A/N- I am super excited about this story! I just finished the outline for the whole thing and now I'm super excited to write more. As you can probably tell, since I've updated like 3 times today. Obviously, this will slow once I get back to school work. Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 3

The house was silent for a moment as they all listened to the Impala roar to life and rumble out of the repair yard. Bad Moon Rising played softly on the radio in the living room until the Impala could no longer be heard.

Sam cleared his throat and chuckled nervously. "It's… don't worry. It's just typical Dean. He can't stand sitting here and researching and not being able to actually do anything. I'm actually surprised he stayed and researched as long as he did. It's kind of a record for him."

Bobby shut his book and leaned back in his worn chair. "I've actually been meaning to ask about him… well, about both you boys. Is something the matter? Cause Dean seems a little edgy. More so than ususal."

Sam stared at his hands for a moment while his thoughts gathered. "Yeah, somewhat. I mean, you know that the angels are saying – that me and Dean are the vessels for Lucifer and Michael." Bobby nodded his agreement. Jo and Ellen both made their way into the living room, Ellen with concern in her eyes and Jo watching, analyzing. "Well, recently we ran into Gabriel, another archangel. You've actually seen him Bobby – he was moonlighting as the Trickster on that case you helped us with."

Bobby grunted. "That head case? An archangel? All righty then."

Sam chuckled. "That's what we said. Anyway, he caught up with us, and long story short, he kept trying to impress us with the fact that we should 'play our roles' in the Apocalypse. You know, us saying yes. Honestly, I didn't think much of it. I wouldn't say yes to Lucifer. But Dean has been…quiet… since we ran into him. I can't really tell what he's thinking."

Jo spoke up from beside her mother. "You don't really think he'd say yes do you? That doesn't sound like Dean to me."

Sam shook his head. "No. It doesn't really make sense. He was adamantly against it – more so than me even. The reason we started hunting together after we split up was, in his words, to keep us both human."

Bobby sighed. "Listen to me Sam. Dean is fine. You know the first thing on his mind, now and forever, will be to protect you. And saying yes to Michael would be putting you in harms way, either as Lucifer or yourself. So stop overanalyzing that idjit. You know why he left—"

"He hates research with a burning passion."

"—and where he probably went."

Sam snorted. "Yeah. A bar. To drink beer and hit on any women he can."

Bobby nodded. "You're darn right. So let's give him his space and let him brood in peace."

In the center of town, a bar was exactly where Dean could be found. He was slowly nursing his first beer, and when Sam had called the second time, he'd turned off his phone and shoved it in his pocket. He didn't need mothering, or protecting, or counseling – whatever it was that Sam thought he was in desperate need of, he didn't need it. Especially not with Sam.

He looked up from his beer, and following his instincts, cased the place carefully, taking stock of everyone in the joint. It was a relatively crowded bar, but not in a crazy or overwhelming sense. The booths and bar stools were full, but everyone here seemed to know each other and the air had a small town feel to it. Everyone there seemed slightly weathered and Bobbyish, complete with plaid shirts and a fair share of trucker caps. Only a woman and two men in the corner booth stood exception to this – her purple slinky dress reached the floor and caught Dean's roving eye immediately. It wasn't gonna be one of those nights though.

He tapped the bar with his pint, and watched as the blonde bartender made her way over. Her hair was a light golden that reached down to her belly button, and was accented perfectly by a grass green tank top. Dark, tight jeans covered what sounded like cowgirl boots. Light, piercing blue eyes met his as she filled his glass.

She gave him a slight smile. "Looking for someone?" She had noticed his wandering eye.

One side of his mouth slid up into a sexy smirk. "Not anymore sweetheart."

She grinned. "Does that usually work?"

The smile slid off his face and he stared at her for a second. "Usually, yes."

She slid his pint back to him and raised her eyebrows expectantly. "Huh. Now that is a surprise."

"Hey, it's been a rough night, and I have to admit, that wasn't one of my best."

"You don't say. But lemme guess- one look into those candy apple green eyes and I'm smitten."

He shrugged. "Generally that's the way it works, yeah."

She cocked her head and appraised him for a second. "Well, then most girls have been letting you get off far too easy."

"But not you?" Dean had to admit, this woman was fully in control. He didn't have a problem with that – in fact, it reminded him of Cassie, the tiger he used to date when Sam was at Stanford. Yes, typically the women he ended up spending the night with were a little more pliable with a little less fire, but that's because it was easier. Quality took time, and when you were on the road, time wasn't one of the things you typically had.

She leaned forward, hips against the bar, and gave him a knowing smile. "Well, I am a bartender. Saying I get hit on is like saying the sky is blue or pigs make great bacon."

Dean nodded. "Of course, so you've heard it all and then some."

"Course. But that doesn't mean I don't give points for creativity and effort. By the way, are you looking for someone?"

Dean observed the way she circled back to her original question. There was no distracting her. And here he was supposed to be interrogating her about the town woes. "No, just looking around. Seeing the sights."

"You're new here." It was a statement, not a question.

"Is it that obvious?"

Her smile said it all. "It's Sioux Falls. I see most of the town in here at some point during the week, and know most by name. And you, I have not seen. And I would remember you."

Who was the one flirting now? "I'll take that as a compliment."

She winked shamelessly. "Feel free. Any reason you've decided to visit our fair city?"

His hunters instinct kicked in, the one that told him to lie unabashedly. "I'm just in visiting family. I heard there have been a lot of local disappearances around?"

She nodded. "There have been a few."

"More than a few, I heard. 10 people in the past 3 weeks – that's up there in serial killer territory."

"Maybe. Or maybe some monster has taken a liking to our town." She smiled to let him know she was kidding, but Dean couldn't help but be surprised at how on point she was. And how quickly she got there. Could she be a hunter? It was possible – this was the environment hunters enjoyed, if Jo and Ellen were any indication. She certainly seemed confident enough.

"You never know."

"You don't peg me as the type of man that believes in ghosts and vampires."

Dean looked at her, really looked at her. If she was a hunter, he didn't feel like she would dance around the subject so much. Most hunters knew who Sam and he were, could recognize them. Maybe she wasn't a hunter. After all, if she were one, she'd be doing something about this case, and Bobby had never mentioned any other hunters in Sioux Falls. And he would know, right? "Maybe I'm just willing to keep an open mind about things."

A smirk. "Oh yeah? Werewolves?"

"Of course. Change during the full moon, silver bullet through the heart will kill em."

She smiled, clearly amused that he was playing along. "Specters?"

He supposed there wasn't any harm telling her the truth. If she was a hunter, he was probably passing some test, so she knew she could trust him. And if she was a civilian, then this was just a game to her. Ha. "They're like ghosts, but they sense your grudges and make you act on them."

"You're like a walking encyclopedia of weirdness," she said resolutely, while pulling on black leather jacket and scooping up a black leather purse from under the counter.

Dean choked on his beer, coughing as it went down the wrong pipe. He had said the exact same thing to Sam a few years back. But then again, it was all relative. Compared to Dean, Sam was weird, but compared to normal people, they all could have been committed years ago. Still, the irony wasn't lost on Dean. "You know, I have never been called that before."

"That must mean the company you keep is equally or more weird."

Again, right on the nose. "You have no idea."

She graced him with a smile again, and Dean felt himself smiling right back. "Well, I will give you this – this exceptional conversation ranks up there as one of the weirdest I've ever had. And that's counting the fact that I entertain drunk people for a living. Unfortunately, my shift is over. But maybe I'll see you around while you're in town, and we can have more interesting talks on fantasy creatures. Or anything else." He followed her with his head as she walked around the bar. She leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek. "See ya later Dean." She turned on her heels and walked out the door.

Dean turned back to his beer. The place where she kissed him tingled, and it only took him a second to realize that without her here to talk to, the bar and the beer held no interest for him. He already missed their witty banter.

As he headed for the door, he couldn't help but think about the way her lips caressed his name. He'd definitely be willing to have her say his name again, just in a completely different context. And he would…

He stopped just outside the door, thinking it over and rechecking in his mind. It had struck him, and now that he thought about it, he was sure he was right.

He'd never told her his name.

TBC- Please read and review. I welcome all opinions (although try to keep it constructive), and ideas! If possible, I may work some into the story :)