DISCLAIMER: Sam and Dean aren't mine. Anna, Tibbs and Bernard are.
A/N: I hate this chapter. I struggled through it, but I'm just not satisfied. The next one should be much better, though. I think the next two may finish up the story. Yay! A light at the end of the tunnel.
Bernard saw her before she saw him. He relished the moments he could watch her before he had to move. The crowd moving along the riverbank bustled in the pre-Fiesta fervor and someone jostled Anna, pushing her into the guy walking beside her.
When the man held onto her and began guiding her through the crowd Bernard frowned. Anna laughed and at the man's antics and the sight of her smile made Bernard's heart race. Her hair glowed in shades of coffee and copper in the sunlight and her eyes shone. He understood what had kept his brother enthralled, for he felt it too. It was hard to resist a girl who radiated such warmth and sexuality.
The man began to speak, but Anna didn't answer. A moment later she frowned and shook her head. She began speaking rapidly, paused and then began talking again, gesticulating angrily. She stopped moving and the man with her began talking. She shook her head and turned away.
And she saw him. Bernard smiled a little and saluted her with his glass. She began to move toward him just as a group of tourists cut her off. When she disappeared into the crowd Bernard tossed a few bills onto the table and left through the restaurant to exit on the street.
She had come for him, but she had not come alone. Let her man try and protect her, she would not escape his grasp again.
Anna and Dean walked in silence. She tried to think of something to say, but couldn't think of anything that wouldn't upset Lawrence. She didn't want to hurt him more than necessary if she could help it.
Before she could move a group of tourists pushed by and Anna found herself in Dean's arms.
"You know," Dean smiled. "If you wanted a hug you could have just asked."
"What was that?" Lawrence called.
Anna burst out laughing. "Nothing, don't worry about it."
Dean took her elbow and led her through the crowd to a clearing behind a tree.
"Anything where you guys are?" Dean asked.
"Nothing," Lawrence answered. "Do you think he could have gone to Austin or Dallas?"
Anna shook her head.
"No, I don't think so. Wrong group of people there. He's here somewhere. We just have to-"
"Anna," Lawrence cut in. "I just don't think he's here."
"Well lick your nose or something, Tibbs, 'cause I'm telling you he's here."
"I think you're wrong."
Anna stood still and clenched her jaw. Dean put a hand on her shoulder and spoke up.
"Look, we've only been looking for half an hour. Sammy, where are y'all at?"
Anna tuned out the conversation and turned away from the river. Then she saw him. She inhaled sharply and her entire body tensed.
Bernard smiled and raised his glass to her. His eyes held a look Anna had never seen before. He watched her hungrily and she felt uncomfortable, afraid.
"Tibbs, I see him," she murmured and began toward her prey, only to be stopped by a crush of people. She pushed through to the steps of the restaurant where she had seen him, but found only an empty table.
"Damn it."
"Annie!" Dean called. She had taken off into the crowd and he couldn't see her.
"What happened?" Lawrence called in his ear.
"Anna. She took off."
"Tibbs, get over here!" Anna's voice sounded panicked. Dean spun around. Where was she?
"What's your twenty? We're coming."
"I'm heading up to street level behind the Starbucks," her voice spoke in Dean's ear. He took off toward the green maiden. From the corner of his eye Dean saw Lawrence and Sam crossing the bridge to get to his location.
"Anna, wait for us!" Sam called.
Anna yelped and then Dean heard her shout, "Damn it!"
Dean turned the corner and took the stairs two at a time. In his ear he heard Lawrence curse as Sam yelled for people to move.
"Forget it," Anna said in a pained voice. "I lost him."
Dean reached the top of the landing and saw Anna walking toward him. Relief washed through him and his gut unclenched to see her safe as he moved to meet her. Then anger took over and he grabbed her roughly by the elbow, pulling her back toward the stairs.
"Don't you ever do that to me again," he seethed. She met his gaze and Dean stopped moving. He watched her for a long moment, afraid to move as the world fell away around them.
"Anna!" Lawrence's voice broke the spell. The pair jumped apart as Sam and Lawrence turned the corner at the landing. An uncomfortable silence fell on the group.
"Come on," Anna said at last. "Let's go home. We'll come back tonight."
From his hiding spot across the street Bernard watched the group leave.
So, he thought. My brother has a rival.
A cruel smile played on his lips as he noticed his brother glaring at the stranger. Tonight he would hunt, and Anna would come to him. tonight he would take her away from his brother and the Winchester.