Chapter 3
That day passed on, and eventually that day turned into two- then three and then four. But by the fifth I was a little worried. Even a coven never took this long and I was nervous that something that happened…. Yes, they were as experienced at they come, the best of the best and I knew they had the skills to get out alive; but accidents on the job happen, that thought I couldn't shake from my mind in moments of silence.
I called him twice- no answer. By the third call it went straight to voicemail and I knew that it had died. No text messages, from either of them and I left Sam maybe four voicemails. The beer by this point was finished, and I was drinking far more coffee than necessary in case they came home in the middle of the night. All I can say is that with the amount of caffeine coursing through my veins I never fell behind on schoolwork because it kept me thinking on something else besides living in this bunker for the rest of my life surrounded by memories of my happy year with him.
But alas, on the evening of the fifth day I finally got a phone call from Sam's phone, and I swear- I've never picked up a call that fast before. "Where are you guys?" I demanded before he could even muster a 'hello'.
"Just on our way back now. I broke my arm, so it delayed us a little bit." He admitted to me and I gave an annoyed sigh. If only that boy could see the expression on my face, he'd be cowering in the damn corner.
"Speaker, now." I demanded and he chuckled before the pause and I could hear the low hum of Baby in the background. "No text, no call, nothing. Absolutely nothing I mean come on, at least have Cas let me know what happened!" I complained, my anger genuine. "I thought something happened to you two. And I got scared, I thought I lost you- both of you and I got really scared Dean." I felt my anger change course, producing tears. Oh no, not again, I hated angry crying- it was like ugly crying except the fuel wasn't pity, it was pure anger.
"El, I'm sorry…." I heard Dean on the other line sigh, and I shook my head at myself.
"That won't cut it this time. Dean, you need to remember that I'm all the way back at the bunker and worry about you guys…It's not just you and Sam anymore. Someone needs to keep me in the loop!" I sniffled and wiped my eyes on my sweatshirt sleeve, curled up in the study on one of the old wooden chairs that Sam claims every day. "It's not fair." I cried, my mind just envisioning them now, exchanging looks and the immense guilt on Dean's face as he heard me crying over the phone.
"I know it's not fair Ellie. I should've called, I should've remembered to charge my phone." He admitted before I heard Sam's deep voice take over the line.
"I should've taken my phone with me, so I'm partially to blame. I left it at the motel." He explained and I gave an aggravated sigh.
"As always, Dean gets more blame because- because reasons." I said, probably sounding like a child trying to explain why he was pointing his finger at another kid but that was the best that I could come up with.
"I deserve that…" he noted and I nodded to myself, wiping my eyes again.
"Of course, you deserve that! I don't deal with being left alone without reason very well." I reminded, not wanting to fully bring up that last incident, but I knew he'd remember.
"I know, Elena I know and I am sorry." He apologized- finally. "We're about two hours out alright, we'll be home soon. If you want to go to bed, that's okay, I'll sleep in one of the other rooms tonight." He offered and I shook my head, not wanting to hear that.
"Am I mad at you- yes. Am I crying because of it- obviously. Will I probably ignore you for a few days- duh. But you will not walk back into this house and not kiss me goodnight." I ordered, my tone leaving little room for discussion as I heard Sam attempting to cover his laughter. "Samuel Winchester I can hear you laughing… Don't think you've gotten off easy either, you didn't answer your phone and you're going to get it, do you understand me. Because guess what- I'm telling Mary." I threatened and they both groaned in unison.
"El don't get Mom involved…." He sighed and I shook my head, bent on my decision.
"No, you're going to get a lecture from her and you're going to hate every minute of it." I sneered. I knew that I was being a bit childish about the entire scenario, but this time I felt like I was allowed to be given the circumstances. "That's what you get for ignoring me!"
"Go to bed Ellie, I'll see you when I get home." Dean sighed and I frowned, hearing in his tone that he wanted to end the phone call.
"I'm pissed, but kiss me goodnight anyway." I noted and ended the call before either of them could say anything in defense. Way to keep me in the loop boys…. I thought bitterly as I put my phone down on the old wooden table, a bit aggressively might I add. But I stood up anyway and walked into the kitchen to make myself a mug of tea, tapping my nails against the counter as my impatience grew until I was just leaning against the counter, my face almost up against the steeping pot that Sam had gotten for my birthday last year. I had to admit, the boy was thoughtful, and observed so much about a person when you figured he was doing something else. He saw my flaws, he saw my habits, and eventually came to a smart conclusion about what kind of gift to get me- and by that point I had only been living with them maybe four and a half months. But to them, that might've been enough time to figure someone out… I'm a creature of habit after all…
Despite the fact that the tea would calm me down, I had to admit that I got cranky just waiting for it, and almost burned myself pouring it into a mug with two ice cubes in it. No less than two, and never more…. It was just enough to cool it down fast enough to drink, but not enough ice to water down the flavor- they knew this by now because I gave them hell and had to explain my process the first few times. But I had my tea, and I just wanted to sleep. My thought process went like this: the sooner I get to sleep, the sooner they'll be home. Nothing more, nothing less, simple as that. The decaffeinated tea would help my body unwind, help my muscles just relax and my brain finally shut up- maybe…. But while I drank from my mug, now clad in my shorts and old tee shirt cut just above my belly button, I felt calmer than I had fifteen minutes ago. Maybe it was the tea, maybe it was just the slight change in scenery from the research room to the kitchen, to the bed down the hall. Or maybe it was changing from clothes for class, to something soft, and comforting- my makeup scrubbed from my face and my hair pulled back into a messy bun for bed. The sooner I get to sleep, the sooner they'll be home. I kept chanting to myself mentally as I finished off the tea, placing the empty mug on my bedside table and climbed into the cool memory foam bed.
The sooner I get to sleep, the sooner they'll be home…. That was my final thought before I surrendered myself to sleep, my body mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted from these past few days of stressing over class and then them. And although my plan was to remain cranky when I woke up, the familiar feel of slightly chapped lips on my forehead woke me almost immediately and looked at him, releasing a sigh. "You suck. Now get into bed I'm cold." I demanded and I caught a slight smile in the dark room.
"Alright alright," he chuckled and I could hear fabric moving in the darkness, which meant his shirt was being tossed in the corner- like usual. So, I just laid there, listening to the sounds of his undressing until I felt his presence join mine in his memory foam bed. "No wonder you're cold, El you aren't wearing anything." He laughed quietly.
"I am too. It's called a crop top and shorts genius." I retorted and he sighed, wrapping an arm around me.
"I am sorry for not calling, I really feel bad…" he started and I shushed him almost immediately, shaking my head in the dark.
"Shush. I'm tired, you're tired. It's time to sleep, we can talk about this in the morning okay? Professor cancelled class tomorrow." I realized that I was speaking incomplete sentences, but I didn't care all too much. He was home, he was back in my arms and that was all that honestly mattered to me at the moment- he survived.
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"Morning Ellie."
"No."
"I have coffee."
"Give me the caffeine, and then walk away." I mumbled into the pillow, hair once again disheveled and unwelcome to the light seeping in from the hallway light. Thank goodness for no windows.
"No, we have to talk first, come on." He attempted to coax and I sighed, lifting my head to give a slight glare.
"How about, once I finish this, we can talk hmm? You both practically gave me a heart attack, I'm mad at you about it, and you just woke me up from a very peaceful sleep so hand over the cup of joe, and no one gets hurt." My tone was crisp, my words curt and short as I arched a brow at him, slowly sitting up and pushing my undone bun out of my face as the other hand went to the mug in his hand. He relinquished, giving me a look that told me he knew better. He did make me mad, I even cried over the phone which didn't happen all too often and he knew that I was going to follow up with getting Mary involved- which killed him and Sam almost to the same degree. "Out." I breathed, tearing my gaze from him and took my first sip- resisting the urge to smile as the warm liquid began to wake me up. But he looked at me once, and then stood from the bed and walked out, running a hand through his short hair.
"I am sorry El." He noted before closing the door and leaving me to my solitude as I flicked on the bedside lamp for a little illumination as I decided on what to say when I ripped him a new asshole.