Sam stepped out of the shower, shook his long hair and wrapped a towel around his trim waist. He had woken early and decided to get his shower out of the way so he could get coffee for everyone. The warm water had relaxed him and he was optimistic that Raven was going to be felling better today. Sam peeked out the bathroom door to check on her and was shocked to see Dean, kneeling by her bedside, comforting her as he had seen Sam do. He couldn't hear what his brother was saying to her but he could see the gentle way Dean was stroking her hair and the look of worry written on his face. Sam loved that Dean acted as though he didn't like her but when push came to shove; he was going to make sure she was ok.
Sam watched them for a few minutes. Dean eventually went back to bed once Raven had calmed down. Turning toward the mirror and shutting the door, Sam caught the sound of Dean sighing with contentment. He turned back just in time to see a smile play across Raven's lips as she slept.
Raven was sitting inside a circle of papers strewn all over the floor of the motel room. She had passed on going to the Historical Society, still weak from yesterday's illness, opting to stay behind and sort through all the research and start the flow chart. This one was going to be pretty cut and dry as there wasn't much to go on. None of them had managed to find a connection between the two victims, if there was one, or to figure out what spirit was possessing the tank or why.
She rolled her neck to try and loosen the tension that was growing in her shoulders. Innocent people were dying and they had so little to work with. She hated feeling helpless. It was one of the reasons she had become a doctor in the first place. Thinking that if she could save people's lives, that feeling of helplessness would go away. She soon realized that saving lives was not the answer. Even though she could save some children from death, there were others that she could not save, that no one could. And the faces of their parents would haunt her, forcing her to work harder, learn more. Until, that one evening when everything changed…
"No," Raven whispered aloud. She would not think about that. It was bad enough that her subconscious could not be contained while she slept. Her waking mind was something she could control and she was going to focus on the task at hand, saving the residents of Bedford from the ghost tank.
Raven was posting the last of the photos on the wall when Sam and Dean returned. Sam smiled at her, tilting his head slightly. She was warmed from the inside out. He was so wonderful to be with and she found herself missing him when he wasn't around.
Dean also smiled at her, which caught her off guard. Since when did Dean smile when she was around? But his eyes were warm and it seemed genuine. Raven realized looking into his eyes was a mistake, one second too late. The shiver started at the top of her head and went all the way to the soles of her feet. The sensation was violent enough that her knees almost gave out.
Sam was at her side in an instant; worried that she was getting another headache, "Raven! You ok?" He helped her to the couch, unaware that his brother was having the exact same reaction. She saw Dean lean against the wall and ride out the wave of dizziness. They both recovered quickly.
"Sam, I'm fine. Honestly. Maybe I was pushing too hard. Time for a break." She smiled quickly to cover her concern. She glanced at Dean and saw the look on his face. She needed to get rid of Sam for a few minutes. "Would you do me a favor? Would you go and get me some orange juice?"
Sam didn't hesitate, "I'll be right back." He left the room without realizing that Raven and Dean were alone.
Dean crossed the room and finally spoke, "We need to talk."
I'm sorry this one was so short. I had intended for it to be much longer but my plot bunny held a carrot to my throat and forced me to leave it here. There will be more coming very soon.