Rachel closed the door gently behind her, breathing in the quiet morning air. The orange streaks through the sky were a welcome sight as she pulled the sweatshirt she had found tighter around her frame. Rachel had learned early on that Puck wasn't an early riser, something she was grateful for at the moment. Pulling out her phone, she pressed one on her speed dial as she put a few feet between the motel room and the conversation she was about to have.

'Whoever the fuck this is, you have five seconds before I hang up.'

'Good morning Santana,' Rachel greeted her friend brightly, smiling when she heard the Latina groan over the phone.

'It's not even eight Ray.'

'I know…but I really wanted to talk to you.'

'Really? Want or need? It's too early in the morning for bullshit.'

Rachel found a worn bench, sat down and crossed her ankles.

'How are you?'

'Semester's kicking my ass but I'm still top bitch. Just a shit ton of case summaries and whatever. What's up with your voice? You sound weird.'

Knowing it was best to get straight to the point with Santana, Rachel delved right in.

'Before I left you were going to tell me something…'

A brief pause before Rachel heard the rustle of sheets.

'Winchester said something, didn't he?'

'I have no idea what you're talking about.'

'Please you can't lie to save your life. Fine. Look it wasn't a big deal or anything. When we came back here to arrange…shit, Jesse stopped by-'

'Excuse me? Why didn't you tell me this immediately?' Rachel demanded, remembering the heartbreak Santana had suffered through when she had found out about Jesse's affair. Rachel had never liked her best friend's boyfriend to begin with. Jesse St James and her were too much alike in some ways. And while Rachel had learnt humility, Jesse had never quite been taught the same harsh lessons life had thrown her way.

'That wasn't even the most fucked up thing that happened. I may have shoved my tongue down Dean's throat.'

Rachel hummed, thinking back to Dean's words.

'So whatever. It was just the emotional crap I was going through. I needed a release and he was there. Told him to forget about it.'

There was a forced nonchalance to Santana's words that had Rachel sitting up a little straighter. Despite her cool exterior, it was hard to imagine Santana not expressing her feelings visually. There were tells Rachel had picked up on throughout the course of their friendship. Like now for instance. When Santana tried extremely hard to brush something off, there was always the need to look a little deeper.

'He asked for your number, you know?' Rachel remarked casually, recalling the awkward way Dean had stumbled over himself at the library when he had brought up Santana. It was endearing really, seeing a man who thought he was god's gift to women come so undone.

'Shut up.'

'We were researching and he brought you up all by himself. Considering I didn't know that you two had kissed-'

'Made out.'

'Why do you think you shouldn't have done it?' Rachel repeated the words Santana had said in the parking lot.

'Because Ray.'

'He's not Jesse,' Rachel murmured softly, waited patiently for Santana to answer.

'I just don't need any dick in my pussy right now okay? I just want to get through law school and just hang out.'

'So can I give him your number? He seems very sweet, if a bit too attached to mullet rock and his car.'

'Ray. What's the point? From what you told me, hunters don't even stay in the same state for more than a day.'

'You're contemplating it. Which means there is some interest there.'

'Why are you getting all up in my grill anyway? What Puckerman not keeping you satisfied?'

'I'm not sleeping with him San,' Rachel rolled her eyes. 'Besides, he's a jerk.'

'Really?'

'He seems to think Dean and I are engaging in some kind of illicit affair! I don't even know why he cares so much. So what if I want to have sex with Dean?' Rachel muttered the last part.

'Hey if you want to fuck Dean, then go right ahead.'

'Of course I'm not going to sleep with Dean when he's clearly infatuated with you,' Rachel bit back. 'We're partners. Keeping things professional is a prerequisite.'

'Please Berry. Every time Puck sees you it looks like you're naked on a silver platter. That boy wants you.'

'That's preposterous. I'm not interested in pursuing a relationship.'

There was a pregnant moment between the two friends and Rachel worried her bottom lip when she heard Santana sigh.

'I miss your tight ass. Sucks being here without you and Blaine.'

Hearing the buried pain in Santana's voice made Rachel's chest swell with guilt. She hadn't dwelled on the fact that her leaving would leave Santana bereft as well.

'San-'

'Look I've got class in a few. I'll hit you up later alright?'

Rachel knew that Santana didn't have her Torts class until noon but decided to let it slide.

'I love you,' Rachel said earnestly.

'Yeah I love you too.'

'So can I give Dean your number?'

'Do whatever you want. Talk later bitch.'

Rachel shook her head, ending the call on her phone.

'Hey. You're up early,' Sam's voice made her look up. The younger Winchester looked even more tired than yesterday, the bags under his eyes more prominent.

'Just wanted to call Santana before she left for class,' Rachel replied, getting to her feet.

'You want to get some breakfast? Dean need to be fed like every hour,' Sam joked. Rachel pocketed her phone, falling into step beside Sam.

'That's a nice bracelet,' Rachel remarked, spotting the line of beads ringed around his wrist. There was no mistaking the flash of pain across Sam's eyes.

'Yeah. My girlfriend got it for me,' Sam answered. Rachel didn't push, eyes falling back to the bracelet.

Why did that look so familiar?