1Disclaimer: I do not own them, Just Adien, Montana, and any other original characters.

A/N: This chapter was HELL! And sorry for the delay. School stuff and being sick put a hamper on writing. And I might have to break for a bit after this one. The gang fought me tooth and nail on this one. I swear! Read, review, you know the drill.

Sarah the mutant farm girl: Yeah, it was really only pseudo sweet. But don't expect it to last to long. I don't think they can do it.

Poaetpainter: Glad you liked Winchester. I do love my two headed Chinchilla. That was written partially for my friend.

Previously:

"Well, we found much the same thing." Sam inserted. "Brandon was pursued, but for the land not an heirloom. Baha Inc. did get the land, and Brandon began hanging around a mysterious lAdie. But known of his friends, or his boss ever met her. Brandon seemed very protective of her." Sam continued as he sat the table.

Adien brought in the meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. "So, both were hanging around a strange woman. And acting out of character before their deaths. I think that's worth looking into."

They all of course nodded in agreement, since it was the logical thing to do. With this concession of agreement, they all sat done to as normal a dinner as those who Hunt the supernatural can have. Conversation and theories flew back and forth amid the banter and frivolity of dinner.

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"I'm telling you Dean, I don't think you could have pulled off a more impressive con than Adyn did. Daye's boss didn't stand a chance. Of course, the outfit and the flirting had him eating out of her hand. I think she has you beat on the master of all things flirty." Sam smiled devishly at Dean.

"Doubt that." Dean retorted, flashing the patented Dean smirk, which was followed by a hurumph. Dean wasn't sure he liked the idea of another guy looking at Adie that way or Adie flirting with other guys just to get information. 'Montana can't like that,' he thought looking at Montana. 'Sam and Montana should get to know each other better. I think that they would get along well." Dean was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't see Montana startle. Montana was given a cover when the phone rang, which he took gladly.

"I'll get it." Montana jumped up and grabbed the phone of the counter. "McKenzie residence. How may I help you?" He paused letting the person on the other end talk. "Yes she is, hold on." Putting his hand over the mouth piece, "It's for you, Adie." He handed the phone to his sister.

Adyn stood, grabbed the phone and ventured to the kitchen. "Hello... Yes this is Sara McKenzie. What can I do for you?" The boys watched her silently, noticing the sudden drop in her face. "I'm sorry, who did you say you were with? ... I see, well, you can be for damn certain I'm not interested... And you're correct, nothing will change my mind. Mmmmhmm. You too.. G'bye." Adyn hung up the phone, put her hands on the counter, resting her weight on one foot.

"Adie? Who was that?" Montana asked gently.

"Hm? Nothing. Umm, I mean, no one. Listen, take care of the dishes. I need to take a run." She put on her shoes and walked out the door.

The boys all just sat stunned. "Montana... should somebody go see what's the matter?" Dean worriedly, creased his brow.

"No. We'd only make it worse. It's better to let her run off the steam. She'll tell us when she's ready." Montana stood and started clearing the table. Sam rose to help him Dean bowed out, saying something about research. Montana and Sam just shook their heads as Dean headed to the back of the house.

SNSN

Adyn ran as if her life depended on it; 'perhaps it did' she thought. No. Thoughts were bad. She was out running from thoughts. She didn't want to think. She didn't want to remember. Remembering hurt, brought pain. Pain, while making her realize she was alive, made it slightly harder to be strong for Montana. Montana needed her to be strong. So she'd run. Run til all she could think about, all she could feel, was the screaming of her muscles and the burning of her lungs.

Left. Right. Left. Right. She pounded out at an ever accelerating speed, all in effort to drown out the thoughts raging around her brain. When this failed she switched to: in, out, in, out, partially to stop thinking, partially to bring more oxygen into her increasingly burning lungs. She continued to run til she made it to a small wooded lake on the western border of her subdivision. Collapsing to her back, she stared at the canopy of trees until, closing her eyes, she let the sounds of nature surrounding her block out everything else. How long she lay like that she didn't know, though it didn't seem long before the snapping of a twig ruined her peaceful meditation.

"Dean," She sighed. " You shouldn't be here."

"Yeah, well, you shouldn't be out here alone. So I guess we're both in the same boat."

They stayed like that for a few moments: she lying on her back, eye's shut, trying to block the tears; he, just standing there, as if to watch over her or, perhaps, to lend her strength. Taking a big breath, she sat up and motioned for him to join her. As he sat down, she spoke. "I suppose you wanna know what that was all about."

"Would I like to know? Sure. Am I gonna ask? Nope." The look she sent him clearly showed she didn't believe him. "What? Obviously you didn't want to talk about it or you would have stayed at the house. That, and Montana said you'd tel usl when you're ready." Adyn snorted at that. "You don't think I should believe him?"

"No," she stated cooly. "Because he'll only be told what he needs to hear for this."

"And what does he need to hear?"

Adyn paused for a moment. She knew what Dean was doing; She did it all the time. He was slowly getting her to spill what she was thinking. She seriously thought about not saying anything , but he'd find out sooner or later. After all, she was going to have to tell them part of it. "That the phone call was from a 'representative' for Baha Inc. They want to 'acquire' a couple of items from us."

"This is good. It'll help us figure out whatever's happening, and we won't have to find a cover story." Dean's excitement was halted by the utterly dismal look that took Adyn's stunning features hostage.

"Yes, wonderful. Except for the fact I can't do it" She declared gloomily.

"Why? What do they want?"

"A vase, a painting, and a quilt."

"Well, they only go after heirlooms so I'm guessing they're worth money. Pretending to be interested shouldn't be too hard."

"Except the vase was Mom's and had been in her family forever. The painting was Dad's favorite. It was painted by a distant ancestor; been in the family for ages." She paused. "The quilt...well, the quilt was a wedding present that they used twice in their lives. I'll let you guess the outcome the two times it was actually used."

"So they're important to you; I get that. But I don't think your parents would mind you pretending to be interested in selling them to save others."

"No. No, they wouldn't. But I...I can't. Not now. Not anytime near now." She spoke softly playing with the grass at her feet.

"Hey, hey," He said, grasping her chin and forcing her to look at him. "What's up? Why not now?" he asked gently as he searched her eyes.

She looked away. She hated herself for being so weak. She swallowed. "They died today," She whispered. She hated herself even more for leaning into him as he wrapped his arms around her. But she hated herself the most for the hot salty liquid currently pouring onto his shoulder. She tried to pull away and wipe the tears from her eyes. 'Suck it up,' she told herself. She couldn't cry, tears were a luxury she couldn't afford.

"Hey, hey, it's ok. It's ok" He murmured as he tightened his grip. "You don't have to suck it up. It's ok. I'm sorry, Adie. I'm so sorry." He continued croon to her, surprising even himself, because honestly, this bordered chick flick, and he didn't do that shit. But with Adyn, it felt different. He knew that she needed this, just like he probably needed to flush his tear ducts for all the shit he'd been through. He knew that she wouldn't even be crying now if she wasn't so far past breaking as to be utterly shattered. He understood that and saw the strength in it. Saw the strength she possessed as she went off alone deal, so as not to burden her brother. And then, as quickly as they had started, the tears stopped.

Pulling away, she wiped her eyes. "Sorry about that. You must think I'm a sniveling pansy. And I probably look like shit." Looking at him seriously she stated, "You tell Monti, and I'll take you behind the wood shed and beat your ass myself."

"You look beautiful, Adie. Even when you cry." 'Especially when you cry,' he thought, as he wiped a stray tear away. "Don't worry. I won't tell. Ok. So, you don't have to do this. We'll find another way." He brushed a strand of hair out of her face.

"No. No." She said firmly. Then laughed. "I'm so screwed up. I cry about not wanting to do this. And then turn around and say let's do it. But I can't."

"Monti can do it," Dean stated simply.

"That's not fair to ask him. I won't do it. I can't ask him to do something I can't or won't do."

"Nonsense. I'll tell him he has to do it. Besides it isn't fair to him to not be given the opportunity. Trust me. They hate that. Sam feels the need to kick my ass when I keep him out of the loop. Of course, I do it anyway. I don't want him hurt. You know, I didn't even cry over Dad's death till Sammy wasn't around, and I beat the trunk of my car senseless in the processes."

One corner of Adyn's mouth turned upward "Thanks, Dean. I'm actually kinda glad you and Sam showed up. You are definitely helping on this."

"No problem." He stood, grabbed her hands, and pulled her up. They stayed that way for a moment, just looking at each other. Then Dean leaned in to kiss her, but Adyn turned away at the last second.

"Dean... I ... I can't. I'm a cynical person, and honestly, I'm nowhere near the perfect person for you." Knowing full well that what she was saying was complete and utter bullshit, but she said it anyway, for some unknown reason.

"Adie. There may be a tough word on your crossword, but there are angels in your angles. And I think I deserve the right to decide who is perfect for me. Don't worry; Montana will understand in time." Wrapping an arm around her waist he leaned down and soundly kissed her. Secretly thrilled, Adyn kissed him back, which surprised Dean greatly. Ignoring the world around them, the two kissed feverishly until they had to stop to pull air into their burning lungs, and soothe their heaving chests..

Resting her forehead against Dean's, Adyn fondly teased., "Dean Winchester. Does your brother know you're listening to The Decemberists? Cause I think you'd never live that down."

"No. And if you tell him, I tell Montana about this little love fest."

"No you wouldn't. You value your life too much. He'd kick your ass before I could stop him."

Dean snorted and kissed the top of her head.

"Hey, Dean..."

"Hmm?"

"Here's a hand to lay on your open palm today." Offering her hand to him.

"Is that a 'low moon caught in your tangles' I see?"

They laughed as they walked back towards the house together, holding hands and drowning all the way.

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