A/N: This also takes place during chapter 13 of Caught in the Crossfire. Kelly's POV.

Chapter 12: Keeping Secrets

"The best way of keeping a secret is to pretend there isn't one."
― Margaret Atwood, The Blind Assassin

I was cleaning the kitchen when Dean walked in from outside. I could see grease marks on his arms, and assumed he'd been tinkering with our car. Michelle had mentioned some pull while driving from Bobby's. I assumed it was in her head, but Dean took her seriously and had been working on it ever since.

"Where's Michelle?" He looked around me, eyes moving from the living room and over to the stairs.

"I think the bathroom? She lost a bet with me, so she gets to clean that, and I got the kitchen."

He smiled at that while moving forward, surprising me with a sneaky kiss. I enjoyed it until I heard a floorboard creak overhead and jumped back. Dean raised his eyebrows at me questioning.

"Sorry, I still haven't told Michelle. She's been so on edge…" I trailed off. My reason sounded weak even to me.

"Ah." Dean rubbed a hand over his face, leaving a small oil mark on his cheek, "well Sam knows."

I tried to hide my surprise. "You told him?"

"No, he figured it out. Said we weren't as subtle as we thought."

I wasn't surprised. I really had not expected Dean to tell Sam, but the two of them knew each other so well. It wasn't surprising Sam clocked Dean's unusual behaviour. Dean turned, reaching into the cooler on the table to grab a beer. "So, what did he say?"

"He seems cool with it." He shrugged moving closer to me again while tossing the beer cap in the sink. "When do you think you'll tell Michelle?"

"Tell Michelle what?" We both jumped, turning to see Jane standing in the doorway. She was able to move silently, even in a house that would creak when you breathed.

"That Dean thinks he fixed the car."

"Yeah, that." Dean pointed at me.

Jane eyed us closely, "you're lying."

I looked from Jane to Dean, then back to Jane. I could continue to try to lie, but decided it was futile. She might also punish me with extra training. "Dean and I have been..." I looked to Dean hoping he would fill in the rest. We had not talked about what this was, likely intentionally on both our parts.

"You have been mating?" Jane added, no emotion in her voice.

In unison, we both said "No!"

"Your customs in this world with men confuse me." She furrowed her brow, and looked at Dean, "can you leave us?"

"Absolutely." Dean moved fast out of the kitchen and back to our car leaving me to face Jane alone. I muttered chicken under my breath.

"This man, you enjoy his company?"

"Yes."

"And you say that here, in this world, he is a strong warrior?"

"Not my exact words, but yes."

Jane looked out the window, likely watching Dean. "I suppose he seems adequate. Do you agree?"

I wanted out of this conversation, so I agreed. "But I haven't told Michelle. I want to find the right time...and like you said what we're doing is confusing."

"You should not keep secrets from your tribe."

The look she gave me was severe, and I felt the guilt shoot through me. "I know, I know. I just...I need to tell her myself okay? You and Sam are the only ones that know."

"Sam seems far more adequate than this one. He is taller and kinder."

I stifled a laugh at her purely logical approach. "Dean's a good man, Jane. He's just guarded."

"Hmm, well should he hurt you, I am happy to "kick his ass" as you say."