie asked him when he hung up the phone.
"No, I don't know where they could have gone. And how did they get out of that room?" Sam asked standing up.
"I don't know. You have any ideas?"
Sam looked around the room. Artie had gone though Lyssa and Dean's bags but everything was there. They hadn't come back to the room. He didn't know where they were. And that worried him. He had seen the way Dean looked at Lyssa. Worse was the way Lyssa looked at his brother. Sam knew they were getting closer to each other every day. He wanted his chance with Lyssa. He knew he could make her happy.
"Sammy, hello," Artie said seeing the faraway look his eyes.
"What?"
"Do you have a plan?"
"No. Do you?"
"Nope. I keep calling Lyssa's cell phone but-."
Artie saw the light go on in Sam's eyes. She watched as he ran out of the room. She followed him. She wondered what the hell he was doing. She followed him into their room. He sat at the table and opened the laptop. He made a face and looked up at Artie. She shrugged and raised an eyebrow. She knew he was looking at a PlayGirl magazine spread as his desktop. He looked back down at the computer and started typing away.
"Ah, Geek boy want to clue me in?" she asked.
"We can track them with their cell phones. I rock."
"You rock? I came up with it."
"No, I did."
"Asshole."
"Bitch."
Sam felt Artie looking over his shoulder as he hacked into the cell phone companies' records.
***
Lyssa woke up shivering. She sat up and cursed. She knew she should have brought her thicker hoodie. She looked at Dean. He had fallen asleep. She reached out and stroked his cheek. This was the only time he looked at peace anymore. Tonight there were no nightmares. She said a thank you to Buddha. She watched as he turned his head towards her hand and her touch.
"Bambi, your hand is cold," he muttered slowing opening his green eyes.
"Well, you see, I didn't put on my fuzzy warm hoodie that has pockets on it."
"Come here. Take this."
Dean shrugged off his leather jacket. He placed it on Lyssa's shoulders. He felt the cool air on his fore arms but his layers kept him pretty warm. He watched as Lyssa pushed her arms though the sleeves of the jacket. It was huge on her. She smiled at him.
"Thanks, Dean. So...You wanted to talk to me," she said guessing now was as good as time as any.
"It can wait," Dean said.
"Dean, come on. Talk to me. It can't be that horrible."
"Bambi, I...I shouldn't be the one that you want."
"Not this again. Dean-."
"No, please, can you just let me talk?"
"I could but then we would end up arguing and that's..."
Lyssa trailed off when Dean gave her his own version of the puppy dog look. She rolled her eyes and nodded. She'd let him talk. Although she knew she was probably going to disagree with every single thing he said.
"Bambi, I...Where the hell to start?" Dean said looking at her.
"How about with the 'I shouldn't want you' part cause, I'm dying to hear those reasons."
Dean closed his eyes. Yeah, Lyssa wasn't going to make this easy. He opened his eyes and looked at her.
"How long have we known each other?" he asked.
"Four years," Lyssa answered in her smartass tone.
"Bambi."
"About two weeks. Why?"
"Lyssa, what happened between us shouldn't have happened. You want someone who loves you and I get that. But I...I won't be that guy. I can't be. The things I've done...I can't love anyone. And that includes myself at the moment," Dean explained looking at the dirt floor.
Lyssa saw the dejected look in Dean's eyes. She stood up. He looked at her. She straddled him and looked into his green eyes. She lost herself in them every time. She felt his hands on her waist. His fingers dug into her shirt but she didn't care.
"Dean, stop. I want you, okay. I don't want to wait anymore for some prince charming that is never going to come. Plus, how the hell am I suppose to find someone to love when I'm crisscrossing the country with you?" Lyssa asked wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Bambi, you're... You're settling for something broken when you could have something great and whole. I can't give you a happy ending."
"I'm not asking for one. I've decided to live in the moment. I know I told you I needed the words but...I've changed my mind, Dean. I mean looked at me, I'm sitting in your freakin lap with you touching me and I'm not having a meltdown. Back home, I never let men close. Ever. Not even my gay friend Matt. I couldn't deal with the touching me. I didn't want it period. But with you...It's all I want."
Lyssa leaned forward and kissed him. She felt him run his hands down her hips. He yanked her forward. She felt the bulge in his pants against her inner thigh. It made her smile to think that Dean Winchester wanted her. He could have any girl but he wanted her.
"Fuck, I am not having good thought right now," Dean said in between their feverish kisses.
"Me neither."
Dean deepened the kiss. He felt her body against his and felt his heart beating faster. This was where she belonged, here in his arms. He never wanted to let her go, which he knew wasn't going to be good for either of them.
***
Sam smiled and grabbed a notepad. He wrote down the location of the cell phone signals. He looked up at Artie.
"Found them," he told her.
"About freakin time. Let's go."
Artie turned at the same moment the door opened. Bobby walked in. He threw a vile on the floor. It exploded and a flash of green light filled the room. It disappeared a moment later.
"What the hell? Bobby?" Sam asked.
"I'm sorry boy, but I have to make sure you and Artie stay put for now," Bobby said taking off his trucker's cap and wiping his brow.
"What do you mean stay put? Bobby, what did you do?" Artie asked.
"It's an entrapment spell."
"Meaning?" Sam asked although part of him still knew the answer.
"You two are confined to this room. And Artie, your fire ability won't work," Bobby said still smarting that he was the last to know about that.
"Bobby, why are you doing this? Come on let us out."
Bobby backed out of the room. Artie went to throw a fireball but the fire wouldn't form in her hands. She cursed.
"Bobby-," Sam started.
"You two will understand later."
Bobby turned and left. Artie looked at Sam and he could tell she was pissed.
"What the hell was that about?" she asked.
"I have no freakin clue. Whatever it is, I'm sure that it was Dean who called Bobby."
"Maybe it was Lyssa."
"Nope, Dean."
Sam pulled out the chair and sat on it again. There was really nowhere else to go.
Artie screamed. She opened her hands and kept trying to get fire but there was none. She sat on the floor and kicked her legs banging her heels against the floor.
"I hate this."
"Right back at you."
Sam closed his eyes and tried to imagine himself somewhere peaceful.
***
Lyssa moaned as she felt Dean's hand run up her shirt and cup her breast. She pulled away and started to kiss his jaw line to his neck. Her hands traveled to his belt. She started to undo it.
"Bambi, not here," he whispered kissing her neck.
"I don't care where, Dean. As long as I'm with you."
Dean ran his hand down her stomach. He pulled it out from underneath her shirt and slowly started to undo the buttons. For every button he undid, he placed a soft kiss on her bare skin. He pushed back her shirt to reveal a leopard print bra.
"Bambi not so innocent," he smirked kissing the bare skin of her stomach.
"Dean Winchester, I swear to God I will hurt you," she moaned running her hands though his hair. God, his lips on her skin was heaven.
"Uh, baby that sounds like fun."
She could actually feel his smile on her skin. She undid his belt and unzipped his pants. She stopped when she felt his lips on the top of her breast. She closed her eyes and leaned into him. She opened her eyes and saw him watching her. She smiled and kissed him on the lips. She then slipped her hand into his jeans and boxers.
Dean almost bit her lip when he felt her touch him. She then started to stroke him. He yanked her forward and fought to undo her jeans. He heard her giggle a little and suddenly he felt like he was a teenager again making love for the first time. Lyssa's soft hand stroked him and he fought for control because if he didn't he was going to rip her jeans right off. Then he heard his cell phone ringing. He felt like pulling out his gun and shooting it.
"Don't you answer it, Dean, don't you dare," she said stroking him and kissing him on the neck.
"It's probably Bobby. I have to."
Lyssa swore when he took her hand and pulled it out of his pants. He reached into his pocket for his cell. He gave her a small smile but she shook her head at him.
"I'm going to run that damn thing over. I swear I will," she vowed.
"And I'll help you," Dean said pulling out his cell phone and placing a quick kiss on her lips.
"Hello," he said.
"Dean, I'm at the mansion. I might need your help," Bobby's voice filled his ear.
"Okay, we're on our way."
"And boy, you better not be doing what I think you were doing."
Dean stared at the phone after Bobby had hung up. He flipped it closed and looked at Lyssa. She looked at him expectantly.
"What?" she asked when he didn't say anything.
"I could have sworn that Bobby knew what we were doing," Dean whispered.
"Sure, he did."
Lyssa shook her head. She started to do up the buttons on her shirt. She felt Dean's lips on her neck. His hand rubbed the bare skin of her side. She smiled and leaned into him.
"It'll happen," he whispered in her ear.
"It better," she answered.
She climbed off his lap missing the contact immediately. She pulled off his jacket and handed it to him. He gave her a smile. She graced him with one then turned around and walked out of the shed. Time to go back to work.
***
Bobby paced in front of the Hasting Mansion. He was half tempted to call Dean back and demand what was taking so long. He turned when he heard the impala drive up. He watched as Lyssa climbed out. In one piece, unharmed. She smiled at him.
"Hey, Bobby, how have you been?" she asked.
"Good. And you, Lyssa?" Bobby asked.
"Never better."
"The ijit here been treating you right?"
"Thanks Bobby, I can just feel the love in your voice," Dean muttered.
"He's been treating me great. So, figured out a way to put a stop to this spell?"
"Yes, although, we need bait."
"What? No way Bambi is-," Dean started.
"Going to go in there and do whatever Bobby tells her to," Lyssa said looking at Dean.
"No way. Your ribs are-."
"What are you talking about, boy? Lyssa, what's wrong with your ribs?"
"Nothing. Dean, over there. Now."
Bobby laughed a little as the older Winchester was dragged over by the impala. He watched Lyssa and Dean. He saw the spark between them. He wondered if they saw it themselves. If they saw how well they fit.
***
"Dean, I am doing this," she said.
"No, you aren't. Bambi, I don't want you getting hurt anymore. Got it?"
Dean went to walk away but Lyssa grabbed his arm and jerked him back. He looked in her eyes. Oh, she was not happy.
"I won't be ordered around, Winchester. Especially not by you. Got it?" she said her voice steel.
Oh yeah, you picked a winner this time, Dean, he told himself.
"Bambi, please. You've helped me twice and gotten hurt twice."
"Third time is a charm."
"Lyssa-."
"Dean, please. What do you want to do? Keep me locked up in the motel?"
"Actually, yes."
Lyssa stepped closer to him. She took his hand and held it. She looked into his eyes.
"Do that and that's the quickest way to lose me. I am my own person. I have to make my own decisions. Right or wrong, good or bad. I thought you of all people would get that."
"Bambi," his hand tighten around hers. Lose her? The thought scared him. He had just found her and was getting to know her. He couldn't lose her. Not yet. Not ever.
"Dean, it's not like I'm going in blind. You'll be there. My hero," she whispered the last part.
"Hero? I'm nobody's hero, Bambi."
"You're mine. Now come on."
She went to walk away. Instead Dean pulled her close. He hugged her tight. She was shocked. She was seeing a side to Dean she had never seen before. His caring, gentle side.
"I'm your hero, huh? Aren't you suppose to listen to your hero?" he whispered in her ear.
"Dean," she whispered holding on to his jacket.
"Fine, but I hate this plan."
"It has been duly noted. Now come on."
Dean let her go. He watched her walk over to Bobby. He shook his head. He had a horrible feeling about this.
***
Sam laid on the bed staring at the ceiling. He had counted the ceiling tiles but that had gotten old fast. Then there was Artie, who every five minutes decided to break something else. He closed his eyes wishing he had never heard of Artemis Bennett.
Artie was pissed. She kicked a book out of her way as she paced. She so didn't need this. She wanted to be out there doing something. Not stuck here. She was going to hurt Bobby the next time she saw him.
"Artemis, please sit down," Sam said.
Artie turned and glared at Sam. She walked over to the bed and kicked the box spring and mattress causing the bed to bounce. Sam raised his head and glared at her.
"What?" he asked.
"How can you be so calm about this?"
"Simple. Bobby will come to lift the spell and then we can ask him why he did it."
"Ask, huh? I was thinking more along the lines of hitting him."
"Artemis, he's trying to help. Or he thinks he's helping."
"I don't care. I am so done with this. Dean and, dammit, Lyssa did this. I'll kill them."
"Good luck."
Sam felt Artie drop her weight on the bed. He looked up and met her eyes. She was staring at him.
"I'm bored," she said.
"I don't care."
"Come on, Sam. Play cards with me."
"How about no?"
"How about yes or I break the laptop next?"
"I could go for some cards right now."
"See, I knew you'd see it my way."
Artie bounced off the bed and grabbed a deck of cards. She came back and started shuffling them. Sam sat up and watched her. She separated the deck in half. War it was.
"I'm going to kick your butt," she said.
"Whatever you say."
***
Lyssa walked into the library. She shone the light around. There was no fallen book shelve. Everything was perfect. She grabbed her cell phone; she had set on walkie talkie.
"Bobby, you were right, they put everything back," she said.
"Alright, now Lyssa, I need you to touch the base of the crystal ball and bring it into the middle of the house. Don't touch the ball itself."
"Okay."
Lyssa made her way over to the desk. She knew that Bobby and dean were waiting right in the foyer, but neither had come any further. The Hastings women, Bobby had found out especially enjoyed ripping men apart. She stood at the desk and stared at the crystal ball. It was shiny which was why her sister had probably touched it.
"Artie and her shiny things. I am going to need to talk to her about that," she whispered.
She reached for the crystal ball but never got it. She was thrown across the room her back slamming into the marble fireplace. She yelped as she heard something snap inside her body. Her already injured ribs were now seriously hurting. Not good.
"Bobby, change of plans," she managed to scream into her phone as she stayed pinned to the fireplace.
***
Dean looked at Bobby. He went to take off but Bobby grabbed him by the back of the jacket and yanked him back.
"Bobby, she need-," Dean started.
"I know and I'll do it. You stay here. Do you want what happened to Artie and Sam to happen to you?"
"No."
"Good. We need the crystal ball to break the spell then we can burn this mother down."
"Now that I will enjoy thoroughly. I think I have some marshmallows in the car."
Bobby shook his head. He made his way down the hall cautiously. He shook his head as he wondered how people could get into so much trouble as the Winchesters. He was beginning to question the logic in sending the Bennetts with the Winchesters. Something told him trouble was attached to the Bennetts also.
***
Lyssa winced again. She took shallow breaths. She looked down at the floor that was two feet beneath her feet. She sighed.
"Okay, this sucks out loud. Maybe Dean had a point and I need to stop trying to be the hero," she muttered.
She moved her legs and whimpered at the pain it sent shooting though her back. She was definitely hurt now. No two ways about it.
"Lyssa, honey, you okay?" she heard Bobby ask.
"Yes, I think...Maybe...Alright, I'm lying. I'm pinned to a fireplace and my back and ribs hurt like hell," she finally said.
"A simple no would have done it."
"Bobby, you better not be calling me an ijit under your breath."
She was relieved to see Bobby. He made a beeline for the crystal ball, grabbed its base then looked at her. He gave her an apologetic smile.
"I think this is the center of their power. Once we destroy it, you should be able to come down," he said.
"Okay....Wait, you think it's the center of their power!" she yelled but it was already too late. Bobby had already left.
***
Artie took the last couple of cards and smiled. She had beat Sam at War. She shuffled the deck again then handed them to him. He looked at her an innocent confused puppy written all over his face.
"Your turn to pick a game since I know we're going to be in here longer," she said.
"Alright, do you know poker?"
"Do I know poker? Do I know poker, you dumb geek boy?"
"Well, do you?"
"No, teach me."
Sam grinded his teeth together to keep from yelling. He busied himself with shuffling the cards again. He hoped Bobby would hurry the hell up. He didn't want to be stuck in here longer then he had too with Artie.
"Hello, earth to Sam? You there earthling?" Artie asked snapping her fingers in front of his face.
"I'm here...Now buzz off. Let's do this."
He cut the deck and started dealing the cards.
***
Bobby carried the crystal ball to the foyer. He looked at Dean. Dean opened the book and started to read in Latin. Bobby winced. Dean needed to work on his Latin. A lot.
Dean watched as Bobby placed the crystal ball in the salt circle. Bobby then grabbed the lighter fluid. Dean finished the spell and Bobby lit a match and dropped it on the crystal ball. It went up in flames. The flames turned blue as the thing burned. They then heard a crash.
"Son of a bitch!" Lyssa yelled.
"Spell's broken. Now, let's get rid of this house."
"Lyssa-."
"Is fine. For now. Come on, boy."
***
Lyssa laid on the floor on her side. She rolled on her stomach and pushed herself up. She clenched her teeth when pain shot though her back.
"Oh man, so not good," she muttered getting to her knees.
She slowly stood and grabbed her back. She tried to take a deep breath but it hurt too much. She started coughing. She coughed up blood. She stared at it in her hand.
"Oh crap. Big trouble," she whispered.
She took one step and stopped. It hurt too much to walk.
"I'll sit here and wait for Dean," she said lowing herself back down to her knees.
***
Sam smiled as he collected the pile of cheesies they were using as chips. He looked at Artie and knew that if she had been able to use her powers, he'd probably be missing his eyebrows right now.
"Well, do you want to play again?" he asked smiling.
"Hell yes. I want to beat your ass," Artie answered.
"Alright, you're on. But I'm pretty sure I can beat you any day of the week."
"Please, Sammy, you got lucky this time."
"Lucky? If you mean that I actually know how to play the game then yeah, I'm lucky."
"Bastard."
Artie watched as Sam shuffled the deck of cards. She stopped when she felt this heat in her chest over her heart. She stopped and looked at Sam. He looked at her and nodded. He also felt it.
A bright blue light flashed in the room knocking them both over. It was gone just as fast as it had come. Artie moaned and rubbed her eyes. Sam sat up. He immediately went over to Artie. He helped her up.
"Firefly, are you okay?" he asked.
"God, Sam, I'm sorry. I didn't mean half of the things-."
"I know. Shh, I know."
Sam pulled Artie close and kissed her. He felt her wrap her arms around him. He picked her up and carried her to the bed. He laid her on it. Then he remembered what she had been trying to say.
"Wait, you didn't mean half of what you said? What about the other half?"
"Shut up, XL Carebear."
Artie pulled Sam's to hers and kissed him. She felt his hands all over her and wondered for the hundredth time, why she had given in to the spell. No matter how strong it was, she was sure her feelings for Sam were stronger.
