Chapter Eight

It was 3am in Sam and Dean's motel room. They hadn't slept since getting back from the cemetery instead they were avoiding the argument that had built up around them. Sophie Jackson was sleeping on the sofa bed behind a securely closed and more or less soundproof door.

'Ok Dean, look- she DID save our lives.'

'So could anyone.'

'That's mature.' Sam's voice was bitter and impatient.

'Ok, Sammy what is it? You like her?'

'What do you mean do I like her?! Dean. You like her.'

'Seriously Sammy if you like the kid then I don't care.' Dean pulled his shirt over his head and flopped down onto his bed.

'Dean! Don't push people away here- it wasn't my name she was yelling back there.' Sam couldn't understand, he was so sure Dean had feelings for Sophie.

'I saw the two of you holding hands, getting all touchy feely back there.'

'Oh come on! We're friends, she was scared. It was comfort Dean. She likes you!'

'Sam. She's a kid. And like you said she was scared and stupid so lets just forget about it.' With that Dean stood up and left the room. Sam glared after him.

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Dean's version of avoid the conversation hadn't worked out so well for him. Gone 3am or not Sophie wasn't asleep and judging by the expression on her face, the door wasn't soundproof either.

'Soph.' Dean whispered the word as her eyes dragged down from his face surveying his body and then back.

'Dean.' She didn't whisper but her voice wasn't raised. It was quiet and full of an emotion Dean wasn't convinced was favourable.

'Look…' he ran a hand through his hair trying to ignore his stomach where there was a stabbing pain from knowing he'd hurt her in someway. He desperately searched for something he could say to make things better. Something that wasn't the truth… that probably wasn't going to help.

'No. Dean, listen to me okay?' Sophie straightened up on the sofa she looked her age for the very first time since Dean had met her.

'I… We… Okay.' Dean slid onto the sofa, in the corner furthest away from her.

'I'm not stupid. I might be a kid to you but I guarantee that as many supernatural creatures you've seen… however many non-human monsters you have dealt with. As many as that is, I've seen as many human monsters. In the seven years difference between us, I'm sure I've seen more about human nature than you can imagine. So I can deal with myself, you know. I can cope.'

'Oh.' Dean froze. It wasn't the sort of speech he'd been expecting and somehow it was worse to hear blatant honestly. It made lying more difficult and the more he tried to think of something to say the worse he felt.

'Don't tell some sob story. Or some funny line. Don't lie to me Dean.' Sophie was still crouched in her corner of the sofa.

'Okay… I'm not good at this you get that?' Dean wasn't sure now what he was talking about.

'I get that.' She seemed suddenly more frightened of him than she had of Jonathon Hardwood. She was utterly unsure what to do now. Dean slid down on the sofa, reaching out he pulled her arm towards him. She followed it.

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Sam found them like that the next morning. Asleep: Sophie leaning her head on Dean's shoulder and his arm around her waist.

He decided it was probably best to leave them alone. When he returned from fetching breakfast they were both awake and talking amicably. Sam decided not to interfere they were apparently both happy to do things their way… however messed up that was.

That night they were in another one of the bars Dean liked to frequent. However this time the locals weren't on Dean's mind at all, the three of them were taking some time away from the 'hunting.'

'Okay, I have a question.' Sam pointed at Sophie. 'The school?'

'Oh no…' she blushed. 'Ok… Cambridge.'

'You're kidding!' Dean stared at her for a few seconds. 'Really? Like the one in England?' Sam looked away embarrassed by his brother.

'Well yes. You see if you even bothered to ask about my accent you'd know that wouldn't you.' The remark wasn't said in a friendly way.

'Right…' said Dean quietly.

'The subject?' Sam asked quickly.

'Medicine.' Sophie blushed slightly again.

'But you're only twenty.' Dean met her eyes this time and she smiled slightly.

'I didn't graduate.'

'But still…'

'I started when I was seventeen; I left at very nearly twenty. I'm here now, very nearly twenty-one. Okay?'

'You were moved up a grade?' Sam had realised that she was bright but now he was intrigued.

'Two. In junior high. It wasn't as much fun as you'd think.'

'So…' Sam tried to think so something to say…

'You're nearly twenty-one?' Dean said with a grin. Sophie winced slightly. 'That's an excuse to party…'

In response Sophie stood up and walked towards the bar. Both brothers watched her absentmindedly; she spoke to the bartender and then glanced back at them. She said something quickly but only received a shake of the head.

'What's going on?' Sam asked.

'ID I bet.' Dean grinned and stood up, aiming to rescue her. He froze as a dark haired stranger did exactly that. He handed the beers he'd just brought to her and took her money, then signalled the bartender for more. Sophie grinned and Dean bristled.

He sat down as she returned. Sam studied his face and tried to hide his smile of triumph as jealousy flicked clearly over Dean's features.

'Who was that?' Dean's voice was clipped.

'A friendly stranger?' Sophie offered. She tried to make it clear that she wasn't interested from her voice… she failed.

'Great.' Replied Dean. 'Real knight in shining armour I bet.'

'Well I wouldn't go that far…' The guy was stood opposite Sophie. He grinned at her brightly.

'Yeah…' she giggled slightly. 'Thanks though.'

'It was no trouble… I was wondering if you were free tonight?' he ignored Dean and Sam directing his words and smile at Sophie's chest.

'Erm…'

'She's not.' Dean's voice no longer clipped but completely stony was low and quiet.

'Hey buddy, I think it's probably up to her to decide that.'

'No, Dean's right… I'm…' Sophie stuttered, her eyes brightened with confusion.

'No darling, you come out with me. Ignore you're brothers here.'

'Dean's not my brother.' Sophie searched for a way to categorise their relationship.

'He's her fiancé.' Said Sam, finally inputting into the conversion.

'I don't see a ring.' Said the guy suddenly more defensive.

'That's why we're in town.' Dean reacted quickly, he reached for Sophie's hand and she grabbed his tightly.

'Serious?' the guy backed up slightly.

'Serious.' Said Sophie quietly. 'Sorry if…'

'No. No. No worries. I'm sorry- good luck ring hunting.' The guy walked slowly away.

Sam counted to twenty in his head. He stopped there because Dean had finally removed his hand from Sophie's. Sam grinned.

'Thanks.' Sophie said colouring slightly. Both brothers shrugged simply. 'So…' she paused… 'When do I get this ring?'

Dean raised his beer to his lips- pointedly ignoring her.