Chapter 2!


Sam and Dean arrived in Kansas the next day and pulled the impala into the bunker's garage.

Kevin was seated at the table, three large books open in front of him. Sam dropped his bag in his room and joined him, pulling one of the books towards him.

"What do you have going on?"

"Well, I managed to translate a few things but into another ancient language. Now I'm trying to figure out how to translate that language." He sighed in frustration. Sam felt bad for the kid. He had so much pressure on his shoulders and anything Sam could do to help alleviate some, he would do.

"Okay so tell me what you've read so far. I'll start another book."

"The one you have in front of you is a good place to start." Kevin said with a slightly relieved smile.

The two got to work and worked up until Dean put burgers under their noses. A good six hours had passed.

"Okay book worms, break time." They marked their places but closed the book gratefully.

"Let's call it a day for now, Kev. We can pick up again tomorrow." Sam said.

"That's what I like to hear!" Dean took a bite of his burger.

"And you'll be helping tomorrow, Dean." Sam said and laughed when Dean's face fell.

Suddenly, Sam's phone rang and he hurried to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Sam. It's Maria."

"Hi, Maria!"

Kevin looked questionably at Dean. "It's Sam's new girlfriend." He explained.

"You guys were gone for three days."

Sam shot the two a glare before returning to his conversation. "I'm sorry, Maria. What did you say?"

"I'm about an hour away from the address." She told him. "I would've been there sooner but I stopped and slept for a few hours. I only left about three hours after you."

"No worries. We are just now eating some dinner. Would you like me to save you anything?"

"That's really sweet but no thank you. I stopped a little bit ago and got something to eat." She said.

"Okay. Let me know when you get here and I'll direct you to the garage." He hung up with her.

"Care to explain?" Kevin asked the brothers. Sam told him the entire story, from when they arrived in Mathews to when they left Maria's apartment.

"So let me get this straight. You are just allowing a stranger to come here because she begged you to become a hunter?" Kevin asked.

"And because Sammy likes her." Dean said childishly.

"Is she insane?" Kevin asked loudly.

"We haven't figured that out quite yet." Sam closed his eyes in exasperation. "But it's not exactly fair of us to judge when we're pretty insane ourselves."

"Okay, I'll give you that." Dean said. "But come on, Sam. Why is she so interested in becoming a hunter?"

As if on que, Sam's phone rang again.

"I arrived sooner than I thought." She said when he answered. "I'm outside of a large metal door. Am I in the right place?"

"Yes, I'll be right up." He shot a look to Dean and Kevin, pleading them to behave before he headed upstairs.

He opened the door to reveal Maria with an overnight bag slung over her shoulder and a single box in her hand.

"Is that all you brought?"

"No, my car is packed but I'm much too tired to unpack it now." She smiled up at him.

"Do you um… can I take anything for you?" Sam asked, floundering.

She looked down at the box in her hand and instead decided to hand him her bag. "Thanks, Sam."

She followed him down into the bunker and she marveled at how beautiful and large the place was.
"This is where you live?"

"Yeah, this is it." He led her to the table where Kevin and Dean still sat.

"Hello, Dean. It's good to see you again." She said kindly.

"Hi, Maria." He handed her a bottle and with merely an eye-roll, swallowed the holy water.

"I did everything you asked me to do." She moved the bandage to show them her tattoo.

"Sorry you had to do that." Sam said.

"It's okay. I know you guys just want to keep yourselves safe."

Kevin cleared his throat. "Oh, Maria, this is Kevin. He's kind of like our…"

"I'm their little brother." Kevin finished.

Maria laughed. "It's nice to meet you Kevin."

"Come on, I'll show you to your room." Sam led her out of the room.

Kevin turned to Dean. "She's hot!"

"Keep it in your pants." Dean said. "She's all smitten for Sammy anyway. I don't think she likes munchkins."

"Oh that must be why she's not into you." Dean stood and Kevin scurried away with a squeak. Dean laughed.

"Coward!"

Sam opened one of the many doors in the hallway that held the bedrooms. "Here's your room. Make yourself at home. You're welcome to stay for as long as you'd like. I'm sure you're exhausted so I'll leave you to it. I'm right next door if you need me. Not that you will but…just so you know."

Maria couldn't help it. She reached up and gently pressed her lips to his. "Thank you, Sam. Goodnight."

"Oh, um, goodnight." He backed out of the door, a stunned look on his face. She couldn't help but giggle before she shut the door. She really did like him and she thought it was adorable the way he was nervous around her. A small part of her brain yelled at her and she immediately felt a little foolish. She just kissed a man she's known for less than two days. When did she become so bold?

Her eyes fell to the box lying on her bed. Could she open it tonight? Upon further thought, she didn't think she had the willpower to do it. So she placed it on the desk in the room and unpacked her small bag.

The next morning, Maria was up before anyone else. She found her way to the kitchen and decided to make everyone breakfast as a way to thank them.

She was looking through the fridge when a throat cleared from behind her. She jumped, startled and fixed Sam with a glare when he laughed.

He was dressed in jogging clothes and sneakers and Maria's jaw dropped ever so slightly.

"Sorry I scared you." Sam said. "I'm about to go for a run. What're you doing?"

She blushed. "I figured I would make everybody breakfast. Since I basically blackmailed you guys into taking me under your wings."

Sam approached her. "You didn't blackmail us. We wanted to do it. Well, I wanted to. I'm sorry I've been such a goof. I'm not usually such a nervous ass. I don't know what it is about you that makes me feel like that." He tucked a strand of her hair that had fallen loose of her pony tail behind her ear. His hand lingered on her cheek and tilted her head up to meet him in a kiss. She snaked her arms behind his head and pulled his body closer to hers.

Both of them had flushed cheeks when they finally pulled away.

"Well look who's not quite so nervous anymore." Maria said breathlessly.

"I'm going for a run but I'll be back soon." He kissed her again, but it was shorter.

She waved after him and felt like she was glued to the spot. She didn't know what it was, but there was about them just clicked.

She finally got moving again and took out the ingredients for breakfast sandwiches. By the time Dean shuffled down to the kitchen, there was a large, greasy bacon, egg and cheese sandwich waiting for him. Maria placed it down along with a mug of coffee.

"I wasn't sure how you like your coffee." She admitted.

"You're a god send." Dean said before taking a drink of his coffee, black. He took a bite of the sandwich and groaned in pleasure. "This is heavenly." Maria laughed and got to work making Kevin's sandwich and Sam's veggie omelet. She hoped that it was what he wanted when he got back from his run.

"It smells so good in here." Kevin said as he sat down. Maria handed him his sandwich and received the same response. "Dean, can we keep her?"

"She's not going anywhere." Sam walked back into the kitchen, glistening sweat. He placed a kiss on her lips. Dean and Kevin exchanged a look.

"I made you a veggie omelet." Maria said, almost shyly.

"It looks delicious. Thanks." He sat next to his brother, who scooted away,

"Dude, you reek. Can't you go take a shower first? I'm surprise Maria didn't pass out from your stench."

"Oh Dean, do you want to hug it out and talk about it?" Sam opened his arms invitingly.

"I swear to god, if you touch me, I'm stabbing you in the face." Dean threatened. Sam laughed and continued eating his omelet.

Dean moved his coffee mug slightly between Maria and Sam before taking a drink. "So, that was quick."

Maria blushed slightly and Sam rolled his eyes. "What's your point?"

But whatever the point was, it was lost when the door to the bunker opened revealing a man with sparkling blue eyes and untidy hair.

"Cas!" Dean jumped up and greeted his friend with a hug.

"Hello, Dean."

Dean held him at arm's length. "It's good to see you buddy. Where the hell have you been?"

"Helping out at churches mostly." He responded. "Many people need help in the world, Dean."

Sam approached the pair and gave Cas a hug. "Good to see you."

Castiel wrinkled his nose. "Sam, you stink."

Dean threw his head back in laughter and even Sam couldn't contain the grin.

Kevin said his hellos before Cas' eyes drifted to Maria.

"Oh, Cas, this is Maria. The newest addition to the family." Sam said with a smile.

Maria approached him and put her hand out. "It's nice to meet you."

He shook her hand. "Likewise. Welcome."

"Would you like some breakfast? The stove is still hot." Maria asked.

"Oh yes, please." He took a seat on the other side of Dean's chair. Maria sat a coffee mug in front of him and he drank it gladly.

"I'm going to take a shower." Sam told the group before leaving.

"Thank god." Dean muttered before returning to his conversation with Cas.

While the bacon was cooking, Maria leaned over to Kevin. "So tell me, is there something going on there?" She whispered with a gesture to the pair.

Kevin rolled his eyes. "Everyone knows except for them."

"Ah," Maria said simply before going back to the stove. A few minutes later she placed the sandwich in front of Castiel. When he took a bite, his eyes closed. "This is by far the best sandwich I have ever had."

Maria began to clean up with a large smile on her face. She could get used to living with this crazy group.

By the time Sam was done showering, Maria had finished cleaning the kitchen and was chatting amicably with Kevin.

"So I figured we could unpack your car, and then start getting you caught up on what's really out there." Sam told her.

"I'll help." Kevin jumped up and followed Sam and Maria to her truck, Dean and Cas directly behind him.

They all piled in and Sam directed her to the entrance to the garage. The men each grabbed a box and followed Maria down to her room. They set them by the wall and she thanked them.

"We're going to have to liven up your room." Dean said looking around. "Especially if you're going to be staying." Maria smiled exuberantly at him. She knew that he was hesitant to bring her along and it felt amazing that he actually wanted her around.

"It was the breakfast wasn't it?" She asked jokingly.

He shrugged and winked at her, before heading to his room to shower and change.

Castiel and Kevin both left the room as well and Maria felt an undeniable sense of nervousness. She hated it. She turned on Sam.

"Look, I am not a blushing virgin. I'm not shy and I don't get nervous around men. So quit whatever you're doing to make me feel all jumpy around you." She didn't appreciate that this got a hearty laugh from him.

"I'm sorry! I don't think it's anything I can help." He managed to wheeze out.

"God dammit!" Maria blurted out, and then immediately covered her treacherous mouth. Sam stopped laughing and stared at her. "Shit." She mumbled into her palm. "I was doing so well."

Sam doubled over in laughter. With tears coming from his eyes, he said, "Who would've thought, that my girlfriend curses like a sailor."

"Woah there, soldier." Maria resisted the urge to slap the laughter out of him. "Girlfriend?"

His laughter finally died away and he swiped at his eyes. "Well, yeah. I mean we can take it slow since we just met but…"

"Well, first of all, I don't believe I was asked to be anyone's girlfriend." She folded her arms and stared at him defiantly.

He approached her and ran his large hands down her arms, making her unwillingly unfold them. He wrapped them around his neck. "Maria…" He looked contemplatively for a moment.

She snatched her arms back. "You don't even know my last name! The moment has been ruined." She said playfully, turning her back to him.

He sidled up to her and wrapped his long arms around her waist. He placed a gentle kiss below her ear. "Hello, it's nice to meet you. My name is Sam Winchester."

"This is quite a way to introduce yourself, Mr. Winchester." She couldn't help the tremor that ripped through her body and she felt Sam smile against her neck. "My name is Maria Russi."

"Italian?" He asked, trailing kisses down her neck.

"Mhmm." She turned her head and captured his lips in a kiss.

"Well, Ms. Maria Russi, will you be my girlfriend?"

"I suppose I can fit you into my schedule." She grinned at him. He turned her body to pull her in for a proper kiss.

Her hands ran through his long hair while he had one hand on the small of her back and the other running down her side before resting on her hip. He slowly pushed them until the bed hit the back of her knees. As he laid them down on the bed, they never broke the kiss. Sam propped himself on his elbows so that he didn't crush her but Maria was having none of that. She pulled him on top of her and reveled in warmth and weight of his body.

His fingers played at her hips, where her t-shirt was riding up to reveal her tan stomach. She sneaked her hands under the back of his shirt and ran them up and down his back, feeling his distinct back muscles ripple.

"Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?" Sam heard Dean say in disgust before walking away. Sam broke the kiss and groaned. He rested his head in the crook of her neck to catch his breath and she played with his hair, laughing gently.

"He has great timing, doesn't he?" She said.

Sam snorted. "I guess it's fair. Judging by the amount of times I've done it to him." His words were muffled. With a small kiss to her neck, he got off of Maria and sat at the edge of the bed. She crawled behind him and kissed him on the cheek.

"Come on, you promised we were going to learn today." She said excitedly before bouncing off of the bed and out of the room.

He chuckled, and willed his traitorous appendage to stand down. He didn't have time for a cold shower. The woman of his dreams was excited for research and he couldn't be happier.

Maria was nowhere to be found when Sam left her room.

"Where's Maria?" She asked Dean.

"She ran off to the garage. What did you scare her off already?" He teased.

Before he could throw an insult back, Maria came bounding in with a sleek black case in her hands. "I completely forgot that I left my bow in my car."

Dean clapped his hands once. "Awesome. I want to see how good you think you are."

"If I remember correctly, and I do, I saved your ass a few days ago with how good I think I am."

"Touché." He waved his arm. "C'mon, I'll show you the range."

Maria, Sam, and Castiel followed Dean to the large underground shooting range that took up an entire floor of the bunker.

"Does this place have everything?" Maria asked in awe.

"So far as I can tell." Dean said, leading them over to the far wall. There, they found an archery range with the capability to shoot at 200 feet. "Alright, Katniss, let's see what you can do."

Kevin looked perturbed about the nickname but said nothing.

Maria placed her case on the ground and clicked it open. She ran her fingers across the length of her bow, re-familiarizing herself with her beloved weapon. She took it out, tested the pull, and grinned.

"Let's start easy, shall we?" Dean said with a teasing smile. Using the automated target, he set it for fifty feet.

Maria rolled her eyes. She pulled an arrow out and placed it in the bow. As she put it up, her finger resting loosely on her cheek, she pulled back with the arrow. In hale, exhale, inhale, and as she exhaled, she let the arrow fly. It embedded itself into the center of the target…a perfect shot.

Dean whistled as he pulled the arrow free. "Very nice. What's your range?"

"I've never tried more than 150 feet." Maria said.

"How long have you been shooting?" Kevin asked her.

"Eighteen years now. My father bought me my first bow when I was twelve. I never had a teacher. I just practiced every day after school. In high school, I started competing in tournaments. My parents had all of them in a shelf in their house. I think they were all put in a storage unit when they passed away." She unsheathed another arrow and loosely held it in the bow. "Come on, Dean. I thought we were seeing how good I think I am."

Dean smirked and moved the target back to 150 feet. Maria repeated her same process before she let go. The arrow hit its mark again. Before anyone could react, another arrow was flying through the air and split the already embedded arrow in half.

She received a round of applause and she curtsied.

"Damn, woman." Dean said. "Now you're just showing off."

"Yes, I was." She said with no hint of remorse. "Mainly I just wanted to prove that my dick is bigger than yours. Isn't that what you guys do?"

Dean sputtered and looked back and forth from her and Sam, the latter currently bent over and wheezing from laughter.

"Oh I'm sorry. Did I offend you with my language?" She asked innocently.

"Well, I didn't think a lady had the audacity to talk like that." Dean said.

Maria aimed an arrow loosely at Dean's crotch and grinned. "Who said I was a lady?"

Dean paled. "Sammy, a little help here?" Sam was of no use at all to his brother, as he had fallen to his knees with tears coming down from his eyes. His laughter was practically silent.

Maria threw her head back and laughed. It was an almost musical sound. She pulled the weapon to her side and patted Dean's cheek. "Don't assume that I'm afraid to go toe-toe with you, Dean. I can give you a run for your money."

"I'd like to see you try." He narrowed his eyes.

She hit the controls and the target moved back to 200 feet. She had never shot that far but she was an expert marksman. The conditions were controlled so all she had to worry about was the strength of her pull and the angle at which she shot.

It took her a second longer for preparation, but as she let the arrow go, she smiled in satisfaction, confident it would be another perfect shot. Sure enough, it landed inside of the bull's-eye.

She winked at Dean and turned to put her bow away. She looked over at Sam and saw that he had finally straightened out. The grin on his face was blinding, but she blushed when she saw the pure lust in his eyes.

Maria heard Castiel whisper to Sam, "Is that considered flirting with Dean?" This managed to send Sam back into fits of laughter.

When she was finished, she picked up the case. "Well, now that I have some tension relieved, what do you say we go do some research?"

"Well that's my cue." Dean shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Dean," Sam said, slightly breathless. "We need to tell her our story."

"Tell her to read the books." He snapped, his pride quickly ebbing away.

Maria kissed his cheek. "Cheer up, Dean."

"You know what, Maria, you have no idea what you just started." Dean said and she giggled.

"I look forward to it."

He huffed and moved past the group. "Come on, then."

They followed him back up the stairs, Sam and Maria following behind slowly.

Sam intertwined his fingers with Maria. "I don't know which is sexier," He said. "You being so capable with a bow and arrow, or that you can so effectively shut my brother up. He may have met his match."

She squeezed his hand. "He's a bit fun to tease. But using sexy and your brother in the same sentence sounded extremely odd coming from your mouth."

Sam looked disgusted. "Why would you need to bring something like that up?"

"Well, I'm not saying your brother isn't sexy." She teased.

His A-plus bitch face had Maria explode into laughter.


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