Inside the lounge and after a few rounds of pool, Bobby finally barked out. "Would you two quit exchanging looks over my head and towards the door? She's FINE! Idjits."

Sam had the good grace to look embarrassed. "That guy was awfully pissed Bobby and Shay is in there by herself..."

"And she is more than capable of taking care of herself! Have you met her?!"

Even Dean was shifting nervously and Bobby rolled his eyes dramatically, "Fine! Go check on her! But don't say I didn't warn you."

Sam and Dean both darted for the door and Bobby took a swallow of beer, "Worse than old mother hens."

He glanced over at the only other occupant of the room other than the bartender. The young Japanese man was taking an inordinate amount of time contemplating the path of the 10 ball to the corner pocket and Bobby finally spoke up. "Okay Bruce Lee, spill it. How the Gell did a guy like you get mixed up with a damn crossroads demon?"

Storm Shadow stiffened at first, but deflated when he looked into the older man's eyes. He liked this Bobby character, and more...he trusted him.

"Ten years ago, my Uncle, who was more like a Father to me, was murdered. By an assassin that fled in a Cobra helicopter. I searched for his identity but had doors slammed in my face at every turn. I was...desperate for justice. I cannot even recall how I came across the instructions for the box, its contents and where and how to bury it. I knew the price would be my life, but to tell the truth vengeance had become my sole purpose. If my life was forfeit, as long as I got my revenge, I didn't care."

Bobby felt his respect for the young man growing. "I think you've got a lot more to offer besides vengeance boy. Any man who would hold the hand of a dying enemy in comfort is a decent human being."

He was surprised, "She told you that?"

Bobby nodded, tossing back a bourbon.

"She is...special. She deserved better than that."

Bobby nodded sagely, "So now what?"

Storm Shadow leaned on his pool cue, taking a swallow of his bourbon. "Truthfully I don't know. I won't go back to Cobra, I have nowhere else to go."

"How did you feel about monster hunting?"

-

Dean and Sam both hustled to Shana's room.

Sam spoke up, "I know she's tough but that guy was supremely pissed."

"I know Sammy. I'm worried about her, she's taking too many risks, getting hurt too often. And this guy is frankly scary."

Just then they heard a shriek come from her room and they both sprinted to the door. Sam was about to use his big foot to kick the door in when another shriek sounded, followed immediately by a giggle, then a long drawn out moan.

Dean stilled Sam's leg as his eyebrows shot up and he and Sam exchanged a long knowing look and Sam actually blushed. He put his leg down and stepped back, mumbling, "Yeah I guess she's okay."

Another squeal of pure feminine delight carried through the door and Dean grinned wolfishly. "Oh I'd say she sounds a whole lot better than okay Sammy, but go ahead, kick the door in and make sure. I dare you."

Sam glared at him, "You're a dick. I do NOT want to see her like that."

"Speak for yourself."

"Dean!! She's like family!"

"So? She's hot!"

Sam plugged his ears and walked back towards the lounge, shaking his head. "Nope, I'm out!"

Dean chuckled and started to follow his brother but spared one more glance at the hotel room. "Lucky bastard."

-

A couple of hours later the lucky bastard in question lay in the dark room, the lamplight creating a soft glow on the beguiling creature beside him.

"Is this real life right now? Am I really here with you?"

She smiled softly at him and he leaned back to take her all in. He was still mad about her faking her death, and remembering the fatal wounds she supposedly had sustained his eyes found scars. The star shaped scar on her lower abdomen, the scars on her legs from the beam. As if mesmerized his fingers traced them, his mind spinning. Femoral artery torn, crushed by a beam, gunshot to lower abdomen. They were real.

She noticed his brow furrowed and his eyes were transfixed. "Hey? Where'd you go just now?"

At her voice he lifted his gaze, looking into her eyes. "You really were dead. You were gone."

She looked into those silver orbs and said with total sincerity, "Yes I was. I still don't know why I was chosen to come back, exactly what part I have to play in all this. But I did die."

His gaze lowered to her scars again and he caressed them with his hands.

Scarlett watched him digest the information and had to ask. "When I came back, Hawk said we should keep my return secret. So how did you know...?"

"Hawk sent me to intercept Storm Shadow, I suspect because he was coming for you. He knew full well I would find you."

"Why? Why give away the secret?"

"Because he knew I needed to find you. I needed you to be okay." At her tilted head he explained. "When you died, I...lost it. I was reckless, despondent, withdrawn. He took me aside to talk to me. When he mentioned your death I broke down. So he knew."

"Knew what?"

"That I love you. He sent me because I needed the miracle of you being alive." He then dropped his gaze, not wanting to see pity or rejection. Instead he felt her fingers on his chin, lifting his head to meet her eyes. What he saw there made his heart skip a beat.

"Idiot. Did it never occur to you I might feel the same?"

He looked like a little child seeing Santa for the first time and she giggled, rolling him on his back. "Show me."

And he spent the rest of the night doing just that.