Well we are winding down, maybe another 4 chapters left. I hope you all are enjoying it, and thank you for sticking around.
I don't own anything...just playing.
Christine was released from the hospital the day after Crowley told her goodbye. Sam and Dean helped her get home and made sure she had everything she needed for the next few days. She was sitting on the couch when Dean came in from outside carrying two full sacks of groceries. Sam was right behind him with two more.
" Um, I'm not sure how many people you guys are feeding. You know it's just me that lives here right?" Christine asked as she saw the bags.
" Well, " Dean said as he walked by her, " no sense making a lot of trips. This way you're stocked up for a while."
" I appreciate it guys, I really do, but I'm fine. You don't have to fuss over me."
" We aren't fussing, " Sam told her. " We promised we would keep an eye on you for a few days."
" You guys realize I'm a paramedic and I can take care of myself?"
" Well yeah, but we don't mind. We don't really have anything going on right now." Dean said as he set the sacks on the counter in the kitchen, " Besides, the doctors at the hospital told you to take it easy for a while. So since we're here, we might as well give you a hand. Sammy here makes a mean cheeseburger, so I hope you're hungry."
Christine smiled at them. " Thank you both, and honestly I really don't feel like being alone right now. You guys make yourselves at home, I'm just gonna go lie down for a bit." She got up and headed toward her bedroom. " Wake me in an hour or so? " she asked them.
" Sure." Sam said. " Bacon on your cheeseburger?"
" Absolutely." she answered and went to her room.
Dean waited for her door to close before turning to Sam, " Dude, how long are we gonna hang around here?"
" I told you I promised we would keep an eye on her for a few days."
" So now we're making promises to demons?" Dean asked as he started taking things out of the grocery bag in front of him.
" Look, you weren't there. I get Crowley is a demon, king of hell , yadda yadda. I'm telling you, he was really hurting. I mean we do kind of owe him for taking care of the Abaddon problem."
" I don't care if he was hurting, bunch of crap if you ask me. Demons don't fall in love, they can't. End of story. Whatever he's up to I don't feel right being part of it."
" I'm telling you Dean, he loves her. I mean really really loves her. I know it's never been heard of before, but come on, how many times have we seen things that people think aren't real."
Dean glanced toward her closed bedroom door, " Look, I like her, I really do, but if she made the choice to get into bed with a demon, then she should deal with the consequences. I mean what did she think would happen? They'd buy some house and raise a couple of half human half demon kids, have a hell hound in the back yard? I'm so tired of cleaning up messes that people get themselves into when they know better!"
Sam just shook his head. " Look, I told him we would. It's not like we have anything else going on, and this is a nice town. I don't know about you but I could use a little down time."
Dean huffed, " Fine, but only because I need a few days of rest. Not because you promised some delusional demon we'd be on guard duty."
Sam rolled his eyes, " Just be nice to her okay?"
" Oh I'll be nice. " Dean said , " I'll be really nice."
" You realize if you touch her he's gonna hang you by your toes over some burning pit or something right?"
Dean returned to putting groceries away, " How about you quit yapping and start on those burgers?"
Christine laid in her bed looking out the window. She could hear Dean and Sam speaking in hushed tones, she could imagine what they were saying. Christine reached out for her phone that was lying on her nightstand. Tapping the screen the phone lit and she could see the photo there of her and Crowley. Her gently kissing his cheek, him with a smug grin on his face. A tear rolled from the corner of her eye and traveled down to her pillow. Her eyes closed, she had never felt this exhausted before. Sleep took her within a matter of minutes. As her breathing evened out and she sank deeper into sleep Crowley stepped from the shadows in her room. Carefully he sat on the edge of her bed. He could see the dark circles under her eyes even as she slept. Pushing back a lock of hair from her forehead he leaned down and placed a kiss on her brow. Looking out her window at the cold grey day he sighed and disappeared from the room.
Christine woke a couple of hours later, and felt better. Feeling more rested than she had in days she got up and got into the shower letting the hot water run over her. She seemed to have more than her fair share of heartbreak in the past few months; first her father, then David, and now Crowley. ' Maybe I'm just meant to be alone right now.' she thought as she washed her hair. ' I mean really, I only knew him a few months. Yeah I fell pretty hard for him, but it's for the best really. What kind of life could we have had?' Chris rinsed her hair and finished showering. Once she was dried and dressed, she made her way back into the kitchen to find Sam and Dean cooking and drinking beer.
" Got one for me?" she asked and it startled them. " Wow you guys are some body guards." she laughed
Dean handed her a beer and smiled his most charming smile. " Do you need your body guarded? Because if so I'm your guy."
" I'll pass thanks. " She said and took a long drink from the bottle. " Anything I can do to help?"
" Yeah, can you cut up the onions and tomatoes?" Sam answered.
Christine grabbed a knife and sat down at the kitchen table. Slicing the onions she asked, " So how long are you guys planning on hanging around? Because I have a pretty good idea who asked you to and I don't think it wasn't the doctors."
Sam and dean exchanged a glance. " Uh, well I was thinking a couple of days. Maybe a week. You know even we need a break every now and then."
Christine nodded. " I appreciate you guys being here. I do. Just let me say this. I know Crowley asked you to keep an eye on me, otherwise you two would be long gone. Hanging out and playing nursemaid doesn't exactly seem to be your style. The hospital gave me a few days off work so you won't have to follow me there, but if you really want to help me, my fathers store needs to be cleaned out so I can sell it. Can you guys give me a hand with that?"
" Sure we can." Sam replied.
" Yeah." Said Dean.
" Great." She said smiling at them. " And once we're done you guys can hit the road. Right? Because honestly having you here makes me think of him and I don't want to do that if I can help it."
" Sure, we'll get it all cleaned out and then we're out of your hair." Dean said
" Now, how about those burgers?" She asked them.
Crowley sat at his desk. It was dark in his office and the only light was from a small lamp on a table near the bookcase. His whiskey sat on his desk untouched. He had no idea how long he had been sitting there since he had seen her last. Slipping into her room is something he couldn't do again. It was hard enough not being with her, but he'd be damned if he would continue to torture himself by watching her. " She'll be fine soon, " he mumbled to himself. He reached for the glass and drank it down in one swallow and sat it back down on his desk. Thoughts of Christine swirled through his head. The way she looked when she woke in the morning, the way her skin tasted. He could feel her touch on his skin and her kiss on his lips. It was maddening, but it was necessary. Time passed differently in Hell, a month on earth could be as long as a year in Hell. He had looked in on her from time to time. Stupid really, but some days the temptation was just too much and he couldn't help himself. She never saw him, he made sure of that.
Christine was sitting in the restaurant waiting for the blind date she had been set up on. Dennis' wife Sally had set it up. It was her nephew, and she was just sure they would hit it off. Chris had reluctantly agreed. It had been 6 months since Crowley said goodbye to her. The first 3 she spent depressed and nursing her broken heart. She understood why he did it, but that didn't make it hurt any less. She didn't hate him, and wished she could tell him that but the few times she had texted or called they went unanswered. The past 3 months she had spent taking time for herself. Sam and Dean had been true to their word, and 2 weeks from the day she was released from the hospital they helped her clean out her fathers store. Once it was done they left. She still heard from them every so often when the called for medical advice. She had painted the kitchen and living room of her house. Re did the tile in the master bathroom, and bought all new furniture. Christine felt that this was a time for starting over, but she still couldn't bring herself to erase Crowley's picture from her phone. It wasn't her wallpaper on her screen anymore, but she still pulled it up to look at it far too often. One day she would delete it, but not today. She was looking at the picture when her date walked up and she hurriedly put her phone away.
" Christine?" he asked.
" Hi, Yes that's me." she rose and offered her hand in greeting. He was a nice looking man. He was tall, with dark hair and blue eyes. His smile was warm and he looked genuinely happy to be there.
" Hi," he said taking her hand, " I'm Tim. Sally and Dennis have told me so much about you."
" Good things I hope." She smiled back at him.
" Absolutely, " He said, sitting in the chair opposite of her.
" Then it was all lies," she told him.
Tim laughed with her. " Look, I know blind dates suck. They're usually lame and you spend the whole time trying to find a way out, so if you don't want to do this I completely understand."
" Well, we're both here. Might as well try and have a good time. Unless you don't want to in which case I completely understand." she told him.
" I guess we're both in this together. Let's see how it goes, but lets say no lame excuses. If one of us wants to leave just be honest and say it. Deal?" he asked and stuck out his hand to shake.
Christine smiled and shook his hand. " Deal." she said.
Dinner was fun and there was no lapse in conversation. Tim was a history teacher, and a little on the nerdy side. He was cute though and they had a lot in common. After he walked her to her car. " I had fun." he told her.
" Yeah me too." she agreed.
" So maybe you'd like to go out again sometime? No pressure or anything. Think about it." He said, looking at the ground shyly.
Christine smiled at him, " Yeah I'd like that. What's your number? I'll text you, then you'll have mine. " They took a moment exchanging numbers, " Thanks again for dinner, you didn't have to pay. I was more than happy to split it."
" You don't make a good impression on a pretty girl by being cheap." He said. " I'll call you in a few days and we can make plans?"
" Sure. Give me a call or shoot me a text." she said and got into her car. Dinner with Tim had been nice and she had enjoyed his company. Christine didn't know if she was quite ready to start dating, but maybe they could hang out as friends a bit first.
Crowley stood across the street in the shadows and watched her speak with the man. He couldn't help it, he tried to resist but the overwhelming need to see her would win and he would find her. Tonight when he found her he felt his heart drop to the ground. She was on a date. He could tell. ' What did I expect? That she should spend the rest of her life alone?' It hurt him far more than he would admit. The desire to kill the man on sight was overwhelming, but after a few deep breaths it lessened. He watched her laugh with him and smile. It was nice to see her happy, but he wanted to rip someone's intestines out. Seeing her get in her car and leave he disappeared and was suddenly standing in front of her house. He was invisible to her eyes, but he watched when after a few minutes she pulled into her driveway. The wind shifted and he could smell her perfume as she got out of the car. Her hair moved in the breeze and he had a sudden need to touch her. When she went inside he followed her. Just behind her when she hung up her coat. She was more beautiful than he remembered. She sat down and took off her suede knee high boots and turned on the tv. She walked into the kitchen and got herself a glass and went back and poured herself a good amount of Johnny Walker Black and sat it on the coffee table. Flipping through the channels she settled on one of the music stations. She sat down and sipped her drink and closed her eyes. Christine tried very hard but her thoughts drifted to him.
Crowley watched her from the front hall. The house wasn't large and he could keep her in his line of sight without having to move. He watched as she sipped her drink. It was maddening to be so close to her and not touch her. She finished her drink and got up to take the glass to the kitchen. As she stood in the kitchen a familiar song started to play.
When the rain
Is blowing in your face
And the whole world
Is on your case
I could offer you
A warm embrace
To make you feel my love
When the evening shadows
And the stars appear
And there is no one there
To dry your tears
I could hold you
For a million years
To make you feel my love
She had always loved Adele's version of this song, but tonight for some reason it hurt her more than she could say. She stood in the kitchen and clutched the countertop and let the tears come once again. They were hot against her cheeks. 'Its been 6 months, she thought, I should be able to move on'.
Crowley had promised himself the last time he had touched her as she slept when just out of the hospital was the last. But when he heard her soft cries he couldn't help himself. He called out to her. " Don't cry darling." He said softly, and Christine jumped and turned around. Crowley stood there in front of her. This was the first time since he had told her goodbye that she had seen him. She stood there frozen and he stepped closer to her. Christine closed the distance between them and threw her arms around his neck and sobbed into his chest. Crowley wrapped his arms around her and held her close. One hand went up to cradle the back of her head. The song played on as he held her and gently swayed with her.
The storms are raging
On the rolling sea
And on the highway of regret
Though winds of change
Are blowing wild and free
You ain't seen nothing
Like me yet
I could make you happy
Make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends
Of the Earth for you
To make you feel my love
To make you feel my love
Christine clung to him the way a drowning person clings to driftwood in the sea. In the back of her mind she knew this was wrong. Like giving drugs to a recovering addict, but she didn't care. In this moment all she wanted was to be held by him. His scent was intoxicating and the wool of his jacket was so soft against her face. His arms around her felt so strong and safe. She looked up at him, tears still in her eyes, and she kissed him. She hadn't meant to, she meant to ask him what he was doing here, but the moment her eyes met his she was lost and she pressed her lips to his and her eyes closed and everything was right with her world.
Crowley was surprised when she kissed him. He hadn't expected for her to embrace him the way she did, he honestly expected yelling, or maybe the throwing of dishes. This was the last thing he thought would happen, but he didn't care. He kissed her back, he moved both hands to hold her head in place while he plundered her mouth. He felt as if his heart was about to beat out of his chest. If he wasn't immortal he would swear he was having a heart attack. He pulled back from her ending the kiss and looking in her eyes, on thumb grazed over her kiss swollen lips. He smiled at her, " Hello love."
Christine touched his face like she didn't even believe he was here. " What are you doing here?" she asked softly.
" I don't really know myself." he answered. " I can go if you think it's better." He offered, even though he didn't want to move an inch.
" No. Don't leave." she said.
Crowley dipped his head to capture her lips again. He was slowly losing himself and all of the resolve and distance he had built over the last 6 months, but he didn't care. Christine pulled back and looked at him as she slipped her hands under his jacket and pushed it off of his shoulders. She grabbed his tie and pulled him down to kiss him again. Crowley picked her up bridal style and disappeared from her house and reappeared in his bedroom. He hadn't slept there since the last time she was there with him, but with a single thought the bedding was fresh and ready for them. He strode over to the bed and laid her down on it. He kicked off his shoes and crawled into the bed and laid his body on hers and began to taste her lips once more. She was everything he remembered and more. His hands tangled in her blonde hair and her nails scraped down his back over his shirt. " I've missed you Christine," he said using her name. " I've missed you the way the earth misses the warmth of the sun in winter." He told her, pleading with her to know that his absence in her life meant something.
Christine reached up and cupped his cheek, " I've thought of you every day since the hospital. I have missed you every minute of every day."
Crowley sat back his knees and pulled her to a sitting position and pulled her shirt over her head. She quickly reached for the buttons of his shirt and made quick work of them. " If you don't want this love tell me now." He said to her as his hands reached for her shoulders , skimming over her back. " I'll take you home if that's what you want." he said as he kissed the hollow in her throat and made his way down toward her breasts.
" Don't stop, please, don't." she said breathlessly. " I need you to touch me, I need to feel you."
Crowley didn't need to be told twice. He quickly unhooked her bra and tossed it aside and took one of her breasts in his mouth while his other reached for the button on her pants. Christine reached for his belt and unbuckled it. Her hands felt for the button on his pants, but instead brushed against the hardness growing there behind his zipper. She smiled at him. " Is daddy ready for me?" she asked teasingly and she grasped him through his trousers.
Crowley moaned in response. " Yes love, but the question is, are you ready for me?" he said and smirked at her as he unbuttoned her pants and pulled them off along with her panties. He could see the soft blonde curls that hid her womanly secrets. His fingers found her slit and he ran his fingers up and down it, her moisture there already spreading over them. Parting them he found the small bundle of nerves and gently caressed it with his fingertip. Christine inhaled sharply.
" Yes, please, yes. I need you, I need you to love me." She answered him.
" I love you Christine, I love you. I will love you until the end of time." He assured her as he shed the last of his clothing, and returning to her settled between her legs. He rubbed his hardness just over her outer lips. " You'll always have my love." he told her and he thrust into her.
Christine was lost in the feeling of him. She wrapped her legs around and clung to him as if she might lose him, as if she might wake up any second and find it was all a dream. His thrusts were slow and deep and he pulled her hands from his shoulders and laced his fingers with hers and pressed their joined hands to the mattress on either side of her head. As his thrusts got harder, he looked into her eyes. " Do you love me Christine? Do you crave my touch? Do you think of me when you're alone and find your hands searching your body?"
" I love you Crowley, I love you, I'll always love you." she wept.
Crowley claimed her lips in a searing kiss and she felt herself falling over the edge. Sensations exploded in her and her climax threw her into a state of bliss she hadn't felt since she was with him last. Crowley felt her inner muscles grip him and he quickly followed her into the abyss. He filled her completely and tried to keep from collapsing onto her. He kissed her again tenderly and rolled to the side and gathered her in his arms. She snuggled closer to him and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep quickly. He watched her as she slept and the thought of letting her go again was beginning to break him. Nothing had changed, he still had enemies that would kill her or worse to get to him. Guilt coursed through him, his weakness was putting her in danger, but he would deal with that later. In this moment he had the world at his feet. Jealousy crept into his mind and he thought about seeing her out with the young man from earlier this evening. Murderous thoughts filled his mind. He couldn't stand the thought of another man touching her. He looked down at her. She belonged to him. She was his. He felt no guilt at laying plans to send her other suitor away. Looking down at her again, he realized that this couldn't happen again. He had to be strong, for her sake.
Crowley tucked a stray piece of hair behind her hear and whispered a few words in her ear. A small spell to keep her sleeping. He untangled himself from her arms and got dressed. Once he was done he pulled the blankets down off of her sleeping body and with a simple wave of his hand she was dressed. Carefully he picked her up in his arms and held her there for a moment before disappearing and then reappearing in her living room. He laid her there on the couch, and covered her with a blanket that was laid over the arm chair. He stood and grabbed the bottle of Johnny Walker and poured some in the glass she had left sitting on the kitchen counter. Then he poured a good amount down the drain. Taking the half full glass back to the living room he set it on the coffee table. He sat in the chair and just watched her sleep. Thoughts ran through his mind. She had last seen him 6 months ago, but as he knew, time passed differently in Hell. For him it had been years, at least 3 he was sure. 3 years without touching her. 3 years of watching her but never being seen. It was torture to him, but he could handle it. Christine, she was a different matter. He didn't want her to start over from day one when she found out he couldn't, or wouldn't stay. He knelt down in front of her and broke the sleeping spell he had placed on her. He kissed her lips softly and whispered, " Wake up love," and then disappeared.
Christine stirred and slowly opened her eyes, and suddenly sat upright. She was on her couch, in her living room. Looking around she called out, " Crowley?" She went from room to room looking for him with no luck. Standing once again in her living room she noticed the glass and the whiskey bottle on the coffee table. ' Did I dream it?' she thought sadly. She sat back down on the couch and her head fell into her hands and she began to cry. " Please, please. If you're here, and you can hear me, please tell me it wasn't a dream."
Crowley watched her as she cried. The urge to go to her was almost too much and he had to leave before he ruined his carefully staged scene. He appeared inside the abandoned building where he had killed David. Two of his men were there, " Leave." he said in a low growling voice. The two men looked at each other and back at him.
" What's your problem?" one of them asked.
Crowley crossed the room in a flash and plunged his hand inside of the mans chest and pulled his heart from in and threw it on the ground, then with a touch of his hand set him on fire. The burned carcass dropped to the floor. Crowley looked at the other man and roared " Leave now!" The other man ran from the room, behind him he heard the most unholy and frightening sounds and he ran faster. Crowley was destroying the room. Chairs flew through the air, cracks appeared in the floor and walls. He was aware of nothing as the building shook and the floor rumbled beneath him. His heart was breaking, so he would break the world.