Hi, guys! :) First of all, I want to thank my friend M. (who is just as obsessed with Supernatural as I am, if not even more :D) for all her support and her faith in me and all those hours she spent with me, discussing my ideas about all of my stories and helping me chose the best option. None of my stories would've been the same without her. She really helped me to clear my idea of what's to happen to Braeden and her relationship with all of the boys, not only Sam & Dean. Thank you, dear, for standing by my side and always understanding my references, no matter how stupid they are :D
So this chapter doesn't present much development in the storyline and I assume that most of you after reading Chapter 8 knew what's about to come in this one - the djinn and the hallucinations of a perfect life. I know this might be a bit cliche in Supernatural world of fanfiction but I really needed this to help Braeden clear her mind and finally realize what her heart wants. So, I hope you'll bare with me and enjoy the chapter :)
I wake up with a gasp. I frantically look around and I can't recognize the room. Where the hell am I? I sit. There's no one else but me in the huge bed. Then I see on the bedside table a picture of me and Dean. I furrow my brows and reach to take it when a gleam of gold on my hand catches my attention. The sunlight coming from the window shines directly on my hand. It's a ring. A wedding ring. I stare at it in complete shock. I take it off and look at it closely. There's something carved on the inside. "Together – Forever. D.". I let a surprised whimper. As a teenager I loved Bon Jovi, I actually still do. And I love "Never Say Goodbye". Dean always teased me about my addiction, as he called my obsession of Bon Jovi's songs. These two words that were on the ring… it was so sweet. I put it back on my finger and head out of the room. I follow the corridor to the stairs and then down to the kitchen. I stop at the threshold surprised to see Dean there, humming Metallica while preparing breakfast. I smile. He looks so comfortable doing this, actually he enjoys it. Then he turns and sees me. Huge grin spreads over his face and he approaches me.
"Good morning" he says cheerfully and before I know it he's kissing me
I let myself go. Get lost in the feeling of his gentle lips against mine, his embrace as he sneaks his arms around me, his body pressed against mine. Dean deepens the kiss and I'm all over him, my hands in his hair, my legs around his waist and he pushes me back against the wall. His skillful tongue makes me shiver in his arms and I know that if he doesn't hold me I'll become a pitiful pile of desire on the floor. All I could think of is Dean. His body against mine, his hands on my ass, his mouth… Oh, god his mouth, the things he does… the little noises of appreciation that come from him when my hands run down his back and slide under his T-shirt. I gasp when he presses his hips against me and… Somehow I manage to pull myself together through the bliss of lust and desire and pull myself away from him.
"Dean…" I almost moan "What are you…"
He looks back at me and his green eyes shine mischievously
"Saying good morning to my beautiful wife" and he kisses me again and I can't fight it
Then a sudden knock on the door makes us separate from one another. Dean grins at me and heads to open, I follow him. And there he is. The one and only Bobby Singer, staying on the threshold giving Dean a friendly and warm hug.
Confusion. That's what I feel. I'm really confused. Dean's my husband and Dad's alive… What the hell is going on here? I look around but everything seems just fine, nothing out of the ordinary. Normal kitchen, normal house, normal family… Bobby steps in and Dean closes the door behind him. I feel tears filling my eyes
"Dad?" I whisper with croaked voice and before he has the chance to answer me I throw myself at him, hugging him tightly.
"Whoa, kiddo" he exclaims as he wraps his hands around me "What's that all about?"
"Nothing" I mumble heartbroken and happy in the same time and let myself get lost in his embrace "I just missed you"
"Right" he chuckles "It's been only two days"
"It doesn't matter" I say and pull away from him, still a bit stunned by his presence
He and Dean look at me oddly, not sure what to think about my strange reaction.
"C'mon" Dean suddenly says "Let's eat, I just made breakfast" and he leads us to the kitchen
I sit and silently start eating the bacon and the eggs in my plate. I listen to the conversation between Dean and Bobby and my confusion grows. Obviously, I have a brother – Benny. And Sam and Amelia are on their honey moon, happily married. There's something off, I can feel it in my gut. But then I put my worries aside and decide to enjoy the company of my family. I smile and look over to Dean who winks at me before turning to Bobby and answering him something about cars. It's so nice to be here with them – no researches, no hunting, no monsters, no problems to be solved. Only pure happiness.
So I let the hours merge into days. Dean is caring and gentle husband, always making sure I'm okay and… he look so happy from doing the smallest simple things – helping me clean the table, brushing my hair or hugging me before we let the sleep conquer our minds. And I'm so happy. I just ignore my worries every time they show in the corner of my mind, trying to tell me something's wrong.
I take a sip of my beer and wait patiently for Dean to bring the popcorn. We're about to watch a movie. He comes holding a huge bowl full of popcorn, the nice smell of butter spreading around, and sits next to me on the coach. With a huge smile he pulls me in his arms and gently puts a kiss on my temple. I sigh in delight and wrap my hand around his waist. The feeling of safety he gives me, it's just wonderful. I lean my head on his chest and I can hear his heart. I suppress my smile. It seems so natural to be here with him. So logical. I feel happiness pumping through my veins, butterflies flitting in my stomach. I tilt my head to see Dean but he's concentrated on the Chuck Norris's movie. I feel the urge to kiss him, to mark him as mine. Staring at him, I furrow my brows. He's my husband. Where this urge of possession came from? Why would I want to mark him when, he's already mine? Because he's never been yours, a tiny voice in my head whispers. I feel confusion building inside me and suddenly I try to remember something before that morning couple of days ago. A distant memory of conversation with Benny and me being mad at Dean crosses my mind. But I'm here with him now, my husband, the man I love, is next to me. I freeze as the thought crosses my mind. The man I love. I look at Dean. How could I not love him? He's gentle, caring and selfless and no matter how hard he tries to hide himself under his rough outlook I know that deep down there's a sensitive and emotional man, who puts his stoic mask and believes every wrong in the world is his responsibility. He's strong and funny, and deals with his problems stubbornly. No matter how many times the life has put him on his knees he always finds a way to rise up. I admire him for this strength. I look up to him, for he's always ready to help others even with the risk of his own life and he's ready to sacrifice everything in the name of the ones he cares about. That's my Dean. The hunter, the hero. And suddenly I know that the man in whose embrace I am is not Dean. Not my Dean, at least. And all the memories flood my mind – Benny, the conversation, the hunt, the djinn, the struggle, his blue glowing hand touching me…
I pull away from Dean. Reluctantly, but I pull away. He furrows his brows
"What's wrong?" he asks
"You" I say sadly "You're not real"
"Of course I'm real" he chuckles at me
"No, you're not" I shake my head and stand up, I know what I have to do "Dean I know would never put such a cheesy line on his wedding ring" I pull the ring and throw it at him "You're not real, Bobby's not real, this house's not real" I look at him "Nothing's real"
"C'mon, babe, don't be like this…" Dean says pleadingly "It's real"
"No, it's not" I take a step back "If it was, Benny wouldn't be my brother, Sam would be with Jess, his first love. And my father's dead. He can't be here" I head to the kitchen and grab a knife, remembering what my Dean told me he had done to escape the djinn hallucinations
"Baby, I'm here" Dean says "What else do you need? I love you"
"Oh" I shake my head, he would never say the last three words "This is so not real" and I raise the knife above my head
"No!" Dean cries "Please, don't. You're happy here. Stay!"
"I can't" I say and I stab myself, the blade sinking in my flesh…
I open my eyes with effort but everything's blurred. I'm dizzy and I feel weak and tired. There's some strange noise, almost like a struggle. Slowly I manage to focus my eyes. I'm in the abandoned warehouse, alone. Thank god, the djinn hasn't caught anyone else. My hands are tied and raised above my head, I'm hanging on the ropes and there's a needle stuck in my arm. I turn my head and see the tubing and the rack… and my blood slowly being drained. My head hurts and I try to focus over the strange noise, though all I want is to sleep. Suddenly Benny bursts into the huge hall and rushes to me.
"How are you?" he asks while untying me and then he picks me up and heads out.
"Peachy. But I'll live" I weakly say and then ask "The djinn?"
"Dead" Benny firmly states, his jaw clenched in suppressed anger "I put it down"
I let him carry me only because I'm not sure I can trust my own legs, I really feel too weak and my head is fuzzy, sleep slowly overwhelming me. I look at him and I remember what I found out about my feelings for Dean, no matter how ridiculous they seem.
"Thank you" I gently kiss Benny's cheek and lean my head on his shoulder as he carries me to the car
"What was that for?" Benny asks while carefully putting me in the shotgun seat.
"For knowing me better than I know myself" I mutter and finally surrender to exhaustion and sleep as everything goes black
So... the halucination part was a bit longer than I intended but I think it fit quite well into the story and most importantly revealed a little more into what Braeden believed she wanted and what she really needed. What do you think about it? And how about Braeden finally clearing her mind and heart? Please, review and tell me. Wishing you all a nice weekend :)
