Disclaimer: I don't own the show or the Winchesters, just Steph.
A/N: Okay, lots of you are probably wondering why I'm only posting once this week and why it's so long... Well, my laptop crashed so this is the last post I can do until they send me a new hard drive in about 10 days. So, I made it long to tide y'all over. I'm sorry about this, but there's nothin I can do. I didn't drop the laptop or anything so this isn't my fault, but sorry anyway.
SciFiRN; Love you for all you do, Bitch. and for all you're gonna do. lol.
Stephanie slowly shuffled out of the bathroom in her cami, and panties; her button down and boxers hanging loosely from her hand. She slumped on the bed ignoring Sam's worried gaze as she slipped the boxers on and laid the shirt next to her. She sighed and met Sam's gaze. "Stop staring at me like that, Sam."
He looked to the floor shyly before meeting her gaze again. "I'm sorry. Just worried about you, you okay? You look beat."
She nodded. "Yes, Sam I'm fine. I'm tired, but can't do anything about it now. One of those 'can't sleep if I tried' times." She chuckled nervously.
Sam sadly smiled at her before standing. "Let me check your stitches. They should be ready to come out soon; you had 'em about three or four days now."
Stephanie shrugged. "Somethin' like that. Haven't been paying attention. Just know I hate 'em."
Sam laughed and stopped in front of her. "I know you do, that's why I wanna get 'em outta you as soon as possible. Now lay back on your side."
Stephanie fell back and rolled on to her left side then she squeaked and tucked her legs up close to her when she felt Sam's fingers brush her skin under the hem of the shirt. "Your hands are freezing, Sam!"
He gave her an apologetic look before lifting her shirt higher. "Sorry, didn't think about that." He held her arms still when she started to lift them. "No, no. Just one arm, only need one side; and slowly, please." He smiled down at her. "It's like you wanna cause yourself more pain."
Sam got the one side of the shirt free and pulled it up enough to expose the stitches.
Stephanie sighed wearily. Her fingers idly traced the patterns on the bedspread beneath her while Sam prodded at her side. She winced and raised her head up when he hit a tender spot near the bottom. "It's a little sore there."
Stephanie watched him move to where he'd set the first aid supplies. She hummed the chorus of Theory Of A Deadman's Not Meant To Be as her fingers played with a loose thread she'd found on the blanket beneath her. "Warm your hands up this time, will you?" She smirked up at him.
Sam rolled his eyes and poured the peroxide onto one of the washcloths he'd gathered from the bathroom. "They're as warm as they're getting, but the peroxide's been in the trunk, so...." He paused, the washcloth poised above the line of stitches. His eyebrows arched as she once again started humming the melody of the song. "Is that how you feel?"
She glanced up at Sam, blushing when she realized he knew the lyrics. She shrugged. "Sometimes. I mean no one's winning, I'm not changing his mind...but I'm just to stubborn to let him win." She smiled from beneath her hair. "One step forward and two steps back, but eventually I'm dragging him back with me...even if he doesn't know it yet."
Sam chuckled and nodded as he gently began to dab at her wound. He squeezed the washcloth and a small stream of peroxide ran down her side.
She hissed and inhaled sharply."Shit."
Sam rolled his eyes. "I warned you it wasn't warm."
"Yeah, so it's cold. Got it." She wiggled as the peroxide bubbled on her side. It tickled and she struggled to keep still. She sighed, her eyes catching Sam's seriously. "You think Dean will get it?"
He cocked his head and gave her a half shrug. "I honestly don't know, Steph. I will tell you that he's as stubborn as you, so no matter what happens, this oughta be good." He winked at her and worked the cloth over her side. When she hissed again, this time when he hit a still tender spot, he apologized. "Sorry." He patted the area dry and nodded. When she tried to pull her shirt down he stopped her. "Let the air dry it first, just another minute then you'll be good." He stood, threw the towel into the sink and put the brown bottle back in the box before slumping onto the bottom of the bed to watch her.
Stephanie's eyes were closed and she picked up her humming where she'd left off, eyes staring at the ceiling and mind wandering to the man who frustrated her beyond all belief.
Stephanie growled and sat up eyes locking on Sam. "How the hell have you lived with him for the past twenty some years?"
Sam shook his head with a small chuckle. "You're right, he's being a dick, but after all those years there is one thing I've learned about him. Dean can't communicate like normal people and emotion turns him into a primate."
Stephanie sat up and pulled her shirt down. "What the hell does that mean?"
Sam nudged her leg. "It means that you have Dean all wrapped up and he doesn't know whether he's coming or going." He watched Stephanie. "He doesn't know how to put things into words, Steph. What he wants and what he thinks is right are pulling him apart."
Stephanie stood and walked to where her bag lay on the table. She dug through it. "I don't see the problem. I want him; he wants me. What else is there to think about? And everything seemed tolerable for like a day, we had a deal and then...ugh." She pulled a pair of worn jeans from her bag, old and comfortable; they were exactly what she was looking for. She shed her boxers and slid the jeans on. She eyed Sam as she buttoned the fly of the jeans. "He keeps pushing me away, I don't get why and it's driving me to end of my freaking sanity..." She paused and dropped her eyes to look at the floor. "Making me do things I keep regretting."
Sam understood. He moved from the bed and lifted her chin with his fingers. "I'm sorry, Steph." He smiled and shrugged. "I wish I wasn't so damn weak, but you get me wrapped up too."
She wrapped her arms around Sam, leaning her head against his chest with a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry, Sammy. I know I shouldn't keep using you that way." She took a couple of steps away and rubbed at her arms. "I need something to drink, Sammy." She pulled a face and stuck out her tongue. "And, I'm not drinking anymore whiskey...."
Sam laughed and draped his arm over her shoulders as he led them to the door, grabbing his jacket on the way. "Good to know he hasn't pissed you off that much yet. C'mon there's a liquor store across the street."
**************************************************
Stephanie shifted from foot to foot as she waited for Sam outside the small convenience store. She wasn't sure what he was getting, but he asked her to wait outside with their purchases from the liquor store; two six packs of beer and a bottle of Absolut Citron, which was her personal pick. She kicked at an empty soda bottle, watching it skid across the blacktop as she leaned against the brick wall of the store.
She watched the cars move down the street, some of them turning into the small shopping center or into the hotel across the street. Nothing looked unusual, but a chill suddenly shot down her spine and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She straightened, standing upright and lowering the bags to the cement at her feet. She scanned the parking lot and shoved her hand into her pocket, only to find it empty. She hadn't brought anything. She had no knife, no gun, no weapon at all. Fear coiled in her belly and the lightest hint of adrenaline revved her heart. She saw Sam at the counter, just now checking out and she sighed, her eyes again surveying the area.
She stepped away from the wall and picked up their bags when Sam moved toward the door. She half watched him, one eye on the parking lot, as she stepped toward the door.
Sam thanked the cashier with a smile and stepped outside. His smile faded when he saw Stephanie's face. "What's wrong?" His hand moved to the small of his back, to where his gun was tucked in the waist of his jeans. His eyes moved through the parking lot and street. He searched for any sign of trouble. He inhaled sharply, scenting the air for sulfur. He found nothing. "Steph? What's wrong?"
She shook her head, but moved beside Sam until she felt the heat of him. She looked again, knowing there was something, but not knowing what. "I don't know, but I felt like I was being watched and it's not the first time."
Sam took one of the bags from her and slipped his free arm loosely around her shoulders as he led them back toward the motel. "When are you talking about?"
Stephanie felt the uneasiness fade as Sam's presence reassured her. "Back at the laundromat." She shivered. "But then Dean was watching me, so I figured that's what it was."
"Ahh." Sam nodded and smiled, pulling her against his side as they paused before ducking quickly back across the street. "You sure it's not just your imagination?" He dropped his arm in the motel parking lot and fished into his pocket for the room key. "You know, things all screwy, emotions playing havoc, that sort of thing?"
She shrugged and waited for Sam to open the door. "Could be." She lifted her head toward the parking lot. "I mean there's nothing out there."
Sam opened the door and waited for Stephanie to slide inside and step over the salt line. "So, it's in your head. That's what we're going for, right?"
Stephanie shrugged once again. "Guess so." She kicked off her flip flops and turned to face the man by the door. "Now, you gonna tell me what you bought?"
Sam grinned and dropped the bag ungracefully on the table. With a light quiet rattle.
Stephanie snorted. "Well, that answers the question on whether or not it's breakable."
He reached into the bag, grin still in place and pulled out a pack of plastic cups and a package of two ping-pong balls. "We, my dear are going to play beer pong."
She threw her head back and laughed as she leaned against his side. She knew he was doing all this to keep her mind off Dean. "I love you, Sam. This is great."
He smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders again. "Knew it was just a matter of time before you were mine." He bent and pressed a gentle kiss to her hair.
She laughed again and shoved against his side. "Get the cups set up, I'll get the beer."
Five empty beer bottles, ten cups on each side of the table and a ball in each person's hand and the game was ready to start. Two cups down on Stephanie's end and five down on Sam's end, four of those were in a row. Sam decided to change the rules. "Okay, how about this?" He bounced the ball missing one of her cups. "Damn it! Okay, let's change the rules a bit. Since this is going to be one sided, how bout we make it more interesting? You make my cup, I drink but you have to share something personal on any topic I pick. I make your cup, same thing, I answer your question."
Stephanie pursed her lips in thought, considering the terms. "So, beer pong with a twist?"
Sam nodded. "Relatively."
She nodded. "Deal." She bounced her ball sinking it in one of Sam's cup with a splash.
He sighed and lifted the cup, downing the quarter cup's worth of beer before tossing it aside. "Okay, first question. Who taught you about cars?"
She smiled. "My brother. That was easy."
Sam winked. "First question, I gave you a break." He lined up his shot, flicked his wrist and his ball bounced to land in Stephanie's cup with a soft plunking sound. "Ha! Drink up, baby." Sam smiled smugly, like he'd just won a great prize.
She rolled her eyes and picked up the cup. She pulled the ball from the slightly frothy surface of the beer and smiled before holding the ball to her lips and then pulling it into her mouth to suck the beer off.
Sam watched and groaned. "Do you have to do that? I mean come on."
Stephanie pulled the ball from her mouth and nodded before tossing back the contents of the cup. She turned the cup over the others at the end of the table and smiled wide. "So, I get to ask you a question now, right?"
He groaned. "Yeah, those are the rules." He crossed his arms and waited.
Stephanie tossed the ball between her hands thinking for a second then she beamed at Sam. "Okay, you pick the topic and I get to ask two questions, or I pick the topic and you get one question." She continued her juggling. "What's it gonna be?"
He pushed a hand through his hair and cocked his head to the side. "Why do I think this is going to bite me in the ass either way?" He smiled when she giggled. "Okay, fine your topic."
Her smile widened and she gripped the ball in her right hand. "What are the vital stats about when you lost your virginity."
Sam's smile faltered. "What? Damn that's more than one answer."
She shrugged. "Maybe, but it's only one question."
"Touche'." Sam gave her a mock salute. "I was sixteen, almost seventeen..." He held up his hand and glared when she giggled at him. "Hey, I was a late bloomer, but I did bloom, so shut it." He waited until she stopped her laughing and then continued. "Her name was Laura, she was sixteen and we were in the same English class." Sam sighed. "We were partners on a project and we talked alot. She understood we moved all the time and sympathized since her dad was in the military. We studied late one nite, kissed a bit and started talking about things. Eventually the topic turned to how we were both virgins. Next thing you know, we'd decided that it would be good to just do it and get it out of the way." He shrugged again. "So we did, in my room, with Dad snoring less than fifteen feet away."
Sam frowned when she raised her eyebrows at him in disbelief. "What?"
She smiled. "You didn't wake your dad up with all the moaning, grunting and screaming?" She giggled at the thought.
Sam blushed a bit. "I'd like to say it was because I was gentle, but in all honestly it was more because we were both awkward and kept apologizing to each other." He cocked his head. "Well at least until a little later." He winked as he leaned forward. "Besides, my dad was a very heavy sleeper."
She laughed. "Must be where you get it from."
Stephanie moved down a step and palmed her ping pong ball. She dropped the ball and it bounced, totally missing the cup. She frowned.
Sam smiled and pulled the bottle of Citron from the bag on the floor. He held it up. "New rule because you just aren't getting trashed quick enough to make this much fun." He opened the bottle and splashed a shot's worth into an empty cup. "You miss, you drink vodka." He lifted the cup to his lips and slammed it back. He stared at the bottle and nodded. "Damn that shit's good."
Stephanie giggled. "Sam?"
He glanced up from his reading of the label. "Yeah?"
"You didn't miss, I did." She rolled her eyes as she watched him nod and refill the cup.
He handed the liquor to her. "You're right, but I changed the rule, figured since I've missed I should even it up." When she took the cup he added. "Now drink and then my turn."
Stephanie downed the vodka with a smile and then leaned back with her arms crossed. "Your turn."
Several missed shots later, Sam's ball dropped into one of Stephanie's cups. "Yes! Bout damn time, I mean soon we are gonna be too drunk to score if we keep missing."
Stephanie nodded and downed the beer. "Your question, Sam."
Sam thought for a second. "Okay, most embarrassing thing ever to happen to you."
Stephanie giggled and shook her head. "Oh that's just mean." She pushed her hair over her shoulder as she bit her lip considering which moment was her most embarrassing.
Sam watched her impatiently. "What? Never had an embarrassing moment or what?"
She rolled her eyes. "Problem is Keemosabi, there are too many to narrow down. Stuck between two."
Sam's smiled widened. "Yeah, well then give me the top two and I'll pick."
Stephanie groaned, when was she going to learn to keep her mouth shut. She sighed and leaned against the table. "Fine. Both from school. First, was walking through the parking lot in winter. I was wearing my uniform." She glanced at him her eyebrows raising. "You know the whole skirt thing. Well, I had to drop an assignment off before the bell, since my teacher gave me extra time to get it done but told me it had to be in before the bell, so I was hurrying. I hit some black ice and fell. Of course, I couldn't have fallen to my knee or anything. I fucking fell almost flat on my face and the skirt flew up over my back. I'm laying there, in the parking lot, ass in the air, wearing a thong while everyone laughed their asses off. I kept falling when I tried to stand which didn't make it any better." She frowned. "Totally fucked up my day. All day long people sang 'The Thong Song' when they saw me."
Sam chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Oh hell, that would've been funny, but honestly I'm sure the boys were more than thrilled to get their little impromptu show." He winked. "You have a fine ass, Steph."
She rolled her eyes. "Thanks Sam. I'd take it as a compliment if you weren't on your way to drunk already." She giggled. "Second one, is probably a little worse, but not as many people saw. Different school, so different uniform. This one was a navy sweater or polo and khaki pants. So, we're at lunch and I get up from my table to grab another glass of milk and everyone starts laughing. Kyle, this hot senior runs over, grabs my messenger bag and whispers in my ear. "You ahh, might wanna stop by the rest room. You kinda leaked through." Stephanie felt herself blush. "Shit, I'd sat in ketchup and it looked like I'd gotten my period."
Sam laughed and threw his head back while he struggled to keep a straight face. "Really?"
She nodded. "Yeah, and I really liked that guy." She shrugged. "After that he never could look me in the eye."
Sam pulled himself together and held up a hand in surrender. "Okay, in my opinion that one is more embarrassing."
She chuckled. "Yeah, but I was only there for another couple weeks before I got expelled." She bounced the ball on the table. "That damn 'Thong Song' followed me around for the rest of the school year."
Stephanie bounced the ball and caught it once before aiming and bouncing it, landing it in one of Sam's cups. "Yes!" She clapped once. "Drink up, Sammy boy!"
Sam rolled his eyes and drank, tossing the cup to join the empty others. "What's your question?"
She grinned devilishly. "Same thing you asked me, only most embarrassing sexual moment."
Sam flushed, scared puppy look settling on his face. "I don't wanna play anymore."
She gasped. "Sammy, that's cheating. No, you have to answer and honestly. You think I wanted to share my last stories? Come on."
Sam groaned and then he whined under his breath, sounding like a petulant child. "Damn me and my ideas." He shot a flustered look to Stephanie and sighed. "Fine. When I was 12 I was uhh, well I was um, reading a Victoria's Secret catalog."
Stephanie rolled her eyes and interrupted, "HA! You mean letting the one eyed trouser snake look at the pictures." She giggled when he blushed a deep shade of red.
He glared. "ANYWAY, Dean came back to the hotel earlier than he was supposed to and caught me." Sam looked sheepishly at Stephanie and pushed his hand through his hair when she began giggling uncontrollably. "Stop it."
She shook her head. "Oh Sam, I can only feel sorry for you. Dean, well I'm sure he didn't let you live that down." She wiped tears from her eyes.
Sam groaned. "Of course not, because Dean doesn't know how to leave things be. God, after that anytime he saw one or found one he'd toss it to me and go 'Here ya go, Sammy. Pace yourself.' In front of Dad too. Ugh, it was awful."
Stephanie's giggling tapered off and then she turned to where her bag sat and she dug through it.
Sam's forehead furrowed. "What the hell are you..." He stopped when something hit his chest and slid to the floor. He picked it up even as his stomach sank knowingly.
Stephanie leaned across the table. "I can give you some private time if you need it Sam." She chuckled as he blushed again.
He rolled the catalog up and slapped Stephanie lightly on the head. "Ha, Ha, funny."
She sat back and grinned. "Your turn, Sammy."
Sam bounced the ball, bouncing off the rim of a cup then going in. "Oh, yeah. Drink, baby."
She snorted. "You're enjoying this too much Sam." She downed the beer and tossed the cup at him, bouncing it off his head with a 'thunk'. "Got a question for me, Sammy?"
Sam smiled wide before easing himself around the table to stand over Stephanie. He ducked his head and brushed a bit of hair from her forehead. His voice was low. "Do you like kissing me?"
She shivered as she gazed up at him intently before nodding once. "Yeah, I do. Just don't enjoy the aftermath too much." She bit her lip, eyes on the man before her. She smiled, took her shot and made the cup. "Drink up and answer your question, Sammy."
He rolled his eyes with a scoff and then moved closer to Stephanie, boxing her in against the table. His arm slid around her, he picked up a cup and then downed the liquor. He smiled, pressing closer. "You and the calling me Sammy." He flung the cup in the direction of the trashcan, completely missing it as one large hand slid up her back.
She licked her lips, eyes moving to follow the cup's path before arching an eyebrow at him. She gave him an ornery grin as he pulled her closer, pressing her against the hard length of his body. "Were you actually aiming for the trashcan? Cause you were off by like a mile you know."
His eyes were on her lips. "Gimme a break, I've drank much more than you." The hand on her back slid down to her lower back, just above her ass. His breath caught.
She inhaled sharply and swayed closer, her hands moving up to brace against his chest. Her voice was breathy and uneven. "That's because you suck." She pushed her hair from her face, her eyes finding his. "Now, same question, Sam. Do you like kissing me?"
He watched the tip of her tongue wet her lips and his slow grin showed how buzzed he was. He cupped her cheek and bent over her. His breath ghosted over her cheek when his nose traced against her cheek. "Shit...I think you know I do." His mouth hovered over hers. He paused, head spinning as he fought the urge to show her exactly how much he did enjoy kissing her. He pulled back, his eyes on hers. "But, like you I don't want to face the consequences of Dean gone ballistic." He shook his head slightly and then kissed her forehead chastely. "Fuck you're gonna be the death of me…"
Stephanie nodded as she pulled back, her hands moved up to rest on his shoulders as she stood up on her toes to look him more directly in the eye. She sighed. "I'm sorry, Sam."She stepped back, her hands dropped from his shoulders as she put space between them. "I shouldn't keep doing this." She crossed her arms. "It's not fair to you…it's not what I want."
Sam leaned back against the table, his head cocked to the side as he rubbed at his eyes. "Yeah, sorry too and seriously, you haven't seen Dean pissed...not really and trust me it's not pretty." Sam suddenly turned his head to the side, belched and then groaned. "Shit, what the hell were we thinking?" He stepped back, bumped into the table and scattered empty and half full cups to the floor. One of his large hands grabbed drunkenly for Stephanie in an attempt to steady himself. His other hand pressed against his temple. "Not feeling so good just now Steph."
Stephanie reached for his arm to keep him upright as she gave him a lopsided, drunken half smile and snorted while she shook her head. "Way to uphold the Winchester name." She took a step forward and stumbled over the cups Sam had knocked to the floor. "Well, I've got a good buzz going, but I'm not feeling too bad." She gripped Sam's arm when he swayed and looked at her as if trying to decide if the floor was tilted or if she were standing sideways. She chuckled. "I'm pretty damn sure that you're done."
Sam nodded. "Yeah, I agree." He belched again making an awful face at the taste that came with it. "Oh god."
She tucked her hair up, rubbed at her neck and then led Sam toward the bed. "Lay down before you fall down Sam." She rolled her eyes, gave him a gentle shove and watched him all but fall onto the bed. "Damn lightweight. Seriously Sam, you're like twice my size and even if you did drink twice as much you shouldn't be more drunk than me." She rubbed at her forehead and moved to her duffle. It took a minute, but eventually she found the Motrin in the side pocket and dumped six of the orange-brown tablets into her palm. "I gotta pee." She moved to the bathroom, grabbing the remote when she passed the TV. She tossed it to the man on the bed. "Make yourself useful and find something to watch while I'm gone."
Stephanie watched Sam fumble with the remote. She half-heartedly pushed the bathroom door closed, not bothering to make sure it was closed. She laid the pills on the sink and emptied her bladder. She then washed her hands and splashed cold water over her face and neck before grabbing a towel and drying off. She sighed, found a plastic wrapped glass and filled it with water. She tossed three of the Motrin, slugged down half the water and then picked up the other three pills. She shouldered the door open and moved to the bed.
Sam stared up at her with a silly smile on his face. He pointed to the TV. "You need to find yourself a girl, mate. Or perhaps the reason you practice three hours a day is that you already found one, and are otherwise incapable of wooing said strumpet." He paused and looked serious as Stephanie tried not to laugh at his poor pirate accent. "You're not a eunuch are you?"
She rolled her eyes and pushed the medicine into his hand. "Take them, or you'll end up with a headache, Captain Jack-off."
He laughed and sat up, taking the water from her hand. "Sticks and stones, love. I saved your life." He put the pills on his tongue and swallowed them with the water. "You saved mine. We're square." He winked and patted the bed. "Now get comfy and watch this silly movie with me will you? Besides, you're giving me a stiff neck staring up at you."
Stephanie smiled, took the glass from his hand and finished it off before setting it down on the table beside the bed. She yawned and settled down beside Sam, her head nestled into the crook of his arm. She sighed and snuggled against him. "You like this one?"
Sam nodded and pressed a kiss to her hair. "Yes, so shh, so I can watch it." He pulled her against his chest and brushed hair from her face. "How bout you?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I love it." She yawned and stretched as she got comfortable. "This part's good."
Sam chuckled and then they fell into a companionable silence as they watched the movie.
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Stephanie yawned and stretched as the credits scrolled across the screen. She lifted her head from Sam's chest and glanced at him as he snored softly. She smiled, kissed his cheek and got up from the bed, careful not to wake him. She used the bathroom and then stood in the room trying to decide what to do. She was tired, but not sleepy and she knew trying to sleep would be a waste of time.
She glanced at the time, just after eleven, and then shrugged before moving to slide on her boots. She zipped her boots before pulling her flannel shirt back on, then she slid a knife into her boot and her .45 in the back of her jeans. Stephanie grabbed Sam's key as she pocketed her iPod. Then she left the room.
When they'd driven in, she noticed a school playground across the street. She smiled, flipped on the mp3 player and headed to the park.
****************************************************
Dean pulled into the hotel parking lot with a groan. He wasn't sure he was ready to face Stephanie or his brother right now. He pulled the keys from the ignition and wiped a hand over his face as he opened the door. Damn, he knew he was being a shit, but he didn't know who was right or wrong anymore. Hell, he didn't even know who he was mad at. He paused halfway out the door. Sleeping in the car wasn't sounding like that bad of an idea right now, but the thought of the steadily falling temperature changed his mind pretty fast. He moved from the car, locked the door and slammed it behind him as he headed toward their room.
Dean pushed the key in the lock and swung the door open. The TV was on, the bathroom light glowed brightly in the room and Sam was snoring softy on the bed. He gently closed the door behind him and frowned at the state of the room. There were cups everywhere; some empty, some half filled, there were empty beer bottles and a bottle of the more expensive flavored vodka. He stepped over a crushed cup on his way to the bathroom. "Steph?"
There wasn't an answer and he quickly checked the bathroom, his frown deepened when he realized she wasn't there. Dean left the bathroom. "Sam." He moved to the bed and nudged his brother with his knee. "Sam, wake the hell up, where's Steph?"
Sam groaned and rolled to his side, pulling a pillow over his head as he went.
Dean growled and again nudged Sam, this time not nearly as pleasantly, in the ribs. "Sam, where's Steph?"
Sam swung an arm in his brother's general direction. "Ugh...she's fine, sleep'n. Leave me 'lone n go t'fuck 'way." He snuggled back down into the bed.
Dean pushed his hand through his hair and turned as he pulled his phone from his pocket. "Motherfuck it Sam, useless half-assed drunk." He dialed Stephanie and waited.
Stephanie's head was thrown back, her face to the sky as the wind whooshed her hair over her shoulder, then she leaned slightly forward and her hair clung to her face. She smiled wide as she pumped her legs in time with her swinging. She frowned, letting her feet drag in the packed dirt beneath her when she felt her phone vibrate against her hip. She pulled her earbuds from her ears and Avril Lavigne's Hot; Dean's ringtone, rang into the night.
She sighed and slid open the phone. "Yes, Dean?"
"Where the hell are you? Are you okay?"
She couldn't help but crack a smile at the slight worry in his voice. "I'm fine, Is everything okay on your end? Enjoy your little date with Lily?"
A small growl came over the phone before she heard him moving, then a door opening and closing. The sound of crickets and a soft breeze were suddenly in the background to his voice. "No, everything's not fine. It's midnight and you're missing. What the hell, Steph? You trying to give me a heart attack or somethin'?"
Stephanie snorted into the phone as she glanced up, watching the man pace in the parking lot. "All about you, huh Dean?" She rolled her eyes and sighed, too tired to play games with him. "I can see you, you jackass. Use your brain, I can't be far. Be back later." She slid her phone shut and put her earbuds back in before Dean could say another word.
Dean stood in the parking lot staring at his phone, totally confused. "'Can see me' what?" He looked around the cars and edges of the building before hearing a distant squeak every few seconds. He looked toward the squeaking and saw a shadow up on the hill, there was a playground up there.
Dean scowled; it would figure she'd disappear without really disappearing. He mumbled a string of curses under his breath and shoved his hands into his pockets as he moved off toward the park. It didn't take him long. It was just across the street and as he moved closer he could hear her singing. He crossed the street behind her and moved toward the swingset.
It took him a minute to figure out what she was singing. She wasn't singing loud, and even the crunching leaves beneath his feet drowned out her voice occasionally. He caught the words before he caught the melody.
Twenty feet behind her he heard sing. "The worst is over now and we can breathe again." He stopped to enjoy her voice. "I wanna hold you high, you steal my pain away." He shook his head still trying to place the song. "There's so much left to learn and no one left to fight." It was the next line that gave it away. Stephanie's voice lifting into the sky, clear and slightly husky with emotion. "Cause I'm broken when I'm open and I don't feel like I'm strong enough."
Dean moved behind her just as she got to the second part of the chorus; her voice louder now, clearer, but sexier. "Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome..." She continued to sing as he grabbed the chains of the swing, not stopping it completely, but slowing it down.
She turned her head, knowing it was him. She'd watched him move toward her in the parking lot, but lost sight of him as he closed in on the road. She figured he was coming up behind her.
Stephanie held his gaze as she slid her earbuds out before she turned back around with a sigh. "I told you I'd be back when I was ready, Dean." She looked at the ground. "Kinda means I wanna be alone."
Dean walked around and sat on the swing next to her, leaning back and pulling on the chains to get the swing moving. "So, you're up here because you wanna be alone?"
She slipped her iPod in the pocket of her flannel and sighed. "Yes, that's exactly why I'm up here. Can't sleep and wanna be alone." She started her swing moving again, catching up with Dean.
Dean nodded, noticing she wouldn't look at him, just the ground. "I don't think that's why you're out here. I think you're avoiding me."
She laughed harshly before throwing a cold stare at him. "And yet, here you sit." Stephanie hopped off her swing, and made her way across the dark playground away from Dean.
Dean jumped off and jogged after her. "Will you just admit that I hurt you with what I said earlier."
She didn't turn around, just kept moving as she shook her head. "Never give up do you?" She spun suddenly, causing him to just miss crashing into her. "Why would what you said hurt me?" She shrugged. "You were right."
Dean caught her when she tried to turn. He forced her to face him. "Because, I know I did. Besides, Sam called me to tell me how much of a shit I was for leaving you crying in the shower earlier. So, I already know I hurt you. Just wanted to see if you could admit it."
Stephanie shoved his arms off her, pushing him away as tears slipped down her cheeks. "Fuck you, Dean! I'm hurt because that's what you wanted me to be!" She just stared at Dean as he stared back at her in shock before she shook her head and pushed past him. "Hope you had fun with Lily, Dean."
He caught her, spinning her toward the front office of the hotel. "Look!" He pointed across the street. Inside they could both see a bored looking Lily, making coffee while reading a magazine. "She's got the nightshift, Steph." He turned her back to face him. "All I did was sit at the bar, drink cheap whiskey and tell my problems to the bartender."
She shrugged and tried not to look relieved. "It doesn't matter to me, Dean. It's none of my business, it's really not."
She shook Dean's hands from her shoulders. "Maybe you should go back and talk with the bartender some more. I'm sure she'd love to listen to you." She took a couple of steps, talking as she went. "Me? Not so much. I already told you. I wanna be alone."
Dean sighed and caught back up with her in two strides. "You don't really mean that."
She stopped, her jaw hanging open as she turned to glare at him. "I don't mean what? That I want to be alone? Hell yes I do, you jackass." She settled her hands on her hips as she breathed deep. "So go back and flirt with your bartender, Dean. Go tell her all your problems and maybe since Lily's busy you can still get lucky."
Dean gently laid a hand on her shoulder as he smirked. His eyebrow arched up in mischief. "The bartender flirted with me, but wasn't my type."
Stephanie snorted. "Why Dean? Too old? Too fat? Too ugly? I kinda figured the only girl who wasn't your type were the ones that are too young." She bit at her lower lip and watched him try not to smile. He was frustrating her to no end.
Dean shook his head and let the smile lift his lips. "Wasn't my type because his name was Tony." He winked and motioned to himself before tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. "You know, I totally understand why he was interested and all, but I'm strictly a ladies' man, Sweetheart."
Despite her anger she felt herself smile. She snorted to cover it. "God, you are impossible." She sighed. "Seriously, can I just be alone?" She tried to shake his hand from her shoulder.
He shook his head. "No."
She sighed, anger replacing her good grace. "Why the hell not?"
Dean took a step and settled himself in front of her as he tilted her chin up to face him. "Because, you really don't want to be alone." When she started to disagree he shook his head. "Shh, listen. Look, Sammy tells me the same thing and yeah, sometimes I leave him alone so he can sulk, but what he really means when he says that shit is: I want some company but I'm too damn proud to admit it." He smiled as his hands fell to her hips. "So, what you really want is someone to be there for you." He cocked his head when she gave him a funny look. "What? I can be a sensitive male on occasion."
She frowned and dropped her eyes before she let her forehead rest against his chest. "I hate you sometimes." She stayed there as he rubbed gently up and down her back. "So, what problems did you discuss with Tony?" She smiled, but Dean couldn't see it. She felt his chuckle rumble through his chest.
He rolled his eyes. "I told him all about the girl I can't have."
She pulled her forehead from his chest and shook her head. "I don't think so, try again."
His eyebrow rose as his thumb brushed the side of her breast. "Uhh, the girl I like who wants more than I have to give?"
She snorted and shook her head even as she shivered when one of his hands moved up to her shoulder to trace beneath the unbuttoned flannel. "Yeah, right...I'm more than willing to take whatever it is you have to offer and you know it."
He slid forward a half step so that her breasts brushed against him and he could feel the heat coming off her body. His voice was quiet and strained. "The girl I like, but I'm afraid to have."
Stephanie looked up at him and nodded with a hesitant smile. "Third time's a charm."
He pulled her closer and brushed her jaw with his thumb. "Can I kiss you?" Dean's eyes glued to the movement of his finger across her full bottom lip.
The tip of her tongue moved out to wet her lips as she nodded. "You never had to ask me before. Why now?" She raised her face to his, cocking her head slightly to the side.
He bent over her, breath moving over her lips. "Guess I never felt like you didn't want me to before."
She smiled and reached up to wind her hands around his neck. "I told you, Dean." She pulled him down toward her. "I always crave whiskey and chocolate."
Dean moved his lips over Stephanie's lips softly. He didn't deepen the kiss, settling for the simple connection of mouths, but when she nibbled on his bottom lip he groaned, pulled her against his chest and opened his mouth to let his tongue move against hers.
She shivered when his tongue slipped inside. He definitely tasted of whiskey and a bit like chocolate, but more whiskey than anything. She clung to him and tangled her tongue with his. Her hands teased the short hair just above his collar as she teased his tongue with her tongue ring. She couldn't help but groan in frustration when he pulled back.
Dean smiled when the barbell slid against his lips, fuck that was hot. He pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. "Just so we're clear. You taste anything other than whiskey and chocolate?"
She shook her head confused. "No...what the hell are you getting at?"
He lifted his head and pushed hair from her face. "Want to make sure you know I wasn't kissing strange women."
She smirked at him and punched him in the arm lightly. "Fine. You just flirted with Tony, that's it."
Dean smacked her ass gently as he laughed. "I told you, I didn't flirt with him. He flirted with me." He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the motel. "Think you can sleep now?"
She shrugged and fell into step beside him. "Maybe." She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "I've gotten used to sleeping beside you." She felt the heat of a blush rise up her face.
He laughed and pulled her against his side as he draped his arm over her shoulder. "That so? You like sleeping with me, huh?" He smiled at her embarrassment. "Aww, can't sleep without me there to protect you. That what it is?"
She rolled her eyes and snuggled into him. "Nah, you just make a really good back rest."
Dean couldn't help bending down once more and kissing her. This time there was nothing gentle about it. His tongue battled with her's. He enjoyed the new sensation of the ring, his tongue played around it, prodded it and pulled at it until Stephanie moaned and pressed her hips to his. He pulled back and panted, his eyes heavy with desire. "Shit, I can see why Sam couldn't resist."
She looked down before meeting Dean's eyes with a guilty look. "About that, Dean. Sam started it, I did kiss back, but I stopped." She was so scared he was going to go back to being mad at her.
He smiled, actually smiled. Then he brushed her cheekbone with his thumb. "I know, I saw." He put his arm back around her, leading them down the hill to the hotel room. "I also know why he did it."
She furled her eyebrows as they reached the parking lot. "Why?"
"He wanted me to admit he was making me jealous." Dean avoided her gaze as he dug in his jacket pocket for the key to the room.
Stephanie grabbed his hand as he moved to slide the key into the door. "Did it work? I mean did Sam kissing me make you jealous?"
Dean sighed and shrugged sullenly as he pulled his hand from hers and pushed the key into the slot. "I sure as hell didn't like it." He pushed the door open and waited for Stephanie to enter before following her inside.
A/N: So, did y'all enjoy? Hate? Confused? Be reasonable with your reviews, if you're confused or hate it explain why.
