A/N: This chapter contains lite smut. Nothing super-graphic but it is there.
December 2002
Sam POV
In the days after the attack, I spend most of my free time with Ella, going over to her house as often as I can. I'm the one that he's the most comfortable with, and Dad wants me to make sure that she will not expose us or what we do. Dad and Dean hunt the rest of the werewolves, taking the pack out quickly on their own. Even though it only took a little over a week, it's the longest we've been in one place in months.
"I'm staying," I say while Dean loads the Impala. Dad pauses and shakes his head. He's upset; I can see the anger simmering in his eyes as his jaw ticks. I need to convince dad to let me continue the school year in Weldon. I'm already behind; I should've graduated last May. Stanford is my way out, and I will need an actual transcript and diploma to apply. I can't tell dad or Dean about how I feel though, both of them would be pissed.
"It's only until the end of the school year," I do my best not to sound like a whiny little kid.
"No."
"That's it? Just 'no'?" I say as I move closer to him. "No discussion? You don't even know why-"
"I know exactly why you want to stay here." He snaps, throwing his bag on the bed. "You've bonded with Ellie. I understand that, but I'm not gonna let you hang around here just for some piece of ass."
"Don't," I warn, taking another step forward. "Don't talk about Ella like that. Me wanting to stay has nothing to do with her." I don't want to admit it, but Dean's right, I'm getting too close to her, and though I hate that her parents told her she can't contact me, a small part of me knows it's for the best. I push the thoughts of Ella out of my head and glare at dad. "Leave her out of it."
"Fine. But we've talked about this before; when we stay in one place, we draw attention to ourselves. We've been here too long already. People are starting to ask questions."
I take a few steps backward, trying to calm myself. Focus Sam. Stanford is the goal. Choosing my words carefully, I reply, "Dad. I just want to be in one school long enough to graduate, to get to know people."
"Does that include Ellie?"
"Ellie has nothing to do with it. I told you I want to stay here so I can get my diploma. Is that really too much to ask?" Dad grumbles as he turns away and starts pulling clothes out of the dresser, furiously shoving them into his duffle. "I just want to be a normal high school student. I don't ever ask to stay anywhere, but I want to stay here. I like it here, and it's only until the end of the school year."
"We both know that isn't true'" he argues, turning around to face me. "This is about Ellie. Sam, she's a young girl, the only survivor of that pack's attacks, and the last thing she needs is you trying to get into her pants."
"So what? I can't be friends with her? You're going to dictate that?" I take a step towards him, my jaw clenching.
"Don't." He grits his teeth and steps forward, bringing his face only a few inches away from mine. Dean enters the room, and quickly steps up beside us, ready to pull us apart if needed. Dad huffs, and his jaw ticks. "You're coming with us, and that's final."
"I'm staying." Rage bubbles inside me. I'm so tired of his overbearing attitude.
"You're coming," he states, "even if I have to tie your ass to the back seat of the truck."
"No." I square my shoulders and straighten to my full height, never realizing until now how much I tower over him. I feel Dean's hands on my shoulder, pushing us apart.
"Okay, that's enough! Back off, both of you." Dad remains stoic, face awash in anger, as Dean walks me to the other side of the room.
Dean keeps a hand on my chest as he looks over his shoulder to dad. Scrubbing a hand down his face, dad returns to the dresser and finishes packing up his belongings. The red slowly drains from his face, and I can feel my body begin to relax as we both cool down. I look at Dean and nod, letting him know I'm all right. He drops his hand and steps aside.
"Dad." I take a deep breath, "All I want to do is be a normal high school student, even if it's just for a few months." That's not entirely false. "Please."
"You're a grown man," he remarks, jamming a shirt into his duffle. "You want to stay? I can't stop you. But your brother and I are leaving; we still have work to do. Dean's not gonna be here to bail your ass out of any trouble you get into."
"Yes, sir."
"Fine," dad grudgingly agrees. "I mean it, Sam. If you're honestly staying here for school, then fine, but if it's for the girl, it will only make it that much harder when you come back on the road with us. You need to stay away from her."
"Stay away from who?" Dean asks, standing in the middle of the room, looking over to me. "Ellie?" He smirks.
"Shut up," I say, feeling the heat pooling in my cheeks. "I just want to graduate in May."
"We're gonna leave him by himself?" Dean looks at dad, shocked. "Are you sure that's the best idea?"
"Sammy's eighteen." Dad says sharply, "Wants to show us he can handle being alone. School is your focus, not Ellie. Am I making myself clear?"
I mumble, "yes, sir," nodding my head.
Dean and dad finish packing up and then leave for a case that Bobby sent Dad a lead on. Dad let me know that one of them will check in with me in a few days. He paid for the room through the next two weeks; after that, I'm 'on my own.' I have to find a way to make money, there's only so many bars in the area; I know hustling will only get me so far. I'll have to find a real job somewhere in town.
It's only been two days, but I love having my freedom. Dad isn't around barking orders, and I don't have to deal with Dean being an ass. I get to be a high-school student for once, not a hunter. I spend the entire first day taking placement tests, so many gaps in my education. I'm worried that they won't allow me to take the appropriate courses to graduate.
As much as I hate to admit it, Dad is right about Ella, and I try to keep my promise and stay away from her. She's sixteen. I keep telling myself, sixteen. I try not to think about her, but when I walk into my first class, I spot her a few rows back, nose buried in a book.
"Everyone, this is Sam Winchester," the teacher, Mrs. Collier, announces. "He'll be joining us for the rest of the year." She turns to me and smiles, "Any open seat is yours, Sam. Feel free to ask those around you if you need help with the material."
"Ella," I whisper, taking a seat next to her, "what are you doing here?"
"Sam," she smiles brightly. "I'm in this class."
"You know this is English Four? You know, for seniors?"
"Um, yeah, I'm a senior." She laughs, "I thought I told you that, after-" she pauses when another student accidentally knocks their textbook to the floor, causing a loud bang to echo through the room.
Ella's pupils dilate, and the color drains from her face. I hear her quietly counting as she takes slow, deep breaths. Crap, she's having a panic attack. I reach for her trembling hand as she quickly scans the room. She doesn't want anyone to notice.
"Eliza?" Mrs. Collier whispers as she appears in front of us. She can see what's happening, and she crouches down, leveling herself with Ella. "Do you need to step out for a moment?"
Ella starts to shake her head but then reluctantly nods. I help her up and grab her bag, walking us out calmly. Standing in the hallway, I graze my thumb gently against the back of her hand, watching as her breathing settles and her cheeks pink up.
"Sorry," she murmurs.
"It's okay, Ella," I smile at her gently. "Do you want me to take you to the nurse?"
"No," she says, shaking her head as rose tints fill her soft face. "I'll be okay. There's some medicine in the side pocket," she points to her bag, "can you get it for me, please?"
I reach into her bag and find a prescription bottle labeled sertraline, handing it to her. I notice a bench down the hallway, and I lead her to it, my arm settling on her waist to keep her steady. I stay with her for the rest of the class period. By the time the bell rings, she's calmed down. I pull out my class schedule to see where I need to go next. Glancing at the paper in my hands, Ella notes that we have several classes together. She stays close to me as we walk to our next class. I notice that she doesn't interact much with the other students, only speaking to five or six of them.
"So, what happened to Campbell?" Ella asks as we walk into the cafeteria later that day. The question has probably been in the back of her mind since Mrs. Collier introduced me. "You told me your name is Sam Campbell, not Winchester."
"We use it sometimes when we're working." I explain, "It's my mom's maiden name. It helps keep her close, she uh, she died when I was a baby."
"Oh, I'm sorry," she frowns and reaches over to squeeze my hand, "I can't imagine."
"It was a long time ago," I say, and for a moment, I wonder what it would be like if she was still alive, how different our lives would be. I swallow the lump forming in my throat and give Ella a tight-lipped smile. "It's part of the reason we work. To try and stop things like that from happening to other families."
"So, Winchester? I like that better, seems to suit you more," she says, guiding me to a table. "So your dad and brother, they just left you here?" she asks as we sit down.
"They didn't 'just leave' me," I laugh. "I told dad that I wanted to stay here so that I could graduate on time. I should've last May. Every time there's a new case, that means a new school, and sometimes we're only there for a week or two so dad wouldn't even register me. So, of course, I got behind. Dean told me just to drop out and get my GED, but I want a real diploma." I rake my hands through my hair. "Wanna get that and go to college, get out from my dad and brother's shadow."
"I get it," Ella smiles, "I mean, mom and dad basically forced me to take extra classes so that I can graduate early and go straight to college. I haven't told them that I'm gonna take a year off. I just—I want some freedom from them, you know?"
"Exactly!" I exclaim, finding comfort in someone else understanding the need to get away.
We grow closer as the semester progresses, and my feelings continue to grow for her as well. Ella has become my best friend, making me laugh so hard sometimes that I can't breathe, and I try as often as I can to return the favor. Every day we sit together at lunch. Sometimes doing homework, sometimes Ella asks questions about The Family Business, and sometimes we just sit in silence, enjoying the other's company. I steal glances at her whenever I think she's not looking, and I notice her doing the same.
Dad pulls me into a hunt over the Christmas break. Our fight still lingers between us, but we manage to be civil to each other. Dean does his best to keep the peace, as always, and we only get into it the night before I head back to Weldon.
It's a long, anger-filled drive back to the motel, but once I put some distance between dad and me, I start to relax. I fall back into my routine easily as the semester begins. Being around Ella grounds me and helps me focus on the bigger picture; Stanford.
"Sam?" Ella asks, pulling my attention away from the calculus notes that I've been studying rigorously. She's chewing on her bottom lip, and her face is flushed; whatever she's about to say, she's psyching herself up for it. My eyebrows furrow as she exhales deeply before speaking. "Are you ever going to ask me out?"
"I...What?" her question prompts dad's voice in my head, 'too young. She's too young for you.'
"Are you ever going to ask me out?" she repeats more pointedly. "Or do you not like me like that?"
"Ella, you have no idea, I want to… but—" I look away from her, unsure how to respond. She's trying to make it clear that she has the same feelings I do, but I don't want to tell her how much I want her, only to turn around and tell her that we can't be together. At least not until she's older. 'You're legally an adult, and she's only sixteen.'
"But?" she looks at me curiously.
"I can't. You're only sixteen, Ella—" I don't want to reject her, but I can't risk my future, everything I have been working towards, "I like you, I really do, but sixteen…"
"Seventeen," she interrupts, bringing her finger to my lips to stop my rambling. "I turned seventeen a few weeks ago. There's nothing wrong with an eighteen-year-old dating a seventeen—"
Before she can finish her sentence, I press my lips against hers, kissing her eagerly. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that," I whisper as I break the kiss without pulling away from her, resting my forehead gently against hers. Her lips ghost across mine, and I can feel her smile against me.
She looks into my eyes, a soft giggle leaving her, "I've wanted you to do that for ages."
"I'm sorry, I'll make up for it," I smile as I bring my lips back to hers, "promise."
After that first kiss, Ella and I become nearly inseparable. We spend every moment that we can together. We were dating secretly for a few weeks since Ella's parents aren't keen on her doing anything that might jeopardize her future. I know if I ever want to take her on a proper date, I will have to officially meet her parents. I'd seen them several times while visiting Ella after the attack and made small talk with them, but I know her dad will want to size me up, make sure that I am a respectable person.
"Just be yourself, Sam," she says as we walk up to her house, "they'll love you."
"Love me? They think I'm a creep, Ella. You remember how they acted towards me that night. I don't think they're gonna accept that we want to be together," I sigh.
"Okay, so they may not allow us to 'officially' date, but they can't stop me from seeing you. And if they try," Ella pulls me close, whispering in my ear, "maybe we'll just have to sneak around." She places a kiss on my cheek. "Who knows, might make things more exciting." She winks as she steps away, and I feel my face flush.
"Ella… you're killing me," I chuckle before taking her hand in mine. "C'mon, let's get this over with."
Ella's parents, her father, in particular, gives me the third degree, drilling for all sorts of information. They ask about dad, why he had left, while I stayed in town. I explain that dad travels a lot for work, and I chose to stay to complete the school year. I tell them he will be coming back frequently to check on me. The truth is, he will probably only come back once a month; if it all. There's a lingering question; I can see it written all over his face. Ella's dad wants to know what really happened the night Ella was attacked. He waits until Ella and her mother leave the room to ask it. I assure him that I happened to be in the right place at the right time. He accepts my answer hesitantly, changing the subject when Ella comes back into the room. After about 40 minutes of intense questioning, Ella's parents reluctantly give me their permission to date Ella.
For our first proper date, I take Ella to Joe's. Not only is it one of the only restaurants in Weldon that I enjoy, but I feel it's fitting, considering it's where we first met.
We're reminiscing about that day as we walk into the restaurant. "I cannot believe Dean thought any of those lines would work!" she laughs as she takes me by the hand, guiding me to a booth in the corner, she calls it her spot. "I mean, honestly, who actually falls for that?"
"You'd be surprised," I shake my head, laughing, "I've seen him get farther with worse."
After leaving the restaurant, we spend the next hour walking through what Ella calls downtown. She explains that it's the "hub" of Weldon, but I don't think it qualifies as a hub with so few businesses here. The movie theater only has four screens and is behind on any current movies, displaying Red Dragon and The Ring as new releases. Didn't those come out in October? There is a bowling alley, but on the weekends, all the university students flock there as it's one of the only forms of entertainment.
We walk down Main Street, I opted not to drive, even though I was able to buy a used sedan with the money I'd earned from my job at the grocery store. I didn't want Ella's parents to think that we would go "parking". Her father had even mentioned explicitly in our discussion that it wasn't allowed.
As we turn down the street, I notice a change in Ella's demeanor, I've spent enough time with her to realize that it's the start of a panic attack. I hesitate for a moment, confused. It's usually loud noises that trigger her, and right now, the neighborhood is relatively quiet. I look around and then notice the street sign-Franklin. Shit. This is the street where she was attacked.
"Hey, Ella, you're okay." I pull her against me, rubbing her back as her breathing gets heavier. "You're safe."
"It's just—what if—"
"It's dead," I say firmly. "The entire pack is gone. Remember?"
"But what about-" She knew what was out there, and there is nothing I can do to ease that burden. "What if something else comes after me?"
"I'll protect you."
"You promise?" Her body relaxes against me.
I lift her chin so that I can look into her eyes. "As long as I'm here, you're gonna be okay. I won't let anything bad happen to you," I promise, leaning down to kiss her.
Ella POV
The first month of dating Sam was hard, I was still having panic attacks and feared for my safety now that I knew that there were things out there. Sam was always there to reassure me that he would protect me from anything that may hurt me. I feel safe with him, and though mom and dad didn't approve, I still call him in the middle of the night when memories rear their ugly head.
I'm falling for Sam, and as much as we are trying to take it slow, I can't stop the feelings that are growing for him. When the week of Valentine's comes around, Mom and dad decide that they will take a mini-vacation for the holiday weekend. With them gone, I can spend the entire weekend with Sam without having to explain my absence. As cliché as it is, I decide that Valentine's will be the night with Sam.
The doorbell startles me as I give myself a final look in the mirror. I check the side pocket of my purse, three foil wrappers nestled together. Thank you, Jana. I don't know what Sam has planned for us tonight, but he told me to "dress up".
"Wow." He says as I open the door. "You look beautiful."
"Thanks," I say, lifting to my toes to press a kiss to his cheek. "You gonna tell me where we're going?" I ask, closing the door behind me.
"Nope." He grins, popping the p. He looks around for a moment, waiting for something. "Your dad isn't gonna shake me down first?"
"They're out of town," I smirk. "Gone for the whole weekend."
The sun is setting when we pull away from my house. I wasn't sure why Sam wanted to leave so early, but it's becoming more apparent as we drive past the town limits. Half an hour later, Sam pulls up to The Tavern. A valet meets us at the entrance, and I know I'm out of my element. We don't have restaurants like this in Weldon, and there's no way Sam can afford for us to be here.
"Don't worry about that," he says after I voice my concern. "Order whatever you want."
We're half-way through our appetizer when Sam tells me that he's applied to Stanford on early acceptance. I tell him I'm happy for him, even though it kills me to think of him going away. I know he's not going to stick around here forever, but I thought we would have longer.
"I don't even know if I'll get accepted," he says doubtfully. "My transcript is so messed up. The only thing I have going for me is that I took the SATs last year."
"Sam. You're smart. So what if your application isn't perfect? They have to see that you still managed to keep your grades up even with the constant moving. That's gotta count for something." I know how much it means to him to get into Stanford. "You're gonna get in." I smile, but he can read me like an open book; he knows what I'm really worried about.
"We can make it work, Ella. And it's not like we have to worry about it today. It's gonna be at least six weeks before I know anything. And I wouldn't have to be there until June. We would still have a couple of weeks after graduation to figure it out."
We spend the rest of the dinner talking about how we can make a long-distance relationship work. Sam suggests that I apply to UC Berkeley. "It's only an hour away from Stanford. We'd still get to see each other every week," he urges. I entertain the idea before realizing that mom and dad would never let me apply to a school so far away.
"You get to decide where we go next." He says as we pull away from the restaurant. "I picked the restaurant; you choose the entertainment."
I can't help the barrage of images of Sam positioned in some very entertaining ways. Maybe spend less time around Jana, Ellie. I shake the thoughts from my head, clearing my throat.
"I want to stay with you tonight," I say, slowly rubbing my hand up and down his thigh. He groans loudly, "at your place." He sends me a questioning look. "Nosy neighbors," I laugh slightly.
I'm a bit caught off guard when we pull up in front of the motel. He offers a sympathetic smile as he watches me. I know that the way his family makes money is sketchy at best, but I can't imagine only ever living in motels.
"I thought you only stayed in motels while you were working," I remark as he parks the car. "Your dad didn't want you to have something more..." I struggle to find the right word, "permanent?"
"Permanent is not in John Winchester's vocabulary." Embarrassment washes over his face. "I'm sorry. If you want me to take you home-" I cut him off, leaning in to press my lips against his.
I pull back, noticing the smirk on his face as he kisses me back. His hand slides into my hair, softly gripping at the loose curls. I can feel his tongue at the base of my mouth, waiting for access. We're both panting as we briefly pull away from each other. He reaches out, his thumb gently caressing my cheeks as he leans in, planting soft kisses on my neck and jaw, before placing a more desperate one on my lips. I moan into his mouth as his arm slides up my side, gripping at my waist. My eyes open to meet liquid pools of green and blue studying my own. "I want to be here with you."
I move closer to him, letting out a small yelp when I accidentally honk the horn while trying to climb into his lap, causing a snort to leave him. It isn't a sound I've ever heard him make before, which causes me to devolve into a laughing fit. "Way to ruin the moment, Sam." I tease, leaning into his side. Once we've both settled down, he reaches behind me, palm resting on the back of my neck as he brings my face closer to his, teeth clicking when our mouths meet.
"You wanna try that again?" He asks, pushing the bench back as far as it can go. I mimic his bitch face, throwing it back at him, unable to hold it for long, before grinning slyly and throwing my leg over his thigh. My head hits the roof of the car before our foreheads collide. "I think we should get out of the car," he laughs, "before one of us gets seriously hurt."
I nod, and he grabs the door handle, a gust of cold air meeting us. We stumble out of the car, and I adjust my dress as Sam tries to conceal his growing bulge. Sam fiddles with the keys, guiding me towards his motel room. He stops before he unlocks the door, illuminated by the dim parking lot lights, his face is flushed, and his lips are slightly swollen. I'm sure if I looked into a mirror, I would see the same image. "You're sure?" He asks, and I nod eagerly, biting my lip. "Because if you're not, we can wait. I just-I don't want you to think I'm pressuring you. That you want to do it because I want to. Not that I don't want to-"
"Sam," I sigh playfully, "You're rambling." I bring my hands around the back of his neck, "You've barely even talked about it. I told you last week; I'm ready. I want you to be my first." I pull him close so that I can kiss him again, "I love you."
He opens the door, allowing me to step inside first. A wave of nerves flow through me; we've never been alone like this before. The sound of the door closing causes me to jump, and Sam is quickly behind me. He grabs at the hem of my dress, pulling it up a few inches. He slides his hand upwards, nibbling at my neck as a low growl leaves his throat. Panic courses through me, and I hear Jana's voice in my head. "If you don't like something, tell him."
"Sam?" I whimper, trying to find my voice. He hums, grabbing tightly at my thigh. "Sam," I try to say with more conviction. He growls again, moving his hand further up my dress. I can feel my heart beating faster and faster. His free hand runs up my arm, touching the fading scar on my forearm, and it sends me into a spiral. "Stop!"
He jumps back immediately, lifting his hands away from me and takes in my appearance as I turn to face him. Tears are brimming in my eyes, and I slowly count as I inhale deeply, pacing around the room and gently rub the scar. He doesn't move. For the first time since I've met him, he's the one who's frozen. I can see the guilt play on his face, and he moves even further away.
"Babe, I'm sorry." He looks down at the carpet; his voice laced with remorse. "I didn't-"
"I just- I need a minute," I say, walking towards the bathroom, closing the door gently behind me. I grab a hand towel and run it under some cold water, gently dabbing at my face. Sam's not gonna hurt you.
It takes me a few minutes, but I'm able to calm myself down enough to go back out to see Sam. He's sitting on one of the beds, slumped over, fidgeting with his hands, he looks up but doesn't move as I re-enter the room. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't- I should've known better."
"It's okay," I say, sitting down next to him, grabbing his hand.
"No, it's not. I-I know what triggers you. If you want to go, I understand."
"Are you gonna do it again?"
"No, Ella, of course not. I would never do anything to hurt you."
Sam remains still as I lean in, lifting his chin so that I can kiss him. He waits a moment before kissing me back, softly running his hand down my arm. "You sure?" He asks, pulling away. I gingerly move my leg over his, finally able to get myself into his lap. His nose rubs against mine as he pulls me closer to him. I don't know how long we sit there holding each other, but when Sam's hand wanders back down my leg, I don't stop him.
I giggle as he fiddles with the zipper of my dress, huffing as it gets stuck a few inches down. I bring my hands to his chest, hesitating for a moment as I start undoing the buttons of his shirt. I push it off his shoulders, and it catches on his biceps as his arms are still around me. With an annoyed grunt, he releases me and shakes the fabric down his arms, cursing under his breath, until it falls to the bed.
An exasperated sigh leaves him as he tosses the shirt onto the floor, returning his hands to my back. He grunts, unable to get the zipper down any further, "I'm gonna rip this dress off of you," he laughs. "Turn around," he instructs.
I struggle to get out of his lap, realizing that there's no graceful way to do it. I trip over myself as I stand up, pulling my hair away to expose the back of my dress. It takes another minute, but he finally frees me from the offending garment and kisses my shoulders gently. He turns me around to face him, his lips brush against mine as he reaches around to unclasp my bra. Giggles leave me as he sighs, clearly having trouble with the clasp. Sam turns me around again, finally able to rid me of my bra.
We move towards the bed, and I land with a small bounce as I let Sam tower over me. He leans down, moving his arms to either side of my body, caging me in.
"Ella, I'm gonna get you ready for me, okay?" Sam hooks his fingers into my panties. I lift my hips when he tugs at the material, allowing him to easily pull them from my body, leaving me entirely exposed to him. His fingers caress the skin of my legs as he moves back up the bed.
The goosebumps left in their wake make me giggle, and when he grasps my hips, thumbs pressing into the juncture of my hip and thigh, nervous laughter escapes my lips. Sam laughs softly in response, one hand slowly moving toward my heated core.
"Tell me if it's too much," he whispers as he slowly rubs his hand against me. With his free hand, he opens the drawer of the nightstand, pulls out a small bottle, and shows it to me. My eyes go wide, and he smiles reassuringly. "It'll help." He flips the cap and removes his hand from me to drizzle some of the clear liquid over his fingers. Sam places the bottle on the nightstand and then catches my gaze, "Ready?"
I inhale deeply, then smile hesitantly. I can barely form a thought when he slips a finger into me, twisting gently to ease his way. It feels strange but pleasant at the same time.
"Sam." He immediately stops, silently checking in with me. He positions himself above me when I nod and watches me closely as he adds another finger. "Fuck, that feels so good."
He continues to pump his fingers slowly into me. "I want you to cum Ella."
Sam's fingers curl to rub over the rough patch inside, and my hips jerk in reflex. I can feel heat pooling low in my belly, and my walls tighten around his fingers. I grasp his shoulder and let out a moan.
"That's it. You're getting close, aren't you." He picks up his pace, pushing in harder. I can only whine in response as the fingers of his free hand knead my breast. He leans down and whispers in my ear, "Such a good girl. Now, cum for me."
"F-fuck… Sam…" I whimper as he finally takes me over the edge, "Sam!"
"You okay?" He smiles, leaning down to kiss me again. "Do you want to keep going?"
"Fuck. Yes." I laugh as I come down from my high. "That was amazing."
Pushing off the bed, he stands. I instinctively bring my hands up to cover myself, and Sam stops me. He begins to remove his clothes, and I stare at him appreciatively. My stomach is doing somersaults; this is actually going to happen. He's completely naked in front of me, and for a moment, I get another case of the giggles.
"What?" he smiles as he settles between my legs. I shake my head, my laughter quickly replaced by moans as he kisses up my body, stopping to suckle at my breast.
He reaches into the drawer of the nightstand again, this time pulling out a foil wrapper. He struggles to get it open until he brings it to his mouth, ripping it open with his teeth.
"Are you sure?" he asks as he sheaths himself, nestling back between my legs.
"Yes."
The room is dark when Sam collapses by my side, silent save for our heavy breathing. Sam moves my hair away from my face, keeping his other hand on my thigh, rubbing it gently. There's a dull ache between my legs, but I don't mind it. Neither of us moves, I want to stay in this moment with Sam forever. I feel the bed dip, and the warmth of his body disappears, the bright light of the bathroom illuminates Sam's face and body. I can see the hickey I left on his neck. Even without looking, I know he's littered my body with marks in return. He returns with a wet washcloth, placing it gently between my legs, he cleans me up before doing the same to himself. He tosses the cloth onto the floor of the bathroom and turns the light off before returning to bed. "How are you doin'?" He asks, wrapping his arms around me.
"Mm-hmm," I nod, "' M good."
Sam leans forward and places a soft kiss on my forehead. He holds me tight against him, as I rest my head on his firm chest, his steady heartbeat lulling me to sleep. His fingers slide gently up and down my back, and I hear him whisper, 'I love you, too' as I drift off to sleep.
The next thing I know is that a booming voice is waking me.
"WHAT IN THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?"John is in the doorway of the room, eyes wide and face crimson. I frantically bring the sheets up to my neck, trying to protect what little modesty I can. I turn my face to meet Sam's, watching as a range of emotions from embarrassment to panic play on his face.
"D-dad," Sam struggles, trying to think of an explanation. I'm terrified, and I feel my whole body tensing, "This isn't-"
"Don't." John keeps his eyes focused on Sam. "This is exactly what it looks like. Get dressed," he orders, grabbing the discarded clothes off the floor, throwing them into our laps. "Ellie, you're going home." Sam opens his mouth to speak, but John cuts him off. "I swear to God if you say another fuckin' word," John threatens as he exits the room. "Two minutes," he barks, slamming the door behind him.
We roll off the bed and stand on opposite sides, quickly getting dressed. Sam mutters under his breath, 'not a kid, can't tell me what to do.' He pulls on his shirt, and his eyes fall on me. The shock and embarrassment of getting caught by John has me practically in tears. Sam is by my side in a second; his long arms enveloping me in a hug.
"I'm sorry." He whispers, pulling me tight against him. I nod, unsure of what to say. He cups my face gently, leaning in to press a soft kiss against my lips. "I love you." His lips graze mine for a moment, but the door swings open and Sam quickly steps away from me. John's nostrils flare and his jaw ticks I tuck my chin, unable to look the older Winchester in the eyes.
"Ellie, wait outside while I have a word with my son," he says harshly. I take a quick peek at him through my lashes and see him glare at Sam, chest puffed, and hands balled into fists. Everything I knew about him from Sam made him seem like a control freak, but the night they came into Joe's that first time, and after the attack, all I saw was a strict but caring person. The man standing in the doorway is not the John I met; this is the John that Sam has been telling me about. John catches my eye and softens his voice. "Outside, Ellie, please."
"Yes, sir," I look down at the floor, "Bye, Sam," I say, gently closing the door behind me.
"Goddammit, son!" John roars. I might as well still be in the room with them. "I knew this was gonna happen! You just wanted to stick around this piece of shit town so that you could get your dick wet. What do you think will happen when her parents find out?" He pauses, I can hear Sam's voice, but can't quite make out anything he's saying. "This is the fucking Bible Belt, and you're out of your mind if you don't think they'll throw your ass in jail!"
"Dad—" Sam raises his voice, and I can hear his own anger coming to a head.
"You are playing a dangerous game with this girl, Sam. Tell me, what happens when you come back on the road with your brother and me in a few months?" John makes no effort to keep his voice down.
I can hear the hit from outside the room, "Yes, you are. You, me, and your brother are gonna find that thing that killed your mother. And we are going to destroy it. It's the least you can do."
"You can't make me do anything." Sam's voice is hard.
"You bet your ass I can. I will yank your ass right out of this crap town and take you to Bobby's. Day after graduation, you're coming back on the road, that's that, am I making myself clear?"
The door swings open, and I peek inside the room. John is standing just inside the entrance, Sam only inches away from him. There's a mark starting to form on Sam's face; his expression is hard, and his hands are balled into fists. He throws a punch at the wall, shouting, "Fuck!" I've never seen this side of him before, and it frightens me a little. John doesn't even flinch. Sam's face immediately softens when he catches sight of me and offers a tight-lipped smile.
"Let's go, Ellie," John says as he exits the room and heads toward a large truck. I cower behind him, wondering if he is going to tell mom and dad about what he saw.
The ride back to my house is silent; the only time I speak is to give him directions to my home. As soon as John pulls in the driveway, I reach for the door handle, wanting to escape his overbearing presence as quickly as possible. I get that John wants his sons with him, but I don't understand why he's so adamant about not wanting me and Sam to be together.
"It's not that I don't think you're a nice girl, Ellie," John says, stopping me before I exit the truck. "But, we have a complicated life, it's dangerous, and we have a lot of enemies, someone innocent like you doesn't need to get involved in what we do." I nod, eyes fixed on the floor of the truck. "You probably think I'm an asshole, but that doesn't mean I don't think about what's best for my boys."
"Sam and I really care about each other," I say quietly, looking up to meet his eyes.
"I don't doubt that Sam cares about you, Ellie, but you are in high school, once you graduate, you'll be going off to college and Sam will be rejoining his brother and me." He pinches the bridge of his nose. "I can't stop you two from seeing each other, but remember Ellie, this goes nowhere," he says firmly.
I feel the tears welling in my eyes. Sam and I had a wonderful night together, and John had ruined it in a matter of minutes.
"You aren't going to tell my parents, are you?" I sniff, trying to keep the tears away.
"No, darlin' I won't say anything. And if you two are going to continue seeing each other, I need you to do one thing for me," I look at him curiously, "be safe."
"We are," I feel the blood rush to my face as I look down at the floors of the truck. I still feel the need to stick up for Sam. "Sam—he wants to go to college, Mr. Winchester, and I know that your wife died, but Sam doesn't need that burden on his shoulders." I say, and his body stiffens again. "He deserves to live his own life."
"Ellie, I know you want what's best for him, and whether you believe it or not, I do too. But some girl in a town that no one has ever heard of isn't going to stop me, or my sons from doing what we do best. One day you'll see the real Sam, the hunter, and you'll understand why he could never settle down with someone like you," his words sting. "That's just how it is, darlin'."
With that, I exit the truck, unwilling to let John see my tears. I make my way into my house, allowing the tears to consume me as soon as I close the door.