Hi, guys! :) How's been your week so far? Hope it wasn't as busy and exhausting as mine.
Anyway, it's time for the next chapter, so enjoy! :)


Bacon sizzling, eggs cracking, pancakes flipping in the air... The bunker's kitchen is entirely at my disposal as I make breakfast. The delicious smells filling the air, accompanied by the glorious sound of brewing coffee and its earthy, refreshing aroma, it's like a little piece of heaven.

"Damn, that smells good!" Sam exclaims as he enters the kitchen

"Oh, I know." I smile over my shoulder and wink at him.

Taking an empty plate, I start piling food for him, adding a cup of coffee and the maple syrup.

"Here," I place everything in front of him, "And no complaints it's not your usual rabbit food, ok?" I cheekily smile at him before he can say a word, "Today is your cheat day. And that's final."

"You're in a good mood today," he says mouthful, his hazel eyes shining, "And up extremely early."

"I just woke up early." I shrug and go back to the stove to tend the bacon.

It's more like I can't sleep. But that's a conversation for another day. Today I refuse to think about the haunting nightmares keeping me awake for most of the night despite Dean's warm embrace. I refuse to think about a certain curse and how it affects me. I just want to make breakfast for my boys.

It's been a couple of weeks since Styne cursed me and I'm feeling fine. Yes, the nightmares are worse than before but other than that, I can't complain. Well, mostly. From time to time there's a swift burning pain surging through me as if something within me is boiling. I see how Dean's worries slowly disappear with time. Obviously, I hide it well. It might be because I refuse to think about it and not thinking about it is pretty close to it not existing. Some logic, huh?

Ben, of course, isn't happy about it. But he kept his promise and keeps his mouth shut. I know I want too much of him. It is not fair to put such a burden on his shoulders. Guilt is eating me up because of it, yet I do not see another way. Last week he started school as we agreed before we chased the Stynes. Even though he doesn't admit it, I believe he actually likes it being among people his age. The kid's more relaxed smiles more often, and his eyes are shining again, the previous bitterness and weariness long gone. Lately, he and Dean have been spending more time together and they get along perfectly.

As Sam peacefully finishes his breakfast and I wash and clean the dirty dishes and pans, Kevin walks in. His steps are way too energized for so early.

"You had an all-nighter again, didn't you?" I ask, pressing my lips in disapproval.

"I needed to finish the files." Kevin reaches for the fresh coffee, "Today I'm hitting the archive. We need a map for this thing."

"Kev..." I'm worried about him, he's barely sleeping lately, burying himself in work.

He casts me a side glance while filling his mug, then I see a mischievous glint. Before I know it, Kevin grabs my arm, spins me around, and dips me back.

"I missed that," he grins as he releases me, "You making me relax and have a break."

"Kev..."

"I'm fine, I promise" he leans and puts a quick kiss on my cheek and heads to the door, "I'll sleep when I'm dead!"

"Kevin!" I shout after him, "Don't you Bon Jovi me, you idjit!" but he's already gone.

I sigh and look to Sam, plea in my eyes. The kid's working his ass off to keep himself occupied and not feeling trapped in the Bunker. He needs a break.

"Don't you look at me," Sam huffs, taking the last bite of his pancakes "You're the only one he ever listens to anyway."

I rub my face and huff, trying to contain my annoyance. I feel Sam's eyes on me; he has that concerned puppy look on his face.

"I swear," I quietly growl, "If you ask how I am, I'm gonna punch you in the throat."

"That's not wha..." I arch my brows and he quiets down, then adds softly, "We're worried about you. Something's off since the Stynes."

"Yeah, what's off is you and Dean imagining things." I firmly face the sink in hopes of finding something that needs cleaning.

"Braeden..."

"Don't push it, Winchester." I calmly warn him without bothering to look at him, he needs to let this go. "I said I'm fine. So I'm fine. End of story."

I'm saved by no other but Ben. Sleep in his eyes, hair mussed in every possible direction, he plops on the chair next to Sam, unaware of the tension in the air. I suppress a smile and put a plate overloaded with food in front of him.

"Eat." I order in hopes to break the mist of sleep surrounding his mind "I'll make you coffee. The lunch is ready in the fridge."

He mumbles something under his nose, rubbing his eyes and yawning. The kid is so not a morning person I barely manage to suppress a chuckle as I watch him devouring his breakfast. I shake my head and pull another plate, stacking it with food. As I head to the door, I squeeze Ben's shoulder.

"Have a nice day at school, kid" I smile at him.

"Thanks, Braeden," Ben says mouthful, almost exact copy of his father with those dinning manners.

I lift my eyes to Sam. He's my best friend. Of course, he'll know if something is wrong. He's the one person on earth who knows me better than myself. But he must let that one go. He just... I plaster the brightest smile I can manage and wink at him, making him chuckle.

"Where you going with that plate?" Sam asks, pure curiosity in his voice

"Dean's gonna get a little something extra with that." I grin wickedly at him as his eyes widen and Ben groans in disgust.


About half an hour later Dean and I are walking down to the library. He's got a shit-eating grin, brightening his whole face and I ache in all the right places in all the right ways. My legs are still a little wobbly, but I can't stop smiling.

I can easily remember how quickly Dean woke after I locked my lips around him, how his body tensed, his hands in my hair, pulling, guiding... And then how he conquered me, worshiping, devouring, and...

"If you keep looking at me like this," Dean whispers, pinning me to the wall, " I'll have to take you right back to bed and..."

"Fuck me senseless?" I suggestively hook my leg around his waist, grinding against him, "Again?" it comes more of a moan than a word.

He kisses me, his hands sneaking down my ass, his body pressing me hard against the wall. My hands instinctively wrap around his neck, pulling him closer. A low growl escapes him, and I'm lost...

"Oh, seriously?!" Sam exclaims, "You've got two rooms to chose from, stop having sex in the middle of the hall!"

"We're not." Dean chuckles, his lips brushing my earlobe as he pulls away.

"Yet," I add and put my leg down, grinning at Sam.

"I've seen enough of my brother's antics." he grumbles his discontent, going down to the library, "I don't need to witness it with my best friend, thank you very much!"

I can't help the laugh bubbling inside me. Dean smirks at me, deep promise in his green eyes as we follow his brother. We go to the nearest table, a newspaper there. I vaguely remember seeing Dean reading it last night.

"You gonna pout all day?" I ask Sam, putting the sweetest smile I can muster.

"No." he sighs in defeat, shaking his head.

"Well, good." Dean looks at the newspaper, "'Cause I think I found us a case."

I take the paper, eyeing the article he has in mind. There is a picture of a man with a graying mustache under the headline 'Retiree found slain'.

"A resident of Oak Park, an old folks' home," Dean explains, "was found yesterday in his room with his head bashed in. But get this, the doors were locked and there was no sign of a break-in."

I look up from the newspaper. It's not the most unusual thing that would make us take a case.

"Ghost? Demonic possession?" Sam asks, looking over my shoulder at the article.

"I figure it's worth a look. What do you think?" Dean seems quite excited about this possible case, "Oh, and the best part is, Oak Park is 15 minutes from here." he smirks, "It's in our backyard."


An hour later, the boys are gone. It wasn't easy to convince them to go without me. But they need some brother bonding time. It's been a while since just the two of them were on a hunt. And they need to get back on that track because soon I'll be out of the picture. I only hope I was convincing enough with all my made up excuses. Knowing how suspicious they have been lately, they probably didn't buy it, so I'll have to come up with another lie. But that's a problem for another day. I hope.

I scribble a note for Kevin that I need to clear my head and will be out for a while, stick it to the fridge and head out. I don't want to disappoint him. I know he struggles. A lot. If everything works as I hope, he'll be free to have a normal life. Demons won't be hunting his ass anymore, he won't have to look over his shoulder in fear someone would try and hurt him or take advantage of him because of the tablets. Soon he will be able to see his mom. I just don't want to get his hopes up in case my brilliantly stupid plan goes down the drain.

I ignore the shooting heat of pain in my chest and the rising cough. Before I step outside the Bunker I check my weapons, throw my duffel over my shoulder, and pull out my phone. She answers after the first ring. I patiently wait for her to spill her annoyance over my late response, then I speak.

"Yes, Rowena. I know, I got your text." I sigh deeply, "Where are we meeting?"


So what do you think about the new chapter? And Braeden's sneaky business with Rowena? Drop me a review and tell me :)
Have a nice weekend, everybody! :)