A/N: Takes place between chapters 4 and 5 of Caught in the Crossfire.
Chapter 2: Kelly: Porch Talks 2
"It's often just enough to be with someone. I don't need to touch them. Not even talk.
A feeling passes between you both. You're not alone."
― Marilyn Monroe
Every inch of my body hurt. Muscles I didn't know I had were hurting. I'd shuffled myself to the kitchen for water, leaving Michelle as she went for what she said would be "a shower that would test the limits of Bobby's hot water tank". As I passed the door I noticed Dean on the porch, a half-empty beer beside him. I went to the fridge, grabbed two more and headed out to the porch.
"Here," I hung a full beer in front of his face startling him, "figured it was my turn to bring you a drink out here."
Dean laughed, taking the offered beer, "saving me a trip back inside. Thanks." He watched me struggle to sit down beside him, reaching out to steady me when I looked particularly wobbly. "You good?"
I realized I was sitting closer than normal to him due to my rocky landing. He didn't seem to notice and I hoped that I didn't smell from the workout. "Define good? I definitely have a body back and can feel every single muscle. Jane's almost making me miss being dead"
"Yeah, I am not envious of what she has you two doing. Running? Something better be chasing me"
"Well, the longer we hang around you and your brother, the more likely we are to need it." I said it jokingly but could see concern and guilt flash behind Dean's eyes. While I spoke I had been struggling to open my beer unsuccessfully. Dean wordlessly reached out a hand and motioned to pass him the bottle. In a swift movement, he had it open and passed it back. "Thanks."
"It was just sad watching you struggle."
"Geez, thanks"
He laughed staring back out over the yard. We sat silently drinking for a bit, each lost in our own thoughts.
"If I tell you something weird, but funny, do you promise not to judge me for it?" Dean looked over at me, a strange look on his face.
"Honey, I live in weird. Nothing of you being here is normal. I don't judge."
"So, we've told you the truth, about the show. About us being fans, but I might have withheld alittle detail"
This earned me a more serious look, "continue."
"They held conventions for the show. You know the types where you can meet the cast. Interact with other fans. Pay ridiculous prices for photos and autographs?" His expression darkened, so I forged on. "Well, Michelle and I went to one of the firsts actually. We met the actors who played you two."
"Let me guess, Hollywood douchebags?"
"No. Surprisingly not. They even got along like real brothers….or werereally good actors. Anyway, not the point of the story. So we decide hey, fuck it, let's drop the money and get a photo. We thought, at the time, a once in a lifetime opportunity." I smirked. "So we did the photo, and I felt every bit as short as I feel next to you and Sam now. We finish the photo, I step back, and the entire time Jared, who plays Sam, hadn't even realized I was there."
Dean laughed, "that does not sound surprising. He is a giant, and you're a hobbit."
"Hey! It was a great weekend. Great photo. At the time, I considered a well-placed investment."
"And now?"
"I'm sitting on a porch drinking a beer with Dean freaking Winchester. And despite all that is happening, I just keep thinking...I'm pissed I spent that money." We both broke out laughing at that.
As Dean finished his second beer he got up telling me, "wait here". He headed back into the house for a few moments before returning with, unsurprisingly, more beer for us, but also a camera in his free hand. He sat back down, and I realized he was closer than he was before, our legs touching.
"So, how much can I charge you for a photo now?"
I punched him in the shoulder, which made him laugh. I felt butterflies in my stomach at the sound and the fact I'd been the one to make him laugh. I'd kept my crush mostly under control so far, but something about the closeness and the laugh broke down a defence. I felt myself staring, but he was staring back, and I was suddenly aware of just how close his face was to mine.
"Hey! Shower's free. Left you hot water..." Michelle had appeared at the porch door, and Dean moved back quickly looking down at his hands. Michelle looked from Dean to me, before mouthing a "sorry" my way and disappearing back into the house.
"Well, I gotta go work on the Impala." Dean was up and gone, leaving me sitting on the porch confused, alone, and ready to smack Michelle.
[tbc]