Sara drove down the road in the quiet fog. The same way she had for the last month between hunts, every morning making a coffee run. She was starting to get used to having a fake credit card, at first the guilt kind of got to her, but she tends to soothe it with the daily latte. Not that she didn't appreciate the strong coffee the boys kept stocked, but she appreciated the change from the bitterness she'd grown so used to.
Instead of going through the drive thru like so many other customers, she preferred to park and go inside. Interact with a stranger face to face. The idea of being independent and still with the Winchesters was so enticing to her. She had them there when she needed them, and now she had her space when she needed that too. The last month had gone smoothly… sometimes too smoothly she thought. Other than the fact that she has purposely tried NOT to touch Dean since practically trying to rip his clothes off. Thankfully he has made things as normal as possible, other than the occasional joke to make Sara blush.
"The usual?" The sweet dark-haired girl behind the counter asks. She wears a new name tag every day, Sara finds it unusual, but quirky and cute. Today her name is Ellie.
"Yes maam." Sara smiles as she hands over the card and steps aside. Waiting for them to call the name on the card… Michelle.
Sara stood and looked out the window as she waited. She stared at the same book store she's been watching for the last couple of weeks. Trying to make note of reoccurring people and vehicles… something she learned from Dean. She wanted a picture of the kind of people in the store before she went in, and of course, to make sure it wasn't some kind of trap.
"MICHELLE!"
Sara turned around and smiled.
"Thanks, Um… excuse me. Do you know anything about the book store across the street?"
"Oh that old place? Been there forever. Some old dude and his family owned it. Haven't seen the old guy in a while though. Hope he's okay."
"Oh, thanks." She smiled as she walked out… pondering what all of that information COULD mean. How long had it been since they'd seen the old man? Could it be the same time frame since she moved into town? That would immediately send red flags… had it just been in the last few weeks that she had gone exploring? More red flags.
Or was it just an elderly man getting older and unable to work anymore.
"Not today." She sighed as she pulled out and headed back to the bunker.
…..
…..
…..
"Push harder." Dean chanted behind her as she punched the bag again.
"I am." She growled out of breath.
"No you're not. You're getting comfortable."
Sara rolled her eyes and punched again. But even she knew it was a weak hit.
"Sara… what's going on." He asked as he moved to stand in front of her.
"Nothing Dean." She groaned.
"Something. You've been off focus all day. The last few workouts have been getting less and less productive. I mean are you bored? Tired?"
"I mean. I don't know… It's not like the bag is gonna hit back." She shrugged.
"This isn't about hand to hand combat. This is about muscle memory. Your body has to know how to react without you thinking about it. Repetition is the only way to make that happen"
"Okay… I'm sorry. Let's go again." She sighed. Dean turned away from her and went back to stand behind her. He couldn't deny he enjoyed the view as he watched her slightly bounce on her feet before throwing her weight behind her punches. The way all her muscles tensed right before she struck the bag. It drove him crazy on the inside… just like it drove him crazy to continue to think about that night in the hotel. That night they brought her home after the curse.
He wanted to taste her. Over and over again.
But instead he just watched as her effort diminished hit after hit.
"Come on Sara… get angry. Get mad. GET SOMETHING!" He said slightly yelling the last part.
"I AM!" She yelled back as she nailed the bag with a punch hard enough that it finally swung.
Dean smiled as he watched her shoulders move up and down from her heavy breaths.
"THAT. Was a good hit."
"Thanks." Sara sighed as she turned and walked past him to grab her water bottle. Taking a large chug before letting a little of the water fall down her neck and chest. Cooling her off instantly.
"What's in your head?" Dean asked again as he sat in front of her.
"I don't know… Same things as always I guess."
"Anna?"
"Anna's always is my head… the demons. Finding them, or them finding me."
"You know that's not gonna happen as long as we're around."
But you can't always be around… Sara thought to herself. She knew she couldn't expect to live at Dean's side. Live in his shadow in fear for her life. She couldn't… she wouldn't live like that. She had to have a purpose. But she was still weighing out her new found freedom with the risks.
"The man and the bookstore." She mumbled.
"What?" Dean asked barely hearing her.
"Nothing." She said shaking her head and standing. "Are we going again?"
"Depends. You gonna hit that bag like a bitch?"
"What?" She asked slowly with wide eyes.
"Oh you heard me sweetheart…"
"I do NOT hit like a bitch."
"Coulda foolded me." Dean shrugged walking away from her.
Sara's blood flushed red in her face, and all of a sudden she lunged forward and punched him in the back. He turned almost immediately and grabbed her by the arm, swinging her around and locking his arms over hers, trapping her there.
"Too slow on the pull back, gave me a chance to pin you. Try again." He said as he lightly shoved her forward. She stumbled just a bit. Then she turned back to face him. Nodding her head up and down slightly.
"C'mon Winchester. Bring it."
"I don't think you're ready." He smirked nonchalantly.
"You should stop underestimating me." She countered before jabbing, the glove barely missing his face. He quickly reached out and smacked her lightly on the shoulder to show that she wasn't defending her blind side.
"Watch yourself." He warned.
"Do it again." She dared him, her temper starting to flare. Dean reached forward to pop her once more on the arm, this time she blocked it and reared back, kicking her foot directly into his diaphragm. He moved backwards with a huff of air. His eyes searched hers for only a split second before he moved forward and faked her to the right, moving and suddenly finding himself behind her. He picked her up swiftly, his arm pinned against her neck. She struggled against him.
"Tap out." He growled. But Sara was angry now… so she resisted. "Sara. Tap out!"
She beared down and with all her might she pulled against his arm, but blackness started to swim in her head. Dean immediately released her as he felt her muscles start to relax.
He gently laid her down on the mats below them.
"Sara, wake up sweetheart." He said lightly tapping her cheeks.
"Get off me." She mumbled as she opened her eyes.
"Why didn't you tap out?" He asked slightly irritated, knowing it was her stubbornness.
"Why would I?" She countered. "If I give up in a fight with you then I don't stand a chance with anyone else."
"Don't get up yet… let the blood come back to your head."
"Dean. Nurse… I get how it works." She reminded him equally irritated.
"We're done for today." Dean said shaking his head as he walked over and handed her the water bottle again. This time she took a drink and unscrewed the top, letting the rest of it fall over her head and face. Wiping it with her hand to get the water out of her eyes.
"We don't have to stop."
"We're done." He said with a level of finality Sara just wasn't having.
"Fine. I'll keep going by myself." She shrugged as she stood and went to walk back over to the bag. But she stumbled, due to the rush of blood from standing too quickly.
"Dammit Sara." Dean rumbled as he reached out to steady her.
"Seriously… get out of your head. Go cool off."
"I'm fine Dean!"
"Then prove it… go cool off." He challenged her again. She stared him down and something in her eyes made Dean's knees shake on the inside. But he held his ground, and finally she sighed and slipped off the gloves.
"I didn't hurt you… right?" She asked so softly he almost couldn't hear it.
"No. A kick in the breadbox isn't enough to take down a Winchester sweetheart." He winked before walking out.
Sara wandered back to her room, turning on the shower and undressing. She could feel the soreness begin to set in on the top and back of her shoulders. She rubbed them with enough force to release some of the muscle tension that was building. Then she stepped under the hot water, so hot it was ALMOST scalding. But it felt just right.
…..
…..
…..
"Hey." Sam barely said as his attention went back to the computer once he realized it was Dean walking into the library.
"Have you talk to Sara today?"
"Not really." Sam answered without looking up.
"Huh." Dean chewed on his lip. "Did you talk to her yesterday?"
"Yeah sure." Sam mumbled.
"What are you so absorbed in?"
"I think I've got something. Remember last week when Cas told us he found a name?"
"Yeahhh."
"Well.. I couldn't find anything. But… move around a few vowels, and I've got it." Sam explained flipping the computer around to face Dean.
"Zolteon." Dean mumbled outloud. "What the hell kind of name is that?"
"Well. It may just be the name of the demon that is after Sara."
"What's his story?"
"Well… there's not much of one if we're being honest. Says here he is just mentioned in some old writings as being a vicious blood thirsty killer. Blood is definitely a fetish of his, it talks about him bathing in it, drinking it, painting his body in the blood of his victims and using their bodies as a throne to sit on as the survivors were forced to worship him."
"Geez… what a creep. How do we take him out? Need anything special?"
"I don't think so. I can't see why the demon knife or an angel blade wouldn't work. The only problem i'm running into is that supposedly he was killed centuries ago. So if he's alive… he's been in hiding for a VERY long time."
"How long?"
"Probably as long as its been since healers battled along side God's army."
"So you think he's resurfaced because Sara resurfaced?"
"Kinda the only working theory we got." Sam sighed. "Question is when do we tell her."
"Not today."
"Something wrong?"
"I don't know… she won't tell me. But she's distracted. She just couldn't get focused until I pissed her off."
"I think it's best we try NOT to piss her off. That never seems to end well for us or her."
"Well I couldn't get her to pay attention to what she was doing… but once you get her going, she doesn't stop. I had to choke her out to prove a point."
"You did what?!" Sam asked flipping his head around.
"Oh It was barely… I mean. She didn't even really pass out." Dean tried to defend himself as Sam's glare grew. He knew Dean would never actually hurt her, but sometimes he thought he pushed her too much.
"Well I haven't talked to her today, but maybe I should." Sam said getting up from the table.
"Oh come on we were sparing! I BARELY tapped her out!" Dean called out.
Sam approached Sara's door and knocked gently before pushing it open.
"Yeah?" Sara called out stepping out of the bathroom with wet hair and some shorts on under her oversized tshirt.
"Hey… just came to check in with you. Haven't seen you all day." Sam lied.
"Really?" Sara asked with a raised eyebrow. "Dean didn't send you?"
"I mean… he might have mentioned that he choked you out. But. He didn't ask me to come." Sam confessed sitting against her desk. Sara sighed and walked to the bed. Sitting cross legged on top of her blankets and looking directly to Sam.
"I'm fine, Sam. He didn't hurt me… I was worried I hurt him."
"Don't be." Sam chuckled. "Even if you did he had it coming. But seriously… is there anything new going on that you need to talk about?"
"No." She shrugged. "Its not like… I'm stuck on something. It's just like I'm having an off day. Which happens right? I mean. That happened when I was a normal person too."
Sam smiled at her sadly.
"Sara… you're still a normal person."
"Don't lie to us both, Sam."
"I'm not. You're still Sara… you just didn't know what you were capable of before."
"Whatever you say… but I'm serious when I tell you I'm fine. I'm not stuck in my head. I'm not upset. I just.. I'm just having an off day I think."
"Okay. I can accept that."
"Thank you." Sara smiled at him slightly. "You hungry?"
"Depends. You hungry?"
"Women say no to food about as often as we say no to shopping. Not often, Sammy."
…..
…..
…..
Sam, Sara, and Dean sat at their favorite local Mexican restaurant. Ordering their usual. Sara played swirling her chip around in the cheese dip. Dean reached out and stole it from her, shoving it in his mouth as she watched with playful shock.
"Too slow." He winked to her.
She giggled and barely pulled the side of her lip between her teeth as she eyed him, discreetly preparing to nail him in the face with another chip. He jumped surprised as it made direct contact between his eyes.
"Too slow." Sara teased him back. Dean narrowed his eyes at her with a smirk forming on his face.
"So I think I found a new case today." Sam interrupted their flirting.
"Oh yeah? What are we looking at?" Sara asked casually.
"Another witch, think you're up for it?"
"She better be." Dean interjected. "This time maybe you should bring a chastity belt."
"Ha. Ha." Sara rolled her eyes at him. "Yes Sam, I'm down for another witch, at least now I know to be more careful.
"Okay, it's about days drive, we can leave out tonight and drive through the night if you want."
"You know how much I love sleeping in the backseat." She said sarcastically.
"Beats staring out the window for 14 straight hours." Dean countered.
"Fair point." She nodded as their plates arrived to the table. Dean didn't hesitate to dig into his oversized nachos and Sam cut into his enchiladas. Sara swirled her chip again, realized her eyes were much bigger than her stomach suddenly. What is wrong with me, she thought to herself. Something's off today. She hoped she wasn't coming down with some sort of bug, the last thing she wanted was to be stuck on the road sick.
Sam looked up slightly under his lashes and watched as her eyes began to fade into a daze, she finally sat up and picked up her fork, and he wondered if there was something more going on. Maybe Dean was right.
"Sara, how do you like going into town? Made any friends at the coffee shop?"
"Its nice." She smiled genuinely at them both as they looked for her reaction. "The girl at the register wears a different name tag everyday so I don't actually know her name but she already has my 'usual' memorized, so I like her."
"A different name every day?" Dean asked with one eyebrow raised.
"Yeah." Sara said suddenly concerned, "is that okay?"
"Yes." Sam nodded reassuringly. "I'm sure its just a quirk, people do weird things every day that are completely unrelated to the supernatural."
"Yeah, its fine." Dean agreed as he sensed her worried tone. "Anyone else in there catch your eye?"
"Ummm, not really, new faces every day. No one seems to run a consistent schedule. Some of them come as I go and vice versa, I start to recognize the vehicles."
"Smart girl." Dean smiled as he shoved another handful of food into his face.
"Have you tried anywhere else?" Sam asked.
"Just the grocery store and Target for food or supplies. But…" She hesitated, both boys instantly looked up. "There's this bookstore across the street from the coffee shop I've been eyeballing."
Sam wasn't sure why she seemed so hesitant to mention it, he shared a brief look to Dean before clearing his throat.
"Why haven't you gone in?"
"I asked today, and the girl at the coffee shop said that a family owned it for years, but they haven't seen the older man for a while… I just thought maybe that was too coincidental." Sara looked down at her plate as she trailed off, obviously disappointed.
"We'll check it out tonight." Dean replied instantly with a firm tone.
"Dean. Calm down…" Sam said with an eye roll. "Sara, It's fine if you want to go in, you can always ask Dean or I to go with you the first time if you're ever worried or suspicious of something. We can run a full background on the family. It's an easy fix."
"There really isn't much around town that red flags as supernatural anyways, I don't know if the bunker warding puts off vibes in town or what, but we rarely see stuff this close to home." Dean added. "But I'm glad you were careful."
"… Will it ever go away?" Sara asked quietly.
"What?"
"The feeling that I have to be careful every time I want to go somewhere new or try something different."
Suddenly Dean felt bad for pushing her earlier. It was obvious that she had this on her mind, whether she realized it or not. This was simply a reminder that her life can't go back to normal. That she isn't normal. That no matter what she wants or does in life… she will always have to look over her shoulder.
"No."
The word held so much finality. It was heavy as his rolled off his tongue and even heavier as it floated to Sara's ears. She put on a brave face with a nod and half assed smiled.
…
…..
…..
"How much farther?" Sara asked as she woke in the backseat and stretched her arms in the limited space.
"Only about 4 hours, aren't you glad we drove all night?" Sam smiled.
"Yes." She smiled back. "Sleeping is better than staring at nothing."
"Weak." Dean mumbled.
"You're driving. That's different."
"How?"
"Your body and your brain are focused on a task, your hands are busy, and you have purpose to stay awake and alert."
"Oh if you think I've never nodded off at this wheel you have WAY too much faith in me." Dean laughed to himself. Sara and Sam shared a brief wide eyed glance. Suddenly the though of sleeping in shifts seemed like a good idea.
"So what's our first stop?" Sara asked as she leaned over Sam's shoulder.
"We can stop and see the victim's wif-"
"DEAN LOOK OUT!" Sara screamed as a man appeared out of nowhere in the road.
Dean slammed his brakes but it was too late, the tires screeched as the grew closer and closer to the man… until he vanished on impact.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" Dean asked looking back. But nothing was there. Sara struggled to catch her breath from the backseat. Dean instantly turned and grabbed her shoulder, nodding reassuringly that they were okay.
"Dean that was a ghost." Sam said looking around the car.
"What in the middle of the road in the middle of the morning?!" Dean asked.
"Ummm… Sam." Sara gulped as she faced forward, looking directly out the windshield. "It's back… and… it has friends."
Dean and Sam instantly turned and caught the site of 3 ghosts… different ages. Two women and the man they originally saw. All walking towards the car. Mouthing something.
Sara swore she recognized the way their mouths formed, but couldn't be sure.
"Dean. What the hell is this?" Sam asked unsure of what to think.
"Is this highway haunted?" Sara asked shakily.
"Not that I know of… " Dean said flipping the car in a 180 and gunning it in the opposite direction. They drove for about 25 minutes before coming to a truck stop with a diner. They all stepped out and into the restaurant to grab a table.
"What can I get you today?" The older woman with red curly hair asked as she approached with a friendly smile.
"Um, 3 coffees please." Sam responded as he pulled out his laptop.
"Water." Sara interjected. "Just water for me."
She still looked shaken up. Dean watched her carefully.
"So what's the deal Sammy?" He asked as he heard the typing cease and watched Sam scroll through articles.
"Nothing." Sam mumbled. "I can't find anything remotely close to here. No recent deaths. No missing persons. No brutal accidents on this highway for at least another 50 miles up. Its just dirt and blacktop with a few truck stops for at least a hundred miles both ways.
"Well maybe we stumbled upon someone's dumping grounds… someone who hasn't been caught?" Dean reasoned.
"Yeah. Has to be." Sam agreed.
"That's a terrifying thought…" Sara mumbled to herself more than the boys. "I'm gonna go pee."
"Sara, we're okay." Sam smiled reassuringly to her.
"Yeah, I know." She said as she squeezed his shoulder while she walked past. Sara entered the small bathroom with white dingy tiles on the floor and a double sink below the large mirror. She occupied a stall and heard the door open, but no footsteps.
"… Hello?" Sara asked, suddenly feeling stupid for being so jumpy. No response. She shook her head.
"Get a grip Sara." She said outloud as she made her way over to wash her hands. She looked up to the mirror, and her breath suddenly became visible, a cold chill ran up her back. In her peripheral something moved. She flipped her head to the left and screamed.
Dean and Sam heard the scream from the table and nearly tripped each other to get out of the booth, rushing towards the bathrooms. Sara swung the door open and crashed into them. Dean grabbing her by the arms while she continued her panicked cries.
"De- Dean. It's in there!"
"What?! What's in there?!" He demanded as Sam swung the door open and charged in, a crowd gathering behind them due to the noise.
"Dean, its empty." Sam said, he noticed the crowd of people staring and looked to Dean, they silently agreed it was time to leave. As they pushed their way through and grabbed their things on the way to the door. Sara not leaving Dean's grasp the entire way to Baby.
"Sara. Up front." Dean said letting her go as they hit the trunk. Sam slid into the backseat.
"Sara, what was it?" Sam asked calmly as Dean pulled back onto the highway.
"I-I think it was a ghost? I don't know… she was covered in blood."
"Okay, what did she look like?"
"I don't know Sam.. old? I think? I just panicked. I'm sorry."
"No, its okay… you don't have to be sorry." He assured her.
"We're finding a motel, and we're figuring out what the hell is going on around here." Dean said aloud, no one argued. He reached over and put a hand on Sara's knee, even if only for a brief squeeze. He wasn't letting her out of his sight, he watched as her eyes danced but never actually focused out the windshield.
"DEAN!" She yelled as two more ghosts stood in front of the vehicle.
"What the fu-" Dean began to whisper as he hit the brakes.
"Dean… get us the hell out of this town." Sam demanded. Dean gunned it and powered through the two men. Two different men. Six ghosts, every one of them different. Why?
…..
…..
…..
"Well, we're about 6 hours from the bunker. Lets just crash here for the night. I'm starving." Dean caved. They had driven without stopping for anything but gas. Sara had been mostly quiet. Watching out the windshield with wide eyes for the first couple of hours, finally she relaxed. Sam continued to research most of the drive.
"I don't understand." Sara said from the edge of the motel bed she sat cross legged on. "Why can't we find anything? If it were murders, wouldn't there be missing persons? Wouldn't someone know that many people were gone? They were in normal street clothes. Its not like they were from the 1800s."
"I don't know." Sam sighed. "I don't have a good answer for this one, I think we need to look into it though."
"Pizza or chinese?" Dean asked as he tossed some take out menus down beside her.
"I'm not really hungry for some reason. Kinda haven't been since we ate last night." She admitted.
"You sure you feel okay?" Dean asked her, worried.
"Yeah. I'm fine. I was a little spooked earlier but they're just ghosts."
"Okay." Dean nodded, ordering a pizza and kicking off his boots while Sam salted and laid down traps.
"I think I'm gonna lay down actually." She admitted as she laid back, scooting over until her back sat against his hip from where he sat up watching TV against the headboard.
"You should eat, you haven't eaten all day." Dean reminded her.
"I will, I'm just gonna rest my eyes until it gets here." She reassured him.
It took less than 10 minutes and Sara was asleep.
"… Sam. What's going on here? Really." Dean asked him quietly as they stared at her.
"You're not thinking what I think you're thinking right?" Sam asked.
"Are you?"
"… It was just ghosts." Dean told himself reassuringly. "Surely it wasn't a targeted thing."
"Ghosts out in the middle of the day in the middle of the road?" Sam asked suspiciously.
"I'm not scaring her until we know for sure. IF her warding is gone- that's a big IF. We can call Cas."
"Cas hasn't answered in days, Dean."
"I know… I know." He replied frustrated. He knew Cas was out of reach for the time being, or he would have had her warding checked the moment the ghost cornered her in the bathroom. He wondered if it crossed her mind, he hoped it didn't. She didn't need the added anxiety.
"If the warding is gone, we have to get back to the bunker until we can restore it. We can't know what's coming for her out in the open like this."
"I know that too Sam."
"Should we really be stopping tonight?"
"I don't want to scare her, I'm starved, and we have no reason to think it's just her." Dean reassured himself. He was truly exhausted, he had now been driving for over 18 hours and knew he had to rest before they could finish the journey home.
A knock at the door. Pizza.
Dean answered and found a pimply dark haired teenager on the other side of the door. He reaked of pot. Dean took note of his grungy shoes and baggy jeans he wore with his uniform shirt.
"Pepperoni and cheese with extra cheese, dude?" The kid asked.
"Yeah." Dean said handing him the cash. "Keep the change."
"Cool shit bro." He nodded as he walked away. Dean shook his head and shut the door behind him.
"Well he was stoned out of his mind, If he stopped to snack on my pizza I'm going to hunt him down." Dean said as he opened the box for inspection, Sam laughed in response, grabbing a slice for himself. Watching as Sara slept, deciding not to wake her. She liked her pizza better cold anyways.
…..
…..
…..
Scratching. Scratching and growling woke the boys instantly. Dean looked over at a still sleeping Sara. He shook her gently, she jumped awake and he instantly looked at her with his finger to his mouth, insisting that she remain quiet.
"Get in that corner, get low, you shoot whatever gets past us, you understand me?!"
Sara nodded and moved to the corner, gun drawn as she crouched. Sam approached the windows. Dean moved towards the door, suddenly the scratching became pounding, something was determined to get in here.
Sara jumped, shaking… she had never seen something come to their door. She always felt safe tucked away in bed with the brothers.
Dean held up his hand, counting down to 3 before he swung open the door. He was instantly tackled to the ground by something. Sam acted fast, reaching and pulling the beast off of Dean. Dean took his chance and fired six bullets into the beast, but it didn't stop getting up.
"WEREWOLF!" Sam yelled realizing what the beast was. He lunged across the bed for their bags, searching for silver bullets while Dean wrestled the beast. It fought and pulled and was determined to get past him… to get to Sara.
"Sara!" Dean yelled. "BATHROOM! Lock the door!"
Sara jumped and ran to the other room, hiding in the shower, listening to the struggle outside the door. Finally two more shots fired and silence.
She stood… carefully putting her ear against the door. Silence, mumbling. She moved for the doorknob, but as she grabbed it she heard the window behind her shatter as something reached a long arm inside.
"NOT A WEREWOLF!" Sara screamed as she pulled open the bathroom door and charged towards the boys, Dean threw her into Sam as he charged the monster climbing into the window.
"Vampire?!" He said out of breath as he beheaded the monster and came back in the room, closing the bathroom door behind him.
"Sara. Get your bag now." Sam said flipping on the lights and rushing to get their things. "We have to get to the car, now."
"GO!" Dean said throwing the keys to Sam. "I'll get everything else, put her in the back floorboard."
Sam grabbed Sara and covered her with his long arm as he held her against his side and rushed her into the parking lot. Sara hyperventilated slightly as Sam placed her in the floorboard and laid his bag on top of her, then a jacket.
"Sam what the hell is happening?!" Sara cried softly.
"Sara, it's fine. We're fine. I'll explain in just a minute."
Sam opened the trunk and grabbed a small variety of weapons to keep readily available as Dean charged out of the room and towards Baby.
"Get in." He growled as flipped off the headlights and gunned it in the dark towards the road.
"Dean." Sara whispered… "Can I get up?"
"Not yet." Dean replied cautiously, he drove without lights for about 3 miles before he finally flipped them on.
"Sara." Dean said softly. "I want you to crawl over the seat and sit between us. Sara carefully climbed out of the floorboard, over the back of the seat, and settled herself between the two men with her knees up to her chest.
"Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?" She asked flatly. Realizing they know something she doesn't. Feeling almost irritated, but too afraid to be angry.
"We think your warding has worn off." Sam said very calmly. " I think those ghost CAME to us because they could sense you. The monsters too."
"So… why haven't we called for Castiel?"
"He hasn't answered in a few days." Dean admitted. "Otherwise we would have had him check it after you were attacked in the bathroom."
"So you both knew this and didn't feel like including me in that conversation?" She asked with a subtle grudge.
"Sara, we didn't want to scare you… we weren't sure." Sam tried to explain. "There was no sense in upsetting you if it was nothing."
"Well its not nothing Sam! I almost got us all killed!"
"Sara stop." Dean cut her off. "This isn't your fault… you haven't even healed us in weeks."
"So why then are they coming out of the woodwork?!"
"I don't know… okay. I don't know. I can't answer that without Cas."
"Well where the fuck is he!" She burst with frustration. "CAS! Hello?!"
"Sara, we've tried praying to him already… he's out of contact."
"How does that even happen?"
"Well now that you are with us, he can do that without fear of one of us being fatally injured. He's been working on something for us… okay, he's been looking for the demon that was hunting you." Sam explained calmly.
"… Oh god." Sara gulped. "He can find me… can't he?"
"Sara. Don't go there. We're getting back to the bunker. Nothing can get you there."
"Yeah… until I close my eyes." Sara whispered. Holding back tears as she remembered the vivid and cruel nightmares he used to visit her.
"No. He had an angel, he was using the angel to connect to you. Cas removed that connection." Sam reassured her again. "He won't be able to find you once we're home."
"And how far away is that?"
"Five hours tops. Less… okay. Sara, I'm not going to let him or anything else get in this car. Get between you and I in this seat. We're flying, nothing can track you on the ground this fast."
"The ghosts did…" She replied as a tear slid down her cheek. Dean barely could see it as the dash lights reflected off of her face. He knew nothing he said would help. So instead he reached over and pulled her to lean against him.
Sam lifted his bag he had filled with various weapons, iron, the demon blade, an angel blade, silver bullets, holy water, everything he could fit into his lap laid ready to use. He refused to let a single thing get close to her. He watched carefully between the windshield and the rearview mirror to ensure nothing snuck up on them. He was determined to see it first. He was thankful it was dark and Sara could only see what the headlights illuminated. He knew they would have to stop at least once to gas up, he was already planning the safest location to do so.
"Eight Months… that's all it lasted?" Sara mumbled in the dark after about an hour of silence. "Shouldn't it have lasted longer?"
"To be honest Sara we don't know." Sam admitted. "We didn't know if it would last this long even… Maybe because you saved Dean a few months ago and your body had to heal itself it started to heal the warding too? The truth is we just don't know."
"Things have never…. Come for me." She swallowed. "The way that they have tonight. No matter who I saved… why is it like this all of a sudden?"
"You've never used your grace like this before Sara." Dean said softly. "I'm sorry sweetheart, but the only explanation I can come up with for all of this is that you healed me, and that boosted your angel power signals."
"… It was still worth it ya know." She whispered as she laid back against him.
"I like to think so." Dean joked. Sara grinned for the first time all day, even in the dark Dean could feel her relax even if only for a moment.
"Sara, you should try and sleep… by the time you wake up we'll have you tucked into your bed, safe."
"Sam… I don't think anything could make me feel safe right now."
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…..
Dean carried Sara through the door and down the stairs through the library. She had only fallen asleep maybe an hour before they were home. He was thankful nothing stopped them on the way home, but he constantly felt like he was running from something that was getting closer and closer to catching up. A feeling he finally shook as they entered the garage and he watched the door close behind them.
"I'm gonna check everything out. Make sure everything is firing on all cylinders, check cameras, maybe lay down some extra warding?" Sam sighed as he followed in behind him.
"Yeah, I'm gonna lay her down and then I'll see where you're at."
"Dean… just stay with her. I don't want her to wake up alone."
"Sam, you know that's a bad idea." Dean said sternly.
"Dean… I'm not saying you should strip off your clothes as soon as you hit her room." Sam chuckled. "I'm just saying she won't feel safe alone. If you won't do it then I'll stay wit-"
"No its fine. I got it." Dean cut him off walking down the hall before the conversation could go any further. Sam smiled watching him readjust her ever so gently in his arms as they rounded the corner.
Dean laid Sara down on the bed, reaching down to the foot of the bed to grab an extra blanket to lay across her. He eyed the chair at her desk, knowing that's where he should go. But he didn't want to let her get that far away from him. As safe as he knew she was here in the bunker, he knew that if he wasn't conflicted with himself he would just lay with her. What difference was it from any other night in the motel?
"It's her bed." He thought to himself. That's the difference, this was her space. And for some reason that made things feel much more intimate.
He wrestled internally as he sighed. "Stupid." He mumbled out loud. Sara stirred. He hurried to stand beside the bed.
"Dean." She asked sitting up quickly realizing they were back in the bunker. Sara's eyes fell on him as he stood beside the bed. In the dark, he could barely see her face, but he knew. She didn't need words. She didn't need to explain. She didn't want to… she just reached out for him, and he reached back.
Sara grabbed his hand and pulled, he sat on the edge of the mattress as he kicked off his shoes, and then laid, his head landing on the pillow she pushed towards him. Sara instantly wrapped herself in his arms. Dean took a deep breath, knowing he would hate himself tomorrow if he got too close and let himself feel at home in her warmth. However, knowing that she was afraid halted the battles in his head.
"You're okay, Sara." He whispered in the dark as he felt her shoulders shake lightly.
Sara didn't want to cry in front of Dean. She knew she had in the past… but she always tried so hard to keep her emotions to herself. To keep her anxiety in check. To keep her insecurity to herself. She felt selfish… forcing him to stay with her knowing he had already rejected her twice. Knowing that he was only staying because he felt guilty after she saved his life.
She couldn't bring her eyes up, afraid that even in the cover of night he would see it. How badly she wanted him to stay, to never leave. She had never felt as safe as she did when he enveloped her.
"Sara." Dean whispered. She shook her head no and took a deep breath.
"I'm fine. I'm sorry." She whispered back, hiding against him.
Before he could stop himself, Dean pulled her chin up, and laid his lips against her forehead. He kissed her so softly she wasn't sure it wasn't just a dream. She rested. Just taking in the moment, taking in every bit of his scent, the heat from his touch, and the way her leg intertwined with his.
"Go back to sleep sweetheart." Dean whispered as he lowered his jaw to her ear.
She wanted to say something back. She wanted to tell him every fear running in her brain. Every worry on her heart. But she didn't want to embarrass herself any further, so instead she closed her eyes and breathed him in.
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Sara woke feeling slightly clammy… the result of her cheek laid against Dean's bicep. Soaking in the scent from his chest as her eyes pulled open. Dean snored softly, still asleep as she carefully rolled over and reached for her soft lights… she had to keep dim lights in the morning, and then turn them up in the afternoon, her way of regulating her internal clock since the bunker lacked any windows.
"Hey." Dean mumbled as he felt her pull away.
"Hey." She turned back over. Pulling away slightly and laying back on her own pillow. Not yet ready to pull away from their intertwined legs.
"Wanna try summoning Cas again today?" Dean asked. Sara just nodded in response.
"I want coffee." Sara smiled softly.
"I second that." Dean stretched. Releasing their bodies from one another.
"Dean…" Sara mumbled. He sat up, but turned back to face her. She pulled up and sat against the headboard. "Thank you for staying with me."
"Anytime sweetheart." He smiled before standing and walking towards the kitchen. Sara could have sworn for just a moment there was something more in his smile then just kindness… something. Longing. But she shook her head and reminded herself that her desires were playing tricks on her brain.
Sara showered and went to the kitchen, finding her mug full and steaming with hot coffee.
"Mmmmm… Thank you." She moaned as she sat across from Sam at the table. Dean stood against the counter watching her carefully.
"I set up the spell to summon Cas, even if he's out of touch this might be powerful enough to reach him." Sam assured her with a smile.
"Thank you… I'm ready for some answers."
"Us too." Dean agreed as he finished his coffee. "I'm gonna shower before we get this show started, I think I still have werewolf blood in my hair." He teased with a wink.
Sara smiled and watched him walk out of the room… Sam watched her.
"Did you sleep okay?" Sam asked with an knowing look.
"Sam… I feel so stupid." Sara said as she let her head fall against the table.
"Why?!" He asked.
"Because I basically forced him into bed with me because I was a chicken shit last night… He probably felt guilty and obligated to stay. I should have told him I was fine and insisted he go to his own bed. How rude am I?"
"Sara. Stop… Dean doesn't feel obligated.
"You don't know that."
"Sara. I know monsters… and I know Dean. Trust me. He wasn't leaving your side last night whether you wanted him to or not. Wild horses wouldn't have dragged him away if he knew you wanted him there."
"I have to stop convincing myself there's mixed signals coming from his end… and I have to stop sending them."
Sam just shook his head… when would these two idiots realize?
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…..
"Okay Sara… here we go." Sam said before he started chanting. The three of them stood around a circle with what similarly resembled a devil's trap.
The ground beneath them shook slightly as the chanting grew louder, suddenly with a flash of light Sara turned away.
"Dean. Sam…" Cas's voice filled her ears. "What is the meaning of this?!"
"Dammit Cas. We've been calling you for days!" Dean answered as he used his foot to break the circle and Cas walked out towards them, but as soon as he stepped over the line, he stopped and turned to Sara.
"Sara…. Its like a lighthouse." He mumbled as he looked at her, walking forward slowly.
"Well I guess that answer's that." Sam mumbled.
"Why isn't the warding working anymore." Sara asked nervously as Cas stepped in front of her.
"Sara, you know this isn't pleasant for me to check, but I feel like I must to understand why you are putting off so much energy."
"Do it." She nodded. Dean moved to stand behind her. Cas reached forward as his hand slid against her chest, as he closed his eyes Dean watched Sara's knees begin to buckle. She bit her lip to keep from yelling out. Sam grimaced as he watched.
Cas pulled back, Sara's hands fell to her knees as she fought to catch her breath.
"Well?!" Dean pushed.
"The warding is gone… completely." Cas answered him. "She is resonating on a level I've yet to see… the night I found her she wasn't half as strong as she is now."
"Why the boost?" She asked out of breath.
"I would have to assume that you used so much of your grace to save Dean, that when your body reacharged itself it grew in strength. Perhaps your grace has amplified because the need has amplified. You're no longer doing accidental saves once or twice a month… you literally brough Dean back from the brink of death, and it almost killed you. Your body and the grace must be preparing for the next time you need to save someone."
Sara turned to look at Dean, his eyes held worry.
"So what now… do we replace the warding? Will it still work?"
"Yes, it should… I don't know how long it will last, the same? Less? More if you don't have to use your grace?" Cas shrugged as his eyes fell on Sara.
"Can I at least lay down this time?" Sara sighed knowing the pain that was coming as Cas prepared to restore her warding. Wondering if it would even be effective, or for how long?"
"Yes." Dean answered for her instantly. "Where? Your bed?"
"No, that feels weird." She crossed her arms. "Just let me lie on the floor or something."
"Why don't we use a table in the library, cleaner than the floor." Sam smiled at her softly. She nodded and walked out of the room, the 3 men following.
She jumped onto the first table she came across and sighed as she laid back.
"I think it's worse knowing what's coming this time." She said out loud as the three men surrounded the table.
"I'm sorry sweetheart."
"I'ts okay.. its gonna keep us safe… and for that I'll do anything." She said looking up to him from under her long dark lashes. Sam reached over and grabbed her hand, linking his fingers in hers.
"Ready?" Cas asked.
"Please don't count, just g- Ah!" Sara gritted her teeth. Her back slightly arched off the table and her legs drew up. Her hand squeezed against Sam and he squeezed back.
"Almost done." Dean whispered in her ear.
Suddenly Cas pulled back and her body went limp.
"Sara?" Dean asked as he tapped her face. Her breathing was shallow, but her pulse was strong.
"She's going to wake soon Dean." Cas assured him. "I added to the warding this time… should help. But it was deeper than I like to go."
"That's what he said." Dean giggled to himself. Sam rolled his eyes.
"Thanks Cas… where the hell you been anyways?" Sam asked.
"Well, I was hunting Zolteon, and a couple of days ago he just vanished… If I had to guess I'd say he detected Sara and began to move towards her."
"What do you know about this guy?" Dean asked.
"Not much… He's very difficult to track, its almost like he goes in and out of hell's gates… I don't know how he could do so that fast though."
Dean shuddered at the thought, and then regrouped himself.
"Welp, thanks for the warding." Dean nodded. "We still have ourselves a witch to hunt."
"Do you think that's a good idea?" Sam asked.
"We have to know if the warding works, and we're gonna have to push her. She's scared… she has to know she can't hide."
"Okay… Well the cars still packed. We'll go when she wakes up."